10 THINGS TO GET BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR WEDDING CATERER

It's been said that guests won't remember your vows but they will remember the food at your wedding. Think about it, it's one part of most weddings that someone is left feeling upset. While you can't please everyone, you can try and do your best to make your wedding catering a good experience.

1  GET A CATERER THAT YOU KNOW CAN DO THE JOB

• Do not waste time on trying to get someone to cook out of their comfort zone and experience.
• This is particularly important if you want an ethnic food menu.
• Find a caterer with a track record for catering for the type of food, number of guests and the location you have in mind.

2 GET A VENUE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE TYPE OF CATERING THAT YOU WANT

• All inclusive venue booking takes a lot of the guesswork out of what the chef will provide from their tried and tested menus.
• If however you want a different type of wedding or menu, then you need to find out if the venue has the facilities to serve your kind of food.
• You need to find out if you can bring in your own caterers, is their access to an adequate size kitchen, water supply, electricity?
• Can you have hot plated food or only a cold buffet?

3 GET A CLEAR MENU SELECTION

• Can the caterer provide the types of food you want to give the majority of your guests?
• Can they present the menu in the way you want, such as a hot buffet or three course meal?
• Is there a  choice of dietary alternatives for a few guests and children?
• Does the chef have a current speciality that has gone down well and your guests might like?
• Do they offer a package that includes other elements you would like, such as serving  champagne and the wedding cake, providing a bar and staff to run it?
• Are you charged per course/dish/menu/person?

4 GET A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT YOU CATERER IS PROVIDING
Particularly if the venue is not catering, you need to know if the caterer will also be responsible for:

• setting up and clearing up at the venue,
• decorating the table and venue,
• providing drinks and a  bar,
• table service or serving the food,
  
• providing a co-ordinator and staff at the reception?

If not, you will need to organise and pay extra for these yourselves.

5 GET A TASTE OF THE FOOD ON YOUR MENU

• Whilst it's important to taste food prepared by your caterer, recognise that arranging a special a food tasting  has some limitations.
• The caterer is not under pressure to produce food for 200 hungry guests that is served hot, tasty and on time at a food tasting.
• Similarly you may want your favourite restaurant to cater for your wedding, but have you eaten food the chef has prepared when catering for the size of your guest list?
• If you've been to a wedding of similar size as you're planning and the caterer did an excellent job, then you have a better idea of what they can produce.

6 GET A COPY OF THE CATERER'S LICENCE/INSURANCE

• Ensure that your caterer is currently registered with the local authority
• Check that they  have insurance cover in case of any catering related mishaps during and immediately after your wedding.
• Otherwise be aware that you could find yourselves legally liable.

7 GET A VIDEO OR PHOTOS OF PREVIOUS EVENTS
Ask to see any photos or videos the caterer has of previous work. These will hopefully give you an idea of:

• the presentation of the food
• the appearance of the catering staff
• service offered
• numbers catered for
• types of food served
• length of time the caterer has been in business.

8 GET A CONTACT LIST OF PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS

• Ask the potential caterer if there are any previous customers you can contact.
  
• Read reviews and feedback on the caterer's website and social media pages.
  
• Better still find out from friends and family which caterers they've used and get their feedback.
• Things can go wrong but how did the caterer cope is very telling.

9 GET A LIST OF WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE ON THE DAY AND THEIR TEAM

• Check how many other events your caterer will be cooking for on the day of your wedding.
• If not exclusively for you, get the name of the person who will be in charge at your venue and meet them beforehand to ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Have your representative, such as your day co-ordinator, the best-man and/or maid of honour,  to be the liaison person on the day with the caterer.

10 GET A TIMETABLE FOR YOUR DAY AND HOW THE CATERERS WILL FIT IN

• Your wedding day will involve a team of people who need to be in the right place at the right time doing what they were hired to do.
• This involves co-ordination and commitment to timing and co-operation especially where roles overlap.
•  Agree with your caterer all the timings from set up, serving of the courses and drinks, and clearing up.
• If possible have a meeting with the venue, caterer, and florist and anyone who will be involved in setting up at the venue.

Brides magazine created this helpful checklist of questions to ask any potential caterer. Remember to check out at least three caterers before making a decision, after you have had time to look over their answers.

http://www.brides.com/story/questions-to-ask-your-caterer-before-booking