Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Caterer

The wedding planning process is an extraordinary time in your life, and you’ll likely feel a mix of excitement and stress as the big day approaches. To create a once in a lifetime event, pay special attention to the food choices available on your wedding day. When you’re ready to start the search for wedding caterers in Atlanta, follow these guidelines to find the ideal company for your needs.

 Set a Budget

 Before you begin looking for catering companies, it’s important to set a firm budget. Weddings in the United States tend to be incredibly expensive, and the venue typically takes up a large portion of the wedding budget. Whether you’re working on a tight food budget or you’re opting to funnel quite a bit of the funding towards the wedding meals, you’ll be able to find a catering company that will work within your specified budget. Before you draw up a contract with a caterer, it’s vital to talk to them about their pricing first to ensure that their services are affordable.

 Find Out Guests’ Dietary Needs

 While the wedding should primarily focus on the needs of the couple making a lifetime commitment, it’s also a nice touch to think about the guests in attendance. Before you settle on a specific company, get in touch with your guests to find out if there are any special dietary needs. While it might not be possible to accommodate for every whim, it’s always appreciated to look out for guests with food allergies or reasonable preferences. After you’ve reached out to guests and learned about any food preferences like vegan or gluten-free options, it’s time to start chatting with wedding caterers in Atlanta to see who can accommodate your guests’ needs. It’s unrealistic to serve a unique meal for multiple guests, but your caterer of choice should be able to make a few simple modifications to the standard meal plan.

 Evaluate Communication Skills

 Many engaged couples are very involved in the planning process and check in often with wedding vendors. To enjoy the best experience possible leading up to and during the big day, you’ll need to work with vendors that have excellent communication skills and an impeccable level of customer service. Before you settle on a catering company, try calling and emailing a few different options and keep an eye on their professionalism and response times. If they take more than a few days to respond or you’re not happy with their communication skills, move on to the next option.

 Ask About Dinnerware and Linens

 Every wedding venue offers different options for setup and teardown. While some venues provide dinnerware and linens at no extra cost, others will not offer these options at all. If you need your caterer to provide these items, you’ll need to speak with them first before signing a contract. Not all caterers will be able to provide these items for your guests, and it can cause a huge headache to find that you’ll need to provide the basics like dinnerware and linens at the last minute. To cut down on stress during the planning process, remember to ask wedding caterers in Atlanta about what’s provided with their service package on your first meeting.