Ask
each caterer the following questions:
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Are
you a full-time caterer?
If you are a part-time caterer, what do you do the rest
of the week?
What kind of experience and education do you have?
Have you received any formal training as a caterer/chef?
For how long have you been a caterer?
Why did you want to be a caterer?
What makes you better than other caterers and why should
we hire you?
Approximately how many weddings have you catered?
Have you handled weddings of my size before?
Do you have all the necessary licenses and health permits?
Are you properly insured?
Do
you provide taste-tests?
If you do provide taste-tests, are they free or what
is the fee?
How many people can I bring to the taste-testing consultation?
How long before the wedding do you come to set up all
the equipment?
What are your hours of service?
What equipment do you provide?
How many staff will you provide, i.e. staff to guest
ratio?
Will your staff dress according to the formality of the
wedding?
What serving styles do you offer, e.g. buffet, sit-down
meals, etc?
If you offer buffet style, will you provide servers or
will it be self-serve?
If buffet servers are offered, is there an extra charge?
If so, how much?
Do you have a liquor license?
What type of liquor styles do you offer, e.g. open bar,
served drinks, etc?
Is there an extra charge for bartenders? If so, how much?
Who supplies the liquor, water, ice, etc?
Do you provide cake cutting/serving services? Is there
an extra charge?
If so, how much?
Do you provide the cake? If so, do you charge extra?
How much?
When is the final headcount due?
Does the headcount include other wedding vendors such
as the DJ and photographer?
What are the prices? Is it per guest?
Are the prices the same for children?
Is a deposit required? If so, how much?
If a deposit is required, when is it due?
May I make partial payments?
When is the final payment due?
Is there an overtime charge? If so, how much?
What is included in the basic price, e.g. linen, chairs,
tables, china, cutlery, etc?
Do
you provide rental equipment? If not, who does?
Are there any additional charges not mentioned, e.g.
travel, set-up and
clean-up costs, etc?
What is your leftover policy?
Do you provide a written contract and guarantee?
What are your refund/cancellation terms? |
When
you have asked all prospective caterers the above questions,
and any other questions you might want to ask, you should
be able to make an informed decision about whom to hire.
Have fun taste-testing!! If you're allowed…
