Selecting your wedding caterer…mmm food!
If you ask anyone that's been to a wedding lately about the little details, chances are they won't remember. They will however remember what they ate and how it taste.
What were the chairs like? Don't know.
What did they have as centrepieces? Can't remember.
How was the food? Incredible!!! We had a full course meal, chocolate cake for dessert, blah blah blah.
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I have 3 suggestions for finding a caterer:
1.) Ask anyone you know who recently got married or attended a wedding to suggest a caterer. To receive an unbiased opinion refrain from asking the bride and groom as their day will be wonderful and even a mediocre meal would be remembered as being fantastic. Instead, ask their guests. Anyone attending a wedding recently can give you an unbiased opinion of the food. If it was given a raving review, don't hesitate to ask the bride or groom who they had catering the meal.
2.) Check a wedding website. I personally used weddingbells.ca (a Canadian Bride forum) to get ideas. People offer all sorts of advice in the forums and are brutally honest at times. Wedding forums are a great resource for many opinions in addition to caterers.
3.) Look through the phone book. Almost every catering company in town should be listed so you can get an idea of how limited you may be.
After you have figured out your budget, you can call around and get pricing and check your date availability from a few companies. If the price is affordable and they are available, start exploring menu options. Buffet? Served?
I suggest meeting with a few caterers and discussing the finer details. You should get a good feeling from your caterer right aways as it will be important on the day of the wedding for the food service to go flawlessly.
Pricing may include linens, dishes and other extras. I recommend going with a caterer who will provide the entire package for one price. That makes it more simple and easier on the day of your wedding. They bring everything in, set up, and take all the dirty linens and dishes away at the end.
I used Vintage Catering in Calgary and was thrilled with their service and food. The best part however was the advice I was able to get from the caterer. She has been in the wedding industry for ages and tons of tip to offer on dresses, flowers and decorating. What an excellent resource!