You’ve booked the venue and need to hire a caterer. How do you select one? Here are a few helpful tips!

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  1. Keep in mind that catering will be one of your larger expenses. You can definitely compare rates but be prepared to have catering as a large portion of your budget.
  2. Most catering companies include three things: food, staff and rentals (things like plates, cutlery, glassware, etc.). This is why the cost is so high. Food can start around $40 per person, but bear in mind there’s staffing and rentals on top of this cost.
  3. When caterers manage your rentals, they are taking care of the delivery, clean up and pick up so you don’t have too. If you decide to do your own rentals, you have to provide the list to your caterers to confirm they have the right tools they need. Typically a service fee is charged for the time the caterers spend reviewing your rentals list. Depending on the catering company of course.
  4. Don’t be shy, ask your caterer a lot of questions! You are spending a lot of money on catering and want to make sure your caterer captures your vision. If your salesperson can’t answer the question or is making you feel uncomfortable, they are not the caterer for you.
  5. Set up a taster! Often caterers want you to try the food. During the taster, it’s an opportunity to ask question about the big day.
  6. The service fee of 18%. OUCH!  Keep in mind this is not a tip. This should be called an operation fee. It goes to expenses like overhead, insurance, office supplies, etc
  7. Do you tip the service staff? Often times the catering company pays the server a higher wage so you don’t have to! Now, if you feel on the day the server or the catering team gave exceptional service and made your day extra special, then you are more then welcome to tip them. This is your own choice, but it is never expected.
  8. What do the caterers offer? Do they just drop the food off and leave or do they provide full service? Do they fill waters during dinner service? Do they offer wine service? Do they clean everything up? Do they take the garbage? Have they worked at the venue before?
  9. Keep in mind a buffet and BBQ will cost you less then a plated dinner of family style service. The price for food is usually similar but services like family style and plated require more rentals and staff which will bring up the overall cost of the event.
  10. Set up a site visit with your catering company so you can plan the layout and logistics with the venue.

Keep these tips in mind when seeking a caterer.