I had ten days to plan a corporate holiday party for 200+ people. Because we decided to host it at our corporate headquarters, the devil was in the details (parking/elevators/conference room furniture, you name it). As soon as I spoke with Main Event Caterers, I knew that Michelle and her team would take care of us! Right from the get go - we didn't have much time - the customer service was fantastic. Michelle provided quick responses and was very flexible. Within a day of choosing Main Event Caterers, Michelle came to check out our office and begin to put together our layout. The menu Main Event Caterers offered was fabulous, including delicious "lamb lollipops," skirt steak, and braided salmon. There were so many options for food (very important when serving a large crowd) that we also had mini risotto cakes, Gruyere cheese puffs, and truffled mac & cheese (yum!!!) - plus more! The desserts were to die for, of course, and they were probably the first go with our sweet-tooth crowd. When the day of the event arrived, Michelle and her team came in rocking and rolling - just what you want from a caterer! They set up the two buffets, the two bars, and cocktail tables with very minimal direction, which allowed me to run around and take care of all of the last minute "need right now" items in the final hour before a party. The service from Main Event Caterers was impeccable, from the managers to the servers, and every single person was kind, enthusiastic and willing to help - I think this part of the service is what stands out most for an event planner because it makes such a huge difference to have good, nice people working with you. The chefs were fantastic, the team was cohesive, and Michelle and our event manager, Chip, had everyone working to a schedule. It was beautifully orchestrated and I couldn't have asked for a better catering team. Our company usually hosts a glitzy, over-the-top bash at big hotels in the area, but we decided to keep it small this year. To be honest, you would not have known the difference - the party this year felt just as classic, upscale, and fabulous as any big party we've ever hosted. The event was perfect and we received a huge number of compliments from our staff and guests, which is how we rate the party we throw! After such a successful event, the overwhelming positive feedback we received, and the absolute ease of planning with Michelle and Main Event Caterers, we may never go back to hosting our party elsewhere! Main Event Caterers blew us away, showed us how beautiful our own office space can become with the right touches, and was a key to our success. I would recommend them for any event - large or small - and I can assure you that if you go with Main Event Caterers, you've made the a great first choice for hosting your event. read more

Some background info: I do not typically plan events for my organization, the event we were planning was the first of its kind for our org. (a small non-profit), and my responsibilities (to find catering/bar service for the event) were given to me very late in the game (one to two weeks ahead of the actual event date). The first caterer we were corresponding with involved us in some stalled back and forth for a week before telling us they would provide food but could not staff our event. Understandable given our short timetable, but we absolutely needed a bartender, so staffing was a priority. We had a week to book someone, nail down a menu, have everything approved and ready for our event of 100+ people. It seemed impossible. We sent out as many info requests as we could before the weekend (assuming no one would get back to us until Monday) asking whether our staffing/food/beverage requests were even possible. Obviously, almost no one got back to us. This is when Darcy and Main Event stepped in. Darcy contacted me the following day (a Saturday) to ask for more information about the event. Even though we were giving her less than a week to do a lion's share of work, she dove in full force, was incredibly responsive by e-mail and phone, and lent her expertise on all fronts to the relief of my entire staff. She was spot-on with every recommendation. Since we are a small non-profit, we did not have a huge budget to work with, especially considering how many people we were hosting, and had to negotiate with Darcy a number of times. Every time we spoke she was accommodating, friendly, and gracious, despite placing herself under a ton of pressure with our imposing deadline. On the day of, everything went off without a hitch and no one could have suspected we pulled everything together in just a few days with Main Event. The food was amazing (I was complimented on the excellent vegetarian offerings as well), the staff and service was exceptional, and the celebration (the purpose of which was to give thanks to the volunteers of our organization) was all-around truly spectacular. Unfairly, I received much praise and recognition for pulling off the catering aspect of the event, but Darcy and Main Event deserve all of the credit. I could not be more thankful for how accommodating, diligent, and thorough Darcy and her team were leading up to the event and I am in awe of how she was able to pull everything together under the foreboding time-crunch she willingly accepted herself into. I have never written a Yelp review, but I will be sure to mention Darcy and Main Event any time I ever have the opportunity (and not just at the last minute!). Thank you again Darcy and Main Event! read more

