When you think about your wedding, do you imagine a "summer" wedding or a "winter" wedding? Many brides instinctively think of a specific season when they envision their perfect wedding, but why is that? Each season comes with its own decor, catering, drinks, and general mood and feel. Here are a few of the differences between summer and winter weddings — things you'll need to know if you're starting to plan a wedding in 2020.

Which Season is More Popular for a Wedding?

There's no "best" wedding season, but summer tends to be far more popular than winter. Summer comes with fewer weather-related issues, and in Australia is around the busy holiday season. If you want a summer wedding, you need to start your planning much earlier. You have to book venues in advance, book caterers in advance, and generally be on top of your preparation.

Winter weddings, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable and easier to book. The truth is only about 5% of weddings occur during the winter, because people don't want to have a lot of overlap with the holiday season. But if you want a small, cozy wedding with close friends and family, there isn't a season better.

Seasonal Foods for the Summer and Winter

Today, seasonal, fresh foods are an important part of wedding catering. During the summer and the winter, different flavours will be highlighted. Most people know which types of food they love. Do you love crisp, refreshing fruits, cocktails, and bright, cheery fare? Or do you like luxurious spices, warm drinks, and comforting, hearty meals?

In the summer, expect that the following will be in season: avocados, bananas, cherries, passion fruit, peaches, plumbs, strawberries, asparagus, beans, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, celery, chillies, eggplant, leeks, mushrooms, pumpkins, snow peas, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnip, and zucchini.

In the winter, expect that the following will be in season: beansprouts, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, fennel, mushrooms, potatoes, winter, and spinach. 

Winter menus are going to lend itself to thick stews and warm drinks such as mulled ciders and wines, while summer menus will likely have more delicate fare. But you're not married to any of this:   take a look at our menus to get some ideas, and explore different types of possible cuisine.

How Do You Decorate for a Seasonal Wedding?

During the summer, things are often kept light and breezy, with bright colours and pastels. During the winter, things can be brought into a cosier, warmer atmosphere, replete with fireplaces and holiday-themed decor. Of course, any theme can be modified to fit any season, depending on what you want your ideal wedding to look like. The only caveat: a winter wedding is more likely to be indoors, which does need to be taken into consideration.

When you want to decorate seasonally, take a look at the "themes" of the season. For instance, fall colours are browns and oranges, with different types of gourds. Comparatively, summer colours are pastels, and winter colours tend to be dark blues and whites.

How Do You Find the Right Venue?

Summer weather opens up a    lot of wonderful outdoor locations in and around Sydney. But as mentioned, these venues are more likely to be booked during the summer. The winter venues are less likely to be booked, but you won't be able to choose any outdoor locations. It's a definite trade off that you should consider.

Does all of that sound a little overwhelming? Just like planning parties and catering for corporate events, planning a wedding can be a tremendous undertaking. Why not get some help? At Laissez-faire,   we offer wedding packages  that will take the pressure off your wedding planning. By booking a caterer early on and letting them take the lead, you can get help with your catering, trends, menus, venues, and more. Whether you want a winter wedding, a summer wedding, or any other type of seasonal theme, we can help you get exactly what you want. 

It's the perfect time to start planning a wedding, especially if you just got engaged. To get started, contact us today at (02) 9209 4810.

2020 is approaching. What corporate events are you planning moving into the new year? Event catering changes from time to time, bouncing between trend to trend. If you want your catering for corporate events to be fresh, unique, and exciting, you need to take a look at the new and emerging trends, and find the trends that are going to work for you.

What trends were new in catering in 2019?

2019 saw a lot of farm fresh goods, locally sourced products, and seasonal goods. People are returning to nature, getting excited about ingredients, and looking for whole, healthy foods.

Many are looking towards catering as art, and "full table" spreads became very common. Foods now have to be "picture worthy," as social media is starting to play a huge role in whether an event garners buzz.

Apart from that, people are also paying more attention to creative, unique cocktails, and cocktails, teas, and other beverages have remained an important part of the entire catering experience.

As a whole, at Laissez-faire, we saw that event catering, decoration, and general planning is having a more "whole" feel, with all elements being tightly integrated, often through unique themes.

What are emerging trends in catering?

For 2020, we can expect some trends to stay the same. A lot of people still love from-scratch, farm fresh food, and that's probably going to continue for a long time to come. At Laissez-faire, we work with local producers to make sure we always have the best seasonal goods.

People are also moving into more experimental food, such as meat substitutes rather than red meats, and unique flavour infusions. Themes are going to remain a powerful way for corporate events to connect their decor to their food and their entertainment.

Rather than full meals, many corporate events are moving towards serving small bites and canapés, as a way to allow guests to sample a large variety of foods. Today, people are moving away from large, full meals in general, and towards a more ala carte system that allows them to enjoy their food while they mingle, rather than all at once.

Themes are going to remain powerful, as they streamline the development and decoration of an event. We are constantly looking out for new and interesting themes that can be used to inform your event planning. And many people like to use a destination, or something equally bold, to centre both their food and their decor.

How can you get started  with your next event?

At Laissez-faire, we are constantly looking for new ideas for our Sydney corporate catering packages. Whether you want your next event to be traditional or hyper-modern, we can do our best to develop the perfect catering menu for your organisation.

Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you. Make an enquiry today.

It's time for some end-of-year event planning. What are some of the best ideas for summer corporate catering? Summer is a great time for a refreshing, seasonal event. You can use the bright, sunny summer months as inspiration for your food, drinks, and decor.

The Best Venues For Your Summer Event

First: It's time to look for a venue! The first step when organising catering for corporate events is to find the right place to host. Start with your head count, and then you can find a venue that works best for you.

• The Royal Botanical Gardens. Enjoy the lush greenery of the botanical gardens, which can seat anywhere from 80 to 550 guests. Private landscaping and courtyards make this an elegant, contemporary retreat, with a number of fantastic locations: Bennelong Lawn, Fleet Steps, and the Rose Garden. Choose the Botanical Gardens if you want to emphasise nature for your summer event.
• The Australian National Maritime Museum. A cool breeze off the open waters will make this summer venue a refreshing experience. This waterfront property hosts from 30 to 300 people, and can create some cozy corporate events. Choose the Australian National Maritime Museum if you want to have a waterfront retreat for your guests.
• The Island Sydney. This event space comes with a fully licensed bar and enough room for 70 people sitting and 200 people standing. A unique venue, The Island is a floating beach club with private water taxis, sure to be a memorable experience. Choose The Island in Sydney if you want to host a spectacular event, such as an awards ceremony, product launch, or end-of-year wrap.
• Prince Henry Centre.   Take in the pristine views of the Pacific Ocean and dramatic Sydney coastline. Located in Eastern Sydney,  the Prince Henry Centre offers  small, medium and large private function rooms  as well as terraces, dressing rooms and an amphitheatre.  The facility is a favourite for Summer weddings, but it also perfect as an exhibition space.

