Why make this my first article? The fact is that there is no standard for catering services its not like when you order your wadding album were you kwon from the start what you are getting, what the end product will be or like when you order your wedding dress that you know exactly what the end product will be and what will it includes. Catering services vary from region to region and let’s not go from country to country. Yes! Your end product is the main dish that will be serve on you wedding day, but the services or the extras are what makes the difference from caterer to caterer. So if you are planning your wedding you need to take special attention to this issues because the end result could be that you pay extra for a services that you already paid for and don’t know it or two, that you never knew you had to especial order does items or services and you don’t get them on your special day. This catering guide is intended for a location wadding that YOU the bride or groom (not likely) are planning, specially if its on the country side or at a family members state, if you are having you wedding in a hotel or a reception hall, don’t worry, this guide will also help you in the process if not just to reassure you of what services you are getting.

Now to the point, so you have by this time narrow down the list of local provider and you have an appointment to check them out. Ok, once you review the caterers menu and have selected you top main dishes DON’T decide on the spot, be sure to ask you catering provider for a dish sampling on the top 3 dishes you are considering. Some caterers will tell you that “this” is there master menu or your best friend tells you she already use there services and the dish is excellent, don’t take there word for it, mostly they will be rite but way risk it. Caterers real caterers’ don’t mind and in fact they like to have that attention with the customer to establish a more personal relationship with the client, top caterers have there own tasting room, a specifically design place to sample there menu, setting up the right ambiance for the tasting. I know that reading this sounds like I’m referring to an expensive service, but I’m not. Get that idea out of you head that expensive is better, some smaller caterers have superb services that easily challenge the bigger more establish caterers. Remember you are not having your wedding in a Hotel or a reception hall were you usually get help in the reception planning, especially reminding you what services are NOT included on your contract, meaning DON’T FORGET that those are your responsibility. Like I said, different caterers offer different things. Ask what are you getting for your money, some offer the linens (table cloth) with their services other don’t, most offer the drinking glasses and some of them include the wine glass, so here is a list to consider going by with your cater. I think example is the best way to teach so lets do one.

Case: Consider a two course (this is the absolute minimum two consider the more the better) dinner service for 200 persons, starting with the appetizers “Hawaiian Sumer Salad” and for the main course “Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce”. What should you expect of your caterer and what extras you could get.

THE MINIMUM SERVICE YOU SHOULD EXPECT
200 Main Dish Plates 12” minimum diameter (square ones are GREAT)
200 Salad Plates 10” standard some use 8”
200 Forks for main dish
200 Salad Forks
200 Knifes

THE EXTRAS
200 Forks for dessert (usually)
200 Small Plates for dessert (usually)
300 Drinking Glasses 12oz (usually)
200 Wine Glasses (Rarely)
20 Table cloths (Very Rarely)

Why ask these things? If some items are rarely provided, way not go directly to someone who specializes on those things. Well the services mention above are (wine glasses, linens …) are things not that specialized and many caterers have them, some times they include them some times they don’t but they can offer you the service and save you a lot of time researching on-line for providers, who knows maybe his running low on events that week and decides to give you something extra to close the deal. Or consider waiters, I especially like working with waiters that have a previous relationship with the caterer, the flow of things is sow much smother.

After reviewing this small list you can start planning the extra things you need for your wedding like getting the best man his speech because you know his going to ruin the moment lol just kidding. Next week I’m going to present to you a specific list of what to ask your caterer and with that will finish on this subject.

Like always if you have any questions or comments send them to:
info@theunofficialweddingguide.com

Paul Cervantez.