When we got married, our venue was a romantic 17th century castle – the date was April 22nd, the day before St. Georges Day. It was also a Sunday. So the theme was English, and what to serve at our wedding breakfast was an easy choice of English Sunday Roast.
But how do you organise catering for a wedding, choosing from serving a buffet, finger buffet or full sit down meal?
Consider these points before making your choice.
Time of day – (we got married late, and therefore it became dinner, and no evening buffet required).
Do you have any evening guests – you may need to consider an evening buffet.
If you have an evening buffet as well as wedding breakfast, you may not need to cater for all your guests. 75% of your total guests is the usual figure to cater for.
Do you want an informal buffet or formal silver service meal
How long will your guests have to wait to eat. If the wedding is at 2pm, your guests may not have had time to get lunch beforehand. So consider serving a few canapes to keep them going.
Consider special dietary requests, vegetarian, allergies, etc
Are there any children – perhaps some savoury snacks on hand will keep them from getting fractious – packets of crisps, raisins etc.
What time of year is it – Full on carvery may not be suitable for a hot summers day but a buffet would suit perfectly. Why not consider having a hog roast if you have some outside space or holding your reception in a marquee.
What type of location is the reception – marquee, indoor, outdoor, garden available
Choose a theme for colours and presentation on tables
How will you choose your caterer?
Set a budget – and try to stick to it. Most caterers will quote you on a per head basis. They will likely have some set menus for you to look at for ideas. Wine may be included in the set menu. ie. sparking wine for the toast.
Add 10% for a service tip
Ask around – your friends may recommend someone they rate highly
Check out the web for caterers.  There are many specialist wedding directories
Get a few quotations – they can vary enormously
Get everything in writing with agreed timescales for payment – usually a deposit, followed by payment in full one month before.
Remember a good caterer will let you sample the menus you are interested in before making a decision.
Pam provides everything you need to plan a wedding in Surrey. Civil venues, wedding receptions, wedding dresses, bridal wear, florists, photographers, vintage cars and more….. Find out more about how to plan a wedding in the UK by visiting Weddings in Surrey
