Let’s be real — talking food is one of the best parts of wedding planning. But when you’re meeting potential caterers, you’re not just daydreaming about your dream menu (though, yes, that’s fun) — you’re also making sure your guests don’t leave hungry, hangry, or halfway to Macca’s on the way home.
Here’s how to walk into your caterer meeting feeling like you’ve got this, and maybe even have a few wild ideas up your sleeve.
1. Let’s Talk Quantity (aka: No Guest Left Hungry)
There’s nothing worse than seeing your uncle eyeing up the bread rolls because the mains were more… entrée-sized. Be upfront with your caterer about portion sizes and serving style. If you’re doing grazing tables, will they be topped up all night? If it’s plated, will everyone get a decent serve? Remember, happy guests = full guests.
2. The Alternate Serve Debate
Here’s the tea: alternate serve is when half your guests get one main, half get another, and couples get to swap if they like. It keeps the kitchen speedy, the service smooth, and guests get a little menu envy (which is oddly fun to watch). Bonus, it’s a sneaky way to please both the steak lovers and the fish fans without doubling your catering budget.
3. Fun Food Ideas to Steal Shamelessly
Why settle for “standard” when you can throw in a surprise or two? Some inspo to drop into your caterer chat:
-
Midnight snacks: mini sliders, pizza slices, or even a cheeky hot chip station to fuel the dance floor.
-
Dessert grazing tables: think brownies, doughnuts, chocolate-dipped strawberries — basically a sugar wonderland.
-
Interactive stations: taco bars, build-your-own bao buns, DIY pasta bowls.
-
Signature cocktails served with matching canapés (margaritas + mini tacos = a yes from us).
4. The Practical Bits You Can’t Skip
While it’s fun to plan the yum, don’t forget to ask:
-
How they handle dietary requirements (and will the alternatives look just as good on the plate?)
-
Timing, how long between “I do” and “I eat”?
-
What’s included (cutlery? plates? staff? a magic washing-up fairy?)
5. Go With Your Gut (Literally and Figuratively)
If you leave the meeting feeling like they “get” you, that’s a green flag. If you also leave with a food baby from taste-testing half their menu? Even better.
💡 Final tip: Bring someone you trust to the tasting — not just for backup opinions, but to stop you from booking them just because their truffle arancini made you emotional.
