What to Ask Wedding Caterer's in Indiana

Wedding catering has the second biggest impact on the feel of your wedding day after the venue. From plated beef Wellington to buffet pulled pork sandwiches and everything in between the food you serve will dictate your guests experience. That can make finding the right caterer for your wedding more challenging than you would imagine. Luckily there are plenty of options for  wedding catering in Indianapolis.

With these 12 questions of what to ask wedding caterers you will be on the right path to finding the right caterer for your wedding here in Indiana. Before you start calling around to caterers you should have a wedding budget and also check with your vendor first to see if they even allow outside caterers. Be sure to check out all of the questions to ask your wedding venue here.

Once you have a budget and know your venue will allow outside catering, 10 months before your wedding is when to book a wedding reception caterer. Here are the 12 questions you need to ask any potential wedding caterer.

PS Download the PDF with all of the questions below to take with you to your next caterer interview at the bottom of the page!

1: Have you ever catered at my venue?

This should not be a big deal if they have not, but if they have ask if there is anything you need to be aware of to avoid any surprises.

2: Are you licensed to serve alcohol? If so do you accommodate special mixed drinks? Can we provide the alcohol? If not what brands will be served? Are prices per drink or per person?

Weddings and Alcohol go hand in hand. If you plan on serving drinks to your guest be sure to ask these questions as they will give you a clear idea on pricing and logistics.

3: Will we need any special permits for my wedding? If so will you obtain them?

If you are getting married at a state park you may need a special permit to serve food and other places may need a permit to serve alcohol. The caterer should know and also know how to obtain them.

4: Can you accommodate dietary restrictions? What about kids meals and vendor meals?

Many people have dietary restrictions. It may be for medical reasons of health conscious reasons. Regardless your caterer should be able to accommodate if you give them notice. Also there is no reason to provide a pricier meal to any picky children who would be happy with chicken tenders or Mac and cheese. Also ask about vendor meals options. Typically vendor meals are for your wedding planner, photographer, and DJ.

5: Do you provide any decor?

Often caterers will supply some decor like posted menus for a buffet or other arrangements for an appetizer table. Ask what their options are. It could save you from having to rent extras.

6: Do we have to work off a preset menu or can we customize a menu or have a theme?

More and more couples are including food in the theme of their wedding. From BBQ to Hawaiian Luau. If you will have a predominant theme for your wedding, ask your caterer for ideas!

7: What are my options for cocktail hour? What’s the price difference between an appetizer station and passed appetizers?

Cocktail hour is for your guests to enjoy a bite to eat after the ceremony while you and the bridal party are with the photographer. Caterers should have a wide variety of options to serve your guests. Having passed appetizers encourages your guests to walk around and chat with other guests as they will not naturally head to a table.

Passed BBQ Pulled Pork Appetizers

Cucumber Hummus Appetizer Station

8: Do you charge a cake cutting fee? / If we don't want cake, what other desert options are available?

Your caterer will be the ones cutting up your wedding cake to serve to all of your guests. Some will charge a cake cutting fee, typically only if they did not produce the cake. And if you don’t want cake, ask them what other options are available.

9: Do you have boxes for guests to take home leftover food / can it be donated to a local shelter?

If there is leftover food that you don’t to go to waste ask for containers that let your guests take home food or many caterers partner with local shelters. Ask what the typically do and make a plan so that it does not get wasted.

10: How much time is required to set up / breakdown? Are there extra fees for that?

This is important if you have time restrictions from your venue.

11: Given our budget and number of guests what menu would you recommend? Do you have any speciality dishes?

Caterers are the experts when it comes to serving food. Ask for their suggestion. They do this every day and know the logistics of serving at weddings. You might be surprised with their recommendation.

12: What’s the price difference between buffet and plated meals? If we do a plated dinner how many servers would be needed for the number of guests we have?

Buffet style serving is typically the most cost effective but the time it takes to get everyone through the line and served is much longer. With a plated service, everyone gets served at the same time meaning you can have toasts or even dances without worrying anyone will miss them in line getting food.

