Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering for New Forest events
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in New Forest: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Informal wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering in New Forest
Wedding paella catering in New Forest, cooked live
At a wedding, paella is both the meal and a bit of a show. Guests drift over to watch the pans while the photos are being taken, and the meal arrives hot and generous. Popular choices include a paella wedding breakfast, canapé tapas and table tapas, and we are often booked for barn and farm weddings and parties after a register office wedding.
Rural weddings around New Forest have a magic of their own, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. In New Forest, midsummer sunset is about 9:25pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:10pm, which means evening paella is generally served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 4:05pm.
- First, we check your date.
- You choose canapés, tapas, paellas and desserts.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Towns and villages near New Forest
Other catering in New Forest
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
- Count day and evening guests separately
Guests can queue at the pans, or staff can serve the tables, whichever suits your day.
Spanish desserts, or your own wedding cake, finish the meal.
Why choose live paella in New Forest?
Compared with formal catering, live paella is relaxed and sociable, but with the right extras it feels just as special. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
New Forest weddings: local tips
New Forest is in Hampshire. Tell us where your wedding in New Forest will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 23 miles away.
For outdoor photos, Western Downs is close by, and the countryside around New Forest suits an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in SP6, we can bring wedding paella catering to you. Local streets include Sillens Lane and Townsend Lane; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside New Forest, we also cover Martin (1 mile north-east), Rockbourne (3 miles east) and Damerham (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ringwood (11 miles south-east), Fordingbridge (6 miles south-east), St Leonards (11 miles south), Alderholt (6 miles south-east), Poulner (11 miles south-east) and Ashley Heath (10 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Cranborne Castle Hill (4.4 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Western Downs.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Paella wedding breakfast
Events we cater in New Forest
Couples choose paella because it feels relaxed and generous, and because guests remember it.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
- Rustic barn weddings
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Sharing-style wedding meals
If you’re marrying at a church near New Forest, such as Church of All Saints, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
Before you book anyone
- When payment is due
- Space, access and power needs
- A clear list of what’s included
- How bad weather is handled
Your questions about wedding paella catering in New Forest
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is New Forest too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you come to New Forest?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including New Forest and the rest of Hampshire. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you feed our photographer and band?
Yes. Include suppliers in your numbers.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What does wedding paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
What affects the price in New Forest
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Guest numbers
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
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.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
For event organisers in New Forest
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
- 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