Questions to Ask a Wedding Caterer Before You Book

Menus and tastings

1. Do you design menus from scratch, or choose from set packages?
2. Can the menu follow the season, or our family's traditions?
3. Do you offer a tasting, how many people can attend, and is it free, paid or deducted from the bill?
4. Is everything cooked fresh on site, or prepared elsewhere and finished at the venue?
5. Who will actually cook on the day, and who designed the menu?

What the price includes

1. Is the quote per head, and what exactly does that cover?
2. Are staff included, how many, and for how many hours?
3. Do you supply crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen, or will we need to hire them?
4. Do you provide drinks and bar service, or only food?
5. Are canapés, evening food, cake and desserts included or extra?
6. Is VAT included in the quote?

Our guide to wedding catering costs per head explains typical market prices and what changes them.

Dietary needs and allergies

1. How do you handle allergies and intolerances in the kitchen and at the table?
2. Can vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free guests have a dish that's as good as everyone else's?
3. Can you cater halal, kosher-style, Jain or other religious requirements, and how are ingredients sourced?
4. How do you make sure the right meal reaches the right guest?

Your venue and the day itself

1. Have you catered at our venue before? If not, will you visit it?
2. What do you need from the venue: kitchen, power, water, access time?
3. If there's no kitchen, can you bring a portable one?
4. How long do you need to set up and clear down?
5. Who is in charge of your team on the day, and will we meet them beforehand?
6. How will you work with our venue coordinator or planner?

Insurance, hygiene and paperwork

1. Do you hold public liability insurance, and can you send the certificate to our venue?
2. Are you registered with the local authority for food, and what is your food hygiene rating?
3. Will you provide a risk assessment and allergen information if the venue asks?

Food businesses in England are given hygiene ratings by their local council, and you can look them up on the Food Standards Agency's ratings website.

Booking, payment and changes

1. How much is the deposit, and when are the other payments due?
2. When do you need final numbers and menu choices?
3. What happens if our numbers go up or down?
4. What are your cancellation and postponement terms?

Get the answers in writing, ideally in the contract itself. A good caterer will be glad you asked.

How we answer these questions

At House of Nelle, menus are designed from scratch and cooked fresh on site by chefs trained at kitchens including The Savoy and the Michelin-starred Labombe by Trivet. Our quotes are a complete package: chefs, front-of-house and bar staff, crockery, glassware, linen and drinks. Tastings are paid and deducted from your bill once you book, halal menus are sourced from certified halal suppliers, and we hold public liability insurance. Every catering booking includes planning and coordination from Sharonelle. Ask us anything else when you enquire.