10 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer

As any married couple will tell you, your wedding menu isn’t just about feeding people—it’s quintessential to setting the mood for an unforgettable night of celebration!

Choosing the right wedding caterer is a key decision in the wedding planning process. You need an experienced, detail-oriented caterer you can trust… but how do you go about determining whether you’ve found the one?

Start by having them answer these top 10 questions to ask a wedding caterer!

1. Is Our Wedding Date Available?

The first burning question you should ask any caterer for your wedding relates to their availability. Many top wedding caterers book a year or more in advance, especially on weekends. Have them pencil in your date before moving forward.

🍽️ Pro tip: Saturday evenings are usually the busiest, so secure your booking ASAP or go against the grain by having your wedding on a weekday!

2. Will You Be Catering for Any Other Weddings on the Day?

The next question is if they plan to cater to other weddings or events on that same day or weekend. If so, how many weddings will they cater? While this doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker, knowing their workload can help you make an informed decision.

3. Have You Worked at Our Venue Before?

Ideally, you’d want your caterer to already be familiar with your venue’s layout, regulations, and equipment to ensure a smooth process. Choosing wedding venues that have catering connections—their established relationships will allow them to coordinate setup schedules, deliveries, and equipment rentals without hiccups.

Several plated dishes lined up for serving at a wedding reception

Image Source: @theloftto

4. How Long Have You Been in Business?

Choosing an established wedding caterer is always a good idea. They will have ironed out any kinks in their operations throughout their years of experience, which should be proven by a robust portfolio of satisfied clients.

🍽️ Pro tip: Don’t hesitate to ask for visual samples of their work or references from past clients to get insights into their professionalism and quality.

5. Are You Able to Accommodate Dietary Restrictions and Allergies?

Asking about dietary accommodations is crucial. Ensure the caterer can tailor their offerings to suit various needs such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or any specific allergies. This shows their flexibility and commitment to providing a seamless dining experience for all your guests, regardless of dietary restrictions.

6. What Types of Meal Service Do You Offer?

When interviewing potential caterers, you also want to check their food service options to see if they can adapt to your vision. The best caterers can provide multiple formats to suit your reception style, guest count, and budget.

Ask if they offer plated meals, family-style service, buffets, food stations, or cocktail receptions. If you’re planning a sit-down meal, ask your wedding caterer what style of table settings they use. If possible, work with them to visualize the final product!

7. What’s Included in Your Catering Package?

The clearer you are on what is and isn’t covered in a catering package, the better you can compare its overall value to other offerings. Also make sure you fully understand their deposit, cancellation, and refund policies.

A few additional questions to ask your wedding caterer regarding how they operate include:

Are your packages all-inclusive or will additional fees apply?
Do you provide vendor meals or children’s meals?
What are your standard portion sizes per person?
What do you do with any leftover food?
Is gratuity included or added to the quoted pricing?
Do you provide menu-tasting experiences?
Is there a fee if the wedding overruns?

A plate, napkin, forks, knife, and glasses arranged at a table place

8. Do You Offer Any Additional Services?

Beyond the delicious food, another question to ask a wedding caterer could be about other services they provide. Things like rentals, wedding cakes, decorations, staffing for non-food tasks, and even full-service coordination may be in the books.

Going with a caterer who can provide these extra services will streamline the planning process and limit the potential for miscommunication.

9. What’s Your Approach to Menu Customization?

Couples understandably want wedding menus that reflect their tastes, cultural traditions, and dietary needs. So, with that in mind, ask the catering company you’re considering if they can create a custom menu or if they only offer fixed packages.

Can they incorporate family recipes, favourite flavours, and cultural cuisine? Like wedding venues, your menu should uniquely reflect your love story!

10. How Do You Handle Last-Minute Requests?

Guest RSVPs and needs often shift until a week before the wedding, so another question you should ask your wedding caterer is about how they deal with last-minute requests.

Clarify when their cut-off is for final menu choices and headcount. What if guest numbers increase last minute? Can they accommodate late allergy-related requests?

While it’s your responsibility to provide guest count early, good catering companies should handle minor 11th-hour tweaks smoothly.

Simplify Your Wedding Planning with In-House Catering

Knowing the right questions to ask a wedding caterer can make it easier to find “the one.” However, as we’ve seen time and time again, the simplest way to secure the best wedding caterer is to choose the in-house pros at The Loft on King.

Our catering partners, the phenomenal Food Dudes and Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality are two of Canada’s most acclaimed catering companies. They’ll bring your wedding to life with a thorough understanding of The Loft’s wedding venue layout, ambiance, and unique requirements.

Spend your wedding season focusing on love, not the logistics. Contact our event team today to book the perfect wedding venue and caterer in one go!