Details to Discuss with Your Wedding Caterer

If you have selected the caterer for your wedding reception, you have completed the first of many steps involved in working out the details of the food at your wedding. In the coming weeks and months, you will need to continue working with this caterer to arrange the rest of the details to make sure your wedding reception dinner is exactly what you expect.

Wedding Caterer: Menu and Amounts

Obviously, the first and most important detail to discuss with your caterer is the menu for the wedding. Talk about what foods you want at your dinner, how much of each, vegetarian options, and other parts of the meal such as appetizers and beverages. Most people do this as part of the process of selecting a caterer, but you will need to finalize any preliminary choices you may have made.

Even after you have selected the menu for your wedding reception, you will need to stay in touch with your caterer as your guests RSVP for the wedding. Make sure to clearly communicate with your caterer so you know when you must have the final guest count. Also discuss how much extra food is provided, in case you have some guests show up who did not RSVP to your wedding, and if needed, you can artificially increase your RSVP count.

Wedding Caterer: Presentation of Food Tables

If you are having a buffet-style wedding reception, you will want to discuss how the food tables will look so you can fit them into the theme of the wedding. Ask your caterer about any tablecloths, table runners, and centerpieces that are provided. Also discuss what containers the food is displayed in, and whether they are cheap-looking disposable containers and serving utensils, or higher-quality ones. Of course, you should also ask whether the caterer will be bringing the actual tables to put the food on, or whether you will have to have those already provided at the reception site.

Wedding Caterer: Guest Tables

Some wedding caterers provide all of the tablecloths, centerpieces, plates, cups, and tableware for your wedding reception dinner, whereas others expect that to be provided by you or the reception site. Find out what your caterer will provide, and decide between any options on colors or styles of these items, being careful to remain consistent with the overall theme and feel of your wedding.

Wedding Caterer: Hidden Costs

Many wedding caterers quote the cost of food and beverage, but forget to tell you about the other costs until you have worked with them many hours and are about to sign the contract. Ask early about any additional costs you will run into with your wedding reception catering. For example, ask if there are delivery fees, if there is a service charge automatically added to the bill, and if there is an hourly rate for any employees coming to serve the dinner. If the caterer is dropping food off for an informal reception and then returning to pick up their containers, check to see if the delivery fee is doubled for the two trips.

Wedding Caterer: Serving the Cake

If you are bringing in your cake from another place and will have catering staff on-site, ask about having them serve the cake. They will do it professionally and keep your cake pieces looking far more beautiful than your Aunt Martha would do. Of course, you should also ask about any additional charges associated with that, and whether they can provide cake plates for you.

Wedding Caterer: Leftovers

If there is extra food at your wedding reception, which is often the case, you will want to know beforehand whether you can take it home with you (or let your guests take it home with them). If you are allowed to take the leftovers, ask whether the caterer provides disposable containers to pack it in, or if you will have to provide your own containers.