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Weddings

About

Simply Fresh Events
Simply Fresh Events is a premier full-service catering company located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Founded by two dynamic couples—Matt and Liz Phelan and Geoff and Jocelyn Barker—this team brings over 50 years of professional catering expertise to the table. Their mission is simple yet impactful: to provide exceptional service paired with fresh, creative cuisine. Serving couples across central Maryland, northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Simply Fresh Events is dedicated to making every wedding unforgettable.

Cuisine
Simply Fresh Events takes pride in crafting menus featuring in-season ingredients to deliver flavorful and innovative dishes. While they specialize in American, Southwestern, and locally inspired recipes, their culinary team can also prepare a wide array of international cuisines, including French, Mediterranean, Japanese, Korean, Caribbean, and more. Couples can choose from various service styles, including plated dinners, buffets, stations, tapas, family-style dining, and more. The team is also well-versed in accommodating dietary preferences and restrictions, offering options such as:

  • Gluten-free
  • Organic
  • Vegan
  • Nut-free
  • Halal
  • Lactose-free
  • Kosher
  • Vegetarian

Services Offered
As a full-service event planning and catering company, Simply Fresh Events partners with top venues and event professionals to create bespoke experiences for couples. Their talented culinary team prepares food on-site whenever possible, ensuring the freshest and most flavorful dishes. Beyond catering, their experienced staff can assist with a wide range of event services, including:

  • Décor and lighting
  • Entertainment
  • Transportation
  • Seamless event planning

Why Couples Love Simply Fresh Events
Couples describe Simply Fresh Events as "perfect," "amazing," and "fantastic" in countless reviews. This one-stop wedding company supports you every step of the way, from initial planning to the big day. Their exceptional cuisine, attentive and friendly staff, and flexibility are among the most praised aspects of their service.

Take a moment to read the glowing testimonials from past clients and see for yourself why Simply Fresh Events is the trusted choice for couples. Contact the team today to start planning the wedding of your dreams!

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Frequently asked questions

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

$175

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

$165

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$180

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

$20

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
Chairs
Tables
China
Linens
Flatware
Glassware

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$37

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

Limited Bar
Open Bar
House Beer
Specialty Beer
House Wine
Specialty Wine
House Liquor
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink

What event services do you provide?

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
Halal
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
Chocolate Fountain
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

Reviews of Simply Fresh Events

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

Simply Fresh Events received overwhelmingly positive reviews from multiple individuals who used their services for weddings at various venues. Reviewers highlighted the excellent service provided by the team, including event producers like Maya and coordinators like Hillary, who were commended for their professionalism, organization, and attention to detail. Guests raved about the delicious food offerings, with many noting standout items like lobster rolls, pretzel bites, and late-night snacks. The team's responsiveness, clear pricing, and full-service approach, which included menu customization and inclusive packages, were also highlighted as key factors in making their wedding experiences seamless and enjoyable.

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.

Simply Fresh Events received overwhelmingly positive reviews from multiple individuals who used their services for weddings at various venues. Reviewers highlighted the excellent service provided by the team, including event producers like Maya and coordinators like Hillary, who were commended for their professionalism, organization, and attention to detail. Guests raved about the delicious food offerings, with many noting standout items like lobster rolls, pretzel bites, and late-night snacks. The team's responsiveness, clear pricing, and full-service approach, which included menu customization and inclusive packages, were also highlighted as key factors in making their wedding experiences seamless and enjoyable.

A
April Sent on 11/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Great service and delicious food!

We hired Simply Fresh to cater our wedding at Old Farm Winery at Hartland and they exceeded our expectations! Simple fresh was so helpful with creating our menu, scheduling calls and working with us on how we wanted the day to look while staying in a budget! Everyone we worked with was so friendly and professional! On wedding day the team was organized and everything flowed so effortlessly! I would highly recommend Simply Fresh for any events you may be planning!
Kristina
Kristina Sent on 12/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fabulous wedding catering

We really enjoyed working with Simply Fresh Events for our wedding at Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, VA. Maya our event producer, was so patient with us going through all the many ideas we had and tweaks we made to the menu throughout the planning process. Our guests have been raving about the food since our wedding. Some of the biggest hits were the brown butter lobster rolls at our cocktail hour and the late night fries and pretzel bites station during the reception. Our guests also loved the firepit smores outside. Overall it was a great experience for us and our guests!
A
Abigail Sent on 12/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Great Service and Wonderful Food!

Simply Fresh was responsive and communicative immediately upon our outreach. We were only weeks away from our wedding reception (!!) and they worked with us to plan and execute a fabulous event. The pricing and terms were clear, the preparation was perfect, and the food was really good. Our guests commented on how yummy it actually was! The servers were kind and fun -we had a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend!
Ashley
Ashley Sent on 11/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Simply the Best!

