As a general guide, it's best to book your wedding caterer as early as you can. Around 8 to 12 months before your wedding is ideal, especially if you're getting married during peak wedding season or have your heart set on a particular catering company.

Booking well in advance gives you the best chance of securing your preferred caterer and allows plenty of time to plan your menu, attend tasting events and finalise all the details without feeling rushed.

That said, don't worry if your wedding is less than 8 months away. Every caterer has different availability, so if you've found a team whose food and style you love, it's always worth getting in touch to see if your date is still available. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It's quite common for guest numbers to change as RSVPs come in, so most experienced caterers are prepared for small increases or decreases in numbers. In most cases, adjusting your final numbers by a few guests either way isn't a problem.

The most important thing is to communicate any changes as early as possible. Caterers begin ordering ingredients, organising staffing and preparing food well before your wedding day, so having accurate numbers helps ensure everything runs smoothly.

Your caterer will let you know when final guest numbers are due, and once they're confirmed, those numbers are generally used for ordering and preparation. If changes happen after this point, it's still worth reaching out as soon as possible. Every caterer is different, and they'll do their best to accommodate where they can.

Every caterer has their own process, so the answer will depend on their policies and where you are in the planning journey. In most cases, small changes are perfectly fine, particularly in the early stages of planning. As your wedding day gets closer and ingredients are ordered, staffing is confirmed and preparation begins, changes may become more limited.

At The Wilderness Chef, we like to keep the process as flexible and enjoyable as possible. Once you've received your tailored quote and confirmed your booking, you'll gain access to your personalised client portal. From there, you can begin building your menu, explore optional extras such as bar service, late night snacks and additional services, and make selections as your plans come together.

Our Client Relations Manager will guide you through each stage of the planning process and let you know when menu selections, final details and confirmations are due, so you'll always know what to expect and when.

Based on our experience catering hundreds of weddings, we highly recommend including canapés before dinner.

By the time your ceremony has finished, most guests have spent the morning getting ready, travelling to your venue and celebrating with you. Cocktail hour is the perfect opportunity to offer something delicious while everyone enjoys a drink, catches up with family and friends, and settles into the celebration. Roaming canapés naturally encourage conversation and create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere before dinner begins.

If you're planning on serving alcohol during cocktail hour, it's also worth checking with your venue to see if food is required to be served alongside drinks. Some venues and liquor licence conditions require substantial food to be available while alcohol is being served.

For many couples, canapés become one of the highlights of the day. They help set the tone for the celebration and create a relaxed, social atmosphere before everyone comes together for dinner.

While both styles involve guests serving themselves, they're quite different experiences.

Banquet dining features generous share platters placed in the centre of each table, allowing guests to pass dishes around and serve themselves without leaving their seats. It creates a relaxed, social atmosphere and encourages guests to connect over the meal.

Buffet dining involves guests leaving their tables and moving through a buffet station to select their meal before returning to their seats. It's a practical option for many events and offers guests the opportunity to choose exactly what they'd like to eat.

If you're deciding between banquet, buffet or plated dining, we've put together a more comprehensive comparison earlier in this guide, covering how each style works, who it suits best and the atmosphere it creates.

Yes. Most experienced wedding caterers can accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, coeliac and many common allergies.

During the planning process, your caterer will usually ask you to provide a list of guests with dietary requirements. This is often done alongside your final guest list and seating plan, allowing each dietary guest to be identified and served the correct meal on the day.

Providing this information in advance gives your caterer time to thoughtfully prepare suitable alternatives, ensuring every guest feels just as considered and cared for as everyone else.

The number of waitstaff required will depend on your guest numbers, venue and chosen dining style. For example, a cocktail-style event with roaming canapés requires a different level of service to a seated banquet or individually plated meal.

An experienced caterer will carefully calculate the number of chefs and front of house staff needed to ensure food is served efficiently, tables are cleared promptly and your guests are well looked after throughout the event.

An experienced catering team will have already discussed a wet weather plan with you well in advance. Everything will be carefully prepared behind the scenes to ensure service continues smoothly, whether your celebration moves indoors or under cover, so the day feels seamless no matter the conditions.