Frequently Asked Questions

What are your covid-19 policies?

We continuously stay up to date with all advisements and recommendations from our local and state public health departments. For updates, check out the Washington State Coronavirus Response website. We are committed to keeping our staff, our clients and their guests as safe and healthy as possible, and have implemented the most up to date cleaning, sanitation and food service practices.

What if I need to postpone my date due to COVID-19?

We totally understand the need to cancel and postpone events due to the pandemic, and we try to be the least of your worries when it comes to postponing and rescheduling your events. We don’t charge a “postponement fee” and your first payment will simply transfer to your new date. Please contact Natalie (natalie@whidbeycatering.com) for any questions related to postponements.

What areas do you service?

We serve all of Whidbey Island, as well as Anacortes to the north. We currently do not serve Whatcom, Snohomish or King counties.
 

What do your prices start at?

For special event catering, our prices begin at $50/person.
 

Do we get to keep leftovers?

For liability reasons and the health and safety of our clients, we do not package leftover food to go. Please note that we encourage your guests to have seconds after everyone has gotten their plate, so there is always very little food waste. However, if your party is held at a private home we are happy to leave you with any leftovers that have been stored safely throughout the duration of the event.
 

Do you offer free tastings?

We offer complimentary tastings to clients who have put down their first payment to reserve their date.
 

What forms of payment do you accept?

We currently accept cash, checks, all major credit cards and payments through the Venmo App (@Serendipity-Catering).
 

Do you charge a cake-cutting fee?

Cake cutting services are included with any events where our team provides staffing.

Do you cook onsite at my event?

We prepare all food at our licensed and insured commercial kitchen in Coupeville and deliver it right before service time. Final preparations and platings are done onsite.

Do you have rentals available?

We do have tabletop rental (dishes, flatware, glassware) available in-house. We do not offer tables, chairs or linens, but are happy to help you source these items through other rental companies.

What is your tipping policy?

We leave gratuity up to the discretion of the client. Most of our clients do choose to tip which is very much appreciated as it allows us to retain high-quality staff.

Is it cheaper to serve appetizers rather than a meal?

As a general rule, appetizers are more expensive than a meal due to the amount of hand-labor needed to prepare and serve them.

How do we book you? Do you offer refunds?

We require a non-refundable first payment to reserve your date on our booking calendar. Once you put down your initial payment, this date is removed from our booking calendar and no one else is able to inquire. As a boutique caterer with a limited event season, more often than not we receive many inquiries for the same dates, and this payment insures your date cannot be given to anyone else. We don’t offer any refunds, but can assist you in postponing your event if necessary (no rebooking fees). To get the process started, fill out a quote request or give us a call at (360)-678-3807.

Do you provide wedding cakes?

We make cupcakes and cutting cakes (8”) in house. For larger wedding cakes, we outsource to local bakeries on Whidbey Island.

Do you have a discount for kids?

YES! Ages three and under are free, and ages 4—12 are half-price.

Do I have to feed my vendors?

We always recommend providing a meal for your vendors, which we offer at half-price. Be sure to check whether your vendors are bringing assistants with them so we make sure to feed them as well.

Do you charge sales tax?

We are required to charge the 8.7% Island County sales tax rate.

What service styles do you provide?

For weddings, we offer buffet and family style service. For more intimate events (under 50 guests), we also offer plated service.

Do you offer custom menus? I don’t see one that fits all my needs.

All of our menus are completely customizable—we love creating new menus tailored to our clients’ event and dietary preferences!