Oxfordshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Lower Shiplake
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 Lower Shiplake.
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
Live wedding paella catering in Lower Shiplake
Why choose live paella in Lower Shiplake?
Live paella is less formal than a plated meal, but with canapés, table tapas and good crockery, it still feels special. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Lower Shiplake hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Wedding paella catering for your wedding in Lower Shiplake
Evening paella is a favourite: hot, filling and served quickly from the pan, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. We are frequently asked to cater weddings with mixed diets and evening wedding food, with evening paella, canapé tapas and Spanish desserts.
There is something special about a country wedding near Lower Shiplake, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- Lower Shiplake (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
What wedding paella catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Distance and access to the venue
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Which courses you have in mind
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your wedding, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Put us in touch with your venue
- Enquire early for peak dates
On the day, we liaise with your coordinator or toastmaster, so you do not have to.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. At midsummer, sunset in Lower Shiplake 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 7:05pm.
- Send us your wedding 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.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Lower Shiplake weddings: local tips
Lower Shiplake is about 4 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. Weddings in Lower Shiplake are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Lower Shiplake is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Reading, about 6 miles away.
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Mary frequently hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive. Historic houses near Lower Shiplake include Greenlands (3.6 miles north) and Greys Court (3.8 miles north-west). Historic houses and estates frequently have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue.
Here we cover the RG9 postcode area, so your wedding can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Station Road, Oaks Road and Quarry Lane; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. Lower Shiplake sits on or near the A4155, so getting the burners and pans to your wedding is simple. We also cook at weddings in Wargrave (1 mile south-east), Cockpole Green (2 miles north-east), Remenham Hill (2 miles north), Bowsey Hill (2 miles east) and Remenham (3 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (13 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (8 miles south-west) and Oakley (13 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Frazer Nash Archives (1.3 miles north) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (5.2 miles south-west). Not far away are South Lake and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near Lower Shiplake include Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School (1.6 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Baskerville pub (under half a mile east)
Who books wedding paella catering in Lower Shiplake?
It works as a wedding breakfast or evening food, so it fits any plan.
In Lower Shiplake and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
Planning photos in Mill Meadows? It is worth checking the park’s rules first.
Comparing caterers
- A clear list of what’s included
- The wet-weather plan
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Canapé tapas
- Dessert
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
Also near Lower Shiplake
What else we do in Lower Shiplake
Common questions in Lower Shiplake
How far is Lower Shiplake from London?
Roughly 34 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cook in Mill Meadows?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Will you talk to our venue?
Yes, and it saves you passing messages. Introduce us and we will sort the details.
Can you do our whole wedding menu?
Any part of the day, or all of it, from canapés to evening food.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
- 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