Well first thing is first, make sure you interview them! Do Not hire them over the phone or because someone says "yeah, they did a great job for me!". Food at a wedding is usually either not favorable, or it's so good that guests can't stop talking about it! Catering will be more than likely one of your largest expenses, so you will want to have a caterer that you have confidence in.
Make contact with potential caterers and ask their availability and general price range. When you have found a few you seem comfortable with, make appointments and arrange to have an interview. Ask the following questions and this will help you determine if you are working with a professional and help you avoid any wedding day surprises.
- Are you licensed? (This means they have met health department standards and have have liability insurance)
- What are some of the menu items you would suggest given the style, time and date of my wedding?
- What would the cost-per-person be?
- How many other weddings will your company handle that same weekend or day?
- Does the cost-per-person just cover the food, or are charges such as staff, rentals, and linens included?
- What services are included? What costs are additional?
- Will you be the person handling my wedding day? If not, what is the name of the person who will and when can I meet them?
- Will you provide food for the photographer, videographer, musicians and other "day-of" vendors? If so, is there an extra charge?
- What deposit do you require to hold the date? When will the final balance be due?
- How much time will you need for set-up and clean-up?
- Do you provide a tasting?
Once you've compared and shopped around, the next step is to decide on who you would like to trust your wedding day to. I would suggest contacting Grand Rapids Caterer, Center of the Plate Catering, to find out how Chef Bill Simon can make your day go smoothly!
Contributed by Grand Rapids Caterer Center of the Plate Catering and Chef Bill Simon.
