How to plan catering for a small wedding
Small does not always mean cheaper per guest
Caterers carry fixed costs for every event: a captain, travel, setup and breakdown. Spread across 30 guests instead of 150, those costs raise the per-person price. Many caterers and restaurants also set a food and beverage minimum, so ask for it before you settle on a menu.
Restaurant private rooms or catering at home
For 12 to 40 people, a restaurant private dining room handles the kitchen, staff and tableware, usually with a set menu and a minimum spend, and LA has them in every neighborhood from Silver Lake to Santa Monica. Catering at home or at a rented house gives you more freedom. You will also need tables, chairs, lighting and a place for the caterer to work.
Elopements and courthouse weddings
After a civil ceremony, a reserved table at a favorite restaurant or a picnic with a few friends can be the whole celebration. Bringing food to Griffith Park, a Malibu beach or a Palos Verdes viewpoint? Check whether the spot allows it and whether your group needs a permit.
Rehearsal dinner logistics
The rehearsal dinner usually follows the rehearsal on the evening before the wedding, so choose a place close to the venue and book early in wedding season. A Friday evening crosstown drive in LA can take an hour, which is one more reason to stay nearby. Share the guest list and any planned toasts, and confirm whether the restaurant has a private space or a microphone for speeches.
What it costs in Los Angeles
Small weddings cost less in total and often more per guest, because a caterer's fixed costs land on fewer people. Use these ranges to plan a dinner for roughly 15 to 50.
Small weddings and rehearsal dinners in LA| What | Typical range |
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| Drop-off dinner at home | $25 to $50 per guest |
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| Staffed buffet at home | $45 to $90 per guest |
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| Staffed plated dinner | $90 to $200 per guest |
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| Servers | $40 to $60 per hour, 4 to 5 hour minimum |
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| Rentals for a dinner at home | $8 to $25 per guest |
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With 25 guests, two servers for five hours can add $16 to $24 per guest on their own, which is why small dinners feel pricier per head. Restaurants usually set a food and beverage minimum for a private room instead of billing staff and rentals separately.
For a small gathering, food from Marbled LA works out to $24 to $70 per guest depending on the menu, plus delivery from $150 that weighs more on a short guest list, $2.50 per guest for disposables and 15 percent service.
Tips
- Ask restaurants for the minimum spend on your exact date. The same private room often costs less on a weeknight or a Sunday.
- At home, drop-off food plus one hired server is often the sweet spot between cost and help on the day.
These are typical Los Angeles market ranges drawn from public price lists and cost guides, not quotes. Every caterer prices its own menus, so ask each one for a written quote.
