A Couple’s Guide to Catering Consultations

As you begin the process of wedding planning, one of the most important things you will do is select a caterer. Your caterer will likely be someone who helps guide you through the day’s schedule; having this itinerary in place will leave you feeling much less stressed about the day’s events. Here are five things every couple should think about before you meet up with any potential caterer.

1: Know what your budget is.

This can be the amount you allot per person for food, beverages, and rentals, or just the total amount you want to spend on the food and beverage portion. One money saving tip is to purchase and provide the alcohol yourself. For instance, our company routinely provides a bartender and complete bar set up, including necessary bar equipment, for budget-conscious couples. Another way to cut down on expenditures is to use fun plastic cocktail-style barware, thus saving glassware rental fees.

2: Determine how your guests will dine.

If you’re looking for your guests to mingle at your reception, then hors d’oeuvre or dinner stations will create a flowing, social atmosphere. Consider including an infused water or vodka station for a distinctive touch. For a more formal approach to your cuisine, a seated, plated entrée will wow your guests. If you’re looking for more traditional fare but still want to give your guests plenty of time to make the rounds, a classic, yet unique buffet setup always sets the stage wonderfully, providing your guests with a nice middle ground.

3: Think about how much food you want.

One important thing to understand about your potential caterer is exactly what your money buys you in terms of your food items. Many caterers will create one portion of an item for each “per person” fee. One of the downsides to this type of system is that your guests will inevitably love one option more than others, which could lead to a shortage of a particular dish or appetizer.

The way our company prevents this is by basing our pricing on the selected menu and the amount of time the event runs; as long as your event is running, we will not run out of any of your items and every guest will experience the same level of food quality. Ask your caterer to explain exactly how their pricing works so that you know exactly how much food will be available to your guests.

4: Think about what you want the caterer to take care of.

There is a lot going on the day of your wedding, and the last thing you need to worry about are any of the hundreds of little details which comprise the overall experience. A good caterer will communicate with your other vendors to outline setup times and guarantee a coherent design throughout. Ask if a potential caterer will assist with the placement of favors, name cards, centerpieces, and so on as long as you provide them with the necessary items. Will they have all of your tables set, place cards and favors out, and the bar and food ready to roll so you and your guests can enjoy themselves without any fuss? If so, will they put that in writing?

5: How much staff do you need?

Every wedding is different in terms of size and scope, so make sure you know who will be showing up from your caterer’s team. To give you an idea of how things typically work, here is a run-down of our staffing for a standard wedding: an Event Design Manager will be in attendance to serve as your personal go-to person for everything you need; our Executive Chef is on-site freshly preparing the cuisine for your guests; and our Banquet Team is in a formal black uniform, ready to take care of everyone and staying behind at the event’s conclusion to clean up the venue so that you don’t have to worry about it. Give your potential caterers a ballpark figure for your guest count and ask them how many people they would provide and in what contexts, and be wary of anyone who seems like they might be stingy with their staffing.

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