4.9 out of 5 stars and 27 reviews
4.9
(27)235 E. Irving Park Road, Suite 100, Wood Dale, IL
About this vendor
At Sweet Baby Ray's, we believe your wedding day should be as unique as your love story.
Specializing in award-winning BBQ, we offer fully customizable menus to fit your style, taste, and vision. With a variety of flavors, sides, and options, we work with you to create the perfect menu for your big day.
But we don’t stop there! Our full-service planning and event design team is here to help you craft every detail, from décor to the perfect meal, ensuring your big day is as seamless and unforgettable as possible. Whether you’re dreaming of a rustic BBQ or a sophisticated spread, we’ll work with you every step of the way to create the wedding of your dreams!
Details
Settings
- Backyard
- Ballroom
- Barn
- City Hall
- Country Club
- Estate
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Food & Catering
- Service Staff
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Engagement Party
- Rehearsals & Parties
- Bridal Luncheon
- Bridal Shower
- Engagement Party
Awards and Affiliations
2023 'Best of Weddings'
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.
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Reviews
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4.9
out of 5.027 reviews
When we received the list of preferred vendors from our venue, I had a small panic attack looking at the pricing of some of the packages. It was pretty much a no brainer for us cho...
osing Sweet Baby Ray's for our wedding catering. They are upscale with their cuisine without being too expensive or overpriced. My husband and I loved the variety of food that we could choose from. The tasting was such a fun and intimate experience. I loved working with Lauren and her team. They are professional, prompt, and they know what they are doing. The catering was the one thing at my wedding that I didn't have to worry about at all. We are still getting complements about the food!
The only negative comment I will mention is that there are small things that I would have assumed would come included in the price. Anything extra (a booster seat for a child, salt and pepper shakers at each table, specific cups for toasting) has a fee. But nothing major enough to take off a star.
Thank you SBR Team for making our wedding a wonderful experience for everyone!
I had a really great experience with SBR catering our wedding. Everything from the tasting to the actual event went really smoothly and communication was awesome. They easily accom...
modated some of our special requests and some food allergies, which we were so grateful for. Everyone at the reception commented on how good the food was!
We had: baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, Texas brisket, Kansas City burnt ends, pulled chicken, green beans and mac and cheese. We also had their mini salted caramel and key lime tarts! Everything was a hit!
We just had Sweet Baby Ray's cater our wedding at Lincoln Farmstead in Huntley Illinois. We didn't really have a choice at the time to use them as they were the preferred vendor an...
d were assured by the previous owner that they were great. However I ran into issues working with them that I would not recommend them or use them again.
Administratively, there were errors in dish and people counts. Not to mention they tried to charge me before signing a contract.
1. we served family style - so the number of family style dishes were incorrect from the get go - i caught while doing the final numbers which would have meant 5 tables would not have had serving dishes
2. after providing the final numbers, once plugged in, they were still incorrect and would have over charged us by 10 extra guest meals - caught their error again
3. What I'm MOST UPSET about they didn't set aside 2 of each desserts from the the dessert bar which should have included 2 pieces of our wedding cake. I'm actually in tears because they DID NOT SAVE WEDDING CAKE for us As caterers you would think they would know the importance of saving wedding cake for the couple. The wedding planner did ask if the desserts were saved and they said yes but they were not to be found anywhere.
4. They served a child's meal to my nephew who is becoming a teenager and it upset him. I was very organized with the seating charts and which meal goes with each person and they disregarded his adult meal.
5. they charged us for 40 bottles of bbq sauce which they took and did not leave behind. I don't think anyone used them.
6. People complained how dry the brisket was.
7. A server spilled bbq jackfruit on my friend's purse and did not apologize or try to make right.
8. I'm unsure if they did a good job keeping the dessert bar filled bc there were a ton of desserts leftover. I won't know the execution of it until I see the pictures. I do know that I ordered 10 confetti cookies for kids, and there were 10 confetti cookies left in the refrigerator.
NOTE they did reach out to me to discuss the service and expectations but I do not want to talk to them. I'm too exhausted and emotional about it. The day is done and I have no recourse as they pre-tipped the bill and I want to move on an not dwell on what went wrong. I rather focus on what went beautifully.
If you use them - document everything, quadruple check everything. I told my wedding planner I didn't think they would execute at the level that I expected knowing the administrative issues from the start. And I was correct at the end.
