John Michael Weddings & Special Events

ing was a part of my event! My guests are still complimenting the food a month later!!

in to bring me and my groom appetizers and drinks while we were doing family pics) and the supervisor, Joanna, made sure I was 100% happy. Pre-wedding, Charlene was amazing in answering my questions at the tastings, over the phone and through email. Giselle took over near the end and it was a flawless transition. She was also very friendly and patient with all my last minute requests. I highly recommend!

me. But then they invited us to their quarterly tasting and after the tasting, we knew they were the ones we would hire. I loved that we were able to taste the food before we committed to signing or paying for anything. Tasting the food was key for us and John Michael's food was amazing at the tasting and at our event. They have a set menu list that you can pick from, but anything else that you would like to make, they would be more than happy to make it for you. Michael and Charlene were awesome to work with. They responded quickly to our questions and sat down with us to plan our wedding when we needed their support, which made the planning process much easier for us. We went with a buffet style for 105 guests and it turned out great. All of our guests loved the food. Our favorites were the bourbon pork and corn casserole, but everything was absolutely delicious. We had a few decor items and they were more than happy to set them up for us. We supplied our own alcohol to be served and they did a wonderful job at the bar. The staff was very attentive, asked if we needed more food or drinks. We thank everyone at John Michael for providing such quality service! Again, they were professional, easy to work with, responsive, had great ideas, never pushed anything we didn't want on us, and had absolutely delicious food. We couldn't ask for any more. Would highly recommend John Michael!

nt. Prior to the wedding, we worked closely with Michael Thomas -- the owner and founder of JM. We are a lesbian couple and it was important for us to work with an LGBT-friendly company. When we found out that Michael is a married gay man, we were just elated! It was easy and fun working out the details with Michael. JM provided catering, linens, chairs, plates, silverware, and glassware. There was a great selection of colors and styles to choose from, and we worked with Michael in the showroom neighboring their main office, so we were able to see how everything would look set up. Katie was our day-of coordinator and she was very attentive and sweet, and we were amazed with her efficiency. She was always one step ahead, and always working very hard to make everything perfect. Our guests (and us!) absolutely loved the staff, especially Mary who was our bartender. She is so sweet and funny and she seemed to really be enjoying herself. Some of our guests were hoping to dance with her! Dinner service was super quick. The food was absolutely excellent, of course. Our guests loved all of the offerings and we got great comments across the board. JM has tastings (I believe twice a year) at no additional cost to clients, to help with choices. You can also do a paid tasting if you miss the event. Standout offerings include their flounder, corn casserole, stuffed mushroom caps, and the best Caesar salad ever. The one non-positive comment we have is Sasha, one of the waitstaff, seemed super uninterested and in a bad mood. It did not have an adverse effect on the event, but several people noticed, myself included. It was not enough to dock even half a point from this wonderful company, so I rated 5 stars across the board!

nd the service was even better! For what we paid for his services it was WAAAAY worth it and some! They definitely delivered --- WHAT AN AMAZING DAY! Thanks guys ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxSGZSO_fR8&t=2s

y was in a very hot room at 4pm in July. When we asked for more ice water to try to cool down the servers made I feel like we were making them do extra work. The food was horrible, over cooked and dry that we got to try. When we went in later for our consultation the planner assured us that the food would be great for our wedding. I will say the only good thing with this vendor was the food at the wedding. However, we were promised to have large take out boxes of the food for us, the bride and groom. We were also told that any left over food would be boxed for the wedding party to enjoy. Well, my husband and I barely got a small serving of each item on our large menu and there were no extra boxes as promised for our wedding party. We paid extra to have real glasses, not plastic for all drinks to be served. About an hour into the reception they switch all glasses with smaller plastic glasses. We had given the exact measurements for our signature drink along with each alcohol that would be provided. The plan that we discussed with the event planner was to have the drinks pre mixed for our guest - to save on time and prevent over pouring. We were also told that they would have a frame sign describing our drink to have on the bar. We did not have the sign. The bartender did not premix, and was over pouring one alcohol so that the drink was not what we designed. Overall, the wedding service left us disappointed. I wrote a letter and filled out the survey to John Michael. My wedding was over a month ago - they never contacted us back.

