I want to begin this review by saying that Kesha truly wowed us at the tasting. The food was…read moreincredible, and she had rustic decor that perfectly matched our wedding vision. She even arranged for our tasting to happen in a cozy cottage at our venue, which made it feel so special. Her warm personality, the attention to detail, and the care she showed made us feel like we'd found the perfect caterer.
We reviewed menus from four caterers and did tastings with two. Kesha's came later due to her schedule, so we placed a $500 deposit with another company to keep our options open. But Kesha had spent time with me on the phone customizing our menu, and we were so impressed by the tasting that we felt confident choosing her. Though she operated on a smaller scale than our other option, her personal touch stood out. She also mentioned she'd recently catered a full wedding weekend at our venue, which reassured us.
Looking back, there were a few yellow flags we ignored. She rescheduled our discovery call due to a double booking--even though we used her online scheduler. She charged $25 for a menu estimate and $200 for the tasting--more than others we spoke with. She was listed as a private chef (not a caterer) on the venue's preferred list, though she said that was a mistake. Most reviews we saw turned out to be for a similarly named business in Charlottesville--not hers. But we overlooked these concerns because the food was great.
After the tasting, things took a turn. Communication became difficult. It took multiple follow-ups to get anything confirmed. The "contract" was just a vague two-page banquet order--nothing like the professional, detailed agreements we received from others. For $8,500 (not including bar services), we expected better clarity and professionalism.
She became less patient when I asked questions--something she'd welcomed before we signed. Our venue strongly recommended a walkthrough, which she was reluctant to attend and charged extra for. There, she suggested setting up plates and linens the night before--at an outdoor venue with no walls. That wasn't acceptable, especially since we had full access starting at 9 a.m. for a 4 p.m. cocktail hour.
There were several strange choices. Her contract said disposables for apps, but she brought floral paper plates like you'd see at a bridal shower--without checking with us. We had to buy new ones ourselves. Linen quantities were wrong. Instead, she repeatedly asked us for timing updates on the schedule, even the day before, despite having clear timing from us.
Communication worsened. She was hard to reach, vague, and increasingly unprofessional--at one point telling me not to email her, but continuing to text my husband. She once called me "Tracey." Then, late one night weeks before the wedding, she said she'd be bringing a food photographer--unless our photographer contract objected. It felt like yet another surprise.
On the wedding day, she promised four staff, but brought two. We were just 10 minutes ahead of schedule, yet no food was ready. Then we saw her drive away. That's when we realized the food wasn't fully on site--she was transporting it from elsewhere in her SUV. It arrived over 30 minutes late and lukewarm. Guests waited. The delay was frustrating and completely avoidable. Her sous chef worked hard and looked overwhelmed, but the lack of preparation wasn't his fault.
The worst part? No apology. Not to us, not to our coordinator, not to our guests. She never acknowledged what went wrong or took responsibility.
In my opinion, Kesha took on more than she could handle. I think she's trying to grow her business too fast without the systems, staff, or experience to support it. Her food is genuinely great--but weddings require more than that. They require organization, professionalism, and the ability to follow through. She fell short in all of those areas.
If you're planning a small private dinner, Kesha might be a good fit. But for a wedding, I urge you to ask detailed questions, request references from recent clients, and get everything in writing. Better yet--consider someone else. Thanks to our amazing coordinator, DJ, and photographers, our day was still beautiful. But Kesha added unnecessary stress we shouldn't have had to deal with. If I could go back, I would have chosen differently.
