Let's Eat..but First....

FOOD!!

Photo Credit: Special Times Catering

Let's face it, we all love fantastic food! Let's discuss the importance of a caterer.
You may be asking yourself, "should I hire a caterer?" The answer is a resounding YES!! Did you know that the caterer will be responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving the food? Having a professional handle those details are much better than having your mom or aunts spending all of their time in the kitchen on your wedding day. They should be helping you get dressed, snapping pictures, providing words of wisdom, and holding your hand as you prepare to walk down the aisle...NOT in the dining hall warming up the meatballs and cleaning the oven.

The caterer will also be responsible for beverages and for cleaning up after the event....unless you want your Bridesmaids cleaning up spills and mopping in their $300 dresses. A competent caterer will prepare much of the food in his or her own kitchen and should provide adequate staff of cooks, servers, and bartenders. Remember that your menu will be determined by your tastes and the season. Generally, you will want to serve a red meat option, a white meat or fish options, and a vegetarian option for your main course. Although there are several options, chicken and beef are the most popular and sometimes least expensive.

You should finalize your beverage and food menu for the reception at least six to eight weeks before the wedding. As a courtesy, you may provide your wedding vendors with a meal. Make sure that you provide a place for them to eat. You do not have to feed your vendors the same meal as your guests. You can order a sandwich tray or another less expensive meal.

Some Questions to ask Caterers:
Do you have liability insurance?
What is your ratio of servers to guests?
How do your servers dress for wedding receptions?
What is your price range for a seated lunch or dinner buffet?
What is your specialty?
What is your cake-cutting fee?

You will definitely want to make sure that you have a responsible person cutting your wedding cake(s) if your caterer does not provide that service. Have someone to cut your cake is a task that many couples forget to take into consideration. You would hate to have someone inexperienced to destroy  cut your cake that you spent hundreds of dollars on.

If you still have questions or concerns regarding hiring a caterer, contact Kiss and Tell Weddings! {405-309-9311}