The single most important part of a wedding is the food. Some may argue otherwise, but when you really think about it, what is a wedding without food? A ceremony with scores of hangry people trying to tough it out until they can finally leave and feed themselves. The food is the glue that holds it all together. When you sit down to feast and hear the toasts, the speeches, and just have a laugh. It’s a wonderful event where you can break bread with all of the important people in your life while celebrating your special day.
Sounds lovely right? But how much is it going to set you back. Sure, they’re all important people in your life, but how much of your hard-earned money are these cheeky little scroungers going to require in order to keep happy? Let’s find out!
How Much Does Wedding Catering Cost in Australia?
Before we can figure out the cost per head, first we should look at the overall cost of wedding catering in Australia. The national average in Australia as of 2020, is approximately $9891. That might sound like an awful lot, but don’t forget that that sum includes the food, beverages, waiting staff, chef’s, any rentals, and all other extras.
Let’s look at the average cost per state, to break it down even further:
- Victoria: $12,330
- WA: $10,785
- NSW: $9213
- ACT: $7192
- SA: $6322
- Queensland: $5754
So, depending on which region you live in, can give you a rough idea as to how much it’s going to cost you per head. Let’s say for example, that you are going to invite 100 guests to your wedding. In that case, the cost per head for each state will be as follows:
- Victoria: $123.3
- WA: $107.85
- NSW: $92.13
- ACT: $71.92
- SA: $6322
- Queensland: $57.54
If you add an approximation of $50 dollars onto each (to account for venue, staff, and all other costs involved), then you should know roughly how much each person is going to cost to invite.
What are the Most Popular Wedding Catering Styles?
Another factor to consider when thinking about how much it is going to cost you per head, is the style of catering. For example, if you roll with a food truck, then you’re not going to have to fork out on waiting staff (as you would with a traditional sit-down meal). This approach certainly isn’t the most sophisticated of wedding catering options, but it has a real charm to it.
There are other cheaper alternatives as well, such as serving finger food or a buffet-style. Again, this means that you won’t have to rely on having so many staff at your disposal which can keep the average cost per head down.
The most popular wedding catering style, however, is the traditional sit-down meal. This accounts for 54% of weddings in Australia. It tends to work out a little dearer, but understandably, it is the traditional form of wedding catering and allows your guests to feel as though they are really being spoiled.
The second highest wedding catering style is buffet catering at 19%. This has seen a decrease in popularity over the years as food trucks are on the rise, but both are a brilliant option if you’d like to keep your wedding day a little more casual and the costs per head down.
It’s a Worthwhile Investment, Taking Special Care of Your Guests
One thing that people will always remember about your wedding day, is the food. You could have the most magical ceremony, speeches that have everyone in fits of laughter, and a tear-jerking first dance, but if the food is terrible, that’s the only thing that people are going to remember. We are fickle beasts and if not fed properly, we can turn rather nasty. This is why it is so important to feed your guests properly on your special day; A) because they’re your closest family and friends and love you them dearly, and B) because you don’t want to be known as the stingy couple!
All joking aside, you must only spend what you are comfortable with. Yes, you only get married once (if you do it right, that is), but getting married isn’t a competition. It’s about celebrating the love between you and your better half.
If you aren’t particularly flush for cash at the moment, then there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your catering. However, if you are simply interested in finding out what the average cost per head is for wedding catering in Australia, then you’re looking at around $157 dollars (based on national averages).
This number will differ depending on where you are and the style of catering that you want to go for. It’s entirely up to you!
Stand Out with a Wedding to Remember
If you want to go all out and put on a feast to remember, then you should explore some of the more sophisticated wedding catering packages. It will certainly cost you a little bit more per head, but it will be worth every penny. The best wedding catering services will offer a great deal of extras and benefits over a cheaper alternative.
Conclusion
Again, on average, the cost per head for wedding catering in Australia is around the $150 dollars mark. Depending on the number of guests that you are inviting to your wedding, this isn’t overly extortionate. In fact, when you consider the fact that this is your special day, and that many people will be travelling far and wide to spend this momentous occasion with you, it’s a reasonable expenditure!
In any case, whatever you decide to do for your wedding catering, we wish you the very best of luck and a long and healthy future together.