Mealtimes are a great opportunity to foster fellowship and connection during your retreat or conference.  Your guests will be sitting next to one another, making eye contact, and sharing an experience—a delicious meal.  But what kind of meal environment is the best fit for your event?  Dining options vary from venue to venue.  At Ridgecrest, we offer buffet-style meals in a community Dining Room or catered meals in a private banquet room.  Here are some factors to consider:

1. Availability.  Catered meals are not an option for all groups.  During busy seasons such as the summer months, catered meals are not offered.  Also, if your group is too small or too large, catered meals will not be an option.  Check with your Ridgecrest contact in Sales or Event Coordination to evaluate whether catering might be a fit for your group. 
2. Budget. If your retreat budget is tight, then meals in the Dining Room will be the more economical option for you.  Catered meals are a great way to offer an upscale dining experience, but that comes with a higher price point.
3. Customization. Would you prefer to determine the times your meal is served as well as the menu for your meals?  Then catering is the way to go.  When you order a catered meal at Ridgecrest, you choose the start of the mealtime and your menu of choice from our catering guide. Click here to see our current catering menu options.
4. Program. Are you planning an awards banquet with a program or a dinner with a guest speaker?  If you intend to have a program during a meal, you will want to plan a catered meal where you have a private banquet space reserved for your event.
5. Event Goals. Are you planning an adult retreat where you hope to foster deeper connection and fellowship?  Choosing catered meals is a great way to encourage interaction in a more intimate dining environment.  It is also a nice way to treat your guests to a customized meal experience.

For most retreats and conferences, Dining Room meals will be the best fit.  But if your budget and group size allows, then catering is a great way to create a more intimate meal experience.  If you aren’t sure what will be the best choice for your group, reach out to your contact at Ridgecrest and talk through the options.  We are here to support and guide you throughout your event planning process.  Please let us know how we can best serve you!