Catering in the Poconos
Weddings · Reunions · Retreats · Rental Weekends
Whether it's a wedding weekend, a family reunion at a lake house or a team retreat, catering takes the cooking off your hands so you can be with your guests. This guide covers the catering options available for events in the Poconos, from drop-off trays to full-service plated dinners, what drives the cost, and how to plan catering at a vacation rental.
Want a recommendation?
Tell us your date, location and guest count, and we'll recommend a caterer from our partners. It's free for you; we may receive a referral fee from the partner, which doesn't change what you pay.
Key takeaways
- Catering in the Poconos ranges from drop-off trays to buffets, family style, plated dinners, BBQ and food stations.
- Service style and guest count drive the cost; staff, rentals, travel and service charges add to it.
- For a rental, check event rules, kitchen space, parking and a weather plan before you book.
- Book months ahead for weddings and peak summer and fall weekends.
Types of Catering Service
The service style shapes the menu, the staffing and the price more than anything else. Here's what each one means.
Drop-off catering
Trays and pans delivered ready to serve, with no staff staying on. The simplest, most budget-friendly option for a casual group meal at a rental.
Buffet
A self-serve spread with chafing dishes, often with staff to set up, replenish and clear. Works for most group sizes and mixed tastes.
Family style
Platters passed at each table so guests share. It feels more personal than a buffet and suits rehearsal dinners and reunions.
Plated dinner
Courses served to seated guests by a service team. The most formal option, common for weddings and milestone dinners.
BBQ and cookouts
On-site grilling or smoked barbecue, a natural fit for summer lake weekends, graduation parties and casual reunions.
Food stations
Separate stations, such as pasta, carving or tacos, that keep a large crowd moving and give guests choices.
Events Our Partner Caterers Cover
Groups come to the Poconos for weddings, reunions, retreats and holidays, often at a rented lake house or mountain home. Our occasion guides cover planning for each.
How Much Does Catering Cost?
Caterers quote per person or per event after hearing your plans. Use these factors to compare quotes on equal terms.
- Guest count, and any minimum order or minimum spend
- Service style: drop-off costs least, plated service the most
- Menu and ingredients, including proteins and dietary accommodations
- Staff for setup, serving, bartending and cleanup
- Rentals: tables, chairs, linens, plates, glassware and tents
- Travel to your location, especially remote lake communities
- Service charge, gratuity and sales tax, which may be added to the quote
For a benchmark, The Knot puts the average wedding catering cost at about $80 per guest nationally, with the Mid-Atlantic the highest-priced region at about $123 per guest (The Knot, retrieved October 12, 2026). Smaller events and drop-off service usually come in well below wedding prices.
Wedding Catering in the Poconos
Weddings are the biggest catering job most couples book, and the one where the venue matters most. Many Pocono resorts and banquet venues use their own in-house kitchen and don't allow outside caterers, so ask the venue before you request quotes. An outside caterer is usually needed for weddings at a rented home, a barn, a lakeside property or a backyard.
- Book early: caterers often take only one wedding per day, so peak fall and summer Saturdays fill first.
- Ask for a tasting before you sign, and whether its cost comes off the final bill.
- Confirm what the quote includes: staff, rentals (tables, linens, plates), cake cutting, bar service and cleanup are often extra.
- At a rental or outdoor site, ask how the caterer handles power, water, a prep tent and trash removal.
- Get the final guest count deadline, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
Planning a wedding weekend? Our wedding weekend guide covers the rest of the trip.
Catering at a Pocono Vacation Rental
Many Pocono events happen at a rented home rather than a venue. That works well, with a little planning:
- Check your rental's or community's rules on events, guest limits and outside vendors before you book.
- Ask what the kitchen has. Caterers often bring their own equipment, but oven, fridge and counter space still matter.
- Plan parking and access for the caterer's vehicle, especially on steep or gated roads.
- Have a weather plan for outdoor meals, such as a tent or an indoor fallback.
- Confirm who removes trash and leftovers, so the rental isn't left with it.
Events across the region, from Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg to Jim Thorpe, Lake Harmony and the Lake Wallenpaupack area, all work the same way. See our destination guides for each area. For a smaller dinner cooked in your kitchen, a private chef may be a better fit.
Questions to ask a caterer
- What's included per person: food, staff, rentals, setup and cleanup?
- Is there a minimum order or minimum guest count?
- Are you licensed and insured, and can you provide a certificate of insurance if my venue needs one?
- How do you handle allergies, dietary restrictions and labeling on a buffet?
- What deposit holds the date, and when is the final guest count due?
- Do you travel to my location, and is there a travel fee?
Get a Caterer Recommendation
Tell us about your event and we'll recommend a caterer from our partners who serves your part of the Poconos and fits your guest count, service style and budget. We'll pass your request to them so they can follow up with a menu and quote.
- · Free, with no obligation to book
- · Drop-off, buffet, family style, plated and BBQ
- · Weddings, reunions, retreats and rental weekends
You agree the menu, price and payment directly with the caterer. Pocono Reserve may receive a referral fee from caterers we recommend.
Pocono Catering FAQs
It depends mostly on service style and guest count. Drop-off trays cost the least per person, buffets with staff cost more, and plated dinners with a full service team cost the most. Rentals, travel, service charges and gratuity can add significantly, so compare quotes on what they include, not just the per-person price.
Often, yes. Check your rental agreement and any community rules first, since some Pocono lake communities and rentals limit events, guest counts or outside vendors. Then tell the caterer about the kitchen, parking and where you plan to serve.
For weddings and large events, book as early as you can, often months ahead for peak summer and fall weekends. For a casual drop-off meal, a few weeks may be enough, but holiday weekends fill quickly.
A caterer suits larger groups and events, with options from drop-off trays to full service. A private chef suits a smaller dinner cooked and served in your kitchen. If you're unsure, tell us your group size and plans and we'll suggest the right fit.
Send us your date, location, guest count and the style of service you want using the form on this page. We'll recommend a caterer from our partners who fits, and pass your request along so they can follow up with a menu and quote. Recommendations are free, and you agree the menu and price directly with the caterer.