Catered By Design

Bringing events to life in Chicago for 25 years.

Serving Chicago Metro Area and Suburbs

Service area

5.0

Praised by couples for:

Food quality and taste

Seasoned professional

Table setting and decorations

It was an absolute pleasure working with Catered By Design. From the earliest stages of planning, our catering specialist (Rachel) was highly responsive, professional, and flexible. At the tasting we chose a Mediterranean salad for dinner, but I mentioned that I preferred the Caesar, and they were able to make a substitution just for me. Rachel really helped us think through every step of the evening so that there were no decisions to be made on the day/evening of the wedding. The catering staff were so friendly, attentive, and warm. They nailed every little detail, and made sure that my husband and I actually got to eat! I really can't say enough good things about the entire team at Catered By Design. Oh, and of course- the food is delicious!

Annie W.

5.0

Rachel and the entire Catered by Design team helped make our wedding a huge success! From our first tasting to the wedding day, they made the entire process easy and stress-free. After our first tasting, we knew which entrées we wanted but were still unsure about the sides, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert selections. They happily welcomed us back for a second tasting so we could finalize our menu, which we really appreciated. Rachel was incredibly helpful throughout the entire planning process and during the final walkthrough at our venue. The staff on our wedding day was amazing and made sure both we and our guests had everything we needed. Plus, the food was absolutely delicious! We received so many compliments from our guests. I would highly recommend Rachel and the Catered by Design team to anyone looking for exceptional food and outstanding service for their event.

Hannah R.

5.0

Sam Gray

OWNER & PRESIDENT

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER (12X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Catered by Design will bring your wedding to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. We have been transforming catering into memorable experiences for over 25 years. Our creative and friendly team of catering specialists will be with you every step of the way so that you can enjoy your special day with total confidence and peace of mind. Let us help take your catered wedding experience up a notch with our innovative cuisine options and exceptional service. Previous happy clients have recommended our premier Chicagoland catering company for our attentive service, seamless execution, and overall memorable dining experiences. Check out their reviews or photo gallery to see the kinds of gorgeous dishes we can cook up for your big day. Catered by Design provides catering services all around the Chicagoland area. For the past 25 years, our friendly and dedicated team has provided delectable food along with flawless presentation ensuring delicious results. We offer any serving style you are envisioning in a variety of cuisines all customized precisely to your taste. Catered by Design is also preferred by a long and prestigious list of renowned Chicagoland venues. While we can answer general inquiries, using a digital storefront does not allow our sales team to receive and get the most accurate information to help with getting your proposal and information for your big day. Please visit our website to fill out our contact form to receive a direct follow-up email with one of our dedicated sales specialists. Our contact form can be found here: https://cateredbydesign.com/contact For more information around your big day and the process of working with a catering company, please feel free to visit our weddings page to help get you started and answer some questions that you may have. That link can be found here: https://cateredbydesign.com/weddings Here at Catered by Design, we look forward to bringing your big day to life!

25+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish

Details

Cuisine

American

Indian

Italian

Mexican

Seafood

Specialty

Dietary Options

Dairy Free

Gluten Free

Halal

Kosher

Nut Free

Vegan

Vegetarian

Food & Catering

Buffet

Catering Clean Up

Catering Delivery & Setup

Chef Stations

Family Style

Menu Tastings

Passed Appetizers

Seated Meal

Servers

Awards and Affiliations

12-Time 'Best of Weddings'

2026.2025.2024.+9 more.

Hall of Fame

Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Sam Gray
Owner & President
Starting in his grandmother's kitchen as just a young kid, working up into Executive Chef positions at multiple restaurants and opening a few of his own, Sam has a lifetime of experience under his belt. Deciding to settle down over 17 years ago and began his journey with CBD, he has built a loyal team to create and serve thousands of food & event seeking clients. As President and Owner of Catered by Design, he still finds time for a round of golf or attending an Escoffier dinner.
Rachel Jozwik
Catering Sales Specialist
Rachel joined the Catered by Design team after graduating from Iowa State University majoring in Event Management. She has a sharp eye for details, trends, and insight in and around the industry. Her creativity boosts throughout the entire planning process making each client’s vision turn into a perfect event.
Erin Ley
Catering Sales Specialist
Erin worked her way through the industry while studying Hospitality Administration & Management at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She has a strong attention to detail and loves being part of creating those special experiences and events, leaving a lasting memory with her past clients.
Matt Gray
Catering Sales Specialist
Matthew has been a part of the family-owned company since his teenage years and has excelled ever since. Now, he is the driving force behind Catered by Design's drop-off division. His knowledge pours into creating flawless orders for both social and corporate entertaining.
Jen Lucia
Catering Sales Specialist
Coming from the upstanding field of Country Club dining and events, Jen has surpassed the expectations of her clients here at Catered by Design. Her participation in multiple areas within the company allows her to provide the invaluable knowledge her clients need to fulfill their dream event.
Carlos Orozco
Executive Chef
Raised in a family of bakers and bakery owners, Carlos educated his passion for executing delicious sweets at the French Pastry School. Having an enormous background in delectable desserts and off-premise catering, he has streamlined our kitchen and operations to run like a well-oiled rolling pin.

