Featured

Lilly Sent on 12/27/2024

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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 Sent on 10/07/2025

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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 Sent on 09/04/2025

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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!

Karen Sent on 09/04/2025

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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 Sent on 11/03/2024

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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 Sent on 10/09/2024

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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 Sent on 10/08/2024

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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 Sent on 08/22/2024

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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 Sent on 07/22/2024

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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!!

Kimika Sent on 07/03/2024

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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!!

Meiqing Sent on 12/21/2023

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Great caterer!

I used CBD for my December 2023 wedding at The Library at 190 S LaSalle. The services were impeccable.
I obtained proposals from several caterers from the venue's preferred caterers' list and went for tasting with two caterers. CBD's pricing is competitive compared with larger caterers, and menu options and tasting experience were better than smaller caterers. Lots of great hors d'oeuvres. Erin is very responsive, organized, and flexible. We were able to customize sides for entrees.
On the wedding day, the captain (Aukse) was extremely professional, competent and attentive. We fully trust her and went with her recommendations for an on-the-spot change. The set-up was beautiful without any supervision. Flipping from ceremony layout to reception layout was done quickly. I believe they collaborated with the florist very well. They were also nice enough to box leftover cake and entrees for confirmed guests who could not show up. I would definitely recommend CBD.

Morgan Sent on 12/13/2023

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Best Wedding Meal Ever

From the staff to the food, Catered by Design deserves more than 5 stars. We used them for our wedding reception of ~215 guests. Rachel was detail oriented and personalized our experience from the initial food tasting. Even our tiniest critique was taken into account. It felt like we received the attention of a personalized chef while choosing our menu. They asked us about details down to what flavored water we'd like as the bride and groom. The food was executed with all of our initial edits at the next tasting. At the wedding, the staff was professional and attentive. Rachel attended our final vendor meeting to ensure her team knew all the details of the night. Dinner was served in a timely fashion and piping hot. Each one of my guests commented how amazing the food and mini dessert bar was. Without a doubt, I will be using Catered by Design for any big event I have in the future.

Julie Sent on 10/08/2023

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Don't Think Twice- CBD are the ones!

Heading into wedding planning, I did not full appreciate how many parts of your wedding your caterer will be involved in. From designing the event layout for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, setting the decor tone with our rentals and linens, helping the days timeline run smoothly, to providing the folks that interact with ALL of your guests - a wedding caterer is responsible for so much beyond the food! Catered by Design was flawless across the board. Rachel was a dream to work with from our tasting, to our venue walk thrus, to emails and calls week of. And the team at our event (Bridgeport Art Center, Skyline Loft) night of took such good care of us! From making the food look beautiful, serving all of our guests including MANY with food allergies and dietary restrictions, and offering to grab me and my husband drinks so we could keep mingling with guests, I couldn't recommend Catered by Design more. Great service and a fair price point, so many food options, including custom orders - I am so grateful they were part of our big day!

Anthony Sent on 10/03/2023

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Made our Wedding Special

We contracted Catered by Design (CBD) to provide catering services (appetizers, entrees, desserts, late night snacks) for our outdoor wedding at The Grove - Redfield Estate in August 2023. We could not have been more pleased with how everything turned out, and we were 100% satisfied with the food and service provided by CBD. The entrees were superb and beautifully presented on each plate. We commend all the effort and time Matt Gray put in to make our wedding day truly special. I would highly recommend CBD for any our your catering needs.

There are hundreds of decisions you and your fiancée will make over the course of planning your wedding. Some of these decisions are easy; some are hard. In my opinion the selection of a caterer is easy; choose Catered by Design.

Jesse Sent on 08/24/2023

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Catered By Design was amazing.

Rachel and the entire Catered By Design team were absolutely fantastic throughout every phase of the wedding planning process. We couldn't believe how delicious the food was at our tasting, and every guest we've heard from felt the same way about the food at the wedding. Moreover, Rachel and her team were unbelievably flexible – they made so many adaptations to accommodate our needs and desires, big and small, even adding custom dishes that weren't on their already-exhaustive menus. Everything was delicious, incredibly professional, and done with love! And the service and timing on the wedding day was impeccable, leading to the smoothest possible evening, with every guest well-fed and cared for, properly fueled for the dance floor! And on top of everything else, they were definitely more reasonably priced than other caterers of the same caliber. Can't recommend highly enough.

Erin Sent on 06/29/2023

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Everything was delicious and they have the best staff

A month later and everyone is STILL raving about the food at our wedding!!! Matt is SO professional and kind. He answered so many of our questions (even ones unrelated to food — we asked about ceremony logistics, music, seating, linen choices) and was always willing to provide guidance and help along the way. He made us all feel so at ease and I felt confident choosing him and his team! Everything was seamless at the wedding. The dessert table was equally as delicious as the food! The apps at the cocktail hour were so delicious. The bartender was excellent. The staff knew what they were doing the entire time. I would not hesitate to hire them again for any event. Even the salad was delicious !! People told us it was the best food they’ve had at a wedding. You cannot go wrong choosing them for your big day.

Amber Sent on 03/12/2023

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The "Everything" Caterer

Our wedding venue provided Catered by Design as a recommended/preferred caterer. We looked into 8 different caterers, narrowed down our choices to 5, connected with 5 caterers, and, including Catered by Design, did tastings with two caterers. During our selection process, Rachel was fantastic. She provided exceptional care and attention to detail, she always answered our questions (with timeliness), made us feel important and setup memorable tasting experiences. The tastings we did with Catered by Design were flawless. The team ensured the experience would be a reflection of what we could expect on our wedding day. The food taste, quality and presentation were exceptional. Once we selected Catered by Design for our caterer and as we finalized our menu, the top-notch service was ceaseless. Rachel helped us to feel confident that the Catered by Design team would impeccably execute the dining component of our celebration. On the day of our wedding, the Catered by Design team arrived at our venue and truly executed a flawless dining experience. Catered by Design bartended for our event and we also utilized them during our cocktail hour, during plated dinner service and for cake cutting. The event captain for the day, Auske, is truly an MVP. She led the Catered by Design team through our event with a calm, proactive, “get it done” presence. To our knowledge, the day went off without issue. She made sure we had cocktails and hors d'oeuvres during our cocktail hour. She also checked on us throughout dinner to ensure we had everything we needed/wanted. After our big day, Rachel reached out to congratulate us and check in. Both Rachel and Auske are gems and we are so grateful for them and the whole Catered by Design team involved in supporting our big day. Choosing Catered by Design for any event is an easy decision to make and we’d absolutely choose them again and again.

Dominic Sent on 12/07/2022

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Catered By Design Earns 5-Star Reviews From Guests

All I have to say is that every guest we heard from raved about the food. That's high praise for Catered By Design, who worked diligently with us to craft a personal menu and deliver exceptional service and great-tasting food. Much thanks to Rachel during planning and Auske the day of.

Camille Sent on 11/07/2022

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Exceptional caterer and team

Catered by Design was absolutely incredible! We used their services for our wedding in May and guests are still telling us how good the food was. Rachel made planning everything a breeze. We loved our tasting and her recommendations. The day of, we didn't have any concerns at all. From the first call, to picking out the table spread, to setting up the floor plans, working with Catered by Design was truly stress free. Everything was served perfectly, on time, and without any hiccups. I would definitely recommend them and use them in the future.

Jay Sent on 10/18/2022

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Great Caterer!

Catered by Design catered our wedding! They were easy to work with and our point-of-contact, Rachel, was very responsive. Rachel and her team were flexible, accommodated last minute requests, and provided input into planning the event (really helpful since they regularly worked our venue). Their pricing is transparent and have a large selection of menu items. Many of our guests commented on the tasty food!