asting (we got to try everything!). The food at our wedding was delicious, many of our guests honestly raved about it. The staff was very attentive to us and extremely professional. I wish I got the name of the woman who was the supervisor that night because she was exceptional. In the planning stages, everyone I dealt with was very flexible and willing to meet with me as many times as I needed to. I would not hesitate to use John Michael again for an event.

yone that I knew was getting married. They help you with everything thing and are so responsive. My only regret is that it's over because we had amazing support and became really close with the team that helped my husband and I put on the wedding of a lifetime.

lot of clients, but she made me felt like I was the only client they have. They have free food tasting once every quarter of the year. I felt that their pricing are very reasonable! We went with the Silver package with a lot of add ons like full liquor bar setups that included bartenders, real glassware, iced tea service, mixed match china, bar fronts, charger upgrade, soup course, chimichurri upgrade, and additional one hour of service. Charlene was very helpful with the changes through out the planing and provided us with very straightforward pricing. They allowed us to provide our own alcohol and that is absolutely amazing! Not only that we save money, but we also able to provided “quality” brand without breaking the bank! They were also very flexible with our guest count changes and event last minutes food options changes. Thank you John Michael! Thank you Charlene!

Michael Events. This gift was a generous act of kindness that my husband and I will never forget. We could not have imagined the perfection in catering we were about to receive by John Michael Exquisite Weddings and Catering. John Michael and his team provided us with highly professional guidance and support during our planning stage. When you have so many decisions to make from vegetarians to meat eaters to linens and layout of their gorgeous outdoor venue (Celebration Gardens), things can get stressful. I was amazed at the response time when I had questions or concerns - not to mention gently being put at ease - . I honestly never felt so well cared for by any type of business. John Michael and team have an approach with customers that leaves you feeling like your wedding is the most important event in the world - that is how we felt. As catering goes, our hope was for everyone to simply eat well but instead we were all RAVING about the Food! At our wedding the food was even more delicious then we already thought it was during the 2 taste testing events we were invited to stunning Leu Gardens. My husband, 9 year old daughter and I couldn't have been happier when our meals were served. Yes, we actually ate at our own wedding! We did not want to miss out on that! Fiesta Chicken, Carved Flank Steak, and fresh Seasonal Vegetables (we requested)...and much much more! A diverse menu to design your wedding (or any event for that matter) from and every item we chose was scrumptious! Our guests showered the catering with compliments during and after our wedding. I cannot tell you how many guests commented that this was the most fun they had at a wedding in a long time! This is what we hoped for. We wanted everyone to have a great time and we all did! No disappointment whatsoever - just incredible! As for the service during our wedding, the staff were nothing but smiles! They were organized, upbeat, fully engaged with us and our guests, friendly and accommodating - this holds true for the wait staff and the bartender! All very hard working and well experienced from our point of view. A very smooth operation without any glitches and the best service ever! I love all of the staff at John Michael's. They are all extremely fine people and professionals. We had a gorgeous, sweet, romantic, amazing wedding made possible by this generous gift! Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts to John Michael for his generosity and giving to Dale and Gary...a couple whom the Winter Park community chose to gift this surprise wedding to. To all of the Celebration Garden partners, Power Entertainment and Art Faulkner Photography a heartfelt thank you for all that you did for us. Go to Gary Lambert Salon, Winter Park Florist and Cakes By Design for more reviews on our gifted wedding in the upcoming days. My husband and I Highly Recommend - John Michael Exquisite Weddings and Catering - to anyone planning an event. We had a wedding to remember and pictures to prove it. We plan on sharing those pics with John Michael and Celebration Gardens and allowing them to post any of their choosing to showcase their venue. Best Wishes Everyone, Dale and Gary

te, since the wedding was outdoors and we had to set it up due to rain. Charlene was there for the vendors to set up and left someone responsible after she left. The staff was super friendly and our family felt very comfortable with them even when some of my family members don't speak English very well. We are happy to recommend John Michael!!!

