HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a wedding caterer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A wedding caterer in Ireland costs €40–€120 per head, typically around €70. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a wedding caterer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers wedding caterer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — equipment Rental — many caterers offer rental services for necessary equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, and serving utensils.
- How does menu choices change the price?A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does guest count change the price?Numbers change the equipment as well as the hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does service style change the price?What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?While catering covers food and beverage service, it usually does not include venue rental, decor, or entertainment — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a wedding caterer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers wedding caterer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — equipment Rental — many caterers offer rental services for necessary equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, and serving utensils.
A good answer: A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Numbers change the equipment as well as the hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: While catering covers food and beverage service, it usually does not include venue rental, decor, or entertainment — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a wedding caterer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — setup and Cleanup — A wedding caterer is responsible for the setup of dining areas, including table settings and buffet stations.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the wedding caterer starts, and an itemised invoice after — staffing and Service — caterers typically provide professional staff to serve food and drinks during the event.
Getting the quote right
- Menu choices — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
- Guest count — numbers change the equipment as well as the hours.
- Service style — what is included in the package changes the total.
- Venue's accessibility — limited access often needs a second person just to pass things.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: menu choices — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs
- They will not talk about it: guest count — numbers change the equipment as well as the hours
- They will not talk about it: service style — what is included in the package changes the total
- A price for the wedding caterer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the wedding caterer has begun
What a wedding caterer costs: €40–€120 per head
The figures are for the job, per head, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Buffet catering and Plated service each carry their own band. Wedding Caterer price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Wedding caterers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstMenu choices — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs — that is what the wedding caterer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneGuest count — numbers change the equipment as well as the hours — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfService style — what is included in the package changes the total — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherVenue's accessibility — limited access often needs a second person just to pass things — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the wedding caterer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any special requests from the couple — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- Staffing and Service
- Caterers typically provide professional staff to serve food and drinks during the event.
- Setup and Cleanup
- A wedding caterer is responsible for the setup of dining areas, including table settings and buffet stations.
- Equipment Rental
- Many caterers offer rental services for necessary equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, and serving utensils.
- Buffet Catering
- Buffet catering involves setting up a self-service style dining experience where guests can choose from a variety of dishes laid out on a table.
- Plated Service
- In plated service, meals are individually prepared and served to guests at their tables, offering a more formal dining experience.
- Cocktail Reception
- This service focuses on providing a selection of hors d'oeuvres and drinks for guests to enjoy in a standing, mingling format.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a wedding caterer: questions people ask
The cost of wedding catering can vary based on menu choices, guest count, and service style. Premium ingredients, specialised dietary options, and additional services like bar service can also increase overall costs.
Wedding caterers usually work from the setup phase until the end of the event, which can range from 4 to 8 hours. The duration depends on the size of the wedding and the complexity of the service provided.
While a general caterer can handle a variety of events, hiring a specialist wedding caterer is often beneficial. They have experience with the unique demands of weddings, including timing and presentation.
Same-day catering services are rare and depend on the caterer's availability. Most caterers require advance notice to prepare adequately for the event, so it's best to plan ahead.
Many wedding caterers offer package deals that include multiple services, such as catering, bar service, and equipment rental. This can streamline the planning process and sometimes result in cost savings.
While catering covers food and beverage service, it usually does not include venue rental, decor, or entertainment. Couples should clarify these details with their caterer to understand what is included in their service.
MORE GUIDES