Joel Sent on 08/29/2022

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Weekend Wedding

We were married at our home over a 3 day weekend event and CBD was amazing! They were flexible and easy to work with. They managed the event as well as any I've had or attended. Service was great, staff was professional across all areas, food was perfect and they had it completely under control. They worked very well with our other contractors and I would hire them again any time!
They are the Top Catering company I have ever worked with and I've done many/many/many events.

Lindsay Sent on 07/24/2022

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Delicious food and flawless service

We used Catered by Design for our rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch and were so happy with our decision! They were so easy to work with and had so many options for food. They helped us create a perfect menu that felt unique to us. Their service was impeccable and felt very sanitary. There were no long pauses at our rehearsal dinner waiting for the next course. Everyone raved about the food and especially loved the omelette bar at brunch! Would highly recommend them to anyone for any occasion!

Katharine Sent on 06/02/2022

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Amazing Caterer

We worked with Rachel Jozwik who really went above and beyond to make sure our event was everything we hoped for and more. We started planning our reception three years ago and Catered By Design stood by us every step of the way. They were very accommodating to any changes we had and made great suggestions. The food was amazing, we got many compliments. Our team captain Laura was superb and always made sure we had everything we needed

Justin Sent on 05/14/2022

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Best Food / Great People

Not only was the food absolutely fantastic, we can't say enough how much we enjoyed working with Sam. His team was fast the night of the wedding and Rachel lead the team flawlessly the entire day. The food is creative and delicious and they cared so much about making our night a great event. Thank you Sam & Rachel for everything!

Shamus Sent on 04/14/2022

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Pamper Yourselves and Your Guests

Catered by Design came through for us. The proposal process was very professional, and all communication was timely and responsive. The tasting event was a treat in and of itself, where we were able to pick out our dishes, linens, as well as the dishes. On the big day, Laura made us feel very well taken care of. She was at my side on the day of the event to confirm the timing of everything, and made sure that everything went smoothly. All the servers, and the bartender were friendly, and helpful. The passed hors d'oeuvres were delicious! The drink bar was beautiful with all of the colored carafes, and San Pellegrino. The mushroom bisque, breads, and entrees all exceeded our highest hopes. The Catered by Design team absolutely made our day, working with our photographer, baker, and florist, harmoniously, part of a dream team. Our guests had a wonderful time, all praised the food and service. We wanted to pamper and impress our guests, and Catered by Design certainly did that.

Melissa Sent on 03/23/2022

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Amazing Food, Professional Service for my Wedding

Catered by Design was wonderful! They catered my March 18th wedding at the Bridgeport Art Center and everything was delicious. From the cocktail hour, all the way to the late night grub, all my guests kept saying how good the food was. I worked with Rachel Jozwik who was so flexible and patient with me on all the changes/additions I kept making. The servers were attentive and professional. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. Thank you Catered by Design!

Olivia Sent on 01/14/2022

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Catered by Design stole the show!

My husband & I cannot say enough good things about Catered by Design! They catered our wedding this past New Years Eve & we were so grateful to have worked with them! To start, the food was truly truly amazing! How many times have you left a wedding thinking about the food or complimenting the bride & groom on how good the food was? Personally, I never have... until our wedding! 9/10 guests still mention how amazing the food was & that they went back up for second or third helpings (we had food stations). We knew the food was going to be great, but we didn't know it was going to be THAT great! Regarding the service - just wow! The entire event staff was so friendly & kind & anticipated needs before they even happened. Aukse was such an amazing Catering Captain - we really appreciated how she not only made sure her team was on time & on top of all details, but also made sure my husband & I were always doing OK & happy! Truly white glove service. The bartenders were so friendly & kind to all guests - given that it was NYE, that was key! Now on to Rachel Jozwik... Rachel was our catering coordinator & we honestly couldn't have done this without her! She was SO on top of every detail and so very accommodating - she gave this Type A girl major major ease knowing that we didn’t need to worry about a thing! Throughout all the phone calls and emails and proposal updates, Rachel took everything in stride and made sure we had the most perfect day.. which we did!! It probably goes without saying, but we can't recommend Catered by Design enough!

Joy M. Sent on 12/31/2021

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Amazing winter wedding... food and service was fab!

The best I could have asked for. Highly recommended along with others, but we loved their variety of menu items. A big hit was the vegan menu... very fancy and upscale. But the folks (most of us) who love a great steak were quite satisfied. We opted for a larger filet which was only a few dollars more than their standard. I was happily surprised that the steaks were hot, and not over done. I would definitely recommend the fabulous caterer. Desserts. salads were amazing along with the bread and fancy individual butters. Great service from the team. Team leader was very accommodating. Thanks for a great wedding experience! Joy M. (mom of bride)

Mark Sent on 12/29/2021

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Our daughter's wedding

Catered by Design exceeded all our expectations and more. We hosted our daughter's wedding on our property in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With this venue, a lot of planning and custom requirements were needed for the perfect day. The Catered by Design staff led by Rachel Jozwik planned and executed on the event flawlessly. Delicious food, impeccable service, professionalism combined to create an atmosphere that our guests are still talking about today.d

Use this company for your event. You will not be sorry!

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Madilyn Sent on 12/18/2021

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How Often Do Your Guest Actually Like the Wedding Food?!

Rachel and her team at Catered by Design was one of the best choices I made for my big day.

My guests continue to remind me how amazing the food was at our wedding.
We had a carving station, slider bar and build your own pasta station. The food was delicious. I wish I can eat my wedding food right now.

Rachel and her team brought my vision to life and I am so happy I chose them for our catering. Rachel has been so easy to work with. She has made the entire process stress free and was very professional.

I highly recommend Rachel and Catered by Design for any catering event.

Peg F. Sent on 11/18/2021

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Delightfully Delicious

Everyone said how delicious the food was-we did chicken, beef tenderloin and salmon for our wedding dinner. We had approx 260 people.

The sales specialist, Rachel, was amazing to work with. She is so responsive, attentive and helpful. She was at the wedding to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Our Captain, Aukse was an absolute godsend. She did such an incredible job. When we showed up I was starving and thirsty-she went and got appetizers for my husband and me, as well as a tray of champagne, and brought it to the bridal suite. She made sure everything was on time and that the night went smoothly. I can’t say enough great things about her.

Vanessa Sent on 10/25/2021

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Incredible!

Catered by Design is exceptional catering service! We hired them to cater our wedding at Cheney Mansion on September 24th and they delivered better than we could have imagined. The food was amazing and Rachel, the manager, was incredibly helpful at every step of the planning process. The staff were also very professional and blended into the crowd quite well on the day of the wedding. They have catered at the Cheney Mansion many times in the past and were quite familiar with the layout, so planning was so simple! We ended up choosing a food station set up, which was fantastic. Our big Italian family was VERY impressed with the quality of the food. Almost nothing was left over at the end of the night, which is quite a compliment, both to the quality of the food and their ability to accurately estimate our needs. We would highly recommend them for any event!

The M. Sent on 10/25/2021

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Flawless experience

Rachel and her team are INCREDIBLE. All of our guests at our wedding were raving about everything from the apps to entrees and desserts. Rachel is so organized and on top of things. She confirmed last minute details that we wanted changed a few days before our wedding. The catering captain took amazing care of us all night as well by making sure our drinks were always filled. This catering company is too good. 10/10 recommend!!

Kala Sent on 10/03/2021

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Magnificent

Amazing! I can’t say more!
Fantastic!

