what do you guys think about this? (long!!!)

[rainbowtrout]

Our catering quote came back and I feel that its a bit high...I am hoping some of you more experianced brides can take a look and tell me what you think! Should we negotiate, try to cut back? We're definitely going to get at least one more quote.


One odd thing--while she was happy to give me a long list of references, she wasn't enthused about us coming by for a tasting (said it wasn't something they always did), although she did say she could arrange for us to try the pastries, quiche, and sirlon if we felt it was absolutely necessary.

Anyway, here's her quote:

From: Greenhouse Café Catering, 452 Amherst St, Nashua NH

Sunday, May 25, 2008
70 Guests
Ceremony on site


Brunch Wedding Buffet (Kosher Style)
Chilled fresh Fruit Juices: Orange and Pineapple
With floating fruit rings

Continental Brunch Pastries
Mini European Butter Croissants, Blueberry & Apricot Scones
Whipped Butter and Fruit Preserves
Fresh Fruit Mirror
Golden Pineapple, Honeydew Melon, Cantaloupe, Strawberries,
Orange Slices, garnished with Kiwi
Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Garlic Croutons
Creamy Caesar Dressing and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Assortment of Homemade Quiche:
Broccoli and Onion, Spinach, Sundried Tomato + Fresh Herbs
Home fried Potatoes with Onion
Carved Meat:
Whole Roasted Herb Rubbed New York Sirloin of Beef
Warm Rosemary Burgundy Demi Glace

70 Complete Brunch Buffet (with Sirloin) 21.00 1470.00

Coffee and Sweets Station
Freshly brewed Coffee, Decaf, Tea
Thermal Pots with nice signage, Cream & Sugar, lemon Condiment
50 Assorted Mini European Sweets & Cookies 1.85 92.50
Food subtotal 1562.50
Estimated Service
Staff hours are calculated from loading time at our facility, round trip travel, 2 hour set up at your location, Buffet Service, guest table clearing, dishwashing, returning all equipment to our location. Hours may vary due to pace of occasion, music ending time, guest departure etc.
1 Managing Server approximately 8 hours 25.00/hr 200.00
3 Servers approx 8 hrs each 18.00/hr 576.00
(dressing tables with place setting, setting up catering tent,
attending Buffet, guest table clearing)
1 Chef for food preparations/Carving 140.00
1 Dishwasher 144.00
2478.50
8% NH Tax 198.28
2676.78
Other details continued page two
Included in our pricing:
Attractive Buffet presentation garnished with fresh flowers & greenery
Pewter Salad Bowl, Pewter chaffing dishes, sterno
All serving utensils
Three tier pastry rack for European Sweets & cookies
Commercial coffee maker for catering prep area
Nice thermal pots for Coffee Station
Large Trays and tray stands to place around tent for guest table service
Cutting and plating of your wedding cake is complimentary
Mimosa’s poured at a table for guests to help themselves to as they take their seats
Chilled water poured at each placesetting

Host provides:
Attached tent (15 x 15 approx) for catering preparations
Running water hose to caterer’s prep area
Electricity to caterer’s prep area for coffee making
Wedding Cake
All beverages other than coffee/decaf/tea
Orange Juice and Champagne for Mimosa’s
Kosher Style requirements provided to the caterer, for serving the meal


Deposit:
To reserve your date we request a $300.00 deposit
80% 14 days out with a guaranteed guest count,
with the final balance payable the day of your occasion

Accepted Methods of Payment: Company or Personal Checks




Continued page three



Cheri Roberts
Catered Services
P. O. Box 81
Hopkinton, NH 03229

Coordination Fee for Weddings $250.00
Menu Planning, coordination with your food/event related vendors regarding
Table layouts and usage

Site logistics, ongoing availability to address concerns, questions, and make
Changes throughout the planning stages

China, flatware, glassware rental order and ongoing edit according to guest count

Coordination of your linens with our staff set up

Assistance with and confirmation of your Reception Timeline so that our staff,
Your photographer and DJ can synchronize their services during the occasion

Staff set up of your favors, cake knife/spade, special toasting glasses etc

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Greenhouse Cafe used to be a very good restaurant. A number of years ago they closed the restaurant and went straight catering. They had a very good reputation. I now see that they have merged with Country Tavern [which is a reasonably good American restaurant - with resident ghost]. I''m not sure what''s up with that [GC was owned by a European couple - I wonder if they retired and sold out?]. Both entities were relatively large and established operations before their merger so they are even bigger now. I would guess their food quality is still good since they are both in the same class but I wouldn''t count on it. I can''t imagine that they would not offer a tasing. I would insist on it.

As far as the cost goes I can''t say it is excessive at $38/head all inclusive except for drinks [but I have been out of the catering loop for 6 years now]. My last point of reference was a formal dinner for 22 in 2001 which cost in the $2500ish range as I recall [but including free flowing wine, beer and champagne] at a well known inn in southern NH.

Hope this helps.

 

[neatfreak]

I don't really think it's that outrageous for what she's providing as long as the food is good! But I DO think you could probably do it for less if you looked around, especially because we're talking New Hampshire here (or are you getting married in Boston? If it's Boston, it's more reasonable!). Our lunch in SF at a fancy restaurant was $30/pp, including everything but booze and service charge for some perspective.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Unfortunately, southern NH is pretty much a Boston suburb [Nashua is right on the border] so prices are just as bad as far as I can tell.

 

[rainbowtrout]

We''re in Dunstable, about 10 mins from Lowell, which is considered "greater Boston area."

Thanks!

 

[zoebartlett]

Aww, it ate my post. Anyway, I don''t think the price you were quoted is too high. It seems fairly reasonable for the area. I know their catering comes highly recommended. Actually, we were thinking of having them cater our reception when our original thought was to get married in my parents'' backyard. We have since decided to get married in another state.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

The menu sounds delicious and honestly, $38/head seems very competitive. That being said, I find that caterer's are one of the most willing vendors to negotiate. My first caterer choice was Legal Sea Food, but they wanted nearly $6,000 for a 40-person wedding. When I told them my budget was half of that, they immediately came down to $4,000 without a single change in the menu. I ended up finding a smaller caterer that I loved down in Rhode Island for under $3,000 and he even shaved some costs off for me and by the end, they were throwing several things in for free without me even asking. They were awesome. I had two friends who got married in Boston within the past three months--one was on a very tight budget and her caterer came down about 35% for her. The other had a light brunch on Nantucket and the caterer came down about 20%. (FYI, none of us had a traditional venue, so we were not tied to any caterer which gave us more room to negotiate.)

One of our groomsmen works for an upscale Boston caterer and he said they severely inflate prices for wedding and that even the best caterers are more than willing to negotiate. The bottom line is that catering is extremely competitive, so they are happy to negotiate to keep you since it's so easy to find somebody else.

I think that $38 is a great price to start, but I'm sure you could probably get it down to at least $30/head which would save you about $500.

 

[rainbowtrout]

Well, it is great to know we are not being taken for a ride, and they seem to have a good reputation. Thanks so much!! I will definitely try to negotiate down to around 30/head--and what is this 250 "bridal fee"?? Would they do that for any other party? Maybe I can get out of that...


Honestly my grandparents are covering this but I already let them splurge on a 450 dollar cake, I want to get them a good deal on the food.