How to Choose a Wedding Caterer [Expert Tips]
About The Author: Reeka Events is a luxury catering company specialising in bespoke weddings in the Cotswolds. With over 15 years of industry experience, Reeka is an expert in ensuring your wedding day runs as planned and tastes incredible.
Whipped feta with plum chutney on a sourdough crouton.
Picture the scene. You’ve chosen the perfect wedding caterer and you’re looking out at your wedding reception with the biggest smile on your face.
Every single one of your guests has an expression of sheer delight as they sample each morsel of food. The room is filled with a chorus of satisfied ‘Mmms’. And what was that? Did you just hear someone say ‘best wedding meal ever?’.
Yep, it’s the perfect wedding meal scenario. Your caterer has created an evocative and luxurious taste experience that’s anything but traditional – and you know people will be talking about this meal for years to come.
So how do you make this dream scenario a reality? By choosing the perfect wedding caterer, of course. We’re here to show you how to do just that…
The Importance of Choosing the Right Wedding Caterer
The Reeka Events catering team get ready to serve a wedding breakfast.
What’s the one thing people talk about right after a wedding – aside from you and your new spouse’s undying love for one another, of course? That’s right, it’s the food! (In fact, ‘food’ was voted the most important aspect of a wedding by 62% of guests in a WeddingWire survey.)
The food and drink you serve can make or break your wedding. It sets the tone for the night ahead and can make the difference between a satisfied guest and an unhappy one.
Not to mention, it’s your very first meal together as a married couple.
The right wedding caterer can not only ensure the food you serve is exactly to your tastes – literally – they’ll be easy to deal with too. That means planning your perfect wedding breakfast can be fun and carefree. As it should be!
Setting a Budget for Catering
Reeka Events head chef Jay Halford prepares canapés for a wedding.
Haven’t the foggiest idea how much wedding catering is supposed to cost? Well, Bridebook’s UK Wedding Report 2023 should give you an indication. According to their research, couples in 2023 spent on average £5,103 on catering.
But don’t forget that’s just a ballpark. You’ll also need to factor in how many guests you’re having and your exact requirements.
How much you spend will depend on exactly what you’re after, whether you fancy a gourmet-style sit-down dinner, a bountiful BBQ, or grazing platters for your guests to munch on throughout the day.
Don’t forget cocktail-hour catering and evening buffet options will cost extra and you can expect to pay a little more if you want to customise the menu too.
Our Tip: Price around and make sure to leave a little wiggle room in your catering budget for nice-to-have extras – like extra nibbles in the evening or personalised canapés in the afternoon.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Wedding Caterer
Reeka Head Chef Jay Halford adding the finishing touches to some plate food.
Are you available on our wedding date?
You’ve found a wedding caterer who fits your wedding theme, style and budget – hurrah! But not so fast, the first questions you’ll need to ask them are: Are you available on our wedding date and can you travel to our wedding venue?
What food and drink options do you offer?
Now for the fun part: it’s time to get to grips with what exactly your preferred wedding caterer offers. One of the most important things to ask is if they offer a set menu or a bespoke option.
If you’re going bespoke and are stuck for inspo, you might like to ask for a sample menu or find out what their most popular dishes are. It’s a good idea to request a food tasting as well – or at the very least, request pics of the food.
Don’t forget to ask about their drink packages too!
Do you cater for dietary requirements?
Auntie Meg is vegan. Sharon can’t eat shellfish. Cousin Colin’s meal needs to be gluten-free. A wedding menu won’t be one-size-fits-all because everyone’s dietary requirements are different.
Make sure to nail down your guest’s dietary requirements as early as possible. Then, ask your wedding caterer how flexible they are when it comes to accommodating your guests’ needs and how confident they are at executing this.
Other questions to ask your wedding caterer
How do you charge? Is it a bulk fee or cost-per-head?
Do you offer a free menu tasting session?
Do you have a children’s menu?
How many serving staff will you have on the day?
What drink packages do you offer?
Do you provide bar staff?
Do you provide cutlery, plates, and table linen?
Have you worked at our venue before?
What’s your cancellation policy?
When do you need our final numbers?
When is our final balance due?
Don’t forget to read the reviews!
Not sure if a caterer has earned their chops (pardon the pun)? Look for social proof. It’s a good idea to check their website for testimonials, look at their social media accounts, and explore Google reviews.
Can’t find their reviews online? Don’t be afraid to ask. Or better yet, if you know someone who has used their service, ask them to share their experience with you.
Caterer Red Flags
Lack of Transparency in Pricing
Can’t make head nor tail of the pricing info on a caterer’s website? Or have you noticed they’re a little evasive when you ask for specifics on how much this whole thing will cost?
It’s probably best to steer clear – unless you want to be left with a bill you weren’t expecting.
Poor Communication Skills
When you’re planning a wedding, there are few things more frustrating than waiting for a vendor to reply to your email. It’s annoying too, if they don’t give you the information you were asking for.
There’s a lot you can tell by your first interaction with a vendor – be it online or in real life – so be on the lookout for subtle clues about how they communicate. Are they easily and clearly able to answer the questions you have? How quick are they to respond?
Trust us, poor communication might not seem like a deal-breaker, but it will add to your stress in the long run.
So, what have we learned…?
By now you know…
The food and drink you serve at your wedding can make or break your big day - and choosing the right caterer can ensure your wedding breakfast is a roaring success
You should ask your wedding caterer plenty of questions before signing on the dotted line like ‘Can you cater for dietary requirements?’ and ‘Do you offer bespoke options?’
Wedding tastings can help you make a decision and get a better idea of what you actually want
The average catering spend in the UK is around £5,100 – but yours could be more or less depending on your individual needs and guest count
Custom options will usually cost more
It’s a good idea to leave extra room in your budget for personal touches
Reading reviews and testimonials can help you sort the wedding catering wheat from the chaff and is a vital part of your research
You should trust your gut and be mindful of red flags like unclear pricing and poor communication when choosing a wedding caterer
Download the Ultimate Cotswold Wedding Checklist
So, what’s next? We know wedding planning can be overwhelming. That’s why we created the Ultimate Cotswold Wedding Checklist, a step-by-step guide to planning your wedding in the Cotswold.
It’ll take you through everything you need to do, from finding your dream dress and choosing the perfect lights and décor to getting ready the night before.
Consider it your wedding planning BFF.
Download the checklist or read the in-depth guide.
Choosing your wedding caterer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in the lead-up to your big day. But don’t let that scare you!
If you come armed with the right questions, set yourself a realistic budget, and dig deep into the caterer’s testimonials, you can create a wedding menu that’s as special as your love for one another.
