One of the highlights of any wedding is the food! Whether it’s a traditional white wedding with wedding breakfast and all the formalities, or a large Asian wedding, or even an informal outdoor wedding, you’ll no doubt be treating all your guests to a feast of some kind. Indeed, get the catering right, and it will live long in the memory. Get it wrong, and it will probably still live long in the memory, but for all the wrong reasons!
The UK wedding catering market is a competitive one. With around 300,000 weddings taking place each year in this country, it’s no surprise that there is an abundance of professional catering companies who are able to provide you with the service that you’re looking for.
All this choice, however, means that you’ll need to try and decide which caterer is going to be best for you as a couple, and for your special day. As a result, therefore, we’ve provided some questions and considerations that you need to ask and bear in mind, when you are looking to hire a wedding caterer.
Are they local?
There’s no doubt that working with a wedding caterer who is ‘local’ to you will be easier than working long distance. For a start, it will be cheaper, as any company will have to factor in transport costs to and from your venue. And, as importantly, it means that any issues can be easily resolved, often in person, in the run-up to your big day.
Are their menus flexible?
By this, we mean is the caterer presenting some fixed menu options from which they won’t deviate, or are they happy to work with you to provide what you want. Flexibility is always a good thing, especially if you are working to a budget.
Can they work within your budget?
And talking of budgets, we all have them, and should stick to them! OK, so not everyone’s budget is the same. However, like anything else on your wedding planning list, you only have a certain amount of money to dedicate to the catering, so are your expectations aligning with those of your caterer?
Have they operated at your particular wedding venue before?
Whilst this not seem like a big deal, it will certainly help everyone involved. If your caterer has worked at your wedding venue previously, they will know what catering equipment is on site, how much space there is in the kitchen, and what access is like along with any restrictions, and so on. A site visit is always a good idea with contractors coming to your wedding venue, so you can all buy into the same vision.
Are they available for your big day?
And, if the caterer can help you with all the above, perhaps the biggest question is whether they are available for your big day. Like anything else, the best companies get booked well in advance, and the same can be said of wedding caterers, especially if you’re planning a summer wedding. Try to undertake the wedding planning process as early as possible, to give yourselves the best chance of success in securing your preferred contractors and suppliers.
Can you do a tasting to check the quality of the food?
The quality of wedding catering is all about the taste! The best wedding caterers will work with you on your menu choice, make their own suggestions, and then invite you for a food tasting. Make sure you do this – it’s a great opportunity to tweak your menu and get your thoughts across.
Can they cater for specific dietary requirements?
Of course, not everyone can eat everything, so how does your cater provide for vegetarians, vegans and guests with allergies, for instance?
How do they present their food?
As well as the taste of the food, the way that the food is presented is also hugely important – after all, people eat with their eyes when the food comes to the table! Modern wedding caterers understand this, and instead of using standard white crockery, will look for more unusual and contemporary crockery such as coloured and textured plates, on which their food creations will look stunning!
Do they have their own catering equipment, or will they need you to hire it?
Sometimes, wedding caterers will ask you to source catering equipment on their behalf. They will, of course, give you a list of requirements, and so it’s down to you to find catering equipment hire at the best prices. This is where the internet comes into its own – simply key in ‘catering equipment hire near me’, and you’ll be presented with some local companies who will be able to provide what you need!
Are there any hidden charges you should know about?
No one likes getting an unexpected bill, and so this is something you should determine in advance with your caterer. Are they going to be charging you for washing up? What about corkage fees for the bottles of wine on the tables? Will they be charging you for the use of tables and chairs? These are just a few examples of what to look out for. Again, if you need wedding furniture hire, there are plenty of options in the UK market, so one look online will provide you with the best furniture hire options for wedding events and occasions, regardless of whether it’s indoor or even outdoor wedding furniture hire you need.
So, hopefully these pointers above will help you when you come to organise your wedding catering. And remember, planning a wedding should always be an enjoyable experience, not a hassle or chore. Start early, set a budget, and stick to it!
All that’s left to say in advance, therefore, is CONGRATULATIONS!
