Constantly Creative. Experiences Reimagined.
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Catering by Design is an internationally recognized, award-winning Denver, CO-based wedding caterer and décor company. We specialize in executing highly customized event experiences, including catering, décor, and picnics. After 25 years in business, we do it right.
We create original, innovative catering menus and event design concepts and cultivate a professional team of pioneers in our industry. We are the leading company for noteworthy events in the Denver catering and events scene, Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs, and beyond!
Let us provide you with creative and bespoke wedding catering, ensuring your special day is unique and personal so you can enjoy it in every way. Whether you need catering services or want to include decor, floral, and customized embellishments, we are your catering company to curate a memorable event that you both will remember fondly and cherish as one of the best days of your life.
Woman-owned Business
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Details
Cuisine
American
Fusion
Italian
Latin American
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Kosher
Nut Free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Chef Stations
Family Style
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.088 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.
Catering by Design received glowing reviews from multiple happy customers for their exceptional food, service, and professionalism at various events, including weddings. Reviewers praised the delicious food offerings, personalized menu designs, and attentive staff, with special mentions of Chelsea, Rachel, Amanda, Alycen, and other team members for their outstanding service. Guests were impressed by the presentation, taste, and variety of food options, and many highlighted the seamless execution of events. The positive feedback emphasized the collaborative and accommodating approach of Catering by Design, making it a highly recommended choice for couples seeking a memorable dining experience for their special day.Review photos
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Jillian G
Highlighted review.
5.0
10/09/2024
Top quality. Best food at a wedding ever! 185 guests at a remote location, they set up an outdoor kitchen right next to our tent and the food was perfectly cooked and served up hot. The salmon at medium temperature, the beef slightly pink, the mushroom Wellington, and the sides, were delicious. Every guest commented on the food, the service, the experience. The apps and desserts were perfect, as well. Our wedding was enhanced by CBD! Thank you so much!
And, to top it off, they are a women-owned business!
Kadija W
5.0
2/02/2025
The best part about Catering By Design is the group of people you get to work with. We worked with them to cater our wedding, and rehearsal dinner and from day 1 it was clear that they cared as much about this even being a success with tons of yummy food as we did. Our initial call with Amara was not what I was expecting because she doesn't ask questions like "whats your favorite food, what do you want at the wedding" she asks questions about YOU and your vision for the wedding and your relationship and what memories you have tied to food. She took the time to get to know my husband and I on a personal level so that she could understand why food was important to us or what we wanted to see. She crafted the most perfect custom menu for both our rehearsal dinner and our reception that I never could even have fathomed. We had a wall of soup for our winter wedding, I mean who thinks of that?!? We had Chicken Nuggets in the shape of Texas, a pre-ceremony Hot Chocolate bar, and ANY guest with even the slightest dietary restriction was taken care of. The tasting was so much fun and SO MUCH FOOD. It was stellar, top notch, all the rave reviews.
As we got closer to our date we got to know more of the team, and started to work more closely with Caleigh our even coordinator. She was so patient and detail oriented. I didn't have to worry about anything. It was so great.
On the actual days of our events Liz ensured that as the Bride and Groom both nights we took the time to sit and eat and actually enjoy the food. She prepped plates of the appetizers and plates from the Buffet for both my husband and I. I appreciated so much the attention to us and ensuring we had food in our system. You hear so frequently that as the bride and room you don't get to eat, with Catering By Design that simply is not the case.
This team, and this company takes care of you and your family as if you were there family and it resonates. You can taste the care they put in to every dish, and I cannot thank them enough for how much of a joy they were to work with.
Any questions?
Janani K
5.0
10/08/2024
We had the absolute most incredible experience working with Chelsea and Rachel at CBD! From the first moment of designing our menu to executing on our dream for our Indian buffet dinner, cocktail hour, and late night snacks with our favorite childhood foods, the CBD team exceeded
Billy P
5.0
10/07/2024
CBD did an amazing job in catering our wedding!! We interviewed several caterers, and CBD's proposal was by far the best - and their execution on it was as promised. The food was incredible, and their staff was very helpful, courteous, and professional. Highly recommend!
Pamela M
5.0
9/21/2024
There are not enough words to describe how amazing and impactful Catering by Design was at our daughter's recent wedding. Their execution and performance was beyond exceptional, leaving every guest with memories that will never be forgotten. Outside of wanting to provide our daughter and son-in law with a wedding celebration that will be talked about forever, we wanted to deliver our guests a delicious, savory, and unique dining experience. Catering by Design delivered this and much more. I cannot speak enough praise to this group of talented chefs, servers and managing staff. Catering by Design blew through every expectation that my husband and I had from the planning stage through the execution of truly the most memorable wedding meal of my life.
Emma O
5.0
7/31/2024
LoLa Beauty is the BEST! Gina and Brittany helped get me and 14 other women ready that morning and absolutely crushed it. They were so sweet, talented and fun. Every woman had the most perfect hairstyle and looked exactly like they hoped it would. I was absolutely obsessed with my hair! It stayed perfectly in tact even with the veil, dancing and hours of running around. I couldn't have been happier with my experience! So lucky to have worked with LoLa. You were a piece of making my day perfect. THANK YOU!!! XO.
