Hiring Wedding Reception Caterers in Las Vegas


Las Vegas is the City of Dreams, the City of Fun, and the City of Weddings. When it comes to finding your perfect caterer, it’s the City of Sin-Fully Delicious Food. Not only have top-rated chefs opened up restaurants on the Strip, the best caterers have come here, as elaborate weddings in Las Vegas have become almost as popular as showgirls.

Start Searching for your Las Vegas caterer about 9 months’ prior to your wedding, even earlier if you have the time. “The best caterers get booked very early,” says L.A. chef David Brian Sanders. “Like your wedding site, start your research as soon as possible.”  Prices for caterers vary tremendously, depending on the size of your wedding, the site, and your style of wedding. Expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000.

As always, when looking for caterers, ask friends and relatives, as well as other vendors. If you have a favorite restaurant in the Las Vegas area, 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 get serious about Las Vegas food, check out the OurWeddingDay.com Local Vendor section for a list of top-rated caterers in the Las Vegas area.

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

Next to food and beverages, the most important trait your Las Vegas caterer should excel in is personality; if the guy you’re interviewing has an attitude problem, chances are his staff will too. Ask about attire of servers and tell the caterer about any requirements in that area. Since you probably won’t meet the servers before the day of your wedding, talk to the Party Staff Coordinator to make sure you’re on the same page. PTS’s are generally hired by the caterer to provide the wait staff and bartenders.

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, and you can place hors d’oeuvre stations in the room as opposed to having servers pass trays around.

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

Follow these tips and nothing will be left to chance at your Vegas wedding reception!


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