Marriott's Events
- Luxury Catering · West London
- The Wedding Journal
Wedding Catering in London
The styles, the service and the sums — a considered guide to feeding your guests beautifully, arranged from the most lavish to the most relaxed.
- By Marriott's Events • 6 min read
Choosing the right wedding catering in London is one of the most enjoyable decisions you’ll make as a couple — and usually one of the largest lines in your budget. Food sets the tone of the entire day, keeps your guests happy between the ceremony and the dance floor, and is so often the thing people remember most warmly.
But “wedding catering” stretches from a Michelin-style tasting experience to a relaxed summer barbecue in the garden, and the gap between them is significant. London also sits well above the national average — couples here typically pay around 20–30% more per head than the rest of the UK, partly because so many London venues are dry-hire and need a caterer brought in to your chosen space.
To make planning simpler, we’ve laid out the four most popular styles below, arranged from the most lavish to the most relaxed, with approximate guide prices per head so you can match a style to your day.
A note on prices. All figures are approximate London guide prices per guest, intended for budgeting only. Final quotes depend on guest numbers, menu choices, staffing, equipment hire and whether VAT is included — so always confirm what’s in a quote before comparing.
- Arranged by cost
The Four Styles, by the Course
A quick glance at what to expect per guest, then each style explored in turn.
At a Glance
- Approximate London price · per head
I
- Most lavish
Bespoke Menu — Three Courses, Canapés & Drinks
from £120–£180+ per head
The full-service, all-inclusive way to cater a London wedding. It carries the whole reception: roaming canapés with champagne while you’re away for photographs, a plated three-course wedding breakfast, and a drinks package to match — a reception pour, wine through the meal and a toast.
A bespoke menu means our kitchen designs your dishes around your tastes, the season and your guests’ dietary needs, rather than choosing from a fixed list. Expect a private tasting beforehand, full front-of-house service, fine tableware and a dedicated event manager on the day.
Ideal for couples who want a polished, traditional day handled seamlessly from first pour to final toast.
II
- Sit-down
Bespoke Menu — Three-Course Meal
from £85–£130 per head
The classic wedding breakfast: a plated, made-for-you three-course meal served to guests at their tables. When couples picture wedding catering in London, this is often what they mean. You keep the bespoke menu and full waiting service — simply without the canapé reception and drinks package folded into the same per-head price.
It suits modern-luxe weddings in hotels, town halls and elegant venues, giving the day a natural rhythm for speeches and courses. Canapés and drinks can always be added later as budget allows, which makes this a flexible heart to build your day around.
Ideal for couples who want the elegance of a sit-down meal with tighter control of the overall spend.
III
- Sharing
Canapés & Bowl Food
from £45–£75 per head
A relaxed, contemporary alternative, hugely popular for London weddings — especially in rooftops, warehouses, galleries and townhouses where seated space is limited. Guests enjoy a selection of roaming canapés followed by bowl food: small, substantial servings such as risotto, curry, gnocchi or salads with protein, eaten while people mingle.
With no formal seating plan and fewer servers than a plated meal, it sits comfortably below a sit-down breakfast in cost while keeping the energy of the day moving. The variety also makes it easy to look after diverse dietary needs.
Ideal for couples wanting a sociable, less formal atmosphere with wonderful food at a friendlier price.
IV
- Most relaxed
Summer Wedding Barbecue
from £30–£55 per head
For a warm-weather celebration, a wedding barbecue is the most relaxed — and most budget-friendly — option here. Think generous grilled mains, fresh salads and seasonal sides, served buffet, family-style or in individual boxes. We bring the equipment, grill on-site and serve, so the theatre of live cooking becomes part of the day.
It’s lovely for garden weddings, marquees and outdoor London venues through summer, for couples who want crowd-pleasing food without the formality. Just keep a weather plan in mind, and check whether sides and salads are included or charged separately.
Ideal for laid-back summer weddings where the priority is generous food and a joyful, informal vibe.
- Behind the figures
What Shapes the Cost
Headline per-head prices rarely tell the whole story. A few things move the number.
Guest numbers
Most caterers price per head, and larger parties often unlock better value per guest. Very small weddings may carry a minimum spend, commonly £1,200–£3,000 in London.
Service & staffing
Plated meals need far more waiting staff than a buffet or bowl food — roughly one server per ten to twelve guests for plated service — which adds to labour costs.
Ingredients & menu
Seasonal, locally sourced and bespoke menus cost more than fixed, mass-produced options — and reward you with food that genuinely delights.
Your venue
Many London venues are dry-hire with no in-house kitchen, so equipment and a mobile kitchen may need to be brought in for the day.
Drinks
A drinks package typically adds £20–£50 per head on top of food, depending on whether you choose house wine and prosecco or champagne and cocktails.
Dietary needs & VAT
Vegan, gluten-free, halal or kosher menus may add a small supplement of around 5–10%. Always check whether the 20% VAT is already included.
- A little guidance
Choosing Your Style
Start by setting a realistic per-head budget before approaching caterers — catering often accounts for 30–40% of the total wedding budget, so getting this figure right early prevents painful cuts later. Then match the style to the day you want.
Classic and full-service?
The bespoke three-course with canapés and drinks.
Elegant but budget-aware?
A bespoke three-course meal as your heart.
Sociable and modern?
Canapés and bowl food keep guests mingling.
Relaxed summer celebration?
A wedding barbecue, generous and informal.
We’d also be delighted to welcome you to a tasting, so you can experience the menu before committing — quite simply, food to delight the eye and charm the soul.
- Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does wedding catering cost in London?
As a guide, London wedding catering ranges from around £30–£55 per head for a barbecue up to £120–£180+ per head for a bespoke three-course meal with canapés and drinks. London typically runs 20–30% above the UK average, so it’s wise to budget toward the higher end.
What is the cheapest wedding catering option?
A summer barbecue or a relaxed buffet and bowl food service is usually the most affordable, as both need less staffing than a formal plated meal
How much should I budget per head for a sit-down meal?
For a bespoke plated three-course wedding breakfast in London, allow roughly £85–£130 per head for the food, with drinks usually charged separately.
Do wedding catering prices include drinks?
Not always. Drinks are often quoted separately and typically add £20–£50 per head, depending on whether you choose house wine and prosecco or a premium package with champagne and cocktails.
When should I book my wedding caterer?
Popular London caterers book up well in advance, especially for peak summer Saturdays, so it’s best to secure yours as early as possible once your date and venue are confirmed.
- Your day, your menu
Let's craft your wedding menu
Whether you’re dreaming of an elegant bespoke three-course meal, a sociable canapé-and-bowl-food reception or a relaxed summer barbecue, we’ll bring it beautifully to life — with you, and for you.
Marriott's Events
- Luxury Catering · West London & the South East
Parisian elegance, British charm, exceptional cuisine.
Prices shown are approximate London guide figures per guest for budgeting purposes only and may exclude VAT. Final quotations are tailored to your guest numbers, menu, venue and service requirements.