The food you have at your wedding will be something that you and your guests will likely remember and talk about for years to come. It is incredibly important to think about caterers early on in the process and know exactly what kind of food you and your significant other want. You also need to consider the vibe of your wedding, as a three course plated meal will be a bit out of place at a barn wedding and a food truck might be a bit out of place at the Ritz Carlton. To see some of our best tips on finding and hiring your caterer, keep reading!
Decide the Type of Food and Level of Formality
The type of caterer you can book for your wedding can range drastically from your favorite local food truck, a self service buffet, all the way to a plated four course meal served to guests by wait staff. When you imagine serving tacos at your wedding, most of us would not visualize this being served as part of a four course meal. That is why deciding on the type of food will play directly into the level of formality of your dinner. Before beginning your caterer search, chat with your partner and establish what you both want to have at the wedding. If one of you wants to have a food truck but the other wants a formal buffet, consider having the food truck come with some snacks during cocktail hour if it is within your budget! After all, it is your day so make sure the food is something you both will enjoy.
Decide on your budget
According to The Knot, in 2021 the average cost for catering per person was $75. Obviously this ranges based upon what state you are in and how many guests you plan to have, but keep in mind feeding 100+ people is not going to be cheap. The average wedding guest count has started to go back up as of last year, and was back in the range of 105-110 depending on the season of the wedding. Also keep in mind that your vendors will need to be fed as well, so don’t forget to add them to your total guest count. If you are wanting to make room in the budget for a formal sit down dinner, you may need to consider cutting your guest list down or changing your menu.
Don’t Forget the Dinnerware
If you are at a venue where dinnerware is not included with your rental of the space, most of the time it is not, you may want to check with your caterer to see if they can provide dinnerware or have a suggested company they like to work with for rentals. If your caterer does include dinnerware in their fees, be sure to ask to see an example of what the layout will look like to make sure it will fit with the rest of your décor.
Start Your Search Early to Ensure Availability
As soon as you have determined your budget and know the type of food and serving style, be sure to begin inquiring with your preferred company to make sure they have your wedding date available. Caterers can book up quickly, sometimes many months in advance. You will likely be booking your caterer well before you have your final guest count, so check with them to be sure they will allow you to alter the guest count as needed once you are closer to your big day.
Our main tip is don’t put the catering decision off until the last minute! We can guarantee a good caterer can make or break the evening for your guests. If you need any additional assistance, references or guidance we are more than happy to help, just reach out today!
Cheers,
Kayley
Associate Wedding Coordinator | Content Creator
Kayley McKenzie
Cue The Champagne Event Planning and Design Chattanooga Tennessee’s Premier
Wedding Planning and Event Studio Owned by Chattanooga Wedding Planner and Wedding Coordinator Shaun M.Teague
Cue the Champagne Event Planning + Design offers Wedding Day Event Management Services formerly known as Day of Wedding Coordination, Full Service Wedding Planning Services, Chattanooga Wedding Flowers ,Elopement Planning and Event Design Services for all your Social and Corporate Events. Cue The Champagne Event Planning and Design also offer Chattanooga Wedding Flowers for your wedding and event planning needs.
Cue The Champagne Event Planning + Design caters to Weddings and Events in Chattanooga Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia Wedding locations and Worldwide.
