5 Things You Should Ask Your Caterer

Sup lovebirds! We’re coming through with a post on what in the F should you be asking when meeting with caterers. 

As you probably noticed, planning a wedding has a lot of things to think about than you’ve imagined. We’re here to give you a hand and provide insight from one of the best caterers in Chicago on what to look for and ask when meeting your potential caterers. 

We’re not gonna let you guys feel in the dark when meeting with one of the most important team players on your day! Shannon at Green Spoon Kitchen came through with those valuable tips. Let’s dig in: 

Who is Green Spoon Kitchen?

GSK is a boutique caterer that truly brings the farm to table restaurant experience to any venue. Everything we produce is made from scratch with seasonal ingredients from local suppliers and we think you can really taste the difference. We’re meticulous about the details and customize each client’s menu to their individual preferences and vision. There are SO many aspects to every event and our approach is to partner with our clients and the many vendors that become the team that brings their celebration together. 

What makes GSK different from other caterers?

It’s the way we cook that really sets us apart. We cook our client’s menu onsite in ovens so each guest receives a hot, fresh, flavorful meal. We do things the right way and don’t compromise on quality or cut corners. Also our event staff works directly for us and we nurture our crew because we know that service staff really makes all the difference. 

Top 3 things to ask your caterer:

To be honest I think most clients focus on a caterer’s experience at a particular venue but the reality is that we can execute a full pop up restaurant out of a barn without running water or electricity so we can really work ANYWHERE. With that in mind, I think the three questions that would help clients most in deciding if their caterer is “the one” would be:

1. What are your favorite dishes & drinks on this menu?
2. If the budget is a priority, what are your recommendations on how to fit what we’re looking for in our budget?
3. What is your planning process & next steps from the proposal stage through to event day. 
4. And a fourth for funzies… Do you have venue and vendor recommendations (because we have worked with a lot of people at a lot of places and totally have our favs)

Ingredient/spice you think is underrated:

This isn’t exactly answering the question but the most underrated element of catering is a perfectly cooked meal. I think catering has gotten such a bad rap for being gray cold rubbery chicken with a soggy, mushy vegetable of some description and gluey mashed potatoes that people have just come to expect that they’re probably not going to enjoy their meal at a wedding. This breaks my heart because it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re in Chicago and food is a big deal here and your wedding meal should be no exception. I also think a couple should pick their wedding menu based on their preferences and not based on what their families will enjoy because great food is great food and most people will enjoy it. So be bold, pick some things that feel a little risky but that tastes good to you! It’s your day after all ;). 

What inspires you?

Maybe this is corny but it’s honestly people’s stories that inspire me the most. Every event (but especially weddings) becomes this culmination of elements. They’re little puzzle pieces that eventually fit together for one spectacular day. Everything from a cocktail that reminds a couple of their first vacation together, or a dish that reminds them of a special meal all shared between two families and a bunch of friends. My favorite part of every wedding is the dinner, when everyone is sitting and chatting and laughing with great food that was selected by two people that fell in love and now here we all are. 

One thing you want couples planning their wedding to know:

Ok, so there are about 9 million things that I would love to share with couples planning their wedding. In no particular order, I’ve listed 3 here ;). 

1. Planning your wedding can be a lot of fun! Everyone in the industry knows that you’ve never done this before so we don’t expect you to have everything figured out and if you’re talking to a vendor they will most likely have a ton of information that they’d be happy to share with you. Ultimately, we just want you to be ecstatic on your wedding day and will move mountains (if possible) to help make that happen for you. So please ask questions of your potential and eventual vendors. We have heard and seen it all before so don’t be shy. 
2. The third thing you should do after getting engaged (after saying yes and calling your people of course) is to really talk with each other about what’s important to you about your wedding. Is it the location, the guest list, what’s the style, what’s the vibe, are there any special moments or items that are must haves, what are things you’ve liked and also didn’t like at weddings you’ve been to, are you doing the traditional wedding things or not, what food is important to you (and is great food important)? Get that list locked down and find alignment on any areas you are not quite lining up on BEFORE you actually start planning (and definitely before you ask ANYONE else about what they think or about their experience). If you’ve got a solid vision from the start the rest is easy and low stress. 
3. Sticker shock is real and I will officially debunk the myth that anything is more expensive just because it’s a wedding, because it’s not. Weddings are just simply expensive and everyone understands that your budget is a lot of money for you and you don’t want to spend more than you have to for anything. There are so many ways to save money on your wedding and here are my top three:

• Quell your guest list. Some of the most amazing weddings I’ve ever been to or have catered have been simple, intimate and small. If your budget is tight, this is the way to go. 
• DO NOT skimp on the essential vendors: Venue (more on this below), Caterer, Photographer, Florist, DJ & Day of Coordinator! DIY’ing your wedding sounds like a great way to save money at the start but please trust me when I say that in the long run it will be way more time, way more stress and most likely just as expensive as hiring a professional. Just hire the professional and you will be so happy that you did! If you find the right team they can help save you money and you’ll actually enjoy your wedding. Your friends and family want to help by planning your shower, hosting your post-wedding brunch, delivering items to your venue, organizing a pet sitter for you. They are not professional DJ’s, Pastry Chef’s, Caterers, Bartenders, Wedding Planners and they should just be allowed to be guests on the day (and even if they are professionals in the above mentioned list, please just let them be your guest). 
• Your venue is usually the first decision you make and can either save you money or cost you money. Look for a venue that has elements that you already love. Tables that look great without linens (saves you money), chairs that you like (now you don’t need to rent something in), do they have a bar (or enough bars to cover your headcount comfortably), do they charge a catering commission, do they include anything like a photo booth, a sound system, a dj, up-lighting, do they have enough space to hold your entire wedding inside in case of rain (or do they provide tenting if not), do they have a space for you to get ready or to store any of the items you’ll be bringing on the day? The more your venue provides the less you’ll spend on rentals and fees. 

There you have it babes. Here’s to walking into your meeting with potential caterers feeling prepared. For more information on the stellar Green Spoon Kitchen squad, check them out here or email Shannon: shannon@greenspoonkitchen.com

Provecho aka Bon Appetit, 

Cejay + Brian