Catering questions, answered

We cater business breakfasts, team lunches, private dinners, milestone birthdays, showers, memorial gatherings, holiday celebrations, weddings, and larger staffed events. Service can range from a straightforward delivery for a small group to buffet, family-style, or plated catering for hundreds of guests. Our Marin catering team can also coordinate rentals, florals, and event-day staff when you want more than food delivery.

Yes. In addition to events throughout Marin County, we review requests for San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, and other nearby North Bay communities. Availability depends on the exact address, date, order size, staffing needs, and delivery schedule. Include the complete venue address when requesting a quote so we can confirm whether the event falls within the service area and calculate any applicable delivery charges.

Choose drop-off service when you want prepared hot or cold platters delivered ready to serve and are comfortable arranging the food and handling cleanup. Choose full-service catering when you want our team to set up, monitor and replenish the meal, assist guests, and break down the catering areas. Staffed service is often the better fit for weddings, company parties, formal dinners, and events where the host wants to stay present with guests.

Yes. Many menus include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free choices, with applicable dietary information shown on individual items. Provide the number of meals needed in each category and identify any specific allergies before the order is finalized. Food may be prepared in facilities that also handle common allergens, so guests with severe allergies should share complete details rather than relying only on a general dietary label.

Most drop-off orders require at least 72 hours notice. Full-service events may be accepted with 10 days notice when staffing and production allow, although reserving two to four weeks ahead gives you more flexibility. Weekends and the busy months of June, November, and December tend to fill first, so important dates should be booked as soon as your plans are reasonably firm.

Yes. You may combine breakfast, lunch, appetizer, dinner, side, dessert, and beverage selections in one order. This makes it easy to build a spread around your guest count instead of choosing a fixed package. For an all-day meeting or a more involved Marin catering order, request a custom proposal and our team can help organize quantities and delivery times.

Most a-la-carte drop-off orders require at least $500 in food. Boxed meals use a different minimum and generally require 25 boxes from each selected meal menu. Staffing, rentals, special access requirements, or multiple delivery locations may create additional minimums or charges.

Serving estimates are shown with the menu items, and many trays are offered in sizes intended for approximately 10 or 30 guests. The right quantity also depends on how many dishes are being offered, whether the food is a full meal, and how long guests will have access to it. When the menu includes several entrees and sides, guests usually take smaller portions of each selection.

Yes. For a straightforward delivery, browse the menu, add the items and quantities to your cart, enter the event information, and complete checkout online. A custom quote is more useful when you need quantity guidance, several meal periods, extensive dietary accommodations, staff, rentals, florals, or delivery to a complex venue.

The listed prices cover the selected food and stated quantity. Delivery, staffing, rentals, service-related charges, and optional enhancements are calculated separately according to the event. Review the cart or proposal before approval so you know which disposable supplies, serving equipment, and other items are included.

Couples may choose a staffed buffet, family-style meal, or plated dinner. Buffets give guests flexibility and variety, family-style service brings shared dishes to each table, and plated service creates the most structured dining experience. The best format depends on the venue, timeline, budget, desired atmosphere, and the amount of service you want at each table.

Wedding proposals can include menu planning, service staff, setup, meal service, replenishment, and cleanup of the catering areas. Available additions include passed or stationed appetizers, coffee and tea, cakes, bartenders, tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, florals, and tablescape design. Using one team for several services can simplify setup and create a more cohesive reception.

Yes. Mobile tastings are complimentary for couples with a confirmed wedding booking. A tasting may also be purchased before signing a contract, and the tasting charge can be removed from the final bill if you later book the wedding with us. Tastings are most useful after you have narrowed the menu to a small group of serious options.

Wedding catering generally ranges from about $55 to $120 per guest, depending on whether the meal is buffet, family-style, plated, or station-based and on the level of staffing and service selected. Premium entrees, appetizers, cakes, beverages, rentals, florals, bar staff, difficult venue access, and longer timelines can increase the final investment.

We can plan vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free selections. Buffet dishes can be labeled, while plated dietary meals can be prepared according to the final counts and seating information you provide. Please distinguish severe allergies from general preferences and submit complete dietary details before the final deadline so the kitchen and service team can plan accurately.

Yes. Our wedding team can communicate with the planner, venue manager, and relevant rental vendors about access, setup timing, service time, staging space, floor plans, and cleanup deadlines. For San Rafael catering, Sonoma catering, or other North Bay venues, share loading, parking, kitchen, elevator, and outdoor-event requirements early so the service plan reflects the property.

We recommend booking at least four to six weeks before the wedding, and earlier for popular Saturdays, large receptions, or events requiring extensive rentals and florals. A wedding may occasionally be accepted with as little as 10 days notice, but availability is not guaranteed. June, November, and December are particularly active periods.

