General FAQs

Choosing your facility is one of the most important steps in planning your event. Ladyfingers Catering is an approved, preferred, or house caterer at most of the open venues in Kentuckiana. You may look at the venues and facilities section at the top of our website for a list of our venues.

The venue you choose may affect several costs associated with your event. For example, some facilities provide items such as tables, chairs and linens. Some facilities provide set up and break down of tables and chairs. Other facilities require the catering staff to provide these services. These are things to consider when reviewing the staff services on your proposal. Your facility representative will let you know which services they provide and what is required of the caterer. The facility representative may also assist you with a floor plan which would then be copied to Ladyfingers. We will also be happy to assist you with the walk-thru and/or floor plan if necessary. Ladyfingers staff labor estimates will include any additional services required by your facility i.e. table, chair set-up, breakdown, clean-up, trash removal etc. 

If your venue does not have a dumpster or trash removal services available, we can provide you with a rental van for trash removal for an additional $150.00 charge. We cannot provide any trash removal service with our own company vans.

Tented events require a “work” area close to or attached to main tent at your expense. The tent MUST be covered, must be lit and out of view of guests (usually a caterer's tent). Work tables must be provided by the customer for us to have a work area. Water access must be accessible. Ladyfingers can bring water in igloos if necessary. Ladyfingers also needs to know any special parking instructions and whether our vans will be able to get close to the tents for loading and unloading.

Ladyfingers also requires trash cans and a dumpster area, provided by the client. Health Department Regulations say that we CANNOT put trash in our vans. 

Ladyfingers may provide simple centerpieces at $10-15 per table. The centerpieces may consist of candles, mirrors, petals, flower baskets or other decorative pieces. We will be happy to place simple centerpieces that YOU provide on the tables as well, if requested. We are also happy to light candles if needed. Decorators are responsible for the removal of THEIR décor or centerpieces.

Ladyfingers Catering reserves the right to travel expenses, waiter cancellation fees, special purchases, etc. A non refundable 50% deposit is required 30 days prior to your event. No refund will be made if event is canceled within thirty (30) days prior to your event. Failure to pay in full with your finalized, minimum guaranteed guest count ten (10) days before your event will result in loss of staffing and catering services.

Ladyfingers provides all buffet linens and decorative billowing material in your color scheme or theme. Beverage linens are provided with all of our beverage services.  We can provide linens for guest tables, cocktail tables, etc for an additional cost. Please specify your choice of color. You may also provide your own guest table linens.

Ladyfingers will be happy to arrange for any additional rental linens or you may choose your own rental company or decorator to assist you. Ladyfingers will place linens on your guest tables if requested.

Ladyfingers ALWAYS presents your buffet artistically using multi-leveled display pieces, decorative billowing, candles, beads, themed props, fresh flowers or greenery. We will coordinate your color scheme, theme and personal taste when planning our buffet presentation. Please feel free to share your ideas and requests for presentation.

We will be happy to make any rental arrangements for you with your chosen rental company free of charge. Keep in mind, however, that final confirmation of rental items, deposits and bill pay are the client’s responsibility.

Ladyfingers will cut and serve your cake at NO ADDITIONAL fee. We will provide you with complimentary use of a cake knife and server if requested. We can provide plates and forks for an additional charge or you may provide your own. Ladyfingers does NOT provide take home boxes for left over cake. Please request that your cake decorator leave cake boxes for the cake topper and/or leftovers. We NEVER move cakes prior to the ceremonial cutting.

We will need to know if you want your top layer saved or served and how many different flavors of cake you have in order to properly serve the cake to your guests.

For liability issues it is REQUIRED that clients provide their own Ziplocs, pans, etc. for leftovers.  We will only give items that we deem “SAFE”. Some facilities do not allow leftovers to be taken except by organizations such as Kentucky Harvest due to safety reasons.  It is also required that your facility had refrigeration to put the leftovers in until the conclusion of your event. If they do not, the client must provide coolers to store items in. 

When you give Ladyfingers your minimum guaranteed guest count number, we also need to know your expected guest arrival time. This ensures that your event will be completely set up prior to your first guest's arrival. Ceremony time, duration and length of drive from the church/wedding site to your reception should all be taken into consideration when estimating an accurate guest arrival time. Most ceremonies are 20-30 minutes.

