Catering By Uptown - Celebrations at The Bay

rovide us with a beautiful evening for our outdoor ceremony. The setting on the water was perfect. Our day of coordinator was great. The apps were all amazing and the crab cake was worthy of being called a “Maryland style crab cake”. We really believe we had the best day ever and are super thankful for everyone that helped us along the way!

le venues around Maryland, ranging to accommodate the wedding of your dreams, intimate weddings for a few guests or grand weddings for a couple hundred guests! We chose the Tented Vista Ballroom at Celebrations at the Bay for the beautiful view overlooking the water, and the classy and spacious tented ballroom. The whole staff is extremely kind and clearly passionate about what they do. Anne was very helpful with honoring our budget, factoring in venue, guest count, day of event, and all the various packages they offer. Ya-Maila always responded to my emails full of questions in a timely manner and with kindness, patience, and excitement. Eileen (our day of coordinator) won us over from the first day we met when we toured the different venues at Celebrations at the Bay and our love and appreciation for her grew. Eileen was flexible and worked very well with our other vendors, and she maintained her positivity and enthusiasm through every interaction we had with her. Eileen and the wait staff were very attentive to us, making sure we had food and drink whenever we wanted or needed. The whole planning team worked with us for any special requests we had and executed everything perfectly. Our wedding day was absolutely perfect thanks to the entire team at Celebrations and we could not be happier with how everything turned out.

Diana, Andrea, and Sulmi are what made my wedding perfect. They were so sweet and respectful. They went above and beyond throughout the entire wedding. They even helped me dry my dress since it rained on my wedding day. My wedding would not have been as perfect if it wasn't for their kindness and service.

of coordinator was amazing, professional and timely, making sure everything went smoothly. Finally, at the beginning of our process, our assigned coordinator was great. Now onto the negatives. About 6 months before our wedding, they informed us our assigned planner would be switched. Which we had no problem with. However, as the wedding got closer, we started to run into some problems. He was not responsive at all to our emails. We would need to send him 2-3 emails just to get 1 question answered. It seemed like every time we sent one, an automatic "thanks for your email" response would be sent and then nothing else. He also could not get our guest count straight. We had 131 adults and 2 children, and I clearly communicated that in an email. I then received a phone call from him asking to clarify- which I did, no problem. He sent us the final invoice and we paid it. He then called me again, asking the same exact question about the guest count, as if our previous conversation never happened. Both calls I had to take while at work and it was frustrating that I had to explain multiple times- especially AFTER I PAID THE INVOICE! Finally, we had a plan to meet to discuss some things a week before the wedding. Long story short, we had a simple miscommunication in that I thought we were supposed to meet at the office in Beltsville, he thought we were meeting at the actual venue (even though I have email proof that he said meet in Beltsville). Even then, I wasn't mad about it, things like this happen. However, when he called me to ask where I was, he was extremely condescending saying how I was wrong and he told me to meet at the venue. It made me, the bride, feel like crap a week before my wedding. I was extremely upset, and even if I was in the wrong, there was no reason to be as nasty as he was. So all in all, there were positives and negatives. If you do book with Catering by Uptown, I would be sure you and your planner are on the same page if you don't want to be treated like crap.

ng & easy decision making made it an absolute 10/10 for us! The foooood was beyond great& the entire process was unforgettable! We wanna get married again just for the venue! lol

o important, this venue was more affordable and offered a more complete package than other options we were considering. We wouldn't change a thing about our experience with Catering by Uptown!

e found another way to make our wedding still happen (anniversary twins now) she always worked with me and was always there when needed even though it was her wedding anniversary she still checked in on me the day of which really means a lot! Then I got the chance to meet Esther one of the most nicest person We had the pleasure of meet as well very laid back very good energy to be around and I appreciate her showing me the knollview house and we FELL IN LOVE. Tracy was our point of contact up to the wedding and I know I definitely over did the questions and emails but she was there for me and my now husband on every single question we had she made sure we understood And got back to us right away! Lastly my day of coordinator <3 Helen thank you I think I spoke with you for a short period of time the day before and I was worried i needed everything to be perfect and when I say everything was done exactly how I wanted there wasn’t ONE thing she forgot she made sure I was ok she checked on us throughout the night she made sure I was personally ok I saw her enjoying herself and I have pictures of her in the background smiling from ear to ear just to see us happy enjoying moments that she knew were important to us. I really hope each and everyone of you know how special you all are and how thankful We are for catering by uptown. Sorry for the lengthy review but I had to give individual thanks!

