5.0
Praised by couples for:
Food quality and taste
Table setting and decorations
Drinks
Smoke, Spice, Southern Hospitality
VA, DC, MD
Travel area: Within 50 miles See details
The team at Old Blue is truly amazing at what they do. They were so kind and easy to work with throughout the planning process for my wedding, and the access to their warehouse of decor items is an unmatched benefit over other catering teams. Our POC Triana was so sweet and accommodating when we reached out with questions. To top it all off, the BBQ is delicious, and our guests raved about both the food and the service! The staff handled not only dinner, but service of drinks, cocktail hour, and setup/cleanup of decorations. Would highly recommend to anyone in the DMV looking for a wedding caterer!
Kallyn M.
5.0
Old Blue BBQ and their team did an absolutely incredible job for our wedding. From the delicious food to the beautiful décor and thoughtful day-of support, every part of the experience exceeded our expectations. We would enthusiastically recommend Old Blue BBQ to any couple planning a wedding or anyone looking for memorable catering for a future event.
Chef Stephen and the culinary team truly delivered. Our passed appetizers—the Moink Balls, Mini Mushroom Gruyère Empanadas, and Smoked Chicken Wings—were a huge hit. Guests were practically waiting by the doors for the servers to come around again, especially for the Moink Balls! The dinner buffet was just as memorable: Caribbean Rum Chicken, Hot Honey Salmon, and Chesapeake Vegan Crab Cakes. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was. The chicken was juicy, perfectly smoky, and paired beautifully with the sauces. The Hot Honey Salmon was a crowd favorite, and several guests said the Chesapeake Vegan Crab Cakes were among the best vegetarian wedding options they had ever had.
Carol was truly the other star of the show. From the moment we walked into our tasting and saw the beautiful tablescape, we knew we were in good hands. She was so fun to work with—reliable, responsive, and incredibly creative. Her talent shined through in the magical buffet setup, which matched our wedding theme perfectly, and in the thoughtful advice she gave as she helped us incorporate Bride Share items into our reception décor.
The Bride Share program was such a meaningful and practical part of our experience. It helped us cut costs while giving us access to unique décor pieces from the Old Blue warehouse; it honestly felt like a personal shopping spree. Carol worked with us to create mock-ups for everything from the centerpieces to the sweetheart table, giving us a clear vision and helpful guide for the wedding day. We also loved having a place to donate items we no longer needed after the wedding. Because we experienced firsthand how helpful Bride Share can be, we were happy to give back and hopefully be a blessing to future brides.
On the wedding day, Carol was a saving grace in so many moments. We trusted her completely to execute the buffet and table settings, and she stepped in to help us navigate a last-minute pivot with the cake. She also made sure we had food and drinks throughout the day, which meant so much in the middle of all the excitement. Having Carol as part of our wedding was a true blessing, and we would choose Old Blue BBQ again in a heartbeat.
Jerry B.
5.0
AWARD WINNER (4X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Old Blue BBQ strives to bring fresh ideas and flavors to barbeque while using recipes and techniques that highlight our appreciation for the regional barbecue styles that have defined tradition for generations. From our award-winning South Carolina Style Mustard Sauce atop our hardwood smoked pulled pork to our mouthwatering brisket burnt ends, Old Blue BBQ encompasses “low and slow“ to achieve barbeque perfection that is impossible to resist. Whether you like South Carolina style pulled pork, Texas brisket, or Kansas City pork ribs, Old Blue BBQ has the flavors for you.
Details
Cuisine
American
BBQ
Cajun
Latin American
Mexican
Southern
Southwestern
Specialty
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Nut Free
Sugar Free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Family Style
Menu Tastings
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
4-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2025.2022.2018.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 3
- Carol HernandezDirector of EventsCarol has been with Old Blue BBQ since 2018 and continues to improve every aspect of our business! She hails from Montevideo, Uruguay, loves dancing bachata and salsa, and making desserts with her family.
- Triana RozasCatering Sales ManagerTriana joined Old Blue BBQ in 2025 and brings over 15 years of experience in managing large-scale luxury events.
- Stephen DiCiccoChef/OwnerStephen is one of the founders of Old Blue BBQ and the current chef and owner. He has been cooking barbecue for over 20 years, starting first on the BBQ competition circuit before founding Old Blue BBQ in 2012. When not cooking barbecue, Stephen loves exploring the DC area with his family, hiking, and gardening.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.070 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Old Blue BBQ is highly praised for outstanding, flavorful BBQ and creative cuisine (including excellent vegan options) that guests rave about. Reviewers highlight attentive, flexible service and seamless planning/execution—staff handled tastings, rentals, setup/cleanup, weather pivots, and dietary needs. Their free decor warehouse (Bride Share), fair pricing, and personalized care made weddings feel effortless and memorable.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Elizabeth B
Highlighted review.
