Tablefare
Find catering by event type
Start with the kind of event you’re planning, then compare nearby caterers who fit your guest count, service style, and budget. Tablefare is free for hosts and helps you get matched — we do not cook, serve, or set prices.
Wedding catering — plated, buffet, family-style, and stations — what it costs per guest, the service charges and minimums to ask about, dietary and cultural menus, and how to get matched free with wedding caterers near you.
Open → Corporate and office cateringCorporate and office catering — lunches, meetings, conferences, and galas — invoicing, headcount changes, dietary labeling, what it costs per head, and how to get matched free with corporate caterers near you.
Open → Party and social cateringBirthday, shower, graduation, and reunion catering — buffets, stations, and drop-off — honest per-guest costs, how to right-size the order, and how to get matched free with party caterers near you.
Open → Memorial and funeral reception cateringGentle, dignified catering for memorials and funeral receptions — simple buffets and drop-off, short timelines, cultural and faith menus, honest costs, and how to get matched free with caterers near you.
Open → Holiday and cultural cateringCatering for holidays, festivals, and cultural celebrations — halal, kosher, vegetarian, and regional menus — what it costs, how to book ahead in busy seasons, and how to get matched free with caterers near you.
Open → Drop-off and small-event cateringDrop-off and small-gathering catering for offices and homes — the lowest-cost way to feed a crowd — what's included, delivery and setup fees, and how to get matched free with drop-off caterers near you.
Open →Choose the kind of event you’re planning
Different events need different food, timing, and service. A wedding may need cocktails, dinner, late-night bites, rentals, and staff. An office lunch may be simple drop-off trays with setup. A memorial reception may need a calm, easy menu with flexible timing.
You can explore wedding catering or corporate catering, or go straight to get matched if you already know the basics of your event.
Tablefare is a free matching service for hosts. We are not a caterer, restaurant, or event planner, so we do not prepare food, manage service, or give quotes. We help you connect with caterers near you so you can compare options and choose what works for your table.
Common event types we help with
Hosts come to us for weddings, office and corporate events, birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, graduations, memorial receptions, holiday gatherings, cultural celebrations, and smaller drop-off meals. Some need full-service staff and rentals. Others just need good food delivered on time.
You may already have a venue, or you may still be figuring out the guest list and budget. Either way, it helps to know a rough date, rough headcount, your city or ZIP, and the style of service you want — plated, buffet, stations, family-style, or drop-off.
If English is not the language you read most comfortably, you can also share your preferred language when you request a match.
What catering often costs by event type
Catering prices can vary a lot, and ranges are not quotes. The real number depends on the menu, service style, guest count, day and season, your city, and what’s included.
As a general starting point, simple drop-off catering often lands around $12-$30 per guest. Buffet service is often around $20-$55 per guest. Food stations are often around $25-$65 per guest. Plated meals for weddings or more formal events often start around $40-$120+ per guest before other event costs are added.
Corporate breakfasts and lunches may stay on the lower end if you keep the menu simple. Weddings, holiday dates, custom menus, bartender service, rentals, and larger staffing needs can push the cost higher. Smaller guest counts can also cost more per person because some caterers have minimums.
What to compare before you choose
The lowest menu price is not always the lowest final invoice. Ask each caterer what is included and what is extra, then compare the all-in cost per guest as carefully as you can.
Important items to confirm in writing include the per-guest food price, any food-and-beverage minimum, delivery and setup, staffing and bartender fees, rentals, service charge or gratuity, cake-cutting or corkage, overtime, deposit, final-headcount deadline, and cancellation terms. Read the full contract and final invoice before you pay a deposit or sign.
Your event should also fit your guests. Ask about dietary needs such as halal, kosher, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy-aware preparation. Taste or sample where possible, and make sure the service style matches the feeling you want for the day.
How Tablefare works
We keep the first step simple. You share basic contact and event details only: your name, phone, optional email, event type, city or ZIP, rough date, rough guest count, service style, cuisine, and preferred language.
We do not ask for bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, immigration documents, income, or other sensitive records. Tablefare is free for the host.
Once you’re ready, get matched and compare caterers near you for the kind of event you’re planning. You stay in control of the decision, the tasting or sample when available, and the final written agreement with the caterer you choose.
Pick your event type, get matched for free with nearby caterers, and compare the full per-person cost before you commit.
Planning an event? Get caterers near you, free.
Tell us your event, headcount, and budget, and get matched, free, with caterers near you. You taste, compare quotes, and choose who to hire — and confirm the price before any deposit.