|
|
|Back|
Wedding Caterers:
How to
Find the Right Wedding Caterer
An excellent wedding
caterer is worth his weight in gold when it comes to planning your
wedding reception. Once you’re engaged, locating and securing a caterer
should be one of the first things you do. Anyone worth having is usually
booked at least one year in advance. Ideally, you want to hire a caterer
who has had experience in catering wedding receptions, bridal showers,
and themed weddings. The reception (food) is where a large amount of
your money will go, so you want to make certain it is in the hands of a
capable and reputable caterer.
Begin by talking with friends who have recently married and had a
catered reception. Contact hotels, country clubs and special event
locations. If they don’t have an in-house caterer, they more than likely
will have referrals. Do you and your spouse-to-be have a favorite
restaurant? Ask them if they would be willing to cater your reception.
Talk to everyone involved in the wedding and ask for names of good
caterers. Photographers, florists and bridal salon owners may have a
list of caterers they would recommend.
When you contact a caterer, ask for an in-person interview. Ask him to
bring along references from other couples for whom they have catered a
wedding reception. You’ll want to contact the people on the list to get
an idea about the caterer. Ask questions pertaining to the quality and
taste of the food, the way the reception ‘flowed’, the service and
whether or not there were surprises on the final invoice.
Call your local Better Business Bureau to see if the caterer is in good
standing or if he has any complaints logged against them. Ask the
caterer if he is insured, licensed, and if he carries health permits.
Many times, a caterer is included in a wedding reception package. Make
sure you ask them the same questions as you would an independent
caterer.
Don’t be afraid to ask the caterer several questions. Find out if they
specialize in certain types of food. Hopefully, they will have brought
sample menus for you to see. Ask about the caterer’s average price range
per person and the menu you receive for that price. Keep in mind, when
hiring a caterer, there are sometimes fees for linens and gratuity. Ask
about those in advance. Find out if there is a flat rate or if the costs
will be itemized.
Ask the caterer what role they play on the reception day. Will they be
helping behind the scenes or be directly involved with timing of events,
etc.? After hearing what they have to say in this area, you may want to
consider hiring a wedding coordinator to handle any details that the
caterer doesn’t cover. The best situation is if the person with whom you
do all of your planning will be present the day of the reception to
ensure that end of things goes well. Will the caterer have any other
events the same day? Make sure they will have sufficient time to give to
your event.
Find out whether or not the caterer provides tables, chairs, salt and
pepper shakers, linens, and other table-top items. Ask to take a look at
anything they do provide to determine if they are indeed in good shape.
Will the caterer be using their own wait staff? Are they available (as
part of the package deal) to put place cards, favors or centerpieces on
the tables? What will the wait staff be wearing? Will additional
equipment be needed in order to prepare your meal on location?
Perhaps Auntie Susie has a beloved recipe that you’d like to serve at
your reception. Ask the caterer if he is willing to use one of your
personal recipes to include a dish that is sentimental to the family. Is
the caterer able to make a few special meals for those who are
vegetarians or have health issues? What about children’s meals? Can they
provide chicken fingers or macaroni and cheese for children who are in
attendance?
If you are interested in an open bar, does the caterer provide the
alcohol? If you can provide the bar and its contents, will a corkage fee
be charged?
Many times caterers will keep pictures of the events they have done over
time. Ask to see pictures to get an idea of how the food will be
presented to your guests.
Ask the caterer if they are in the business of also making wedding
cakes. If so, that’s one less person you need to contact. However, if
not, ask if there is a cake-cutting fee if you bring in your own cake.
Ask for a tasting. Decide on a possible menu for your reception and ask
the caterer to set up a tasting. Ask that the table be decorated in the
colors and manner in which it would be on the actual day. Sometimes
there is a nominal fee for a tasting, but it is well worth the time and
money to see if you’re getting your money’s worth.
Once you decide on a caterer, assume you’ll give them a deposit and sign
a contract. The contract can be detailed so there aren’t any
misunderstandings on the big day. Bring along a witness to sign the
contract with you. You are entering into a business contract, so make
sure to get a copy of the contract (signed) for your personal records.
Make certain to ask about their cancellation policy. There could be
costly penalties for canceling with a caterer. In other words, read the
fine print!
Ask about the ingredients used in the foods they prepare. Are items
prepared in-house or are they shipped in to the facility? Inquire also
about the number of cooks who will be available on the actual day. If at
all possible, ask for those associates to prepare the tasting for you.
Overall, if you keep in mind the style of reception you desire and ask a
lot of questions, you’ll hire a good caterer and your reception day will
be wonderful! |
Featured Product:
The Wedding
Dance Mastery System
The
Ultimate Online Dance Store
Your Online Ballroom Dancing School
Your Online Dance Community
|