5.0
The team at Old Blue BBQ is nothing short of amazing! Our great experience started with our guided tasting, which was a delicious meal and personal commentary from Stephen. He was ...
able to accommodate several dietary requests and even threw in some gluten free versions of the appetizers and the mac and cheese just for me (the bride) and our bridal party! Triana was our main point of contact and she was incredible. She was prompt with her communication and answered our many questions to help us prepare the perfect event. She was so friendly all the time! When it came to the big day, we had weather concerns so we ended up moving the ceremony inside - however, the team jumped into action a few hours before when we thought we could still proceed with our outdoor ceremony and helped set up all of the chairs in just a few minutes! Then, when we changed our plan and delayed the ceremony literally at the last second, they pivoted effortlessly, opened the bar early, and made sure our guests were taken care of as we figured out our new setup. Any time something needed to be shifted or changed throughout the night, the team was there to handle it and they handled it with grace! They were also so helpful at the end of the night with clean-up. Everyone went ABOVE AND BEYOND!! Our wedding would not have been nearly as successful without this incredible team. We are so thankful to everyone at Old Blue BBQ for making our event a success!
As a final note - they were very affordable compared to the other quotes we received, and the level of service we got absolutely made every dollar worth it. Make sure you take advantage of their in-house decor - we used a few of their items to finish our tablescapes but they had so many options available to us at no additional cost! Their food is delicious - we had so many guests compliment our meal both the night of the wedding and in the week following! Highly highly recommend Old Blue BBQ!
Kallyn M
5.0
The team at Old Blue is truly amazing at what they do. They were so kind and easy to work with throughout the planning process for my wedding, and the access to their warehouse of ...
decor items is an unmatched benefit over other catering teams. Our POC Triana was so sweet and accommodating when we reached out with questions. To top it all off, the BBQ is delicious, and our guests raved about both the food and the service! The staff handled not only dinner, but service of drinks, cocktail hour, and setup/cleanup of decorations. Would highly recommend to anyone in the DMV looking for a wedding caterer!
Any questions?
Jerry B
5.0
Old Blue BBQ and their team did an absolutely incredible job for our wedding. From the delicious food to the beautiful décor and thoughtful day-of support, every part of the experi...
ence exceeded our expectations. We would enthusiastically recommend Old Blue BBQ to any couple planning a wedding or anyone looking for memorable catering for a future event.
Chef Stephen and the culinary team truly delivered. Our passed appetizers—the Moink Balls, Mini Mushroom Gruyère Empanadas, and Smoked Chicken Wings—were a huge hit. Guests were practically waiting by the doors for the servers to come around again, especially for the Moink Balls! The dinner buffet was just as memorable: Caribbean Rum Chicken, Hot Honey Salmon, and Chesapeake Vegan Crab Cakes. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was. The chicken was juicy, perfectly smoky, and paired beautifully with the sauces. The Hot Honey Salmon was a crowd favorite, and several guests said the Chesapeake Vegan Crab Cakes were among the best vegetarian wedding options they had ever had.
Carol was truly the other star of the show. From the moment we walked into our tasting and saw the beautiful tablescape, we knew we were in good hands. She was so fun to work with—reliable, responsive, and incredibly creative. Her talent shined through in the magical buffet setup, which matched our wedding theme perfectly, and in the thoughtful advice she gave as she helped us incorporate Bride Share items into our reception décor.
The Bride Share program was such a meaningful and practical part of our experience. It helped us cut costs while giving us access to unique décor pieces from the Old Blue warehouse; it honestly felt like a personal shopping spree. Carol worked with us to create mock-ups for everything from the centerpieces to the sweetheart table, giving us a clear vision and helpful guide for the wedding day. We also loved having a place to donate items we no longer needed after the wedding. Because we experienced firsthand how helpful Bride Share can be, we were happy to give back and hopefully be a blessing to future brides.
On the wedding day, Carol was a saving grace in so many moments. We trusted her completely to execute the buffet and table settings, and she stepped in to help us navigate a last-minute pivot with the cake. She also made sure we had food and drinks throughout the day, which meant so much in the middle of all the excitement. Having Carol as part of our wedding was a true blessing, and we would choose Old Blue BBQ again in a heartbeat.
Pierce O
5.0
We chose Old Blue initially because of their BBQ, which had an incredible smoky flavor and the perfect texture from the brisket to the chicken, it was hard to pick a main course fo...
r our guests; and the shrimp and watermelon skewers were incredible too! We wanted a caterer that could turn our wedding into an upscale family BBQ, the kind that brings families together over the summer.
In addition to providing the food, Old Blue provided the staffing and rental equipment. On our day they set up and cleaned up the venue. Dispite several weather changes that could have ruined the day, Old Blue was able to deliver on our vision and make the day truely special, from the food to the set up and clean up, they were remarkable.
If you have planned a wedding or in the process of planning a wedding, you will come to realize that it is not just the quality of food that is important, it is their communication, responsiveness, and patience. Old Blue delivered on all of these aspects. They went out of their way to make sure they met our vision for the day. We spent hours finding the right plating and utensils. They worked with other vendors to deliver a multicultural wedding, which was very important to my wife and I.
Working with Old Blue felt like they were part of our family. Thank you so much Carol for making our wedding unforgettable.
Kevin P
5.0
Carol did such a great job with everything. I went through 10-15 places trying to figure out the right cater and glad I picked old blue bbq. Carol from the very beginning was all i...
n communicating and helping decide what we needed to have a beautiful wedding. The day of the wedding she made sure everything looked perfect with the setup. The food was excellent as well as the staff they have there. I’m very grateful to have worked with Carol and team! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM TO EVERYONE!!!!