Once you have your venue selected, then you can get started on your theme, decor — and select your Sydney corporate catering. Your catering is going to be one of the most important aspects.

The Best Food For  Your Summer  Events

Summer events demand a special type of catering, and it's one we know very well at Laissez-faire. For a summer lunch, you want refreshing, light food, often with a number of different options.

• The best burgers and sliders for summer lunches. Burgers and sliders are loved by everyone, and they're convenient and easy to eat. If people are wandering around and socialising, they can pick up a burger and go. Create a few different types of burger, or let people customise their burger, to keep everyone happy.
• The best canapés for summer events. Canapés are a fantastic solution for a summer event. Canapés let everyone try out different flavours, and let the catering company experiment with expressive and interesting tastes. Canapés are the best catering food for socialising, as people can grab a few small bites as they go.
• The best desserts for summer parties. For summer parties, fresh, seasonal fruit make the best desserts. An assortment of seasonal desserts that are easy to eat can keep the party going. Fruit-based and alcohol-infused popsicles make for a fun treat, and they're easy for people to hold while they do other things.
• The best cocktails and spritzers for summer cocktail parties. People remember both meals and dessert, and drinks shouldn't be forgotten. Some seasonal cocktails and spritzers are going to be exciting and memorable.

Food and drink is what people remember most out of any event, and it's entertainment in and of itself. So don't forget to plan in advance for summer catering events.

The Best Entertainment for Your Summer Event

Once your catering is in place, it's time to plan the rest of your summer event. Start with planning your decor and finding a cheerful, seasonal theme. Entertainment can include live music and awards ceremonies. Make sure to schedule your entertainment throughout the evening: Otherwise the party is over once the food has been eaten!

Are you about to start planning your summer catering events? Contact us  today to find out more about what we can do for you. Make an enquiry today.

Organising a corporate event is a complicated matter. It's not just something that you're doing for leisure: you need to take it seriously, impress the company, and make sure that everyone has an excellent time.

The Different Types of Corporate Events

First: you need to determine what type of corporate event you're going to be running. There are many types of corporate events, and all of them are managed differently:

• Product launches. These are product-focused and geared to generate buzz. Not only will employees be there, but likely members of the press and other third-parties as well. Your corporate catering is going to need to empress.
• EOFY events. These are celebrations and moments to reflect, as the fiscal year closes. Employees are going to be expecting the company's best, because this is designed to celebrate their performance.
• Christmas events. During the holidays, employees and their families may also be around. Consider whether alcohol will be served, and whether meals will need to be child-friendly.
• Milestone celebrations. These celebrations are often smaller or on a department-by-department basis, but they nevertheless need to be bold and celebratory.
• Award nights. A great way to provide employees with some praise for a job well done, award nights need to be handled with care. They have to be impressive, and show the employees that the company really does appreciate them.
• Conferences. Conferences can be large or small, and often they need multiple menus because of the amount of time that they go through. Plan ahead for multiple meals, and think about both food and beverages.

As you can see, each of these will need to be organised in a different way. Apart from the head count, the type of corporate event is going to be the single most important thing you need to know.

How to Organise Your Event

First, get an accurate head count by asking your superiors who is required to come, or having people who aren't required to come RSVP well in advance. If more people come than that, you can't be held accountable for it! But do buffer the numbers that you get, so that getting more people or fewer people won't lead to a disaster.

When Should You Begin Planning

You should always begin to plan as soon as possible. The best venues are going to be booked out for a long time. Laissez-faire has a number of favourite venues: Australian National Maritime Museum, Urban Winery Sydney, State Library NSW, and Harbour 220. All of these are fantastic picks for a corporate catering event.

Now that you know everything there is to know about catering for corporate events, it may be time to contact a professional. Call us today at Laissez-faire to find out more information.

YOTS Cafe  at the Australian National Maritime Museum has been selected as a finalist in the 2019 NSW Tourism Awards! The awards night will take place on November 14, where we will find out which venues across the state take home the awards for all their hard work.

What are the NSW Tourism Awards?

The NSW Tourism Awards recognises and celebrates excellence for businesses and venues in a range of tourism areas such as Tourist Attractions, Festivals and Events, Ecotourism, New Tourism Business, Destination Marketing, Accommodation and Excellence in Accessible Tourism. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the awards. In 2019 , the NSW Tourism Awards garnered 146 entrants from a range of businesses and venues. NSW Business Chamber CEO, Stephen Cartwright said “We’re thrilled to see so many businesses entering the Awards this year, many for the first time".

The finalists represent 26 categories. Cartwright outlined the significance of the occasion, saying “The NSW Tourism Awards are the most prestigious awards in the tourism industry, with a long history of celebrating and recognising business excellence, innovation and outstanding customer service by tourism operators."

YOTS Cafe

The NSW Tourism Awards celebrate and acknowledge tourism businesses that demonstrate outstanding achievement throughout the year. YOTS Cafe is a finalist in category fifteen: Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services.

Laissez-faire caters for YOTS Cafe, one of the many facilities at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Located on Darling Harbour and with views of the city skyline, YOTS Cafe  is attractive due to its open-air dining.  This is in addition to the cafe's combination of Fish & Chips restaurant culture and sustainable practices in everyday operations. The licensed bar at YOTS Cafe provides a unique experience for guests to the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Gala Dinner

The ceremony will be hosted during a Gala Dinner on November 14 at the Four Seasons Sydney. Laissez-faire Catering can't wait to be there to represent YOTS Cafe! We love this cafe and are happy to get the chance to celebrate its continuing success.

The time to start planning for your company's 2020 conferences is now! Starting early on your event planning gives you the chance to make sure everything is perfect. You'll be able to take your time planning, connect with others for ideas, and secure the best venues and Sydney corporate catering services.

Why Should You Start Planning Your 2020 Conference Now?

The best venues and caterers are booked months in advance. If you want your event to really shine, you need to book a location as soon as possible — and that begins with research. You're not going to find the perfect venue overnight, nor are you going to be able to develop your catering menu immediately. Starting your planning now gives you time to really let the event reveal itself to you.

Here are the major advantages of starting early:

• Don't get out booked. What happens if you wait too long, and can't find any available venues? You'll just have to settle for the venues that are available.
• Get better rates. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to be able to get a great deal. Rates are going to rise closer to the date, as demand will also rise.
• Plan more thoroughly. With more time, you can ensure that the occasion goes off without a hitch — something especially important for a large event.
•  Get information to you attendees. The earlier you have a venue, the earlier you can tell your attendees where they're going, so you can plan ahead.
• Plan for dietary restrictions. If you need to poll attendees regarding allergies and dietary restrictions, you will need additional planning time.
• Get it out of the way. Undoubtedly, you're a busy person who has other responsibilities. Getting the planning over with means you won't get bogged down if you have other priorities.
• Avoid any last minute issues. If a problem comes up, it'll come up now... not just before the event. You'll be better prepared and be able to reduce your risk.
• Create a complete menu. The most memorable part of any business gathering is the food. Start crafting the menu now to make sure it's perfect by the time the conference begins.

