Wedding catering quotes are easier to compare when the guest count, service format and inclusions are identical. This guide separates historical cost evidence from Pearl Lemon Catering’s own guide prices. It does not treat an unverified national average or a past forecast as the price of your wedding.
What the published statistics can tell you
The Office for National Statistics recorded annual food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation of 19.2% in March 2023. This is historical consumer-price evidence, not a current catering inflation rate and not a prediction of the increase in your quote. Source: ONS March 2023 bulletin, published 19 April 2023.
Wedding surveys can provide useful context, but their sample, wedding year and definition of catering matter. A package including drinks, equipment and venue service is not comparable with food-only catering. Previous unsupported regional averages and 2025–2027 projections have been removed from this guide rather than relabelled as current facts.
Build your wedding catering budget
Start with separate daytime and evening guest counts. Choose plated dining, a staffed buffet, sharing dishes or lighter reception food, then ask for a written breakdown covering food, staff, equipment, transport, drinks, setup and collection. Confirm whether VAT and venue charges are included.
| Guests | Chosen budget per person | Food budget |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | £50 | £3,000 |
| 80 | £75 | £6,000 |
| 100 | £100 | £10,000 |
These examples simply multiply headcount by an assumed budget. Add any separately quoted staffing, drinks, equipment, travel and VAT; do not assume they are included.
Compare service formats on like-for-like terms
- Plated meals: ask about courses, service staff, kitchen access and the time needed between courses.
- Buffets: check replenishment, portion planning, queues, dietary labelling and clearing.
- Sharing menus: confirm table space, serving utensils and separate dietary portions.
- Evening food: budget against the evening headcount rather than automatically feeding everyone twice.
- Drinks: agree stock, service hours, glassware and how consumption is charged.
Venue, dietary and logistical checks
Give the caterer your venue address, date, access times, facilities and any supplier restrictions. Declare allergies separately from preferences and ask for ingredient information and cross-contact controls; a menu label is not a guarantee of an allergen-free environment. Agree how late changes, final headcount and cancellations are handled.
Pearl Lemon Catering guide prices and notice
See our published catering guide prices and minimum spends for a starting point, not a national market average. Delivered/set-up orders have a £450 minimum and staffed events a £1,200 minimum. Weddings require a tailored quote. At least 48 hours’ notice is required, subject to availability; complex weddings should be planned well ahead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average UK wedding catering price?
This guide does not publish an unverified national average. Obtain comparable quotes for the same guest count, menu, venue and service inclusions.
Is a buffet always cheaper?
No. Menu ingredients, variety, quantities, equipment and staffing determine the quote. Compare complete packages rather than format names alone.
Are drinks and VAT included?
Only if the written quote explicitly includes them. Ask for each inclusion and exclusion before booking.
Request a wedding catering quote
Send your date, venue, daytime and evening headcounts, dietary requirements, preferred format and budget. Explore wedding catering in London, our allergen and dietary information, or request a tailored quote.