Mark Sent on 07/22/2021

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The Ultimate Catering Services

We hired Catered by Design for our wedding reception at the Grove Redfield Estate, and it was one of the best decisions we made in the planning process. Matt and his team are incredible. Matt helped us build a menu tailored to our tastes and atmosphere. His experience was invaluable, as he made key suggestions related to place settings, linens, bar orders, etc. He made sure that our extra furniture rentals fit within our budget, even if it meant Catered by Design had to store the chairs for a few extra days. Matt was highly responsive to all our emails and phone calls, right down to the simplest questions. We left the tasting with full confidence that the food would be delicious and that Matt would ensure that the event ran smoothly.

On the day of the wedding, the reception team was led by Laura, who was amazing. Her team was prompt, efficient, and polite. They set up our reception space exactly as we had described, and made last-minute adjustments that didn't detract from our vibe. Laura herself served us at our sweetheart table, and she was perceptive enough to pack our meals for us when she saw that we wouldn't have time to finish our food at the table. All of our guests raved about the food, saying they were happy it wasn't "just a typical wedding meal." From the service to the setup to the food itself, Catered by Design is a team of ultimate professionals. You won't go wrong in choosing them for your event.

Cara Sent on 07/19/2021

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A must have!

We used Catered by Design for our 6/19/21 backyard wedding and worked with Matt during the planning process. Matt was so helpful and even came to the ‘venue’ (my in-law’s home) for a walk through so we could all properly prepare. Very responsive over email.
The day of staff were brilliant! They provided so many extra touches that blew our guests away. The presentation of passed appetizers was flawless. They made a beautiful meat and cheese display in the kitchen island. They even set up a cake cutting table, totally not planned, or expected. We also heard many positives about the bartender!
Most importantly, the food was delicious!! Catered by Design is a must have!

Taylor Sent on 07/15/2021

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Elegant and Delicious!

Catered by Design provided a top-tier experience for our wedding on May 30, 2021. Jen was so pleasant to work with and made sure we got everything we wanted. All of our guests loved the food and people are still giving us compliments on how beautiful the place settings were. Highly recommend!

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Elizabeth Sent on 06/04/2021

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Amazing experience

We were finally able to have our micro wedding last weekend and we’re so glad we found catered by design. Rachel helped us every step of the way from planning to execution.

The food was delicious. We asked for a fully vegan menu and that’s what we got. We got so many compliments on the food from vegetarians and meat eaters alike. All the staff were wonderful and helpful. Definitely book them if they are available!

Shannon Sent on 03/04/2021

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Amazing team

I cannot say enough good things about Catered by Design. Our wedding plans were completely uprooted at the last minute due to COVID and Matt and the Catered by Design team were able to help us out with little notice. Matt was so understanding and flexible. He was highly responsive and got our new plans nailed down ASAP. The staff went out of their way to make our night special and catered to all of our needs, allowing us to relax and enjoy the night! The food and service were 10/10 and I highly recommend them to anyone!

Andrea Sent on 11/15/2020

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Highly Recommend!

We were very happy to have worked with Rachel and the Catered By Design team for our wedding! Being a COVID wedding, we made several changes throughout the process but Catered by Design was extremely helpful and flexible. The bridal party arrived late to the reception and the Catered by Design team made sure everyone got to try each of the appetizers- a very nice touch! Overall, I can't recommend them enough and the food is fantastic. We received several compliments from the guests.

Liza Sent on 09/21/2020

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The best caterer for your wedding

Catered By Design is absolutely AMAZING! Not only did they do a phenomenal job with the food at our brunch wedding, but they presented it so beautifully too! The team is so accommodating, they listen to your requests and truly do whatever possible to make you happy! During the cocktail hour, we even had mini yogurt parfaits as one of the Hors D’oeuvres! It was so fun and unique. We got compliments non stop about how fabulous the food was, in fact we still do! Many guests said they have never been to a wedding with better food. Brunch is always a hit when you have bacon, crepes and an omelet bar! Oh and don’t get me started on the mini desserts!! The Cream puffs and cheesecake lollipops were to die for. Thank you Catered By Design Team for making our day so perfect and unforgettable! We HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

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Elizabeth Sent on 08/06/2020

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Garity Wedding

We thought we would have our wedding slip through our fingers through this COVID season, but Catered by Design worked with us and was able to cater for our newly downsized wedding. They made sure to stay up to date on safety regulations and all staff was incredibly responsible and performed the job safely. We had our wedding with just Immediate family so we didn’t have to expand our social circles, and the food was incredible everyone was raving about it. The signature drink me and my husband asked them to make for our guests was a hit! The ceremonial cake they made for us was delicious, Lemon cake with raspberry filling and Lemon buttercream frosting, my husband said the Surf and Turf dish we ordered for our bride & groom special had some of the best juiciest steak he’s everrrrr had, is have to agree! I’d like to thank Rachel and Laura specifically for doing such a great job. 💜

Stephanie Sent on 04/08/2020

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Best Decision You'll Make

Rachel went above and beyond throughout the planning process! She was extremely detail-oriented and was incredibly flexible and accommodating to ensure that we had the perfect wedding day. Working with her was like having a wedding planner, she was quick to respond with great solutions based on all of her experience. Working with Rachel & catered by design will alleviate so much stress throughout your wedding planning process, could not recommend them more strongly!

Casey Sent on 12/31/2019

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Delicious Food & A Great Wedding Day Partner

We were fortunate to get to taste Catered by Design’s food before we booked and once we did our decision was so easy. Their menu is huge and very customizable to your tastes. The food was delicious and one of the most raved about parts of our wedding! For weeks to come people were telling us how amazing the food was! It isn’t just about food, it’s also about working with folks who make you feel at ease with all the little details. We worked with Jen leading up to our big day and she was truly amazing! She is not a day-of-coordinator, but she felt like it to me and helped put us at ease. She was always quick to respond to all my questions, has so much expertise that I felt comfortable relying on her suggestions, and she was so flexible to any little changes we made. She was also very familiar with our venue so she had lots of suggestions on weather options and basically everything. We cannot thank her enough for all she helped us with! Our event captain was Aukse and she was amazing, too! She made sure everything was set-up and ran smoothly – she even made sure we had a plate of appetizers since we were taking photos during cocktail hour! We had the best experience with Catered by Design and would highly recommend to anyone!

Shm Sent on 11/17/2019

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Creative and Accomodating Caterer

We were looking for a warm and inviting wedding venue for approximately 80 to 100 people and found the Glenview Park District Lakeview Room, and Sam Gray/Catered by Design. We chose Sam because we wanted a simple but elegant reception, and someone who was meticulous in planning and implementation. From the very beginning, Sam was responsive and helped us plan our ideal wedding. Catered by Design is highly creative in their ability to customize menus, the room and so much more. Sam and his team are very, very flexible and will change room setup and menus to meet your needs.
We had very specific dietary needs which Sam accommodated easily. Sam offers a beautiful menu tasting to help confirm choices and to determine the overall look you want. He also offers a preferred vendor list if you need a suggestion. We selected a photographer from his list who led us to a great band and the band led us to a great wedding planner. Good know good people and Sam is good people.
The reception went off beautifully. Sam and his team worked seamlessly with all of our vendors to create an evening to remember. Everything was set up as we wanted and our guests were impressed with the look of the room and the elegantly presented food stations. It was just wonderful and what we wanted. His staff was attentive to our guests and accommodating to their needs. After the wedding, we had many compliments on the food, the layout and the overall event. In conclusion, Sam Gray and Catered by Design are excellent and we recommend them for the food, the planning and an amazing event.

