Wedding Catering Costs: What Food & Beverage Really Costs

Wondering what wedding catering really costs? Break down per-guest pricing, bar packages, staffing, and what drives your food & beverage budget.

Food and beverage is typically the single largest category in a luxury wedding budget, generally representing 16% of the overall investment—and often more once venue site fees and staffing are included.

If you're building your budget from the top down, here's what actually goes into that number.

What "Catering" Actually Includes

Catering isn't just the per-plate dinner cost. A full food & beverage budget typically includes:

• Cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres

• Plated, family-style, or buffet dinner service

• Late-night snacks

• Cake cutting and dessert service

• Bar package (beer, wine, spirits, or full open bar)

• Catering staff (servers, bartenders, chefs)

• Rental of kitchen equipment or a full kitchen tent, if the venue doesn't have one

• Service charges and taxes
  

Typical Per-Guest Pricing

For a luxury destination wedding, per-guest food and beverage costs generally range from $225 to $450+ per person, depending on menu style, bar package, and staffing ratios. A three-course plated dinner with a full open bar sits at the higher end; a family-style menu with beer and wine typically comes in lower.

What Drives Catering Costs Up

• Plated service over buffet. Plated dinners require more staff per guest.

• Premium bar packages. Top-shelf spirits, specialty cocktails, and wine pairings add up quickly.

• Remote venues. Ranches and private estates often require caterers to build a full kitchen on-site, which adds equipment rental and staffing costs.

• Dietary complexity. Extensive allergy or dietary accommodations can increase per-plate costs.
  

What Drives Catering Costs Down

• Family-style or buffet service

• Beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of full open bar

• Venues with an in-house kitchen

• Consolidating cocktail hour and dinner into one space
  

Staffing Ratios to Expect

A well-run luxury wedding typically staffs at roughly one server per 10–12 guests for plated service, and one bartender per 50–75 guests. Staffing generally represents its own line item—about 5% of the total budget—separate from food and beverage costs themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does catering cost more at a private estate than a hotel? Often, yes. Hotels usually have in-house kitchens and staff, while estates require caterers to bring in equipment, refrigeration, and sometimes a full kitchen tent.

How much should I budget for the bar? Bar and beverage typically runs 0.5–9.5% of the total budget, with 5% as a reasonable starting point, depending on package and guest count.

Can I reduce catering costs without guests noticing? Yes—family-style service, a curated (rather than full) bar, and seasonal, local menus often feel more elevated while costing less than an extensive plated menu with a full open bar.

For the full picture of how catering fits into your overall wedding budget, see our wedding budget percentage guide.

Planning your Aspen or Snowmass wedding menu? J.Lemons Events works directly with our trusted catering partners to build a menu—and a budget—that fits your vision. Contact us to get started.