Wedding Times

Not only is food one of the biggest costs but it is also one of the things that guests will remember the most. Picking the right caterer is critical. Here are the five things to look for in a caterer.

Reputation

Caterers depend greatly on their reputation. Choose your list of potential caterers by asking around to friends and family for names of caterers they have used in the past. Think about past weddings that you have been to and if you particularly enjoyed the food at one or two of them. Speak to the couple; ask about caterers that they really liked but also ask about the ones that they didn’t so that you can avoid those companies from the beginning.

Reception venues tend to have a list of caterers that they frequently use if they don’t have their own in house staff. Again, ask for recommendations.

Experience

Experience is an absolute necessity. Vendors that have been in business a long time and have experience catering weddings are preferential. There are some things that only experience can teach and you want to make sure that your caterer will be able to handle any issue that arises on the big day.

Professionalism

Anyone who is helping you pull of the big event should be professional but this is especially true of your wedding caterer. Make sure that they are responding to your phone calls or emails promptly and that they are answering all of your questions in a comprehensive manner. If they are too busy to talk to you, this is a tribute to their poor organization skills and will have a huge impact on how organized they are on the day.

You will need to be able to get a hold of your caterer at a moment’s notice. Guests may constantly be telling you about their food allergies, special dietary needs, or changing their mind about the main course options. It will be much easier on yourself if you can simply make a quick call as these special requests come in rather than keeping a list to be discussed whenever your caterer happens to get in touch.

Sharing Your Vision

The food speaks volumes to a couple’s personality, preferences, culture and visions of your wedding. Your caterer needs to understand these things and be prepared to work within your vision, not their own. A good caterer will be more concerned with making you happy than making the extra sale. So get rid of those trying to push certain packages on you just because they fall into a higher price point.

Bringing Forth Information

Avoid surprises in your final bill by making sure the caterer tells you about all costs that will be included beforehand. This includes set-up and teardown fees, corkage fees, bartender fees, and anything else. Be sure to ask before the contract is drawn up if it includes all the fees. If they suddenly begin to mention fees that hadn’t been discussed before, you may want to find another caterer. Having to ask for that kind of information is never a good sign.