Kelsey Sent on 09/04/2019

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10 Stars for Catered by Design!

Wow wow wow!! Catered by Design was absolutely amazing. Being out of town, my parents went to meet with Rachel and do the taste testing. They called us right away not only raving about the food, but about the service and Rachel as well. The food was to die for! Everyone on staff did a fantastic job on the day of the wedding. The attention to detail and coordination was on point! Captain Laurie was amazing, she ran everything so smooth and was very sweet, along with her crew. People are still talking about how spectacular the food and staff were and we couldn't be more appreciative of their commitment to making our day so perfect! 100% would recommend them. Beyond professional. Food was 10/10. Service was friendly and always going above and beyond!

Patty Sent on 07/24/2019

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Magical Wedding

My Daughters wedding was just last weekend. I cannot say enough great things about working with Rachel and Catered by Design. They were wonderful to work with from the beginning. Rachel was patient with all my requests and had wonderful suggestions as well. The day of the wedding was a crazy weather day. It started out at over 100* dropped 25* in an hour, then severe thunderstorms. Rachel and the Captain for the night (Laura) were fantastic. They managed to switch the location of the cocktail hour from outside on the terrace to inside at the last minute and made the evening a success! Thank you to Catered By Design and their incredible staff for making my daughters wedding a dream! I am still getting texts/calls about how lovely the wedding & food were.

Stephanie Sent on 06/09/2019

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INCREDIBLE caterer - highly recommend

We are so glad we chose Catered By Design for our wedding. Sam Gray and the entire staff did a fantastic job and were a joy to work with throughout, from the pre-wedding planning through the entire wedding weekend experience. They took into account several dietary restrictions and accommodated them amazingly, (as well as procured a few separate Kosher meals for a few of our guests). They created the most beautiful Taco Bar set up as well as a Brownie Bar, and were so professional and helpful all throughout. Their day-of staff were polite and overwhelmingly helpful. All of the bar staff kept guests' glasses flowing and made the experience so special and unique for me (the bride) as well as my groom and ALL of our family and friends. Not only was all of the food DELICIOUS but the presentation of all it was BEAUTIFUL and went well beyond our expectations. It was all of the small touches and attention to detail that made CBD such a joy to work with - they proactively provided suggestions during the planning process, such as having a "wine tree" so that after our Ceremony guests could quickly grab filled wine glasses without waiting in line at the bar. We got rave reviews from all our wedding guests and everyone was so impressed with how delicious, unique, and perfect it all was. If you're considering other caterers, stop, and go with Catered By Design. You won't be sorry. :)

Ron Sent on 01/25/2019

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Great Job - Catered by Design

Catered by Design provided catering for our wedding reception in December 2018. We were extremely happy with the overall experience in communicating with the caterer, finalizing the agreement, selecting all food items, having a taste testing, meeting at the venue site to go over all the logistics and staffing (14 team members) a month before the event, going over all the details immediately prior to the event and the actual catering at our reception. The food was great and all the staff very pleasant. After our reception we wrote a letter to the caterer's CEO informing him what a great job their team did for our the 250+ guests at our wedding reception.

Jennifer Sent on 12/10/2018

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Amazing meal!

I am so glad we chose Catered by Design as our wedding caterer. Nikee was a pleasure to work with and Laura (day of captain) was so helpful and nice! All of the food was delicious! Highly recommended!

Kay Sent on 08/29/2018

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Nikee, Rachel, and the entire Catered by Design team were lovely to work with. Patient, professional, and positive! My emails were answered timely, and, most importantly, our wedding was a huge success. Thank you Nikee and Rachel!

Suz Sent on 08/10/2018

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For years, we’ve used Catered by Design for events our family has hosted from birthdays and graduation parties to holiday celebrations.We also as board members of assorted high school organizations and church events, repeatedly told others of the amazing qualities Sam Gray, owner and culinary chef extraordinaire, of this superior catering company, has offered. They offer outstanding food presented in stellar fashion with warm enthusiastic wait staff.

As if there could be no culinary experience beyond those we’ve already mentioned, our youngest daughter was married June 10, 2018 and our amazing venue at Cheney Mansion in Oak Park, could not have been more elegant and scrumptious, thanks again to Sam Gray and his staff. Sam’s artistic flair makes his food exquisite in appearance and far surpasses any catered foods we’ve ever experienced. Whether it was the transparent wall that brought colorful appetizers to the patio while accompanied by a striking copper tree that displayed champagne goblets for toasting, or the mirrored platters suspended mid-air in the atrium that offered mouthwatering hispanic treats of guacamole and chips, spiralized cold wraps, and outstanding chicken fajitas, guests were amazed by more surprises as they travelled through each room in the mansion. The smashed potato bar served in martini glasses, was gorgeous as well as appetizing, with its choice of sweet potatoes and russetts and enticing platters of luscious toppings from nuts to chives, marshmallows and so much more, while the carving station elegantly offered top sirloin carved to guests’ requests.

Catered By Design is worth every penny of the expense involved and NEVER disappoints. If elegance and uncomparable flavor is your goal, stop looking. You have found it in this reputable group of people and their products! These are experienced professionals who offer the best in food and service!
Ultra satisfied repeat customers, Roger and Suzanne Stevens

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Jori Sent on 07/31/2018

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Sam and his team went above and beyond our expectations for my wedding. The night of my wedding, I did not have to worry about anything and they made sure we were all taken care of the entire night. The champagne tree was of course a huge hit, but they surprised us with their amazing set up for desserts. They had us WOWed the entire night. Leading up to the wedding, Sam would answer questions at any time and was easy to get a hold of during the day/night. He was so easy to work with and he made all of my envisions for the night come true. I cannot thank him and his team enough for making my night carefree! I would recommend them to anyone!

R Sent on 07/17/2018

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the food and service was excellent. My daughter and I worked with Nikee and her assistant Rachel . Nikee’s guidance was so helpful.... Catered by Design made our planning so easy . I highly recommend this catering company....

Nicole Sent on 07/09/2018

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All I can say is WOW!! First working with our coordinator Nikee who was excellent throughout the entire time. She represented the outstanding company more than words can describe. She also helped with the back up plan for rain, which did occur, but we were prepared. The day of the captain Laura and her team were outstanding! Laura was so helpful and kept me in the loop. They made my wedding so beautiful, more than I could imagine and for that I'm so grateful. I highly recommend this company and if you want top notch friendly service!

Mallory Sent on 07/07/2018

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Catered by Design provided a fabulous spread of bunch goodies for our morning wedding. We had a brunch buffet, as well as a yogurt bar, crepe and omelette stations to truly provide our guests a customized menu. Our guests loved the food and we got a ton of positive feedback about the menu. Best of all, my husband and I got to enjoy the food, too. Our entire experience with Catered by Design from the tasting to the big day was fantastic. Matt Gray was our point person and was reliable, responsive to all of our questions, and easy-going. I will definitely be using Catered by Design again for future events.

Ben A. Sent on 06/19/2018

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We had a great time working with Matt from Catered by Design for our wedding. The food and staff were great and reasonably priced. We had a bit of a scheduling issue with our space that we rented but were reassured when Matt said he would have enough staff on hand that if it was a problem they would make sure it got taken care of which was a great relief for us. We would definitely recommend CBD for event work for any occasion.

Thanks Matt!

