Describe your typical process with a couple.
We send them a detailed quote, so they know exactly our pricing and there are no nasty invoices after the event ever. If they wish to proceed, we either meet them on site if it is a marquee wedding, or they come here if it is at a venue we are used to. Then we run through the menu and itinerary. Sometimes people like to have a food tasting. We then stay in touch, all the way to the big day making sure everything is correctly organised and planned. Our event team then arrive on the day. The waitresses lay the tables, and the canapes are prepared. The chefs get on with the business of getting the food ready, and when the guests get back from the ceremony, they are all handed a glass of champagne or something, and canapes are served. After 1.5 hours they are invited to find their seats. Glasses are topped up, or a fresh one handed to each guest. We try to ensure the speeches take place before the meal, as it gives people a chance to have a break between canapes and the meal, and if one of the speakers is a little nervous, then can get it over with. Also we tend to find that if a fresh glass of bubbly is handed round during the pudding for speeches after the meal A. it is a second complete set of flutes, and B. very often people have had their fill of bubbly before the meal and it doesn't get drunk. C. lots of people get up straight after pudding to go to the loo or have a cigarette outside, so they have to be rounded up again.
If there are evening guests, usually the cake is cut when they arrive, so they have some part in the process.