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Just Said Yes October 2023

Wedding caterer - disappointed in quality

Maryam, on February 23, 2023 at 3:16 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 4

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I would like advice on how to work with the event planning and catering company hosting my wedding.

I booked my venue through an all-inclusive wedding package. The venue is beautiful and the company staff have been excellent. I work 80+ hours a week so an all-inclusive package was the best fit for me. I had read a lot of great reviews about the company, in particular about their caterer.
The company just held an event tasting and the food was unfortunately completely lacking in quality. The meat was dry, everything was salty, and the fish was old. I actually felt sick after the tasting, most likely from the fish. The appetizer and dessert tables had very quality items. I was pretty disappointed after this, and have been trying to be more reasonable about expectations for the quality of food at the wedding.
I reached out to the venue and they said they would be happy to hear feedback and the actual items. They also said I could bring in outside dessert but for a per person fee.
I will leave them feedback about the items we are ordering on our menu and make suggestions for where they might be able to source crackers, cheese, etc for the appetizer table. I will pay the fee and bring in our own dessert.
However, I feel pretty disappointed and am wondering if the company should showing more accountability over the food. Is it fair to pay a fee to bring in our own desserts when theirs don’t meet a minimum standard of quality?
I wanted to ask if someone has had a similar experience and how they dealt with it. Again, the staff are excellent and I am having my wedding at their venue, at the end of the day. I want to navigate this tactfully. Thank you for your help!

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4 Comments

Latest activity by David, on December 11, 2025 at 10:28 AM

CM · on February 23, 2023 at 4:29 PM
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The quality of the food was important to us. When we were serious about a venue we asked to have a tasting before signing a contract. We had to put down a deposit for the tasting but when we moved forward it was applied toward the affair. TBH, if this had happened to me, I'd be looking for another venue. It wouldn't sit well with me that they aren't trying to work with you.
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Super September 2023
Kimberly · on February 23, 2023 at 5:28 PM
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Is there any way you can reach out to some of the couples who already had their wedding and left a positive review? While the venue should be putting just as much effort into the tasting as they do for the actual event, since it’s all-inclusive and they don’t really have to win you over, maybe there’s a dip in quality. I doubt the venue is going to waive fees for outside vendors if that’s what in your contract, but I would tactfully yet assertively express your disappointment in the tasting, especially since it affected everything and not just one food. I would express that you’re very concerned about what this means for the quality of the food at your wedding and at least request a second tasting so you can determine if this was just a bad day. Even if they charge for the second tasting, it’s probably worth it.
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VIP August 2021
Michelle · on February 23, 2023 at 6:36 PM
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I think they are working with you on this as they asked for specific feedback so let them know about dry proteins, Concerns on mass production,etc. Discuss options. Other couples have been disappointed with the group tasting and paid for a second tasting and it worked out. You pay because they take that time for you. The outside dessert fee could be negotiable and you can ask if they'd work with you. Good luck.
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Champion December 2022
Michelle · on February 24, 2023 at 3:23 PM
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Unfortunately this is how all inclusive venues do their catering. They require you to book the venue first and do not allow catering tastings before that time. With a regular caterer that goes to a blank slate venue allows you to taste before you book and has nothing to do with the venue contract. Also, with the all inclusive, because you are not allowed to taste before you book, unfortunately you are stuck if you don’t like the food. A lot of the review sites, with Yelp and GoogleMaps being unbiased, are deceptive because the vendor may remove the review if it is not glowing 5 stars, and every couple/family has different tastes/preferences of food. That is where potential couples get the idea that the food is awesome when it may not be in reality. A fair number of couples who have posted in the past said that their all inclusive catering was not all that. Unfortunately when you spend the 5-6 figure minimum for food/drinks alone that is never mentioned during the walk through, and sometimes never until the contract is signed, you expect better food but that isn’t always the case and nothing you can do.
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