Old Blue BBQ Reviews
Reviews
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100 Reviews
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![Victoria]()
Victoria E. Sent on 10/11/2023Amazing food & amazing people!
Old Blue BBQ is AMAZING! Once we did our initial tasting with them, we knew we had to have them for our wedding. The staff at Old Blue are super helpful, timely with responses, and truly care about what they do. They made everything a breeze with food and tables/chairs/linens. The menu they have to choose from has a great variety. Our guests could not stop raving about the food, saying how flavorful everything was. They do all setting up and cleaning up and will help with any decor set up as well. They even have a bridal share where you can borrow decor from previous weddings so you don't have to buy everything yourself. So if you want amazing food that will keep your guests wanting more, you definitely need to go with Old Blue. -
![Katherine]()
Katherine I. Sent on 05/11/2024Old Blue BBQ Rocks!
I wasn't sure about barbecue for a wedding, but Old Blue made me a believer. They went above and beyond to curate a fantastic, delicious menu. They make by far the most amazing barbecue! Not only that, they made a special regional dish at the grooms' request, and another regional hors d'ouevre at my daughter's request (the bride). They worked very closely with us to make sure the food was exactly what we wanted. I don't know any other caterer who would even consider this!
This review is not complete without a big thank you to Keri - who helped immeasurably with decorating, and preparing for the reception - she is awesome! In fact the whole team is amazing!
They are in Alexandria, but they cover most of northern Virginia.
I highly recommend this caterer for any party or celebration!
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![Amy]()
Amy O. Sent on 11/07/2023Flexible, thoughtful, above & beyond!
Kari & her team were a great addition to my wedding vendor team. Kari was always quick to respond to emails and very helpful with any changes I need especially when it came to a fluctuating guest count last minute. She even made an additional trip to my venue pre-wedding day to make sure all the logistics were in order. My only request was that I got to eat mac and cheese on my wedding day and they absolutely delivered! The food was top notch and my guests were talking about it all weekend. Even with a buffet service, the team was kind enough to bring plates to my grandparents at the table and they packed up to to go boxes for my husband and I to eat that night. Thank you Kari and team for an excellent night! -
![Claire]()
Claire A. Sent on 10/31/2023Incredible Experience, Great Price, SO easy to work with!
We absolutely LOVED old blue! They went above and beyond on our wedding day, and with everything beforehand. We did our food tasting and walkthrough early on, so they even did a final walkthrough the week-of to make sure everything was perfect. Kari and Amanda were SO helpful. We didn't have a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, but we truly didn't need one because they were SO on top of it and extremely generous with their time and resources. They really are a full service team - they did all the decor and brought all the table linens, tables, etc. They arranged absolutely everything and made sure the transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception/dancing were perfect. They (FOR FREE) provided table decor (candles, table #s, vases) through their "Bride Share" program. We also dropped off all our own alcohol/signs/rug/welcome table stuff to their office the week before the wedding - this was SO helpful so we didn't have to bring it all to the venue ourselves. Kari in particular was SO responsive helping us plan every detail.
It goes without saying, the food was incredible! Everyone loved it (even vegetarians) and raved about it after. They staffed the bar and whole event, made sure we ate, helped with the cake cutting (we also did their dessert package and just got a small cake for the formal cutting), packed us food to go, and cleaned up everything. SO easy to work with and affordable. No stress at all. They were looking for ways to save us money and we felt like we didn't compromise anything but still got a great price. Highly recommend!!! -
![Lucy]()
Lucy S. Sent on 02/26/2023Couldn't Ask For A Better Caterer!
Old Blue BBQ was such an easy decision for our wedding catering! My older sister had used them for her wedding and we were just so impressed with their food, efficiency, organization and generosity, that my family knew we had to use them again! They had never worked at our venue before, however they were proactive and visited/met with the owners of our venue to scope out the space and make sure they were all on the same page. We were so impressed by this and knew we were in such great hands! We completely trusted Old Blue with our wedding, which relieved us from so much stress through the wedding planning process. We worked closely with both Kelly and Kari and they were both so sweet, patient, friendly, creative, fun and accommodating with our many questions and adjustments we made along the way. They were terrific from start to finish. The highlight of Old Blue is their bride share that’s included! They have so much variety of cute decor that fits any style. We received many compliments from guests on how they loved their meals. They were also very accommodating with my groom’s gluten-free needs and one of our guest’s vegan need. We just love Old Blue and plan on picking up their food for regular dinners from now on. Thank you Old Blue BBQ!!
(Photo Credit: Mel Kay Photography) -
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Megan B. Sent on 05/08/2023
So organized and on top of everything! Amazing food choices and worked with our budget!
Got married in Nov 2022. Finally getting around to writing a review. Kelly and the team at Old Blue were absolutely amazing! They worked and reworked within our budget and made changes as planning developed. They almost doubled as a planner/coordinator and helped make sure everything the day of and leading up to the big day went smoothly. Even when I sent too many emails or texts, Kelly was always on top of it. The food the day of was even better than our tasting and we were blown away at the tasting. So many items for bridal sharing we were able to save so much with their generous bridal sharing items. Top notch service, food and experience. Would HIGHLY recommend! Will likely use them for future events if the opportunity arises. -
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Keith D. Sent on 01/02/2023
Amazing food and staff!
