Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Shalden
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Shalden: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Food for evening guests
- Farm and barn venues
Book wedding paella catering in Shalden
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
Wedding paella catering in Shalden, cooked live
The smell of saffron and garlic drifting across a garden or barn has everyone looking forward to dinner long before it is served. We cook evening paella, table tapas and canapé tapas, and we are frequently booked for farm and barn venues and receptions after an intimate ceremony.
A wedding in a small place like Shalden often means a field, a barn or a family garden. Live paella is made for that: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll 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 let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated wedding breakfast needs a kitchen and a large team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission, and suits a relaxed style. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
More for events in Shalden
Shalden questions
Do you come out to small places like Shalden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Shalden close to London?
Roughly 45 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Add a dietary question to your RSVP cards
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Decide whether guests queue at the pans or are served at the tables
On the day, we liaise with your coordinator or toastmaster, so you do not have to.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
How it works
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your wedding. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, sunset in Shalden 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.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Getting married in Shalden?
Shalden is about 2 miles north-west of Alton, in Hampshire. We cater weddings at homes, gardens and venues in Shalden. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Shalden to Guildford (19 miles away).
Holybourne Hill nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos, and the countryside around Shalden suits an outdoor reception. Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Peter and St Paul frequently hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so it is ready as guests arrive.
This part of Hampshire takes in GU34. Streets in the area include Southwood Road, Stancombe Lane and Shalden Lane, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. For weddings just outside Shalden, we cover Shalden Green (1 mile north), Thedden (2 miles south-west), Beech (2 miles south), Bentworth (2 miles south-west) and Southrope (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (8 miles north-west), Farnborough (13 miles north-east), Fleet (10 miles north-east), Aldershot (12 miles north-east), Petersfield (12 miles south) and Yateley (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Gliding Heritage Centre (1.3 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (2.3 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Holybourne Hill.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella wedding breakfast
Two or three paellas, served from the pans or brought to the tables, with bread and salad.
Canapé tapas
Small bites carried round on boards while guests mingle, ideal for the drinks reception.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
What wedding paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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