Laurel G
5.0
7/25/2024
We had the best experience with catering by design for our June 2024 wedding. They were recommended to us by our wedding planner (who had done a bit of a pre-introduction) so I was impressed by how prepared they came to our intro meeting with ideas/suggestions. They took the time to listen to our preferences and asked about our food memories to help design the initial menu design (we did stations). They were super responsive during the menu editing process, taking our feedback and ideas and giving suggestions based on their experience. It was truly an excellent collaborative experience. I was so impressed by the breadth of food and experiences they can offer! It felt like the choices were endless but they guided us through. The tasting made us feel so special and I loved having them dine with us, taking notes along the way as we tasted and listening to our comments to make sure our menu was perfect! When I tell you our guests raved about the food I am not kidding. I was still hearing about it weeks later when we met up with some of our friends at another wedding. It was truly more than I could have imagined. Thank you so much CBD for making our day epic!
Steven S
5.0
6/23/2024
We used Catering by Design for our intimate wedding and they did a fantastic job. Even though our wedding was smaller compared to typical weddings, Catering by Design accommodated our needs and ensured everything was perfect. They were easy to work with and extremely professional! We had a five-course plated dinner for our wedding for our nine guests plus a mocktail bar! The presentation was perfect, service was amazing, and their food was outstanding. Our family couldn’t stop raving about how great the food was! We would highly recommend their catering services to anyone!
Dee S
5.0
5/14/2024
Catering By Design has hosted an annual dinner party for our organization for several years running. They are consummate professionals, and consistently provide an amazing banquet that delights the palettes of our attendees’ various dietary needs. The staff are attentive to every detail and a joy to work with each step of the way. We’ve never considered an alternative vendor – they are simply tops in every regard! Thank you to the CBD team for taking such fine care of our group these many years!
Victor F
5.0
5/08/2024
Catering by Design did a great job with my wedding. They helped me create an awesome signature menu that everyone loved. The food was great tasting, and they were able to make almost any dish imaginable. Their culinary team is as great, with an equally matching service team. All the wait staff were excellent, polite and attentive during the dinner service. The coordinator staff we worked with, Rachel and Dennis, were also thorough and organized during the whole thing. I could not have asked for a better experience.
Lu S
5.0
3/13/2024
Catering by Design, celebrated for its innovative and personalized catering solutions, earns a five-star accolade as one of Varone Market Venue's preferred caterers. Their dedication to creating unforgettable culinary experiences, coupled with their attention to detail and commitment to excellence, sets them apart. With Catering by Design, every event is transformed into a magical celebration, reflecting their passion for delivering not just meals, but memorable moments. For those seeking a caterer that epitomizes creativity and quality, Catering by Design is an exemplary choice.
Brittney P
5.0
2/22/2024
CBD did such a fabulous job at our wedding! The food was absolutely delicious! They did such a great job during the planning process to really understand our vision and come up with ideas of how we could make the vision come to life! They definitely made us feel special and not like we were just another couple. Their sales team is top notch when it comes to professionalism, responsiveness and customer service. This same level of service was experienced on our wedding day by all of the staff. We are so happy with our decision to hire them and couldn't imagine our day without them!
Jill E
5.0
9/18/2023
We hired Catering By Design for an event in Loveland, Colorado (Sept 2023).
Initially, we reached out to 4 caterers and compared communication, menu, pricing, etc. Catering by Design ended up at the top of the list and we hired them.
Excellent communication via email and then phone.
They listened well to our needs/concerns.
We used them for room decor, stationed hors d'oeuvres and passed hors d'oeuvres.
The appetizers were superb. The staff was very professional and well managed (on site).
The servers were well trained as evidenced by how they interacted with our guests (serving appetizers) during the event.
I do not hesitate to recommend this catering company.
Our guests were provided a very enjoyable evening, and Catering By Design directly attributed to the success.
Seerat P
5.0
9/18/2023
We are so glad we were able to work with Catering By Design for our wedding weekend at both the Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Performing Arts Center! Emily and her team were incredible knowledgeable, organized and accommodating throughout the whole planning process (and weekend) which included SO many moving parts. The tasting they organized was very thoughtful and I know they worked seamlessly with the chef we brought in - this all flowed perfectly into our wedding day which we couldn't have dreamt up. Special shoutout to Emily for her brilliant idea to make a personal cheesecake for my dad at the reception - special touches like this make her team and their work exceptional.
Amanda S
5.0
9/17/2023
Alycen and Chelsea were so incredibly helpful during the planning process. From our tasting to answering all my questions, they were great! And the food was so delicious! We got so many compliments from our guests on how tasty the meal was!
