If your caterer tasting wasn't complimentary?

Apparently our food tasting would be about $500 so we're going to pass...

Our food tasting was free. But we tipped the waitress who kept our drinks filled and table clear. We did 20% just like any other meal, and used the cost of each complete me as our base (so $25 + 17 and added a few dollars more to the total for drinks).

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How will you know that the food is good? I would have fought that..$500? Nope.

Ours is, however, other venues we looked at had tastings starting at $40.

Ours was free and it didn't even cross my mind to tip. This was also prior to signing, so our tip was our deposit I guess.

I would hope they would tell you in advance if there was a fee! Our venue does 2 tastings a year for all their couples. It’s $5 a person and you can bring up to 6 people. We brought our parents. They do a giant buffet with all their food options

It also didn’t cross my mind to tip 😳 we went in November.

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Our venue owner, also owner of the catering company (family business), casually gave me that quote while we were touring our venue. I haven't brought it up since but I will. Definitely worth the fight. However, if it is an issue, I actually attended a wedding there a couple months ago and the food was good. This catering company is a popular choice in our area.

Also because of our venue choice we're exclusively tied to this catering company. I love our venue so much and if the food is decent, I'm fine.

Ours was a part of the venue price for the first four people and then an additional $25pp for anyone after that. My FH and I and both our parents came to ours, so we ended up paying $50 more. We didn't tip because we're going to give a big tip at the end of the wedding.

Ours was free and we did not tip, but the owner was the one "waiting" on us and I don't think you generally tip the business owner? I didn't even think of that, hope that wasn't rude!

We had it today and tried to tip him afterwards but he refused. Food was so delicious though we're tempted to cancel other appointments

Ours was at a restaurant and was complimentary. They opened the kitchen and made us all the apps and food and didn’t charge us. I tipped about 20 bucks

Every caterer around here is different. Our first caterer was complimentary, even before we signed a contract.

One we looked into, and they would only allow us to taste the apps, but couldn't taste the entrees until we signed the contract.

Our current one charges $60 per person to taste everything before we sign a contract.

In my opinion, it should be complimentary and before you sign a contract, because how else are you supposed to know if you like the food?

We didn't tip because it was included.

My DH and I attended the tasting at our middle daughter's venue (Italian restaurant). The tasting consisted of the 4 of us (bride/groom and us) splitting 3 dinners, salads, and a dessert. The dinner was free but we were charged for drinks. My DH paid the bill and tipped as if we were paying for the 3 meals and desserts in addition to our drinks. He usually tips 20%.

Ours was complimentary and we tipped our server 20% of the overall cost per person for the reception.

I think one was $80 for the 2 of us and one was $150