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Nicole Sent on 10/06/2019

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Cannot go wrong with Occasions!

Occasions service and food is simply amazing. There are so many options when you are looking for wedding vendors, how do you really know the difference? Especially when it comes to catering because its such a big piece of the wedding and its one of the most expensive. My wedding planner told me Occasions service was amazing and it really was. Every step of the process with them was so great, the tasting was so well done, and the wedding was exceptional. We got numerous compliments that it was the best wedding food ever and the service was just outstanding. I am SO thankful we chose Occasions and highly recommend for anyone who is needs a caterer for their event.

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William Sent on 10/28/2025

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Perfect food, perfect service, work with Occasions!

When the venue of your dreams only allows you to work with a select group of caterers, it’s easy to get nervous about finding the right fit, especially when your options shrink from hundreds to just a handful. The team at Occasions Catering completely erased those worries with their attentiveness, exceptional service, and outstanding quality and flexibility while catering our wedding at DAR in D.C.

From our first conversation, Stephanie immediately understood our vision for a non-traditional dinner and helped us craft a buffet-style menu featuring all our favorite foods and cuisines for guests to enjoy. She was incredibly responsive, balancing input from both me and my wife as we refined every detail to create the perfect menu for our day.

We did our tasting about four months before the wedding, and the food, drinks, and service were phenomenal. We even went home with leftovers that lasted us a week. Stephanie included several hors d'oeuvres we hadn’t discussed, and they turned out to be some of the most delicious items on our menu. (Side note: if you work with Occasions, make sure to include the beef hors d’oeuvres and Hawaiian sliders. you won’t regret it!)

On the wedding day, Stephanie and her team were fantastic. When strong winds kicked up, they quickly adjusted and brought the buffet setup indoors to keep everything warm and fresh. The waitstaff was incredibly attentive. Special shoutout to Louise, who always made sure we had water and soda in hand wherever we went. We can’t thank her enough.

If you’re hosting your wedding at DAR or anywhere in the DMV area, you won’t regret choosing Occasions Catering.

Honeywood Sent on 03/05/2025

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Exceptional to work with!

Working with Occasions was a seamless experience from start to finish. Their team was professional, communicative, and incredibly well-organized, making coordination effortless. The presentation was impeccable, and the quality of the cuisine exceeded expectations, earning glowing praise from guests. It's always a pleasure to collaborate with vendors who uphold the highest standards of service. Highly recommend!

Emily Sent on 06/07/2023

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Clients can't stop talking about Occasions!

We have worked with Occasions on numerous events and love having them here at Fathom Gallery! From corporate to social, they execute all types of events perfectly. Past clients that have used Occasions for their events have been very satisfied with both the food and the service. We have loved working with them over the years at both of our locations and always recommend them!

Jo Davis Sent on 11/25/2021

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Occasions was the best wedding decision!

Occasions was recommended by our venue and we knew from the moment we spoke with Suzanne it was the perfect choice. We got married in Fall 2021 and Suzanne made the whole planning process so easy and stress-free. She truly went above and beyond and answered all of our questions along the way. We had a smaller wedding with around 45 guests to include a ceremony and cocktail hour type reception and our wedding proposal/package came with everything we needed from tasty hors d'oeuvres, drinks, linens, high tops, ceremony chairs (this was a huge bonus), a delicious wedding cake, etc. We were so impressed with this catering business and our wedding day was everything we wished for and more. We would recommend Occasions to anyone and everyone!

Loree Sent on 10/04/2021

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So delicious!

It's so unusual for food to be served at a large event to be truly delicious and perfectly cooked... but that's exactly what Occasions delivered for us -- an amazing menu where each item was perfectly prepared - even though we were in a field! And the service was also top notch - an extremely attentive staff who made sure our guests were well fed and always had a full glass. It's been a week and a half since our wedding and we're still getting comments from guests about how amazing the food was. We highly recommend working with Occasions!

Wwm Sent on 08/27/2021

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A Perfect Catering Experience

Occasions was recommended to us by our venue, and from the beginning it was obvious that Joel really took to heart what we said we wanted for our wedding. We were married in Spring 2021, and at that time Occasions was the only caterer we contacted which was able to offer us a full tasting, giving us a much-needed preview of what our wedding day might look like. Due to shifting Covid-19 regulations, not to mention the unpredictable DC weather, there were always changes that needed to be made but Joel and Nicole were constantly on top of everything. Catering is such an important part of any wedding and we honestly couldn't have done it without Joel and Nicole - and that's not even mentioning how amazing the food was! We received so many compliments about how delicious our plated dinner options were and guests still bring it up - Occasions was also able to create the exact almond/raspberry wedding cake flavor that we were looking for. From the communication, to the food, to the service - we would absolutely recommend Occasions for any wedding, especially during these uncertain times!

Kelsey Sent on 09/19/2020

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Next level wedding food!

Amazing amazing food! We absolutely loved working with Occasions. We didn't want a typical Chicken/Meat/Fish menu at our wedding and Occasions did not disappoint with the extremely personalized menu they created for us! They were so patient and flexible and we couldn't have been happier with how the food turned out (this was high on our important aspect of the day list). We went with a Southern Comfort theme for dinner and people still rave about the fried chicken and shrimp and grits. Everything was so delicious from the pasta station and raw bar they created at our cocktail hour, to the comfort food we needed to soak up our libations at dinner, to the pie spread we indulged in at dessert, to the surprise late night snacks. We highly recommend them for any event - they will leave a lasting impression!

Angela Sent on 11/20/2019

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High End Quality Catering Service

I used to work at Occasions as a waiter back in college. Each time they had a wedding and I was scheduled to work, I always told myself that one day, Occasions will cater at my wedding. If you're looking for the best catering service hands down in the DMV, willing to splurge and spend half of your wedding budget on catering (won't recommend to couples on a very strict low wedding budget) then contact Occasions. The food quality is out of this world. When we did our food tasting, we felt like royalty. They give you a glance of the quality of service you will be getting on your big day. Best vendor choice by far.

