Caterer Tips

As you know, dealing with last-minute cancellations for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah can be quite costly. Guests may call a couple of days prior to your event, and tell you that they cannot attend due to illness, important sports event, or any number of other reasons. Many hosts get burned in this type of situation, because they have already given the exact count to the caterer, and the count can't be reduced at the last minute, so you are stuck paying for the missing guests' meals (even though they are not attending).
    A tip to try to avoid this: give a slightly underestimated count to your caterer. Take a look at your catering contract or speak to your caterer directly. Many caterers have a certain cut-off time for final guest count, and a later cut-off time for last-minute additions. I believe my caterer needed the final guest count a week before the Bat Mitzvah, but we could add (not take away) guests up to 24 hours in advance.  If this is the case with your caterer as well, take a few guests off your final count given to the caterer (I took off four people--a couple of adults, and a couple of kids). Then when the inevitable cancellations come along, you are not thrown off track.  When the final cut-off time nears, just give the caterer the additional number of guests to make your final count correct.  Just remember, with caterers, it's easier to add than subtract!!