Episode 41 - What a Caterer Would Eat at Their Wedding!
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Episode Summary
What does a wedding caterer choose when it's their own wedding? In part two of this UK wedding podcast deep dive into wedding food, Georgie is joined again by co-hosts Nick Collins and Roxy Greenwood of award-winning Epic Caterers, starting with Nick's own wedding day: a celebrant-led ceremony, a grazing feast cooked by his own team, a crème brûlée van, and an evening food request that ended with a surprise nobody saw coming.
Then the conversation turns to the questions couples ask most. How much does wedding catering cost for 100 guests, and what does that price include? Should you set a budget before you get quotes? How many staff should your caterer bring, and where do those staff come from? When should evening food be served, and who clears up afterwards? Nick and Roxy explain how to compare quotes properly, how to ask a caterer what you could remove rather than asking for a discount, and why your suppliers' meals matter more than you might think.
To finish, there's a quickfire round on wedding food divas, bizarre dietary requests, salt and pepper and the trends they'd happily never see again, plus Nick's controversial case for scrapping menu tastings altogether. It's honest, funny and practical: the UK wedding podcast episode to listen to before you book your caterer.
Key Takeaways
Get catering prices before you set your budget, so your budget is based on real numbers.
Epic's rule of thumb for canapés, three courses and evening food is around £80 to £100 a head, including staff, chefs, linen, crockery and cutlery.
Ask for an itemised quote, and if it's over budget, ask what you could remove rather than asking for a discount.
Compare quotes like for like. Check napkins, staffing, crockery and equipment, not just the food.
Ask every caterer about their staff-to-guest ratio and whether they use agency staff.
Evening food works best around 9:30 to 10pm, roughly four to five hours after the wedding breakfast. If you book a separate supplier, ask who clears up.
Ask your caterer what your suppliers will be served, and consider a separate supplier menu.
Have the food you genuinely love. Good suppliers will find a way to make it happen.
Episode FAQs
How much does wedding catering cost for 100 guests in the UK?
Wedding catering for 100 guests in the UK commonly costs between £7,000 and £10,000 for canapés, a three-course wedding breakfast and evening food, or roughly £70 to £100 per head. Bridebook puts the UK average at about £87 per head. The price usually covers food, chefs, serving staff, linen, crockery and cutlery, but always check what's included. Costs rise with extra courses, choice menus, premium ingredients and venues that need additional kitchen equipment.
How do you reduce the cost of wedding catering?
The most effective ways to reduce wedding catering costs are to serve fewer courses, offer a single main course instead of a choice, choose seasonal ingredients and cuts of meat, and use the same caterer for both daytime and evening food. Ask for an itemised quote so you can see what each element costs, then remove the parts that matter least to you rather than reducing quality across the whole menu.
How many waiting staff do you need at a wedding?
For a plated wedding breakfast, many caterers aim for around one member of serving staff per 10 to 15 guests, plus a manager or supervisor. More staff means food reaches tables faster and service stays on schedule. When comparing quotes, ask each caterer for their staff-to-guest ratio, whether staff are employed or supplied through an agency, and how they are trained.
What time should evening food be served at a wedding?
Evening food is usually best served between 9:30pm and 10pm, around four to five hours after the wedding breakfast. Serving it too early means guests aren't hungry yet; serving it later gives evening guests a chance to arrive and helps everyone keep dancing. If you hire a separate evening food supplier, confirm their arrival time, setup needs and who clears away packaging afterwards.
Do you have to feed wedding suppliers?
It is standard practice in the UK to provide a hot meal for suppliers who work through the day, such as photographers, videographers, planners and bands, and many supplier contracts require it. Caterers usually charge a reduced supplier rate. Ask your caterer what the supplier meal includes, when it will be served, and where suppliers will eat, so the people working your wedding are fed properly.