5.0

out of 5.0

244 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.

Catered by Design receives consistently glowing reviews for delicious, creatively presented food and attentive, professional service. Guests praise the responsive, organized planning process, flexible tastings, and accommodation of dietary needs. Day-of staff are friendly, detail-oriented, and keep events running smoothly, leaving guests impressed.

Search reviews

Kimika P

Highlighted review.

We worked with CBD for a June wedding at the Redfield Estate, and cannot recommend them highly enough!! The deeper we got into wedding planning, the more we appreciated just how es...

sential our caterer was. CBD provided amazing food (flavor, presentation, portions, timing – everything was so on point!!)... but also set up and take down, floor plans, logistical advice, dinner and bartending services, and so much more. Matt Gray, our main contact, was amazing to work with from start to finish. He was so kind and responsive to our every little question and request. On wedding day, our event captain was such a warm and welcoming presence, and he personally checked in on us during dinner. The team made sure that we had a plate of our favorite appetizers sent to us during cocktail hour (vegetarian for me, chicken for my husband). We had a surprise second cake cutting to celebrate a birthday, and they hid someone around the corner so that it would come out at the exact moment when we began singing Happy Birthday. These little details illustrate how CBD goes above and beyond to make your day perfect. Finally, remember that the catering staff will personally interact with every single guest on your wedding day. CBD provided an exceptional service! Our guests raved about the appetizers and entrees (the only thing that our guest disagreed on was which was their favorite!), and especially complimented our bartender Dave. They said that Dave had great banter, patience, and most important — made incredible drinks like tequila sunrises, long islands, and more! CBD delighted us and our guests, and we would 1000% recommend them!! We hope to work with them again in the future!!

Annie W

It was an absolute pleasure working with Catered By Design. From the earliest stages of planning, our catering specialist (Rachel) was highly responsive, professional, and flexibl...

e. At the tasting we chose a Mediterranean salad for dinner, but I mentioned that I preferred the Caesar, and they were able to make a substitution just for me. Rachel really helped us think through every step of the evening so that there were no decisions to be made on the day/evening of the wedding. The catering staff were so friendly, attentive, and warm. They nailed every little detail, and made sure that my husband and I actually got to eat! I really can't say enough good things about the entire team at Catered By Design. Oh, and of course- the food is delicious!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Annie! We are thrilled to hear you had such a lovely experience during each moment of y...

our catering journey with us! We always aim to make sure you and your fiancé are well taken care of in every capacity, so to hear we did just that brings us so much joy. Thank you for taking time out of your day to leave your kind words; We'll be sure to share them with Rachel and the team. Congratulations!!

Any questions?

Hannah R

Rachel and the entire Catered by Design team helped make our wedding a huge success! From our first tasting to the wedding day, they made the entire process easy and stress-free. ...

After our first tasting, we knew which entrées we wanted but were still unsure about the sides, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert selections. They happily welcomed us back for a second tasting so we could finalize our menu, which we really appreciated. Rachel was incredibly helpful throughout the entire planning process and during the final walkthrough at our venue. The staff on our wedding day was amazing and made sure both we and our guests had everything we needed. Plus, the food was absolutely delicious! We received so many compliments from our guests. I would highly recommend Rachel and the Catered by Design team to anyone looking for exceptional food and outstanding service for their event.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Hannah! We are thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful experience from your tastings ...

to the big day! We always want you to be fully satisfied with your choices, so we are glad to hear your second tasting helped you make your selections. To hear we made the process stress-free and seamless for you so you could enjoy your wedding day brings us so much joy. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your kind words ~ we'll be sure to share them with Rachel and the team. Thank you so much and congratulations!

