FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have a question? It may already be answered here.
Here at Catering by Seasons, we work to be very upfront with our clients, sharing our business practices, green efforts, and recipes. We’ve added an FAQ section to share even more about ourselves, so that you can stay informed!
First of all, how far are you willing to travel?
We are primarily located in the DC metropolitan area, doing regular business across Maryland, DC, and Virginia but we can make accommodations for other surrounding locations depending on what you are looking for.
We’ve planned events as far north as Maine and as far south as North Carolina. We are prepared to go even further! If we are able to buy foods locally and prepare it on site, then there is no limit to where we will travel. To find out how exactly this factors into your budget, please contact one of our event specialists.
What are your hours of operation?
We take new inquiries Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 5 pm, but you can submit an online inquiry at anytime and we will have an Event Manager respond to you as soon as possible.
Once you have coordinated with your personal representative, you will be able to contact them via email or cell phone if you have any questions leading up to your event. And finally, our kitchens are open for evening and weekend deliveries and service.
I am requesting a menu for my upcoming event. How quickly will I have a proposal?
A straight forward proposal can take up to a week to process, however, more detailed events including farm to table services or outside vendors often take longer.
This really depends on the season and what you are looking for at your event. We are dedicated to providing the best, so some things do require more in depth research.
Will your Event Manager work with me to put together the right menu within my budget?
Yes, one of our talented event managers will work with you on all aspects of your event from menu creation and décor options to rentals and staffing while always keeping your budget in mind. And, of course, your representative will be there on the day of the event to assist with all coordination.
What do I do if I need to make a change to my order?
No problem. Just call your Event Manager over the phone or via email. They will provide suggestions and work to accommodate any changes or requests up to three days before your event.
Do you offer staffing for events?
Yes. We can provide bartenders, wait staff, chefs, service captains and event managers. Our hired staff are trained, professional and reliable.
Wedding FAQ:
Sometimes it is hard to figure out where to begin with planning a wedding, so we’ve provided some helpful tips. These questions and other great resources can also be found on our Blog.
When is a good time to start planning for my wedding reception?
To make the process easier on you, it is best to start planning early. Of course, we take inquiries from as far out as 2 years, to as close as 1 month before the big day.
What goes into planning my wedding? It’s all very stressful.
The first step is always finding a great venue. There are so many different options out there, you will need to think about what you want. Are you interested in a rustic outdoor wedding, or are you thinking more along the lines of a traditional, indoor wedding and reception? Then, you also have to ask if the place you decide on is available when you want them! Of course, we have partner venues, where we have worked before and can highly recommend. Feel free to take a look at our list on our Venues Page, or contact us for more detailed information.
Then, after you’ve found your venue and the perfect caterer, you must pick your food preferences, note any allergies or dietary restrictions and determine how many guests will be attending. After that, there are the finer details, such as color scheme, décor, bar services, and specialty items such as wedding cakes.
You will also need to think about a photographer/videographer, audio/visual services, lighting, floral arrangements, invitations, attire, tents, and transportation.
Wow. I can’t do all of that by myself. Can someone help me? Do you have partner vendors that come highly recommended?
It is a good idea to look into a wedding planner, to help keep you sane throughout the process. There are many affordable, local event planners to look at, and it is definitely a worth-while investment. Your wedding professional can help connect you with venues, caterers, florists, bands and DJs, and countless other vendors.
We are prepared to work with all personal event planners to make your day perfect, and if you are looking for a DIY wedding, our event managers can also work with you through every step, including contacting venues and connecting you with additional wedding service providers. We are here for you with over 100 shared years of experience among our specialists.
We have worked with local vendors in the area for over 25 years and we can provide great recommendations, or if you would like, we can deal with many of them directly so that you can relax and enjoy your wedding day.
What makes Catering by Seasons different from the competition?
In addition to offering excellent, one-on-one customer support, we offer grown to order, farm to table menus and other sustainable service options. We can create high end formal events as well as relaxed casual affairs, and anything in between. Our staff are focused on making your event perfect and safe for the environment, no matter your budget.
We are 100% wind powered on site at our events kitchen and we also have a quarter acre organic garden where we harvest our herbs and much of our vegetables throughout the summer months. We are dedicated to recycling and composting, and we are sure to bring those services to your event.
That sounds great! Tell me more about the food. Do you have menus to help me get an idea of what I want, or can I do something completely new?
If you are looking for inspirations, you can check out our Sample Menus page, where you can browse seasonal favorites and traditional wedding menu options, or you can call us to start on a customized menu with your event manager and our Award-Winning Executive Chef, Kyle Vermeulen.
I have family members with dietary restrictions, what do you recommend?
There are so many allergies and dietary restrictions out there today, that it is impossible not to think about them! As a caterer, we feel it is our responsibility to provide solutions for any type of limitations. We offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free meal options, as well as meals to accommodate ethnic and religious practices.
If you have more specific concerns, or a variety of different restrictions in your close family and friends, call us to speak with a dedicated representative. We will work out the best solution for your specific case.
I live with a very green lifestyle in mind. Can you cater to fit my needs with your farm to table services?
Yes, we recently launched our Seeds to Celebrations initiative, where we bring you a customized grown to order wedding reception featuring farm-fresh plates that have been organically and ethically grown by honest, local farmers.
We also offer some simpler green services, such as organic florists who are dedicated to using the best locally and ethically grown greenery, great eco-friendly venues, access to green registries, and many other sustainable options.
That sounds fantastic, but how does a farm to table dinner limit me in terms of my budget, my palette, and my wedding date?
Farm to table menus can be a lot more flexible than you may think, as long as you are willing to get creative. The optimal time to have a farm to table event is from July to late September, when you can harvest tomatoes, greens, fruits, and livestock from the summer growing season. Adversely, the winter months are much harder to cater to, with low temperatures, snow and other inclement weather hindering the growth of pretty much anything on a farm, but there are still solutions for this! A wedding schedule for mid-February or March could feature a menu of local meats and cheeses, eggs, root vegetables, greens (grown outdoors through a mild winter or in a local greenhouse), fruit and vegetable preserves, and locally sourced dessert ingredients.
As far as your wedding budget, we would be happy to sit down with you and find a way to make it all work the way that you want it to.
My friend owns a bakery, can I get my own cake or do I have to go through you?
Of course you can get your cake from another vendor! We are here to help, giving recommendations along the way, but if you have a particular service or vendor in mind, feel free to contact them directly!
This is a great start. How do I find out more about Catering by Seasons?
Contact us any time at inquiry@cateringbyseasons.com or call us Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm at 301.477.3515.
You can also fill out the Inquiry Form on our website to give us a better understanding of your needs.
Reviews
Everything about working with Catering by Seasons, from the planning, communication, to the execution was phenomenal!
Catering By Seasons exceeded my expectation. I used them for a brunch at my house after my son’s bar mitzvah. The level of professionalism along with their responsiveness made me feel at ease right away.
The food, of course, was a highlight. Several attendees went out of their way to mention that it was the best they’ve ever had at a corporate event. Your ability to deliver this high-quality experience with such ease made a lasting impression, and we truly appreciate the effort and care that went into making everything perfect. Thank you again for making our event such a success.