1. When having special events such as weddings, graduations etc.., your catering or food bill is typically your largest expense. Therefore, your caterer should be selected only after some thorough research.
2. It’s probably a good idea to ask the caterer about sampling their food and also how they present their food.
3. Ask for at least two references and call them. Most people love to talk about their catered experience, especially if it was a success.
4. Ask about samples of their dinnerware. Most caterers include all the dinnerware in their price - but they may have special dinnerware at an additional cost.
5. Service is important when choosing your caterer. Be sure to ask about the ratio of servers to guests. A good rule of thumb is to have one server for every 8-10 guests.
6. You should include a meal for your entertainer (DJ or Band), photographer or Wedding Day Coordinator When determining a final head count. You usually can separate these from your guest head count because your caterer will usually charge you less for "vendor" meals.
7. Also be sure to ask your caterer to arrange a special place for your vendors to eat “out of sight” from your guests.
8. You may want to request a "leftover basket" it makes for a great late night snack.
9. Be sure to ask your caterer about whether or not they have quotas minimums or not; They charge more or less depending on your final head counts.
10. Inquire about whether or not decorations are included in the caterer’s price. Ask to see examples of table displays. Some caterers will include floral arrangements and other decorations.
11. Some caterers offer a menu board. This is where the names of the entrees (and sometimes a brief description) where items served are written elegantly onto a piece of paper and displayed in a picture frame.
12. If there are more than 50 people in your event you may qualify for a volume discount or some free extras such as a chocolate fountain or ice sculptures.
Some Catering Hall Tips
