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About

On WeddingWire since 2010

Catering By Design is a full-service wedding caterer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After several years of restaurant and catering experience, Peter Loevy founded the company in 1991 out of a passion for cuisine and event design. We offer personaized and seasonal menus, exceptional staff and our own full-service decor & floral division, Garnish.

Catering By Design is the exclusive hospitality partner at 5 historic venues in the Philadelphia area: ONE North Broad, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, James A. Michener Art Museum, and Bolingbroke Mansion.

Our team of event professionals have over 30 years of experience working with unique circumstances, parameters and goals. An event coordinator will work with you to understand your desires for your big day, and plan customized food menus and decor options with attention to detail. On your wedding day, our chefs will create balance and excitement through every dish by using fresh and quality ingredients. Our exceptional service staff will leave a lasting impression as they serve professionally and interact candidly with guests.

Cuisine
From Mediterranean to German or Chinese, we have an array of cuisine styles available for your special day. Serving styles including stations, buffet and plated options are offered. We can meet a variety of dietary accommodations, such as vegan and lactose-free options. We can also provide your wedding cake and other dessert options. Catering By Design has the following cuisine styles available:

  • African
  • American
  • Asian
  • Caribbean
  • French
  • Indian
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • Thai
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan

Other Services
Catering By Design can provide an open bar or bar services, including a signature drink, for your wedding. Our in-house floral studio can provide custom florals to align with your desired aesthetic. We also have a list of preferred vendors for everything from photography to lighting and sound.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average catering price per person for plated service?

$90

What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?

$75

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$75

What is the average catering price per person for hors d'oeuvres?

$50

Which of the following are included in the cost of your full service wedding catering?

Delivery
Set Up
Clean Up
Cake
Cake Cutting
Dessert
Cocktail Reception
Server(s)
Chairs
Tables
China
Linens
Flatware
Glassware

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Wine
House Liquor

What event services do you provide?

Delivery
Set Up
Clean Up

What catering services do you provide?

Breakfast / Brunch
Buffet
Cake Cutting
Cocktail Reception
Custom Menu
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What types of cuisine do you cater?

African
American
Asian
BBQ
Caribbean
French
German
Greek
Indian
Italian
Latin American
Local
Mediterranean
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Seafood
Southern
Spanish

What dietary needs can you accommodate?

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Kosher
Nut Free
Organic
Vegan
Vegetarian

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Open Bar
Champagne Toast
Signature Drink

Which of the following items can you provide?

Chairs
Tables

Which of the following items can you provide?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
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Reviews of Catering By Design

4.9 out of 5 rating
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
4.9 out of 5 rating
84 Reviews
99% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Catering By Design and Michael Mitloff received glowing reviews for their exceptional service and delicious food. Reviewers praised the helpfulness of Michael and his team throughout the planning process, as well as their ability to make the venue even more beautiful than expected. The service on the wedding day was described as impeccable and the food was raved about by both the couple and their guests. Overall, Catering By Design exceeded expectations and made their wedding day unforgettable.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Catering By Design and Michael Mitloff received glowing reviews for their exceptional service and delicious food. Reviewers praised the helpfulness of Michael and his team throughout the planning process, as well as their ability to make the venue even more beautiful than expected. The service on the wedding day was described as impeccable and the food was raved about by both the couple and their guests. Overall, Catering By Design exceeded expectations and made their wedding day unforgettable.

Gina
Gina I. Sent on 02/07/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Catering By Design made our wedding unforgettable

Wow, just wow. Catering by Design and Michael Mitloff truly made our wedding dreams come true! From the very beginning, we knew we were in good hands. When Michael first showed us the venue at the College of Physicians and explained how CBD works, we had complete confidence that our wedding day would be everything we'd envisioned - and it was. Throughout the entire planning process, Michael and his team went above and beyond to make our lives easier. From helping us to select the perfect menu to coordinating every last detail, they were there every step of the way. On the day of the wedding, we were absolutely blown away by how seamlessly everything came together. Michael and his team set up the venue and made it even more beautiful than we could have imagined. The service was impeccable - friendly and professional. And let's talk about the food - where do I even begin? It was nothing short of incredible. Our guests are still raving about how delicious everything was, and I have to agree - I've never had wedding food taste this good!! At the end of the night, Michael and his team took care of the tear down, which was unexpected and made our lives so much easier. Every single thing went off without a hitch, and our wedding day was perfect in every way. I cannot stress this enough-it was truly seamless and absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Michael Mitloff and the entire Catering By Design team, for exceeding our expectations and making our wedding day absolutely unforgettable!!!
Molly
Molly R. Sent on 12/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful!