There are many things that should be handled as soon as possible, and planning for a 2020 conference is one of them. 2020 is just around the corner, and if you haven't planned for your major events yet, you may find yourself having to rush later on.

Where Should You Start?

A conference is a tremendous undertaking. Many people don't start their conference planning immediately because they are feeling overwhelmed. But breaking your planning down into distinct steps and stages can help you manage your planning more effectively.

Start with your head count and your general idea for the event. How long will the conference run? What general location should the conference be in? Will it need to be closer to the airport or farther from it? All these questions will help you with our decision-making later on.

Take the time to consider your guests, who they are, and what they like. Plan an appropriate theme, and eventually that will lead you to the ideal venue. By planning ahead, you won't need to settle for whatever is available at the last minute.

There are some distinct advantages to connecting with a caterer before you select a venue. At Laissez-faire, we know the best venues in the area, and we're able to help customers find the venues that best suit the needs for their event. Not every venue is suitable to every occasion, and catering for corporate events in particular can require specific things from a venue. Contact Laissez-faire Today to Get Started Do you have a conference coming up in 2020? The time to book a caterer and a venue is now.

Contact Laissez-faire today to get started.

You can call us at (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online. 

Are you planning a 2020 wedding? It'll come faster than you think. Planning a wedding takes a lot of time — there's a lot to organize if you want to make sure that your special day goes off perfectly. Here's what you need to know about planning a wedding that's scheduled for next year.

First: Start Organizing Now

Wedding venues are sometimes booked years in advance. Caterers, photographers, bakers, and everyone else in the wedding industry understands this. As you get closer to your wedding date, there are going to be fewer and fewer options. Your dream wedding may not be available if you wait to book it. It could also be much more expensive.

Making decisions during the planning of a wedding takes time. You're going to be looking at catering companies, tasting menus, looking at cakes, tasting cakes, and so forth. It's not like catering for corporate events, where you can make decisions rapid-fire: you need to be able to ruminate on your options and decide what's best for you.

Your guest list is likely the most important component to organization. Both you and your soon-to-be spouse can create lists of the people that have to come and the people that you'd like to come. Use your budget to determine how many people are really feasible.

Find Your Venue Fast

Venue is one of the major things you should think about first. While you may be able to get a reasonable cake from most wedding bakers, a venue is special and unique. It may be more expensive to book a venue closer to the date, or just impossible. Once you have your venue in place, everything else often falls into place.

If you find a caterer before a venue, the catering company may be able to make suggestions. At Laissez-faire, we have relationships with some of the best venues in Sydney, and we're able to make suggestions based on our clients' needs and style.

Start Developing Your Menu

Consider seasonal produce, themed produce, and other options when developing your menu. Your caterer will be able to walk you through common wedding menus, and give you ideas that reflect you and your soon-to-be-spouse.

Many people go through quite a lot to attend a wedding, from taking off from work to traveling far distances. Food and a bar is usually the way that a wedding couple rewards their guests.

Conscientious catering companies are going to do things like save food on the side for you, so that you can still get to eat the food even if you're busy during the wedding. Catering matters at every event, but at a wedding it's even more important.

Start Hiring Professionals

Once you have your catering and venue down, it's time to start hiring photographers, musicians, and other professionals for your wedding. Again, anyone who specializes in weddings will often be booked in advance, so it's important to do this step early.

When looking for wedding professionals, take a look at reviews first. It'll indicate whether the professional is generally responsible and produces good work. A gallery of their work will also show you what they're capable of, such as the wedding gallery at Laissez-faire.

Send Out the Invitations

Invitations are another reason why it's so important for you to start planning your wedding quickly. You need to have a venue and a menu before you can even send out invitations, and you still need to collect RSVPs. Your guests will need to make arrangements, such as travel time, or finding someone to watch their children. Invitations should be sent out as soon as possible.

If you find that some people from your "must" list can't make it, you then have time to extend invitations for the people who you'd like to come.

Begin Planning Your Sydney Wedding Now

Ultimately, you don't want to feel rushed or anxious close to the date of your wedding. You want to feel as though you already planned for every situation, and everything is falling into place. To help your special day be perfect, you can take the pressure off and start planning now.

It's never too early to start planning for your wedding, especially since everything is usually booked out by months. If you're planning a wedding today, contact us at Laissez-faire, either through phone at (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online.

After two successful editions in 2014 and 2016, the international arts conferences - Communicating the Arts and Culture Business - will return to Australia this year. Laissez-faire has been selected as the catering partner for these two prestigious events.

Exclusive Sydney Venues for the International Arts Conferences

These events will be made possible through collaboration with global partners. The Australian National Maritime Museum will be the main host partner of both conferences. The Art Gallery of New South Wales will also host elements of the formal and social programmes. The conferences will be held in collaboration with Tessitura and Platforme 10. Catering will be provided by Laissez-faire Catering.

Learn more about the Sydney International Arts Conferences

Across two weeks, the two leading international conferences will bring over 500 cultural leaders, senior arts professionals and innovators together. Expert speakers at this event represent Zambia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, United States, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Australia. The purpose of these conferences is to accommodate the sharing of best cultural practices from all over the world. This allows for development opportunities within the international and national arts sector.

Communicating the Arts will be held across 12-14 November, 2019. The focus will be on Cultural Leadership. In particular, the conference asks:

• What does it mean to be a leader in the 21st century?
• Who leads the conversations in the cultural world?
• Has digital turned arts institutions into followers or leaders?

Over three days, the conference will explore cultural leadership along four key axes:

Being Bold, Connecting, Truth Telling and (Re)inventing. Culture Business will be hosted from 21-22 November, 2019. This year the focus is on the Art of Fundraising. Culture Business examine cultural philanthropy by questioning the issues facing fundraisers today. It will ask:

• How does one prospect, cultivate and retain a corporate sponsor?
• How can a crisis be transformed into an opportunity?
• What are the steps involved in designing, adopting and sticking to an effective long-term fundraising strategy?
• How can we best engage with our boards and committees?
• What type of development staffing structure is most conducive to success in fundraising?

The two programmes will feature a dynamic mix of masterclasses, case studies, keynotes, panel discussions and workshops, in group and in one-to-one learning opportunities. Interactive exercises such as Worldcafé, Knowledge Mixer and Learning Safari ensure delegates get the most out of the conference content. The social programmes include backstage visits and evening receptions at partner institutions, encouraging network development.

Laissez-faire Catering is excited to be involved in this enriching cultural programme. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram for behind the scenes preparations. 

If you're organising a tailored event, you also want your menu to be tailored, too. Your menu should be just as impressive as your event. The more unique and creative your catering is, the more memorable it will be. Here are some tips for organising your tailored events catering in Sydney. 