s the wedding couple were aware of. First off, our planner leading up to the wedding was not super responsive, she would take several days to respond to an email, however her communication turn around time improved as we got within a few weeks of the wedding. In addition, the day of coordinator was unfortunately not prepared. It was hard to get ahold of her days before the wedding, and although I called and left her voicemails, she would only text me back short answers. I'm not sure if the lack of information is on her, or the company, but she did not have any of our updated paperwork that we completed 30-days prior to our event. I honestly think this is in part to her not communicating with me prior to the day of. Had she called me back, we could of gone over any last minute details. Instead, she waited until the day of the wedding to ask me questions. Therefore, she did not have the ceremony line up, escort information, bridal party entrance information, correct set up information, etc. However, we were lucky enough that our officiant and DJ came to the rescue and ensured everything went smoothly. Second of all, the servers did not use the names/table numbers, that were provided for specialty meals for those with dietary restrictions/allergies. Therefore, servers were serving the wrong meals to guests, and not everyone with specific dietary restrictions were served the proper meal. At one point, servers had come up to me as the bride a few times to ask who should get the special meal, and I felt like that should have been an issue for our day of coordinator, who I was told would oversee the catering. Third, the servers poured our kid table wine. Granted our kids ranged from 4 years old to 17 years old, but my 12 year old son, who was enjoying a kids meal, as well as other children (some being younger than 12) at the table were asked if they wanted red or white, and several of the children at the table were served wine. Thankfully, a guest caught this after a few of the kids had already taken sips, but it's completely irresponsible of the servers to serve children of that age wine. In addition, I thought we as the bridal couple would be served our food when we were seated, but unfortunately, our food was placed at the sweetheart table while we were walking around, and when we returned to our seats it was ice cold. I wish a server had let us know they were delivering our food, so we could have enjoyed it warm. In addition, we were told that the mini desserts we had purchased as an extra would be served family style and a tray would be placed at each table. Unfortunately, this did not happen, and no one was aware that there were mini desserts sitting on a table somewhere. Our day of coordinator went to me as the bride when she needed contact information for our transportation vendor. That information was provided in my paperwork, which she did not seem to have. So all in all, the venue is gorgeous, our guests and vendors, as well as us, had a great time, but there were some misses that I think CBU can work on specifically when it comes to the coordinator being prepared and the catering.

make sure we had plenty of time to party. She delivered and was on it to make sure everything went Ase smoothly as possible. Having an all inclusive venue took soooo much stress off of me. Finding a venue and food separately gets insanely pricey. And sometimes food quality suffers when vendors have to travel to a venue with no kitchen. Quality was superb since the chefs were on site! Amazing amazing amazing.

nd took care of timing, any unforeseen issues, made sure my husband and I had appetizers and drinks and truly was a great addition to our day. The staff were amazing and so welcoming. I don’t have a single complaint - it was the perfect day I dreamed of for so long. We are forever grateful to all of the staff who had a hand in our special day. Thank you isn't enough!!

for your wedding. The day finally came and everything was perfect! The venue is absolutely beautiful with ample parking. The food was SO good and everyone raves about it! Our main entrée was the crab cake and filet mignon with mushroom sauce. All the staff on the day of were very professional, friendly, and helpful. Our day of coordinator, Caroline, was THE BEST and definitely made our day amazing and stress free! We highly recommend Catering By Uptown!

bly responsive to my MANY emails. Eileen was absolutely amazing!! Everything day of was perfect, we didn’t have a single worry or stress. The venue itself was gorgeous- the lighting, the water, everything! We would highly recommend Celebrations at the Bay and Catering by Uptown!!

