“Oh, just one gluten-free… and maybe a vegan if they end up coming.”
It might feel minor, but dietary details are a major part of event success. Focus on logistics, enhance your guests’ experience, ensure their safety and making them feel included.
More Than Preferences
While some dietary notes are preferences, many are medical or cultural needs:
- Coeliac (not just gluten-intolerant) guests need strict contamination protocols
- Allergies can be life-threatening if ignored
- Religious or lifestyle diets (e.g. Halal, vegan) should be respected, not overlooked
Click here to learn about the 10 most common dietary restrictions event planners should know about according to Healthline.com
Our Golden Rule
If you’d like guests to feel included, it’s important to plan for them like you do for everyone else.
We’ve all attended events when a vegetarian guest receives ‘just a side salad’ whilst everyone else dines on mains – not cool. A thoughtful dietary meal should be anything but boring – and with Wine & Dine’m Catering, we make a point to ensure it won’t be.
What We Need from You
To provide thoughtful alternatives that match your menu, we need:
- Dietary info by your final numbers confirmation date
- Details per person (e.g. “Sally – No Dairy” instead of just “2 x Veg”) If you’re not familiar with a particular restriction, don’t stress! Just pass on the information and we’ll handle the rest.
- Clarify if you’d like preferences vs strict requirements handled differently. People with celiac disease are not the same as people trying to reduce gluten from their diet.
- Extra points – For sit-down catering, if you can provide a seating plan with dietary restricted guests clearly labelled.
What We Do with It
- Tailor-equivalent dishes (e.g. GF version of your pasta)
- Prep and pack separately for allergens
- Label meals clearly for easy service
- Avoid cross-contamination risks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving dietaries as an afterthought
- Submitting unclear notes (i.e. I think Sarah can’t eat gluten, but sometimes she does)
- Not communicating with your guests that you are meeting their dietary needs. Otherwise, guests with special diets may eat before an event or end up avoiding the food all together.
- Adding dietary requests on the day of the event. This inevitably happens sometimes and we accommodate as best we can. However, last minute requests limit what we can offer to these guests.
Real Talk: We’re not a Restaurant
We don’t work like a restaurant that has every ingredient ready each day. Communication is key, as we custom make each item just for your guest list. The more we know ahead of time, the better we can prepare and the better meal we can provide. We welcome your guests to share their dietary needs, taking pride in making meals that suit everyone.
These meals are not an afterthought. We design, prepare and plate these meals with care, flavour and creativity – just like everything else we make.
A Small Detail That Makes a Huge Impact
When guests feel included, the experience feels intentional. The difference between a good meal and a great one often lies in considering the small things effectively.
Need help planning for dietaries?
We’ll guide you through what to ask guests, how to collect the info and build a menu that includes everyone without compromising quality.
