Many people opt to host their special events in hotels these days, in which case in-house catering is almost always used (and often mandatory). However, if you plan to have an event in a location where in-house catering is not available, you will need to go through the process of hiring an independent caterer.

Most cities have hundreds, if not thousands, of independent caterers to choose from. Therefore, it can seem daunting to figure out who to hire for your special event or celebration. Here are some tips for hiring a caterer:

Ask around! Your friends and family are often your best resources. Find out if they have used someone for another event that they would recommend to you. If your friends and family cannot provide any references, you can also check with local event vendors like florists, event planners, photographers, etc. They come in contact with many more caterers than you probably ever will, so feel free to give them a call for references. If none of the aforementioned options are fruitful, you will have to search for your caterer the old fashioned way (online or through the yellow pages). Read the rest of this entry »

QUESTION:

Hello there!

I have a question that is not specifically about a wedding invitation as we are having a small, private ceremony. However, we are planning a bridal shower and a separate wedding shower. Of course, the bridal shower is just for the ladies and the wedding shower is for the couples. However, I am not expecting people to come to both (unless the want to). Yet, I would like to send only one invitation to save on postage. The events are two weeks apart. Any suggests on how I can nicely word the invitation? And, should I include and rsvp card or just a phone number?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Annette Read the rest of this entry »