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Dallas, TX – The caterer you choose to serve your wedding has the potential to add greatly to the memories of your wedding day, either for good or for bad. Choosing the right wedding caterer is, next to the decision to get married in the first place, one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

There are several important factors to consider when you’re choosing a wedding caterer:

References

Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool that businesses have, and this is especially true for wedding caterers. If you have found a caterer you think you might be able to work with, ask for a list of references. You need to be able to talk directly to past clients to find out what their experiences were like. It’s not uncommon to ask for as many as 10 or more references.

Checking those references is an important part of the vetting process. You’ll want to ask some specific questions of those former clients. You should ask if they were happy with the caterer. Ask them if the caterer followed through on everything they said they would do. Find out if there were any unexpected circumstances, and what the caterer did to deal with them. Ask about the quality of the food, and the friendliness of the catering staff. While it may seem like tedious work, just one afternoon on the phone talking to references can make the difference between a wonderful event and a horror story.

Options and Services

It’s also important to choose a wedding caterer that meets your needs. For example, if you know you’ll have several guests in attendance with special dietary needs, find out what the caterer can do to provide options for those guests. Find out what sorts of accessories the caterer uses to enhance their food tables, and what kinds of decorations they may be able to provide.

Along these lines, you should find out what services are optional. If you’re on a tight budget, a good wedding caterer will be able to work with you to trim down to the essentials, keeping you where you need to be in terms of cost.

Personality Types

During the process of trying to find the right caterer, you’ll find a number of different personality types. There are wedding caterers who seem hurried and disorganized. They seem as though they may not be paying close attention, even though they are. On the other hand, you’ll find caterers that seem relaxed, perhaps too relaxed. Try to find a caterer who doesn’t rub you the wrong way as a person. After all, you’re going to have to be working directly with them for some time.

Legal Issues

Finally, you want to choose a wedding caterer that has their ducks in a row in terms of legal matters. Ask for proof of their liability insurance, and even a copy of their business license. Make sure they’re bonded, as well. If the wedding caterer offers a written contract, make sure you read it carefully and know what’s in it.