Bridget K

We can’t thank you and the whole team from Catered by Design enough for the wonderful experience we had! Erin was so helpful throughout the whole process and make it all so easy fo...

r us. The food and desserts were fantastic! People have been telling us how much they enjoyed it all. Everything was perfect and we know who we'll be coming to in the future for all of our catering needs.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Bridget! We are so happy to hear that you had such a lovely experience through your who...

le catering journey with us! It truly brings us so much joy that you and your guests enjoyed not only the food but the entire day as you were meant to. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your kind words for us ~ we'll be sure to share them with Erin and the team! Thank you and congratulations!

Heather B

We love Catered by Design! From our first phone calls and emails with Erin, we knew we made the right decision. She and the whole team made it so easy and straightforward to craft...

our menu for our wedding and were flexible and accommodating. The staff, the food, the bar, the linens - everything was so perfect. They made the whole process feel so doable and possible and we are so happy with our decision to use CBD! People were raving about the food- from apps to desserts-flawless.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Heather! We are elated to hear you had such a wonderful experience with our team, cuisi...

ne, and everything in between! We truly appreciate you taking the time to leave us your kind words and will be sure to share them with Erin and the rest of the team. Wishing you much happiness!

Marilyn K

I just got marrried at age 70. Both my new husband and I had been married before, many years ago. We wanted our wedding to be as magical as our newfound love was. Finding the r...

ight venue and caterer was very important to us. We spent a lot of time interviewing caterers. We were having a mid- morning wedding and wanted to find food that was healthy, delicious and would meet many different dietary needs. I'm vegan and gluten free, but most of our guests were not. As soon as we connected with Erin of Catered by Design, we knew our search was over. Rather than try to sell us a specific package, Erin truly listened to what we wanted and what our budget was. Then she came up with a proposal that worked. Erin was professional, compassionate, organized and had great communication skills throughout the menu planning process. She even showed up at our wedding as things were being set up to make sure everything was going according to plan! We had a delicious seated brunch buffet, with a special meal for me and other guests who had dietary restrictions. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was! If you're looking for a caterer who will listen to your needs and then help create a plan that works to provide delicious food within your budget, I highly recommend Catered by Design. The event captain, chefs and service professionals who managed our set up, decor and brunch buffet helped make our big day truly memorable!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Marilyn! We are elated to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with Erin, your...

menu, and your team! It is always our goal to make you feel heard and cared for throughout the entirety of your catering journey, so to hear we did just that truly warms our heart. We appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and kind review, and we wish you and your husband so much happiness! We can't wait to share your kind words with Erin and the team.

Kimberly M

Catered By Design provides the best wedding food I have ever had! We loved working with them to design our menu and we had many guests come up to us throughout the night to tell us...

how great the food was! Would definitely recommend! Bonus: they work well with food allergies

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Kimberly! We are elated to hear you had such a wonderful experience with our cuisine an...

d service! It absolutely makes our day to hear that you and your guests truly enjoyed your custom catered menu. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to leave such kind words, we will be sure to share them with the team! Congratulations!

Kendal D

Catered by Design truly made our wedding perfect! We worked with the wonderful Erin, who was communicative, professional, and paid attention to every detail. We got so many complim...

ents on our food (Action Stations! Do it!) The day of, our captain, Laura, and her team, handled everything we wanted and made a smaller space work amazingly well. Laura made sure I ate something and checked on us specifically and the team attended to our guests so well we got tons of compliments!!! This is such an important spend for a wedding, and Catered by Design was worth every cent.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Kendal! Your kind words are the highest praise we could ever hope to receive! We are be...

yond thrilled to hear that each of our team members and our cuisine and service made your day. We always hope to make your big day seamless and stress-free, and we hope you were able to enjoy every moment and bite. Thank you again, we will be sure to share your kind words with Erin, Laura, and the rest of the team! Congratulations!!

Sophie D

We had a wonderful experience with Catered by Design! The staff was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive throughout the entire evening. The food was absolutely deliciou...

s, and our guests are still talking about how much they enjoyed it. Everything was executed seamlessly, and we couldn't have been happier with the service and quality. We highly recommend Catered by Design for any special event!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Sophie! We are thrilled to hear you had such a lovely experience with our team and your...

menu. To have made your day with our service and execution on all fronts brings us so much joy. Thank you for taking the time to leave such kind words for us!

