Catering a wedding is no walk in the park. Being responsible for creating a mouth watering meal for all of your family and friends on your wedding day can be very intimidating. Whats even more fearful is having to choose the right caterer to take on all of this responsibility!
Relax…and put your worries away because the wedding catering business isn’t really that scary. Here are some basic pointers that will help you choose the right wedding caterer and keep your nights stress free.
Create a basic meal plan
The first step to choosing the right wedding caterer is being able to tell them what you expect. Be sure you have a basic meal plan in place that includes how many courses you plan on serving, general options for each course, and how many guests you’re anticipating. The plan doesn’t have to be set in stone but you and your potential caterer should at least be able to agree on your expectations. Your basic meal plan should give your chef a foundation to expand on. For example, if you envision serving baked chicken as an option for the main course, your chef should be able to present 2 or more versions of that dish during your food tasting. ( we will talk more about that later.)
Know your budget
Your budget will play a large role when deciding which wedding caterer to choose. Cost can determine what type and quality of meal you want to serve. You should make a list of your top 10 local caterers. Call each company and give them your basic meal plan and wedding date. You should then ask for an estimate of how much they will charge. Getting a rough estimate from each individual company will save you a lot of time and trouble. Be sure to also ask if the overall cost changes if you provide your own beverages or if your wedding was at a different time of the day. Additionally, each company will have their own price variances so ask them what other choices can be made to lower your bottom line.
Sit or Stand?
Aside from the meal itself the other main cost variable is determining whether your meal will be served sitting down or buffet style. Both serving styles have their pros and cons but in most instances a sit down meal will cost more then buffet style because of the extra preparation that’s required. Here is a quick glance of each meal option:
Sit down
- more relaxed because your guests are served and place settings are cleared by the wait staff.
- sit down dinner’s require an order to be taken which can take up time and venue rental cost.
- portions can sometimes be too small or too large depending on the guest.
Buffet style
- portions are determined by the guests
- buffets require less service which means less service costs.
- a wider selection of food for the guests.
- require a larger venue to allow guests to move around and access the buffet.
Taste is everything!
It doesn’t matter how budget friendly the caterer may be, if their food doesn’t taste good, they’re not worth the expense. The key to making a good meal is using quality meat, produce, herbs, etc. So make sure that the company you choose incorporates the freshest products whenever possible.
Moreover, every wedding caterer should setup a taste session before your big day. After discussing your basic meal plan with the company you should expect at least 3 or more sample dishes of each course. If you’ve gotten this far with the catering company chances are you’ve already spent some money on their efforts. If so, make sure you stay honest with the chef and let him or her know if something doesn’t taste right or if you were expecting something different. Their skills are at your disposable so be clear with how you want your food to taste, but also take their suggestions into consideration.
Finally, keep in mind your guests will also be eating this meal, so try not ask for anything that only your taste buds would enjoy. If you insist on having your uniquely flavored dish on the menu just be sure that you have other friendlier options available. Although, it may cost more to expand your menu your guests will be very thankful.
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