Contemplating Wedding Catering

Eight Tips to Help You Cater for the Masses

1. Don’t Self-Cater

Although some couples opt to self-cater their wedding for economical reasons, what you'll save moneywise you'll lose timewise, as you won’t have the freedom to relax and enjoy your day. You want to let your hair down not tear your hair out worrying about the logistics of the food and wine. Not when there are expert services like Quintessance Foods

2. Offer a Basic Drinks Package

The drinks should flow at a wedding but you don't want to end up with a dribbling mess of drunks at the end of the wedding reception. Avoid this by supplying your guests with a basic drinks package of water, soft drinks, wine and beer.

3. Consider the Dietary Restrictions of Your Guests

Ensure that your menu is sensitive to various cultural and religious food restrictions of your guests and ensure that vegetarians, allergy sufferers, children and those watching their weight are catered for.

4. Themes are Fun

If you’re having a themed wedding, make sure that you co-ordinate your food accordingly. After all, what would a medieval wedding be without a banquet of roasted meats, hunks of bread and pints of ale? Why not have an exciting ethnic buffet at your reception? Flying Woks Caterers will cook up a storm in their massive iron woks and provide an oriental feast for your eyes as well as your stomach.

5. Easy-To-Eat Finger Food

If you’re having a cocktail reception with finger food, ensure that it comes in bite-sized portions. Nobody wants to get messy or to look inelegant when they’re eating. For chic canapés and stylish snacks, visit Gourmet Palette .

6. Use Quality Produce

Some caterers cut costs by compromising on the quality of their ingredients. Make sure the produce, especially seafood, is fresh and not frozen or canned. BlueRock Catering prides itself on maintaining the highest industry standards and are ideal for the discerning host.

7. Check the Caterer’s Tableware

Always view the tableware, glassware and silverware to ensure that it matches the style of your wedding. There's no point in featuring the caterer’s fine Wedgwood collection if you’re having a contemporary event.

8. Sample the Menu

Reputable caterers will organise a tasting for prospective clients. This should give you a good indication of the quality and presentation of the food.

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Wedding catering

Wedding catering - Let's get started on planning your wedding catering, and browse our complete catering planning guide.

Food and beverage, often eating up more than half of your wedding budget, is a big decision. A number of details must come together to treat your guests to something extraordinary. There is a lot to know before you start your quest…

Relax… breathe… now get going! To help you along the way, we have simplified the process. All you need to do is find the right caterer, determine your catering style, and then use your browse through our favorite catering tips and trends to create an unforgettable culinary experience. If this sounds easier said than done, browse our catering planning articles for practical advice and ideas to get those creative juices flowing.

For a complete catering planning guide that you can take with you, download our things to remember worksheet. Before you dive in, a few words of advice preliminary advice:

Set the Tone
The style of food and service that you decide on will serve as a foundation for the ambiance of the wedding reception. A general rule of thumb is to make sure that the reception menu corresponds with the formality of every other memorable aspect of your special day.

Consider your Guests
Before building the catering menu of your dreams and tastebuds, remember your guests. Don't forget about Aunt Martha's peanut allergies or the fact that most of your girlfriends from college are vegetarians. Even if you and your fiance are adventurous when it comes to exotic food and drink, not everyone will go for extra spicy thai food. Even in an attempt to be original, try to include some standards on the menu that will satisfy all palates.

Be Original
That said, don't be afraid to break out of the 5-course beef-or-chicken mold. Planning your wedding catering should be fun! Try to take your guests on a culinary journey. All the while, think quality, not quantity. Concentrate on variety and presentation over an elaborate abundance of food.

Make it Tasty
In all this thoughtful planning, don't forget the obvious. Make food as appetizing as it is memorable; look for variation in flavor as well as presentation

Mind Your Budget
You should count on spending as much as 50% of your total wedding budget on catering, more than any other element for your big day. So be sure to be sensible and meticulous during your selection process. If you aren't willing to sacrifice veal for meatloaf, cut down on the number of courses you serve so you won't break the bank.

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