Choosing a wedding caterer can be a challenge. In many ways, you are entrusting the most important night of your life into their hands. So, how do you know if you are choosing the right caterer to execute all of your desires to perfection? It is imperative to look at their quality of food, flexibility, service and experience. If each of these areas are up to your standards, it is time to book as soon as possible and start planning your “I Do’s.”
Quality of Food
What is the main reason to hire a caterer? For the food, of course. As you choose your caterer, be sure that their main job, preparing the meal, is the area of expertise. Scour their website and social media to see that the food is well presented and the reviews are high.
However, no matter the presentation, it’s important the food is always fresh and delicious once it’s served. There’s a lot that can happen from when catering is first cooked to when it’s actually eaten. There’s preparation, transportation and set up; however, hours can pass before it’s time for your guests to eat. Whichever company you choose, make sure they will serve your reception’s catering like it just popped out of the oven.
Flexibility
Every wedding is incredibly unique to the couple it celebrates. Chose a caterer that is ready to serve your needs and reflect the vision of your big day. A company should be able to customize any of their menus or dishes to cater to a client’s preferences or dietary restrictions. Also, it’s a major plus if the company has licensed bar services. This way, there’s no need to hire separate purveyors for food and drink.
Service
Service is a huge element of a caterer’s job, and if you do not outline what you expect from a company, you may be left dry. Some so-called “catering companies,” will drop the food off at the venue with no further service. Be sure that it’s communicated way before your wedding date that you expect full-service catering at your event, with both set up and tear down crew available.
If you would like uniformed waiters, butler-passed foods or for the buffet to be self-serve, check and see if these option are available. Your wedding is a time to celebrate you and your spouse-to-be. Your caterer should be ready to recognize this and willing to do their very best to make your wedding the best it can be.
Experience
Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful; inevitably, plans change and something will go awry. You need a caterer with years of experience to ensure that there is no issue that can’t be handled. As you plan your big day, an experienced caterer should be familiar with local venues to help you understand the capacity, layout and flow of your event.
On the day of your event, no issue should reach the bride’s attention. With the help of a wedding planner, a caterer should be able to make judgement calls for each issue and execute the event perfectly. Lastly, a caterer should know how to stay out of the way. This is a time to enjoy your new spouse and the ones you love. On your wedding day, the catering staff should know exactly what their jobs are and be able to execute them perfectly, without interrupting the newlyweds.
If you are beginning your search for the perfect caterer for your wedding, remember to keep Bradford Catered Events at the top of your list. Bradford has over 20 years of experience catering weddings and many other events. The catering staff of Bradford has seen it all, so they’ll be ready to take on any challenge and help your wedding go off without a “hitch.” Each of their delicious menus are customizable, with full bar services and multiple wait-staff options. If you are ready to book Bradford Catered Events for your wedding, visit us online or give us a call at (865) 522-5552.
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