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  Trinidad & Tobago Wedding Photography & Video | Amber Media Productions
Amber Media Productions is a photography and video production company.         

Choosing the Caterer

4/2/2014

5 Comments

 
You have said your vows and been pronounced husband and wife, now its off to the photo shoot with no worries in mind. But as you arrive at the reception, the caterers are hustling to prepare as they have reached over two hours late! The food is not what you ordered and it's not enough!

FINDING the right caterer is crucial to your wedding day. Food and bar account for almost half of most wedding budget. 

After selecting the reception venue, you should inquire about the catering options. If the venue provides catering, your work is done. Some venues, such as hotels, offer in-house catering but others give you a choice of allowing you to bring in your own food. If you have to provide your own catering, here is a step by step guide to hiring and working with a caterer. 

The Venue

Although you are selecting an outside caterer, you may still need to liaise with the venue operators. First, find out about any rules or guidelines which they may have regarding outside caterers such as the time allowed to come in, set up and breakdown.  For outdoor venues, also consider the available facilities; sinks, kitchens, ovens, stoves as well as storage facilities.  If not, these facilities may have to be rented and brought to the location. If you are planning your own wedding, it is recommended that you ask a friend to be at the reception venue to ensure the caterer is on time and there are no problems in setting up.

The Interview

You may have several caterers in mind and wonder how to go about selecting the right one.  Do not always settle for the cheapest option.  Set up a face-to-face interview with each caterer to help determine the right choice for you. If possible, schedule food sampling as part of the interview.

Your final decision should be based on taste, presentation, creativity, cost and the willingness of the caterer to suit your needs. In the interview, be sure to discuss the following items as forgetting to do so could cause a catering faux pas on your big day.

        Menu

  • Do you have set menus or can I customise according to the theme and style of my event?
  • Can you provide special menus such as vegetarian and diabetic meals? Is the food halal?
  • How do you accommodate guests with food allergies?
       
        Experience


  • How long have you been in the catering business? (Ask them about their experience, background, and culinary education).
  • How many weddings have you catered previously?
  • Have you before catered to the number of guests I have invited?
  • What is the largest event you have managed and how many guests were there?
  • Are you familiar with my reception venue?

        Staffing

  • Dress code for the servers - is it formal or casual?
  • For the number of guest I have invited, how many servers will you provide? (1 server to every 8 – 10 guests is recommended)
  • If more staff is required, what is the additional cost?
  • How much time will you need to set-up and clean-up?

        Payment

  • Is a deposit required?
  • If so what is the initial deposit and when is it due?
  • When is final payment due?
  • What does the price include; food, set-up, clean up, staff, cutlery, silverware, glassware etc?
  • What is the extra cost if my event goes overtime?

        References

  • Can you provide contacts for the last two events you have catered?

THE CONTRACT

Only and only after the interview, select the caterer that best suits your needs and budget! Request a contract or quotation and be sure to thoroughly read the terms and conditions.  Ensure the contract or quotation lists the reception date, time, duration and location (including the name of the room, if necessary) of the wedding.

Other details outlined in the contract should include the selected meal plan, type of service (buffet, plated), number of staff provided, rental specifics and payment schedule. Take note of the deadline date to provide the final head count to the caterer.  Inquire about the cancellation policy and whether your deposit is refundable if the wedding is cancelled.

And finally, remember to exchange contact numbers to ensure communication is always maintained prior to and on the day of the wedding. 

-Written by Carla Mendez-Ambris
Marriage & Bliss Jan 2010 Issue

For a list of recommended caterers, click here to visit our Online Wedding Vendors Directory.
Picture
Photo Courtesy Karlez Cocina Catering Limited. All Rights Reserved.
5 Comments
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Sam Li link
10/30/2018 12:26:11 pm

I like what you said about setting up face-to-face interviews with many caterers in order to choose the best one. Catering is important for any significant event, so it's crucial to take the time and partner with a reputable service. If I were to host an event, I would ask my friends to start my search for a great caterer.

