Collaborative Cuisine
When talking to caterers, discuss with them any theme or vision you might have for reception, but also your wedding ceremony (the back rooms).

Be open to take suggestions from them about what kind of things they’ve found successful with that type of theme before. Encourage them into taking part in the creative process (and have them bring their passion), they go from “order-taker” to collaborator.

Sample their food before hiring a caterer. Anything can look good but the real test is your taste buds. So, go try whatever it is you want to eat at your reception.

Keep it Simple
Wedding catering is certainly a major responsibility for any couple. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It really comes down to how much money you have budgeted; there’s no way around this point; and what resources you have in your town or surrounding area.

You will find catering services everywhere, and pretty much for every what, you’re looking for. Some will have everything in stock for you to choose from while others will just pitch you with appetizers, dinner and dessert menus. What you’ll find out is that the smaller organizations have multiple grades of food and service to meet your budget and taste buds, while places like an event hall or country club usually create complete packaged deals.

You may not find what you’re wanting from a large catering service so take a look at the other options, specialty independent caterers and mom and pop catering companies.

Organizations that specialize in weddings or restaurant caterers can also provide most of what you want. Prices are usually cheaper this route but you all have to deal with more people to make your dream wedding come to fruition. Ask a lot of questions and get pricing to compare with the full service event companies.

One main benefit with these types is, you’ll get to meet and regularly speak to the chef and manager whenever you need help. The major pitfall is, you’ll have to take more of the planning and managing on than you may feel comfortable doing. Find out if this is the case and what you’re prepared to do about it.

Now that you have some basic information in hand, it’s time to start your search for the best wedding catering company you can find. You can do it online or through traditional offline methods such as magazines and the yellow pages. Try both. What will surprise you is you’ll come up with two separate lists. See which one fits your feelings and desires and go with them.

We’ve worked with many of the best (and not-so-best) caterers in the Des Moines area. We’d be glad to make a few suggestions based on your budget and taste.

For more helpful tips in planning your wedding day (and catering needs), make sure to download our free Wedding Days ebook – only from Boesen the Florist.

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