What style of reception do you specialise in?
Do you want canapes? Are you having a buffet or a formal meal? What are your caterers most capable of delivering? More formal receptions will have a sit-down meal of three or four courses served by waiting staff. It’s the most expensive option and the traditional choice for meals served from mid-afternoon. A buffet is less formal, but not necessarily much cheaper because you still need tables, chairs and serving staff, but it does offer your guests lots of different menu choices.
What’s on your menu?
Matching your personal tastes to a caterer who can deliver what you want is really important. Some caterers are very good at mixing and matching different styles of food, while others are better at sticking to their tried and tested menus. You need to understand whether their style of menu suits your tastes.
Don’t be afraid to ask your caterers for a tasting menu – it’s important to feel confident that you have chosen the right suppliers and the right menu.
Can we provide our own alcohol? If so, how much do you charge for corkage?
‘Always check your venue’s policy on corkage. It can be cheaper to buy wine abroad or on a sale-or-return basis from an off-licence,’ says Charles Howard from Jalapeno (020 7639 6500). Paying the caterers to supply the alcohol is the least hassle, but it also has a habit of being more expensive. Will your caterers let you buy the alcohol and pay them to pour it? You need to do the maths to ensure what you pay in corkage doesn’t offset the savings you’ve made by buying the drinks yourself.
What does your service include?
Will your caterer be responsible for table linen, cutlery and crockery? Who pays if something is broken or damaged? What about waiting staff? It’s important to have a clear understanding of what you want from your caterers, what they can deliver, and what they expect from you. And establish who is dealing with the rubbish: the last thing you want on the first day of your honeymoon is to be troubled by your venue wondering what to do with the empty champagne bottles.
How much will it cost?
This is the most important question of all and it’s key to ensuring your wedding stays on budget. Get a full quotation in writing and make sure it includes everything discussed at any meetings and everything mentioned in Q4. Expect to pay anything up to 50% when you book, with the balance paid when you confirm the final numbers. Before signing anything, Carole Hamilton warns couples to check the fineprint for things like overtime rates and the cancellation policy details.
Can we see some testimonials from your previous weddings?
A satisfied bride and groom will usually send their caterer and other suppliers a note of thanks after the big day. Before you make your final decision, ask your potential caterer whether you can see these testimonials – it's always good to know that others in your situation were happy with the service they received. This peace of mind will mean there’s one less thing to worry about in the lead up to your big day. It’s also possible to ask to visit another event they’re catering for. Here you’ll see exactly how the staff look, what the food looks like and how well the event is run.
For lots of wedding menu ideas for every season, see the receptions section at youandyourwedding.co.uk.
Photo: Create Food and Party Design
