Kent · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Lower Hardres events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food makes the food a highlight of your wedding in Lower Hardres.
- Farm and barn venues
- Evening food for extra guests
- Parties after a register office wedding
Planning an event in Lower Hardres?
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Wedding paella catering in Lower Hardres, made fresh on the day
We can do the whole day or just one part: canapés, a tapas starter, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and dessert. For garden and marquee weddings and food for evening guests, we will put together a menu of Spanish desserts, a paella wedding breakfast and evening paella and more.
Near Lower Hardres, weddings are often in fields, barns or gardens. That is exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Tell us about lanes, gates and ground conditions. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
- Pick a serving style
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
Guests can queue at the pans, or staff can serve the tables, whichever suits your day.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
Planning a paella wedding in Lower Hardres
Lower Hardres is about 3 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. For a wedding in Lower Hardres, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Lower Hardres. We cook in 922 places across Kent.
Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Canterbury East station, about 2.7 miles north. Blean Woods RSPB Reserve nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos. With the Kent Downs National Landscape within about 6 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cook at weddings all over the CT4 postcode area and the streets around it. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Street End (1 mile north), Pett Bottom (1 mile south-east), Nackington (1 mile north), Upper Hardres (1 mile south) and Petham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Whitstable (8 miles north) and Deal (14 miles east).
A little further out are Kent and Canterbury Hospital (2.2 miles north) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.9 miles north). Open spaces near Lower Hardres include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Local pubs include The Duck pub (0.8 miles south-east)
About the dishes
Desserts
Spanish desserts from churros to crema catalana.
Paella wedding breakfast
Two or three paellas, served from the pans or brought to the tables.
Towns and villages near Lower Hardres
Other catering in Lower Hardres
Why choose live paella in Lower Hardres?
Buffets can mean food sitting for a while. Paella is served hot from the pan. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Lower Hardres
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A clear, itemised quote
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Dessert
Lower Hardres questions
Do you come out to small places like Lower Hardres?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Lower Hardres for guests?
The closest is Canterbury East station, roughly 2.7 miles away.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
Is paella too casual for a wedding?
It can be dressed up or kept relaxed, depending on presentation and service.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. 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 Lower Hardres at midsummer come around 9:15pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. Sunset is around 8:45pm in late May and 7:00pm in late September.
- 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.
- We fit our timings around your speeches, photos and venue.
- We cook live on the day and serve every course on cue.
- We pack down our cooking area, with staff staying as long as agreed.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your wedding, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Timings and hours
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Where the event is
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
- 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