The memory of your wedding day will be defined by the experiences you create. Your dining experience will be one of the most important elements of your wedding day. You should make it memorable for all the right reasons. These tips for wedding catering will help you create a flawless event the way you want it remembered.
Types of Wedding Catering Services
Before you rush out to book your wedding catering, it is important to understand the different types of catering services and establish which ones your unique event requires. Drop-off service is one of the most affordable types of services, but that does not mean it is right for your event. Drop-off service is designed to deliver your cuisine to banquet staff and food managers for a buffet-style dining experience. Full-service catering involves plated meals, portioning, artfully designing each plate and providing full-service to the reception tables. This involves setting up, breaking down, plated meals, staff services, bartender services and a much wider range of menu options. Think about how you envision your wedding day and the type of dining experience you want to create.
Coordinating Your Wedding Catering
Coordinating the timing and delivery of your wedding catering is just as important as coordinating the ceremony. Your entire celebration will revolve around the food and the entertainment. One of the most critical mishaps that could possibly occur would be food never making its way to the venue. Next to the missing food experience would be late service of food. There are many more issues affecting your wedding catering to consider, such as temperature issues, insufficient quantities and poor presentation. Having a food manager at your venue can help you create a flawless dining experience, even with drop-off wedding catering services.
Choosing a Wedding Catering Company
When you are searching for wedding catering, you will probably be focused on quality and presentation, but do not accept anything less than experience. Inexperienced wedding catering will result in memories you did not intend to create. Your wedding catering should arrive on time with proper presentation and portions for every guest in attendance. Perfection is achieved with experience. Always use wedding catering companies that are recommended by your wedding venue. Wedding venues have cultivated relationships with preferred caterers by working on countless events together. Make sure your venue has food managers and day of event coordinators to help you create the flawless moments your special day deserves.
Choosing the Cuisine
Choosing the cuisine is an exciting and enjoyable part of wedding planning. Think about your wedding day, the setting and the theme when you head out for your tastings. This will help you make decisions about the type of food you want to serve on your wedding day. Sometimes it is a favorite dish, but it can be inspired by your theme. If you are dreaming up romantic Tuscany, you might set your table with the flavors of Italy. A Beauty and the Beast love story brings your guests to a table of romantic French cuisine. Your wedding catering might be more traditional and not adhere to any particular theme. There are no real rules, unless dietary restrictions, religion and allergies come into play. Everyone has a unique palate; therefore, you will never please everyone. However, you should think about the theme and balance it with other decisions based upon what you think the majority of your guests will enjoy. You should not be searching for wedding catering. Instead, you should be searching for diversity, customization, creativity, experience, flavor and presentation. Do not forget this is your day. Choose the cuisine you will enjoy.
Budgeting for the Wedding Catering
Wedding catering can consume a significant portion of your budget. While it is risky to base the decision solely upon the price of a plate, you will want to know the average cost of catering to make the best decision. Keep in mind that skimping in this area risks disaster on your wedding day. A professional caterer with a reputation will cost between $25 and $40 per plate on average. Catering can cost less or much more, depending on skill and reputation. Negotiate and customize your packages to receive the most savings. Having a drop-off service that works with the banquet staff at your wedding venue can deliver a superior dining experience and save on expensive full-service options. However, if you intend on delivering a finer dining experience, you might consider full-service catering with plated meals. Your wedding venue will be able to recommend vendors with special packages to save you more.
Beverage Packages
Some catering companies have a liquor license and offer bar packages that can work to your advantage, if negotiated and packaged right. If you are hosting your wedding at an all-inclusive wedding venue with bar services, it could make sense to stock your own bar and utilize the bar services at the venue. Not every bar package involves alcoholic beverages. There are also juice and coffee stations. Get creative with your caterer and build a package that fits your vision for your wedding day.
Crystal Ballroom at Sunset Harbor
Crystal Ballroom at Sunset Harbor is an all-inclusive wedding venue that bundles the venue, furnishings, décor and services into an affordable luxury wedding package. This saves you thousands on your wedding day, while providing an upfront cost for almost the entire event you are planning. Upgrades can help you customize your wedding to match your budget. Crystal Ballroom at Sunset Harbor includes an in-house design team to decorate the entire ceremony space and reception ballroom, a bartender service, banquet staff, furnishings, chinaware, all the linens, centerpieces and décor. Crystal Ballroom also offers food managers and day of event coordinators to manage your entire dining experience. Plan a fairy tale and choose your wedding catering in one place.
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