Every couple seeks to create an unforgettable celebration on their wedding day. The wedding catering experience will undeniably be one of the most important details of your wedding that every guest will remember. Whether that memory is of a good or bad experience will depend on the decisions you make about your catering. These tips should help you create the dining experience you want on your wedding day.
Let’s Talk About the Timeline
Once you book your wedding venue, the clock begins to tick and it is time to begin the hunt for the perfect talent to have on your wedding team. Booking your catering company is one of the first things you should accomplish. It is not recommended to book a venue with in-house catering. This limits your options, unless they have a preferred vendor list or an open vendor policy. The best venues will have a vendor list to help you build a professional team you can trust. Regardless of the circumstances, you will want to start scheduling tastings, exploring menus and secure your wedding catering early.
The Search for Wedding Catering
Before searching for you caterer, you should always know the type of cuisine you want to serve, and the type of dining experience you desire to create. Always use wedding catering companies that are recommended by your wedding venue. They have cultivated relationships with caterers by working on countless events together. Most catering companies have an Instagram account that is dedicated to their food. Explore social media to observe their presentation and to gain inspiration. Once you have a strong vision for your catering experience, you should create a list of questions to ask during your tasting.
Create a List of Questions
As with every vendor, you should always create a list of questions before meeting with them. You will develop your list of questions based upon what is important for you on your wedding day. Obviously, your wedding date is the most important issue at hand. You need to know whether the wedding catering company is available on your special day. Think about your theme and the type of cuisine you want to serve. If you are recreating a first date at a French restaurant, you might want to know if they can customize their menu to cater to your unique theme. You will want to know whether they charge a bulk fee or charge per plate. Decide whether you are having a buffet and only require drop-off service or whether you require full-service catering, and make sure they can meet your requirements. You might consider asking the following questions:
Can you can customize your menu?
Can you modify the menu for special dietary requests?
Do you require a kitchen within the venue?
Do you provide drop-off service and full-service wedding catering?
When will you need the final headcount?
What is included with your wedding packages?
Do you have a carving station?
Do you have desserts?
Do you have alcohol and beverage packages?
How many weddings do you service each year?
How long have you been catering?
What is your typical server to guest ratio?
Can you provide a copy of your standard contract?
What is the amount of the deposit required to book, and when will the remainder become due?
Do you have a payment schedule?
What is your cancellation policy?
Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary
Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary is an all-inclusive wedding venue that bundles the venue, furnishings, décor and services into an affordable luxury wedding package. This saves you thousands on your wedding day, while providing an upfront cost for almost the entire event you are planning. Crystal Ballroom includes an in-house design team to decorate the entire ceremony space and reception ballroom, a bartender service, banquet staff, furnishings, chinaware, all the linens, centerpieces and décor to bring your fairy tale to life. Since every wedding includes banquet staff and bartender services, you can save on your wedding catering by requesting drop-off service. A food manager upgrade is recommended to ensure your dining experience is flawless. Crystal Ballroom also has relationships with professional wedding catering companies for a simple planning process. Plan your magical day at Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary and create your dining experience with the preferred caterers.
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