the Cost of Wedding Caterers

I used a locally owned full service caterer for my wedding in April 2006. For the price I paid, we had a full meal of turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings; drinks; fresh-fruit display (with a carved watermelon); rented linens and china; cake service (of a cake that they did not make); and full setup and clean up of the catering area.

The food was excellent, but the service was even better. We and our family did not have to worry for one second about having to set up, clean up, or deal with dishes.

Make sure and do your research. Call around to several different caterers and get as many references as possible. Before you call, make sure to have an idea of exactly what you want in terms of catering. Tell them exactly what you want, and do not give them any money without having details spelled out to your satisfaction in the contract. This is for your safety and theirs. Try to do a taste-testing if possible so that you can get an idea of the quality of the food that will be prepared for your big day. Also, make sure that your coordinator (if you have one) is aware of the caterer and is prepared to coordinate with them on the timing of food service as it will relate to the other big events. Make sure that the caterer will have access to the venue to begin setup early enough so that they will not be dragging equipment in as guests are arriving.