Weddings are one of life’s big milestone events, and there is always a lot of planning and preparation involved. One of the major elements of your wedding is the reception, and the food.

Satisfied tummies are the key to a successful wedding.

There’s a smorgasbord of options when it comes to food—and it can be confusing—so here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a caterer for your wedding.

Be Prepared

It’s always good to have a rough idea of what you want before you begin your search for a wedding caterer.

This includes:

• having a budget (and sticking to it!)

• the number of guests you’ll be inviting

• whether your reception will be in the afternoon or evening.

Do you want a full sit-down three- or four-course affair? Or an informal cocktail style soiree with finger food and canapés? If you’re looking at a full meal, think about how many options you want to give your guests, or if a buffet is the way to go.

Do Your Research

Look around and see what different caterers can offer, and see what suits your needs.

Checking caterers out online is a good place to start, as is attending wedding fairs and expos. Asking friends for recommendations will give you an idea of what worked well for them and what didn’t.

Once you have a shortlist of caterers, ask for references and examples of previous weddings they’ve catered for. Keep your shortlist short – no more than five or six; any more will just become overwhelming and make your decision even more difficult.

Meet the Caterer

Meet with the caterers that impress you, and talk to them about your ideas and thoughts.

Listen to any suggestions they may have and find out if they specialise in any particular style of food or service.

Confident, professional caterers should come prepared, with examples of their work and a few ideas of their own.

They’ll also be able to answer any questions you have and will offer tasting samples.

Arrange it Early

Make sure all of this is planned well ahead of your wedding date, and confirm that the caterer you choose is available and booked.

Check what they’ll be supplying as far as staff, tables, chairs, linen, glassware, cutlery and crockery goes.  

Caterers should include this in their quote and services, so read the contract carefully before you sign anything!

The sign of a good caterer is they do all the work for you, taking the stress away and allowing you to focus on other wedding preparations. Getting your caterer booked early will at least ensure your guests don’t go hungry!

There’s a smorgasbord of delicious options when it comes to catering for a wedding. So it’s not surprising that it can be hard knowing where to start. Here’s our handy guide to choosing a caterer for your wedding reception.

Be prepared

Like everything else for a wedding, it pays to be prepared and do your research before you start talking to the experts. It’s always good to have a rough idea of what you want.

This includes:

• having a budget (and sticking to it!);
• the number of guests you’ll be inviting;
• knowing if reception will be in the afternoon or evening.

Do you want a full sit-down three- or four-course affair? Or an informal cocktail party with finger food and canapés? If you’re looking at a sit-down dinner, will you want more than couple of options for mains, or is a buffet is the way to go? Read our article on stand-up versus sit-down wedding receptions.

Do your research

Finding out what different caterers offer is a great way to put together a shortlist.

The Yellow Pages is a good place to start. You can also attend wedding fairs and expos for inspiration. Ask friends for recommendations, and ask what worked well for them and what didn’t.

Once you have a shortlist of caterers, ask for references and examples of previous weddings they’ve catered for. Keep your shortlist short – no more than five or six options. Any more will be overwhelming and make your decision even more difficult.

Meet the caterer

Meet with the caterers that impress you, and talk to them about your wedding and your ideas for your reception.

Listen to their suggestions and find out if they specialise in any particular style of food or service.

Confident, professional caterers should come prepared, with examples of their work and a few ideas of their own.

They’ll also be able to answer any questions you have and will offer tasting samples.

Arrange it early

To avoid wedding day disaster, plan the catering well ahead of your wedding date and get a caterer booked in – pronto!

Make sure you know what they will supply – including staff, tables, chairs, linen, glassware, cutlery and crockery. Most caterers will include this in their quote and services, so read the contract carefully before you sign it! Here’s our handy wedding supplies checklist.

The sign of a good caterer is one that does all the hard work for you. So once you’ve found a great caterer you can sit back, relax, and focus on your other wedding preparations.