Choosing the Right Caterer For Your Big Day
Tips for ensuring that the food at your wedding is as special and memorable as the rest of your event.
BY HOLLY LYNCH, OWNER, THE SEASON EVENTS
s your plans for your wedding start taking shape,
A one of the most important decisions you’ ll make is choosing your caterer. All weddings, whether in the morning, afternoon, or evening, typically have some kind of food and beverage for guests to enjoy. Choosing someone to make and serve that food is based on many factors, some of which you might not have even considered. Here’ s some helpful information to help steer you through the process.
Your head count is extremely important when starting the conversation, as the number of guests is the single biggest driver of catering costs. Feeding more people means more expense.
If you have lots of children or guests with dietary restrictions, make sure to share that information with the caterer during your initial inquiry. Most caterers have policies for children’ s meals and can accommodate special diets, but it’ s important to discuss them ahead of time. Ask, for instance, how they’ ll handle it if an unexpected guest with a dietary need shows up.
Catering prices can vary greatly. In our area, most caterers price for the food items and then add the necessary labor and travel expenses to make the event happen at your venue.
22 | NW GEORGIA LIVING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2026
You should like what you eat on your wedding day!
Per-head pricing can be misleading, as the price may include the food but not the labor. Keep in mind that the guest count often determines how many workers are needed, so going from 50 guests to 100 guests could affect labor costs.
The style of food service can also affect the labor costs. For example, having plated meals instead of a buffet means more servers will be needed. Also, small-bite appetizers, aka heavy hors d’ oeuvres, can be more time-consuming to create, so a light meal might actually be more costeffective. If you don’ t want to spend a lot on food, consider having your ceremony at a time that isn’ t right at mealtime, like mid-afternoon. Also, a brunch or light lunch can be way more budget-friendly than a dinner with a cocktail hour preceding it.
The venue is also a factor. Some allow outside caterers, others have a preferred list, and still others don’ t allow them at all, which is essential to know before booking the space. Approved caterers will have gone through a vetting process in which their health department inspections, insurance, and references are thoroughly reviewed.
Another issue to consider is whether the venue has adequate kitchen space for your caterer. Bringing food to a site involves