I've worked in catering for 15 years and as a photographer for the same amount of time. I planned my whole wedding myself and know what I'm talking about. The decision to hire Main Event was an absolute no-brainer. I even told them to skip the tasting and just send me the menu. Why? Let me tell you. Caterers are for two things: 1) great food and 2) excellent service. Main Event is the place to go for both. The food was spectacular. I've been married now for 6 weeks and every time I see someone who was at my wedding, they are still talking about the food. Those short ribs. Ugh, out of this world. We're a couple focused on making sure everyone is included, comfortable, and taken care of. I asked Main Event to prepare any vegetarian dish as a vegan dish to ensure that everyone had plenty to eat. And because the food was so delicious, I don't think people ate much dessert. Good problem to have. But as astonishingly good as the food was, it's always the service that makes the difference. Our team was wonderful. From Michelle and Melissa and Daniel in the office to Melissa and June on site to our team of servers and bartenders, the drivers, the chefs, etc. we just had the A-Team all around. Blue Hill Farm is not an easy venue to work in as a caterer with uneven terrain, everything being outdoors, wet grass from torrential rain the day before the wedding, restrictions on parking and truck placement, etc. the space is just a physically difficult place to work. But the service staff, after unloading the trucks, carrying all the equipment across fields, setting up the reception, ceremony, and cocktail hour, and just generally busting their asses, still stopped at every chance to smile at my guests, ask them what they need, and deliver the kind of hospitality that sets Main Event apart from everyone else. And from my guests, they were stunned at how friendly, excited, and willing the staff was to produce anything at any time. Hospitality is very important to me and taking care of our guests from start to finish for our wedding was priority number one. And that's why I picked Main Event. And even knowing what I knew about them, I STILL got more than I asked for. Thank you to the whole team from the bottom of my heart. You're the best. read more

Main Event catered our wedding on the Cherry Blossom riverboat in Alexandria on June 29. The quality of the food we served at our wedding was definitely one of the top items of our priority list, and I was definitely concerned about the ability of any caterer to produce a large amount of high quality food on a boat with a tiny kitchen, but they did an amazing job. We considered quite a few caterers before the wedding, and Main Event stood out as the one two type-A personalities could trust to handle everything we needed them to do to the standard of quality we hoped to provide our guests. On that point, we worked primarily with Meg on this event and she did a lot to put me at ease about Main Event's ability to deliver everything we wanted during our interactions with her - she was always on the ball, responsive and professional. As the bride, I ate well, and had the opportunity to taste pretty much everything that was served, thanks to our "dedicated butler" Jack (great touch), and I loved everything as much as I loved it at the initial tasting. Since the wedding I have also been hearing from my guests, un-prompted, how much they loved and were impressed by the food. Everything that might have been a problem was not a problem - the steak was well seasoned and wasn't at all overcooked (I like my steak rare), the vegetables were nicely crisp (and not soggy), the hors d'oeuvres were unique, and above all, tasty, as well as plentiful and well-passed (no small feat with three floors connected by staircases), etc. Further, the service was great - all the servers were polite and smiling and well-turned out. I'm sure there are a lot of details I am omitting, but should anyone have any questions or want to discuss anything in particular about our experience, feel free to send me a note and I would be happy to talk to you. read more

10/16/2011 Main Event (MEC) catered our daughter's wedding at River Farm in Alexandria and they were outstanding in every way. The process with Rachael and her staff was smooth leading up the the event date, with both support and suggestions along the way, all of which turned out to be good advice. Food was very important, as we wanted California healthly with lots of veggies, but also some meat and potatoes. The chef WOWed the vegetarians as well as the traditionalists...it was simply delicious. Of note, when we wondered if we should order more dishes, MEC did not try to over sell us. In fact they assured there would be plenty of food...and there was. The young men enjoyed several helping and declared themselves too full for more at the end of dinner, and the vegetarian crowd commented that they had rarely been fed so well. (The chef may have, in fact, converted a few carnivores to the veggie side!) To add to this, the service was outstanding in every way. In fact we were blown away by the detail, and by the fact that EVERY staff member was as attentive as the next. The bride and groom received special attention, but so did every guest in the crowd of 90ish. Fancy Cakes by Leslie was the coordinating vendor recommended, and Leslie was the gold standard. She worked with the bride for a special motif and delivered a gorgeous cake was was totally yummy. Our budget was not big, and that was never an issue: they worked with it and outlined what they could do. The results were sumptuous. This event was a once in a life time. God blessed us with beautiful weather; River Farm with a beautiful setting: we were so glad we decided to trust MEC with the rest of the details. You can trust this group to deliver. They are worth every penny you decide to spend. read more

