10 PRICES TRACKED
Wedding catering (per head)
The catering cost per guest. Multiply by the headcount and it rivals the venue.
Every price we track (hover a dot)
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 103% more than the advertised list price for catering (per head).
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases and from a small sample so far. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Quoted vs actually paid (real submissions)
The strongest signal there is: what one person was quoted, and what the same job actually cost them.
- quoted £26↔paid £260%
Mumsnet poster (2022): £18/head pub menu plus £8/head evening food = £26/head; region not stated.
- quoted £65↔paid £650%
Mumsnet poster (2022), 50 guests: £55/head sit-down plus £10/head evening = £65/head; region not stated.
- quoted £100↔paid £1000%
Mumsnet poster (Nov 2022), 40 guests; region not stated so marked UK-wide.
| Year | Region | Provider | What it was | List | Paid | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK-wide | Independent | Pub set menu plus evening food, per headMumsnet poster (2022): £18/head pub menu plus £8/head evening food = £26/head; region not stated. | — | £26quoted £26 | source |
| 2026 | Kent | Independent | Three-course wedding breakfast, per headPage quotes 3 course (starter, main, dessert) at £42.00 per head plus VAT. | £42 | — | source |
| 2022 | UK-wide | Independent | Sit-down three-course meal plus evening food, per headMumsnet poster (2022), 50 guests: £55/head sit-down plus £10/head evening = £65/head; region not stated. | — | £65quoted £65 | source |
| 2026 | Wales | Independent | Three-course wedding breakfast, per headPage quotes three-course wedding breakfast from £69.50 per head; drinks, canapes and evening food priced separately. | £70 | — | source |
| 2022 | UK-wide | Independent | Family-style three-course meal plus evening food, per headMumsnet poster (Nov 2022), 40 guests; region not stated so marked UK-wide. | — | £100quoted £100 | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Wedding catering, per guest (external caterer, free choice)Average per-head cost using a freely chosen external caterer, Bridebook 2026 report; exact figure GBP 112.50 per guest. | — | £113 | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Wedding catering, per guest (in-house venue catering)Average in-house catering cost per head, Bridebook 2026 report; exact figure GBP 114.45 per guest. | — | £114 | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Wedding catering, per guest (overall average)Average overall catering cost per head (venue + food), Bridebook 2026 report; exact figure GBP 117.10 per guest. | — | £117 | source |
| 2026 | UK-wide | Unknown | Average wedding catering cost per head, UK (Bridebook)Bridebook 2026 data from about 7,000 UK couples; overall average across all catering types. | £117survey avg | — | source |
| 2026 | UK unspecified | Unknown | Wedding catering, per guest (external caterer, venue's required list)Average per-head cost when using an external caterer from the venue's required supplier list (most expensive route), Bridebook 2026 report. | — | £159 | source |
Common questions
How much does catering (per head) cost in the UK?
Across 10 real UK prices, the median is £107, ranging from £26 to £159. These are published prices and bills people actually paid, not estimates.
Why do catering (per head) prices vary so much?
Wedding prices swing with the season, the day of the week, the region and the supplier's demand. The same photographer can charge very differently for a Saturday in June versus a Thursday in November.
How can I pay less for catering (per head)?
Ask for the price before you say "wedding", book off-peak days and seasons, and compare several suppliers. The real prices here show the range.
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Methodology: prices here are published prices and bills people reported paying. Each row says which it is, with a link to the source where one exists. We never estimate and no sponsor can touch a number. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix or remove it fast.