How to Pick Your Wedding Caterer
Like most aspects of planning a wedding, research is key! There are so many different vendors with various offerings, packages and price points, and it can feel overwhelming trying to narrow down your options. We always suggest starting with two key pieces of information, to get the ball rolling; budget and guest count. From there, you can narrow down a preferred venue and date. While many hotels and catering halls have in house caterers, many couples are opting for more unique spaces that require, or lend well to, off site caterers. This may seem like a huge undertaking, but by figuring out your non-negotiables, you will be able to confidently select the caterer that will best represent you on your wedding day.
Availability - Of course, the first question will be, are they available for your date, party size and location. Some caterers take on multiple weddings a weekend, some just take on one or two. Regardless, they will need to know the location and estimated guest count to confirm their availability. For example, they may be able to take on a 50 person wedding in Bergen County, but do not have the staff to take on a 300 person wedding in the Berkshires.
Minimums - After confirming availability, check their minimum requirements. Some companies have a minimum requirement for certain months and days, others just have a guarantee based on initial guest count. Either way, it is good information to have, as this could impact your budget. If you have an invite list of 100 guests, you do not want to hire a caterer with a 150 person minimum. You can always ask about off season dates, or if you can make up the difference with add ons.
Service Styles - Ask about what service styles they offer. For example, for cocktail hour, do they offer stations, passed small bites, both? When it comes to the reception, can you select from buffet, family style or plated? If you have your heart set on a family style reception, make sure the caterer you choose is able to accommodate. Same goes for plated and action stations.
Types of Cuisine - Just as you wouldn’t go to a Korean restaurant and order lasagna, you can’t expect to go to an Italian caterer and order a Spanish inspired menu. Ask to see menus, and talk to them about their ability to customize the menu for your event. If you are getting married on a farm, and local produce is important to you, ask about their sourcing practices! Just keep in mind, local ingredients means that certains items might not be available all year round.
Additional Services - What else does your caterer offer? Do they handle food and staff only? Can they provide bartenders, alcohol, ice? Do they have a day-of coordinator included, or available as an add on? Can you source rentals through them? Not all catering companies are also event companies, but some are! Make sure to ask. The more that one company can take on, and the fewer vendors for you to coordinate, the better. You will also often save money on fees this way as well.
Requirements - Does your venue have specific requirements? Does the caterer? For example, some venues require trash removal at the end of the night. Some caterers must have access to running water and electricity. It is always best to ask, to ensure there are no hiccups after booking.
Tastings - We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about tastings. Please keep in mind, many caterers and venues only offer tastings after booking. This may seem counterintuitive, but please hear us out. Tastings take time to prepare and execute, and cost money. If you have already researched the company, seen their reviews, feel comfortable and trust their people, there should be no issues with the food. Tastings should be a menu development tool. A time to pick what you love and craft your perfect menu. It is also the time to go over timeline details and the flow of the day. Given the current wedding season(s), you might not even be able to schedule a tasting for a few weeks to months from your initial inquiry. At that point, your date might be booked by another client. If tasting prior to booking is a must for you, ask up front. This will allow you to have all the information to make an informed decision.
No matter the wedding style or caterer that you select, make sure you get to eat on your wedding day! Even if it is just a slice of cake at the end of the night.