Justin J

From the very first email Erin was extremely receptive to our vision and ready with suggestions to help steer us down the correct path. Erin's attention to detail and hospitality w...

as reiterated during our tasting, which sealed the deal for us as we felt special and welcome at Catered By Design while getting the opposite treatment at other caterers. On the day of our wedding reception we received numerous compliments on the food, as well as the selections available at the bar. The willingness to accommodate specific brands of alcohol was also extremely generous. I would absolutely recommend Catered By Design and Erin for any event.

Jess R

We met Catered by Design at the West Loop Wedding Walk in 2025 and were immediately impressed by both their food and presentation. From that first experience, we knew they were som...

ething special and choosing them to cater our November 2025 wedding was one of the best decisions we made. Our guests raved about the cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, and months later they are still talking about the food stations and how fun and fabulous the entire dining experience was. Everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Beyond the food, the staff was wonderful to work with, professional, organized, and genuinely kind, which made the day feel seamless and stress-free. If you’re looking for incredible food, a memorable guest experience, and a team you can truly trust, Catered by Design delivers on all fronts. Highly recommend!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Jess! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind and thoughtful review ...

for us. It thrills us to hear you found us at West Loop Wedding Walk and that we delivered on all fronts for your big day! Knowing that we helped make your wedding day as delicious and stress-free as possible absolutely makes our day. We'll be sure to share your kind words with the team!

Anthony G

The food at our wedding was a highlight! Everything from the hors d'oeuvres to the desserts was a hit with our guests. We were very happy to work with Erin throughout the planning ...

process, especially with all of the special modifications we requested, including a special cupcake flavor and changing around one of our meals. I also want to give a special shout-out to Aukse, the catering captain, who took amazing care of us on the day itself.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Anthony! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review for us! It m...

akes our day to hear that we delivered on all fronts from our service to our cuisine. We will be sure to share your kind words with Erin, Aukse, and the rest of the team. Thank you again, and congratulations!

Sophia A

We were so thrilled with catered by design for our wedding. From the tasting to planning process to day of they were perfect. Erin is so professional, organized and easy to communi...

cate with. She was able to roll with lots of changes and a hectic day. The catering staff were so professional and quick and also all had good energy! Everyone raved about our food and it definitely didn’t feel like boring wedding food! We are so grateful and thank you so much!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Sophia! Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to leave such a kind review f...

or us! We are delighted to hear that you had such a splendid experience with everyone on our team and our cuisine. We'll be sure to share your kind message with Erin and the team! Thank you and congratulations!!

Yesol A

We worked with Rachel for most of the planning process. She was super quick to respond, professional, and helped make sure that all the catering logistics fit perfectly with our ot...

her vendors as well. The food was so delicious, and many of our guests complimented that it was one of the best wedding meals that they have had. The staff were super quick and kind as well, they even fixed my wedding dress train and veil before I walked down the aisle! I highly recommend working with them.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Yesol! We are beyond thrilled to hear that you and your guests enjoyed our cuisine and ...

had such a wonderful experience with our team. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to leave such a lovely review for us! Congratulations, and we hope to cater for you again soon no matter the occasion!

Samuel G

We couldn’t have been happier with our experience with Catered by Design! From start to finish, they were an incredible partner in bringing our wedding vision to life. We chose a ...

stations-style menu inspired by different Chicago neighborhoods, and it was a hit! The food was absolutely delicious — not just at the tasting (which left us so excited), but on the actual wedding day as well. We were genuinely impressed with the quality and flavor, especially considering the scale of the event. Rachel was our main contact, and she was wonderful to work with. She made the planning process easy and stress-free, helping us thoughtfully navigate dietary restrictions while still staying true to our original vision. Her guidance and responsiveness made a big difference. The on-site staff was also fantastic — friendly, professional, and clearly experienced. They helped us bring our bar concept to life and worked seamlessly with the rest of our vendors throughout the night. Catered by Design truly delivered on all fronts, and we’re so glad we chose them for our wedding. Highly recommend!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Samuel! We truly appreciate your kind words and the time you took to leave such a thoug...

htful review. It brings us so much joy to hear that we delivered on all fronts from our cuisine to service at every step of the way! We will be sure to share your kindness with Rachel and the team. Congratulations and we hope to work together again in the future!

