Words: Anna Kibbey Illustration: Jacqueline Bissett
FOOD & DRINK
Choose and brief your caterer. But don’t assume the choice is entirely yours – many venues have in-house caterers or preferred suppliers who have been vetted and know the terrain.
If you do have your pick of the crop, personal recommendation is the best way to go. It helps if they’ve worked in your venue before, so ask your contact there if you can speak to recent wedding clients.
Put together an initial catering brief, which should include details of rough numbers (including children), food and drinks required, preferred style of service, staff requirements, and venue.
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT
Set a budget before approaching caterers, as costs can spiral very quickly. Think about where you can save – cake as a pudding, perhaps, or a buffet set-up – as well as whether you want a formal style of service or more casual family-style sharing. Sadly, the latter isn’t necessarily cheaper, but it is more flexible – roast lamb can, for example, be served with potato gratin and greens for the traditionalists, alongside salads as a lighter, livelier option. Aim to get three quotes from the same brief.
Make sure that you ask for everything inclusive of VAT. If they’re quoting per head, check exactly what’s included (e.g. crockery, cutlery, kitchen staff, floor staff, coffee) and what will be charged on top.
Your caterer will play a pivotal role in the smooth running of your day. As well as supplying glassware, furniture, jugs, table numbers, cake stand/knife, ice, linen, lights, seat pads and just about anything else you request, they’ll also do much of the running before and on the day. Make sure you trust them.
Don’t get caught out by corkage
BYO wine corkage is a valid charge – the venue still has to store and serve your bottles – but it’s often a late and expensive addition to the bridal balance sheet. Ask how much the venue’s corkage is early, and crunch the numbers. If it’s too much, haggle them down by comparing them with a competitor. A bottle of your wine, all in, should still be cheaper than the house wine on their list.
This article was first published in Square Meal Weddings 2015