Madeline Sent on 06/18/2018

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We were so fortunate to have Catered by Design cater our wedding... everything was absolutely unbelievable! Sam Gray is incredibly easy to work with and knows his stuff - the staff on the day of was also fantastic and everything went extremely well! We asked this staff/team a lot when we asked them to serve us at our new venue... and they did an amazing job. The food itself is outstanding - after the tasting, we just couldn't wait to have it all again. The bar set up was great, there was never a big line, and the bartenders worked hard for us/our guests the whole night! The desserts and setup were great too - people loved the sundae station and mini dessert trio. Late night snacks were of course a big hit as well. This company is a dream to work with - they go above and beyond. They were a big part of why our wedding went so perfectly - we are still receiving compliments about the food, and I know we loved every aspect that Catered By Design brought to our wedding.

Gretchen Sent on 06/16/2018

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Catered by Design exceeded our expectations with exemplary service both before and during the event. From the beginning, Nikee was amazing to work with. She is attentive, communicative and an absolute expert in the industry. She provided invaluable support and advice through the process not only when creating a catering plan but also looking at the event as a whole. She openly communicates with all involce, including other vendors. I don't think I could have done it without her. She knows her stuff! After our tasting, we felt extremely confident in the quality of the food as well as the service. On the day of our wedding reception, Catered by Design took it to a whole new level. Wanda, our Captain, was extremely considerate of our needs and constantly checked in with myself and my husband to make sure everything was going according to plan. We recevied endless compliments on the the food and service. Catered by Design also assisted with the design aesthetic of the event and brought our vision to life with linens, rentals, etc.! I cannot rave about Nikee and her team enough. We were blown away and I would highly recommend them for all your catering needs. We were thrilled with our vendors, however, Catered by Design really made everything happen. We owe them our sincerest thanks!

Nancy Sent on 11/29/2017

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My daughter was married in June at The Lakeview Room in Glenview. Catered by Design is their exclusive caterer. The setting was beautiful with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the lake and the pretty patio with fountain and flowers as a backdrop. From the very beginning our experience with Catered by Design was professional and perfect as we began our wedding adventure with the informative and fun tasting party we had to make our menu selections for the big day. So many options were presented, with a photo slide show from other events, and the chefs on premise to help guide us to our final celebration dinner choices. The wedding evening went flawlessly from the beautifully presented hand served hors d'oeuvres and the sparkling champagne tree at the cocktail hour to the individually plated - we had three entrees - dinners to the gorgeous floating dessert & sweet tables. The gourmet food was as delicious as it was pretty and served hot. The service was impeccable and friendly with smiles all around. We did not want the evening to end.

Stephanie Sent on 11/29/2017

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Catered by Design was a pleasure to work with for our June 2017 wedding at Bridgeport Art Center. They were always very quick to respond to emails and phone calls, and the food was absolutely amazing! We had several guests rave about it for weeks after the wedding. Another thing that we loved was their presentation of all of the food. They made all of the displays look beautiful. Thank you Catered by Design!

Joann Sent on 11/09/2017

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Catered by Design was fantastic! Everything went seamless and stress-free... exactly what a bride needs on her wedding day! Sam Gray was a pleasure to work with. He was responsive and helpful leading up to the wedding. And the food and service on the wedding day were phenomenal! The staff went above and beyond to help us - they even arranged our center pieces, pictures, and name cards. They were always there when you needed them, but not obvious or in the way. The setup was stunning, and the food was delicious!

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Natalie Sent on 11/01/2017

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We were referred to Nikee Fellows and Catered by Design by our wedding planner at Two Sisters Events. We met with Nikee almost a year before our wedding. We were really pleased about how the food tasted and even wondered if another caterer would be able to replicate the menu at catered by design- we tried it and it was nothing like the food at Catered by Design. so we opted to spend the money for quality food and amazing service. Everyone at CBD was so helpful throughout the whole process. Immediately after the wedding, one of our guests reached out to us asking for our catering vendor b/c one of their friends was looking for a reputable caterer for their wedding. Of course we did not hesitate to share CBDs info. Book CBD if you're look for delicious wedding food, great quality and exceptional customer service. We were so happy we hired them!

Danielle Sent on 10/05/2017

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Where do I even start?! From the staff, to the food, to the presentation...everything was top notch!! Just about every minute of the night we had guests coming up to tell us that it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to. We STILL have guests raving about how amazing the food was! Sam Gray was an absolute pleasure to work with during the planning process and the staff the day of the event was incredible. I did not have a wedding planner and had a lot of DIY decorations that I had created. Sam's team helped set everything up exactly the way I wanted. In fact, the setup looked even BETTER than I had imagined! Not only is their food insanely good, Catered by Design really goes the extra mile for their clients with their presentation and accommodations. I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about Catered by Design. Thank you for making my wedding an absolute dream!!

Susan Sent on 08/31/2017

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From start to finish we had a phenomenal experience with Catered by Design, the exclusive caterer for our venue, Winnetka Community House. Nikee, the event specialist, was so easy to talk to, professional, and answered dozens of questions I threw at her at our initial meeting. Throughout planning, she was incredibly responsive, helpful, and flexible. We asked for a custom buffet menu, incorporating Mexican dishes like tacos and elote to highlight my fiance’s background. They accommodated everything, I couldn’t believe it! People don’t usually associate Mexican food with fine dining- it can easily seem like it’s from a box instead of the homemade goodness we know it can be. We were blown away by the tasting- everything was flavorful and amazing including the hor d’oeuvres.

Everyone at our wedding loved the food- kids, adults, both sides of the family. I didn’t expect to interact with the servers (imagined I’d be running around all evening) but I did and they were SO nice! Someone brought us a plate of hor d’ouevres right after we walked down the aisle (SCORE) and came to our table at dinner to make sure we had everything we needed. Our guests noticed how friendly the staff were and how it seemed like they were having a good time. That’s amazing customer service- I know I don’t always look happy when I’m working hard! One tip I would have with the buffet- it took a lot longer than we thought it would. Probably a good hour for 120 people to get food, when we thought they’d be done eating within an hour. I’d think through that a little more if I did it over again. Overall, we can’t recommend Nikee and CBD enough and are so grateful they were a part of our wedding!

Shira Sent on 08/27/2017

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My husband and I are so happy that we chose Catered By Design for our wedding day! It was an absolute pleasure working with Sam throughout the entire process. He is friendly, accommodating, patient, and a true professional who knows every aspect of the business like the back of his hand. Somehow we were able to create a menu that catered to all of our guests, from the picky eaters to the gourmet foodies. The choices are not only interesting and thoughtful but incredibly delicious. It is apparent that their food sources and vendors are of the highest quality.

Anton Sent on 07/28/2017

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We recently had the pleasure of using Catered by Design for our wedding at the Redfield Estate in Glenview, and could not be more pleased. First, every one of the guests we spoke with - literally, EVERYONE - complimented each and every element of the Catered by Design performance. The food was certainly the most-mentioned star, but the professionalism and hustle of the staff was pointed out by many of our attendees. Personally, working with with Nikee (Event coordinator), Wanda (on-site Captain) and Karen (lead bartender) and everyone else I was able to meet was simple for me. They were quick with answers to my questions, solutions to my requests, and their smiles never faded. There were no complaints or sour faces or frustrations evident on anyone - despite the downpours during setup and the heat of the day. So...we HIGHLY recommend!

Christine Sent on 04/09/2017

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We are extremely pleased with the service we received from Catered by Design. The food was fantastic! Numerous gueats told us that it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. They were very responsive and flexible!

We would definitely recommend Catered by Design!!

