April 14, 2026
Feast-style catering for weddings, corporate events and celebrations. Real pricing, real food, and a complete experience from canapés through to dessert.
By HLB Catering — Melbourne event catering specialists. Prices current as of April 2026.
Shared platters have become the defining way Melbourne couples and event hosts choose to feed their guests. Not because it’s trendy, but because it genuinely works. Generous dishes landing in the middle of the table create something that formal plated service simply can’t: a table that feels alive, where people reach across, pass food, and actually talk to each other.
Whether it’s a wedding reception in the Yarra Valley, a corporate lunch in the CBD, a milestone birthday in South Yarra, or an engagement in Richmond, feast-style shared dining transforms a meal into a moment. This guide covers exactly how it works, what’s included in HLB’s packages, what it all costs, and how to decide if it’s the right fit for your event.
Food has always been how people come together. Shared platters lean into that completely. Rather than waiting on an individually plated entrée, guests help themselves from generous dishes in the centre of the table. The food becomes part of the conversation, not an interruption to it.
The format works across event types because it’s flexible without being casual. It feels warm and generous at a wedding. It feels efficient and impressive at a corporate function. And at a birthday or celebration, it creates exactly the kind of abundance that makes guests feel genuinely looked after.
A feast-style shared platter service is one of the best decisions you can make for your reception. Every package starts with artisan bread and butter on arrival, followed by chef’s choice canapés served on platters at each table before your chosen mains and sides hit. After mains, wait staff pass through with dessert on trays to finish the night. The whole meal flows naturally, and you and your guests can relax and enjoy every course rather than waiting between them. We handle everything. You focus on the people.
Shared platters keep energy up at corporate functions. No queuing, no awkward buffet lines, no one left waiting while their plate goes cold. Dishes arrive at the table, conversation continues, and the food does what good catering should: it makes the event better without becoming the focus of it.
Whether you want a complete feast as the main event or a generous shared spread alongside other services, shared platters scale beautifully. Add a canapé arrival pack to kick things off or a dessert table to finish with a proper showstopper.
The best shared platter events aren’t just about the mains. They’re about a natural progression through courses that keeps guests engaged from the moment they arrive to the last bite of dessert. Here’s how HLB structures the full experience.
The whole experience is managed by professional wait staff and a skilled chef throughout. No surprise charges for staff or essential services. It’s all-inclusive so you can actually enjoy your own event.
All pricing below is current as of April 2026 and includes GST. Professional wait staff and chef are included in all packages unless otherwise noted.
The complete feast-style experience. Generous, beautifully presented dishes designed for relaxed communal dining. Everything lands in the middle of the table and guests help themselves, which is exactly how good food should be shared.
| What’s Included | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Sliced artisan bread and butter |
| Canapé course | Chef’s choice canapés served on platters at each table |
| Mains | Your choice of 2 shared mains from the menu |
| Sides | 4 gourmet sides, freshly prepared and served to the table |
| Dessert | Passed on trays by wait staff |
| Staff | Professional wait staff and chef throughout |
| Minimum guests | 60 paying guests |
| Main | Dietary |
|---|---|
| Angus Eye Fillet with slow-reduced red wine jus | GF |
| Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder slow-cooked until it falls apart, with labneh | GF |
| 8-Hour Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder with fresh chimichurri | GF |
| Slow-Roasted Chicken Thigh with preserved lemon and white wine pan sauce | GF |
| Tasmanian Salmon with fresh herbs, lemon and extra virgin olive oil | GF |
| Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato with tahini-soy, coriander, chilli and sesame | V, VEG, DF, GF |
Roasted potatoes with herbs and garlic. Penne pasta al sugo. Tomato and buffalo mozzarella Caprese. Garden salad with grain mustard dressing.
Chocolate Crémeux with raspberry coulis and fresh strawberries. Coconut Panna Cotta with warm spiced pineapple salsa. Classic Tiramisu with espresso-soaked sponge and whipped mascarpone.
Shared platters are the most popular choice for Melbourne weddings and events, but they’re not the only option. Depending on your guest count, venue and the vibe you’re after, one of these formats might suit your event better, or work well alongside shared platters as part of a fuller experience.
Handcrafted bites that look as good as they taste. Our chefs prepare each piece fresh and our team circulates throughout your event. Perfect for cocktail receptions, arrivals, or any event where you want guests moving and mingling. Choose from cold canapés, hot canapés and hearty bites.
| Package | Price | Includes | Min. Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Canapés Pack | $21pp | 4 hot or cold canapés, 30–45 min service. Arrival starter only, combined with a main package. | N/A |
| Festive Canapés Package | $48pp | 6 selections, 2 hours unlimited service | 40 |
| Grand Canapés and Hearty Bites | $59pp | 3 hot, 3 cold canapés and 2 hearty bites, 3 hours unlimited service | 40 |
The all-inclusive cocktail package for weddings, engagements, anniversaries and milestone events. Three hours unlimited service covering 3 canapés (hot or cold), 2 hearty bites and 3 bowl food dishes. Professional wait staff and chef throughout. Add a Live Paella Valenciana station for $10pp (minimum 80 guests). Minimum 40 guests.