us. The salad was very good however the blue cheese was supposed to be served on the side because we had several guests with diary allergies. My food was cold and this seemed to be the overall feedback that I received. The beef was awesome, the salmon was good and the pork was very dry. I have talked to 6 guests that had the pork and they all told me it was dry to a point where it was hard to eat and served cold. The grooms mom said she could not eat the pork at all. The owner stated the following when I told him about the pork. "It is a tricky protein to work with, but it sounds like our kitchen staff overcooked it a bit, thus causing it too dry out. We will work with the staff on proper cook times." I would have thought they would have offered me a refund and would know how to cook meat !!

perb staff to make your wedding happen. The food was outstanding with so many choices to fit every palette. Our guests raved about the beef and blue as well as the stuffed mushrooms! There aren't enough words to express our happiness and appreciation for John Michael Events being our daughter's wedding planner.

contract, were beautiful. They brought us hors d'oeuvres during our photo hour which I thought was wonderful, otherwise we wouldnt have been able to get out to get any. We had a buffet set up for our guests but the servers brought us plates first. By the time we were ready to leave they had the leftovers and cake all packaged up and ready for us to take. These guys are amazing and their food is top notch!

harlene is amazing) through them. I highly recommend them. All my phone calls, emails, questions, and needs were promptly addressed. Their staff was friendly. And again, the food was DELICIOUS. I highly recommend them.

ot only the menu but linen choices as well. The only thing we would have changed is that the buffet was only out for one hour, we would have liked to have it out a little bit longer. The staff were very friendly and professional. They even asked if we wanted any tables dismissed in a particular order (like family). We purchased separate vegetarian options and our veggie friends all commented that they enjoyed that dish as well.

anic and american guests. The Ropa Vieja was flavorful and tender, the breaded chicken was so moist! the risotto was everyone's favorite. This was a great experience with this vendor, I cannot recommend them enough.

eded. We were asked multiple times if we would like anything else. They even sent us with a to-go box!! In our first meeting John Michaels told us we could change our entire menu 10 days before the wedding. My husband and I kind of laughed but wouldn't you know we change from plated dinner to buffet a week before our wedding. We both originally felt very strong about having a plated dinner, but our guests actually thanked us for having it changed because they wanted to try it all!!!! JM accommodated our high guest count with THREE bars so my guests would not have to wait. Their food was so good, and fresh. Any question I had they answered quickly. They are the easiest choice for catering! I couldn't have been happier with their service.

ere VERY impressed with all of the delicious choices, it was hard to decide! The day-of service was also outstanding. We had everything we needed and it was a very great experience. The staff was great with the planning process and very helpful. I would definitely use them again!

we had everything we needed. The planning process was a breeze and the tables looked beautiful; exactly what I had pictured. So pleased with this service, would deft recommend!

all pricing information is listed. Very happy with our choice! :)

ne calls during the planning process. I even got a response from my coordinator at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday, when other vendors wouldn't return messages for days! In addition to great service during the planning process, the food is excellent and the price is right. I had dozens of guests tell me how it was the "best wedding food they had ever eaten." During the event, the JM staff was extremely professional and really catered to me, personally. As a (former) picky bride, I highly suggest JM Weddings and Events.

fect wedding. Our guests could not say enough about the level of service, quality of food and we couldn't say enough about the stress free process!

me, and always answered my million questions. Everything turned out exactly how I hoped for and even better. Try to go to one of the tastings and you will see. The number one thing everyone loved was the food! Great job JM so happy I chose you guys :)

nd even takes photos so I can visualize her ideas. They were great on the day too! I love the and will recommend them any time!

ordinator themselves. I cannot say enough about how this made planning easier. JM coordinated all our vendors for us and scheduled meetings with all of them in 1 day, which made it much easier traveling from out of town to meet with everyone. We were very happy with all of the vendors that were included in the package and have reviewed them separately. I would absolutely advise anyone considering the diamond package to go for it. It was very cost effective and we truly got top notch service. On to JM catering. The catering (buffett) was delicious. We had numerous compliments from our guests. The chicken was moist even as leftovers, which is no small feat. We had a mac n cheese bar at the cocktail hour and it (I heard) was delicious.The buffet was ready about 20 min late, but this did not detract from the overall excellent service and catering. They worked with us about providing gluten free options for our guests with issues. We enjoyed their tasting events as a good way to sample the menu. Their day of coordinator helped us set out everything and did a great job of it. Michael was easy to work with and accommodating. The extra linen charges seem a little excessive, but I guess that's the name of the wedding game (?). Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend them and absolutely would make the same choice to go with JM and the Diamond Package again. Thank you for a fantastic wedding and such a great package deal that made my life and planning so much easier!!!!

