Typical Catering Costs
As you might expect the cost of a catered event can vary widely depending on what you are looking for. It's all about the details, but to paint a picture consider these representative events.
A Light Garden Wedding in the early afternoon with cocktail tables nicely draped in your wedding colors, umbrellas for shade and a few seating vignettes. Bountiful stations set up in wonderful displays to catch the eye and provide continuous nibbles, with light hors d'oeuvres tray serviced by our pleasant staff. Polished glassware for the beverages and platinum trimmed small plates for the food and cake. All inclusive the catering cost for this event would reasonably run between $135 and $190 per person. The benefit of an early afternoon reception is not only the perfect weather, but with shorter time frame and your guests attending between lunch and dinner the menu and rentals may be reduced to that of a cocktail party.
A Vineyard/Barn Wedding in the late afternoon with a spectacular view out over the vineyard. Passed hors d'oeuvres and a signature beverage to welcome your guests, melding into the main reception area for a table side service dinner on your well appointed tables. An elegant menu of California's best cuisine finished on the spot by our catering chefs and served promptly by our smartly attired service staff. All inclusive the catering cost for this event would reasonably run between $200 and $250 per person. Such a reception is grand, it provides plenty of time for you to mingle with all your guests and dance into the night.
A Hall Wedding in one of our areas many fine halls. Well lit and comfortable in any weather and any time of day, the tables and chairs provided by the hall resplendent in your wedding colors and impressively set with glass and china and silver. Stylishly set buffet tables tended by professional staff to keep the meal flowing. All inclusive the catering cost for this event would reasonably run between $145 and $200 per person. The hall's table and chairs can provide a good savings to use elsewhere and the buffet style service reduces the staff needed and allows for a broader menu.
A Birthday BBQ set in your backyard or one of our lovely regional parks. Tables set with checkered table cloths for that picnic theme and off to the side a grill master tending the barbeque, buffet tables filled with your favorite outdoor fare, and buckets of ice cold beverages. All inclusive the catering cost for this event would reasonably run between $90 and $110 per person. With this our good quality paper plates and plastic flatware would be perfectly acceptable and save the rental of glass, china, flatware and some of the linens. The buckets of beverages save on staff and bar rentals.
An Evening Cocktail Party in your home with stations of hors d'oeuvres, from our popular Sonoma County Bounty selection of fruits and cheeses, to the Market Basket Crudités, and selections of individual hot finger foods. Laid out to impress and help the flow of the party. Tended by a small number of our experienced servers. All inclusive the catering cost for this event would reasonably run between $90 and $110 per person. The menu can be as light or as robust as you like, there can be few to no rentals needed and only light staff.
These costs will provide a good rule of thumb, and we will work with you to design and clearly price out just what you need to make your event just what you want. Also see our Cost Planning page for advice in designing your event.
We can also suggest other event professionals, such as DJs, florists, bakers and photographers, and even professional bartending companies, and event venues as well.