ABOUT WILD FORK
Wedding FAQs
How much experience do Wild Fork have?
Wild Fork West has been operating since 2015. We have catered hundreds of weddings across lots of different venues - our Executive Chef has been cooking professionally for 25 years and the team are all very experienced.
How far do Wild Fork travel for a wedding?
We travel within a 60 mile radius of our premises in Semington. Distances over 30 miles from our premises will incur a travel fee dependent on the number of staff and vehicles traveling to the event.
How many Weddings do Wild Fork cater in one day?
Although it depends on the size and location of the wedding, we have capacity for up to four weddings in one day.
Where do Wild Fork’s team come from?
We have a pool of regular event staff and chefs who have worked for us for years. We hold training sessions every year for new staff, as well as providing all our staff with our event training pack. Staff are routinely trained in Food Safety and via the NCASS training programme. Staff are smart, presentable and friendly. They’ll wear black shoes and trousers / skirts, white shirts and rustic brown aprons. The on-the-day event manager will wear a smart dress or trousers and shirt.
QUOTES & BOOKING
How and when do couples book with Wild Fork?
Most of our couples like to book after they have joined us for a tasting. A deposit secures the booking, for which we invoice ¼ of the reflected cost.
Is the deposit refundable?
The deposit is refundable less any reasonable costs incurred by Wild Fork including staff hours, loss of revenue due to not being able to rebook the date.
Do Wild Fork charge VAT?
Yes, we charge VAT. VAT is charged at the current rate of 20%.
Do Wild Fork offer discounts?
We offer our best pricing from the start for transparency, however, if you have a specific budget in mind do let our event manages know and we will see what we can do to help.
Will pricing change after booking?
If the plan stays the same, our prices won’t change for up to 12 months. Given inflation is unusually high at the moment, it may be necessary to review prices for bookings beyond 12 months. Bookings that drop drastically in numbers will incur additional charges to cover our costs.
Do Wild Fork have a minimum guest number?
For weddings under 100 guests we charge a ‘boutique wedding fee’ to cover our costs. This is from £150 + VAT and increases depending on the size of the wedding.
Can couples book Wild Fork before a tasting?
Yes - we take a smaller ‘save the date’ £500 + VAT deposit to secure our services before tastings. The remainder of the deposit is due after the tasting. This is non-refundable.
What do we talk about in our initial call?
During an initial phone consultation we will discuss your catering requirements and menu ideas to begin to shape the day. After the consultation, we put together the catering plan which is sent over to you alongside dates for a tasting. This catering plan includes menu inspiration, a firm quote and the outline of a timeline!
How much does a tasting cost?
There is no charge for the wedding couple should they book with us. We will only charge £150 + VAT if you decline to proceed, necessary to cover costs. Extra guests such as parents and bridal parties can also be accommodated at tastings at £50 + VAT per person which is non-refundable.
What’s included in the package price?
Although some quotes may be broken down further, our basic package price includes assistance with planning & management, our simple, elegant selection of crockery, cutlery and glassware, white luxury table linen, a dedicated event manager on the day, full waiter/waitress service for up to eight hours, laying-up of all tables with favours, place-names etc according to the plan, food that is freshly-prepared on-site, all washing-up and clearing away after the event. Extras may include coloured linen hire, decorations, chair covers, separate-trip delivery costs, bar staff if required, chiller trailers, field kitchens & rubbish disposal.
When do Wild Fork need final numbers?
The Event Coordinators will ask for final numbers, dietary requirements and final details six weeks before the wedding. Please note that numbers can go up after this point, but not down – we cannot refund if guests drop out after this point as this is when we’ll begin ordering.
ON THE DAY
What time do Wild Fork arrive on the day?
We usually arrive around 3 hours prior to guest arrival, though this does depend on logistics. The core team, including event manager arrive first with the waiting team arriving around an hour before service.
Who dresses the tables on the day?
We put on cloths, lay-up cutlery, crockery and glassware as standard. If we are on site the day before, we can usually put linens on the tables then which allows the client to start putting on decor the day before. If you require help with centrepieces, table decorations, place names and favours, this can also be arranged.
What time can we book our ceremony?
We charge extra for early ceremonies if the event finish time is still 12am. For ceremonies earlier than 1pm we charge a £150 + VAT staff charge.
Do Wild Fork serve your wedding cake?
We can serve your wedding cake to the table as dessert or from a station after the meal or in the evening. Serving your cake in the evening, and the wedding cake knife, are included in the package price.
What happens at the end of the night?
As standard, we take away all of our food and drink waste. We will also organise dirty crockery, cutlery and linen back into the relevant crates to be collected in the morning, or the following morning. This is neatly stored in the kitchen or catering tent. Although we will neatly stack any of the client’s items from the tables when clearing, we will not organise this into boxes or take it away. For DIY/dry hire venues we prefer that the client handles the keys as the booking is between them and the venue.
Who will be there on the day?
One of our event managers and a team of waiting staff, as well as a bar manager. We provide around 6 members of staff per 100 guests. The core team will be on site until after the wedding breakfast, leaving a smaller team for evening food and running the bar.
If your wedding is running ahead of time, can we serve food earlier?
Although we will do everything we can to serve your food earlier, we can’t guarantee this would be possible as we wouldn’t want to compromise the quality of the food.
How long does a ceremony take?
This is very dependent on the type of ceremony. Church ceremonies are normally around an hour, whereas civil ceremonies at venues take around half an hour.
How long should you allow for reception drinks?
We normally suggest an hour and a half for drinks/canapes.
How long do guests take to find their seats?
We suggest half an hour from when your guests are called, to when they will be seated ready for the meal or speeches.
How long does meal service take?
A plated three course meal for 100 guests normally takes 2 hours. A sharing three course meal for 100 guests could take longer, so we would suggest 2.25 hours for this. For 120+ a three course plated meal could take 2.5 hours.
How long do speeches take?
This very much depends on you and your guests, but for most weddings with three speeches you can expect them to take half an hour.
Do Wild Fork help turn the room around for the evening?
Yes! We will clear away the tables you require to be moved for dancing. We suggest allowing an hour for a turn around. During this time, you could offer a cocktail hour, tea and coffee or lawn games to keep guests busy!