Nicki C
5.0
8/25/2023
We consider ourselves foodies, which meant we wanted everyone leaving our wedding talking about the food. We had been to 3 weddings the year before and we could barely remember what we ate. We interviewed 4 catering companies, and CBD was the only company that was able to make our vision a reality! Everything was absolute perfection, including the service. The staff made sure we had food at all times, even during photos. Just as we had hoped....people are still talking about the food!
Aliya M
5.0
7/05/2023
We had a phenomenal experience with Catering By Design as caterers for our fully-vegan wedding. From the menu planning, to tasting, to budgeting, to day-of execution, the whole team was thoughtful, responsive, and accommodating. Every guest at our wedding raved about the food, and we could not have been happier with everything. Can't recommend them highly enough!
Mark S
5.0
2/05/2023
Catering By Design was the only catering company that we met with that actually took the time to talk to us about what kind of food we like. Every other company gave us a generic menu full of stuff that we would never pick. Because CBD took the time to get to know us before helping select the menu for our wedding, every single food item was something we loved. The food was delicious! Everyone has been saying how yummy the food was at our wedding. The staff was amazing!!!! they brought appetizers to us so we could have a private moment and still get to enjoy the happy hour food. We chose a buffet and the staff brought us a plate first thing so we had time to eat our full meal before making our rounds to greet our guests. Deja took extra good care of my grandpa and got him a to-go bag just for him
Elizabeth C
5.0
1/18/2023
We really enjoyed every aspect of CBD. We worked mainly with Amanda and she was there on wedding day to oversee everything. She was AMAZING. For selecting a caterer - I wanted to pick out the food and then let them handle everything else. I didn’t want to worry about presentation, amount, set-up (including moving stuff from ceremony to cocktail space to reception space), etc. They were amazing and handled everything. The main reason I picked CBD was because I trusted them to see my vision (through Pinterest boards) and make it happen without me needing to answer small questions. As I stated, they did just that. I 100% would recommend!!
Also - TONS of my guests have actually reached out and/or mentioned “the wedding was lovely - the FOOD was amazing!” So CBD definitely left a positive impact on the guests!! Also my vegan friend said it was the best vegan option she’s ever had at a wedding!
Olivia E
5.0
10/25/2022
I cannot say enough about Catering by Design. We used them for both catering and decor and everything was absolutely PERFECT. Our family worked with Alycen and Jeremy who were so diligent and punctual. We gave them our vision and just let them run with it. The wedding was a destination wedding and we were on the other side of the country so it was particularly difficult to see what was being chosen. We had faith in them from our conversations and they knocked it out of the park. The food, decor, staff, attention to detail from a decor perspective and to catering to our needs was incredible. I would highly highly recommend!!
Andrea M
5.0
9/23/2022
The food from Catering by Design was delicious! While creating the menu, we felt as though the Catering by Design team took our wants and budget into account! My husband and I are vegan and the Catering by Design team worked with us to ensure that at each station a vegan option was available. My dream was to have late-night french fries served at the wedding and Catering by Design made it happen!!! Also, Catering by Design did the cupcakes for dessert. It was so nice to not need another vendor in the mix.
On the day of my wedding, the Catering by Design staff was incredibly kind and always there when we needed them. My wedding guests still rave about how delicious and unique the food was (many Mid-west family members did not know what jackfruit was).
Bottom line, if you want good food and fantastic vendor interactions, hire Catering by Design!
Laura A
5.0
9/14/2022
Catering By Design was absolutely incredible! The food was beautiful, delicious, and exactly what we wanted. The staff is easy to work with, professional, and adaptable. We could not have had a better experience. We HIGHLY recommend Catering By Design for your wedding!
Ciara M
5.0
8/01/2022
There are not enough positive words to describe our experience with CBD for our wedding. Alycen Doi was absolutely incredible in bringing my vision to life, as was the rest of her team in executing it. We wanted to steer away from a traditional sit down dinner and instead have a tapas style, station based party that had dishes inspired by the travels my husband I have experienced leading up to our wedding. The initial menu they presented nailed our vision, taking inspiration from global flavors - Korean, Hawaiian, Argentinian, Italian, and Mexican to name a few. The tasting experience was superb, they took notes on what we liked and what we wanted to tweak, from slight favor profiles to presentation. When we wanted to swap out some tapas for other options they welcomed us for a second tasting. Beyond the tastings, we had endless communication over phone, email, and even more, meetings to hone in the vision and the final product was INCREDIBLE. All of our guests raved about the food, from appetizers to tapas, to late-night pretzels and MILKSHAKES - an idea from Alycen herself - they were blown away. Most brides and grooms don't get to eat at their weddings, but the CBD team made sure that we got to try every single thing, and I am so grateful they did because the food was truly the most important part of our reception and it was absolutely delicious. Beyond taste, the presentation of each item was beautiful and creative, nothing like a buffet station. We had a wall of pretzels, milkshakes in old-school milk bottles, and salads tossed in cocktail shakers served in martini glasses. I could rave on and on, but the tldr is to hire CBD for your event, you will be so happy you did!
