Frequently Asked Questions

What type of services do you offer? . . .

We are a full-service, off-premise caterer which provides a variety of services including food, beverage, equipment, staff and more.

Do you help with rentals? . . .

We work very closely with local, reputable rental companies and will assist you with your rental needs as appropriate to our services. Most of our menus include china and silver for the food stations, as well as water goblets for the dining tables. At The Wild Thyme Company we pride ourselves in assisting with all your event needs. Should you require additional rental coordination, our expert Event Producers are available to guide you through the process.

What if my venue doesn't have a kitchen? . . .

A lot of the venues we work with do not have kitchens. We specialize in creating satellite kitchens to make sure your food is fresh and finished on-site. Depending on the menu, we have most of our cooking equipment on hand and include it at no cost. Please note some events may require additional kitchen equipment rentals.

I want a bar with a bartender, do you offer that service? . . .

Yes. Contact us for details. We also offer bar kits for simple beer and wine bars, as well as full bars. The bar kits will include all of the mixers, garnishes, equipment, and ice specific to your bar needs. The beer, wine and spirits for the kits are provided by our clients. This keeps things simple for you and takes the shopping trips off of your list leading up to your event.

Do you prepare and cook all menu items onsite? . . .

All menus are carefully reviewed to accommodate cooking limitations at the venue, volume and quantity, style of service, degree of difficulty and every other aspect of production. With a large focus on food quality and flavor, most all of our food will be prepared onsite. We do however have a menu that we have designed specifically for events that can be done without a chef on-site.

Do you have gluten free or vegetarian menus? . . .

Yes, we can accommodate all dietary restrictions as indicated prior to your event. This includes gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian and paleo. We are constantly coming up with new menu items to accommodate the growing number of food allergy requests. We want all of our guests to have an enjoyable food experience at our event.

Can I do a separate menu for the children attending my event? . . .

Of course! We offer all the favorites like Mac’n’Cheese and Chicken Strips, but we are happy to customize the menu for your children’s tastes.

When can I taste the menu items? . . .

Once you feel comfortable with the vision and cost of your proposal, we welcome the opportunity to schedule a tasting. The menu that you will try at the tasting will be representative of the menu you have chosen. We offer tastings at a fee per person (with a maximum of four (4) people total in attendance). The tasting fee will be credited to your event balance when you move forward with a contract.

Do you provide wait staff? . . .

Yes. The staff hours specified in your proposal and contract are based on the planned number of guests and the duration of your event. If your guest count increases, staffing may also be increased to ensure our high level of service.

Do you charge a service charge? What is it? . . .

Yes, we charge a 22% production fee. Our production fee contributes to the back-end costs that go into producing an event aside from the food itself, including but not limited to: tastings for large-scale events, client meetings, site visits, insurance certificates, gas, truck rentals, uniform costs, equipment & breakage costs, etc. This fee offsets all of those operational costs to ensure our clients aren’t worrying about asking for help in these areas; we want to ensure that the planning process is as easy as possible once you have us on board!

What other fees might there be? . . .

You will never be surprised by any hidden costs, even when your contracts is changed or revised. All costs to you are clearly outlined in each custom proposal and/or contract and no fees will be added without prior knowledge or consent.

What is the best way to calculate a gratuity for the staff that cooks and serves us? . . .

Gratuity is not included in the cost of your event. Just as you would calculate it in a restaurant, your gratuity should reflect the level of service you’ve received.

How far out from our wedding date should we sign a contract? . . .

During wedding season some dates can become completely booked. Once you decide to work with The Wild Thyme Company, we recommend signing a contract as soon as possible to secure the date.

Do you have a cake cutting fee? What is provided? . . .

We include cake cutting as a complimentary service to you with any staffed event. As a courtesy, we can provide the cake knife and server or use one you provide to us.

When do I give my final headcounts? . . .

Your minimum guest guarantee is due fifteen working days prior to your event date. From that day forward, you may only increase your guest count numbers up to five business days before the event.

I am required to feed my other vendors, can you help with that? . . .

Yes, we offer a couple different menu options to serve your vendors. We can even set them up separately from your main event.

What is your refund policy? . . .

The Wild Thyme Company takes pride in the ability to provide you with the absolute best services. If you feel that you did not receive your order to your satisfaction, please contact us at 858-527-0226 to speak with us about your experience within 7 days. Please provide us with your order number and full name. Due to the nature of the services provided, please allow 2-3 business days to process your request. We will do our best to be accommodating.