# Vienna company party: a three-stage catering timeline Canonical source: https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/ Language: en Content last modified: 2026-10-29 > Organise a Vienna company party with a catering plan for setup, staggered arrivals and dinner, including a sample timeline and a clear staff briefing. Reading version of the visible main content. The linked HTML page is authoritative. Navigation, form fields and interface controls are omitted. - [Home](https://deltacatering.at/en/) - [Catering blog](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/) - [Business & company events](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/business-events/) - From the final meeting to dinner together [Business & company events](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/business-events/) ## From the final meeting to dinner together A company party rarely starts simultaneously for everyone. Some people finish a project, others travel in or work from home that day. A catering plan brings them into one evening through three stages: preparation, arrivals and dinner. Give each a clear starting point and a named decision-maker. Delta Catering editorial team30 October 20264 min read ![Canapés, vegetable dishes and small desserts on an office sideboard overlooking Vienna rooftops](https://deltacatering.at/assets/editorial-company-party-timeline-v32-1280.webp) Serving inspiration for the shared dinner stage of a company event. ### In this article - [First decide how the team should spend time together](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#format-decision) - [Stage 1: prepare before the working day ends](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#stage-one) - [Stage 2: bring different arrivals together](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#stage-two) - [Stage 3: give dinner its own time](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#stage-three) - [Use the staff briefing to connect all three stages](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#staff-brief) - [Questions about this topic](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-company-party-catering-three-stage-timeline/#article-questions) ### What you will take away - Choose the meal format around how people should spend time together. - Separate the arrival window from the shared dinner start. - Use one running order for organisers, venue and catering staff. ### First decide how the team should spend time together Should departments mix, should a project milestone be recognised, or should everyone simply enjoy an unhurried meal? A buffet allows choice and movement but needs suitable serving routes. A plated menu creates a clearer shared start. Several smaller serving rounds can suit an informal evening with enough resting surfaces and appropriate seating. Look beyond favourite dishes to arrivals, layout and planned contributions. Allow a coherent meal period before or after longer presentations. The format determines which preparation, equipment and service responsibilities belong in the proposal. ### Stage 1: prepare before the working day ends Confirm when the room genuinely becomes available. A meeting ending at 17:00 does not mean catering setup is complete at 17:00. Allow separate time for rearranging furniture, delivery and equipment checks. One contact can receive the team while the other organisers finish their working day. This sample shows the dependencies for dinner at 18:30. It is not a universal setup allowance: agree preparation time with the venue and caterer. If more time is needed, begin earlier or adjust the start rather than allowing unfinished setup during arrivals. - 16:30: agreed room handover and setup start. - 17:30: organisers and team review the running order. - 18:00–18:25: arrivals, drinks and agreed opening bites. - 18:25: brief welcome followed by a clear start signal. - 18:30: shared dinner, with arrangements for later arrivals. ### Stage 2: bring different arrivals together Identify likely arrival groups alongside total attendance. Colleagues working from home need equally clear invitations. State the entrance, refreshment start and dinner time, preventing “from six” being mistaken for a fixed meal time. Agree a specific arrangement for late arrivals so that dinner need not wait for everyone. If some colleagues join the welcome remotely, keep that short online segment distinct from the meal on site. Assign someone to manage the connection rather than leaving technical tasks with the catering team. ### Stage 3: give dinner its own time After the welcome, make the transition to food clear. A menu discussion might begin with roasted vegetables, a suitable grain accompaniment and an agreed warm main course. A small dessert can later signal the return to open conversation. These are examples rather than packages; the selection and execution are agreed individually. Avoid inserting extra speeches unpredictably between serving moments. Decide whether service pauses during a contribution and who signals its restart. With a buffet, organisers can explain how serving begins without imposing a rigid timetable on every conversation. Give guests enough direction to understand the evening without continually interrupting it. ### Use the staff briefing to connect all three stages A short briefing sheet should name the venue contact, time windows, meal format, known dietary requirements and person authorised to change the plan. Add responsibility for drinks, technology, clearing and handover. A friendly promise that everyone will help is not a substitute for knowing who owns each task. To compare cost scope, specify food, staff hours, equipment and collection. Send your draft, date, venue and attendance to Delta Catering at office@deltacatering.at. The running order identifies required services and the responsibilities your company will handle. ### Questions about this topic **How much setup time is needed?** It depends on handover, delivery access, format and equipment. Confirm the time needed for your venue; the sample times are not a universal allowance. **Must everyone eat at the same time?** Not necessarily. A shared start can coexist with separate arrangements for known late arrivals. Discuss those groups early so their meal remains part of the plan. **What if a speech runs over?** The named contact should agree changes directly with the service team. Identify which elements can move and which agreed timings still apply. ### For your actual plans [Plan a company event](https://deltacatering.at/en/corporate-catering/) [Explore menu ideas](https://deltacatering.at/en/cuisine/) [Prices & budget planner](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-prices-costs/) [Service & equipment](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-service-equipment/) ### Keep reading Business & company events ### [What food fits your seminar break?](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-seminar-catering-five-twenty-forty-five-minute-breaks/) Plan seminar catering in Vienna by comparing three sample break lengths, arranging coffee and water, and allowing time to return to the programme. 4 min read[Read the article](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/vienna-seminar-catering-five-twenty-forty-five-minute-breaks/) Vienna & catering ### [A Ringstrasse reception with time to enjoy Vienna](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/ringstrasse-reception-catering-city-walk/) Plan a reception near Vienna’s Ringstrasse with an indoor venue, an optional city walk, suitable food and a clear welcome for both groups of guests. 4 min read[Read the article](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/ringstrasse-reception-catering-city-walk/) Vienna & catering ### [A summer evening by the Danube starts with the right venue](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/danube-summer-dinner-private-venue-catering/) Plan a summer dinner near Vienna’s Danube: compare private venues, indoor alternatives, arrival routes and a menu suited to an evening together. 4 min read[Read the article](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/danube-summer-dinner-private-venue-catering/) [All articles](https://deltacatering.at/en/catering-blog/)