How much food per person at a wedding?

For a 3-course sit-down meal, budget about 600g per guest across all courses. Buffets need around 500g per person. Canapé receptions need 8-10 pieces per person per hour, plus bowl food. Afternoon tea needs roughly 400g per person including sandwiches, scones, and cakes.

How many waiting staff do I need?

For a sit-down meal, one server per 20 guests is typical. For buffet service, one per 30 guests. For canapé service, one per 25 guests. Add extra staff for bar service, cloakroom, and clearing. Most caterers include staff in their per-head price.

What percentage of guests will be vegetarian or vegan?

In the UK, roughly 10-15% of wedding guests are vegetarian and 3-5% vegan, but this varies hugely by guest demographic. Always ask on your RSVP cards. Over-estimate slightly — meat-eaters often choose the vegetarian option if it looks good.

How many extra table settings should I have?

Budget for 5% spare settings to cover breakages, last-minute guests, and errors. For 100 guests, that means 105 of everything. Most hire companies charge a small amount extra for spares.

PartyCalcs

Wedding Catering Calculator

Calculate per-head catering quantities, staff, and table settings for your wedding.

Number of Guests

Total number of people attending

Meal Style

Number of Courses

Number of courses

Vegetarian %

Vegetarian % as a percentage

Vegan %

Vegan % as a percentage

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates catering quantities based on guest count, meal style, and courses.

Per-guest food weights

3-course sit-down: 600g per guest
Buffet: 500g per guest
Canap\u00e9s & bowl food: 350g per guest (plus piece count per hour)
Afternoon tea: 400g per guest

Food weight scales with course count. Staff ratios are based on service style. Table settings include a 5% spare allowance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.