Forget the three-course plated dinner. More and more South African couples are swapping traditional catering for food trucks at their weddings — and their guests love it. Whether you're planning an outdoor celebration on a Cape Winelands estate, a bushveld farm wedding in Gauteng, or a beachside reception in KwaZulu-Natal, food truck catering brings something a standard caterer simply can't: atmosphere, variety, and food made fresh right in front of your guests.
Here's everything you need to know about hiring food trucks for your wedding in South Africa — from costs and logistics to menu ideas and booking tips.
Why Choose Food Trucks for Your Wedding?
Food truck weddings have moved well beyond the novelty phase. They're now a legitimate catering choice for couples who want great food without the formality. Here's why they work:
- Live cooking experience: Guests watch their food being prepared on the spot — wood-fired ovens blazing, burgers sizzling, tacos being assembled. It doubles as entertainment and keeps people talking
- Relaxed, social atmosphere: Instead of assigned seating and plated courses, guests mingle naturally. The queuing and sharing creates a festival vibe that suits outdoor and semi-formal weddings perfectly
- More affordable than traditional catering: Food truck catering in South Africa typically costs R80–R200 per head, compared to R400–R800+ for traditional sit-down wedding catering
- Variety without the hassle: Book two or three trucks and your guests get to choose between completely different cuisines — try doing that with a conventional caterer
- No kitchen required: Food trucks are fully self-contained with their own cooking equipment, generators, and water. Perfect for remote farm venues, wine estates, and outdoor settings where a full catering kitchen isn't available
- Easy cleanup: Most food trucks serve in disposable packaging, which simplifies post-event cleanup significantly
Where Food Trucks Work Best at a Wedding
You don't have to replace your entire catering plan with food trucks. Many couples use them strategically at specific moments during the day:
- Cocktail hour: A food truck serving canapé-style bites while guests enjoy drinks after the ceremony — think mini tacos, slider burgers, or fresh oysters
- Main reception meal: Two or three trucks serving different cuisines as the primary dinner option. This works especially well for outdoor and farm-style weddings
- Late-night snacks: This is one of the most popular uses — a pizza truck or burger truck rolling in at 10pm after the dance floor opens. Guests love it, and it keeps the party going
- Dessert station: A dedicated dessert truck serving waffles, crêpes, churros, or gelato as an alternative to a traditional dessert table
- Day-after brunch: For destination weddings, a coffee truck and breakfast food truck the morning after is a thoughtful touch guests remember
How Much Does Food Truck Wedding Catering Cost in South Africa?
Cost is one of the biggest reasons couples consider food trucks. While pricing varies based on the truck, menu complexity, guest count, and location, here are realistic figures for 2026:
- Per-head pricing: R80–R200 per person for food truck catering, depending on the menu. A basic burger or taco truck sits at the lower end; a gourmet wood-fired pizza or seafood truck at the higher end
- Minimum spend: Most trucks require a minimum booking of R5,000–R10,000, which covers their setup, travel, staffing, and ingredient costs
- Travel fees: If the venue is outside the truck's usual operating area, expect a travel surcharge of R1,000–R3,000 depending on distance
- Multiple trucks: Booking two or three trucks usually costs less per head than a single truck because they can share setup logistics. Some operators offer package deals
For comparison: Traditional sit-down wedding catering in South Africa ranges from R400–R800+ per person, so food truck catering can save you 50–75% on your food budget. Even at the premium end with multiple gourmet trucks, you're unlikely to exceed R250 per head.
Keep in mind that food trucks don't typically include table service, crockery, glassware, or waitstaff. If you want those extras, you'll need to arrange them separately or work with a wedding planner.
How Many Trucks Do You Need?
A single food truck can comfortably serve 80–100 guests per hour. For a wedding with a dedicated dinner service window, plan based on your total guest count:
- Up to 80 guests: One truck is enough, especially with a focused menu of 4–6 items
- 80–150 guests: Two trucks — ideally with complementary menus (e.g. a mains truck and a dessert truck, or a burger truck and a pizza truck)
- 150–250 guests: Three trucks to keep queues short and offer real variety
- 250+ guests: Four or more trucks. At this size, you're essentially creating a mini food truck village — which can be a spectacular feature of your wedding
To reduce wait times at larger weddings, consider staggering service times, offering a pre-order system, or having one truck start serving during cocktail hour while the others open for the main meal.
Best Food Truck Combinations for Weddings
If you're booking multiple trucks, these pairings work well together and cover a range of tastes and dietary needs:
- Pizza truck + burger truck: The crowd-pleasing classic. Covers most preferences and both are fast to serve. Add a dessert truck for the trifecta
- Mexican truck + Asian street food truck: Bold flavours and a more adventurous pairing. Tacos and bao buns give guests something they won't forget
- Braai truck + craft beer truck: Quintessentially South African. Boerewors rolls, sosaties, and steak with ice-cold craft beer on tap
- Main course truck + coffee and dessert truck: A savory truck for dinner followed by crêpes, waffles, or gelato and a proper espresso. Great for evening receptions
- Halaal mains truck + halaal dessert truck: For weddings that require halaal catering, several South African food trucks hold certification and cater specifically for halaal events
Not sure which cuisines to choose? Browse our full list of food truck cuisines for inspiration, or read our guide to the top food truck cuisines in South Africa.
