Choosing a caterer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions you will make.  Not only will guests remember the food, it will be one of your largest expenses in the budget.  The catering company is one of the first ones on site and often the last to leave.  Besides providing food and beverage, they can also be involved in many other aspects of your event.  For this reason, it is important to choose a catering company that you can feel confident about and has quality food, affordable prices and competent staff.

Begin by looking at their menu selections.  Do they specialize in one particular style of catering or offer a variety of options?  Plated dinners, buffets, food stations, and heavy hors d’oeuvres are alternatives for you to choose.  Is the company flexible with their menus?  Can they accommodate special dietary needs of guests?  Do they allow for tastings?

Be sure to find out exactly what is included in their price.  Some catering companies include the utensils and plateware while others charge.  Is there a set-up fee?  Separate staffing fees?  What linens are included?  Is there a corkage fee (cost of serving alcohol)?  Cake Cutting Fee?  As you are meeting with caterers, you may hear the term “plus, plus.”  This simply means “plus tax and plus gratuity.”  If the cost of the meal is $25, you will need to add both of these so the real per person cost might be $32.  As always, make sure you have every cost estimate in your contract so there are no surprises after the final bill arrives.  Be aware that certain food items may have a flexible price based on the market (ie. Sea Bass) and you may have to wait to get the final cost on this until closer to the date.

Other questions to ask might include the following:  How long have you been in business?  Do you have references of recent events?  How is the staff attired?  How is payment handled?  How much of the breakdown and clean-up will they be responsible for?  Will they handle rental items such as tables and chairs?