The number of Canapés needed per person when catering
Easily plan finger food catering in Geelong, Colac, Bannockburn, Meredith and the Golden Plains region.
When planning an event it can be hard to know how many canapés you will need to order. It is a delicate balance between ensuring your guests are well fed vs ordering too much. And let’s face it - no one wants to over-catered to the point there is excess food when the party ends.
How many Canapés will I need per person?
An often asked question when catering an event with finger food is “How many canapés will we need per person?” Ultimately, this depends on a range of factors relating to the event itself - such as the time of day the event will be held; the type of party you are hosting; and if any other food will be provided throughout the event.
A great way to know how many canapés to select for your event is to think about when the food will be served. This guide should offer a clear starting point for how many items to select per person when catering with canapés.
Afternoon corporate event or afternoon party celebration
When planning to cater an afternoon event we recommend providing between 5-6 canapés per person. To ensure that your guests aren’t left hungry we suggest that within this mix there are 2-3 larger finger food options. This may include items such as sliders, mini tacos or bao buns.
Lunch or dinner event
When catering a meal time event, where finger food will constitute the entire meal, we recommend serving 8-12 savoury canapés per person. Ideally this selection will include 2-4 of the larger finger food options - such as bao buns, roast beef dinner rolls or fish tacos.
To create a full meal experience, it is further recommended to add an additional 2-3 sweet finger food options. These sweet treats will be provided towards the end of the meal. However, this recommendation is dependant on whether a cake will be served, if the event includes a dessert van, or if larger pudding options are preferred.
Meal time event with grazing table
A popular option within the Geelong, Meredith, Bannockburn and greater Golden Plains region at the moment is to provide an eye-catching grazing table. The grazing table presents all your favourites such as dips, crusty breads, a range of cheeses, charcuterie and more. The grazing table is setup to be on offer to your guests throughout the whole event.
To compliment the spread provided by the grazing table, and offer the equivalent of a full main meal, many hosts are electing to provide a selection of finger foods at meal time. When catering with canapés paired with a grazing table, Fed by Jed recommends 8 savoury finger food selections per person, plus an additional 2-3 sweet options if required.
Wedding cocktail hour catering
If your wedding order of events includes a post-ceremony cocktail hour - with a main meal following - a small selection of finger food is appreciated by your guests while they enjoy a beverage. At Fed by Jed we suggest 3-4 bite sized canapés per person offered throughout the cocktail hour. The smaller selection will prepare your wedding guests for the main meal to come without spoiling their appetite.
Fed by Jed recommends serving a range of both hot and cold finger food options. Additionally, when selecting from our vast canapé menu, we recommend you make sure to cater for all tastes and dietary requirements - such as having a mix of meat, chicken, vegetarian and gluten free canapés.
Tip: catering to food allergies and requirements is easier if you find out prior to the event. We suggest you get guests to include any intolerances when they RSVP. For further information, we suggest reading our full guide on catering to dietary requirements.
To plan your catering, we suggest learning more about Fed by Jed’s range of finger food options. Alternatively, see the full catering menu to explore the range of taste sensations available for your event.
Please get in touch if you are looking to cater a corporate event, birthday party, engagement party, wedding or more in Geelong or the Greater Golden Plains. Fed by Jed are local to the region and understand that each and every celebration is unique. We are happy to work with you to create your ideal meal offering.