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Back to The Restaurant

Book Your Event

Fun, unconventional catering in Chicagoland with on-site, wood-fired cooking & artsy cocktails

Ripping up the rule book on what wedding catering “should be” and helping you serve a meal that’s totally you.

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630-296-4674

Picking the right wedding caterer is stressful.

And you shouldn’t have to settle for:

Boring, dry chicken

Lackluster drinks

Outsourced staff that doesn’t care about your event

A completely forgettable meal

These couples LOVED their wedding catering

Why work with us?

Here’s what you get when you do!

Book Your Event

AN UNCONVENTIONAL, TOTALLY FUN MENU

Dry, overcooked chicken be damned! Your wedding meal should reflect who you are and what you love. Grams might not totally get it at first – “PiZza?! AT yOuR weDdINg?!” – but trust us, post-dinner, she’ll be a believer – believe dat.

A MEAL THAT’S AS FRESH AS IT GETS

Our team of chefs cook absolutely everything on-site in an 800-degree, wood-fired oven. Our bartenders fresh-press every juice mere hours before your event. Around here, ‘reheated’ and premade’ are cuss words.

A TEAM THAT TAKES CARE OF IT ALL

Book us and chill.

From the beginning to the big day, our experienced, all in-house team will handle all the nitty-gritty details – from coordination to cooking to cleanup – so you don’t have to.

We know how hard it is to find the right wedding caterer.

It’s a big day, and it’s a big deal. You don’t want to be stuck with the same old, same old wedding food that everyone knows and hates. We get it! We’re here to help you scrap those outdated traditions, and serve a wedding meal that’s fun, unconventional, and totally you.

Book Your Event
See the Menu

630-296-4674

How does it work?

This is how we do it!

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WE SET UP OUR KITCHEN ON-SITE

A few hours before your event, we roll up & set up our wood-fired kitchen on wheels. So it takes minutes, nay, seconds to get food from oven to plate, and then of course, from plate to belly.

YOU FEAST, FAMILY STYLE

Take one down, pass it around! Our menu is designed to be totally shareable, so at the table, every one of your guests gets to try a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Eating this way is way more fun.

WE DISAPPEAR, WITHOUT A TRACE

This is why couples and venues l-o-v-e us. We handle all the end-of-night messes, so you don’t have to lift a finger. As the old adage says, take only memories, leave only *leftovers*.

Weddings + Counting
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★★★★★

“We hired Wooden Paddle for our wedding and our guests are still raving about it! The food was phenomenal. The pizza made the night so much more fun, and we’re recommending Wooden Paddle to any couple that’ll listen!

– Kelsey C

★★★★★

“Pizza for our wedding dinner…..YES! Hiring Wooden Paddle was seriously the best decision we made when it came to wedding day vendors. Our guests have not stopped talking about this since May! I would hire them again in a heartbeat. 15/10!”

– Catherine K

★★★★★

“We really wanted a less traditional catering option for our wedding since we’re big foodies, and we’re thrilled we decided to go with Wooden Paddle in the end. Everything is fresh, creative, and so well balanced. Their event staff was equally excellent, and we didn’t have to lift a finger during our wedding. This really helped us enjoy the day and be fully present with our guests.”

– Claire S

★★★★★

“One of my husband’s biggest wants for our wedding was food that wasn’t some dry chicken that people would begrudgingly eat, and boy did we luck out finding Wooden Paddle! Not only did they deliver a dinner that people are still raving to us about, but they also created what was possibly the best charcuterie board of my life! Absolutely epic! Not a single regret and would definitely encourage anyone to consider them.”

– Jenae R

★★★★★

“Wooden Paddle was everything we wanted the catering at our wedding to be and more! The team was easy and flexible to work with leading up to the big day, and that level of service continued on the day of the event. But of course, what really separates them from a typical caterer is the food…. HOLY CRAP the pizza was SO GOOD!!! They delivered in every sense, and made the night completely unforgettable.”

– Michael G

★★★★★

“Our guests won’t stop raving about the food! So many guests mentioned that it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding, and we totally agree! The entire process of hiring Wooden Paddle was stress free and the entire team was very professional. The service was so attentive – they even went out of their way to make sure that we – the bride and groom – were fed, which I totally appreciate because we were so busy talking to guests! Thank you for making our day stress free and our guests happy!”

– Michelle R

★★★★★

“Wooden Paddle blew our expectations out of the water! If you’re considering them, don’t wait for a second longer – book them! They were so helpful every single step of the way. It felt like before I even had a chance to think of the question I had for them they were already answering it for me. Skip the boring chicken or beef option (that if I’m being honest, are never very good) for Wooden Paddle! Everything was a HIT with our guests.”

– Sarah B

★★★★★

“As a bride that is allergic to wheat, I just assumed my wedding dinner would be some prepackaged Udi’s meal – but boy was I wrong! Not only does Wooden Paddle have the best pizza, but they also have an amazing gluten free crust, AND dairy free cheese. There were options for all of our guests, dietary restrictions or not. Every single guest came up to us during the reception to say that our wedding had the best food out of any other wedding they’d ever been to!”

– Alyssa A

★★★★★

“We loved the idea of an unpretentious, but leveled up ‘fancy pizza’ meal for our guests, and they certainly delivered. They set up a wood-fired mobile oven outside and ran fresh pies up to the second floor of our venue. Wedding food is usually a gamble at best, so we were stoked when our guests raved about the meal – ‘the FIG one!’ was a big hit. Celina was a huge help coordinating everything, giving guidance on quantities and tweaking offerings to feel most ‘us’. We were so grateful to have her guidance. Thrilled with our choice!”

