Wedding Invitations

When selecting your wedding site, catering issues will arise. Your options and limitations will vary depending on whether you choose a hotel sit-down reception or a beachside buffet barbecue.

For hotel or banquet hall receptions, set up a meeting with the caterer and map out your budgetary constraints, dietary restrictions, dream menu, and other food-related desires.

If you are hiring your own caterer, call the references of those you are considering. See if other brides were happy with their experience working with them.

Be sure that your caterer is insured and licensed to protect against any unforeseen problems that may arise at the reception.

Determine if it is cost effective for you to have a sit-down meal, a buffet meal, or a heavy hors d’oeuvres and cake reception. The options run the gamut, and you can decide what works best for your group size and budget.

Don’t accept the first number that a caterer throws out. Negotiate until you are comfortable with the price.

Most caterers will offer you tasting of menu items so you can sample the various foods that could be served at your event and determine which food combinations appeal to you. Take advantage of the tastings, and bring your fiancé along!

You might especially want to savor the tasting since you may not have time to sit down and enjoy the meal at your actual reception.

Check to see if your caterer can get you any price breaks on beverage or your wedding cake.

Be sure to ask your caterer what is the final possible date you can submit your head count for guests. Many guests RSVP at the last minute and you do not want to be penalized or pay for extra meals that go uneaten.

Ask to see the china that your food will be served on to make sure that it is not too patterned and won’t clash with your centerpieces, table covers, or food presentation.

See if your caterer will provide a simple plate of food (perhaps a pared-down version of your wedding meal) for your band, DJ, wedding coordinator, photographer, videographer, and so on if their contracts so specify.

Ask your caterer to prepare two extra plates of food and some slices of wedding cake for you and your groom to eat after the wedding, either in the send-off car or in your hotel room. You will be hungry!