Jill F
5.0
6/18/2022
We used CBD to cater our wedding and they were PHENOMENAL! They truly went above and beyond in every aspect. We weren't sure what we wanted food wise and the menu created by CBD was fantastic, and were able to incorporate vegan options. The food was creative and delicious. Our final guest count was 120, and we had appetizers, dinner, late night snack, and dessert.
They also did a fantastic job with the decor. I had a few items that I owned that I wanted to incorporate into the table design, and their team was able to make it happen, and made sure all of my items were returned. We opted for a surprise for the design of the sweetheart table, and it was more beautiful than I could have imagined.
Staffing was excellent during the event. I've continued to receive compliments from even our most picky guests about the excellent service.
Communication leading up to the wedding was great, even though they had some staff changes due to covid. Nothing was missed and the conversations were fluid.
I would absolutely recommend Catering by Design and hope to work with them again in the future!
Cristina P
5.0
1/23/2022
Thank you to all who rocked our special day. The food was SUCH a hit!! Alison and Ching were so so helpful and if we didn't like something they worked around it. no problem. My husband and I are total foodies so we no doubt were particular about how things were prepared, etc but they knocked it out of the park. And with a smile on their face to boot!! Guests have repeatedly mentioned how delicious the food was. One of the highlights of our wedding for sure!
Astrid V
5.0
11/16/2021
We chose Catering By Design for our wedding and we are so happy that we did! They made the catering and rental process seamless. We worked with Alycen during planning and the day of. From my initial inquiry, all responses from CBD were timely, and all my needs and questions were addressed. Our menu tasting was so fun and delicious. All of our guests gave us compliments on how good the food was! Would highly recommend Catering By Design!
Sarah S
5.0
6/14/2021
We worked with Allie while planning our event and Alycen during the execution. Both women did a great job communicating with us about any changes we needed to make. We were also able to customize the menu quite a bit & CBD made that happen for us without a hitch. Everyone was raving about the food and the ice cream!
Angela S
5.0
9/25/2020
Everything was perfect! The food was amazing, the tables settings were impeccable and the staff was terrific! Couldn’t be happier and would definitely use CBD again! Ching and Heather were a delight to work with! 5 stars!!!
Andrea F
5.0
4/06/2020
Catering By Design did and excellent job for us. The food presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent. Food came out hot and tasty, plates were cleared in timely fashion, glasses were never empty.
Rebecca S
5.0
9/06/2019
We had only met with a few other catering companies in our city when we met the team at Catering By Design. Ching immediately felt like family, understood our wedding vision (and our love of food), and helped us work through a scrumptious tasting menu. We never met with another one after them. Little did we know at that time that her team would literally make our wedding day what it was. Every single day since our wedding we hear the rave reviews from our guests about everything this team created (the dinner, dessert, and late night food as). This team also helped us think logically through the timeline and the alcohol logistics - truly they helped with absolutely everything. When our guest list changed, they helped with re-organizing the seating space... when my father decided he wanted to make a longer toast than anticipated, they got us pre-poured champagne as an option at the last minute to save the day. I cannot put into words how lucky we feel to have found them. If you haven't decided on a catering company already, RUN don't walk, their way!!!
Laura F
5.0
7/19/2019
Catering By Design was the perfect match for our wedding! From the moment I first inquired to the day of our wedding, Rachel and her team were super helpful with answering questions and planning out our meal. The day of the staff was super kind and the food WAS AMAZING! I keep getting compliments from guests about how wonderful everything was. I myself am obsessed with the chicken we had. 10/10 recommend CBD!
Kristen H
5.0
7/02/2019
Can't say enough good things about CBD. As other reviews have mentioned, you pay a little more than some of the other catering teams out there but it is worth every.single.penny. The food was amazing (still getting rave comments about dinner), the service was top notch, the bar service was fast and friendly-- everything ran like a well oiled machine. The highlight of our experience was our sales contact, Kara. She was always on top of things, super responsive and patient with us when we had lots of questions, paid close attention to all of our misc. requests and walked me through my rentals list to make sure I didn't forget anything (above and beyond her job) -- I never once felt like any detail would be overlooked. I would recommend CBD over and over again.
Louise B
5.0
10/28/2018
Hands down the food was absolutely delicious. The presentation was beautiful, the food was hot and always abundant. I can’t say my guests could have asked for anything more. I had several guests tell me that they really thought the food was amazing. Ching and her staff was efficient, professional and absolutely amazing. My hat goes off to a wonderful wedding they catered for us. Thank you Ching-Yuan Hu.
Ashley W
5.0
10/15/2018
Catering By Design was fantastic at my wedding. From the initial taste testing, to the venue walk through, to the day of preparation and execution. Kara was quick to respond to any questions that I had. The menu was well thought out and delicious. I also had 5 vegans attending my wedding, they were very impressed with the options they had. CBD also did my wedding cake and cupcakes, and they were better than the other places I had tasted cakes. I can't recommend them enough!