– Kelcey M

Booking  your event is easy

Here’s how to lock us down!

Book Your Event

GET A QUOTE

Our pricing is transparent, and our menu is fully ala carte. So get an easy-to-adjust quote, and then add, take away, upgrade, or swap out as you please.

PICK YOUR MENU

You’ll be invited to a private, one-on-one tasting so you can try absolutely anything and everything, and hand pick your entire event menu. Come hungry! (And thirsty, as it were.)

EAT, DRINK, BE MARRIED

Day-of, we’ll handle every dang thing, and give your guests the-best-wedding-food-they’ve-ever-had. So sit back, relax, and prepare yourself for a lot of teary eyed thank you’s.

Have questions? We’ve got answers.

And if you’ve got a question you don’t see here, be sure to send us a message.

How far do you travel?
We generally travel up to 50 miles from our Wooden Paddle kitchen in Lemont, IL. Is your event a little bit, or a lot a bit, further away? Let’s talk anyway! We do make exceptions.
What does this cost?

Our menu is fully à la carte, and our pricing is totally transparent! We’ll create a quote for your specific event, but for reference, our couples typically spend between $75 – $150 per person. If we know your budget, we’ll work with you to make a plan that fits!

Do you work with my venue?

We’ve catered at over 60 event venues around the Chicagoland area. Even if we’re not on your venue’s preferred vendors list (yet!), there’s *still* a pretty good chance we’ll be able to cater your event. We’ve done it before, and gosh dang it! We’ll do it again. And if you nix a venue altogether and go the backyard route? We’re happy to cater there too!

Do you offer tastings?
Absolutely! We love having guests come in, get to know us, and taste what we have to offer. Just be sure you come hungry!
I’m ready to lock in my date! What do I do?

All you need to do is sign your contract, and pay your 30% deposit. Then you’re locked in, and your date is yours!

How early do I need to book my date?
At the very least, events need to be booked one month in advance, but the earlier, the better! We book on a first-come, first-served basis. For weekends, we generally book about one year out.
What about guests with dietary restrictions?

We’re firm believers – Aunt Jane shouldn’t have a lesser-than meal simply because she doesn’t eat wheat! We’ve got gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options, so we can accommodate just about anything.

Are event staff included?

We bring a full crew, including chefs, servers, bartenders, and event captains. The amount of staff we bring to your event depends on your guest count, menu, venue requirements, etc. We’ll let you know what you need as we build your quote!

What else can you take care of?

We also provide all the at-the-table rentals – tablecloths, napkins, plates, silverware, wine glasses, water glasses, etc. Consider it taken care of!

See more FAQs
Where will you put your oven?
The oven is maneuvered by a tow vehicle, and one of our highly skilled, trailer-backer-uppers. (Mmm yes, ’tis their formal title.) So, wherever you’d like us to put the oven must be accessible by vehicle, and have a flat, dry area that’s at least 12′ long, and 8′ wide. We’ll also need another 12′ x 12′ space in front of the oven, for our pop-up kitchen.
How many people can you serve?
We’re able to comfortably serve up to 250 people with the use of just one of our ovens. Far too popular to limit your guest list to only 250? Not a problem. In that case, we’d just bring a second oven.
Do I get to pick my menu?
You bet! First, come try the goods! At your tasting, you’ll get to sample most of what we serve and get a better idea of what you’d like your menu to be. You’ll select four different signature pizzas, and then you can round out the rest of your menu with appetizers, salads, desserts, and drinks.
Do you have an event minimum?
Yes! Your event minimum is dependent on the day and time of your event. It is the total for all food and beverages.
What's your service charge?
A twenty percent (20%) service charge covers on-site kitchen, bar, and rental set up and breakdown, wood for the oven, serving ware, disposable dinnerware, trash disposal, liquor licensing, and general liability insurance.
Alright, I'm in! How do I get started?

We’re so excited to chat with you about your event! Simply book your event here, and we’ll get this ball (and dough) rolling.

Book Your Event
See the Menu

See how we do things at a real event!

Book Your Event

Sample Menus & Pricing

Pricing does not include sales tax or event fees, and may change. Get your custom quote for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing!

Sample Menu No. 1

Starting from $78 pp

Includes:

  • 1 Appetizer
  • 1 Salad or Vegetable
  • 4 Pizza Flavors
  • 1 Dessert
  • Standard Staffing

Sample Menu No. 2

Starting from $107 pp

Includes:

  • 2 Appetizers
  • 1 Salad or Vegetable
  • 1 Pasta
  • 4 Pizza Flavors
  • 2 Desserts
  • Standard Staffing

Sample Menu No. 3

Starting from $133 pp

Includes:

  • 3 Appetizers
  • 1 Salad or Vegetable
  • 1 Pasta
  • 4 Pizza Flavors
  • 3 Desserts
  • Standard Staffing
Book Your Event
See the Menu

630-296-4674

Ready to book your event?

Tell us about your event by filling out the form below. We’ll respond within 24 business hours and build a custom quote for your event!

Happiness Guarantee

We are so sure you’re going to absolutely *love* having us cater your event. But, on the off-chance that we happen to disappoint in some way, we promise we will make it right – no ifs, no ands, no buts – no matter what.

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