Help with Catering Fees

That sounds excessive for rentals, etc but usually they have a page that lists additional fees. If you go with a traditional caterer. If you use restaurant corporate catering, you pay only the price you see. If their menu says it costs $1000 for 100 people, that's all you pay.

You should ask what the percentage is for their administrative fees as well! My place charges 10% for administrative fees. It can add an extra five grand to your tab. In addition to the administrative fee, my place also charges around 5K for all of the “labor cost” such as servers bartenders chefs day of coordinator. I would ask them for the percentage of each separate fee.

View Quoted Comment Here is page 1

Does your venue assist with decor? Meaning are they contracted with a decor company? If they are, be prepared for your jaw to hit the floor when you see how much they charge for things like twinkle lights LOL

View Quoted Comment Here is page 2 (with totals)

View Quoted Comment Nope, this quote is just for providing food since they aren’t opened yet based on state regulations. We are less than four months away with a large wedding. We wanted to honor our business with them, but most quotes I received were significantly less and for plated, not a buffet...


We have to pay a separate company for all rentals of tent, tables, linens, etc.

Didn’t work, but page 2

This is page 1

Catering companies usually use rental companies for plates, glasses, utensils so that is where those fees are coming from. Are you providing the linens? Your fees look about right but I would question why they are charging 9-12 hours per server/bartender. Usually those are 4-5 hours.

The only thing that strikes me as odd on your bill is the number of hours for the staff. I’d push back on why all that staff is required for twice as many hours as the event.

View Quoted Comment

Yes definitely. That makes no sense at all. But some never catch that and pay it without blinking.

View Quoted Comment They also gave us only one bartender for 125 people.

Could the 9-12 hours be food prep?

View Quoted Comment

Not likely. They don't/shouldn't charge you cooking/prep time. Get on the phone right now and ask for clarification.

View Quoted Comment So a six hour event that servers and chef would travel for (mind you, the location is about 15 mins from the original wedding venue) the most that should be required is...?

Also, I had family freaking out about a buffet. Even if it was controlled with gloves etc. From my research, the plated should be no more than $10 per person. Does this sound accurate?

View Quoted Comment

If you or anyone takes a calculator to these figures, it is for 9 hours. Which is still to many for a 6 hr event. So they need to redo your estimate to make it much more accurate. An estimate and an actual bill are completely different things.

1 bartender will be very overwhelmed and not acceptable from a "professional" business. Even with 50 people they will be overwhelmed and long lines.

View Quoted Comment Here’s the kicker:


This is the original quote for our minimums that we signed for 125 minimum. This includes use of the property and the tables, linens, etc. charging same for buffet, when before it was plated. It also included two bars opened (min 2 bartenders)

View Quoted Comment

No way to answer that without knowing prices in your area. This is an international forum.

Servers will not be at the ceremony. That info is moot. How far away is their company office where you met them in person located from the reception venue? Most if not all food will be cooked at the catering company's kitchen and transported to the venue. Unless the venue is the company's kitchen, in which case chef and servers do not travel.

View Quoted Comment 25 mins from office, 15 minutes from venue