Congratulations! You’re getting married! After you’ve set your wedding date, finding a place to hold your reception and speaking to a caterer is one of the very first things you should do. Many popular hotels and reception halls are booked well over a year in advance. Before you meet your caterer, you should have a list of questions prepared.
Below is a guide to help you get started:
- What are the menu selections?
- Does wine come with the menu? Is there an extra fee for the wine?
- Can we schedule a tasting and if so, when?
- Is there a minimum that has to be spent?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- What is your payment schedule?
- How many appetizers do you prepare per guest? What is your appetizer selection?
- How many servers walk around to serve the appetizers?
- Where will the cocktail hour be held? Will the bar remain open after the meal is served? Is there a fee for that?
- How many people can each reception & Cocktail Hour table seat?
- Is there a cake cutting fee? Do you provide the wedding cake?
- Is the gratuity added on the bill? What additional fees are added on the bill? Is the gratuity amount subject to increase before the date of the event?
- When do you need the final guest headcount?
- Do you provide extra tables for gifts, guest name tags and the guest sign in book? If you are at a hotel, can the gifts be taken to our room for security purposes?
- Do you provide all the napkins, tablecloths, tables, chairs, plates, silverware and glasses?
- What color linens do you provide?
- In what style are the diner napkins folded?
- What time do you recommend serving the meal? What is a typical reception like? How does it flow?
- Do you serve salads pre-set on the plate or are they served after guests are seated?
- When do our meal selections have to be complete?
- Can you handle additional meals such as a brunch the next morning for
- out of town guests? If so, what is your brunch menu?
- How many guests can the banquet hall accommodate?
- Can you mail us a contract? When does it have to be signed and returned?
- What deposit do we have to put down to hold our date?
- Can you provide vegetarian or kosher meals if they are needed? Can you handle other special dietary requests?
- If you are serving different entrees, how does the caterer determine which guest gets which entree?
- Do you have a kids menu?
- If you plan to have different stations like a pasta station or a prime rib station, is there a serving fee per station?
- Are your evening prices more than your daytime prices?
- Who will be in charge of my party and be my point of contact?
- How far in advance of the event do you set up the dining room?
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