PRICE GUIDE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · 2026–2027
Wedding Caterer cost in the UK
£15–£60 per head. Typically £35.
UK wedding caterers usually charge £15–£60 per head, and a wedding breakfast typically comes to about £35 a head. Menu style, number of courses, waiting staff, a marquee kitchen and whether your venue adds a fee for outside caterers shape the total.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a wedding caterer cost in the UK?
| Low end | £15 | a buffet or sharing platters |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £35 | what most people pay |
| High end | £60 | a plated multi-course meal with full table service |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the event suppliers near you.
What moves the price
- Service style — sharing platters or a buffet cost a wedding caterer less than a plated three-course wedding breakfast
- Courses and extras — canapés, an evening buffet and a late-night snack each add to the per-head figure
- Waiting staff — table service for the wedding breakfast needs one server for every small group of tables
- Venue kitchen — a marquee or barn without a kitchen means the caterer brings a field kitchen
- Venue fees — some wedding venues charge a fee to use outside caterers, which lands on your bill
- Wedding date — summer Saturdays book out early, and caterers rarely discount peak dates
WHAT YOU GET
What a wedding caterer booking includes
Takes: Caterers are usually on site from mid-morning until the evening food is cleared. Not included: Drinks packages, the evening buffet, cake cutting fees, linen, a field kitchen for a marquee and venue fees for outside caterers are often extra.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common wedding caterer jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Wedding Caterer near you, with prices shown
The event suppliers that cover your area, nearest first, each with their price and one score from every review. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
How to pay less
- Choose sharing platters or a buffet instead of a plated wedding breakfast
- Skip canapés if the wedding caterer's main meal follows soon after the ceremony
- Pick a venue that allows outside caterers without a fee
Before you book
- Check whether your wedding venue has a list of approved caterers or charges for outside ones
- Ask the caterer for its food hygiene rating and how it handles guests' allergies
- Confirm the staffing ratio for table service and whether service charge is added
- Get the final guest numbers and dietary needs to the caterer by the agreed deadline
Wedding Caterer cost: questions people ask
Usually £15–£60 per head in the UK, with about £35 typical for a wedding breakfast. Simple buffets sit lowest; premium multi-course menus with full service sit highest.
Most arrive several hours before the meal to set up and stay until the evening food is cleared, so expect most of the day.
It depends on the venue. Some insist on in-house catering or an approved list, and others charge a fee for outside caterers. Check the venue contract before booking a wedding caterer.
It can be simpler, but drinks sold to guests need a licence. If the venue has no premises licence, a Temporary Event Notice may be needed in England and Wales, or an occasional licence in Scotland.
Drinks, the evening food, linen, cake cutting, a field kitchen and venue fees are commonly listed separately.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, drawn from published UK wedding catering price guides. They show the national range per head rather than a quote.
MORE GUIDES