wedding 2024 | Choosing Your Caterer

date posted: March 01, 2024

Photo by Kirsten Getz Photography.

Hudson Valley food is one of the big things that make this such a great place to get married. We have all the right ingredients, a global blend of cuisines, and a superb smorgasbord of culinary artists who’ll make your wedding feast a memory to be savored. Here are some tips for choosing and working with the people who bring the wow factor to the table:

Catered by Mazzone Hospitality.

Catered by Cucina Woodstock.

Catered by Blue Mountain Bistro to Go.

ask the venue

Lots of wedding venues can provide you with caterer suggestions. Choosing someone who’s worked with your venue in the past can simplify things, since they’ll already know the people and the layout involved.

money matters

Know your budget and have a general idea of what kind of food you’d like to serve.

Catering by Angela’s Pizza.

Catering by Catskill Catering.

Catering by Chef Zach Berger. Photo by Steven Howard.

begin locally

Start your search online, but close to home: See if your favorite restaurant does catering, or that place you keep meaning to try. Ask friends about favorite flavor finds in the wild. Once you have a few ideas, check out not just their websites but any social media you can find for reviews, food photos, specials, and overall vibes.

important questions

Make your list of possibilities and reach out by phone or email to find out whether they are available on your date and can work with your venue, whether they’re licensed and insured, and any other questions that are make or break: can they accommodate a special dietary need? Do they offer tastings? Do they charge by bulk or by the plate? Are custom menus available? Do they offer bar service? Getting key things straight up front streamlines your process.

taste and see

Pick your top three or four choices and set up appointments, preferably with tastings. Make them within the same week or two, so you’ll have fresh tasty notes and memories from each to compare. Take pictures and jot down reactions.

check protocol

Ask process questions: how much time will they need for setup and cleanup? What kind of team will be there? Who handles event permits? When will they need a deposit, final menu choices, and a final head count? Where do they source their food? What are the serving options — buffet, family style, individual plates — and what does each cost? Do they provide linens and tableware — if not, can they suggest rental options? What’s their cancellation policy?

Pick your top three or four choices and set up appointments, preferably with tastings.

Catering by Chef Deanna Inc. Photo by Rosey Red Photography.

Catering by Jessie’s Harvest House.

clarify your wishes

Catering by Oyster Party.

Be specific about your vision for the day—themed, formal, casual, large, small, or somewhere in between. They may have some good culinary or service ideas that will fit beautifully.

over-communicate

Catering by Main Course Events. Photo by Lisa Woodward Photography.

As with all things wedding-related, communication and cooperation are the key to a great catering experience. When you’ve made your choice and gotten the contract signed, make sure you connect your caterer to your venue coordinator and stay in touch as The Day draws nearer.

ANGELA’S PIZZA RESTAURANT & CATERING

Lake Katrine, 845-382-2211, angelaspizzarestaurant.com/catering

Angela’s Pizza Restaurant in Lake Katrine has been family-owned for more than 35 years. As the go-to place for great pizza, salads, wraps, and Italian specialties, we’re ready to serve. Let us bring our awesomeness to your next event!

BLUE MOUNTAIN BISTRO-TO-GO

Kingston, 845-340-9800, bluemountainbistro.com

The exclusive caterers of the Onteora Mountain House, Blue Mountain Bistro is committed to providing high-quality food and service both on the day of your wedding and the days leading up to it. When you choose Blue Mountain Bistro Catering for your wedding, you will be rewarded with raves from friends and family. Relax and enjoy yourselves knowing that their creative, experienced staff is handling all the details of the day.

CATSKILL CATERING

Phoenicia, 845-688-9823 (No Texting), catskillcatering.com

Catskill Catering will lead you to discover a culinary celebration that embraces compassion and flavor, with our exquisite vegetarian and vegan wedding and event catering. Elevate your special day with artfully crafted plant-based dishes that delight the senses and leave a lasting impression. Unleash the power of green love on your wedding menu!

CHEF DEANNA INC. WEDDING & EVENT CATERING

Catskills and the Berkshires, ChefDeanna.com

Our exceptional staff goes beyond what is expected to make your day the best day! We serve our food on cast-iron and vintage silver platters and vintage plates, so at no point during your event do you feel you are in an industrial production line. Our goal is to create a wildly beautiful and delicious experience that blends with the nature around us. Our ingredients are made by folks and farmers who love what they do, and Chef Deanna is convinced that matters.

