Every wedding guest looks forward to the meal as much as seeing the bride in her wedding dress. Food is, and always has been, a fundamental aspect of weddings. How can you make sure your wedding fare is superb? We provide the following guide to catering for your wedding.

Work out a Realistic Budget

There is a direct correlation between the number of guests you invite to your wedding and the costs of catering. The amount you set aside for catering determines the limits of what you can afford to spend. If you want to go all out on catering, consider reducing the guest list accordingly. Otherwise, you will need to accept that you may have to decrease your vision of a feast to something more realistic.

Dietary Requirements

At the same time as you send out your ‘diarize the date’ notices you can also enquire into any dietary restrictions or preferences your guests have. You may have to work your catering around halal, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and nut allergies, for example. Note that there is a difference between a vegan and a vegetarian. You can cater to different needs by having special dishes made up for these guests. Be sure to let them know what arrangements you have made for them at the start of the reception so that they can relax and look forward to the event.

Select a Style for Catering

Do you want your guests to enjoy a sit-down meal with waiters on hand to serve them? This may cost you more than a buffet where everyone helps themselves because you will need to pay the servers (although it will be included in the overall price). For a very formal wedding, a sit-down dinner is more apt. If you are having a carefree event, such as at the beach, a buffet will keep people moving and interacting with each other.

Selecting a Caterer

You need to be thorough when choosing a caterer. Your wedding reception can be marred by undercooked or overcooked food, bad presentation, unusually small portions, and poor hygiene habits of the servers. Ask a lot of questions, such as the size of portions and cooking methods. While your budget may deter you from getting the best possible caterer, you still need to ensure that the one you get is good.

If a caterer has a website or is on social media, look for endorsements, complaints, and testimonials from other clients. Arrange a date for testing before making a final decision. Word of mouth is often the best recommendation.

You can arrange wedding dessert catering from another company rather than the one doing your main meal and starters. Many couples have something unusual in mind for the sweet part of the meal. Select something special that you and your guests will remember.

Agreeing the Details

Ask for a written quote that details quantities. Get the caterer to show you examples of their small, regular, and large portions. Ensure that the caterer is available on your chosen wedding date.

Make your special day perfect with superb catering. With the right food, guests will have a ball.