Tips to Effectively Cater Your Wedding in 2023

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, so every detail should be perfect. You’ve probably spent months picking out the dress, venue, flowers, and photographer. The food at your wedding is just as important as everything else, so you should spend some time finding the best wedding catering in San Francisco. 

How do you choose the right caterer? Here are some tips.

1. Decide on your budget.

Caterers can be expensive, so do your research to figure out a realistic number for what you should expect to spend in your area. When interviewing caterers, ask about what exactly their fee covers—for example, are table linens and menu design included? If you’re working with limited funds, make sure the caterer is aware of this from the beginning so they can tailor a package specifically for you.

Your budget will also affect the most suitable catering style. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktail hours, plated sit-down dinners, tasting menus, buffets… the list goes on for wedding food options. But if you have limitations on your budget, you may have to be more strategic about the catering style you choose for your event. The better acquainted you are with both your budget and desired event atmosphere, the easier it will be to pick out caterers who fit those specifications.

Tip: Host your wedding reception in a luxury boutique hotel in San Francisco

For convenience and cost efficiency, you may want to hold your wedding reception in a beautiful hotel with private dining and catering services. This takes care of the venue and catering in one go. You don’t have to worry about picking out linens or decorations.  

Mansion on Sutter—a renowned luxury boutique hotel in San Francisco—offers wedding catering services and three exquisitely designed private rooms that you can use for your reception. We would be more than happy to help make your big day one you’ll always remember. Find out more about our venue and catering services here and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

2. Get recommendations from people you trust.

One of the best ways to start your search for a caterer is by asking friends, family members, and colleagues who have previously used one in your area for their thoughts and opinions. They can tell you about their experiences working with the catering company they used as well as provide first-hand information about how their food and service turned out on the day of their event.

3. Read online reviews.

If you can’t decide on a caterer, read online reviews to get a sense of how they have performed in the past. Reviews on wedding websites tend to be reliable. Not sure what to make of a restaurant? See what others are saying by reading reviews on Facebook and Yelp.

4. Contact caterers as soon as possible.

Start talking to potential caterers once you know what kind of package you would like and approximately how much money you are willing to spend. Don’t wait until the last minute. The best caterers are frequently booked months or even years ahead of time, so lock down yours before somebody else does.

5. Make a date with your top three choices.

Now that you’ve done your research and come up with a shortlist of wedding caterers, it’s tasting time! You need to make sure their food is every bit as good as they say it is. This will give you an idea of whether the food meets your expectations in terms of quality, presentation, style, and taste. And before you sign any contract, a tasting gives you the chance to tell them what ideas you have and how they could be incorporated into the menu.

Once you have decided on wedding catering in San Francisco, the final step is to sign a contract. The finalized proposal should include the total cost of food and drinks, menu, catering staff, linens, and any other expenses. 

Food is an important part of any wedding celebration, so it’s vital that the catering team serves up delectable dishes. To eliminate the guesswork, it’s best to host your reception in a renowned luxury hotel that offers private dining and catering services for special occasions. Contact Mansion on Sutter to learn more.