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Many venues have in-house caterers that provide all the food and drink services for celebrations held there. These caterers will be familiar with the styles of meal that their chefs specialise in and will also be able to provide tables and chairs, linen, crockery, glasses, waiting staff and some decorations.
If you have specific catering requirements like needing Halal or Kosher meals then the venue may not be able to accommodate your Civil Ceremony or they may allow you to book outside caterers. Similarly, if there is no in-house catering then ask for recommendations from the venue or friends or relatives. Also check the Yellow Pages and local newspapers for contacts.
Draw up a shortlist of potential caterers and arrange an appointment to discuss your specific requirements and compare prices and services. Ask to see specific example menus, price list and testimonials from other couples and inquire about the type of Civil Ceremony packages they offer. Ask each caterer the same questions about their service, ingredients and any added extras so you get comparable quotes from each.
Useful questions to ask your caterer
- Do you only have set menus or can we create our own?
- How many options can we offer for each course?
- Can any special dietary needs can be dealt with?
- Can we taste a sample of your food?
- I am holding my reception at home/in a marquee/in a hall. Will my food will be pre-cooked and prepared or do you need any cooking or storage facilities?
- Is wine included in a package with food?
- Do you charge corkage if we buy our own wine?
- If wine is provided, will we be charged for the amount of bottles ordered or for just those that are opened?
- How many other drinks are included in the package? What soft drinks are included? (Some include a drink as the guests arrive and then a certain number of bottles of wine per guest, along with fruit juices).
- How much clearing up will be done after the reception? (Some caterers will clear only the kitchens while others will wait until the end of the entire evening and clear everything away. In-house caterers will usually clear up more at the end of the evening.)
- Do you provide for waiting staff in your quote?
- How near the Civil Ceremony date can we confirm final numbers?
Whether you want the alcohol flowing or to provide an interesting mix of tasty soft drinks, no-one wants to keep their guests thirsty. Start by checking out exactly what drinks are included in your Civil Ceremony catering packages. Most venues can include a basic reception drink (Bucks Fizz or sparkling wine) one or two glasses of house wine and a glass of champagne or sparkling wine for the toasts per person. You will then need to pay for any drinks above this quota and if you want to offer a bigger variety or better quality tipples. Just as with your food, it is better to provide enough drink from a limited choice of brands than scrimp over quantity in order to set up a dazzling array of choice in your bar. Stick to the most popular types of drink - water, wine, beer and fizzy drinks.
When catering for your own Civil Ceremony you need to provide your own drinks. Your reception venue may be able to give you a deal or have a local contact that can help. If not, you can get bulk discounts from off-licences, supermarkets and vineyards or even abroad on a 'booze cruise'! France is a popular choice destination, but make sure you are prepared with a smattering of French and a calculator to help with exchange rates. Do add up the extra costs you may encounter such as hiring a larger vehicle and the cross-channel ferry tickets. Compare these expenses with the amount you actually save per bottle.
If a trip to the continent does not work out to be cost effective, try looking for local vineyards in the Yellow Pages. These establishments are often in a position to offer quite a substantial discount for bulk buying, especially if the order is placed well in advance. A locally produced wine will provide a conversation point at your wedding. The amount of drink you need is explained later. You can find a list of drink suppliers in our list supplied.
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