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Attributes highlighted by couples

Table setting and decorations
Cake
Seasoned professional
Food quality and taste

About

On WeddingWire since 2008

Catered by Design brings your wedding to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. Our creative and friendly team of event specialists will be with you every step of the way, so you can enjoy your special day with total confidence and peace of mind.

While we can answer general inquiries, using a digital storefront does not allow our sales team to receive the most accurate information to help with crafting your proposal for your big day. Please visit our contact form for you to get a response from a sales team member. 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

About

Catered by Design is a wedding catering company based in Morton Grove, Illinois. Our mission is to bring your events to life with sumptuous food and refreshing beverages presented in spectacular fashion. This also includes being a good steward of the environment. Our goal is to continually improve our sustainability practices by working closely with our vendors and partners to minimize the impact on the environment.

Sam Gray, the President of Catered by Design, started in his grandmother's kitchen as just a young kid. He worked his way 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 Catered by Design. He has built a loyal team to create and serve thousands of food & event-seeking clients in Chicago and the greater area.

Catered by Design provides catering services all around the Chicagoland area. For the past 20 years, our friendly & dedicated staff has provided delicious food along with flawless presentation ensuring happy customers. We offer any serving style you are envisioning in a variety of cuisines all customized precisely to your taste. Catered by Design is exclusive or preferred by a handful of venues.

Cuisine

Enjoy a chef-paired menu or create a custom menu specific to your event. From a picnic or brunch to a plated, buffet or stations meal, the options are endless. Our menus include a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, seafood, poultry & hors d'oeuvres options. Plated meals are served in three courses, and arrangements for children's menus can be made. Some sample plated meals include:

  • Roasted, Frenched White Truffle Chicken Breast
  • Center Cut Fillet Mignon
  • Whitefish with Chimichurri
  • Saffron Risotto Cakes

Here at Catered by Design, we look forward to bringing your big day to life.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average catering price per person for plated service?

$125

What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?

$125

What is the average catering price per person for stations?

$125

Which of the following are included in the cost of your full service wedding catering?

Delivery
Set Up
Clean Up
Cake Cutting
Dessert
Cocktail Reception
Server(s)
Tastings
China
Linens
Flatware
Glassware

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$30

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

House Beer
House Wine
House Liquor

What event services do you provide?

Delivery
Set Up
Clean Up

What catering services do you provide?

Breakfast / Brunch
Buffet
Cake Cutting
Cocktail Reception
Custom Menu
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What types of cuisine do you cater?

American
Asian
Indian
Italian
Mexican
Seafood

What dietary needs can you accommodate?

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Halal
Kosher
Nut Free
Vegan
Vegetarian

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Open Bar
Champagne Toast
Signature Drink

Which of the following items can you provide?

Chairs
Tables

Which of the following items can you provide?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
illustration notebook

Any other questions?

Reviews of Catered by Design

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.9 out of 5 rating
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
4.9 out of 5 rating
138 reviews
98% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Catered by Design received glowing reviews for their exceptional food, service, and staff members like Rachel, Laura, and Sam. The communication during the planning process was efficient, and the team was praised for being professional, responsive, and accommodating. Guests were impressed by the delicious food, personalized service, and seamless execution during weddings at various venues. The attention to detail, flexibility, and attentiveness of the staff, including event captains like Aukse and Laura, were highlighted as key factors in making each event memorable and stress-free. Overall, Catered by Design comes highly recommended for weddings and other events based on the positive feedback from multiple reviewers.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Catered by Design received glowing reviews for their exceptional food, service, and staff members like Rachel, Laura, and Sam. The communication during the planning process was efficient, and the team was praised for being professional, responsive, and accommodating. Guests were impressed by the delicious food, personalized service, and seamless execution during weddings at various venues. The attention to detail, flexibility, and attentiveness of the staff, including event captains like Aukse and Laura, were highlighted as key factors in making each event memorable and stress-free. Overall, Catered by Design comes highly recommended for weddings and other events based on the positive feedback from multiple reviewers.

K
Kimika P. Sent on 07/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional caterer for weddings!

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 essential 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!!
Sheilya
Sheilya H. Sent on 10/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

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 process to the day of the wedding, communication with Erin and Sam was easy and efficient. The CBD staff on the wedding day were 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!
Rachel
Rachel T. Sent on 10/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

You found your caterer!!

Erin and her team helped create the wedding of my dreams! From the moment we got in contact, I knew they were the perfect fit. The tasting was an absolute blast, with Erin even displaying my venue on the TV to help us envision the big day. Erin’s personality made everything so easy—she made me feel completely comfortable asking any and all questions, and her responses were always super quick, which I really appreciated.
As for the food—wow! Everyone raved about how delicious it was, and we’re still dreaming about the cauliflower with chickpeas and leeks—it was a standout dish for us! The variety Erin offered was incredible too, from the chairs and tablecloths to the dishes in all different colors, it felt like we had endless options to make everything perfectly match our vision. On the day of the wedding, Erin’s team was on top of every detail. Everything ran smoothly, and there wasn’t a single thing that went wrong. I can’t thank Erin enough for her professionalism and expertise. I highly recommend her and her team for anyone looking for an amazing caterer!
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Awards

138
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Real Weddings

Emily & Ramtin
98 photos · 06/02/2018

Team

Sam Gray
Sam Gray
President
Tami Henry-Zimmerman
Tami Henry-Zimmerman
Operations Manager
Matthew Gray
Matthew Gray
Catering Sales Specialist
Rachel Jozwik
Rachel Jozwik
Catering Sales Specialist
Carlos  Orozco
Carlos Orozco
Executive Chef
Erin Ley
Erin Ley
Catering Sales Specialist

Professional Network & Endorsements

3 Endorsements
Anita Dee Yacht Charters Anita Dee Yacht Charters Boat Weddings

Catered By Design is one of our longest standing preferred caterers and for good reason! They provide excellent service to our clients. Delicious, high quality food along with polished and professional staff. They are highly organized and easy to work with from the planning process up until the event date. On the day of the event, they work with us seamlessly to execute an event and experience that exceeds the client's expectations!

Aberdeen's Wedding Florists Aberdeen's Wedding Florists Wedding Florists

Sam and the whole company are amazing. There food and their service is as good as it gets.

The Grove Redfield Estate The Grove Redfield Estate Mansion Weddings

For many years Catered by Design has provided excellent full service catering for the events at the Grove Redfield Estate.

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