Why couples choose Mexican street food
A Mexican food truck or taco bar suits weddings that feel relaxed and generous. Guests can choose what they like, go back for more, and eat standing or seated. The food is colourful, full of flavour and easy to adapt for mixed diets. It also works in places without a kitchen: barns, fields, gardens, marquees and courtyards.
It isn’t only for informal weddings. Served well, with good presentation and a clear plan, street food can be the centrepiece of an elegant day. The key is deciding early how you want it served and when.
Wedding breakfast, evening food, or both?
- Wedding breakfast. Tacos, burrito bowls or a taco bar as the main meal after the ceremony, often with chips, salsa and guacamole while photos are taken. Read our guide to a street-food wedding breakfast.
- Evening food. Tacos, nachos or quesadillas later in the night, when everyone’s been dancing. See our evening wedding food ideas.
- Both. Some couples have a different caterer for the main meal and a taco truck in the evening; others keep one caterer for the whole day with a different menu for each service.
Serving styles
How the food reaches your guests shapes the feel of the day.
- From the truck. Guests queue at the hatch and are served to order. Lively and sociable. Best with tables called up in turn.
- Build-your-own taco bar. A spread of fillings, tortillas, salsas and toppings that guests help themselves to, with staff on hand to replenish. Our taco bar guide explains how to set one up.
- Sharing platters to tables. Fillings, tortillas and sides brought to each table so guests build their own tacos. Feels more like a traditional wedding meal but needs more staff and table space.
Tell your caterer which you prefer, or ask them what would work best at your venue and with your numbers.
Building the menu
Most wedding menus have two or three fillings plus a vegan option, salsas, guacamole and toppings, and perhaps one or two sides. Our menus are agreed with each couple. Fillings might include slow-cooked pork carnitas, chicken tinga, beef birria, al pastor-style pork, and vegan options like spiced mushrooms or black beans. Tortillas are warmed to order, and salsas and guacamole are made fresh.
A few tips:
- Keep heat on the side. Mild fillings with hotter salsas to add let everyone choose.
- Think about colour on the plate: pickled red onion, fresh herbs, lime and radish all help.
- Burrito bowls or loaded nachos can sit alongside tacos for guests who prefer a fork.
- Dessert is often your wedding cake, or ask what else is possible.
A sample wedding day
- Ceremony ends: drinks for guests, perhaps aguas frescas and margaritas, with chips and dips while photos are taken.
- Wedding breakfast: tables called up to the truck or taco bar in turn, or sharing platters brought out.
- Speeches: before or after the meal, agreed in advance so the food doesn’t wait.
- Cake: cut and served as dessert.
- Evening: tacos, nachos or quesadillas for evening guests and hungry dancers.
Our wedding catering timeline sets out what to do and when in the months before.
Diets and allergies
Mexican street food is one of the easier ways to feed guests with mixed diets. Our menus include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options, with allergen information for every dish. Gluten-free guests can have corn tortillas, and dairy-free guests can skip the cheese and soured cream. We plan carefully and keep options separate, but no mobile kitchen can guarantee that any allergen is completely absent, so guests with severe allergies should talk to us before the wedding.
Add a question about diets and allergies to your RSVP cards, and send the list to your caterer in writing, with names. UK food businesses must be able to give information about the 14 major allergens; the Food Standards Agency explains the rules.
Drinks
Mexican drinks fit naturally alongside the food: margaritas, Mexican beer with lime, and aguas frescas such as agua de jamaica (hibiscus), horchata and fruit waters for guests who aren’t drinking. If alcohol is being sold, the venue or event needs the right licence, such as a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice. Many wedding venues already have a licence and their own bar, so ask what’s allowed. If you’d like our Mexican drinks bar, we’ll check the licensing with you.
Talking to your venue
Before you book a food truck, check with your venue:
- Are outside caterers and catering vehicles allowed, and is there a fee?
- Where can the truck park? It needs level, firm ground and access wide and high enough to drive in.
- What power and water are available?
- Is there a covered area for guests to eat if it rains?
- Are there noise rules, curfews or set arrival times?
- What paperwork does the venue need from caterers?
Our space and power checklist has more detail.
Children and older guests
Weddings bring together every age. Mild fillings and quesadillas suit children, and serving their tables early helps parents. Older guests may prefer to sit and be brought a plate rather than queue, so ask your caterer whether staff can help. A burrito bowl or plate eaten with a fork can be easier for some guests than a hand-held taco.
Numbers and budget
Truck and trailer service usually suits around 50 to 400 guests, which covers most weddings. For the main meal, plan for every guest. For evening food, many couples plan for a proportion of the evening guest list, as not everyone eats. Our guide to how many tacos per person covers the rules of thumb. For budgets, our Mexican catering cost guide lists prices other caterers publish, and explains what a full quote should include.
Getting a quote
Send us your date, venue, approximate numbers for the day and evening, the kind of service you’re imagining, and any dietary needs. We’ll suggest a menu and serving plan. Contact us for a quote through our quote form, or read more about our wedding Mexican catering.
Quick answers
Is street food smart enough for a wedding?
Yes, when it’s well presented and well planned. Many couples choose it because it feels generous and relaxed.
Can a food truck do the main meal and the evening food?
Often, yes, with a different menu for each. Ask when you enquire.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date and venue. Summer Saturdays book up early.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll suggest a menu and send a quote for your event.