Shawna Sent on 10/12/2016

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We can not say enough great things about this catering company. We worked closely with Nikee. Nikee was such a pleasure to work with! She was so personable and easy to work with it felt more like planning a wedding with a friend! She helped customize every bit of our wedding! She was so attentive and responsive to our every need! And the food + service at our wedding.... WOW! We felt like kings and queens! The food was out of this world we got so many compliments about how great it was and how people have never had such great food at a wedding before. Everything was so seamless and perfect! We highly recommend Catered by Design for a personalized, unique wedding!

Elizabeth Sent on 10/11/2016

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We used Catered By Design for our October 2016 backyard wedding and I would highly recommend them for any type of event. We had a wonderful experience from start to finish. The food was excellent and we had many compliments from our guests. The quality was great, the presentation was even very nice, and most importantly, the food was super tasty. Even leftovers were still so delicious. The chicken mascarpone and redskin mashed potatoes were amazing! It definitely wasn't your typical wedding food. The staff was very professional and easy to work with. They were very helpful throughout the whole planning process. Catered By Design helped make our day special and gave us an unforgettable experience!

Susie Sent on 09/14/2016

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My husband and I only had four months to plan our August wedding. We happened by chance to consider renting the affordable Glenview Park District building to use the lake as a backdrop for our ceremony. Catered by Design is their exclusive caterer but we couldn’t have chosen better.

We were lucky to work with owner Sam Gray, who kindly met with us a couple times to ensure we could have the wedding we wanted. He was cordial, helpful, and patient from the beginning. He listened to our preferences and never tried to steer us in any other direction or to “up sell” anything. His integrity and pride in his company made us feel safe and happy in our choice of venue and caterer.

Our wedding day turned out to be rainy and stormy but as it cleared up in the afternoon, Sam worked with my husband to help us keep the outdoor ceremony we preferred. It was splendid and I was truly in awe when I arrived.

His service staff was also excellent. Of course my groom and I were kind of stunned and not paying attention to the timing of things, so server captain Laura gently reminded us to cut cake, start dancing, etc., so we wouldn’t fall too far behind. She even helped to keep an eye on my dog who was outside the wedding on the patio. Our families were really impressed by her professional and helpful manner. The servers were also attentive but unobtrusive, quietly keeping things running smoothly. The bar was ready for great service throughout cocktail hour and reception. The food was beautiful and came out at just the right times, and they even saved hors d'oeuvres from the cocktail hour for the busy bridal party!

What can I say? Sam and his staff truly catered to the design of what we wanted for our wedding day. We did not hire a wedding planner but thanks to CBD we didn’t really need to. It speaks volume of the staff that there really isn’t a thing we would change about the day that we had and I’m so thankful to have worked with such a great catering team!

Pearl Sent on 09/10/2016

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I am so happy that we went with Catered By Design for my daughter's wedding. Sam Gray was very professional and was always available for any questions. The food and service were very good. The guests especially loved the appetizers and of course the beverage tree was a big hit. Highly recommended.

Nicole Sent on 08/21/2016

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The venue that I picked gave me a list of preferred caterers. We had our first meeting with Mallory and loved them! We ended up working with Nikee and she is amazing! Made us feel like our wedding was the only thing she had to do and answered all my questions very timely. I highly recommend using them. We are still getting compliments on how great the food was. Will definitely use them again

Chelsea Sent on 08/14/2016

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We were absolutely thrilled with our service from Catered by Design! The owner, Sam, was so accommodating and responsive. Our wedding was in my backyard (down a big hill) which could have been very challenging for a catering company, but he came to my house twice to assess everything we would need to pull it off. We also wanted to serve Shrimp n' Grits- which they had never served before- but they went above and beyond to make sure it tasted exactly the way we wanted. The servers and bartenders were excellent and very professional. Sam's responsiveness to all of my questions assured me that we were in great hands. I absolutely recommend Catered by Design!!

Samantha Sent on 11/04/2015

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Sam and his team at Catered By Design were so wonderful. They made the planning process so effortless. They were extremely accommodating and helpful in designing our menu. I was worried all the choices would be overwhelming but they walked us through it every step of the way. They also had unique and impressive ways to serve and display the food at the wedding, that was personalized to fit to our theme and decorations! And the food was incredible! So delicious! Our friends and family are still talking about how great the food was! I would highly recommend them to anyone in the Chicagoland area!

User2385189 Sent on 10/23/2015

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I can't say enough about catered by design. I worked with Nikee Fellows and she was amazing. The food was top notch, the service was amazing. I got married at one of their venues, the winnekta community house and it was spectacular. It is a hidden garden gem in the north shore of Chicago. All of my ideas, details and plans went off without a hitch thanks to their team. I met with Nikee several times during the months leading up to my wedding and she was nothing short of amazing. Every little detail from hand painted toss across sets to hand painted signs and hand sewn pillows were incorporated by her team. I was put in touch with several vendors (my videographer & production agency) through them and can't say enough about them either. The wedding process can be overwhelming and stressful, but thanks to Catered By Design all of my plans and dreams about my perfect day came together beautifully. From their champagne & wine trees to the quality of their food it was all above expectations. My guests raved about the food and the small detail touches that were everywhere. They are a design company that does amazing catering. They truly make their events about the experience and lasting impressions with the small details and the way in which they allow you to make the event anything you can dream up. I had an amazing experience and a wedding I will never forget thanks to them!

Margaret Sent on 09/02/2015

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Catered By Design had a huge role in creating our joyful and enjoyable wedding! We had a great time! The venue we selected had CBD on their list of preferred providers, and having worked with them in planning the food, beverages and layout/look of our event, we know why they are "preferred." After our guests had left and we were driving away to go on our honeymoon, we were floating on a cloud because everything went SO well. What a fantastic feeling to know that you have chosen to collaborate with a group of people who will do their very best to make your vision come to life. Nikee and Mallory were great to work with...very responsive, very patient (I ask a lot of questions and need detailed answers), very thorough AND very confident in their colleagues' professionalism, adaptability, and pleasant demeanor. They made it clear, by their behavior toward us and their obvious interest in making things happen as we hoped, that we could leave it in their hands once we had asked the last question and planned the last plan, and it would turn out great. And it did! This company really knows its business. We had a lovely buffet luncheon with delicious food presented beautifully, including an array of passed appetizers in the preceding cocktail hour. There were, happily, no food surprises on the wedding day, as we had had a wonderful tasting experience months before, and all turned out as expected, which put us at our ease. The staff for the event was unobtrusive, efficient, good-natured and welcoming...couldn't have asked for better. Their adaptability and preparedness helped us get around a weather issue in the morning, and our outdoor ceremony moved successfully indoors at the last moment. All day, we could enjoy our guests and our experience without "attending" to anything. They just made it happen around us, which really made the day. Thank you to everyone at Catered By Design who participated in our wedding event. You are great!

Travis Sent on 08/24/2015

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Working with Sam and Matt Gray was one of the best decisions my wife and I made during the planning process of our wedding. Sam Gray has been in the restaurant and catering business for so long that his experience was what helped us make our decision. Our wedding was at The Chicago Cultural Center on June 20th, 2015. With the final count at 235 people, it seemed like we were in over our head with all the planning and what not which would need to go into this. Sam and Matt made it so much easier, especially with their past experience at the Cultural Center.

The food was amazing. We allowed our guests to have an option between beef, chicken, salmon, and veggie. I think beef was the overall top choice by everyone, but it seemed like the panko-stuffed chicken was the fan favorite for the night. In reality, you couldn't go wrong with any of them. The sweet tower is also amazing as it's set up on floating buffets and just has such a cool look to it.

The staff was very attentive and responded to any request in a timely manner. The switch from cocktail hour to the actual reception was flawless and no one noticed it happening at all. All in all, I would highly recommend Catered by Design and the work that Sam Gray does. He's the ultimate professional and will do everything he can to make the day special for you.

