Catering for your wedding

The most important day of your life! The guests are assembled and the service has been performed even the In-Laws and Out-Laws have been well behaved, old Uncle Albert managed not to blatantly grope the young cute bridesmaid and now it’s time for everyone to get drunk and stuff their faces at your expense.

So how do you manage to fulfil everyone’s expectations on the food front without breaking the already seriously depleted bank balance?
Fist things first: unless your budget is tighter than a camel’s bum in a sand storm, then I suggest professional help, either in the form of the hotel’s food and beverage manager or banqueting manager or a professional caterer. However, beware if you are hiring a caterer as they can be an unscrupulous bunch and there are some things you should insist on first.
The following is a rough guide to questions to ask and pitfalls to avoid.
l Determine what type of catering event you want (buffet or meal) and approach several caterers that offer the type of catering for weddings that you require.
l Request information on past events they have been the caterer for – ask to look at their portfolio and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like. Even better, get some referrals and call previous customers to see if the caterer delivered as promised.
l Ask for detailed quotations and see just how far they can stretch your catering budget. The key here is detailed quotes, most caterers have difficulty putting things in writing so make sure you’re both working off the same page and  that their idea of a sumptuous four-course dinner is the same as yours.
l Determine how they will cater for any special dietary requirements on the day if you have vegetarians or vegans on your guest list. Check the guest list for any potential religious issues and make sure all of these can be prepared for.
l Find out exactly what type of service you should expect from the caterer. Will they want to be responsible for all catering at the wedding including the cake or can you choose another supplier? Check what they supply as part of the basic service and what will be extra. Cutlery, crockery, linen and glassware should be inspected as often the condition is barely passable for a prison riot let alone a costly wedding.
l Ask for a contract that stipulates exactly what you should expect from the caterer.
Try very hard to get this last one as it does give you some recourse if the whole relationship turns sour and you feel you’ve been robbed of your special day because the caterer did not deliver as promised.
Having said all of the above, I only have one bit of real advice for couples preparing to tie the knot and that is enjoy the day and relish in the company of your family and friends. The day is over so quickly that you’ll wish you’d spent less time worrying and more time having fun.

Chefspeak Dominic Miles