Reply
Duncan Lance link
11/29/2018 03:18:56 pm

There are a ton of factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a catering service, but I really like that you bring up the menu as one of them. This is especially important if you will be hiring them for your wedding. After all, you will want to make sure that they are serving food that you and your guests will like.

Reply
Niki Smith
11/25/2020 07:59:58 pm

HOW I GOT MY EX BACK THROUGH THE HELP OF A GREAT LOVE SPELL CASTER, CONTACT
(DR.TONY) EMAIL: drtonylovespellcaster@gmail.com
Hello.... I'm Niki Smith from LA, Am sorry for taking your time. I just want to share my testimony on how i got my ex back. It happens that i have been having this issue with my husband that finally wreck my home. we have been married now for 13 years with 3 lovely kids and we were one big happy family until my husband went on a business trip with his friend in Prague. since he came back from that trip he started misbehaving, he goes out, come back late sometimes he will be gone for 2 weeks without saying a word nor call to check up on us. my Lovely husband suddenly became a stranger, he no longer create time for our kids talk less of having time for me. Early last year he packed few of his things without saying a word and left only for me to receive a letter of divorce from his lawyer. I tried to call him and sort things out but all to no avail i cried my heart out but help wasn't coming from no where until i talked to a friend who introduced me to Dr. TONY. he told me great things about him and how he has helped her. So i decide to give him a try. he asked me few questions and asked me some certain things which i did grudgingly. and to my ought most surprise 5 days after i did what he asked me that my husband came begging and asking for my forgiveness which i did and we have been happy. Am so grateful for what Dr. TONY did for me that i promised to share my story, so as to help as many people out there facing problem. I can boldly say that Dr. TONY is good and can provide solution to any kind of problem you might be facing out there. You can also contact him via his....
EMAIL: drtonylovespellcaster@gmail.com OR
CALL/WHATTSAPP: +2348154900380
https://drtonylovespellcaster.blogspot.com
Thank You Once Again Dr.TONY.

Reply
Niki Smith
11/25/2020 08:02:53 pm

HOW I GOT MY EX BACK THROUGH THE HELP OF A GREAT LOVE SPELL CASTER, CONTACT
(DR.TONY) EMAIL: drtonylovespellcaster@gmail.com
Hello.... I'm Niki Smith from LA, Am sorry for taking your time. I just want to share my testimony on how i got my ex back. It happens that i have been having this issue with my husband that finally wreck my home. we have been married now for 13 years with 3 lovely kids and we were one big happy family until my husband went on a business trip with his friend in Prague. since he came back from that trip he started misbehaving, he goes out, come back late sometimes he will be gone for 2 weeks without saying a word nor call to check up on us. my Lovely husband suddenly became a stranger, he no longer create time for our kids talk less of having time for me. Early last year he packed few of his things without saying a word and left only for me to receive a letter of divorce from his lawyer. I tried to call him and sort things out but all to no avail i cried my heart out but help wasn't coming from no where until i talked to a friend who introduced me to Dr. TONY. he told me great things about him and how he has helped her. So i decide to give him a try. he asked me few questions and asked me some certain things which i did grudgingly. and to my ought most surprise 5 days after i did what he asked me that my husband came begging and asking for my forgiveness which i did and we have been happy. Am so grateful for what Dr. TONY did for me that i promised to share my story, so as to help as many people out there facing problem. I can boldly say that Dr. TONY is good and can provide solution to any kind of problem you might be facing out there. You can also contact him via his....
EMAIL: drtonylovespellcaster@gmail.com OR
CALL/WHATTSAPP: +2348154900380
https://drtonylovespellcaster.blogspot.com
Thank You Once Again Dr.TONY.

Reply



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    Carla Mendez-Ambris is a certified Event Manager and is the co-owner of Amber Media Productions, and publisher of Marriage & Bliss.

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