Hampshire · England
Wedding paella catering in Balmerlawn, Hampshire
Love Paella cooks paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food across Balmerlawn and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Food for evening guests
Wedding paella catering in Balmerlawn
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
How our wedding paella catering works in Balmerlawn
The smell of saffron and garlic drifting across a garden or barn gets guests excited about the meal long before it’s served. We’re often asked to cater sharing-style wedding meals and garden and marquee weddings, serving canapé tapas, table tapas and evening paella.
A wedding in a small place like Balmerlawn frequently means a field, a barn or a family garden. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Balmerlawn questions
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Nicholas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook near the sea around Balmerlawn?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you cater the whole day?
We can cater as much or as little of the day as you like, from the drinks reception to the evening.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cater for suppliers?
Of course. Add your suppliers to the final numbers.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What affects the price in Balmerlawn
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Timings and hours
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your wedding in Balmerlawn, and we will put together a menu and price.
Planning a paella wedding in Balmerlawn
Balmerlawn is about 5 miles north of Lymington, in Hampshire. For wedding paella catering in Balmerlawn, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Balmerlawn is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 10 miles away.
Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Brockenhurst station, about 0.9 miles south-west. Historic houses near Balmerlawn include Beaulieu Palace House (4.9 miles east). Historic houses and estates frequently have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue. With the New Forest National Park within about a mile, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue. With the coast within about 6 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO42, and we can cater your wedding anywhere in it. Other places close to Balmerlawn for wedding paella catering include Brockenhurst (1 mile south-west), Setley (1 mile south), South Weirs (2 miles south-west), Lyndhurst (3 miles north) and Emery Down (3 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Eastleigh (14 miles north-east), Totton (7 miles north), Chandler's Ford (13 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles north-east), Lymington (5 miles south) and Romsey (12 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Lymington New Forest Hospital (4 miles south).
- Nearby, you’ll find Rose And Crown Hotel (0.6 miles south-west)
Occasions we cook for in Balmerlawn
Paella can work for the wedding breakfast, the evening, or both, so it fits any plan.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Balmerlawn book us for events such as:
- Evening food for extra guests
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Barn and farm weddings
- Sharing-style wedding meals
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Nicholas often hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether VAT is included
- How late numbers can change
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. At midsummer, sunset in Balmerlawn is about 9:25pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:55pm, and in late September about 7:10pm.
- Share your date, venue, numbers and plans for the day.
- Together we plan each course and confirm the price.
- Timings are agreed with you and the venue, around speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Read more
Where we can cook in Balmerlawn
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
Live paella or other catering?
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella goes straight from pan to plate. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Events in Balmerlawn and across Hampshire
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Tell us about suppliers who need feeding
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
Paella can be served at the pans or carried to the tables by staff.
Canapés during the photos keep hunger at bay.
Places near Balmerlawn
Also in Balmerlawn
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff