2 Desember 2009

How to Choose Your Wedding Catering Service Properly

A wedding is the biggest day of many people's lives, and the amount of time and energy that goes into planning a wedding is so great that there is even an entire career centered around it - wedding planner. With all of the suspense and the music, and cake, and fancy dresses, it is no surprise that setting up the catering service for a wedding could also be somewhat of a tedious task, if not downright difficult. You have to decide whether you would like it to be buffet style, finger buffet style, or just an all out sit down meal. You also have to make sure your catering makes sense for the time of day it is taking places. Obviously you would not want a lunch buffet if it is dinner time, so it would be wise to plan around the number of guests you are having and what time of day they would be showing up.

Also take into consideration that you do not need to cater to every single one of your guests during a wedding. Most professional catering services agree that seventy-five percent is a good percentage of guests to cater to. You also want to make the decision whether your meal style will be an informal buffet or a formal silver service type meal. It would also be wise to plan around how long your guests will be waiting to eat. If the weeding is going to take place at 3PM, and lunch is served at 2PM, then you are obviously not giving your guests enough time to eat lunch before the wedding ceremonies actually start.

It is also good to be sensitive to specific guest needs and preferences. If for example you know you will be entertaining a vegetarian guest, then it would be kind to serve vegetarian selections. It would also be kind to observe your guests allergies if you know of any, and to avoid having one of your guests stricken with an allergic reaction during the wedding ceremonies, after all that doesn't sound very fun does it? If you are having a good amount of children at the wedding then it would be good to have some sort of snacks for the children like crackers, raisins, appetizers, candy etc etc. Try to customize the catering service to the liking of the bride and groom. This means selecting the right colors for the banquet and the entire setup of the wedding.

Once you have made up your mind about these key issues then it is time to find a good, reliable and affordable catering service to meet your needs. It is a good idea to set a budget and to stick to that budget. Ask around the community or your circle of friends to see if they have anyone they can recommend as a caterer for the wedding. Be sure to make comparisons of multiple catering services in the area. Remember to shop around and to always think ahead, as planning is one of the most important parts in any wedding.

West Palm Beach Catering provided by Alexander Event Catering with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality field. We cater to weddings, as well as corporate functions in West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and South Florida.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Praveen_Sivaraman

Praveen Sivaraman - EzineArticles Expert Author

Find More : catering service , food catering services , wedding catering , catering buffet

Creative Gift Hampers

We all, at one time or another, have difficulty in deciding on gift purchases. This is usually the time when most people turn to "the safe gifts list ". Items such as chocolates, candles or bubble bath may not have failed in the past, yet they also seem quite impersonal and rather mundane.

Why a gift hamper?
The popularity of gift hampers has increased drastically in recent years simply due to the convenience. It takes the guesswork out of finding that one perfect gift. Gift hampers aren't boring and you can choose appropriately how personal the selection of gifts in the hamper should be. The uniqueness of creative gift hampers lies in that they are much appreciated by recipients and even when prearranged; a hamper remains a thoughtful and personal gift.

Hampers give the recipient a variety of gifts. Even if there is an item the recipient does not want or need, there will surely be a few others they will find to be perfect. This comes in handy if the recipient is notorious for being finicky, a gift hamper will even delight those with the most discerning tastes.

Gift hampers prove to be appropriate for all occasions, including the celebration of a new baby, Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries or even as a thank-you gift. The same could be said for different types of people. No matter who they are, their interests, hobbies or age, a gift hamper makes an ideal present.

Corporate Gift Hampers
There are many outlets where wide selections of gift hampers are readily available. In instances where you are giving a corporate gift hamper, it would be wise to know a few things about the client or company.

With regards to a corporate gift hamper for a company, know their culture. Is it an artistic and trendy environment or a more conservative, elegant company? Know the etiquette of the company to ensure that your gift hamper reflects this and you avoid upsetting anybody.

In the case of a client, it would be easier to choose an appropriate hamper if you know a few individual details without being too personal. If you know their hobbies, likes and dislikes or interests, you would be able to personalise the gift hamper a bit more.

General tips for gift hampers
Unless intended as a religious gift hamper, try and avoid religious messages or themes. Christmas, for example, is not celebrated by everyone, but the message of "Happy Holiday" would not be unwelcome and would therefore also work for everyone.

Be original! There is nothing worse than receiving the same gift each year. It becomes mundane and is taken for granted. If you are making use of the professional services of a specialist, they should be able to suggest creative, fun and different ideas to make you stand out from the crowd.

The assortment of items in a gift hamper makes it perfect for families or groups. Instead of buying individual gifts for everyone, each person can instead choose his or her favourite item from the hamper. This way everybody is happy with what they receive without the added effort for you.

A gift hamper doesn't have to be sent only on special occasions. In itself it can create a celebration if sent on an ordinary day, making someone's day special. With luxury and elegance, you can unexpectedly treat someone and if you should choose, keep them entertained with your choice of gifts in the hamper. This will truly make it an unforgettable moment, not to mention the appreciation you'll receive for your thoughtful gesture.

Giving someone a gift hamper will never go unnoticed. Even unopened hampers are eye-catching. It can be stylised with beautiful colourful ribbons, arranged in an artistic fashion and especially created for any occasion or person. It's a combination of both beauty and utility, thoughtful and fun to open. A gift hamper truly is the perfect gift for all!

Author Bio
Interflora is a professional flower and gift delivery service available in South Africa.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lulie_Swanepoel

Lulie Swanepoel - EzineArticles Expert Author

Find More : gift baskets , gift ideas , christmas gift , corporate gifts , chocolate gift , gift delivery

1 Desember 2009

How a Chartered Accountant Can Help Your Business Succeed

Choosing a reliable and efficient chartered accountant is crucial for the growth and success of your business. You need someone who well understand your underlying vision, business objectives and can assist you in several financial and legal matters. The advice given by chartered accountant influences your business decisions to a considerable extent.

A chartered accountant should not only be experienced but also possess huge wealth of knowledge to serve your needs. He should have the ability to plan short and long term investment plan that best matches the structure of your business. In addition he should be well versed with

business ownerships, retirement plans, organizing payrolls, expense management and state-of-the-art software to facilitate flexible bookkeeping.

Before appointing anyone as your chartered accountant or tax advisor fix a meeting with him and discuss the issues and challenges before your business. The discussion will help you to ascertain to what extent he understand your needs and interacts with you. You should also discuss your future plans with him. He should possess the ability to plan short and long term investment plan that best matches the structure of your business.

A chartered accountant prepare your personal and business income tax returns and help you in minimizing the amount of tax you need to pay. You just need to provide them all the details and leave the rest to them. They will use the information and plan a long term strategy for you. They also advice you on a wide range of issues such as, sale of shares or property, business acquisitions or disposals and determining the best tax structure.

A chartered accountant also help you in business valuations, payroll services, accounting services, strategic planning and salary packaging, financial statement preparation and computer accounting software. A chartered accountant is of immense help. They not only help you in financial planning but also assist you in setting up your business and its future expansion and diversification.