Meeting with caterers

lusciouslips

I'll be down in Newport in May and am going to meet with a few caterers including West Bay Gourmet and Blue Rocks Catering. Anyone have any tips for negotiating with prices? We're really trying to stay within budget and it's soo difficult.

nbherrick

play them against each other. Give them your budget and let them know what you are getting from other caterers. Caterers were my biggest stress when planning. I went with Glorious Affairs. I met with Blue Rock and West Bay. We felt we clicked better with Glorious Affairs and we liked their menu the best.

RoyalOrient

I just met with B & M Clambake (they obviously offer more than just clambakes) I found them extremely affordable so you might want to check them out. They have some pricing on their page. I am using their drop off service off their a la carte menu but they have full catering services. I would definitely be upfront about your budget when meeting with caterers. Be open to suggestions and ask for ways to reduce cost.

goldnvintage

Rather than open bar at cocktail hour you can cut costs by having a 'signature cocktail' and then just beers. Having 2 meal choices rather than three sometimes works, and having passed horederves for a half hour rather than an hour can help. They have a lot of suggestions on ways to cut costs if you ask.