Bringing your events to life.
$6,500 starting price
Serving Chicago Metro Area and Suburbs
Service area
AWARD WINNER (12X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Catered by Design brings your wedding to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. Our creative and friendly team of event specialists will be with you every step of the way so that you can enjoy your special day with total confidence and peace of mind.
While we can answer general inquiries, using a digital storefront does not allow our sales team to receive and get the most accurate information to help with getting your proposal and information for your big day. Please visit our contact form for you to get a response from a sales team member. Our contact form can be found on our website.
For more information around your big day and the process of working with a catering company, please feel free to visit our weddings page to help get you started and answer some questions that you may have.
Here at Catered by Design, we look forward to bringing your big day to life.
What You'll Love About Catered by Design
These professionals can offer the most delicious and fresh fare that will bring your wedding celebrations to the next level. Past clients have recommended this catering company for their attentive service, seamless execution, and overall memorable dining experience. Check out their reviews or photo gallery to see the kinds of gorgeous dishes they could cook up for your big day,
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Details
Cuisine
American
Indian
Italian
Mexican
Seafood
Specialty
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Halal
Kosher
Nut Free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Chef Stations
Family Style
Menu Tastings
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Sam Gray
President
Starting in his grandmother's kitchen as just a young kid, working up into Executive Chef positions at multiple restaurants and opening a few of his own, Sam has a lifetime of experience under his belt. Deciding to settle down over 17 years ago and began his journey with CBD, he has built a loyal team to create and serve thousands of food & event seeking clients. As President and Owner of Catered by Design, he still finds time for a round of golf or attending an Escoffier dinner.
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Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0221 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Catered by Design consistently receives glowing reviews for their wedding catering services. Erin, Rachel, and the entire team are praised for their professionalism, flexibility, and attention to detail. Guests raved about the delicious food, attentive staff, and seamless execution during weddings. The communication, personalized service, and ability to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies are widely appreciated. Couples highly recommend Catered by Design for their top-notch service and exquisite culinary experience.Review photos
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Kimika P
Highlighted review.
5.0
7/03/2024
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!!
Katie J
5.0
4/17/2025
We have nothing but positive things to say about working with Catered by Design for our wedding! Erin was wonderful throughout the whole planning process, and the whole team helped create the perfect catering experience for us. We already knew going in they were amazing, but our guests have been sharing rave reviews on how our wedding food is the best they’ve ever had! We also used their bartending services, with each drink made perfectly. Highly recommend Catered By Design for any of your catering needs!!
Any questions?
Leah N
5.0
2/15/2025
Catered by Design is amazing. Matt is so friendly and helpful. Our food was great, we received lots of compliments. The staff was fantastic during our wedding and so helpful! We had an absolute blast! They provided alcohol as well, we did run out of a few things but all in all a great night!
Lilly N
5.0
12/27/2024
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.
Nichole B
5.0
12/21/2024
Catered by design was one of my best choices on my wedding day! The guests have not stopped raving about the food and our specialty drink, an espresso martini! They were so thorough, helpful, professional, and kind throughout the entire wedding process! I 1000% recommend them to all couples looking for great food, great staff, and a great experience!
Matthew S
5.0
11/06/2024
Catered By Design was one of the most critically important vendors we ended up working with for our wedding! Every part of the collaboration process was so seamless, artfully approached, and gracefully executed. We worked closely with Erin who brought such a lovely energy to our meetings. We were absolutely floored by the quality and flavor in everything from our initial tasting to our reception desserts! It's been a month, and we are still hearing from our guests how much they loved the hors d'oeuvres and how tasty their meal was, something most people forget about weddings they attend. You cannot go wrong with Catered By Design; they will leave you happy and carefree on your wedding day and leave your guests with full bellies and memories of one of the greatest culinary experiences they've had at a wedding!
Julia S
5.0
11/03/2024
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.
Colleen H
5.0
10/29/2024
Worked with Erin at Catered By Design for our wedding and were so happy with how everything went. From our tasting, to helping with the setup/organization, to the event, communication was great and they helped make everything work how we had hoped. The food was delicious, so many of our guests were telling us about how much they loved everything from the appetizers during cocktail hour to the desserts and late night snacks. We are so happy with our choice to have them for our wedding and would definitely recommend them!
