I just found out that for my wedding reception in four weeks the caterer will only set up the buffet and then will be leaving. Nobody will be around to watch the food or pick up plates. Evidently they are coming to the hotel the next morning to pick things up. It's bad enough that we will be using paper plates for the food! I know it's my fault because I didn't ask the specific questions, but you would think for $15/plate, real plates and silverware and staff would be present (the wedding is being held in a smaller town/rural area, so $15/plate is quite expensive). Am I being irrational? It's too late to switch caterers. Any ideas on how to make this flow smoothly? I am having an open bar all night and hoping my guests will 'forget' about the paper plates and having to clean up after themselves! I did leave a message with the caterer and hoping somehow I can talk them into having some staff present for the meal, but I would like to have a backup plan in place. Thanks!!
2007-05-25 07:34:43 · 12 answers · asked by MJ MCK 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Yes, I do have a bartender! :)
Thanks for the great answers so far! I appreciate everyone's input.
2007-05-25 07:51:08 · update #1
I guess I can look on the positive side, I'm not paying any kind of gratuity and I can use that extra money to hire a couple of helpers. :)
2007-05-25 07:58:21 · update #2
I'm not looking for actual people to serve the food, I just figured (aka '***'umed) that someone would be there to watch the food and pick up any plates.
2007-05-25 08:35:41 · update #3
You can cancel the contract but will not get your deposit back, unfortunately.
However.....
You said you are having it in a hotel, perhaps hey have staff that can help.
Or try to hire some local students looking for extra cash for the summer.
As for paper plates if they bother you, insit your caterer either supply you with basic glass which any decent caterer has or refund the cost to you and rent your own from a local rental place, you can get glass plates and glasses etc for about .2 each , and who ever you get to help you can rinse them after for you.
The fact is, your caterer will offer to change things for you if you are not please, as long as she is reputable, she may charge an extra few dollars for the hassle of changing to proper dinner ware etc, and will prob charge extra for staffing, but a caterer worth anything will give you plenty of options.
If you only have a small deposit down and can find a caterer that will accomodate you short notice you can get out of the contract, just need to give her 30 days notice.
2007-05-25 14:24:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would place an ad in the local school newspaper and see if you can hire a couple of kids for the day to act as "busboys", have them dress in black pants and white shirts, if you compensate well, I bet you will get 2 or 3 that would be willing to do it for you.
I would also look into renting plates and silverware from a party company. Its your wedding, you dont want to have people eating off paper plates. Its going to be an extra expense, but you will be happy that you did it in the end.
Good luck, I know you must be freaking out. Possibly, when you phone the caterers to speak to them you should have your mother do it, moms are usually very good at that kind of stuff and she has the life experience to handle this properly without getting insane.
2007-05-25 07:47:05 · answer #2 · answered by kateqd30 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try talking to them again and tell them how unhappy you are and you won't stand for that. Tell them they will not be receiving their extra tips. I want to know where you live, I am paying almost $100 per plate and that is cheap. Lol. If I was you and the caterer will not help you i would try to hire a couple of people. Maybe someone in your family might know someone who would like to pick up a little extra cash. Someone that isn't invited of course. Maybe some teenagers. You wouldn't have to pay them much probably.
2007-05-25 07:55:42 · answer #3 · answered by LadyD1019 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gosh,....yes, you are being irrational. You had a great deal by having a catering company serving real food for merely $15 per plate. You couldn't expect that they had white gloved waiters serving the food for that price! Plus linens, and silverware???... please.
If you wanted real dishes and silverware, you would have to rent those items. Over here (cheap midwest), I'm paying $55 dollars per plate, $25 per person for 2 hours of open bar, plus linens, dishes and silverware rental, plus service fees, waiting staff and bartender fees. ,...plus tip, that's not counting the venue rental. You got a bargain and shouldn't be complaining for measly $15 per plate, I'm paying $100 per person for full service.
My advice is for you to have plenty of disposable serving spoons and a couple of trash bins ate the end of the line. If you dont appoint or pay someone to do the cleanup, the hotel will add that to you bill. Look closely into your contract and see if there are any cleaning fees or if it's included in the "service" fee.
Yes, the open bar will make your guest forget about the paper plates (I suggest you use plasticware that looks like real china instead, they also have plastic silverware that is silver!). Do you have a bartender?
Congrats and good luck
2007-05-25 07:45:33 · answer #4 · answered by Blunt 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is ridiculous. When you spend that much per plate it should come with real dinnerware, silverware and glassware and there should be someone who stays throughout the reception. I think if you have not already paid for the catering services you should look elsewhere as there may still be time to change. If there isnt, then dont worry what guests will think, cuz they probably wont think anything about it and those that do are only shallow. Your guests are there to share your day so enjoy yourself, this is your day. Congrats.
2007-05-25 07:43:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I just had my wedding 3 weeks ago. And no the cater is not obligated to also serve the food. We had paid $9 per plate for food only. Then we also had to pay $1500 to have servers and to make sure they cleaned up. If you don't clean the facility will bill you for that.
2007-05-25 08:21:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
wow that is harsh! the place that you are having the reception should be cleaning up. the caterer should be there to monitor things and make sure there is enough for everyone. and yes you should have at least real plates and silverware. it may be hard to find someone else to cater the wedding now but try and see. also in the meantime call the caterer up and start bi***ing!
2007-05-25 07:42:01 · answer #7 · answered by cowgirlclub 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do you have any friends/relatives who would be willing to serve as hosts/hostesses and watch the buffet? That's very common in the smaller town I live in. Maybe you could get a couple of them to take shifts?
I also liked the suggestion about trying to get a couple of high school students/college students who might be willing to do this cheaply.
2007-05-25 08:34:34 · answer #8 · answered by Lilli 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't know unless you ask them. Some caterers are happy to fix whatever you want that isn't on their menu as long as they have a recipe and/or you give them enough advance notice. Others though only stick to their preset menus.
2016-05-17 21:35:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it is what it is and you have to deal with it... don't stress yourself - there's always a way. You don't have your guests "clean up after themselves" - try to get some extra help to hire - even high school girls or ladies from a local church - to help with the clearing and attending to the buffet. Otherwise, you can recruit family members.
2007-05-25 11:05:06 · answer #10 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