Choosing your wedding caterer is about far more than simply picking dishes from a menu.
The food itself obviously matters, but great wedding catering is really about creating atmosphere, keeping the day flowing smoothly and making guests feel looked after from the first drink through to the evening celebrations.
But when you first think about catering, it can be hard to know what questions you should be asking – you’ve never planned a wedding before, after all.
At Kemp & Kemp, we’ve catered weddings everywhere from elegant country houses to relaxed barn venues and outdoor marquees, and the couples who enjoy the planning process most are usually the ones who understand how the day will actually work behind the scenes…
Which is how we always love to work, given that us and all of your vendors are a huge part of your big day!
So, to help you get started with those catering conversations, here are some of the most useful questions worth asking before booking your wedding caterer…
Can You Cater At Our Wedding Venue?
This should always be one of the very first questions because wedding venues vary so much and we’ve seen pretty much everything there is to see.
But while some venues come with fully equipped kitchens complete with dedicated prep areas and easy supplier access, others have absolutely nothing and requite a bit more thought.
Barns and dry-hire venues have increased significantly in popularity in recent years but many of them need caterers to bring everything with them (and we don’t just mean ingredients!).
An experienced caterer should be able to explain how the service will work on site, what equipment needs to be brought in, whether extra refrigeration and power is required, and how the set-up and clear-down will work (and how long that will take, since it affects staffing requitements and access to the site).
What’s Included In Your Quote?
Wedding catering quotes can look wildly different from one supplier to another, but there is a reason for that.
Because some include staffing, equipment and service elements upfront while others charge separately later, which is why in your first conversations around price, it’s worth asking if a quote includes:
- Waiting staff
- Crockery and cutlery
- Glassware
- Linen
- Setup and clear-down
- Tea and coffee
- Evening food
- Travel
- VAT
Clear, transparent pricing usually leads to far fewer surprises later on, which helps when you’ve got dozens of other vendors to speak to!
How Flexible Are Your Menus?
This is a really important question because caterers work in very different ways and some only offer fixed wedding packages with adjustments for dietary requirements.
While others create menus around the couple, the venue and the style of the day – and it’s why we work with you to ensure that you create exactly what you’re looking for.
At Kemp & Kemp, many couples come to us with a feeling they want to create rather than a fully decided menu, whether that naturally leads towards a sharing feast (we have a fair claim to say we invented those, by the way), seasonal menus or relaxed communal dining, those initial conversations shape the way your catering looks.
The best wedding food feels connected to you as a couple and to the setting you’ve chosen, which we have no doubt is absolutely fabulous.
Experienced caterers should comfortably handle flexibility in their dietary requirements, whether that’s gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, children’s menus or any manner of allergies as long as you make them aware.
But it’s still worth asking how dietary requirements are managed operationally, just for your own peace of mind.
Good hospitality means every guest feels genuinely included and for us, hospitality weddings is the absolute most important thing in the world. Along with the food, naturally.
How Many Staff Will Be There?
Staffing is one of the most overlooked parts of wedding catering, because guests rarely notice good staffing. They absolutely do notice poor staffing, though, which is why it’s so important.
A good caterer should clearly explain how many chefs will attend and who will manage your day – Richard manages your catering from the moment you book with us, so you always know who you’re dealing with and where you stand.
This becomes especially important at larger weddings or venues with complicated layouts, so you don’t have to worry about any of the tricky logistics on the day.
Most couples understandably want to know they genuinely love the food being served at their wedding, which is why we always work with you to ensure you have peace of mind, which might mean a tasting session.
That chemistry matters far more than people sometimes realise, which is something we pride ourselves on at Kemp & Kemp.
You need that assurance that if anything does go wrong on the day, we’ll be able to adapt – and over the years, there’s nothing we haven’t seen ‘go wrong’!
Whether it’s the weather, timings, suppliers, power, transport, staffing or anything else, sometimes hiccups do occur and having a backup plan is crucial so that if something does happen, we can quickly pivot and we don’t miss a beat.
In the best possible way, you shouldn’t notice your wedding caterer or give any thought to the hospitality on the day because it should move seamlessly around your special day.
Questions Couples Often Forget To Ask Their Wedding Caterer
Some of the most useful questions are the smaller practical ones when it comes to your caterers.
For example:
- Who clears tables?
- Is cake cutting included?
- Who coordinates with the venue?
- How flexible are timings?
- What happens during room turnaround?
- How is evening food served?
These details make a huge difference to how relaxed the day ultimately feels and knowing that everything is in hand means there’s nothing left to second guess on the day, when you’ll be otherwise occupied!
Choosing your wedding caterer is largely about trust and finding people you like (and food you like) is all that matters. You’re choosing the people responsible for feeding your favourite humans on one of the most important days of your life, after all.
Great wedding catering should feel warm, calm, generous and effortless, even though there’s a huge amount happening behind the scenes to make that possible.
At Kemp & Kemp, we believe the best weddings are the ones where guests feel genuinely welcomed around the table and that starts with asking thoughtful questions early on.
FAQs
When should you book a wedding caterer?
Ideally 12–18 months before the wedding, especially for popular summer dates, although the earlier the better.
Should caterers visit the venue beforehand?
Yes, particularly for barns, marquees and dry-hire venues to ensure they know exactly what they need to bring on the day.
Do wedding caterers provide crockery and glassware?
Many do, but always check exactly what’s included in the quote.
Can caterers provide vegan wedding food?
Absolutely, most (almost all) experienced caterers regularly cater for vegan and vegetarian guests.
How many staff do wedding caterers need?
It depends on guest numbers and service style, but experienced caterers should advise clearly so you know what to expect.
Is a tasting normally included?
Some caterers include tastings before booking, while others arrange them afterwards, so it’s always worth asking when speaking with prospective wedding caterers.
If you want to talk through some options for your wedding, drop us an email on info@kempandkempcatering.co.uk and we’ll discuss how we can make your food dreams a reality.