Kelly B
5.0
10/17/2024
We used Catered by Design for our wedding day this past Friday. We worked with Rachel for the entire process and I cannot thank her enough! She communicated well and answered any questions we had. Our food was amazing in every way! Our guests have been raving about the food and how wonderful the entire CBD team was the entire evening. Thank you again!
Sheilya H
5.0
10/11/2024
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 was 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!
Fiona W
5.0
10/03/2024
Catered by Design was an absolute highlight of our wedding. Beginning with Rachel, who was so flexible with us in scheduling, and rescheduling..and rescheduling our tasting, to Aukse who went so far above and beyond on our wedding day. Rachel was so kind and patient in the planning process and the tastings were set up with so many custom touches. She worked with us on our tablescapes and helped settle on beautiful satin tablecloths/napkins that added a stunning level of elegance to our set up. All of the food options were so delicious that it made it hard to decide, I was so excited for our wedding so that we could eat the food again! Aukse made sure that my husband and I got some of everything served- I have heard so many stories of couples who did not eat on their wedding day and she made sure we ate the hors d'oeuvres, multiple plates of food, and desserts. I was, of course, very emotional throughout the evening and she stepped in to cheer me up and helped me to gather myself. The servers passed the hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour and our guests were so impressed with the service throughout the evening, the food was somehow even better than at the tasting. Everyone has continued to rave about them, and we even joked about having to get married a second time so that we can have them cater again!
Kristie V
5.0
10/03/2024
Catered by Design was great! Highly recommend getting the Mediterranean Chicken as one of your meal options because all my guests LOVED it. And the mashed potatoes were a huuuuuge hit! I wasn't expecting the food to be as good as it was on the actual wedding day as it was at the tasting, but it was almost exactly the same. Rachel was amazing to work with, and I'd be happy to work with her again :)
Taylor T
5.0
9/30/2024
Start to finish professionalism and elegance! Food is spectacular, they are the easy choice for catering a wedding. We worked closely with Rachel who was so fabulous. She ensured all our needs were met and honestly took on the role of coordinator a bit! Love her and the team!
Lauren M
5.0
9/25/2024
CBD was WONDERFUL to work with for our September wedding! Rachel is organized, kind, and really understood the food and environment we wanted to create for our guests. Some of our guests' favorites were: the artichoke hearts au gratin (don't sleep on this - it's incredible), cheesecake lollipops and of course the wine tree (such a hit)! On the day of, Laura really took the time to make sure we were well taken care of and got to try all of our food - from all of the appetizers in the room after the ceremony, to putting dessert and late night food at our table when we got a break from dancing. The CBD team really felt like family and the food is delicious - would highly recommend!
Danielle M
5.0
9/22/2024
My husband and I got married at Rockwell on the River in Avondale where Catered by Design was listed as a pre-approved vendor. We explored them as well as a few other options and we are BEYOND pleased with our decision to go with CBD. Erin and her team were extremely professional, responsive to emails, and helpful during the planning process. Not only did the food turn out excellent (which can be difficult when producing in mass portions) but Erin and her team went above and beyond to help set out all of our decor on the day of the wedding. This was a huge weight off our shoulders especially due to us not having a day-of wedding planner. We cannot recommend Catered by Design enough!
Meagan S
5.0
8/23/2024
Absolutely thrilled with the experience we had with Catered by Design! From start to finish, everything was perfect. Each dish was not only beautifully presented but also a delight to the palate. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the appetizers & the hot dogs as a late night snack—it was the highlight of the evening!
The team was incredibly professional and attentive, seamlessly handling all our requests and making sure everything ran smoothly. Their attention to detail and genuine enthusiasm for their craft truly shone through, making our special day even more memorable. We worked with Rachel from the start who was incredibly accommodating and such a delight.
We couldn’t have asked for a better catering experience. If you’re looking for top-notch service, exquisite food, and a touch of elegance, Catered by Design is the way to go. Highly recommended!
Katie T
5.0
8/02/2024
Highest recommendation!!! Rachel was fantastic to work week. So kind, professional, organized, and great with communication. No issues from start to finish. The team was top notch on the day of the wedding & truly went above and beyond our expectations
Peter M
5.0
7/26/2024
Rachel and her team at Catered by Design are fantastic; truly, the best of the best! We booked Catered by Design a little over a year before our wedding and Rachel was amazing throughout the entire process, including tastings, finalizing the menu and floor plan for the venue, answering our (many) questions, and more. We would recommend Catered by Design to anyone getting married or hosting any other event. We are truly grateful!
