Sometimes it seems that catering services is not so important as many wedding celebrations places offer ready-made, developed wedding menus as part of catering services. But if you want another alternative than the wedding menu offered by the venue , or if you have a wedding in a location where outside catering is required, such as a country house or beach, you should evaluate the catering company and the services they provide.

So how do you choose your catering company in such a situation? Here's what you need to know:

What are the types of wedding menu?

If you are not sure which menu to choose, let's look at the different types of menus offered at weddings:

Cocktail menu:

Cocktail menus that you can choose for a large wedding are also ideal right after the wedding ceremony. Guests are entertained at cocktail tables with a variety of drinks and refreshing cocktails. On the cocktail menu includes alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages , various snacks, nuts, canapés, different types of cheese, cold meat snacks, which you can add at your own choice and adapt to the theme of the wedding. If you choose this type of wedding menu, you can save the total budget of the wedding celebration by at a much lower cost than a dinner menu.

Cocktail Prolonge or Extended cocktail menu:

Extended cocktail menu, the offer of which is much wider than the cocktail menu. It is usually given preference for events lasting 1-2 hours. The cocktail prolongation menu can include a variety of hearty snacks, pizzas, chicken snacks, meatballs, canapes and pastries . This variety the amount and types of snacks can be expanded according to each person's wishes, the number of guests and the duration of the event.

Open buffet menu:

The open buffet is especially recommended for weddings where there are a lot of guests. This type of catering will keep all guests at ease enjoy the offered dishes according to your own choice. Open buffets have hot, cold and dessert sections. First of all cold dishes are offered, followed by hot dishes, and finally a dessert section is served.

Don't forget to offer a couple of main dishes that will also please the guests!

Dinner menu:

Guests are received at a set table, respectively – snacks, starter, main course, dessert or fruit. When selected a specific catering company, restaurant, can elaborate and decide on the types of appetizers to be served in the main course and what alcohol will be served.

How to choose a wedding menu according to the season?

Spring wedding menu:

It can be said that the spring menu has a wide range of choices. Alternative snacks can be offered, e.g. cheese and canapé snacks. After the starter and appetizers, the menu can include a delicious main course consisting of fresh for vegetables.

Summer wedding menu:

If you are going to get married on a hot summer day, you should be careful when choosing the menu. In it there should not be too heavy dishes. Among the dishes that should be included in the menu are grilled vegetables, lean meat and cold appetizers, light salads, fresh juices made from seasonal fruits.

Autumn wedding menu:

After a starter of legumes and cold snacks, light flour products can be served next. Then - a meat dish with gravy or a grilled meat menu are just some of the dishes that you can add to the wedding table for an autumn wedding.

Winter wedding menu:

winter wedding is a time when it is recommended to emphasize hot dishes. Appetizing winter wedding menu the wedding will include: hot soup, freshly baked bread, hot snacks, spicy snacks and grilled meat.

Questions to ask first before contacting food service providers:

1. What are the options for the wedding dinner, and is tasting possible?
2. What are the choices of drinks to be served with the chosen food? Is there a celebration instead what are the restrictions related to the purchase of alcohol , is it possible to deliver it from another service provider?
3. How soon should the type of menu be decided before the event?
4. What is the deadline for announcing the number of invited guests ?
5. Is food prepared according to the number of invited guests on the spot, or - in advance, by announcing about the number of guests?
6. What are the reviews about this catering company?
7. How will the food be delivered to the venue?
8. How much is the down payment a and what is the procedure to follow in case of cancellation?

Photo: REINIS MELIORANSKIS

Find the most suitable caterers and drinks for your celebration here: RESTAURANTS , BANQUETS , WEDDING SWEETS , WEDDING BAR , DRINKS .

WEDDING BANQUETS