New England's premier bartending service!
Massachusetts and New England
Service area
Rachel Marks
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Premier Bar Service + Catering is a full-service catering company based in Waltham, MA. This team of dedicated professionals provides delicious fare and refreshing drinks for couples and their loved ones as they celebrate life’s precious milestones. The team works diligently alongside their clients to ensure that every element of their experience is carefully considered and expertly executed.
With over two decades of rich experience, this team has the expertise to bring your vision for your day to life. Their skilled culinary and bartending teams craft mouth-watering offerings for their cherished clients. Their goal is to provide an unforgettable experience to couples as they celebrate their joyous day by skillfully balancing complex flavors in every dish and drink they craft.
Premier Bar Service + Catering offers a range of services to choose from. Drink offerings include cocktails, blended drinks, and more. The team’s freshly prepared food includes dishes such as Mediterranean roast tilapia, chicken tikka masala, and maple chipotle BBQ salmon.
Woman-owned Business
Prices & packages
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Details
Bar & Drinks
Bartenders
Beer
Champagne
Liquor
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Signature Cocktails
Wine
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Rachel Marks
Owner
Rachel's introduction to the special events industry was as a convention manager, coordinating exhibits for the largest private trade show in New England. Since joining Premier in 2013, Rachel has helped the company nearly double in size and greatly expand its services. She cultivates distinctive relationships with clients and takes great pride in helping each one execute their vision.
When she's not working, Rachel is likely planning her own far-flung travels. She can be found reading a good book or out on the Ultimate Frisbee field trying to keep up with the 20-somethings.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.023 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.
Premier Catering and Bar Service received rave reviews for their exceptional service, delicious food, and attentive staff at weddings in Peabody. Melissa was particularly praised for her top-notch communication and personalized recommendations. They seamlessly integrated various vendors' dishes, showcasing remarkable versatility for couples with unique culinary preferences. Additionally, guests appreciated the efficient setup and service, with staff going above and beyond to ensure a flawless experience. Premier's flexibility, attention to detail, and professionalism were highlighted by multiple reviewers, making them a highly recommended choice for wedding catering and bar service.Review photos
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Melanie C
5.0
12/08/2024
Premier Bar Service helped make our wedding at Olio in Peabody absolutely unforgettable! Not only did they handle the bar with all of our favorite drinks, but they also served food from our favorite local restaurants, which added such a personal and unique touch.
Melissa was amazing to work with—her communication was top-notch, and she guided us through everything, from planning how much food to order to offering great recommendations for our wedding size. They also helped us navigate some last-minute changes with ease, ensuring our event was absolutely perfect.
On the day of, their team went above and beyond, assisting with both set-up and break-down, which made the entire process so much easier for us. The bar and food service ran seamlessly, and everything was kept clean and organized throughout the night. Guests are still raving about the food, drinks, and overall experience months later!
We can’t thank Premier Bar Service enough and would recommend them to anyone looking for an stress-free, flawless wedding or event.
not implemented response 12/17/2024
Melanie - thank you so much for this review! Your testimonial means so much. It was fantas...
tic working with you, and I'm so glad everything went the way you envisioned it. I hope you're enjoying all the memories of your incredible day! -Melissa
Caitlin R
5.0
3/03/2024
Before we had committed to Premier Catering for our wedding, they were very responsive and interested in helping with ease. After taking a look at their different menu options, we decided they were the best choice and we’re so happy we made that decision! We worked alongside Melissa who was on top of everything with making great suggestions and accommodating to our little changes through every step of the process. During our tasting, they were extremely attentive and made sure we tried everything we had interest in trying, and more! This helped so much with finalizing our plated dinner menu options. Premier worked seamlessly with the venue and other vendors for our wedding to the point where we had no doubts that our big day would be nothing but perfect. Many of our guests raved about the food, bar service and respectfulness of the catering staff. As the caterer is such an important piece to a wedding, they certainly made all decision making easy and they were always great to work with!
not implemented response 03/04/2024
Caitlin - thanks so much for your awesome review! We really enjoyed working with you on yo...
ur wedding, and it was fun to see how it all unfolded and came to life. We are so glad you were able to enjoy your special day, and we appreciate your trust in our team! -Melissa
Any questions?
