Wedding catering · Essex & the South East
Wedding catering that waits for your speeches
Three courses from £75 a guest, with my chefs, waiting team, crockery and service all included. Every menu is built to hold, so when the photos overrun or the best man finds a second wind, your food is still perfect.
- Everyone includedChefs, waiting team, crockery, cutlery and linen.
- Built to holdFood that stays at its best when the day runs late.
- Allergens on every dishEvery course can be made gluten-free, with a nut-free vegan option on every menu.
- No VAT to addThe price you see is the price you pay.
Your chef
Hi, I'm Mike
I've spent over 20 years in hospitality, including nearly a decade running my own restaurant, and I trained under Gennaro Contaldo and Jamie Oliver. I'll cook your wedding breakfast myself, with a team I know and trust, and I'll be the one you speak to from first call to last plate.
Before Tipsy Squirrel I ran The Taste Experience Catering (2011 to 2015), cooking for weddings, corporate events and festival crowds of up to around 35,000, then Barrington Grill, which I grew to a team of around 30. Since 2024 I've cooked 250 private events through yHangry, rated 4.97 from 144 reviews (October 2026).
- 20 years
- in professional kitchens
- A decade
- running my own restaurant
- Rayleigh
- home base, cooking across Essex and the South East
“We were a group of 12 with 3 different dietary needs and the menu we agreed on was suitable for everyone and amazing.”Isabel · private dining · April 2026
How it works
- Enquire. Send your plans from this page. I'll call to talk through your day and confirm your quote.
- Hold your date. I'll hold it for 7 days while you decide, free.
- Taste. A tasting for the two of you and two guests is £200, taken off your bill when you book.
- Book. A 30% deposit secures the date. Then 40% three months before, and the balance 21 days before.
- Final numbers. Guest numbers and dietary needs 21 days before. Then leave the food to me.
Questions
What happens if the speeches run late?
Nothing bad. Every dish on my menus is chosen and cooked so it holds at its best until you're ready. If we're running very late, a few dishes switch to an equally good slow-cooked version, and I'll tell you which when you book.
Can you cater for allergies and dietary needs?
Yes. Every course can be made gluten-free, and each menu has a vegan option with no nuts. Tap "Allergens" on any dish to see what's in it. Everything is cooked in a kitchen that handles all 14 allergens, so I plan allergy plates with you individually.
Why is there no VAT?
I'm not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay. If that changes before your wedding, VAT would be added at the standard rate, and I'll tell you well in advance.
Is there a minimum number of guests?
For weddings under 60 guests there's a minimum spend: 60 guests at that menu's price. The Acorn menu needs 100 guests or more.
Why is The Acorn cheaper?
It's my midweek and winter menu: Sunday to Thursday any time of year, or any day from November to March. It needs 100 guests or more and a venue kitchen.
How far do you travel?
I'm based in Rayleigh and cater weddings across Essex, London, the South East and East Anglia. Travel is included wherever your venue is, so there's no mileage charge on your quote. The calculator asks for your venue's postcode so I know how far I'm coming.
How much does wedding catering cost per guest?
A three-course wedding breakfast costs from £75 to £140 a guest, depending on the menu and your numbers. At 60, 100 and 150 guests: The Gatherer £105, £95 and £90; The Hoard £110, £100 and £95; The Golden Acorn £140, £130 and £125. The Acorn, for 100 guests or more on midweek and winter dates, is £80 at 100 guests and £75 at 150. Prices slide smoothly between those sizes. Chefs, waiting team, crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen are all included, with no VAT to add.
Can you cater a marquee or barn with no kitchen?
Yes. I bring a full field kitchen for marquees, barns and fields: £20 a guest extra under 100 guests, £15 a guest from 100. The Gatherer, The Hoard and The Golden Acorn all work from a field kitchen. The Acorn needs a venue kitchen. Looking for a venue? Here are dry-hire venues that welcome your own caterer.
How do our guests choose their meal?
You pick two starters, two mains and two desserts from your menu. Your guests choose between them with their RSVP. Vegan guests always get your menu's vegan dish for each course, whichever two you pick. You send me the list with your final numbers 21 days before.
Do you provide the wine?
Yes, with three packages: Classic at £16 a guest, Reserve at £20 and Grand at £24. Each gives half a bottle of wine per adult with the meal and a glass of fizz for the toast, with pouring and glassware included. You choose the mix of white, red and rosé. If you'd rather bring your own, pouring and glassware are £4.50 a guest plus £10 corkage a bottle.
Do you do canapés and evening food?
Yes. Canapés on arrival are £12.50 a guest for three or £20 for five, all served cold or at room temperature so they hold through the photos. Evening food starts at £10 a guest for brioche rolls, £12 for slow-roast pork baps or £15 for a grazing table, with a minimum of 50 evening guests.
Is there a children's menu?
Yes: two courses for £20 a child under 12, with a choice of two mains and two desserts. Children don't count towards your guest numbers.
Can we have a tasting before we book?
Yes. A tasting for the two of you and two guests is £200, and it's taken off your bill when you book.
How do deposits and payments work?
A 30% deposit secures your date. Then 40% is due three months before the wedding and the balance 21 days before, when I also need your final numbers and dietary needs. I'll hold a date for 7 days while you decide, free.
Wedding catering by area
Essex · London · Hertfordshire · Kent · Suffolk · Cambridgeshire