It will cost you, of course, but you can sit back and relax (or worry about something else) knowing that the food, at least, is being taken care of.

Decide what you want - tea on the lawn, a sit-down dinner reception, a BBQ or hog-roast, the list is endless – but having something in mind will enable you to have a clear approach to your supplier selection.

First off, ask around among family and friends, a personal recommendation is always helpful, and browse through our online directory for all the best local suppliers.

Once you’ve found several caterers that you like the look of, ask for references and check their experience. Call the previous client up and speak to them. Find out about the scale of the event, how the caterer performed and if they would use them again.

Ideally, you should be looking for caterers with experience of weddings, large numbers or the style of food you specifically want.

Unfortunately, many businesses fold in the first 18 months of operation. Make sure your caterer isn’t going to run off with your money by checking how long they’ve been in business.

Check out their set menus. Is there an opportunity to change the menu, mix and match or add in more vegetarian options?

Before you agree on the contract, sample the food. This is very important as the food may look great when on display, but taste absolutely awful. The last thing you want is rubbish food at your wedding. Many companies will let you sample menus for free, especially if the catering is being done by your venue.

Make sure you ask whether they can provide the table linens, crockery and cutlery, and that they include this in their quote.

If they can’t then you’ll have to source these from elsewhere and may get stung for more cash later!

Many caterers will turn up well before the event and set up the tables and place settings. Afterwards, they’ll clear the dishes, wash up and tidy away. It’s worth checking to what extent your caterer does this as you don’t want to be dancing the night away around tables of dirty dishes. There also may be different costs for different levels of service.

Many caterers will offer staff as part of the package; others will only drop off the food. Make sure you ask about staffing and staff-guest ratios. You won’t want two staff for 300 guests! As well as the right number of staff for your event, check over-time costs and what the staff will be wearing as well.

Once you’ve discussed all your requirements, ask for a clear breakdown of the services included and not included in your quote. This will ensure transparency and eliminate any nasty surprises later down the road. Get a contract and a receipt for any deposits you pay in advance.

Before you select your caterer and pay any deposits, make sure you get three, like-for-like quotes. Ask for an itemised quote including any exclusions. But don’t just go on price; think about service as well otherwise you may just end up paying more later on.