Blog

March 10, 2020

Guest writer Alexandria Jaramillo gives tips on catering for your big day.

By

With engagement season upon us, we reached out to the best event and wedding planners in Utah to see what tips they had to make the catering at your big day the best it can be! Follow our 9 week series and see what they all had to say!

Alexandria Jaramillo from Over the Top Events

Alex is a lover of shellac manicures, chocolate cake and spending time with her amazing husband, baby boy Finn and King Charles Spaniel, Henry. Alex has been wedding obsessed for as long as she can remember. She loves every detail big or small that goes into a wedding. She has found herself in a lot of different aspects of the wedding world over the years but the planning & design of the wedding day is where her passion truly lies. It is so important to let the bride, groom and their families be able to sit back and enjoy the day without any worries. 

Be transparent with your caterers.

There is no such thing as too much information to share. It is key to tell your caterer about all the details of the day. They will use that information to add touches and make recommendations that will heighten your experience beyond what you could have imagined. 

Chat with your caterers about your look and feel.

The caterers bring a lot of equipment, they can bring highlights to some of the colors and themes you have incorporated into your wedding. Your vision for the magic you are creating on your big day can quickly feel disjointed or chaotic if platters, napkins, linens, signage and other details don’t match.

Your event centers around food. 

Plan that the bulk of your budget is going to go to your food because that is what makes it a party! Like Julia Child says “ A party without cake is just a meeting.”  Fine creativity in your menus. Let your meal reflect your past and relationship. Your food can be a spectacle. Find ways to make your meals unique and entertaining to your guests as well as delicious! 

Plan in your budget for the staff and service charges.

I often see the bride be surprised and inquisitive about the number of staff required to do an event and the service charges that come with that. In your initial meeting ask about how many staff that you may need and how that pricing comes down. This way you aren’t blindsided by the sticker price on your proposals.

Remember caterers responsible for the upkeep of your look.

In addition to keeping food hot and fresh, the caterers are responsible for the aesthetic throughout the event. Bussing tables, cleaning the room, tidying tables and florals, moving furniture, emptying trash, and a million other little details that lend to the magic of the evening. Make sure you discuss with your caterers your expectations of how those details will go. Remember that we specialize in making these days special and we do it often so trust your team you have hired.  Don't forget to check in next week to see more tips!

27x winner Utah’s Best of State

24x Best of State Caterer

3x Best of the Best / Hospitality

1x Entrepreneur of the Year