101 To Do's: 48 - Finalize the menu & service details with your caterer!

At this point you've most likely already finalized your guest list count and the theme and formality of your wedding. So, this task is pretty straightforward even though there are a few details you may want to consider before finalizing your menu and service details with your caterer or event manager. I have 13 things to think about before you make the final decisions on your wedding menu and service details at the reception:

​1. Do you want to provide enough variety in the menu to accommodate guests with special diets? For example, Vegetarians.

2. Chose a food service that fits the formality of your wedding. For example, for a very formal wedding you may want to go with a plated (served) dinner. For a more casual affair you may chose to go with a buffet.  You may also decide to incorporate both. For example, your appetizers may be buffet style, but your main courses are served. Other options include:
     a. family style service where food is placed on individual tables and guests at each 
          table pass the options around to each other; or

     b. food stations, where guests walk around to the ones of their choice and the station
          attendant serves them. For example, a meat carving station.

3. Along with the favorite foods of you and your future spouse, consider adding one or two popular food items to your menu. This is especially a good idea if you're not offering a wide variety of food. This will ensure you cater to as many guests as possible.

4. Think about the timing of your food service, that is, when you would want each course served or when you would want the food to be put out (if buffet style). Your food service timeline should include common wedding rituals like the toasts, cake cutting etc. You would want drinks available for your guests to toast with and decide if you will have the wedding cake served as a dessert.

5. If there is going to be a large time gap between your ceremony and reception, consider having a cocktail hour with drinks and appetizers for your guests.

​6. If you are unsure about some food selections, see if your caterer will offer food tastings of the options to help you decide.

7. Confirm if all dinnerware and serve ware are included in the price.

8. Think about the kitchen equipment, if any, that is available at your venue. This will determine what your caterer can actually cook onsite, or what needs to be cooked ahead of time and delivered.

9. As an extension of #8, think about food safety. Some food items need to be refrigerated if prepared in advance, and others shouldn't sit at room temperature for long periods of time.

10. Consider planning on extra food for the amount of guests. Sometimes you may have "wedding crashers", people who do not RSVP but still decide to attend, or you may want some of the wedding vendors to be fed, example the DJ, Musicians etc.

11. For some places you have to have a permit to serve alcohol. Confirm that you are in compliance.

12. As an extension of #11, confirm if you are providing your own alcohol or if it is included in your package.

13. In terms of servers, confirm how they will be dressed, if that is important to you.

Whew... I know that was a longer read than some previous posts but yay to us getting wedding tasks done... one step at a time! 

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