Catering Information

Due to changes in our catering policies in 2024, please refer to your venue contract to confirm whether outside catering companies are allowed for your event.

Our partnered catering companies provide a comprehensive, full-service experience that includes both food and bar/beverage service. They handle all aspects of table rentals, linens, napkins, and tableware, ensuring that every detail is meticulously managed. Their professional staff oversees proper setup, table clearing, and post-event cleanup, allowing you and your guests to relax and enjoy the celebration without any worries.

Each company provides a range of menus tailored to meet your unique needs. Whether you're looking for vegan options, gluten-free selections, or culturally specific dishes, our caterers can accommodate various dietary, cultural, and custom requests.

All alcohol must be served by the catering company. Beer, Wine, and Liquor are permitted and may be provided by the client (depending on catering company policies) or purchased through the catering company. A banquet permit is required for all events at the Gardens.

All Things Catering

  • What is Full-Service Catering

    The full-service catering approach involves providing food, beverages, linens, tableware, wait staff, and food service items, as well as ensuring proper setup, table clearing, and post-event cleanup. One of the main benefits of full-service catering is logistics management; such as coordinating all rentals and ensuring clients and guests do not have to worry about the details.

    Key components of full-service catering are as follows:

    Food Preparation and Cooking The caterer manages all aspects of food preparation and presentation; ensuring the highest standards of taste, quality, and aesthetics.

    Serving Staff Professional servers provided by caterers handle setup, serving, and cleanup of food and beverages.

    China and Linens The caterer supplies all necessary tableware, including plates, cutlery, glassware, napkins, and linens.

    Beverage Services Full-service catering often includes beverage services, encompassing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. This entails a complete bar setup, licensed bartenders, and responsible management of cocktail hour and reception drinks.

    Event Coordination The caterer may assist with event coordination, collaborating with other vendors such as event planners, florists, and Venue Hosts to ensure a cohesive and well-executed event.

    Cleanup After the event concludes the caterer assumes responsibility for tidying up the reception and terrace areas, removing food waste, garbage and returning the Gardens to its original condition. A detailed post-event check-out list is provided in advance to the caterer.

    Keep in mind that the specific services offered may vary depending on the caterer and your event's unique requirements. It's essential to discuss the details with the catering company for a clear understanding of what's included in their full-service catering package.

  • Bar service

    It is most common for the catering company to manage bar services to reduce overlap between companies. However, there are times when someone wants a specialty company that offers a curated experience or an outside catering company is not permitted to manage alcohol. In these situations, a request for an outside bar company must be submitted.

    A full-service bar company offers the same level of service as a full-service catering company would provide. They manage all alcoholic beverages (wine, liquor, beer), handle cocktail hour and reception bars, provide bar-related items, wait staff, and preparation stations. They also manage bar glassware setup and cleanup, maintain the bar area, and dispose of waste properly.

    All glass, including glassware and any bottles, must be removed from RCG. If glass is left or placed in the garbage receptacle, a minimum of $150.00 recycling fee will be deducted from the client’s security deposit.

  • Tableware

    A full-service catering company will facilitate all rental items needed for the wedding. Items may include plates, cutlery, glassware, stemware, napkins, linens, food warmers, and beverage dispensers – to name a few! The caterer will also manage rentals of other items such as dance floors and chairs, if choosing to use chairs not provided by the Gardens.

    To reduce waste and support environmental conservation efforts, we mandate the use of china (including stemware, glassware, plates, and cutlery) for all weddings. Biodegradable china is permitted only for rehearsal dinners, desserts, and the final 30 minutes of alcohol service.

    Linens for all tables are required to be floor length. For linen measurements by table size, please refer to the link HERE.

    All tableware must be managed by the catering company to ensure accurate inventory coordination, rental delivery, and pickup. Rentals must be dropped off and picked up within the contracted timeframe, with the caterer present to receive them. However, deliveries from CORT or American Party Place do not require the caterer onsite.

    In some cases, the catering company may not provide all the necessary rentals. In such instances, this can be successfully accomplished when using a wedding planner or professional florist/decorator. Please inquire with the Gardens office for details and approval.

outside catering or bar service request

If you are interested in a catering company that is not partnered with the Gardens, please complete the form below. Requests for an outside company must be submitted at least six months before the date. All outside catering or bar service companies must be approved before they can operate on-site, and an approval fee will apply.

Please note that not all companies may be approved due to staffing or WA State licensing issues. We strongly advise against signing any contracts until approval has been granted by The Gardens.

Due to changes in our catering policies in 2024, please refer to your venue contract to confirm whether outside catering companies are allowed for your event.

Outside Company Approval Process

  • Please use the form on this page.

  • We make an initial, introductory phone call to the requested company to discuss requirements and venue policies.

    The first questions we ask are if the company is familiar with managing rentals and what their experience is in catering at offsite locations. The Gardens does not provide an onsite kitchen and as such, cooking onsite is not permit. These questions are a really good judge of the level of service a caterer can provide.

    If a company does not manage rentals or requires an onsite kitchen, they likely will not be approved. Please note that certain scenarios will allow for a company to be approved.

    If the company can answer yes to those two questions, we go on to discuss other required aspects of full-service catering, RCG logistics, and policies.

    If the company is able to adhere to those policies, we discuss the required legal documents and insurance.

    Additionally, the company is required to provide two venue references that they have catered at in the past year.

  • Not only are these documents an industry standard, they are required by WA State to legally and safely operate.

    Only after the business license and county food establishment permit are submitted and verified, will we schedule an on-site visit with the company to complete the next step in the approval process.

    Required documents are:

    1. Business License

    2. Food Establishment permit

    3. Certificate of Insurance (COI) is required only after an on-site visit and tentative approval.

  • This visit not only helps reduce any unknowns for a company that has not worked at the Gardens previously, but it also gives us the opportunity to walk the caterer through the property, focusing on the key logistics of the catering prep space, access to water and power, load in/load out locations, garbage trailer, rentals, etc.

  • The COI must list Rock Creek Gardens Inc. as an additionally insured party with a minimum of $1,000,000 (one-million) per occurrence / $2,000,000 (two-million) general aggregate minimum. Liquor Liability must be indicated if providing bar service.

  • Once all documents have been received and the onsite visit has been completed, all parties are required to sign the Outside Vendor Agreement. The Agreement reiterates venue policies, procedures, and Catering responsibilities and is sent via DocuSign to the Caterer, the clients, and any other party involved.

  • Once the vendor agreement has been signed by all parties, the client is emailed an invoice for the outside catering and/or bar service fee.

Outside Catering or bar servce Request