But how about the catering? Whether it’s braised beef, melting meringues or a trio of delicious desserts, selecting the right caterer can not only provide you with great food but also take a lot of stress from your proverbial plate.
Here are our top tips on how to get the right caterer for your wedding…
Deciding your budget
As with every other element of your wedding the catering is going to need a budget. When it comes to food this is usually calculated per head, so the first question you’re going to have to ask yourself is, how many heads are there going to be?
Also consider how many children will be attending your big day – these can often be priced differently and will need to be taken into account when it comes to selecting your options – a child’s palette can be very different to that of an adult!
If you’re inviting children we’re able to help out and ensure that tables are child-friendly, free from glass and ready for the little ones to enjoy!
Make sure there’s a clear understanding of what’s included and what you need
Be sure to get a clear understanding of what’s available at your venue when it comes to catering in order to avoid you having additional costs being added to your initial catering quote. Will they be providing staff, cutlery and plates? Some caterers will include this in their packages, whilst others may quote separately.
At Launcells we have a fitted kitchen for caterers to use in order to support them in delivering you with your dream food or meal. It also means they don’t need to pay out for a catering tent, equipment and gas or electricity – costs that would otherwise need to be passed on to you.
Sit down meal or more informal dining?
When you picture your wedding do you imagine sitting in a room with a carefully executed table plan, surrounded by friends and family enjoying their formal three course meal, or a more informal scene, guests mingling and popping out for a hog roast when they fancy?
Whatever you vision may be, you’ll need to find a caterer that’s in their element when it comes to the style of catering you’re after. Be sure to ask if they’ve catered for similar styles in the past, perhaps ask if they have references for those weddings and be sure to listen to any advice they give you as they’ll have undoubtedly learnt the best way to deliver your perfect plan!
Could you ask someone’s advice?
There’s no better recommendation than from someone you know and trust, or from experiencing it yourself! Have you recently been to a wedding where the food simply blew you away? Perhaps people you know could recommend the caterer they used?
Researching potential supplier websites is very different to seeing them in action and the final product on your plate, so definitely take onboard recommendations from those closest to you, as well as your own experiences.
We’ve worked with some great caterers at Launcells Barton – to give you a helping hand here are just a few you may like to contact: https://launcellsbarton.co.uk/recommended-suppliers/
Making sure your plans are right
Once you’ve found someone that fits your budget, knows what you want and is perfectly positioned and experienced to deliver it, you’ll want to check that what you’re wanting is doable and also going to work! Many caterers will offer tasting sessions – if yours does, then this is an opportunity well worth taking up, not just to taste some fantastic food but to ensure what you’re ordering is going to be enjoyable once out of your mind and onto the plate!
If you’d like more information on holding your wedding at Launcells Barton then please do give us a call on 01288 352352 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
