Ready to explore your wedding catering options? From essential conversations with your caterer to selecting the perfect menu for your guests, our comprehensive guide addresses all your wedding catering queries.
If you've chosen a venue that allows external catering or you're seeking a particular cuisine that isn't available through your venue's in-house options, you'll need to arrange independent wedding catering.
Selecting and arranging your wedding catering should be an enjoyable process – after all, who doesn't enjoy discussing and sampling delicious food?! However, if you're unfamiliar with the differences between canapés and bowl food, or confused about grazing tables versus sharing platters, it can become rather overwhelming. Factor in calculating portion sizes and allocating your wedding budget appropriately, and the process can become quite daunting. Not exactly the pleasant experience you'd hoped for.
To ensure you create the perfect wedding menu and secure the ideal wedding catering service for your special day, we've compiled answers to the most common questions about wedding catering. Just try not to get too peckish as you read through!
How Do I Book a Wedding Caterer?
Begin by browsing wedding catering suppliers to explore the options available in your region. You'll find everything from elegant grazing tables to casual BBQs and sophisticated sit-down service providers.
It's also beneficial to consult your venue about their list of preferred caterers who have previous experience working there - it's valuable to hear recommendations from other couples, and it's advantageous if your chosen caterers are already familiar with the venue's facilities.
After identifying one or two caterers that appeal to you, reach out to arrange an informal discussion. Initial meetings are complimentary and provide an opportunity to share your vision and requirements with the caterer. They can then advise on what's feasible and might suggest creative options you hadn't considered.
Once you've found your perfect match, secure your date with a deposit. Remember to verify the caterer's availability for your wedding date before scheduling a consultation to avoid any disappointment.
Will My Venue Do My Wedding Catering?
It varies! Some wedding venues have mandatory in-house catering services, whilst others offer flexibility in your choice. Certain venues, despite lacking their own catering facilities, maintain exclusive partnerships with local catering companies that couples must engage upon booking. Others simply provide a curated list of recommended catering suppliers for you to choose from.
You'll also find numerous venues, especially outdoor settings and festival wedding venues, that operate without fixed catering arrangements or facilities. Don't let this worry you though - professional caterers are well-equipped to handle everything from power requirements to cooking equipment. Simply ensure you discuss your venue's situation during your initial consultation.
What Kind of Food Can I Serve at My Wedding?
The possibilities are endless! Within practical limits, of course. Modern weddings are becoming increasingly innovative, with many couples moving away from conventional three-course meals towards more relaxed dining experiences.
We're particularly fond of grazing tables lavishly decorated spreads featuring everything from artisanal charcuterie to fresh sushi selections.
For those preferring traditional seated dining, you needn't stick to formal silver service. Many caterers now offer convivial sharing platters and interactive dessert experiences that work brilliantly within a formal seating arrangement.
Can I Have On-the-Day Meal Choices?
This typically depends on your caterer's policies and your guest count. Most weddings feature a predetermined menu, with alternative options provided only for guests with specific dietary requirements or allergies.
To prevent any dining disappointment, it's advisable to communicate your planned menu to guests beforehand. For instance, if you're serving sea bass as your main course, some guests might prefer not to eat fish. In such cases, they can simply opt for the vegetarian alternative on their RSVP. This approach maintains manageable preparation numbers and doesn't impact your catering costs.
If you're determined to offer menu choices on the day, discuss with your caterer about limiting options to two or three dishes that can be efficiently prepared, or consider a more relaxed dining approach such as a taco or pizza station where guests can personalise their selections according to their preferences.
Will My Wedding Caterer Create Dishes for Guests With Dietary Requirements?
Every professional caterer will accommodate dietary requirements with suitable dishes. However, it's important to note that this primarily applies to guests with genuine allergies and intolerances - your caterers are unlikely to cater for individual preferences, particularly when these are requested at the last minute.
To streamline this process, ensure you include a dedicated dietary requirements section on your wedding invitations or wedding website, making it straightforward for guests to communicate their needs. You can subsequently provide your caterer with a comprehensive list of guests requiring special considerations.
Do Caterers Provide Serving and Bar Staff?
Indeed, most catering companies provide both serving staff and bar personnel, particularly if you've arranged a drinks package through them. It's worth enquiring about their staff-to-table ratio and whether their service extends to additional duties such as managing the cloakroom, assisting with guest seating arrangements and handling the cutting and distribution of the wedding cake.
Do I Need Evening Food?
The timing of your wedding reception largely determines this, but we recommend including evening refreshments. If you're maintaining the same guest list throughout and your wedding breakfast concludes after 7pm, then simple offerings like artisanal cheese boards or modest grazing platters served later in the evening should suffice.
For afternoon wedding breakfasts, guests typically develop an appetite before the celebration concludes, and you'll want to keep their energy levels high for dancing until the final song, won't you? Popular choices include hot or cold buffets, mobile pizza services, traditional hog roasts or miniature fish and chip portions - all excellent options for keeping your guests energised on the dance floor.
When welcoming evening-only guests, we consider it particularly crucial to reserve something special for their arrival. Evening guests shouldn't feel like an afterthought and greeting them with a delectable evening menu will ensure they feel properly valued. Consider providing substantial refreshments and perhaps organising a cocktail hour to facilitate mingling between day and evening guests, creating the perfect party atmosphere.
Even if elaborate cocktails aren't within your budget, do ensure that welcome drinks are available for evening guests and that your day guests haven't depleted the drinks package!
For whatever you need, feel free to drop Jeeves Catering a line and we’ll answer any further questions you may have.
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