Open RFP: Calling All Caterers to Join Our Wedding Collective
We’re growing our Catering Partnerships and looking for new wedding caterers for our wedding collective!
About Weddings In Color
Weddings In Color is the wedding planning arm of Make It Mariko, an award-winning creative events agency. We specialize in values-aligned wedding planning for nontraditional couples through a curated group of BIPOC, LGBT, and women owned local vendors.
Our all-inclusive Classic Package eliminates research burden for our clients through established vendor and venue relationships. We are currently expanding our catering collective and are inviting qualified catering partners to submit pricing proposals.
If chosen, you would be one of (5) caterers that we feature on our Vendor page and refer clients to.
DEADLINE: Please submit your proposal by Friday July 3, 2026.
Who We’re Looking For
- Full service Bay Area catering partners who manage food service and staffing. Ideally bartending service as well, but it’s not mandatory.
- Experienced with Bay Area weddings and excited about working on intimate 50 person to larger 200 person weddings
- Can accommodate diverse, multicultural cuisines
- Values-aligned – we prioritize working with diverse, minority-owned, and LGBTQ-friendly businesses
- Must be comfortable using inclusive language for weddings (Partner & Partner vs Bride & Groom)
- Reliable, responsive, and communicative with our planning team pre-event
- Committed to delivering a consistent, high-quality guest experience
- Can meet a target budget of $75-100 per person + taxes and fees for the sample scope below
Weddings In Color couples are:
- Multicultural, interracial, LGBTQ+, non-religious (for the most part, but often have Catholic/Christian ceremonies), or otherwise nontraditional. They are tired of not seeing themselves reflected in the wedding industry.
- Values-driven and intentional about where their money goes and who is in the room
- Care about supporting diverse, local vendors and small biz
- Mid-to-upper-middle-income Bay Area professionals with a strong sense of community and social awareness
- Sometimes navigating the complexity of blending two cultures, two families, or two very different visions
- Not looking for the fanciest option – looking for the most aligned one
- They generally just want to PARTY. They want a fun, connected community event that isn’t too fancy or overdone.
Our Classic Package: Catering & Banquet Event Order Summary
Please provide pricing for the sample scope below:
GUEST COUNT: 100 guests
TARGET BUDGET: We try to hit a $75-100 per person package + taxes and fees for our Classic Package clients.
CLASSIC PACKAGE MENU INCLUDES:
- 3 passed appetizers
- Fully customizable buffet-style dinner: 2 proteins + 3 sides (typically a carb, salad, veggies, but flexible)
- Coffee & Tea service (typically for half the guest count only, so 50 ppl for this sample quote)
- Dessert bar with (3) dessert options – caterer will style using their own platters and stands; florals provided by MIM
- Small 8″ cutting cake for the couple (nice to have optional add on)
STAFFING & TABLESCAPE SETUP
*If you don’t do full service staffing, we’re still interested to see your proposal estimate, as we have an in-house staffing partner, but full service caterers will be prioritized.
Estimate should include:
Pre-Wedding:
- Setup tablescape setup (plate, utensils, water goblet, folded napkin, water carafe)
- MIM/WIC team will set all linens and establish a base tablescape. Caterer completes setup from that base.
- Pour water into each guest’s glass prior to guest arrival
Throughout the event:
- Serving staff for guest-facing food service (we normally serve proteins)
- Replenish water at guest tables
- Manage all bussing
- Chef(s) for on-site cooking and food management
End of event:
- Collect and prep all rentals for pickup – scrape plates and count inventory
- Final sweep and mop of kitchen (caterer brings own supplies)
- Final walkthrough with WIC team before departing
RENTALS
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MIM/WIC provides:
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Caterer provides:
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CLIENT TASTINGS: Please let us know how you manage Client Tastings.
- Pricing for a tasting for 2 people
- Pricing for additional guests beyond 2
- Where does the tasting take place?
- Are you willing to credit the cost of the tasting back to the contract upon booking?
GARBAGE: Caterer will remove all guest garbage at the end of the event, including:
- All guest food and beverage waste
- Minimal signage waste
- Minimal floral waste
BAR SERVICE (optional – if you don’t offer bar service, you can just submit for catering only)
- Bartenders provide bartending tools
- Bartender must always arrive with ice – please include in your planning and estimate
SIGNAGE
- MIM will produce a large 24″ x 36″ printed sign with the full dinner menu
- Caterer is responsible for smaller food cards in front of each buffet item, listing the dish name and common allergens
How To Apply
Submit your RFP application HERE with the following items ready:
- Sample Estimate in PDF form (all inclusive of taxes and fees) for 100 person guest count
- Sample menus or customization options in PDF form
- Tasting process and pricing
- Brief description of your business, including any diversity designations or community affiliations
- 2 references from recent clients or planners
- Any questions for our team
