A wedding is definitely a treat for the senses. The sight of the beautiful dress, the scent of the flowers, the sounds of laughter through tears and fun, celebratory music! If this weren’t enough, there is often the anticipation of a sumptuous meal to complement those experiences. And don’t forget the wedding cake! Nothing calms a sweet tooth like a multi-tiered cake festooned with cascading, edible flowers made from delicious buttercream icing. Just thinking about it is mouth-watering!

If it wasn’t already evident, making your menu decisions is an important aspect of planning your big day, so it’s wise to give your meal tasting the time and consideration it deserves. It's also a good idea to schedule your tasting anywhere from three to 12 months before your wedding. Any longer than that and you run the risk that certain foods are out of season or the standard menu options may change.

To make sure you cover all the bases, we’ve gathered some considerations you should take into account and important questions to pose to your caterer when you’re planning and choosing your wedding bites. 

·      Come prepared. Before you sit down with your caterer, you should have a good idea of your dining concept—buffet, stations, plated—and main food choices. The tasting is the time for you to sample what your guests will be eating and to help you choose between a few options you’ve pre-selected. Remember, it’s not productive to go into the tasting green, with no idea of what you want. Also, too many choices can easily overwhelm you; streamline your sampling choices ahead of the tasting so you can have a focused session and make good decisions.

·      Don’t eat too much beforehand. Remember, although you’ll only be taking a few bites of each dish, you’ll likely be eating a good bit, so it’s important you have room in your belly to try out a little bite of everything that will be served on your big day.

·      Limit your party. Speaking of being overwhelmed with too many choices, too many opinions can produce the same effect. To avoid that, ask only two or three people to tag along to offer their thoughts on the spread. If you have a wedding planner, make sure he or she is there to spot potential problems and to ask questions you might not think of.

·      Ask about specialty foods. If the chef has a special dish that’s a known crowd-pleaser, it may be a good idea to have him or her cook it up for your guests, as well.

·      Be sensitive to your guests’ special dietary needs. If you know some of your guests are gluten- or dairy-free eaters, vegan, vegetarians, or perhaps they avoid pork for religious reasons, it’s up to you to make sure they will have ample options. Talk this over with your caterer to see what he can offer.

·      Be aware of what drinks will be served. The tasting isn’t just about sampling food; it’s also about sampling the drinks that will be served along with it. If this includes alcohol, it goes without saying that you should only sip to avoid becoming tipsy or drunk. It’s not a small task for a caterer to put together a tasting, so you should respect his time by keeping a clear head with which to make important decisions.

·      Give honest feedback and ask lots of questions. The chef wants their food to be a success as much as you do, so don’t be shy about inquiring about how the food will be cooked, presented, and served. If there is anything you don’t like, tell your caterer; there’s a good chance a few tweaks can solve the problem.

Questions to ask during your tasting:

1. How many appetizers will be passed out per tray?

2. What’s on the children’s menu?

3. Are there options for late-night snacks?

4. Can you make any changes to the menu?

5. What type of wine and/or cocktail options do they recommend?

6. Will the wedding day food be prepared as it is for the tasting?

7. What type of linens will be used?

8. What will the servers be wearing?

9. Do they offer upgrades for chairs and/or linens?

 Like other aspects of wedding planning, the tasting can be fun, and you can make it a mini-event for you, your betrothed, and the lucky few who get to tag along. Still, it’s an important part of the process for your chef, so respect their work to put the tasting together, and honor that work with thoughtful questions and honest feedback. It’ll all add up to a dining experience you and your guests won’t forget.