Teatime Delicacies Inc – Wedding Catering Myths – Washington DC
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| Ruth MacBean of Teatime Delicacies, Inc. |
Congratulations! You are newly engaged and need to hire a caterer for your wedding reception, correct? You may very well be overwhelmed with choices let alone sticker shock. Let’s explore some common misconceptions with regards to off site catering and caterers.
Ten Common Catering Myths
1. This is a biggie. “Why is it when mentioning the word ‘wedding’ to a caterer, the quote suddenly doubles’?” Actually, this applies to many different vendors. The truth is, catering for a wedding reception IS more complicated and can be more expensive. Double is an exaggeration, but let me point out how catering a retirement party for 100 is different than a wedding reception for 100. Chances are the venues are vastly different. Think community center vs. historic mansion. One party might use all disposable plates, cutlery, glasses. One might serve alcohol, the other a non alcoholic punch, reducing the need for bartender(s). One might be a stand up 2 hour open house; a wedding is an 8 hour start to finish event. The caterer needs to know what type of event you are planning so they can provide the proper amount of food, rentals and staff. It’s common sense.
2. ” If it’s a buffet menu, leftovers should go with the client, after all they paid for it.”. This one’s pretty straightforward and I tell every single one of my clients this at our initial meeting. It’s a liability issue. Food that has been sitting out on a buffet for a period of time is just not safe to send home with guests. If an event is taking place inside a private residence and I can personally place it in a refrigerator, that’s somewhat of a different story. But we have no way of knowing if the food sits in the back seat of an individual’s car for hours, including travel, and someone still thinks that is safe to eat. Food safety is our primary concern.
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| Buffet at Great Falls Grange, Great Falls VA
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3. “On site Closed Caterer’s List must be very accomplished and top notch!” While an in house or restricted list of caterer options keeps it simple, do not assume anything. Often this is merely a pay to play operation. A caterer is paying the venue a percentage or flat out fee to be able to work there. Many of the properties in Northern Virginia that Teatime is listed as “approved caterer” means we have worked at the venue before and are familiar with the property and it’s rules. If a client wants to provide a vendor not listed, the venue only asks to meet with them and provide the necessary paperwork…which leads to #4:
4. Do not assume all caterers are legit. Teatime carries a $2 million dollar insurance policy. We have to provide business licenses, Health Department Permit, Food Handlers Permit, Workman’s Compensation. Many of the venues you as a client are checking out will most likely require some or all of those documents. It’s easy to SAY you are a full scale caterer. It’s another to back it up with the documentation.
5. One of my personal all time favorites. Just because a venue has a gorgeous building and grounds doesn’t mean it should open it’s doors for wedding receptions.
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| Venue name remains private for obvious reasons.
This venue told my bride they had a full service catering kitchen. It was a gutted space with nothing but a sink and no drain. Would you want your food prepared in this facility? ASK TO SEE THE KITCHEN!!!!!
6. Too Much Staff, we are paying for people to stand around? Hardly. Catering staff rarely get to sit down. We set up the rooms, often setting up the ceremony chairs as well, put down linens, set up bar, buffet, serve, clear plates, clean after event, break down tables, put away tables and chairs. We even take the trash with us and wash all the floors.
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Here’s an example of a tented wedding reception where we had to bring in all the tables and chairs, set them up, put down the linens, assembled the centerpieces, stock a bar, set up a kitchen in a separate catering tent without water. We had to do this in under two hours time. I can assure you there was no standing around. At. All. Ever. And speaking of tents….
7. Tented Wedding Receptions are Great! And yes indeed they can be: Our favorite to go tented venue is the Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg VA www.birkbyhouse.com
The venue has a magnificent tent, has heat and AC, sidewalls, electricity, covered walkway to restrooms. It is the top of the line tented venue in our opinion.
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| Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg VA
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Tented wedding reception in back yard without sidewalls when a monster storm blows through.
I think this photo speaks volumes. Plan for weather.
8. Caterers replace the need for a wedding planner’s assistance. I will make sure the meal goes smoothly, I will make sure your wedding cake gets cut. But we cannot get you down the aisle, we do not coordinate with all your other vendors. A smaller wedding may not need a planner as much as a larger event, but do not ever ASSUME we will do their job.
9. Vineyards are SO Romantic. Indeed they are. Reread #5. I would never lump all vineyards into one category, but here in Virginia they are popping up like mushrooms. It’s one thing to have a space that allows customers to enjoy a bottle of wine and some light snacks. It’s another to provide a wedding reception for 150. More than once we have found ourselves in a vineyard kitchen. That alone might be enough of a challenge, but doing it AT THE SAME TIME while they are still serving customers is a recipe for crazy.
10. Catering is too expensive. There’s a really easy fix for this. Invite less guests.