Wedding Planning Wedding Catering and Menu Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'per-plate cost' in wedding catering?
- The cost of renting dinnerware for the reception
- The price charged per guest for a meal at the reception (Correct answer)
- A flat fee for the entire catering service
- The cost of a single appetizer served during cocktail hour
Correct answer: The price charged per guest for a meal at the reception
Per-plate cost is the price a caterer charges for each guest's meal, which multiplied by the guest count gives the base catering estimate.
Question 2: What is the difference between 'buffet service' and 'plated service' at a wedding reception?
- Buffet service is always more expensive than plated service
- Buffet allows guests to serve themselves from stations, while plated service delivers individual meals to seated guests (Correct answer)
- Plated service is only available at outdoor venues
- Buffet service requires guests to stand throughout the meal
Correct answer: Buffet allows guests to serve themselves from stations, while plated service delivers individual meals to seated guests
Buffet service lets guests choose from dishes displayed at a serving station, while plated service involves pre-selected courses served individually to each guest at their seat.
Question 3: Why is it important to collect dietary restriction information from wedding guests?
- To determine the final seating chart
- To ensure the caterer can accommodate allergies, religious requirements, and food preferences (Correct answer)
- To calculate the number of tables needed
- To satisfy venue health code requirements
Correct answer: To ensure the caterer can accommodate allergies, religious requirements, and food preferences
Collecting dietary restrictions ahead of time allows the caterer to prepare safe, appropriate meals for guests with allergies, vegetarian or vegan diets, or religious dietary laws.
Question 4: What is a 'cocktail hour' in the context of a wedding reception?
- A formal sit-down dinner served before the ceremony
- A social period between the ceremony and reception where guests enjoy drinks and light appetizers (Correct answer)
- The hour designated for the wedding party to take photos
- An optional bar service upgrade offered by the venue
Correct answer: A social period between the ceremony and reception where guests enjoy drinks and light appetizers
A cocktail hour is a transitional period, typically one hour long, between the ceremony and the main reception where guests socialize over drinks and passed appetizers.
Question 5: What is 'family style' service at a wedding dinner?
- A children's menu served to guests under 12
- Large platters of food placed on guest tables for everyone to share (Correct answer)
- A pre-plated meal delivered to each family unit seated together
- A catering service run by the couple's family members
Correct answer: Large platters of food placed on guest tables for everyone to share
Family-style service involves large platters of food placed at each table for guests to share and pass around, creating a communal, relaxed dining atmosphere.
Question 6: What is a 'food and beverage minimum' at a wedding venue?
- The smallest portion size allowed by the caterer
- A required minimum dollar amount the couple must spend on food and drinks at the venue (Correct answer)
- The minimum number of guests required to book the venue
- The lowest per-plate cost available for a wedding package
Correct answer: A required minimum dollar amount the couple must spend on food and drinks at the venue
A food and beverage minimum is the baseline amount a couple must spend on catering and bar service at a venue, regardless of actual consumption.
Wedding Planning Wedding Catering and Menu Planning 1
What is a 'per-plate cost' in wedding catering?