Lets talk finance when it comes to your wedding reception. When you set the date for your wedding, the first thing that you need to about is the approximate number of guests, then reserved a banquet hall, and started shopping for a wedding catering company. As exciting as it might seem, it can also get quite stressful and overwhelming. It is not very easy to navigate through numerous menu options, compare prices and levels of service. Different caterers use different ways to price their services. Some companies prefer packaged pricing, other caterers operate on a la cart basis. When looking for a caterer for your wedding reception and reviewing different options, make sure that you compare apples to apples.

Always pay attention to what is included in the price and what is not. Remember to keep in mind that food cost is just a portion of your bill. Other charges will include service charges, rental fees for table ware and taxes. All of these extra charges can significantly increase your bottom line. You cannot just look at the listed dinner prices in the catering menu, you need to take the initiative, call the catering company and inquire about extra fees. Ask for a full quote and be aware of the long list of items that could be included.

There are a lot of charges for items you need in the reception hall like china, cutlery and glassware – including water and wine glasses. You may think that its unusual but these prices are not customarily included in the price. Then you need to ask about table clothes and napkins. Also its important to keep in mind that tables come in different sizes – traditional rounds of 8 and jumbo rounds that accommodate 10 people. Which means that table clothes also come in various sizes – standard and floor length. Usually the bigger the table cloth – the more expensive it will be. Make sure that you ask if your catering company can provide linens and how much it will cost? It may be cheaper for you to provide the linens yourself.

Labor charges also can add a great deal to the expense of your caterer. Servers and bartenders can be a big expense. For a buffet dinner you will need approximately 1 server per 25-30 guests. On large sit down dinners you may require more staff and therefore they require more servers and bartenders and are usually more expensive. Catering companies will also calculate the total time involved in the reception. These include the travel, set-up, serving, clean-up and tear down of the complete party. You also need to inquire about a corking fee if you are supplying your own alcohol.

Every expense has been mentioned except gratuity and taxes. Gratuity charges can be anywhere from 10% to 20% of your invoice. Most caterers will charge gratuity on the subtotal of the food only. Taxes can add to the bill substantially. Keep in mind that you pay taxes on total amount (including gratuity).

It is really important that you are not hesitant when it comes to interviewing wedding catering companies for your wedding reception. Remember your wedding is probably one day in your life that you are always going to remember. Do not let miscellaneous surprise costs ruin your budget or your big day – plan ahead and get all the information up front.