Top Things You Should Know When Picking a Wedding Caterer
How To Pick an Amazing Caterer
Picking an amazing wedding menu that will cause rave reviews from your guests months, or years later is not an easy job. There are so many types of food and varieties of service. How do you know which one is the best bang for your buck, and which one will fit your vision for your wedding day? I am going to break down the differences for you and give you some things to consider when choosing a caterer. I have a strong catering background and enjoyed working in the industry for many years. I will give you some of the inside scoop on the different options and some inspiration when beginning your search.
Step One: Book a date with the venue. Do they have catering? Do they allow outside catering? Do they have a list of caterers you must choose from? Every venue does it differently. No caterer will begin working with you unless you have a venue booked.
Step Two: Decide the type of food you want for your meal. Outside caterers typically focus on different types, from Italian to grandma’s-homestyle comfort food to BBQ. Deciding your preferred food type will help you make a list of the best caterers for your wedding. There are a few caterers who make any kind of food. I want to give a shout-out to Together and Company and LA Catering!!! They are do-it-all caterers :)
Step Three: Now that you have decided the type of food you want for your event, it’s time to consider how you want it served. Let’s break down the different options inside catering. First, let’s start with the buffet. The buffet is the most popular option. Buffets are easy to do and can provide a variety of options for your guests to pick. You typically get two entrees, usually a chicken and a beef option, along with 1-2 vegetables, and 1-2 sides like mashed potatoes or mac and cheese! Buffets are usually the less expensive option because, from the catering side, they require less staff for set up and service.
Another option for catering is the plated dinner. Plated dinners are famous as well. I break this option down and the third option of food stations in this Popular Wedding Trends Post: Covid Here To Stay. Plated dinners offer a greater level of elegance and service for your and your guests. Food stations are similar to a buffet, but with more options, creating a unique atmosphere for your event. Between a plated dinner and food station, couples are more likely to choose the food stations because we all like to have options!
Let’s go back over the steps. Book a venue. Decide on the type of food you want and your preferred style of dinner service. Knowing this information will help you choose the best caterer for your wedding.
Questions To Ask Your Caterer Before Deciding
When meeting with your caterer of choice, here are some good questions to ask. These answers will help you know what to look for in a caterer and help you compare different companies.
Will they be on-site? Most venues require them to be licensed and remain on-site during the service of the food. Having your caterer remain onsite makes the dinner service run smoothly and efficiently.
Is service ware provided? Service ware could include bowls for salad, plates for dinner, appetizer or cake plates, and silverware. Some catering companies also provide linens as well if the venue doesn’t.
Does the caterer cut the cake? Do they charge extra for it? If they don’t, who usually cuts the cake for their clients?
What happens to the leftover food from dinner? Some caterers will box this up and leave it for you; others will not.
Do they provide servers to clear the dinner tables? No one wants dirty plates sitting in front of their guests for the evening. If the caterer doesn’t provide this service, sometimes the venue will.
How do they handle vendor meals? Do you need to count them in your guest count or do they provide them for your vendors at no cost.
Do they offer desserts? Not every bride wants a wedding cake. Some caterers provide dessert bars. Imagine a table full of brownies, cookies, pies, cheesecakes…… (I am getting hungry!) An ice cream truck is also a great option! A Graeter’s Ice Cream Truck can roll up at cake time as a surprise for your guests. Their classic is a black raspberry chocolate chip in a waffle cone!
Cake by High Five Cakes
The Postmark has a list of local caterers we love to work with as well as many from Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding area. These are in no particular order, but we know they will provide fantastic service for you and your guests. They can provide the kind of wedding meals your guests will be talking about long after the wedding is over.
The Pour House at Machinery Hall
Hoggy’s BBQ (tell Kathy we sent you!!)