Custom Cocktails on a Chalkboard Sign

Ask to see a cost breakdown

Next before you sign anything, ask for a cost breakdown. This should go over everything you decided on for your wedding catering needs and also show any hidden fees.

Look over the contract and cancellation policy

Going over legal documents is not fun but for a big day like your wedding you want to make sure you are covered. Make sure it covers things like what happens in the event of a supply shortage and of course look over the cancellation policy. No one wants to think about these things but there could be a natural disaster or a death in the family that caused the wedding date to be postponed or canceled.

Click Here to Download this list of Questions to Ask your Wedding Reception Caterer to print out and take with you!

See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!

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What to Ask Wedding Planners in Indianapolis

Your wedding is a big event. From a large number of guests, a dozen or so local vendors, renting a wedding venue, dealing with timing, logistics, and being expected to do it all with ease so that your wedding day is a dream and relaxing experience when you have never done it before is insane.

Luckily an experienced wedding planner in Indiana can help you plan the wedding of your dreams without all of the stress! The knowledge of Indianapolis weather and events make theme a wealth of knowledge that will prove invaluable on your wedding day. But not all wedding planners offer the same service or operate the same way. When considering an Indianapolis wedding planner there are a few things you will need to know before your first meeting.

You will need to have a wedding date or at least be flexible when it comes to choosing one.

You will need to have a rough budget.

A wedding planner can help give you an idea of what your wedding will look like in that budget.

They will need to know how many guests will be invited.

A wedding with 50 guests will require a different venue than a wedding with 250 guests.

And you will need an idea of the vision of your wedding day.

It doesn’t need to be crystal clear but knowing what you want and don’t want will really help the planner polish the rest of the details in making your day perfect.

Once you know those things it will be time to interview a potential wedding planner. This list of questions is designed to help you discover exactly what any wedding planner you interview will provide to your wedding so you get exactly what you want!

1. Tell me about you and your business.

This easy opener lets you get an idea of who they are, how long they have been planning weddings in Indianapolis, their communication style, and could answer some of the other questions on this list before you even have to ask!

2. How many weddings to you plan per year, how many weddings do you expect to plan in the month we are getting married?

You can get a lot of helpful info from this question. The few weeks leading up to your wedding will require the most amount of email communication. Finalizing timelines and last minute details (like unpredictable Indiana weather) has some urgency and knowing your wedding planner will be available to help is important.

3. Do you recommend vendors?

Maybe you are hiring a wedding planner for their experience, or maybe you are hiring them to save you time and stress. Whatever the reason, a wedding planners connections is part of their value. There is a good chance you don't have a go to party rental supply company near you that you love where can rent you 250 beautiful chairs for your wedding. It takes time to research and vet wedding vendors. Share your vision of your wedding day with your planner and they should be able to recommend the perfect vendor for you!

4. Do we have the option to hire vendors you have not worked with before?

While you might not have a favorite party rental supply company, you may have been following a wedding photographer for years that will be perfect for your wedding vision or maybe you’re dying to have dueling pianos as your wedding reception entertainment. Knowing your planner will work with vendors they have not worked with before will ensure your wedding day vision will come to life!

5. Will you be present at vendor meetings.

There is a good chance you are looking at this list of questions to ask a local Indianapolis wedding planner because you don't know the in’s and out’s of the local wedding industry. That makes sense! Your wedding planner does know the in’s and out’s and will be able to ask questions from other vendors that apply directly to your wedding to make sure they will be a great fit. A wedding planner can also look over the other vendors contract to ensure there will be no conflicts.

6. Will you be on hand the day of our wedding?

Several years ago I was at a wedding in Avon where the caterer did not bring enough food to feed all of the guests. They screwed up. If this were to happen at your wedding, would you want the caterer to come up to you, interrupt your first dance and ask you how to solve the problem or would you want a wedding planner there to put out this fire for you? A wedding planner will be able to not only have the connections to take care of the problem but will also be by your side to get you a partial refund from the first caterer.

7. What details WON’T you handle?

Some planners deal strictly with logistics. Planning details, Booking vendors, timelines, guest lists, seating charts ect. Others will deal with more of the design portion of your wedding including setup and teardown. Having a clear answer on what they will and wont do will help you make the right decision for your wedding.

