Wedding Catering Melbourne — Prices From $25 Per Plate
Your wedding deserves food that tells a story. Wedding catering in Melbourne with 50 years of South American family recipes, naturally gluten-free and coeliac-safe, delivered hot to your venue. From intimate ceremonies to grand receptions — with transparent wedding catering prices starting at $25 per plate.
Get a Wedding QuoteWhy Couples Choose Latin American Wedding Catering
Naturally Gluten-Free
No last-minute GF alternatives needed. Every guest eats the same incredible menu — arepas, empanadas, plantains, and slow-cooked meats are all naturally free from gluten.
Built for Sharing
Hot chafing dishes of carne mechada, turmeric rice, and black beans create that communal, celebratory feeling. Your guests will gather around the table and connect.
Visually Stunning
Golden arepas, green guasacaca, colourful plantains — your photographer will thank you. Latin American food looks as incredible as it tastes.
Dietary Inclusive
Naturally dairy-free options, vegetarian-friendly, and halal-friendly proteins available. One menu that works for almost every dietary need.
Wedding Catering Packages
The Abuela Feast — Wedding Buffet
From $35 per personBest for: 50–500 guests
Our most popular wedding package. Hot chafing dishes with carne mechada (slow-cooked shredded beef), turmeric rice, black beans, guasacaca, and fresh arepas. Creates a relaxed, festive atmosphere where guests serve themselves.
- ✓ Carne Mechada
- ✓ Turmeric Rice
- ✓ Black Beans
- ✓ Guasacaca (avocado sauce)
- ✓ Fresh Arepas
- ✓ Chafing dishes & serving equipment
- ✓ Hot delivery to your venue
Latin Lunchboxes — Cocktail Weddings
From $25 per personBest for: 10–200 guests
Perfect for cocktail receptions and outdoor weddings. Each guest gets their own box with a stuffed arepa, baked plantains, and a mini alfajor cookie. Elegant, individual, zero mess.
- ✓ Stuffed arepa (chicken, beef, or black bean)
- ✓ Baked sweet plantains
- ✓ Mini alfajor cookie
- ✓ Individual compostable box
Fiesta Bites — Canapé Hour
From $80 per box of 20Best for: Any size
Premium tequeños (cheese sticks) and mini baked empanadas — the perfect icebreaker during cocktail hour or while photos are being taken.
- ✓ Premium tequeños
- ✓ Mini baked empanadas
- ✓ 20 pieces per box
Wedding Catering Price Per Plate
Wondering how much wedding catering costs per plate in Melbourne? Here's what different guest counts look like with each package.
All prices include hot delivery to your Melbourne venue. Custom menus available — contact us for an exact quote.
What's Actually Included in the Per-Plate Price
Most Melbourne wedding caterers advertise a base per-plate figure, then add delivery, setup, equipment, and service fees on top. Here's exactly what you get with our wedding catering prices — no surprise line items on the final invoice.
| Included in base price | Latin Lunchbox ($25pp) | Abuela Feast ($35pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Food (per guest) | Arepa + plantains + alfajor | Carne mechada, rice, beans, arepas, guasacaca, plantains |
| Delivery to inner Melbourne venue | Included | Included |
| Chafing dishes & serving equipment | Not needed | Included |
| Setup at your venue | Stack & go | Full buffet setup |
| Pack-down & collection of equipment | Compostable packaging — no collection | Included |
| Compostable plates & cutlery | Included with each box | Add on request |
| Allergen labelling | Included | Included |
| Gluten-free menu (entire menu) | Included | Included |
Not included: on-site chefs or waitstaff (available on request), alcohol service, ceremony-only canapés outside inner Melbourne, venues outside standard delivery zone. Ask for a custom quote if any of these apply.
How Our Wedding Catering Prices Compare in Melbourne
Melbourne wedding catering prices vary widely depending on format. Based on industry rates across inner Melbourne in 2026, here's roughly how different formats stack up per guest (food only — setup, staff, and equipment usually extra).
| Format | Typical Melbourne range | La Charito equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktail finger food (per guest) | $35 – $65 | From $20 (Fiesta Bites) |
| Drop-off lunchbox / boxed meal | $30 – $50 | $25 (Latin Lunchbox) |
| Shared / grazing buffet | $45 – $85 | $35 (Abuela Feast) |
| Plated 2-course sit-down | $75 – $150 | Custom quote |
| Plated 3-course sit-down | $110 – $220 | Custom quote |
| Premium canapé menu (8+ items) | $80 – $140 | Custom quote |
Sources: average 2026 inner-Melbourne caterer pricing across published menus. Sit-down service usually adds waitstaff ($55–$75/hr) and venue-hire catering surcharges that buffet and drop-off formats avoid.
Hidden Wedding Catering Costs to Watch For
Before signing any Melbourne wedding catering contract, check whether these are included or charged separately. We don't charge any of them. Most caterers do.
Delivery fee
Inner Melbourne venues: often $80–$250 added on top of the per-plate price. We include it.
Equipment hire
Chafing dishes, serving tongs, and heat-sterno cans: typically $5–$10 per guest. We include it on Abuela Feast buffets.
Setup & pack-down
Some caterers charge 1–2 hours of staff time ($55–$150) for setup alone. We include it for buffet packages.
Minimum order surcharge
Many Melbourne caterers add 10–15% for orders below 50 guests. Our minimum is 10 guests — no surcharge.
Weekend / public holiday loading
Common 10–20% loading on Saturday and Sunday weddings. We don't apply one.
Separate dietary meals
Individually prepared gluten-free or coeliac-safe meals usually cost $5–$15 extra per guest. Our entire menu is naturally gluten-free, so no surcharge for any guest.
What Couples Say
"La Charito catered our wedding and our guests are still talking about it. The Abuela Feast buffet was stunning — Carne Mechada, arepas, the lot. Having a naturally gluten-free menu made it so easy for everyone to enjoy without worry."
Wedding Catering FAQ
How much is wedding catering per plate in Melbourne?
Our wedding catering starts from $25 per plate for individual Latin Lunchboxes and from $35 per plate for The Abuela Feast hot buffet. Most Melbourne weddings of 80-100 guests cost between $2,000 and $3,500 depending on the package.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend 2-4 weeks minimum. Peak wedding season (October-March) fills fast. The earlier you book, the more flexibility we have with your menu.
Can you cater outdoor weddings?
Absolutely. Our Latin Lunchboxes are perfect for outdoor and garden weddings — no cutlery or tables needed. For buffet setups, we provide chafing dishes and serving equipment.
What about dietary requirements?
Our entire menu is naturally gluten-free. Many dishes are also dairy-free. We can accommodate vegetarian requests and halal-friendly proteins. Full allergen labelling on every item.
Do you provide staff?
We provide hot delivery, setup, and all servingware. For full-service staffing (waiters, bar staff), we can recommend trusted partners.
Wedding Catering Guides
Latin American Wedding Catering in Melbourne: Your Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about choosing Latin American food for your wedding — formats, pricing, and what to expect.
How Much Does Event Catering Cost in Melbourne? 2026 Price Guide
An honest breakdown of catering costs across every format and event type in Melbourne.
Planning Your Melbourne Wedding?
Let us bring 50 years of Latin American family tradition to your big day. Naturally gluten-free, from $25 per person.
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