How to request catering quotes
Real Wedding Planner Advice from Lisa Sammons Events

Even if you have a wedding planner, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with “How catering works” and “How to request a catering quote”

Real Wedding Planner Advice: Contacting a caterer with a 1 line email asking for a wedding quote will make your process longer than it needs to be. Here’s how to get your quote faster from caterers, but you will need to do some prep before you contact your preferred caterers for quotes. Following these 11 steps will help expedite your quote and put you further ahead in the caterer’s quote “queue”.

Here is your homework! 11 items to prepare your catering quote inquiry: 

1. What is the date of your wedding – Why? If the caterer is already booked on your wedding day, then they will not create a custom quote for you. (makes sense – right?)

2. How many people will you be INVITING to your wedding? Not how many people you “guess” will be attending… and please make sure you count your parents, your bridal party, any children, and most importantly… you and your fiance!

 3. What type of reception menu do you want for your wedding? Cocktail Party Style?

Individually Plated and Served Dinner?

Family-style? 

or a Buffet Dinner?

4. Where is your wedding ceremony and where is your wedding reception?

5. What time is your wedding ceremony?

6. Is your wedding reception venue inside a building or are you having a tented wedding?

7. What are the kitchen facilities like at your wedding reception venue? (and do they allow outside caterers)

8. Will want your caterer to provide beverage and bar service? And what will that consist of?
Open Bar? Cash Bar? and will you want wine served with dinner at your guest tables?

9. What type of liquor service will your venue allow? 

10. What are your favorite foods, wedding guest food allergies, likes and dislikes?

Dessert Table Design: Lisa Sammons Events Wedding Cake & Cupcakes: Wild Orchid Baking Co.

11. Will you be having a wedding cake? and/or will you want dessert provided/served?

Now make a list of the answers to these 11 items and you are ready to create your email to send your potential caterers!

We hope this “How to request a catering quote” article is helpful! We have already started “How does catering work” article to help you prepare for your caterer’s response to your inquiry… coming up next!

Questions? Need more detailed info? Feel free to contact Lisa Sammons Events at anytime. We are happy to help!Article: Lisa Sammons – Owner/Principal Planner & Lead Designer – Lisa Sammons Events /Contributor & Features Editor:  Style, Inspiration, & DesignWe are REAL Wedding Planners servicing New York and New England.
We also travel to where ever our clients need us. If you are planning a destination wedding, we are happy to plan  your wedding … where ever and whenever!
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