1. Plan Your Catering Ahead

You should start planning your catering immediately after you start planning your event. Your catering is going to impact a lot of your event, from the venue you choose to the theme and the decor. Often, the best catering companies may be booked in advance — and it takes time to plan a great menu. Once you choose a catering company, they can help you with the menu itself. 

2. Take a Look at Your Options

Sometimes looking at other tailored menus can give you ideas. Laissez-faire has a number of custom menus available online that you can review. Take notes regarding the menu items that you really love, and forward these menu ideas to your caterer. It can help them develp a feeel for what you're looking for in your tailored event. 

3. Check on Dietary Restrictions

Before you dig too deep in your menu planning, check on the dietary restrictions of your guests. Adjusting your menu to your guests will ensure that they all have a pleasant time, and it isn't as difficult as it might seem. At Laissez-faire, we are skilled in developing menus that offer options for everyone, while still remaining simple and clean. 

4. Go Local

Local produce isn't just fresher, it's also more sustainable. Local shops usually have specific items available, especially when it comes to seasonal produce. Use your local availability as a way to guide your menu development. You can create different menu items based on what's available, with specific produce as the "star" of the meal.

5. Ask Your Caterer for Ideas

Your caterer will have input regarding your events. Laissez-faire has been in business for decades, and has experience in virtually every type of menu. While you aren't obligated to take the suggestions, they can form an excellent jumping off point. Let your caterer know what type of tailored event you're having, and give them a few examples of the type of food you'd like. 

6. Consider Your Theme 

Your theme can produce a lot of guidance regarding the type of food that you want available. What is your event for? Do you want your guests sitting down for a full meal, or grazing on appetizers? Is your event more traditional, or more contemporary? Tailoring your catering to your event is easy when you have a very specific type of event in mind. 

7. Don't Forget the Drinks

Seasonal and themed cocktails really round out any custom menu. Consider "mocktails" for corporate events, or different varieties of lemonade or punch. You can have tea, coffee, and other drinks available, to augment the meals on your menu. For some events, the drinks are actually just as important as the menu items themselves. 

8. Think About the Time of Day

A breakfast menu is going to be considerably different from a lunch menu. But, no one says you can't serve a breakfast menu and dinner, or vice versa. Think about how you want to play with the types of foods available. If you want to do something unconventional, you can consider having breakfast items during the lunch or dinner, or doing different "plays" on breakfast items.

9. Create Many Smaller Menu Items

Rather than focusing on a few large, heavy dishes, consider lighter menu items like canapes. Smaller menu items are where a lot of Sydney catering really shines, because it allows guests to try a lot of different things that they like. It also lets you get a little more creative, as you'll know that your guests will find at least a few things that they love. 

10. Don't Forget the Kids

If your tailored event is going to include kids, let your Sydney caterer know. Often, children have different dietary needs, and they can be served with smaller and simpler plates. Your catering Sydney company can help you develop a complementary menu to the adult's menu, and ensure that parents don't feel that their kids have been left out. 

Catering is one of the most important aspects of any event, because it's the thing that people look forward to and the thing that they talk about later. Figuring out your menu ahead of time is extremely important, but you don't need to figure out your menu alone. Planning tailored events catering in Sydney is our specialty. Contact us at (02) 9209 4810 or make an online enquiry.

Don't plan your catering at the last minute! Catering is one of the most important features of any corporate event. Even though it might not be a part of the agenda, it's a large part of what will make everyone feel comfortable, productive, and valued. Here are a few of the reasons why it's important to arrange your Sydney corporate catering in advance.

Why Should You Schedule Your Catering in Advance?

Foremost, your catering company is going to work very closely with your venue. Booking a venue and a caterer early on is important: you can't get a good venue, with the right available dates, last minute. The later you book, the more expensive the venue becomes, and the more difficult a caterer becomes to secure. The best venues are often booked months in advance. 

If you want to compare quotes and menus, the process can be even longer. 

Many caterers, such as Laissez-faire, have developed relationships with specific venues and can advise you on the best venue to have. If you work with a caterer first, you'll know which venues tend to work best for them, and which venues will work best for your type of event and size of event. Apart from providing catering for corporate events, catering companies can also suggest themes and decor. 

And you don't want to rush your planning. Securing a caterer early on gives you more time to think about what you want, in terms of food, menus, and drinks. Your event won't come off as disorganised and rushed, and you'll be able to keep your guests informed and prepared as to what they can expect. There are many elements of catering that take time, such as collecting RSVPs, and making sure that you're meeting everyone's dietary needs. You can't rush these things without the event itself feeling unprofessional. 

Getting your preliminary planning out of the way means that you can then focus on other, more complicated things. Once you have the venue and caterer in hand, you'll be able to better plan and budget for things like decor. 

How to Organise Your Corporate Event Planning

It's important to secure a caterer and a venue early. But it can be difficult to manage time, especially if you're arranging multiple events, or trying to arrange an event while you're doing other things. If you're still wondering what the theme is going to be for your corporate event, how many people are going to arrive, or what your budget is, a caterer and a venue may feel very far off. 

Here are some ways you can improve upon the organisation of your event planning.

• Create a checklist. A checklist makes it easy for you to manage even more complex events. Organise your checklist based on your priorities, and make sure to check things off as you accomplish them! You may even want to create a separate checklist each morning, of things you need to accomplish that day.
• Establish a budget early on. Your budget is going to influence nearly every aspect of your event, from the catering to the venue. Not only do you need to know the total budget, but also the budget per head — and that means getting in those RSVPs.
• Separate things into milestones and tasks. Huge milestones can be broken up into smaller tasks, to make them more manageable. You don't necessarily need to "book a venue" today, but you need to: research venues, call for quotes, and look up reviews. 
• Create deadlines and frequently check-in. Knowing when things need to be done by can improve upon your organisational system. Check your deadlines to make sure everything's being handled on time. If deadlines are missed, the entire event schedule can be set back. 
• Get things done as early as possible. If you're waiting on one thing, why not try to accomplish another? Getting things like catering and venues organised early on will take things off your plate, and let you focus on other things such as designs and menus. 
• Ask for input from your caterer, employees, and coworkers. You don't need to do everything alone. Your caterer can give you professional advice regarding your event, while employees and coworkers can tell you what they'd like to see.

For the most part, organising a company event is about taking it step-by-step. As long as you're well-organised and continually making progress, you should be able to create an event that's unforgettable. And once you find your caterer, everything else often falls into place. 

Are you planning a corporate event? It's never too early to book a caterer. We provide complete corporate event services, and can even connect you to some of the best venues in Sydney. Contact us today at (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online.

Looking for an unforgettable way to end 2019 with your team?

Our current featured Sydney venue, Urban Winery Sydney, is currently offering an exceptional Christmas Cocktail Lunch Package that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

"You will feel as though you have been transported to the vineyards of regional NSW in the heart of the city, and with help from your dedicated event manager, we will look after you each step of the way ensuring your event is a memorable one."

