Choosing the right catering for your wedding is an important decision that can have a major impact on the overall experience for you and your guests. Indeed, hiring a bad caterer can literally ruin your day.
But with so many companies to choose from, and no chance of a dry run, how do you know who’s good and who’s not?
Here are a few factors to consider when choosing wedding catering:
Determine how much you are willing to spend on catering and make sure to choose a vendor that fits within your budget. We’ve made a handy budgeting tool to help you with this.
The natural next question is “How much should I expect to spend?”. Naturally, this will vary depending on factors including size of guest list, type of wedding, type of food and drink etc. A general rule of thumb is that catering typically accounts for around 50% of the total wedding budget, but it can vary from 30% to 60%.
Wedding catering involves preparing large amounts of food to the highest standard. You’ll want to know that the caterer you choose can handle the job that lies ahead of them. References from previous clients might be a good thing to ask for.
Consider the number of guests you are inviting and choose a vendor that can accommodate your guest count.
You are going to want to taste the food from every vendor under consideration. Caterers are prepared for this and most will invite you to an event called a taste testing.
A taste testing is an event where you get the opportunity to sample a variety of dishes from a wedding catering company in order to decide on a menu for your wedding. The purpose of a taste testing is to give you an opportunity to try the food before the event, to ensure that it meets your expectations, and to make any necessary adjustments to the menu.
During a taste testing, the caterer or restaurant will present a selection of dishes for you to try. The samples can be small portions of the dishes that will be served at the event, or they can be a selection of dishes that the caterer or restaurant recommends. You will then have the opportunity to give feedback on the taste, presentation, and overall quality of the dishes.
A taste testing can be a great way for you to get a sense of the caterer or restaurant’s food and service, and to ensure that the menu will be to your liking. It also gives you an opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions, and to customise the menu to your specific tastes and preferences.
Check out our article on What To Look For At A Taste Testing, for more information on how to make the best of your taste testing experience.
Some wedding catering companies may charge a fee for a taste testing, while others may offer it as a complimentary service. It’s important to ask about this before you schedule a taste testing and to make sure that it fits within your budget.
This at least proves they can make tasty food, although it doesn’t necessarily guarantee they can deal with the size of your event.
If you want your wedding breakfast to be a particular type of cuisine, you’re naturally going to have to find a wedding catering company who can prepare this type of food.
Additionally, if you have guests who have specific dietary requirements, you’ll need a caterer who can accommodate this.
Service style: Choose a vendor that offers the service style that you prefer, such as plated, buffet, or family-style.
There’s a high likelihood that your venue will require a security deposit so that they are covered in the event that any damage occurs during your rental. Sadly, if damage does occur, it’s likely not to be you who did the damage, but your caterer. Consider whether the wedding catering company is familiar with your venue, and if they have experience working there as this can certainly help avoid problems on the day.
Make sure the caterer is licensed and insured. Any professional caterer will be, but it pays to check.
Try to find a wedding catering company that is easy to communicate and coordinate with, and that they are able to work effectively with other wedding suppliers you are hiring. These soft skills go a long way in the events industry.
