Best Event & Wedding Caterers in Wellington
We assessed 37 event & wedding caterers in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 1,470 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 August 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Every caterer must operate under a Food Control Plan or National Programme registered under the Food Act 2014, and the Ministry for Primary Industries public register lets you check a business by name before you book. Ask for a per-head price for the style you want, whether buffet, spit roast or plated, that states what it includes (staff, crockery, travel) and what it does not, and confirm whether the caterer holds an on-licence endorsed for catering or you need a special licence from the council for alcohol. There is no statutory cooling-off period for a booking, so get the final-numbers deadline and cancellation terms in writing.
Top 5 Event & Wedding Caterers in Wellington
The top 5 event & wedding caterers in Wellington are #1 NOSH Catering + Events, #2 Wellington Functions, #3 Black Dog BBQ, #4 Simply Food Catering, and #5 Casa Sabrosa, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
NOSH Catering + Events
↑ 1★ 4.9 280 reviews Top5 Score 1715★ 269 4★ 7 3★ 1 1★ 3NOSH Catering + Events coordinates everything from pre-wedding menu planning and dietary accommodation through to table setup, drinks service, and reception dinner on the day. Named coordinators like Sarah and Amelia work closely with couples from initial enquiry, taking custom requests such as non-standard serving styles or sourced tableware in their stride without making clients feel like a burden.
location_on 20 Ganges Road, Khandallah, Wellington
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2
Wellington Functions
↑ 1★ 4.4 468 reviews Top5 Score 1685★ 285 4★ 122 3★ 44 2★ 11 1★ 6Wellington Functions brings together waterfront dining, function spaces, and group catering for events ranging from conference lunches to large team dinners. Staff across front-of-house and bar have drawn repeated mentions for reading a room well, including managing large groups, dietary needs, and timely service when numbers are up.
location_on 6 Taranaki Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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3
BLACK DOG BBQ
↑ 1★ 5.0 121 reviews Top5 Score 1625★ 121Black Dog BBQ brings slow-smoked meats including brisket, pulled pork, and chicken to weddings and corporate events, with setups guests repeatedly describe as fast, stress-free, and visually well-presented. Clint's willingness to adjust menus as plans change, and genuine attention to vegetarian and gluten-free options, means the whole guest list tends to leave happy.
location_on 125 Ohariu Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
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4
Simply Food Catering Wellington
↑ 1★ 5.0 119 reviews Top5 Score 1625★ 117 4★ 1 1★ 1Simply Food Catering runs wedding and event catering from initial menu tastings and venue visits through to table setup, floating dinner service, and bar management on the night. Liz travels to destination venues beforehand, walks couples through dish selection, and keeps costs transparent from the first conversation, so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
location_on 2 Sar Street, Pipitea, Wellington
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5
Casa Sabrosa
↑ 2★ 4.9 101 reviews Top5 Score 1585★ 96 4★ 3 1★ 2Casa Sabrosa brings authentic Filipino food, including dishes like pork adobo and chicken inasal, to tables where home-cooked flavour and generous portions matter. Staff are noted for treating guests warmly from the moment they arrive, with touches like complimentary soup adding to a genuinely welcoming experience.
location_on Shop 9, level 2/342 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
Before you book an event and wedding caterer in Wellington
Drawn from 696 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does event or wedding catering typically cost per head in New Zealand? expand_more
Canapé-only receptions sit at roughly $60 to $100 per head, while buffet catering runs $80 to $130 and plated sit-down meals range from $120 to $250 per person. Grazing tables and food truck options are more affordable at $50 to $90 per head, though food trucks often add a minimum spend or travel fee of $200 to $600 on top.
Per-head quotes frequently exclude staff costs, equipment hire, crockery, glassware, corkage or BYO fees, cake cutting, and GST, so always ask for a fully inclusive figure before comparing quotes. All caterers in New Zealand must be registered under the Food Act 2014 and operate under a Food Control Plan, so confirm this registration before paying any deposit.
How do I check that a caterer is registered under the Food Act, and who holds the licence for alcohol? expand_more
Every caterer who cooks and serves food at events must operate under a Food Control Plan or National Programme registered under the Food Act 2014, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) maintains a public register of registered food businesses you can search by name before booking. If a caterer is serving alcohol at your event, they need either an on-licence endorsed for catering or a special licence applied for through your local District Licensing Committee under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, with applications due at least 20 working days before the event.
Ask the caterer directly which registration they hold and request the registration number so you can verify it on the MPI register yourself. The booking contract itself is covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, so any written quote or menu agreement forms part of your consumer protections.