Kathryn Sent on 07/12/2019

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The best wedding food we've ever had

This was the best wedding food I have ever had, and its something guests are still echoing a few months later. The customer service was fantastic- from our tasting to the event. I was so impressed with Kate, our account manager. She was on the ball and a pleasure to work with. The steak was fantastic (and is grass fed) and the surprise hit of the night was a global icecream bar with really interesting flavors.

Kaitlyn Sent on 01/01/2019

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Everyone is Still Talking about the Food

My husband and I are big foodies, so it was important to us to have a top-notch caterer. Suzanne with Occasions blew us out of the water. We really didn't want the typical "fish, chicken, or beef" selection, so we designed our menu to be coursed, with some unique yet familiar selections to make sure everyone was comfortable. We made sure everyone had access to pre-ceremony champagne and mock-tails. For cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres were served including a roving sushi bar with roles and nigiri pieces served on hock trays. For dinner, we had an amuse-bouche, soup/salad course, and branzino and tenderloin mains with sides like a rosemary potato galette and carrot barlotto. After dinner, we had a large lounge area set up for a whiskey and cigar bar in addition to the gelato bar set up by the dance floor. Everything was out of this world!

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Jonathan Sent on 11/18/2018

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Pass the corn souffle

We cannot say enough about Occasions.
They were exceptional at the three most important things for us: food, service, and options.

Many couples aren’t able to find the time to eat at their wedding, but trust us, you’ll want to give yourselves a few minutes for the corn soufflé, goat cheese ravioli, and the cognac steak. Our guests enjoyed every bite!

The entire team at Occasions is there to make your event wonderful. They were professional, accommodating and so classy. Seana and Kate were available for our questions with clear answers that made us able to enjoy our day without worry. They know how important this day is and treat it as such.

Occasions was able to accommodate everything we wanted. We wanted family style food (big shared plates so your guests get more of what they want) - no problem. A Funfetti cake - you got it. Adapted cocktails - sure things. Chairs, linens, flatware - they have a huge selection. They listened to our feedback, adapted their menus, and made sure everything was still top notch.

Bottom line: Occasions has a staff that is so talented and service oriented, they will make your wedding (or event) exceed expectations.

James Sent on 06/27/2018

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We all know there's a difference between "food" and "wedding food." The latter often leaves something to be desired - but not if you choose Occasions. Every dish served at our wedding was expertly crafted. My wife's primary request was for an elaborate dessert spread, and as you can see in the pictures, they didn't hold back. Aside from providing an excellent meal, Joel and Sydney helped us pick beautiful linens, dishes and silverware, and chairs. The event staff were also great, and they worked very well with the venue and other vendors. Joel and Sydney are an excellent team.

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Sam Sent on 01/23/2018

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We got married in mid-September 2017 at the Peabody Library and our wedding day was great because of Occasions. They made the planning process stress free. They were almost like a one stop shop for most things. Our guests said it was the best wedding they had attended and the food was just wonderful. This is a pricier caterer, but both my wife and I 100% agreed that the price was well worth the value of what we received. Some of our friends are still talking about the corn souffle and short rib.

Kaitlyn Sent on 06/04/2015

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Occasions was outstanding from our initial contact through the wedding day. We could not be happier with the food, service, and incredible team that guided us through the process.

While we initially were leaning towards another caterer that appeared more cost effective on paper, the tasting at Occasions blew them out of the water. The menu at Occasions is modern, fun, flavorful, and completely personalized. They worked around food allergies and favorite recipes to create a menu that stood out and still fell within our budget.

We felt we were in good hands every step of the way, and knew that on wedding day, our guests would be well taken care of, too. We were so fortunate to have a team that cared so much about putting on a good event. They coordinated with all of our other vendors to ensure that the reception would go off without a hitch.

We could not speak higher about Occasions and their team, and would recommend them to anyone getting married or hosting an event!

Sarah Sent on 04/07/2015

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I never thought that I would get so many compliments on our food! Our guests raved about everything from the custom cocktails to the entrees and Kate and Occasions were absolutely wonderful to work with. The tasting was a wonderful and fun experience for all of us but I was nervous about the fact that our actual wedding was at a museum without a kitchen-- boy was I wrong! Kate reassured me that it wouldn't be a problem and she was right-- the food arrived hot and perfectly cooked to each of our guests.
We also used them for linens and table settings, which were beautiful. Their setup went flawlessly and the venue was stunning when I arrived with my guests. They were flexible and even allowed my mother to use her regular liquor store for wine/liquor purchases. Kate worked wonderful with our wedding planner, Emilie from Bliss, and gave my husband and I a truly unforgettable night that was a wonderful event for all of our guests. Definitely a fantastic choice for catering!!

Nancy Sent on 10/22/2014

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Eric, Joel and Ray at Occasions Caterers were the heroes of our wedding. My mother-in-law has a long time party-planning relationship with Eric, and he was extremely attentive and supportive of the type of family wedding we were envisioning. Joel fielded endless phone calls and changing plans and ideas and helped us combine some of our homespun decor with their wide selection of linens and china to create a polished yet informal look and feel. Ray supervised the event and truly went above and beyond the call of duty when we started to have plumbing problems in the house!!! (ugh.) They truly are one of the gems of the DC party scene- and did I mention that the food is scrumptious? Put your trust in Occasions- you won't be sorry.

User1841531 Sent on 10/02/2014

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First, they had me complete a pretty thorough survey to get an idea of what kind of menu we might like. Based on this survey, they returned the most amazing and most on point options for our tasting.

The tasting itself was out of this world. I don't' live in the country so I flew in for a week of wedding madness and my best friend and Dad were able to come with me. When we showed up, they had menus with our names printed on them! The tasting itself was like sitting down to a fun dinner with old friends. Everyone we interacted with was so kind, generous and responsive.

In the back and forth process to determine the final menu, we were more tangentially involved as our planner (Roberts & Company) took the lead. Our final menu and linen/table selections were probably what made me most excited for our wedding, ha. They also took into account a few specific requests I had because half our guests were traveling in from out of the country -- they incorporated plantains and a higher spice level :)

On the day itself, Occasions brought the perfect team. Their team leader was so positive, friendly and responsible and the service staff the same.

