How much is your wedding meal going to cost?
Photo: Ross Hurley
This is one for the foodies and understandably, one of the reasons you fell in love with Italy.
When choosing a caterer you do need to think with your head and not just your stomach, as this particular supplier is an integral part across your entire wedding - we aren’t just talking about the meal! Catering are the backbone of the day’s timings, with food and drink flowing throughout, but the team are also involved in so much more.
Some caterers charge all in, others break down every cost, so a catering proposal requires a thorough study!
Photo credit: Rotondo Catering | Renskemeinema
Make the right decision. Access the Catering Comparison Guide within our Club membership and chat through your menu, timings and costs with Lucy White, top wedding planner and La Lista founder.
For your wedding you will likely need these services from your caterer:
Welcome drink
Ceremony chairs
Aperitivo – food and drink
Dinner – number of courses will vary + wine
Furniture and mis en place options
Cake
Bar
For the welcome drink, aperitivo & party, either through a bar supplier or your caterer
Watch out for:
Caterers tend to include water as part of a welcome drink, for alcohol this will be additional
Consider how long you want the bar for into the evening and check how much extra hours will be. A caterer’s standard day is normally 7-8 hours
Additional drink - don’t risk running out and ask to see the price list before the day, to avoid merrily ordering more in your wedding high moment!
Choosing a cost effective caterer?
Caterer A:
100 euro pp for 80 guests
Excludes furniture (tables & chairs for the meal, ceremony chairs and aperitivo furniture)
Limited wine
Bar charged on top
Caterer B:
170 euro pp for 80 guests
Includes furniture, bar, wine
Which one is better? If you and your guests are big drinkers, then caterer B is your answer; if you’re having a more relaxed wedding with guests who don’t drink much and your venue has furniture included, then caterer A might work better for you.
Photo credits: Sarah Joy Landon Photography
Meal
Options are endless here….
We love:
Breaking up the meal with speeches. Be sure to share and stick to your speech timings, so the kitchen can work around them
Consider your guests and how much they will want to party when deciding on the number of courses. Do you need a sweet at the end if everyone at that point just wants to dance? Plus cake!
Photo credit: Urska & Domen
Your job is to get a few quotes and compare like for like, which is tricky thanks to individual quotes being notoriously different in layout. Our trusty Catering Comparison download available in The Club shows you everything a caterer includes.
The exact service you need for your wedding
A clear tax breakdown for the services (there are 2 tax rates that apply to different items - confusing or what!)
Evening Food
So much is wasted here!
We love:
A grazing sweet selection and fruit for anyone wanting to nibble into the early hours!
Save your pizza for the recovery day!
Photo credit: Emma Wilder Photography
Ditch the overwhelm and get advice direct from top wedding planner, Lucy White. With hundreds of sensational weddings delivered, Lucy knows a thing or two about choosing a menu, what caterer is going to be right for you and the crucial questions you must ask at your tasting. The Club really will level up your planning.