Popular Wedding Venue Types for Food Trucks
Food trucks are a natural fit for certain venue styles that are hugely popular in South Africa:
- Wine estates and farm venues: The Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl are packed with stunning outdoor wedding venues. Food trucks complement the relaxed, scenic setting perfectly — and many estates don't have built-in catering, making trucks a practical solution
- Bush and game farm venues: Remote venues in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, or the North West often lack full kitchen facilities. Food trucks bring everything they need
- Beachfront and coastal venues: Durban, the Garden Route, and the West Coast offer incredible beach wedding settings where a food truck adds to the casual vibe
- Garden and estate weddings: Large gardens in Gauteng suburbs like Muldersdrift, Cradle of Humankind, and Midrand are popular for outdoor weddings with food truck catering
- Warehouse and industrial venues: Urban venues in Joburg's Maboneng, Cape Town's Woodstock, or Durban's Station Drive pair well with the street food aesthetic of a food truck
What to Ask Before You Book a Food Truck for Your Wedding
Not every food truck caters weddings. Before you book, make sure you get clear answers to these questions:
- Do you have experience with weddings? Wedding catering has specific timing, guest flow, and expectations. A truck that's great at markets may not be set up for a structured event
- Can you accommodate dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, halaal, gluten-free — discuss this early. Many food truck menus can be adapted with advance notice
- What's included in the price? Clarify whether plates, napkins, cutlery, and sauces are provided or if you need to supply them
- What are your power and space requirements? Most trucks run on onboard generators and gas, but confirm they don't need a venue power connection. Check the truck's size against your venue's access roads and setup area
- What's the setup and pack-down time? Most trucks need 45–90 minutes before service and a similar window to pack up. Factor this into your venue hire timeline
- Do you have public liability insurance? Essential for any event, especially on private property. Reputable operators carry this as standard
- What's your cancellation and deposit policy? Get this in writing. Most trucks require a 50% deposit to secure the date, with the balance due before the event
- Can we do a tasting? Many wedding food trucks offer pre-event tastings so you can confirm the menu before your big day
Planning the Logistics
The success of food truck catering comes down to logistics. Work through these details with your truck operator and venue well in advance:
Venue Access
Food trucks are large vehicles. Check gate widths, road surfaces, overhead clearance (trees, power lines), and whether the ground is level and firm. Muddy fields after rain are a common problem at farm venues — discuss this with your operator and have a backup plan.
Positioning
Place the truck where guests will naturally flow — near the bar, the dance floor, or the main gathering area. If you're booking multiple trucks, space them out to avoid crowding and create distinct "food zones."
Timing
Coordinate serving windows with your wedding timeline. A typical schedule might look like:
- 4:30 PM: Trucks arrive and set up
- 6:00 PM: Cocktail hour service begins (if using trucks for canapés)
- 7:00 PM: Main dinner service opens
- 8:30 PM: Dinner service closes, trucks begin winding down
- 10:00 PM: Late-night snack truck opens (if booked separately)
Guest Communication
Let your guests know in advance that food trucks are handling the catering. Include it on your wedding website or invitation suite so no one arrives expecting a formal sit-down dinner. Most guests will be excited — it's a selling point, not a disclaimer.
Food Trucks vs Traditional Wedding Catering
Still deciding between a food truck and a traditional caterer? Here's an honest comparison:
- Cost: Food trucks win — R80–R200/head vs R400–R800+/head for traditional catering
- Atmosphere: Food trucks create a casual, festival-like energy. Traditional catering suits formal, black-tie weddings
- Variety: Multiple trucks offer more cuisine variety than a single caterer. Traditional caterers offer more within a single, coordinated menu
- Service: Traditional caterers handle table service, crockery, and cleanup. Food trucks are self-serve — you may need to hire waitstaff and tableware separately
- Venue flexibility: Food trucks work anywhere with vehicle access. Traditional catering needs a kitchen or at least a prep area
- Capacity: Food trucks serve 80–100 guests per hour per truck. For very large weddings (300+), a traditional caterer may be more efficient
Many couples find the sweet spot by combining both: a light sit-down starter served by a traditional caterer, followed by food trucks for the main course and late-night snacks.
Booking Timeline
Popular food trucks get booked out quickly, especially during wedding season (October–March in South Africa). Here's a realistic timeline:
- 6–9 months before: Start researching and shortlisting trucks. Browse our food trucks for hire to see who's available in your area
- 4–6 months before: Contact your top choices, request quotes, and arrange tastings. Book and pay your deposit
- 2–3 months before: Finalise your menu, confirm dietary requirements, and share your wedding timeline with the truck operator
- 1 month before: Confirm venue access logistics, power requirements, and exact setup times
- 1 week before: Final confirmation call with your truck operator — guest count, timing, and any last-minute changes
Find the Perfect Truck for Your Wedding
Ready to start looking? Browse food trucks available for hire on Food Truck Finder and filter by cuisine, location, and event availability. Many trucks on our platform cater specifically for weddings and include contact details so you can get a quote directly.
New to food trucks? Here's what to expect when visiting a food truck for the first time. And if you're considering food trucks for other events beyond the wedding — like your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or post-wedding brunch — our complete guide to food truck event catering covers the broader picture.
For Food Truck Owners: Get Wedding Bookings
If you run a food truck and want to tap into the wedding market, make sure your profile on Food Truck Finder is marked as available for hire. Couples searching for wedding catering are some of the highest-value bookings in the food truck industry — and they plan months in advance.
Need help building a wedding-friendly menu? Check out our guide to the best food truck menu ideas in South Africa — many of the top sellers translate perfectly to wedding catering. And if you're just getting started in the industry, our guide to starting a food truck business covers everything from permits to finding your first locations.