The food itself: unbelievable. And, they made SURE that we actually got to try everything -- they brought plates to our waiting room before and after the ceremony, and found us in the crowd during cocktail hour to make sure we were taken care of.

Catering is a massive decision and massive financial investment. I am so happy we had our wedding catered by Occasions.

User1613709 Sent on 04/27/2014

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Working with Occasions was fantastic from start to finish. I found selecting a caterer to be the most challenging wedding planning decision to make since there are so many factors to take into account. But as soon as we started the tasting with Occasions, I was sold. They were a little outside my budget for catering, but after the tasting both my mom and I agreed to stretch the budget to make it work. The food was fantastic from passed appetizers to dessert (they made mini pies that were exactly what I was looking for for our dessert display).

We wanted to do a family-style dinner at big farm tables, and Occasions helped us navigate the logistical challenges and it really did feel a lot like a huge Sunday family dinner. The wait staff was fantastic and attentive to the needs of our guests. And they had a dedicated waiter for the head table who made a special point of making sure that bit I and the groom got a taste of everything on the menu. Several of our guests are still raving about the food now that the wedding's over, especially the lamb chops or "meat lollipops" as one of the groomsmen called them. They were just perfect for a spring wedding and, like everything else Occasions delivered that day, they were exquisite.

User1448794 Sent on 11/21/2013

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FLAWLESS. I am so glad we chose Occasions for our November wedding. They are totally full-service and we were able to pick out custom linens, place settings, silverware, candles, etc. without incurring an extra cost.
Jessica G. and Kate B. were incredible - super responsive, wonderful ideas, great energy and paid attention to every detail. I live in New England and was planning a DC wedding and in many ways, I was able to avoid hiring a wedding planner because Occasions was so knowledgable about every aspect of the wedding planning process (and so willing to share their knowledge). The food at the event was truly delicious, really really fresh and perfectly cooked. Additionally, as the bride, guests were handing me items (like cards!) all night and immediately the catering lead would swoop and take them from me and set aside for later - seriously, it was like having a day-of planner. The catering staff were top-notch professionals. I can't say ENOUGH about how Occassions was just beyond incredible.

User1377635 Sent on 10/14/2013

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They were absolutely amazing! I would recommend Occasions Caterers to anyone planning a wedding.

User1374390 Sent on 10/11/2013

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Their food was amazing and all of our guests loved it. The staff incredibly friendly and nice.

User1367113 Sent on 10/07/2013

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We worked with Joel and Cameron. Joel worked with a somewhat non traditional themed wedding that presented beyond our expectations. The food was delicious, as always (my family has used Occasions in the past). The hors d'oeuvres were beautifully presented and served in a small space, and the dinner impressively served at each table. Joel had encouraged us to have their dessert buffet which was fun and decorative. The guests kept describing their favorites the next day. The staff were friendly and attentive. Cameron kept the whole evening moving as flawlessly as a ballet.

Kelly Sent on 09/21/2013

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From day one, my now husband and I, knew that food and wine were going to be a very important part of our wedding. Our venue required the use of one of 3 caterers, so we tried Occasions first. Well, we were immediately blown away by how professional and attentive Erica was from day one. This was great, but how was the food...then we were blown away again. For catering, the food was amazing. We ate so much at our tasting that we thought we would explode. Everything was delicious. And the plating and linens were stunning as well. We of course, chose them for our big day and were so happy we did.

Erica made sure every detail was perfect. The food served at our wedding was as good as the food we had at the tasting. Plus, staff made sure that the groom and I had 2 of every of our passed hot d'oeuvres when we arrived from our after church picture taking...along with a choice of wine selection before we even walked in the main room.

Their staff were superb! In addition to our guests raving about the food, they also raved about how great the staff were. Some of our guests said it was the best wedding food they have ever tasted. We would have to agree!

User1373660 Sent on 09/19/2013

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We used Occasions to cater our recent wedding and they were fabulous! The food was amazing! Everyone was raving about how delicious it was. The service was excellent throughout the whole process. When we first contacted them, they worked with us to design a menu that fit our tastes, needs, and budget. And they did a private, personalized tasting where we got to sample items we were considering serving - not a generic group tasting - so I was conident going into my wedding day that the food would be fabulous! The drinks were great too! And they took great care of us and our guests on our big day! The linens and decor were beautiful as well! I would highly recommend them for a wedding or special event!

Michelle Sent on 09/02/2013

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It does not surprise me that Occasions receives nearly universal amazing reviews on Wedding Wire. If I could do it all over again, I would skip the agonizing and debating over caterers, and pick Occasions from Day 1 because they are truly the best, most organized, responsive, professional, and delicious caterer!

I worked with Alison, Cameron, and Jennifer from their staff and they were all so responsive and helpful. I feel that they did a lot of things above and beyond the definition of caterer. For example, Alison attended our walk-through of the venue about a month before the wedding and after that, I knew I had nothing to worry about! She made me feel at ease, and then actually executed all of the many things she said her staff would handle. The staff also worked seamlessly with the venue staff, which was great.

But on to the important thing: the food. We opted to do a more casual buffet of "fun" foods. We had an amazing tasting that included many appetizer options and a full proposed buffet, that sealed the deal/contract. But would our guests love it too? Spoiler alert: they did!

It was so nice to have them listen to us and then create a menu that worked with our price range and our vision. Thank you to everyone at Occasions for delivering such a quality meal to our guests and to us on our wedding day!!

User1141844 Sent on 04/23/2013

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Occasions Catering was AWESOME! Alison understood exactly what we wanted, communicated quickly and understood our vision for the wedding. We HIGHLY recommend them!

