Reading · England
Wedding paella catering in Fords Farm, Reading
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food turns food into part of your wedding in Fords Farm.
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Rustic barn weddings
Wedding paella catering for Fords Farm events
Your questions about wedding paella catering in Fords Farm
Which station should guests use for Fords Farm?
Reading Green Park station, about 1.4 miles south-east of the centre.
Could we have live paella in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
What if the timings change?
We adapt. We keep in touch with your venue on the day so the paella is served fresh.
Wedding paella catering in Fords Farm, made fresh on the day
Paella suits relaxed, sociable weddings, long tables and garden or barn venues. It feels generous and celebratory. Whether it is relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts and wedding receptions after a small ceremony, we can cook a paella wedding breakfast, Spanish desserts and canapé tapas and more.
In Fords Farm, a local ceremony and a marquee reception is a lovely, personal choice. Paella cooked on the lawn suits that perfectly. Let us know about access for the van. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Fords Farm
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. We cater weddings at gardens, halls and venues around Fords Farm and the surrounding area. We cater in all 34 towns and villages across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Couples marrying at local churches such as St Matthew's frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive. If you’re hoping for photos in Calcot Park, check whether the park needs permission for photography or gatherings.
For wedding paella catering in RG30 and RG31, we plan around your venue and timings. From Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater weddings in Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Fords Farm includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Local schools include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
What affects the price in Fords Farm
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many guests are eating
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Step by step
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. For a summer wedding in Fords Farm, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, which means evening paella is normally served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- You tell us your date, venue, guest numbers and how you picture the day.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- Timings are agreed with you and the venue, around speeches and photos.
- We cook live on the day and serve every course on cue.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Tell us how many evening guests to expect
- Add a dietary question to your RSVP cards
- Book early for summer Saturdays
We keep in touch with your venue coordinator or toastmaster on the day, so you don’t have to.
Table tapas make a sociable starter.
Nearby places to Fords Farm
What else we do in Fords Farm
Why choose live paella in Fords Farm?
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Fords Farm
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Fords Farm
It suits outdoor and rustic venues particularly well, where a plated meal can be hard to pull off.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Fords Farm book us for events such as:
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Farm and barn venues
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
For outdoor photos, Fobney Island Wetland Reserve is close by, and the countryside around Fords Farm suits an outdoor reception.
What to look for in a quote
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether VAT is included
- When final numbers are due
- 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