The Cost of Catering

Catering needs may envelope a good portion of your wedding budget. It comes as no shock to many; the catering takes care of the guests and hosts the post-service celebration. The reception, for some guests, is the denouement of the entire day; so, the catering must be exceptional.

What factors into the cost of catering? Read the following information.

Wedding Tip #1 - Stand up or sit down?

A reception that employs a buffet rather than a served meal may be less expensive. However, other factors such as how much food is consumed, the consumption of alcohol, and the number of staff needed will affect the price. In fact, the price of both may be very similar. It may come down to the style of wedding desired.

Wedding Tip #2 - What is the view from the kitchen?

What is the state of the venue's kitchen? This plays a part in the cost of catering. Venues with a stocked kitchen, an army of chefs, and a host of servers may cost differently than a venue existing in a rural setting with no kitchen and a few members of staff on hand. For the latter, you may need to arrange and pay for the erection of a "satellite kitchen."

Wedding Tip #3 - Costly Cocktails

"Cocktail hour" usually occurs somewhere between the conclusion of the ceremony and the arrival of the couple at the reception. Guests can indulge on hors d'oeuvres and free-flowing drinks. Think about how you would like to construct your cocktail hour. For instance, it may be less expensive to have servers offering appetizers and drinks rather than presenting them on a table because people will be less likely to consume as much.

Wedding Tip #4 - Lavish Liquor

Discuss the issue of liquor with your catering vendor. Vendors may charge per drink, by number of guests, by the quality of liquor provided, by the number of bartenders and servers required, etc. Liquor is the one area that can really surprise you once the final bill is presented. Do not leave yourself susceptible to shock; make decisions regarding the availability of liquor.

Wedding Tip #5 - This or that

The cost of food could be astronomical if you let guests order from a menu. That means that the kitchen will need enough entrees to satiate the first choice of every guest. It can become very expensive. Give your guests a choice between two to three entrees. It keeps things simple in the kitchen and costs low on the final bill.