Fash / Cost Guides / Wedding Catering Cost

How much does wedding catering cost?

Author: Sally Hanan
Millions of people ask Fash for cost estimates every year. We track the estimates they get from local professionals, then we share those prices with you.

When it comes to the big day, the dream is to have everything go without a hitch right after you’re hitched. A big part of that is who you choose to do your catering.

If you’re worried about the high cost of feeding all your guests, there’s a caterer for every budget—from bringing in a food truck to a three-course, sit-down meal.

Before looking for your caterer: know what your budget is, how many guests you’d like to invite, and what your overall vision is for the meal. This will save you and the caterers you interview a lot of time.

The Lowest Cost

For those on an extremely tight budget, the lowest cost might be in hiring a food truck owner to come and provide food through the truck window. Guests can even pay for their own meals (not recommended). Some states, however, charge an operation fee for having a truck present, which you would have to cover.

For instance, the City of Austin, Texas, charges $300. Food truck owners also charge more for extended mileage. The downside of having a food truck is that it will take some time to fulfill the orders for a large number of guests.

The time of your meal can make a difference in cost, with lunch being the less expensive option. For instance, Alfred Catering in Austin, TX, charges $12.50–$14.50 pp for brunch vs. $15.50–$24.50 pp for dinner. They offer three tiers of menus to choose from, with the cost growing based on how much dairy and which type of meat you’d like them to serve your guests.

Cost for a Drop-Off Buffet

If you can take care of keeping the food warm once it arrives, this can be a great, low-cost option for feeding your guests. Most wedding facilities will have bain-maries available for rent, and they will set them up for you.

Some drop-off food prices are:

East Side King in Austin, Texas, charges $14–$21 pp for a bun with meat and two sides. You then cover the cost of dinnerware and drinks. 100 guests = $1,400–$2,100
Pork on a Fork in Phoenix, AZ, charges for bulk orders of meat and sides. With an average serving of 8oz of meat pp, the cost would be $5 pp for chicken, pork, or sausage and $10 pp for beef brisket. Extras include $1–$1.75 pp per side and $1 for dessert. 100 guests = $700–$1,200
Epicurean Escape Catering in Santa Rosa, CA, has a standard cost per guest for a main course, two sides and a dessert: 1+ $34, 50+ $29, 100+ $27. Disposable cutlery and plates are added for $1 pp and there is a delivery fee for orders over 20 miles. Their minimum order is $400. 100 guests = $2,700–$3,400

Hors D’oeuvres

If you know guests are going to be hungry waiting for you to finish up your wedding photographs, it’s a lovely idea to give them some hors d’oeuvres to stave off the hunger. Cold hors d’oeuvres cost less than hot, and can cost anywhere from $2.50–$7.95 pp/per hors d’oeuvre.

Stations

The next step up in wedding catering is to have stations set up with different food options and a server at each one—cheeses, a carving station, hot sides, meat dishes, etc.

Extra is charged for china, silverware, glassware, and linens. Staffing is an approximate 20% service charge on the total cost.

Carlyle’s Catering in Atlanta, GA, have four menu options. Three cold hors d’oeuvres cost $15.25 pp, while one carving station with 3 cold and 3 hot hors d’oeuvres is $36.95 pp with sides. An assorted or upscale dessert bar is an additional $7–$8 pp. 100 guests = $1,525–$4,495.

They have a team of “professionally trained servers, bartenders, and chefs ready to make your event a success. The fees cover a two-hour event with set up and breakdown. Some events require additional labor. Lunch Server - $150; Chef in Kitchen - $200; Evening/Dinner Server - $175; Bartender - $175; Production - $150.”

Package Deals

Rather than try to piecemeal the costs of every little item per person, it can be a great relief to find a wedding caterer who offers a flat fee per person, like Culinary Canvas Catering in Phoenix, AZ, who have a wedding buffet package on their site of $4,500 for 125 guests. It includes an hors d’oeuvre station, salad, dinner roll, entree + 2 sides, tablecloths, napkins, and silverware = $36 pp.

Looking for a wedding caterer near you?

Now that you have an idea of the price range, let's find the right caterer for you.

Get Started

Full-Service Caterers

Most caterers either provide all the extra services you need themselves, or they can project manage everything for you and hire the right people for your big day. Services can include rentals, a florist, DJ, TABC bartenders, valet/transportation, equipment, entertainment, linens, décor, tables, dance floors, lighting, bar, tent, tables and chairs, and even game hosts.

Extra Fees

All wedding caterers will have a save-the-date fee costing about $250 to 50% of the total estimate. They might also add a service fee of $150–450 for miscellaneous costs like insurance, gas, tolls, parking, etc. They will also have a cancellation policy, whereby they will keep your deposit if you cancel the booking too close to the wedding date.

Ultimately, the perfect wedding catering company is waiting for your call. They’ll offer free tastings and walk throughs, if applicable, and customize your quote for whatever you have in mind.