Catering can be overwhelming, especially when catering for a large event like a wedding ceremony. With a variety of delicious food options to choose from, it can be tasking to determine where to start or what to go for.
However, you can take the stress off by hiring a catering company to cater to anything food in your wedding. Better still, some of them have the capability to plan your event – from venue reservations to decoration, music, and lots more.
Therefore, choosing an excellent wedding catering company saves you time, and money and makes your wedding an unforgettable one. You can rest assured that everything that has to do with feeding your guests would be handled.
This article talks about the meaning of wedding catering, serving styles in weddings, its advantages, and reliable companies offering wedding catering services. Read along.
What Is Wedding Catering?
Wedding catering is the business of providing food services during a wedding ceremony. The caterer is responsible for providing the food used in catering to guests.
Additionally, weddings could be simple, huge, or classy in style and this determines the catering option to use. A simple wedding would require fewer caterers than classy and huge weddings. Also, your budget and choice are major determinants of what style of catering service you’ll wish to go for.
SEE: Read This Before You Start Catering for Events
Wedding Catering Serving Styles You Should Know
Here are the general wedding catering serving styles:
1. Classic sit-down dinner
Also known as the plate meal style, it is the most traditional and formal serving style option for weddings. In this type of catering, guests sit at their table and choose in advance from two or three different options on a menu.
Additionally, servers receive guests’ requests at the table and serve meals. This style of wedding catering involves detailed menu planning, making costs more predictable. Also, meals offered may be three courses or a duet.
2. Self-service food stations
Food stations are quite a popular wedding catering style because it combines the advantages of both the buffet and plated serving style. Food stations break up your food displays with different tables offering different meals, often by category.
More so, a food station is one serving style that allows your guests to craft their plates. Each station around your wedding venue serves different types of meals.
For example, one may focus on salads while another could serve soups. Then the guests take turns going from station to station to fill their plates.
3. Buffet style
This style of serving features all of the menu offerings presented in a line usually on long tables. Sometimes, servers stay behind the buffet to provide information for each dish and to put appropriate portions on each guest’s plate.
There may also be two separate buffet tables, especially if the wedding is large, to accommodate more guests. Buffet styles are great for weddings because it allows guests freedom over what goes on their plate. Check out KFC catering buffet-style meals and menu.
4. Family style dinner
This serving style is ideal for smaller, more intimate weddings. It involves large platters of food at each table where guests serve dishes around and serve themselves. Guests are seated at specific dinner tables and have waiters bring the food to their table.
Moreso, large portions of the dinner serving are placed on each table using serving platters, and guests are encouraged to fill their own plates. This style of serving is similar to the sit-down dinner style. See Dickey’s BBQ catering and their party platter menu.
5. Cocktail style
This is a more recent style made up of hors- d’oeuvres and other finger foods served throughout the occasion instead of a sit-down meal. It could be a combination of hot and cold food and are usually one or two-bite portions.
The food can be distributed by servers or left to the guests to help themselves. This style of wedding catering service is perfect for couples who want a more casual atmosphere and want their guests to miss and mingle with each other.
Why Do You Need Wedding Catering Services?
1. Easy arrangement and preparation of food.
Organizing the nuptial ceremony is a very tasking job and the work schedule can sometimes become hectic too. In such a case, hiring a wedding catering company can help to reduce the workload by ensuring well-organized and quality food preparation.
Furthermore, a professional wedding catering service ensures that they handle work right from preparing the menu to the presentation including the afterward cleaning up process. When you opt for this professional service, you can be stress-free and can concentrate on other work.
2. Time-saving
Another benefit of opting for a wedding catering company is that it saves time. You can rely on catering professionals regarding budget preparation, menu planning and preparation, and serving.
More so, they know how to beat time while catering. So, if you are planning to invite a large number of guests to your wedding, hiring a wedding catering company is a wise idea.
3. Ensures hygienic and quality food
A professional wedding catering company ensures a high standard of food safety and cleanliness. Food safety and hygiene are two key facets of a wedding reception. When you hire a wedding caterer, you can rely on them to uphold the highest standards to safeguard your guests against any oddities related to food.
In addition, these companies have people with expertise in the preparation of food for larger audiences, so there is little to worry about regarding the food quality.
4. A unique touch to your wedding
A professional wedding catering company has various equipment as well as skilled staff to make your wedding memorable. When you hire a wedding catering company, they ensure that they present food to visually appeal to guests.
In fact, if you discuss with them prior to the wedding, they can present dishes matching your wedding theme and décor making your wedding more colorful and glamorous.
5. Peace of mind
Lastly, opting for a wedding catering company helps the bride and the groom as well as their family members to enjoy the wedding with peace of mind.
One need not worry about whether the dishes are served to the guests or if the quality of the food is satisfying. These catering professionals will ensure to deal with the meals for your wedding guests with their best effort.
Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Caterer for Your Weeding Party
If you’re planning a wedding and have decided to hire a caterer, there are several things you can do to make sure that the party goes smoothly. Here are some mistakes to avoid when hiring a catering service for your wedding party:
1. Spending beyond your budget
If you don’t have an unlimited budget for your wedding, it’s important to stick to it. It’s tempting to go over budget just so that you can have the most extravagant meal possible, but it’s not worth it if you end up having to cut back on other aspects of the party because of it.
SEE: Acme Catering Comprehensive Review
2. Not having enough food and drink
Not having enough food and drink at your wedding party is a terrible mistake a lot of people make. If there isn’t enough food or drink at a wedding reception, people will leave hungry or thirsty — which isn’t good for anyone involved. Make sure that you get enough food and drink for everyone who will be attending your event so that no one goes hungry or thirsty during their time there.
3. Serving the wrong style of menu
If you want your guests to love their meal, it needs to be something they enjoy eating normally. If you serve an exotic cuisine or one that isn’t popular in your area, many people will not enjoy it and will consequently leave hungry or unsatisfied.
If possible, ask friends or family members who have had experience with different types of cuisine which ones they like best so that you can choose a menu that matches their tastes.
SEE: Famous Daves Catering In-depth Review
4. Choosing an unknown caterer
Choosing an unknown caterer can turn any party into a disaster. It sounds obvious, but if you want to ensure that your wedding reception runs smoothly, find out as much as possible about the catering company before hiring them. Look up reviews online to see if other brides were pleased with their services before hiring.
5. Hiring someone on the cheap
Wedding caterers know what they’re doing and how much it will cost to provide the services they offer. If you hire someone who undercuts their competitors’ prices by 50% or more, chances are they aren’t going to be able to deliver on those promises.
SEE: Bojangles Catering Complete Review
FAQs
How much does it cost to cater a wedding?
Depending on your budget, most couples spend between $1,800 and $7,000 on catering.
Why is catering important at weddings?
It is important because your guests love good food. Moreso, what’s a wedding without a nice meal.
What services do wedding caterers provide?
Wedding caterers provide services such as menu preparation and preparation. They may also provide additional services like tables, chairs, table linens, plates, flatware, drinkware, bar services, etc.
Conclusion
One of the most important factors in the success of your wedding reception is the skill and experience of the caterer you hire. You want your guests to leave your wedding having a lasting impression of your food.
Hence, there’s no reason to make this decision alone. So, it’s best that you find a reputable caterer to make your wedding special.
If you enjoyed reading this article, I encourage you to also check out 20 finger food choices for any wedding event.
I hope this article help was helpful. Thanks for reading.
