West Sussex · England
Wedding Paella Catering in Stedham
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Stedham: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Food for evening guests
- Rustic barn weddings
- Spanish-themed and destination-style weddings
Wedding paella catering for Stedham events
Wedding paella catering in Stedham, made fresh on the day
We can do the whole day or just one part: canapés, a tapas starter, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and dessert. Popular choices include Spanish desserts, a paella wedding breakfast and canapé tapas, and we’re regularly asked to cater spanish-themed and destination-style weddings and receptions after an intimate ceremony.
Rural weddings around Stedham have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- Stedham (GU29)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Paella wedding breakfast
A choice of paellas, served at the pans or to the tables.
Desserts
Spanish desserts from churros to crema catalana, or your cake as dessert.
Places near Stedham
Also in Stedham
How we price wedding paella catering
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Stedham weddings: local tips
Stedham is about 7 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. Across the GU29 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Stedham is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Stedham to Guildford (about 19 miles away).
For outdoor photos, Iping and Stedham Commons is close by. Couples marrying at local churches such as The Parish Church of St James frequently hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so the meal is ready when you arrive. The South Downs National Park is within about 2 miles of Stedham, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue about access and cooking rules.
For wedding paella catering in GU29, we plan around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include The Street, The Alley and Queens Street, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. Close by, we cover weddings in Iping (1 mile north-west), Woolbeding (1 mile east), Minsted (1 mile south-west), Bepton Common (1 mile south-east) and Midhurst (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (15 miles south), Chichester (11 miles south), Emsworth (12 miles south-west), Storrington (15 miles east), Billingshurst (14 miles east) and Portfield (11 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Midhurst Museum (1.6 miles east) and Lodsworth Castle (4.5 miles east). The countryside around Stedham includes Iping and Stedham Commons and Wheeler's Down.
- Local schools include Midhurst Rother College (1.6 miles east)
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Stedham
- Sangria & bar staff
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
Common questions in Stedham
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Stedham close to London?
About 46 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Will you talk to our venue?
Of course. We’ll speak to your venue about access and timings.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Paella compared with other options
Plated wedding meals need a kitchen and more staff. Paella needs a level, ventilated spot and permission, and feels more relaxed. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Stedham
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. For a summer wedding in Stedham, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, which means evening paella is normally served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your wedding in Stedham, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Book early for summer Saturdays
- Decide whether guests queue at the pans or are served at the tables
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Put us in touch with your venue
We clear our cooking area away afterwards; staff you’ve booked stay as agreed.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
Why choose wedding paella catering in Stedham?
It works as a wedding breakfast or evening food, so it fits any plan.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Evening wedding food
- Barn and farm weddings
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
Historic houses near Stedham include Cowdray House (1.8 miles east). If your reception is at a historic house or estate, ask early about its rules on caterers and live cooking.
What your quote should include
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
- How late numbers can change
- 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