but it was all the time leading up to the big day that I really got to know how wonderful Michael and his staff are. Michael was always very quick on responding (I'm an emailer) and dealt with my crazy last minute changes without even batting an eye. I really felt very safe with my wedding in his hands and knew that I could trust that he would make everything gorgeous and just the way I would want it.

ding- not something many brides can say!

ry expectation by every single person working!!! It was as if they were all there with the very intention to make your day perfect. There were many compliments on the food from all of the guests! They made us a to-go box so when I finally tasted the food several hours after the wedding, it was still so delicious! I would recommend this company to anyone planning any kind of event!

nclusive package, it was just great. We had a one on one meeting with the director of catering going over line of detail for the event and we walked out thinking everything was set and ready for our wedding.......... until I showed up at the venue 1 hour before the ceremony started and someone I had never met walks up to me and asks me where the booze for the wedding was. I said what are you talking about, you guys were supposed to provide the booze. The director of catering had told us all the brands of liquor, beer and wine we would have. We even mentioned us bringing a bottle of our own liquor because it was something our mom liked and she told us because they were providing the booze we were not allowed to bring in our own but if it showed up as a gift it wouldn't be a problem. So imagine my shock when 1 hour before the wedding started they didn't have any booze. So we send them to the store to get enough booze for 125 people and told them the group was heavy drinkers. So they went but when we sat down for dinner the caterer comes back up to me to say they were running out of all the booze 1.5 hours in to the reception. UGH so we has to ask our best man to go back to the store. After everything we went back and checked our contract and they had typed in we were to provide the booze. Although we SPECIFALLY told them they were providing it and they told us what they would be providing, she mistyped the contract when she sent it a week after our meeting. It was absolutely my fault that I didn't catch it and I take that blame. However JME has not apologized at all for their mistake and I think that is just bad business. Disappointed in people we thought would have been great to work with.

vents. The staff made the evening grand. The set up was stunning and the service was far beyond anything expected. I would recommend John Michael Events for any event or setting.

the wedding. Charlene was a dream to work with. She made sure every little detail was taken care of. Their diamond packages make it so easy to plan a wedding. Everything is there for you and they set up all the meetings for you. I highly recommend them for your wedding or any other event.

was left. I was really impressed, they were very polite and helpful, even helping us put the left over liquor in our cars.

reception, John Michael and his team went the extra mile to make sure our wedding was an event that we will never forget. The food was absolutely delicious, our guests loved it. Absolutely recommended! :) Sandra and Wade Spires.

entire meal. The service was amazing and they boxed up all the leftover food and cake for my husband and I (and our families) to take home at the end of the night. The highlight of our meal was the Fully Involved Mashed Potatoes!!

ings and/or decide to book them as your caterer, please please please try the mashed potato bar - you won't regret it. It was a winner at our cocktail hour!

tasting at another caterer and everything tasted like it was from a TV dinner (and they cost more!). We knew we had made the right choice before the wedding even happened, but we were even happier with our selection on the wedding day. They showed up on time and started setting up. When our guests arrived, drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served and they were delicious (I got a few after the cocktail hour due to photos). The buffet style dinner was ready on time and there was plenty of food. Everything was so yummy! I highly recommend paying the little bit extra for the sweetheart table option if you're doing a buffet. We had our own little table and the servers brought our food to us before our guests went through the buffet line so we got a chance to eat while they were getting their food. The service was amazing also. We had gone over all the details beforehand so everything was what I wanted and expected. They even asked us before the wedding what food we wanted on our plates at the sweetheart table, they thought of everything! We could not have been happier with John Michael!

