What to Ask Your Caterer Before You Book

Choosing the Right Partner for Your Event

Food defines the tone of an event. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate dinner, or private celebration, the caterer you choose will shape the entire experience. Finding the right fit goes beyond menus and pricing, it’s about trust, communication, and shared standards for service.

At Crafted Catering & Events, we welcome thoughtful questions. The best events begin with collaboration, and the right questions help everyone get there faster.

Before You Start Asking Questions

When you begin planning, it’s easy to focus on the obvious: the date, the budget, and how many guests you expect. But before any of that, consider how you want your event to feel.

Do you want it to be relaxed or refined? Do you want the food to be interactive or plated and formal? When you can describe the mood you want, your caterer can translate that vision into service style, menu design, and presentation.

Ask About Their Process

Every caterer can serve food. Not every caterer can manage an event. Ask about their process, from menu planning to day-of execution. The best teams will have systems in place for communication, staffing, and service timing.

At Crafted, we plan each event in phases. Once we understand your goals, we design a menu around seasonality, coordinate production and rentals, and finalize logistics with your planner or venue. Our structure allows you to stay informed without getting lost in the details.

Ask Where Ingredients Come From

Sourcing tells you everything you need to know about a caterer’s values. The best food begins with quality ingredients, and the best ingredients come from producers who care.

Our menus are built around local farms and purveyors we know personally. From Tiashoke Farm’s pasture-raised meats to Samascott Orchards’ seasonal produce, each supplier contributes to the quality and consistency of what we serve.

When you ask a caterer where their food comes from, you learn whether they are focused on freshness, integrity, or convenience. The answer matters.

Ask Who Will Be There on the Day

The team running your event is just as important as the team designing your menu. Ask who will be on-site, who will manage service, and how they coordinate with other vendors.

Our on-site staff includes professional servers, chefs, and managers who know how to adapt in real time. They anticipate timing changes, maintain composure, and take ownership of each detail.

Knowing who is in charge builds confidence. It also ensures there’s a clear point of contact throughout your event.

Ask About Flexibility

No event ever runs exactly to plan. Timelines shift, weather changes, and guest counts fluctuate. A great caterer builds flexibility into their workflow.

At Crafted, we plan for contingencies. We bring backup serviceware, additional staff when needed, and always have a strategy in place for unexpected changes. You should never feel stress when something shifts. You should feel supported.

Ask About Service, Not Just Food

Hospitality extends beyond the plate. Ask how your caterer handles service style, timing, and guest experience. How they describe these details will reveal how they approach their work.

Our service model is grounded in calm precision. We coordinate everything from setup to breakdown so you can focus on hosting. Service is discreet, consistent, and designed to complement the event rather than draw attention to it.

Ask for Examples of Past Events

Request photos, testimonials, or references from events similar to yours. It’s not about comparison, it’s about alignment. Seeing how a caterer adapts to different venues, scales menus, and presents food will tell you if they are equipped for your event.

Our portfolio includes everything from intimate estate dinners to large-scale corporate galas. The setting may change, but our standard remains the same: thoughtful menus, seamless coordination, and food that feels fresh and real.

Ask About Post-Event Details

Once the event is over, cleanup and coordination matter just as much as setup. Ask how your caterer handles breakdown, waste management, and next-day communication.

We handle every step of teardown and cleanup with the same professionalism as setup. Our goal is always to leave a space looking as good — or better — than we found it.

Why These Questions Matter

The right caterer is a partner, not a vendor. When you ask thoughtful questions, you’re not just clarifying logistics — you’re setting the tone for collaboration.

At Crafted, we welcome transparency. We believe informed clients create the best events because every decision feels deliberate. Food should taste like care. Service should feel like trust.

Plan Your Event with Confidence

If you’re ready to start planning, we’d love to answer your questions and build something meaningful together.

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