If you’re looking for a wedding caterer pro, look no further than Old Blue. From day one, we knew we were in GREAT hands with Kelly. She was incredibly responsive immediately following our initial inquiry and provided us with sample menus and options to fit our budget. She talked with our venue to make sure we didn’t have too many staff for the space and venue, which helped reduce our overall cost. We really loved the tasting Kelly organized at Old Blue’s Headquarters. We invited our closest friends and had the opportunity to taste apps, sides, and main courses. Everything was excellent and Kelly joined to talk through options to make sure they understood exactly what we were looking for. One bonus feature is that Old Blue has a wedding share warehouse, aka “Something Borrowed,” with many donated items from previous weddings. Kelly stayed in touch as we got closer to the day and was very clear in what information they needed before the wedding day. Kelly met us at the venue for a final walkthrough and was very prepared with sample table settings and she also provided some great tips for set up and venue flow. On the day of the wedding, the staff was amazing! We did a buffet, and they made sure all our guests got their food quickly (and there was plenty for seconds). They kept everyone’s water glasses full, cleaned up the tables, and were very discreet and efficient. With that said, we had so many compliments from guests about the food! Nearly everyone we talked to said that Old Blue’s food was some of the best wedding food they’ve ever had - that was evident by the lack of leftovers we had at the end of the night. The food was absolutely delicious. We couldn't’ be happier with Old Blue BBQ and we can’t wait to go back to get some takeout. -
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Grace Sent on 12/13/2022
Amazing food at our fall brewery wedding!
We are so glad we went with Old Blue for our catering! As a foodie couple that wanted a more laid back atmosphere for our brewery wedding, one of our priorities was that food would be both delicious and plentiful, and Old Blue delivered. Multiple guests followed up with us and said that it was one of the best dinners that they've had at a wedding.
Beyond the food, Old Blue was so easy to work with from start to finish. We primarily worked with Kelly, who clearly brings a lot of love and experience to the wedding catering space. We didn't hire a day-of coordinator until later on in the process, but Kelly reassured me every step of the way, answered any questions I had, and brought up points and suggestions that I hadn't even considered. Especially when we learned our wedding forecast called for rain for our outdoor ceremony and open air reception, Old Blue jumped right in to pivot our plans to our venue's indoor space effortlessly.
Also, the bride share program that they have (where you can use decor and other wedding items from past brides) was a lifesaver. Honestly, besides a couple of photos for frames and our favors, I don't think we purchased any wedding decorations (excluding rentals like linens and florals, but they also have a selection of fake greenery / flowers). Even though Old Blue's total cost (including the cost of food, setup & teardown, service throughout the night, and rentals) was a little higher than two other BBQ-focused vendors that we reached out to, with the planning & prep they provided and the savings from the bride share program, they are 100% worth it, and likely more cost-effective than a "traditional" wedding catering company.
When I started wedding planning, one piece of advice that I got was "Take time to choose your caterer. A good caterer is worth its weight in gold." Old Blue definitely matches this description, and I would happily recommend them to any friend of mine! -
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![Tawana]()
Tawana P. Sent on 12/21/2022Look no further!! Old Blue BBQ is the one!
Kelly and the Old Blue BBQ Team is AMAZING! I highly recommend you hire them for your next event. I hired Old Blue BBQ for my wedding. From our first interaction, she has been great to work with. Starting with the tasting, my husband (fiance at the time) is disabled and wheelchair-bound. For our tasting, instead of us coming to them, they came to us and we had a tasting in our home! Their food was soooo delicious. And I can confirm it wasn’t just delicious at the tasting, it was delicious on our wedding day. Our guests loved and raved about the food!! The entire team was great. Great customer service. Friendly to work with. Extremely knowledgable. They can truly double as a caterer and wedding planner. They even have a bride share program where you can use décor leftover from previous events for your special day, free of charge! Kelly's communication is great! She is so responsive. I highly recommend them for your special day. Thank you, Kelly, and your amazing Old Blue BBQ team! You made my special day a success. If you are reading this comment, look no further and contact Old Blue BBQ for your event. I promise you will not be disappointed. -
![Lindsay]()
Lindsay C. Sent on 07/26/2022Book old blue bbq now!
Old Blue BBQ was AMAZING! I cannot say enough amazing things about them and how awesome they were on wedding day. Kelly and her team literally crushed it! Food was amazing, the catering team and set-up team was amazing, and they have a Bride Share program where brides donate decor and then you can use it for your wedding! Kelly was beyond amazing and helpful and helped me make our wedding vision come to life. They set up the signature drink table and I just loved it so so much! Everyone absolutely loved old blue bbq and we received so many compliments on how great they are!!! Please please please book Old Blue BBQ for your big day! -
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Anna P. Sent on 05/22/2022
Incredible Expereince with Old Blue!
