Everything You Need to Know About Food Truck Wedding Catering

The wedding industry is ever-growing, with more and more couples heading to the altar each year. As ‘normal’ life has resumed, so have the public ceremonies and celebrations around love. Since the pandemic, marriage rates have recovered to surpass the statistics prior to 2020. 

According to Ibis World, in 2023, the wedding services industry collected over $70 billion in revenue. In the same year, the average spend per couple was $35,000, a sum that is over 50% of the average US annual salary. 

In 2023, however, many people are planning a lower-cost wedding, with close to 40% of couples surveyed by Civic Research planning to spend $10,000 or less on their big day. With a wide array of catering options available, food trucks can provide a fun, affordable, and practical choice for wedding festivities. 

Food truck catering allows brides and grooms to give guests a unique food experience, beyond the typical ‘salmon or beef’ alternate drop style. It also provides an opportunity for food trucks to find steady work and build a larger following of potential customers. 

Tom Wagner, co-owner of Well-Crafted Pizza, notes: “In an industry that is both variable and unpredictable, catering weddings offers us a level of operational and financial predictability.” Even if you already have a steady revenue flow as a food truck owner, adding wedding catering to your repertoire can be a great way to diversify your business model.

Why customers love food truck wedding catering 

It’s cost-effective 

Traditional wedding catering often includes fancy linens and tableware and upgraded food options that can quickly add up to a hefty price tag. Enter the food truck. Not only is it unique and fun, but it can also provide a cheaper option for feeding guests. 

A food truck comes equipped with everything needed for mobile food prep, and with less formality, there are fewer items to add to the final bill. Eliminating high-end table service and settings can help cut costs while still delivering a tasty and memorable experience. 

The food is fresh and delicious

With traditional wedding catering, food is prepared ahead of time, and guests either choose from a few set options or serve themselves buffet-style. A food truck has a mobile kitchen and prepares food on the spot. With smaller weddings, there may be capacity for them to cook food to order for each guest. 

Food trucks can add to the party

Formal weddings can feel stuffy and awkward. A food truck helps create a fun and relaxed environment to help guests feel more at ease. 

“Catering weddings allows us to have the opportunity to create a unique and exciting culinary experience for the couple in almost any location they choose - whether it be on a farm, in the city, at their home, or at a venue,” says Wagner of a food truck catering experience. Many guests will also enjoy the photo op of a trendy food truck to document the big day. 

The onsite cleanup is easier 

While fancy plates and real silver can make for a pretty picture, cleanup for these amenities can take a lot of time and cost a great deal. A food truck usually dispenses disposable plates and utensils, meaning cleanup consists of little more than a trash bag. 

The bride and groom don’t have to worry about setting up or packing down an elaborate table setting and the rubbish created by a full-service dinner. A compact food truck comes equipped with efficient waste disposal systems, saving everyone the time and hassle of cleanup the day after the wedding.

Why food truck owners love catering

How does catering work in your favor as a food truck owner? There are many reasons why this business model makes sense.

Planned business 

With the typical food truck business model, you plan, you research, and you hope for the best. You park in high-traffic areas and market yourself to your target customer, but business is never guaranteed. You can have non-stop days, followed by many days of no business. Food truck wedding catering means you can have guaranteed business, locked in by a contract. 

In addition to providing supplemental income, weddings are easy to plan in advance. Based on the headcount, you’ll know exactly what supplies and staff you will need to cater for the event.

You can offer various packages

Weddings come in all different shapes, sizes, and budgets. To cater to this (pun intended), you can offer multiple packages. 

Consider the following variables when creating packages:

• Dietary needs

• Price range

• Type of food

• Size of event

• How food is served/presentation

• Amount of time you’ll be at the event

For example, Bubbly and Stout, a mobile bar service, offers packages starting at a specific rate that varies by the hours spent at the event and the number of people being served. For each package you offer, make sure your costs are covered and that you make a profit.

Instant marketing

Every event is potential marketing for your next event. When guests see your food truck in action and taste your finger-lickin’, lip-smackin’ offerings, they may just remember you when they’re in search of catering. 

Mentions on social media can also bring in more business. There’s nothing like a quality review and some pictures for proof of a good meal. There are many options for promoting your business, and the captive audience of a wedding is a fantastic opportunity to do so.

Consider your aesthetic and setup as you prepare for events. Do you want to create customizable signs for the menu that guests can take a picture of? Should you add your social media handles on your food truck? Can you jazz up the look of your rig when you set up at each event (i.e. fairy lights, fresh greenery or flowers, other decorations that are on brand or theme)?

Creating a memorable experience for guests can lead to more shares and your next booking.

How to avoid challenges of food truck wedding catering

Long wait times for food

Prepping food to order for each guest may lead to long waits. Take the size of the wedding into account, and focus on how you can manage wait times for large crowds. 

Consider the following tactics to avoid hangry mobs of wedding guests:

• Have snacks available for attendees to munch on while they wait.

• Make sure you have enough staff to handle the crowd.

• Prepare as much as you can ahead.

• Don’t offer a full menu. Instead, focus on a few great options to keep prep simple. 

• Coordinate with the couple so that only small groups of guests order at one time.

Bad weather

Whether the event is happening at an outdoor or indoor venue, guests will still need to venture outside to pick up their meals from a food truck. That’s why you need to make a plan in case of poor weather, to keep guests happy and service running smoothly. 

Should you have a canopy over the food line in case the forecast predicts rain? Would a few heat lamps be a good option, in case the weather outdoors becomes chilly? 

You don’t want to let inclement weather ruin an event, so plan for all possible outcomes. 

Coordinating details with the couple

According to Wagner, “One of the biggest challenges with wedding catering is coordinating all of the details for the couple's special day – it takes a lot of work!” It can be a lot of pressure to try and manage all the details. You don’t want to feel like you disappointed the happy couple on this important day. 

Meeting with the couple (multiple times if necessary) and communicating clearly can help avoid any unforeseen circumstances. You can also make the terms and conditions of your food truck service clear with a detailed contract. Ensure the couple has read and agreed to all of your terms before agreeing to cater their event. 

Once you have a black-and-white agreement about what will happen throughout the wedding, you can focus on preparation. Now, you can focus on developing that solid, low-maintenance menu and kitting out your food truck for the big day! 

With a carefully considered plan for serving your guests, you can look forward to being part of a special occasion and sharing your food with a happy, hungry crowd of weddinggoers.

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