Questions to Ask Before a Wedding Catering Tasting
Key facts
- Confirm dishes, attendees and tasting charges.
- Tell the provider about attendee food requirements.
- Bring the event count and service brief.
Confirm the appointment’s scope
Ask which dishes are available to sample and whether they belong to the package you are considering. Check the number of attendees, charge, cancellation arrangements and whether any tasting payment is credited toward a booking. Do not assume a tasting is free or that attending confirms the wedding order.
Tell the provider about allergies or other food requirements before the appointment, including those of the people attending. Ask whether the tasting can accommodate them. A small sample or a familiar-looking dish should not be treated as an answer to an ingredient question.
Bring a brief the kitchen can use
Share your approximate guest count, event time, venue and proposed buffet, plated or shared service. Explain whether you want a full meal or lighter refreshments and what else will be served. If a dish is important to your family, describe the preference clearly rather than assuming everyone means the same recipe or presentation.
Choose a small group of decision-makers and agree on priorities before arriving. Too many conflicting requests can turn the tasting into an unfocused exercise. Keep the final approval with the people responsible for the event and budget.
Catering tasting preparation
Check each item as you complete it. Add it to your notes app or keep your progress in Favorites.
Take notes by dish
Record the dish name, what you liked, the change requested and whether it affects price. Discuss seasoning, texture, presentation and the proposed serving portion. Distinguish a tasting-size sample from the portion guests would receive.
| Question | Detail to record |
|---|---|
| Is this the quoted recipe? | Dish and package version |
| Is this the event portion? | Actual serving basis |
| Can the requested change be made? | Approved adjustment and cost |
| Could an ingredient be substituted? | Notification and approval process |
| How will this be served at our event? | Service and preparation plan |
Ask how the menu scales to the wedding
A tasting shows the sample you receive at that appointment. Ask how the provider prepares and serves the menu for your expected attendance, who manages service and how it coordinates with the venue program. Confirm replenishment for a buffet or course timing for plated service.
Ask which equipment, staff and tableware are included in the offer. If you are tasting at a different location from the wedding, confirm kitchen access and the venue’s arrangements. The meal’s operating plan matters alongside the flavour of each dish.
Approve the updated menu
After the appointment, request the final dish list, agreed changes, service style, included items and total. Mark any pending alternative meal or unresolved ingredient question. Confirm the deadline for changes and what happens if an agreed ingredient becomes unavailable.
Keep notes and the written version together. A conversation during tasting should not silently change the order. Discover providers through Farhetna and confirm their current tasting arrangements directly.
Common questions
Does a tasting confirm our booking?
Ask the provider; attendance alone should not be assumed to confirm an order.
Are tasting portions the event portions?
Not necessarily. Confirm the serving basis.
Can we request recipe changes?
Ask what is feasible and request the approved change in the updated menu.
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