How do I know a caterer can deliver the agreed menu on the day? expand_more
Request a tasting before the menu and per-head price are locked, as reviews show that caterers who offer this step tend to arrive on the day with food that matches expectations in flavour, portion size, and presentation. Confirm in writing the final-headcount deadline, who leads the team on the day, and how many staff will attend, because reviews flag that service stalls when fewer staff arrive than quoted. Ask whether they have catered at your specific venue before, since familiarity with a kitchen's layout and access points directly affects whether food arrives on time and at the right temperature.
What are the warning signs of a caterer you should not book? expand_more
- –Dietary and allergen requests are acknowledged but not properly tracked, as one review noted a guest was served a dish containing dairy despite a confirmed dairy intolerance, only to be offered the correct alternative moments too late.
- –Booking communication is slow or requires chasing across multiple channels before a confirmation arrives.
- –No tasting is offered before the menu is finalised and the per-head price is locked.
- –The final invoice includes charges for items, such as travel, staffing, or equipment, that were never itemised in the original quote.
- –Staff numbers on the day are fewer than agreed, causing service to stall during key moments of the event.
- –Menu items are changed on the day without prior notice or any offer of an equivalent alternative.
What should you ask before booking a caterer? expand_more
- –Ask exactly what the per-head price includes and excludes: staff costs, crockery, glassware, travel or delivery fees, corkage or BYO fees, and whether GST is already factored in.
- –Confirm the minimum guest numbers required and the deadline for submitting your final headcount, as the invoice is usually reconciled to that confirmed figure.
- –Ask whether a tasting is included, when it takes place, and at what point the menu is locked so no items can be swapped without your agreement.
- –Find out how dietary and allergen requirements are recorded, communicated to kitchen staff, and tracked through to service on the day.
- –Clarify whether the caterer holds an on-licence endorsed for catering or whether you as the host need to apply to your local District Licensing Committee for a special licence.
- –Ask who leads the team on the day, how many staff will attend relative to your guest count, and whether they have catered at your venue before.
Also recommended event & wedding caterers in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Food Envy | Events, Catering, Hospitality
↑ 2★ 5.0 85 reviews Top5 Score 1585★ 84 1★ 1Food Envy takes on wedding catering from canapes and seated dinners through to bar service, equipment hire, setup, and packdown, with named coordinators keeping couples informed at every step. Reviewers at events of 150 to 400 guests highlight that dietary requirements, last-minute schedule changes, and unexpected on-the-day problems were absorbed without fuss, leaving hosts free to enjoy the occasion.
location_on 25a Tennyson Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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7
Ngon Spot
↑ 2★ 5.0 80 reviews Top5 Score 1575★ 79 4★ 1Ngon Spot turns up to fundraisers, Lions Club dinners, AGMs, and scout events with food that repeatedly satisfies whole rooms, including guests with gluten-free and allergy needs. Delivery straight to the venue, reasonable pricing, and food arriving ahead of schedule have made repeat bookings straightforward for event organisers.
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8
Canape Company
↑ 2★ 4.9 84 reviews Top5 Score 156 +15★ 80 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 2Canape Company delivers catering for weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, and multi-day conferences, with food that guests repeatedly single out for both flavour and visual presentation. Named coordinators like Mary, Bridget, and Jess guide clients through menu planning, dietary requirements, and day-of logistics, taking the stress out of the organising process from first enquiry through to service.
location_on 141 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington
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9
Urban Levant
★ 4.9 67 reviews Top5 Score 1535★ 66 1★ 1Urban Levant serves shawarma, falafel, meat on chips, and baklava at public events and markets, drawing crowds who return specifically for the food after a first encounter. Generous portions at keen prices, and a warmth in how they treat people at the counter, have turned first-time festival visitors into regulars who actively seek them out.
location_on 11 Garrett Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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10
In House Catering
★ 4.9 65 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 62 4★ 2 3★ 1In House Catering covers weddings from canapes and mains through to grazing tables and dessert, handling difficult allergies, severe nut restrictions, and special food requests without disrupting the planned menu. Beth and the team are known for fielding late changes close to the event date, keeping guests well fed with generous portions, and leaving couples free to enjoy their day.
location_on 3/70 Kenmore Street, Newlands, Wellington
About this ranking
What the 10 event & wedding caterers listed above hold, at the 30 August 2026 check.
We first assessed event & wedding caterers in Wellington in August 2026. Across the 9 locations we assess event & wedding caterers in, the 85 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 1.4% of their total.
How are the top event & wedding caterers in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for event & wedding caterers in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for event & wedding caterers in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.