OH! Journal
Good hosting,
minus the panic.
Useful answers for people planning parties, showers, brunches, receptions and work events in Ottawa.
Guide
How Much Does Catering Cost in Ottawa?
What the four catering service levels cost per guest in Ottawa, why minimums exist, and the six decisions that move a quote more than the menu does. Styled tables start at $42 per guest.
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Guide
How Much Food for a Party? Quantities That Actually Work
Piece counts and weights per guest for grazing tables, receptions and party buffets, adjusted for event length, time of day and whether the food is the meal.
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How Many Hors d’Oeuvres Per Person? A Working Calculator
Canapé quantities per guest by event length and time of day, with hot-to-cold ratios, vegetarian share and the adjustments that matter for standing receptions.
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Hiring a Caterer in Ottawa: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Book
The twelve questions that show whether a caterer has thought about your event — including the insurance and allergen answers Ottawa venues ask for — and where OH! publishes its own answer to each.
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What Goes on a Grazing Table? A Food List With Quantities
The six categories a grazing table needs, what to put in each through an Ottawa year, and how length, item count and quantities change for 12, 20, 30 and 50 guests.
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Grazing Table vs Buffet: Which One Suits Your Party?
How grazing tables, buffets and hors d’oeuvres service differ on flow, quantity, staffing, hold time, cost and the kind of room each one needs.
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What Is Styled Catering, and How Is It Different From Drop-Off?
Styled catering versus drop-off catering: what each service level includes, what stays with the host, what the on-site build involves, and how to work out which one your event needs.
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When Do You Actually Need Catering Staff?
Where a styled share table runs itself, the five triggers that create a real service need, what event staff actually do, and how Ontario alcohol rules change the answer.
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A Two-Week Party Planning Timeline for an At-Home Celebration
A two-week timeline built around the dates that actually bind — cancellation window, final guest count, balance due — plus when two weeks is too late in an Ottawa year.
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