Kristi D
5.0
8/05/2018
Danielle and Catering By Design are amazing! We asked them to create a menu based on where we have traveled and the restaurants we love in Denver. They created such an amazing menu and we couldn't have been happier with it! They were able to easily accommodate the dietary needs our guests had and their staff did an incredible job with service.
Tracey M
5.0
5/12/2018
Catering By Design is the catering company that every client dreams of! They will take care of everything for you - from food to event design! They are constantly finding new trends and creative design elements. Not to mention, their food is amazing! I work at a venue in downtown Boulder and recommend Catering By Design to any client who is looking to leave a lasting impression on their guests.
Anna C
5.0
12/08/2017
I used Catering by Design for my wedding in November and they were amazing! The food was fantastic and the staff was so much fun! Kara was terrific to work with and made sure every last detail perfect!
Eula W
5.0
9/30/2017
Catering by design Catering by Design- from the beginning until the end their service was amazing. They were so accommodating of dietary restrictions from gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and vegetarian. They provided the most value of the caterers I spoke to and were extremely flexible and helpful. All of our guests loved the food and I would recommend them 10x over.
Mary C
5.0
8/28/2017
CBD was wonderful!! From the minute we walked into our tasting to the end of our Wedding they continued to impress. Our guests raved about the food & the service was great. Easy to work with and very responsive. Hannah was our contact and she was just amazing!
Amanda G
5.0
8/15/2017
Ching, Kelsey, and the rest of the CBD team was amazing to work with. Incredibly responsive, easy to work with, and professional. The service at our wedding was impeccable and the food was delicious. We even had an awesome s'm0res bar and donut wall which was so fun! Our guests loved the experience. Highly recommend them.
Lori L
5.0
6/05/2017
As the mother of the bride I can tell you that Catering by Design, Raegan Brown, knocked it out of the park when it came to planning & managing our wedding appetizers/cocktail hour through what was hands down the best dinner we've had at a wedding. So so many people came up to us & commented on the quality of the food - we plated chicken and beef together with sides, and each plate was served hot, cooked to perfection, every bite more delicious than the previous! Raegan also noticed when we began to run low on wine, and she immediately went to work & found a vendor that could supplement our order, and worked with the staff at Planet Bluegrass to get the additional wine to the venue never missing a "glass"! No one was hungry or thirsty!!! Thank you Raegan! Catering by Design worked with Heather from Calluna to decorate the tables with the appointments we had provided earlier in the day, creating a most beautiful wedding day/evening. Catering by Design proved to be professional, courteous, exceptional value, every bite they served was delicious.
Allie G
5.0
4/27/2017
I can't say enough about how amazing Catering By Design was to work with - especially Ching. From our initial meeting Ching listened to me, helped guide me in all of my ideas and laughed at my bridezilla references. Ching turned our wedding into all that it was. On top of amazing catering, she created the perfect floor plan for us and set us up with great rentals through their design team. If I am ever in a position to host a large party again, Catering By Design will definitely be the very first vendor I contact!
Nicole T
5.0
2/17/2017
I can't express enough how amazing the food was from CBD. We had guests come up to us throughout the wedding, from hors d'oeuvres, to dinner, to dessert telling us how wonderful the food was. It was easily the best wedding food we have ever had, and our guests agreed! Further, the process of working with them was incredible. They made us a sample meal for our tasting, which was a total custom menu, and then made adjustments however we wanted. Their staff was friendly and efficient, and they made special effort to make sure that my husband and I got food! The value of their services was incredible, they were well within budget for an amazing experience!
Elizabeth W
5.0
12/12/2016
Catering by Design surpassed our expectations, and I would highly recommend them. They catered our wedding, and helped us to create a customized, Italian style menu that was absolutely amazing (and Italians are a hard group to impress). There is always a concern that the food will taste different when prepared in large quantities than what you tasted initially, but it was just as good as we remembered. I even had numerous friends and family members tell me that we had the best wedding food they had ever had! We worked with Ching, who was so kind, attentive and professional throughout the planning phases and Ching and her team executed a flawless event for us. We couldn't have been happier.
Brianna S
5.0
10/24/2016
The Catering by Design team and Pablo were fantastic to work with. From menu options, to place settings, to walk throughs and finally to the big day, the staff was wonderful. They helped create our vision for our wedding day and the event went beautifully. We highly recommend CBD if you are in need of a caterer for your wedding!
Nicole W
5.0
10/23/2016
If you're looking for a catering or decor, stop your search right here. CBD was literally my favorite vendor to work with. Brittany and Kesley were PHENOMENAL! I honestly can't sing their praises enough. We used CBD for catering and decorand honestly, we got so many rave reviews from our wedding guests about not only how delicious the food was, but how gorgeous it was set up - which isn't always the case with a buffet set up, but they made sure every last detail was on point. They brought our vision to life in the most outstanding way! They even ran out the day of to buy us bags for our trail mix bar after my poor mother forgot them at the hotel. Talk about customer service. These ladies literally took all my worries away! Amazing food, amazing service, HIRE THEM!