Shaina B

We used Catered by Design Sept 2025 and had an amazing experience. Throughout the planning process, the staff is overly helpful, pleasant to work with, and makes sure you are on th...

e same page every step of the way. If you have a chance to work with the coordinator, Rachel, you will be very impressed. Overall amazing staff on the day and of course the food was amazing! Very accommodating to the B&G as well on the day to make sure we had all the food and drinks we wanted in the bridal suite.

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Shaina! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review for us! We are e...

lated to hear you had such a great experience with Rachel and our team throughout the whole process. We will make sure to share your kind words with everyone!

Samantha R

My husband and I couldn't be happier that we chose to work with Catered by Design! Rachel was so incredibly helpful and responsive throughout the entire planning process. The day o...

f our wedding both the service and quality of the food were amazing. The catering team played a huge role in making our wedding day run so seamlessly! Thank you!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Samantha! We are elated to hear you had such a wonderful experience with our cuisine an...

d team! Thank you for leaving such a kind review ~ We will make sure to share your kind words with Rachel and the team.

Stephanie L

Catered by Design served up great food and drinks at an affordable price! They went above and beyond for our bar menu, serving up 3 signature cocktails (with two variants) and a mo...

cktail alongside our open bar. The appetizers, desserts and main course were all delicious! We did specify in the planning that we wanted a nut free wedding, and learned after the fact that one of the desserts had nuts. Fortunately, none of our guests with allergies experienced a reaction. That said, Erin is super personable and a joy to work with, and I'd still recommend them for any couples seeking wedding catering

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Stephanie! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and kind re...

view! We are so pleased to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with our bartenders, cuisine, and team. We do our best to take the necessary precautions to accommodate food allergens, and we apologize for any errors in that regard. Thank you for bringing it to our attention! We loved working with you and hope to again in the future.

Briana P

The food was delicious! They were a huge help on the day of our wedding and had great service. Definitely recommend them!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Briana! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed our cuisine and service! Thank you for ...

taking the time to leave a positive review ~ we appreciate you so much.

Casey P

Catered by Design was the absolute best choice we made for our wedding day. It was the #1 recommended catering caterer by our venue, and we were able to request and work with Erin,...

who knows our venue well. Erin was a dream to work with throughout the whole planning process. She is organized, timely, and creative. She has an amazing attention to detail and had us think of things we never would have thought of without her. Erin made the planning process stress-free for us with all that she handled on her end. We also had a great experience at our tasting at the Morton Grove office last fall (with lots of leftovers to bring home!). Our guests raved about the food, and the night went off without a hitch. The set-up was perfect, and the day-of staff was friendly and executed everything perfectly. We are so glad we chose Catered by Design!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Casey! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a glowing and thorough revie...

w for us! Hearing that we met your expectations on all fronts brings us so much joy, and we will be sure to share your kind words with Erin and the team. Thank you and congratulations!

Sierra R

Catered by Design did an outstanding job at our wedding! The food was delicious and beautifully presented — our guests are still raving about it. What truly stood out, though, was ...

the incredible team behind it. Our main contact, Erin Ley, was phenomenal. Her organization, attention to detail, and hard work made the entire process smooth and stress-free for us. On the day of, she made sure everything ran seamlessly. Our team captain, Izzy, was also amazing — so attentive, hardworking, and on top of every detail to keep things flowing perfectly throughout the night. We are so grateful to Erin, Izzy, and the whole Catered by Design team for helping make our wedding day unforgettable. We couldn’t recommend them more!

Response from Catered By Design

Hi Sierra! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely and thoughtful rev...

iew ~ we truly appreciate it! We are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful experience with our cuisine and our team. We can't wait to share your kind words with everyone. Thank you and congratulations!

Suzi L

Catered by Design was undoubtedly the best catering company we could have chosen for our wedding. From the initial tasting, to the follow-up tasting, to the vendor walkthrough, and...

finally the big day itself — everything was absolutely perfect. Our guests are still raving about the food to this day, and we’ve had several soon-to-be brides ask us for their contact information because of how memorable the meal was. The menu was creative, delicious, and beautifully presented — a true highlight of our day. The team went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly. They checked in on both Brian and me multiple times during the night to make sure we had everything we needed, which we truly appreciated during such a busy and emotional day. And the room flip — wow. It was so fast, flawless, and beautifully executed. When we walked into the room for the reveal, I was brought to tears. The tables were set up exactly as we had envisioned, down to the chargers, menus, and every detail of our decor. We are beyond grateful for the care, professionalism, and excellence Catered by Design brought to our wedding. Highly, highly recommend!