Wedding orders over $3,000 require a 50% deposit to reserve the date, with the remaining balance due 10 days before the event. Bartenders and expert bartenders may be added, but Marin Catering Company does not sell or supply alcohol. The couple or venue must purchase and provide the alcohol, and the proposal should clarify responsibility for mixers, ice, glassware, and bar equipment.

A delivery brings prepared food for the client or venue to arrange and manage. Full-service catering adds a coordinated on-site team that sets up the meal, presents the food, serves or monitors the dining area, replenishes dishes, and breaks down the catering spaces afterward. Depending on the package, service may be buffet-style, family-style, plated, stationed, or passed.

Staffing is based on the guest count, service format, menu, venue layout, access, and event timeline. As a general guideline, staffed buffets use about one server per 25 guests, while plated dinners use approximately one server for every 15 to 20 guests. Events with 50 or more guests typically also include a captain to oversee the team and service schedule.

Inclusions vary by package. Some full-service options include ceramic dinnerware, utensils, glassware, linens, and elegant serveware, while value-focused packages may use polished disposable plates, cups, and utensils. Review the package details carefully; upgraded china, glassware, tables, chairs, and specialty linens can be added when they are not already included.

No. Gratuity is optional and is not automatically included. Any voluntary gratuity is shared among the team members who contribute to the event, including kitchen staff, drivers, servers, bartenders, customer-service staff, and rental staff. Service-related charges shown in the proposal cover event costs and are separate from an optional tip.

Booking three to four weeks ahead is recommended for the best selection of dates, staff, menus, and rentals. Full-service events may sometimes be accepted up to 10 days before the date, depending on complexity and availability. Weekends and the months of June, November, and December often reach capacity earlier.

Most full-service packages begin at 25 guests. For a smaller dinner or gathering, drop-off catering with an attendant may offer the right level of help without requiring a complete staffed package. We can recommend the most practical format after reviewing the guest count, venue, and amount of event-day support you want.

Yes. Food is prepared before arrival, so most full-service events do not require an on-site commercial kitchen. We may still need a protected staging area where staff can organize equipment and service items away from guests. Depending on the menu, access to water, electricity, refrigeration, or a nearby prep surface may be helpful.

Our Marin catering team reviews staffed events throughout Marin County and nearby communities, including requests for San Rafael catering, Santa Rosa catering, and Sonoma catering. Availability depends on the address, date, event scope, travel, and staffing plan. Submit the complete venue information so delivery timing and service feasibility can be confirmed.

Boxed-meal orders require a minimum of 25 meals. Classic and artisan lunch boxes may allow eligible sandwiches and wraps to be mixed within the order. Breakfast and dinner selections generally require at least 25 of the same box, so confirm the allowed combinations before finalizing the menu.

Each meal is placed in a sealed, labeled box and includes the appropriate utensils and a napkin. This format is useful for offices, conferences, school programs, outdoor events, and groups that need quick distribution without a buffet line. Beverages and desserts are included only when listed with the selected meal or added separately.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free meals can be labeled upon request. Provide exact quantities for each category and identify any specific allergies. A dietary label does not necessarily mean the meal was prepared in an allergen-free facility, so severe allergy details should be reviewed before the order is confirmed.

Cold boxes can generally remain at room temperature for up to two hours, while hot boxes arrive in insulated carriers and should be served within approximately one hour. For the best quality, schedule delivery close to the meal time and distribute the food promptly. Refrigeration is recommended when cold meals will be held longer.

A minimum of 72 hours notice is required for most boxed-meal orders. Orders with high quantities, multiple dietary categories, detailed labeling, or several delivery addresses may require five or more days. Marin and San Rafael office catering dates can fill before the minimum deadline, so recurring or important programs should be reserved early.

Yes, provided each delivery address meets the $500 minimum. Separate delivery charges may apply for multiple stops. Supply every address, meal count, arrival time, access instruction, and on-site contact so the route and labeling can be planned correctly.

Cold breakfast and lunch boxes begin around $18.75 per person. Hot lunch boxes begin around $30 per person, and hot dinner boxes begin around $40 per person. Final pricing depends on the selected meal, premium ingredients, dietary requests, beverages, desserts, delivery, and any other additions.

Yes. Businesses with recurring boxed-meal schedules may receive a dedicated coordinator and locked pricing. Programs can be structured for regular team lunches, training sessions, executive meetings, rotating shifts, or multi-day events. Menu rotation, final-count deadlines, dietary needs, and delivery instructions should be established when the schedule is created.

November and December dates fill quickly, so booking three to five weeks ahead is recommended for likely availability. Popular weekday lunches, Thursday through Saturday celebrations, and larger staffed events may fill even earlier. Reserving early gives you more flexibility with menus, delivery times, rentals, and service staff.