After searching many restaurants in the DC area to throw a Saturday evening, heavy hors d'oeuvres cocktail party for 55 people as a surprise party for my wife, I was faced with a rather large price tag and the dilemma of having and paying for children at a cocktail party. I decided to check out party halls and caterers. I found Main Event Catering on Yelp and 2 others. Main Event was the first to respond back and ultimately the best to deal with. Sight unseen I reviewed the menu and created a sample menu. I was concerned with the quality and quantity of the food that would be delivered. I worked with Darcy from Main Event. She was excellent, professional, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable. Because I was throwing a non-staffed party my platters would have to be cold or non-warmed. I was worried this would be like cheese and crackers tray and maybe a tea sandwich tray and that it might look cheap or just not live up to what I was hoping for. Main Event -totally exceeded my expectations! The delivery was handled in person by Darcy. The platters of food were ample for 55 people -in fact I had 61 total guests 17 were children -we now have food in the freezer. My guests were blown away by the presentation and most importantly the taste of the food. All of the food was phenomenal -the standouts were the beef loin, the braided salmon and the crab fondue. I heard raves from guests over all the platters but these 3 received the most comments. My guests were so totally satisfied; totally full, and totally impressed with the selection and presentation. I expect we will use this company again. I highly recommend Main Event and Darcy for your event! read more

My wedding would not have been such an awesome event without MAIN EVENT CATERERS! First of all, they are on top of absolutely everything. Anytime I turned my head, Greg (we love Greg!) was right there, either with another drink for me (maple old fashioned) or the bride (champagne, IPA, or water as requested!), and even making sure we got to try each appetizer and enjoy our dinner. They certainly went above and beyond on every aspect, not only the amazing food (obviously so many complements from the guests), to making sure the tables, chairs, place settings, everything looked perfect and was in perfect order. I've heard a lot of married couples don't even get to taste their food; but main event made sure that didn't happen. We already loved everything from the tasting meeting, but being able to share in everything during the wedding made it taste that much better. Since we couldn't be out during most of cocktail hour (because we were taking photos), they saved us two of every hors d'oeuvre and we're glad they did, because they were all so good! I mean, we had picked them over a month ago, and we still couldn't get enough! Then the main courses were also perfect, and again, they sent us home with one of each just to make sure we got to taste them in case we didn't appreciate them fully during the wedding itself! Every team member was so helpful, so clean, so fast, so efficient, there aren't enough good adjectives to describe the service and attentiveness. Not only can we not thank and promote Main Event enough, we also basically can't wait to have another event like this just so we could hire them again! 10/10 would recommend. Thank you! read more

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Main Event (specifically Kara Marshall). I hired Main Event for 2 simultaneous corporate events at DAR Constitution Hall (75 people in the O'Byrne Gallery & 400 people in Constitution Hall). Kara worked with me thoroughly to come up with a proposal that matched my budget and the expectations of my attendees and stakeholders. My questions, concerns and ALL of my emails were always addressed within minutes and with detailed and specific answers to my (often many) questions. Kara made the planning process leading up to the two big events very easy. Her professionalism, knowledge of the business, and enthusiasm was VERY refreshing ... and made it a true pleasure to do business together. For the planning process alone--I'd give Main Event a solid 5 stars but the company completely outdid themselves onsite. As luck would have it--DAR had a graduation on the day of our event. When I pulled up to the venue (2 hours from go-time), I could see ALL my vendors still waiting in the horrific graduation traffic to get into the building. My heart started to speed up and head started to spin! We had less than two hours to transform the venue from graduation mode to swanky/party reception mode. I cannot say enough good things about the entire team--from the set up squad (putting out the tables/chairs/linens/etc) to the servers--to the chefs--to the banquet captain. It was inspiring to see a team with so many moving parts come together and make it work in such a crunch. It was a fabulous and quality event! read more

Choosing A Main Event to cater our wedding was one of the best decisions we made!! They were so attentive to every detail, making sure guests with dietary restrictions still had delicious options and customizing our menu to be exactly what we wanted. Ali was a dream to work with and we so appreciated her expertise and guidance in all the planning! She stayed in constant contact with us leading up to the big day. And the tasting was SO much fun - definitely my husband's favorite part of the wedding planning process! Our guests couldn't stop talking about how amazing the food was - the hors d'oeuvres were delicious and creative, and the main courses were out of this world. The beef short ribs are one of the best dishes I've had anywhere! Food is such an important part of a wedding experience, and A Main Event made sure it was tasty and memorable. Greg, as our fabulous supervisor, and all the wonderful serving staff provided exceptional and friendly service to all our guests throughout the cocktail hour and reception making absolutely sure everyone's needs were met! As the bride and groom, we had our own server the entire evening so that we always had enough to eat and drink while we were talking and taking pictures. We would highly recommend A Main Event for all your catering needs! read more