Allie K

Working with Catered by Design and specifically Rachel was amazing for our wedding last month! Rachel was so flexible with us and made the planning so easy and seamless. The weddin...

g flowed so perfectly, from the drinks to the food and everything in between - we could not be more thankful. Would 100% recommend for your wedding!

Stephanie A

Catered by Design was our favorite vendor to work with. Our point of contact, Erin, was highly organized and professional. She was very friendly and easy to work with. Our complime...

ntary tasting was impressive and on the day of the wedding the food was phenomenal. Everyone raved about our food! CBD did a fantastic job - definitely book them for your events!

Katie J

We have nothing but positive things to say about working with Catered by Design for our wedding! Erin was wonderful throughout the whole planning process, and the whole team helped...

create the perfect catering experience for us. We already knew going in they were amazing, but our guests have been sharing rave reviews on how our wedding food is the best they’ve ever had! We also used their bartending services, with each drink made perfectly. Highly recommend Catered By Design for any of your catering needs!!

Leah N

Catered by Design is amazing. Matt is so friendly and helpful. Our food was great, we received lots of compliments. The staff was fantastic during our wedding and so helpful! We ha...

d an absolute blast! They provided alcohol as well, we did run out of a few things but all in all a great night!

Lilly N

We used Catered by Design for our recent December wedding and we recommend them highly! Choosing a wedding caterer felt overwhelming at first. We found that many vendors were not t...

ransparent with their pricing or offerings and it could be difficult to get in touch with them for personalized information. The team at Catered by Design helped me rethink this stereotype. From our very first outreach to the day of the wedding, Catered by Design were so attentive and communicative to our needs. I have severe food allergies and many of our guests had dietary restrictions. At every point I felt my allergies and the needs of our guests were not only accommodated, but masterfully attended to. I find that wedding food can be notoriously average for how expensive it has become. Let me just say - this was NOT the case with Catered by Design. On the day of our wedding our guests raved about the quality of the dinner and went out of their way to let us know how whimsical they found the appetizers and how tasty dessert was. The servers also went out of their way to be kind and hospitable to our guests, another touch that guests raved about. Choosing a caterer for a large event can be a big ask, but Catered by Design made our design easy, enjoyable, and dare we say fun too! If you are looking for high quality service at a fair price, they’re the caterer for you.

Nichole B

Catered by design was one of my best choices on my wedding day! The guests have not stopped raving about the food and our specialty drink, an espresso martini! They were so thoroug...

h, helpful, professional, and kind throughout the entire wedding process! I 1000% recommend them to all couples looking for great food, great staff, and a great experience!

Matthew S

Catered By Design was one of the most critically important vendors we ended up working with for our wedding! Every part of the collaboration process was so seamless, artfully appro...

ached, and gracefully executed. We worked closely with Erin who brought such a lovely energy to our meetings. We were absolutely floored by the quality and flavor in everything from our initial tasting to our reception desserts! It's been a month, and we are still hearing from our guests how much they loved the hors d'oeuvres and how tasty their meal was, something most people forget about weddings they attend. You cannot go wrong with Catered By Design; they will leave you happy and carefree on your wedding day and leave your guests with full bellies and memories of one of the greatest culinary experiences they've had at a wedding!

Julia S

Catered by Design was excellent. The food was absolutely delicious, and their staff were very professional and kind. Sam Gray and Erin Ley were very collaborative and creative in t...

he implementation of our requests.

Colleen H

Worked with Erin at Catered By Design for our wedding and were so happy with how everything went. From our tasting, to helping with the setup/organization, to the event, communicat...

ion was great and they helped make everything work how we had hoped. The food was delicious, so many of our guests were telling us about how much they loved everything from the appetizers during cocktail hour to the desserts and late night snacks. We are so happy with our choice to have them for our wedding and would definitely recommend them!

Kelly B

We used Catered by Design for our wedding day this past Friday. We worked with Rachel for the entire process and I cannot thank her enough! She communicated well and answered any q...

uestions we had. Our food was amazing in every way! Our guests have been raving about the food and how wonderful the entire CBD team was the entire evening. Thank you again!

Sheilya H

Catered by Design is the best! You CANNOT go wrong with Catered by Design! The food at my daughter’s wedding at Artifact Events was outstanding. From the start of the planning pro...

cess, to the day of the wedding, communication with Erin and Sam was easy and efficient. The CBD staff on the wedding day was professional and very responsive. And the food is exceptional!! Do yourself a favor and work with Catered by Design – they’re the best in the business!

