How to Choose the Perfect Caterer For Your Wedding

July 14, 2009 by Elegant Bridal Accessories
Filed under Bridal Ideas

The food at your wedding can make or break the reception. If your menu is interesting, the food is delicious and abundant, and the service is top-notch, your guests will always remember yours as a terrific event. On the other hand, if the food is bland and uninspired, the dinner cold, and the portions skimpy, this will also leave an impression, just not the one that you want. This is why finding the perfect caterer for your wedding is so important. Not every caterer is a great fit for every bride and groom, though; these are some tips on how to find the caterer who is right for you.

The absolute best way to find a top-notch caterer is through word of mouth. As soon as you get engaged, start asking anyone and everyone. You can seek recommendations from your reception venue, recently married friends, wedding consultants, bridal shops, photographers, and even the store where you get your bridal jewelry. As a secondary approach, you can also check out local wedding chat boards online. You may not find out which caterer is best, but you are sure to come across the horror stories that let you know which companies to avoid at all costs.

Bridal shows can be another place to meet with caterers. One advantage is that you will have a chance to briefly meet a lot of different vendors, see their sample menus, and get a sense of their prices. You may find that you instantly click with a few caterers, or that you are turned off by others. This is a decent resource, however, it is important to be aware that many of the top firms operate mostly by word-of-mouth recommendations, and do not bother participating in bridal shows. You may be able to get a general sense of the caliber of the caterers you meet at a particular bridal show by taking note of the other vendors in attendance; as a rule of thumb, the best gown shops, bridal jewelry designers, stationers, and so on will all choose to attend the same selective shows.

Heart Shaped Plates	Silver “Swish” Napkin Rings	Starfish Glass Candle Holders / Dishes
Romance Design Paper Cups	Round Table Number Cards	Gathered Plastic Table Skirt

If you have a special menu in mind, it is very important to make sure that the caterers you interview are experiences with creating the type of food that you desire. Someone may be a whiz at classic French cooking, but if you have your heart set on an Asian-fusion menu, they may not be a good fit for you. Ideally, the caterer that you end up choosing will also have worked at your wedding venue on previous occasions. It can be really helpful to have a caterer who already knows all the ins and out of the kitchen facilities, especially for outdoor locations.

Your caterer is someone with whom you will be working closely, so personality does matter. There are some caterers who are open to working with you as a creative partner, while others come across more like imperious masters who are all-knowing. There is a place for both styles; if you are a true foodie, you will enjoy an open partnership, whereas couples who know little about menus and ingredients might be happier with a caterer who will take care of everything for them.

After you have found a few caterers who suit your general vision for your wedding, you can get down to the nitty-gritty details. Of course, price is a consideration when shopping around for a wedding vendor, as is availability, which services and items are included in their standard price, and so on. After going through this process, by the time you finally sign a contract to hire a caterer, you can be confident that you have made the absolute right choice for you and your wedding.

About the Author Bridget Mora

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Gorgeous bridal jewelry is the perfect finishing detail for your wedding gown.

Wedding Reception Table Decor

Stylized Bride and Groom Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	“Forever.” Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	Wedding Cake Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each
Decorative Initial Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	“Cheers to a marry Life” Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	Double Hearts Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each
Bride and Groom Monogram Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	Traditional Monogram Personalized Napkins many colors, 2 sizes $0.24 – $0.26 USD each	Silver Plated Diamond Napkin Holders $7.50 USD each
Silver “Swish” Napkin Rings $5.00 USD each	“We Clicked” Mouse Pads $3.48 USD each On Sale Now	Mini Wooden Clips with Tropical Flair $0.42 USD each
Yellow Sunflower Tied Mini Bouquet $0.83 USD each	Sugared Cherry Blossom Spray $1.58 USD each	Western Garland 2 colors $3.98 USD On Sale Now
Bride & Groom Wraps $11.98 – $29.98 USD