How to Choose a Perfect Caterer for Your Wedding Day
If you have purchased the dress and booked the venue, then it’s finally time to start searching for a perfect wedding caterer.
The foods and drinks on your special day are going to take a huge amount out of your budget, so considering the sum you’re going to spend on it, at least make sure you get a decent service out of it. Keeping all this in mind, it’s a good idea to cover all the aspect of hiring a quality and reliable caterer for your big day.
Book On Time
One of the determining factors when hiring a caterer is checking whether the said caterer is available on your wedding day. Availability is one of the key factors when choosing a caterer as you’ll want to determine and establish all the terms of service and payment in advance and of course, organize a tasting event before the big day. The ideal time to start searching for a caterer is approximately 9 months before your wedding day, as this will give you just enough time to find good service and lessen the chance of unexpected things occurring.
Interview Time
Once you have found a few catering services that fit your requirements, it’s a good idea to narrow down the choice by conducting an interview with each and every one. This’ll help you get a clear image of whether the service fits your needs completely and which caterer is the best choice for your big day. Some of the most important questions to ask during your interview are certainly whether the caterer has a license, does he have a liquor liability insurance (and whether they even serve alcohol!), what’s included in the service and of course, what are the overall expenses. It’s also a good idea to establish whether there’s an option of making specialised meals for people with allergies, vegetarians and children.
Another crucial factor to keep in mind is the overall presentation and service that the caterer offers.
Presentation and Service
Another crucial factor to keep in mind is the overall presentation and service that the caterer offers. While the quality of food and refreshments is surely a priority, it’s equally important to make sure that your preferred caterer offers your guests top notch service, hospitality and an attentive and friendly attitude. Also, the catering service should be in charge of the overall table decor and food presentation. This means that it would be wise to connect your caterer with your venue decorator, so they’d have a chance to coordinate the event together and create a worthwhile table setting.
Budget
Keeping in mind that catering services are going to take a fair amount of your overall budget, it’s very important to establish just how much money you have available for this aspect of the wedding. This is one of the determining factors, as it’s going to decide in what price range can you actually search for a caterer. Also, some caterers require down payment on their services, so it’s probably smart to establish all terms of payment at the interview.
Lastly, the location and the type of the venue are also going to be important factors when choosing a caterer. It’s crucial to regulate whether the caterer is familiar with your wedding venue and whether they’re prepared for providing services in such settings. Another important thing for those considering marquees weddings in Sydney, is to keep in mind that some of these venues offer on-site catering or have catering included once you already book the venue.
In some cases, wedding caterers are not only in charge of refreshments and treats, but also of the complete tableware collection, the coordination of the event and of course – the wedding cake. If you wish to make sure that your wedding day goes as planned, it’s crucial to consider all the aspects of hiring a good catering service.