Leslie Sent on 02/10/2013

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We decided early in our wedding planning that we wanted our guests to have a delicious meal at our reception. Occasions was perfect and everyone raved about the food, especially the butternut squash risotto. We solicited bids from four caterers in the DC area and narrowed it down to two for the tasting. What truly stood out for Occasions was the service. When we walked through the door for the tasting we were greeted by our catering manager, Jane Havens, and a waiter in a tuxedo with a tray of sparkling wine and water. It told us how our guests would be greeted as the arrived at the reception. Jane was truly a delight to work with. She worked within our budget, listened carefully to our preferences, and was quick to respond to emails and phone messages. At the reception, Jane devoted one of the waiters just to me and my husband. He had a tray of hors d'oeurves waiting for us when we arrived after photos at the church, prepared a plate for each of us for dinner, and was quietly at our side periodically to see if we needed drinks. Occasions in a word is fabulous and Jane Havens is the best catering manager to work with.

Jessie Sent on 11/09/2012

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Dan and I had tasting trials with several area caterers who were all five-star reviewed, and we were starting to become resigned to having “catered” food; you know, the not-quite-great, somewhat bland, standard wedding fair. On the advice of our Wedding Planner, we decided to try just one more before making a decision. We couldn’t have been more blown away. Everything we tasted was marvelous; full of interesting and complex flavors, a true step above the ordinary. Best of all, what we tasted at the trial, we got at the wedding. The food was wonderful and the service was top notch. They even assigned a staff member specifically to us who would be nearby throughout the evening to make sure we had everything we needed. Everyone was professional and friendly and quietly attentive. All of our guests were taken care of and we can’t say enough good things about the food. Occasions truly stands out.

User937011 Sent on 09/17/2012

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Amazing, amazing, amazing! I cannot say enough great things about working Occasions! Working with Kate was such a pleasure. She was there for my fiance and I when our wedding venue POC went MIA and was terrific in helping us create a menu that reflected our personalities. The food was delicious and we are still receiving compliments. Additionally the cake was to die for and beautifully decorated. Excellent service, wonderful food, great value!

I would recommend Occasions to everyone and will continue to use them for special events!

Christine Sent on 08/21/2012

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Occasions Caterers are outstanding. My daughters wedding was held at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg in the gardens and under a tent. An outside venue is not easy for caterers, yet our food was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. We had quite an extensive passed and stationary hors d'oeuvres menu, including french fries made on site, and everything could not have looked or tasted better. The wait staff were fabulous, making sure hors d'oeuvres kept coming and working their way throughout the gardens. They even made sure that the wedding party and family members were served hors d'oeuvres and drinks as they posed for the wedding pictures. Dinner was served hot, delicious and quite quickly to each table. Jayne Havens of Occasions was simply a joy to work with. She was always responsive and accommodating, cheerfully going through my many changes to the menu. Our guests continue to rave about how good the food was and how beautiful it looked. We were truly impressed with our experience with Occasions and would highly recommend them for your wedding.

Izumi Sent on 07/29/2012

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Our guests loved their food! Their personnel were all very responsible and professional. We highly recommend them!

Carly Sent on 07/26/2012

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The food was delicious! Everyone was professional and kind. They offered suggestions that turned out perfect and were able to make my fiance and my favorites deserts in miniature version to pass around after dinner. Just lovely

Aj Sent on 05/14/2012

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We had a great experience with Occassions! Their service was impeccable and the food was outstanding! They somehow did the impossible by preparing 125 servings of medium rare tenderloin for our guests and the crab stuffed shrimp was really good too! Our guests couldn't stop raving about how amazing the service and food were!

Sara Sent on 04/06/2012

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Occasions did a terrific job at our recent wedding and I'd recommend them without qualification to anyone. The food was dynamite - by far the best I'd ever had at any wedding, and I've gotten countless comments from our guests to the same effect. Beyond the food, Alison Fisher (and her assistant, Hannah) was a first-rate account executive; I reached out 4-5 of the top caterers in DC and found Alison, by far, to be the most responsive, flexible, and willing to work with our budget. She even took the time to walk me through some hypothetical meals and budgets very early in our planning process, when I called trying to get a ballpark sense of what our catering costs would look like so I could determine whether we could afford the venue we were considering AND the cost of catering it. She was the reason we selected Occasions, and I'd recommend seeking her out specifically. From the wait staff to the bartenders, all of the other staff were great, too.

Ellen Sent on 03/26/2012

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I cannot say enough good things about Occasions. Not only did they stay within our budget but the customer service was second to none. Megan and Emily (our account executives) were so attentive and responsive to all of our needs during the planning process. When it came to our wedding day, they were always one step ahead of everything, making sure me and my fiance were taken care of. Our guests gushed over how tasty the food was -- and how elegantly it was presented on the plate. I would recommend Occasions to anyone getting married or in need of a caterer in the DC area!

Elaine Sent on 12/11/2011

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Hiring Occasions was one of the best decisions we made in planning our wedding this summer. We worked with Joel Wolke, who was incredibly responsive, helpful, creative and professional from our first meeting almost a year before the wedding to the big day itself. Joel and his team took our ideas about what we wanted to serve at the wedding and came up with a delicious menu that our guests raved about. We thought there was no way that the food at the wedding could be as good as the food we had at our tasting, but we were blown away by how tasty everything was, and we are still getting tons of compliments about the food months after the wedding. The service staff that Occasions provided was also top notch. Throughout the evening, my husband and I would have a new glass of Champagne, or a glass of water in our hand every time we turned around. They also made sure each guest was served at the same time, and noted which place settings had special dietary restrictions so those people were served vegan meals without having to even ask for them. The chivari chairs, linens and china that we got through Occasions was also beautiful. Lastly, our wedding happened to be on the day of Hurricane Irene, but Joel and his team didn't miss a beat. They were so flexible with last minute seating rearrangements due to several last minute cancellations. They even sent us home with a beautiful basket of Champagne, personalized cookies, cheese and cake to enjoy as a late night snack. I would recommend them to any bride looking for a caterer in the DC area!