ince it is all inclusive you just follow what the planner they give you asks and you give her an answer with what you want. It included everything from besides the dj/band, flowers, photographer/videographer, and any extra little things want like a guest book, memory table, extra decorations then ones they already have. You get a day of coordinator too who was awesome and did a perfect job keeping the flow of the day. Always asking if we needed anything! The coordinators and planners were the best! They kept my husband and I, as well as our guest happy the whole time. SO HAPPY with our day!!! Wish we could do it every day!

swered all of our silly questions and made our day as easy as possible (and made sure we were fed)! Guests will not stop talking about how incredible all the food was, the lobster bisque and crab cakes were a big hit! We got many “this is the best wedding I have ever been to!” Our day felt like a fairytale and I would do it all over again at Celebrations at the Bay if I could!

ed us have an amazing time. I must add that the food is 5 star as well. You will not regret having your wedding here!

e beautiful. The guests were delighted with everything as well. We highly recommend Celebrations at The Bay.

t to be exactly as we pictured it! It was EPIC! And this was worth every penny!

ful with suggestions and created a seamless experience that helped Maria and I focus on enjoying our big day with family and loved ones.

od tasting to the layout and design of my wedding. Don’t get me started on the food. My guests stated several times that this was the best wedding meal that they ever had. Oh my gosh, the cake is not only included, but was AMAZING from the design to the taste! My guests raved the entire time about the venue and everything that was offered. Everyone needs to book this company, if you don’t, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!

d for all of her hard work and dedication to her clients. Thank you, Shonda you’re the best!!!

er venues who were not working with couples, and really leaving them in the dark. This was the exact oppostie of what we experienced. They took time to answer all of my questions, worked with me on the guest list and changes and found a new date that worked for us. When I say it was perfect- our day truly was perfect. Cassidy was the absolute best planner, and day of coordinator EVER... seriously EVER!!! She and the whole staff were so helpful supportive and they ran the show! Look no further- you have found your perfect wedding venue- I can't thank the whole team at Catering by Uptown enough, especially Anne and Cassidy (who I worked with the most). You made our day the best ever!

we loved. Messi was my wedding coordinator and she has a heart of gold. We met only 4 days before my wedding but it felt like I knew her for a lifetime. She truly paid attention to every detail. She was patient with me and I could tell that she was truly happy for us. This is important to have a genuine person coordinating everything because they become as personally invested in the success of your day. The MC even took time out to acknowledge Messi and the catering staff as their hard work and professionalism was very evident. Big up to Shonda, Messi, Jeff, and the entire team at Catering by Uptown. Our guests were impressed too so I know you'll be getting some business from them. I love you guys!!!!

kdrop for my Amazingly Beautiful Wife on our special day. I’m very appreciative of the time and attention shown to our family in such a strange time...what thought was impossible became a very beautiful reality. If you happen to make “Uptown” your choice...request Shonda Cherry as your day of coordinator and just enjoy your day...she will handle the rest! Thanks Again Dumisani & Crystal

s perfect and the entire staff really went above & beyond for us. Thank you!!

alking about the beautiful wedding and how much they enjoyed the food! Thanks to them we had the wedding of the century that no one could not stop talking about! Great experience!

ARS and still hasn’t lost her sparkle! Food was very good and the venue is gorgeous! THAT SAID— the planning process was painful. Their sales team is good at their job and will give you unrealistic expectations. My impression is that most weddings they put on are very cookie cutter. They were not prepared to work with a bride who was very detail oriented with high expectations. Getting what I wanted was like pulling teeth. I paid for open bar. They wanted to charge me to have champagne passes for toasts. They wanted to charge me to allow my vendors more than two hours of setup time. Two hrs is not nearly enough time for a florist to properly set up. In the end I was not charged for these items however I’d confidently say it’s because they knew how upset I was throughout the planning process and didn’t want to deal with me any more. Also-FYI the rehearsal doesn’t come with your contract. It’s an additional fee. Apparently people don’t do rehearsals anymore is what I was told. Again. They ended up waiving this fee after a tough conversation. I had to be a bridezilla to get what I wanted. Would have been much less stressful from the get go if their planning team wasn’t so intent on producing a cookie cutter wedding. Seems like a lot of them had lost their sparkle. Props again to Amy. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank her enough for saving the day and putting me at ease. I wish I could have worked with her throughout the planning process. I’d give her 10 stars if I could. And she is the ONLY reason my initial 1 star rating increased to a 3.

