The success of your wedding will depend largely on the skill of your caterer. A full-service caterer will provide the food, experienced wait staff, linens, china, glassware, silverware and serving dishes. Find a caterer who will guide you in your menu planning, listen to your ideas, and make innovative suggestions. Aided by your caterer’s creativity and professionalism, you can host a truly delightful and memorable wedding. Consider asking the questions below to assist in your decision making process to help you select a wedding caterer.
- What packages do you offer? What do they include?
- Have you worked at my reception site before?
- Will you be available to visit the reception site before the wedding?
- Do you provide beverage service and/or bar service?
- Do you charge a corking fee?
- When is the deadline for the final guest count?
- When will we need to finalize the menu?
- Can you provide any special or ethnic dishes?
- Can you provide entrees for my guests who have special dietary needs?
- Will you be able to go over a floor plan of the reception with me?
- Will you provide flatware, china, stemware, salt and pepper shakers, etc? May I see them?
- Do you supply or arrange tables, chairs, linens or placecards? May I see them?
- How will you and your staff be dressed?
- Who will keep the leftover food and beverage?
- Will the caterer provide wait staff? How many are appropriate for my wedding?
- Do you work with fresh or frozen food?
- Are you licensed? (Meaning: they’ve met health department standards and have liability insurance. If you are having a bar, be sure this license includes a liquor license.)
- Do you provide alcohol or is the bar handled separately?
- How will you arrange the food on the buffet table or on plates? Do you have photos of previous work displays?
- Do you have references I can contact that have been previous contacts? (Get at least two references that had a similar number of guests and a similar menu style.)
- Do you do wedding cakes? Can I use an outside baker if desired? Is there a cake-cutting fee?
- How far in advance must I book your services?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Is a deposit required? If so, when and how much?
Would you like to see more creative ideas for your wedding? View our Winter/Spring issue of Premier Bride of Mississippi online here.