Melissa M
5.0
In the midst of the chaos of wedding planning, Old Blue BBQ made it easy to pick them as our caterer. The chef, Stephen, gave an outstanding tasting experience and it was evident h...
e had a strong culinary background with the impressive presentation of the food and the amazing flavor in every dish. The chef’s wife, Carol, did work as the coordinator and planner. She provided kind and warm customer service and went beyond with in working with me to envision and design the decor for the venue. Carol brought so much heart and enthusiasm to her work to make sure everything was exactly how we envisioned. Her excitement helped ease the inevitable stress of planning and hosting such a special event and we couldn’t imagine pulling off the day without her help!
Leading up to the wedding, Carol was meticulous in making sure every detail was accounted for. The night of the wedding reception, all of the planning came to life incredibly. Carol managed the entire night and took it upon herself to be the day-of coordinator, ensuring everything went smoothly (she even bustled my wedding dress when a button broke off in a wardrobe emergency!). Her team even helped set up and tear down all of the decor, tables and chairs. The food, decor, linens, and overall flow of the evening turned out better than we could have imagined, all thanks to the wonderful team at Old Blue BBQ. We highly recommend using them for your wedding or next event!
Kalvin H
5.0
If you are looking for an incredible caterer with delicious food, impeccable service, and dedicated care, then Old Blue BBQ is the place! When my husband and I were looking for a c...
aterer for our wedding, we wanted a business that would treat us with care and make us feel welcome, given that we were having a non-traditional gay wedding. We could not have asked for a better caterer, or for kinder people! From start to finish, Stephen (owner) and Triana (event coordinator) made us feel so taken care of. They responded to our many emails quickly and with a lot of detail. They drove to the venue to get a thorough layout of the area. The food was INCREDIBLE and the tasting menu experience was excellent. As others have noted in their reviews, the brideshare (groomshare?) collection was icing on the cake. The available decorations are high quality and had everything we needed to make our wedding look amazing and professional. What really helped us was that Old Blue BBQ takes care of almost all the rental equipment: tent, chairs, tables, etc... This made our planning so much easier, and the extra cost for the service was well worth it. And on the day of our wedding, the crew was prompt, professional, unbelievably efficient, and made sure everything was perfect for us. The business has received "Best Caterer" award from the Washington Blade's Best of Gay DC Awards in the past, and we hope they receive it again in the future, because they deserve it. Our guests raved about the food, and our families praised the service. We cannot thank Old Blue BBQ enough for making our special day all the more special.
Emma W
5.0
Old Blue BBQ did an outstanding job catering our wedding, and everything was a massive hit with our guests! The food was fresh, hot, and incredibly delicious—the peach tea pork loi...
n, tender pulled chicken, creamy macaroni and cheese, and perfectly seasoned grainy mustard potato salad were all amazing. The farmhouse salad was fresh and well-balanced, and the custom BBQ sauces in little bottles on the tables were a huge hit. Chef Stephen was extremely flexible and creative, going above and beyond to ensure everyone had something to eat regardless of dietary restrictions (even offering to speak with guests directly), and his vegan crab cakes were absolutely incredible in their own right.
Monica was our main contact and day-of lead, and she was super responsive throughout the entire planning process, answering every question and handling so many details. On the day of, the wait staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and setup and teardown were completely seamless. Our venue allowed us to bring our own alcohol, and the bartenders served it with zero issues, bringing great personalities and keeping the bar line moving quickly.
As a favorite bonus: Old Blue has a 'Brideshare' collection packed with wonderful items you can borrow for free. Because we were doing our own flowers and decor, being able to borrow their bud vases, table runners, candles, and reserved signs saved us so much extra money. It was such a helpful, thoughtful feature on top of the already wonderful food and service. We highly recommend them!
Becca S
5.0
I can't say enough great things! The food is absolutely amazing, staff is wonderful, and they even have a warehouse of decor you can use - for free! My guests are still raving abou...
t the food! Monica, Carol, and Stephen are simply the sweetest, most professional group of individuals I've had the pleasure of working with. I am SO grateful they did our wedding!
Bonnie G
5.0
We chose Old Blue BBQ as our caterers for my dad’s Surprise Party, held at Woodbine Farm in Manassas, Virginia. They did not disappoint! Their food is upscale BBQ which went perfe...
ctly with the venue we selected. Carol and Steve are an amazing team. Steve’s food is delicious and Carol is a sweetheart - organized, creative, and accessible. We considered other vendors but none of them exuded the same level of heart we found with this team. Carol helped to plan and select the décor, and the job she did was beyond our expectations. Their team’s execution on the day of the event went off without a hitch. We had beef brisket and pulled chicken, green beans, Old Bay potato salad, Texas Caviar, coleslaw and cornbread, along with a desert and coffee/tea station. While guests were waiting for us to get my dad to the party, they enjoyed passed-out appetizers on skewers (shrimp, watermelon & basil, and “moink” balls) and a beautiful fruit and cheese station (also beer and wine at the bar). The event was a complete success (my dad said he never had a clue lol) and I think our family will be talking about it for years to come!
Faith O
5.0
Old Blue BBQ has become our go-to for catering events! The food is absolutely fantastic every time. Our staff and guests always look forward to it! Carol has been wonderful to work...
with, always attentive and willing to meet our requests. I can't recommend this place enough for your event needs!
Leonard W
5.0
We cannot say enough good things about Old Blue BBQ. They catered our wedding reception in early November, and choosing them was one of the best decisions we made.
