With most weddings, catering accounts for the majority of the wedding budget. Make sure you know what you’re paying for and that your reception will go off without a hitch with these important questions to ask your caterer before you hire them.
Like all of your vendors, there are some very important questions you should ask your caterer. Some of the questions may help you in your hiring decision. Others will help you avoid any last-minute catering mishaps at your wedding. So, whether you are trying to decide which caterer to hire or just trying to make sure your catering services are planned and ready to go, these questions you should ask your caterer will keep you right on track.
The Legal Stuff
Some of the questions you should ask your caterer have to do with the legalities of their business and how they relate to your wedding. If you plan on serving alcohol, you will need to know whether or not the potential caterer has a license to serve alcoholic beverages. If not, you may have to hire separate staff to do so.
References and Portfolios
Having a catering business doesn’t necessarily mean professionalism or high quality. Take the time to check your caterer’s references. Ask them if they have a portfolio of some previously catered events. Look over their portfolio and ask them a lot of questions about the event featured so that you can get an idea as to whether or not the caterer in question can handle your wedding day needs.
Billing
Your catering bill can account for almost half of your total wedding budget, so billing questions should be on the prioritized list of questions you should ask your caterer. Some billing questions you might want to ask include:
Do you require a deposit? How much is it and when is it due?
When is the balance due? How much will it be?
Are there any cancellation fees?
How much is the cost per head? Are gratuities and taxes included?
Are tables, linens, barware, glassware, and other serving items included? How much are they if they cost extra?
Is there a cake cutting fee?
Can you offer a large-volume discount on beverage purchases?
Remember that these budget questions you should ask your caterer are meant to help you keep your budget under control and on track.