Planning a wedding is no small feat and catering can be a significant part of the budget. But how much should you expect to pay for your big day? From locally sourced sit down meals to buffet style options, your guest list and even the venue choice, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to wedding catering costs.
We know how important food is to a wedding. It could be the make or break and the deciding factor on whether your guests enjoy themselves. On average, couples spend between £3,000 and £4,000 on the food for their special day but this can fluctuate based on the number of people you have attending and the style of food you want to serve.
Preparing and planning your budget well ahead of booking anything for your wedding is key.
Three factors that impact the cost of your wedding catering
Catering costs can quickly add up and impact your overall wedding budget. So, it’s essential to understand the main cost factors so you can make informed decisions and stay within budget.
1.
Number of guests
The main decider on the cost of your wedding catering is how many people you’re planning on feeding.
Most caterers work on a cost-per-head basis, so naturally, the bigger the guest list, the higher your bill is going to be. Knowing exactly how many people are attending (don’t forget those plus ones) and how much you’re willing to pay per person, for catering, will help you figure out an overall budget.
2.
Cuisine type
While there are many delicious options to choose from, it’s important to remember that the type of cuisine you select can have a big impact on your catering budget.
Let’s face it, a couple looking for fine dining with oysters and canapes is going to have a larger bill than a couple opting for a festival-style food truck with yummy Greek gyros and fries.
Think about your budget carefully and what you and your guests’ likes and dislikes are, and trust your gut (literally).
3.
Dining style
For some couples, having a sit-down plated meal is exactly what a wedding should include – for other couples the experience of sharing food family-style from boards on the table is the way to go on your big day. Of course, you also have those couples that want the more relaxed ‘festival’ street-food vibe.
Whichever couple you are, it is important to understand that the style of service that you choose can change the price dramatically, due to the number of staff required to create and serve the meals.
As a rule of thumb our Catering Excellence Benchmark verified caterers typically charge from:
- £50.00 per guest for a formal sit-down wedding
- £25.00 per guest for a sharing board style wedding
- £20.00 per guest for a buffet style wedding
- £12.00 per guest for a street-food style wedding
As you can see, the catering for your special day comes with a lot more to think about that simply what you want on the menu.
How can Caterly help?
Caterly is a catering consultancy with a range of vendors from across the UK offering a huge variety of cuisines. All the caterers in the Caterly Community are required to meet the Catering Excellence Benchmark™, a standard that lets our customers know they’ll receive the very best food, service and experience, from the most hygienic and sustainability conscious vendors.