Old Blue BBQ is...
a small business, and that care and pride show in everything they do. They are also eco-friendly, which mattered to us and made us feel even better about working with them. You can tell this is a team that is thoughtful not just about food, but about how they operate and serve people.
We actually booked Old Blue BBQ before ever tasting the food, which felt like a leap of faith at the time. After booking, we traveled to their location for a tasting and were completely blown away. Not only was the food incredible, but the way we were treated sealed the deal. They welcomed us and cared for us as if we had not already signed a contract. From that first bite and that experience, we immediately knew we had made the right choice.
The owner and founder is deeply passionate about the food he creates, and that passion shows through the quality of every dish. What they delivered on our wedding day exceeded every expectation. The food was beyond impressive and beautifully presented. Guests are still talking about it and repeatedly asking if Old Blue BBQ has a restaurant because they want to eat it again. Every single dish was a hit.
The service was absolutely top-notch. The team moved together seamlessly, calm, confident, and completely in sync. A special shout-out to our catering coordinator, Triana, who was responsive, organized, and an absolute God-sent throughout the entire planning process and on the wedding day.
We also loved their décor offerings. Being able to use their décor saved us money and elevated the entire look of our reception space, making it feel exactly how we envisioned.
If you are even considering Old Blue BBQ for your wedding or event, stop looking and book them. Incredible food, flawless execution, and total peace of mind.
Amanda D
5.0
Old Blue BBQ went above and beyond our expectations in catering our wedding. My husband and I couldn’t be more grateful that we chose them. From the very first meeting, Stephen and...
Carol were incredibly welcoming and offered us an amazing tasting experience at their facility.
Carol’s enthusiasm and attention to detail made the entire planning process a joy. She was always eager to meet our needs, share creative ideas, and help bring our vision to life. The Bride Share program was an unexpected but wonderful bonus—Carol’s thoughtful guidance took away so much of the stress that comes with planning decor and logistics.
We also found their pricing to be very fair and transparent, especially considering the exceptional quality of service and food. From start to finish, the Old Blue team was there to answer our questions, customize a menu that fit our budget and preferences, and ensure everything ran smoothly.
We can’t recommend Old Blue BBQ highly enough—they truly made our day unforgettable.
Anna B
5.0
We loved working with Old Blue BBQ from start to finish. Their team was so accommodating when we were deciding what food to serve and how to serve it, especially in our price range...
! We got tons of compliments on the food at our wedding - our guests LOVED IT. Additionally, their staff was so incredibly helpful and kind throughout the process and really helped us in planning and making our wedding awesome. They also have a bride share of decor from past weddings, which we utilized and totally took something off our busy plates! If you are in the DMV area and want to serve BBQ at your wedding, we highly recommend going with Old Blue BBQ. They will not disappoint!
Manuel L
5.0
Carol and Stephen truly touched our hearts. From the very beginning, they treated us like family—attentive, caring, and always there for every detail. The food was beyond delicious...
, but what stood out most was their kindness and dedication. Carol went above and beyond in executing our wedding plan, always ready with a helping hand and a smile. Their entire team was warm, genuine, and made us feel so special. We couldn’t have dreamed of a better catering experience.
Carol y Stephen realmente nos llegaron al corazón. Desde el inicio nos trataron como familia—atentos, cariñosos y presentes en cada detalle. La comida fue deliciosa, pero lo que más destacó fue su amabilidad y entrega. Carol superó las expectativas en la planificación de nuestra boda, siempre con una sonrisa y dispuesta a ayudar. Todo el equipo fue cálido, auténtico y nos hicieron sentir únicos. No podríamos haber soñado con una mejor experiencia de catering.
Muchas gracias por todo lo que hicieron,
Lesli y Manuel
Amanda K
5.0
We had Old Blue BBQ cater our wedding this past Sunday and we were blown away not just by the food, but the service that was provided! We had our caterer drop out a month out from ...
our wedding, and had reached out to OB-BBQ. Our budget was extremely tight due to the last minute cancellation and he really worked with us. Stephen had great communication all the way up to the day of and helped us save as much money as we could. On the day of, he took the time to introduce himself to me and told me if I needed anything at all to reach out to him. We hired OB-BBQ for their food and bar service. The workers he brought from the shop were professional and super friendly. They left the reception area spotless at the end of the night and did what the venue requested! Would hire again and again!
Caitlin O
5.0
Our experience with Old Blue BBQ was incredible from start to finish. The entire team (shoutout to Kari, Anna, and Stephen) were communicative, fun to work with, and made the plann...
ing process feel smooth from start to finish. We created a menu for our wedding reception that felt unique to our tastes, as well as fit ting our guests' multiple dietary restrictions. On the day of, the catering and rentals team made the flow of cocktail hour into dinner service seamless from start to finish. The bartender kept the drinks flowing the entire night and could not have been more kind! If you are looking for a unique and delicious meal for your wedding reception, look no further than Old Blue!
Natasha L
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was hands-down one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. The food was absolutely delicious. Every dish was packed with flavor, and guests kept asking us where...
they could find Old Blue to eat there again! Beyond the food, Kari and Anna are fantastic to work with: responsive, organized, great sense of humor, and clearly experienced in handling all the details. An unexpected bonus was their “wedding warehouse” of rental supplies, which helped us cut costs without cutting corners and was such a generous and helpful feature. If you want incredible food, thoughtful service, and a team that really knows weddings, go with Old Blue BBQ!
