Design Cuisine missed the mark for our event. We are very disappointed in our experience which was tainted by poor attitudes from our event hosts, detail oversight, and failure to communicate expectations upfront. I would not recommend Design Cuisine; especially not if you have little experience planning events. As the bride/groom, it is very difficult to spend months planning to arrive at wedding day and have to put your faith in all of your vendors to make everything happen. Design Cuisine was the only vendor that did not deliver. I caution other couples considering this caterer. Our event seemed a lower priority for them, perhaps because it was one time business transaction?
The only saving grace is that the food was good.
If interested, additional details:
While impressed by the tasting, what initially tipped the scale in favor of Design Cuisine was flexibility. We were assured they would help us work through event details w/o each decision adding a new line item on the bill. We were informed of their ownership of DC Rental and led to believe that, as a result, costs would not be incurred for upgrading rentals - we would be able to select anything from their warehouse for use.
Post contract that all turned out to be only partially true. The accommodating attitude disappeared. We learned that free upgrades only apply to china/silverware and chair rentals. Things like upgrading tables and bar furniture cost extra. As does serving coffee/tea with wedding cake at tables.
Details were consistently overlooked despite efforts to keep our communications organized (at one point, it was suggested I consider a career in events):
Our final decision on china/linens/chairs was not well recorded. Ultimately, selected chairs were unavailable, but comparable alternatives provided.
Changes that we requested they make to our cakes after the tasting were never implemented on wedding day.
It took half a dozen (maybe more) revisions of final contract before they had everything correct.
On wedding day, they were not ready to greet guests at event start time with cocktails and slow to get appetizers circulated.
Butter was not provided on tables to accompany bread.
Dinner was prolonged when wedding cake did not get served promptly following main course. (They were waiting for us to cut the cake which was not something we ever planned to do.)
They set aside the top tier cake for us to take home despite instructions to serve it. And then had trouble locating it at the end of the evening.
And, our coffee/tea station (which we paid extra for) was opened w/o cups/saucers and regular coffee....
Overall, not what you expect from such a highly acclaimed caterer in the DC area. There are better options for weddings. If we were to make the decision again, I would go with Federal City. read more