For all to be grooms and brides, it is time to pull up your socks so that you can find the perfect caterer for your marriage. To make your special day more memorable, it is essential to hire the best caterer who is capable enough to prepare the meal of your dreams. It does not matter whether it is a reception, wedding, corporate events or a baby shower; food is always the utmost priority of every celebration. However, many essential aspects can make or break your game. Some of them are the presentation, the taste of the food and beverages. According to a leading service provider of wedding food catering in Londonderry, it depends entirely upon you to make your celebration remarkable by hiring the best caterers. Here are some of the major aspects to consider before hiring a wedding caterer. Following these factors will definitely help you to leave a long-lasting impression upon your guests.
- Pay Attention to the Words of the Mouth: The forthcoming wedding functions are one of the valuable moments for all the brides and grooms. That means you should be prepared to work over every minute details before hiring a wedding caterer. Do not choose them as per their advertisement. You should try to get a few references or suggestions from your trustworthy and known relatives, colleagues and friends. You can approach those caterers and ask them to provide details of at least ten past clients.
- Know your Budget: It is essential to predetermine your budget before interacting with any wedding caterer. Determining a budget primarily depends upon the number of guests you are going to invite and the type of wedding celebration you wish to have. This will also make your hunt for the event venue easier and allow you to analyze proposals. Your wedding celebration can consist of a cocktail, tea, lunch or dinner feast. To make your celebration of a more casual ambience, you can go for buffet style catering or to provide your guest with extra comfort you can choose sit-down lunch or dinner. Both of the catering procedure involves different functions and come at a different price. That means you should do some quality research to become aware of the catering style you are looking for. Determining this in advance will allow the prospective wedding caterers to approach you with a decent proposal as per your budget.
- Pay Heed to their Level of Responsiveness: The approach of communicating before finalizing the deal is one of the vital hints. This shows how they are going to act in response after signing the deal. The quality and taste of the food is the primary factor for every catering organization. However, the way of dealing with clients by the coordinators and waiters also play a major role on the wedding day. You should definitely start looking for some other catering firms if the organization is not accommodating your demands or taking loads of time in getting back to you.
- Adjustability with the Menu Choices: If you are thinking to invite loads of guest then picking out a caterer that can provide a wide sense of taste and who can meet the requirements in the fixed budget is a must. Majority of the wedding caterers come with determined packages which might restrict your choices. You should set your sights on the catering company who is eager and open to address your dietary requirements. Alternately, you should go for the one who enables you to personalize your menu as per your necessity.
- Arrange a Tasting: You should ensure to organize a tasting session with all the caterers on your top list before finalizing any of them. You should also draft a checklist and prepare yourself to make inquiries as much as you want, before attending the tasting session with them. Request your wedding caterer to present a complete layout of the table setup, arrangement of the menu, and other crucial affairs. Do not forget to take someone with you for this tasting as it will allow you to have an additional opinion. You should be comfortable in sharing true thoughts about the taste and presentation of the food arranged by your caterer. Caterers who wish to increase their business by gaining clients should always arrange for tasting before organizing large events. If you are not getting a tasting session even after requesting, then you should definitely look for some other caterers.
- Probe for Insurance and License: One of the essential aspect before engaging a wedding caterer is to probe for valid insurance and license. Before going a step further, request for the proof of liability insurance and a duplicate sample of the organization’s license. Moreover, ensure to inspect the registration of your catering firm. The majority of the catering firms are accountable to work under the local health department and bound by licensing. You can also come to know about all the inquiries, issues or previous complaints made against these caterers. To keep yourself safe from the accountability of any oversight or accident, you should always go for the marriage caterer who is having a valid insurance policy.
- Make it Simple, Affordable, and Graceful: You might have heard the common saying “simplicity is the essence of all real charm.” That means you should suggest the catering firm keep everything simple but graceful. This will intensify the elegance and charm of your marriage event. A skilled and professional caterer has the power to convert even simple menu into a magnificent feast. You should strive to keep the wedding feast menu according to the taste or choice of your guests and with the aim to keep it traditional. You should cherry-pick the food menu as per your financial needs. Traditional cuisine has the competence to meet the satisfaction level of your guests and return with a happy and smiling face. It will also diminish the chances of wastage while keeping it affordable.
- Sign the Contract Carefully: Once you have completed all the essential elements, now you have to determine the date, time and other vital details in a written contract. It is always advised to examine and become familiar with every minute detail before signing a catering proposal. Make sure to read the complete contract handed by the caterer thoroughly before making an advance payment or signing it. If you wish to add some more details or having doubt, then do not hesitate to contact your marriage caterer. You should inquire about the tax coverage, charges for food and beverages, travel expenses, service charge, delivery, equipment hire and more.
Now you are aware of all the to-dos before hiring a marriage caterer. So start using this list as a guidebook. You should inspect all the caterers according to your location, budget, and needs. Remember that the failure or success of an event is always in the hand of caterers.
