Fabulous food can make every guest happy. Guaranteed. With that pressure and the abundance of catering options available, where to begin!? Lucky for us, we have 24 Carrots here to help advise us on finding the caterer that truly caters to you – your preferences, tastes, budget. So settle in (with a snack of course) and learn how to make those dishes deliciously yours. Oh, and for even more personalized inspiration, don’t forget our Vault, jam packed with pretty pics to get your creative juices flowing!
Prioritize what’s important to you
Catering can be a broad category within itself, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for in a caterer. It can be as simple as a drop off meal, or what we like to offer our clients, full service fine dining. Full service is the highest return on investment, and is the best fit for couples who don’t want to get caught up in the logistics (and instead, would like to focus on the fun stuff – like picking out the menu!). Everyone has varying wedding priorities, so knowing where you rank catering and beverage on that list is helpful as you start planning.
Be inspired by food you love
Whether you’re a proud foodie, a vegan bride, or just want to just feed your guests something they’ll enjoy, narrowing down a menu is one of the most common challenges that our brides face. Your menu, just like the rest of your wedding, should be a reflection of you. Long gone are the days of dry chicken breasts and skewers of something slightly reminiscent of an edible substance. Pick something you love. If you and beau met at the fair, then serve mini corn dogs. If you come from a huge Italian family, where everyone talks with their hands and laughs from the depths of their bellies, then let’s make sure we have a great wine to pair with each course. Maybe you don’t want a traditional four-tier wedding cake, and the good news is: you don’t have to! The wedding industry allows you to personalize everything, and that includes your menu.
Know your numbers
Knowing your expected guest count, approximate time frame, and ideal budget helps get the most accurate proposal in your hands. Though weddings have a general flow, they’re not cookie cutter by any means, so having an idea of your parameters allows the caterer to suggest the best fit for your wedding.
Consider service style
Service style sets the tempo for your dining experience. It is advisable to select a service style that complements your event as a whole. Do you want an elegantly plated meal or a casual backyard buffet? Perhaps some interactive stations, or a popular favorite: heavy tray passed hors d’oeuvres through the reception. At first glance, service style might seem trivial, but it really contributes to the flow of your event and the experience that people have. You and your fiancé know your guests better than we do, so let us know if you want a communal dinner or if you want dessert first – we’ll make either (or both!) happen.
Understand your proposal
Catering proposals can be fairly extensive, so they may seem overwhelming at first. Don’t be discouraged – ask questions! Your caterer should be able to answer any and all questions, which we can guarantee are very normal! Some caterers include full rentals in your proposal, and some require you to get your own. We like to include standard dinnerware rental, and then offer services of tables, chairs, linens, etc., based upon the client’s request. Does your proposal include chefs cooking your food fresh on site to maximize quality and allow for event day timelines? Food costs is often the most straight forward, but knowing how many staff members are on site the day of your wedding directly affects the culinary quality and efficiency of service you receive.
Schedule a tasting
All of the above should help narrow it down to the best options for you and your fiancé. The best way to find a caterer that caters to you is to schedule a tasting. The in-person experience almost always confirms what you were leaning towards, and truly allows you to understand what culinary quality and service you should be expecting on your wedding day.
ONGOING GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS…
Waldorf Astoria
Artifact Uprising
Squarespace
THIS WEEK’S DISCOUNTS…
For our California Brides… Discount from L’Relyea Events
For our New England Brides… Discount from Sweet Monday Photography
Catering: 24 Carrots
© Style Me Pretty, 2015. | Permalink | Comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: #SMPWedding101
Post categories: The Blog
from Style Me Pretty http://ift.tt/1J5Ue34
No comments:
Post a Comment