Why is Wedding Catering So Darn Expensive in Washington DC?! Ten Reasons.

Why doe this COST SO MUCH???

Welcome to Why A Wedding Catering Costs.  It is not because catering companies want to rip you off when they hear the word “wedding”.  Wedding receptions have built in expenses not always in play at other types of events:  birthday parties, anniversaries, reunions.  Lately we have been getting requests for wedding receptions with unrealistic budgets.  You cannot hire a caterer in the Washington DC area for $25 a head.  On the flip side, if you hire our company Teatime Delicacies, Inc. it’s not going to cost you $100 a head for a buffet style reception.
Why do things cost so much?  If you are not familiar with an industry, there is always going to be sticker shock.  Remember the first car you purchased?

Ten reasons.
1.  Food Costs.  As one example, the continuing drought in the Western US is driving beef prices through the roof, and there doesn’t seem to be an break in the near future. Seafood is always going to be a high ticket item.  Ask your caterer for more economical menu ideas.  Prime Rib rocks, and you have to pay for that.

2.  A “smaller” event, under 50 guests, is often as much work for the caterer as an event for 100.  There is a slight decrease in food costs, but the preparation is minimally less.  And there still needs to be the basic staff in place:  wait staff, kitchen staff, bartender, manager.  Often an overall per person quote for a smaller event is higher due to the staffing requirements.

3.  Stay clear of the all inclusive alcohol package.  Purchase your own alcohol if at all possible.  You will save significant amounts of money on this one tip alone.  Keep this in mind when searching out possible venue choices.  As a matter of fact, when you are beginning your venue search, limit yourself to options where they allow you to bring in not only your own caterer, but your own alcohol.  If you end up using a venue’s in house catering, you can get backed into a corner when it comes to food and beverage options.

4.  Do you really need to rent THIS venue because of the killer view?

Killer Wedding Reception Option.  Not.

 5.  The rentals are the thing.  I tell all my clients this is the wild card.  Will your venue provide tables and chairs or will you need to rent these as well?  Will you need to add a tent because the venue cannot accommodate your full guest count?  Will you need to rent a tent in case of inclement weather?  Wedding receptions inherently involve a LOT of tables.  Guest tables,  food and beverage tables, DJ, gift, cake, sign in, cocktail, and then they all need linens.  Napkin.  Plates and cutlery.  Bar glasses?  If you have 100 guests, we need to bring in 300 glasses just for the bar, not including the table settings.  Consider utilizing clear plastic for the bar.

6.  Staff.  In the Washington DC and Northern Virginia metropolitan area, catering staff gets paid anywhere from $15-25 and hour.  Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean the staff gets paid less.  Do you want your guests to wait in line for a drink because you think two bartenders are too many?  Do you want guests to sit with dirty plates on their tables because you think there are too may wait staff?  Please trust that we know how to do our job and bring the appropriate number of staff.

7.  Behind the scenes expenses.  As with any business, we build the pricing around expenses you don’t see upfront.  Thousands of dollars in insurance – almost all the wedding reception venues will require a Certificate of Insurance of at least 1 million dollars to be added as an additional insurer.  We have to not only insure ourselves, we have protect the venue from the guests.  

8.  A Plated Meal?  Yes, this one is going to be more.  It takes a greater staff to guest ratio.  It takes much more rental items pre set at the table.  It takes additional equipment to keep things properly heated.  Very few kitchens in a wedding venue are commercial.  Visualize plating 100 meals in a “kitchen” that may or may not have an oven, refrigerator, sink, or even running water?  In a “kitchen” that is literally the size of a walk in closet?

9.  It’s a wedding.  It’s a really awesome celebration.  Meet with as many caterers as you can until it clicks.  Then Trust.  I will not let the cutting of the cake fall through the cracks.  We will help get those centerpieces on the tables if you need a hand.  We can take care of the party favors.  Someone can’t eat nuts?  Not a problem, let us know where they are sitting and we will prepare the salad without the pecans.  Same for Gluten Free, or a Dairy Allergy.  If you select Teatime Delicacies, Inc as your caterer, not only will you sit down with me, Ruth MacBean, Owner, I will be the one preparing all the food, I will most likely be your manager on duty day of the event.
We are a smaller catering company and are able to provide this unique attention to detail.

Wedding Cake Included in Package

10. Our wedding receptions typically run $45-55+ per person and include all menu items, all non alcoholic beverages, a wedding cake of your selection, rentals as described, and all staff.  Of course it can cost more if you want more specialized linens, or customized menu selections.  We feel we are affordable in the area market. Contact us today for more information. You have found your perfect caterer! www.teatimeinc.com