6 minute read
How to choose your wedding caterer
By Caroline Griffiths, wedding planner
carolinegriffiths.co.uk
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Choosing the right caterer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions in your wedding planning. It’s right up there with who you should marry! (Let’s face it, food is pretty important!) So here’s everything you need to know.
As more of us become full-on foodies and invest time in sourcing fresh, local and downright delicious food, we expect our wedding caterers to live up to these mouth-watering expectations too. Getting the right reactions from your guests is so important, so how do you make sure you choose the right wedding caterers for your style, your wedding and your budget?
Do I need a caterer?
For many couples plunging into a DIY wedding those famous words of “Were doing the catering ourselves” always makes me nervous! As much as auntie Joan may make a mean flan and Dad can get cheap booze from the local pub don’t underestimate the other one million things a caterer actually does! You need to seriously consider a professional caterer if your guest list exceeds 40. You will not enjoy yourself when you’re running around worrying about dirty dishes and whether or not everyone has had enough to eat. If you do take on the catering yourself, at least hire staff to serve and clear up. It’s definitely money well spent and you can always rely on these staff not disappearing after 12 hours of drinking prosecco and dancing.
What type of catering do I need?
Your caterer will very much depend on the venue and type of reception you’ve decided on. Many venues have an in house team, or recommended list. They may even insist that you use a particular one. However, for a marquee in the garden local restaurants, bakers, outside catering companies will be more than willing to quote.
Once you’ve found your ideal venue, it’s always good to make an appointment to discuss dates, times, the number of guests and the exact prices of things – specifically the cost of the meal, which is usually the biggest expense in the budget.
Your caterer will need to know the date, time of reception, the number of guests, level of hospitality you wish to provide and your limit on charges per head to supply you with ideas and quotations. Costs are usually quoted per ‘head’ (guest). This should always include staffing, crockery and linen. Always ask for quotes and confirmation of everything in writing – and file your copies carefully.
There could be some additional catering equipment or staffing needed depending on your menu. It’s really important you confirm this as soon as possible or at least have an exact understanding so hidden costs do not creep up on you.
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR MENU…
1. Make sure you have a mixture of fish, meats and vegetarian to give variety (unless you are opting for all veggie, vegan menus).
2. Keep to your theme.
3. Remember that when guests are eating a canape they will more than likely have a glass in the other hand!
4. Try to choose dishes that YOU like rather than trying to cater to all 120 guests.
Do I really need evening food?
This is a question I get asked all the time. The answer is YES! Unless you’re having an evening wedding reception. Extra evening guests or not, if you’re drinking and dancing into the night, it’s always a good idea to have some nibbles arranged for peckish guests to refuel after a long night of ‘dad dancing’.
How much evening food should I provide?
This is a difficult calculation – you’ll often hear people say 75% as a rule of thumb. Largely this is correct because you don’t want to run out of food but prepare to have some leftovers – don’t let this get you down. It means none of your guests went home via the kebab shop – you put on a good spread!
No doubt you have a million and one questions about the dos and don’ts of a wedding caterer as you can see it’s a pretty intense area! As a planner, one of the most important parts of my job is to source the best caterer for my couples but it can sometimes take some work! A wedding planner can relieve an awful lot of the pressure when finding the best caterers so if food is a priority for you it would be worth getting in touch and chatting it through with a professional.
If a wedding planner isn’t for you then my advice would be to start researching. Get some inspiration from Instagram or recommendations from friends and family. Once you are a bit more clued up on the catering jargon start putting a list of questions together for when you meet.
How much should I expect my catering to cost?
This is like asking how long a piece of string is. Some caterers focus on lower costs and higher volume, some have much higher costs but do significantly fewer events. It’s always good to understand why some caterers are more expensive as they are likely to provide a different level of service and have a long-standing reputation than others.
On the day of your event, no issue should reach the couple’s attention. With the help of a wedding planner, a caterer should be able to make judgement calls for each issue and execute the event perfectly. A caterer should know how to stay out of the way. This is a time to enjoy your new spouse and the ones you love. On your wedding day, the catering staff should know exactly what their jobs are and be able to execute them perfectly, without interrupting the newlyweds.
Will the time of year make a difference to the menu we want?
When are you getting married? The date of your special day could really reflect the food that you serve. For example, in autumn you might look to serve up something very different than what you would want in the spring or summer. Remember some foods are only available in the season so if you are really set on a game menu then a summer wedding is not for you!
Do we need to try the menu before the day?
Absolutely! Not only is the menu tasting the best part of choosing your wedding caterer but it’s a crucial part of the process. Although many caterers will have impressive marketing, photography and review the proof of a good caterer is really in the pudding! Sampling the menu is key to ensure you get exactly what you want and ensure you have made the right choice. It’s good to sample the food in your wedding surroundings and see how the service works and to get a feel for how the dining experience will be on the day.
