It is possible that your wedding will be one of the most memorable days of your entire life. After spending years choosing your partner, you’ve probably spent hours deciding the wedding dress, venue, flowers, and photographer. You should also be thorough when selecting the caterer. A delicious meal is a big draw for wedding guests, in addition to the celebration of eternal love.
You want your food to taste great and set the mood for your wedding.
Here Are Some Tips On How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Caterer For You.
1. Decide your budget
You’ll first need to establish your budget. You can do some research on the average cost of a caterer in your area to determine your budget. Ask the wedding caterer what’s included in their fees. For example, do they provide table linens, menu designs, and service? Tell the caterer about your budget to see if they are able to create a package for you.
2. Choose a style
You may prefer one style of dining over another, depending on your budget. There are many options when it comes time to plan a wedding, such as passed hors-d’oeuvres or cocktail hour, plated dinners with a sit-down menu, tasting menus and buffets. You can also narrow down your options if you have a budget and a style in mind.
3. To ensure availability, start your search early.
Start your search once you have set your budget and you know roughly what type and style of catering package that you are looking for. As caterers can be booked months or even years in advance, locking down a date and time for your event is a priority.
4. You can also ask your venue for suggestions
Asking your venue for suggestions is a good way to start. Most venues have a list with their preferred vendors. If none of the caterers are to your liking, ask the venue if there are any requirements for caterers who work on their premises.
Most venues will review and approve the caterer. They may require proof of licenses or certificates before they allow them to work on their premises. As you interview companies, it’s important to be aware of these.
5. You can also ask your friends for referrals
Asking friends, family and coworkers that have catered an event in your locality for recommendations is another great way to start your search. You can learn from their experience of working with the caterer and their first-hand knowledge about how their event turned out.
6. Read online reviews
If you are having trouble narrowing down your choices, online reviews can help. They will give you a good idea of how the caterer performed in previous events. The Knot, for example, lists many reputable catering companies. Check out Facebook or Yelp for customer reviews to help you determine the quality and level of service and food.
7. Book a tasting with your top three
After you have done your research, and selected your top wedding caterers for your event, the real fun begins. You can now eat. You want to be sure that the food is up to par. You can also use a tasting to determine if the food is up to your standards in terms of quality, presentation and style. A tasting before finalizing a contract allows you to discuss your ideas and how they can be incorporated into the menu.
8. Sign the contract
Signing your contract is the final step after you have finished your tastings and selected your wedding caterer. You should receive a proposal with the finalized cost, including the catering staff, linens, and any other fees. Once you are satisfied with the proposal, draft the contract and sign it. The caterer will take care of the rest!
My team and I are here to make sure that your wedding is one to remember.