What to remember when searching for a caterer for your wedding day.

Want to wow your guests? Arguably, the most important part of an event is the food. If the caterer does an outstanding job, your friends and family will likely list the meal as one of their favorite parts of your big day. Here are five easy tips to help make that happen.

Make a Plan.

It’s best to go into the searching process with some main ideas already in place. Ask yourself how you want the day to go. What to include in your plan:

• How many courses? 3-5? One simple main course? Will there be appetizers?  
• Do you want to have multiple desserts or just cake?
• Any special arrangements? Perhaps a vegetarian option, or someone who can also handle the rehearsal dinner.

Decide How Much to Spend.

This is very important because you might find the perfect person to do the wedding catering and then realize too late that they’re way out of your price range. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by simply knowing what you’re willing to pay upfront. It’s best to set a range for your budget. Start somewhere on the less expensive side and list a price that you won’t go above.

The Review.

Reviewing your caterer will save you headaches as your wedding day approaches. But this is more than just googling the business online. In addition to seeing what kind of experience others had, you’ll also want to meet and discuss your ideas with the chef. It gives you an idea of whether it would be beneficial to work together or not.

Make sure to ask lots of questions and notice the details. Along with food, one of the most important things is how easily the chef adjusts to changes in their plans. Find someone who’s easy-going, as well as prompt and professional.

The Important Stuff.

By asking questions in advance, you can avoid any unforeseen complications when you say “I do.” Before selecting a caterer for the wedding, make sure that you have the essential things in place, like insurance. Wedding insurance is a good idea because it protects you and your fiance if a vendor doesn’t show up or someone is injured.

Catering companies should also have their insurance in place, protecting themselves and their employees. It’s still something you should ask about, as well as inquiring that they have all food safety licenses and necessary paperwork.

After this, you need a back-up plan. Everything will most likely work out correctly, but you need to know what will happen if something doesn’t. For example, who takes over if the chef cannot make it to the wedding? Do they have an alternate idea if there’s a loss of food inventory? What happens if you want to extend the reception for another hour? Get these questions answered now.

Last, the wedding catering costs include some basic things, but many services cost extra, like cutting the cake or adding staff. Be very decided about what you want and get everything in writing.

Wedding days may be all about the heart, but when deciding on wedding catering, use your head. If you remember these things when you hire, it will remove a lot of stress, leaving you free to enjoy this all-important day.

Alex Loredo is a freelance writer. She utilizes her knowledge of events and planning to create content that motivates and inspires. She writes for Thrive Global, Adventures and Coffee, and more. Alex specializes in events, hospitality, and planning topics. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, baking, or on a never-ending quest for the world’s best cup of coffee.