What's Included in the Package?

$98 per person | 12pm - 4pm

• 4 Hour Urban Winery Sydney Beverage Package
• (2 x A.Retief Red wines 2 x A.Retief White wines, 2 x Craft Beer options,
  Soft drinks, Still and Sparkling water)
• Exclusive hire of the Winery / Barrel Room
• A selection of 7 canapés + 2 substantial canapés per person
• Personal Event Manager
• All front of house staff
• Central Bar
• Cocktail tables and stools
• (Minimum 80 Guests)

Give us a call on (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry here about this package.

Situated between the Royal Botanic Gardens and Parliament House on Macquarie Street, the State Library has a range of function rooms to accommodate small to large events.

Boasting the grand elegance of the historic Mitchell building and the modern versatility of the Macquarie Street building, the State Library of New South Wales is truly an elegant and a unique Sydney venue.

Function rooms

Dixson Room

The Dixson Room at the State Library of NSW is a spacious room with high ceilings and original oil paintings adorning the walls. It's ideal for:

• conferences
• luncheons
• dinners
• cocktail parties
• sit-down meetings
• weddings

Friends Room

Located on the ground floor of the historic Mitchell Library building, the Friends Room gives out a historic ambiance and intimate charm - perfect for cocktail parties for up to 130 people.

Galleries

The classical Australian craftsmanship of Mitchell Galleries compliment any exhibitions using this space. These are well suited for:

• cocktail parties
• theatre
• presentations

Gallery Room

The Gallery Room at the State Library of NSW is warm and spacious with high ceilings and a decorative stained glass window. It is ideal for:

• conferences
• luncheons
• dinners
• cocktail parties
• sit-down meetings
• weddings for up to 120 people

Metcalfe auditorium

The Metcalfe Auditorium is perfect for a wide range of:

• presentations
• seminars
• meetings
• lectures

Catering is easily organised with the nearby Macquarie Room.

Book at the State Library of New South Wales for your Next Event

 Learn more about the State Library of New South Wales here: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/

For more information on the beautiful rooms available at the State Library of New South Wales, visit our venue page.

Give us a call on (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry about this venue today: https://www.laissez.com.au/make-an-enquiry

From the technology to the venue, corporate conferences take a lot of work. But if you're organising a corporate conference, one of the most important things to remember is the food. If you're an Executive Assistant or Event Assistant, you're likely responsible for ensuring that all the little details go without a hitch. There are few things that people remember as strongly as not getting fed well!

Organising a Corporate Conference  in Sydney

Conference catering is challenging. There needs to be a variety of food, and often an assortment of different types of food throughout the day. You aren't just creating a single menu, but rather an entire menu throughout the conference. 

To that end, you need to:

• Know how many people are attending. This is the most important piece of information, because it controls how much food needs to be purchased, and how large the venue is.
• Find out whether there are any dietary restrictions. Some people attending may have serious allergies, be on a grain-free diet, or be vegetarian or vegan. Having these options for them is considerate, and not having these options available will be remembered.
• Figure out how long the conference will be. This controls which meals will be served. For many conferences, there will be at least two snacks (a morning tea and an afternoon tea) and a lunch. 

Of course, these are just the tips you need to follow for the catering itself. There's a lot more to plan with a conference event, but catering is at least one of the areas that you can easily outsource to someone else. By hiring a professional catering company like Laissez-faire Catering, you can rely upon someone else to serve the food, and you can concentrate on other things. 

Work With the Voice of Experience at Laissez-faire Catering

At Laissez-faire Catering, we've been involved in conference planning and conference catering in Sydney for 30 years. We know the ins and outs of catering conference events, which includes building a complete menu. Our conference menus are designed to be elegant and memorable.

Here's an example of one of our popular conference menus:

• On arrival, guests receive their choice of freshly brewed fair trade, organic coffee and hand-selected teas, served with chilled water.
• During morning tea, guests select two of the following: Bircher muesli, natural yoghurt, mini sweet muffins, mixed berry friands, bacon and egg tarts, smoked salmon bagels, petite croissant, bacon BBQ egg roll, mini orange cake, fruit'n'nut muesli bar, or seasonal fruit platter.
• During afternoon tea, guests select one from the following: mini sweet muffins, mixed berry friands, heirloom tomato quiche, bite-sized scones, house-made sausage roll, carrot cake, roast turkey croissant, dark chocolate brownie, mini baked doughnuts, mini orange cake, Macaron collection, seasonal fruit platter, fruit'n'nut muesli bar.
• During lunch, guests are served a selection of artisanal sandwiches. This includes gourmet sandwiches with roast chicken or egg, chive and pepper, filled baguettes with either sliced roast beef or ham, and a seasonal fruit platter, and orange juice. 

This is just one of our conference menus! We developed three bespoke conference menus because we know  not ever conference is the same. Note that these menus accommodate many diets and diet restrictions, including grain-free options, vegetarian options, and vegan options. Guests are able to have a variety of food throughout the day, starting with very light fare during the morning tea, and leading into more robust meals at lunch. Further, guests are allowed complete control of the options that they eat, rather than being served fixed course selections.

In addition to the food itself, coffee and tea remain available throughout the day, making it easy for guests to enjoy the beverage of their choice with their meal. 

Creating a menu that is diverse, accommodates potential diet restrictions, and allows for choice is an on-going challenge, but it can be resolved by working with a professional. Laissez-faire Catering has been curating conference event menus for three decades, and knows exactly what works best for conference guests.

Review Our Conference Menu and Give Us a Call

Are you looking for ideas for your next conference event? You can start getting ideas about what you want for your conference by looking at our conference menus. Once you have a better idea of what you'd like,   give us a call on (02) 9209 4810 or fill out our enquiry form. We can work with you to find a menu that is unique to your business, or we can use a menu that we've already created before that you like.

Want to get back to this menu easily? You can download it here as a pdf version. 

Laissez-faire catering has over 30 years of experience as a Sydney catering company, specializing in fresh, local produce, and creative, inventive catering menus. Offering the best in corporate, conference, conference, and retail catering services, Laissez-faire has what you need to make sure your next event is unforgettable.

Every Type of Food, Every Type of Catering, at Laissez-faire

At Laissez-faire, we offer tailored menus for your event. Not only do we customize our menus based on your company's needs, but we also customize them based on the fresh, seasonal produce available. We work directly with local producers and farmers to make sure that our ingredients are of the highest quality — and we match our foods to your type of event.

Whether you need BBQ catering Sydney or modern, contemporary fare, Laissez-faire has it covered. We work with you to create a menu from scratch. Whether you want general catering in a certain cuisine or you want a specialty menu that's designed to suite a theme, we'll develop the perfect solutions for you.

Our menus are carefully crafted depending on type of event — whether you need small, finger foods that are easily eaten, or full lunches and dinners that will leave your guests completely sated. Any type of catering you need can be found at Laissez-faire.