Melanie R
5.0
7/22/2024
The food, service and communication were fantastic. Rachel made the planning process seamless and we received so many compliments about the food after dinner. Definitely the best wedding food I have had. Highly recommend Catered By Design!
Olivia M
5.0
7/22/2024
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!!!
Moodjalin S
5.0
7/20/2024
Catered by Design is an excellent company! They were a pleasure to work with for our wedding. Erin helped us so much with the event coordination.
The day of the wedding, rain forced us to move the ceremony inside at the last minute, but CBD staff was so helpful with setting everything up inside so quickly. All our guests were very complimentary about the food and service at the wedding. The staff was amazing! We were very impressed. Izzy is a great captain.
Danielle S
5.0
4/01/2024
We used CBD for our wedding. They were amazing. Rachel was super easy to work with and communication was great. We loved the tasting and the food on the big day was just as good. We had many guests tell us how much they enjoyed their food. Would use them again!
Meiqing F
5.0
1/01/2024
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 V
5.0
12/13/2023
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.
Maya S
5.0
11/05/2023
Hire them if you can!!! We had a unique vision for our wedding food, and Catered by Design was extraordinarily accommodating in bringing it to life. Their service was impeccable and made our day stress-free. Rachel and the team made sure we were only brought in when our input was needed and were always a step ahead in the planning process. This is a team of great people and true professionals.
Kyle D
5.0
10/09/2023
Rachel and the team at Catered by Design were so wonderful to work with and made our wedding experience seamless and stress-free. They made recommendations when we asked, but also let us offer our opinions and really brought our vision to life. Our guests raved about the food and overall, we highly recommend them. We'll for sure be keeping the team in mind for any future catering event. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Julie S
5.0
10/08/2023
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 B
5.0
10/03/2023
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.
Christian L
5.0
9/19/2023
Catered By Design truly exceeded our expectations at The Luse Companies' 100th Anniversary party! With 250 guests gathered on the 99th Floor of the iconic Willis Tower, we needed exceptional catering, and they delivered flawlessly.
From the moment we began planning, their team demonstrated unmatched professionalism and attention to detail. The food selection was exquisite, offering a delightful array of flavors that left our guests raving about every dish. The presentation was equally impressive, adding a touch of elegance to the event.
The staff's service was impeccable, ensuring that every guest felt well taken care of throughout the evening. Their seamless coordination made our celebration feel effortless.
Catered By Design played an integral role in making this milestone event a resounding success. We couldn't be happier with their service, and we highly recommend them for any occasion. Thank you for making our 100th Anniversary party at the Willis Tower an unforgettable experience!
Kristina M
5.0
9/06/2023
We loved working with Catered by Design! Rachel was so helpful and easy to work with! Not only did she help us make great food choices, Rachel helped us pick out great linens and glassware that really created a great ambiance for our room! We also got so many compliments on our food from our guests!
Jesse L
5.0
8/24/2023
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.
Jackie A
5.0
8/21/2023
Catered by Design (CBD) did an incredible job at our wedding this past June. The food was amazing -- guests are still obsessed and talking about the tiny chorizo tacos during cocktail hour! CBD were amazing to work with --professional, very responsive, friendly. I'm so happy we chose them to cater at our wedding and we would definitely recommend them. Shout-out to Rachel for helping make our big day a success, and shout-out to the incredible wait staff and captain that worked our wedding. They were fantastic and always made sure we had everything we needed.
Debbie V
5.0
8/14/2023
I don't even know where to begin with our rave review for Catered by Design. From our initial meeting and tasting, throughout the entire planning process and the actual wedding day, Catered by Design is TOP NOTCH.
My daughter is a "foodie" and having delicious food was so important to us for her wedding. My daughter stumbled upon Catered by Design and it literally was the BEST decision to hire them for her wedding.
We worked with Rachel throughout the planning process. she was professional, knowledgeable, detail oriented and great with communication.
The food is not your typical "wedding food" at all!! It is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!
