Catering Your Event

The odds are pretty good that somewhere in your planning you will interact with a caterer, whether it is an in-house department at your wedding reception venue or an independent catering company that you have chosen for any of the various events involved in celebrating your special day.

Some of the wedding-related events that you may choose a caterer for include engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, bridesmaid luncheons, bridal showers, couple showers, bachelorette and bachelor parties, morning-after brunches, and of course, wedding receptions. For events that take place at a private home, a caterer is usually the best selection, providing flexibility and endless options.

These days, catering companies offer a wide variety of services and can give a lot of creative and delicious alternatives to traditional wedding cuisine. Many catering companies have been started by talented chefs looking for a more controlled environment outside of long restaurant hours and an atmosphere that allows them to channel their creativity in the arena they enjoy the best. This translates to many options for today’s bride and groom, from creating one-of-a-kind dining experiences at their engagement parties and bridesmaids’ luncheons to intimate rehearsal dinners and elegant, grand wedding receptions. Today’s dining public expects a certain level of quality cuisine and today’s catering companies continue to set the standards higher and higher. Choosing a caterer can even expand the options for unheard-of event locations, from a rehearsal dinner clambake on a secluded beach to a spacious and private wedding reception on a picturesque estate.

Many locations have their own on-site catering departments, which can handle everything from flowers and décor to cuisine and musical entertainment. However, many reception sites will allow outside caterers to come in and even encourage it. More often than not, they may provide a list of preferred caterers that the reception site has prescreened for quality and ease of operation. It is always important to remember that if you already have a caterer in mind and are looking for a special reception location, you should ask what the regulations are for bringing in your own caterer. These may range from checking insurance and paying for employee bonding to paying a special user fee for using an outside caterer. Caterers are used to working in all types of situations and oftentimes can work around limited kitchen facilities. Venues that you would normally think would preclude dining can become spectacular atmospheres for wedding events, including backyards, historic properties, art galleries, architecturally awe-inspiring buildings, beaches, parks, lake and river fronts, farms, zoos, gardens and private yachts to name quite a few. Just make sure that if special permitting or equipment is required, it is clear which one of you takes care of it.

Just as you would book early for a prized reception location, popular caterers schedules book out early, especially for prime days of the week like Saturday and busy months like May, June, September, October and December. As with any wedding vendor, you should check personal references as well as the local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. A good source for quality caterers includes cooking schools and stores that specialize in cooking wares and supplies and of course, wedding consultants and guides.