Côte — where luxury catering meets heartfelt storytelling.
Inspired by the effortless charm of the French Riviera and rooted in the richness of New Zealand’s seasonal produce, Côte crafts bespoke dining experiences that are as personal as they are unforgettable. From artfully prepared canapés to refined, multi-course meals, every dish is designed to reflect each couple’s unique style and story. With a focus on flawless execution, warm, professional service, and beautifully curated details, Côte elevates wedding celebrations into seamless, sensory experiences — tailored, elegant, and deeply memorable.
Read more below for our exclusive Q&A feature…
Tailored Menus for Weddings: Could you walk us through the process of how you work with couples to design a menu that reflects their vision? How do you ensure the menu matches both their desires and their budget?
At Côte, crafting a menu is a deeply personal process. We begin by getting to know our couples, the flavours they love, the dining moments that have shaped their story often over a relaxed phone or video call. From there, we design a menu that feels like an extension of them.
We take inspiration from the effortless elegance of the French Riviera, while heroing New Zealand’s exceptional seasonal ingredients. Whether it’s a chic standing celebration or a refined seated service, every detail is shaped by their vision.
When it comes to budgeting, transparency is essential. We’re upfront from the beginning, ensuring expectations are aligned and the experience we create is both beautiful and achievable.
High-End Food and Beverage Services: What sets your culinary offerings apart from other caterers? Can you share some examples of unique or signature dishes that have been a hit with wedding couples?
Côte is defined by our commitment to impeccable food and flawless execution. We approach catering as a fine dining experience you always want to enjoy – elegant, considered and effortlessly luxurious.
Our cocktail hour canapés offer the first taste of the celebration, and they’re always a highlight. A favourite is our famous manuka-smoked salmon with caper cashew cream, served on a house-made cumin and chilli seeded cracker. The salmon is smoked in-house using a signature spice blend and locally sourced manuka honey.
Equally beloved is our garlic crostini with thyme and feta whip, balsamic-roasted red grapes, and honeycomb. A refined vegetarian option that features on nearly every menu.
We draw inspiration from the French Riviera, alongside world-class private chefs and restaurants both here and abroad, continually evolving our menus to bring something refined, seasonal and unexpected to the table.
Collaborative Event Planning: CÔTE prides itself on a comprehensive approach to event planning. How do you work closely with couples to ensure every detail—from the menu to the timing of the toasts—is executed to perfection? What does this collaborative process look like?
We guide our couples through every step, from the initial enquiry to the final toast ensuring no detail is overlooked.
Private tastings allow us to refine each menu with care, while our team offers styling support or recommendations for trusted planners and stylists. Behind the scenes, we liaise closely with venues and vendors to ensure seamless timing across the entire celebration.
Whether it’s a choreographed plated dinner or an elegant roaming canapé service, our experienced team ensures everything flows effortlessly, so our couples can simply enjoy their day.
Professional Staff and Service: What kind of training do your staff undergo to ensure they deliver the high level of service CÔTE is known for? How does this professionalism contribute to making a couple’s wedding day truly special?
What sets Côte apart is our ability to blend precision with warmth. Our team is not only expertly trained in service but deeply attuned to the rhythm of the day.
From seamlessly guiding guests between spaces to perfectly timed courses and thoughtful, anticipatory gestures, every interaction is considered. The result is an experience that feels effortless, elegant, and deeply personal for the couple, and for every guest at the table.
Additional Services for Weddings: In addition to catering, what other services does CÔTE offer to enhance the overall wedding experience for couples? How do these services contribute to a seamless, memorable event?
Beyond exceptional food, Côte curates a complete wedding experience. From tailored runsheets and styling guidance to refined tableware and custom beverage packages, every detail is considered with intention and care.
Our beverage service ranges from thoughtfully curated wine lists to bespoke cocktails designed to reflect each couple’s style. For those seeking a more immersive moment, our mixologists bring a sense of theatre, whether through a signature spritz station or a concept entirely their own.
When the vision calls for something truly specific, we’re open to sourcing new tableware or serveware to complement the couple’s aesthetic and ensure every detail feels beautifully cohesive.
Self-Sufficiency and Versatility: What has been one of the most challenging wedding catering experiences you’ve encountered, and how did you and your team overcome it?
Every wedding presents its own challenges and our team thrives on delivering perfection no matter the setting.
Throughout the season, we travel across the upper North Island, building fully equipped mobile kitchens on private estates and remote properties. From ovens and refrigeration to kitchen benches, we bring in everything required to deliver an exceptional experience.
The logistics may be complex, but the result is always worth it. There’s something truly special about helping couples celebrate in a place that holds deep personal meaning, and ensuring the food and service are just as memorable.
Creating Unique and Memorable Weddings: What steps do you take to ensure each wedding is personalized and memorable for both the couple and their guests? Could you share some examples of how you’ve brought a couple’s vision to life?
Personalisation is at the core of what we do. No two Côte weddings are ever the same, because no two couples are. Even when certain dishes reappear, the way they’re paired always reflects the couple’s story.
This past season, one couple brought in lobster they had caught themselves, and we worked closely with them to create a standout main that placed it centre stage. For another, a cherished memory was brought to life through a beautifully crafted butternut squash and oyster mushroom raviolo. And for cocktail hour, a favourite apple gin spritz added a personal touch for another couple.
These are the moments we live for, translating a couple’s story into a refined, seamless experience that feels entirely their own.
Sourcing Local New Zealand Produce: How important is it to you to use local ingredients, and how do you ensure that your dishes reflect the best of what New Zealand has to offer?
Sourcing locally is fundamental to Côte’s philosophy. New Zealand’s produce is among the best in the world, and we take pride in showcasing its flavours through a refined European lens.
Our menus feature locally sourced honey, Clevedon buffalo mozzarella, and hand-caught seafood, with a focus on seasonality. We also integrate ingredients like whitebait, adding a uniquely New Zealand touch to our dishes, while maintaining the understated elegance and finesse that define Côte.
Trends in Wedding Catering: What catering trends are you currently seeing in weddings, and how is CÔTE adapting to these trends? Are there any specific food or beverage requests from couples that have become more popular recently?
We’re seeing a shift toward refined, individually plated courses offering a more elevated dining experience. That said, shared-style menus still have their place, especially when they reflect a couple’s vision and the atmosphere they want to create.
Live cooking stations continue to grow in popularity, particularly when it comes to seafood. From freshly shucked oysters and sashimi sliced to order, to our signature caviar bumps, these moments bring a sense of theatre and indulgence to the occasion.
On the beverage side, signature cocktails and liquid desserts remain firm favourites – think espresso martinis, along with lemon sorbet or tiramisu served in coupe glasses. At Côte, we embrace the evolving nature of wedding dining while ensuring every experience remains timeless, elegant, and uniquely tailored.
Learn more by visiting cotenewzealand.com and @cotenewzealand. Explore Côte on the Together Journal Online Directory.
Côte
