Policies
General Information and Policies
Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering is the premier caterer for North Mississippi, having been voted Best Caterer in Mississippi in 2023, 2024 and top five in 2025 by Mississippi Magazine and completing 1000’s of events a year will give you the assurance of helping you create an event that will be remembered long after the food is gone. Our professional resources in culinary and service skills afford you complete assurance that all commitments will be carried out to your satisfaction. In order to ensure you and your guests have a well-organized function, we must ask that we both adhere to the following catering policies:
Menus
Our menus are designed, priced, and prepared on a per guest basis, with portion sizes having been determined by our experienced catering staff for each menu item. Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering reserves the right to substitute or adjust pricing on items that become unavailable in the open market or that exceeds reasonable market costs. Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering will notify the client for approval if price adjustments are necessary or acceptable substitutes are needed. If you have concerns about the menus or amounts prepared, please do not hesitate to ask. Please note that our catering team welcomes the opportunity to customize menus and services to fit your needs.
Leftover Food
Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering prepares your menu selections based on the guaranteed number of guests. When we are on location to serve food, we usually carry more than we expect to serve. When offsite for a long period of time, we have extended food temperatures and holding conditions to a point that we will not release leftover food to you or your guests. IF FOOD IS REMOVED FROM THE SITE, TAYLOR GROCERY SPECIAL EVENTS CATERING IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THE QUALITY OR SAFETY OF THESE ITEMS.
Guest Counts
An estimated guest count must be provided at the time an order is placed. Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering must be notified of the exact number for which you wish to guarantee services for no later than fourteen (14) working days before the event. In the event a guaranteed service number is not received, the original estimated attendance count will be prepared and charged. If fewer guests attend than guaranteed, you will be charged for the guaranteed number. If the number of guests attending exceeds the guaranteed, you will be charged regular charges for the extra guests with settlement expected the day of the event.
Staffing
Catering personnel are scheduled as follows: breakfast, lunch and dinner shifts- 4 hour shifts. Shifts include set-up, service and breakdown. Any events requiring additional time or service will incur overtime charges of $50 per person, per hour.
Outside Food
Guests may not bring any food or beverages of any kind, with the exception of wedding/groom cakes, unless prior arrangements are made. We trust you will co-operate.
Serving Wares
Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering agrees to provide all serving wares from our inventory for each event and service style. This includes chafing dishes, trays, bowls, tongs, spoons, and beverage dispensers. If our inventory of serving wares do not meet your expectations, we invite you to provide your own serving wares. The client agrees to provide or pay for rental of any special serving wares requested, including but not limited to, chafing dishes, platters, bowls, serving spoons, tongs, tables, china, glass plates, drink glasses, wine glasses, silverware, and all linens.
Pricing
Our pricing is based on a per person cost. Any changes to the menu, menu items, or service style may affect the price and will require a new quote. Any invoice paid by credit/debit card will incur a 3.5% convenience fee.
Payments and Booking Fee
Billing arrangements for all events must be made in accordance with catering policies. There is a 25% booking/retainer fee on all events unless prior arrangements have been made. The booking/retainer fee will be applied to the event charges. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover. Any invoice paid by credit/debit card will incur a 3.5% convenience fee. Checks should be made out to Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering and mailed to: A Tailored Event, LLC 41 CR 362 P.O. Box 874 Oxford, MS 38655. Personal Checks must be received two (2) days before event date. If we receive a payment for services via check and the payment is not cleared by our bank; you will be responsible for a $30.00 fee and the amount of the check. If check is returned for any reason, certified funds, such as a cashier check or bank transfer must be received 48 hours before event date. Total settlement is required two (2) days before the event unless other arrangements are made with TGSEC. All orders require a credit/debit card on file. The card will not be charged unless payment has not been received in the agreed-on time.
Taxes
All applicable state and local taxes will be imposed and paid by the client. If the client’s organization is tax exempt, Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering must receive a certificate or letter address to the organization from The Mississippi Department of Revenue reflecting the client’s exemption status not later than 14 working days before the event. If the Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering does not receive this certificate, the client agrees to pay all taxes associated with the event.
Serving Times
All events are priced based on serving times: 1.5 hours for buffet service, 2 hours for plated meals and 2.5 hours for receptions. If longer serving times are required for your event, please notify our staff for an updated price based on extended serving time.
Service Style Options
Casual Style Hosted Buffet (CH): All Casual Hosting menus are self-serve buffets and drinks. These menus include disposable dinnerware and a buffet host.
Cafeteria Style Buffet: Staff served casual style hosted buffet. Upcharge of $200.00
Boxed Meals: Meal is individually boxed per guest. Can be served grab-and-go style.
Full Service (FS): All Full-Service menu items include a higher level of service for your event, which includes Full-Service Staff, Preset Tables with glass condiment bottles (salt, pepper, ketchup, and hot sauce), flatware, and pitchers of drinks, if applicable. This is available with upgraded dinnerware only.
Dinnerware
Standard Dinnerware: Includes disposable 3-compartment plates, dessert bowl or plate, foam logo cup for beverages, and a meal kit (fork, knife, spoon, napkin, salt and pepper packet in a sealed package).
Upgraded Dinnerware: Choose from either clear plastic, white with a silver ring or white with a gold ring and either gold or silver rolled silverware (additional $3.00 per person).
Hard Dinnerware: Off-white farm plate and dessert plate, clear glass salad plate, hammered silverware, glass water goblet and linen like napkin (additional $6.00 per person).
Dinnerware Provided by the Client: $2.00 per person service charge.
Cancellations
If the client cancels a contracted food and beverage event, Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering will retain all or a portion of the booking/retainer fee as liquidated damages. All cancellations must be received 14 days before event date. For cancellations made within 14 days of an event, a 50% payment of cost of the event is required. PAYMENT IN FULL IS REQUIRED FOR ANY CANCELLATION MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF EVENT.
Service Area/Parking
Client agrees to provide and/or arrange parking for Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering service equipment including vehicles, trailers, and an area for a prepping/staging area within reasonable distance of serving area.
Additional Service
Linens, plastic table covers, specialty serving pieces, specialty china, fresh flowers, themed decorations, ice carvings, balloons, candles, guest seating, bands, DJ’s, and other items can be provided or arrangements made with our preferred vendors. Please contact our staff for pricing.