Everything from beginning to end was easy working with Kelly Cloonan at the Michener Museum. Her professionalism, knowledge, and kindness made the process of planning our big day fun, happy, and stress-free. Kelly and the staff of catering by design went above and beyond for our wedding and we could not have been more blown away by the end result. The food was amazing, both in taste and presentation, and everything was seamless. If you're considering working with catering by design, I would not hesitate - they are a fantastic partner for any event. Even better if you get lucky enough to work with Kelly :)
Ilana
Ilana M. Sent on 10/28/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Food, Drinks, Service & Coordination

When beginning our wedding planning, we knew that catering was our #1 priority. After some research, it was clear that Catering By Design (CBD) was the #1 caterer in the Philly area, and was who we wanted to go with. We had fun reviewing the unique venues CBD services, we visited the Michener Art Museum and decided it was a great fit for us as a queer and transgender couple.

Kelly Cloonan was the Event Specialist assigned to our event, and from our first email interaction to the end of our wedding last Saturday was an absolute joy to work with. Kelly was kind, detail-oriented, responsive, transparent, respectful of our LGBTQ+ life and Jewish customs, and caring of our event on a level that surpasses a typical vendor/client relationship. While we did not have a wedding planner and the design was our own, Kelly in MANY ways stepped in and gave us the attention and time that we feel a planner would've given us. Kelly would respond to our (many) emails within 24 hours and even gave us her cell phone number for quick questions and day-of needs. She helped us build a catering menu that suited our needs and met our budget. We wanted to do four signature cocktails named after our four dogs and she helped make sure that the bar staff was fully prepared, having some pre-made leading into cocktail hour. Guests told us that this and keeping the two bars open all night helped ensure there were nearly zero lines all night which is a HUGE deal at 100+ person events. Kelly ensured us that the staff were informed of our guests dietary needs. She allowed us to hang gender neutral bathroom signs to make sure we and our guests felt comfortable. She seamlessly ensured all of our rentals, decor and vendors were set-up. In the middle of our event we were running low on gin, vodka and white wine and Peter the President of CBD ran out to get us more so our guests never knew a thing.

We could go on and on -- but please know that Catering By Design has an incredible team including Kelly Cloonan, which made it easy for our wedding day to not only go to plan, but to exceed our expectations and impress our guests with the food and service. Catering By Design played an integral role in the best day of our life, and undoubtedly will give your special occasion the care and attention you deserve to make it incredibly memorable.
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Awards

84
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

Real Weddings

Jessica & Eyad
24 photos · 11/16/2019

Team

Peter Loevy
Peter Loevy
President

On September 12, 2020, Catering By Design celebrated its 30th Birthday! Peter Loevy, Founder and President of CBD recently took a look back at the last 3 decades.

"Our goal has always been to provide a personal boutique event experience individually crafted and designed for each specific client. Rather than catering “packages”, and telling the client what they can have, listening and sculpting each experience has been the most rewarding approach. Great cuisine with a breadth that spans the globe, presented with intentioned design and served with warmth and grace has been our hallmark. We have stayed true to this vision through the decades even while enjoying significant growth.

Email me or info@cbdevents.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!"

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Moment to Moment Events Moment to Moment Events Wedding Planners

I had the distinct pleasure to work side by side with Megan Aldritch of Catering by Design for an event that had to go together very quickly, with clients from out of state. I was more than pleasantly surprised by several things: open and fast returned communication, willingness to partner, consistently positive atttitude and good humor, and when the event came, incredible professionalism from the ENTIRE crew and especially Megan, and the food was INcredible!! I would recommend this vendor without any qualms for any event! Thanks to Catering by Design for making this event another one to remember fondly - a job well done by all!

Preferred Vendors

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
4.9 out of 5 rating , 78 Reviews
· Historic Weddings
James A. Michener Art Museum
4.9 out of 5 rating , 20 Reviews
· Museum Weddings
ONE North Broad
5.0 out of 5 rating , 67 Reviews
· Historic Weddings
Bolingbroke Mansion
4.7 out of 5 rating , 9 Reviews
· Mansion Weddings

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