15 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer Before Booking

Most catering problems at weddings come from things nobody asked about before booking. Who brings the crockery? Is the tandoor extra? What if 100 more guests turn up? Here are the questions to ask your wedding caterer before you pay any advance. We are a caterer ourselves, and we would rather you ask us all of these.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer About the Food

1. Can we see a full menu with every dish written out? "Two sabzis" in a quote is not enough. Ask for names.
2. Can we taste the food before booking? Also ask which dishes you can taste and where.
3. Is the kitchen pure veg? If this matters to your family, ask directly.
4. Can you make Jain or no onion-garlic food for some guests? If yes, ask how they keep it separate.
5. Which dishes are cooked at the venue and which in your kitchen? Rotis, jalebis and tandoor items should always come fresh, so check where they are made.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer About Price

6. What exactly does the per-plate price include? Starters, drinks, desserts, live counters, water, crockery, staff?
7. What is the minimum guest count, and how are children charged?
8. What happens if more guests come than planned? Ask how they count and charge extra plates.
9. Are there any extra charges? Transport, generator, venue entry fees, breakage and taxes, so get them in writing.
10. How much advance is needed, and when is the balance due?

Our guide on wedding food quantity per person helps you check whether the planned quantities make sense.

About Service on the Day

11. How many service staff will there be, and what will they wear?
12. Who is the person in charge at the venue, and can we have their number?
13. Do you bring crockery, buffet counters and décor for the buffet? Also ask to see photos of the actual setup.
14. Have you worked at our venue before? Caterers who know a venue know its kitchen space, power and entry rules.
15. How do you handle hygiene and leftover food? Ask about gloves, caps, clean water, and whether leftovers can go to a food bank. FSSAI registration is a basic thing to check.

Get It in Writing

Once you have the answers, ask for a written quote with the menu, guest count, inclusions, extra charges and payment terms. It protects both you and the caterer. If you want to see how we work, read our story and what full service includes.

Red Flags When Talking to a Wedding Caterer

The answers you get to these questions to ask your wedding caterer matter, but so does how they answer. Be careful if a caterer:

• Gives a per-plate price without asking about your menu, guest count or venue
• Avoids putting the dish list or extra charges in writing
• Has no clear answer about who will manage the event on the day
• Cannot show photos or videos of their own setups and counters
• Asks for a large advance with no written agreement
• Promises a very low price that seems too good to be true, because it usually is.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer About the Menu Tasting

A tasting is your best chance to judge a caterer, so use it well:

• Taste the dishes that matter most to your family, such as dal, paneer and the main sweet.
• Bring one or two elders who know the family's taste.
• Ask how the food will differ when it is cooked for 500 people instead of 5.
• Note down any changes, like less oil or less spice, and ask for them in the written menu.

Comparing Two or Three Caterers

When you have quotes from more than one caterer, put them side by side in a simple table: per-plate price, number of dishes, live counters, what is included, extra charges, staff count and advance. Very often the cheapest quote leaves out crockery, counters or service staff, and ends up costing more. Compare what you actually get, not just the headline price. Our catering price per plate guide explains what is usually included.

After You Book: What to Keep Asking

Booking is not the end of the conversation, so keep in touch with your caterer as the date gets closer. Share any changes in guest count early, confirm the timing sheet two weeks before, and check who will be the manager at the venue. A week before, confirm the final menu, counters, crockery and staff in writing once more. Good caterers welcome these questions, because clear information on both sides is what makes the day go smoothly.

Read Next

• Stress-free wedding food planning
• Wedding catering in Jaipur
• Our FAQ