Selecting The Right Caterer
You have a picture in your mind of how your wedding
day is going to unfold. The key is making that dream come to life,
but the practical side of your wedding is to chose the right people.
Wedding Coordinators help you choose the right vendors and plan all
the steps up until and during your wedding day. They can provide you
with a list of vendors for you to meet and set up the appointments
that are convenient to you. A wedding coordinator helps organize the
process and relieve the stress from both the bride and the caterer.
They provide timelines, help with rehearsals and most important, get
you to the church on time!!!
Now to the practical side of your special day. Ask
yourself what is the most compelling reason for this event?
What comes
to mind when you think of that? Did you meet in Hawaii
and you want to recreate the first day you met and fell in love? Go
for a Hawaiian menu! Themes help create the rest of the dreamscape.
Who is coming
to this event? Answering this question will help the
caterer to establish the number of guests attending and the type of
food prepared. Are your relatives from back east and would they want
meat and potatoes? Better yet, are you a vegetarian and do you want
only vegetarian food?
When and Where
will the event be held? The availability of site location
usually answers this question unless your reception is going to be
held in a private residence. There are 450+ banquet sites in San Diego
and North County, and all of them book pretty well in advance. For
availability, try to book a year in advance.
When should
you meet with a caterer? At least 6-9 months before
the wedding is ideal. You must be assured of having plenty of time
to get references, see some events that they are doing, check their
business licenses, ask for their workman's comp and their liability
insurance.
What elements
and resources are required to satisfy the needs identified above?
Meet with at least two caterers for your wedding reception. Most importantly,
find out if they are flexible with your needs and wants. Maybe your
grandmother has that special ritual food she wants to prepare, or
you have vegetarians amongst the wedding party or the guest list.
Meet with the caterer at the site, as well as their kitchen, to see
how they create your special day and ask for a tasting once you have
decided on a menu.
Establish a rapport
with the caterer. They must be knowledgeable about food choices
according to the season. The freshest produce money can buy can be
found in North County. Ask the caterers if they belong to any Associations
affiliated with their field where they can experience continuing education
to keep up with the fast growing trends in the industry.
Make sure you understand
the proposal. Look for any hidden costs. Ask for line items
as much as possible because the devil is in the details in this business.
Establish a payment plan with the caterer that works for you and your
budget. The key word here is stay on budget. If you want salmon but
it is too costly to have as an entree, go for salmon mousse or smoked
salmon canapés for your hors d'oeuvres. Let your caterer help
you choose the right menu for your special day. Most of all, have
fun!
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