From Venue to Menu, Laissez-faire Offers the Best in Catering Sydney

Planning corporate events and private events can be a challenge. One of the major challenges is finding a venue. Laissez-faire works with a number of spectacular venues throughout Sydney, and can make suggestions for any size of corporate catering or private event. We have a list of venues that we know work well with our catering services, and we can also work around any venues provided by our customers.

Laissez-faire offers:

• Corporate catering Sydney. Depending on the type of your corporate event, Laissez-faire can create the perfect menu for you. Whether you're interested in corporate award night catering or conference catering, the food has to be enjoyable while also facilitating the event itself. We work with you to plan your event out perfectly, whether the food is the star of the show or intended to be something more convenient and unobtrusive.
• Sydney office catering. Bring the catering to your event, with office catering services — customized to your business. Not all corporate events have to be held at a separate venue. We can help you determine whether your office is the better place for a corporate event, and bring catering directly into your office without distraction or disruption.
• Cocktail event catering on Sydney Harbour. One of our most popular and beloved venues, the modern Sydney Harbour is the perfect place for cocktail events. From wedding receptions to Sydney End of Financial Year (EOFY) event catering, Laissez-faire and Sydney Harbour can help. Cocktail event catering provides a relaxed, upscale atmosphere during which employees can socialize and connect.
• Sydney wedding catering. Wedding catering needs to be done perfectly, and that means that the venue and the catering service need to be able to work together. We'll help you find the best catering Sydney CBD location for your wedding, as well as the menus to match.
• Private event catering. If you need it catered, Laissez-faire can help. Laissez-faire provides full, general Sydney catering services for both private and corporate events.

We provide catering for events at our favourite sydney venues, and we provide Sydney event venue recommendations for our clients tailored to their needs. With the best in catering equipment Sydney, catering supplies Sydney, and customized, boutique menu and drink lists — everything that you need to make your next event perfect.

Get the Perfect Menu for Your Next Event Today

If you need conference catering, private catering for events in Sydney, wedding catering, or anything else in between, connect with us today.

Want to see more? You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We regularly post some of our fantastic menus and catering services.

Sign up to our newsletter for monthly updates on what we're doing around Sydney, exclusive deals and specials, or, contact us today on (02) 9209 4810. You can also make an enquiry online.

Awards nights are an excellent way to show your employees the recognition they deserve. Employees thrive on being recognized for their contributions. Happy, satisfied employees are more productive. But an awards night has to be carefully designed if it's going to be meaningful and sincere. Here's what you need to know about planning your  company awards night.

Getting Started: the Corporate Event

We have an updated guide for business events, ranging from choosing a venue to creating the perfect theme. An awards night is just a type of corporate event, but one where awards and speeches are likely to be the focus of the night. Food needs to be designed and customized around the theme of the award night, rather than providing general, catered snacks. 

Factors to Consider When Planning an Awards Night

Your awards night is about making your team feel special. To that end, you need the perfect venue, menu, amenities, and more. Here are a few of the major factors you should consider:

• Location. Laissez-faire Catering has access to some of the best venues in Sydney. Employees generally don't want to attend an awards night in their office; they already spend all the time there. A modern, contemporary dining location or a large conference hall will be better, depending on the size of the event. 
• Menu. That's our expertise at Laissez-faire. You can check out our menus online, including the canape, shared, and plated menus. We can tailor the menu to your event. An awards show may have plated menus in addition to snacks and appetizers.
• Invitations. Organizing your awards night is important. Email reminders, physical flyers, and posts on the company intranet will make sure that no one is left out. RSVPs are important, either from employees directly or department heads, so you know exactly who is coming. This may also need to include any dietary restrictions.
• Guest capacity. Your venue is going to be strongly influenced by the amount of guests you have. We work with Sydney venues that range from 50 to 500; there's a perfect venue for events of any size. 
• AV equipment. For an awards show, this is particularly important. AV equipment is usually available from the venue, but if you need any specialty gear you will usually need to rent it and install it before the event.
• Lighting, decoration, and tablescapes. An event is all about the glamour. Kicking up the decor a notch will really make it a memorable event, and the decor itself can be themed to match the menu.
• Fun additions. No one wants to listen to speeches all night. Consider adding some fun additions to your awards night such as a photo booth, cameras at the entrance, red carpets, themed cocktails and themed canapes (such as in business colors), and more. Guests can be encouraged to share their pictures under a special hashtag, or can be included in a photo book printed later.

And, of course, awards events need to properly feature the awards. Make sure awards are designed, printed, and etched in advance, and that the individuals potentially receiving awards are given prior notice to prepare.

When a company awards night is done right, it can become something that employees look forward to every single year. An awards night gives you a chance to tell your employees that they're really expected and appreciated. For more information about creating this important night, contact the experts at Laissez-faire.

You're about to plan a corporate event. How do you get started? You need to set a budget, find a caterer, locate a venue, and decide on a menu — and it'll all be related. Choosing your venue may impact what type of design you want for your event, whether it's themed, and which caterer you want to work with.

The Catering Venues of Laissez-faire

Choosing the right venue is incredibly important. The venue must interact with the catering, facilitate your decor, and provide amenities. Laissez-faire has worked with many exceptional venues throughout Alexandria, and is able to recommend the perfect venue for your particular event.

Before you choose between Alexandria venues, you should:

• Know your budget. 
• Outline your event.
• Determine how many people are attending.

Knowing the basics will help you identify the venues that are most likely to work for you. Of all of these, knowing how many people are attending is one of the most important: it will form the basis of which venues are able to provide the services that you need.

The Venue Alexandria

One of Laissez-faire Catering's favourite venues is The Venue Alexandria. As the caterer of choice for The Venue Alexandria, Laissez-faire is able to help produce the best in corporate events and activities. A spectacular venue and delicious, sophisticated catering will come together to for a truly memorable event. 

The Venue Alexandria is a premium warehouse event space, open to corporate events, lunches, weddings, and conferences. Located conveniently between the CBD and the Sydney International Airport, it's an elegant and flexible space that can be tailored to any type of event.

When it comes to events, venues, and catering, it's always important that a venue be able to work with the catering company. Catering companies have to work around the layout of the venue, and the venue needs to have the appropriate space available for the caterer.

This venue space is ideal: it can cater events of any size, be designed around different themes, and works well with the catering provided by Laissez-faire. With Laissez-faire's expertise, this venue can be transformed for any type of corporate or personal event. 

Laissez-faire Catering and The Venue Alexandria both operate in Alexandria, Sydney. It's the perfect combination of catering and venue space in one area.

Other Venues to Consider Around Sydney

1. State Library of NSW

An elegant, contemporary building that can host parties from 50 to 200.

2. Urban Winery Sydney

An urban winery event space with capacity from 180 to 250.

3. North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club

Located overlooking the waters, this scenic location is perfect for many types of events.