ood tasting. Alma was assigned to us as our "Day of Coordinator" and she was great! She helped out with everything from the timing of the event, to decorations, minor details - you name it- she was on top of it. She kept telling us "Your job is to have the best day ever and my job is to take care of everything else!" :) The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous! We chose the Chesapeake Ballroom but for whatever reason, the venue next door was not being used- so we did our Bridal Party photos there as the rest of the guests came in for the ceremony. That really worked out nicely! The ceremony was held out back overlooking the water and it was absolutely gorgeous! The reception was inside and was the perfect size for 125 guests. Our first look was on the dock overlooking the water and it was literally a storybook moment. To top if all off, we were treated to a full rainbow across the entire bay as we were taking photos! Having a rainbow in our photos at such a beautiful venue- there are simply no words.... The food was absolutely amazing! All of our guests kept commenting on just how good the food was. As the bride and groom, we were well cared for, constantly having Hors d'oeuvres & appetizers handed to us before the big meal. This was a huge plus- as we are always hungry! Can't recommend them enough! Thank you again Alma! Carly & Bobby

questions or concerns. The entire process leading up to the wedding was stress free. Madison was our day of coordinator, and we could not recommend her more! She was kind, patient and easy going, but very on top of everything! She had every detail covered and the entire day ran so smoothly because of her! The food was AMAZING, and we continue to have guests compliment us on how delicious it was! Our wedding day by far exceeded any expectations we had, and we are so thankful we chose to work with Catering by Uptown. Thank you Catering by Uptown for the top notch service and memories that will last a lifetime!

on their large wrap around porch and dinner felt cozy inside, with plenty of room for everyone and still with that great view. Once the dancing started guests were able to mill throughout but still feel in the midst of everything. The staff was quick and took care of everything, making it all go seamlessly. The actual planning process was also very smooth, with one simple meeting to decide the food and look we wanted, and them doing the rest. We were able to meet earlier the week of to drop off special details we wanted to do ourselves. Overall we can't recommend this venue enough, it made for a perfect day!

They go above and beyond. During the course of the night, my husband's glasses were mistakenly thrown away, and the staff actually went dumpster diving to find them for us! Saved us a big bill getting them replaced! We cannot recommend them enough.

onalism, staff and most importantly the food they by far get an A+ and 5 Star rating in our book!!! We couldn't have been more happy about how our special day turned out! Thanks to Anne, Shonda and staff for outstanding work!!! We couldn't have done this without you!!!

day was extra special and a day to remember. Thank-you.... Catering by Uptown from The Rodas Family

ch!! Our planning coordinator Olivia was amazing. She took care of everything!! She made my life as the bride so much easier. We would email back and forth multiple times a day and she would always make it her mission to make me happy. Our day of coordinator Aimee was also amazing!! She kept everything right on schedule and was everywhere!! She always made sure we had drinks in hand and were taken care of. She knew exactly what needed to be done and made sure everyone was happy and having a great time! The venue is gorgeous and the food is AMAZING. Our guests are still talking about the delicious food. Thank you Anne, Olivia and Aimee, and all the staff at Celebrations for making our day so perfect!!!!

se any time for anything we made up the time but we made sure that the family was still there to witness everything if I had to do it all again I would definitely choose catering by uptown also the location in celebrations at the Bay was absolutely gorgeous with the tent in the view that we had. Family could be there in at the end of the day we honestly did not lose any time for anything we made up the time but we made sure that the family was still there to witness everything if I had to do it all again I would definitely choose catering by uptown also the location in celebrations at the Bay was absolutely gorgeous with the tent in the view that we had The staff was the most amazing They were all always friendly and ready to help and serve never once did we have one problem which is what I was hoping for no problems in and made the wedding day go a lot smoother! I totally recommend this company 1000% and anyone that is looking for an amazing wedding planner please look at Amy! Cassidy was one of my wedding planners as well she made sure that everything went through all this before the day of the wedding and for that I could not thank her enough even though I kept emailing her and calling her for more stuff to be added or to be corrected! Anne Portell was amazing to as she helped me with a few items as well! Totally a great company to be around!

