Wedding food and drink

Planning your meal
Before you can get a realistic quote from your wedding caterers, you'll need to provide them with details of the number of guests attending the wedding.

A good wedding caterer will talk you through all the options on offer, explaining all the pros and cons. A sit-down, three-course meal is the most traditional option for a wedding breakfast, but wedding caterers can also provide a (less expensive) buffet meal, or even a stand-up drinks party with canapes and champagne.

Special ingredients and seasonal food
Make sure the wedding caterers can offer different options for guests with special dietary requirements—vegetarians being the obvious example.

Ask your wedding caterers which ingredients are in season around your wedding day—they'll be both cheaper and fresher!

Alternative meals
Some wedding caterers offer alternatives to the traditional sit-down wedding breakfast—for example a hog roast or a barbecue would be fun options for a rustic summer wedding.

If you're having a small wedding or are on a tight budget, discuss a tea reception with your wedding caterer. Champagne, tea and cakes make an elegant option and help keep costs down.

Sorting the drink
Don't forget to discuss drink with your wedding caterer. Many couples want to buy and bring in their own alcohol, such as wine bought on a cross-channel trip. If this is the case, ask the wedding caterers if they charge corkage and, if so, how much it is.

Champagne is the classic wedding tipple, but it is expensive, so many couples plump for sparkling wine instead. It's usual to offer red and white wine with a sit-down meal or buffet. Ask the wedding caterers for suggestions for imaginative non-alcoholic drinks for those who aren't indulging.

From tables to table linen
Organising a reception is less of a headache if the wedding caterers can provide you with tables, chairs, china, crockery, glassware and table linen. Otherwise, you will have to rent and coordinate all this yourself, as well as making sure it is all cleaned and returned.

Choosing your caterer
Make a shortlist of possible wedding caterers (based on personal recommendations, if possible) then ask them for sample menus and a detailed quote. Some wedding caterers offer a tasting before you decide on which one to go with.

When you meet with wedding caterers, ask them if they have catered at your venue before. Will they need to bring in cooking facilities? How many waiting staff will you need to hire? These factors will affect the final cost.

Money and guest numbers
Don't be shy when it comes to money matters—ask how much of a deposit the wedding caterers require, and when you have to pay the final balance.

Find out exactly when your wedding caterers will need final guest numbers and details of how many guests with special dietary requirements are attending.