5.0
Praised by couples for:
Food quality and taste
Cake
Seasoned professional
Your Local Wedding Experts
Lancaster, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin Counties - Central PA
Service area
We had such a wonderful experience working with Hess's for our wedding. Specifically, Katie who answered all of our questions without hesitation and was super responsive & flexible despite us planning a wedding from California. She was such a pro and really made our job easy. The package options are really customizable to fit any size or style of wedding. We were even able to privately sample some of the menu items in person when we visited family in Lancaster. Tara walked us through every detail and even presented a slideshow with catering layouts and menu & linen options. This gave us peace of mind on what we selected. On the wedding day, we didn't have to lift a finger. Katie and her team made sure we had everything we needed, and the food was set up so beautifully. The entire vision was brought to life. Guests kept commenting on how delicious the food was and how generous the portions were. The BBQ had mass appeal and all dietary needs were captured. We were just so blown away by the professionalism and how supported we felt every step of the way. They truly delivered. We highly recommend Hess's to anyone looking for a reliable caterer! Thank you Katie for all your hard work.
Sophia H.
5.0
We hired Weddings by Hess for our Wedding in Dover, PA. The team was absolutely phenomenal for our event! The food was delicious, and our guests are still raving about the appetizers and the amount of food they were given for the dinner. They set everything up seamlessly, and the servers were incredibly attentive and polite. They were easy to work with and made the day flow seemlessly!
Grace W.
5.0
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Weddings by Hess's Catering in Willow Street, PA, is an experienced and professional catering business that infuses weddings and other celebrations with flavor, aromas, and good times. We are a family-owned and operated business that brings culinary expertise, personalized service, and hospitality to your wedding or special occasion.
Our team, run by 4th generation caterers, organizes cuisine for over 70 monthly events. From birthdays to corporate gatherings and weddings, our team can create an array of delicious entrees that will complement every palette. Known for our exceptional customer service and 30 years of local barbeques, we have an award-winning reputation for our selection of grilled meats, delectable sauces, seasoned vegetables, and mouthwatering salads.
From formal black-tie weddings to casual backyard barbecues and everything in between, we are your local experts and will ensure your special day is truly distinctive and memorable. Our catering services include menu development, china or look-a-like china, stemware, table linens and napkins, table settings, and an experienced serving staff. You will also love our "Taste of Lancaster County Dessert Bar," which features homemade cupcakes, whoopie pies, pecan bars, cookies, and a wide selection of local baked goods.
What You'll Love About Weddings by Hess's Catering
Couples who choose this team to cater at their wedding are blown away by the variety of delicious menu options, which guarantees there is something to suit all tastes. Additionally, they love that they cater to a range of dietary requirements, including gluten-free options, so no one is left out. Check out the Photo Gallery for some examples of their menu options.
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Details
Cuisine
American
BBQ
Seafood
Specialty
Dietary Options
Gluten Free
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Chef Stations
Menu Tastings
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2023.2022.
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.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.047 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.
Hess's Catering is highly recommended for weddings, with guests praising the delicious, generous portions (brisket, BBQ, prime rib, mac & cheese) and varied menu. Staff are responsive, professional, and attentive—handling setup, service, dietary needs, tastings, and to-go packaging seamlessly. Customizable packages and clear communication made planning easy.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 8
Sophia H
5.0
We had such a wonderful experience working with Hess's for our wedding. Specifically, Katie who answered all of our questions without hesitation and was super responsive & flexible...
despite us planning a wedding from California. She was such a pro and really made our job easy. The package options are really customizable to fit any size or style of wedding. We were even able to privately sample some of the menu items in person when we visited family in Lancaster. Tara walked us through every detail and even presented a slideshow with catering layouts and menu & linen options. This gave us peace of mind on what we selected. On the wedding day, we didn't have to lift a finger. Katie and her team made sure we had everything we needed, and the food was set up so beautifully. The entire vision was brought to life. Guests kept commenting on how delicious the food was and how generous the portions were. The BBQ had mass appeal and all dietary needs were captured. We were just so blown away by the professionalism and how supported we felt every step of the way. They truly delivered. We highly recommend Hess's to anyone looking for a reliable caterer! Thank you Katie for all your hard work.
