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Weddings

About

Catered by Design brings your wedding to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. Our creative and friendly team of event specialists will be with you every step of the way, so you can enjoy your special day with total confidence and peace of mind.

While we can answer general inquiries, using a digital storefront does not allow our sales team to receive the most accurate information to help with crafting your proposal for your big day. Please visit our contact form for you to get a response from a sales team member. Our contact form can be found here:
https://cateredbydesign.com/contact


For more information around your big day and the process of working with a catering company, please feel free to visit our weddings page to help get you started and answer some questions that you may have. That link can be found here:
https://cateredbydesign.com/weddings

About

Catered by Design is a wedding catering company based in Morton Grove, Illinois. Our mission is to bring your events to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. This also includes being a good steward of the environment. Our goal is to continually improve our sustainability practices by working closely with our vendors and partners to minimize the impact on the environment.

Sam Gray, the President of Catered by Design, started in his grandmother's kitchen as just a young kid. He worked his way up into Executive Chef positions at multiple restaurants and opening a few of his own. Sam has a lifetime of experience under his belt. Deciding to settle down over 17 years ago and began his journey with Catered by Design. He has built a loyal team to create and serve thousands of food & event-seeking clients in Chicago and the greater area.

Catered by Design provides catering services all around the Chicagoland area. For the past 20 years, our friendly & dedicated staff has provided delicious food along with flawless presentation ensuring happy customers. We offer any serving style you are envisioning in a variety of cuisines all customized precisely to your taste. Catered by Design is exclusive or preferred by a handful of venues.

Cuisine

Enjoy a chef-paired menu or create a custom menu specific to your event. From a picnic or brunch to a plated, buffet or stations meal, the options are endless. Our menus include a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, seafood, poultry & hors d'oeuvres options. Plated meals are served in three courses, and arrangements for children's menus can be made. Some sample plated meals include:

  • Roasted, Frenched White Truffle Chicken Breast
  • Center Cut Fillet Mignon
  • Whitefish with Chimichurri
  • Saffron Risotto Cakes

Here at Catered by Design, we look forward to bringing your big day to life.

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Frequently asked questions

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

$125

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

$125

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$125

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

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

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$30

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

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?

American
Asian
Indian
Italian
Mexican
Seafood

What dietary needs can you accommodate?

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Halal
Kosher
Nut Free
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

Reviews of Catered by Design

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

Review summary

Powered by AI

Catered by Design receives glowing reviews from multiple users for their exceptional service, delicious food, and attentive staff. Rachel and Erin are highlighted for their organizational skills, creativity, and responsiveness throughout the planning process. Guests rave about the quality and variety of food, with special attention to accommodating dietary restrictions. The staff is praised for their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail on the wedding day, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience. Overall, Catered by Design is highly recommended for weddings and events.

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.

Catered by Design receives glowing reviews from multiple users for their exceptional service, delicious food, and attentive staff. Rachel and Erin are highlighted for their organizational skills, creativity, and responsiveness throughout the planning process. Guests rave about the quality and variety of food, with special attention to accommodating dietary restrictions. The staff is praised for their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail on the wedding day, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience. Overall, Catered by Design is highly recommended for weddings and events.

Lilly
Lilly Sent on 12/27/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Food that's ACTUALLY Delicious

We used Catered by Design for our recent December wedding and we recommend them highly! Choosing a wedding caterer felt overwhelming at first. We found that many vendors were not transparent with their pricing or offerings and it could be difficult to get in touch with them for personalized information. The team at Catered by Design helped me rethink this stereotype. From our very first outreach to the day of the wedding, Catered by Design were so attentive and communicative to our needs. I have severe food allergies and many of our guests had dietary restrictions. At every point I felt my allergies and the needs of our guests were not only accommodated, but masterfully attended to.

I find that wedding food can be notoriously average for how expensive it has become. Let me just say - this was NOT the case with Catered by Design. On the day of our wedding our guests raved about the quality of the dinner and went out of their way to let us know how whimsical they found the appetizers and how tasty dessert was. The servers also went out of their way to be kind and hospitable to our guests, another touch that guests raved about.

