The planning of a wedding can be fun and exciting, but also stressful and frustrating at times. When picking a caterer, keep these few basic ideas in mind.
According to the editors of Bride Magazine, roughly 47 percent of a wedding's budget will be spent on the reception, which can include decorations, chair and place setting rentals, linens, and of course, food and beverage. That being said, the following are a few considerations to keep in mind when beginning to plan a wedding menu.
Budget
- How much money am I willing to put into this reception, or what do I have to work? Obviously, the money issue has to be one of the first questions, especially in this economy. You don't want to plan a huge reception with a very limited budget.
- Does my caterer offer a wedding package, and is there one right for me? Sometimes, a caterer will have a special, all-inclusive wedding package what offers a bride everything she needs. However, when considering these, ask yourself, do these include everything I need?
- What do I need for my bar? Liquor and a licensed bartender can run you in the thounsands. Can you serve a limited bar? Or just a toast?
- What additional fees do I need to be aware of? For example, is there a cake cutting fee? A corkage fee? Usually, a caterer quotes you a price per head, but there's also taxes and gratutiies that need to be considered. Forgetting about a 20 percent tip that will be included in the final price can send you into sticker shock.
- How much are linen and place setting rentals going to cost? It would be wonderful to find a caterer who included everything in a low, set price, but it may not happen. Plan for needing rentals.
Food Concerns
- What kind of menu will match my wedding plans? For example, a morning wedding can be followed with a reception brunch and mimosas. Having a late afternoon wedding? Try platters of finger foods. Or, for a more formal affair, trays of finger foods can be passed around early in the event, with a sit-down dinner later.
- Where is the reception being held? A menu that will work for a casual, backyard wedding may not be appropriate for a wedding in a hotel ballroom.
- Are there any foods that are important to have to represent my family or us as a couple, and will the caterers I'm looking at respect my wishes? For example, can you have that old family favorite as the dinner? Or, since my beloved and I love cheeseburgers, can we have that as an entree?
- Can I preview how my food will look and taste? Will my caterer arrange a tasting with me? Can I try a variety of foods? When picking a caterer, can you see pictures of past events? While few may remember how the food looks as opposed to how it tastes, it's still nice to wow family and friends with a complete, carefully planned plate that looks and tastes great.
- Will my caterer supply the wedding cake, or do I need to order it from a baker? Also, some couples chose to offer cookies or other treats in addition to cake, particularly if it fits in with the wedding theme. For example, a fall wedding may serve apple dumplings or pumpkin pie. Will the caterer supply these?
When planning a wedding, there's lots of options to consider. These are just a few of the initial concerns. However, keeping these in mind can save a couple a great deal of trouble when in the beginning stages of planning.
The copyright of the article Wedding Catering Basics in Wedding Style is owned by Susan Beam. Permission to republish Wedding Catering Basics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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