The Old Blue team was amazing to work with, from the tasting to the final hours of the reception. We loved working with Kelly and her team, who accommodated my food allergies and created the most delicious buffet. We knew from the moment we left the tasting that we had to go with Old Blue. Kelly went above and beyond with her bridal share decor items that added so much to our wedding. They were so flexible and made sure everything matched our vision! Details like the lemonade bar were such a hit with guests, especially those pregnant/not drinking alcohol. We can't wait for our next life event to work with them again! -
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![Hunter]()
Hunter Sent on 10/15/2021Just amazing!
Amazing! Kelly and the rest of the team were top notch people. The food was so good and the staff was on point at every step of the process. Hands down, if you are looking for a wedding caterer, this needs to be at the top of your list. The go above an beyond to make sure your day is what you dreamed it would be. -
![Kiana]()
Kiana S. Sent on 10/30/2021Great full-service catering!
OBBQ staff are professionals with years of experience in the industry and you can tell! Thanks to them, our wedding was a huge success. They were so helpful during our wedding planning process and everything they did was so thoughtful and for the benefit of making sure our wedding day went well. The food was fantastic, bar service, set up and breakdown, everything. They were so accommodating and great to work with! -
![Sarah]()
Sarah H. Sent on 10/19/2021Best decision
Old Blue BBQ was our first and only catering trial. Upon our taste test, we knew these were the folks! Aside from the food being amazing, the staff is so knowledgable and helpful it will really put so many of your wedding stressors at bay. Kari and then Kelly knew it all, answered all of my 38472938 questions, helped with the floor plans, had a wonderful day-of team...I could go on. Hire Old Blue if you love good food and want to have peace of mind on your special day. -
![Cami]()
Cami Sent on 10/11/2021The BEST, most hard-working team of people!
Old Blue BBQ was the BEST choice for our wedding catering! From day one, after our first phone call, we knew we had found a special team, special food, and special fun! They have so much experience working with the venues in the area as well as catering itself which helped us tremendously with so many of our decisions. Kari and Kelly were beyond helpful, friendly, fun, understanding, patient, and accommodating with our many questions, changes, and individual needs. We love them! We trusted them wholeheartedly and were so excited that they were a part of our day! The bridal share inclusion is one of the most unique and beneficial aspects of Old Blue BBQ. Any bride-to-be would fall in love with their adorable decor! Our guests raved about the meal and we plan on picking up their food on the regular from now on. Thank you and love you Old Blue BBQ! -
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![Jess]()
Jess W. Sent on 05/24/2021Out of This World BBQ
We used Old Blue for our minimony last year (7/20) and for our rehearsal dinner for our big wedding this year (5/21) and both times did not disappoint! Kari is extremely responsive and helpful anytime we had a question or needed to change something. The food is PHENOMENAL... some of the best BBQ and mac n' cheese I've ever had in my life. 10/10 would recommend! -
![Lucy]()
Lucy M. Sent on 08/16/2021You Can't Go Wrong!
I don't even know how to start this review because words can't describe how much I loved working with Old Blue BBQ for our wedding. Not only was the food delicious (so many people told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had - including vegetarians and vegans) but Kelly and Kari made the process SO SEAMLESS!
We has to reschedule our wedding due to Covid, and the team was so accommodating with switching venues, dates and menus since we went from a fall to summer menu - they even let us come in to do another tasting! Not only were they incredible caterers, but they also acted as partial wedding planners as well, assisting and making suggestions for our with our timeline, table decor, etc. etc. Don't hesitate - hire Old Blue BBQ!! -
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![Lauren]()
Lauren O. Sent on 06/23/2020High Praises (and great beans!)
If I could safely fly to a mountain without worrying about a global pandemic, I would do so just to stand on that mountain and proclaim my appreciation for Old Blue. I don’t mean to be hyperbolic, but working with Old Blue (Kari, specifically) has been the only non-stressful experience in the entire wedding planning process.
My fiancé and I (and my fiancé’s parents) arranged a tasting before deciding on the menu and, let me tell you, the peach bourbon beans alone had me sold. Obviously I’m excited to marry my fiancé, but I think the both of us are secretly just as excited for the beans.
Kari was very friendly, walked us through the catering process, and generally went above and beyond to accommodate us. Kari offered to let us borrow wedding decor/signage Old Blue had collected from former weddings, transport additional decor/props to the venue in their truck, helped us save money, and answered the phone every single time we called, which has not been the case for some of our other vendors...
When COVID-19 cases began to rise, my fiancé and I waffled about whether to push our wedding date (to no one’s surprise, rescheduling is so stressful) and Kari suggested that, for our own peace of mind, we book an alternative date. We’re currently in the process of postponing our wedding from October 2020 to 2021, and have had a difficult time getting in contact with some of our vendors. But Old Blue has been with us every step of the way (and some of those steps have been wobbly), and we will prioritize a date that works for them. We cannot wait to have Old Blue at our TBD wedding. And those beans!! :)
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