Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer
Planning a wedding is stressful - between finding the perfect venue, florist, dress and of course, the caterer - and the last thing you need is something going awry because you didn’t ask the right questions! Once you find a caterer, here are the questions you should be asking to make sure everything runs smoothly on your big day!
Finding the Perfect Caterer
Before asking the right questions, you need to find a caterer! Here are a few tips for finding the perfect caterer for your wedding.
Book Early
If your wedding venue doesn’t have a list of preferred caterers or an in-house caterer, start by narrowing down a list of caterers you love - then set up appointments to make sure they’re available for your wedding date.
Browse Social Media
When starting your wedding caterer search, check out Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest for inspiration. You can also check with your favorite local restaurant to see if they have a catering department. And of course, you can also ask your friends and family if they have any suggestions!
Consider Logistics
Although couples tend to choose a wedding venue then find a caterer, choosing a caterer that works in tandem with your wedding venue can be a huge game changer. Try working on the venue and the catering at the same time to avoid any issues later!
Establish a Budget
Establishing a budget from the start will help keep things on track and running smoothly. For example, if you’re on a tight budget, meeting with a caterer who specializes in high-end lobster or seafood might not be the best idea.
Be Prepared for Appointments
Once your budget and list of potential caterers are finalized, set up appointments and see if you can do the sampling at the same time. Coming to a meeting well prepared will help you avoid unnecessary stress later on in the planning process!
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer
Here are a list of questions to ask your potential wedding caterer to ensure your prepared!
Venue and Availability
Are you available on our wedding date?
Do you have other obligations on that date?
If so, how will your staff balance multiple events that day?
Have you catered at our venue before?
Are you able to accomplish our vision?
What specific needs (if any) do you need to be able to cater at our venue?
How much space will you need?
How much time do you need for set-up and clean-up?
Food and Drink
Can you accommodate a custom menu? Or is it just a static menu?
What are your most popular dishes?
Is it a bulk fee or cost per person?
What is the difference between a plated meal, family-style, buffet, etc.?
Can you make kid’s meals?
Do you provide vendor meals?
Are you able to take of allergy/dietary restrictions?
Will the food be made on-site or brought in?
When do you need final choices by?
When will you need a final headcount?
Where do you source your food from?
How will you handle any last-minute requests?
What are the portion sizes?
What do you do with leftover food?
Do you make wedding cakes, too?
If not, do you provide cake cutting services?
Do you offer desserts?
Can you provide bartending services?
Do we need to provide the alcohol?
Are non-alcoholic beverages included in the food costs?
Logistics and Details
How many weddings have you catered in the past?
Do you have photos and/or reviews of past events?
Do you provide all the linens, table settings, and accessories?
What color and style options do you have for those?
If you don’t provide linens and accessories, will you handle rental coordinations?
Will you handle setting place cards and menus, if asked?
What is your typical guest to server ratio?
Do you have proper catering licensing requirements and liability insurance?
Will you need any special event permits?
Will there be an onsite coordinator day-of? If so, can we meet them ahead of time?
Can you provide a copy of your standard contract?
What is the required deposit amount to hold our date and when is the remainder due?
What is your cancellation policy?
Do you offer a payment plan?
We hope those questions help ease the process of finding and finalizing your wedding caterer!