By Marco Delgado · Culinary Editor, Tip a Chef
Reviewed · Covers private chefs for weddings
Quick answer
How much does a private chef cost for a wedding?
A private chef for a wedding typically costs $75–$250 per guest depending on the menu, number of courses, guest count, and location. A multi-course plated dinner for an intimate wedding usually lands around $100–$200 per head, covering menu planning, a tasting, shopping, on-site cooking, and service. Tips go directly to the chef.
Why a private chef
Private chef vs traditional wedding catering
A menu that is actually yours
You design the menu together, not pick from three banquet set menus. Tasting dinner included by most chefs.
Cooked fresh on-site
No reheated trays from a central kitchen. Your chef cooks on the day, so the food arrives at its best.
Often better value
For small to mid-size weddings you skip the catering-hall markup and large-team overhead.
Every diet handled
Vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, allergies, prepared individually. Far easier than a mass catering line.
One person who cares
You deal directly with the chef cooking your food, not a sales team and a separate kitchen.
Tips reach the chef
With Tip a Chef, your gratuity goes straight to the chef and their team, not into a pool.
Pricing
What a wedding chef costs
A guide. Final cost depends on guest count, menu, courses, staffing, and location.
Intimate (10–30 guests)
$100–$200 / guest
Multi-course plated dinner, tasting, shopping, on-site cooking, and clean-up.
Mid-size (30–80 guests)
$85–$175 / guest
Chef plus a small service team. Plated or family-style, fully bespoke menu.
Large (80–150 guests)
$75–$150 / guest
Chef-led kitchen team. Buffet, stations, or plated. Compare against a catering company.
Tipping the chef and team is customary on top, usually $50–$200 for the head chef or 10–20% of the food cost. See the wedding tipping guide →
How it works
From first message to first dance
Find your chef
Browse chef profiles, see their style and menus, and reach out 3–6 months before the day.
Design the menu
Build a bespoke menu together. Most chefs offer a tasting so you taste the day before you book it.
They cook on-site
The chef shops, preps, and cooks fresh at your venue, with a small team for plating and service.
Tip them directly
Loved it? Tip the chef and team straight from your phone. Every penny reaches them.
FAQ
Wedding chef questions
How much does a private chef cost for a wedding?
A private chef for a wedding typically costs $75–$250 per guest depending on the menu, course count, and location. Smaller weddings of 20–40 guests often run $100–$200 per head for a multi-course plated dinner, including shopping, prep, on-site cooking, and service. Always confirm whether staffing, rentals, and a service charge are included.
Is a private chef cheaper than wedding catering?
For small to mid-size weddings, a private chef is often more affordable and more personal than a full catering company, because you skip the catering-hall markup and large-team overhead. For very large weddings of 150+ guests, a catering company with its own kitchen brigade may be more practical.
What does a private chef do for a wedding?
A private wedding chef plans a bespoke menu with you, often runs a tasting dinner beforehand, shops for ingredients, and cooks fresh on-site on the day. Many bring a small team for plating and service, handle dietary requirements, and clean up afterwards. You get a restaurant-quality meal tailored entirely to you.
How far in advance should I book a wedding chef?
Book a private wedding chef 3–6 months in advance, and longer for peak season (late spring through early autumn). This leaves time for a tasting, menu refinement, and confirming guest numbers and dietary needs.
Do you tip the chef at a wedding?
Yes, tipping the wedding chef and kitchen team is customary unless a service charge is already in the contract. A common approach is $50–$200 for the head chef plus a tip for the team, or 10–20% of the catering cost. See our full guide on tipping the chef at a wedding.
Can a private chef handle dietary restrictions at a wedding?
Yes. One of the biggest advantages of a private chef is flexibility. They can build vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher, or allergy-safe options into the menu and prepare guest meals individually, which is far harder for a large catering operation.
Find your wedding chef
Browse private chefs, design a menu that is truly yours, and give your guests a meal they will remember longer than the speeches.