Audrey P
5.0
9/26/2016
From start to finish, Catering by Design was the most professional, supportive and creative catering service we could've asked for. Jon and his staff made our dreams come alive by consistently presenting us with creative ideas that were representative of both our cultural and geographic backgrounds (New Orleans and Colorado. When we went in for our initial tasting, the staff had a beautiful layout for us with delicious food and our favorite New Orleans drink, a hurricane. The wedding day was flawless. The food presentation was unique and clean. The staff made signs for each food station we had and the staff was extremely friendly. Everyone reported how great the food was, especially the deviled eggs, trout cake, and milkshakes.
Morgan M
2.0
7/17/2016
Our experience with Catering By Design was quite the mixed bag, but I would never work with them again or recommend them. We did quite a bit of shopping around for our wedding caterer and had narrowed it down to CBD and one other, both of which had great food at our tasting. CBD was more expensive, at the top of our price range, but we were so impressed with the coordinator we met with, Ching, that we decided to go with them. She was extremely professional, knew our venue very well, and seemed eager to work with us. We were planning our wedding long distance and she was very proactive, asking to reach out to other vendors for us and thinking of creative ideas for the wedding. We signed the contract and went back and forth with Ching over email a few times before we were very confusingly passed off to a different coordinator via email who I'm not going to name. We never got an explanation as to why, but I assume she had a schedule conflict. Things went down hill very fast. Our new coordinator was not familiar with the venue at all, was not engaged in our event, and lacked attention to detail. He constantly made assumptions about what we wanted instead of consulting us, which meant I felt like I had to micromanage him. I hated this because being a long distance made it extremely difficult to keep all of the other details together on top of being on him about every small thing. One major issue was she he placed an event rental order without consulting me about anything (type of glasses for the signature drink, size of cake tables, and so on). He ordered a bunch of tables THAT OUR VENUE PROVIDES FOR NO COST, which if I hadn't caught we would have paid hundreds of extra dollars for. This is completely unacceptable as our venue was very upfront about the tables and chairs available. He was able to change this a few other things on the order but he never apologized and I felt his email response was snippy and unprofessional. Skip to the day of: We had a very limited amount of time to set up so we recruited lots of friends and family to help with decorations. We discussed the order of set up in great detail prior to the event with everyone, including the caterer. CBD was well aware they were supposed to get to the venue and set up chairs and tables first thing WHICH THEY NEVER ENDED UP DOING. I was getting ready so I'm not sure what happened or where the confusion was, but our friends and family had to set up the tables and chairs in addition to decorations creating a hugely stressful situation AND DELAYING THE START OF THE WEDDING. Our coordinator was never to be found and was of no use during the chaos. The food itself was good and wait staff/ bartenders were great during the event but it didn't make up for the rest. I'm still so disappointed and wish we had gone with the less expensive option. I would not recommend this vendor unless you can work with Ching.
Vendor response 09/02/2016
I am so appreciative of the time you shared with me to discuss the details of your wedding...
and that we were able to take care of you at the end of our conversation. Our company’s values and goals are based on keeping our promises to produce the perfect wedding reception that our couples can be very proud of. We also believe that the planning process is to be as enjoyable as the event itself. We so value your feedback and apologize to you. I assure you that we take your comments very seriously and all have been addressed.
Sincerely, Syd Sexton
General Manager, Catering By Design and Four Five One Events
Lauren R
5.0
3/29/2016
The staff was very easy to work with and was very helpful. Although we will not be using them for our wedding, we will be recommending them and looking to use them at other events.
Katie D
5.0
12/01/2015
I was adamant about our catering budget but when we had our tasting with Catering by Design, all bets were off. The professionalism and friendliness(particularly of Raegan) coupled with ridiculously amazing food made our decision easy. The actual cost of the food was similar to other vendors despite the far superior taste and flavor but they service cost was definitely higher than others. While at first, this made us unsure, the night of the wedding took away any concerns. Things went off without a hitch, guests commented on the food and the service, the groom and I felt very well taken care of (special plates of appetizers, etc. to ensure we ate) plus they packaged up leftovers and even brought small plates of leftovers to our room in case we were hungry! Friends are still talking about the appetizers in particular which makes us so happy. Catering by Design worked with US to make a menu versus selecting from a set of items a caterer offers so we were able to have a completely unique menu to represent us! Can't rave enough about this company!!
Tom M
5.0
8/25/2015
YUM! Yum yum yum! The food was delicious. The apps were great and plentiful, the salads were fresh and crisp, and the main courses were perfectly cooked (which isn’t easy to do with fish). They also provided kids meals and half price vendor meals.
Brittany and Ching were easy to work with and quick to take our feedback into consideration and change things big or small – the amount of appetizers per guest, the flavor of the late night milkshakes, or the garnishes on the salad. Clearly this company knows what they are doing. Brittany even went as far as helping us decide on linens and table settings (as we weren’t the best at making decisions).
