Your wedding day is your "Day in the Sun". For years to come there will not be a day when you will look back fondly at your wedding day. Amazingly when you ask people about a specific wedding more often than not the comments about the wedding event often center around the meal - its quality and composition as well as presentation and serving personnel.
As such choosing the wedding caterer can make or break your wedding rollout. Choosing a proper wedding caterer can take one worry off your mind. Why not make life easy for yourself.
As in most cases word of mouth is often the best guide. Ask your friends and acquaintances- at which weddings which they attended was the food exceptional?
Ask why or why not? Check for consistency. Consistency can be everything. A specific caterer may have some exceptional meals - however if the end product at different wedding events is flaky - varies from exceptional to not so good then this is not a good thing. It may be well your wedding that takes the hit not the top end product.
Remember that you do not only have to focus on caterers who list themselves as "Wedding Caterers". Most caterers can do the job if equipped with the necessary kitchen space. Staff and transportation. Most caterers can do weddings so to speak. Use your best judgment - don't expect a minor operation that caters only sandwiches or pizza to be able to do your wedding.
The first step in order is to figure out and assess your catering budge before you begin to meet with your caterers. Have a resolved number of potential guests. Be careful - family demands can increase the number greatly. Have your wedding guests numbers negotiated with family members (i.e. parents) before meeting with the caterer.
This way you can divide your total dollar budget by the amount of guests - to get a dollar figure per guest or meal.
Just a tip - most caterers will generally prepare approx 10 extra meals for extra guests at banquets. Figure this number into your numbers and also potential cancellations. Remember that with proper wedding planning you are working some way in the future. Hence things can change and wedding guests may not be able to attend or even cancel.
The second step is to check with the venue where you will be holding the reception. As part of a booking deal some of these establishments may insist that you either use their facilities, most often in the case of a hotel, or they may even have their licensed or preferred caterers. It's always best to ask before signing the booking papers.
Next verbally call those caterers by phone or phone and email. Note how long the response took for a reply. This is itself can be very telling about the level of service that you may expect from the caterer. Explain your wishes, ask about the booking date and ask for general options.
If you like the responses and as well the general meal servings fall within both your choices and your chosen budget ask to meet with the caterer booking coordinator in person. It is best to ask about payment policies - is there a deposit required? , Is that deposit refundable within a reasonable time period of cancellation? , what will the servers wear and what duties will they be expected to perform or not perform? Are there are any other additional fees - such as corkage, or cabs home for the staff if the reception continues on past a certain hour?
Always involve the caterers in your meal choices. Remember it's their business - they will know their strengths and weaknesses much more than you do, in additional to practical logistics of food, food preparation and serving. It's your one wedding day. Take full advantage of their expertise in wedding catering.
Lastly before you make your decision and sign on the dotted line be sure to have sampled the food once and more than once if possible.
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