e really wanted as our first dance, he charged us twice after we paid in full and have YET recieve a refund. He has another business which is his priority so he rarely returned phone calls. When he showed at wedding, although he never acknowledged my husband and I, he was on time and played all the songs we requested. Horrible experience before hand. Catering by Uptown also promoted Annapolis photography who was great before hand, organized, attentive and on time. Other than being questioned 3 days before weeding on amount due when we already paid, was a great experience! Pictures were edited and recieved within a week. Did not assign a "day of coordinator " until 4 days before The lady who was the "go to" before week of, ya answered basic questions and sent pictures but otherwise why assign a coordinator who won't be there the day of? I spoke on phone and gave head count and they tried to charge extra a week before!! Thank goodness it was cleared up. The cake tasting went fine but don't advertise pictures with flowers when there is no flowers that come with it. The venue also didn't let us come the night before to decorate, but had to beg to come earlier than 2 hours before hand. Awesome drop off date with (day of coordinator) She was organized, on time, professional and continuously asked about event itinerary. She helped my mom create alter flowers willingly 2 hours before ceremony. She gave great instruction on what was next, great advice about where to place certain things and continuously asked if it was okay for certain things to happen next (special dances, speeches ec) The venue information was: -> super unhelpful -> no tents to rent, no helium to rent, no outside heating, no plan B for rain -> had very little knowledge and advice on where to dance and move tables The day of events with catering and service: Food was great and put out in a timely manner Was served wine and appetizers while taking pictures!! The packing up of items after wedding was discreet and quick! The staff were attentive, friendly and great to talk to after event! I actually donated a ton of stuff to them! Overall pretty disappointed on the before hand experience but they pulled through the day of, thank goodness.

eption. I had mimosas right after the ceremony! That was awesome. I was never approached or bothered by any issues. I was able to focus on myself as the bride and everything was taken care of. It was a PERFECT day! The guests were so pleased by the food and everyone loved the beautiful venue. I could’ve not picked a more perfect place for our wedding!

y for there help along the way! I wouldn’t recommend any other venue than this! They are now family and will forever be!

first toured the venue space, through the planning process, and during the event, the venue staff was helpful and attentive and I can't say enough good things about this company.

h me once. All my guests said that if they hadn't known I'd had to change the venue last minute they would not have been able to tell! I got married at the Bayfront Club which is a beautiful waterfront location and have some amazing pictures. Catering by Uptown saved my wedding and I'm so thankful for their flexibility and professionalism which allowed me to have the wedding I had imagined.

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day did a great job. Our guests enjoyed the food, the decorations, the hospitality and specially the drinks, so did we - Specially Messi, the waitress who was always serving us (groom and bride). She was the sweetest one and we didn’t spend even one minute without drinks! Lastly, what a place! We were really luckily to find it. We highly recommend Celebrations at the Bay just as the whole team. Thanks for making our day so special!

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would be. From Breanna, our salesperson who was our initial contact and who made us feel so comfortable, to Cindy in planning who is absolutely OUTSTANDING and was extremely responsive to my 2940574387 questions, to our day of coordinator Brittany who made sure every single aspect of my vision came true and our day ran smoothly, I cannot say enough great things about this team. The overall service was top notch, and you can tell everyone is true professional. On top of everything else, the food was AMAZING, and we are still hearing rave reviews from our family and friends. They were also able to add our preferred alcohol and beers to the premium liquor list, allowing us to ensure that our two Irish families would not be thirsty ;) The catering by uptown team makes wedding planning, which is stressful enough in itself, much more manageable by having everything (food, booze, cake, linens, place settings, lighting, etc.) all included which removes the headache of keeping track of tons of different vendors. Overall I cannot say enough great things about this venue and this team! I HIGHLY recommend them.

rough the sales process, and she was amazing every step of the way. She used the word magical to describe a wedding at Celebrations, and that is exactly how I would describe it. You receive a planning coordinator to help with your tasting, linens, etc. We had Katie who was sweet and very helpful. You also receive a day of coordinator. Katie helped transition to Olivia - who made sure our day was perfect. Celebrations made for a wedding that my husband and I, and our guests will never forget. The food, the view, the atmosphere - everything is amazing. When I was at Celebrations, waiting for the ceremony to start - Olivia came to talk to me about the plan to walk into the ceremony - a puddle had formed there because of all the recent rain...and she wanted to talk through the concern and my options. However, I really wanted to walk straight through the door and down the aisle. Her and a bridesmaid went to look at it together, and I don't know what happened but when they came back - I was told it was gone! Couldn't have been happier with the whole day!

