The hard work is nearly over. Graduation season is upon us and so is the need for celebration!
This moment only comes around once, so you’ve got to make it a night to remember, especially given the close bonds and friendships made over the years.
But competition for venues and catering will be fierce – Houston is home to around 200,000 K-12 students, with a further 300,000 in higher education around the Gulf Coast region.
As the ultimate crowd-pleasing classic, BBQ catering for graduations is highly popular, so booking in advance is highly advised. Let’s take a look at why:
The Benefits of BBQ Catering for Graduation Parties
Hosting Is Hassle-Free
Hosting a graduation party brings pressure. There are a lot of mouths to feed. It’s easy to turn to some bowls of popcorn and store-bought frozen pizzas, but that’s going to cause disappointment.
Hiring BBQ catering for graduation means you’ll meet the hype, with ease. Goode Co. Catering and Events will bring sizzling meats, fresh homemade sides, and even the possibility of our mobile bar – Yonderlust.
We take care of the logistics, filling up every graduate with Texan classics. We’ll even bring disposable ware and react to any problems that might arise.
BBQ catering for graduation allows your night to be what it should be – relaxed and fun!
Crowd-Pleasing Menu for All Guests
Whether you’re inviting 30 people or 300 people, all folks have different tastes. But very few Texans would say no to a delicious barbecue.
Our full-service BBQ menus are stacked with an assortment of mesquite-smoked meats such as Brisket, pork ribs, homemade sausage (Czech, turkey, or jalapeño), ham, turkey breast, or chicken. We can even provide live-action stations, so your guests can create sliders, or tacos, or enjoy a pig roast.
Scalable for Any Party Size
Texas BBQ catering is also perfect for a graduation party of any size. You don’t need to worry about if a restaurant even has enough food in stock, or if it’ll be hot and fresh.
BBQs by design are fantastic for groups of all sizes, as the meat is served right in front of you, with single cooking serving multiple plates at once.
Goode Co. Events and Catering also offer a wide range of venues, from small private rooms to large outdoor spaces for hundreds of graduates. And if you need the food delivered to your backyard, our BBQ delivery menus provide packs with toasted buns, delicious chicken or chuck patties, hot dogs, and all the toppings, sides, drinks, and desserts you could dream of.
Why Choose Goode Catering for Your Graduation Party?
Authentic Texan Service
Goode Co. Events and Catering has been serving up barbecues since 1977. So, we know how to bring the food to a graduation celebration, in style.
We’re a true Houston catering team, providing an authentic Southern approach to customer service. We can adjust to any of your personal requests and will bring nothing but good vibes.
Choice of Venues
Sure, we can bring the barbecue to your backyard. But, we also welcome you to book one of our private event venues for an immersive catering experience and an extra-special day.
We’ve got a wide range to choose from across five different locations in Houston. Such as large outdoor and indoor spaces for up to 400 people at our genuine honky-tonk, Armadillo Palace, or a more private dining experience at our Goode Co. Barbeque and Goode Co. Seafood restaurants.
Flexibility
We’ve seen it all over the years and have no problem changing up our menus and service to fit different folks. Whether your graduation party is for 18-year-olds or 24-year-olds, we’ll adapt to your vision and dietary requirements.
And if a problem or change arises at the last minute, we’ll think fast and get that solved. We’ve done it countless times before.
Yonderlust
For those of a drinking age, we can up the celebration level with our mobile bar, Yonderlust. Our Airstream-turned-bar silver bullet is available on-site with customizable bar packages, including beer, wine, and cocktails. All are served by our friendly staff.
Tips for Planning the Perfect BBQ Graduation Party
With decades of experience in catering for graduation parties, here are the top tips we’ve learned over the years:
Pick the Right Venue
Your venue selection has such a big impact on the vibe of the party. If you’re not looking to host it in your backyard, then you need to go for a venue with ample seating and great decor.
Our venues have all the space, sound equipment, seating, and live grills you’ll need to throw the ultimate barbecue.
To find a venue, browse the site of your chosen catering team to see their private room options. You can even request a visit to see if the mood and size of the room is right for you.
Customize Your Barbecue Menu
The best BBQ catering teams offer pre-set full-service menus and customizable options, so you can pick the meats and sides that are desired most.
Consider running a poll with your invitees to see what the most popular tastes are before choosing your catering menu. If there are any vegetarians or vegans you’re inviting, then you’ll want to include salads, soups, or premium sides such as mac and cheese, refried beans, and Mexican rice.
Hey, and don’t forget those appetizers and desserts!
Don’t Slack on the Drinks
Fresh cold drinks are essential. Even if you’re planning a graduation party for 18-year-olds, having a vast amount of chilled soft drinks is a must.
Again, you can run a poll to see what drinks people want most. Our gleaming silver portable bar Yonderlust can provide drinks for all clientele, from kids to wine connoisseurs.
Entertain Your Guests
Make sure you spend some time curating a playlist before, including your graduate’s favorite songs. You could create an online form for invitees to fill out, to add their song requests.
You might also want to consider something like a photo booth, where friends can take silly photos to keep forever. If you’re interested in games, you can’t go wrong with corn hole, boccé, and life-sized Jenga.
We also recommend live-action stations – which are areas where your guests can put together their sliders, tacos, or bowls. These stations are great for encouraging conversation and getting people on their feet.
Think About Decor
Our venues are already decked out in classic Texan decor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan some extra celebratory decorations. Whether it’s balloons or a big banner, our team will happily accommodate your vision.
It can be a great idea to use a theme, or catering trend, such as a memory lane wall (with photos of years gone by) or something based on an inside joke or your graduate’s major.
Choose Your Graduation Catering Company Carefully
Finally, you’re going to need to choose a catering company with great reviews and the experience to handle the big day.
You can ask local barbeque companies, or trust Goode Co. Events and Catering’s 4.5-star Google rating and nearly 50 years of service.
Hire Goode Co. Events and Catering for your Graduation BBQ in Houston, Texas
So, now that you know how a barbecue creates a jovial and relaxed atmosphere with wide flexibility, it’s time to start planning.
Act now to avoid disappointment on fully booked venues, by hiring Goode Co. Events and Catering for your graduation celebration in Houston, Texas.
Whether you’re looking to feed a small group of close friends, or the whole class of ‘25, contact us today to get started on creating an incredible, customized experience. Grilling meat since 1977, we believe there’s no better option in Houston.
Cheers to this year’s grads!