When planning a wedding, corporate event or private celebration, food is often one of the biggest decisions you will make. In addition to choosing the menu, you may need to decide whether to use your venue’s catering or hire an external catering company.
Both options can work well, and the right choice will depend on your venue, budget, guest numbers and the type of event you are planning. However, if flexibility, menu choice and a more personalised service are important to you, external catering can often provide greater freedom.
Below, we look at the pros and cons of venue catering and external catering to help you decide which option is right for your event.
What Is Venue Catering?
Venue catering is when the venue itself provides the food and catering team for your event. This is common at hotels, wedding venues, conference centres and larger event spaces.
In some cases, using the venue’s catering service is mandatory. Other venues may allow you to choose between their in-house catering team and an approved external supplier.
The Pros of Venue Catering
One of the main advantages of venue catering is convenience. Because the catering team works at the venue regularly, they already understand the kitchen facilities, layout and service requirements.
There is also less coordination required among different suppliers, as your venue may be able to manage the room, food, drinks, and waiting staff under a single agreement.
Venue catering can therefore be a straightforward option for people who want to keep the planning process as simple as possible.
The Cons of Venue Catering
The biggest limitation is often choice.
Venue menus are usually built around a set selection of packages, meaning there may be less flexibility when it comes to changing dishes, creating something bespoke or incorporating a particular style of food.
Pricing can also be less flexible. Some venues charge fixed per-head prices or require guests to select from specific packages, which can make it harder to tailor the catering around your priorities and budget.
You may also find that the food feels more standardised, particularly if the venue regularly serves the same menus across multiple weddings or events.
For couples or event organisers who see the food as an important part of the overall experience, this can feel restrictive.
What Is External Catering?
External catering means hiring an independent catering company to provide the food and catering service at your chosen venue.
Depending on the caterer, this can include everything from menu planning and food preparation to serving staff, equipment, tableware and clearing down after the event.
External catering is particularly popular with venues that operate on a dry-hire basis, as well as with marquees, barns, private homes, and event spaces, where clients have greater freedom to choose their suppliers.
The Pros of External Catering
The biggest advantage of external catering is flexibility.
Instead of choosing from a small number of predetermined menus, you can often work directly with your caterer to create food that suits your event, guests and personal preferences.
That might mean designing a completely bespoke wedding menu, serving sharing platters, creating a relaxed barbecue, arranging bowl food for a corporate event or accommodating a wide range of dietary requirements.
External caterers can also offer greater budget flexibility. Rather than paying for a fixed venue package containing elements you may not particularly want, you can usually discuss what matters most and build your catering around it.
There is also a more personal element to working directly with an independent catering company. You can discuss your ideas with the people responsible for creating and serving the food, rather than selecting from a standard venue brochure.
For events where the food is intended to be a memorable part of the day, this additional flexibility can make a significant difference.
The Cons of External Catering
External catering can require slightly more organisation.
You will need to make sure your venue allows outside caterers and check what kitchen facilities, preparation areas, power supplies and equipment are available.
Some venues may also charge an external supplier fee or require caterers to provide certain documentation before working on site.
However, an experienced external caterer will usually be familiar with these requirements and can liaise directly with your venue to make the process considerably easier.
Venue Catering vs External Catering: Which Is Better?
There is no single answer for every event.
If convenience is your main priority and you are happy with the venue’s existing menus and packages, in-house catering can be an easy and practical choice.
However, external catering is often better suited to people who want greater control over the food and overall dining experience.
It can be particularly worthwhile if you:
- Want a bespoke menu rather than a fixed package
- Have specific dietary requirements to accommodate
- Want to incorporate particular dishes or cuisines
- Are hosting your event at a dry-hire venue, marquee or private property
- Want more flexibility over your catering budget
- Consider the food to be an important part of the event experience
Ultimately, the caterer you choose should be able to understand your event and create food that complements it rather than forcing your plans to fit around a predetermined menu.
Choosing the Right Caterer for Your Event
Before making a decision, speak to both your venue and potential external caterers.
Ask your venue whether outside catering is permitted, whether there are any additional charges and what facilities are available to catering teams.
When speaking to caterers, discuss your guest numbers, budget, venue, dietary requirements and the type of food you have in mind. A good caterer should be able to guide you through the practical considerations while helping you create a menu that works for your event.
At Kavanagh’s Catering, we provide flexible catering for weddings, private celebrations, corporate events and other occasions, working closely with our clients to create menus that suit their event rather than relying on one-size-fits-all packages.
Whether you already have a menu in mind or would like help developing ideas, our team can work with you and your chosen venue to create a catering experience that fits naturally into your day.