The most expensive wedding catering is the sit down dinner with cocktails before the dinner and an open bar. This can easily cost two hundred dollars per person or more, especially if the event is held at a luxurious hotel or country club. A less expensive choice is a buffet with a limited bar, which might cost around fifty dollars per person. The least expensive wedding catering service would be a hors d’oeuvres reception or simple meal with no alcohol served, which could be around twenty dollars per person.
The couple getting married should plan a meeting with the caterer to decide upon a menu and taste the items that will be served. The bride’s parents may want to attend the meeting, since they may be writing the check that will pay for the caterer.
Of course, the real work for the caterer will take place on the wedding day. The caterer and staff will get up very early to cook all the food, and then transport it to the location of the wedding reception. The catering staff will then make the final preparations to the food being served. If it is a sit down dinner, the caterer will provide a wait staff to do the serving. They will also cut and serve the wedding cake to all the guests. Finally, the staff will do all the cleaning up, and will handle returning any items that have been rented.