Planning a wedding can be an exciting time in your engagement, but it can also be filled with frustrations as you look at the list of things that need to be taken care of. From the pictures and the ceremony to the reception and the honeymoon each aspect of your day can and should be perfect. In order to make sure that the reception runs smoothly and leaves your guests more than satisfied, there are some simple ideas to find the wedding caterer that is right for you.
So, if you are not doing your wedding in one of the wedding venues you need to spend some time on finding a good wedding caterer. Discovering a good caterer starts soon after the engagement begins. Do you know anyone who recently got married? Have you been to any catered events in the past few months? This is a great way to start your search. If you enjoyed the venue that you were involved in, find the person who planned the occasion and ask them who they used and what their personal feelings were about the caterer. Were they punctual? Did they take the event planners instructions? Was the food what was asked for and were the charges what were quoted?
With a list in hand from friends and family, the phone calls begin. I had a friend who works in a wholesale clothing business and he interviewed more than 30 caterers for his wedding – before he picked the right one. Most caterers will use their answering machines to take phone calls. This should not be a problem as long as they call you back promptly. A long delay could be a sign of someone who cannot handle more than one client. When the caterer returns your call, set up a meeting after you have spoken about price. There is no reason to meet with a caterer whose prices are above your budget.
Professional appearance and prompt attendance should be very important to the wedding caterer. They should take the time to get to know what you desire and what you are looking for before they try to show you what they offer. A good wedding catering company will send someone who is good at listening and hearing what the bride is saying. A portfolio of pictures is essential. You want to see not only what the food looks like, but also how they display the food table. Maybe use a decoration company who specializes in wedding decorations.
A good caterer will also give you a list of references. These are essential to call. While you are taking a few days to make these calls, you can ask the caterer to come up with a few menu suggestions that fit your budget. Hopefully when you get back together, you will have found out if this person is the right wedding caterer for you.