Grace W
5.0
We hired Weddings by Hess for our Wedding in Dover, PA. The team was absolutely phenomenal for our event! The food was delicious, and our guests are still raving about the appetize...
rs and the amount of food they were given for the dinner. They set everything up seamlessly, and the servers were incredibly attentive and polite. They were easy to work with and made the day flow seemlessly!
Any questions?
Cara B
5.0
We had a great experience with Hess Barbecue Catering for our wedding! They were very responsive and answered all of our questions throughout the planning process. On the day of,...
the staff were fantastic! We had a buffet, and the staff made plates for my husband and I, and came to check on us multiple times to see if we needed anything. The food was delicious, especially the flatbreads, bacon wrapped scallops, and the brisket! Our guests were talking about how good the food was after the wedding, and we would highly recommend.
Ashley S
5.0
Hess's BBQ was truly amazing, every one of our guests loved the food, as did my husband and I! Thank you to Tara for working with us the past 2 years, and thank you to the Hess's t...
eam for being there for our wedding day!
Response from Weddings by Hess's Catering
Hey Ashley! Thanks so much for your review. This means a lot to us. I am so glad to hea...
r you and your guests were pleased with their meal! I enjoyed working with you. Best wishes to you and Clay!
Samantha P
5.0
We got their take out catering for the day before our wedding to have while family helped us set-up our venue. It was perfect for everyone and they did a great job with the packagi...
ng and to-go plates/utensils. We had everything we needed, it was easy to store and travel with and their communication was great! Totally worth it so we didn't have to worry about feeding everyone.
Cheri D
5.0
Hess's provided us with delicious food for our wedding. Everything from the apps to the dessert was so good. They were professional always and handled their set up and pack up wi...
th very little direction from us. I'll be dreaming about their tortelini salad for years to come.
Anna T
5.0
The Food and Service was absolutely amazing. We went with the Diamond package and had the Prime Rib. Not only was it delicious but we still have guests talking about the food to th...
is day. Staff was even kind enough to make us boxes of all the food to take home since we did not have enough time to sit and enjoy all the delicious food! Also recommend the dessert bar for anybody. Not all guests like wedding cake so having other options were great! Wonderful Food, Wonderful staff and a wonderful time for our Wedding!
Haley G
5.0
The team at Hess’s BBQ were excellent! I wanted food that I would actually like & they had what I was looking for. The food was excellent & our guests loved it. They even offered t...
o pack up to-go meals for my husband & I for later in the night. I would highly recommend them to anyone for any event!
Nicole C
5.0
Weddings by Hess did such an outstanding job at my wedding. I have celiac and Tara and her staff did an incredible job at making sure everything was safe for me to eat and made me ...
my own GF Mac and cheese. I had other guests with dietary restrictions and they were on top of it and had plenty of options for them. We got SO many compliments on the food from our guests, especially about the brisket and Mac and cheese. We did buffet style, but the staff brought us our food to the sweetheart table, especially to make sure I got my GF options. During the planning phase, they were incredible about communicating in a timely manner and answered all of my many questions. If you want your wedding to have incredible food you need to hire Weddings by Hess!!
Carlye K
5.0
We found Hess Catering through our venue and we are SO thankful that we did. We had the opportunity to work with Tara and were captivated by her kindness immediately. We were able ...
to do a taste testing early on and after the feast Tara gave us, we didn’t look any further. We knew it would be a perfect fit for our day. Our guests were so impressed with the flavor and variety of food and are still talking about it!!
Chau N
5.0
We're so incredibly happy we worked with Weddings by Hess's Catering for our wedding. The food was absolutely DELICIOUS (our guests were raving about it so much) and the options fo...
r our cocktail menu and dinner were great. They even created cheesesteak eggrolls and deviled eggs for us as a "his & her" favorite during our cocktail hour! Working with Hess's Catering was incredibly easy--Tara & Andrea were professional and walked us through our package options, dishware and napkin options, and were so easy to communicate with. We loved working with them!
Katy D
5.0
Weddings by Hess was affordable, professional, and delicious! They arrived early to set up and made the buffet run smoothly. They had multiple menus to choose from according to our...
price point. I liked that they put salad and bread on the table for guests to start eating after the blessing. I would highly recommend them for any wedding or party!
