Wedding catering in the US costs about $80 per person on average, according to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. That is the food. The bar, rentals, service charge and sales tax are often billed on top, so the number on your final invoice per guest is higher.
Catering is charged per head, which makes it the line that grows fastest with your guest list. This guide covers what the per-person price usually includes, what costs extra and what to ask before you sign.
What the per-person price usually includes
Every caterer packages it differently. A per-person quote may include:
- appetizers or a cocktail hour,
- the main meal,
- bread, coffee and sometimes the cake cutting,
- servers and kitchen staff,
- plates, glasses and cutlery, or not.
Get two or three quotes and compare them line by line. A lower per-person price that leaves out staff or rentals is not cheaper.
What usually costs extra
- The bar. Open bar, beer and wine only, or a cash bar. Some caterers charge it per person, others by consumption.
- Rentals. Tables, chairs, linens and tableware if the venue does not supply them.
- Service charge. A percentage on top of food and drink. It is not always the staff tip.
- Sales tax, which depends on your state.
- Cake cutting or corkage fees, if you bring your own cake or wine.
- Vendor meals for the photographer, band or DJ.
Buffet, plated or family style
| Style | How it works | Cost notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plated | Each guest gets a served meal, often chosen in advance. | Needs more servers, but portions are exact. |
| Buffet | Guests serve themselves. | Fewer servers, but caterers plan extra food. |
| Family style | Shared platters on each table. | More food and more tableware. |
| Stations | Several food stations around the room. | Often more staff and equipment. |
None of these is always the cheapest. Ask your caterer to price two styles for your real guest count.
How to estimate your catering bill
- Multiply the per-person food price by your adult guests.
- Add children's meals and vendor meals at their own price.
- Add the bar, rentals and any cake or corkage fees.
- Add the service charge and sales tax on top.
At $80 per person, 100 guests is $8,000 for food alone, and 60 guests is $4,800. That gap is why the guest list moves the budget more than any menu change. For the full picture, see how much a wedding costs.
Questions to ask the caterer
- What exactly does the per-person price include?
- Is there a service charge, what does it cover, and is a gratuity expected on top?
- What is the minimum guest count?
- When is the final headcount due, and what if someone does not come?
- How do you handle allergies and special meals?
- Is a tasting included, and for how many people?
Getting the meal count right
If you offer a plated dinner, the caterer needs to know who eats what. Asking for the meal choice on the RSVP saves a round of calls. We cover the wording in beef or fish on the RSVP and the allergy side in RSVP dietary restrictions.
On Wedding30s the RSVP asks each guest, plus ones included, for their meal and allergies. Your dashboard shows the count per dish, and you download the list as a CSV file for the caterer. See RSVP with meal choice. The site costs €49, paid once, and you can build it and see it before you pay. Create your wedding website.
Frequently asked questions
How much does wedding catering cost per person?
About $80 per person on average, according to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. That figure is for food. Drinks, rentals, the service charge and sales tax are often billed on top, so the real cost per guest is higher.
Is a buffet cheaper than a plated dinner?
Not always. A buffet can need more food because guests serve themselves, while a plated dinner needs more servers. Ask your caterer to quote both for your guest count before you decide.
What is a service charge on a catering quote?
A percentage that many caterers and venues add on top of the food and drink price. It is not always a tip for the staff. Ask what it covers and whether a separate gratuity is expected.
Do I pay for guests who RSVP yes and do not show up?
Usually yes. The caterer asks for a final count some days before the wedding and bills that number. Collect RSVPs early and follow up with the people who have not answered.
Do vendors count in the catering headcount?
Often yes. Many contracts ask you to feed the photographer, the band or the DJ, sometimes at a lower vendor meal price. Ask how they are counted and what they cost.