Caterers:

If you intend to DIY your wedding a little, you may be looking to hire a caterer for your reception dinner. There are many ways to go here as you are not restricted by set menus and packages as with reception venues. Professional caterers will however have a range of selections for you and it is simply a matter of matching it with your budget and style of your day.

Discuss with the caterer what you are thinking of doing and ask their advice as to the best way to go, you may find that they can do pre dinner nibbles as well as the dinner and may even be able to supply the cake and perhaps a barperson or drinks waiter.

Remember that your day is a celebration for your whole family and to have them tied up to a stove will not let them enjoy the day as much as being free to mingle with guests and family. The cost of a professional caterer who will come in cook, serve, clean and disappear will be well worth the cost at the end of the day.

Organising a caterer also opens you up to many different types of receptions. Firstly your reception can be anywhere you desire ( have a bad weather back up), you could have a breakfast wedding, a brunch, lunch or cocktail party wedding not to mention midnight margaritas wedding as the moon sits overhead!

It can be as formal or as informal as you desire. In Australia we tend to think of catered, marque in a park weddings as "going cheap" yet in the USA this type of wedding is considered to be the norm.

Some questions you may ask your caterer are:

How many hours will they attend?

When will they set up?

Is the food cooked onsite?

Do they supply plates and utensils?

How many courses are there, does this include serving the wedding cake?

Can they cater for vegetarian / vegans?

Is there a childrens menu / cost?

Can the childrens menu be served earilier?