Eat, Drink & Be Married: 5 Questions to Ask before You Hire a Wedding Caterer
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
We're so lucky to have industry professionals willing and able to share invaluable wedding advice. I can't even imagine planning a wedding without helpful online resources and blogs - can you?? I'm sure there are some super brides out there who can, but for the rest of us who prefer to embark on the planning journey with ease, blogs are a godsend.
When it comes to how to work with caterers, it's best to look at the whole picture and really figure out what your vision is and make smart choices. Today's guest blog post is by the lovely Genna of Chef's Market & Take Away, one of our favorite wedding caterers. Genna's going to let you in on five great tips on how best to pick the perfect menu for your wedding reception.
Guest Blog - Genna Dufault, Chef's Market & Take Away
Eat, Drink & Be Married ... 5 questions to ask yourself when choosing a menu for your wedding reception
Remember your sister’s/best friend’s/ arch nemesis’ wedding reception? Depends on what the bar situation was right? Kiiidddiinngg. But seriously, there had to be a time you went out to dinner or attended a wedding and couldn’t get over how awesome the food was. Maybe a thought flickered across your mind, ‘this would totally be something I’d want at my wedding’.
It’s the kind of thought us women tend to tuck away in our hearts, hardly remembering them until just the right moment comes along, like say an engagement ring. Knowing what you like is one of the first steps in deciding on a menu for your wedding reception but it doesn’t end and begin there. Below we’ve compiled a check list of questions you and your fiancé should ask yourselves before heading up the buffet line.
Picture Source: Projectwedding.com
What’s our budget?
Oh budget why can’t you just budge a little? Ugh. While sticking to a budget can be stressful at times (especially when it comes to food) it’s actually a really smart move for those of us not living on planet Hollywood. As a 20-something just starting ‘real life’ I’m constantly reminded that my taste exceeds my means and as irritating as that can be it’s also made me really resourceful, which I think is a great skill for any couple heading to the altar to arm themselves with. Understand what you can afford compared with what you want and be realistic.
Picture source: Chef's Market
If you’d love for your guests to feast on Lobster but can’t afford it, think about doing a shrimp appetizer. You might find that it not only fits into your budget better but still maintains the same theme. Work with your budget instead of against it and you’ll be a much happier bride-to-be!
What’s our wedding style?
Will your wedding be super formal or more low key?
Knowing exactly what kind of ceremony you want will translate to the reception and the menu. Keeping this in mind will make the entire wedding feel cohesive rather than disjointed and it won’t confuse your guests. Does anyone really want to show up to a beach wedding in flip flops only to be taken to a ballroom for a 7 course meal? Probably not.
Photo Source: Chef's Market & Donald Yeager Photography
What time are we getting married?
Will your reception be mid-morning, late afternoon, or early evening? This might seem like a no-brainer but it’s helpful in getting ideas flowing. If you’re having a morning wedding you might want to think about a reception with a brunch themed menu. Likewise, an afternoon wedding might mean an elegant cocktail inspired menu, etc, etc.
Do any of our guest’s have any dietary restrictions?
Obviously this could be tricky and depending on the size of your wedding you might not even want to travel down this road, however it never hurts to have at least one option on the menu that everyone can enjoy. Does your fiancé live for red meat but you know half of your family members are vegetarians? Throw a fresh meat-free garden salad into the mix or plan on serving grilled vegetables as a side item.
What’s our vision for our wedding?
I’ve saved the best for last! Remember this is you and your fiancé’s wedding. If you’ve always wanted a garden party reception complete with tea service, go for it! Eat scones and mini cupcakes and enjoy your day! Your vision for your wedding is what will guide you through all of the other questions concerning your wedding menu.
Excellent tips, I hope this helps you when it comes to picking the right caterer. For more great catering advice, see what else Genna and the Chef's Market team have to say on their Chef's Dish Blog!
About the Author:
Tabitha
Blogging is something I’ve enjoyed doing for years. My interests lie mostly in lifestyle related topics like fashion, style, design, food and weddings. When I heard Ashley was looking to bring on new members to the ABG team, I jumped at the opportunity - I can’t think of a better way to stay involved in weddings than to write about them and to stay in touch with the trends and new ideas. Lucky for me, Ashley likes my blog and trusts my experience to bring me on and so far, it’s been a blast.
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Posted on June 2, 2010 |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Cakes & Catering
