Questions You Should Ask a Wedding Caterer
Your caterer will probably be you second largest vendor who you allocate your budget to. Here is a list of questions to ask your caterer. Catering costs are usually presented as “per-person” charges, and can be abbreviated in brochures as “pp” after the amount. The tax can be extra and may not be included. There may also be a separate charge for the meal, drinks, and even the setup. So you have to find out what the total charges will be at the end of the day.
Questions to ask:
1. Is my date available?
2.Have they catered at your venue of choice before?
3.Are you licensed and can you serve alcohol? Do you have liquor liability insurance? Do you have liability insurance? Will you provide a coordinator who will run the meal service? What will happen if the coordinator is sick on my wedding day?
4. Do you offer other services like wedding decor, specialty lighting, etc?
5. Does the caterer specialize in certain types of food, such as organic, locally sourced, ethnic or gluten-free?
6.Do you use all fresh produce, meat, fish, etc.? Can you source organic or sustainably farmed ingredients?
7. Do you specialize in certain cuisines? What food choices would you recommend?
8. Can you accommodate a custom menu for my wedding or is there a set menu? If I wanted a special dish served would you accommodate that?
9. Where will the food be prepared? Before the wedding or at the wedding venue and if so then the caterer needs to make arrangements.
10. How do you arrange the food on the buffet or plate? Can I see photos of previous presentations?
11. Will the caterer set out the wedding place cards and menus?
12. Do you offer packages and what do they include? Are there additional services that can be purchased via a la carte?
13. How about kosher or vegan diets, can they be taken care of?
14. Do you offer chocolate fountains, espresso machines, or other upgrades?
15. Is there a cost difference between a buffet and a sit down menu? How about appetizer stations and passed appetizers? Ask if there will be a difference in price for the type of service promised?
16. Are children's meals less expensive?
17. Is the wedding cake included in the per-person meal or is it extra?
18. Can I see photos of venues that you catered at before?
19. If we go with an outside vendor for cake design is there a cake cutting fee?
20. If I decide not to have a cake can you provide me with a dessert station?
21. Is there an extra charge for tables and chairs?
22. Do you provide linens, glassware, plates, napkins, silverware, and salt and pepper shakers? Are they disposable or the real thing?
23. How many waiters will be at my wedding? If I want more waiters how much will it cost me? It is recommended that for every six tables you have three waiters.
24. Can you provide upgrades like chair covers, other furniture and what are the additional costs?
25. Who is responsible for cleanup? Make sure you have this in writing.
26. If there is extra food after the wedding can guest take it home?
27. Do you provide alcoholic beverages? If so do you provide a bartender? How about specialty cocktails?
28. What kind of alcohol will be served?
29. Can we provide the alcohol and you serve it?
30. Can we provide our own wine and champagne? Is there a corkage fee?
31. How do you charge for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages? Per consumption or per person?
32. Are the toasts included in the meal package or is that extra?
33. Will the wine be served with dinner?
34. Will alcohol be served all night? If not what are the hours?
35. Is the coffee and tea included with the per-person meal charge? Do you have decaf and herbal teas available?
36. How many servers will accommodate my guest at the wedding?
37. How will the servers be dressed?
38. What is the break down of the prices? Food, bar, cake-cutting, tax, gratuity?
39. How much extra time do you need for setting up and breaking down? Are there extra fees for this?
40. If my event runs longer than contracted what are the fees?
41. How far in advance do I have to give you my guest count?
42. What is your payment policy? What forms of payment do you accept?
43. Do you offer a payment plan and when does everything have to be paid by?
44. Are there any other fees that are not included that we should be aware of?
45. If we make changes to the menu choices or other items, will you update us with a new estimate and a new contract?
46. What is the refund or cancellation policy?
47. And finally can you provide a list of recent references?