Rori Sent on 11/30/2011

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Amazing! The food at our wedding was spectacular! Every comment I got was that this felt like amazing restaurant food, not like catering - even from my discerning "foodie" friends. Joel was great to work with – he knows events forward and backward and every suggestion he gave turned out to be 100% the right decision. They were very flexible with requests and with the bar options. The service was impeccable and the equipment was gorgeous. They are worth the money because they deliver perfection.

Jennifer Sent on 11/19/2011

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Choosing a caterer was a tough one for Chris and I, but we finally decided to go with Occasions Caterers and we definitely made the right decision! Our wedding night was magical due to the quality of their food and spectacular service! It was more than we could have ever asked for. Between their synchronized service, undivided attention to the bride and groom and amazing reception and dinner food - we definitely scored a 5 star caterer.

We worked with Megan Finnegan and Emily Petro at Occasions. Both ladies were awesome to work with! Megan was so accommodating, she even let us come in for a second tasting of the entree because she knew the food portion of the wedding was very important to us and she wanted us to get it right! She was always sharing ideas and helped us pick the right menu for the wedding.

Occasions did a wonderful job and we would recommend them anytime!

Sydney Sent on 09/29/2011

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My husband and I could not have been happier with Occasions Caterers. We worked with Megan Wilby Finnegan, who was a consummate professional through the entire process, as was Emily Petro. Their attention to detail was astounding and from our tasting, through a couple menu iterations, Occasions was so responsive to our various needs.

Megan helped keep us on track for the evening, and I never once worried about what was coming next. The service under Megan and captain Evgeny was stellar. The staff passed hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour and when dinner was served, every table's food came out on time and at the same time. No one was left waiting for their food. And the wine was refilled regularly.

We had a delicious intermezzo between first and second courses and instead of a wedding cake, we chose to offer a dessert and coffee bar (with cordials). Both were huge hits. Our guests enjoyed visually and gastronomically pleasing desserts and the numerous children at the wedding enjoyed puffs of cotton candy. A surprise for everyone and so fun.

You couldn't ask for a more professional caterer. The food was elegantly presented, delicious, and the service was outstanding.

Valerie Sent on 09/06/2011

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Everything - and I mean everything - was done right. Visually, the table linens were crisp and beautiful, every table and chair was where it needed to be, and can I tell you about the food!!! Holy cow, that food was amazing! We knew the minute we showed up to do a tasting that Occasions knew what they were doing. As soon as we signed a contract to work with them, I had complete confidence that they were going to do a perfect job. A wonderful server even came out into the gardens to find us during post-ceremony photos to be sure we got some of the great appetizers (mini crabcakes, mini turkey reubens, spinach and feta french toast, etc.) that were going around.

Our lemonade and iced tea stand was a hit (totally drained by night's end), and the cake was gorgeous. I wanted a simple vanilla cake with smooth buttercream vanilla icing, paired with a spread of fresh fruit, and Occasions delivered perfectly. I even got a chance to eat a FULL MEAL at the reception, as well as a FULL PIECE of cake!

I would recommend Occasions, and Jayne and Ruthie in particular, to everyone and anyone looking for a caterer for any event. They know what they're doing and you will not have a worry at all with them at the helm.

Kyle Sent on 06/21/2011

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I had a good feeling about Occasions from my first phone conversation with Matt Sipala. My wedding was being held at a unique venue that wasn't your typical ballroom. I had met with two other caterers and the customer service I received was above and beyond what we expected. My husband and I decided to do a cocktail reception and was told by another our wedding budget was not large enough to have an individual tasting. Occasions didn't even bat an eyelash. Matt quickly scheduled our tasting which turned into a fun afternoon lunch of awesome food. As soon as we walked out the door, bellies full, we knew we had picked a good one. On the day of the staff was very professional and the furniture they provided was exceptional (and A LOT less expensive than our actual rental company!). Thank you Matt and Occasions for kicking butt on our wedding day!

Kirsten Sent on 05/30/2011

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I approached Occasions Catering and Windows Catering concerning my daughter’s wedding. Both had great reputations according to reviews. I had been to a wedding catered by Occasions and thought the food was fabulous and service was superb, so I chose them as a possibility. I chose Windows as possibility too because we had a daytime event at a venue that Windows was doing the nighttime event at, so I thought we can save money by sharing such things as chairs and tables.

Right off the bat, Joel Wolke at Occasions was very responsive and understood what we wanted and when things got lost in communication via e-mail, he simply wasn’t afraid to get on the phone and to talk through it. The person at Windows didn’t seem to ever grasp what we were aiming for after several attempts via e-mail and phone calls with me and with my daughter. So even though Windows would have been cheaper, it wasn’t worth the savings.

Occasions did a fantastic job from the passed hors d’oeuvres to the served espresso, grappa and limoncello after the dessert. I didn’t have to worry about a thing!

I have to put this in the review in case Joel reads this because we’re pretty persnickety about asparagus. The grilled asparagus was exquisite! Hats off to Occasions for those who planned, prepared and served the food and beverages at my daughter’s wedding. Thank you.

Lindsey Sent on 03/04/2011

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Occasions provided an amazing service. Amanda and Kate worked with us to create exactly the right feel for our wedding. We had miniature comfort food appetizers -- sliders, grilled cheese, etc. -- and crab cakes at our sit-down dinner. And for dessert we had individual strawberry rhubarb pies that were just amazing. Guests raved that everything was delicious. Occasions was also very helpful with respect to the logistics of the event and worked with us to make sure the timing and layout were appropriate for our plans. Throughout the process, Amanda and Kate always provided quick, professional, and creative responses as the question required. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Carolyn Sent on 01/19/2011

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I loved all my vendors, but Occasions, especially Joel and Audrey, really deserve the credit for making our wedding run completely smoothly. Every little thing was handled quickly and seemingly effortlessly. The planning experience with Joel was fantastic, very professional and thorough. The most common comment about our wedding was that the food was the best they'd ever had at a wedding! We were able to take the leftovers home with us, which we relished for days. I still crave the fried chicken and braised short ribs. The service and thoughtfulness was really what set them apart, though. A wonderful woman named Robin followed us around all evening with water and our beverage of choice. They sent us on our way with a tray of champagne, cookies, cheese and other goodies. Above and beyond, this crew. Oh, and they use local ingredients as much as possible and are certified green. They were the best decision we made for our wedding. Can't recommend enough!