Choosing a caterer for a large event can be a big ask, but Catered by Design made our design easy, enjoyable, and dare we say fun too! If you are looking for high quality service at a fair price, they’re the caterer for you.
Adam
Adam Sent on 10/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The Only Caterer You Should Consider

We have absolutely nothing but wonderful things to say about Catered by Design. Rachel was helpful and responsive whenever we had questions. The food was INCREDIBLE and guests from our wedding have told us countless times that the food was to die for. Everything from the cook on the food to the presentation, to the plating was everything we could've wanted for our wedding. If you are looking for a caterer, this is the only one you should even consider. They are phenomenal and you wont be disappointed.
Casey
Casey Sent on 09/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

So glad we chose Catered by Design!

Catered by Design was the absolute best choice we made for our wedding day. It was the #1 recommended catering caterer by our venue, and we were able to request and work with Erin, who knows our venue well. Erin was a dream to work with throughout the whole planning process. She is organized, timely, and creative. She has an amazing attention to detail and had us think of things we never would have thought of without her. Erin made the planning process stress-free for us with all that she handled on her end. We also had a great experience at our tasting at the Morton Grove office last fall (with lots of leftovers to bring home!). Our guests raved about the food, and the night went off without a hitch. The set-up was perfect, and the day-of staff was friendly and executed everything perfectly. We are so glad we chose Catered by Design!
K
Karen Sent on 09/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Great experience!

From start to finish, it was a pleasure working with Catered by Design for my daughter's wedding. We worked with Erin Ley, who was patient, creative, and responsive to our evolving wants. She helped us create a menu that worked, and was happy to adapt as we made slight changes in the months leading up to the wedding. She was always timely in her responses, and answered a never-ending stream of questions and concerns! On the day of, all the rentals arranged by Catered by Design were in place, the service by their staff was spot-on and friendly, and we've received feedback that our guests enjoyed the food.
Julia
Julia Sent on 11/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

So wonderful

Catered by Design was excellent. The food was absolutely delicious, and their staff were very professional and kind. Sam Gray and Erin Ley were very collaborative and creative in the implementation of our requests.
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 10/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

You found your caterer!!

Erin and her team helped create the wedding of my dreams! From the moment we got in contact, I knew they were the perfect fit. The tasting was an absolute blast, with Erin even displaying my venue on the TV to help us envision the big day. Erin’s personality made everything so easy—she made me feel completely comfortable asking any and all questions, and her responses were always super quick, which I really appreciated.
As for the food—wow! Everyone raved about how delicious it was, and we’re still dreaming about the cauliflower with chickpeas and leeks—it was a standout dish for us! The variety Erin offered was incredible too, from the chairs and tablecloths to the dishes in all different colors, it felt like we had endless options to make everything perfectly match our vision. On the day of the wedding, Erin’s team was on top of every detail. Everything ran smoothly, and there wasn’t a single thing that went wrong. I can’t thank Erin enough for her professionalism and expertise. I highly recommend her and her team for anyone looking for an amazing caterer!
Sheilya
Sheilya Sent on 10/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Catered by Design is the best!

You CANNOT go wrong with Catered by Design! The food at my daughter’s wedding at Artifact Events was outstanding. From the start of the planning process to the day of the wedding, communication with Erin and Sam was easy and efficient. The CBD staff on the wedding day were professional and very responsive. And the food is exceptional! Do yourself a favor and work with Catered by Design - they’re the best in the business!
Tess
Tess Sent on 08/22/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Such a great experience!

We had such a wonderful experience working with Catered by Design! Rachel assisted us all along the way as we planned our wedding, and Laura was present with their team on the day-of to make sure everything ran smoothly. Rachel, Laura, and the team at Catered by Design were so professional, dependable, kind, and enjoyable to work with. We would definitely recommend working with them for any event!
Olivia
Olivia Sent on 07/22/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional all around!

