Apart from the venue and the dress, catering is almost always the next big expense on any wedding check list.

For the West African Bride, this becomes a little bit complex as there is so much choice including party and personal favourites.

The following points should help you when choosing a caterer. As a new bride (some 8 months ago), I know only too well the frustrations you can encounter in your search for the perfect day!

• How you want the food served – Do you want it buffet style or sit down?

Buffet is great for West African weddings and most caterers can offer this service. It allows for variety in the menu and displays the food in all its glory showing off variety. This is ideal for a big do.

Sit down service – is equally fantastic for a smaller wedding, and can show off finesse. It can be a money-saver too as you have a set menu and guests get served on their seats thus avoiding the variety of a buffet and any excess food as the caterer decides portions. I would advise you base your decision on the number of guests you are expecting. Not all caterers can offer you a sit down service as it requires experienced waiters to wait on the tables and clear up between courses and take orders, swiftly serving the food etc…so bear this in mind!

•  Decide your budget – and stick to it with a couple of hundred lee-ways either side. A catering bill can quickly sky rocket if you want lots of variety. To be honest, if the food you have is of exceptional quality and accompanied by a warm service, your guests will not even notice the seeming lack of variety. You can either choose lots of variety with a bit of everything for everyone, or less variety but more quantity.

• Decide your menu – A varied and extensive menu is usually accompanied by a higher bill. A set menu means you are able to plan per head. Look out for our write up on How to choose a menu for a West African Wedding.

• Get different quotes – contact as many companies as possible, give them either your budget or your menu and see what they can do for you. Increasingly caterers are beginning to charge per head for a fixed menu. If you don’t like what they have, don’t be afraid to ask how they can amend it to suit your taste. Don’t forget they should be working to make you happy!

• Myth of tasting – I can tell you professionally no two pots of soup are ever identical. Also, cooking in small portions for a taster is different to cooking in bigger portions. So whilst it is great to have a taster with the caterer before the event, this is not a guarantee of the food you will have on that day. It will no doubt give you some indication of their quality, but it is not a guarantee. What is more important is…

• Meeting your caterer – make sure you choose a caterer on time to allow you to build a relationship and bond. You want a warm, friendly, professional and caring caterer. Personality often makes up for mediocrity this is true in catering. Make sure they know your expectations, what you want done and how you want the day to go. They should always make time for you and be there to answer any questions you have. You need to trust they can get on unsupervised on the day. You will not have the time or inclination to check on them, so you need to trust them to get on with it. If you are particular about appearances, this is your chance to make sure they fit the bill! They are working for you!

At Eclectic African Catering we pride ourselves in providing you with great food and great service. We will work according to your budget or your menu and try to make a menu tailored to you and your wedding.  We look forward to hearing from you and working together to see how we can help you make your dream day a reality.

A big thank you to Sid for her sharing her top tips for finding the ideal West African caterer for your wedding! Join us again soon for part 2 on how to select the menu for your wedding breakfast. If  you would like to find out more about West African catering for your wedding, you can contact Sid vis her website, email: sales@eclecticafricancatering.co.uk or on 07780286874.