Amanda S
5.0
Wonderful to work with. The food was AMAZING and made the day of, some of it on site. Working with their coordinators was a absolutely wonderful and they were able to accommodate o...
ur every dietary need.
Avery F
5.0
I cannot recommend Hess Catering enough. Their team was timely and helpful with planning for our wedding. The food was beyond delicious and we and our guests left our event well f...
ed and happy. Thank you so much to the Hess BBQ team for making our special day perfect!
Kayla H
5.0
Look no further for your wedding caterer. Weddings by Hess’s is the best choice there is! They were so helpful and prompt during the wedding planning process and the food on our we...
dding day was delicious! We are still hearing from our guests about how much they enjoyed the food at our wedding. Thank you to the Weddings by Hess’s team!
Madison C
5.0
Wedding's By Hess exceeded our expectations when it came to catering our wedding! Everything from the communication in the beginning of the planning process, to set up, to the staf...
f, and of course THE FOOD! Our guests couldn't stop talking about how delicious the food was and let's not forget the desserts which we are still dreaming about! I could go on and on about how great it was to work with Andrea and the rest of the Hess's team.
Abby D
5.0
Andrea and the entire Hess team was great to work with! Throughout the entire planning process, they were well organized, kind and professional. On our wedding day, we received so ...
many compliments about everything — from the appetizers to dinner and desserts! We can’t say enough great things about Weddings by Hess!
Rachel H
5.0
We met with Wedding's by Hess in Fall of 2019. Mary was amazing! At our first meeting, she offered us a tasting. We knew right away that we wanted to offer the Lancaster County hom...
e cooking at our wedding. The food was amazing and our guests left feeling full! Highly recommend their Lancaster County dessert bar!
Christina B
5.0
Everything was DELICIOUS!! My family still talks about the food at our wedding. Everything was kept warm and the service was very professional. I loved how my tables looked and the...
way the food was presented!
Karlie G
5.0
We recieved so many compliments about our food on the day of. Everything was still very hot and fresh when guests went through the buffet line, and everything tasted fantastic. My ...
favorite had to be the bacon wrapped scallop appetizer! Those were amazing. The prices were reasonable considering the quality of food, and Mary was helpful through the process. Very happy with our experience!
Hayley E
5.0
One thing our wedding guests continue to say is that they LOVED the food on our wedding day. Everything was prepared and served with efficiency. Booking them was also extremely eas...
y! They were the first caterer we met with, and we signed the contract before leaving that day. If you want comfort food for your big day, look no further.
Jenny S
5.0
Weddings by Hess’s was the perfect choice for our wedding. We loved that they are a family-owned business, and they were very easy to work with. They have a large variety of option...
s for whatever your budget, and we were able to get our BBQ and a fancier option on the same menu. They cook as much as they can on-site so it’s as fresh as possible. We opted to get the dessert bar, which is your choice of up to 8 Amish-made desserts, so our guests would have a variety of options. Very important when the groom doesn’t like cake! We were getting compliments all night long on how good all the food was, which was incredibly important to us.
Eileen N
5.0
The team at Hess’s Catering was phenomenal to work with, from set-up, serving, and clean-up. The staff was professional, personable, and very kind. Their menu selection is extens...
ive and the food quality is excellent. The food they provided on our wedding was absolutely delicious, as we received compliments from many of our guests. We would highly recommend Hess’s catering and would not hesitate to use their services again. Hess’s is top notch all-around!!!!
Eric and Jackie B
5.0
Weddings by Hess's Catering and Mary were both exceptional to work with for our wedding! Our wedding was originally supposed to be in April 2020 and we re-planned a 'mini-wedding' ...
for April 2021, but Mary was with us every step of the way. She helped us adjust our plans and menu, she was able to accommodate our wedding with far less people, and she even found a way to serve the food in a COVID-safe manner. We also got plenty of comments about how good the dinner and dessert was. We're still thinking about the delicious mac and cheese! :)
Mary was always very organized, professional, and helpful, and we are very grateful to have worked with her. We have nothing but nice things to say about working with Weddings by Hess's Catering and would recommend other wedding couples to select them as well!