Jayne Sent on 12/11/2010

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Couldn't have been happier!! Thanks for everything!

Shauna Sent on 11/05/2010

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Occasions Caterers was the best vendor choice I made for my wedding. Our account representative, Megan Wilby Finnegan, was phenomenal: responsive, professional, and accommodating. The food was excellent; guests are still talking about the meal. The passed desserts after dinner were also a huge hit! I appreciated all the care that went into making our wedding event feel special, from choosing the linens to constructing a menu to having a dedicated server for each table as well as the bride and groom.

Anne Sent on 11/01/2010

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INCREDIBLE food and service and presentation were impeccable.

Marina Sent on 10/18/2010

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I have nothing but rave review for Occasions. The food was amazing, and many guests commented on how much they enjoyed the food. We had some very specific requests for the menu - Spanish food - and my Spanish family mentioned their paella was very well done. Susan was great to work with - answered many questions, checked in frequently, was extremely professional, and helped to ensure that the wedding day went off without a hitch. There was nothing about working with Occasions that didn't go well. I would highly recommend them.

Tom Sent on 09/21/2010

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We worked with Jayne and she was fantastic and came up with great ideas for our particular needs. The food was perfect, setting looked elegant, room looked immaculate. great job all around from our first interactions with her to the tasting and ultimately a perfect job done on the wedding night. Will use them exclusively in the future for any catering needs that we may have. We also use the "french service" which was recommended by Jayne and it was a huge hit with our guests. Kudos to the entire organization.

Laurie Sent on 06/17/2010

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We could not have been more pleased with Occasions. At the wedding the food and service were both top-notch and many guests commented about both. Everyone we worked with (initially Amanda and then Joel and Susan were our main contacts) was professional, pleasant, and very competent. They also made my cake (a simple design), which was lovely and tasty. Highly recommended!

Priya Sent on 12/07/2009

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Occasions provided anmazing food and service. I could not have dreamt of a better caterer! I had a specific menu in mind and they were really able to accommodate me! Thanks so much to the chef and staff.

Alex Sent on 09/30/2009

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You know how wedding food is often so-so? Well Occasions' food is not like that. Oh no. It is DELICIOUS. I agree with all the other glowing reviews: hiring Occasions was one of the best decisions we made. The food was utterly divine - simple, fresh, yummy - not just at the tasting, but on the day of our wedding too. Plus, the service was phenomenal.

We worked with Amanda, and I can't speak highly enough of her. She was sweet, helpful, professional, responsive, and on top of every detail. On the evening of our wedding, we were assigned an attentive, kind server who looked after my husband and I, plus our parents, making sure we got to try all the canapes and always had a drink. For example, after I was dancing for a bit, our server would offer me a glass of water.
Little touches like that, and the sheer attention to detail, are what makes this company so special. I was blown away by them - and would recommend Occasions 100 per cent.

Marie-Therese Sent on 08/20/2009

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Hands down, the best wedding caterer in the DC area. Their personalized service, attention to detail, and responsiveness guaranteed that our guests were taken care of. On top of all that, they created the best meal I've ever had (and I'm a foodie). The dinner we had at the wedding was as good if not better than our tasting (which is not always the case). And I found that the more detail and information I could give them ahead of time, the better things went the day of. They loved it as it allowed them to do what they do best - create the party of a lifetime.

Emily Sent on 07/14/2009

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We brought Occasions on to the team to be our caterer for our wedding. I called our contact in mid October or November and she returned my call and we had the contract signed no more than mid-December. The whole night there was a server following me around to make sure I had ample beverages and food. I was visiting with all our guests while they were eating (at about 9) and didn't return to my table until 12 where I found a plate that had been kept warm for me. All our guests commented on how delicious and amazing the entire meal from appetizers to pass desserts was. The first quote that was given to us was a little out of our reach so our contact readjusted some things and brought the price down.

I highly recommend Occasions for your big event!

Ariel Sent on 10/03/2013

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We worked with Emily and Meagan and just loved their service. They were attentive and helpful. Almost everything was as we wanted at the wedding (we wanted one item with a bit more sauce than it was served with, but this is minor), and the food was just delicious. On top of that the waiters, were the utmost professionals and provided amazing service to our guests. While we had to work with occasions a bit to get what we wanted, we are glad we did. The whole wedding was wonderful. And as requested they provided a number of Russian speaking waiters for my husband's family. This service was much appreciated by all.

Kerline Sent on 11/21/2012

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Probably not the cheapest, but absolutely professional, and great service. Occasions was our caterer for our wedding and we absolutely will recommend.

User989691 Sent on 10/25/2012

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We had a wonderful experience working with Occasions and very highly recommend them. Their food is inventive and delicious (I work in the food industry and the quality of food at our wedding was a top priority). Occasions' chef even created a signature hors d'oeuvres especially for us, based on our request. Moreover, the service was impeccable. As the bride & groom, you don't expect to eat much at your wedding, but there was a waiter next to us all night..ready with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and water at all times. The staff at Occasions are experts in their industry and you can trust that they will do a great job and take care of every detail.

Lauren Sent on 06/22/2012

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Catering was the biggest battle for me of all the vendors I had to choose. I was torn between trying to stick to a budget and trying to find a catering company that could deliver exceptional food and service. In the end, I had my options narrowed down to a budget-friendly untested caterer, a mid-priced caterer that didn't have the best service, and Occasions. While Occasions was the highest priced of my finalists, they were by no means the highest priced of the caterers we had talked to and Megan was exceptional to work with. It was the service in the early phases of interviewing caterers that was the most striking to me and ultimately cemented my decision to go with Occasions. As I was talking to Megan during our first few consultations, she was very helpful in offering suggestions of where we could scale back and where we could make the biggest impact with a little extra. I was impressed with her quick responses to e-mail and her understanding of my budget and how to make it work.
What really solidified my decision was the tasting. Megan had sample table settings prepared, the food was superb, and they even made us a "doggie bag" for my dad who was unable to attend. When I declined one of the appetizers because I don't eat cheese, Megan subtly slipped away and the rest of my dishes came out cheese free (even at the wedding). The day of the wedding everything was executed flawlessly as far as I could tell. The only thing I noticed was that some of the tables were flipped around from my seating chart, but everyone was seated with the right people which is all that really mattered. Overall, everything was great and I would definitely recommend Occasions!

