As the event manager this year for the Propeller Club, we had held our Holiday Gala for the past couple of years at an area hotel and wanted to make several changes for the 2015 event to add a touch of class. I hired Designed Events Inc to plan, decorate and cater our business club's Holiday Gala in December 2015. This was the first time I worked with Designed Events, and I was very impressed. I primarily worked with Mark Shine on the event. Mark was always professional and courteous. He conceptualized the classy and elegant decor inside the event venue, an historic building in Downtown Jacksonville, with dozens of candles in the bay windows, white linens, fresh flowers on each table, intricate wreaths, and pine placed strategically. He was gracious to conduct multiple walkthroughs at the venue before the event to ensure all details were covered. He also booked an entertaining DJ for the evening, who inspired our club's members to dance for the first time in the last four years of holiday parties. Designed Events' service staff was also professional, handling every request promptly, whether it was moving tables, moving chairs, packing up to-go boxes for some guests - everything was handled swiftly and correctly. Bar service was equally swift and professional. Dinner and dessert were delicious. But don't take just my word for it. We send out a survey after each event the club holds, and on the survey for our 2015 Holiday Gala, all respondents - 100% - liked the food served at the event. The menu included: hors d'oeuvres including smoked trout torta, bruschetta and fresh fruit skewers; dinner buffet including cape cod salad, asian glazed salmon sides, southern pan chicken (highly recommend!), chimichurri steak kabobs, sesame asparagus, roasted fingerling potatoes, and assorted artisan breads and rolls; dessert including petite eggnog cupcakes with ginger snap crumbles, pumpkin gooey butter bars, and chocolate peppermint cream shooters (amazing!). For setup and breakdown, Designed Events staff were on time and efficient. They handled all equipment with care, considering that we were in an historic building with strict rules on the delicate infrastructure. Designed Events' pricing was fair and billing was straightforward. Overall, I highly recommend Designed Events! read more

Designed Events has catered numerous events for us over the past 15 years. Three in the last 18 months alone. Mark and John are phenomenal! They always handle every detail perfectly and professionally. Their menus are interesting and delicious. The shrimp and grits station has been a major hit at several events as well as the dim sum bar. The hand passed hors d'oeuvres are always beautifully presented and add a nice touch. The desserts melt in your mouth. Several of our guests have requested recipes and Mark has been very generous about sharing. The staff members are extremely professional and courteous. They can be counted on to respond to any request. Mark is totally organized and well prepared for any last minute issues or changes, which are bound to happen. John and Mark are extremely conscientious and always keep us well informed during the planning stages of the event. Their ideas and expertise regarding setup and decorations take the pressure off the hosts and have made our events beautiful and fun for us and our guests. We would never consider hosting a major event without using Designed Events. read more

Designed Events catered my wedding on 11/21/15 and I have experienced their service at several other events. The team at DE goes above and beyond! They are not your traditional caterers and it was certainly not your "typical" wedding food. The menu was tailored to our needs and liking and was the quality that you would expect from a high end restaurant. They checked in with me several times before the wedding to make sure everything was taken care of before the event. The day of, the food was amazing and just as I remembered it from our tasting appointment. Mark made sure to come and check on me the day of to make sure I was satisfied with everything. All of their staff is extremely kind and went above and beyond to ensure our day was perfect. All of our guests raved about the food and commented on how nice the staff was. In addition to the amazing food and service, their prices are very reasonable compared to other caterers. You will not be disappointed if you chose Designed Events for your catering needs! read more

Designed Events catered my daughters St. Augustine wedding a few weeks ago and I can't say enough great things about them. Guests are still contacting us raving about the food. They put together such a unique, fresh menu, not typical wedding food. From the appetizers to desserts, it was all phenomenal and the quality was equal to that of any fine dining establishment.. Everyone wants to know how they cooked the turkey and beef tenderloin because it was truly the best we've ever had! And not only was the food incredible, just dealing with Mark and John was so easy. From our very first conversation one year prior to the wedding, right down to the day of the wedding, was just a great experience. Even during the last week when I bombarded them with 100 emails, they responded quickly and really put me at ease. Thank you so much Designed Events....you knocked it out of the ballpark!! read more

We have chosen Designed Events for the past two years for our company Christmas party with wonderful reviews from all of our guests both years. The entire group from the kitchen to serving and bartending staff are professional, polite and most importantly provide attention to detail. They even decorate the table to work with our theme (which is always different). In my six years planning events here, we have never received as many compliments on the food and service as we have with Designed Events. We highly recommend Designed Events and plan to continue to use them whenever we can! read more

I had a buffet dinner party at my home for the American College of Trial Lawyers numbering 20 couples. I was looking for an upscale, elegant menu as well as engaging professional servers. My guests and I were not disappointed. It turned out to be a very relaxed enjoyable evening for all. The food was presented in a unique fashion,on recycled whiskey barrel serving pieces. We had more than enough food for all with leftovers. The quality of all the dishes was excellent. I would recommend DE for any occasion. They were professional, reasonably priced and excellent quality. read more

I have had Designed Events cater two of my events, a Christmas party and my husbands surprise Birthday party. I could not be more pleased with each of the events. They covered each and every detail to perfection. The food was delicious and plentiful. Mark and John are extremely accommodating and very helpful with suggestions. I have and will continue to recommend Designed Events to friends. Robin C. read more

I can't thank you and Mark enough... The food was outstanding. Some favorites were the apple pear compote, chimichurri steak, the shrimp and grits, and grilled veggies along with the bread pudding. Our guests loved all of it, from the beautiful presentation to the the excellent service. It really made for a beautiful evening! Thank you again for making that possible. read more

Designed Events is the ONLY caterer I use! From soup to nuts they are top notch! Their team and staff are professional and they work to help you determine a menu that works for the event and your budget. Most of all the dishes are delicious and artfully presented. I recommend them without reservation. read more

I have used Designed Events for catered events at my work and home for many years. They have never failed me. The food is delicious and their staff is professional and friendly. Bottom line: Excellent service all around at an affordable price - you won't be disappointed. read more