Yes. Marin Catering Company offers buffet, family-style, and plated holiday service for office groups of approximately 25 to more than 400 guests. A proposal can include setup, servers, buffet equipment, bartenders, tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, florals, and cleanup.

Yes. Holiday entrees, sides, salads, breads, and desserts can be ordered a la carte for a casual office lunch, Friendsgiving, or family celebration. The food arrives ready to serve, and your group handles the meal and cleanup unless attendants or equipment are added.

A limited number of events are accepted on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve, and holiday surcharges apply. The company is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. These dates and peak service times should be requested well in advance.

Yes. Available additions include tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, buffet equipment, seasonal centerpieces, floral arrangements, and coordinated holiday tablescapes. These services can be combined with Marin, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, or Sonoma catering requests when the date, location, and staffing allow.

Holiday orders cancelled at least 72 hours before the event are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. Confirmed orders cancelled with less than 72 hours notice are subject to a 100% cancellation fee because food, staffing, rentals, and other event resources may already have been committed.

Available designs include bud-vase groupings, centerpieces, impact arrangements, tabletop and ground meadows, floral arches, mantle installations, bloom bars, flower-crown bars, balloon arches, and complete tablescape styling. The flowers can be coordinated with the catering presentation, linens, china, venue, and overall color direction.

Yes. You can review the offerings and example pieces shown on the floral page, or request a custom proposal for a more involved event. A custom concept can outline the intended palette, scale, representative flowers, recommended pieces, and pricing before the floral order is finalized.

Current starting ranges include bud-vase trios from $95, lush centerpieces from roughly $195 to $350 per table, impact arrangements from $350 to $600, a tabletop broken-arch set around $800, meadows from $400 to $600, large installations from approximately $1,350 to $8,500, mantle pieces from roughly $750 to $2,000, and bloom bars from $48 per guest. Custom mechanics and specialty flowers may change the price.

Yes. Share preferred flowers, colors, inspiration images, and any varieties you do not want. Specific stems are used when seasonally available. If a requested flower cannot be sourced, the designer may substitute a comparable bloom based on color, shape, texture, and scale so the overall Marin event design remains cohesive.

Three to four weeks notice is recommended for better access to specialty flowers and enough time to coordinate the design with the venue and rentals. Smaller orders may occasionally be accepted with about 10 days notice, depending on the date, scope, staffing, and wholesale flower availability.

Setup is included so the arrangements are placed in their planned locations before guests arrive. Breakdown and disposal can be added when you would like the team to return for installations, mechanics, vessels, and floral waste. This is especially helpful for arches, meadows, mantle pieces, and larger Sonoma or Marin catering events.

Yes. The fresh flowers may be kept upon request, and guests are welcome to take arrangements or individual stems home. Some vessels, stands, mechanics, arches, and structural pieces may be rentals that must remain at the venue for collection. The proposal will clarify which components belong to you and which must be returned.

Rental options include Chiavari and resin chairs, guest tables with standard linens, cocktail tables, buffet tables, china, flatware, glassware, chafing dishes, and selected tabletop pieces. Floral arrangements and coordinated tablescape details may also be added to create a complete setting.

Rental orders always require on-site attendants to manage delivery, placement, safe handling, breakdown, and collection. This protects the inventory and keeps the client or venue from being responsible for moving commercial tables, chairs, glassware, china, or service equipment.

There is no strict minimum for the rental items themselves. However, required staffing affects the total cost, so very small rental-only orders may not be economical. Most clients combine rentals with a catering package, floral design, or another staffed service.

Yes. Each guest table rented through us includes one standard linen, with a broad range of colors available. Specialty fabrics, runners, overlays, or additional layers may be priced separately when available. Confirm the table size and desired color before the rental order is finalized.

Delivery generally takes place on the event date, about two to four hours before guests arrive. Collection may occur later that evening or the next morning, depending on the venue rules, event end time, staffing, and access. Strict loading-dock, elevator, security, or same-night removal requirements should be shared in advance.

Normal wear from appropriate use is covered. Significant damage, breakage, loss, or items unavailable for pickup are charged at replacement cost. Guests should not remove rental items, discard flatware with trash, expose unsuitable pieces to weather, or move equipment outside the approved event areas.

Yes. Combining rentals with Marin Catering Company food service and floral design can simplify delivery and setup while keeping the tables, buffet, centerpieces, and place settings visually connected. Tell us what the venue already provides so the proposal includes only the furniture and tabletop pieces still needed.

Yes. Approving your quote is followed by a catering agreement. Events priced above $3,000 require a 50% deposit to secure availability.

Guest-count adjustments and menu edits are permitted until 10 days before the event. Later requests will depend on production availability.

Our commercial kitchen and primary operations are based in Mill Valley, California. We are a service-area catering company serving events throughout Marin County and the surrounding North Bay communities. Our team delivers and provides full-service catering directly at offices, homes, wedding venues, and other event locations.