If you want a stress-free, perfectly executed wedding with DELICIOUS food & drinks, Catered by Design is a must. Rachel was the coordinator we worked with, and I can’t say enough good things about her. She is incredibly organized, knowledgeable, professional, and an overall kind & pleasant person to work with. There was not a single moment throughout the planning process where I had even an ounce of stress when it came to our caterer because of the meticulous care they took with everything. Most importantly, the food and drinks were PHENOMENAL. We heard so many compliments from guests about the meals, dessert, and our custom drink. I’m so grateful we found CBD for our catering & event rental services and wouldn’t have changed a single thing. We will be using them for all our family events going forward, and recommending them to anyone and everyone we can. Thank you Rachel, Sofy, and the entire CBD team!!
K
Kimika Sent on 07/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional caterer for weddings!

We worked with CBD for a June wedding at the Redfield Estate, and cannot recommend them highly enough!! The deeper we got into wedding planning, the more we appreciated just how essential our caterer was. CBD provided amazing food (flavor, presentation, portions, timing – everything was so on point!!)... but also set up and take down, floor plans, logistical advice, dinner and bartending services, and so much more. Matt Gray, our main contact, was amazing to work with from start to finish. He was so kind and responsive to our every little question and request.

On wedding day, our event captain was such a warm and welcoming presence, and he personally checked in on us during dinner. The team made sure that we had a plate of our favorite appetizers sent to us during cocktail hour (vegetarian for me, chicken for my husband). We had a surprise second cake cutting to celebrate a birthday, and they hid someone around the corner so that it would come out at the exact moment when we began singing Happy Birthday. These little details illustrate how CBD goes above and beyond to make your day perfect.

Finally, remember that the catering staff will personally interact with every single guest on your wedding day. CBD provided an exceptional service! Our guests raved about the appetizers and entrees (the only thing that our guest disagreed on was which was their favorite!), and especially complimented our bartender Dave. They said that Dave had great banter, patience, and most important — made incredible drinks like tequila sunrises, long islands, and more! CBD delighted us and our guests, and we would 1000% recommend them!! We hope to work with them again in the future!!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

144
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 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
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

3 Endorsements
Anita Dee Yacht Charters Anita Dee Yacht Charters Boat Weddings

Catered By Design is one of our longest standing preferred caterers and for good reason! They provide excellent service to our clients. Delicious, high quality food along with polished and professional staff. They are highly organized and easy to work with from the planning process up until the event date. On the day of the event, they work with us seamlessly to execute an event and experience that exceeds the client's expectations!

Aberdeen's Wedding Florists Aberdeen's Wedding Florists Wedding Florists

Sam and the whole company are amazing. There food and their service is as good as it gets.

The Grove Redfield Estate The Grove Redfield Estate Mansion Weddings

For many years Catered by Design has provided excellent full service catering for the events at the Grove Redfield Estate.

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Map

Addresses map

Catered by Design frequently asked questions

At Catered by Design, the cost of the full wedding catering service includes:
  • Delivery
  • Set Up
  • Clean Up
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Cocktail Reception
  • Server(s)
  • Tastings
  • China
  • Linens
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
The bar service starting price at Catered by Design includes:
  • House Beer
  • House Wine
  • House Liquor
Catered by Design offers the following event services for weddings:
  • Delivery
  • Set Up
  • Clean Up
Catered by Design offers the following catering services for weddings:
  • Breakfast / Brunch
  • Buffet
  • Cake Cutting
  • Cocktail Reception
  • Custom Menu
  • Hors d'oeuvres
  • Plated
  • Server(s)
  • Stations
  • Tastings
At Catered by Design, you can find the following types of cuisine:
  • American
  • Asian
  • Indian
  • Italian
  • Mexican
  • Seafood
At Catered by Design, the following dietary needs can be accomodated:
  • Gluten Free
  • Lactose Free
  • Halal
  • Kosher
  • Nut Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Catered by Design provides the following bar and beverage services for wedding events:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Open Bar
  • Champagne Toast
  • Signature Drink
To cater to all tastes, Catered by Design offers the following food and beverage items:
  • Barware
  • China
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
Catered by Design is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism and 4.9 in value.
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