4. NSW Parliament House

A historic venue with capacity for up to 800 people. 

5. Harbour 220

This venue offers special packages that are especially useful for corporate events.

At Laissez-faire Catering we have focused on delivering the best event possible to our clients for 30 years. It's why we work with the best venues in Sydney and are constantly improving our menus based on what's in season and on trend. Our waitstaff are second to none, and our team would be happy to discuss your next event. You can fill out our enquiry form here and we'll get back to you, or you can call us now on (02) 9209 4810.

Business events present some unique challenges. Often, the business event must be productive as well as memorable. It needs to provide for socialisation and networking, while still keeping everyone on task. And, it has to provide good food. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a business event that everyone will enjoy — even those who were required to go.

Start With Your Guest List

You can hardly plan a big event without knowing who will come. For a corporate event, the process is a little easier than something like a wedding or birthday party: you should have a list of those who are expected to attend. Your head count is going to become incredibly important when planning and budgeting, so do what you can to make sure that the guest list is accurate.

Figure Out Your Major Requirements

Once your guest list has been completed, it's time to talk to stakeholders and find out more about the event. Be sure to ask:

• What are the goals and tone of this event? Is it a celebration of milestones? Is it an announcement of a new product? This will tell you how the event needs to be organised and arranged.
• What is the total budget for this event? You'll need to know both the total budget and the budget per head, and you'll have to break those costs down by decor, food, venue, and entertainment costs later on.
• When does the event have to be held? This is about more than just deadlines. The timing of the event impacts what's available for that event, especially on the level of seasonal produce. 

Once you have access to this core information, you can begin truly planning the event.

Create a Budget for Your Event

Venue, decor, catering, and more: all of these things are going to be covered under your budget. When it comes to corporate event planning, the budgets are often fairly tight. Once you allocate funds to a specific area, you'll want to keep a "buffer" for any unexpected expenses. 

Find a Sydney Venue for Your Event

Can your event be held within your offices? Or should the event be held at a professional event space? The type of event, size of event, and event budget are all going to determine which type of venue you use. You can look around your area to find a venue that's suitable, while looking online for positive reviews. You can also ask your caterer, once chosen, to suggest appropriate venues.

When looking for a venue, you will be looking for a place that suits the capacity of your event and the general feel of the event. Is it going to be more casual or more formal? Will you need a stage, or is it more important for people to socialize? These are all questions to ask yourself when planning.  

Find a Caterer in Sydney for the Event

Your caterer is going to help you make quite a few event-related decisions, including: meals, theme, decor, drinks, and even venue. It's often in your best interest to find a caterer as quickly as possible, especially due to the fact that the best caterers tend to be booked out months in advance. 

But how can you find a good caterer? Looking online for reviews and testimonials can help, as the best caterers will have solid online reputations. Posts on social media sites will often highlight the type of work that a caterer does, showcasing their talents and also providing inspiration.

When you meet with a caterer, they should be able to give you some ideas for your event, as well as providing samples of their work. It may take some time to find the best caterer, but catering is often what people remember the most when they think about any type of corporate event.

Think About the Theme and Design of Your Sydney Event

With the help of your venue and your caterer, you'll be able to truly begin planning your business event. From here, you'll need to determine the theme, design, and general feel of the event. You'll need to select decor, create a menu, and determine how (and if) drinks will be served.

• Explore current catering food trends. Trends change from time to time, and trendy, modern food is often quite memorable.
• Determine whether a bar will be available and whether cocktails will be served. This will dramatically change your budget, as well as the scope of the menu.
• Consider using a theme for your decor and design. Themes make designing a business event far easier, as a themed event comes with built-in suggestions. 
• Settle on a colour palette to inform your design. A nice little "cheat" for decorating your business event is to first settle on the colour palette.

This is when the basics will be covered and you'll be able to truly bring your event to life. The right caterer and venue will be able to give you advice about hosting your corporate event, and you should be able to complete the rest of the planning without a hitch.

Are you ready to get started on your next business event? Get a head start by contacting the experts at Laissez-faire. 

What can you do to make your next corporate event more memorable, enjoyable and unique? Businesses continue to plan bigger and more frequent events. It's crucial to find ways to differentiate each occasion from the last and encourage more people to show up. These ideas can help you organise a great meeting or celebration:

1. New Venue in Sydney

A classy, eye-catching Sydney venue could make your next event special. For instance, you can hold a conference at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney's Urban Winery or a nearby surf club. Be sure to visit the site beforehand. Don't forget to think about access to public transit and lodging.

2. Trendy Sydney Catering

Talk to your caterer and suggest trying something new. One popular trend involves serving a variety of canapes and other snack-size foods, such as burger sliders. This makes dining more convenient and lets participants sample diverse cuisine. Guests can easily control portion sizes, too.

3. Healthy Menus

More and more people want to eat nutritious meals. Try to choose appetising foods that don't deliver too much fat, cholesterol, sugar or sodium. Iron and protein help energise attendees so they can focus on presentations. On the other hand, overeating could compel half of your audience to take naps!

• Smaller portion sizes
• Energy, not excess calories
• Naturally delicious

4. Popular Cuisine

If you're not sure what to feed people, use a written survey or online poll to ask your staff about favorite meals and snacks. Keep in mind that allergies and religious beliefs can prevent some people from eating what the majority prefers. A poll could also help you plan other aspects of the occasion, like entertainment.

5. Live Music, Comedy

Don't arrange the same old entertainment that everyone has already seen and heard. Hire a different person or group to perform live music. Another option is to invite a stand-up comedian to your company meeting. Some people get offended easily, so choose a band or humourist with care.

6. Better Presentations

Don't rely on music to provide all of the entertainment. Make presentations more engaging with video, audio and inspiring words. Try to summarise data into concise material that leaves a lasting impression. Your event will achieve greater success if presenters forgo the usual dull PowerPoint shows that put audiences to sleep.

• Succinct and on-topic
• Tell interesting stories
• Multimedia effects

7. Insightful Speakers

Think about inviting an independent expert to speak at your conference. Choose someone who can look at your industry from a different perspective and offer valuable insights. For example, perhaps your company provides renovation services. You could invite the host of a home improvement show to speak at the event.

8. Special Lighting

Changes in lighting can help presentations become more dramatic, memorable and easily visible. If possible, dim lights while speakers use projectors and brighten them when participants need to walk around. Spot lights illuminate presenters in an eye-catching way. Remember to ask about lighting when you compare venues.

9. Fun & Games

Incorporate some exciting, enjoyable activities into your next event. You could consider adding trivia competitions, bowling, ping pong or 1980s arcade games. Try to choose games that fit your meeting's theme. If the weather and venue prove suitable, think about scheduling some outdoor activities as well.

10. Souvenirs

Give guests a tangible gift that will remind them of the event and its goals. Your staff could hand out a custom branded product, copies of a group photo or a signed copy of the company owner's book. An alternative is to let participants create something. For instance, everyone could paint their own pictures of the venue's surroundings.

