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Caterer Woes

Budget Weddings

Caterer Woes

Want a beautiful wedding on a budget? Chat here.

A week ago my fiance and I met with a caterer.  We explained we were on a budget, were having a small (around 80 people wedding), and agreed upon a sample menu.  Yesterday we got the printed

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Budget Weddings

Caterer Woes

Want a beautiful wedding on a budget? Chat here.

A week ago my fiance and I met with a caterer.  We explained we were on a budget, were having a small (around 80 people wedding), and agreed upon a sample menu.  Yesterday we got the printed

Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:665

Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:665Discussion:7b6ea9c4-8623-4e3a-83ca-c009b691e2c0

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Forums > Wedding Boards > Budget Weddings > Caterer Woes

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Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:04 PM EST on theknot.com

ChristineNB

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A week ago my fiance and I met with a caterer. We explained we were on a budget, were having a small (around 80 people wedding), and agreed upon a sample menu. Yesterday we got the printed copy of the sample menu and the cost estimate. The cost the caterer is quoting us is a whopping $3000 over what me and my fiance had planned on paying. Granted this estimate does include the cost of linen rentals, but still too much. What concerns me perhaps more than the estimate is that we had agreed (I thought) on some cheaper buffet options, pasta bar, pittsburgh food (wings, pierogies, etc), and salad, and his menu included none of that. Instead the menu was replaced with food that would be much more expensive such as seafood and sushi.

My fiance is frustrated and feels like we will never be able to afford this wedding. I feel like we will be able to make the wedding work within our budget. I am planning on contacting the caterer to discuss my concerns and to tell them my budget. I am also considering looking for another caterer.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:23 PM EST on theknot.com

ElisabethJoanne

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I'm finding caterers very difficult to work with, too. Unreturned e-mails, missed deadlines, etc.

My first thought is you got someone else's paperwork. We got a proposed menu with someone else's name on it.

My second thought is, yes, you need to find another caterer if this isn't fixed fast. Catering is likely the biggest item in your budget. Don't give thousands of dollars to someone who's a pain to work with.

I've had good success being up-front in my first e-mails to caterers. I say what foods we want, the style of service, the expected number of guests, and our budget less 20%. I've had some be nice and honest and write back, "We just can't do the kind of food we do at that price." Some have a price-per-head, take it or leave it. Most ask to submit a proposal, which come in 15% less than the number I give them, but at the real number when you add taxes and gratuities.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:27 PM EST on theknot.com

bchbride062012

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I would contact the caterer and ask if what they sent you was a mistake. They seriously could have read his notes wrong. Mine did but fixed it immediately and was quite embaressed. I would suggest to call or email them and give them an oppotunity to fix the situation. Tell him again what your budget is and that it is set in stone. Good luck

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:37 PM EST on theknot.com

ChristineNB

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In Response to Re: Caterer Woes:

I'm finding caterers very difficult to work with, too. Unreturned e-mails, missed deadlines, etc. My first thought is you got someone else's paperwork. We got a proposed menu with someone else's name on it. My second thought is, yes, you need to find another caterer if this isn't fixed fast. Catering is likely the biggest item in your budget. Don't give thousands of dollars to someone who's a pain to work with. I've had good success being up-front in my first e-mails to caterers. I say what foods we want, the style of service, the expected number of guests, and our budget less 20%. I've had some be nice and honest and write back, "We just can't do the kind of food we do at that price." Some have a price-per-head, take it or leave it. Most ask to submit a proposal, which come in 15% less than the number I give them, but at the real number when you add taxes and gratuities.
Posted by ElisabethJoanne

Nope definitely our wedding quote. Our name on it, and some of the menu loosely resemblemed what we had discussed, albeit with more expensive alternatives. I just feel that I should be able to do better than $50/pp.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:41 PM EST on theknot.com

Tandra&Devi...

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If your caterer is adding in extra stuff that you don't want and it pads the price, I'd say either sit down and have a frank discussion with him/her about it, or try to find a different caterer. The last thing you want is an unexpected bill after the wedding when the caterer decides to serve something you didn't agree upon. To me, that's just dishonest business dealing.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:51 PM EST on theknot.com

kennazebrowsky

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Ours is about 30 per person. We had to change to them because my step mom did not like who I chose before- sadly the other people were way less $$. But I will never hear the end of it do we agreed to switch. Just call
Them and have them change the menu. And with gratuity and tax we are at 3,600 for 110 (we counted kids as less since we have so many that don't eat as much as an adult would)

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:54 PM EST on theknot.com

ceh789

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Email them and ask why they made changes from what you had discussed. Ask if they are able to meet the requests you made and if so to please submit a revised quote for THAT menu. If they are unable to meet your requests then you need a different caterer.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:54 PM EST on theknot.com

calliopeia2013

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Absolutely consider fnding another caterer, but first sit down with this one and just say that they're misinterpreting your requests- you don't want seafood and sushi, you want pasta and pierogies. And just say that it's fine if they can't create the menu you're looking for, but you'd appreciate them being honest with you if that's the case.

Did you give the caterer your budget? Because they should be trying to stick to it, or tell you it's too low for them so you can find someone else. If you haven't already, be frank with them about your budget.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 3:59 PM EST on theknot.com

naomikb

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There's obviously something wrong - either he copied over information from a past quote by accident and included it along with your details, or he is trying to get more money out of you. I would contact him to clarify that for sure, and if he keeps trying to entice you into a more expensive menu then find someone else to work with.

