Things to Think About When Choosing Your Wedding Caterer
Next, up on the list of vendors that you need to book for your wedding day is your caterer. Just like your wedding planner, your caterer is going to make sure your special day goes off without a hitch! There are all different types of caterers and all different styles of service and food that you can have on your wedding day.
all things catering
When it comes to catering, there are many things that you are going to need to think about. Like, what type of service you want to have. Some of the types of service that you can potentially have are full-service, sit-down dinner, buffet, family-style, etc. You can also consider just having a cocktail hour reception with passed appetizers. If you find the right caterer for your wedding, they are just one more piece of the wedding day puzzle that is going to make your day all flow together. When you find the right caterer, they are going to help you and your wedding planner figure out all of the food logistics for you and your guests. It can be very complicated to hire a caterer if you are still trying to figure out your careering budget, your final guest count, and what exactly you want to have on your wedding day menu.
when to book
Like we talked about with your wedding venue, it’s important to book your caterer if you fall in love with one. The great wedding caterer starts to book up 12-18 months in advance. start the booking process right away if you find a caterer you really want to have at your wedding. Remember, that if caterers and venues start booking up 12-18 months in advance, all your other vendors are going to start booking up then as well. So, if you find other vendors that you fall in love with, book them right away. Sometimes, your venue will have a preferred catering list already, so you won’t have to full look for a caterer on your own. Or they may even have an in-house caterer that they require you to use. However, if your wedding venue doesn’t have either of these options for you, you can start creating a list of caterers that you like. Then you can start narrowing down the list of caterers you like until you get to the one that you absolutely love.
looking for inspiration
When you first start to look for your wedding caterer and you don’t know where to start or look, it’s totally ok! Start by doing your search on social media and even through Google. When looking through Instagram and Pinterest, look for different types of food you may want and even the service style you are looking to have at your wedding. Keep these ideas as you are talking to different caterers to find the perfect one for your special day. You can even look into having restaurants your frequent caterer your wedding if you’d like. When you start your search and are looking at professional caterers, make sure that they match the vision that you have for the food you want to serve at your wedding.
logistics
Like how your wedding venue can offer a range of different services on your wedding day, your wedding caterer can also do the same. Some of the additional services that caterers are starting to offer are part of the actual event design process. These would include providing props, special effects, and décor. Another thing to consider is choosing your wedding caterer in tandem with the venue that you choose. This can be an absolute game-changer when planning all aspects of your wedding day. A lot of the time, when planning, the couple chooses a venue and then tries to accommodate the caterer they choose in the venue’s space. Which is a good thing seeing that a lot of the time, venues may not have in-house catering offered and you may need to choose your own caterer and make sure they are able to work in the space you are providing them in the venue. Remember to always think about what you have envisioned for the food being served on your wedding day.
speaking with caterers
When you finally start talking to caterers, make sure you are going to the meeting fully prepared! Go into your first meeting with any caterer with a clear vision of what you are looking for as far as the food for your wedding. Know the exact aesthetic you are going for in terms of the food and the wedding overall. Also, go into your catering meeting knowing what your budget is. Knowing what your food and beverage are, will help you get a good idea of what kinds of foods and service styles you are going to be able to get from your caterer based on your budget.
Here is a list of questions to ask your potential caterers
To get started planning your wedding that is playfully planned, joyously celebrated, and magically memorable, click here.
XOXO, LJE