Courtney C
5.0
Nine months after our wedding, the food is the first comment I receive about my wedding. Even the vegetarians have reached out to say how amazing the veggie option at my bbq weddin...
g was. Everyone went home happy and full. If you are considering Old Blue for your event, the tasting will be very difficult because it is all incredible.
Not only was the food amazing but Kari and her staff made the planning and the event seamless. I was able to borrow decor from their library - not only do they have great stock of things to borrow but it’s a cost and stress saver too. Kari and her team got it all set up to make for the wonderful atmosphere we were going for. The decor arrives with Old Blue and their staff and they took it home that night after doing a great job of cleaning up. They also hired bartenders for us.
Cannot say enough good things about Old Blue’s catering for my wedding.
Danielle L
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was the star vendor at my outdoor summer wedding. As soon as my husband and I did the tasting, we knew we wanted to hire Old Blue simply because the food is incredibl...
e; however, I didn't know how amazing the catering staff would be in planning, supporting, and executing our wedding. From the start Kari and Anna helped me plan the entire event - food, tent, seating, sequence of events. They came to my venue (my house) 3 times before the wedding to ensure the set up was perfect.
In addition, Old Blue BBQ has a free Brideshare of decor - signage, table decorations, artificial flowers, vases...all the things you are looking to buy on Amazon and Temu they loan for free.
Lastly, I can't emphasize enough how professional, dedicated, and friendly the catering staff is. Both Kari and Anna became my friends as they supported my wedding. I truly appreciated them and would hire Old Blue BBQ again to support any celebration.
Tory R
5.0
Highly recommend Old Blue for wedding catering! Kari and her team were great to work with, and all of the food was delicious. We did a BBQ buffet for a 50-person wedding receptio...
n and our guests raved about the food. Being able to borrow decor from Old Blue free of charge is also a great perk!
Brent M
5.0
If you are holding a catered event in the DC area and not using Old Blue BBQ, I hold that you are doing it wrong. I highly recommend them. We planned a rehearsal dinner from severa...
l states away and could not have been more pleased with the process and results. We desired great BBQ and fantastic event coordination and got it in Kari’s team. From the communication, to the tasting, to the suggestions, to the setup and decorations, to the clean up - Kari was an absolute gem. And the food. Oh my goodness. As a BBQ buff I am always concerned about catered smoked meats. Not here. Old Blue is the real thing. We received multiple compliments on the food we served. And I may have kept eating the leftovers all weekend long. If we ever have another event in the area I am only contacting one place.
Kate I
5.0
I wasn't sure about barbecue for a wedding, but Old Blue made me a believer. They went above and beyond to curate a fantastic, delicious menu. They make by far the most amazing b...
arbecue! Not only that, they made a special regional dish at the grooms' request, and another regional hors d'ouevre at my daughter's request (the bride). They worked very closely with us to make sure the food was exactly what we wanted. I don't know any other caterer who would even consider this! Days after, people were still raving about the food!
This review is not complete without a big thank you to Keri - who helped immeasurably with decorating, and preparing for the reception - she is awesome! In fact the whole team is amazing!
They are in Alexandria, but they cover most of northern Virginia.
I highly recommend this caterer for any party or celebration!
Evan J
5.0
We are so happy we picked Old Blue to cater our wedding! As a couple that met in KC, a fantastic barbeque dinner for our reception was the perfect way to celebrate! Throughout the ...
whole planning process, Kari and team did an amazing job explaining to us what they needed from us and were more than happy to answer our endless amount of questions. Months later we still get comments about how good the food was. Finally, the bridal share was an absolute lifesaver for us as it helped us get a lot of ‘one off’ items that are needed for a wedding.
Brittany G
5.0
Our experience with Old Blue was absolutely outstanding! Kari and her team were not only organized and responsive, but they also exceeded our expectations. The barbecue food was a ...
true highlight of our event, leaving our guests delighted and raving about the delicious spread. If you're looking for a caterer with mouthwatering food, Old Blue is the perfect choice. They added an extra layer of excellence to our celebration, and we couldn't be happier with the overall experience. Highly recommend!
Amy O
5.0
Kari & her team were a great addition to my wedding vendor team. Kari was always quick to respond to emails and very helpful with any changes I need especially when it came to a fl...
uctuating guest count last minute. She even made an additional trip to my venue pre-wedding day to make sure all the logistics were in order. My only request was that I got to eat mac and cheese on my wedding day and they absolutely delivered! The food was top notch and my guests were talking about it all weekend. Even with a buffet service, the team was kind enough to bring plates to my grandparents at the table and they packed up to to go boxes for my husband and I to eat that night. They are truly the type of vendor that cares about you as a person and not about how your event fits into their portfolio. Thank you Kari and team for an excellent night!
