This afternoon, Jen Middlehurst of our very favourite wedding catering company, Kalm Kitchen, shares her ideas about how to get the best out of working with a wedding caterer. This feature is part of our ‘Catering Ideas by Kalm Kitchen’ series.
DO be honest! It’s important to be up front about your budget and your expectations. A good caterer will be able to work within your budget, but they need to know what you’d like to spend. Getting things straight from the outset is crucial. The last thing you want to do is to have to make changes or cut backs a week or two before your wedding day.
DON’T be afraid to ask. If you’ve got your heart set on serving something unusual but it isn’t on the menu selection, ask whether it’s an option. Most caterers can offer flexibility but if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
DO arrange a tasting before making any final decisions. This gives you the opportunity to confirm the quality of the food from and also to choose the menu. Be clear beforehand about what you would like to try, and also make sure you know whether there is a cost involved for the tasting.
Image by Stephanie Wolff Photography
DON’T forget to mention any dietary requirements. If they are required to cater for vegetarian or vegan guests, or those with specific allergies, they need to know about it. The same goes for any children at your wedding. Make sure your caterer is aware of younger guests and can create a specific menu for them.
DO keep in touch throughout the planning process. Your caterer will appreciate knowing as many details as possible about your chosen venue. Unless they have catered there before, you should expect them to visit the site at some point.
DO put your caterer in touch with your other chosen suppliers. When planning your wedding, it’s a good idea to think about which of your suppliers will need to work alongside each other. Your caterer might appreciate speaking to your florist with regard to any table decorations, and to your cake designer about serving the wedding cake. On the day, make sure your caterer has all relevant contact details for your venue and for a member of the bridal party (preferably not you!).
DO be selfish! It’s important to choose a menu that you both love. It’s your wedding day and the menu should reflect you. Don’t compromise just because Great Aunt Maud doesn’t eat pink beef!
Jen x
Jen Middlehurst is a Director at Kalm Kitchen, a team of young, energetic, professional caterers, who share a passion for great food and great service. You can get in touch with Jen and her team by visiting the kalmkitchen.co.uk website.
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