Simply Elegant Catering

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Introduction: We do your event your way. We offer everything, from full-service catered events to delivery and setup; you do the rest. We offer a large selection of menu items, buffet dinners, heavy appetizers, and more. We have twenty-one years of experience!

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Hired 1 time

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2.0

1 review

100%

Allison F.

Jun 10, 2014

Hired on Thumbtack

I'm disappointed that I have to choose one star, I was hoping it would let me choose less than that. At first, Marie seemed sweet and compassionate to my situation as a bride on a budget. She told me that brides like myself who want to marry the love of their life but cant throw "big bucks" at a wedding industry, reminded her of why she got into this business in the first place,. That gave me "awe-factor" & made me feel special. That earned a certain level of trust with me which made me honestly blind to many red flags I should have paid attention to long ago (as another bride said, too). I want to say first of all, that Im not writing this review to be mean, hurt feelings, or to lash out about a wedding day that I wasn't conceitedly happy with. My family is not picky, we are not mean people, my mom isn't a bridezilla mom (furthest from it). I am also not a "crazy bride." So many people throughout my hectic 4-month engagement told me how nice I was. I'm a Christian girl who believes in loving others as I'd love myself. Why do I feel the need to say all this? Because Marie addressed these other reviews below during my tasting (the one who mentions the plates and grape leaves), and Marie dismissed that girl as a "Crazy, ungrateful bride." Marie said she gets one bride a year who is a "crazy bride." That brides mom even wrote a review, below it. Marie said "sometimes the moms are worse than the brides themselves". Marie said none of those things ever happened. She defended herself that she went way out of her way for these ungrateful people, and they made her look bad. I gave the benefit of a doubt of her account. To my disappointment at my wedding, I experienced MANY of the same experiences as these previous reviews which Marie denied. -My wedding was 2 months away and she did find a time to meet with us to have a tasting (which originally was going to be a problem for her via scheduling.I had 2 other caterers who I was talking to at the same time as Marie, tell me that was bogus, even if we wound up meeting on a Tuesday, she shouldn't be dragging out how making time for me would be so incredibly difficult). BUt, we did meet. - During our tasting, I tried the "stuffed shells". They were so bitter I couldn't eat them. I graciously asked if perhaps there was an ingredient in there I wasn't used to using in my own cooking which made them that way. After giving me a look of disappointment, hurt feelings and as if very offended, she said she would fix them for my wedding. My positive is that she DID fix them via wedding. My experience in beating around the bush just to tell her something that we're there to PROFESSIONALLY discuss (whether or not we liked the food) so as to not offend her personally, was exhausting. - My husband found a hair in his food during the tasting but I didn't find out til later.I overlooked thinking "things happen", but a wedding guest found a hair in their food during the reception. I later found out a friend who had a tasting with Marie, had a sister find hair in her food. - We weren't allowed to have a tasting at Marie's. Had to be an outside place due to her space being in "disarray" - Unprofessional during tasting with the 45 minute spiel about her niece, which got in the way of our time to talk about food. She will prob deny this, but it happened. I don't mind small talk. But we timed it. When we brought ourselves up, she couldn't continue in conversation until she talked about herself again. I overlooked this thinking, this won't matter during the wedding itself. But looking back, if unprofessional there, that itself would carry onto the wedding. - Did not fulfill tasks we talked about in contract (filling beverage dispensers I had there to fill with ice and drinks. My guests did that when Marie did not). - Marie was very rude to numerous guests and myself. She scoffed at me when I didn't have a pen to write her a check as I was in my wedding dress, then stormed off to get one for me. I asked about a contract question, she flipped out at me and scribbled her signature handed me a copy and stormed off. - She was supposed to be at my wedding at 4pm. She got there after 5pm. My cousin called her to see where she was after having to call ( finally from a hidden # to have Marie pick up upon confrontation when she did not answer Heather's or m phone #). Marie snapped, "it does not matter what time we get there, eating is at 5:30", and hung