8. How much control do you take of the final outcome of our wedding. Are you open to our ideas and participation?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question as it depends on your personal preference. Many couples hire a wedding planner to do plan a wedding where all they have to do is walk in and enjoy. Others hire a wedding planner to take care of the administrative side of a wedding and keep everyone on the same page while they still want to have a lot of input on the final outcome. Once again this answer will help you decide of the wedding planner is right for your vision.

9. What are some common problems that come up on a wedding day that brides don't expect and how do you solve them?

Again taking advantage of the wedding planners experience will give you some insight on how to best prepare for your wedding day. You are emotionally attached to your wedding day and don’t want to think of the logistics. Since that’s the wedding planners job they will be extremely helpful forecasting common problems that go unseen by most brides until it is too late.

10. What is your payment policy, how much of a deposit is needed to book your services, and when is the final payment due?

The wedding planner should cover this without asking but I listed it here because it is so important to be clear on all the details when it comes money and payment.

11. Are there any other fees we should be aware of that are not accounted for in your proposal/collection.

You may be getting married outside of your wedding planners typical area of service that will require them to travel several times more than they are normally use to. You may be having a multi day event or want them to also plan your honeymoon. These things might require an additional fee. Talk with your planner about your plan and vision of your wedding day and they should be able to answer this question with ease.

Click here to print out this list of questions and take with you to your interview!

After your meeting ask yourself, did they feel like a good fit for your wedding? Did they listen to your questions and have helpful answers? Did you get along with their personality? Next to your wedding photographer, your wedding planner will be the vendor you have the most communications and spend the most time with. Trust your intuition and you will be one step closer to the perfect wedding day!

See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!

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6 Reason Why Wedding Videography is Necessary

Did you know 75% of all brides who didn't hire a wedding videographer say it was one of their biggest wedding regrets while 98% of brides who did hire a videographer for their wedding said they would recommend it to their friends.

The percentage of couples who hire a wedding videographer continues to grow every year. But plenty of couples still ask Is Wedding videography worth it if they have a photographer.

The truth is Wedding Photography and Wedding Videography are two completely different services with different intent and different deliverables. Wedding photography is more creative while wedding videography is more documentary. Even though I am a wedding photographer I absolutely believe that wedding videography is important for 6 key reasons.

1: Voice

You may have found the perfect wedding photographer who checks off all of your wedding must haves. Plenty of coverage, beautiful photos, quick turnaround time, all in an heirloom album. But no matter how incredible the quality of your wedding photos, they will never include sound or voice. Many people (myself included) hate the sound of their own voice and cringe at the thought of having to listen to it. I get it, I do. But imagine how powerful it will be for your future children to hear you share your vows together and show them where it all began.

“Our videography was some of the best money we ever spent. It’s true that [your wedding] goes by so fast, and you do see things you didn’t notice when you see the video. Absolutely zero regrets. If we’re going to spend so much money on one day, don’t you want to be able to relive it through video? Plus, we can show it to our kids.” —ExpatPumpkin”

2: Expression

The human face has 43 muscles capable of making 21 unique expression. All of which can be captured on camera. But what about micro expressions? Expressions that last 1/15th to 1/30th of a second. Like the joy right before the tears come. Video can capture that. That can be the difference between seeing your mom cry tears of joy in a video, and just tears in a photo.

“We barely even considered hiring a videographer and were confident in the decision not to have one. But after the wedding, I really wish we’d had one. We really underestimated how much we would want to relive the day and see things we missed. Our photos are wonderful but video still captures something photos don’t.” —rel830”

3: Extra Eyes

When you have a photographer and a videographer you now have a second set of eyes. There is no less than one million different things happening at once on a wedding day. It’s statistically impossible for a photographer or videographer to capture everything. Having both a photographer and videographer means your odds of capturing beautiful and meaningful moments and interactions skyrockets.

