Now this is one of the GREATEST parts of planning a wedding. Don't you think? You get to shop around for food, and try things for freeeeee! No, seriously, if you ask caterers or restaurants for sample menus, they will do it. What's one free meal for two when you bring them business for 60, 100, 150 people?
Of course, the first step is to check with the person in charge of your reception hall. If it's a hotel, sometimes they have their own chef who had exclusivity, or who offers interesting options. If it's a restaurant, you will have to discuss menu options there. But if it is a place with no assigned chef, you can first ask the manager if they have someone to recommend (often they do) or shop around yourself.
If you shop around yourself, I suggest asking friends and family members for suggestions, if they know anyone. We all have a friend or cousin who has triple our friends on Facebook and who always seem to know someone in every possible context. It's a great way to find people who have less fancy websites or advertising but are reliable (since someone you know and trust recommended them) and perhaps cheaper.
Otherwise, the internet is a great source of information. Don't hesitate to make calls to ask for more information, but before that, prepare yourself. Think about what you need to know so that you are prepared to ask the right questions. For instance, does your reception hall have chairs and tables and cutlery or should you ask the caterer if they have their own they can bring? How much would that cost? Also, do they provide alcohol? Do they include service with waiters? Do they charge for bottle-opening or cake-cutting? Can they prepare special options for vegetarians, or halal options for muslims, or pureed food for your grandma? (ok, that one's just a joke)
So think about all of these things, and please, PLEASE, include the groom-to-be in this part of preparations! My husband was a nervous wreck for an entire year while we planned our wedding, and it made him even more nervous to come along for shopping or location-scouting, but when food was involved, he suddenly found himself much more interested! This is a part of planning men can enjoy, and their opinion should matter. After all, there will be other men attending your wedding, so there should be "manly food" available to them.
Try having at least two choices for main courses. The more your budget increases, the more options your caterer/chef can offer you. Have at least one fish/vegetarian option. No need to go overboard and offer gluten-free or low-fat options for your picky friends. It's not their day, it's yours.
At my wedding, the reception hall came with a very renowned chef, and we had no trouble choosing the menu. As for the cake, we had the option of dealing with their pastry chef or bringing our own cake, but with a cake-cutting fee. We chose to bring our own, as my sister had a friend to recommend.
Obviously, we asked to try the food before, and they scheduled us for a sample dinner. It was so good, and we had a great free date a few months before the wedding. The only awkward thing is that since you don't pay, you don't know how to act when you leave. Let me explain: after coffee, my fiancé and I looked at each other, and we sort of said "Well, soooo... we don't ask for a bill, since it's free... should we tip them? Yes, I guess, because we did get service... And then what? We just walk out?". That was strange. But I greatly recommend the food sampling experience, since chances are you'll be so nervous on your wedding day, you won't be able to eat much.
We started out with little canapés (such as salmon mousse and other little crackers with fancy things, I can't remember, I was too nervous to eat anyways) with champaign for toasting. Then we sat down for a nice little mixed salad with a blackberry and porto vinaigrette, and for the main course we had a choice of Oven-roasted chicken supreme with applesauce, honey, rosemary and almonds or Roasted salmon with bubbly wine butter, lemon and basil. For desert we had our fantastic cake, which was chocolate and coffee, with espresso-nutella icing. YUM!
Here are pictures of the salmon, and of the cake with cake toppers. It's great, because our cake artist really made them look like us. Her name is Tram, and her company is Tramie's Kitchen. You can see her work on www.flickr.com/photos/tramieskitchen/ or bakingatmidnight.blogspot.com and you can contact her via email ar tramie_s_kitchen@hotmail.com. We highly recommend her if you live in the Montreal area!
Well, this is all the wisdom I have to impart today, see you next week when we discuss the Guestlist!!!
Have a good week xxxxx
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