We will need to know if your wedding ceremony is being held on-site, as this will affect the set-up time of your event as well. If you are having passed appetizers, we will need to know how long you would like these to be passed. We will also need to know what time you would like the bar to open and close, what time you would like the buffet to open and close and finally, what time you will be having your toast, cake cutting and other times pertaining to set-up and break down. 

Ladyfingers is excited about working with you to create the perfect menu for your event. We can work with you to custom build a menu of your choosing or suggest a particular menu that will help to make your event a success. We are also excited to show you our artistic flare and commitment to homemade, delicious food.

Ladyfingers offers an extensive list of foods on our website. When looking through the website, remember that this is a guideline to help you get started with choosing your menu. 

If you look on our website under beverages, you will find all of the different types of packages that we offer. All of Ladyfingers' bar packages include ALL NON-Alcoholic beverages as well. Ladyfingers bar packages include disposable cups. Rental glassware is available at an additional charge. 

If you decide to provide your own bar and alcohol, we do ask for a list of what you are providing and we do ask that you remember all of your bar needs, such as: bar table linens, ice, cups, cocktail mixers, garnish, stir sticks, ice bowl, scoop, tubs or coolers for icing, ice for icing, keg taps, keg tubs. Please note that Ladyfingers does NOT have equipment for kegs. 

Also, make sure you have checked with your chosen facility to confirm that you can provide and serve your own alcohol. If you are allowed to purchase your own alcohol but CAN NOT serve it due to liquor liability reasons, we do offer our bartenders by the . We also charge a $1 per person liquor liability license to serve your alcohol. 

We do offer cash bars. Ticket sales are available for corporate events. The client must provide their own tickets. 

Tableside wine service is available at an additional charge and may require additional staff. 

We do ask for a contact person before the event in case there is an issue with a guest being refused service due to inebriation.

We offer a non-alcoholic beverage service. We offer iced tea, coffee, soft drinks, punch, lemonade, etc.

Please note that our coffee can be ordered for less than your total guest count in increments of 25. The beverage service includes disposable cups. Rental glassware is available.

There may be a 10-20% equipment service charge applied to your proposal. This service charge encompasses all buffet, beverage and bar service equipment including but not limited to: chafing dishes, utensils, sternos, bowls, props, coffee brewers, coffee service, beverage dispensers, table side service trays and tray jacks, pitchers, carafes, warming boxes, disposable dinnerware, disposable beverage cups, napkins, cocktail napkins, linens and special equipment required for large on-site events. 

 Our 20% service charge will include all of the above and an appropriate type of disposable dinnerware (clear acrylic, black or white plastic, Styrofoam, etc.). Deliveries and Gourmet to Go pick-ups with disposable dinnerware are subject to a 15% service charge. If you opt for china dinnerware, we will arrange for those items at an additional rental cost.  You may also choose to arrange for  of your own rentals. 

Most venues in Kentuckiana charge a caterer's fee to the facility. If you choose a venue that requires a facility fee, it will be added to your bill and paid to the facility by Ladyfingers. The Facility Fee charge on your proposal is an estimate only. It will be adjusted after your final bill. The facility fee will adjust according to your final guest count, final menu and beverage choices.

Ladyfingers will staff events based on your guest count, menu, service style and the facility where your event is held. We want to ensure your guests have the quality of service we pride ourselves on. Poor service due to insufficient staff reflects poorly on our business.

Please note that the labor charge accounts for set up, service time, and clean up. You are billed for the actual services that we provide at your event. We adjust your staff charge if your party ends early, on time, or late.

When you have gone over the proposal and you have decided that the menu, pricing, etc. is to your satisfaction, we will require a $150 non-refundable deposit and a signed contract to confirm your event. When you sign the contract you are agreeing to a 50% deposit 30 days before your event and the other 50% 10 days BEFORE your event with a CONFIRMED MINIMUM GUEST COUNT GUARANTEE.

This means that once you have confirmed your minimum guest count you cannot subtract people. You are welcome to add people in the 2 weeks prior to your event. Ladyfingers is happy to ADD we just can’t subtract once the minimum guarantee has been determined.