08.20.2011

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 4:17 PM EST on theknot.com

dalm0m

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The caterer is trying to make money. It's not personal against you but you don't have to pay it, assuming you haven't signed anything yet.

Call the caterer & politely but firmly say, I'm sorry but this isn't want we talked about. We need to cut $X out of this proposal. I'd like to begin by taking the seafood off b/c we told you we didn't want that. If the caterer gives you grief, get another caterer.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 4:33 PM EST on theknot.com

Zipster23

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I totally understand this. We were having a lot of the same issues. It amazed me what some caterers first proposals were. Many of the proposals we got were for more than the entire budget of our wedding for just the food. My advice is to negotiate! I don't think our experience has been normal, but we've been able to negotiate some of our proposals down by almost 50%. Just let them know what things you think are unecessary from the propsal (the sushi and seafood seem like a good starting point), and ask if they have any other ideas for lowering the cost or are able to offer any discounts that would bring their proposal down to your budget.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 7:10 PM EST on theknot.com

Hobie625

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I just don't understand catering ridiculousness. I mean, their job is to make food, so why can't you tell them what kind of food you want and then they make it? I understand some places have set choices for apps, plated meals, but if you choose certain items, then they shouldn't be adding things you DON'T want.

I have yet to meet with a caterer, so I'm appreciating all this advice too. I emailed two last week and I didn't hear back from them (or the bakery either). I called both two days later and one said she had emailed back, but that her email wasn't working well, and the other guy emailed and said he'd have a quote for me within two days. How does he even know what we want? We never spoke in person or discussed any details about the event! I'm already worried.

My opinion would be to find someone else. Maybe you can discuss the errors in your quote, but how much time and effort (and stress) will that take? I think I'd be kind of quick to look for something else.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 8:02 PM EST on theknot.com

mollyehren

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I would contact them and say $???? is my budget for catering for 80 people. What can you provide within this price range? That way you find out 1. if they will wevwn work with your budget and 2. what options you have.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/7/2012 8:59 PM EST on theknot.com

ILoveMilkDuds

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I'd just let him know you need the menu to be what you discussed at your meeting.

Was some of $3000 over what you talked about tax and service charge by any chance? That is something some people forget to budget for in addition to food/drink prices.

Married Bio

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/8/2012 8:02 AM EST on theknot.com

Meghannsix

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Agree with PP's, contact them soon, and straighten this out! And as a bride in your area, would you mind sharing the name of the caterer? Just in case I find myself in the same situation!

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/8/2012 8:08 AM EST on theknot.com

Elinetrouwt

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I understand. I found a caterer by the end of november, and when we said down together, he told us that he could definitely do something in our budget, but we’d have to wait until January for a final proposal. Now that we have his ideas, it turns out to be about 1500$ more than budgeted. Granted, it’s no 3000, but still. We told him that we would like to get a cheaper option, but are looking for other caterers as well. Catering has been the most frustrating search so far.

Looking forward to July 7th 2012

My inspiration: http://pinterest.com/2012thewedding/

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/8/2012 8:38 PM EST on theknot.com

ChristineNB

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In Response to Re: Caterer Woes:

Agree with PP's, contact them soon, and straighten this out! And as a bride in your area, would you mind sharing the name of the caterer? Just in case I find myself in the same situation!
Posted by Meghannsix

Hey Megan. I may be "in your area" but I'm actually planning a hometown Pittsburgh wedding, so Not a DC area caterer

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/12/2012 11:07 PM EST on theknot.com

shipsinthenight

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Fi is sitting in the room with me as I read this post. We both get it, catering is a business, they're trying to make money like the rest of us. I work retail, I deal with what works in a given budget and what doesn't vs what the customer wants every day. But my sales pitch ends at a certain point, and I would hope that with a caterer their sales pitch ends when you finish your initial meeting, not continuing with a menu proposal later. I would have been really upset by this too. Fi agreed and said I'm allowed to go bride-zilla on vendors for this type of thing. Of course, try to be diplomatic and firm to start with, but they really shouldn't have added on exspensive things you didn't ask for like that. $3000 is a huge price jump unless you're uber rich.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/14/2012 2:00 PM EST on theknot.com

tamezie

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it's an estimate for a reason. i'd talk to other caterers.

you never know when you're going to meet that one person
that just sees your vision and is your match. Keep looking.

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/17/2012 1:39 PM EST on theknot.com

jwrenne

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I have a guest list of 30 people, and so far the cheapest i can find is around $30 pp, but then when they add those extra costs like, servers (300 p server), tax, tables, etc, I'm really paying $50 pp. thats now doubled what I expected to pay for a small wedding. At this point our catering budget is whats determining how much we can afford for everything else.
I tried to see if we could just get everyone McDonalds, but the FI said it wouldnt fly, so we are stuck with those higher costs...

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Re: Caterer Woes

posted at 2/19/2012 4:22 PM EST on theknot.com

MiLadyK

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For a small group, look at resturants with private dining rooms as well as caterers, especially if you can be flexible on location.

We planned on spending the vast majority of our budget on food and decided to take everyone to a nice dinner at a good steakhouse.

If you are on a limited budget for a small group, renting a pleasant resturant's private room allows you to give your guests more of a choice on food and keep the price low.

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