Catering & The Wedding Package
Inclusive into the wedding package will be the catering. This is charged per head from a selection of set menus. Most venues or outside caterers will appreciate any suggestions from you especially if it makes things easier for them!
Ironically most people prefer more simple food than something very fancy. The most popular courses are melon as a starter, chicken for the main meal and a chocolate desert. Though the real decision varies from each wedding, especially if you aim to have a themed wedding.
If you are having the venue cater for your wedding, then try to book a meal at their restaurant to check the quality and service from the staff. If your employing outside caterers, try to sample some tasters as this will help you make your final decision before booking and choosing the menu that would suit you, your guests and your theme.
Canapés
Think about when you would like the outside caterers to serve the food or what timetable you would like the venue to serve the courses. It’s quite popular now to start the speeches before the Wedding Breakfast starts.
To help the nerves of those in the bridal party making speeches, you could have your canapés served first which could replace the first course. Make sure there is a good selection to suit a wide variety of tastes such as:
Tiger prawns with lemon and ginger
Spiced sweet potato
Olives set in a cheese pastry
Sausages in Worcester and honey sauce
In cold months think of including a selection of tasty warm soups.
Canapés are an excellent idea to curb any hunger pangs especially if your guest have to wait a while before the Wedding Breakfast. They can also help to absorb the alcohol before the speeches are heard!
They can be served before the receiving line during the Drinks Reception. Guests can mingle and chat if they are not directly involved in a lot of the photographs while the staff walk round with the canapé trays making sure that everyone has access to the various selection on offer.
Themed Deserts
An idea for an Italian theme would be to have a large chocolate fountain and self service ice cream stall instead of the traditional desert.
A Middle Eastern idea would be to have Middle Eastern food in a Moroccan tent with a Moroccan interior design, followed by Henna body painting and belly dancing for you and your guests after the desert.
For a Victorian theme you could have funfair rides for the children or giant lawn games of Chess and Jenga. The adults could have a Victorian Carousel, a Ferris Wheel and Dodgems. (Check the company has a full liability insurance and safety certificate).
Victorian food suggestions could be hot dogs or how about crepes served with fruit or chocolate or even roast beef! Desert choices could include ice cream, popcorn and candyfloss. Staff in attendance could dress in Victorian clothing to add to the atmosphere.
Cutting The Cake
Another idea is to cut the wedding cake before the meal so it can be served as a desert. Some could be boxed up for those not wanting to eat it there and then while others who couldn’t attend your wedding would be sent their boxes of cake by post.
Buffets
There are generally three types of buffets – fork buffets, finger buffets and seated buffets. The later being designated seating for the bridal party and guests. One or two courses may be served by staff whilst the remaining courses are self service.
The staff would clear the tables between courses and replace the main self serving tables with the next courses. The self service tables would be refilled during the evening depending how much buffet food you have planned for your wedding party.
It is best to allow at least two large tables for the self service food to ease up any congestion queues and to keep the drinks on a separate table. This allows more room on the food tables away from accidental spillage with designated queuing areas.
Outside Catering
A cheaper alternative is to consider having the food from your favourite restaurant being brought to your wedding venue. You could arrange to pay for a higher hire charge of the wedding venue room in return that you can bring in your own outside caterers.
This could save you money as the venue will still make their profit, but by employing your own caterers, will make it more cost effective for you.
Catering For Your Own Wedding
If you choose to prepare all your own catering then careful planning needs to be in place regarding the types of foods for the menu. Cook and try various dishes before the day.
Think about what food needs to be stored frozen and non-frozen, allowing time to de-frost well in advance of cooking. Consider hiring crockery, glasses and cutlery.
Catering Questions To Consider
- If your using the venue’s wedding package try to have a meal in their restaurant to check the quality of food and the staff service.
- Meet with the wedding co-ordinator to discuss the wedding menu options.
- Will you be charged extra if choosing vegetarian meals as part of your wedding menu?
- Check what the children’s menus are like (if there will be children eating at your Wedding Breakfast).
- Does the price include corkage charge and VAT?
- How many staff will be allocated to how many guests?
- Will you be charge overtime rates for the staff?
- If having outside catering, try and meet with them to discuss and taste some food samples.
- Will outside caterers bring their own equipment?
- Is the delivery charge included?
- Are the staff tips included?
- Have you got the final number of guests and their food requirements to give to the caterers?