The food
(In case you’re wondering, our ‘comfortable maximum’ for the catering in our marquee is between 140 and 160, but we have hosted up to 190 before.)
One of the most important elements of the day is food. We do not insist on you using an ‘in-house’ caterer and can suggest a range of tried-and-tested chefs who offer a variety of great styles to cover everybody’s taste, from classic gourmet and modern British cuisine to sharing platters and street food served in the gardens.
We have an arrangement with our favourite caterers, where they pay us £15 (inc. VAT) per day adult to cover kitchen equipment and service ware (plates, cutlery, linens, etc.) and some staffing hours. If you choose to work with a caterer not on our list, we would simply add this charge (£15pp) to your wedding total. Any caterer must be Insured, Registered with EHO, and have a minimum Level 4 Food Hygiene Rating.
We also offer our own ‘Canapés & Afternoon Tea’ menu for £40pp - see details below…
Our Favourites
First up are our favourite caterers which we have been working with for years. Each of them brings something different to your table and come highly recommended by us.
This list is in order of those who worked with us most frequently during our 2024 season …
The Little Kitchen Company | thelittlekitchencompany.com |
01962 885600
From sophisticated and intimate weddings to large, glamorous celebrations, The Little Kitchen Company offers delicious wedding catering services throughout Hampshire and the surrounding areas. Our Hampshire catering services have been used by many weddings, all unique, and our experienced team are on hand to offer advice, help and ideas for the menu on your special day.
Sorrels Caterers | sorrelscaterers.co.uk | 01202 882353
At Sorrels, the focus is ‘all about the food’, consistently providing fabulous, flavoursome food for all styles of catering. We use quality, local (where possible) ingredients, mixed with masses of passion and the desire to please. Sorrels is based in Wimborne, and established over 25 years ago. An experienced team, offering a relaxed, friendly and flexible service.
The Perfect Pig | theperfectpig.co.uk | 01202 398505
We provide a fully dedicated Bespoke Wedding Catering Service. Whether your theme is modern or traditional we pride ourselves on our creative and innovative mouthwatering menus, our highest levels of professionalism and fully tailoring our bespoke packages to provide you with the perfect wedding service for your special day.
Milkshed Catering | milkshedcatering.com | 07860 581680
We love catering for weddings at Deans Court! Our chefs source the best produce the South West has to offer, creating delicious menus. We tailor-make every wedding menu to suit you – with sample menus to help get the ball rolling. With our keen eye for detail, passion and professional expertise, we also support you with the planning of your wedding.
Brown Goose | brown-goose.co.uk | 07470 096652
We are a well-established, family run catering company. With a friendly and hands on approach from start to finish, we aim to make your day a success from start to finish. Our menus are constantly growing and evolving an we offer everything from simple buffet food through to full wedding breakfasts.
Fossil Food Catering | fossilfoodcatering.co.uk | 07514 077561
A significant part of our philosophy here at Fossil Food Catering is that we endeavour to portray how each and every couple is unique. Your wedding day is entirely focused on you as a couple, so we believe the wedding catering experience throughout the event should express your own tastes and preferences.
Molecular Magic Creative Catering | molecularmagic.co.uk |
07845 646204
Offering luxurious, bespoke catering services; over a decade of impeccable experience, delivering a first class culinary experience for you – however big, small or challenging the brief. Your Wedding Breakfast plays a major part of your Big Day. We love nothing more than spending time to understand your vision and work together to create your dream.
Kit & Kee | kitandkee.co.uk | 01297 811103
Kit & Kee is a wedding and event catering specialist based at Trill Farm, near Lyme Regis, where we source organic produce every morning from our market garden. We also rear our own livestock and make our own Bottle Farm charcuterie. Our ethos is all about using the very best tasting local ingredients at the peak of their seasons using techniques from all over the world: smoking, curing, preserving and fermenting. We craft bespoke menus for our customers, using the best ingredients in season on the farm and nearby. Sustainability is essential to us and is at the heart of the events we cater for.
Idelica | idelica.com | 01425 350350
Idelica is all about bringing the fragrant dishes, flagrant passion and breezy service style of Southern Spain to your special day. With our big pan paellas at the core of everything, Emma's menus and Ian's service plans can offer you a full day's worth of fiesta-styled catering with bespoke options for spectacular sharing dishes, creative dining and buzzing tapas or pizza bars. For couples that want their guests to feel laid-back and life-loving vibes while they feast on great Spanish food, Idelica is the perfect choice.
Crab Apple Catering | crabapplecatering.co.uk | 01929 505 029
Based in Swanage we provide quality catering with a personal touch throughout Dorset. One of our friendly, experienced business owners will be with you all of the way from initial contact to planning, meetings, and on the day itself. We are a local family business with a passion for quality catering using locally sourced food working as a family team for over 12 years and pride ourselves on our personal touch. Our in-depth knowledge of the catering industry and each other means we efficiently work together, allowing us to focus on our skills.
Merlins Catering | merlinscatering.co.uk | 01202 911017
Experienced wedding and corporate event caterer, creating 'Culinary Magic' for beautiful wedding days and special events since 2003. At Merlins we are all about the details, all our meat is free-range and Dorset bred with accompanying ingredients locally sourced wherever possible. Merlins dishes are wholesome and plentiful leaving your guests feeling satisfied and fulfilled. It's service with a smile the whole way, with our expert wedding specialists helping you at every stage to create the wedding day of your dreams. We look forward to hearing from you!
Deans Court In-House Catering
£40pp (children 12 years of age and younger are free)
Canapés in the Garden
Smoked salmon & cream cheese on crackers
Goats cheese & fig chutney on biscuits
Cherry tomato, mozzarella ball and fresh basil on a stick
Honey & mustard cocktail sausages
Prawn Cocktail Vol au vent
Wedding Breakfast in the Marquee
Quiches
Spinach, mushroom & cheddar
Beetroot & goats cheese
Roasted peppers & cheddar
Sandwiches
Egg mayonnaise & cress
Cucumber & cream cheese
Ham, mustard & salad
Dorset cheddar & chutney
Hummus & tomato
Cakes & Biscuits
Scones (plain and fruit), cream & jam
Shortbread
Brownies
Lemon berry drizzle
Carrot cake
Apricot oaties
Drinks
Pots of English Breakfast tea
Selection of herbal teas
Coffee
*All to be served in the middle of the table for your guests to help themselves to.
Add our normal flowing drinks package, and we’ll swap the table Wine for Prosecco - or bring your own drinks with no corkage to pay.