Hiring a wedding caterer will ensure you offer your guests what is expected in the way of wedding food and drinks on your big day. It might sound like a nice idea catering for yourself or asking a member of your family, but don’t underestimate the effort and burden involved. By hiring a professional catering company it will allow you to enjoy your wedding without worrying about if your guests are suitably catered for.

The first thing you need to figure out is what your catering budget is. The amount you can spend on catering can vary greatly and your budget will determine what options you will have. It is vital you have a head count for your first appointment with any prospective caterer as caterers normally quote charges per guest and the detail of what will be included for the charge

Ask for a list of references from your prospective venue, and then make some phone calls. Have some questions ready to ask the caterers given to you. Make sure you ask about the caterer themselves to see how they handled previous events. You will get some very good information that is very useful in any choice you may make. Other references can be your friends and family who have attended local weddings and who will be happy to provide their impressions, both positive and negative. Check out more than one wedding caterer so you can get a general idea of the charges and what they include.

Once your prospective caterer list is made, start making phone calls to them. During the initial call, you should ask about availability for the date of your wedding so you can weed out the wedding caterers that would not be available on your wedding day. Make an appointment to meet face to face and good caterers will have a tasting menu for you to sample their products.

Items to nail down before you make your final decision are payment policy, deposit payment requirement, server outfits, what duties they perform and don’t, contract specifics, and estimated length of time from start to finish of the meal if you are having one. Some brides and grooms opt for hors d’oeuvres instead of a full meal, which allows guests to move around more freely.

If you are having alcohol at your reception, find out about the caterer’s alcohol policy. Don’t sign a contract with your chosen caterer until you are sure they are bonded and insured. You need to see the documents for that, not just take their word for it. You should also know what the gratuity policy is before signing a contract. Ask to meet the catering staff, including the cooks and other food handlers.

Choosing the right caterer for you and your wedding can be daunting. However, being able to turn the catering responsibilities over to someone you have confidence in is a wonderful feeling. A good wedding caterer can help by removing the burden of food and beverage offerings from you and taking care of everything on your wedding day. Bon appetite!


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