Wedding Caterers - The Best There is for the Most Important Day of Your Life

There is no doubt that one of the most crucial parts of a wedding day - well certainly for the guests anyway - is the wedding food. Lunch or dinner, budget or expensive, the wedding breakfast (as it is traditionally called) is immensely important. And by implication therefore, your choice of wedding caterers is crucial.

There are a huge number of wedding caterers in the UK – companies who perhaps do corporate and private parties too, but who, overall, make wedding business their business.

Most couples are faced with a dizzying choice. They may be looking for a relaxed hog roast or wedding barbecue, rather than a sit down dinner. Perhaps they want traditional Indian food? Or a Chinese banquet? And whatever the style and theme, they will certainly be looking for a cake! Whether the day is going to be formal and elegant, or relaxed and low key, you can be sure there are wedding caterers out there who fit the bill.

The wedding meal is the part of the day where all the guests, young and old, and from both families - bride's and groom's - will sit down, relax and eat together. Of course, by choosing the right wedding caterers at the very outset, a couple can be sure that a team with relevant skills and experience will be responsible for getting the food and drink right on the day, so that all they have to do is worry about the vows!

Wedding caterers can vary hugely in price and in product. Low key, casual and less formal weddings may benefit from smaller, more relaxed wedding caterers. But if budget is no issue, then nothing is impossible, and you can find companies who will provide ice bars laden with the finest caviar and the most superb vintage pink champagne.

As far as finding wedding caterers is concerned, it pays to do some research - ask for recommendations, speak to brides, or to the staff at a venue. Alternatively, ask a photographer, florist or any other wedding supplier whether they can recommend a really good wedding caterer.

Some of the larger more luxurious wedding caterers such as Alison Price, "rhubarb" or The Admirable Crichton can work in pretty much any space and even in any country, so don’t just assume you can’t have exactly what you want!

Often the best wedding caterers also work in conjunction with wedding planners - companies that specialise in planning every last detail of the big day. These planners may hire the caterer for you, but only after you have had huge input and maybe even visited two or three caterers to get a feel for their individual style and service. Linda Cooper weddings for example work with a number of high end wedding caterers.

The main thing about wedding caterers is getting them to work well for you - they should be able to produce exactly the kind of menu you want, offer you a tasting, work within budget, staff the event properly, and even sort the bar out.

As far as food is concerned, if the produce is excellently sourced and superbly cooked, even sausages and mash can be perfect for a wedding meal. As a rule, try to stick with what is seasonal. Popular choices still tend to be chicken, lamb, beef and salmon. They're generally well-liked and, if the wedding caterers are any good, they don't have to be boring either.

Good wedding caterers should be able to suggest great ideas and clever ways of doing things within budget. If you want to save money, a caterer might ask you to consider serving substantial canapés or bowl food instead of a starter, or a very luxurious chocolate wedding cake as your pudding. What about a tower of initialled fairy cakes - not only are they a stunning wedding centerpiece, but they solve the problem of wedding favours for guests too!

It is also the wedding caterers job to make sure that everyone is looked after - vegetarian, food allergy sufferer, and of course the designated drivers should have some yummy soft drinks as well.

The wedding caterers should also be able to take into consideration a client's wishes for décor and theming. Thinking about the colour and theme of the room or venue is one thing, and of course the wedding flowers, but what about the plates, the glasses, the linen and cutlery?

And of course the staff are crucial. Smiling, happy and helpful waitresses are so much better on a glorious wedding day than grumpy serving staff who just wish they were somewhere else! And the better catering companies will even encourage staff to get into the spirit of things - dressing up waitresses for a Bollywood themed wedding for example.

Overall, the best wedding caterers are those who specialise in making a dream day a total reality. Find one of those, and you’re almost there...

- By Sara Allom

View Source: Rhubarb Food Design – Wedding Caterers

Wedding Caterers & Wedding Catering

A wedding day - the most important day of a girl's life some might say. And after the dress and the venue and the honeymoon, well the food is pretty crucial too!

Whilst there are a thousand ways to do the food at a wedding - from fish and chip van to Indian buffet to sit down five course banquet - great food means happy guests, and an even more memorable day. So it's important to get it absolutely right.

Paying a wedding caterer is the answer for many couples. And there are a huge number of companies specializing in wedding catering in the UK - companies who perhaps do corporate and private parties too, but who, overall, make wedding business their business.

Much of your decision making process about your wedding caterer should be dictated by the type of wedding you want. Are you looking for an urban city affair with a minimalist reception venue and a modern European menu? Or will it be a rustic day, with spring flowers in ribbon tied jam jars, hay bales to sit on and a hog roast by the barn? Perhaps you are thinking about a theme - do you have a seaside venue in mind, then serve local fish and seafood. Or lots of Caribbean family - how about a Caribbean style barbecue?

Wedding caterers can vary hugely in price and in product. Low key, casual and less formal weddings may benefit from smaller, more relaxed catering companies. But if budget is no issue, then the world is your oyster and you can find companies who will provide ice towers laden with the finest caviar and luges pouring the most superb vodka.

Choosing your wedding caterer is therefore crucial. Do your research - ask for recommendations, speak to other brides, or to the planning staff at your chosen venue (venues often provide a list of professionals they prefer to work with). Ask your photographer, florist and other wedding suppliers whether they can recommend a great caterer. Look for testimonials that might give you a steer on whether a wedding catering company really knows what they are doing. If a number of brides have recently written glowing letters of recommendation after their big days, then you can be pretty sure a caterer is able to do the same for you.

The lovely thing about paying a proper wedding caterer is that you can really relax on the big day, safe in the knowledge that a whole team with all the relevant skills and experience will be responsible for getting it right, so that you can concentrate on the vows, the speeches and first dance!

