Wedding Catering Pittsburgh: A Planning Guide

Wedding Catering in Pittsburgh: The Basics

Wedding catering in Pittsburgh covers the food for your reception and often your rehearsal dinner too. At Pita My Shawarma, we cater weddings and rehearsal dinners, and we also cater lunches and meetings and private parties and birthdays. Halal and vegetarian options are part of our catering. Full-service catering with servers is available for events that need staff on site, so contact us to discuss your venue, timing, and service style. We serve all of Allegheny County, including Lawrenceville, Downtown Pittsburgh, Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, the Strip District, Bloomfield, East Liberty, North Shore, and South Side. Our locations page has our address and details.

Build a Timeline Backward From Your Date

Start with the wedding date and work backward. Many couples book the caterer as soon as the venue and date are set, which gives everyone time to plan the menu and service. As a common starting point, many couples settle the menu two to three months before the event, then confirm the final headcount once RSVPs close. For large orders we ask for at least 24 to 48 hours notice, but weddings need far more planning than that, so treat our notice requirement as the minimum.

A simple timeline helps keep everyone on track:

• Book the caterer once your date and venue are confirmed.
• Choose the menu and note dietary needs for every group of guests.
• Confirm the guest count after RSVPs, with a small buffer for changes.
• Plan the service time, serving space, and setup with your venue.
• Review the final details about a week before the wedding.

Menu Ideas for a Wedding Reception

Many wedding menus pair a main dish with rice, vegetables, and a few shared starters. Our hand-stacked halal chicken shawarma works well as the main, served with Lebanese rice or in rice bowls. House-made hummus and house-made baba ganoush make good starters, and our falafel is gluten-free and vegan, made from scratch from soaked raw chickpeas. You can review every option on our full menu and mix items to fit your guest list.

Dessert is easy to plan. Baklava is a traditional Lebanese sweet that pairs well with coffee or tea after dinner. Halloumi cheese fries and zaatar fries make shareable sides. Fries are usually served hot, so ask how they will be held during a long reception. Pita wraps contain gluten, so keep that in mind if some guests avoid it.

Dietary Needs and Halal Options

Weddings often bring together guests with very different food needs. Halal and vegetarian options should be planned from the start rather than added at the last minute. Our chicken shawarma is listed as halal on our menu, and our falafel is vegan and gluten-free. Please confirm your own requirements with us. Tell us early about any religious or family needs, including whether some items must be served separately. Ask how dishes are prepared and whether serving utensils are kept separate when your guests need that.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer

A short list of questions can prevent confusion later. Ask any caterer these:

• How far in advance do you need the final menu and guest count?
• Do you offer full-service with servers, and what does that include?
• Which options are halal, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free?
• How are dietary items labeled and served on the buffet line?
• Are serving utensils, linens, and warming equipment included?
• What happens if the guest count changes after the final deadline?

Request Your Wedding Quote

To start planning, send your wedding date, guest count, venue, and service style through our catering inquiry form, or call (412) 251-1279. Include rehearsal dinner plans too, if you need them, so the timeline stays consistent across both events.