Marti S
5.0
Weddings by Hess’s Catering was great to work with and their food was excellent! Our guests were complimenting the food even several days after the wedding. They offer three pack...
ages to fit a variety of budgets, and they offer different plate options as well. They are a full service caterer, so they set up, tear down, and remove the trash at the end of the night - which is not something every caterer does. Their team was great to work with and they customized a menu that was perfect for our wedding. If you’re looking for a caterer who has excellent food, great service, and friendly staff, look no further than Hess’s!
Jeff B
5.0
Hess's Catering provided the food for our wedding and I cannot say enough with how delicious everything was.
From the planning stages, to the presentation, to (obviously) the qu...
ality of the food, everything was exceptional.
Highly recommend Hess's for your catering needs!
Katie J
5.0
Hess's catering was exactly what we were looking for! We wanted BBQ at our wedding, and Hess's delivered. Everything was absolutely delicious, and our guests raved about the food...
. Mary was really easy to work with and was responsive to our emails. The team was very understanding and flexible when we had to change our date due to COVID. Thank you Hess's Catering!
Kate L
5.0
Every guest we've talked to since our wedding earlier this month keeps RAVING about the food! Weddings by Hess's was the best choice we made in the entirety of our wedding planning...
. Mary was so easy to work with and the food was mouthwatering! Thank you Hess's!!!!
Rebekah Y
5.0
Mary and the team at Weddings by Hess are absolutely incredible! The food was delicious, and I have to say the best buffet style food we ever had. We wanted good tasting food that ...
was not dry and sitting under a warmer for hours. Everything that Hess's offered had exceptional taste. Down to the cooked veggies on site! There is a wide variety of food options to choose from, and they are so flexible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for.
I have to mention that most brides and grooms do not even get to eat their food at the wedding because of greeting everyone and socializing. Hess knows this, and because of this they boxed us up 4 huge boxes of our food to eat later. This was good because I barely touched my dinner and it was the perfect midnight snack for me and my husband! It was such a thoughtful touch that was no extra cost and meant so much to us. This is a catering company that cares about their couples.
Marlee S
5.0
Hess’s food speaks for itself. All of their food is literally OUT OF THIS WORLD! We could not wait to eat dinner at our wedding and they made sure we did! They had plates waiting f...
or us out our chairs and they continued to check on us every few minutes! Everyone raved about the food, seriously everyone! They were a pleasure to work with and extremely flexible (sorry for all the last minute changes)! We would recommend them to everyone & anyone!
Erin B
5.0
We were very happy with our experience with Hess's Catering. Hess's has always been a local treasure - famous for their BBQ. We didn't quite want to go the laid back, BBQ route but...
still wanted to not be extravagant with the food budget. Hess's was the perfect match. Mary worked with us to create a fantastic menu that included plenty of Lancaster County favorites with the class of salmon and pork tenderloin. And it fit the budget! Linens, cake cutting and a bunch of little things were included in the per person price. They also have options of going with high end plastic china or real china whether you're going with a plated meal or buffet. Really great options. The day of the wedding was event free in the best way. They came in, did their job well and cleaned up without issue. We are so thankful for Mary and the team at Hess's for providing a delicious menu with drama free planning.
Regan W
5.0
The dinner by Weddings by Hess's Catering offered at our wedding is something that guests are still talking about! Our experience with Mary and the rest of the staff at Hess's Cate...
ring was wonderful. We were greeted and provided with lot's of ideas and information about the different choices and options they offer initially. Our communication with the team was quick and easy. They even catered to our guests needs of being gluten free and vegan, which was AMAZING to be able to provide a full entree for those guests. We were blown away by the service and the overall satisfaction of our guests. Thank you!!
Brooke H
5.0
The food was the talk of the wedding. Everything was perfect! We did a whoopie pie bar and it was so good; everyone loved how different it was. Thank you for catering our wedding!!
Kayla B
5.0
Hess’s did an amazing job catering our wedding! Our guests rave about the food and how delicious it was! Mary was so easy to work with and made every step of the way so easy. The s...
taff at our wedding were so kind as well which made the day pleasant! I could not recommend Hess’s more if you want a relaxed, delicious meal for your wedding.