To sum it up, you can greatly improve your next corporate event by introducing memorable activities, entertainment and cuisine while taking guests' personal preferences into account. It's also vital to condense and add action to dry presentations. Laissez-faire can help Australian companies achieve these goals. It offers top-notch catering, menu planning services and unforgettable meeting venues - don't hesitate to contact us for enquiries.

Looking for somewhere to host your next event? The Australian National Maritime Museum has 4 Special Package deals for you!

Package 1: The Pavilion

Dazzle your guests on the waterfront.

Located on the waterfront side of Sydney’s Darling Harbour with uninterrupted views of Barangaroo and the city skyline, this 200-person capacity waterside venue makes the perfect dinner or cocktail location for your next event. The majestic setting combined with exclusively curated menus from award-winning caterer Laissez-faire, a bespoke marquee by White Umbrella and audio visual mood by Douglas Fabian Productions, is guaranteed to make an impressive statement.  

Capacity

• Banquet: 180
• Cocktail: 200

Features

• 200sqm space 
• Award-winning caterer Laissez-faire
• Positioned right on the water’s edge with stunning cityscape views. 
• Car and boat access.

Spice up your winter nights with a unique event at the museum this July, August and September.

This winter feed your guests' imaginations with these exceptional dinner and cocktail packages. Book your next function at the Museum and let us help you create a truly unique event.

Dinner Package

Includes:

• Venue hire
• Catering by award winning Laissez-Faire Catering
• 2 course plated meal (entrée & main course or main course & dessert)
• 2 welcome canapés
• 3 hours of unlimited blanc beverages
• Sourdough bread with organic butter or extra virgin olive oil to the table
• Organic and sustainable coffee and a selection of fine teas
• Chefs & kitchen team

Price: $120 per person. Package is based on a minimum number of 100 guests.

Create a truly one-of-a-kind memorable event.

Located in the city’s stunning Darling Harbour, with dazzling skyline views and a vibrant atmosphere like no other, the Museum Precinct offers a unique space for your next conference or event.

Whether your event is corporate, social or a even a family fun day for 10 guests or up to 2,500, there’s a space available that’s perfect for showcasing your own style, offering full-scale entertainment whilst immersing guests in fascinating maritime heritage. 

The Museum Precinct comprises the full selection of the museum’s expansive range of 12 venues including our iconic collection of vessels. What better way to wow your guests than cocktails at sunset on an ex-navy Destroyer helipad or tall ship HMB Endeavour, canapes on the waterfront boardwalk at YOTS Waterside or dinner and dancing on the sleek Ben Lexcen Terrace overlooking the city skyline?

Delight your guests with a curated menu of exceptional food and beverage options by our award-winning caterers Laissez-faire. 

With easy access to Sydney’s CBD and harbour, International Convention Centre, world class hotels and more via multiple transport options, the Museum Precinct 
is an unbeatable location for your next special event. 

Capacity

• Guests: 10 to 2,500

Features

• Award-winning caterer Laissez-faire
• Access to 12 museum venues
• Entertainment staging
• Exclusive waterfront access

Image: © Isak Pretorius "Cool Cat" - Animal Portraits, Highly Commended

Be inspired. Go wild.

Dazzle your guests by hosting your next event surrounded by the world's best nature photography.

For a limited time. 7 March to 25 August 2019

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Exclusive 3 hour access the internationally-acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition
• 10 x canapés by award winning Laissez-Faire Catering
• 3 hour beverage package
• Professional wait staff & function supervisor to cater to your needs

Price: $100 per person. Package is based on a minimum number of 80 guests.  

Catering has changed dramatically within even the last few years, as tastes have changed. The catering industry evolves quickly, as it's always on the cusp of new social trends. If you need some inspiration for an upcoming event, it can be worth it to look at some of the newest developments in catering. Here are a few of the most popular ones.

Healthier, Ethical, and Sustainable Menus

People today are making healthier choices,  and that's reflected in the food they want to eat. New catering trends include designing "smart menus" which discuss how the food is sourced, as well as providing healthier options (and sometimes even substitutions). This is a catering trend that is growing, as many people now prefer more ethical, sustainable food. As a bonus, sourcing food locally means it's fresher and tastier.

Instagrammable, Presentation-First Food

People eat with their eyes. A recent catering trend is to produce food that is imminently postable: food that photographs well and tastes great. One trend emerging from this is "tablescape" presentation: considering the entirety of the table as a singular work of art. When food is posted on Instagram, it can be a boon for the caterer as well as the business. 

Breakfast and Brunch Any Time of Day

There are few things as universally popular as breakfast and brunch. From waffles to bacon, there's something for everyone: and it feels like a treat. Even if your event isn't in the morning, consider a brunch catering menu. Brunch is simple to prepare, and there are some great ways to put a creative spin on it, such as with flavour combos for desserts.

Microbreweries and Independent Wineries

Don't forget the drinks! Libations are quickly becoming an important part of the corporate event, and microbreweries and independent wineries are at the top of the list. Local beer and wine is not only affordable, but also unique and interesting. Often, there are products that attendees may not even know are available. Many independent wineries operate sustainably and organically, and there are microbreweries that craft small batches that you can secure for your event. 

Creating a few creative, high-end cocktails is an excellent way to make an event memorable, as well as to complement the meal. Consider making all of your ingredients and your drinks local.

Comfortable, Delicious, and Casual Foods

Sometimes you want to go the opposite of decadent and sophisticated, and instead load up on comfort food. Ribs, mac-and-cheese, burgers, and more: these are foods that everyone likes. For a more casual event, comfort foods can give everyone a chance to enjoy something that they already love, rather than having to be more explorative with their palette.

Not everyone wants to be challenged with every meal. If you're catering an event that's supposed to be cosy, consider going with some mainstays and favourites. 

Grab-and-Go Corporate Catering

For companies, grab-and-go catering is becoming popular. Often, catering is a reward for a business: but it's the food that people are really interested in. They want to be able to grab food and then leave, rather than being forced to socialize. This is especially true if there's a lot of business to be done, such as an event that occurs during a busy time.

Grab-and-go catering features small plates and handheld foods, and it's one of the best ways to cater an event that occurs in-office. It can also be good for events in which people are expected to mill about, such as art galleries where people will be wandering around. 

Food Truck Catering

Rather than acquiring individual catering, many larger events are now hiring food trucks. In fact, many catering companies are running their own food trucks for exactly this reason. Food truck catering is waning a little, as it does necessitate contracts with multiple vendors, and often it's priced at a little higher than traditional catering. However, there are few things as convenient for sizeable events. 

These are only a few of the top catering trends this year. In general, the catering industry is moving towards tailoring catering towards the event and the attendees. Rather than having a "one size fits all" catering solution, caterers are now finding the food and presentation that really resonates with their clients. To get started on your catered event, contact the experts at Laissez-faire.