Catering question from a novice

Good to know! Thanks so much again, you've been so helpful!

No, you're better off getting your own alcohol. If you're only doing beer, wine and cocktails, you can definitely maximize that dollar to go further. I'm paying my venue $6000+ tax and gratuity for an open bar, which covers things like whiskey (which some people will have) and peach schnapps (which no one I know will have lol) and I know for a fact that half of my guest list won't drink their worth. But a cash or host bar is too cumbersome for us.

Just make sure to ask the venue if you need to procure your own Special Occasion Permit.

Thanks again for all of your insight, I really appreciate it! Should I be concerned that this price does not include the alcohol? Caterer told me that we would provide our own, which I'm okay with because whatever we don't use can be returned. We are planning on serving beer, wine, and cocktails.

There is a nominal fee for hall staff to set up any of the items we choose to use; this is something I will consider for sure.

Thanks for your reply, Vinod!

General consensus is that the price is fair, so that brings me comfort! I will definitely ask if gratuity is included. This is what we have decided on for our menu:

- 3 hors d'oeuvres for cocktail hour

- 3 course meal (salad for starter; choice of tenderloin, salmon, or vegetarian for entree; dessert )

- Late night snack (2 options)

Your budget per person sounds reasonable and the quote provided for what is being offered seems fair for the price of hiring staff and bartenders certified separately. The cost per person being $134 isn't bad and the rentals included is excellent considering that does add up easily too separately.

Ask if the gratuity is included in the price so you don't have to pay more tip over the amount. Food tasting and menu options would be good to be good questions to know what they offer.

Compare with other companies given the same deal and if they don't come close, this company seems to give the best deal so far.

The price sounds fair for a steak and salmon option, maybe on the high side of average. Typical GTA prices for those entrees in a three course meal + hors d'oeuvres and bar is $125+. Once you factor in the labour, additional food for late night, all the supplies you're using from them instead of the hall, plus travel (you said near London and not London itself, so I'm guessing you're in a smaller town in the area), it sounds more or less what a typical price for wedding food. That being said, your vegetarian price is definitely on the high side but who knows, maybe you won't have vegetarian guests!

If you got the linens, glassware, and utensils from the hall, would they set it up for you as part of your rental fee? Normally they would. I know you said you'd rather get everything from one group but you're at the hall regardless, and if their staff is ready to work, might as well use it.

Unless you're only serving bottled beer and wine, I wouldn't skimp on the bartenders. If you're serving mixed drinks and cocktails, lineups could get long and if I'm at the back who just wanted a bottle of beer, I'd get antsy.

That seems reasonable to me. I would double check that it includes the gratuity because every quote I got had taxes and gratuity included. I would also ask if 2 bartenders are needed for 50 people. Most places I looked at had 1 bartender per 50 people.

Did they give you options for other entrees at a lower cost? It sounds like they asked you your budget and then gave you that price--did they have any listings of cost? Our venue had three meal options at different costs, so we could see the difference between the menus.

Hi Amelia, thanks for responding!

I haven't looked into hiring separate bar staff yet but will explore this option. In terms of rentals, the hall also provides linens, flatware/glassware/cutlery/etc but I kind of like the idea of everything coming from the same vendor, just for continuity and convenience. So I guess I'm paying for that, which is fine!

I think what is throwing me off a bit is that I was expecting there to be different price points for different items on the menu (we chose salmon, a mushroom tart for veg option, and tenderloin for our entrees), but on the mock-up invoice, the caterer just said $75 x 50 for menu; another vendor I was talking with before had the exact price of each menu item so it was easier to gauge how much we were spending. Maybe this will change once the menu is set in stone and he will provide me with prices per item. I think I also expected the late night snacks to be included in the $75/plate, but again, I don't really know what I'm doing haha.

I don't really know why I'm fixating on the price so much because I know we can afford it, I just don't want to be taken advantage of because I an new and naive to all of this, you know?

Hey Sarah, without fully knowing what the menu choices are, that price sounds reasonable considering all the labour you need. If your entree is a decent cut of beef or seafood, then it's about right but if what you're getting is burgers, chicken, and tacos, then it's on the pricey side. Is the $6700 including tax and gratuity?

Is this quote based on a venue's caterer or is this external catering that you're bringing to a bare bones venue?