Heather C
5.0
11/03/2023
When we were first looking at the list of recommend catering vendors for our wedding, they all just felt like a list of names to sift through. Let us do that work for you by giving our highest recommendations for Premier. When we first spoke with Melissa--who would become our overall catering, equipment rental and bar service contact/event manager for the rest of our wedding planning journey--we knew everything would be well taken care of. And we weren't wrong. She made the seemingly overwhelming process of food and beverage options, decorative styling and logistical preparations completely manageable. We felt comfortable sharing the outline of our vision with her and trusted her to bring it to life. We never felt lost or in the dark at any stage of our planning process--Melissa was transparent, communicative and quickly responsive to any questions we had. The end result of all our planning and working with her surpassed our wildest dreams and all of our guests shared the same sentiments. We couldn't have asked for more.
not implemented response 11/06/2023
Heather - Thanks for the lovely words. It was super fun working with you on your vision. A...
nd thank you for including these gorgeous photos! You really transformed the space in such a unique and beautiful way. Thank you so much for your trust in us! -Melissa
Paul B
5.0
10/30/2023
Melissa and her staff were all really wonderful! We wanted some less conventional colors for our wedding tables and Melissa and her team knocked it out of the park for us. The hall was absolutely beautiful, and everyone was super attentive to all of our needs. They went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable experience! The food was great. Bar service was fast and friendly. Melissa was extremely patient fielding all of our questions leading up to the wedding, and helped us get perspective on quite a few of our planning challenges. The day itself was absolutely magical. Extremely glad that we went with Premier!
not implemented response 11/01/2023
Hi Paul - thanks so much for this! You and Maya were so amazing to work with. I loved your...
unique vision and it's so fun planning with a couple that enjoys the process so much. Thank you for trusting us with your day! -Melissa
Daniel K
5.0
10/26/2023
We loved working with Premier for our wedding for food, beverages, and more, and would recommend them without hesitation, especially for their flexibility!
Flexibility: Premier Catering stood out as one of the very few caterers willing to accommodate our unique vision. Lots of caterers downright refused to serve anything from other vendors or not on their menu. We wanted to include outsourced food, featuring our favorite dishes and culturally significant foods at our wedding. They seamlessly integrated appetizers, dinner buffet dishes, and desserts from various vendors, including a Filipino caterer and an entire roasted pig, a local bakery, and even our favorite bubble tea shop. Premier's team demonstrated remarkable versatility by cooking, reheating, serving, creating passed appetizers, or doing whatever was needed and ensuring whatever food it was was served properly.
Food: Premier's own culinary offerings were nothing short of exceptional. It was hard to pick from the menu because all the optioned sounded great. We were able to have a tasting, which helped make some adjustments and finalize our menu.
Beverages: Premier went the extra mile to source a specific beer that wasn't part of their standard menu, aligning perfectly with our wedding theme. Their commitment to tailoring every detail to our vision was evident.
Setup / Breakdown: Premier Catering handled the setup, arrangement, and breakdown of tables, chairs, place settings, and more for our ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour. They seamlessly integrated the venue's own equipment and also provided additional items like extra rectangular tables and high chairs. Their adaptability in making everything work harmoniously with our venue was truly impressive. We were surprised at how many different rental options they had, including coordinating the linens, cups, and plates with our chosen color scheme.
Staff: Throughout the planning process, Melissa, our coordinator, remained consistently attentive and responsive. Every staff member we encountered on the day of our wedding was exceptionally friendly and helpful. When a sudden rain shower threatened our outdoor ceremony, Premier's team sprang into action, drying off the chairs to ensure our guests' comfort. They even thoughtfully offered to prepare a plate of passed appetizers for us, knowing we might miss out while socializing with our guests or taking photos.
All in all, we'd recommend hiring them, especially if you want to do some flexible, unique, or creative and personal things with your wedding catering.
not implemented response 10/27/2023
Hi Daniel! Your thoughtful and detailed review is so appreciated! It is always a thrill to...
help a couple bring the day they envisioned to life. Thank you for making it such a pleasure. All the best to you both. -Melissa
Olivia V
5.0
10/03/2022
Rachel and her staff with Premier did a fantastic job with our September New England wedding. We wanted an open bar, knowing that our family and friends would take full advantage of the beverages provided. Rachel was incredibly helpful when we met to determine exactly what we would need to help make this idea a reality. We had four specialty drinks, each named after our family pets, and Rachel was able to help us create drinks that matched their personalities but would be efficient to create and serve on the day of. The staff working our wedding were professional and fun while maintaining a safe atmosphere for our guests. Their set up and service was seamless. I would recommend Premier for any couples in the area looking to hire a comprehensive bar-tending service.
not implemented response 10/03/2022
Hi Olivia - it was so fun working with you to come up with the signature drinks! I only wi...
sh I could have met your pups IRL :) Thanks for being such a pleasure to work with - wishing you all happiness! -Rachel
Brenden O
5.0
9/12/2022
We are so glad we hired Premier as our caterer and bar service for our wedding!
