Why couples choose a hog roast
A hog roast suits weddings that feel relaxed and generous. It works especially well at marquee, barn, farm and garden weddings, where there may be no kitchen and plenty of space outside. Guests gather round the carving station, the crackling disappears fast, and it feels like a feast rather than a formal sit-down.
Wedding breakfast, evening food or both?
As the wedding breakfast, a hog roast becomes a plated main meal: carved pork with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce, salads, coleslaw and new or roast potatoes, served by staff to tables or from a serving station. China can replace standard plates for a more formal feel.
As evening food, rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling are exactly what guests want after a few hours of dancing. They’re easy to eat standing up with a drink in hand.
Both is possible too: a hog roast main meal and rolls in the evening from the same roast or a second one. Ask your caterer how they’d plan it.
Check your venue first
Before you fall in love with the idea, ask your venue:
- Do you allow outside caterers, and is there a fee?
- Is there an approved supplier list?
- Where can a gas-fired roaster go, and how far from the building or marquee?
- What time can suppliers arrive and must they leave?
- What paperwork do you need from caterers?
Some venues only allow their in-house caterer or approved suppliers. Others charge a fee for outside catering. Knowing this early saves disappointment.
The cooking spot
The roaster is always outside, under its own cover, on level ground away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging trees. Marquee suppliers often set their own minimum distances for cooking equipment, so tell them a hog roast is coming. The serving station can usually be inside the marquee or barn if the venue agrees. See what the cooking area needs.
Timings on the day
A whole hog roasts for several hours, so the caterer arrives hours before food is served, often while the ceremony is under way. Agree with the venue where the caterer can set up without disturbing the ceremony or photos.
For the wedding breakfast, food usually follows the drinks reception. For evening food, it often goes out an hour or two after the first dance. A cooked roast can be held for a while, which helps when speeches overrun, but give the caterer one contact on the day, usually the venue coordinator or an usher, who can tell them when to carve. Our wedding catering timeline has more.
Guests who don’t eat pork
A hog roast is pork, so plan properly for guests who don’t eat it for religious, ethical or dietary reasons. We offer spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken, halloumi and vegetable skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. We don’t offer halal meat; if any guests need halal food, arrange it separately with a specialist caterer. Put a question about dietary needs on your RSVP, and pass the numbers to your caterer. See vegetarian and vegan guests.
Allergies
Standard rolls and sage and onion stuffing contain gluten. Gluten-free rolls are available on request. Ask for the full allergen information for every dish, and share it with anyone who needs it. Our allergen guide explains what caterers must tell you.
Plates, china and service
Plates come as standard. For a sit-down wedding breakfast, many couples upgrade to china, which is quoted separately. Our chef carves and our staff serve and clear, so your wedding party isn’t handing out rolls.
How many guests to cater for
For the wedding breakfast, cater for everyone. For evening food, not every guest eats, especially after a big meal, so ask your caterer what proportion of evening guests to plan for. Count children and non-pork eaters separately. See how many a hog roast feeds.
What it costs
Wedding hog roasts are priced on numbers, menu, sides, staffing, plates or china, time on site and travel. Published UK guides give a wide range, roughly £10 to £24 a head depending on what’s included. Our hog roast cost guide names and dates the sources.
Making it look good
The carving station can be a lovely part of the reception. Festoon lights near the serving table help in the evening and look great in photos. Ask your venue or marquee supplier about lighting.
A wedding hog roast checklist
- Venue allows outside caterers (and any fee)
- Cooking spot agreed with the venue and marquee supplier
- Arrival time agreed, so set-up doesn’t clash with the ceremony
- Wedding breakfast, evening food or both
- Numbers, including children and non-pork eaters
- Dietary needs and allergies collected with RSVPs
- Plates or china
- Lighting for evening service
- One contact on the day
Common wedding questions from couples
Couples often ask whether a hog roast is ‘smart enough’ for a wedding. Served on china with good sides at a carving station, it can look as elegant as you want, and many guests prefer it to a formal plated meal. Others ask about the smell during the ceremony: we agree a cooking spot away from the ceremony area with your venue.
Second-day get-togethers
Some couples hold a relaxed get-together the day after the wedding. A hog roast suits it well: simple, generous food in the garden for family and friends who are still around.
Ready to plan?
Send us your date, venue, rough numbers and whether it’s the wedding breakfast, the evening or both. We’ll check the date and your venue’s requirements and send a quote.
Quick answers
Is a hog roast suitable for a formal wedding?
It can be served on china at tables, but it’s a relaxed style of food. Many couples have a formal meal and a hog roast in the evening.
Can we have lamb as well as pork?
Yes. Spit-roast lamb alongside the pork gives guests a choice.
Will the smell bother guests during the ceremony?
We agree a cooking spot away from the ceremony area with your venue.
Can you cater a second-day get-together?
Yes. Ask about your date.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll check the date and send a quote.