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Editors’ Notes Fashion Fine Dining Photography Videography Essentials Home & Travel Beauty The Groom Room Real Weddings Weddings 101

Six Questions To Ask Your Wedding Caterer

You’ve been up since the crack of dawn, yawning through two long hair and makeup sessions and

serving tea to all the branches and twigs of the seemingly endless Wong and Chan family trees. The

last thing you want is to hear that your buffet service is late, and your husband-to-be’s old admirer

Missy is loudly claiming to be feeling faint from gastric pangs.

In addition to not inviting the woman who’s been pining for your man for the past five years to your

wedding, you should do yourself a favour when it comes to choosing a wedding caterer. The most

anticipated event of a wedding may be the newlywed’s first kiss at the altar, but it is the food served

at the reception that would likely be the most-talked about part of the programme. To ensure that

there will only be good things to say about the refreshments you served, SingaporeBrides puts

together a list of questions to ask yourselves when choosing a wedding catering service that caters

to your needs.

1. Do they cater to your venue?

The first thing to consider when choosing a wedding caterer is your venue. If you haven’t decided on

one yet, postpone looking for your food provider. Venues should be confirmed so that you have a

specific date and time to book your catering service. However, you shouldn’t delay locking in your

venue! Chris Loh, Creative Director of Rasel Catering , advises couples to start sourcing for their

caterers between one month to even a year before the event, depending on how elaborate the affair

will be.

Be sure to check whether your venue only works with specific partners, allows food to be prepared

on site, or has power points for your hot food stall. Bear in mind your venue’s facilities, especially if

you are holding an outdoor reception. If you’re celebrating on the beach, you might want to give the

pretty ice lollies a miss, since they will only melt into not-so-pretty sand-encrusted puddles before

you can eat them. Check to make sure your caterer can provide covered service for outdoor events,

to prevent too many creepy crawlies or grains of sand from spoiling the broth.

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2. Do they cater to your guests?

Get a good idea of the head count before looking for your caterer, so that they can assure you of

their ability to prepare for your crowd. Figure out whether you have guests with special dietary

needs, for example, you should make sure there are kid-friendly items on your buffet menu if your

guests have children, and meatless options for your vegetarian friends and family. Don’t forget to

check whether your caterer is Halal when inviting Muslim guests. Make sure you have enough food

for all of your guests to enjoy themselves by ordering 20 percent more than your final head count.

You don’t want anyone to leave hungry!

3. Do they cater to your budget?

You want your guests to have a good time celebrating your union to the love of your life, but you

also want to spend an amount that still leaves you with plenty to enjoy your life as newlyweds. You’ve

probably already sat down and discussed money matters with your beloved, so make sure your

wedding catering costs stick to your budget. Decide whether you’re more willing to shell out on wine

or special menu items like lobster hors d’oeuvres, and ask your caterer if you can exchange items on

their menu package to get what you want.

The more freely the wine flows, the merrier most guests will be, but do check whether your wallet will

be happier if you bring your own tipple by asking about corkage fees and service charges for bar set

ups. Finally, don’t be shocked by the final bill by speaking to your caterer about fees and deposits

up front. When in doubt, ask!

4. Do they cater to your theme?

You’ve been planning this day for months, and you’ve gone to ten different florists to get the exact

shade of the peonies you saw on Pinterest for your bridal bouquet. Don’t let the decorations (or the

lack thereof) shock you when you see the buffet reception on your wedding day.

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Talk to your caterers about what they provide in terms of table linens, flower centrepieces and

utensils, and ask if they can arrange decorations to your liking. Research their portfolio on their

website and social media. “Love is sweet!” Chris from Rasel Catering tells us, “Our prettily

decorated dessert tables, with an array of sweet treats, add a dash of sugar and spice to a wedding.

Couples can choose to decorate in our wedding themes, or we can customise a look based on their

preferences.” If you have special menu requests, such as only serving red and tiffany-blue food in

keeping with your colour theme, do make sure your wedding caterer understands your vision.

5. Do they cater to your needs?

The quality of service your vendor can provide is definitely a priority when you’re planning the

biggest day of your life. Make sure you are hiring someone you can trust to show up on time and

serve your guests to satisfaction. Look for customer reviews or recommendations on the

SingaporeBrides forum during your search for the perfect wedding caterer.

Also ask if the caterer can offer the extras you need—VIP tables with plated service for family

members and bridal party, or that dessert bar complete with fringed bunting and ombre cupcake

tower that you’ve been dreaming of. Some caterers provide special stalls manned by uniformed staff

to serve your guests piping hot laksa or other treats, though do ask your caterer what works best at

your venue. If you need wait service on that day, check to see if they provide bar staff or uniformed

staff.

6. Do they cater to your tastebuds?

Finally, request for a tasting session before committing. If you’ve already decided what type of

cuisine and service style to choose, ask the caterer for a chance to sample their wares so that you

can be sure the taste and presentation is up to your expectations. For Rasel Catering , couples can

choose between having items from their selected menu sent to their homes for tasting, or dining in

the company’s premises.

Knowing what questions to ask your wedding caterer will send you on your search armed with the

information you need to plan a session of merrymaking that will leave you and your guests with a

pleasant taste in their mouths. So go forth, eat, drink, and be married!

Credits:

Images from Rasel Catering

TAGS: RASEL CATERING

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