As a wedding/event designer it is of course very important to vet your vendors and find the perfect fit for your events. It is even better when you find those vendors and they work very hard to meet your needs and requirements with minimal difficulties. Photo-matica was like that for Events by Mackie (EBM) from the beginning. From the first quote request until the end of the wedding Candace and her staff worked tirelessly to make sure that they provided exemplary service. Candace kept in contact all through the contracting process, and was quick to respond to emails and phone calls whenever I had questions or concerns. Their photo booth that Photo-matica provided was the vintage type booth that we were looking for and it fit perfectly into our old-fashioned carnival theme. The Photo-matica staff arrived on time, handled the seamless and quick set-up, and provided hours of fun for the guests and the bride and groom. I was impressed with how Candace worked with me to refine their services because our difficult schedule required some adjustments, and was very grateful at how effortlessly they worked within the guidelines we provided. I will most definitely use Photo-matica again and will recommend them to friends, family, and clients. read more

We cannot thank Main Event Caterers for making our wedding a wonderful event for both us, and our guests. From the very beginning Main Event was thoughtful and flexible. We went into our wedding planning without a lot of thought besides wanting "good food and alcohol" for ourselves and our guests' enjoyment. Main Event made it easy! They were responsive when asking for quotes and seeing options for menu items, were pointed in asking questions during our tasting so we could narrow down what we wanted, and were super helpful with rental equipment. Ali was always responsive and helped us to decide on our overall look for our table and dining details. They were flexible and responsive with our options and last minute changes, allowing us to be stress free on our wedding day! During our wedding, Ali, June, and the entire Main Event team catered to our guests with excellent food, drinks, and customer service. Every portion of the meal was outstanding, many guests commenting on both the food and drinks. Ali, June, and the Main Event team were kind and thoughtful throughout our entire wedding and we were truly able to celebrate and enjoy with our guests. We are so grateful to have had Main Event as our team to make our wedding perfect for all! read more

We worked with Alicia Jones for our wedding on 10/29/22. She was such a pleasure to work with from start to finish. I know I made countless revisions to the contract, and she was nothing but patient, kind, informative, and responsive to my MANY questions. Our tasting was fabulous, and the food on our big day was so delicious. She went the extra mile to ensure our food was exactly what we wanted, i.e. we requested nitpicky things like room temperature mini pumpkin pies, but warmed apple mini pies. We were so surprised an apple cider station was included - it was a very nice touch and I've gotten so many compliments on it. Every drink I had was absolutely amazing, and I've gotten the same report from my guests. The only thing I would like to note is that we requested a double portion of mashed potatoes to come out with our entrees, but only a single portion did. We weren't billed in our contract, and nobody realized but my family and I, so it wasn't a big deal all in all. It's something that I could've caught lacking in the contract, but it slipped through the cracks. All in all, I would absolutely use Main Event for my catering needs in the future, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you guys to everyone and anyone I know. read more

Choosing Main Event to cater our wedding was single-handedly the best choice we made in the entire wedding process. From the very first conversation, we were blown away by their professionalism and expertise in the business. When learning we were working with Main Event, every single other vendor immediately said, "They are the absolute best - you are so lucky to be working with them." And they were right! They were organized, handled our event with care from the moment we first spoke with them, and the food was *delicious* to boot! Melissa especially is a dream to work with. She solved problems before they arose, helped us navigate aspects of wedding logistics that even extended beyond her portfolio, and went above and beyond to make herself available in communications for months ahead of the big day. We could just sit back and relax at our wedding knowing that Main Event had everything handled, which was the most priceless gift of all. Their servers made sure I never even had to approach the bar or ask for a glass of water! I cannot advocate harder for their services - choose them! You will not regret it! read more