Fiona W

Catered by Design was an absolute highlight of our wedding. Beginning with Rachel, who was so flexible with us in scheduling, and rescheduling..and rescheduling our tasting, to Auk...

se who went so far above and beyond on our wedding day. Rachel was so kind and patient in the planning process and the tastings were set up with so many custom touches. She worked with us on our tablescapes and helped settle on beautiful satin tablecloths/napkins that added a stunning level of elegance to our set up. All of the food options were so delicious that it made it hard to decide, I was so excited for our wedding so that we could eat the food again! Aukse made sure that my husband and I got some of everything served- I have heard so many stories of couples who did not eat on their wedding day and she made sure we ate the hors d'oeuvres, multiple plates of food, and desserts. I was, of course, very emotional throughout the evening and she stepped in to cheer me up and helped me to gather myself. The servers passed the hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour and our guests were so impressed with the service throughout the evening, the food was somehow even better than at the tasting. Everyone has continued to rave about them, and we even joked about having to get married a second time so that we can have them cater again!

Kristie V

Catered by Design was great! Highly recommend getting the Mediterranean Chicken as one of your meal options because all my guests LOVED it. And the mashed potatoes were a huuuuuge ...

hit! I wasn't expecting the food to be as good as it was on the actual wedding day as it was at the tasting, but it was almost exactly the same. Rachel was amazing to work with, and I'd be happy to work with her again :)

Taylor T

Start to finish professionalism and elegance! Food is spectacular, they are the easy choice for catering a wedding. We worked closely with Rachel who was so fabulous. She ensured a...

ll our needs were met and honestly took on the role of coordinator a bit! Love her and the team!

Lauren M

CBD was WONDERFUL to work with for our September wedding! Rachel is organized, kind, and really understood the food and environment we wanted to create for our guests. Some of ou...

r guests' favorites were: the artichoke hearts au gratin (don't sleep on this - it's incredible), cheesecake lollipops and of course the wine tree (such a hit)! On the day of, Laura really took the time to make sure we were well taken care of and got to try all of our food - from all of the appetizers in the room after the ceremony, to putting dessert and late night food at our table when we got a break from dancing. The CBD team really felt like family and the food is delicious - would highly recommend!

Danielle M

My husband and I got married at Rockwell on the River in Avondale where Catered by Design was listed as a pre-approved vendor. We explored them as well as a few other options and w...

e are BEYOND pleased with our decision to go with CBD. Erin and her team were extremely professional, responsive to emails, and helpful during the planning process. Not only did the food turn out excellent (which can be difficult when producing in mass portions) but Erin and her team went above and beyond to help set out all of our decor on the day of the wedding. This was a huge weight off our shoulders especially due to us not having a day-of wedding planner. We cannot recommend Catered by Design enough!

Meagan S

Absolutely thrilled with the experience we had with Catered by Design! From start to finish, everything was perfect. Each dish was not only beautifully presented but also a delight...

to the palate. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the appetizers & the hot dogs as a late night snack—it was the highlight of the evening! The team was incredibly professional and attentive, seamlessly handling all our requests and making sure everything ran smoothly. Their attention to detail and genuine enthusiasm for their craft truly shone through, making our special day even more memorable. We worked with Rachel from the start who was incredibly accommodating and such a delight. We couldn’t have asked for a better catering experience. If you’re looking for top-notch service, exquisite food, and a touch of elegance, Catered by Design is the way to go. Highly recommended!

Katie T

Highest recommendation!!! Rachel was fantastic to work week. So kind, professional, organized, and great with communication. No issues from start to finish. The team was top notch ...

on the day of the wedding & truly went above and beyond our expectations

Peter M

Rachel and her team at Catered by Design are fantastic; truly, the best of the best! We booked Catered by Design a little over a year before our wedding and Rachel was amazing thro...

ughout the entire process, including tastings, finalizing the menu and floor plan for the venue, answering our (many) questions, and more. We would recommend Catered by Design to anyone getting married or hosting any other event. We are truly grateful!

Melanie R

The food, service and communication were fantastic. Rachel made the planning process seamless and we received so many compliments about the food after dinner. Definitely the best w...

edding food I have had. Highly recommend Catered By Design!

