Wedding Caterer Tips

Hiring a wedding caterer isn't always easy, particularly because there are a lot of caterers out there. Then there are the people who call themselves caterers, but are actually not very experienced when it comes to creating a menu, accommodating special dietary needs, or sourcing ingredients. How can you find the best wedding caterer you can afford and make the best use of all they have to offer? We have even more tips we think will help!

When determining a final head count for your caterer, you should include a meal for your entertainer (DJ or Band), wedding photographer, and Wedding Day Coordinator. Note: Always confirm with your wedding vendors that they want a meal before you include them in your head count. It is up to you whether you'll serve them a less expensive vendor meal 0r let them eat what your wedding guests are eating.

Ask your caterer to prepare a "leftover basket" that is a sampling of all the food at your reception. That's for you, i.e., the bride and the groom. It's likely that you and your new spouse will not get a chance to really sit down and eat (and enjoy all of the wonderful food at the wedding reception). Even if you're leaving the next day on your honeymoon, a leftover basket makes for a great late night snack!

Be sure to ask your wedding caterer about "guaranteed numbers." Many caterers will quote prices based upon a minimum or "guaranteed" number of guests, but these counts don't always correspond with reality. Many base their figures on a minimum of 100 guests, for example. If your final guest count is less than a hundred, there may be an additional fee.

Find out what decorations, tableware, and linens (if any) are included in the caterer's price. Ask to see pictures of their table displays if they do include some decorations in their price. If your wedding caterer provides these services, talk to them about your color theme so that all your beautiful decorations and floral arrangements will coordinate.

Be careful as to how many hors d'oeuvres you order. It is so tempting to get one of everything, but waste is never nice. Do you really need eight different varieties of puff, cake, and roll? You'd be surprised -- some wedding caterers will suggest that you need a ton of nibbles, even if you're serving a full meal. If you are doing hors d'oeuvres, four different varieties is usually sufficient.


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Choosing a Caterer

Of all the responsibilities brides- and grooms-to-be have to handle, choosing a caterer is one of the most vital and one of the most enjoyable ones. Why is that? Once you've narrowed down a list of potential caterers, you will usually get a chance to sample the dishes they specialize in. In fact, this is one of the duties grooms-to-be usually like best!

But slow down -- before you get to the tasting stage with your wedding caterer, you have to find the right one. And before you can find the right one, it's important that you study up a little on the ins and outs of wedding catering. Here are some things you should know before jumping into the world of wedding catering feet first:

• As far as expenses and wedding budgets go, your wedding catering or food bill is typically your largest expense, coming in at 45% to 50% of most wedding budgets. So choose your caterer carefully! Spend plenty of time with your caterer talking about your budget, the style of reception you'd like (i.e. buffet, food stations, sit down dinner or cocktail reception) and the types of food that you'd like to serve.

• Don't hesitate to check references. Many brides ask for references and receive them, but never call. Make at least TWO reference phone calls before you settle on a particular caterer. Don't by shy -- remember, newlyweds love to talk about their wedding!

• Service is almost as important as food when it comes to choosing a wedding caterer. Be sure to ask any prospective caterers about the ratio of servers to guests at a typical wedding. This can vary depending on the type of reception (seated dinner versus buffet) and the types of food being served, but it's nice to have at least one server per eight guests.

• Be sure to ask about the dinnerware or china they will provide, if any. Some caterers provide food, but work with the flatware and serving trays provided by the reception venue. Others do bring dinnerware and more with them, but it may not be as nice as that provided by the reception venue. Ask to see samples to make sure that their place settings compliment the rest of your wedding decor.

• Find out what decorations are included in the caterer's price. Ask to see pictures of their table displays. Some caterers that do buffets or food stations will include floral arrangements and other decorations. Other caterers do amazing and artful things with the food itself, like carved squashes or melon baskets. Even if such things haven't come up yet, ask for what you want. The worst the a prospective caterer can say is "Sorry, we aren't equipped to do that."

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