Congratulations, most of you have just been engaged
or have been for a bit and are now ready to move on to
the next step- Marriage.
This decision is naturally a long time commitment and
therefore should not be entered into lightly. Therefore,
today my goal is to help you in the processes of selecting
a venue to hold your wedding reception.
The following are some questions you might want to
ask:
- Given the style, time, and date of my wedding,
what are some menu items that you suggest? What would
the cost-per-person be?
- Do you have any particular style of food or special
menu items that you specialize in?
- How many other weddings will your company handle
that same weekend/day/hour?
- Are you licensed? (this means that they have met
health department standards and have liability insurance)Do
you have a liquor license?
- How does the cost-per-person of a buffet compare
to that of a sit-down dinner?
- Does that cost-per-person just cover the food,
or are charges such as staff, rentals, and linens
included?
- What service costs are included and what costs
are additional? Are set-up and clean-up included?
How much is overtime if the reception runs long?
Are gratuities included?
- Do you provide linens, glasses, plates, silverware,
tables, chairs, serving pieces, and decorative flowers
for trays? Would it cost less if I handled any or
all of that myself?
- Will you be the person personally handling my wedding
on my wedding day? If not, what is the name of the
person who will, and when can I meet them?
- How much time will you need for set-up and clean-up?
- Do you hold wedding ceremonies?
- Do you charge for beverage service?
- If we want to provide our own wine, champagne,
and liquor, do you charge a corkage fee?
- Will you provide food for the photographer, videographer,
musicians, and other "day-of" vendors?
If so, is there an extra charge?
- Will you provide special meals for any children
who attend, and is there a discounted charge for
them?
- Can we see a copy of your standard contract?
- What deposit do you require to hold the date, and
when will the rest of the money be due?
- Can we see pictures of previous events, and speak
to former clients for referrals?
If you got a good feeling from the caterer, and think
they might be a viable candidate, ask them to draw
up an outline of what you discussed, including costs,
menu possibilities, and what the fee includes. And
don't forget about that tasting!
Setting Your Wedding Menu
- Ask your caterer if they can incorporate an old
family recipe. Your guests will enjoy this personal
touch.
- Make sure you include foods that you love. Enjoying
your wedding day is a priority, and it will help
to make your menu personal.
- Incorporate foods from your family's heritage.
Relatives and guests will bond over shared experiences.
- Think about going outside of a traditional menu.
For example, some couples these days are opting for
a dessert reception, rather than a traditional sit-down
menu. This is not only a budget saver, but can be
a great personal touch for the couple with a sweet-tooth.
- Ask to go for a tasting. You'll have a chance to
sample the foods and find out what the standouts
are/
- Ask your caterer what dietary options are available.
Generally today's couples will want to offer non-red-meat
fare, as well as a vegetarian option. If your caterer
says "We have a nice veggie sides plate" make
sure you taste it. I've been to far too many weddings
where the vegetarian option is bland vegetables heaped
unattractively on a plate.
Finally, write your proposed menu down and consider if
anything is missing, or out of place. Show it to trusted
friends to see if they have any suggestions. Make sure
to settle your menu with your caterer by their deadlines
so you don't needlessly stress them, or add to costs. |