From our first meeting with Melissa, we knew Premier was the right fit for us. It seems like they were able to accommodate every little detail we had in mind. Melissa helped us put together a menu draft and an initial tasting. When we met her for the tasting she sat with us and chatted while taking notes on our thoughts about the food. She actively responded to everything we had in mind and provided recommendations and her own perspective. It was a great mix of professional experience and personalization.
We had some unique needs at our wedding, such as a “cookie table” in addition to the desserts. Melissa was so flexible in helping us figure out how this would work, and had lots of ideas about how to enhance what we had in mind. She also helped us with our bar menu and our signature drinks. It seems like every tiny detail that we weren’t sure was possible was always a “yes of course.” We were so grateful for her experience!
On the day of the wedding, everything went so smoothly! Everything was set up before we arrived, and when the space was transitioned from ceremony to reception, all of the guests said they didn’t even see the caterers moving the chairs. The bar and buffet lines went fast, and no one went without appetizers. The servers went out of their way to make sure that we always had a drink in our hands. Premier truly made us feel that everything was taken care of throughout the evening, and we couldn’t be happier!
<3 Peter and Brenden
not implemented response 10/03/2022
Peter & Brenden - it was so fun working with you guys! I'm so glad we could collaborate t...
o bring all of your great ideas to life. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! - Melissa
Leighanna S
5.0
9/11/2022
We worked with Rachel at Premier to arrange open bar service for our wedding last month and we could not be more impressed and appreciative! We had two bartenders and one barback and they were so fun and kind to have at our event. They were so fast- a line never formed at the bar! Our liquor, beer, and wine order was perfect and Rachel was so wonderful in helping us to create the perfect menu.
not implemented response 09/12/2022
Hi Leighanna - it was so fun working with you guys! I'm so happy to hear everything went w...
ell. Our bar team really enjoyed the day, too. Best wishes to you both! -Rachel
Kelsey A
5.0
8/27/2022
We hired Premier for setup, catering, food, bar, and breakdown for our July 2, 2022 wedding at Olio in Peabody. Melissa at Premier was wonderful throughout the planning process and helped calm my nerves and find solutions when I was feeling stressed. The service staff was very friendly and on point from set up to service to clean up. Premier was able to set up the space exactly how I envisioned. While the wedding planning process was stressful and a lot of work, Melissa consistently made me feel at ease and had a solution for every question or obstacle. I was on the fence about having a buffet, but the food service moved quickly and efficiently so no guests were waiting for too long. When we ran out of popular high noons at the bar, Premier staff went to the liquor store twice to restock. I was concerned about going over budget for the open bar but her quote was accurate and we actually received $300 back after the event. I would definitely hire Premier again!
Leah B
5.0
7/31/2022
We used Premier as our bartending service for our wedding in Topsfield, MA and we could not recommend them enough! We were providing our own alcohol for the event, and Rachel was extremely helpful in calculating the right amount needed to provide based on our number of guests we had attending. Similarly, she helped consult the number of glasses and types of glassware to rent and we truly appreciated her advice and expertise! In addition to the reception beverages, we decided to have a signature cocktail at our cocktail hour in which the bartenders mixed separately in beverage dispensers we provided. This was Rachel’s suggestion so that we could avoid long lines waiting for the bartenders to mix the margaritas which was brilliant and worked out perfectly! The bartenders were super friendly, professional, and complimented by our guests for how well they managed the drinks and kept the line to a minimum. Thank you for making helping make our day so great!
not implemented response 08/01/2022
Hi Leah - Thank you so much for the awesome note! You and your family were such a pleasure...
to work with. I'm so glad everything went the way you hoped, and that you enjoyed our services. It's always so fun to work with enthusiastic, creative, and wonderful clients like you. Please be in touch any time we can help out!
All the best, Rachel
Isaac W
5.0
11/21/2021
I had a great experience working with Premier Bar Service and Rachel. Our caterer did not provide staff beyond cooking, and therefore we used Premier for for setting up, waiting tables, cleaning up, staff management, bar tending, and additional equipment we needed.
