Caterers
The choices are endless. Tastings are definitely the way to go; but, do not abuse this privilege. Know before you start if you are wanting something very upscale or more down home. Before you have a tasting give the caterer an idea of the feeling you want your wedding to have. Yet, be open to their suggestions. If you have a strict budget let them know. A great caterer has many clever ways to keep costs down while creating a lavish feast.
Health Regulations. Regulations in some states will not permit you to take home any leftovers. That is to protect both you and the caterer in the event that food is not properly cooled after serving. An accurate guest count can really help avoid having leftoevers that get thrown away.
Guests Counts. This matters whether you are having food supplied by a venue, yourself, or a caterer. Today our lives are busy and hectic. Sometimes we forget to respond to invitations or we have responded and things change. About two to three weeks before the wedding, confirm the RSVP's you have received and make a phone call to folks who have not repsonded. They may have forgotten to respond but were planning to come. Or they may have said they were coming, had their plans change and forgotten to let you know. If you have a large guest list this is something that could be split among your bridesmaids so they each only have a small number of phone calls to make. You could even make a party out of it. Each bridesmaid brings her cell phone to the party and you all make your calls while munching on snacks and enjoying each other's company.