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Tips for Choosing a Wedding Caterer

couple eating dinner at wedding

You have the ring and you have set the date. Now it is time to delve into the fun part of planning a wedding. One of the most crucial and time-consuming pieces of the wedding puzzle is choosing a wedding caterer. This choice is especially important, as the food and drink are typically one of the few things that your guests will remember for years to come. Although the decision is important, the research also makes it one of the most fun choices of the entire wedding process. Here a few tips designed to help you find the perfect caterer to help you pull off your dream wedding:

TAKE YOUR TIME: Once the ring is on your finger, it is tempting to jump right into the planning process and begin auditioning caterers on the spot. However, it is imperative that the research wait until you have a basic framework for your wedding established. A few things you need to have nailed down prior to finding a caterer is the expected number of guests and the overall budget for your dream day. By having a rough budget established prior to meeting with catering possibilities, the caterer will be able to provide you with more detailed information designed to fit your individual budgeting needs.

CONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES: Before meeting with catering contenders, it is wise to have a basic idea of what you want out of the food and drink experience at your wedding. If you are aiming for a low-key, casual affair, there is no use for the caterer to pitch formal dinner ideas to you. Likewise, if you want an elegant sit-down experience, your caterer will know not to trot out ideas of a taco buffet. By knowing exactly the tone that you want at your reception, your caterer can shift their focus to these kinds of food offerings.

PICK YOUR VENUE FIRST: After setting an approximate date, the venue choice should be the next major decision. If you have your heart set on an outside caterer, make sure that your venue allows that as an option. By choosing your venue first, you will also be able to lean on their personnel to provide catering recommendations and guide you in their requirements for outside vendors.

WHEN IN DOUBT, GO CLASSIC OVER FOOD FADS: Although it may be tempting to go with the mashed potato bar you see gracing the covers of the latest bridal magazines, be sure to also consider your audience and the aura you want to create at your reception. Will grandma really appreciate the mashed potato toppings or are you just trying to be trendy to say you did? When in doubt, always err on the side of traditional offerings with a little fun thrown in to spice it up and give your party a signature element. Don’t let being too gimmicky get in the way of providing your guests with an exceptional dining and drinking experience.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS: If your unique venue does not provide essential services such as linens and silverware, be sure to reach out to your catering contenders to learn about their offerings. In the end, the availability and prices of all these little extras might be what tip the scales from one option to the next. So before you make your final vendor decision, it is imperative to consider all of the details so that you arrive at a well-informed choice.

LISTEN TO YOUR STOMACH….AND YOUR GUT: Of course, it is recommended to sample as much food as possible from each catering option. However, in the end, it is also important to listen to your gut. Things like how you communicate with each vendor, the ease of the conversation, and the general feeling of trust you get from their representatives should never be overlooked.

Hire Worry Free Catering as your Las Vegas wedding caterer here.