Food & drink calculator
Wedding Catering Calculator
Tell us your guest count and meal style to get appetizer counts, meal servings, cake and dessert quantities, and late-night snacks — numbers you can hand straight to your caterer. Once the menu is set, use the alcohol calculator to stock the bar.
Food quantities
Catering notes
- Confirm a final entrée count with your caterer ~2 weeks out, including any meal choices.
- For a longer reception, a late-night snack helps re-energize the dance floor.
- Always tell your caterer about allergies, dietary restrictions, and vendor meals.
This is an estimate, not a guarantee. Wedding costs and quantities vary by region, season, and vendor — verify before you buy or sign.
Next: read How Many Appetizers Per Person for a Wedding? or fold this into a full plan.
Build your wedding planHow this is calculated
- Appetizers per guest: light 3, moderate 5, heavy 8; a cocktail reception uses at least 12.
- Buffet meal servings include a 10% buffer.
- Cake servings = guests × 0.85; dessert-table pieces = guests × 1.5.
- Late-night snacks are planned for about 60% of guests.
Every figure here is a well-worn planning rule of thumb, not a quote — use it to budget early, then lock in real numbers as you book.
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Open →Frequently asked questions
How many appetizers per person do I need for a wedding?
A light spread is about 3 pieces per guest, moderate is 5, and heavy is 8. A cocktail-style reception that replaces a seated meal needs more — we plan at least 12 pieces per guest regardless of the level you choose, since the appetizers are the meal.
How many meal servings should I order?
For a plated dinner or brunch we plan one serving per guest. Buffets get a 10% buffer, so guests at the end of the line aren't shorted. Cocktail and dessert-only receptions don't include a seated meal, so meal servings are zero and the food shifts to appetizers and desserts.
How much wedding cake do I need?
Not everyone eats cake, so we plan cake for about 85% of your guests for most receptions. For a dessert-only reception we plan cake for all guests, since dessert is the main event. The dessert table is sized at roughly 1.5 pieces per guest on top of the cake.
Should I serve a late-night snack?
For longer receptions, a late-night snack helps re-energize the dance floor. When you turn it on, we plan servings for about 60% of guests, since not everyone stays to the end. It's a popular touch for receptions of 5 hours or more.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Jared Waterworth. Estimates use widely accepted wedding-planning rules of thumb — see how we estimate. Numbers vary by region, season, and vendor, so verify before you book or buy.