Brandi S
5.0
Hess's did such a great job for my wedding 12/14/18. The food was delicious and they allowed us to customize the menu pretty much any way we wanted! They were very professional and...
so sweet. You can tell they love what they do! The first time we met with them, they fed us so much food and my now husband left with a full bag of BBQ spices and seasonings. My wedding also had a room flip for the reception and they handled this perfectly! I would highly recommend!!!
Alison W
5.0
Weddings by Hess's Catering was exactly what we had in mind for our fall wedding; laid-back and delicious! Mary was extremely helpful and personable. She listened to all of our ide...
as and ensured that our day was perfect! Our guests raved about the BBQ food, especially the brisket and mashed potato bar!
Darcy M
5.0
We are beyond thrilled with how the food at our wedding turned out! Weddings by Hess did an AMAZING job! Working with them through the entire process was amazing and easy! Mary qui...
ckly responded to all of my random questions along the way and what we wanted was exactly what we got!! The food surpassed our expectations and our guests have been raving about it! Everything about it was exactly as planned from cocktail hour to our buffet dinner, the food was excellent, as was the service! You can't beat Hess for BBQ and you can't offer your guests better food at a wedding (in our opinion)! We also opted to make our wedding favors bottles of the Hess BBQ sauce, which was a MAJOR hit with guests. Hess worked with us to make this a possibility. Great experience all around, would book again one hundred times over.
Julie W
5.0
Hess did an amazing job!! Everyone was so friendly and flexible to work with. Great food and great service!!
Kileigh H
5.0
Hess's was great! Mary is so easy to work with and always answered any questions I had within 24 hours. The food is absolutely delicious, and all of guests are still talking about ...
it! I would recommend Hess's for anyone looking for great food at reasonable pricing!
Dana M
5.0
Hess's was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding! Mary was so responsive to all of my emails and was very flexible to change anything. We are so glad we chose to work ...
with Hess's as it really put our mind to ease in regards to the catering at our wedding. The food was also absolutely delicious and so many of my guests raved about it - especially the beef brisket! My personal favorite was the make-your-own whoopie pie bar - such a great idea! We would highly recommend Hess's and would be eager to have them cater future events for us :)
Elizabeth G
5.0
Hess Catering was great! Very professional, got rave reviews from all guests and helped to make our wedding at Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens a real knockout. You will not get bet...
ter BBQ for a wedding from anyone other than Hess. Every guest LOVED the Taste of Lancaster dessert bar. Prices were a little steep at $44/person plus $5 per person for the dessert bar and it was difficult to commit to the guest count 3 weeks out and see so many people drop out last minute/have to pay the costs of their meals regardless but I assume that's pretty standard at any wedding and it had nothing to do with Hess's exemplary service the day of. I 100% recommend them!
Olivia S
5.0
Shreiner
Morgan B
5.0
Our food was AMAZING! We had Hess's cater our wedding at the Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens Septemeber 2016. They did an amazing job. Lloyd is such a nice man to work with who enj...
oys his work and it shows! He is passionate about it and even talked to some of our guests who were interested. We had so many compliments on our food!
Lindsey E
5.0
Amazing food! Amazing display! Great to work with!
Emily M
5.0
I cannot say enough good things about Mr. Lloyd Hess. He was a delight to work with. Everyone loved the food and Mr. Hess has a great deal of experience and offered guidance for ou...
r big day. The food was A+ and Mr. Hess is such a sweet man. After we walked down the isle on that hot day, he was first to give us both some ice cold bottles of water. He helped my mother find somewhere to sit, he is just a genuine all around great man! The Hess staff were extreme;y kind and professional. We are already missing that brisket!
Ray G
5.0
Our wedding was June 4th. It was a buffet style with appetizers. Fantastic presentation and preparation. The meatballs in BBQ sauce were great. Brisket was done to perfection as w...
ell as pork. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Everyone was pleasant to work with and accommodating. We were about an hour away and food was still hot, tender, and moist. Gave Lloyd our budget and he worked with us to develop a menu and setting to maximize our budget. Cannot recommend enough.
Linda M
5.0
My daughter was married on May 29, 2016 and Hess's Barbecue did the catering. Lloyd Hess was exceptional and his food was outstanding. I have had many compliments from family and f...
riends. I would recommend them to anyone for any catering need!
Service area & Contact info
Lancaster, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin Counties - Central PA
Typically included in the starting cost
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