Hiring the Right SoCal Caterer and Staff for Your Wedding Reception
Los Angeles is both trendy and terrific, golden and green. For your wedding day food, that pretty much means you can serve anything under that shaded sun, provided it’s fantastic. L.A. caterers are stars in their own right, so use these quick tips and your search will bring you a red carpet reception.
Start searching for your Los Angeles caterer about 9 months’ prior to your wedding; earlier if you have the time. You don’t need to have your 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, ask friends and relatives, as well as other Los Angeles wedding vendors. If you have a favorite Los Angeles 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 interviewing potential wedding caterers, check out the OurWeddingDay.com Los Angeles Vendor Section for a list of top-rated caterers in the Los Angeles area.
Once you start the interview process, be sure to tell the company exactly what you have in mind for your wedding, and any special needs your guests may have. Can the caterer manage a kosher wedding? What about vegetarian dishes? A good 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 Los Angeles wedding caterer should abound in is personality; if the guy you’re interviewing has an attitude problem, chances are his staff will too. Meet with the Party Staff Coordinator (he’s generally hired by the caterer) to go over the style of your reception and expectations of servers.
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’oeuvres stations in the room as opposed to having servers pass trays around.
Reliable Los Angeles 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, 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, it should be handed to the caterer in charge at the end of the night.
-David Toussaint
Check Out the Los Angeles Wedding Guide
Check Out the Los Angeles Wedding Cake Bakers Guide
Check Out the Los Angeles Wedding Officiants Guide