“While we’re very pleased with our photographer, I’m now starting to have second thoughts about not having a videographer. I guess there’s nothing like having a video to capture the details, people’s faces/expressions, our vows—things that I might miss during the day as a busy bride and that don’t necessarily get captured in even the best quality photos.” —caramels03”

4: The Reception

During the ceremony all eyes are on you two. Your family and friends are seated but once the music gets going at your reception there are countless different stories to be captured with a camera. Having a photographer and a videographer means you get both your sorority sisters sharing shots with you at the bar and video proof that your favorite aunt in fact does know how to dance.

“I was anti-video, but I bit the bullet and got one anyway. We don’t watch it very often, but I love having it there for me to watch. We had both the ceremony and reception filmed, and I love being able to see everything that I missed the night of my wedding.” —emimayor”

5: Bite Sized

Like I said earlier, the difference between wedding photography and videography is bigger than you might expect. One being the intention of what's delivered. Your wedding photos should be creative and something you want to hang in your house to remind you of your loving relationship. Even though there are several hundred photos delivered. Looking through all of your wedding photos takes time. Like a whole evening. Wedding videography is delivered in a 5-7 minute video that plays like a short movie. It’s like a double shot of espresso. You can watch it on your lunch break and then daydream back to that perfect day for however much time you have.

“You can replay the most special moments in your life if you have a videographer.” —susannalvovsky”

6: Builds A Stronger Family

This one is a bit morbid but someday our loved ones will no longer be with us. While hopefully it comes later rather than sooner you will have no idea how powerful your wedding videography will be until that time comes. Being able to pull up the video of your mom helping you with your dress and necklace or walking down the aisle with your father as he looks at you and tears up as he smiles will be worth more to you than anything else in the world.

“I was really worried that I might regret not having a videographer—not only to capture my fiancé and me, but mostly our family members. I know it’s kind of morbid, but I know they won’t be around forever and I wanted to capture their voices and mannerisms.” —rmfriedman”

It is no wonder why more and more couples are hiring a videographer for their wedding day. Ask for wedding photography and videography packages and if your photographer does not offer videography they are sure to have some recommendations for you!

Indianapolis Wedding Photographer RHatfield Photography video for Stott and Terese Centennial Park Munster Indiana wedding. www.RHatfieldPhotography.com

See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!

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26 Best Engagement Session Locations around Indianapolis in 2020

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is “Where should we take our engagement photos in Indianapolis?”

Engagement photography should be personal to your relationship. If there is a location that is meaningful to you both then that is the perfect place for your engagement session! But if you don’t have a special place in mind that is okay!

Indianapolis has some incredible options for engagement session locations! A lot of the locations can also be great spots for maternity photos and even family photos. So if you know someone who is going to get maternity or family photos, share this list with them! They will love you for it!

Click on the location’s name and it will take you to google maps to see where it is!

1. The Canal

The Canal offers a surprising amount of variety with greenery, water, amazing views, and easy access to everything Downtown has to offer.

2. Monument Circle

If there are two places that are instantly recognizable as Indianapolis, it's the Salesforce tower, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in monument circle. There has been a lot of renovations over the recent years and 2020 proves that it’s as iconic as it is beautiful.

3. Indianapolis Public Library

A 10 mins walk from Monument Circle, the Indianapolis Public Library is a great place for engagement photos if you are looking for unique and timeless architecture.

4. Mass Ave

Mass Ave is always alive with activity. Mass Ave would be a great place for an evening engagement session if you want to highlight some of the nightlife Indy has to offer.

5. Fountain Square

Fountain Square is a historic neighborhood that feels urban and small town but with some amazing views of downtown and much quieter

6. The Green Center in Carmel

The Green Center in Carmel is one of the most beautiful buildings in central Indiana. The surrounding area within walking distance is no different. Also being on the Monon offers a great variety with your engagement photography.

7. West Clay

The West Clay neighborhood is perfectly manicured with water and fountain areas with a quaint row of beautiful business that make a great backdrop

8. Westfield

Some of the most visually interesting alleyways are in Westfield. Westfield is also covered in art which makes it a solid choice to get some variety in your engagement photos

9. Downtown Speedway

Speedway may seem like an untraditional location for engagement photos but its rich with industrial charm and racing history that made Indianapolis famous world wide!

