How many pieces of finger food per person for an aperitivo?

A common rule of thumb is 4-6 pieces per person in the first hour and 2-3 for each hour after that. If the aperitivo replaces dinner, many guides suggest around 12 pieces per person.

How much does a buffet for a communion or a christening cost?

It depends heavily on the format: a simple buffet at home costs much less than a served lunch at a venue. The figures you find online are generic estimates: ask for a detailed quote based on your number of guests.

Is home delivery without staff better, or catering with waiters?

For small, informal parties at home, delivery-only catering is practical and inexpensive. Above a few dozen guests, or if you want to enjoy the party, staff make the difference in service, restocking and cleaning up.

How much food do I need for a buffet for 30 people?

As a starting point, guides suggest portions of 120-150 g of first course, 100-120 g of main course and 80-100 g of side dish per person, plus a margin of 10-15%. If the party is finger food only, think in pieces per person and duration.

What should I serve at a graduation party?

The most common format is the apericena: finger food, a few hot dishes, desserts and a toast. It works well both at home and at a venue, and is easy to manage with many guests arriving at different times.

Private party catering in Rome: quantities and formats

In short

Choose the format to suit the event: apericena for graduations and birthdays, buffet or lunch for christenings and communions.

Finger food rule of thumb: 4-6 pieces per person in the first hour, 2-3 for each hour after that, about 12 if it replaces dinner.

Always add a margin of 10-15%.

At home, decide between delivery only and catering with staff: you feel the difference at the end of the evening.

Private parties are the events where the caterer has to make guests feel at home, even when there are 80 of them in a garden. Whether you are organising your child's 18th birthday, a graduation, a christening or a dinner on a terrace, this guide helps you choose the format and the quantities.

Which format for which party

Event	Most common format	Practical notes
Adult birthday	Apericena, buffet, standing dinner	Lots of guests moving around, flexible timings
Children's birthday	Simple buffet + cake	Think about the accompanying adults too
18th birthday	Apericena or buffet with a soft-drink/alcoholic open bar	Check guests' ages for alcoholic drinks
Graduation	Apericena or a generous aperitivo	Guests arriving after the graduation ceremony
Christening	Buffet or lunch	Often lunch, many children and older guests
First communion / confirmation	Served lunch or buffet	Plan a children's menu and seating for everyone
Anniversary	Served dinner or elegant buffet	Guests seated, slower pace
House party	Finger food, buffet, live cooking	Limited space and kitchen

The apericena is a hybrid of aperitivo (pre-dinner drinks with nibbles) and cena (dinner): a generous spread of finger food and small dishes that takes the place of a meal.

How much food you need: rules of thumb

Quantities are the number one worry for anyone organising a party: too little is embarrassing, too much is waste. Here are the guideline figures found in industry guides. An experienced caterer will adapt them to your guests.

Finger food

Aperitivo before a meal: about 4-6 pieces per person.
Event of 2-3 hours: 4-6 pieces in the first hour, then 2-3 pieces for each hour after that.
Aperitivo replacing dinner (apericena): at least 12 pieces per person, with a few more if the guests are young or the party runs late.
Savoury/sweet ratio: 70% savoury and 30% sweet is often suggested.

Buffet with dishes

For a buffet served as a meal, the guideline quantities per person are these:

Course	Guideline quantity per person
Cold starters	150-200 g
First courses	120-150 g (baked pasta 120-130 g)
Main courses	100-120 g
Side dishes	80-100 g
Bread	80-100 g
Desserts	80-120 g, or 2-3 single portions
Cakes	150-200 g

These quantities are indicative, taken from industry guides. They are starting points: young guests, a long party and summer heat change everything.

The safety margin

Add 10-15% more than your estimate. Vegetables and fresh dishes run out first: a slightly higher margin there does no harm. If some guests follow special diets, plan a share of suitable dishes and label them clearly.

Drinks

Allow plenty of water, especially in summer. For other drinks, estimates vary widely depending on the type of party: ask the caterer to suggest consumption per person per hour and decide whether to pay by consumption or a flat rate.

Home catering: delivery only or with staff?

This is the most important choice for a party at home.

Delivery only

The caterer prepares everything in its kitchen and delivers ready platters, sometimes with chafing dishes or instructions for reheating hot dishes.

Advantages

Lower cost
Maximum flexibility on party timings
Ideal for 10-30 people

Disadvantages

Setting up, restocking and cleaning are up to you
Hot dishes are harder to manage
During the party it is you (or someone in the family) who does the serving

With staff

The caterer brings waiters, sometimes a cook, and takes care of setting up, service and tidying away.

Advantages

You enjoy the party
Hot dishes and live cooking become possible
The buffet stays tidy and stocked
Kitchen handed back clean

Disadvantages

Higher cost
Space is needed to work (even a corner of the kitchen or a side table)
There is often a minimum number of hours

A middle way is delivery plus one waiter for the central hours of the party: for parties of 30-60 people it is often a good balance between cost and convenience.

House parties: what to check beforehand

Space: where does the buffet go? Is there a socket for chafing dishes or a coffee machine?
Kitchen: can the staff use it? Is the oven big enough to reheat dishes?
Access: can the van stop nearby? Is there a lift? Are you in a ZTL (a limited traffic zone, closed to unauthorised vehicles at certain hours)? Give the caterer the exact address: in the historic centre, in Trastevere and in other parts of Rome with a ZTL, delivery times may be restricted.
Building rules: if you are using a shared garden or terrace, check the building's rules on hours and noise.
Tableware: is it included? Compostable disposables or hired? Who collects it?
Rubbish: who takes the rubbish away after the party? In Rome, waste sorting has to be respected at events too.

Parties for specific occasions

Graduations

Guests arrive at different times, often after the graduation ceremony, and stay on their feet. The apericena is the natural format. Dishes you can eat with one hand, a first course in a small cup, mini desserts and a toast. If you are celebrating at a venue, ask whether the package includes drinks and how long it lasts.

Christenings, communions and confirmations

Guests of all ages, often a Sunday lunch after the ceremony. Think about:

seating for older guests even if you choose a buffet;
a simple children's menu, with its own portions and price;
timings: the ceremony may finish later than planned, and the caterer must be able to wait;
cake and sugared almonds: who supplies them and who serves them.

Birthdays

For children, simple, recognisable food and a few alternatives for the adults. For 18th birthdays and adult birthdays, an apericena with music almost always works. Remember that serving alcoholic drinks to minors is prohibited: ask the caterer how it runs the bar.

How to request a quote for a private party

The more information you give, the more precise and comparable the quote will be:

Type of party, date and times
Number of adults and children
Exact address (and whether it is in a ZTL)
Preferred format (finger food, buffet, served)
With or without staff
Special diets and allergies
Drinks wanted
Indicative budget

To understand how to read the quote you receive, see how much catering costs in Rome. If you would like a menu of traditional dishes, take inspiration from the guide to the Roman cuisine menu. And when you are ready, request a quote.