Wedding Caterers In Seattle are a must-have for any couple getting married. The right caterer will be able to craft a menu that speaks to your unique tastes.
Before you book a wedding caterer, be sure to read their contracts carefully. This will help you understand how their fees are structured and how to properly tip them.
1. They Have Experience
A good wedding caterer can take a lot of the stress out of wedding planning. They’ll help you figure out your budget, guest count, and menu while also taking a lot of the logistics off your plate.
Caterers have worked with venues on many occasions and will have insight into what issues tend to come up most often during weddings. They can save you a lot of time by providing valuable insight from their experience.
In addition to food, a full-service catering company will typically set up and provide tables and chairs for your reception, coordinate rental services, provide wait staff (and bartenders if you are having alcoholic beverages), and clean up the dining area and kitchen at the end of the night. Some may even include linens in their packages. This will vary by venue.
2. They Know How to Prepare
Catering is a skill that requires knowledge of food, equipment and logistics. Your caterer will be able to provide you with a variety of different options for your wedding meal, from plated dinners to buffets. They also have experience in working with many popular venues and can offer suggestions that will complement your venue’s setting.
A full-service catering company will usually set up your tables and chairs, coordinate rentals (if necessary), supply wait staff and bartenders, serve food on time, clean up the dining area and kitchen, pack up leftovers and take away the garbage. They may also provide a range of beverage services including hard and soft drinks.
Some caterers will schedule menu tastings prior to booking, which will give you a chance to try their dishes and narrow down your choices. Ask them if they’re open to accommodating special requests like local ingredient sourcing or organic dishes.
3. They Are Licensed
Wedding catering is a huge part of any wedding. Choosing the right caterer is important to ensure everything goes smoothly on your big day. A licensed catering company will be able to handle all the preparation, cooking, and serving of food for your guests. They can also take care of drinks and other ancillary items.
Many full service wedding caterers have a staff of planners, chefs, servers, and bartenders who work in close coordination with your other vendors to make sure everything runs smoothly. This is why it’s a good idea to hire your wedding caterer as soon as you select your venue.
Some wedding catering companies will include linens, plates, napkins, silverware, and glassware in their all-in-package. This can save you the hassle of coordinating rentals from multiple rental companies. However, this is not a standard in all packages.
4. They Have a Variety of Menus
Wedding caterers have menus that can meet the needs of any event. There are many service styles to choose from, including buffets and plated dinners. In addition, they can offer different types of beverages and a variety of desserts.
A wedding caterer can also provide appetizers to serve while guests are waiting for their entrées. Some of these appetizers include hors d’oeuvres, soups, and salads. They can also offer a variety of serving trays, from simple and clean to decorative and ornate.
Plated meals are ideal for large events because they allow guests to sit and enjoy their meal at a table. Plated dinners require more servers, though, and can be difficult to manage when a seating chart is involved. Plated meals are also more expensive than buffet-style options.
5. They Have a Wide Range of Dishes
Many wedding caterers offer a variety of dishes to meet your needs. They also take care of providing the plates and glasses your guests use, as well as the trash removal. Some even provide rental furnishings like tables, chairs and buffet tables.
Plated meals are ideal for a formal wedding. They are carefully prepared and beautifully presented. However, this type of catering service can be expensive.
A buffet is a more affordable way to serve your guests. It is also easy to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Family style dining is a great option for a more casual wedding. It involves large serving dishes at each table, allowing your guests to serve themselves without having to go through a buffet line. There are many stylistic chafing dish options available to make your buffet look beautiful. There are also cocktail carts that can be used to serve drinks.
7. They Have a Wide Range of Equipment
If you need something unique for your wedding, a caterer can usually provide it. For example, Graze Craze Charcuterie Boards and Boxes in Wyckoff, New Jersey, can create custom charcuterie boards and tables for your event. They can also supply other foods like salads, pizzas, and desserts.
Many catering companies offer tastings, which can help you choose the right menu for your big day. However, it’s important to ask about this before booking. Some caterers will charge for a tasting, while others will include it in the package price.
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8. They Have a Wide Range of Experience
Your wedding caterer should be able to offer ideas that are outside of the box. They should be able to recommend ways to make your food and service style more interesting, especially if they have experience working at your venue or with your specific event type.
For example, they can help you choose a cocktail cart theme with a menu that fits your theme. Or they can suggest ways to add a fun touch like gourmet popcorn or cotton candy.
Full service caterers also take a lot of the logistics of your wedding day off of your plate. They often set up your tables and chairs, coordinate rentals, provide wait staff and bartenders, serve your meals on time and pack up leftovers. Plus, they usually handle trash removal. You can save a lot of money by choosing a caterer that offers all of these services.
9. They Have a Wide Range of Menus
When it comes to your wedding food, you have a lot of options. You can choose from plated dinners, buffets, stations, or family-style meals. Your caterer should be able to help you decide on what style of service will work best for your venue, guest count, and budget.
If possible, schedule a menu tasting before you book your caterer (though this may up the cost of catering). This is an opportunity to try their proposed dishes and discuss what you’re looking for in a wedding caterer.
Caterers do a ton of things that you may not realize. They supply the food, coordinate rentals and staffing, set up tables and chairs, and often clean up the kitchen and dining area at the end of the night. They also provide the equipment needed for each service type, such as chafing dishes for hot foods and chilled serving platters for cold food.
10. They Have a Wide Range of Dishes
A good wedding caterer is ready to work with you to create a menu that fits your tastes and budget. A full-service catering company will typically offer a tasting session a few months before your big day, which you should attend to try out the menu items and make adjustments if needed.
If you want to serve a plated meal, the wedding caterer will prepare the meals and deliver them in serving dishes to each table. This service style can be expensive as it requires be-suited waiters and adds to your overall staffing costs. Guests also need to be aware of proper food etiquette when eating from plates. Other service styles include family style, buffets, or grazing boards. Depending on the style, you will need to supply service trays, which can be simple and basic or more decorative and even include your accent color.