Catering Your South Carolina Wedding Reception

South Carolina wedding reception food can be amazing if the bride and groom plan carefully. After the bride and groom have set a date for the wedding, picked the destination, planned out a budget, and picked the bridal party, it is time to figure out how to feed all of the wedding guests! Here are a few hints for catering the wedding reception.

Catering Your South Carolina Reception

If the wedding reception is at a South Carolina hotel, country club, nightclub or restaurant, which also has catering available, be sure to meet the wedding manager to go over menu selections and the services to be provided. Make sure the reception site has catered other South Carolina weddings before. Ask to see pictures of past events if available. Check with the wedding officiant to see if there are any caterers that he or she recommends. Taste the food before committing to the location. Invite friends and family to taste test as well.

If the wedding reception is being held in a home, outside in a garden, or in a ceremony hall that allows the bride and groom to provide the caterer of their choice, the options are much more flexible. Traditionally, wedding favors along with the general music correspond thematically with the choice of food. The bride and groom may want to have the food served individually to their wedding guests, or may want to serve the food buffet-style, which is becoming increasingly popular especially with larger weddings in South Carolina.

Paying for South Carolina Catering

Catering services and fees in South Carolina vary depending on the services provided. Speak with several caterers until you find one that you feel confident can deliver what you want. Do the research early, though, most good caterers, like wedding planners, are booked months in advance. Find out if a deposit is required and how much in order to reserve the wedding date and time.

Choosing Your Caterer In South Carolina

When choosing a wedding caterer, find out what services they offer. Some caterers specialize in catering weddings, but merely handle food preparation, delivery and wait staff. Some provide every service and take care of all the details of the wedding, including all rental equipment, setup and clean-up, liquor, bartenders, floral and other decorations. Some offer some sort of wedding cake options, or they may be able to recommend a reputable and experienced baker in the local South Carolina area.

Finalizing the Details With Your Caterer

Once the bride and groom have decided on what they need from a South Carolina caterer, get an estimate of how much it will cost. Some companies offer discounts for multiple services if you want them to cater the bridal showers and parties as well. Check with the company about their cancellation policies. Make sure the caterer is licensed, insured and approved by the reception facility. The catering fee is usually a flat fee, based on the number of people attending, or a fee per person, depending on the type and amount of food provided. Most caterers require at least half or more of the fee up front and total payment and total guest count a week before the wedding. A service charge plus any state and sales tax is usually added to the grand total.

Be sure to choose a caterer that you get along with and one that will see to it that the personal needs of the bride and groom are met and exceeded on the wedding day. For more information, contact your local South Carolina caterer listed on www.Caterers.SC.

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