A relaxed buffet with freshly prepared mains and sides, set with fresh flowers, Australian greenery and candlelight. Includes 3 mains, 3 sides, garden salad, pilaf rice and dinner rolls. All crockery, cutlery and wait staff to serve included. Minimum 50 guests. For smaller groups of 30 to 49, a setup-only option is available.
A refined alternate-drop dining experience built around seasonal ingredients. Choose from 2, 3 or 4 courses. Includes shared garden salad, dinner rolls, premium crockery and linen, and professional wait staff. Minimum 60 guests.
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| 2-Course (Entrée + Mains or Mains + Dessert) | $85pp |
| 3-Course (Entrée + Mains + Dessert) | $110pp |
| 4-Course (Canapé + Entrée + Mains + Dessert) | $125pp |
Explore the full range of HLB Catering menu options including vegan and vegetarian packages, grazing tables and dessert selections.
Choosing your service style is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make for your event. Each format creates a completely different atmosphere, and the right choice depends on your guest count, venue and what you want the night to feel like.
| Format | Shared Platters | Buffet | Plated Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Warm, social, communal | Relaxed, casual | Formal, structured |
| Service style | Dishes brought to the table by staff | Guests serve themselves from central station | Individual plates served to each guest |
| Guest flow | Everyone stays at the table | Queuing at a central station | Seated throughout |
| Best for | Weddings, engagements, celebrations, corporate | Casual events, larger groups | Formal dinners, gala events |
| Starting price | $90pp | $68pp | $85pp |
| Minimum guests | 60 | 50 (30 for setup only) | 60 |
Key insight: Shared platters consistently deliver the strongest atmosphere for Melbourne weddings and celebrations. Plated meals suit more formal events. Buffets work well for larger casual gatherings where flexibility matters more than ambience.
Every HLB shared platter menu includes a vegetarian main option, and the team accommodates gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan requirements across all packages. The full vegan and vegetarian menu is also available as a standalone option. Dietary requirements should be confirmed at the time of booking, no later than 21 days before the event. HLB’s kitchen handles common allergens including nuts, gluten and dairy, so guests with severe allergies should be made aware of this.
Shared platters work best with long or rectangular tables that give guests easy access to the dishes in the centre. Round banquet tables can work but it’s worth thinking about how guests will comfortably reach across. Talk to your venue and mention the format when you enquire — most Melbourne venues are well set up for feast-style service.
HLB’s wait staff monitor the table throughout service and replenish dishes as needed so platters stay looking generous and fresh. The team arrives well before your guests to set up and is there until the end of the event. You don’t need to think about any of it on the night.
The Feast Shared Platters package requires a minimum of 60 guests. For smaller groups, the Grand Canapés and Hearty Bites package or the HLB Signature Cocktail Pack are great alternatives, both available from 40 guests.
The questions we get asked most before people book.
HLB Catering’s Feast Shared Platters package is $90 per person as of April 2026. That includes artisan bread and butter on arrival, chef’s choice canapés on platters at each table, 2 shared mains, 4 gourmet sides, dessert passed on trays, and professional wait staff and chef throughout. Minimum 60 guests.
With shared platters, generous dishes are brought directly to your tables by wait staff and guests help themselves. A buffet has guests queuing at a central station to serve themselves. Shared platters create a much warmer, more connected atmosphere and keep everyone at the table rather than forming a queue.
The $90pp package includes: sliced artisan bread and butter on arrival, chef’s choice canapés served on platters at each table, your choice of 2 shared mains, 4 gourmet sides, dessert passed on trays, and professional wait staff and chef throughout. It’s all-inclusive with no surprise charges for staff or essential services.
Yes. The menu includes vegetarian main options and the team accommodates gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan requirements. Confirm your requirements at the time of booking. HLB’s kitchen handles common allergens, so guests with severe allergies should be aware of this.
Shared platters are one of the most popular formats for Melbourne weddings precisely because they create that relaxed, social energy that formal plated service can’t replicate. Generous dishes in the centre of the table get guests passing food and talking to each other. The meal becomes part of the celebration rather than a pause between speeches.
You choose 2 mains from: Angus Eye Fillet with red wine jus, Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder, 8-Hour Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder with chimichurri, Slow-Roasted Chicken Thigh with preserved lemon, Tasmanian Salmon, or Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato (vegan). All mains are gluten-free.
The Feast Shared Platters package requires a minimum of 60 paying guests. For smaller groups, the Grand Canapés and Hearty Bites package and the HLB Signature Cocktail Pack are available from 40 guests. For groups of 30 to 49, a buffet setup-only option is also available.
The Feast Shared Platters package already includes a chef’s choice canapé course at the table. You can add a Welcome Canapés Pack ($21pp) as a pre-arrival starter when combined with the main package. Late night snacks including mini sliders, baos, gourmet cheese boards and dip boards are available to add on and keep guests going later into the night.
HLB Catering serves: Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Docklands, Fitzroy, Richmond, Carlton, South Yarra, Toorak, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Oakleigh, Mentone, Clayton, Caulfield, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and regional Victoria.
Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a proposal that suits your guests, your venue and your budget. No templates. Just good food, beautifully served.
Or reach us directly: (03) 8503 7394 or [email protected]