10. White River State Park

In between the heart of downtown and the zoo is White River State Park. It offers water views, an urban park setting with plenty to do, and is in the shadow of the beautiful JW Marriott

11. Lockerbie Square Neighborhood

One of my favorite gems that Indy has to offer. Just a few minutes walk from the Circle downtown the Lockerbie Square Neighborhood is lined with some beautiful mature trees and still has cobblestone streets. It’s so full of charm it would make Joanne Gains swoon.

12. Coxhall Garden

Located north of Indy in Carmel, Coxhall Garden is full of beauty! Its also so large that you can get a great unobstructed view of the sunset which is always a winner in engagement photos

13. American Legion Mall

The American Legion Mall is at the entrance of the Indianapolis Public Library and extends down to Monument Circle. With plenty of space and greenery it is a refreshing change of pace from the busy downtown streets while still getting downtown views

14. The Monon Trail

The Monon Trail offer a beautiful walking path with everything from bridges over water, secluded breakaways, and even direct access to Downtown Broad Ripple. The Variety is can add to your photos will be welcomed and noticeable.

15. Downtown Broad Ripple

With art everywhere you go downtown, there is no lack of picture perfect locations. Downtown Broad Ripple offers the most substance with the least amount of walking distance covered compared to every other option on the list. It also has access to BRICS, the Broad Ripple Ice Cream Company which is the perfect way to end an engagement session!

16. Eagle Creek State Park

The amount of different settings Eagle Creek State Park on Indys north west side has to offer is incredible. From easy access lake views, comfortable trail hiking, and even deep woods thick brush roughing it, I could shoot 1000 engagement sessions here and none of them would look the same but they all would look incredible

17. Holcomb Gardens

Located on the butler campus Holcomb Gardens has a variety of nature-y locations that are deceptively close to civilization and where you parked your car.

18. Fort Harrison State Park

Like Eagle Creek the size of the park is hard to grasp with all of the incredible locations. The main differences from eagle creek is the no lake views but it is on the east side of Indy which could be closer to you depending on where you live

19. Richey Woods Nature Preserve

Richey Woods is about 15 mins north of Indy, in Fishers off of I-69. You could miss it looking at a map. The use of the park is quite small compared to others but it is dense and the trees are tall which makes for a unique location that does not look like anything that would be 15 mins from Indy.

20. 100 Acre Woods at Newfields

Deceptively names, the 100 Acre woods is actually 50 Acres. And a fun filled 50 Acres they are! Being just outside of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, there are large art installations, water views, the Lilly house, and perfectly manicured gardens. The 100 Acre Woods has never disappointed. Even in the snow!

21. Holiday Park

If you bank with Chase, chances are you see Holiday park every time you log into the app. Holiday park is on the north side of Indy hidden away next to a quiet neighborhood. Holiday park has great options for Unique and creative engagement photography and also an extensive trail system that at times can make you feel like you're in the Disney classic Fern Gully.

22. Broad Ripple Park

Just 3 minutes from downtown Broad Ripple, Broad Ripple Park is a great option if you don't want to go to far and still want engagement photos in Nature.

23. Family Property

The amount of farms and beautiful property within an hour of Indy is incredible. There is a great chance your family property could be the perfect choice. If you two want to be more relaxed or have animals you want to incorporate, having an at home session might be the right choice for you!

24. Your Favorite Brewery

If you two love beer as much as I do incorporating your favorite brewery is a natural location. Having a beer to start off your session is also a the perfect (and most delicious) way to loosen up.

25. An Abandoned Building

If you are looking for an urban look with lots of brick there are no shortage of old or even abandoned buildings near Indianapolis. Wearing Formal attire is perfect for this sort of environment.

26. Your Wedding Venue

You picked your wedding venue for a reason and it will always mean something to you. If your venue has manicured grounds or great views it would be the perfect way to get more images and explore your wedding venue before the big day!

This may seem like a huge list but it's just a small sample of the best and versatile places to have your engagement photos taken around Indianapolis. In fact a lot of the locations listed are close enough you could do 2-3 locations for your engagement session. Like I said earlier your engagement photography should be personal to your relationship. Having a personal engagement session will add value to your photos and become something you cherish for years to come!

See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!

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Know someone who is engaged? Share this list with them!