. Best of all...it was free! So many options!. We also attended a private tasting (for a fee for up to 4 people). I was very happy with the choices I made for the wedding, and so were my guests. Everything was good...I highly recommend the corn casserole, the panko crusted chicken breast, and the mini pot pies. The rolls are fantastic too! Do not choose another catering company. They use mostly organic foods, which is a fresh alternative to traditional, bland wedding food that most people experience at weddings.

at the same time. So many of my wedding guests have gone on and on about how wonderful the food was. The highlight of discussion amoungst family on Christmas day was the bacon wrapped meatballs! Highly recommend this caterer!!

t get to see much! My only negative thing I have to say about them isn't even related to food. We were supposed to have a 100% flower free wedding, and it was even written on the contract to remove the flowers from the buffet stations. During pictures though, a waiter brought us a platter from the cocktail hour with an orchid on it. I am guessing that each one had one as well. I was very upset about this. It was (and still is!) and huge deal to me.

indecision! Leading up to the wedding day I was able to communicate with him often and he always responded in a very timely manner. Day of, the food was fantastic, the set-up was better than I had imagined and the service was impeccable. I felt like a princess being waited on hand and foot. Before I could even ask for anything the staff were already in action. And they treated my guests the same. I couldn't have been more pleased.

was guests were supposed to come back in after our exit to grab their favors but the tables were already cleared off. Some guests were not served their meals at the same time as the rest of their tables & had to ask for their entrees.

s amazing. Michael was great with communication and was really willing to work with our small budget. My husband and I couldn't have been happier.

t their own drinks etc. We opted for a chocolate fountain that had a wide selection of food to dip. The bartenders were knowledgeable and all of the staff was clean and well put together making the reception feel like a 5 star event. Our plates were about $42 per person and worth every penny!!! Our guests talked about the food for days after the wedding. The staff also boxed up the extra food for us take which came in handy for the after party at our house.

ould definitely recommend him.

the planning process. I was making changes up to the last few days and he had no problem changing anything. The staff that worked our wedding was also great. They were very professional and attentive. I received many complements on the staff. Even during the pictures the staff made sure to bring over some drinks and hors d'oeurvres to the bridal party so we could enjoy the cocktail hour. That was a nice touch. The bartender was also entertaining and friendly to all the guests. When ever I needed something there was always someone there to take care of it. I did not need much because they took care of everything. The food was excellent. We did a buffet style and it worked out perfectly. I received so many compliments from so many different people. John Michael even provided the decorations for the buffet tables which were beautiful. I highly recommend.

Everything they prepared was absolutely delicious. We have had so many compliments from friends and family on how wonderful our food was. I have been to many weddings where the food was less than desirable. If you want a smooth experience and delicious food your guests will remember, I would HIGHLY recommend John Michaels Catering!!!

ected John Michaels. They have the best and most customizable menu options, extremely flexible in price and services provided, offer tasting exhibits, worked with us one on one, provided additional vendor information, and gave us great advice on other aspects of our wedding. My fiance even got to have one of his favorite dishes, miso salmon, as on of our entrees. That "must ask" list of caterers questions wasn't needed; they were completely open about the entire process and what was to happen on that day. I had so many compliments on the food, and I was so happy that I got to enjoy it myself! Joel was my coordinator for that day and did a phenomenal job. They took care of everything, and were more helpful and available than the venue staff! I can't thank you enough John Michael!

was delicious! And they were more than willing to go above and beyond anything we needed of them! I would highly recommend them for anyone!!

s a huge hit and so was their cauliflower soufle. Michael also invites you to some of his free tasting events so you can get an idea before you choose your menu. I had a hard time picking my food- and Michael was so patient and did not complain when I changed my menu the day before it was due. He had some really good ideas and helped us stay in budget.

