How to save money on wedding catering

Planning a wedding can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, especially when it comes to budgeting. With food and drink often being one of the largest expenses, finding ways to save is crucial. From choosing the right menu to exploring alternative service styles, there are plenty of ways to create your dream wedding feast while being mindful of budget.

Packed with insight from seasoned caterers, discover how you can save money on wedding catering without compromising on quality.

Top tips for saving on wedding catering

Plan your menu wisely

Whether you have a particular cuisine in mind or you’re still in the planning phase, think about incorporating simple dishes that are easy to prepare. This can significantly reduce labour costs, as emphasised by Livy Hughes, Business Development Manager at Chop & Chip:

“It’s important to think about the complexity of the menu and the chef-skill requirement level, as this can play a role in overall pricing.”

While it’s important to cater for your guest’s dietary requirements, the more bespoke dishes, the pricier your wedding menu will be. Instead, offer a limited number of options that will suit everyone’s dietary preferences (e.g., one meat option and one vegetarian or vegan option). You should also consider opting for seasonal ingredients which are not only fresher but often more affordable too.

Consider service style

Food isn’t the only factor affecting wedding catering costs. Think about the overall catering experience, including service style. For example, sit-down meals are often more expensive than casual buffet services which is why choosing a suitable service style is crucial to keeping costs down.

“There are quite a few factors that can influence wedding catering prices! One of the biggest is the style of service – for instance, if you’re after a menu that requires a lot of waiting staff for a sit-down meal, this will significantly increase the cost, as you're covering staff hours,” shares Livy.

Be open and specific

Being open with your caterer about your budget and specific about your desired wedding menu will allow your caterer to find the very best options tailored to you and your special day.

Experienced wedding caterers like Jo, Owner of The Travelling Chef, advises couples to: “Be very specific on what they want. The more specific they are, the more accurate suppliers can be with them and the more of a chance they’ll get what they want for their budget.”

He adds that setting a realistic budget is an important part of this: “The best way for couples to set a realistic budget is to think about how much it would usually cost for them to dine out.”

By setting a realistic budget and communicating openly with your caterer, you’re sure to find the best options for your dream wedding feast.

Set an off-peak date

With beautifully bright days and warm drawn-out evenings, it’s easy to see why many couples choose to get married in late spring/summer. With so much competition, however, venues and vendors tend to raise their prices during these peak times.

“Another key factor is the time of year – May through August is prime wedding season, so with the higher demand, prices naturally go up,” shares Livy.

To save some money – not only with wedding catering but across the entire wedding day – consider saving the date for a weekday between September and April when rates are lower.

Limit bar options

Instead of having a fully stocked open bar, consider offering a signature cocktail or a limited drink menu. This not only cuts costs but also adds a personal touch to your celebration. If your venue allows it, you could also try hiring a mobile bar which can sometimes be cheaper than traditional wedding bars.

Read reviews

Finding delicious high-quality wedding food that won’t break the bank is easy if you know where to look. While stunning imagery can be a good indicator of quality, reviews are even better.

“Always look at the reviews and customer experiences. The quality of food could look good but the service could be bad. Never judge a book by its cover!” shares Frederick Buitendag, Founder of Brat-Bros Catering Ltd.

He adds that couples should also: “Interact with the supplier and look on their social media to get a better feel for what they can provide.”

Attend tasting sessions

To help you craft your dream wedding menu for an affordable price, be sure to attend tasting sessions.

Jo emphasises: “For me, meeting with the client at my place is always free of charge. Come try the food! I'm a great believer that being face-to-face is where you can really cement the future relationship with the client. We absolutely do tasting sessions because the client might decide they really like a particular canapé and ask to have it as a side dish or so on.”

Ask for budget-friendly options

Don’t be afraid to ask your caterers outright for budget-friendly wedding menu options! Seasoned caterers have undoubtedly worked with an array of couples with different budgets, making them experts in crafting tailored menus to suit any budget.

Joe, Owner and Managing Director of The Wood Fired Pizza Company, shares: “The main factor affecting prices is the number of pizzas ordered and the serving style. You can either serve to order, which requires a pizza per guest, or serve in slices (known as buffet style), where guests help themselves, which is often more economical. Pizzas with more complex ingredients often take more time to prepare, making them cost a little more. The more expensive pizzas are not necessarily better or more popular though, and we recommend sticking to crowd-pleasers for weddings.”

Consider DIY options

If the venue allows, you can always venture down the DIY route and explore self-catering options. Besides, everyone loves a good buffet!

You could even opt for a potluck wedding in which your guests bring dishes to share on the wedding day as opposed to having a traditional wedding breakfast. Most potluck weddings forgo presents in exchange for their loved one's thoughtful contributions. This can be a fun way to get everyone involved while saving on catering costs.

Cheap wedding catering ideas: Affordable options

From trendy food trucks to vibrant buffets, there are plenty of affordable catering options to consider.

“A fantastic way to keep costs down without compromising on the quality of food is to go for a more creative, less traditional catering style. Street food, for example, is a brilliant option for couples aiming for a relaxed, festival-like vibe. Buffets or sharing-style meals are also great alternatives – they’re budget-friendly but still offer guests a memorable and delicious experience!” shares Livy.

Let’s not forget family-style dining. This popular style of dining involves placing delicious platters of food at the centre of each table and guests sharing a variety of entrées, mains, and side dishes. This option gets guests talking and can serve as a great icebreaker for those unfamiliar with one another. Above all, it can be a very cost-effective option than plated meals.

Wedding catering myths and misconceptions

Many couples believe catering costs double as soon as the word “wedding” is mentioned. According to caterers, this is not always the case.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that we inflate our prices just because it’s a wedding – that’s definitely not the case! Another common misunderstanding is that catering is just about the food. In reality, there’s so much more involved – staffing, fuel, equipment, logistics, and all sorts of overheads that add to the cost. It’s easy to overlook these aspects if you’re not in the industry, but they’re essential elements that affect pricing,” shares Livy.

Joe adds: “A lot of people believe that event suppliers increase their charges for weddings. While this may be true for some businesses, we charge the same for weddings as parties or christenings etc. Our costs for ingredients/goods are the same regardless of the event, so we believe it is only fair that our prices remain the same too.”

Find affordable wedding caterers

Wedding catering doesn’t have to break the bank. Use our platform to find trusted wedding catering services to suit your budget. Easily compare tailored quotes, connect with wedding caterers, read reviews, and view photos of their culinary creations. Once you've found your perfect wedding caterer, simply reach out to finalise the details to make your dream wedding feast a reality.