We literally had such a hard time narrowing down our choices for appetizers, main entrees and desserts! (A lot of our friends just couldn't get enough of those potato cups so I would highly recommend those! LOL)
I was loving working with CBD so much that we actually ended up hiring them for my daughter's bridal shower food, too. They went above and beyond to accommodate what my vision was for the shower food.
On their actual wedding day the food was AMAZING (just like we had sampled at our tastings)! We received so many compliments on the food. Not only is the food incredible, but the presentation of the food is beautiful (and it was served HOT which I know isn't always the case at big events like weddings).
The staff from the chef to the servers were absolutely extraordinary. My family commented how attentive the staff was to refilling water glasses to taking away dirty dishes.
I have nothing but WONDERFUL things to say about CBD.
It is extremely stressful to find wedding vendors and especially a caterer (food is such an important part of a wedding!) who you can trust and know will make your wedding day "perfect".
I can guarantee you that using Catered by Design is the BEST decision to guarantee delicious food and amazing service. We have received so many compliments on the food and I have said we hired the "A Team." Catered by Design was a huge part of why our daughter & son-in-law's wedding was such a success.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, RACHEL AND THE ENTIRE CATERED BY DESIGN TEAM.
We are truly indebted...
Karishma D
5.0
7/31/2023
Very professional, loved the options they offered us, service was great, the food was delicious, the staff was on top of every little detail. Thank you!
Jennifer M
5.0
7/24/2023
We used Catered by Design for our wedding caterers and they were fantastic! Rachel was our point of contact and managed our requests and changes with ease. The day of Laura was our captain and everything ran smoothly and efficiently! They have a wide range of option to choose from and everything was delicious. We received so many compliments on the food and bev. I highly recommend!
Rachel H
5.0
7/21/2023
We had a great experience working with Catered by Design for our wedding. Matt was very friendly and professional, and communicated promptly. They have a large and varied menu to choose from. The tasting was a nice experience. And when we changed our minds about the vegetarian entree, we were able to sample another option by picking it up like a take-out order.
On the day of the wedding, the catering staff was very courteous and efficient, and they moved so fast setting everything up when our ceremony had to be moved inside due to lightning! My husband and I really felt like they had things under control, so that we could just focus on what we needed to do.
The food was delicious, and we loved the watermelon agua fresca that they made as our signature mocktail. We particularly appreciated that they had packed up the leftover cake so that we could take it home at the end of the night. Also, one of the catering staff brought us some appetizers while we were taking photos during the cocktail hour. We're not sure if anyone asked them to do that, but it was a great idea, at any rate.
Megan T
5.0
7/04/2023
Catered By Design was one of the recommended caterers by our venue; we are so glad we worked with them. The food was fantastic (even at our tasting), and they gave us exactly what we wanted. My husband specifically requested a pizza station in our buffet, and they made it happen. The staff was friendly and very professional the day of, making sure we had everything we needed. They did a great job working with our venue to make sure tables and the small details were put together. I will say they are on the pricier side, but it was well worth it for the amount of work they put in.
Erin M
5.0
6/29/2023
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.
Soobin L
5.0
6/25/2023
Wedding was perfect! The team and service was outstanding! Thank you for making our night special, Catered by Design team, especially Erin, Shannon, and Sofy.
Michelle M
5.0
6/15/2023
I have used Catered by Design for years for family Christmas Dinner parties and parties at my home. I would never consider using another Caterer.
Catered by Design just catered my daughter's wedding. It was spectacular!!!!! The compliments from our guests all night long about the quality of the food, presentation, taste and professionalism of the staff. Everything was impeccable! Rachel and Jen were outstanding to work with. I am a perfectionist and they hit all the marks. Catered provided food with drop off services to my home the day after the wedding for a party at our home. Everything was great again!!!!!
The staff are so easy to work with and willing to work within your budget. The tasting for the wedding was a really wonderful event. It was like having a little dinner party at their office. The staff at the wedding were so polite. Our Caption, Auske, at the wedding was incredible to work with. She led her troops with professionalism and kindness. It was truly and amazing evening
Catered By Design allowed me to relax and enjoy my daughter's wedding. I was confident that everything was handled! I would give them more stars if it was available.
Thank you Rachel and Jen and your staff for all your hard work on my daughter's special day!!!!!
