An advance payment (in Italian, acconto) is part of the price paid before the event, usually when the contract is signed. Many caterers ask for one to hold the date, especially for the most popular Saturdays.
The word matters. Under Italian law an acconto is an advance on the price: if you cancel, as a general rule it has to be refunded, unless the contract sets cancellation penalties or there is proven damage. The caparra, the Italian deposit, works differently and the caterer may keep it. If the contract only says deposit or advance, ask which one is meant. The guide on what to check in a catering contract compares the options.
What to ask
Get it in writing how much you pay, when, under which name (acconto or caparra) and the schedule of later payments up to the balance. This is general information, not legal advice: for important contracts, such as a wedding, a professional can review the text.
