Catering
Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres and Wine Country Bounty Reception. This expanded cocktail-style reception is designed for couples who want a fuller progression of food across a longer cocktail and reception window, without committing to a seated dinner. It pairs the signature Sonoma County harvest bounty display with seven chef-selected passed and stationary hors d'oeuvres, plus a refined dessert moment. The format is a Wine Country favorite for vineyard, garden, and barn receptions where guests are encouraged to circulate, taste broadly, and enjoy the venue setting.
What guests experience. The reception opens with the abundant grazing display: cured charcuterie from small Sonoma County producers, artisan cheeses paired with seasonal jams and honeycombs, marinated olives, candied nuts, dried fruits, garden crudite with house-made dips, warm artisan bread, and rotating signature spreads. Seven passed and stationary hors d'oeuvres follow, ranging from mini lobster rolls and crab cakes to grilled lamb chops with chimichurri, herb-roasted vegetable skewers, mushroom arancini, beef tenderloin crostini, and seasonal vegetable tartlets. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free options are integrated throughout.
Wine Country sourcing and seasonal menus. The on-site kitchen team works directly with Sonoma County farms, dairies, ranches, and bakeries to bring fresh seasonal produce, sustainable proteins, and small-batch artisan products to every wedding. Menus are written collaboratively with each couple and adjusted to reflect the harvest window of the wedding date. This package is a celebration of regional sourcing that defines vineyard catering and the Sonoma wedding caterer aesthetic.
Staffing and service flow. The package includes a banquet captain plus a service team sized to the guest count. The captain coordinates with the planner, the photographer, and the venue lead so each hors d'oeuvre service round, dessert sweep, and station refresh lands without disrupting the timeline. Staff are scheduled across setup, full reception, and breakdown. The team handles trash, linens, and venue reset so the host's last memory is the celebration, not the cleanup.
Ideal venue and event types. Heavy hors d'oeuvres receptions are a strong fit for vineyards, wineries, barns, banquet halls, country clubs, garden parks, and private homes within approximately one hour of the Petaluma kitchen. The format works equally well for full wedding receptions, larger engagement parties, milestone anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, corporate vineyard galas, and significant birthday celebrations. Guests appreciate the flexibility of grazing service and the conversation-friendly room flow.
Rentals and presentation. Glass, china, linens, tables, chairs, and napkins are coordinated through preferred Wine Country rental partners and billed directly to the host. Glass and china rental typically runs in a published per-person range; the planning team will design the rental order around the venue and the desired aesthetic. A floor plan and timeline are prepared for the venue walkthrough.
Beverage service and bar program. The kitchen team does not sell alcohol; the host supplies all wine, beer, and spirits. The bar program covers glassware, mixers, garnishes, ice, and bartending, with a recommended ratio of one bartender per seventy-five guests. A signature cocktail design session is included with the menu planning consultation, and bar timeline coordination is handled day-of.
Sustainability and farm partnerships. Locally-sourced ingredients, traceable proteins, composted food waste, and reusable service items keep this tier's environmental footprint thoughtful. Couples seeking a sustainable Bay Area wedding caterer will find a willing partner for menu design and rental selection.
What's included at the published rate. Bounty display setup, seven hors d'oeuvres passed and stationary, banquet captain, service staff across the cocktail and reception window, menu planning consultation, complimentary cake-cutting service for any cake course, no corkage fee on host-supplied wine and beer, and full setup and breakdown. The total is structured as one published per-person rate plus a small Wine Country delivery fee from the Petaluma kitchen and applicable sales tax.
Booking pathway. Reach out with the wedding date, guest count, and venue town. A custom proposal is prepared within a few business days covering menu, staff, rentals, delivery, and beverage. Tastings are scheduled for confirmed couples after estimate approval. This is the canonical Wine Country wedding caterer reception for couples who want depth of menu without a seated dinner format.