Sarah R
5.0
6/01/2023
We used Catered by Design as our caterer for our wedding over Memorial Day Weekend at Community House in Winnetka. We worked with Rachel throughout the entire process and she was INCREDIBLE. She was extremely responsive, accommodating, helpful, and just overall a pleasure to work with over 1.5 years of planning. Our guests loved the food, we switched things up and did taco stations with a churro bar and they were both huge hits! The serving staff were very nice and professional, I highly recommend their services.
Sara M
5.0
5/23/2023
We are so grateful to have found Catered by Design for our annual scholarship fundraiser at Roycemore School! The food was wonderful - it fit our theme perfectly, and I cannot say enough about the staff. It might be the first time in my 22 years as a fundraising event planner that I did not worry for a second that things were going smoothly. As one will do when planning events like these, we are always double-checking. As the evening went on, I didn't have to. I never had to look for my event manager - she found me. I never had to pick up a glass or a napkin. The food was all the right temperature and vibe for our event. I cannot recommend this company enough!
Amber & David F
5.0
3/12/2023
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.
Gina B
5.0
1/17/2023
Catered by Design did an AMAZING job for our wedding. The food was delicious, with so many options from our tasting it was hard to choose! The appetizers were wonderful and they even brought out our own custom Paletas cart at the end of the night. Thank you Catered by Design!!
Bess F
5.0
12/22/2022
We were so incredibly happy with Catered by Design for our 225 person wedding! Matt was so easy to work with and so helpful. Very on top of his game. Going into wedding day, I had no nerves when it came to catering! The food itself was delicious- we received many compliments during and after the wedding. And staff was top notch. Would book again!
Victoria L
5.0
11/19/2022
Rachel and the staff were amazing! They were so professional and did a fantastic job with our wedding. Rachel and everyone were so organized and had everything planned out super well. The food was wonderful and all our guests enjoyed it. Definitely would recommend!
Leah B
5.0
11/09/2022
Legitimately the best experience I've ever had. Mind you, this was my first time having to hire caterers for any event, but the whole process was seamless with Catered By Design. Our point of contact, Matt, helped us through the whole process. Prices are totally reasonable and there's so many options for food. Everyone at my wedding was praising the food and saying how it was the first time they genuinely enjoyed wedding food. Couldn't have gone a better route with them.
Mark I
5.0
11/08/2022
Incredible catering company. The service, food, and the organization were impeccable.
Camille S
5.0
11/08/2022
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.
Anthony B
5.0
11/01/2022
Amazing. The food was a massive hit at our wedding and we're still receiving compliments. Catered by Design was fantastic to work with and extremely flexible (we had some last minute cancellations and they were very accommodating) plus for the amount of people, food, and bar package they were very reasonably priced. Look no further than Catered by Design to cater your upcoming wedding.
Lindsay S
5.0
10/17/2022
Rachel at Catered by Design was an
Absolute dream to work with. I didn’t have a wedding planner and honestly with Rachel by my side I didn’t need one. The food was out of this world, she listened to our vision and ran with it. The day of crew was amazing, Aukse knew exactly what we needed, when we needed it. We were so busy talking and having fun that we as the married couple didn’t have time to eat but Aukse saved us food which made the after event extra special. She took care of last minute changes without hesitation and was just the BEST! I could rant and rave all day about catered by design, they definitely made our wedding a day our friends and family will never forget. “The wedding of the century” is what our friends keep telling us and we thank catered by design!
Marla M
5.0
10/13/2022
My daughter was married in August at The Bridgeport Art Center - Skyline Loft. We are so happy that we chose Catered By Design to be on our team! Rachel was extremely organized and easy to work with. She asks the right questions, and really listens. She gave us great advice for the layout and the flow of the evening. I felt confident with their team during the planning stages and my expectations were exceeded the night of the wedding. The event was expertly managed by Aukse. She and her staff did an amazing job. The food was nicely plated and tasted good too. Many guests raved about the creative and delicious appetizers and were surprised to learn that they (like all the entrees) were gluten free. Catered By Design pays attention to details! Servers were well informed and attentive. Many thanks to Catered By Design and the staff.