Olivia M

If you want a stress-free, perfectly executed wedding with DELICIOUS food & drinks, Catered by Design is a must. Rachel was the coordinator we worked with, and I can’t say enough g...

ood things about her. She is incredibly organized, knowledgeable, professional, and an overall kind & pleasant person to work with. There was not a single moment throughout the planning process where I had even an ounce of stress when it came to our caterer because of the meticulous care they took with everything. Most importantly, the food and drinks were PHENOMENAL. We heard so many compliments from guests about the meals, dessert, and our custom drink. I’m so grateful we found CBD for our catering & event rental services and wouldn’t have changed a single thing. We will be using them for all our family events going forward, and recommending them to anyone and everyone we can. Thank you Rachel, Sofy, and the entire CBD team!!!

Moodjalin S

Catered by Design is an excellent company! They were a pleasure to work with for our wedding. Erin helped us so much with the event coordination. The day of the wedding, rain forc...

ed us to move the ceremony inside at the last minute, but CBD staff was so helpful with setting everything up inside so quickly. All our guests were very complimentary about the food and service at the wedding. The staff was amazing! We were very impressed. Izzy is a great captain.

Danielle S

We used CBD for our wedding. They were amazing. Rachel was super easy to work with and communication was great. We loved the tasting and the food on the big day was just as good. W...

e had many guests tell us how much they enjoyed their food. Would use them again!

Meiqing F

I used CBD for my December 2023 wedding at The Library at 190 S LaSalle. The services were impeccable. I obtained proposals from several caterers from the venue's preferred catere...

rs' list and went for tasting with two caterers. CBD's pricing is competitive compared with larger caterers, and menu options and tasting experience were better than smaller caterers. Lots of great hors d'oeuvres. Erin is very responsive, organized, and flexible. We were able to customize sides for entrees. On the wedding day, the captain (Aukse) was extremely professional, competent and attentive. We fully trust her and went with her recommendations for an on-the-spot change. The set-up was beautiful without any supervision. Flipping from ceremony layout to reception layout was done quickly. I believe they collaborated with the florist very well. They were also nice enough to box leftover cake and entrees for confirmed guests who could not show up. I would definitely recommend CBD.

Morgan V

From the staff to the food, Catered by Design deserves more than 5 stars. We used them for our wedding reception of ~215 guests. Rachel was detail oriented and personalized our exp...

erience from the initial food tasting. Even our tiniest critique was taken into account. It felt like we received the attention of a personalized chef while choosing our menu. They asked us about details down to what flavored water we'd like as the bride and groom. The food was executed with all of our initial edits at the next tasting. At the wedding, the staff was professional and attentive. Rachel attended our final vendor meeting to ensure her team knew all the details of the night. Dinner was served in a timely fashion and piping hot. Each one of my guests commented how amazing the food and mini dessert bar was. Without a doubt, I will be using Catered by Design for any big event I have in the future.

Maya S

Hire them if you can!!! We had a unique vision for our wedding food, and Catered by Design was extraordinarily accommodating in bringing it to life. Their service was impeccable an...

d made our day stress-free. Rachel and the team made sure we were only brought in when our input was needed and were always a step ahead in the planning process. This is a team of great people and true professionals.

Kyle D

Rachel and the team at Catered by Design were so wonderful to work with and made our wedding experience seamless and stress-free. They made recommendations when we asked, but also ...

let us offer our opinions and really brought our vision to life. Our guests raved about the food and overall, we highly recommend them. We'll for sure be keeping the team in mind for any future catering event. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Julie S

Heading into wedding planning, I did not full appreciate how many parts of your wedding your caterer will be involved in. From designing the event layout for the ceremony, cocktail...

hour, and reception, setting the decor tone with our rentals and linens, helping the days timeline run smoothly, to providing the folks that interact with ALL of your guests - a wedding caterer is responsible for so much beyond the food! Catered by Design was flawless across the board. Rachel was a dream to work with from our tasting, to our venue walk thrus, to emails and calls week of. And the team at our event (Bridgeport Art Center, Skyline Loft) night of took such good care of us! From making the food look beautiful, serving all of our guests including MANY with food allergies and dietary restrictions, and offering to grab me and my husband drinks so we could keep mingling with guests, I couldn't recommend Catered by Design more. Great service and a fair price point, so many food options, including custom orders - I am so grateful they were part of our big day!

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(847) 965-4094 ext. 220

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Catered By Design

Sam Gray

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