Boston Reception Caterers Guide, Boston Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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Boston Reception Caterers Guide

Boston takes cuisine seriously, and why not? In a city as sophisticated and charming as Massachusetts’ capital, food is yet another signature of one our country’s finest hometowns. Finding the perfect caterer for your Boston wedding is a matter of knowing what you want and where to look. Read on for Beantown tips.

Start searching for your Boston caterer about 9 months’ prior to your wedding, even earlier if you have the time. You don’t need to have your Boston reception site picked out, and the best caterers get booked up far in advance. Prices for caterers vary tremendously, depending on the size of your wedding, the site, and your personal style. Expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000.

When looking for caterers, ask friends and relatives, as well as other vendors. If you have a favorite Boston restaurant, enquire if they do weddings. Most caterers take care of all food and beverages, hire all servers and bartenders, and are in charge of setup and cleanup.

When you’re ready to start diving into food, check out the OurWeddingDay.com Boston Area Local Vendor Section for a list of top-rated caterers in the Boston area.

Once you start the interview process, be sure to tell the company what you have in mind for your wedding, and any special needs your guests might have. Can the caterer manage a Kosher wedding? What about vegan dishes? A good Boston wedding caterer should have 5-7 years’ experience, and you should ask for references and contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Next to food and beverages, the most important thing your Boston caterer should abound in is personality. If the guy you interview has an attitude problem, there’s a good chance his staff will too. Ask about the attire of servers and let him know of any preferences in regards to personality types. Meet with the Party Staff Coordinator (generally hired by the caterer) to go over the style of your reception.

Some cost-cutting measures to discuss with the caterer include having a buffet instead of a seated meal, and limiting the bar to wine and champagne. If you want a full bar, you can substitute medium-shelf liquor for top-shelf brands. The dessert dish can be eliminated (they can simply serve your wedding cake), and you can place hors d’oeuvres stations in the room as opposed to having servers pass trays around.

Reliable Boston wedding caterers will do a walk-through before your wedding (even if the reception is at your home), to make sure food storage is adequate, and to sort out any unforeseen glitches. The wait staff is generally served a meal right before or right after the reception, to avoid service lapses. Gratuity for all workers should be included in the contract; if you decide to give an additional tip, it should be handed to the caterer in charge at the end of the night.

-David Toussaint