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| Catering |
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Photo by
Brian Phillips |
| | Catering takes an average of 45 to 50 percent of your wedding costs, so be sure to choose a caterer carefully. |
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Massachusetts caterer, make an appointment to discuss the menu. Let the caterer know whether you would prefer a buffet, sit-down dinner or cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception. At a sit-down dinner it is easier to control the flow of events (cutting of the wedding cake, dancing, etc.). A buffet dinner allows your guests to mingle
- it isn’t necessarily cheaper than a sit-down dinner because the caterer must prepare more food per person to keep the buffet looking presentable. |
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| Not only is the taste of the food important but the presentation of the food is equally important. A good caterer knows how to present and garnish foods. |
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| To cut down on catering costs, avoid foods that require time-consuming kitchen preparation or foods that require carving at the table. |
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| Ask your friends for referrals. It is a good idea to meet with at least three
MA caterers and sample their food. |
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| You may hire a
caterer who will tailor the menu specifically to your preferences or you may choose a caterer that lets you choose from a specified list of dishes. This tends to be cheaper. A good caterer will work within your budget so don’t choose a caterer on cost alone. |
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- How long have you been in business?
- Where did you receive your culinary training?
- Can we request a specific menu or do you work from a set menu or package?
- Are you licensed to serve liquor?
- Is the cost of the service staff included in the price?
- What will the servers wear?
- Do you require a guaranteed number of guests?
- When is the deposit due? When is the balance due?
- When is the final guest count due?
- Have you ever catered a wedding reception at the reception site that we have chosen?
- Are there any extra fees for cake-cutting, linens, corkage, rental of furniture, setup charges, bar setup?
- Do you handle the cleanup and rental return?
- Do you provide the flowers?
- Do you provide the wedding cake?
- Do you supply the linens, china, glassware, silverware, tables and chairs?
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| Believe it or not, the cost of the reception meal will be almost half of your wedding budget! Whether you are having an on-site caterer, a catering company or a restaurant, you'll want to make sure that you have a contract that includes the following information: |
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- The date of your wedding. Be sure to include the exact location and room there may be more than one wedding going on at the same time).
- The type of service you are having (whether it be a seated meal, French service, buffet, tea, cocktails, etc.)
- The staff-to-guest ratio.
- The name of the person who is representing the catering company.
- Proof of license.
- Your exact food selections (including any liquor).
- The total cost and what the payment schedule will be. List any sales tax, gratuities, bar and waiter fees, any over-time expenses.
- Date when the final payment is due.
- Date when the caterer will need the final head count.
- Be sure to get the contact information for the morning of the wedding (cell phone number where person can be reached in case you need to get in touch).
- List the cancellation and refund policy.
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Click here for a list of
Massachusetts caterers.
Click here for a list of Massachusetts reception sites. |
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