On your big day, you want everything to be perfect. This includes the wedding food. A wedding caterer is one of the key vendors you will need to find for your reception. Different couples have different wedding food ideas, so decide what you want before you even start looking for caterers. Here are some more tips on how to find the perfect vendor for the food at your wedding.
Budget First
Before you even start looking at wedding catering, decide on your budget for food. Many couples have a vendor budget that they then split up among wedding food, flowers, photography, and other necessities. There is no one vendor that is supposed to have a bigger portion of the budget than others. That is totally up to you. If pictures are really important to you, consider splurging on a great photographer and pulling back elsewhere. If your wedding food ideas are unique and somewhat extravagant, just know that this means you will be cutting costs in other places. It is your wedding, so decide how much attention you want to place on the wedding food and therefore how much money can be spent on it.
Plan Around Your Theme
Once you know your budget for wedding food, it is time to figure out what kind of meal you actually want to have. Do you want something light and fancy like hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail hour? Is a plated sit-down dinner, tasting menu, or buffet more your style? Pick a type of dinner that fits in with the rest of your wedding. The food can follow this same guideline. Think about wedding food ideas that match the décor or location of your event. Maybe you could serve seafood at a beach wedding or have a taco bar at a more laid-back reception. The possibilities are endless. You are only limited by your own creativity and budget.
Ask Around, and Do It Soon
One of the best ways to find a wedding caterer is to ask your friends and family. If you know people who have recently gotten married, see where they got their wedding food from. Many people have favorite local restaurants that they visit often. Find out if your go-to spot can cater a wedding reception. Online reviews are also a good way to find wedding food ideas. Whatever your plan for researching wedding catering, do it sooner rather than later. Many caterers have tight schedules and can be booked a year or more in advance. Finding the perfect vendor should be one of the first things you lock down after setting a date for your wedding.
Why Not Ask Your Venue?
If anyone knows a lot about wedding catering, it is the people who run event spaces. Why not ask your venue for some wedding food ideas? They have likely seen all kinds of caterers come through their space and have some favorites. This isn’t limited to just wedding food, either. North Shore Event Center has a list of preferred vendors for food, music, flowers, decorations, and more.
If you haven’t decided on a venue yet, come check out North Shore Event Center. Their newly renovated private event space can easily accommodate more than 200 guests. The beautiful location is near Lake Michigan and can be set up for indoor or outdoor ceremonies and receptions. Take a tour of the 7-acre event space and see how it can be the perfect location for your big day. Call (269) 934-5667 or visit North Shore Event Center online to schedule a tour, book the space, or get more information.