CHEF ZACH BERGER

chefzachberger@gmail.com Instagram: @food_master_flex

Former owner of Cultura Paraiso in Cusco, Peru, Chef Zach Berger is back in the Hudson Valley focusing on his love of culinary adventure as a private chef and caterer. With passion for food and travel, Zach brings flavors from regions all over the world while keeping his roots in the Hudson Valley very dear to him—using all the fresh, local ingredients and flavors that our region has to offer. Zach has created relationships with local farms and local makers to truly give you a culinary experience from the heart and home. Email for more info about private dinners, events, pop-ups.

CUCINA WOODSTOCK

Woodstock/Rhinebeck, 845-679-9800, cucinawoodstock.com marketstrhinebeck.com

We will accommodate your event with every attention to detail and style. Cucina in Woodstock and Market St. Restaurant in Rhinebeck are both available for a buyout, or we can cater at any location of your choice. The Barn at Cucina is a restored 19th-century barn with original beams, long rustic harvest tables, and splashes of modern décor. The Barn is fitting for rehearsal dinners, weddings, cocktail events, and dinner parties.

HICKORY BARBECUE

Kingston, 845-338-2424, hickoryrestaurant.com

As a full-service caterer offering complete party planning, Hickory can provide trained servers, kitchen staff, and bartenders for a perfect wedding. From a simple backyard barbecue to a special wedding, Hickory can help with all the details. Many of their dishes are available as certified organic, grass-fed, vegetarian, and vegan—just ask. Linen and equipment rentals are available. Likewise, they can also provide floral, cake, bar, and other services.

JESSIE’S HARVEST HOUSE

Tannersville, 518-589-5445, jessiesharvesthouse.com

Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant and Lodge is a warm and cozy place to gather, featuring a delicious menu full of locally sourced ingredients, a friendly tavern, and rustic country lodging. Located just outside of Tannersville’s main strip, the dining room is spread out over the ground floor of a charming home with a menu full of small and large plates that offer a great modern twist to classic American dishes.

MAIN COURSE CATERING

New Paltz, 845-255-2600, maincoursecatering.com

Main Course is a full-service caterer that can coordinate all wedding aspects including customized menus, décor, linens, and rentals. Under chef Bruce Kazan’s innovative leadership, a team of talented professionals creates the finest in catered events. Main Course, a leader in the sustainable food movement, uses small Hudson Valley purveyors to provide the freshest local, organic produce, free-range poultry, line-caught fish, and hormone-free meats.

MANGIA AND ENJOY!

Hudson Valley and beyond, 914-494-9951, mangiaandenjoy.com

Award-winning and nationally recognized luxury and boutique wedding catering for your unique and specialized wedding experience. Specializing in global flavors, creatively honored dietary concerns, sustainable sourcing, impeccable service, and our culinary magic. Allow us to create your delectable forever memories. Main ingredient: Love! Catering with Integrity. Always.

MASA MIDTOWN

Kingston, 845-514-2214, masamidtown.com

Traditional and creative Turkish cuisine that will wow your guests. On- and off-site catering available for seated parties up to 75 and cocktail parties up to 100. From appetizer through dessert, we meet various dietary requirements.

MAZZONE HOSPITALITY

Clifton Park, 518-690-0293, mazzonehospitality.com

Timeless or trendy, upscale or low-key, intimate or extravagant…whatever your style, Mazzone Hospitality will help you create your perfect event. We get to know your personal style, customizing a menu and designing an event that is tailored specifically to you. The possibilities are endless when you work with Mazzone Hospitality. Serving the Capital Region and beyond, in preferred properties, your backyard, and everywhere in between.

RŪNA

New Paltz, 845-419-5007, runanewpaltz.com

Let us cater your dream wedding either at your location or smaller parties in our historic restaurant. RŪNA’s diverse menu whispers romance. French, Indian, North African, and more all prepared to perfection.

OYSTER PARTY

New York, 646-468-4545, oysterpartybk.com

At Oyster Party, we are experts in curating personalized raw bars for our clients. With over 10 years of experience, we are confident that we can work with you to create a raw bar experience that you and your guests will be talking about for years to come. Completely self-sufficient in setup and service, we are an easy add-on to any wedding!

THE LITTLE MOBILE KITCHEN BY DAVID FOUNDED

Barrytown, 845-481-2050, davidfounded.com

Make your upstate weekend even more memorable with local foods prepared from The Little Mobile Kitchen. Perfect for your arrival party, “morning after” breakfast, or after-party munchies. Menu highlights include challah French toast, bacon-egg-and-cheese sammies, lamb balls with raisin pesto, smoked eggplant dip, pepper jelly lamb sliders, and harissa-dressed farro salad. All dishes are made from locally sourced farms and makers.