Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Sandy Down
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 Sandy Down.
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Big weddings with every diet
- Blessings and vow renewals
Live wedding paella catering in Sandy Down
How our wedding paella catering works in Sandy Down
Paella as evening food is popular: it is hot, filling and quick to serve, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. Whether it’s evening food for extra guests and barn and farm weddings, we will put together a menu of evening paella, canapé tapas and Spanish desserts for your guests.
Rural weddings around Sandy Down have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. Everything is cooked from scratch at your wedding, not reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Occasions we cook for in Sandy Down
A sharing-style meal gets guests talking across the tables, which suits a relaxed wedding.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Sandy Down, people book us for events such as:
- Civil partnerships and vow renewals
- Farm and barn venues
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Brockenhurst station, about 1.6 miles north.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Pick a serving style
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Put us in touch with your venue
The pans are often set up where guests can see them, and it makes a great photo.
Table tapas make a sociable starter.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch while it cooks. At midsummer, sunset in Sandy Down is about 9:25pm, so we can time the evening paella around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:55pm, and in late September about 7:10pm.
- First, we check your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Sandy Down
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
Also near Sandy Down
Other catering in Sandy Down
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Getting married in Sandy Down?
Sandy Down is about 3 miles north of Lymington, in Hampshire. Weddings in Sandy Down are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Sandy Down is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. Our events stretch from Sandy Down to Southampton (about 11 miles away).
Boldre Foreshore nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos. Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St John often hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive. With the New Forest National Park within about 2 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules. With the coast within about 4 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. We’ll plan shelter from sea breezes.
Here we cover the SO41 postcode area, and we can cater your wedding anywhere in it. From Sandy Down, Lower Sandy Down and Hurstly Lane or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Sandy Down for wedding paella catering include Battramsley (1 mile south), Boldre (1 mile south-east), Mount Pleasant (1 mile south-west), Pilley (1 mile south-east) and Warborne (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Totton (9 miles north), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-east), Hedge End (14 miles north-east), Lymington (3 miles south) and Romsey (14 miles north).
A little further out are Lymington New Forest Hospital (1.9 miles south) and St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (2.6 miles south). Open spaces near Sandy Down include Boldre Foreshore.
- Local pubs include The Hobler Public House (less than half a mile south-west)
Sandy Down: your questions answered
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What’s the nearest station to Sandy Down for guests?
The closest is Brockenhurst station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What if photos overrun?
We adapt. We keep in touch with your venue on the day so the paella is served fresh.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
How we price wedding paella catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Evening paella
Fresh pans for evening guests, quick to serve and filling.
Canapé tapas
Small bites carried round on boards while guests mingle, perfect during the photos.
For event organisers in Sandy Down
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
- 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