Kent · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Yelsted events
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Yelsted: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Evening wedding food
Book wedding paella catering in Yelsted
Events we cater in Yelsted
Mixed diets are easy, which matters with a big guest list.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Big weddings with every diet
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Rustic barn weddings
Planning photos in Stockbury Hill Wood? It is worth checking the park’s rules first.
Questions to ask before booking
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- How each diet is kept separate
- When payment is due
About our wedding paella catering in Yelsted
The smell of saffron and garlic drifting across a garden or barn has everyone looking forward to dinner. For weddings with mixed diets and sharing-style wedding meals, we will put together a menu of evening paella, table tapas and Spanish desserts for your guests.
There is something special about a country wedding near Yelsted, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. Everything is cooked from scratch at your wedding, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
Places near Yelsted
Also in Yelsted
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Yelsted
Yelsted is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. Whether your wedding is in the middle of Yelsted or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Yelsted is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Yelsted to Canterbury (about 20 miles away).
For guests travelling by train, Rainham (Kent) station is about 2.5 miles away. For outdoor photos, Detling Hill is close by. With the Kent Downs National Landscape within about 5 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
Wedding paella catering in ME9 is planned around your venue. Local streets include Yelsted Road and Yelsted Lane; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. For weddings just outside Yelsted, we cover Stockbury (1 mile east), Meresborough (1 mile north), Hartlip (1 mile north-east), Lower Hartlip (2 miles north-east) and Rainham (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (6 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (5 miles east), Gravesend (12 miles north-west), Faversham (12 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include KIMS hospital (4 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Detling Hill.
- Schools near Yelsted include Leigh Academy Rainham (2.2 miles north)
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Yelsted
- Sangria & bar staff
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
The menu, dish by dish
Canapé tapas
Canapés keep guests happy between the ceremony and the meal.
Table tapas
Bowls and boards set down in the middle of each table, such as patatas bravas, croquetas and Manchego.
Questions from Yelsted
What’s the nearest station to Yelsted for guests?
Rainham (Kent) station, about 2.5 miles north of the centre.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Can you liaise with the venue coordinator?
Yes. We’ll speak to your venue about access and timings.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
- The length of service
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What we need to know
The more we know about your wedding, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The courses you’d like
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. At midsummer, sunset in Yelsted is about 9:15pm, so we can time the evening paella around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:00pm.
- You tell us your date, venue, guest numbers and how you picture the day.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- We fit our timings around your speeches, photos and venue.
- On the day we set up, cook live and serve each course as planned.
- Afterwards we clear our area; any staff you’ve booked stay as planned.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or ME9 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Is live paella right for your wedding?
A buffet can leave food sitting out. Paella is served hot from the pan. 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.
Why choose Love Paella in Yelsted
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Book early for summer Saturdays
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
The pans are often set up where guests can see them, and it makes a great photo.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available.
- 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