Questions For the Caterer

I compiled a list of questions to ask our potential caterer at our tasting/interview today. I used a couple Knot books to help me with my list and then added additional questions I wanted the answers to. The two very helpful books are: The Knot Book of Wedding Lists by Carley Roney & The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions also by Carley Roney.


To take a look inside the books just go to http://amazon.com/ and search each. Anyhoo, these are the important questions we will be asking today:

1. Do you specialize in any certain type of cuisine or menu?
2. Where is the food prepared?
3. Are you licensed?
4. When is the menu "set in stone"?
5. Do you have waitstaff/buffet attendants? How do they dress?
6. How many waitstaff would be needed for my event?
7. How often is food replenished in the buffet?
8. How is the charge for labor figured? Is clean-up extra? Is there a percentage service fee?
9. What is your cancellation/postponement policy?
10. Do you do liquor and have you a liquor license?
11. Do you guarantee estimates?
12. Are there extra charges involved with the cake, like a cutting fee?
13. Can we add hors d'oeurves to be served during cocktails after the ceremony, for how much?
14. Do you require an exact head count? When do you need that?
15. How much is the deposit to hold our date?
16. When do we pay the rest? Can we make periodic payments?
17. May I see the china, flatware, glassware, etc. or disposable-ware? Is real china extra?
18. Do you include linens, skirting?
19. Do you employ bartenders?
20. Will the waitstaff do the champagne toast?
21. How involved are you in a typical reception?
22. May I see photos of buffet/food arrangements?
23. Do you handle table-setting?
24. Do you provide anything else additional?
25. If we provide our own liquor, is there a corkage fee?
26. Do you have references?
27. What are the extra fees involved: service fee, gratuity, sales tax, etc.?
28. (and if you haven't done so already) When can we schedule a tasting?

Make sure you get your questions answered up front and get your deal in writing with the contract, which you should carefully peruse before signing. One thing that makes a HUGE difference in pricing: the service fee. We have seen caterers charge as much as 22% of the total sales + sales tax...ouch! Though some caterers have no service fee at all. A 20% service fee on a $5,000 catering bill is $1,000! So definitely find out about additional fees! As for us, I'll be back with an update as to how we liked the caterer later!