By Perfect food presentation is going to be just one of the many things that should leave a great impression on your wedding guests. This is why, after you’ve picked the venue, you must hire an excellent catering service that will make your big day truly memorable. However, choosing the right caterer isn’t always easy, because there are various factors that’ll influence your final decision.
Do the Background Check
Before you choose your wedding caterer, you should research their background. It’s essential that you know how many weddings they’ve catered so far, as well as how many weddings they cater annually. They should have health permits and all the necessary licences and insurance. Furthermore, be sure to ask if the catering service will provide you with a banquet manager or an on-site coordinator. What’s more, it would be a good idea to meet the coordinators prior to the wedding as well.
Ask About Packages and Payment
Most caterers will offer you their pre-set menu, so you should ask if they could provide you with a custom menu of your choice. Also, be sure to find out if everything will be a la carte, or if there is a possibility of an event package. Usually, caterers have special pricing arrangement for children’s meals, vendor meals, as well as for a sit-down meal, a buffet meal, cocktail style, and family style. Therefore, don’t forget to check the price difference between all these. Additionally, you should know if the caterer will offer you a menu tasting and if so, whether it’ll cost more or not. It’s also important to know about their refund and cancellation policy, as well as how much of a deposit you need to pay.
The Food and Drinks
If you maybe have an idea of how the food at your wedding should look like, be sure to ask the potential caterer if they can deliver it. If they specialize in certain cuisines, you’ll be able to have a plethora of delicious party catering. What’s more, they could have some excellent suggestions based on your wedding style or theme, so feel free to ask for a recommendation. Furthermore, ensure that the potential caterer can make special food for guests with allergies or dietary restrictions. Additionally, find out whether the food will be prepared on the spot, or it will be prepared in advance and just delivered to the venue. It would also be perfect if you could taste some of their specialities before the wedding, to see if you like the food or not.
When it comes to drinks, you should remember to check if the caterers would provide you with their own bartenders, as well as if they can provide specialty cocktails. You might want to bring your own champagne, so feel free to ask if they would charge corkage fee in that case. Some caterers charge for alcohol drinks per consumption, while others do it per person. Therefore, it’s important to know which of the two your potential caterer does.
Logistics
It’s vital that you ask about the caterers water, electrical and equipment needs. What’s more, inform yourself on how long it’ll take them to set everything up for the wedding, as well as when they plan to arrive to the venue. Moreover, be sure to know if they will take care of the table settings and light the candles.
Finding a good caterer is one of the most important parts of wedding planning, so it must be done with great attention. The last thing you need is a funny looking food on your big day. Therefore, make sure you ask every potential caterer about their experience, the price of the service, taste the food they cater, and know every little detail about their service.
