Food and Beverages

Food and drinks are a nice addition to any meetup, but they’re not required for a good event. Whatever the host company can offer is appreciated. Whatever they can’t offer is fine too.

Who covers it

The sponsor company usually handles drinks and snacks. As an organizer, you can offer to cover it yourself if the sponsor can’t, but don’t count on needing to. If it does fall to you, a local retailer will get you decent food and drinks at a reasonable price.

Timing

Drinks are available right after registration, during the warm-up period. Food comes out at the end of the talks, when the networking starts. That order works well: people aren’t distracted during the talks, and the food gives people a reason to stay and keep talking.

Things to check

Before buying anything, confirm what the venue allows. Some spaces don’t permit alcohol. Check first so you’re not stuck with drinks you can’t serve.

During registration, ask attendees if they have any dietary restrictions. A quick question upfront tells you how many alternative options you need to prepare.