Planning Your Event at The Historic Florence

Welcome! If you're hosting an event at the Governor’s Ballroom or the Lobby in the Historic Florence, you're in the right place.

As the exclusive catering partner for the Florence, The Silk Road will be providing all food and beverage services for your event. Whether you're in the early stages of planning or have already signed your venue contract, this page outlines what to expect and how we’ll guide you through the process.

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First Things First: Booking Your Date in the Historic Florence

If you’ve already booked , congratulations—your catering services are automatically in great hands.
 

If you’re still considering the space, we recommend securing your date with the venue as soon as possible. Once your date is booked, your catering date with us is automatically confirmed, and we’ll begin planning together.

Step 2: Schedule Your Planning Call

When you’re ready, we invite you to schedule a planning call with Sam Risho, our Catering Coordinator and Co-Owner. During this call, we’ll talk through your ideas, review menus together, and start crafting your event.

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Step 3: Prepare for Your Planning Call

*Before your meeting with Sam*, take some time with your co-planners to consider the following large concepts:

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Style of Service 

What’s the vibe of your event?
Picture how your guests will interact with the food:

• Elegant plated dinner?

• Buffet?

• Heavy hors d'Oeuvre party?

• Passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktail hour?

• Live Action Station

• Specialty Themed Buffet

Take a look at our Style of Service guide to explore all your options. Sam will help you weigh the pros and cons of each and tailor it to your space, guest list, and energy. Don't feel obligated to just one style! Many catered events have a mix of two or many styles!

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Menu Ideas

This is the exciting part! Browse our Catering Menus and mark anything that catches your eye. We love crafting menus around your favorite flavors, seasonal ingredients, or cultural traditions. Want vegetarian options? A late-night snack table? Dessert bar? We're here for it all!

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Budget Basics

You don’t need to have every dollar figured out, but a ballpark range helps guide our recommendations.

Things to think about:

• What’s included in your total event budget (food, rentals, staff, beverages, linens, etc.)?

• Who’s contributing financially—and who gets the final say?

• Do you prefer a price per person, a total dollar amount, or do you want to start with a dream menu and scale from there?

We’ll meet you wherever you are in the process.

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You don’t have to have all the answers—but any info helps us prepare a smoother experience for everyone.

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Step 4: Phone Meeting with Sam

This is your time to talk through ideas, concerns, and possibilities. We’ll walk through:

• Your event goals

• Service style preferences

• Menu items

• Logistics

• Timeline ideas
  …and much more.

The call lasts 30 to 45 minutes and is highly productive. Being at a computer allows us to navigate menus together on our site in real-time, simplifying decision-making. With decades of experience and a creative approach, clients often thank Sam, leaving the call feeling prepared and excited about their event.

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Step 5: Your Catering Proposal

After the call, we’ll send you a detailed Catering Proposal by email. It includes:

• Your chosen menu items

• Style of service

• Staffing and rentals

• Estimated pricing

• Notes on timing and logistics

From there, you can:

• Request changes via email or schedule another quick phone meeting
  OR

• Say “YES!” and secure your event with a 50% deposit, payable instantly via the link in the email.

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Your Catering Proposal Guide

For a better understanding of your Catering Proposal, visit our Guide to walk through step-by-step.