Should You Have A Food Truck At Your Wedding?

Should you have a food truck at your wedding?

The short answer is, maybe?

Before we go into determining if you should have a food truck at your wedding, let’s talk about what a food truck is. If you live in an urban (or even suburban) setting, you likely already know. However, I’m sure there are some wedding planners out there who have no idea.

A food truck is a truck that serves food. Typically it’s branded by a small business, and the food is consistent. The back of the truck has the set up to cook food and the ability for someone to man the window to take orders, receive payment, and hand out the food when it’s ready. Food truck offerings can range, but you will typically see taco trucks in some parts of the country and chip (french fries) trucks in others.

Food trucks are a lot of fun, and can serve up some yummy food, by the way.

But are they right for your wedding?

Should You Have A Food Truck At Your Wedding?

If you are trying to decide if you should have a food truck at your wedding, you first need to look at your deal breakers. Take the benefits of a food truck out of the equation. Yes, the food can be delicious. And, it can be affordable. Plus, food trucks are fun. All of that said, there are some downsides. It’s up to you and your partner to decide if the deal breakers apply to you. If they don’t, maybe you should have a food truck at your wedding. If they do, you might want, or have to, skip it.

Let’s get into it!

WILL YOUR VENUE ALLOW FOOD TRUCKS? 

First things first. Is a food truck even allowed at your wedding venue?

Some wedding venues are super strict when it comes to what’s allowed, catering wise. They may provide their own food, or they may have a list of preferred vendors that are hard to deviate from. If this is the case, you may not be able to have a food truck there. Or, you may be limited to food trucks that only serve drinks or dessert.

So, if you want a food truck at your wedding, first check with your venue. See if it’s even an option for you.

CAN YOU AFFORD A FOOD TRUCK AT YOUR WEDDING?

While food trucks can be more affordable than say, a four course steak dinner for all, they still cost money.

The range can be great, too. You may have to meet a minimum payment total, meaning that the cost per guest won’t make sense to you. Some food trucks can be quite costly, too, just because of their prices.

The key here is to price it out. Do some research. Look up food trucks in your area and see what they may charge you to feed your guests. If the cost is out of your budget, it’s out of your budget. However, if you can afford it, you may want to have a food truck at your wedding.

DO YOU AND YOUR PARTNER LIKE FOOD TRUCKS?

Before you go ahead and book a food truck because you think it may be affordable and your venue will allow it, ask yourselves if you even like food truck food.

It’s not for everyone.

Look, here’s the thing. Food truck food can be any type of food. Some of it is quite gourmet. However, it is all served out of a truck. This means that the food may be a bit, um, rustic. It may not be served all fancy. It could be greasy, depending on the type of food. You don’t want to just default to a food truck unless you like that type of food.

If you aren’t sure if you like it, try some. And then decide if a food truck at your wedding is right for you.

ARE THERE FOOD TRUCK OPTIONS NEAR YOU?

Oh, this is a biggie.

Are there food truck options near you?

If not, this is a total deal breaker against having a food truck at your wedding. You don’t want to have to pay for travel fees if a food truck isn’t near you, right? So, see what’s out there. Maybe there are tons of options and this isn’t really a big deal. Maybe there isn’t. See what’s possible before you go too far down this path.

DO YOU THINK YOUR WEDDING GUESTS WILL APPRECIATE A FOOD TRUCK?

Is a food truck something your wedding guests will enjoy?

Keep in mind that food trucks usually mean ordering right at a window. They may mean lines, depending on their system for ordering at events. Will your wedding guests want to stand in a line? Will they want to order at a window? Or are they more used to sit down meals where they are served?

If your wedding guests are on the high maintenance side, a food truck may not be right for your wedding.

CAN YOU HIRE A TRUCK THAT WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH GUEST DEMANDS?

One big downside of food trucks is that they can be really slow.

The time between ordering food and people actually receiving it can be quite the wait, in some cases. If you have a big guest list, this is something you’ll have to watch out for, if you want a food truck at your wedding.

The key here is to look at your options. Ask yourself if there is a food truck in your area, that is in your budget, that has great food, and can be quick with the serving of that food. Of course, there are ways to streamline the cooking time (less options available, have guests pre-order food, have food ready to hand out immediately, etc.), but this is still something to think about.

DOES YOUR PARTNER AGREE TO HAVING A FOOD TRUCK AT YOUR WEDDING?

Oh, okay, we’re going to go there.

If your partner is not on board with having a food truck at your wedding, it’s a deal breaker. Food is an essential part of a wedding. It’s a big deal. Your guests are excited to be fed. Your partner may have big ideas about the food at their wedding. If you want a food truck, and they don’t, it’s time to either compromise or to move on.

For the record, there are compromises here. You can hire food trucks that specialize in just one aspect of food or drink. For example, there are cocktail food trucks. Dessert food trucks. Appetizer food trucks. More on all that next.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH A FOOD TRUCK FOR JUST PART OF YOUR CATERING?

Let’s delve deeper into the limitations of food trucks.

Very rarely will you find a food truck who can do it all. And by “it all”, I mean a food truck that can do appetizers, a main meal, dessert, and maybe even a late-night snack. Oh, and drinks, of course, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Because of this limitation, a food truck can typically cater just a piece of your overall catering requirements. If you want to hire or have a caterer who is all inclusive, to save yourself either costs or from a DIY effort, a food truck isn’t for you.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE DOWNSIDES OF A FOOD TRUCK?

If you are set on having a food truck at your wedding because you’re focused on the benefits of it, it may be time to look at the downsides and decide if they are deal breakers.

The main downsides of a food truck can be biggies. For example, they provide less services than a regular caterer. This means that guests will be bussing their own plates. If you don’t want guests to bus their own plates, you may have to hire extra help for that. Food trucks are also not likely to help set up tables, serve food at them, or clean up. Additionally, as mentioned before, food trucks can take a long time. You may have guests waiting in lines in their uncomfortable heels, in inclement weather, which is never fun.

THOUGHTS ON IF YOU SHOULD HAVE A FOOD TRUCK AT YOUR WEDDING

Friends, I think you should have a food truck at your wedding if you can accept all the limitations and downsides that come with them. Food trucks can be a lot of fun, and they can be memorable. If you hire a food truck for just appetizers, drinks, or a late-night snack, it can be a happy medium if you’re looking for an alternative or compromise. You’ve got this! Happy wedding planning! 

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