Claire A
5.0
We absolutely LOVED old blue! They went above and beyond on our wedding day, and with everything beforehand. We did our food tasting and walkthrough early on, so they even did a fi...
nal walkthrough the week-of to make sure everything was perfect. Kari and Amanda were SO helpful. We didn't have a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, but we truly didn't need one because they were SO on top of it and extremely generous with their time and resources. They really are a full service team - they did all the decor and brought all the table linens, tables, etc. They arranged absolutely everything and made sure the transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception/dancing were perfect. They (FOR FREE) provided table decor (candles, table #s, vases) through their "Bride Share" program. We also dropped off all our own alcohol/signs/rug/welcome table stuff to their office the week before the wedding - this was SO helpful so we didn't have to bring it all to the venue ourselves. Kari in particular was SO responsive helping us plan every detail.
It goes without saying, the food was incredible! Everyone loved it (even vegetarians) and raved about it after. They staffed the bar and whole event, made sure we ate, helped with the cake cutting (we also did their dessert package and just got a small cake for the formal cutting), packed us food to go, and cleaned up everything. SO easy to work with and affordable. No stress at all. They were looking for ways to save us money and we felt like we didn't compromise anything but still got a great price. Highly recommend!!!
Victoria E
5.0
Old Blue BBQ is AMAZING! Once we did our initial tasting with them, we knew we had to have them for our wedding. The staff at Old Blue are super helpful, timely with responses, and...
truly care about what they do. They made everything a breeze with food and tables/chairs/linens. The menu they have to choose from has a great variety. Our guests could not stop raving about the food, saying how flavorful everything was. They do all setting up and cleaning up and will help with any decor set up as well. They even have a bridal share where you can borrow decor from previous weddings so you don't have to buy everything yourself. So if you want amazing food that will keep your guests wanting more, you definitely need to go with Old Blue.
Richard V
5.0
We used Old Blue BBQ for our wedding in May, and they were AMAZING. From their delicious food to their helpful day of coordinator, it was all better than expected. Kari, their day ...
of coordinator, went above and beyond both before the wedding and day of. Taking care of all the little details to make sure everything was perfect and ran smoothly. She knows how to run an event and helped make the day memorable.
As for the mouth-watering food. We knew it was good from the tasting but after dinner, we had almost every guest tell us it was the best BBQ and wedding food they have had. The brisket was totally the star of the show, but the apps and sides were huge hits.
The staff for the wedding was professional and so helpful. Bartenders were friendly and made good drinks. The event staff worked quickly to change over the venue space from the ceremony to dinner and did a great job getting things cleaned up at the end of the event. Couldn't have asked for a better wedding, thanks to Old Blue BBQ!
Taylor O
5.0
Old blue has AMAZING food, no doubt. But Kari earned our 5 stars all on her own. She was organized, helpful, and pleasant. She not only made me feel confident our decor would look ...
like I dreamt but she assured me it would all run smoothly (which of course it did). She became someone I could talk to like a friend and I can’t wait to work with old blue again, specifically with Kari. 10/10 recommend for brides and events!
Lucy S
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was such an easy decision for our wedding catering! My older sister had used them for her wedding and we were just so impressed with their food, efficiency, organizat...
ion and generosity, that my family knew we had to use them again! They had never worked at our venue before, however they were proactive and visited/met with the owners of our venue to scope out the space and make sure they were all on the same page. We were so impressed by this and knew we were in such great hands! We completely trusted Old Blue with our wedding, which relieved us from so much stress through the wedding planning process. We worked closely with both Kelly and Kari and they were both so sweet, patient, friendly, creative, fun and accommodating with our many questions and adjustments we made along the way. They were terrific from start to finish. The highlight of Old Blue is their bride share that’s included! They have so much variety of cute decor that fits any style. We received many compliments from guests on how they loved their meals. They were also very accommodating with my groom’s gluten-free needs and one of our guest’s vegan need. We just love Old Blue and plan on picking up their food for regular dinners from now on. Thank you Old Blue BBQ!!
Matt L
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was amazing for our wedding last month! From the first time we met Kelly and her team for a tasting all the way to wedding day, they were incredible. Supportive, frie...
ndly, flexible - They work with you to take care of you. The food is awesome. The brisket was everyone's favorite, but everyone raved about everything from the signature drinks to passed apps too. Classy and professional. Original sauces and twists on original bbq favorites, you will not be disappointed - And most importantly, you can trust Kelly and Old Blue to take care of you!
Jessica P
5.0
Run, do not walk to go book your wedding reception catering with Old Blue BBQ. Kelly and her team were phenomenal and the food for our wedding was the BEST! They paid extra atten...
tion and detail to some of myself, and my families gluten allergies and we even got to eat mac&cheese and corn bread on my wedding day without fear of being sick!! Kelly was almost like an extra wedding planner for us, going above and beyond multiple times outside of what I ever expected from a catering company. My wife and I seriously wanted to stay and hang out with her team because they were just so down to earth, helpful and COOL! We can't wait for our next party to have for an excuse to order more BBQ!! Thank you for everything.
Jodi K
5.0
We are so, so happy we went with Old Blue for our wedding. Kelly & her team really took the time to meet us where we were at and understand our vision for the day. On top of food a...
nd seating (our two biggest needs), they added so many special touches to make our ceremony & cocktail hour look gorgeous. They worked seamlessly with our venue and coordinator, and we never had to worry about a thing. Not to mention the staff was incredibly professional and the food - THE FOOD! - was was unreal. We would heartily recommend Old Blue to anyone looking for a caterer - they are such a wonderful gem to the DMV.