around ask​ing​ for anything​ nor did we experience any complications​​. Instead, we were able to fully enjoy celebrating with our family and friends​,​ and ​more importantly with each other.​ ​ ​We​ highly recommend Catering by Uptown​- a one-stop-shop, all-inclusive catering and venue company- who is affordable yet delivers like an upscale venue (if not more so!). ​ ​​​We have attended weddings where the food was not nearly as delicious and impressive when mass-produced as it did at the tasting. But Catering by Uptown's ​food w​as​ still perfectly savory and ​filling ​with five-star presentation. ​ ​One aspect guests remember and care about at all weddings, is the food. So when our guests ​raved not only about the beautiful venue and decor, ​but the​ ​​cuisine as well, we were beyond pleased​. We even overheard guests saying they want their son/daughter to hold their wedding by Catering by Uptown! ​ So rather than just keep this experience among ourselves and our guests, we want​ed​ to take the time to share our ​unforgettable ​​day so that you​, your significant other​​, family and friends may ​also ​be blessed with the same opportunity. ​ ​You will not be disappointed! ​ Thank you​,​ Catering by Uptown!

ng late for my wedding due to an accident but Eileen made all my guests happy they was not grumpy of the fact that I was running late. Eileen and her staff made my day wonderful. They were so helpful and everything that I wanted was met. The food kept coming, and the food was delicious. The venue is lovely. My guests loved the bar and the guy working it. If I should do anything again this is where I will go. It is expensive but it is worth every penny

intment to look at 1 venue. We walked in and fell in love. We booked it that day! Our wedding planner reached out to us in no time. She made planning a breeze. I could email her anytime even late, early, or the weekend and she would reply in 10-15 min. That surely puts a bride at ease. The wait staff and bartender were amazing. professional and so friendly. Congratulating me the entire time and you could tell they meant it. constant smiles and actually enjoying what they were there to do. Last, Brittany the DOC rocked it. She amazed me with how quickly she set up and took everything down. She took notes on exactly what I wanted to make sure that I was getting everything I wanted. Not only did I get everything I wanted i got much more. She took pics and sent them to me the next day so I could enjoy some before the professional ones came back. Catering by uptown is the way to go. If you want an easy process I recommend them. Thank you uptown!

tering by uptown is perfect, I didn’t even use the wedding planner book I bought! I love that everything is included, it made it so much easier to not have to worry about extra costs for tablecloths or chime. I’d give it 100 stars if I could! Thank you catering !

ng the look we wanted. The food is so good, from the appetizers to the cake and everything in between. I don't have one complaint. Our wedding was exactly how we imagined!

eable, friendly, professional, and helpful. I met with her to do a taste-testing of the menu and the food was incredible. She highly recommended we keep the lobster bisque martinis and boy am I glad we did!! We still have guests talking to us about that!!! Cindy literally made changes to our event as we spoke and followed up on every single detail without hesitation. I was very impressed with her ability to remember everything. While I knew she was working with several brides, she made me feel like I was her sole priority with every email and phone call. I was so attached to her that I didn't really want to be handed over to my day-of coordinator. But my day of coordinator, Amie Liebman was FANTASTIC too!!! She worked that entire wedding night like a complete professional and all I saw was her running around and making things happen. A woman after my own heart!! Aimee kept the night running so smooth and asked me questions throughout the night about what I would like to do next. She was so flexible and truly dedicated to making sure my husband and I were happy and taken care of. I felt so spoiled to have such an amazing professional to help carry the night into perfection. I literally have nothing bad to say about my experience with Celebrations At The Bay and their staff. I wish I could do that night over again to feel the magic of it all one more time!! I loved it and I cannot express enough my gratitude to your business and people who made my entire journey from wedding planning to execution the best and most enjoyable experience. BRAVO ladies!!