On the day of, they showed up early and did everything they needed to in the background. I hardly noticed they were there and the guests were very complimentary on the food.
Chase C
3.0
6/22/2015
We used them for our wedding and were disappointed. When we arrived at the event and sat down for dinner, no one from the catering staff got our food/plates after salad. This was something we were told would happen so we didn’t have to just sit there waiting, or do it ourselves. We also were never brought slices of cake, which seemed like only a 2 second job.
We also had requested that some food and cake be packed up for us that night so we could take it with us, and that didn’t happen at all. Additionally, the food had much less flavor than it did at the tasting. I expect some small difference between the tasting and a large customer group to serve, but I also know we paid a lot of money to know what food to expect; After spending that much money, we were disappointed in the service.
Amanda M
5.0
9/29/2014
This is such an amazing catering company. Ask any vendor in the Denver area and they will tell you Catering by Design is one of the best in the industry. The presentation is breathtaking, even on parties of 80. The food is wonderful; we had a dual entrée of stuffed chicken and steak with soup, salad, two sides and a desert table all of that for just under $100 per person was well worth it. The very best thing about this company is the customer service. Upper management and sales reps, especially Stuart Holden, are the most wonderful people to do business with. They were always courteous, prompt, and helpful. Catering by Design managed my contract with the event rentals too, which was just one less thing to worry about. During the event, I vastly underestimated the lighting in the garden and Stuart and his team very quickly saved me from utter embarrassment- this was above and beyond what they are required to do. That is what you get with Catering by Design- Above and Beyond.
Brooke P
4.0
9/24/2014
Catering by design did a fine job at our wedding. We had guests compliment the food, and we were quite pleased with service. There were a few hiccoughs and concerns along the way, but overall, they did a good job. We would use them again.
Erika R
5.0
9/16/2014
catering by design was accommodating and had delicious food to try at the tasting. The staff was friendly as well as understanding. They even stored 2000 of grandmas cookies and set them up on my wedding day! Kudos Catering by Design!
Megan G
5.0
1/08/2014
We had met with quite a few other caterers in our area before deciding on Catering By Design. The real selling point is the service. You may pay a little more for the additional staffing (recommended more than any other proposal we received) but 100% worth it. They were speedy, kind, and attentive to detail. The only issue we had was a missed note from our final tasting so a certain component did not make the plates on the day of our wedding. The did contact us after the wedding though to make up for the error, taking complete responsibility. I would absolutely work with them again - the food was great, the service outstanding. Not to mention our guests loved everything from cocktail hour to the main course!
Samantha T
5.0
11/30/2013
We only had 3 weeks to find a new caterer after having to switch venues due to the Boulder floods. Catering By Design was really helpful in getting the process rolling quickly and developing an awesome menu that fit with our vision. The tasting was a lot of fun and the food was delicious. Stuart was so nice, and worked with us on figuring out all the details, ordering the alcohol and rentals. I gave Stuart photos and descriptions on how to decorate all the tables, and was so relieved that they could do it all and I could focus on getting married. The staff was friendly and brought the groom and I drinks, appetizers, and dinner so that we wouldn't have to go through the lines. All our guests loved the food! Catering By Design helped make the whole day go very smoothly. I recommend them very highly.
Juliet E
5.0
10/31/2013
We used Catering by Design for our 10/12/13 wedding in Fort Collins, CO, and we couldn't be happier with their services! Emily was wonderful to work with and the chef created very unique, beautiful, and tasty meals that all of our guests loved. We are still getting complements on how wonderful the food was at our wedding. CBD was very accommodating for our tastings, too. We had originally booked with a local Fort Collins caterer, but, after our tasting, we were very disappointed. We were about 10 months out from the wedding, but wanted to find a better company ASAP. Our wedding planner contacted CBD and they were able to squeeze us in for a tasting last minute on a very busy weekend for them! The food was fantastic and we immediately booked them. We were looking for unique, yet comforting dishes that were also presented beautifully and that is exactly what they delivered. They even allowed us a second tasting once we finalized our menu. We also had a special guest with a special diet and they were more than willing to accommodate her needs! When the wedding day came, we thought the food tasted even better than it had for the tasting! Their wait staff was very professional and organized as well and we received many compliments about them as well! Thank you for the wonderful experience, CBD! We wish you the best.
Cassie J
5.0
9/17/2013
I cannot give enough thanks to Catering by Design, especially Jeff, who made our day run very smooth. He was easy to get contact throughout the entire planning process, very timely with emails and responses. He also gave great advise, since he was so familiar with the venue (Denver Botanic Gardens). The food was also amazing, I have had a lot of compliments from many guests!
Maddie S
4.0
8/27/2013
I was very upset when the food was an hour late in being ready. However, the food was so good it was hard to be made for long. I would use them again to cater all my events ever.
