Behind the scenes and incredibly hard working, don’t hire a wedding caterer and everyone will notice! We get the inside (ice cream) scoop from one of the UK’s best…
Working with excited couples for years, we hook up with wedding caterer and owner of Perfect Day Caterers to lift the lid on what life is really like designing heavenly menus, immaculate table setting, providing excellent service, and calming down the bride when she goes off on one (again)…
“For me, there is much more than just ‘a day in the life of a caterer’ that goes into wedding menu preparation; it’s more like a whole year’s worth of planning to ensure the food on the big day is faultless and exactly what the bride and groom envisaged! Wedding caterers pay close attention to every crucial food-related detail and are often involved in a large amount of organisation on the day.”
jimmysfarm.com
“For example, in the lead up to the big day I liaise with the venue and other suppliers on timings, décor, room layout and various other details. As part of our service, we often help to set up and dress the room before guests arrive. Therefore, knowing the colours used by a couple’s florists and a venue’s time restrictions in allowing for food prep proves to be invaluable when avoiding hiccups. We come to understand exactly how the couple want the venue to look; one important lesson I have learnt over the years is no detail is too small!”
“The planning of the menu itself is often no simple feat. We meet with the bride and groom to discuss their ideal menu months in advance – favourite foods and dietary restrictions are deliberated. However, I also plan for inevitable changes as realities of the venue become apparent. For example, some venues have very restricted kitchen space and utilities making specific dishes particularly difficult. It’s all about flexibility in this business!”
“Every venue we work at is drastically different, from old manor houses and venues with well-equipped commercial kitchens to marquees and remote fields where we set up from scratch! Whilst this often makes the process of planning all the more difficult, it is this variation that keeps the job so interesting, exciting and rewarding. No two days are the same and once the venues’ facilities are better established we can completely tailor our bespoke services to meet the needs of each couple, reflecting their personalities and relationship style. Each day poses a new challenge from developing a fun-filled do-it-yourself style buffet for the more adventurous, to a classic and elegant three-course dining experience for the more traditional – we have literally catered for just about every preference.”
“The day before the wedding is also particularly time consuming for the caterers. I spend most of the day with my chef prepping in the kitchen and in a bid to reduce stress at the venue, anything that can be finished in advance will be. Preparation is key in ensuring that the wedding day runs as smoothly as possible. Canapes will be prepped and chilled, cutlery organised, and check lists written in detail.”
“On the day itself, the caterer has to wake up bright and early – or maybe not so bright depending on the time of year! It is critical to make sure everything is completed in plenty of time, allowing for any mistakes or unexpected twists. It is not uncommon to arrive at an event and find the kitchen appliances are not what was expected on the day. Throughout the numerous weddings I have catered for, we have experienced everything from the lack of a fridge to inaccessible plug sockets! It appears that a key responsibility of every wedding caterer is crisis management – the bride and groom can’t go hungry!”
“We begin by getting everything packed up and loaded into the van; our lists are checked and checked again so that nothing is forgotten or misplaced. Upon arrival, we set the tables with fine detail and begin to cook before welcoming our pool of friendly waiting staff – being greeted with a smile on your wedding day makes all the difference and so caterers typically invest greatly in dedicated, passionate employees.”
hyde house wedding photography
“Although catering a wedding is hard work for dedicated caterers who spend all day on their feet, I often get caught up in the excitement of the day and like to take the time to capture some beautiful moments when I can. Being a fundamental part of the couples’ big day is an honour and I like to take a few moments to step out of the kitchen and see how the guests are enjoying the day. Going home at the end of the day, feeling completely exhausted and unable to sleep with aching legs, I am always proud of our menu and pleased I’ve been able to deliver a creative culinary experience for my clients and their guests!”
With such winning attention to detail and for the sheer love of the game, we highly recommend you check out perfectdaycaterers.co.uk
