- Food and Drinks
Food is the most important bit of any catering service because it takes the lion’s share of the experience people live to remember about your wedding. It also helps kick-start conversations as well as building connections.

- Service Type
The first step in calculating the cost of service is by first determining the type of service you will use on your big day. You can go for a food truck, service stations or a buffet. Although these options will help cut down on the service cost, you will need 1-3 staffers to do some little duties like cleaning dirty plates, meeting the demands of the guests and so on. The average cost of hiring one staffer goes between $25 and $30 per hour. To determine the total cost, multiply the number of guests available by the number of hours they will be working then multiply this by the cost of hiring one staffer.
- Cuisine
A normal catering cuisine comprising of normal food will be cheaper than a cuisine consisting of special dishes. For example, a cuisine of locally sourced seasonal food cannot compare to a cuisine of seafood like oysters. This, therefore, means that the normal cost of catering for one guest will increase above the range of $80-$120. To cut down on this cost, consider using locally sourced seasonal foods.
- Extra Fees
It is common for most caterers to include service fees to cater for things like toll, gas, insurance, and parking, which go to a range of between $150 and $450. Some caterers also demand caution fee of about $250 to 50% of the total estimates. These extra fees do not seem to have a way around them, which means that you must pay. Also, be prepared to pay caution fee included in the cancellation policy. This fee prevents the caterer from making so many losses in a situation where you cancel the wedding at a date so close to the big day.
- Rentals
Whichever style of cuisine you choose, you will have to factor in rental charges for a few items like silverware, linens, tables, and chairs and tents. All these come at an extra cost. One way you can reduce or do away with such costs and the stress of having to look for such items is by hiring a venue that already provides them together with the cost of the venue as a package. On average, rentals will cost you over $1,000 on a full array.
This article has shown you the different aspects that affect the average cost of wedding catering. It is hence important to pay attention to these elements, as they will help you cut catering costs as much as possible. Ensure to schedule your wedding during an off-peak season when most caterers are not busy. Also, consider buying locally produced seasonal food and remember to buy it in bulk. Having invested so much of your hard-earned money in catering for your big day, strive to go for the best caterer so that you can be guaranteed of quality service delivery. You do not want embarrassments and disappointments on the day you have waited for all your life. Hiring the best caterer for the job will help prevent this from happening.