Choosing Wedding Caterers and Catering

If choosing a wedding caterer for your wedding seems like playing a game of roulette, here are a few tips on avoiding unnecessary gambles and getting the best wedding caterers you can.

Tips for Choosing Good Wedding Caterers

Get recommendations

Everyone has a story about wedding caterers – the good ones and the bad ones are always memorable, so ask around and get hold of the best. Be warned, the best wedding caterers are often booked up first, so start asking round as soon as possible.

Ask around

If you don't know anyone who has been married in the area you are holding your wedding, you can ask the owners of the wedding venue who has catered for wedding held there previously. You may even be able to get contact details for couples who have held their wedding there, and talk to them about their wedding caterers.

Wedding venue catering

Wedding catering is quite often organised by the wedding venue staff for example, at restaurants, hotels and wineries. They may have a set or suggested wedding menu that you can select, or be happy to accommodate your own suggestions.

Search online

You can always find wedding caterers advertising their services online, but be selective. Check for 'real' pictures of the weddings they have catered for, see if they have any testimonials and always, (if possible) sample their food.

Interview your wedding catering shortlist

Prepare a list of questions for your prospective wedding caterers. Any one worth their salt will be happy to answer your questions. If they aren't, don't give them your business. Be very specific about who will be doing what and what this will cost you. Your questions could run along the lines of these:

• What type of menu can you create for what cost per-person?
• Can we create our own menus based on the ones you suggest?
• Do you provide waiting or bar staff? And at what cost?
• Who will set tables? Who will provide all the necessary crockery, cutlery, glassware and table linen? And at what cost?
• We want to provide you with a table plan. Can you follow it?
• Are your prices inclusive of GST?
• What uniform will your staff be wearing? Can we customise it?
• How long have you done wedding catering?
• Do you have any past clients that we could talk to?
• Can you cater for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, kosher, etc?
• Can I sample your menu? Is there any cost for this?
• When do we need to finalise the menu?
• How long do you need to set the room up (i.e. place furniture, settings and decorations etc)?
• Can you provide food for non-guests (i.e. entertainment, photographer, videographer etc)?
• When do you need a final head-count?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• What is your policy with regard to deposits and payment?

Taste test

If possible, test-run your menu, or as similar to it as possible, from the wedding caterer or caterers you prefer. After all, the best test of the food is in the eating!

More About Wedding Catering

View NZ Wedding Guide's wedding catering information, or return to NZ Wedding Guide's main page.