If you are looking for a caterer for your wedding or event BOOK THEM!! The food was delicioussss! We received so many compliments from guests saying it was the best food they have ...
ever had at a wedding. Meghann was extremely helpful & accommodating during the planning process. Anything I needed she made sure it was taken care of. Our day of coordinator Luis was awesome as well as all of the staff there. Everyone was super friendly and always on top of everything. Immediately after the ceremony was over we had a drink in hand and apps in our bridal suite for us. We were blown away by the food and everything from start to finish. We hope to have an event in the future to use them and have their delicious food again!
Our event was taken to a whole new level of deliciousness, courtesy of Sweet Baby Ray's Catering. From start to finish, their culinary expertise delivered a feast that exceeded all...
expectations.
The menu was a symphony of flavors, showcasing the signature taste that Sweet Baby Ray's is renowned for. Each dish was a culinary masterpiece, leaving our guests raving about the exceptional taste and quality.
The professional and friendly staff at Sweet Baby Ray's Catering added an extra layer of excellence to the entire experience. Their attention to detail, prompt service, and genuine enthusiasm for ensuring our event was a success did not go unnoticed.
Sweet Baby Ray's Catering went above and beyond in accommodating special dietary requests, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction that sets them apart. The seamless coordination with our event team showcased their professionalism and contributed to the overall success of the occasion.
Our heartfelt thanks to Sweet Baby Ray's Catering for turning our event into a flavorful celebration. If you're in search of top-notch catering that not only meets but surpasses expectations, Sweet Baby Ray's is the way to go. Highly recommended for a culinary experience that will leave your taste buds singing!
We used SBR for our wedding and we can not recommend them more! We mostly worked with Lauren but she went on maternity leave a couple weeks before the wedding, which made me a litt...
le scared but Sara organized everything extremely well. She was super responsive and helpful. The day itself we had Sue as our coordinator and she was fantastic. Big shout-out to Sue!! The food was delicious and all of our guests were raving about it. The service was incredible. Overall I highly recommend SBR!!
One of the best decisions we made for our wedding was using Sweet Baby Rays for catering. Not only can you use them for catering but also the other company they work with True Cuis...
ine. I had multiple people tell me at the wedding and still to this day how good the food was and they wish they could eat it again (they can; Sweet Baby Rays has a restaurant). Our event coordinator Meghann was wonderful to work with, very professional, and responded to our questions in a timely manner. The food that was the biggest hit at our wedding was the Bacon Bar for stationed hors d’oeuvres, the Mac and cheese, carrots and green beans( from true cuisine), and all three meats we had picked out (chicken, burnt ends, and pulled pork). Sweet Baby Rays/True Cuisine was recommended to me from a friend and the venue we used, and because they are at the venue we used very frequently I didn’t have to do much to coordinate except call Meghann and tell her what I wanted (everything day of went very smooth; no hiccups). I would recommend to everyone to use Sweet Baby Rays/True Cuisine! One of my friends is using them for her wedding next October :)
Sweet Baby Ray's has some of the best food I have ever had at a wedding. Food was a low priority for me, but all of my guests were raving about the food and how good it was, especi...
ally the mac & cheese. The staff at the wedding was extremely helpful.
We also had a wonderful time working with Sarah throughout the whole process. She was easy to communicate with flexible & helped with everything we needed. Everything was above our expectations!
SBR and True Cuisine went above and beyond for us! The food was delicious and excellent. We appreciated the selection we had with choosing what we wanted. Our guests were raving ab...
out the buffet! We were also impressed by how courteous and kind the staff was, especially getting my husband and I drinks when needed. It was a pleasure to work with them and have them cater our wedding. 10 out of 10 would recommend!
My wedding was just a few weeks ago and I could not be any happier with the caterer we chose! My husband and I really wanted a casual menu when it came to the food that would be se...
rved at our wedding. We kept searching for that specific caterer that had the best of all the foods we love! Sweet Baby Rays was on a referral sheet from our venue. After reviewing the menu, we worked with Lauren M. We had several food stations that our guests absolutely LOVED! 10/10 amazing - detail oriented, flexible, great response time!! We loved working with her and Sweet Baby Rays. We can’t wait to work with them again!!
SBR is the way to go if you’re looking for a twist on typical wedding food! All of our guests loved having BBQ - and that it was upscale BBQ instead of eating with your hands type ...
BBQ. We also loved all of the wait staff and bartenders. They were so attentive to my husband and I and gave that same level of friendliness and care to our guests too. They pulled off the night seamlessly, from cocktail hour and passed appetizers to late night food during dancing. Definitely recommend - they’re super communicative and easy to work with in the lead up as well. Lauren in particular is amazing!