Kristen Sent on 07/14/2009

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I'm so glad that we went with Occasions. We worked with Amanda and she was phenomenal. We had a hard time deciding between Festive Foods and Occasions, but Amanda was just so much more on top of things and was incredibly responsive to e-mails and calls that in the end, the decision wasn't actually that hard. We had a really great tasting (wow it was a lot of food!) and when we decided to change one of our entrees, they let us come again to try the new entree, along with all the sides that we had already decided on. Food is really important to us (we based our honeymoon completely around food!) and wedding food is so often dry because it's mass produced and reheated on site. We were worried that although the tasting was great, that the quality wouldn't hold up on the night of the wedding, but it was spectacular. The chicken and the fish were cooked perfectly, the flavors were great, and the presentation was wonderful. And again, I just can't speak highly enough of Amanda - she is wonderful to work with.

Kathleen Sent on 06/08/2009

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We loved Occasions! Megan Wilby and her team were awesome.

We got several comments at the wedding abut how good the food and service was. Everything ran so smoothly! The staff was amazing and such a pleasure to have at the wedding.

Also, they had great linens and choices for decor.

Very highly recommend!

Deborah Sent on 11/04/2008

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I was thoroughly impressed by the level of service I received from Occasions. Everything turned out amazing...from the food to the presentation. I would definitely use them again!!

John Sent on 02/10/2007

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Recommended by Bonnie Schwarz, Occasions was everything we could have hoped for. The staff was amazing, and dealt with so many of the details, including lighting, three separate locations in the house and a last minute shift indoors due to weather. The food was impeccable ... we went through three full tasting menus after narrowing down the menu from dozens of options based on what we described, and the final result, and service, couldn't be beaten ... From the soup and salad courses through desert and a late night buffet with snacks and munchies, every plate was perfect and every bite was wonderful.

Sonja Sent on 09/20/2014

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Joel Wolke and his team made our wedding a huge success. The food was absolutely wonderful--we dreamed about the trio of cold soups first course for months before the wedding and people are still talking about how they managed to serve 130 perfectly cooked steaks simultaneously. In addition to the great food, the service was top-notch, and could not have been better. They assigned a waiter to us (bride and groom) for the evening and he anticipated our every need. The price was high but not unreasonably so for what we got.

Jenfer Sent on 04/12/2012

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I could not be more pleased with Occasions and Alison Fisher, our contact there.

Planning Process -- Alison Fisher was my contact from beginning to end. I was planning my wedding from out of town and did not have a wedding planner. I needed a caterer (and contact) I could trust and who would be responsive (much of the time by email). She more than met these requirements and was super pleasant to work with (even when it came to sticky details like budget). In addition, she (and Occasions) had done a ton of events at our venue (Meridian House) and were able to give useful insights on how to run our event.

Food and Cake -- The food was phenomenal -- every single thing they served was great. I had several guests send me emails after the wedding specifically commenting on the quality of the food. We also had Occasions prepare our cake, which was a relatively simple cake decorated with fresh flowers. The cake far exceeded my expectations -- it was absolutely beautiful and I thought delicious. Furthermore, it got great reviews from our guests. I would say, however, if you are really focused on your cake design (e.g. you want some creative design, etc) it might make sense to use a separate vendor for this. However, if what you are looking for is a tasty, beautiful cake they will exceed your expectations.

Staff/Service -- The staff and service on the night of the wedding was great. The best I've ever experienced at a catered event. Our guests actually commented on how great it was -- some of them asked me at the end of the night if I had any way of providing specific feedback on the waiters and bartenders because they had been so impressed about the quality of the service. The waiters circulating all night long to make sure guests had a fresh drink, got enough food, etc. You could not have gotten better service at a top end restaurant.

Budget- I obtained proposals from four of the major DC caterers that were approved at our venue and found Occasions pricing to be very competitive. I have to say, having no experience in catering an event, when I started planning my wedding I was shocked how pricey catering can be. Therefore, I was very focused on managing the catering costs and not going over budget. I also wanted to understand upfront what the total costs would be (rentals, sales tax, staffing charges, etc. etc.). Alison and Occasions absolutely understood this concern and worked with me through out the process to find ways to manage the costs while still putting together an elegant event -- honestly, I'm not sure how it could have been any nicer.

I would recommend Occasions without reservation -- you will not be disappointed.

James Sent on 06/27/2011

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As the father of the bride i was very impressed with Matt Sipala, his professionalism, attention to detail and calm during the visit to our site, the fantastic tasting and the beautiful wedding reception itself was amazing. Occasions handled every detail perfectly, the food was delicious and varied, the tables,linens and china were beautiful and the overall effect was breath taking. My daughter and new husband were extremely happy and our younger daughter said Matt and Occasions are her go to guys when her big day comes along. Matt, thank you again for a superior job . Jim Bingnear

Karla Sent on 11/23/2010

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Occasions provided both wonderful food and service at my recent wedding. They were very attentive to all of my requests, and we recieved many compliments from our guests on both the quality of their meals and the service. They also created a beautiful wedding cake for us and provided an ice cream bar which was probably the most popular part of our entire wedding!

Missy Sent on 07/14/2009

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Occasions was wonderful. Their food is delicious and inspired. Not one of cheapest in the area. But this is a case where you "get what you pay for." Our coordinator was responsive and professional. We were very pleased.