up on my cousin rudely. My contract with Marie says 4pm. Everything was in disarray and unorganized due to lateness which reflected onto my guests, family, owners of my venue, and the attitude of staff and Marie, who was extremely rude and had bad attitude to everyone I've talked to who came in contact with them. - Marie lashed out on my Maitron of Honor because I didnt do a good enough job at making Marie's job easier. - One guests chicken was UNDERcooked, potatoes cold. My own prrsonal food didnt taste horrible, but it wasnt as what I was impressed by at the tasting. I had a chicken dish with provolone at the tasting which wow'd me. At the wedding, the cheese was burned. I was excited because she DID change a recipe as mentioned before and the shells were quite decent.. but I had a guest compliment a server on the shells, and my guest received a cold shoulder. - We had talked about making a way for my gluten free friends aware of what they could watch par my request. But they had no idea at the event what was edible for them, so all they ate (when I on average paid $14 per person), was carrots and salad unknowingly they could have done differently. Except another guest let me know they actually ran out of salad halfway through serving. - Marie was supposed to bring ice to fill my beverage dispensers but I nor anyone else saw it... plus I had guests having to fill the dispensers because seemingly Marie didn't have enough staff or time (im sure an hour late did not help) to do what we had agreed upon. - I was supposed to leave coffee grounds, a coffee pot, filters and water by the tables to brew coffee into urns. I forgot to leave out water (no sink in venue), and marie drilled into my maitron of honor about how I as the bride didnt do my job. I own that I forgot water. However, there were NUMEROUS people at hand who wpuld have graciously helped find some. My venues owner was on premise helping and not hard to ask for some. Had this staff been on time, they would have had time to figure something out. Not arrive last second and unprofessional pull bridal party aside saying how bad a job the bride did To make Marie's staff have an easier day after being an hour late.... and still delivering cold food. - my pastor had to leave event early and graciously asked marie to move her van so he could get out of the driveway. She was rude to him. I could keep going.... yes, I had a couple positives in here but those positives are base level of what should be expected out of anyone with business conduct.. but all the negatives were disappointing to find out during and after my honeymoon. I am not a bride who was grateful until wedding day. I was unfortunately blindsided by a business who I had hope could deliver but proved unprofessional and disappointing and I didnt hear accounts of it until I returned from my honeymoon. Id love a chance to nominate Marie for "restaurant impossible" because unfortunately she needs a professionalism makeover in her business and so many other things if she wants to have happy customers. I wish I knew this before I signed my contract at the reception or id be demanding at least a partial refund right now. Im pretty sure every guest of mine would agree. Sorry Marie. You can think im crazy or ungrateful all you want.. but I pray common sense in the rest of the world before they hire you until you learn some legit professionalism. Don't let her make you sound like the ungrateful one.. Go somewhere else.

Simply Elegant Catering's reply

I cannot not even begin to reply how disappointed I am This bride received a $ 20.00 buffet for $ 14.00 per person . We arrived at 4:30 and had dinner ready at 5:30 as indicated on the contract changed to 5:00 to 5:30 by the bride .There was no kitchen available at the venue so everything arrived ready to serve .I have emails from this bride continually asking for more services performed when I made it clear that what she was contracting was dinner buffet set up and serve and clearing of dishes .Once we had completed all that I went to settle the bill -someone went to get her checkbook but no pen so I went to the car to get her a pen .At no time did I ever make her feel crazy or inadequate but . I asked and received assistance from Janice the venue owner including help with the coffee and filling the drinks with ice . She was extremely gracious and helpful. .I'm sure she would confirm. The guests raved about the food and there was nothing left on the buffet after some people returned for seconds and thirds which is unusual for me but perfectly ok. There is more I could dispute but let me just say that I have been in business for 22 years and countless satisfied and repeat customers , It is so hurtful to bend to the point I did with this bride and receive these comments .The only other negative review she references was also a bride was also who received a much lower menu price to help meet her budget.

Wedding and Event Catering