At the outset, it is very important to focus on the menu - and you can talk to your potential wedding caterers about this very early on. Get them to suggest ideas. Talk about what suits you as a couple, and get advice on what is right for the venue, the overall occasion and for your guests. If the produce is excellently sourced and excellently cooked, even sausages and mash can be perfect for a wedding meal. Ask your caterer about what is seasonal, and what they think of as their signature wedding dishes. If you want canapés before the meal, when people arrive and drink their first glass of icy champagne, then ask to see a canapé list – getting these right really makes an important first impression and is a great way of wowing your guests before they have even sat down!

Don't forget your wedding cake - most wedding caterers will look after that too – ask to see photos of past cakes and you will soon get an idea for what you do or don't want. Traditional white tiered fruitcake? Or gorgeous fun and frivolous cupcakes with your initials on?

Some of the larger wedding caterers such as "The Admirable Crichton" and "rhubarb" will also look after the decorative side of things for you. Lighting, linen, staff uniform, candles and table centerpieces can all fall under the remit of the wedding caterer, so make sure you get yours right!

- By Sara Allom

View Source: Rhubarb Food Design – Wedding Catering

Finding the Perfect Wedding Caterer

So here you are, embarking on the journey towards the most important day of your life – your wedding day. It is likely that, from the minute you get engaged, planning your wedding may consume your life, in a good way of course! The venue, the dress, the honeymoon, the guest list, the invites, and last but absolutely by no means least - the catering.

There is no doubt that one of the most crucial parts of the day is the wedding food. Lunch or dinner, budget or expensive, the wedding breakfast (as it is traditionally called) is immensely important. It may be fish and chips from a seaside van for 20 guests, a hog roast in a field for 100, or a sumptuous five course banquet in a palace for 500, but whichever it is, the food really matters.

Most couples are faced with a dizzying array of caterers. And choices. But many of the catering decisions are effected by the theme and style of your day. Informal and laid back? A barbecue in the garden maybe. Formal and elegant? A silver service three course dinner. Either way, the meal is the part of the day where all your guests, young and old, and from both families – bride's and groom's – will sit down, relax, chat and eat together. Oh and listen to the all-important speeches too! Of course, by choosing the right caterer at the very outset, you can be sure a team with relevant skills and experience will be responsible for getting it right, and you can leave this part of the day in someone else's more than capable hands.

As far as finding your caterer is concerned, make sure you do some homework – ask for recommendations, speak to other brides, or to the planning staff at your chosen venue (venues often provide a list of professionals they prefer to work with). Alternatively, ask your photographer, florist and other wedding suppliers whether they can recommend a great caterer. Search bridal magazines, local county magazines and phone directories.

Some of the larger more luxurious caterers such as "rhubarb" food design or Alison Price can work in pretty much any space and even in any country, so don't just assume you can’t have who you want! Always look for testimonials that might give you a steer on whether this company really knows what they are doing. If a number of brides have recently written glowing letters of recommendation after their big days, then you can be pretty sure a caterer is able to do the same for you. Then, when you've found two or three potential companies, pay each one a visit with your ideas and a ballpark budget.

At the outset, it is very important to focus on the menu – and you can talk to your potential caterers about this very early on. Get them to suggest ideas. Talk about what suits you as a couple, and get advice on what is right for the venue, the overall occasion and for your guests. If the produce is excellently sourced and excellently cooked, even sausages and mash can be perfect for a wedding meal. Ask your caterer about what is seasonal, and what they think of as their signature wedding dishes. Popular choices still tend to be chicken, lamb, beef and salmon. They're generally well-liked and, if your caterer is any good, they don't have to be boring either. If you want canapés before the meal, when people arrive and drink their first glass of icy champagne, then ask to see a canapés list – getting these right really makes an important first impression and is a great way of wowing your guests before they have even sat down!

If you want to save money, think about serving substantial canapes or bowl food instead of a starter, and a very luxurious chocolate wedding cake can easily double up as your pudding. Think about a tower of rainbow coloured initialled cupcakes – not only are they a stunning wedding centerpiece, but they solve the problem of wedding favours for your guests too!

The wedding day can be a long one, and many couples like to provide additional food towards the end of an evening. It's a lovely idea to serve hot dogs or bacon sandwiches at midnight for example, or if you are having a wedding lunch how about tea and sandwiches at 5pm? It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it can make your guests feel really well looked after.

One you have decided on your caterer, and when you are almost there with your menu, ask if you can have a tasting. When you are spending so much money, it's a good idea to make sure you absolutely love what they will be serving. You wouldn’t buy your wedding dress without trying it on would you? This is also a good opportunity to choose the wine you feel best suits your menu and the champagne for the toasts. And don’t forget to discuss cocktails, soft drinks and any special dietary requirements too!

Never underestimate how crucial the caterer is to the decorative side of things as well. You may have planned the colour and theme of the room or venue, and certainly you will have given a great deal of thought to the flowers, but what about the plates, the glasses, the linen and cutlery? You may be able to choose the colours and designs. Bridesmaids wearing baby blue? How about baby blue table cloths? Seaside themed wedding? How about shell candle holders? Or pebble placenames?
And the staff can even get in to the spirit of things too - dressing up for a 60s themed wedding for example.

Overall, just try to focus on finding a catering company, good wedding caterers who you feel sure will absolutely make your dream day a reality. If everything is in place and running perfectly on the big day all you have to worry about is remembering every last second of the best day of your life. And that is just as it should be.

- Author Sara Allom

View Source : Rhubarb Food Design - Wedding Catering