Find it Score it Weddings - Edition 1 - Spring/Summer - Magazine - Page 15
What do the average caterers charge, and how
much of your budget can you use?
Catering costs depend on many factors.
Based on the venue, it can be done in-house, but if it doesn't suit your
taste, you can even hire a caterer to come to your venue separately.
Usually, the catering offered by the venue is priced per head, meaning
there will be a fixed price for every guest, including wedding food
catering, venue rental and often half a bottle of wine per person and
some bubbly for raising a toast.
If the venue charges you a lump sum, it means catering is not included in
the package, and what you pay includes just the venue. Apart from this,
your catering cost also depends on how many guests you will invite. The
more people you invite, the higher the cost you can expect. Typically, you
can expect an average cost of £5,000 and above if you plan to host
around 100 people. It may sound like a lot, but if you calculate, it comes
down to £50 per person, which isn't a bad deal. This is the average
wedding catering cost, and depending on your budget, there are a range
of options available:
Affordable: £15–£25 per head
Moderate: £25–£50 per head
Luxury: £50–£65 per head
Do you need to tip your wedding caterer?
There is no defined rule when you want to tip the caterer, as every
situation differs. Some couples feel tipping is unnecessary, while others
feel it is customary to do so. So, ultimately it is up to you to decide.
Few caterers write gratuity directly into contracts as part of their overall
catering service fee. Therefore, in such cases, the tip is already taken
care of and is rolled as part of the overall catering package, and there is
nothing additional you need to do. Read the contract carefully and see if
gratuity is included and what it covers.
However, if it is not included and you want to tip the caterer, you can tip
around 15 to 20% of the total food bill.
Does wedding catering include alcohol?
Weddings are one of those rare events when your guests tend to let their
hair down. Therefore, many will want to enjoy a drink or two. While you
may feel tempted to offer an open bar, the cost can be really expensive.
For the same reason, couples opt for a bottle of one or two wines per
table, including a glass of bubbly on arrival and for the toasts. After this,
if the guests are willing to have more drinks, they are free to opt for one
from the cash bar. If you are planning to supply drinks such as bottles of
wine, then be prepared as your venue may charge a corkage fee, which
can be around £5-11 per bottle.
Visit our website to find caterers in Staffordshire & Cheshire.
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