Reading · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Sonning
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Sonning: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
Wedding paella catering near Sonning
How our wedding paella catering works in Sonning
Your wedding menu is planned with you, course by course, around your guests, your venue and your budget. We’re frequently asked to cater evening wedding food and wedding receptions after a small ceremony, serving evening paella, canapé tapas and Spanish desserts.
Rural weddings around Sonning have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- The venue or postcode
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
Send us the date, your venue or RG4 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Sonning weddings: local tips
Sonning is about 1 mile north-west of Woodley, in Reading. For a wedding in Sonning, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 34 towns and villages across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Planning photos in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve? It’s worth checking the park’s rules first. Put the station on your invitation: the nearest station is Twyford station, about 1.9 miles east.
Anywhere in RG4, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include High Street, Parkway Drive and Pound Lane, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. Main roads around Sonning include the B478 and B4446, which makes travel to your wedding easy. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Play Hatch (1 mile north-west), Dunsden Green (2 miles north-west), Newtown (2 miles south-west), Caversham Park Village (2 miles north-west) and Littlestead Green (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles west), Norcot (5 miles west), West Reading (4 miles west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south-west) and Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.5 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Reading Blue Coat School (less than half a mile west) and Waingels College (0.8 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include Bull Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
Churros with chocolate, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Evening paella
Paella makes great evening food, especially after a few hours on the dance floor.
Live paella or other catering?
Live paella is less formal than a plated meal, but with the right extras it feels just as special. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Sonning hosts choose us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Golden-hour photos in Sonning at midsummer come around 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.
- 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, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know who to talk to on 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 will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Book early for summer Saturdays
- Tell us about suppliers who need feeding
Fresh pans can be cooked for evening guests, typically timed after the first dance.
Add sangria, or bar staff to serve your own drinks.
Why choose wedding paella catering in Sonning?
A sharing-style meal gets guests talking across the tables, which suits a relaxed wedding.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Sonning and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Marquee and garden weddings
For outdoor photos, Sonning Hill is close by.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- Staff numbers and hours
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Dessert
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
Sonning: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How far is Sonning from London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
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.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Can you do our whole wedding menu?
We can. We can do canapés, tapas, the wedding breakfast, evening food and desserts.
Towns and villages near Sonning
Also in Sonning
- 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