Catering is an integral part of any ceremony especially a Nigerian wedding. In all you do, ensure your catering is topnotch or assign a trusted person to do so.
Here are a few relevant questions you need to ask before hiring any caterer.
1. Are you booked on my wedding date?
If the caterer is not available on your date, it’s a no-NO.
2. Have you ever worked at my venue before?
Some venues only allow approved caterers to work on their premises. Whether or not that’s the case, it’s a good idea to find a caterer who is comfortable at your venue, though not a deal-breaker.
3. Can I take a look at a sample menu?
Start by telling the caterer about your wedding – your style, the guest count, how you visualize the food, etc. and ask to see a menu from a wedding that’s similar. You’ll get a sense if you and the caterer are on the same page in terms of style.
4. Do you allow couples to customize their menus at all?
If you have specific requests or dietary restrictions, it’s important to find a caterer that’s flexible. Find out if the caterer would be open to preparing family favorites, if that’s important to you.
5. Will there be a pre-wedding tasting?
If so, is there a fee involved? Having a pre-wedding tasting is an important part of the planning process. Find out how the caterer’s tastings work – are they done before or after the contract is signed? What is included?
6. Do you provide rentals like tables, chairs, linens, etc.?
If the answer is no, your venue should be able to assist you with finding a rental company to work with.
7. What’s your typical ratio of servers to guests?
This depends on if you’d having a buffet or sit-down dinner. Usually sit-down dinners will have around a one server to 20 guest ratio or less, while for a buffet the guest count will be higher.
8. Who will be on site on my wedding day?
You’ll want to be sure that you meet the coordinator who will be at your wedding beforehand.
Whatever you do, make sure everything is 95% in order in the catering department.
Photo Credit: Cruise Africa, Bella Naija
