If you are hosting a wedding at home, or in a unique space, chances are you’ve already hired, or are in the process of hiring a catering team to make the real magic happen. In the lead up to the day, if you haven’t already thought about hiring a wedding planner, or event manager to represent you, your catering team will be your single most important vendor who will need to facilitate the event seamlessly. This is why it’s crucial to hire someone who ticks all the “boxes” and hasn’t necessarily sent you the cheapest quote. What might those boxes look like you ask?
Responsive.
Hiring someone who is responsive to your emails and phone calls is really important. If you are planning your event without a wedding planner, then you may have a few extra questions and may need more guidance understanding what your responsibilities are and what theirs are too.
Experience with the venue.
If you are hiring your venue (and not hosting at home), it’s great to find a caterer who has experience with that space. They will already understand the nuances of the venue. The smallest things like refrigeration, power, lights and rubbish removal can have the biggest impact during your event if they aren’t managed. It’s so much easier hiring someone with the right experience, rather than having to work through these problems yourself (on the night even).
Amanda and Nick get married at Alto in Melbourne catered by Damn Fine Food. Image courtesy Clare Metcalf Photography.
Great food and wine.
It goes without saying, choose a caterer who meets the brief when it comes to your palate. To make your own life easier, hire a caterer who can supply and serve your alcohol as well. This shifts the responsibility of making sure there is enough food and beverage for the duration of the event, and you won’t have to worry about running out. Many good caterers do offer beverage packages which will help control your spend (it may seem like supplying your alcohol is a cheaper way to do it, but this isn’t always the case).
Deliciousness on a plate from Guillame. Image courtesy Blumenthal Photography.
Brief your caterers.
Supply your timings to your caterers for any formalities on the day, and try to stick to them. Ensure that you have an MC or wedding planner who can liaise with the kitchen on the day. When the kitchen staff are using makeshift facilities, it’s really important that your timings don’t shift too much, so the food comes out fresh and hot. The first impression to your guests will be that you chose crummy caterers, when in reality the meals were prepared according to the timings they have.
Alex and Harry get married on their property in the Hunter Valley. Image courtesy Alex Marks Photography
Let them be caterers.
Keep your catering team onside and let them focus on what they do best. Your caterers may do everything from supply the kitchen, crew, and dining materials (tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery etc). If you have many personal touches that you want looked after with your decor or styling – hire someone like a wedding planner to do it for you, or ask a trusted person who isn’t a guest. You’ll get better results all around.
Hosting a wedding at home, or in a unique venue is a great way to personalise the event. By choosing a caterer that you can connect with on a personal level, and a team who can check all your boxes (like the ones above), will not only make your life easier, but will make for an unforgettable day.