Whenever I spoke with Rachel she was always clear and patient, and at the end of the conversation I felt good about our decision. I also felt their prices were fair, and I never felt like I had to protect myself against her selling me something I didn’t need. They were so good, it is easy to recommend them.
not implemented response 11/22/2021
Hi Isaac - what lovely feedback! I appreciate your words and really enjoyed working with ...
you guys at such a beautiful and unique venue. You both were so fun, and I'm so happy you enjoyed your day. Wishing you all the best! -Rachel
Maggie and Mark M
5.0
9/21/2021
Premier handled everything on our big day! The line was always short, the drinks were cold, and all of our guests were happy! They also handled clearing tables and helped break down the event at the end of the night. They were efficient, professional, and helpful!
Cheers!
not implemented response 09/21/2021
Hi Maggie and Mark - thank you so much for the nice words! We loved working with your fami...
ly to help plan this special day. Our team really enjoyed serving your group!
Dan P
5.0
9/14/2021
I am an amateur mixologist who is very particular in designing a custom cocktail for our wedding and Rachel was by far the most accepting, helpful and resourceful person to work with! She was able to work with us on what we'd supply, what they'd find, what was the most effective cost wise and provided us with great cocktail mixing bar tenders! They did a wonderful job with our unique and not common cocktail and helped us decide wether to go free or paid for the bar! Would highly recommend working with them, especially if you are very knowledgable personally about the bar industry!
not implemented response 10/03/2022
Dan! I loved working with you guys so much. You had such a clear and unique vision, and I'...
m glad we could be a small part of the big day. Thank you so much for the nice review. All the best! -Rachel
Andrea R
5.0
8/30/2021
I can not express in words how amazing the Premier staff was for my wedding on 08/27/2021! Melissa was in constant contact with us and made everything work with the budget we gave her. Everything was decorated the way I had dreamed of and I could not be more satisfied. There was one staff member named Michael who was the talk of the event. All of my guests talked about how amazing he was! He always made sure during photos we had appetizers and my water glass was full all night long. He even came out to the dance floor and handed me a glass of water! If you are looking for serving staff that will make your event go off seamlessly, this is the one!
not implemented response 08/30/2021
Hi Andrea - Congrats on your wedding and thank you for the nice review! We so appreciate ...
your words, and your trust in our team. We enjoyed working with you and your family, and are so happy you had the day you dreamed of. We can't wait to see the pics! -Rachel, Melissa (and Michael, too!)
Toni R
5.0
8/29/2021
I can’t say enough about having Premier catering service take care of my daughters wedding. Melissa, the event manager, saved our big day. We had originally hired another caterer to do a bbq with the understanding that they would provide servers and do some light appetizers for cocktail hour. After the whole shutdown with Covid we picked up our wedding plans to continue with our planning and we were informed that this caterer would no longer be involved with providing servers or appetizers. We were now left scrambling to find servers. We contacted another company that gave us a price that was way out of our budget. The people from our venue gave us the name of Premier and we couldn’t be happier. We originally spoke with Rachel who just put my mind at ease and said “ don’t worry we will come up with a plan and take care of everything “ She handed the project to Melissa and she took off with it!! The price was so reasonable, I told Melissa what our budget was and she worked some kind of magic and got us everything we wanted within budget. The day was so hectic that I left all the decor in boxes and just showed them how I wanted the barn to look and left it to them. When we finally got into the reception the place was magical!! They did up the decor better than I could’ve imagined. I can’t express my gratitude enough for Melissa and the staff that worked the wedding. They made the big day totally stress free!!
not implemented response 08/30/2021
Hi Toni, What a nice message to receive this morning! We loved working with you and your f...
amily so much, and we know what a long road it was to the big day. We're so happy that you are happy. Our goal is to put our clients' minds at ease, and it means the world to us that we could do that for you. Thank you so much! -Rachel & Melissa
Dan H
5.0
8/20/2021
Premier was recommended to us by our caterer, and we could not be more pleased about working with them. Rachel was prompt, helpful, and reassuring. The staff were kind and professional, and we heard many complements from guests about their service. The highest praise I can give is that if we were to do it all over again we wouldn't change a thing. Thank you!
not implemented response 08/20/2021
Dan - thanks so much for the review! It was so wonderful to work with you on the bar serv...