Jim Sent on 08/08/2015

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There are caterers, and there are good caterers, and then there is Catered By Design. Catered By Design is head and shoulders above all others. I cannot recommend them highly enough! They were easy to deal with, had great consultative ideas, food that was awesome, portions that were huge, and service that was impeccable. Sam, the owner, had great ideas to make the presentations beautiful and serving flow so smoothly we didn't have to give it a thought. Laura was in charge of the food service (outdoor wedding in our backyard for 155 people) and she was amazing and her attention to detail was perfect. It was a flawless performance and oh ya, did I forget to mention the food flavors? They were spot on, mouthwatering, and delicious. We had many people say to us (we are the parents of the bride) it was the best wedding food they had ever had. Desserts were outstanding and I could have eaten them all night long. I highly recommend you call them for your wedding (or events) if you live in the Chicago area. Simply Magnificent!

Kendall Sent on 07/20/2015

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Working with Sam at Catered by Design was one of my favorite parts of wedding planning.

The best part about this company is that the food tasted the exact same at the tasting and then 13 months later at the wedding. They are extremely professional, responsive and down to earth incredibly nice people! Everyone raved about our appetizers and our food post wedding. They were very flexible as our numbers and overall plan changed numerous times throughout the entire process. Sam worked with me through every single detail - the linens, the silverware, where things needed to be placed, etc.

I am so grateful I had them on my wedding day!!

User2207357 Sent on 07/01/2015

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We used Catered By Design for our wedding. Our wedding guests enjoyed the variety of appetizers during cocktail hour, entrees, and trio of mini desserts. The presentation of the food was beautiful and service by their staff was excellent. Nikee and Mallory were great to work with during the planning process and promptly answered our questions about the wedding set up for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner reception and dancing. We would highly recommend Catered by Design.

Patricia Sent on 06/23/2015

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People keep telling us how perfect our wedding was, and I absolutely credit that to our beautiful venue (the Arches Garden at the Winnetka Community House) and amazing food by Catered by Design, their exclusive caterer.

Nikee and Mallory from Catered by Design were amazing to work with, and they helped plan a classy and abundant spread as well as giving guidance on venue layouts and decorations. I loved that based on their experience with this venue, they were able to help us avoid spending money on unnecessary decor. These ladies are so much fun to work with, and they will always give you their honest opinion. And you should listen to them!! They know what they're talking about. And if you're like us and want to gamble on the weather in order to have a fully outdoors wedding, they are on your side and will keep their fingers crossed for no rain.

The food was absolutely amazing and an incredible value for our money. The hors d'oeuvres were my favorite, and anyone who talked to me at the cocktail reception can attest that 9 out of 10 times, I had a shrimp toast or a salmon rosette in my mouth. I was grabbing those things like there was no tomorrow. :) The charcuterie display was beautiful and seemed to be bottomless. The pacing of dinner service was perfect, with no awkward delays. Very efficient, but not rushed.

I HIGHLY recommend Catered by Design. While they are the exclusive caterer of the Winnetka Community House, they also do events all over the Chicago area, and I would have chosen them no matter what.

Keithandgina Sent on 03/31/2015

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Ok to start with the obvious, the food was amazing! The hors d'oeuvres were spectacular and a highlight. Everyone love the tacos and scallops and asparagus! We also had the sirloin, red curry tofu, and parmesan encrusted stuffed chicken. So good--even the next day when we ate the left overs.

Now for the less obvious, Nikee was one of the sweetest ladies ever. She was so profressional and patient. She even wrote me several quotes so i could really get a good idea of exactly what I was looking for.

The service was spot on and on time. The wine tree thing was really pretty and convenient. Everything went perfectly, or, if it didn't, I wasn't aware.

They also had a special booze for my mom since she's a sucker for those apricot stone sours. And for me, well, LAGUNITAS IPA was an option for beer!! I could not have been a happier beer loving bride with being able to drink my favorite beer so I could avoid the red wine in my dress.

Oh and the staff came to my bridal room several times to make sure I had had food and apps.

Loved every second of working with CBD!

Highly recommend!

Katie Sent on 10/08/2014

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I am so happy we choose Catered By Design for our wedding! The service was extremely thorough and professional and the food was fantastic! Our guests have been raving about how great the food is, and many have said it's the best food they've ever had at a wedding. The staff definitely knows what they are doing and they took care of everything, making my wedding day easy and worry free. I cannot recommend them highly enough! Thank you CBD for a perfect wedding!

Erin Sent on 09/07/2014

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Catered by Design was amazing to work with, we mostly worked with Sam but had some assistance a few weeks before our wedding through Tammy. The entire staff was flexible and professional. At one point we were worried that our 99% out of town guest list was going to be a lot less than our original contract and Sam was able to work with us on switching some things around along with last minute additions we added the week before the wedding. We are now married almost a month and all of our guests are still raving about the food, service, and bartenders. To us that means the wedding was a success. While my husband and I didn't get to sample everything we know our guests did. The item we added last minute was the coffee bar and we had at least 10 people tell us it was the best coffee they ever had and customized to their taste. Another guest said they wanted to take the tray of the bacon wrapped scallops from the server and scarf them down before anyone else could. There were plenty of appetizers during cocktail hour and the dinner meal was a generous portion. One of my family friends was squealing over the "drunk food" aka late night snack and was so happy to try some of the Chicago foods we all know and love. We can't thank Catered by Design enough and hope to have another party to plan in the near future, when we do they will be the first and last people we call!

User1698784 Sent on 07/07/2014

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WOW!! CBD made our lives easy from the moment we chose them. They were easy to work with, they were accommdating and flexible, REALLY listened to our ideas and then seamlessly translated the ideas to perfect execution, and provided sage, actionable advice based on their extensive experience working at our venue. I keep hearing from my friends that the food was absolutely delicious, and we have a lot of "foodie" friends with very high standards. They thought of contingency plans behind the scenes and simply made the event seamless for us. Delicious food, very polished professionalism (both in planning and during the event), flawless execution. They knew what they were doing, and they completely made our lives easy so that we could focus on enjoying the event.

User1659366 Sent on 06/12/2014

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MOST DELICIOUS FOOD I'VE EVER HAD AT A WEDDING.

(And no, I am not biased just because this was my wedding!)

We were blown away at our tasting at could not wait for our wedding day. When the big day came, the food definitely lived up to expectations. Everyone came up to us at the event and in the days & weeks afterwards to tell us how incredible the passed hors d'oeuvres, main courses, and side dishes were.

We worked with Nikee, who is such a delight to be with and extremely organized. She was on top of everything, and called us throughout the process to plan and check in. Beautiful plating, delicious all around.

Hands down one of the best choices we made!!

Renata Sent on 03/06/2014

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Sam (owner) and his team were excellent. The food was superb (and the service too!). We had a plated dinner for 120 people including steak (delicious, juicy, high quality meat... how do they serve all these steaks so perfect at the same time?), lasagna (we had a ton of vegetarians, they loved this dish), and lemon chicken (also highly praised). Appetizers and desserts were beautifully crafted and delicious (I still think of the little squash-soup). The food received raving reviews from our guests. This wedding was a few months ago, but just recently, one of my co-workers mentioned that his husband swears that the best coffee he ever had was at our wedding! (this comment prompted me to come back and make sure I shared feedback about Catered by Design). It was a true pleasure to work with Sam, a person who really loves his trade and business.

