Blog written by Hawaii Vista Weddings:

Choosing the perfect caterer for your wedding is a big part of planning your big day. Not only will your wedding caterers prepare delicious food, but they should also be friendly and professional so your guests have a great time, too. Living in Hawaii, we are able to have more outdoor catered weddings throughout the year. So there is not as much need to go to a restaurant. The food is one of the main things that guests will talk about after your wedding. So be sure to find the right fit for you and your guests.

Are they well established?

Reviews: When searching for a caterer for your wedding, you'll want to make sure the company has been around for several years. You'll want to find a company that has positive reviews on wedding vendor review sites and see what other couples thought of their meal and professionalism. This will give you a sneak peak at what they are like and give you ideas of questions you may want to ask. The internet is a great way to find reviews. Yelp , google and Wedding Wire are easy to search quickly and are good reliable sources.
References: To find out if a caterer has great testimonials, ask for them to send you their references .You should be able to contact at least two reliable references and talk to them about their experiences with the company. It could be other vendors that are well established in the wedding business like a wedding planner or an officiant. Or it could be past clients that don’t mind being asked about their experience. Hawaii is known for word of mouth advertising. Otherwise known as the Coconut Wireless. So ask your friend or relative if they have heard about the company. Usually at least one of them has something to say.

3. Visit their website: If a caterer has a website, check to see if the food on it is authentic. You can tell a lot from pictures what the presentation will look like from other weddings or party pictures. Good websites of caterers will have a menu, testimonials and tell about themselves. You can really get the feel for the type of caterer they are just from the first page of their website.

Is the food the right fit for you?

When choosing a caterer, it's important to look for a wedding menu sample. If a potential caterer does not offer a sample menu, consider asking for a copy. This will give you an idea of the type of food to expect.
You should also inquire about food allergies and special requests. Some guests may be allergic to shellfish or there may be an option just for children.
Are they flexible with the menu? For example, having some Italian and some Hawaiian food.
Can they cater to the size of your wedding or party? If your wedding is too small or too large, they may not be able to accommodate you.
Delivery: Do they deliver to your wedding venue? Or do you need to pick it up from them? What is the earliest time to deliver or pick up?
If you still aren't sure about their credentials, ask for a menu tasting or call the company for more information.
Do they only cater indoors or only outdoors? Some may need an enclosed kitchen to cook.
Cost of the food
1.When choosing a wedding caterer, you'll want to consider the amount of money you're willing to spend. Whether you're looking for a full-service company or a smaller one, you'll want to make sure the price you're paying is fair.
2.The budget will determine the type of cuisine you'll need and also influence the types of food you choose. Lobster and steak are much more expensive than chicken or meat.
3.Often, wedding venues will have a list of preferred caterers. They may have a special price if you use their referral. This also ties into the first tip of knowing if they are well established because most wedding venues won’t use them again if they are not good.
4.Some caterers have a minimum guest count. You may only have 20 people, but some catering companies have a minimum amount of 50 people to order. So you could be paying a lot extra to cover their cost.
Friendly and Professional
1.From the moment you call or email the catering company, is the person you are talking to friendly? This is someone you may be talking to more than once, so you want to make sure they are willing to help you.
2. Do they seem professional? This is another thing you may notice right from the beginning. If they are quick to answer emails or calls, it’s a good start.
3.If a catering company is too busy or not experienced, this will show at your wedding. The food may be cold or they don’t show up on time.
4.Do they have their own equipment if they are catering at your wedding venue? Or will the wedding venue need to provide equipment. Ie. Stoves, ovens, a place to wash dishes etc.
Look for several caterers

After narrowing down the list of potential candidates for your wedding, now you can make your decision. Hawaii has many caterers to choose from. If there's a problem, you'll be able to walk away and choose another caterer. Once you've narrowed down your list to two or three contenders, you can choose the best one for your wedding.
Look at different kinds of food caterers. Ie. Hawaiian or Italian.
Look at options for per-packaged, buffet , or a full service meal. This is a big difference in price so find different caterers who may do one or the other…or both.

Remember to give yourself enough time to look for your caterer. Since you will need to book the venue and make sure the catering company is available the same day. As you can see, there is a lot that goes into hiring a catering company for your wedding. You want to be sure that you are happy with what you get.