How can we make the best of our wedding caterers?
| Related: | Lifestyle•Special Occasions•Weddings & Civil Partnerships |
We have booked our wedding venue but they have approved caterers for all events so we must use them. How do we make sure we're getting a good deal when we have very little or no negotiating power to go elsewhere?
Answers (8)
If you want to get the best value for money I would always pick what was seasonal. All foods go up out of season because they come a longer distance. Also I wd be really frank and tell them what your budget is. Decide what you think is fair per head. Phone up caterers just to get an idea and do the wedding test! Tell some it is a wedding and don't tell others and see how the price differs. Lastly ask if you can BYOBs for a corkage fee.
It's difficult when the venue insist on using their own caterers. See if you can provide your own wine / champagne as you should be able to save on that. Have you got a friend or family member that would make your wedding cake? You could have your wedding cake as the desert
Unfortunately we don't know anyone that could make the cake, but I'm starting to think about having a go at making a cake and either practising or even taking a course so I could make our own.
M & S do really nice wedding cakes now and they are cheap (well a lot cheaper than getting a wedding cake made) or there is always the cupcake option!
My sister-in-law did the cupcake option from M&S and we decorated them with some additional chocolate leaves/sprinkles and displayed them all on a very nice tiered cake stand. It looked really good and seemed to go down really well with all the guests.
Although they are nominated you should be able to determine the menu and wine list and I would expect they would have various menus for you to select or make your own choice, such as full sit down meals, buffets or barbeques, with or without a licensed bar. Normally they allow you to provide your own wine or champagne, but will probably charge a corkage fee per bottle of wine /champagne. You should be able to verify their quality from previous weddings and check their prices from catering web sites
Thanks - Yes there are menu & drinks choices which gives us some flexibility, but as for prices - checking them against other caterers doesn't really help as we can't negotiate on the price when the venue determines we must use their contractor. Their corkage fee is also quite high so we'll have to do some more research on buying wine & champagne cheaper to make this beneficial.
Buy the biggest bottles you can, then there'll be fewer corks.
although the venue uses it's own caterers they are still subject to your wishes or they are forcing you to buy a service you don't want which is illegal i believe
Didn't think of it like that. I know that the catering equipment at the venue is owned and maintained by the contracted caterers so not sure we could bring anyone else in as they wouldn't be liable for the equipment??
There should be details of whether or not you can use an outside caterer in the hire contract from the wedding venue. If they've written in a clause about using their caterers and you've already signed, then in effect you've agreed to it. Or if they do let you use another company there could be an equipment damage deposit to pay?
Yes we have already signed the agreement. I am happy to use their caterers as it is a reputable firm, I'm just concerned that as we have no negotiating power that it costs a lot more and therefore want to make sure we get the very best out of them.
At the end of the day you are employing the cateres so tell them what you require the reception venue only approve the cateres not pay them.
Have you checked whether you can sample the dishes? Most caterers would expect their clients to be very involved with the menu, so whittle the options down to two or three per course and tell them you'd like a tasting. This will also give you the opportunity to have direct contact with the caterer which will probably put your mind at rest a little. Do remember that if the venue have their own caterer then it will be somebody they feel can do them justice as a bad review will impact on the venue also. It is unlikely that they would have chosen somebody substandard. But do get involved personally.
ask for a tasting session! then you and your partner or whoever else your bringing, should create a scorecard and decide what you like best. talk to the cook and butter him/her up basically, and consider retaining half the check is what my father (retired chef) suggests! but im not sure of the legality of that!
That's a good idea, but we're committed to a payment schedule of deposit then balance 4 weeks before the wedding. We'll definitely be doing a tasting with them.
good luck! hope it goes well!
Regardless of the fact that you have to use the caterers they should still provide a menu of your choice.
Posts within the money.co.uk community represent the views, experiences and opinions of members only. They should not be taken as financial advice and should not be followed without further research.
More Questions for Weddings & Civil Partnerships
Get fast answers to your money questions, Expert insight, top tips & much more...
This is a good suggestion, thanks. Seasonal foods are more likely to be enjoyed by guests as well.
Thank you I hope if you stick with the contract caterers that works.