Dan Sent on 01/08/2018

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5 out of 5 rating

Occasions catered our wedding at Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD, in October 2017. From our account managers, Sydney and Joel, to the entire wait staff, we truly cannot say enough about how wonderful they were to work with. The food was delicious (we had numerous people comment that it was the best wedding food they had ever had) and we were very impressed that there seemed to be no difference between the food we tried during our private tasting and the food that was served at the wedding. The entire staff also seemed to execute perfectly on the wedding day: tables, chairs and linens looked great, food looked (and tasted) great, and everything ran smoothly and without incident. At first, the response time over email was a little slower than we would have liked, but any concerns were very quickly alleviated as we got further along in the planning process. Occasions was definitely one of the best decisions we made.

+2 photos

User2087650 Sent on 04/05/2015

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We hired this well established caterer to provide all of the linens, chairs and food for our daughters wedding. We worked with Kate, who is a highly professional, detail oriented individual. This put our minds at ease through the entire process. The food was wonderful and the staff was very attentive.

Courtney Sent on 06/04/2012

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

They were excellent- truly did a remarkable job with the food and were very flexible to adjusting the menu or changing items at my request. Truly a class act.

Kevork Sent on 10/11/2009

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Occasions catering was nearly perfect in their food, service and presentation at our wedding. They planned and executed the menu perfectly. The salmon and steak options were both excellent. The timed presentation of the food was professional. A special treat was our cake, which we are saving to enjoy again on our anniversary!

Adrienne Sent on 11/23/2007

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

The food was great. But, they did not serve the hors d'oeuvres as well as they should have. Many people did not manage to get any or got only one or two. And, there were a couple other small things that they got wrong. The rest of the food was top notch.

Lisa Sent on 08/12/2018

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We chose Occasions Caterers for our wedding at the George Peabody Library in Baltimore. The Peabody venue has a very small preparation space with no kitchen so only 3 caterers are approved for the venue. We met with all 3 of the caterers and felt that Occasions offered the most innovative menu and the most customized bar package. We enjoyed working with Seana and Alexis to plan the event. Alexis coordinated the service on the day of the event. Although the catering service was expensive, the menu was absolutely terrific (our guests loved the food and said it was the best meal they had ever had at a wedding!) and the wait staff and table service was impeccable. We had an open bar with beer, wine, and spirits as well as a plated meal with several courses and a coffee service. We had passed hor d'oeuvres (which were amazing) during cocktail hour and passed desserts & late night snacks on the dance floor.

+2 photos

Sarah Sent on 07/19/2014

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I worked with Joel and was overall very satisfied with everything he did for us. First I will say that we had many, many guests comment on how delicious the food was - I think people were actually shocked to eat wedding food that was gourmet quality. We also had discerning guests mention how excellent the service was that night and I never heard anyone complain about difficulty with getting a drink or waiting in line. The waitstaff seemed very efficient and my husband and I were assigned a personal waiter who diligently brought us food and drinks all night.

It took me a while to pick Occasions - I looked at 4 different DC caterers and had full proposals from all of them. The cost of catering was initially staggering to me. Occasions is definitely one of the pricier caterers in the area, and the final price in the end was more than what I had hoped, but I am confident that they are worth what you pay. I worked closely with Joel in the first planning stages of our menu and he graciously handled all my requests and tweaks, even through a venue change and my wavering between a seated dinner and stations (I chose stations and am so glad we did them). He made himself available to me despite being in the midst of running to a meeting or needing to schedule an early morning Saturday call. When it got closer to the wedding he was pretty much working just with my wedding planner to iron out the last details, and while that was fine with me, there were times when I had to wait longer than I wanted for things like the invoice and final proposal. I know that Occasions has lots of different projects and clients that they juggle, so I just had to resolve to be patient, but that is my only complaint.

If you are looking for outstanding food and service from a top tier caterer, I can't recommend Joel and his team more.

Tricia Sent on 06/18/2009

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Occasions was awesome, Megan and Meg were great to work with during the preparations for our wedding, and the service the day of our reception was spectacular. We were so happy with the job they did - I highly recommend them! The food was wonderful!

Allison Sent on 07/09/2022

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Simply Delicious

Occasions food is so good. We wanted to make sure that we could accommodate all of the various dietary restrictions that our guest had. As well as make sure everyone had enough to eat. And it worked out beautifully.
From our tasting to the day of, they were really easy to work with and wanted to make sure that we ended up with the best food completely to our liking. We got to customize all of the dishes.
They also took care of all of our rentals with Table Manners- including table clothes, napkins, dishes, extra.
And even though they changed staff throughout our process, they remained easy to work with,

Katharine Sent on 01/12/2010

3.9 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Occasions was great in that we could provide our own alcohol without a corkage fee. They provided one attendant for my husband and I at the reception that was basically our own personal waitress. We had some difficulty with their cake provider in that the price was increased due to mild personalization of the cake and therefore increased the price rather than sticking to the base package price. Our catering manager was very efficient and made sure my guests were satisfied. The food was great, and the linens and chairs came out lovely.

User1602272 Sent on 04/29/2014

3.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Occasions is a good choice for weddings- they are a big catering company and know how to manage and staff a wedding or other big event. That said, they were not terribly responsive in the months leading up to our event, and guests let us know after the fact that they didn't see many passes hors d'oevres or cake. Additionally the plated dinner was acceptable but not outstanding. This was all very disappointing. Overall, sadly, I'm not sure I'd recommend Occasions.

User2532230 Sent on 02/11/2016

3.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

We worked with Alex and Seana for our wedding reception in September 2015 at the Potomac View Terrace APhA. The food was amazing and guests raved about the apps, dual entree, and cake - some saying it was the best they'd ever had at a wedding! We were able to bring in our own homebrew and the wait staff and service were outstanding. Only a couple of downsides - We had to move the band inside due to rain in the morning, but still had to pay for outdoor lights even though they weren't used. Occassions should have coordinated and communicated the timeline for decisions and expenses better. Also, while correspondence was always professional and thorough, emails generally took a week or so to get a response during the planning stages. The guests didn't notice any of it, but still something Occasions should address in the future.

Occasions Caterers Reviews

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Occasions Caterers