Veil & Vow | The Berkshire Eagle • 5
Saturday, February 12, 2022
The ringmaster Caterers manage all the details — so you don't have to
CHUTTERSNAP/UNSPLASH
BY KIMBERLY KIRCHNER Special Sections Editor
Food has been the centerpiece of human celebration for as long as celebrations have existed, from harvest feasts to birthday cakes. Weddings are no exception. According to WeddingWire’s most recent Newlywed Report, 87% of couples hired a caterer for their wedding in 2020. The Wedding Report, an industry research company, found that food and beverages were the second-highest wedding-re-
lated expense at 16% of the total cost — surpassed only by jewelry. For many couples, the reception dinner is nearly as important as the ceremony itself, and a delicious, smoothly-delivered meal is the centerpiece of a memorable wedding celebration. It’s also probably the most logistically challenging aspect of the wedding. Feeding one hundred-plus guests (131 is the current average, per WeddingWire) the correct meals, at the
correct temperature, in a timely manner, while working within a pre-arranged program of speeches, dances and bouquet tossing, is no small feat. Fortunately, a quality caterer is able to juggle all the intricate details — and all the unexpected dilemmas — of the reception. Meanwhile, the couple can enjoy their day in blissful ignorance of the complex choreography going on behind the scenes. If you’ve only ever experienced a wedding from the
guest side, it’s easy to believe that caterers are simply the people who bring the food. But for many couples, especially those without a professional wedding planner of their own, the caterer takes on the role of ringmaster: receiving flower deliveries, coordinating with the DJ and, of course, making sure the tents are put up on time. “We act as the middleman,” said chef Mike Mongeon, owner of KJ Nosh Catering Company. “When
