Selecting a wedding catering service is one of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding. However, before making the all-important decision of which caterer to choose, you must know what you will need from your caterer by answering some basic questions.

Questions to Ask Yourself

**What time is your reception? Will this be a lunch, dinner, or between-meals reception?

**Do you want a full meal at your reception?

**Will this be a buffet or served meal?

**What type of kitchen facilities will be available?

**How many people will probably be attending?

Questions to Ask the Prospective Catering Service

**What percentage of his/her business is dedicated to wedding receptions?

**May you have some references?

**Do they have photos from previous receptions to show food presentation?

**What is the cost per head? Do children receive a discounted rate?
 
**Is gratuity included or is there an extra charge?

**How many entree selections will be offered?
 
**Do they have a liquor license or do you have to supply your own?

**Will they also supply the linens, glasses, silverware, etc?

One way to find a good caterer is to do an internet search on caterers in your area who might have won any reader's polls or other awards. You might want to check on CitySearch.com for caterers in your area who have won a "best of" among their readers. Most major cities are represented.

Consider a Personal Chef

For smaller, more intimate wedding receptions, you might also consider hiring a personal chef. A personal chef can cater your reception as well as cook the food ahead of time and let you just heat and serve it. A personal chef can also be booked for private or group cooking classes, perfect for a bachelorette party, should you decide to have one.

To find a Certified Personal Chef in your area, go to http://www.hireachef.com, where you will find personal chefs who are members of The United States Personal Chef Association, which has established nationally recognized educational standards of knowledge and is the only Personal Chef organization authorized by the government to administer the designations of Certified Personal Chef and CPC.

Synonyms:   weddingcatering and wedding catering are used synonymously.

Weding, weddnig, weeding, and weddin are typos for "wedding." atering, actering, ctering, ctaering, caering, caetring, catring, catreing, cateing, cateirng, caterng, caternig, caterig, caterign, and caterin are typos for catering.