Best decision we ever made! The food was phenomenal, I cannot stress that enough. All of our guest complemented how good the food was and people are going up for seconds and even t...
hirds! we originally booked with a different caterer that ended up not working out and we ended up completely changing caterers to Sweet baby Ray’s less than two weeks before our wedding, They acted fast, gave us everything we needed if not more and were phenomenal to work with. I cannot say greater things about this company and food. Best BBQ ever!
Also, get the mac and cheese, I swear my mouth was in heaven.
This review is a bit delayed- but better late than never! SBR catered our wedding that was originally planned for July 2020 and then postponed to July 2021. We worked with Lauren a...
nd she was SO helpful with all our date changes, guest count changes, etc. We also decided not to have a wedding planner or day of coordinator, and the team helped so much with making sure everything went smoothly. Lauren helped us with planning leading up to the event and we were so grateful for her guidance. And maybe the most important part- the food was DELICIOUS. Months later, our friends and family and still talking about how good it was. Do yourself a favor and hire SBR to cater your event!
Amazing food, beautiful display, wonderful service!
We had such a great experience working with the SBR catering team to cater our wedding! My husband and I wanted something more unique than the traditional wedding food, but for it ...
to still feel upscale, well presented, and thought out. SBR team delivered on that and more!
What made them Great:Throughout the process of planning a meal tailored to us, and choosing table decor, SBR was conscious of our budget, never pressuring us with upsells and truly wanting to deliver on our vision while keeping us financially comfortable.
Creative thinking! Catering a large meal during covid times required some out of the box thinking. The team provided a few options on how to make our guests feel safe without losing the elegant dinner party vibe we were going for. The serving style they suggested and communicated to their staff was even more seamless than what we originally planned.
Lastly, and most importantly, the food!! We had countless people come up to us saying it was the most delicious and unique food they've had at a wedding. The service team was also incredible with offering our guests second servings (or thirds!).
We absolutely would refer SBR catering to anyone planning a large scale event and look forward to working with them again in the future!
If you’re considering SBR for your catering for your wedding, hire them! We were directed to their team by our venue, and were looking for a more casual meal for our wedding. Our...
tasting was great, the prices were reasonable, and the food was oh so yummy. They were able to accommodate the menu to meet all our needs, and made us feel so comfortable in our choice. When Covid hit, we didn’t know what or how to go about planning for a completely different wedding than we had originally planned. SBR and their whole team really stepped up, being so flexible, and making about a million changes to our plan in a short time span. They really worked hard to make sure that we had a meal that was to die for, in a safe and responsible way. So many guests said the food was the best wedding food ever, and I definitely agree. Every server, bartender, and coordinator we worked with was incredible. Special shout out to Mike, who worked so much magic for us - and made the last couple months of wedding
They are much more than BBQ. The food was fantastic and our coordinator was amazing to work with. The setup for our dinner was beautiful and the staff was AMAZING! the bartender wa...
s beyond great and every guest made a comment to us about how great he was.
Sweet Baby Ray’s was AMAZING for our November wedding. Our guests are still raving about how delicious the food was. The presentation was beautiful, and the staff were amazing. Thr...
oughout the entire process, Erin and Meghann were incredibly attentive to each and every question we had. We can not recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s enough! They were outstanding!
Sweet Baby Ray’s was absolutely incredible. Once we booked them, I didn’t give catering a second thought, bc I knew they had it all handled. I must have reached out and tried to ...
set up tastings with like 5 companies before I found SBR - I couldn’t get ahold of people, their response times were slow, and I just didn’t feel like there was any importance given to the biggest day of our lives. But then I called SBR, and they got back to me the same day. I had a quote by the end of that day, and within 3 days of constant communication we had settled in a menu, booked them, and signed a contract. I honestly didn’t taste the food first bc 1) finding a caterer who was in top of it and responsive was more important to me than anything else, and 2) I already know I love SBR BBQ sauce so I’m not worried about their BBQ cuisine being subpar. We booked a tasting for a couple months later, which was easy and when we finally did taste the food, it was delicious! They provided me with multiple contacts, my very own wedding master excel, and checked in every now and then just to make sure I was doing ok. The day of the wedding was flawless, they were on time, more than willing to help set up some decor, and so so so sweet and nice all day! On top of everything, they were the most reasonable quote I had received - we had about 80 guests, and SBR worked with our budget. I loved them and would book them every time for any other event I do.
