Catering, the cake, the bar and cocktails, and menus.
Good food and drink are what guests remember long after the day — and the choices go well beyond picking chicken or fish. This section covers catering styles and how service format shapes both the budget and the mood, from plated dinners to family-style and stations. We cover the cake and its alternatives, building a bar and signature cocktails that fit your crowd and your budget, and designing menus that account for dietary needs without losing the plot.
Kosher catering is not simply a dietary restriction to work around — it is a full logistical system with specific kitchen, staffing, and supervision requirements that shape every catering decision you make.
The average couple spends $80 per person on wedding catering in 2026 — but the true all-in cost, once service charges, gratuity, and bar service are added, lands closer to $110–$140. Here is every number you need to budget with confidence.
From sizing and flavors to fondant versus buttercream, the groom's cake, dessert table alternatives, and the etiquette of the cutting ceremony — everything you need to choose, order, and celebrate your wedding cake with confidence.
From open bar vs. beer-and-wine to signature cocktails, quantities, permits, and zero-proof options — the complete planning guide for your wedding bar in 2026.
Plated dinners average $80–$150 per person; buffets run $50–$90. But cost is only one variable. Formality, venue logistics, guest count, and the atmosphere you want to create all point toward different answers. Here is everything you need to make this decision with confidence.
A dry wedding is no longer a compromise — it is a hospitality choice that, done thoughtfully, produces some of the most memorable receptions we have seen in 2026.
Open bar averages $30–$70 per person in 2026, totaling roughly $4,400–$6,600 for a 100-guest wedding — but tier, region, and the hidden costs of bartenders and glassware shape your real number.
Food is the most visceral memory guests carry home from a wedding. This guide covers every catering decision — service style, menu planning, tastings, contracts, cultural traditions, and realistic per-person costs for 2026.
The national average wedding cake costs $500–$917, but the number on your invoice depends on guest count, tier design, frosting type, and your baker's market. Here is the full 2026 pricing breakdown.
Plated, buffet, family-style and stations each set a different tone and price. This hub walks through the trade-offs so you match the format to your guest count and budget.
It depends on guest count and whether you are serving other desserts. We cover sizing, alternatives and how to avoid over-ordering.
Not necessarily — open, limited and cash bars all have their place. We explain the options, signature-cocktail ideas and how to estimate quantities.
