- How does all this work?
- Once you’ve booked your event with Country Garden Caterers you will work closely with your Country Garden Event Planner on menu, rentals, budget, timing and over-all set up. We can offer suggestions for other event vendors like DJs, Photographers, Photo Booths and Florists/Decorators. About 3 weeks prior to your event, you’ll meet with your Event Planner and finalize all details, guest count and payments.
- What’s the process of booking our event?
- Country Garden Caterers requires an initial non-refundable payment that’s equal to 30% of the estimated event total in order to reserve your date and to lock in the prices. Your confirmed head-count and final payment is due three weeks prior to the event date.
- What happens if I need to cancel my event or change the date?
- Your initial deposit is non-refundable. In the event that the host cancels prior to 30 days of the event date, client shall be liable for 30% of the estimated costs (equal to your initial payment). If notice of cancellation is received within 30 days the event, the entire amount of the function will be due. Notice of a Date Change must be made prior to 30 days before the event. All payments are transferable, but not refundable.
- What does the service charge cover?
- The “service charge” is a standard element of catering proposals within the industry. Industry standard for the service charge is between 18% and 25%. This fee covers such items as transportation, kitchen staff, our planning department’s time to pre-plan your event, workers compensation, travel expenses (i.e.: gas, vehicle maintenance) insurance and operations costs and is not in conjunction with the cost of food. These are just a few of the costs covered by the service charge. This fee is our cost of doing business and is not considered a gratuity for our servers.
- Why is there sales tax on the labor and service charge?
- Catering is grouped into the “Hospitality and Restaurant Industry” by the California State Board of Equalization. In accordance with those laws, all labor and the service charge are subject to sales tax. (Ref: 1603, 1698) For more information please go to www.boe.ca.gov.
- When do I have to pay the balance?
- Your confirmed guest count and final balance is due three weeks (21 days) prior to your event day. We accept debit cards , checks, cash & credit cards up to 3 weeks prior to your event in order to secure funds (if your entire event is paid by cash, debit, or check a 2% discount in service charge will be applied). Any payments made within 21 days prior to your event will need to be made by cash. If your guest count goes up after it is confirmed, we can add to it up to seven days before your event, but cannot go below the confirmed count.
- What kind of Liability Insurance Policy does Country Garden Caterers hold?
- We hold a $2 million Liability Insurance Policy, as well as an ABC Liquor License.
- What kind of service does your staff provide?
- Your Country Garden Caterers Service Staff concentrates on all aspects of your Country Garden Catering and Beverage Order. For our Full-Service Events (where we provide the rentals for you), our staff will arrive 1-2 hours prior to event start time and dress/set all guest tables with linens and place-settings. The servers also set up the cuisine & buffet tables, hors d’oeuvres station, cocktail tables, registration and cake table. Servers prepare the cuisine stations with Chafing dishes, platters, serving utensils, service-ware, etc. Servers brew coffee and prepare coffee station with cups, creamer, condiments, etc. Servers “plate-up” all cuisine and transport to Buffets/Station. Servers unload, transport and set up all wine bottles, beer, spirits, condiments, mixers, glassware, bar tools, ice, cups, coolers etc. During the event, your servers will serve the cuisine either buffet style, sit -down style or tray passed and replenish as necessary. They will continue to bus and pick up garbage, refill water glasses, assist guests with special requests for tableside service (wine/coffee/etc.). Servers will cut and serve your cake. Servers stay for one hour after the event ends to strike all cuisine stations and beverage stations/bars, load up trucks, organize/wrap rentals etc. Labor (within the hospitality industry) is subject to sales tax in accordance to the law.
- How do you determine how many servers we need?
- Of course each event is different, but as a rule of thumb to ensure the integrity of your event for our Full-Service events we schedule 1 server for every 25-30 guests. Difficult or spread out venues, elaborate set up, plated service, service stations and/or multiple tray-passed hors d’ oeuvres may require additional staff, a Chef and/or Kitchen staff.
- What do Country Garden servers wear?
- Unless otherwise specified, our service staff will wear clean, pressed, black slacks, button-down, long-sleeved collared shirt and black shoes. In the colder Seasons staff may also wear a black jacket/sweater. The staff may wear a tee-shirt during set up, but will change prior to guest arrival. If you’re wanting a more casual look, or if you’re having a themed event and would like to provide our service staff with different costumes/shirts, we’d be more than willing to accommodate.
- Will my Country Garden Event Planner orchestrate my ceremony and reception?
- Your Country Garden Event Planner will handle all aspects of what’s been ordered through Country Garden Caterers leading up to three weeks prior to your event (Cuisine, Rentals, Entertainment/DJ, Décor, etc.). At that time, you’ll have your final meeting with your Country Garden Event Planner to confirm guest count, menu, set up, rentals, timing, service and final payment. Your event is then handed over to a Country Garden Lead, who’s responsible to follow the catering order and set-up instructions. You have the option to hire your event planner to be on site on the day of your event. All Country Garden Event Planners are experienced and well versed with Wedding Traditions and Etiquette and can offer you a reasonably-priced Day-of Service or Complete Event Design, Planning and Coordination.