nager/wedding consultant and the best at what he does) worked diligently with my wife and I to prepare everything for our day before hand so that I had no stress or worries while I was trying to enjoy my ceremony and reception. The other most important service John Michael's offered us was a complete wedding package (they call it their Diamond Wedding Package) where Michael Thomas contracts vendors he has been working with for years in Orlando, making him a one stop shop for our day. Him and his team of vendors include catering, photography, videography, DJ, cake, and floral, among many others. Because my wife and I work a lot, this was a blessing. The vendors he works with were all absolutely incredible. You cannot go wrong with the Diamond Package, and it honestly feels like a steal, as the quality of work they all do is worth way more than what you pay (John Michael's is incredibly affordable). We feel like we got WAY more than what we paid for in terms of quality of the food and all his services. Our guests still talk about the food at the wedding (we did the Panko Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Ravioli as well as a London Broil Carving station). Michael Thomas has done thousands of weddings and you can tell when you see the results of him, his staff, and the vendors work. All throughout the reception we never had to ask for anything, as the staff constantly ensured we had anything and everything we wanted. Just for catering, John Michael's is extraordinary. But if you want to really mitigate the stress of finding all other vendors/services and get vendors who really care about your day, get the Diamond Package. My wife and I still feel so lucky that John Michael's was a one stop shop. There is not one negative thing or complaint we could make about working with him. And, if you want a wedding consultant/planner to be with you for months before your wedding to help get all your ducks in a row, Michael Thomas is your man. He would often contact me to handle loose ends and he is always easy to get a hold of for any questions. Look no further than John Michael's. They are experienced, their food is perfect, and their staff proved to me that above all else they wanted my wife and I to not have any worry during our day.

we wanted at our wedding. Michael, the owner, answered all of my emails the same day, and even helped me plan my event when my wedding planner turned out to be a flake. The food was delicious the day of the wedding. All of the guests raved about it, and we ate all the left overs! They were cordial and professional the day of the wedding, and made sure the bridal party didn't miss out on cocktail food because of pictures. I highly recommend John Michael.

t have asked for more. We will definitely consider him in the future for any catered events we have.

and he came back with the wrong color. I told him as much and when he called Michael he had the audacity to tell us he didn't have that color in his records about us and that it was MY FIANCE'S fault for picking up the wrong color linens. Wow. As you know, planning a wedding is stressful and my husband was very involved, but he was stressed out the day before our wedding and forgot which color we had chosen as the table linens, trusting he would be handed the correct kind. To make a long story short, they didn't have the correct linens in stock even, so we scavenged to get the correct color, but they were too short for the tables (not to the floor). The too short linens looked tacky. :( Anyway, BECAUSE emails leave a trail, I had proof that we had chosen the color linen they said we hadn't and they refunded the money. But only after him blaming my husband and me for everything and even saying we still could have used the wrong linens he provided that were floor length(white) and overlayed our rental linen(black) to get a more elegant effect. Really? Why didn't he suggest that the day of the disaster or have his assistant or coordinator call us and offer the suggestion and not suggest this five days after the wedding? hindsight is 20/20. The food was excellent though and his staff provided excellent service.

d not know at the time because he did not introduce his self and left us standing in the rain while he tried to tell us we did not have an appointment. How rude!! We then showed him the email and he said, " oh Charlene you have an appointment", which she knew nothing about and was of no help either. Not friendly at all. John Micheal according to his website is suppose too meet with you personally. Well the only explaination we got was "sorry I just got back from my cruise". That tells us he really does not want or need clients because he is too busy entertaining his self. Don't waste your time. Very unprofessional to say the least. John Michael did not once come into the meeting to apologize or try to make the appointment any better. A big fat NO for us. His Loss. There is nothing bogus about this review. It is 100% true!! Bad bad experience.

events changed out all of the open flamed candles with battery operated candles from their shop at no cost to us. The space looked amazing and they set up everything without the need of a wedding planner. The cost was about 27 dollars per person not including cake or cake service. The cake company that John Michael Events works with also did a fantastic job. My cake looked as crisp as a cake with fondant icing but it was buttercream so it tasted fantastic. The cake decorator also was able to make the cake topper we wanted out of gum paste. Everything turned out wonderfully.

accommodating and had AWESOME ideas! His tastings were unusual because they were group tastings with presentations from other local vendors. It was almost like YOUR OWN private (with his other clients) bridal show and specialized in showcasing his very talented staff as well as preferred vendors, and you could go to as many as you wanted...Free! It was so great knowing I would be able to try everything before my wedding and make an educated decision...afterall, my wedding day was going to be my MOST important day. So I definitely wanted it to be perfect...and it was!