Full-serviceWeddingCorporatePartyBirthday party
Wedding catering in Santa Monica, CA
These 3 caterers serving Santa Monica say in their own website or business details that they cater weddings. Ask each one which service styles they run (buffet, family style, stations or plated), whether staff, rentals and cake cutting are included, and whether they have worked at your venue before. TopCaterers lists 3 wedding catering providers serving Santa Monica, CA. 1 offer buffet and 1 offer plated dinners. Compare them below, or send one request and get quotes back from up to 5 of them.
Want prices to compare? Ask local caterers for sealed bids: up to 8 matching caterers are invited to bid.
| Wedding catering listed | 3 |
|---|---|
| Service styles available | Buffet (1), Plated (1) |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City population | 91,411 |
Browse by catering type
More filters: service, dietary, extras, guests
Quick filter:
WeddingCorporatePartyHoliday partyVegan
Catering by event in Santa Monica
Planning guide: Drop-off vs full-service catering · All caterers in Santa Monica · Get free quotes
Wedding catering in Santa Monica: common questions
How do I know these caterers do wedding catering in Santa Monica?
Each caterer on this page mentions this kind of event on its own website or in its business details. That is a sign they take the work, not a guarantee of availability, so confirm your date, guest count and service area with them directly.
When should I book a wedding caterer?
As a general rule of thumb, start contacting caterers as soon as your date and venue are set, often many months ahead, because popular Saturday dates go first. Ask about tasting availability and the deposit schedule.
What should a wedding catering quote include?
Ask for food, staff and hours, rentals (plates, glassware, linens), cake cutting, bar service, delivery, service charge and tax as separate lines, and check what your venue already supplies.
How far in advance should I book a caterer in Santa Monica?
For an office lunch or small drop-off order in Santa Monica, CA, 1 to 2 weeks is usually enough. For a large corporate event allow 2 to 3 months, and for a wedding allow 9 to 12 months, since the best caterers in any metro book their Saturday dates first. December and the May-June graduation window are the hardest times of year to book late. Many caterers will take rush orders inside 72 hours for a fee, and repast catering is routinely arranged in under 48 hours.
How much does catering cost per person?
Nationally, drop-off trays and boxed meals commonly run about $15 to $30 per person, a buffet with setup about $25 to $55 per person, and a full-service event with staff and plated or stationed food about $50 to $150 per person or more. The three things that move the number most are service style, protein choice and guest count. Drop-off is cheaper than full service because there is no staffing, rentals or gratuity. Below roughly 40 guests, most caterers charge a flat minimum instead of a per-head rate.
What is the difference between drop-off and full-service catering?
Drop-off means the food is delivered hot in disposable chafing dishes with serving utensils, and the caterer leaves. You handle setup, refills and cleanup. Full-service means the caterer arrives early, sets up, cooks or finishes on site, staffs the event with servers, provides china and linens, and cleans up afterwards. Full service usually adds 20-30% on top of the food cost for labor, plus rentals.
How much food do I need per person?
A common planning rule is 1 pound of food per adult across all dishes, split roughly into 6 oz protein, 4 oz starch and 4-6 oz vegetables or salad. For appetizer-only receptions, plan 4-6 pieces per person per hour if a meal follows, or 10-12 pieces per person for a two-hour reception that replaces dinner. Order for 100% of your confirmed headcount, not your invited count.