If you've booked your caterers, I need some input.
I've found one we really like (on paper) but I'm worried I'm going to get nickled and dimed to death. The pp charge is fairly inexpensive, but even with adding an 18% "administrative/operations" fee, travel charges and tax, the price is still within our budget. Here's what gets me...they don't include gratuity in the charges. I've never seen this before. When I asked the owner about it, she said they don't include gratuity, but the servers wages are part of the "administrative/operations" fee, and we're welcome to tip whatever we feel comfortable with. Also, she said she can't lock in the 2012 pricing for us since a lot can "vary" between now and June 2013. We'd pay a $250 deposit to hold the date, and would pay the 75% of the total cost a month before the wedding and the remaining 25% the day of the wedding.
Thoughts? I'm worried about getting nickled and dimed, not to mention the prices shooting up in 2013. THe owner said that inflation is generally 2%-6% depending on food costs and gas prices, however, she has had years that have gone up as much as 10%. Her company has a great reputation and has amazing reviews....
Thoughts?