Simply Fresh Events was simply the best. The food was outstanding and raved about by all the guests. The package was all-inclusive and included rentals and bartenders in one lump sum, for ease. Outside of that, Maya Murphy, was my coordinator and she went above and beyond. I did not have to worry about a thing, she handled things I didn't even know need to be handled. She created my floorplan, turned over the event space seamlessly, and continuously brought me and my now husband food and drinks as we were too busy to do so ourselves. I would not hesitate to recommend Simply Fresh Events or Maya Murphy to anyone and everyone!
Savannah
Savannah Sent on 11/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Best Caterer!

We are so happy with went with Simply Fresh as our wedding caterer! Our tasting with Simply Fresh was the best one we went to (from the food to the experience) and boy did they deliver on the big day too. Buffy and her team made us feel special from the jump and Maya was our amazing coordinator throughout the entire process. From the food to all our needed and desired rentals, Simply Fresh had everything we needed and had all the options for us to bring our vision to life. Our guests had a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions, and Simply Fresh had a delectable menu option for everyone, from meat eaters to pescatarians, to gluten-free, to SUCH good vegan options. We recommend Simply Fresh without hesitation for your special day!
Caitlin
Caitlin Sent on 10/21/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The best wedding food I've ever had

I grew up hearing how wedding food is notoriously awful. Not simply fresh. Not only was it the best wedding meal I've ever had (and it was my own wedding!), I wish they had a restaurant so we could go back and order our wedding food for a night out! Working with Maya was seamless, and she made planning and decision making a breeze leading up to our wedding. Simply fresh took care of everything for our big day and we didn't have to worry about a thing. It was a bit on the pricey side of our budget, but, for the quality of the food (and the number of complements we have gotten on it!) I think it was excellent value for money. Would absolutely work with them again if I can!
M
Martin Sent on 06/23/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Experience

Simply Fresh catered our wedding at Brookside Gardens and did an amazing job. We added the coordination services which was SO worth it - Hillary was lovely to work with and helped us through the whole process of planning the wedding, from recommending other vendors to communicating with the venue. They are clearly very experienced with weddings at Brookside Gardens, which was really reassuring during the planning process. On the day of our wedding, Simply Fresh was a well-oiled machine and everything went super smoothly from setup to teardown. Hillary took great care of us during the wedding making sure we didn’t forget to eat dinner! We would highly recommend Simply Fresh to anyone planning a wedding in the DMV area.
L
Lori Sent on 06/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Best Decision We Made!

Don’t know where to start with the praise - the incredible attention to detail (ask for Hillary!), the wonderfully creative food or the great value in price. Happiness all around and no hesitation in recommending for your special event.
James
James Sent on 05/21/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Great Food

Fantastic event thanks to Simply Fresh. Great Food, delicious and caring for all of our guests both GF and Dairy! It was amazing how they got it all there, cooked on site and kept everything fresh all night long1. Great team, thank you! I highly recommned using them!
B
Brittany Sent on 05/20/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Very communicative


We hired Simply Fresh to cater our wedding, and they exceeded every expectation. From the start, they were incredibly responsive and easy to work with. They created a customized menu that perfectly matched my taste and even accommodated my requests for vegan meals, appetizers, and desserts—everything was absolutely delicious!

Guests couldn’t stop raving about the food, both the vegan and non-vegan options. It was so important to me that everyone felt considered and satisfied, and Simply Fresh delivered on all fronts. They also provided beautiful linens and took care of shuttle arrangements, making the entire day run seamlessly.

I’m so grateful to have worked with a team that truly cared about the details. Everything was perfect. Highly recommend Simply Fresh for any event!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

195
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 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

2 Endorsements
Rocklands Farm & Winery Rocklands Farm & Winery Barn & Farm Weddings

Geoff Barker and his wife Jocelyn have worked on many many events here at Rocklands Farm. They bring a whole host of talents; not only fantastic food, but the ability to spend time with each client to find out exactly what they want their event to look like. Geoff is very well organized, and gets things done. Jocelyn is the creative side of the team, helping pull the perfect look from our collection of farm "props". She is a great "time-keeper", and moves things along in a timely fashion. She knows our unique property, knows where everything is kept, knows how to make things work! She always has a smile for her co-workers, and makes the event fun for those of us working behind the scenes. When Geoff and Jocelyn are the caterers on my property, I can really relax, and know that everything will be happily ever after.....!

A. Griffin Events A. Griffin Events Wedding Planners

From beautiful, fresh food to exacting planning, Simply Fresh Events knows what it takes to make a wedding come out perfectly. I especially love their attention to detail and desire to achieve their clients' goals at the actual event. From creating the perfect menu to executing a flawless wedding, Simply Fresh Events is a caterer you want on your team.

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