Guide To: Wedding Catering
If there’s one thing you want to get spot on for your wedding – it’s the food! After preparing for, travelling to and attending the Wedding Ceremony, you and your guests are bound to have worked up a pretty big appetite.
Newly-weds and guests get their first chance to really relax at the Wedding Reception and with the food being centre of attention (along with the best mans speech of course) choosing the right Wedding Caterer and the right menu is of utmost importance.
Things to take into account when choosing your wedding reception menu
Theme
Will your Wedding Day have a theme? Modern, contemporary and vintage themes can all be echoed in your Wedding Menu. You might want to make your culture or nationality a theme for the food served, or even colour, choosing foods that match the wedding clothes, decor and flowers.
Budget
The number of guests at your wedding reception can make a huge difference to the cost of your wedding catering. Happily, most Suffolk Wedding Caterers offer a variety of menu choices to suit every budget. If you’re getting married on a budget consider inviting only family and close friends to your wedding breakfast and have the main bulk of your guests arrive for the evening reception.
Timing
Your caterer will need to be informed about your reception plans so that they can time courses accordingly. For example you may wish to space out your courses between speeches and gifts. In addition, if you’re planning an evening buffet for your guests you’ll need to give your caterer a start time and ensure they have enough time between the wedding breakfast and buffet to prepare food and set-up.
Special Requirements
With such a large gathering of people there are inevitably going to be some specific dietary requirements. Some of your guests may have preferential needs such as vegetarian or vegan meals. Others may have a specific dietary restriction such as diabetes or coeliac.
Your Wedding Invitation is a great opportunity to ask guests about their dietary preferences, giving you and your caterer plenty of time to plan. And don’t forget the children’s meals!
Staff
If you’ve hired a Wedding Marquee, chances are you’ll have to organise your own service team. Check with your caterer as they may provide waiting staff as part of their service or be able to hire them on your behalf. If you’re using outside catering at a wedding venue they may provide with waiting staff – be prepared though – they may charge you extra.
Crockery and Clean up
Most Wedding Caterers will provide crockery and cutlery as part of the service and take these away with them afterwards to clean. But do double-check when you are planning your menu.
Once you’ve taken everything into account all you need to do is hire a caterer – lucky for you we’ve some of best in Suffolk on this Guide. Take a look at our Wedding Caterers from Suffolk article to find out more.
The final, part of your Wedding Catering is of course your Wedding Cake! Here on the Suffolk Weddings Guide we've got all the advice and information you need to choose the right Wedding Cake and Cake Maker. Take a look at our essential Wedding Cakes from Suffolk article now.
Tell us about your wedding catering experience! Do you have any top tips or advice for our readers? Send your views to kerry@suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk.
Newly-weds and guests get their first chance to really relax at the Wedding Reception and with the food being centre of attention (along with the best mans speech of course) choosing the right Wedding Caterer and the right menu is of utmost importance.
Five minute interview: The Unique Caterer
Most requested wedding menu? Avocado and prawn tian starter, followed by Rosemary and Garlic leg of lamb or roast chicken with tarragon sauce and seasonal vegetables. Strawberries and cream or profiteroles to finish.
What makes this menu so popular? Most couples are aware that they must provide a menu that suits the majority of their guests. There is also more of an awareness of cost with the current economic situation.
Why should couples hire an external Wedding Caterer?
We pride ourselves on personal service. If a couple want sausage, mash and gravy then that’s what we’ll provide!
What’s your top tip for couples hiring a Wedding Caterer?
Couples must realise that it is their wedding and the choices
they make must be theirs. We always provide support and advice but at the end of the day the clients wishes are paramount.
Most requested wedding menu? Avocado and prawn tian starter, followed by Rosemary and Garlic leg of lamb or roast chicken with tarragon sauce and seasonal vegetables. Strawberries and cream or profiteroles to finish.
What makes this menu so popular? Most couples are aware that they must provide a menu that suits the majority of their guests. There is also more of an awareness of cost with the current economic situation.
Why should couples hire an external Wedding Caterer?
We pride ourselves on personal service. If a couple want sausage, mash and gravy then that’s what we’ll provide!