We asked Sweet Baby Rays if they could do a classy BBQ buffet for our wedding and they totally delivered. The food was delicious and the presentation was lovely - not a tacky weddi...
ng buffet at all! We did our desserts with them as well and had an awesome spread with donuts, cupcakes and cobblers. Mallory and her team were excellent to work with. They provided information in a timely manner and were always quick to answer any questions we had and flexible to work with us as we thought and rethought through plans! The staff at the event was also great. They made sure we were getting to eat and kept our guests happy. As a bonus, the team prepped a few to-go boxes that were delivered back to our hotel room for a midnight snack which was much appreciated!
We used Sweet Baby Ray’s to cater our outdoor August wedding. They were easy to work with throughout the whole planning process, from coming up with a proposal to ironing out last-...
minute details with us over phone and email since we were out of state for the months leading up to our wedding. On the day of, they went above and beyond, efficiently setting up everything exactly how we wanted (and taking it down at the end of the day!), and even providing some of their own decorations that fit well with our existing theme. The food was amazing and complimented by many of our guests, who loved getting to eat delicious barbecue for a wedding. We couldn’t thank Lauren, Rain, Kayla, and their staff more for the excellent job they did.
I'm the MOB and my daughter and now, son-in-law, chose SBR's for the catering. I was a little hesitant to have bbq at the reception. Big mistake on my part! We worked with Mallo...
ry Weathers, catering and event consultant. I have to say that I now consider Mallory a true friend. She is professional, organized and can help with any detail of the wedding planning, most of all the food! Our buffet and table settings were so elegant! It was everything we ever wanted the reception to be!
We had compliments from literally everyone who attended. The food was excellent and the presentation was also everything that I wanted it to be, down to every detail. I didn't have to worry about a thing the entire evening. SBR's will take on everything from the food, table decor to full bar if that is what you desire. The options are endless if you want one stop shopping.
I could not say more about them or more highly recommend them! Mallory Weathers was a total delight to work with as well! Best experience of our wedding planning and reception!
I initially didn’t choose Sweet Baby Ray’s as I wasn’t interested in Barbeque for my wedding and I had no idea True Cuisine was the other part of their catering service. Boy was th...
at a mistake. The other company we chose totally screwed us over by canceling at the last minute. When we went back to the drawing board to select a new caterer, True Cuisine came out on top and saved the day. They worked with our budget and even matched the menu we had already decided on prior to working with them. Not only that, their food was WAY better than our original caterer and they went over and beyond to provide us quality service. I highly recommend them, and plan to hire them again for my other catering needs in the future. Do yourself a favor and make True Cuisine your first choice - you won’t regret it!
We knew we wanted BBQ at our wedding and who better than SBR! Our guests are still talking about the food at our wedding in March, saying it was the best food they ever had at a we...
dding. I was a little nervous that the food would be sloppy with it being BBQ, but it was not at all. I was very pumped to eat ribs in my very white dress. The planning process was easy peasy even when I changed my mind and asked for a million updated quotes with changes. It was never a problem, so I always knew what was happening with the cost. We ended up doing two tastings and were glad we did so we could try more items. And what a fun date night. Definitely do that! They worked with us on a budget and the staff was great. Book them now!
Sweet Baby Rays' food was quoted by my guests as 'the best wedding food I've ever had'. We couldn't have been more pleased by their professionalism, care to detail and accommodati...
ng special needs, and high quality of services.
Our event manager - Lisa H - was amazing to work with and are so happy to have picked them!!
When my husband and I initially started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to stay away from "traditional" wedding food and do something a little closer to our hearts - barbeq...
ue. Our venue actually was the one to put us in touch with Sweet Baby Ray's and their lovely wedding consultant, Maria Collins.
Maria was an incredible asset from the start - timely with her email responses, flexible when we needed her to be (we had a random relative show up unannounced at the wedding), and most of, delightful to work with. She was chock full of good ideas, and was the reason that our vision for the day was able to come to life. Our wedding was largely DIY and I had spent a good deal of time creating the details for the day - needless to say, I was hesitant to then just turn all of my hard work over to someone else and hope they could make it look like I was picturing in my head. My fears were completely unnecessary - Maria and her team made our venue look EXACTLY like I had been picturing, only better.
Maria was such a huge help the day of and acted as our coordinator, which was a huge burden off of our minds. Her team was speedy, friendly, and somewhat omniscient - they seemed to know if something was about to go wrong and would fix it before anything got off course!
I would HIGHLY recommend Sweet Baby Ray's to anyone - apart from the service we received, the food was incredible and the value was delivered over and over again throughout the course of planning and executing.
Contact
235 E. Irving Park Road, Suite 100, Wood Dale, IL
Sweet Baby Ray's Catering's photos