Wedding Food Price: What You Really Pay for Catering and Cake

When you think about wedding food price, the total cost of meals, drinks, and dessert served to guests at a wedding reception. Also known as wedding catering cost, it often makes up the biggest chunk of your budget after the venue. Most couples assume it’s just about feeding people—but it’s really about experience, timing, and choices that ripple through your entire spending plan.

Let’s be real: a plated three-course meal for 100 guests doesn’t cost the same as a buffet, a food station setup, or a late-night snack bar. The wedding catering cost, the price paid to hire professionals to prepare and serve food at a wedding. Also known as wedding banquet budget, it varies wildly based on location, season, and whether you go high-end or keep it simple. In the UK, you’re looking at £50–£120 per person for standard catering, but luxury options—think truffle risotto or dry-aged steak—can push that past £150. Then there’s the wedding cake price, the cost of designing, baking, and delivering a multi-tiered wedding cake. Also known as cake cost for wedding, it’s not just sugar and butter—it’s art, structure, and labor. A basic three-tier cake might set you back £300–£600, but intricate designs, custom flavors, or edible flowers can double that.

What most people don’t tell you? The hidden fees. Service charges, gratuities, cake cutting fees, and even extra plates or napkins add up fast. And if you’re thinking of DIYing the food to save money—be careful. What looks like a bargain on paper often turns into stress, burnt dishes, or guests going home hungry. The smartest move? Pick one or two food moments to splurge on—the cake, the cocktail hour, the late-night bites—and keep the rest clean, simple, and well-executed.

You’ll find real examples below—from couples who cut catering costs by 40% using local farmers’ markets, to those who spent more on dessert than their entire décor budget. There’s no single right way to do this. But knowing what drives the price—and what you can safely skip—makes all the difference.