Can Caterers Serve Food Sourced From Another Company?

by L Warner
(London, UK)

We're planning a non-traditional wedding and would love to get our wedding meal prepared by our local vegetarian Indian restaurant. The idea is we would pick it up in big tubs the day before the wedding and take it down to my fiance's parents' house where the reception is to be held (and refrigerate it).

On the big day, we would aim to have a catering company warm it up and get it ready for self-service. My father-in-law-to-be says he believes there may be laws restricting one catering company serving someone else's food. I can't find anything about it online. Do you perhaps have any advice?

Answer:
I'm not aware of any laws restricting catering firms serving other firms food. However, I'm not a lawyer, but most catering companies will be able to tell you if they're willing to do it.

With regard to serving the food at your wedding reception, you do have a couple of options. I've assumed you don't want the Indian restaurant to serve the food on the big day. So here are some other options:

1. Speak to some local restaurants as they will have a number of staff that they use which you could hire on the day. Many restaurants also do outside catering, so may have the equipment too.

2. Speak to some specialist catering firms. They will have the equipment and the staff. They'll also be more used to dealing with outside catering events. If they're not willing to help, then consider the options below.

3. Hire the equipment you need from a catering hire company (tables, serving equipment, re-heating equipment, etc) and then hire some staff from a catering firm. Many catering companies will hire out their staff separately to their catering services. So ask around.

4. Another alternative for staff is to use a catering recruitment company. Make sure you ask for a team that have worked together before. Be sure to ask for a team leader too - that way, they can take charge and lead the others.

Whatever route you decide, ensure you meet face-to-face with the caterers and staff. Give them clear and precise instructions as to what you expect them to do and when you want them to do it.

It's crucial to meet with them, or at least the team leader, a week or so before the event. Brief them thoroughly, show them where everything is, discuss equipment with them and leave them written instructions along with a reception timeline of your event.

Read more tips and advice about wedding catering.