Kent · England
Wedding paella catering in Smarden Bell, Kent
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 makes the food a highlight of your wedding in Smarden Bell.
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
- Blessings and vow renewals
Wedding paella catering near Smarden Bell
About our wedding paella catering in Smarden Bell
Sharing from big pans suits relaxed weddings, especially with long tables and outdoor venues. It feels generous and celebratory. We’re often asked to cater wedding receptions after a small ceremony and relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts, serving a paella wedding breakfast, canapé tapas and Spanish desserts.
There is something special about a country wedding near Smarden Bell, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Smarden Bell: your questions answered
How far is Smarden Bell from London?
About 41 miles from central London.
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
With the right presentation, it feels special: canapés, tapas, crockery and table service.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you feed our photographer and band?
Yes. Include suppliers in your numbers and we will plan for them.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Dishes our guests love
Canapé tapas
Canapés keep guests happy between the ceremony and the meal.
Desserts
To finish: churros, crema catalana or your wedding cake.
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
Events we cater in Smarden Bell
It gives guests something to do between the ceremony and the meal: gather round the cooking.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Smarden Bell, people book us for occasions like:
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Evening wedding food
- Rustic barn weddings
If you’re marrying at a church near Smarden Bell, such as Church of St Michael, a reception in a garden, marquee or hired venue nearby keeps the day flowing: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
Before booking anyone
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- Allergen information for each dish
- The wet-weather plan
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask about diets and allergies with your RSVPs
- Tell us about suppliers who need feeding
- Choose pan-side or table service
- Put us in touch with your venue
If speeches or photos run over, tell us, and we will adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Towns and villages near Smarden Bell
More for events in Smarden Bell
Getting married in Smarden Bell?
Smarden Bell is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We bring wedding paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Smarden Bell. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We cook right across the region, from Smarden Bell to Canterbury (20 miles away).
For guests travelling by train, the nearest station is Headcorn station, about 2 miles west. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Smarden Bell, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cook at weddings all over the TN27 postcode area and the streets around it. Your wedding could be at a home on Bell Lane and Headcorn Road. We also cook at weddings in Swift's Green (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile east), Monk's Hill (1 mile south) and Lashenden (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Romden Castle (1.8 miles south-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.8 miles south-west).
- Local pubs include The Bell Inn (under half a mile south)
Why choose live paella in Smarden Bell?
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. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Smarden Bell
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. In Smarden Bell, midsummer sunset is about 9:15pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:00pm, which means evening paella is normally served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 3:50pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- First, we check your date.
- You choose canapés, tapas, paellas and desserts.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Related guides
What wedding paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Parking and unloading
- How long we are needed on site
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The address or venue name
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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