-
Step 1
Narrow down your budget in relation to other wedding expenses. Destination weddings are a fun way to tie the knot, but your budget will escalate due to travel costs and accommodations. See how much you can realistically afford to spend on food once you've worked out the other costs.
-
Step 2
See if your venue has an onsite wedding coordinator. Oftentimes, he or she will already be familiar with vendors in that area and can make recommendations based on personal experience. If you don't have a coordinator yet, contact the reception desk of your hotel and ask the concierge for reputable contacts.
-
Step 3
Ask if your caterer can incorporate food that is native to the area in which you are getting married. Serving something unique to the region will make your wedding more memorable and is probably cheaper, since the ingredients can be obtained locally.
-
Step 4
Stipulate your menu and any other pertinent details in writing. Depending on how far away your destination wedding is, you probably won't be able to oversee all the prep work. Document everything that you and your caterer agree on in order to minimize the chances of misunderstanding.
-
Step 5
Get references of other couples that have used your caterer for their destination wedding. Speaking to other people that have already been through the process can provide invaluable advice about what to expect. This is particularly important if you are marrying in a foreign country, and you are unfamiliar with the language.
-
Step 6
Go with your gut. If you sense that the person you are contracting with is disinterested or difficult, move on. There will be so many details to monitor for your destination wedding, you will need to build confidence with each of the vendors so that you can focus on more important things.
-
Step 7
Clarify exactly what is included for the price you're paying. Discuss details like linens and cutlery ahead of time so that you're not scrambling to purchase these things at the last minute in an area that you're not familiar with.