User1550989 Sent on 03/05/2014

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catered by Design is a class act company..the food was amazing..presentation was beautiful and the staff was beyond professional and helpful especially Nikki and Mallory..if you use them you won't be sorry

Nick Sent on 01/14/2014

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It's clear that Sam has been doing this for a while. His ideas and flexibility in options were invaluable in helping us to craft our travel-themed menu. We certainly were looking for something a little different and he helped us craft a menu that was fun, creative, and certainly more than filling and delicious!

There wasn't an aspect of the menu, timing, service, equipment, etc that Sam wasn't willing to work with us on. Thanks again Sam and team, amazing job

Lisa Sent on 10/24/2013

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Planning my daughter’s wedding was a journey and we couldn’t have asked for better travelling companions than Nikee and Catered by Design! Are you looking for great service? Nikee was a pleasure right from the start. All special requests were met with “we can do that” and when we asked for suggestions, Nikee always had options – and good ones. She takes the time to get to know what you want to do and then gets the job done. The owner of the company, Sam Gray, is terrific to work with and even made the trip to Salvage One the night of the reception to check on how things were going. There was nothing ordinary about the presentation at the serving stations and the bar. Our guests especially commented on the wine tree display and how great the carving station looked. The staff was professional in appearance and I can only compliment the service. Everyone did their job without being obvious or intrusive.
Our goal was to have a fun event representative of the bride and groom and with Nikee’s help, we did just that. Our guests continue to comment on the fabulous party and, more importantly, my daughter keeps thanking me for a wedding that went way beyond her expectations. Our thanks go out to Nikee and Catered by Design. We couldn’t have done it without them!

Mary Sent on 10/19/2013

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We had our wedding at the Kenilworth Club, and had Catered by Design cater the event. Everyone that we encountered was incredibly helpful, professional and genuinely friendly. We worked most with Nikee and Mallory, those girls are the best. We were always so glad to see them, and after every meeting with them, we felt like we made the best choice in going with Catered by Design. Like my fiance said, "It's good to be taken care of by good people." And let me tell you, nothing soothes Bridezilla nerves like professionals who know what they are doing!
All of our emails were answered very quickly, and they reassured us of any doubts and addressed our concerns. We described what we envisioned for our wedding, and Nikee was full of helpful suggestions and ideas, while begin very mindful of our budget. And I know that there were a few times when I had freak-outs ("I'm having an outdoor ceremony, what if it rains?!") and she was right there with a solid back-up plan.
The food was delicious-- we opted to go for a buffet dinner, and had roast beef, chicken with peppers, and butternut squash ravioli, with excellent sides like a baked potato, green beans. I couldn't stop eating the butternut squash, and we're still getting compliments on dinner. The presentation of the food was incredible too; stunning buffet table and the beautiful champagne tree made it much classier than the standard wedding buffet stations. The folks at Catered by Design even helped me coordinate sharing chairs with a bride that was having her wedding the day before.
We couldn't be happier with the service from Catered by Design, and we can't stop bragging about them. We would definitely recommend!

Jessica Sent on 09/29/2013

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We chose Catered by Design as we had a travel theme for our wedding and wanted to have different stations of food representing different areas of the world. The appetizers during cocktail hour and the stations were amazing! The staff was extremely friendly and attentive the entire night. From start to finish, working with Sam was a breeze and we never worried for one moment that our night was going to be anything less that perfect.

Christine Sent on 09/26/2013

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The whole team was great! From the tastings to several site visits to the night of the wedding itself, Amber did such a fantastic job! We had sooo many compliments that the food was the best food people have ever had at a wedding (especially the appetizers!)

Dianna Sent on 09/11/2013

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I worked with Sam who was so flexible and easy to work with. They took care of everything from food and rentals to presenting the food beautifully. The food was great and was very reasonably priced. I would definitely use them again.

Kristen Sent on 08/27/2013

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Catered by Design catered our August 2013 wedding reception at the Chicago Cultural Center. The event went off without a hitch and we have no doubt that Sam and his team had a huge part in making it a perfect day.

The venue allows you to select your own caterer which is wonderful in terms of flexibility, but also overwhelming. We reached out to nearly every caterer in the area to receive price info, sample menus, etc. Sam was the only one that didn't just send us a sample menu. He called me the day that I reached out and we discussed our vision for our event for nearly an hour. He invited me, my fiance, my mom, and my maid of honor to his offices for a tasting before we had even made our final decision.

It was at that tasting that we realized that Catered by Design's food is restaurant quality. We were against typical baked chicken and mushy peas that we remembered being served at other weddings that we attended in the past. Not only was the food amazing, but the presentation was impeccable. We worked with Sam to design a menu and also opted to use some of Sam's signature equipment such as the floating dessert bar and wine tree.

Leading up to the event, Sam and his team were always available to discuss details and any questions. All brides know that this is a stressful time and it put our minds at ease to know that everything was taken care of. Our wedding reception was perfect and our guests could not stop raving about the food, presentation, service, and the signature equipment. I saw so many guests snapping photos of our dessert bar and wine trees, in awe of how beautiful and unique they were.

I would hands down recommend Catered by Design for any event. They were wonderful to work with from start to finish and hiring CBD was the best decision we made during the wedding planning process!

Lucy Sent on 08/08/2013

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Words cannot describe how pleased we were to have Catered by Design for our wedding! To start, Sam was very helpful and put us at ease during the early planning stages. He was always available to talk or discuss our questions. Our vision for the wedding was his top priority and Sam made sure he could always meet our requests. On the wedding day, everything was absolutely perfect! Catered by Design orchestrated all the vendors and made sure the room was stunning. As the bride and groom, we had no worries as the staff seamlessly put together all the intricate details of our wedding. We received so many compliments from our guests regarding the delicious food, beautiful décor, and stellar service. Catered by Design went above and beyond to make our wedding the best day of our lives!

Stephanie Sent on 06/30/2013

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Our wedding was in June 2013 and Catered by Design did a magnificent job on the food, the staff, and the presentation. We worked with Nikee at CBD for our reception (held at Winnetka Community House, along with the ceremony), and she did an AMAZING job. She walked us through every step of the process, starting with the initial menu options, to the tasting (which was super fun!), right up to the big day. It was beyond comforting having her on site at the wedding, and knowing that everything was under control.

We’ve been getting compliments on the food and the staff for the last week since the wedding, and we owe it all to Nikee and the CBD staff. We had a last minute thunderstorm roll in after our ceremony, and the CBD staff moved to Plan B inside without a hitch, and even pitched in to help our DJ get his stuff in before it got soaked. The value with Catered by Design is phenomenal, and I would recommend working with them for any type of event.

Kathy Sent on 06/29/2013

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My daughter's wedding was aboard the Anita Dee II and CBD was a preferred vendor which was helpful because they knew the logistics.
We worked with Nikee and she was so helpful with every aspect of the menu.
The staff who worked the night of the wedding headed by Wanda were very professional and kept checking with me to see if there was any more they could do. The food was served and presented quickly and beautifully. I would certainly use CBD again and feel comfortable recommending their services to others. It was nice to not worry about the food for our guests when there are so many other things on your mind on the day of the wedding.

Alireza Sent on 02/05/2013

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We are so happy to have them as our catering and wedding planner in our 3/24/11 wedding.

They were so kind and supportive. We found them by chance while we were looking for a place for our wedding. We were so lucky to meet Karen there. She helped us with the ceremony and reception, catering, cake, florist and lots of other thing. She helped us to manage everything within our budget and spend hours with us discussing the detail.

Cater by Design is amazing and we are so happy to work with them. We definitely recommend them as a catering and wedding planner. They know their job very well and they are helpful.