SCAM!!!
For The Love of God Do Not Do Business With Orcas Island Catering! Buckle up for a wedding horror story. Where to even begin. He did not actually show up to our wedding. Essentially, he made his wife do the entire thing on her own after double-booking our day.
Considering the cost of this meal was equivalent to a down payment on a new vehicle and above the average per-plate catering price on the mainland, convince me why I shouldn't take this to small claims!
We had engaged with every other catering service on the island but wanted OIC as they promised labor. We were highly impressed by the reviews, photos and other events and weddings that had tagged Orcas Island Catering, which motivated us to book with Steve. The first phone call - he rudely asked why I was calling - and if I was calling to get to his *very high profile clients whose names I will not mention here* (first red flag). After explaining I just needed a caterer for a wedding, negotiations began. Mind you, we planned this wedding remotely, as we are not island residents - so we had no physical interaction with OIC before the wedding (my bad for not doing my due diligence). But - after hearing about his other high profile clients, I thought - well certainly he'd be the BEST caterer to hire!?
The rubbery, undercooked, previously frozen mozzarella sticks and naked tomatoes and mozzarella "skewers" toothpicks spoke for themselves.
Initially communication was good, and we had solidified a detailed menu and services (screenshot below) and a contract was signed and a deposit was paid. He talked about his experience at pastry school and promised homemade focaccia and garlic breads. (We had store bought breadsticks). He raved about the seafood he could supply for the seafood pasta option. (The itty bitty squid legs in the fettuccine were pathetic). PASSED hours-devours. Bartenders. Bussers. The whole 9 yards. He was the only caterer I talked to that promised labor. Red flag #2.
Communication went dark several weeks leading up to the wedding. No responses to emails or calls from myself, my mother, or our wedding planner. We were beginning to worry that we were being ghosted. He eventually called my mom back, apologized and aligned expectations with her. We did not have a confirmation call as promised to review the menu and make final edits to headcount / services needed. Had we done this, they wouldn't have needed to supply a dessert selection because we DIY'd all of our own desserts (thank god, the 1 saving grace).
According to our wedding planners and staff, Steve was at another job because he either double or triple booked his catering team for our date based on what they were hearing.
He stated they would arrive to the venue as early as 8:30am and be "in and out" all day. Only 2 people first arrived around 2:45pm for a 6 PM planned meal. It was our understanding that catering was bringing/supplying ice, so we were waiting for their arrival to fill the coolers. My wedding planners were forced to buy ice at the last minute.
When planners checked in with catering around 3pm, there was one man and one woman food prepping. At 4:40pm when all guests arrived from ceremony, they noticed no one was behind the bar. They went downstairs and saw only the one woman (later find out she's Steve's wife) food prepping. The other man had left?? Asked her to get bartending as was contracted. She looked panicked and said they weren't supposed to start until 5pm.
Upstairs, the planners began bartending as guests were trying to start grabbing drinks from behind the bar. Once Steve's wife came to take over, the planners told her they had MAST permits so they jumped in. She looked at us VERY confused. I asked if she knew what a MAST permit is, she said no. There was a female helper with the food. She said she got called in that morning to help.
Once guests came inside for dinner, the planners took over the bar again so Steve's wife and the other gal could bring up food. The wife relieved planners from the bar after and told them she had more help on the way (Steve). Planners went downstairs to eat dinner and the female gal was gone. She had to leave to "lead a sunset kayak tour"...
So Steve's wife was working catering alone + trying to bartend for at least 2 hours. The planners and her helped each other through the night. Around 10:40pm she left (Steve never came!).
Had we known these challenges would have been present, and completed a tasting prior, we would have done business with Matthew's Smoke House (who did not have labor but has AMAZING FOOD). read more