Is catering a backyard wedding cheaper?

No Venue Hire Fee
Venues can cost thousands—your backyard is free

Flexibility with Vendors
You’re not locked into expensive preferred vendor lists

BYO
Buy your own alcohol at wholesale prices without corkage fees.

Food trucks –  Choosing a local mobile caterer, just like us we dont require power or water, and are fully self sufficent and an easy cleanup.

Hidden Costs:

Rentals
Tables, chairs, tents, dishware, portable restrooms, lighting, etc. can add up fast.

Extra Labor
Caterers may charge more for off-site setups. You will need servers & bartenders.

Kitchen Access

Catering setup - Some caterers may charge more if there’s no kitchen on site.

Waste & Cleanup
You’re responsible for rubbish removal.

Hiring cleaners might be worth it.

Great question — the short answer is often yes, but it depends. Catering a backyard wedding can definitely be more affordable than a traditional venue, but there are some trade-offs to think about. Here's a breakdown:

? Why it can be cheaper:

• No venue hire fee – That's often thousands of dollars saved right there.
• More control over vendors – You’re not locked into a venue’s preferred caterers, so you can shop around or choose a more budget-friendly (or flexible) option.
• BYO options – Backyard weddings often allow you to bring your own alcohol, saving heaps on markup.
• More casual vibes – A grazing table, food truck, or buffet can be cheaper than a formal plated meal.

?? Why it might not be cheaper:

• Logistics add up – You may need to hire things like:
• Marquees/tents
• Tables & chairs
• Plates, glassware, cutlery
• Portable toilets
• Lighting, heating, etc.
• Catering setup – Some caterers may charge more if there's no kitchen on site, or they may need to bring in a mobile setup.
• Clean-up & waste – You’ll need to think about rubbish removal and possibly extra cleaning help.

?? Ways to save with backyard wedding catering:

• Go for family-style or buffet over individual plated meals, My Favorate is food stations, like a taco station at a BBQ. 
• Choose a local mobile caterer who is set up for remote locations (like your Vintage Hitch Events, for example ??).
• Keep your guest list intimate — fewer people means less food, fewer rentals, less stress.

Want help budgeting or planning catering for a specific backyard wedding? I can help with a custom plan too.

Hi there!

It honestly depends, if you're after bare essentials of the wedding, wanting it to be more family/food focused then It most definitely is a cheaper option however it can definitely become a really expensive venture depending on what you plan on having at your wedding.

Our pricing remains the same regardless of the event location. Whether the wedding is held in a backyard or at a formal venue, our rates are based on the number of guests and the quantity of food ordered, rather than the type or location of the event.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or if you'd like a tailored quote based on your guest count and menu preferences.

Backyard weddings are definetly Cheaper and a more relaxed atmosphere.

From a catering perspective, the work involved in a backyard wedding is very similar to catering at a traditional venue — we still bring our full team, equipment, and provide the same level of service and delicious food!

However, the overall cost of a backyard wedding can definitely work out cheaper. You’ll often save significantly on venue hire fees, transport logistics, and other overheads like security, parking, or corkage charges that some venues add on.

Plus, a backyard setting gives you more freedom and flexibility to style your day exactly how you want it — relaxed, intimate, and personal. We love backyard weddings for their warm, laid-back vibes!

Absolutely! But ensure you engage a recommended caterer who specialises in offsite catering - they know how to build a cost effective kitchen and deliver prompt, hot, delicious food to your guests. 

The biggest expense in home catering is usually the associated hire costs - talk to your caterer or event planner about menus that keep your costs down. I often recommend generous cocktail style events which can reduce the need for marquees, tables and chairs for everyone, and intensive catering equipment. 

Simon @ Eatdrink Catering - Byron, Gold coast & Surrounds

Hi There,

Great question. Catering is always based on your chosen menu and how many guests are attending and being fed.

Thanks,

Cairns Spit Roast Team :)

Hello and a bit of a tricky question.  Backyard weddings can be as big as you want or scaled down to best suit your budget, although you are definitely saving on Venue hire fees.  We offer a mobile kitchen hire and our team arrives on site fully equipped to cater for you and your guests. Your Menu can then be tailored to best suit you and your budget.  We can also organise a mobile bar for the afternoon/evening and provide wait staff for food & bar service.  Please keep in mind that most venues include tables, chairs, etc, we are more than happy to assist with hire of this equipment for you.

Thank you.

Debby

Fish D'Vine Catering

Depends what you're comparing it to, I will assume a medium/high end restaurant. Also depends on the level of catering you're expecting.

There are very affordable catering options such as pizza trucks that are very cost effective. They usually have their own setup and use simple disposable cutlery/crockery for cocktail style events.

When looking at higher level caterers and offering a seated reception, there are many additional costs that you may need to consider; popup kitchens, table & chair hire, table styling, cutlery/crockery/glassware, staffing charges. All these components are usually covered in a single per/person price at a restaurant, where for offsite catering these needs to be organised and brought onto site.

If you begin to factor in beverages, most beverage vendors (like ourselves) offer a BYO Service style where you organise your own drinks. This usually saves a load of the budget.

So overall, depends on what style and what you are comparing to. There are cheaper/more expensive options for both restaurants and offsite catering.