Top 5 Questions to ask an Event or Wedding Caterer
We understand you may have never had to search for a wedding caterer before and you may have a number of questions about the wedding catering companies you are considering. To help you we have compiled a list of the top five questions you should ask catering companies to help decide if they are the event caterer for you. Whilst this will help you get started, we always recommend you speak to your potential wedding caterer so you get to know the people behind the business. We would love to speak with you about your day, answer any other questions you may have, and provide you with that much-needed guidance and advice so, please, get in touch.
1. Can we sample your food?
This is a vital question to ask any catering services provider as the wedding food is a key component in your event. We encourage you to come down and sample our food before you make a decision. We offer vouchers for you to use at our restaurant, so you can see the quality of our presentation, the size of the portions, the presentation, and, very importantly, the taste. You will meet our Events Team, including our owner Joey Lovejoy and Events Manager Jordane, who are available on the night to answer any of the questions you may have.
We also offer bespoke tasting sessions during our off peak season. Keep a look out for these advertised on our website and social media.
2. Do you use agency staff?
This may seem like a strange question, but it is important to determine the importance your event caterer places on their service standards.
We are proud of our service standards and love our food so we only look for the most enthusiastic team members who share that passion and dedication. We have been established as a wedding catering service in Essex for over 50 years and our Events Team has over 100 years of combined experience delivering first-rate events. We are dedicated to what we do and provide our customers, and their guests, with only the best experience.
At Lovejoy Catering and Events we rarely use agency staff as we need to be able to trust the staff serving at our events. Be careful if any food catering services tell you that they never use agency staff as this may not always be the truth.
Our front of house team delivering at your event consists of a variety of members with a diverse and broad-ranging skillset and experience. Every team member that joins our team is put through a rigorous trial and induction to ensure they provide only the best experience, for you and your guests, at your event.
On the day of your event, you will be designated one of our team leaders to run your wedding catering. Our team leaders are our most senior and experienced members of the team, who have consistently demonstrated they can deliver events to a high standard. They will be your friendly face, and line of communication with the kitchen. They are there to ensure your guests enjoy every moment of your special day.
Not only is our wedding catering service great on the day, but on the lead up to your special day as well. You will have a nominated Event Manager to help guide you through our first-rate event planning service, helping remove any of the worries you may have about the day.
We are proud of the first class, professional service we provide. To ensure such a high standard, all our serving staff go through our induction programme and undergo regular training.
3. What’s included in your packages and what am I charged extra for?
When searching for a provider of catering services, it is important to be able to compare like for like. Therefore, you should get into the details and ask your catering companies what their package includes.
To make things easy for our customers, all our wedding packages include crockery, cutlery, waiting staff, kitchen staff, setting up, washing up, tidying away, linen tablecloths and linen napkins. The only thing we do not include is glassware because the requirement for glassware varies between venues. Always check with your wedding caterer if the glassware is included.
Other than the items mentioned above, our packages include a highly experienced Event Manager, invaluable access to our knowledgeable and experienced events team and our list of recommended suppliers.
4. Why do your customers love you? Can I speak with one of your past customers?
You are likely to have read online reviews of your potential caterer before contacting them, but speaking with past customers is the best way to really get a feel for the expertise, and overall qualities of the caterer. If the catering company is top-quality they will have nothing to hide and would encourage you to speak to past customers.
Wedding catering and events have been in Joey’s, our Managing Director, family since 1963 and we have a reputation for providing top quality food and great experiences at all our events. Don’t just take our word for it, check out our customer testimonials and see what our customers say on Facebook and Google.
For over 50 years we’ve worked hard to bring great food to our customers. Our talented team of chefs have produced some really exciting, extensive menus, with plenty of options including barbecues, street food, and luxurious finger buffets. As one of the top catering services in Essex, we can even adapt our menus to meet our customers’ needs and dietary requirements.
We would absolutely love for you to speak with one of our past customers. We are confident that all of our customers will tell you how professional we are, how great the customer service was and our staff really looked after their guests on the day. We get some great feedback from our customers so we would love you to speak with them. We invite them back to our tastings on their one year anniversary so there is an opportunity for you to speak with them and ask any questions you may have.
5. Can we see your hygiene rating?
This is an important question to ask catering companies because you need to know that your event caterer is dedicated to their craft and this will help to determine that. What attention do they provide to your guests’ health and hygiene. You could find an exceptional, friendly food catering service provider who completely wows you, but their hygiene rating is low. You would want to know why as a professional and meticulous event catering company would have high standards in all aspects of their business. We believe your chosen caterer should score a four or five hygiene rating.
Lovejoy Catering and Events (formerly Roamers Caterers) have consistently been awarded a 5-star rating. Our last inspection was carried out by the local authority on June 2022 and this is available for you to view on the Food Standards Agency website,
We pride ourselves on the quality of our produce using only the freshest ingredients, always ensuring use-by dates are adhered to and the source of origin can be traced, using local suppliers wherever possible. Our reputation is critical and that can only come from serving fresh, top-quality food, safely.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information about our catering services.
Organising a wedding or event in Essex or the surrounding areas and need food catering services? Contact our Events Team on or fill out our online contact page to receive a bespoke quote.