ice for your wedding. Our staff loved working with your group, and the pictures I saw were so lovely! Please be in touch if we can ever be of help in the future. -Rachel
Karen S
5.0
8/09/2021
I found Premier through research online. It had fantastic reviews. I worked with Melissa D. She was wonderful. She got it! She understand my plan and executed it. She gently nudged me when I was slow in responding to her emails. We hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner for about 50 people in my home. The menu included passed hors d’oeuves such as lollipop lamb chops. We had gourmet flatbreads, pork loin, stuffed eggplant and crime brûlée My guests raved about the food. Truly. The staff couldn’t have been more personable. They greeted all my guests kindly. They really enjoyed providing their service. Melissa and her staff of 6 set everything up beautifully and, then, clean my home after like the event never happened. I will use Premier for all my special events.
not implemented response 08/20/2021
Thank you for the lovely review, Karen! It was a pleasure working with you. I'm so glad yo...
ur day was special and we were so excited to be a part of that. Your kind feedback means the world to us! We hope to get a chance to work with you again. All the best! -Melissa
Ryan P
2.0
10/07/2019
Due to a change made by the venue, we were forced to use Premier Bar Service as our bartending service. Our main point of contact, Dave, was initially not the easiest to work with. As a couple that does not consume alcohol, he was not always clear and helpful in our initial conversations regarding number of bartenders, putting together glassware rentals, and assembling a drink order. We ended up having my father call him, since my dad drinks alcohol and had a better idea of what we should be ordering. My father took over this aspect and found Dave easy to work with and able to help advise with the drink order.
Our bartending team was horrible. I, the bride, went to the bar looking for water and proceeded to wait and wait and wait. This happened on two separate occasions. I'm not sure if they thought I wasn't a priority because I was ordering water instead of alcohol, but as the bride I wanted to be talking to guests and dancing, not waiting at the bar. They were serving guests ordering alcohol quickly, not sure why it was different for ordering water. Overall, many guests found the service to be not friendly. They took a very long time setting up the different bars as the main place changed throughout the night. When turning around 1 of the bars (turning around the wagon wheel it was on), they denied the wedding party drinks twice because it was taking them a long time to flip the bar. There was no flexibility or consideration for the fact that the wedding party is a group of people with limited time. Do NOT recommend!
not implemented response 10/16/2019
Thank you so much for taking the time to offer your review and feedback. I'm very sorry to...
hear that bar service did not go how you expected, nor how we would want it to. That is very disappointing to hear, and I'm sure it was even more so for you on the day of your wedding.
It is always our goal to provide stellar service in a friendly manner. I'm upset to hear this was not the case. Please reach out at any time to discuss further. Again, I appreciate your feedback, as it helps us to improve our service.
Best, Rachel
Mandy D
5.0
6/08/2019
We had a great experience very with Premier at our wedding. They worked with us on all drinks and rentals and they were helpful and professional and patient through the planning process as we asked questions and made lots of changes. Our wedding went smoothly and was wonderful.
not implemented response 06/10/2019
Hi Mandy - thank you for the kind words! We enjoyed working with you and your husband and ...
wish you all the best. Please be in touch if we can be of assistance in the future! Best, Rachel & Melissa
Molly R
5.0
10/31/2018
I honestly cant say enough wonderful things about my experience with Premier. They were incredibly professional and accommodating throughout my year and a half engagement and my guests couldn't say enough wonderful things about the serving staff and bartenders. Both Ed the owner and John the event coordinator were amazing and I would absolutely recommend them!
not implemented response 10/31/2018
Molly - thank you so much for your nice review! We're so glad you enjoyed your day, and wi...
sh you all the best. - Ed
Hailey F
5.0
11/07/2016
We were so grateful to Ed Garland and his team, especially Fiona, for their bartending and service at our November 2015 wedding! They knew our venue and worked with our budget to provide a seamless and stress free reception. We loved being able to customize our drink menu and return any unopened products. They did so much behind the scenes set up/breakdown that my coordinator said she hardly had to do anything! One of their servers even carried my plate to the table as to avoid spillage on my dress. They were available and responsive throughout the whole process and essential to what made our reception so amazing!
Katlyn L
5.0
6/10/2016
I had an amazing experience with Jeremy and this company! The whole process was very smooth, and Jeremy always responded so quickly! I remember emailing him at 7pm the night before my wedding and he responded within 10 minutes.. seriously, fast. The two bartenders that I had the day of the wedding introduced themselves to me and were so kind and guests just LOVED them! Perfect!!
Tina B
5.0
1/07/2016
We worked with Ed Garland for bartending services at our wedding reception in November 2015 in Concord, MA. He was very responsive to emails and calls, and the process was smooth from start to finish. The bartenders were great, cheerful, and accommodating. Definitely recommended. Thanks again!
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Rachel Marks
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Premier Bar Service & Catering
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