by Linda Catoe

Created on: July 03, 2008   Last Updated: July 06, 2008

Catering for a wedding reception can be as simple as hiring a catering company to prepare, deliver and display the food, or as elaborate as you can imagine and/or afford involving tents, ice sculptures, swans, men in kilts, mile high wedding cakes and you know the rest, you've seen it in movies and on TV.

In this era of MySpace, Facebook, non-stop blogging and other internet resources, finding a reputable caterer can be just a couple of clicks and a little research away. Then there are the old standbys, the Better Business Bureau and your local Chamber of Commerce. Word of mouth still works, ask your friends and co-workers. Wedding shows offer a variety of caterers showcasing their talents. Caterers worth their salt will be willing to spend a great deal of time with you working out the details of your reception. A good caterer with a knowledgeable, organized staff can work magic by being prepared and a few jumps ahead of any potentially unsavory situation that may arise. Talk to your caterer. If you can't relate to them one-on-one, you'll very likely not be on the same page for the reception. Use your instincts, that's what they are for, essentially.

Basic wedding reception catering elements to consider: Number of guest, time of day and realistic expectations of ambitious and well meaning family and friends. If your reception will be an intimate affair with less than twenty-five guests, you may or may not require the services of a caterer. A menu of light to heavy hors d'oeuvres, tray passed or on a buffet, may be your aunt's gift to you, assisted by volunteers who willingly pass appetizers, pick up plates and replenish the buffet. Staffing Services will be more than happy to send servers and bartenders to help out. You may go through a caterer in requesting a server and/or bartender whom you pay directly. If you plan a sit down dinner, a restaurant seems the obvious option, but a caterer will travel to your special location and arrange to be on your schedule. Some restaurants offer this option as well.

As for your 100+ guests reception, now that's an entirely different entity. Do you want a sit down dinner, a dinner buffet, heavy hors d'oeuvres, brunch, or light afternoon appetizers? The time of your reception will help you decide which style makes the most sense. Of course the most labor intensive, and generally the most expensive receptions involve the plated dinner. If you get married on or after
six PM, you're looking at dinner. Hire a top-notch caterer

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