When do we do a food tasting?

I would definitely do a food tasting before booking a caterer. The tasting should serve as their “audition” for the opportunity to cater your wedding. It would be horrible to book a caterer, then find out you don’t like their food! Sometimes destination weddings are the exception to that rule, since couples are not always able to travel to the location before the wedding. Since you are already planning to make a trip there for wedding planning, I would suggest booking tastings with at least 3 different caterers while you are there. I would do lots of research on caterers in the area, and schedule tastings with your top 3 choices based on reviews.

Have you had food from the caterer before? If so and you liked it, I would say it was safe to do one after. Otherwise, definitely book it before so you can see if you like their actual food or not.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!! How far out from the wedding would you say we should book tastings?

View Quoted Comment Thank you!

View Quoted Comment I think it really depends on the caterer and your availability to travel. I would do some research, pick out your top 3 options, and contact them to see how far out they are booking. Some caterers book out a year or more in advance, so you will want to make sure you schedule it early enough that they will not be booked up on your date.

If it’s a caterer and not a venue, then I would do a tasting before booking, just like you would for the cake.
If it’s the venue, they might only allow tasting after booking about 3-6 months before your wedding.

Get tastings before you book. Browse menus online in your area and get tastings with them so you can decide. If you book before the tasting as all inclusive venues require then you are stuck if you don’t like the food.