What’s your top tip for couples hiring a Wedding Caterer?
Couples must realise that it is their wedding and the choices
they make must be theirs. We always provide support and advice but at the end of the day the clients wishes are paramount.
Things to take into account when choosing your wedding reception menu
Theme
Will your Wedding Day have a theme? Modern, contemporary and vintage themes can all be echoed in your Wedding Menu. You might want to make your culture or nationality a theme for the food served, or even colour, choosing foods that match the wedding clothes, decor and flowers.
Budget
The number of guests at your wedding reception can make a huge difference to the cost of your wedding catering. Happily, most Suffolk Wedding Caterers offer a variety of menu choices to suit every budget. If you’re getting married on a budget consider inviting only family and close friends to your wedding breakfast and have the main bulk of your guests arrive for the evening reception.
Timing
Your caterer will need to be informed about your reception plans so that they can time courses accordingly. For example you may wish to space out your courses between speeches and gifts. In addition, if you’re planning an evening buffet for your guests you’ll need to give your caterer a start time and ensure they have enough time between the wedding breakfast and buffet to prepare food and set-up.
Special Requirements
With such a large gathering of people there are inevitably going to be some specific dietary requirements. Some of your guests may have preferential needs such as vegetarian or vegan meals. Others may have a specific dietary restriction such as diabetes or coeliac.
Your Wedding Invitation is a great opportunity to ask guests about their dietary preferences, giving you and your caterer plenty of time to plan. And don’t forget the children’s meals!
Staff
If you’ve hired a Wedding Marquee, chances are you’ll have to organise your own service team. Check with your caterer as they may provide waiting staff as part of their service or be able to hire them on your behalf. If you’re using outside catering at a wedding venue they may provide with waiting staff – be prepared though – they may charge you extra.
Crockery and Clean up
Most Wedding Caterers will provide crockery and cutlery as part of the service and take these away with them afterwards to clean. But do double-check when you are planning your menu.
Once you’ve taken everything into account all you need to do is hire a caterer – lucky for you we’ve some of best in Suffolk on this Guide. Take a look at our Wedding Caterers from Suffolk article to find out more.
Five minute interview: Talbooth Catering
Most requested wedding menu? Tian of Salmon, Avocado and Prawn to start, a main of Dedham Vale Beef (many ways roast Sirloin, roast fillet or en croute) or Roast rack or rump of English Lamb and finally Strawberry and Passion Fruit Pavlova to finish.
What makes this menu so popular? These are tried and trusted dishes with broad appeal to all ages.
Why should couples hire an external Wedding Caterer? We look after the bride, groom and their families from the first meeting to the actual wedding breakfast. Le Talbooth celebrates its 60th birthday this year so we’re now catering for the grandchildren of the first guests!
What’s your top tip for couples hiring a Wedding Caterer? Take advice from the experts, they know what works and which dishes are best served. Menus can be a hard choice for couples as they want everyone to have a fabulous time, we’re here to help them make those descisions.
Most requested wedding menu? Tian of Salmon, Avocado and Prawn to start, a main of Dedham Vale Beef (many ways roast Sirloin, roast fillet or en croute) or Roast rack or rump of English Lamb and finally Strawberry and Passion Fruit Pavlova to finish.
What makes this menu so popular? These are tried and trusted dishes with broad appeal to all ages.
Why should couples hire an external Wedding Caterer? We look after the bride, groom and their families from the first meeting to the actual wedding breakfast. Le Talbooth celebrates its 60th birthday this year so we’re now catering for the grandchildren of the first guests!
What’s your top tip for couples hiring a Wedding Caterer? Take advice from the experts, they know what works and which dishes are best served. Menus can be a hard choice for couples as they want everyone to have a fabulous time, we’re here to help them make those descisions.
The final, part of your Wedding Catering is of course your Wedding Cake! Here on the Suffolk Weddings Guide we've got all the advice and information you need to choose the right Wedding Cake and Cake Maker. Take a look at our essential Wedding Cakes from Suffolk article now.
Tell us about your wedding catering experience! Do you have any top tips or advice for our readers? Send your views to kerry@suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk.