Kirsten N
5.0
I cannot speak highly enough of Old Blue BBQ and Kelly Lloyd as our full service caterer for our wedding. We knew from our tasting that we were in good hands with Old Blue. We were...
initially drawn to Old Blue for their excellent food, service and bride share (wedding decor they have accumulated). Like many 2020 weddings, we ended up postponing and Old Blue was not only flexible but Kelly was incredibly nice and supportive as we worked through rescheduling (twice!).
The actual wedding went off without a hitch, largely due to Kelly and her staff. Not only was the food and service excellent, but Old Blue handled the set-up, room flip, breakdown, and table decor - a lot of which we got from their bride share (we did not need a day of or event coordinator).
On top of hiring them for our wedding, we have ordered take out from them several times which has always been great!
Kiana S
5.0
OBBQ staff are professionals with years of experience in the industry and you can tell! Thanks to them, our wedding was a huge success. They were so helpful during our wedding plan...
ning process and everything they did was so thoughtful and for the benefit of making sure our wedding day went well. The food was fantastic, bar service, set up and breakdown, everything. They were so accommodating and great to work with!
Jordan G
5.0
Old blue was exceptional in every way! They were incredibly helpful in the planning of our wedding and a very active participant in the details of our wedding. They went above and ...
beyond. Guests were blown away by the quality of their food and their cocktail/ bar service. We are very thankful for kelly and kari’s help and for how friendly and personable each member of their staff was. We will continue to use old blue in the future because they are the gold standard.
Hunter P
5.0
Amazing! Kelly and the rest of the team were top notch people. The food was so good and the staff was on point at every step of the process. Hands down, if you are looking for a we...
dding caterer, this needs to be at the top of your list. The go above an beyond to make sure your day is what you dreamed it would be.
Cami S
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was the BEST choice for our wedding catering! From day one, after our first phone call, we knew we had found a special team, special food, and special fun! They have...
so much experience working with the venues in the area as well as catering itself which helped us tremendously with so many of our decisions. Kari and Kelly were beyond helpful, friendly, fun, understanding, patient, and accommodating with our many questions, changes, and individual needs. We love them! We trusted them wholeheartedly and were so excited that they were a part of our day! The bridal share inclusion is one of the most unique and beneficial aspects of Old Blue BBQ. Any bride-to-be would fall in love with their adorable decor! Our guests raved about the meal and we plan on picking up their food on the regular from now on. Thank you and love you Old Blue BBQ!
lucy m
5.0
I don't even know how to start this review because words can't describe how much I loved working with Old Blue BBQ for our wedding. Not only was the food delicious (so many people ...
told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had - including vegetarians and vegans) but Kelly and Kari made the process SO SEAMLESS!
We has to reschedule our wedding due to Covid, and the team was so accommodating with switching venues, dates and menus since we went from a fall to summer menu - they even let us come in to do another tasting! Not only were they incredible caterers, but they also acted as partial wedding planners as well, assisting and making suggestions for our with our timeline, table decor, etc. etc. Don't hesitate - hire Old Blue BBQ!!
Tiffany W
5.0
ook care of everything!
So first and foremost the food was DELICIOUS. Like people are still talking about it delicious! Which is of course what you want out of a caterer, but even...
more important to me as a bride planning a wedding with unexpected COVID complications, the team at Old Blue took so much off of my plate. They have decor you can borrow, they worked seamlessly with my venue 48 fields so I barely had to think about anything set up/decor related, they transported all of our alcohol and decor to the venue (I dropped it off with them the week before), and had awesome suggestions for bar menu etc. The team on the day of was super fun and did a great job (even making sure that I got the last of the mac and cheese sent home with me!). Could not have made a better choice for our caterer!
Natasha B
5.0
Let me tell you about our experience booking Old Blue BBQ for our wedding. We are so, so happy with our decision. We received tons of compliments from our wedding guests on our BBQ...
buffet (inclusive of vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies). Everything was delicious: brisket, salmon, pulled chicken, mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts, and appetizers. The sauces were such a hit! Most importantly, Kelly was so supportive and calming throughout the planning process. She patiently answered our silly questions, our frantic phone calls, and even helped me bustle my dress in the height of the dance floor fun. We will be reaching back out if we ever plan another big event. Love you guys!
Taylor T
5.0
The whole team at Old Blue, especially Kelli the coordinator, were fantastic. They were efficient and professional, the food was amazing and they were so flexible when we called to...
adjust our order down due to COVID. They also rolled with the punches when we called two days before the event to make a few changes due to the weather (swapping out some cold beverages for warm ones at the hospitality booth and throughout the reception).
Jess W
5.0
We used Old Blue for our minimony last year (7/20) and for our rehearsal dinner for our big wedding this year (5/21) and both times did not disappoint! Kari is extremely responsive...
and helpful anytime we had a question or needed to change something. The food is PHENOMENAL... some of the best BBQ and mac n' cheese I've ever had in my life. 10/10 would recommend!
Katy A
5.0
We primarily worked with Kari-- she was awesome! She fielded so many questions from us and helped to guide us to have the right amount of food and drink. Her service was incredible...
. She helped with the decor and guided us through their decor-sharing program which saved us money on centerpieces. I really felt that she listened to our concerns and needs. We would absolutely love to hire Old Blue (especially Kari) for another event.
Additionally, the food is incredible. We had so many guests going for seconds on the ribs and mac n' cheese. Additionally, their crisps are the perfect fall dessert.
