HOW DO i BOOK tHE sOCIAL aFFAIR FOR MY EVENT?

Please click on our Inquire page and fill out the form. We will contact you within 48 hours and let you know if your date is available. Once the date and availability is confirmed we plan a menu consultation, in-person or via Zoom, to discuss all things FOOD as well as your vision for the event, logistics, timeline, etc. Following your menu consultation, we will send a menu proposal with an invoice and contract. At this point, we can edit and amend the menu to make sure it fits your budget and vision. Once it’s just right, you sign the contract, pay a deposit, and are officially booked!

What are your Food and Beverage Minimums?

The Food and Beverage minimum for full-service catering at The Dogwood, our flagship event space in The Grove, ranges from $6,000 to $15,000 based on 100 guests depending on the day of the week. This does not include the event space rental fee, our service charge, tax, or gratuity.

The Food minimum for full-service off-site catering at Wild Carrot and The Sheldon is $10,000 based on 100 guests and does not include our service charge, room rental fee, tax or gratuity.

The Food minimum for full-service off-site catering at a.casa is $6,000 based on 50 guests and does not include our service charge, room rental fee, tax or gratuity.

what does full-service catering include?

Full-service catering includes a custom menu, a beverage menu (where applicable), service staff, coordination of rentals, custom designed signage and decor for food stations and passed hors d’oeuvres, event set-up and break-down, an on-site catering manager.

Do you provide china, flatware, linens, napkins, etc.? How much should I budget for rentals?

We will provide the coordination of rentals for your event including china, flatware, glassware, napkins and table linens, specialty kitchen and bar equipment, tents and table and chairs. We source, order, set-up/break-down, and arrange for delivery/pick-up of all rentals. We add the cost of rentals, plus any delivery fees, to your invoice.

Once you have a menu and floor plan finalized for your event we can start the rental selection process. We will create a mood board based on your vision and any inspo pics, pintrest boards, or buzz words you provide. The mood board will display a variety of colors and styles for you to choose from along with a price estimate. It’s a fun process and we love seeing your vision come to life!!

For a wedding of 100 guests, rentals typically cost between $2000 and $4000. For larger weddings and galas over 200 guests, rentals can range from $3000 to $8000.

Do you provide an event planner/coordinator for my event?

A catering manager is present at each event. This person is the point-of-contact for our clients and can help with all food and beverage related questions or concerns. They oversee the catering and kitchen staff, and make sure the event runs smoothly. Our catering managers are not event/wedding planners or day-of coordinators. We HIGHLY recommend hiring a planner or day-of coordinator for your event and you can find a list of our tried and true vendor friends here!

What kind of food do you serve?

Our founder Kelly Spencer was born and raised on the best Southern Cuisine. As such, she built The Social Affair’s reputation on dishes like her famous Shrimp and Grits, her Grandmother’s pimento cheese, crispy fried chicken, Cathead biscuits and the like. These days, our talented Chefs are experienced in a wide variety of cuisines and love to create new and exciting menus for our clients. We’ve really done it all, from dim sum to street tacos, schnitzel to arepas, our kitchen team makes everything from-scratch and the results are always above and beyond expectations. Each menu is custom and tailored to your tastes.

Can you accommodate our dietary considerations?

Yes! As long as we know in advance, we are happy to accommodate allergies, intolerances and restrictions. If your menu includes a plated dinner, please ask guests for “dietary considerations” on your RSVP card and submit necessary accommodations with your final guest count. Those guests will receive a special plate.

If your menu includes food stations, we present the food in a deconstructed manner, and always include a variety of proteins, sides and vegetables so everyone can find something they can eat on each station, but we’d still like to know of any allergies/restrictions so we can make sure everything is labeled and our service staff can guide guests to the perfect plate!

I’m contracted for 125 guests, but only 100 Guests can make it. Can you discount my invoice to reflect the drop in guests?

NO. we are unable to discount your invoice after you have signed your contract. we price your menu based on your contracted guest count and the prices of food go up and down based on volume. The higher the volume (or guest count) the lower the price for certain items like proteins and dairy. If your guest count were to drop, we would be responsible for paying the difference in volume cost. A drop in guest count can also lead to Vendor fees, issues reaching purveyor minimums and Purchasing Overages.

When we discuss your guest count at the menu consultation we recommend choosing a number that you are absolutely certain will show up. If you are concerned about getting quoted at a potentially much lower number than you might end up with, we suggest estimating a place holder cost and updating the actual cost as rsvps come in. You can always add people to your invoice, but you cannot take them away.

what is the payment timeline?

A deposit of 10% of total invoice is due at the time of signing. A payment of 40% of the remaining invoice balance is due 3 months out, and the remaining 50% is due 7 days prior to your event date. Invoices with payment links are through email in our client portal. We also accept checks and cash.

when is final guest count due?

Your final guest count is due 14 prior to your event date. If your menu includes a plated dinner, your seating arrangements, menu selections, and dietary considerations are due at this time as well. We will provide you with a spreadsheet to fill out and submit this information.

What is your Service Charge? IS it the same as gratuity?

Our Service Charge is covers the cost of service and staffing, custom event styling, and set up. The Service Charge is not the same as gratuity. We do include 18% gratuity to all contracts. Although it’s not required, it’s always appreciated by our hardworking team members to increase the amount. You are given the option to increase gratuity on your final invoice or you may pay staff directly.

Do you provide drop-off, pick-up, or in-home catering?

We offer drop-off and pick-up catering on a limited basis. Our in-home full or limited service minimum is $3000.

Do you offer a reduced rate for children and vendors?

Vendors and Children under 12 will receive 50% off your price per person.

Do you offer tastings? 

 We offer a quarterly Client Tasting Dinner that showcases our delicious food, service and presentation. We add something from each client’s menu to the tasting so everyone can try something they’ll be having on the night of their event, along with a bunch of other tasty offerings! We find that many clients want to add something they tried at the Client Tasting dinner to their own menu. It’s a fun night and a great way to experience The Social Affair before your event. We welcome any changes to your menu after these tastings. Client Tasting tickets are $75 per person and include a multi-course dinner and open Superior Bar.

Do you offer wedding cakes? Do you have a cake cutting fee?

We bake 6 inch couples cakes in-house and decorate them with flowers that match your floral design. Our wedding cake is a classic almond and vanilla white cake with a vanilla buttercream frosting. We are able to accommodate basic special cake flavor requsts ie. cheesecake, chocolate, carrot, red velvet. This size cake is perfect for couples that want the cake-cutting picture, but might be interested in a dessert station instead of a big cake for all.

If you do want a wedding cake that is big enough to serve all of your guests please see our vendor list for bakeries we love and trust!

We are happy to cut and serve wedding cakes from outside vendors to your guests! We can also provide a cake server and knife.

Can Aunt Hilda bring her famous chocolate silk pie to serve to all my guests for dessert?

Aunt Hilda can bring dessert if it is made in a fully licensed and insured commercial kitchen. For liability purposes we are not allowed to serve food items that have been made in home or un-licensed kitchens.

Do you have a liquor license?

Yes! We are fully licensed and insured and offer a variety of bar and beverage packages to suite your needs. We feature local craft beers, proudly serve Jackson Family Wines and love creating specialty cocktails that you and your guests will love!