Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Cross-at-Hand, Kent
Love Paella cooks paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Cross-at-Hand and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
Book wedding paella catering in Cross-at-Hand
About our wedding paella catering in Cross-at-Hand
We plan the wedding menu with you, course by course, around your guests, your venue and your budget. We are frequently asked to cater blessings and vow renewals and barn and farm weddings, with evening paella, table tapas and a paella wedding breakfast.
Rural weddings around Cross-at-Hand have a magic of their own, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Cross-at-Hand weddings: local tips
Cross-at-Hand is about 5 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. Anywhere in TN12, we will come to your venue or garden. We cover 922 places across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Cross-at-Hand to Canterbury (24 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Stoneacre (4.6 miles north). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking. With the High Weald National Landscape within about 7 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
For wedding paella catering in TN12, we plan around your venue. That could mean a wedding in a garden on Staplehurst Road and Woodford Park. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Rabbit's Cross (1 mile north), Devil's Den (1 mile east), Wanshurst Green (1 mile south-west), St Ann's Green (1 mile west) and Underling Green (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (5 miles north), Ashford (14 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles west), Tonbridge (12 miles west) and Kings Hill (8 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Sutton Valence Castle (2.8 miles north-east) and South East Romany Museum (1.8 miles south-west).
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
A sweet finish: Spanish desserts or your own cake.
Canapé tapas
Small bites carried round on boards while guests mingle, ideal for the drinks reception.
Cross-at-Hand questions
Do you come out to small places like Cross-at-Hand?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Cross-at-Hand for guests?
Staplehurst station, about 1.2 miles south of the centre.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Is paella too casual for a wedding?
It can be dressed up or kept relaxed, depending on presentation and service.
Nearby places to Cross-at-Hand
Also in Cross-at-Hand
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Golden-hour photos in Cross-at-Hand at midsummer come around 9:15pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May and 7:00pm in late September.
- Tell us your date, venue and numbers.
- We plan your menu course by course.
- Timings are agreed with your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We pack down, and staff stay as agreed.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- An open-sided catering gazebo next to the marquee
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Decide whether guests queue at the pans or are served at the tables
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
We clear our cooking area away afterwards; staff you’ve booked stay as agreed.
Spanish desserts, or your own wedding cake, finish the meal.
What wedding paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
- Parking and unloading
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
Thinking about wedding paella catering for your wedding in Cross-at-Hand? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Perfect for your wedding in Cross-at-Hand
It’s a natural fit for barns, marquees and gardens, where plated meals are harder.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Weddings with mixed diets
For guests travelling by train, Staplehurst station is about 1.2 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The deposit and payment dates
- Allergen information for each dish
- How bad weather is handled
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
- 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