How Much Should Catering Cost Per Person?
When you are thinking about hiring catering services for a special event, one of the questions that is probably foremost in your mind is how much it will cost. At Chef Raymone, we are eager to help you choose the food you want for your gathering at a price that you can afford. Nevertheless, it is difficult to provide broad estimates of what the catering costs will be for your specific event because so many factors come into play to determine how much the total price will be.
One of these factors is the number of guests attending your event. A catering company usually estimates the price per person, and we are no exception. Needless to say, a large event with more attendees will cost more to cater than a smaller, more intimate gathering.
However, the number of attendees is only one of several factors that come into play when determining the cost of catering. Let’s take a look at some of the others.
Type of Food
If you’ve ever done any grocery shopping, you know that some types of food tend to cost less than others. The same holds true when you are ordering catering services. Hamburgers tend to cost less than fillet mignon, for example. For the latter, you are looking at probably at least $20 per person; for the former, the cost per person is more likely to be $10 to $12 per person.
It is not only the type of food you get but the variety. The more specialized options you give your guests, the greater the costs are likely to be.
When you’re trying to estimate catering costs, don’t forget to factor in the drinks. Depending on what beverage(s) you choose to serve your guests, drinks could add another $1 to $3 to your per-person cost.
Type of Event
You can hire catering for just about any event you can think of, but the type of gathering you are holding also affects the price of catering services. The more casual the event, the less expensive the catering is likely to be, while if the event is more formal, the cost of catering may be significantly more.
The following are examples of the most popular events to cater and an estimate of what you can expect to pay per person for each.
- Private Parties (anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, etc.): $20 to $40 per person
- Corporate Parties: $25 to $50 per person
- Weddings: $25 to $85 per person
Special Price Considerations for Weddings
Weddings are among the most commonly catered events. Generally speaking, catering for a wedding is more expensive than catering other types of parties. Sit-down service for a wedding costs about $70 per person for food on average. For both food and drinks, the per-person cost increases to $85.
However, if you are planning a wedding on a budget, you can save a significant amount of money by choosing a different serving style. If you choose to have guests serve themselves, via stations, buffet, or family-style, the average price per person decreases markedly to only $25 to $65 per person. You may be able to save even more on catering costs by holding a cocktail-style reception.
Work With an Experienced Catering Company
We have worked on every type of event, from small bridal showers to large corporate parties. Our food selection and catering menus are broad and customizable so that we can provide for your specific needs.
We provide services throughout the state and take pride in supporting the local economy by purchasing fresh produce from other Michigan companies whenever possible. We are confident that you will find our prices to be the most affordable and our food of the highest quality.
Discover for yourself why Chef Raymone is one of the largest catering companies in Michigan. Contact us today by calling 586-465-0299.
