Catering Contract - or lack there of...

You're detail oriented and work regularly with contracts, so it's completely understandable that you'd pay close attention to this "contract".

Be sure it's how you want before you sign it. Just mention to him that you saw cream & sugar listed, but nothing for the toast/bagels, and no definition of what fruit would be served. He should be willing/able to answer those questions for you and make clarifications.

You can also clarify with him if this is the "real" contract or if it's just an agreement. These aren't unreasonable requests - so don't feel bad about asking!

I'm a firm believer in dotting the Is and crossing the Ts.

Can you do an Addendum to the Contract? On there spell out what is missing.

If you sign it, its a contract-- I'd make sure everything you want is listed.

When we got our catering contract, I had her specify that the plates would be china and the utensils would be silverware, b/c I had had a dream the night before that she gave us paper plates and plastic utensils. It was embarrassing to ask, but at least now I don't have to worry about it and I'm sure she's had more ridiculous requests.

Not wrong of you at all, and I think he will understand (I am sure he gets more people like you than he would like to admit )

I think you should bring up your concerns, and just let him know it is for your protection as well as his (it is, after all!)

I would list every last thing down to the spoons.

This makes me feel better. I was starting to think I was being crazy! I emailed him back and asked if we could meet. I will bring his email (with my handwritten changes & questions) and let him correct before I sign a thing. I would also rather a legit contract than signing an email, that just seems strange to me.

Draw up the contract yourself. It protects both of you so I can't imagine he'd take issue with that.

I am all over contracts. Actually, I've married numerous lawyers, and have benefitted from their suggestions to my overall contract.

While we do many contracts via email, they are actual contracts.

I work with at a law firm also and I know what you mean about reading everything. I read every contract word for word and asked questions about anything that wasn't clear to me or I didn't agree with.

Good idea to meet the caterer in person. I was going to suggest that. Or at least have a phone conversation and have that legal pad in front of you and take notes, and then send an email "Pursuant to our recent conversation, please confirm the following:" and list everything that was discussed.

Got an appointment for next Friday so I will make sure I have something to bring. Hoping to find a sample contract without the extra language. But I will ask him if he has something else. I know he likes to keep things simple but I just want it done right (or the "legal" way) so I can have piece of mind.

Haha @Celia. When I read your comment at first I thought you meant you had been married to numerous lawyers. I get it now lol.

Besides listing every item he's providing, where does he address set-up, warming, service, and breakdown? How many servers will he provide? Does he provide plates, glassware, and utensils? Coffee and urns? Milk, cream, sugar? Does he list the amounts of each product to be delivered? Does he allow you to take left overs home (some caterers absolutely refuse to do this, especially if they're offsite. This is due to liability issues caused by their inability to know if the food was stored safely after service and before eating it the next day).

The way this proposal reads, he obligated to bring you a truckload of food, but you need more than having food delivered.

Tell him what you do for a living, and let him know that this is an outline, not a contract. Detailed contracts are the best protection for both parties.

I also work with legal contracts all the time, so have questioned things and had modifications done to a few of our contracts (my photographer is the nicest guy, but his contract hadn't been updated in 9 years. I redlined the heck out of it and walked him through the changes. He ended up being very appreciative and we signed the contract I drafted. He also has adopted that contract as his standard now.) My caterer has everything listed along with a timeline of when the bar is to be open, dinner starts, etc. It is very specified - I say get it in writing so you don't have to worry, and he has a clear idea of what is expected of him.