Perhaps it is the pasta you cook on Sundays, a dish from your first trip together or the dessert your family always shares. A menu can tell a story without explaining every course. Choose one meaningful element, then work with the caterer to make it suitable for the setting and the number of people. The memory matters more than reproducing a restaurant plate exactly.
Tell the caterer what you love about it
Describe the flavor, the ritual and the reason you chose it. Let the kitchen suggest a version that can be served consistently to the whole room. A favorite shared dish may work better as a small course than as the main meal.
Ask for the full cost, including equipment and service, before building the rest of the menu around it. Personal does not have to mean a completely custom kitchen setup.
Make room for everyone at the table
Collect dietary information clearly and pass it to the catering team. Ask how alternatives will receive the same care as the main menu. Nobody should feel that their plate is an afterthought.
Keep descriptions understandable. A short name and a brief personal note can do more than a long story printed in tiny type.
Let the food arrive at its best
Coordinate the timetable with the kitchen and photographer. If you want pictures of the meal, arrange them without delaying service. Confirm who handles any food used decoratively.
Choose the dessert because you want to eat it. Whether it is a cake or something else, it can be a lovely ending when serving, storage and cleanup are already planned.
