Renting a Food Truck For a Wedding
Food trucks are best at a casual or semi formal wedding.
If you’re looking for a unique way to serve a meal, consider renting a food truck for a wedding. Depending on the food you choose, hiring a food truck can help you stick to your budget. Plus, it’ll give your guests a fun experience and a cute photo op.
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Pros and Cons of Food Truck Wedding
Pros of Hiring a Food Truck
If you’re having your wedding at an alternative or non traditional venue, they might not have a full kitchen available. A food truck is a great way to bring your food onsite.
Your guests will have a unique and fun experience. If you’re on a budget, you might be limited in your catering choices. By thinking outside of the box and hiring a food truck, you can offer a completely different menu.
Cons of Hiring a Food Truck
Regular caterers will arrive early, set up and serve. Then they’ll stay late, to clean up. With a food truck, they’ll only be on site for a few hours. You’ll need to figure out the rest for yourself.
If you need rentals, like tables, chairs and dishes, you’ll need to make those arrangements yourself.
If your food truck doesn’t have experience with events, there could be longer wait times for the food. You’ll need to have a plan to make sure that all your guests will get fed in good time.
Check With Your Venue
Some venues don't allow outside catering at all. At other venues, there may not be a spot for the truck to set up. Check with your wedding coordinator to find out if food trucks are allowed on site.
If you’re planning at a DIY venue, like a backyard wedding or an I Do BBQ wedding, check the area to make sure a food truck will fit. Most trucks need some extra space around them, to set up a generator, extra tables and any other equipment.
Make sure there’s enough space to set up your dining tables. Check that it’s easy for your guests to walk over and line up.
Once your venue gives you the ok to hire a food truck, you can figure out the details. Decide where the truck will park and how your guests will get to it.
How to Plan Your Food Truck Wedding Catering
Make sure you hire a food truck that has served weddings or corporate functions before. They’ll know how to feed a big crowd quickly and easily.
A food truck is ideal for a guest list of 100 or less. If you’re inviting more people, consider hiring a second truck.
Limit the number of options available at the food truck window. This will let each guest choose their meal, but still keep the line moving. If there’s only two or three options, the food truck servers can have them ready to go.
To add more variety to your wedding menu, set up a buffet table next to the food truck. You can serve tasty and filling side dishes from the buffet. For example, the food truck can serve beef nachos, chicken fajitas and veggie tacos. Once people receive their choice, they can fill the rest of their plates at a side buffet of rice and beans, salads, chips, salsa and guacamole.
How Much Does a Food Truck Wedding Cost?
The costs for food trucks can vary, depending on where you live, the type of food and the time of year. According to Roaming Hunger, prices for a taco truck start at $10 to $15 per person. If you’d like a luxury option, you can even find lobster truck catering, for $35 to $45 per person.
To figure out your exact pricing, choose a food truck and ask for a quote. Then do the math before you decide. When you’re looking at your quote, check for a minimum spend or a minimum number of guests. Make sure the number fits your budget.
If you’re having extra side dishes, charcuterie or appetizers, decide how they’ll be set up, and cleaned up afterwards. Some food trucks can offer servers, at an extra cost.
Once you’ve added up the costs for your food truck, remember to check prices for any extras you’ll need to buy or rent:
Dishes
Tables and chairs
Tablecloths and napkins
Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Food Truck
What time will you arrive?
How long does it take to set up?
How much space does your truck need?
How long will you be serving food?
Will you provide the dishes and utensils?
Can you provide bussing services?
Can you clear the tables and trash after the meal?
What will happen if it rains?
What kind of insurance do you have?
Adding a Bar to Your Food Truck Wedding
Most food trucks do not have a license to serve liquor. Ask your venue about bar options. They may be able to set up a bar and provide a bartender. Or they might let you set up a DIY wedding bar.
If you can’t fit a bar or a bartender into your budget, consider serving only beer and wine. It’s easy to set up coolers, or put bottles of wine on each table for your guests to help themselves.
Tips For Your Dinner Hour
Place the menu in several different spots. Let people know what’s available, so they won’t have to make a decision while they’re standing at the front of the line.
Include the hours that the food truck will be open. That way people will know if they need to get in line ASAP, or if they can keep mingling.
If your wedding is in a public spot, like a park or campground, you want to avoid random people walking up to your food truck. You can put up signs that say “Private Event”. Or you could give your guests food tickets or wristbands.
Food Truck Wedding Ideas: Sample Menus
Taco trucks, pizza trucks or burger trucks are all good ideas for wedding catering on a budget.
Taco Truck
Main Dish Options:
Soft or hard tacos
Beef, chicken or vegetable
Side Dishes:
Rice and beans
Cilantro rice
Green salad
Corn on the cob
Nacho chips
Salsa and guacamole
Pizza Truck
Main Dish Options:
Cheese slice
Vegetable slice
Meat lovers slice
Side Dishes:
Charcuterie boards
Veggies and dip
Green salads
Garlic bread
Baked pasta dishes
Hamburger Truck
Main Dish Options:
Hamburgers
Chicken burgers
Veggie burgers
French fries
Side Dishes:
Condiments
Baked beans
Potato salad
Coleslaw
Wedding Planning Book
Just getting started with your wedding plans? For more alternative wedding food ideas, check out the book Affordable Wedding Venues and Menus. Available now on Amazon:
