It can be overwhelming when you begin to plan any large
event. How can you feed so many people? It will be a
nightmare. Luckily there are people who will happily feed
your crowd. Some will also happily take all your money and
deliver less then desirable results.
Word of mouth is the best way to find a good caterer. Start
with your friends and family, look up someone who recently
got married. Find out if they had a good caterer. If that
doesn”t work you can ask at your company, someone may be
able to give you recommendations. You can also ask some
related businesses ie. florists, DJ”s or the equipment
rental shop. Your scheduled venue may also be able to
recommend someone good.
Ask anyone who has been to a catered event recently.
Next hit the phone book or internet for local caterers and
check them out. Give them a call and ask some questions to
get a feel for the company. Narrow down the results and then
ask a few of them for estimates.
Compare the estimates and make sure they are detailed enough
to give you a good idea of the total expense. You will want
to discuss what exactly you want and an initial budget
number. Just like mechanics, they will spend it all if you
let them.
There are several types of meals you may want to consider:
Luncheons – simple food with a limited selection
Gourmet – More specialized/custom food options with
creativity and a choice of cocktail, buffet or table
service. More catering staff.
Full Service – Planning, decor, food and services with
additional catering staff.
Your contact with the service will typically be through your
caterer consultant. Be sure they listen to your ideas and
know exactly what you expect for your money.
Once your event is booked you often will be entitled to a
tasting of the scheduled menu. It is meant to be a final
step before the event goes on. Not all caterers will offer
this, it is expensive and will be figured into your bill.
Be sure and listen to your caterer, they do this full time
and have a lot of experience with catering large events. They can
assist you in putting on a great event. It is not all about
the food, but excellent food service can really make your
event something to remember.
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