Questions You
should ask
Food play an important role in the wedding
festivities. So, you'll want to take plenty of time
and care when choosing your caterer. Here’s some great
questions to ask your caterer to ensure that you have
a great "wedding feast" without any surprises!
Menu Options and
Reception Styles
There is so much variety
and choice when it comes to menu selection. It's no
longer "chicken" or "beef". You can have a traditional
sit down dinner, buffet, food stations or cocktail
reception. It all depends on your personal preference
and budget.
Budget
Let your caterer know
your budget up front. Don’t assume that a buffet or food
stations is less expensive that a sit down dinner.
Remember, it depends more on what type of food you serve
that determines the price.
Food Preparation
Does the caterer use all
fresh food and produce? Will any of the food for the
reception be previously frozen? Most of the "top notch"
caterers do not use any frozen foods or anything that
comes from a can!
Tastings
Ask if your caterer will
do a "tasting". This is where the bride and groom can go
sample and taste some of the caterer’s dishes. Yum
Yum...
Family Recipes
Ask
if dishes can be prepared that are not included on the
regular menu. Some brides have a
special "family" dish they'd like or a particular type
of ethnic food prepared. This is a great way to really
personalize your dinner and reception.
Leftovers
Ask
what is done with the leftover food.
Particularly, if you are having a buffet
or food stations there can be food leftover. Some brides
choose to have the leftover food given to a homeless
shelter or similar charity organization.
Many couples don’t get a
chance to eat much or really enjoy the food during the
reception because they're so busy with their guests. So,
ask your caterer to prepare a "leftover basket" with a
sampling of all the delicious hors d’oeuvres, main
dishes and even dessert. Late that night, the bride and
groom can enjoy a wonderful, romantic picnic for two!
Sometimes the leftovers
are given to the bride or groom's parents. It's
especially nice if they are entertaining any out-of-town
relatives and don't have time to cook!
Guaranteed Numbers
Many caterers will quote
prices based upon a certain number or minimum number of
guests. For instance, many caterers base their figures
on a minimum of 100 guests. If you’re final guest count
is for only 80 guests, there may be an additional fee.
Wedding Cake
Do they offer wedding
cakes? Is a wedding cake included in the price? Is there
an additional cake cutting fee?
Tax and Gratuities
Are they included in the
price? Are there any additional fees that are not
included in the quote or proposal?
Ratio of Servers to
Guests
Now, this can vary
depending on the type of reception you have. One good
rule of thumb is to have one server for every 8-10
guests.
Dress Code for Wait Staff
Will they be dressed
formally in a black and white tuxedo look?
Decorations
Ask to see pictures of
their table displays. Some caterers that do buffets or
food stations will include floral arrangements and other
decorations. As your wedding plans progress, talk to
your caterer about your color theme so that all
decorations and floral arrangements will coordinate.
Tableware and Linens
Does the price included
table linens, napkins, dishes, and glassware? Ask to see
samples. Remember, if you don’t like the tableware or
linens they offer, most everything can be rented, but
usually at an additional price!
Menu Board
A recent trend when doing
buffets or food stations is to have a menu board. This
when the name of the entrees and items served are
scrolled elegantly onto a piece of paper displayed on a
board or in a picture frame. Many guests love to know
the names or what’s in those delicious dishes they'll be
eating.
Licenses
Your caterer should be
licensed by the state. Most display their license in
their office, but if you're not sure, ask!
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