Mars Bake Shop & Catering

I rarely leave reviews, but my experience with Mars Bake Shop and Catering at our 8/24/24 wedding at Rutherfurd Hall in Hackettstown, NJ, was deeply disappointing. We were hesitant to hire them due to their few reviews and lack of a storefront but proceeded based on their assurances. Unfortunately, they did not deliver on their promises. We repeatedly emphasized that the venue had no stove, only a fridge and basic facilities. Mariam, our contact, assured us they could deliver the food hot, but on the wedding day, it arrived cold. When confronted, Mariam claimed ignorance about the lack of a stove, deflecting responsibility onto us, despite our clear discussions beforehand. We paid for a beverage package that was supposed to include pitchers of soda at each table. Instead, our guests had to get their drinks at the bar and serve themself where the bartender was eating during dinner. Mariam denied that we requested pitchers, despite our specific instructions. Bread and butter were also missing without any warning, and Mariam continued to deflect blame. The coffee and tea setup was similarly mishandled. Rather than a self-serve option, guests had to request their drinks, adding unnecessary hassle, no one would have known to stop the caterer to ask. Lastly, when we requested a partial refund for the poor service, Mariam refused, citing a discount due to our budget, as if that justified the issues. She initially claimed our budget was fine but later implied we were given a lower rate as a favor. She also mentioned “freebies,” which were just leftovers from unserved guests and vendors—items we had already paid for. It felt like we were penalized for not paying her standard rate, despite promises of a specific level of service. She even remarked she “thought we were a nice couple” as if that excused the poor service. We also hired their in-house coordinator, which was another disappointment. She was supposed to meet us at 6 PM the night before the wedding and didn’t arrive until 9 PM. On the wedding day, she was supposed to arrive at 10 AM to handle last-minute details and help set up, but didn’t show until around noon. She also told us we didn't have to clean the kitchen but didn't and Mariam then told us it was our fault it wasn't cleaned. Most of the tasks we paid her $400 for were done by my family and me. Ultimately, not worth the $400 we paid. Mars Bake Shop and Catering failed to meet their promises, took no responsibility, and turned what should have been a joyous day into a frustrating experience. I wouldn’t recommend their services.