If you’ve got an upcoming event on the books and you’re looking to hire out event staffing, great move. Hiring temporary event staff will make your life easier on the day of. Now, you just need to determine the precise number of event support staff that’s required. And, that’s exactly what we’re covering here, in this event staffing services post!

Maybe you’ve already got the venue, the vibe, and the food all planned out. Congrats! You’re almost there. Take the stress out of hosting with a dedicated event support staff. By bringing in event staffing on the day of your event, you can focus on hosting and enjoying yourself.

If you have an upcoming private event and you’re interested in hiring temporary event staff, this Serve & Savour guide is for you. As a professional catering company, we bring experience and expertise in catering, staffing, and organizing successful events, from bridal showers and corporate events to everything in between.

This curated guide shares pertinent information for all types of catering staff for hire, including banquet servers and bartenders for events. Keep reading to discover the correct amount of event support staff required for your specific needs.

Event Catering Staff For Hire

Whether you’re looking for banquet servers for a wedding, event staffing for corporate events, bartenders for private parties, or assistance with a celebration of life, it’s important to know the appropriate number of event support staff required for your particular event.

Below, we’re exploring different types of event staffing, including ratios and other important considerations, so that you can hire with confidence. This guide provides a general framework to help you begin planning banquet staffing for an upcoming function.

No matter the type of function, a chef in the BOH (Back-of-House) is typically required to prep and plate the food in the kitchen. It’s important to note that all the event support staff discussed below are general recommendations.

For the most accurate information, get in touch, and we can discuss the specifics. The exact menu, location, and service style will all influence the accurate number of event support staff that’s required.

Tray-Passed Banquet Staffing

The most informal style of event support staff service is tray-passing. Since there is no formal meal, you could opt for self-service food stations and hire banquet servers to pass hors d’oeuvres and beverages around the function. This laid back option will still elevate your function with a professional touch. Tray-pass dining requires the least amount of staff. For example, if you’re opting for passed appetizers only, the recommended ratio is 1 event staff member per 25 guests and 1 chef per 50 guests.

If you’re unsure of the exact number of attendees or expect a few party crashers, it’s wise to add one extra staff member to ensure that your event runs flawlessly. Having the correct number of event staff support ensures curated room circulation patterns, fresh food, empty glass collection, and beverage replenishments. The attendees will be thrilled with the rhythm and flow of tasty bites, refilled beverages, and spotless surfaces.

Banquet Servers for Buffet Style Events

With our Banquet-Style Buffet Service, guests are guided through staffed buffet lines where our team serves each selection, providing ease, efficiency, and attentive service. A large misconception in event planning is that buffet-style service requires little to none event support staff. However, this style of event still needs more behind-the-scenes event support staff to run food, refill empty trays, restock plates, monitor chafing dishes, and keep the station clean and orderly. For this service style, an ideal ratio is around 1 banquet staff for every 15 guests and 1 chef per 50 guests. If you’re considering a buffet-style function with a more personalized service, such as hand-served and delivered plates, the catering staff-to-hire ratio is adjusted to include these extra service steps. We recommend 1 banquet staff per chaffing dish.

At larger functions with more than six temporary event staff, a captain is required to ensure a smooth, organized service. Captains are conductors who ensure real-time service runs smoothly, kitchen timing is consistent, quality control is maintained, and guests are satisfied. Bigger parties may require additional event support staff, such as a busser or barback, to help clear, polish, and refill beverages, clear plates, buss tables, etc.

Seated Plated Dinner Event Staffing

What is the exact ratio of servers to guests when it comes to plated dinner service? The exact ratio varies, especially depending on the type of dinner service you have in mind. Below, we’re covering family-style and plated meal services!

Event Staffing for Family-Style Service

Family-style dinner means a server delivers a plate of food to the center of the table, where guests generally serve themselves. While casual and interactive, this style of service requires the event support staff to adhere to orchestrated timing and communicate with the back-of-house when it’s time for replenishing, in addition to each table’s pace.

In family-style dining, banquet servers maintain beverage service throughout the meal, manage platter rotation, ensure proper timing, explain dish components, and keep guests happy throughout.

For this casual dining experience, the ideal event staffing ratio is 1 event support staff for 12 guests and 1 chef per 25 guests.

Plated Meal Event Staffing

The typical standard for plated-meal service is 1 server for every 6 guests and 1 chef per 15 guests. How did we reach this ratio? Great question! Generally speaking, this allows for 4 to 5 wait staff to serve a table at the same time, all at once. This is called synchronized service, and when does right, has a very impactful wow factor upon delivery. If you stretch that ratio from 1 event support staff to 12 guests, the service window doubles, which is just long enough for the plates to start cooling, losing their preferred temperature and the wow-factor upon the guests’ first bite. Who wants to taste a lukewarm Tomahawk Steak? The answer is:no one.

In our experience, the 1 to 6 ratio allows guests to experience optimal service and exceptional food. Guests will remember the temperature, timing, and service over the specific ingredients on a plate. Impress your guests with unreasonable hospitality.

Invision This:

Seamless wine service pairing
Proper timing, clearing, and resetting between courses
Excellent service execution
Attention to detail, including dietary restrictions and allergies
Personalized responses to unexpected requests during service

In the Dallas Fort-Worth area, Serve & Savour is the premier private catering company offering professional, synchronized service at this caliber. If you’re looking to wow your guests with impeccable food and service, we’re here to serve you.

Bartenders for Events

The type of bar set-up, the number of guests, and the bar menu will all impact the exact number of event staffing you’ll need behind the bar.

If you’re just serving beer and wine, you could have 1 bartender for every 75 guests. However, if your bar menu includes mixed drinks, signature cocktails, and tasty libations, you’ll want to have 1 bartender for every 50 guests.

Oftentimes, when it comes to mixology-style bar offerings, a barback is required. This ensures smooth service, restocked glasses, fresh ice, and impressive drinks!

Overview of Event Staffing Ratios

Here’s a consolidated breakdown of our general recommendations when it comes to catering staff for hire -

Buffets 1 to 15
Synchronized Plated Service 1 to 6
Stations 1:to 15
Traypass Service 1:to 25
Beer & Wine Bartender 1:to 75
Mixed Drinks Bartender & Barback 1:to 50

A Few Final Thoughts: Catering Staff for Hire

There are a few other important factors to consider when planning out your temporary event staff ratios. It’s wise to ask and answer these questions yourself before getting in touch with a company to inquire about temporary event staff.

Event Venue Dynamics

What is the venue like?
Is it a multi-floor space?
Will you have indoor and outdoor transitions?
Is it one or multiple rooms?

Event Timeline

How long is your event?
What time of day will the event take place?
Will you have different services, such as a cocktail hour, passed appetizers, and then a sit-down dinner?

Professional Event Staffing Near You

We hope this general guideline has been educational and informative. Each event has its own specifications, depending on the guest list, service style, and venue dynamics. Here, at Serve & Savour, we can provide everything from casual banquet staffing to executing impressive synchronized service for a plated sit-down dinner.

Contact us today with any questions or to start planning your event; we’re here to help you identify the exact requirements to ensure a seamless and impressive event. We look forward to working with you.