Catering

 

 

 

As discussed in the reception venues – most of the large wedding
reception places have a caterer / chef in residence. Often there’s a choice in
menus to accommodate various budgets. Food is not the only thing to consider –
liquid refreshments are also a large part of the catering account.

If you decide to organise the catering company yourself, you will need
to get several quotes from several companies. Ask your friends for
recommendations, and don’t be afraid to ask many questions about the type of
food and how it is prepared. A good catering company will also have photos of
previous functions for you to look at. And don’t forget to ask these sorts of
things:

  • How much does each course cost?
  • How many staff do you have? Waiters etc
  • Who is to provide the table arrangements / decorations?
  • Who is to provide the napkins etc
  • How do you expect to be paid?
  • Can you cater for special diets eg: vegetarians etc?
  • Will you clean up after yourself?
  • Can we have a choice of menu?
  • Do you need a deposit? If so, how much?
  • How long before the day, do you need to have numbers confirmed?
  • Do you cater for outside parties?
  • Do you have the correct liquor licences?
  • Do you provide the bar staff?
  • Can you organise the drinks? Champagne?

Finger food, stand-up affairs can be cheaper than a full-blown three-course meal. Not only do they usually require less time which saves hiring costs and food costs, but you won’t be able to fit in as many speeches.

Alcohol

Many couples divide the catering bill into two – food and beverages. This can be a reasonable way of sharing the costs between families. There’s no easy answer to the drinks bill – there will always be complaints that some people drank more than was budgeted for. It can be quite embarrassing if the ‘bar tab’ runs out before the reception is over. If you’re paying for all the drinks yourself then it’s a much more cost effective plan to stick to some basic drinks, (beer, wine, soft drink) and let the guests know that if they desire anything else, they will have to pay for it themselves.

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