Price per guest by menu
| Menu | 60 guests | 100 guests | 150 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Acorn (midweek & winter, 100+ guests) | – | £80 | £75 |
| The Gatherer | £105 | £95 | £90 |
| The Hoard | £110 | £100 | £95 |
| The Golden Acorn | £140 | £130 | £125 |
Prices slide smoothly between these sizes. Weddings under 60 guests have a minimum spend of 60 guests at that menu's price.
What changes the price
- Guest numbers. The single biggest factor, both in your total and in the price per guest.
- The menu. The Golden Acorn costs £50 a guest more than The Acorn at 100 guests.
- Your date. The Acorn, my lowest price, is for Sunday to Thursday weddings, or any day from November to March.
- Your venue's kitchen. No kitchen means a field kitchen: £20 a guest under 100 guests, £15 from 100.
- Crockery and linen. If your venue supplies them, it's £10 a guest less.
- Distance. Travel is included, so distance doesn't change my price. Other caterers may charge mileage, so ask.
- Extras. Canapés from £12.50 a guest, wine packages from £16, evening food from £10 (minimum 50 guests), children's menu £20.
Three real examples
A midweek winter wedding at a venue with a kitchen
100 guests on a Thursday in March, near Chelmsford, The Acorn menu, no extras.
| The Acorn: 100 guests × £80 | £8,000 |
| Total | £8,000 |
That's about £80 for each day guest.
A Saturday barn wedding with no kitchen
100 day guests and 120 in the evening, in a barn near Coggeshall in June, The Gatherer menu.
| The Gatherer: 100 guests × £95 | £9,500 |
| Field kitchen: 100 × £15 | £1,500 |
| Canapés, 3 per guest: 100 × £12.50 | £1,250 |
| Wine: Classic package, 100 × £16 | £1,600 |
| Evening: slow-roast pork baps, 120 × £12 | £1,440 |
| Total | £15,290 |
That's about £153 for each day guest.
A smaller country-house wedding
80 guests and 6 children in September at a venue that supplies its own crockery and linen, The Hoard menu.
| The Hoard: 80 guests × £105 | £8,400 |
| Venue supplies crockery & linen: 80 × −£10 | −£800 |
| Wine: Reserve package, 80 × £20 | £1,600 |
| Children's menu: 6 × £20 | £120 |
| Tea, coffee & petit fours: 80 × £6 | £480 |
| Total | £9,800 |
That's about £123 for each day guest.
Questions couples ask
How much does wedding catering cost per head in Essex?
With me, a three-course sit-down wedding breakfast costs £75 to £140 a guest, including chefs, waiting team, crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen, with no VAT to add. Where you land depends mostly on the menu, your guest numbers and whether your venue has a kitchen. In the examples below, adding canapés, wine and evening food takes the total to about £120 to £155 per day guest.
Is wedding catering cheaper for more guests?
Yes, per guest. Staff, kit and the field kitchen are shared across more people, so my prices fall as numbers rise: The Gatherer is £105 a guest at 60, £95 at 100 and £90 at 150. Your total still goes up, of course.
Does a venue without a kitchen cost more?
Yes. A barn, marquee or field needs a field kitchen brought in: £20 a guest under 100 guests, £15 from 100.
Do I pay VAT on top?
Not with me. I'm not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay. Caterers who are VAT registered have to add 20%, and some quote their prices without it, so check whether a quote includes VAT.
What isn't included?
Drinks, canapés, evening food and the children's menu are priced separately so you only pay for what you want. Travel is included wherever your venue is.
Price your own weddingPrices checked on 8 October 2026. Every quote is confirmed personally on a call.