There’s no doubt that each aspect of your wedding day will make it a magical experience for you and your new spouse, but one of the most crucial pieces is the food! Your guests might not remember the specific flower varieties in your bouquet, but they will certainly remember the meal. Because the food plays such a big part in your reception, make sure to ask your caterer these ten questions to ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch!
How much are meals for vendors going to cost compared to guest meals?
You’re usually expected to feed the vendors at your wedding, so you’ll want to know how much those will cost in order to factor them into your budget. Because they won’t necessarily be plated in the same way as for the guests, they might also be a bit cheaper than the guest meals!
Will you prepare to-go meals for the happy couple?
Despite all the time and effort that goes into selecting the food for your wedding day, it’s likely that you and your new spouse might not even be able to eat it with so much else going on! Ask your caterer if they can package two meals to-go, so you can take them with you and enjoy them whenever you get to the hotel. You’re already paying for them, so it should be a simple but much appreciated ask.
Are you able to prepare meals for guests with special diets (vegan, gluten-free, etc.)?
These days many people have restrictive diets. If you want to provide alternative meals for those guests, you’ll want to ask your caterer what they can provide and at what price point. Depending on how much and for how many people you’re offering special meals, you might have to allocate more for your budget than originally expected. With that in mind, make sure your guests with special diets know what to expect on the big day so they can plan accordingly for what food will be served.
Do you have other events going on the day of our event?
Sometimes caters (and vendors in general) will schedule multiple events on the same day. While it’s theoretically all right to do so, you might just want to keep in mind that their tasks will be split the day of.
What will the wait staff wear during our event?
Depending on the formality of your event, you might be concerned with what the wait staff is wearing. If it’s important to you, make sure to ask your caterer beforehand so you know what to expect on the big day.
Is there a kids menu available? And if yes, how much would those meals be?
If you’re having kids in attendance at your wedding, don’t forget to think about what they’re going to eat! While spinach and Brussel sprout appetizers might sound very appealing to you, your younger guests might disagree. Before you book a caterer, ask them if there’s a menu or meal option available for children. Hopefully, you’ll also pay less for children’s meals than for adult meals, so make sure to ask the price upfront.
Have you done events at our venue before?
While this one definitely isn’t a dealbreaker, it might be nice to know if they’re familiar with your venue. Should anything come up, a caterer who has done events at your venue in the past might be a little more equipped to handle them versus someone who hasn’t.
How will the food be presented or plated?
Depending on what you’re serving, your food will usually either be served plated or in a buffet. If the look and feel of that are especially important to you, make sure to discuss it with your caterer beforehand.
Do you have insurance and a license?
There’s a good chance nothing will go wrong on your big day but in case it does, it’s a good idea to make sure your caterer is covered. By having a license it means that your caterer meets local health department standards and also is liable for any incidents relating to their services should they arise.
What is your policy on cleanup and leftover food?
This question is one you want to ask both your caterer and the venue because one way or another you are responsible for the cleanup! Make sure to ask your caterer if they are going to clean up dishes, trash, leftover food, etc. In some cases, you have to leave the venue just as you found it, and you certainly don’t want to be dealing with dirty dishes on your wedding night!
The food is arguably one of the most important (and costly) parts of your wedding reception, so you want to spend a good deal of time researching and choosing your caterer! Before you make a decision, ask them these questions and see which option feels like the best fit for you, your soon-to-be-spouse, and your vision for your wedding day. When everything goes according to plan, you’ll be very glad you did! Have some questions in mind for your caterer that might help others for their wedding planning? Write them in the comments below!
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