- Is the Cuisine prepared on site? Do you require ovens and stoves?
- In order to provide our value-pricing most of your Cuisine (with the exception of on-site Barbeque) is prepared in our Kitchen then transported in Industrial-Strength Hot Boxes. The Cuisine will be plated and/or assembled on site.
- Can we provide our own alcohol?
- Country Garden Caterers is completely licensed and insured to sell and serve alcohol at your event. We have several different bar packages (beer and wine only or full bar) as well as hosted, non-hosted and partially-hosted options. It all depends on your budget and preferences. However, if you’d prefer to supply your own bar and your function is taking place in a private residence/office, or if the rented-event site allows alcohol service to be provided by the host, then you can provide y our own alcohol. For Liability and insurance reasons, Country Garden Servers can only set-up/serve/attend to the bar/alcohol if it is provided through Country Garden Caterers. We can refer you to a staffing agency to hire an insured Bartender.
- Can you provide Vegetarian or Special Meals for guests that have dietary limitations?
- Absolutely! We have several “special diet” meals that we can offer.
- Can I bring in my own food?
- You may supply your own Wedding Cake and/or non-perishable treats (candy, chocolates, nuts, etc). Only under very specific conditions will we allow you to supplement our cuisine with a very specific family or cultural dish with a signed liability waiver. Your dish will need to be placed on a separate buffet/display. You will need to provide all serving platters and/or utensils and someone to set up, replenish and clean up at the end of the event.
- What happens to the left-over cuisine? Can we bring it home?
- Unfortunately, all left over cuisine that has been transported must be thrown out in accordance to the Orange County Health Department laws. If your event site has proper refrigeration, we can leave the cuisine in the refrigerator, however, the client will need to make these arrangements ahead of time and signed a Liability waiver. The client will also need to supply the to-go containers or Country Garden and provide boxes/packaging for $10.00.
- Do you do Tastings?
- Yes. We offer complimentary, no obligation Tastings, once a proposal has been done for you. We can set up a week-day appointment for an individual tasting where you’ll with your Event Planner.
- Can you provide Vendor Meals?
- Yes. We can provide Vendor Meals. We can offer the same dinner that you’re serving your guests for $2.00 less. We will supply disposable plates and cutlery. You’ll need to confirm the number of Vendor Meals at the same time you confirm your guest count.
- Can you provide Children’s Meals?
- Yes. For Children 9 and under, we can offer the same dinner that you’re serving your guests for $5.00 less than the Menu Price. If you have over 10 children under 9 years of age we suggest having a separate buffet or meal for the children. If you have selected an all-inclusive package that is priced per guest, that price is for adults and children.
- Do you provide any décor?
- Country Garden Caterers is known for its Award-Winning Décor; we have won over 15 First, Second and Third place awards for Buffet Design at the National Caterer’s Convention. We can bring this same award-winning décor to your event. Working with your color palette, theme and style we will create beautiful, tall, lush, lighted arrangements for all your cuisine and beverage stations. This is an optional upgrade that really turns the ordinary into the extraordinary! We have a library full of photos and examples of our work for you to review.
- Do I have a choice of colors for my table cloths?
- Absolutely! There’s a rainbow of colors to pick from. Your Event Planner can also assist you with linen upgrades if you want a different fabric or pattern. There are many options available.
- Do you provide Wedding Cakes?
- YES! We have amazing Bakers/Confectioners. We can provide a cake-tasting and, within reason, our talented Bakers can reproduce just about any design you choose.
- Will your staff set out my décor?
- The Service Staff’s main priority is the catering. Putting out favors, place cards, candy displays, menu cards, personal mementoes, guest book, toasting flutes, cake knife/server, etc. is generally handled by your Coordinator or your Country Garden Event Planner if you’ve opted to hire him/her. All Country Garden Event Planners are experienced and well-versed with Wedding Traditions and etiquette and can offer you a reasonably-priced Day-of Service or Complete Event Design, Planning and Coordination.
- What type of parking is available to my guests if I have my event at the Country Garden Facility?
- There are several parking options. The lot behind our building can accommodate 10-12 cars (we will reserve 2-3 spaces for the guest(s) of honor and any elderly guests.) There is metered parking and free parking on 8th street, and there is a paid lot about 1 block north on Bush
- What kind of Decorating rules or limitations to you have?
- Please check with your venue for specific rules. For events held at the Country Garden Facility we ask that no pins, staples, tape, glue or any kind of hooks or adhesive be used to attach anything to the walls or furniture. In addition, there shall be no throwing of rice or real flower petals inside or out. Absolutely no bubbles or pyrotechnics are allowed. We cannot allow glitter or confetti (which is a safety hazard if it’s ingested as well as a slipping hazard) to be sprinkled on any food service or guest dining tables.
