Wedding catering eats up a huge chunk of your budget. Like, the biggest chunk after the venue. You’re looking at feeding potentially a hundred people or more, and in New Jersey, that doesn’t come cheap. But here’s what nobody tells you upfront: the per-person price you see advertised is almost never what you actually end up paying.
Let’s break down what wedding catering NJ actually costs and where all that money goes. Because understanding the real numbers helps you plan better and avoid that panic moment when the final invoice is way higher than you expected.
The Base Per-Person Cost
Most caterers quote a per-person price that sounds reasonable at first. Maybe $85 per person. You’ve got 120 guests, so you do the math and figure around $10,200. Easy enough to budget for.
Catered Wedding Reception Buffet Style
Except that $85 is just for food. It doesn’t include half the stuff you actually need to feed people at a wedding. It’s the starting point, not the finish line.
That base price typically covers your appetizers, main course, sides, and maybe a basic dessert. The quality varies wildly depending on your caterer. Some give you genuinely good food. Others give you the same chicken breast they serve at every single wedding, cooked until it’s basically jerky.
In New Jersey, expect base catering prices to run anywhere from $75 to $150 per person. North Jersey near the city? Higher end of that range. More rural areas? Lower end. But even at $75 per person, you’re not done spending.
What Actually Gets Added On
Here’s where things get expensive fast. Your caterer starts listing all the extras, and suddenly that $85 per person becomes $130.
Staff costs money. Servers, bartenders, someone to cut and serve the cake – these people don’t work for free. Some caterers include a certain number of staff in their base price. Others charge separately, anywhere from $150 to $300 per server for the event. You need about one server per 15-20 guests to keep things running smoothly.
Rentals add up quickly. Tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, silverware – if your venue doesn’t provide these, your caterer will. And they charge for it. Linens alone can run $30-50 per table. Fancy charger plates? Add another $5-10 per person. It all stacks up.
Bar service is its own beast. Some wedding catering NJ packages include an open bar. Most don’t. You’re either paying a consumption-based (whatever gets drunk, you pay for) or a flat per-person bar fee. Consumption scares people because you don’t know the final cost until it’s over. Flat fees give you certainty but might mean paying for alcohol that never gets opened.
Expect $25-45 per person for an open bar in New Jersey, depending on what you’re serving. Beer and wine only? Lower end. Full premium bar? Higher end. And yeah, your uncle who drinks like prohibition’s coming back tomorrow will absolutely affect this cost.
The Sneaky Stuff Nobody Warns You About
Cake cutting fees. Yeah, you read that right. If you bring in a cake from an outside bakery, many caterers charge $3-5 per person to cut and serve it. You already paid for the cake. Now you’re paying someone to slice it.
Service charges and gratuity aren’t the same thing. Service charges are fees the catering company keeps. Gratuity goes to the staff. Some caterers charge both. Read your contract carefully. You might see an 18% service charge plus a line for gratuity, and suddenly you’re adding 25-30% on top of everything.
Overtime costs happen more often than you’d think. Your contract says six hours of service. Your reception runs long because everyone’s having a blast. That extra hour costs you, usually at time-and-a-half rates for all the staff.
Delivery and setup fees can hit you if your caterer isn’t based near your venue. They’ve got to get all that food and equipment there somehow.
Tasting fees surprise couples. Some caterers charge for your tasting appointment. Others include it in your package if you book. Ask about this before you schedule.
Realistic Total Numbers
Let’s do real math on what wedding catering actually costs in NJ for a 120-person wedding.
Base food cost at $90 per person: $10,800. Open bar at $35 per person: $4,200. Rentals (linens, china, glassware): $2,000. Staff (6 servers, 2 bartenders): $2,000. Service charge at 18%: $3,420.
You’re at $22,420 before gratuity. That’s $187 per person, more than double the advertised base price. And this is a mid-range scenario. Fancy venues in Bergen County or near the shore? Add another $50-75 per person easily.
Making Your Budget Work
Start by figuring out your absolute max budget for catering. Then work backward. If you’ve got $18,000 total and 150 guests, you’re working with $120 per person all-in. Tell caterers that number upfront. They can build a package that fits instead of starting high and having you cut things.
Consider off-season weddings. November through April (except holidays) costs less. Friday or Sunday weddings run cheaper than Saturdays. Brunch or lunch receptions cost way less than dinner.
Cut your guest list. Harsh but effective. Every person you don’t invite saves you $150-200. Twenty fewer guests is $3,000-4,000 back in your budget.
Limit bar options. Beer, wine, and a signature cocktail cost half what a full premium bar runs. Your guests will survive without 15 liquor options.
Skip fancy rentals. Basic china works fine. Your guests won’t remember whether they ate off regular white plates or gold-rimmed chargers.
Getting Clear Quotes
When you talk to caterers, ask for an itemized quote that includes everything. Not just food. Everything. Staff, rentals, service charges, delivery, the works. Get it in writing.
Ask what’s included in that service charge and whether gratuity is expected on top. Find out their overtime policy. Know what happens if your guest count changes.
Wedding catering in NJ is expensive. There’s no getting around that. But going in with realistic expectations and asking the right questions upfront saves you from budget-blowing surprises later. Your wedding day should be about celebrating, not panicking over bills you didn’t see coming.