Thank you to Kari and everyone at Old Blue!
Kevin S
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was an incredible caterer for our wedding! I highly recommend them not only for weddings, but any event where you want great BBQ!
During the wedding planning process...
, my wife and I had planned to do tasting with other potential caterers, but after the tasting with Kari and Old Blue, we were seriously blown away and ended up booking them that day! Needless to say, we were not disappointed by our decision and they were AWESOME throughout the rest of the planning process and on our wedding day.
First thing to note - The food was INCREDIBLE. I've had good BBQ, but Old Blue is not just a run-of-the-mill BBQ spot - Old Blue is definitely in the top tier in the DMV area. My friends and family are not usually ones to comment on food at weddings, but I had guests reach both during and after the wedding praising the food and asking me where Old Blue was so they could order BBQ from them!
In addition to great food, Old Blue had incredible service throughout the entire process! Before the wedding, Kari was always available to help when we had questions or concerns. Before we booked, she worked with us on price to keep us within our budget! Once we booked them, Old Blue gave us access to their bridal share - which has tons of decorations, centerpieces, etc that they allow you to use for your wedding. This is a huge time and money saver when it comes to figuring out that part of the wedding! On the wedding day, Old Blue's team was so friendly, helpful, and fun throughout the night! Our wedding was during COVID, so the team had extra precautions/ measures they had to put in place, which they did a great job of implementing and following to keep guests safe.
I legitimately have no complaints about even a small detail - Old Blue and the team were awesome and we were extremely happy we booked them! Our guests were very impressed by not only the delicious food, but also the food & bar service they provided as well. If you book Old Blue, you will not be disappointed, and your guests will rave about the food and the friendly service!
Brianna H
5.0
Old Blue BBQ was such an amazing vendor to work with for our wedding day and we couldn't be happier we chose them! Kari was our primary POC and she went above & beyond to ensure we...
LOVED not only the food but every detail of the day. The food was incredible--so much so that we barely had leftovers because everyone kept going back for more! They were great in helping us work with our price-point. They also have a great bride-share service where you can choose lots of fun centerpiece decor for the day. It was awesome not having to worry about purchasing vases, wood rounds (which are crazy expensive!), table numbers, or any of those other details and know they had me covered (another huge savings for us!). Kari was incredibly on top of everything leading up to the wedding and helped me think of things I would have otherwise never thought about. The day of the event, Kari's team was ON IT. They consistently checked in with me and my husband to see if we needed anything at all, and even checked in on our family members and catered a little more to them too. The waitstaff was incredibly friendly and helpful to all of our guests, and truly helped make the day so awesome. The bartenders were also truly great--they kept our guests happy, and if our guests were starting to get a little too "tipsy" they mellowed out the drinks or helped them find some good ol' H2O. :)
We will recommend them time and time again, we really couldn't have chosen a better vendor for catering! If they're on your list, BOOK Old Blue BBQ!
Amanda B
5.0
We hired Old Blue to do our nontraditional wedding. We got married in my parents backyard. Kari wasn't shaken at all by the task. They helped with decor (through their amazing bri...
deshare), layout, dinnerware rentals, getting beer kegs, etc. Really, they were up for helping with almost anything and they delivered on all fronts. Kari also handled last minute changes, family tensions, and stress flawlessly. She was extremely attentive, friendly, and supportive throughout the process.This is all without even mentioning how amazing their food is. SERIOUSLY AMAZING! We go nonstop compliments on the dinner and all of my work friends were discussing their favorite appetizers when I returned to work. During the wedding they were very attentive of my husband and I, making sure we had eaten and gotten anything we needed. This was a must during the hustle and bustle of it all! I would hire Old Blue first and then pick a venue based on where they can work. We loved them that much. They also have great suggestions on other vendors! Don't miss out on hiring this amazing crew!
Andrea S
5.0
Pick this company to cater your wedding!! They get five stars for quality, price, and professionalism. Old Blue BBQ catered our wedding in Washington DC and literally everyone said...
it was the best wedding meal they ever had! Kelly was so easy to work with and talked to us like friends, not a stuffy client-vendor relationship. The barbecue is out of this world! They also provided small bottles of sauce and bags of spice rub as a parting gift for our guests which everyone loved. The day of our wedding the catering staff was supremely professional and I honestly never saw any of them, yet the food continued to be replenished and the whole set up looked polished and beautiful. It was clear from our conversations and meeting with Kelly that she is a seasoned professional, as she had TONS of amazing advice about our entire wedding vision and schedule. Another plus of using this company is they have tons of free décor to select from for your event. It's mostly rustic but it worked in our downtown cocktail bar venue just fine. Kelly: Thank you so much for making our wedding amazing!!
Whitney C
5.0
We had an excellent experience with Old Blue BBQ. The food was incredible. Our vegetarian and meat eating friends both ranted and raved. Highlights were squash casserole, pulled po...
rk and salmon. My husband and I had no real plan for our wedding and Kellie and Kari totally guided us into an awesome event and handled all the logistics. We even dramatically switched venues and the theme in the middle of planning. The whole event turned out to be seamless and stress free!
Service area & Contact info
VA, DC, MD
Typically included in the starting cost
Travel area: Within 50 miles
Additional charges may apply
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Old Blue BBQ
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