Besides a wild time at the reception party, an aesthetic theme (like a burnt orange theme or colorful decor), and a heartfelt ceremony, one thing your guests will remember from your wedding is the mouth-watering menu.

That, and the budget it requires (about ~30% of the aggregate cost), makes catering an important decision for couples.

If you’re wondering how much wedding catering costs, this article answers your question based on current data.

Also, it includes the factors that affect this pricing and smart ways to save on this wedding planning decision.

Choosing the right catering option is more than just about feeding your guests—it’s a reflection of your personal style and the vibe you want to create for your big day.

From classic sit-down dinners to trendy food trucks, your catering choice can elevate the overall wedding experience.

Let’s dive into the costs, inclusions, and tips to help you make the best decision for your celebration.

• How Much Does Catering Cost for a Wedding?
• What’s Included in a Caterer’s Pricing for Weddings?
• Factors That Can Influence Your Catering Costs for the Big Day
• Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding’s Catering

How Much Does Catering Cost for a Wedding?

The average wedding catering cost is between $70 per person and $100 per person. It can be as low as ~ $30 per person for food-truck-style catering or self-serve food stations and as high as $200 to $250 per person if you include expensive menu items like caviar and lobsters.

Many factors like the catering type, location, number of guests, add-ons, extra staff, etc. can change these prices and how much a couple spends on their wedding food & beverages.

What’s Included in a Caterer’s Pricing for Weddings?

Here’s a general guideline of what a wedding caterer’s pricing includes. The final elements will depend on your needs from the vendor, what they offer, and the final contract that’s drawn.

The Main Meal

That’s a no-brainer. The main meal, whether it’s a family-style service or a sit-down meal, the main job of your caterer is to provide the food for your reception!

Beverages

Your vendor will offer options for beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) at the time of inquiries.

You can hire them to serve beverages for the wedding – or if you find a better deal outside or need fancy cocktails that require the skills of a professional bartender, go for only food packages. Wedding caterers offer both!

Cocktail Hour Appetizers

The cocktail hour appetizers are light yet delectable finger foods like donuts, charcuterie boards, oysters, meatballs, etc., and they are also included in the total sum.

You can add the cocktails or not, and if you prefer to do a champagne tower, you can BYO bottles of bubbly to enjoy!

Staffing

The waitstaff is both expected and customary in your wedding catering package. This includes serving waiters, those who set up everything, the cleaning staff, cooks, and more.

An efficient, adequate, and well-mannered staff will ensure a smooth flow of services throughout the cocktail hour & reception party.

Supplies

The catering cost also includes any supplies necessary to fulfill the service like serving platters, serving spoons, and other serving utensils required for the chosen catering style.

Rentals

Some wedding caterers double up as rental companies as both their services go hand-in-hand. You can expect traditional rental items in this case, like place settings, napkins, linens, etc.

Gratuity

Wedding vendors have started including gratuities in their contracts upfront to avoid any hidden costs later. Another reason why you should carefully read the final contract. Gratuities anywhere between fifteen to twenty percent of the total cost is fine!

Factors That Can Influence Your Catering Costs for the Big Day

Several elements can change your wedding catering cost – as is the case with all the planning details like your decor, lighting, bridal trousseau, and the bridesmaids’ silky satin gowns.  Here’s a detailed list of these factors.

Guest List

The size of your guest list will affect the entire catering cost! Given the per-head price can be anywhere around 100 dollars, cutting down just 10 people from your guest list can save $1000 and vice-versa.

Location

Expect to pay less in an uncommon wedding location or a small town and more in metropolitan cities like New York, Chicago, California, etc. The sales tax also varies by state which can further affect the charges levied by your wedding caterer.

Serving Style

The dining style can have a considerable impact on the wedding catering cost. Sit-down or plated meals are the costliest (yet most common) serving style.

Buffet-style and family-style catering are the next priciest options.

Self-served food stations, food trucks, and passed hors d’oeuvres are the best budget dining styles for weddings!

Menu Selection

What you select for your reception meal can again have a huge impact on the catering cost. For example, a selection of two appetizers will cost less than three options.

Similarly, premium ingredients and expensive dishes will drive up the price per plate to simple, locally sourced, and seasonal dishes.

Alcohol & Beverages

A full-service bar, a cash bar, a limited open bar, and signature cocktails, whatever you decide can have an impact on your catering budget.

Some venues let you get your alcohol, but you still need bartenders who can affect the price of your wedding catering.

Day of the Week

Catering companies tend to provide a discounted price on weekdays rather than the popular days like Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays! The lower prices help attract the limited clients during the mid-days of the week.

Staffing Needs

The more staff you need (say to plate up the cake immediately after cutting or at the time when a late-night wedding snack is served), the higher the entire amount, because all of those people have to be fairly compensated for their efforts.

Rental Upgrades

While pre-selected rental items like glassware, silverware, and linen are included in the wedding caterer contracts, any upgrades or specific aesthetics will be charged over and above the mentioned amount.

Venue Rules

Some venues only allow in-house caterers or specific wedding catering services that can restrict your options and manipulate the catering cost.

Late-Night Wedding Snack

If you’re serving dinner early and partying till late, a late-night wedding snack like a ramen bar or french fries can add to the costs.

Some additional considerations include corkage fees (if you get your own alcohol), cake-cutting and plating-up fees, extra hours for staff,  and travel fees  (if your venue is far away from the location).

Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding’s Catering

1. Pick a simple menu with locally sourced ingredients. Ask your caterer for suggestions on the seasonal produce that can be used to curate a fresh, innovative, yet economical menu.
2. Consider scheduling your nuptials on a mid-week day and in a less-popular yet gorgeous location. This can automatically reduce the entire catering cost, helping you tie the knot on a budget.
3. Be creative with your serving style and have food trucks or a buffet-style meal to feed your guests. They are less expensive than plated meals. When it comes to weddings, even a $10 difference per person means you will be spending $1000 less for a 100-person wedding.
4. Be mindful of alcohol options. Just beer and wine will cost less than signature cocktails, so will the idea of one free alcoholic drink after which the guests can pay for the additional drinks themselves.

A Guide to Wedding Catering Costs: Take Your Time to Find the Perfect Vendor for Your Big Day

Catering is a big decision, and it’s okay to take your time to find a vendor that meets your needs and fits into the budget. This mini-guide is a look into the average cost of catering and what it entails.

Incorporating catering into your overall wedding planning process ensures everything aligns with your vision and budget. With proper research and planning, you can secure a great wedding vendor who will make your special day all that you’ve dreamt of!