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Wedding Caterers |
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Photo by
Adryanto Photography
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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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After deciding on a
Rhode Island 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. A buffet dinner 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 for caterers. It is a good
idea to meet with at least three
RI 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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Questions to ask the Caterer
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How long have you been in business?
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Where did you receive your culinary training?
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Can we request a specific menu or do you work
from a set menu or package?
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Are you licensed to serve liquor?
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Is the cost of the service staff included in
the price?
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What will the servers wear?
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Do you require a guaranteed number of guests?
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When is the deposit due? When is the balance
due?
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When is the final guest count due?
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Have you ever catered a wedding reception at
the reception site that we have chosen?
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Are there any extra fees for cake-cutting,
linens, corkage, rental of furniture, setup charges, bar setup?
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Do you handle the cleanup and rental return?
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Do you provide the flowers?
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Do you provide the wedding cake?
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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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Caterer's Contact Info: name, address and telephone number. Include the name of the person who is representing the catering company.
- The date and time of the wedding.
- The location(s) of the wedding.
Be sure to include the exact location and room
as there may be more than one wedding going on at the same time.
- Services: length of their service - when will they start
and when will they finish. Be sure that they include setup
and breakdown of their equipment. An itemized list of ALL
the services that the vendor will be supplying (ie:
linens, dished, cake, etc). If a vendor promised you
any 'extras' be sure it is listed in the contract.
- Goods: list the specific details. Include quantity,
meal selections, liquor, delivery date and time, etc.
- The type of service you are having (whether it be a seated meal, French service, buffet, tea, cocktails, etc.)
- The staff-to-guest ratio.
- Proof of license.
- 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).
- Payment information: total
cost, including sales tax, gratuities, bar and waiter fees,
any over-time expenses. Payment schedule, such as
deposit due date and final payment date.
- Cancellation policy.
- Refund policy.
- Dress code policy.
- Last dates to make any necessary changes.
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Find
Rhode Island Catering Companies