Austyn B
5.0
7/07/2013
Working with CBD was a great experience from the initial consultation through the reception on the Big Day! Danielle was great to work with and was always available to answer my questions. Not only was working with CBD a great experience, but the food on the Big Day was just as delicious as the food we tasted at their kitchen 7 months earlier. We have received numerous compliments from our guests about the food, especially the chipotle mashed potatoes and donut bar!
Not only was the food delicious, but the catering staff was great. Very professional. I would recommend CBD to any bride.
Kimberly T
5.0
6/20/2013
We had a great experience with Catering by Design for our wedding reception on 5/25/13. Our main priorities for our reception were to make sure that our guests ate delicious food, drank lots of booze and danced their butts off. The rest was unimportant. CBD was responsible for the first two so we did not make our catering decision lightly. And we have NO regrets! I will cover 3 aspects - food, servers and planning/coordination.
The food is by far the best part of the CBD experience - first at the tasting and then at the reception itself, the food did not disappoint. We had passed hors d'ouerves: Asparagus & 3 Cheese Tartlets, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Chipotle Cream Meatballs, Tomato Pesto & Brie Crostinis, and Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna. Our main dishes were a beef tenderloin carving station, lobster mac 'n cheese (delish!!) and a cajun station with shrimp & sausage jambalaya topped with mini fried catfish nuggets. I grew up in New Orleans so it's usually hard to impress me with cajun food, but CBD was amazing! We got endless compliments on the food and it was all topped off with a signature drink for the evening (in addition to our open bar) - a wedding cake martini that came with a white chocolate covered strawberry rolled in cake crumbs! CBD has a variety of menu options to get you started but then they customize each and every detail of the food you want. No one else will have a menu just like yours. The final product is unmatched and your guests will not be disappointed.
The service is also the best I've seen at an event. There were no shortage of people supporting us the day of our event - I couldn't believe how many servers were there to make sure our guests didn't go one second without an appetizer or drink. In addition to having such great coverage, the servers are incredibly personable, helpful and HAPPY to be there serving you. Sometimes you think of servers as people who are just doing their job and going through the motions but these people actually enjoy what they are doing and it shows. Not one server walked by me without stopping me to genuinely express their best wishes which I thought was such a sweet and personal touch coming from people who had never even met us before! Our head bartender never let our drinks get empty (she would chase us around the floor to bring a full one!) and they made sure that our guests didn't miss out on any of the dishes.
Our coordinator, Emily, was very thorough and definitely stayed on top of things for us since we planned the whole thing in 60 days. We couldn't have done it without her. She knew that the food was going to be the most important part of our evening so she took care to really listen to what we wanted and customize our menu as necessary. While they do itemize everything on their proposals - which I didn't like because it made me obsess over little details (like how much forks cost to rent) that I wouldn't normally obsess over - some people may enjoy that level of transparency.
CBD is definitely not the least expensive caterer in town - if you are looking for cheap, this is not your vendor. However, if you are looking for the PREMIER vendor in Denver who will make your menu the highlight of your wedding, this is the only place to go. We have no regrets - it was worth every penny. Our guests were wow'd and so were we.
Colleen S
4.0
6/15/2013
Food was great and the guests remembered that. They were also great to work with as we had a few items we wanted included and they had no problem doing this. They definitely will cater to your food preferences and allergies. There were often many price adjustments throughout the process that seemed to keep getting higher but overall very happy with their services.
Katie K
3.0
6/12/2013
The food was wonderful but we had some service issues. We found out later that the servers were not getting around to people with the appetizers and when they did come out, only came out with like 5 on a plate. It was apparently comical to watch but I was a little embarassed to find out about it later. They also forgot to plate food for the bride and groom first so that we could eat quickly while our guests ate.
Amy S
4.0
10/21/2012
Catering by Design was pretty great! Most importantly, their food was wonderful. I've ruined chicken forever for all of our guests (it was stuffed with apricot & goat cheese, AMAZING!)! I also still dream about the meatball hors d'oeuvres we had! We had a great experience at the tasting and they made accommodations to my food sensitivities and personal preferences. They also had great vegetarian options to choose from for a couple of my guests. The service at the wedding was good for the most part; they were attentive to my groom & I. However there was some confusion when it came to the cake, they handed it out to immediate family only, so everyone else was a little confused as to how to get cake. I also felt they cleared the food a little quickly, there was so much going on and so many people to greet, I wish they'd left out our food a little longer. They were pretty great though! Really Good Food!
Hannah K
5.0
9/30/2012
Having never had truly excellent food at a wedding, I was nervous about any sort of catering--afraid of dry meat, cold food and soggy veggies. Catering by Design changed my perception of wedding food possibilities forever! I really appreciated their willingness to listen to our feedback during our tasting, and their flexibility with last minute menu changes when our guest count significantly dropped. My cousin even apologized for not dancing more, citing CBD's amazing mac and cheese as the reason. "I'm sorry," she said, "I just mac and cheesed too hard". Their price point is somewhat high (for our budget at least), but their quality and service more than makes up for it.
Lisa M