I hired Spencer and Meg from Main Event Caterers to provide catering and guest services for a high profile event (600-person sit down dinner) in Washington DC on February 6th for my not-for-profit organization. Both of these professionals are incredible. Words cannot express my appreciation for them and their team. I am still in awe of the talent that they provided to us for our event. I will never think of another catering company for any event in DC - ever again. I was on a very tight budget and Spencer was always happy to discuss alternatives, creative ways to achieve what I needed and wanted and was always courteous, respectful, patient and kind. Every time I called him I felt valued and important. What really blew me away was the perfection with which the staff handled every aspect of the event. The managers assigned to me (day of logistics) were spectacular and courteous - even in stressful moments when I (the event manager) was being asked to do conflicting things (bring wine glasses to the lobby.. get the wine glasses out of the lobby...) they were so good to me and I am so thankful. read more

Main Event catered our wedding reception/dinner on 10/18. Phenomenal food and service. I mean top notch in every single category. It was a seamless pleasure all night long. The staff were so attentive I felt like a queen. Jen Sibel was our event planner and she is AWESOME. Everyone had a freaking blast and keeps saying how great and beautiful everything was. I recommend Main Event without reservation. They may not be the cheapest option in town, but they also aren't the most expensive. Our only hiccup involved the dinner placards. We were under impression that MEC would prepare them based on information we provided. Our Day Of Planner explained night before that's not usually caterers responsibility (but ours). We had to do some last minute negotiation with our planner to get them done. Perhaps MEC should have clarified with us...I honestly don't know. It all worked out in the end. BTW...not that it should matter but...ours was a same-sex wedding. Main Event didn't blink an eye (not that they should have but...just saying)! :) read more

We were so glad we used Main Event to cater our wedding reception. From the very first phone call with Jen Sibel, our event designer, I could tell that she understood the type of meal and event we wanted our reception to be. During the planning process, I really appreciated that Main Event provided a detailed quote, so I could see the cost breakdown, and didn't bat an eye when I needed a event plan for an outdoor setting (without a tent) as well as a indoor/rain plan. Working with Jen and Rebeccah Propp made planning our reception - from food, to linens, to table/dance floor rental, to event timing - so easy. We ended up having beautiful weather on our wedding day and had a fabulous cocktail hour and dinner in the garden. The quality of food and service by Main Event was superb. My husband and I felt completely taken care of (thanks to the Main Event staff who made sure we actually ate!). We also got lots of rave reviews from our guests who loved our buffet menu and appreciated the professional service provided by Main Event. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this catering company, they went beyond my greatest expectations. Main Event was one of the highlights of our wedding. My family and I worked with Rebecca who was absolutely fantastic the entire time and highly attentive to every detail. The catering headquarters was extremely impressive, especially how environmentally friendly they were. However, the best part was the food!! The food at our reception, which included several passed appetizers, standing hors d'oeuvres, and a summer dinner buffet, was incredible. The food was delicious and creative. Several people, even my pickiest relatives and friends who were vegetarian, commented that it was the best wedding food they have ever had. The service was impeccable--I was the bride and felt that they were constantly taking care of me and providing me with food and drinks all night long. We even gave us some wrapped up food to take home for a late night snack. The entire Main Event team was amazing! We give our highest recommendation. read more

Main Event catered my July 2013 wedding and was absolutely wonderful! The food was excellent, we got rave reviews from our guests on our Southern-style appetizers and the cake they provided was beautiful and beyond good. Their event staff was just as good, they made sure that every guest had a drink in hand and left full and happy. They ran the event flawlessly from beginning to end, no small feat considering EVERYTHNG had to be brought in and set-up in my venue. I worked with Michelle who was fabulous and really went above and beyond to make my day perfect. She somehow remembered every detail that I requested, went out of her way to make sure that every guest need was anticipated (everything from making sure that we had high chairs for the kids to accommodating food allergies), was excellent about keeping within my budget, and offered fantastic wedding advice!! I was so calm the day of the event knowing that she had everything in control! I would recommend Main Event and Michelle in a heartbeat. read more

We had a perfect experience with Main Event. From our initial contact with Darcy, Main Event stood out from other caterers as professional, modern, and receptive to our needs. Throughout the planning process, Darcy and Taylor were very responsive, organized, and helpful--we felt very comfortable that they would be able to execute the event smoothly and let us enjoy the day, which is a huge benefit. They exceeded our expectations on the wedding day. The food was amazing--nearly every guest has remarked on the tastiness of the food (we had a buffet with short ribs, gazpacho, watermelon and feta salad, and risotto cakes). Just as importantly, the staff was consummately professional, friendly, and attentive--they were incredibly organized yet flexible during the set up, made sure that my (now) husband and I got enough food, and were very helpful at the end of the night, packaging up all of the table numbers and helping my parents load the car. We couldn't recommend them more. read more