Kaitlin T
5.0
9/30/2022
Catered by Design is AMAZING! One of our best decisions for our wedding was choosing this team! Rachel was extremely helpful and a great communicator through our entire planning process. The team the day of was great - very attentive. And last but not least - the food is incredible! We can't say enough good things - we are truly so thankful for our experience!
sarah p
5.0
9/30/2022
We have used Catered by Design for our wedding/reception this past week. I only have nice things to say about them and their professional service. From the beginning to the end of the process, it was a smooth yet exciting experience with them. When we went for a tasting, we thought we were at the 5 star restaurant. It really was a great experience which led us to go with them right away without any further hesitation. And I have to say, THE FOOD IS AMAZING. Not only the presentation is beautiful, but the taste alone will be able to impress everyone at the event. Also they were very familiar with our venue - The Grove- and had a whole PPT ready for us. They were always on top of their events and very prompt with our last minute requests as well. We are very thankful that they made our day flawless and we got non stop compliments from our guests about how great food was. We actually added a Sundae bar at the end of the wedding- this was a hit. Everyone loved every single bite they took!
I highly recommend Catered by Design to anyone planning any type of events. Great food and great service!
Rebecca B
5.0
9/25/2022
Working with Catered By Design for our wedding reception was an absolute pleasure. From the initial tasting experience with our mothers to the perfectly executed day-of service; Catered By Design didn’t disappoint any step along the way. Our primary contact, Matt Gray, was extremely responsive (less than an hour) to emailed questions and requests. As if sharing his years of expertise to help us curate a stunning menu wasn’t enough, Matt went above and beyond and created an entire floor plan for our wedding reception after we struggled to make optimal use of the space. The food preparation and serving staff were efficient, courteous, and professional on the day of our event which was a pleasant experience for our guests. Not only did our booking with Catered By Design include a gourmet menu, but also glassware, linen, bartenders, and serving staff that had to arrange themselves at a third-party, outdoor venue. Despite the extra challenges posed by our reception location, Catered By Design offered us a pricing package that rivaled or beat the prices quoted to us by more traditional, fixed-site reception ballrooms at hotels and golf courses. My wife and I highly recommend considering this caterer as a top contender for anyone looking to plan a large event while minimizing stress and frustration.
Shana L
5.0
9/08/2022
I am SO happy we chose Catered By Design for our wedding - from the beginning of our planning last fall, Rachel J. and the rest of the team (Erin, Sofy, chef!, all the serving staff, and even the other office admins) were so kind and easy to work with. We felt confident we were in good hands and we were! Through the first intro calls, to the menu review (there are so many delicious options) and tasting (and second tasting when we had some requests for changes!) all the way through the big day, the Catered By Design team was helpful, thoughtful, responsive, professional, and the food was amazing! We are still hearing back from guests about how delicious everything was including "best salad i've ever had at a wedding or anywhere else!" and rave reviews about all of our entrees. Thank you Rachel & Catered By Design for being such a huge and perfect part of our big day!
Laura S
5.0
8/31/2022
More than just a Caterer, they helped us plan our entire Wedding! We hired Catered By Design for our outdoor Sunday Brunch Wedding event at The Grove, located in Glenview, IL. Rachael worked with Erin helping us figure out the Menu, Time Line and Table Arrangement. It could not have gone better. About 2 months before the event, Erin put together a tasting for us and 2 guests. We quickly found out how amazing their food was. It was not like normal wedding food, we found it to be more of a high end restaurant quality. From the beginning to the end they were on top of everything. Everyone complimented us the day of our Wedding on the great food, it was truly exceptional.
Jane K
5.0
8/13/2022
Catered by Design is the best! They catered our wedding in August 2022 at the Bridgeport Art Center and everything was perfect. Rachel and team went above and beyond. The food was amazing, the service was impeccable, and they truly made our day feel special. Our guests were raving about how kind and quick the staff was. We worked with Rachel and she intently listened to all of our wishes and offered so many great insights and ideas. Highly recommend!
Lindsay B
5.0
7/24/2022
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!
Bekah V
5.0
7/21/2022
Catered By Design was everything we could have asked for and more! The food was delicious, the staff was helpful and attentive throughout the entire planning process and on the day of the wedding too. One of our guests told us afterwards that the dinner was one of the best meals he had ever had at a wedding. I highly recommend Catered By Design!
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9204 Waukegan Rd., Morton Grove, IL
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