9 views

The Urban Element

(No Ratings Yet)

Last reviewed: August 9, 2026 | Ottawa | Wedding Catering |

Business status: Active.

Last reviewed: August 9, 2026. Business status: Active.

The Urban Element is an Ottawa catering and event-management company with dedicated wedding services. For couples searching for Ottawa wedding catering, its official site describes custom wedding menus, event coordination and planning support alongside food and beverage service.

The company’s former Parkdale Avenue venue closed in 2021, according to its official background page. Its current website lists a catering address on Industrial Avenue and presents weddings as an active area of service. Last reviewed: August 9, 2026.

Services and specialization

Urban Element presents itself as a full-service, turnkey wedding caterer. Its wedding page says each menu and catered event is designed around the couple’s vision, with seasonal inspiration and ingredients sourced from local farms and businesses. The company also says it can create customizable menus for weddings.

The wedding FAQ expands the service scope beyond food. It says the team can provide consultation; coordinate rentals, including tents; coordinate staffing; and connect couples with suppliers such as officiants, cake artists, musicians, DJs and photographers. The official planning page also describes help with timelines, seating plans, menus, customized bar offerings, rentals and linens.

Wedding planning is a distinct service on the site. Urban Element says its process begins with a discovery call and that a dedicated coordinator works with each couple; its catering FAQ says a coordinator is included and is on site to keep service details running to plan.

Wedding catering with customizable menus
Wedding planning and event coordination
Rental, tent and staffing coordination
Bar-service options and supplier connections

Service area and who it may suit

The business is based in Ottawa and describes itself as an Ottawa wedding catering company. It also states that it has partner wedding venues in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Couples planning a wedding in Ottawa or at a participating regional venue can ask whether their date, location and service requirements fit the company’s current coverage.

The official site describes service for both intimate gatherings and grand celebrations, but it does not publish a current wedding guest minimum or maximum. This may suit couples who want to discuss a tailored menu and coordination needs rather than select from a fixed, publicly priced package.

Ottawa-based catering operation
Partner-venue relationships in the Ottawa-Gatineau region
No current public guest-count limits found on the official wedding pages

Background and current business identity

Urban Element says it was created in 2005 by Carley and Oliver Schelck as a cooking studio and event space in Ottawa’s Fire Station No. 11 building. The company states that the venue closed in 2021 and that it continued through catering and special events.

The current official site consistently identifies the business as Urban Element and lists wedding catering, wedding planning, corporate catering, social events and home delivery in its navigation. This provides a current match for the listing’s distinctive Urban Element name and its wedding-catering category.

Official website: theurbanelement.ca
Current business name shown as Urban Element
Former Parkdale venue is not presented as the current operating venue

Confirmed strengths and practical limitations

A documented feature is the breadth of wedding logistics the company says it can coordinate: food, bar arrangements, rentals, tents, staffing and an on-site coordinator. Its stated use of seasonal, local ingredients and customizable menus is another concrete feature for couples comparing catering approaches.

The key limitation is that the public information is high-level. The official pages do not provide a current wedding menu with price points, current guest-count parameters, a list of included rentals, service-time details or a current list of partner venues accessible in the reviewed material. Those items should be confirmed before comparing proposals.

Confirmed: customizable wedding menus
Confirmed: planning and day-of coordination are described
Confirmed: gluten-free accommodations are discussed, with a cross-contact caution for severe celiac cases
Confirm: venue eligibility, staffing, rentals and event-size fit

Pricing

Current pricing is not explicitly published. Urban Element says couples are presented with a customized estimate after a discovery call, based on the details and variables discussed. Its FAQ also says proposals can change as guest count, allergies and on-site needs change.

Request a written estimate that separates menu choices, bar service, staffing, rentals, tent coordination, taxes and any other event-specific charges. This is particularly useful when comparing a catering-only proposal with a broader coordination package.

Current prices are not published on the official pages reviewed.

No current public wedding prices found on the official pages reviewed
Customized estimates follow a discovery call
Ask what is included and what remains optional

Contact and booking

Urban Element lists 855 Industrial Avenue, Unit 12, Ottawa, ON K1G 4L4; 613-722-0885; and info@theurbanelement.ca on its official website. The website also directs prospective clients to start an event inquiry and to book a discovery call for wedding planning.

When contacting the team, provide the wedding date, venue or preferred location, estimated guest count, meal style, dietary requirements and the level of planning or coordination support sought. These are the types of details the company says shape its customized estimate.

Phone: 613-722-0885
Email: info@theurbanelement.ca
Inquiry and discovery-call options are available through the official website

What couples should confirm

Confirm whether Urban Element can cater at the selected venue, whether the venue is one of its current partners and whether any venue rules affect bar service, outside suppliers or kitchen access. Ask for the current menu options, tasting process, service style, staffing plan and a written outline of rentals and setup responsibilities.

Discuss dietary needs early. The company says it can accommodate gluten-free guests and take precautions in preparation, while noting that it is not a fully gluten-free kitchen and cannot guarantee zero cross-contamination for severe celiac cases. Couples should also confirm how allergy protocols, vegetarian or other menu requests, children’s meals and late changes to guest count will be handled.

Venue and date availability
Menu, tasting and service style
Dietary and allergy procedures
Bar licensing and package details
Included coordination, rentals, staffing and final payment terms

Continue planning

Frequently asked questions

Does The Urban Element provide wedding planning as well as catering?

Yes. Its official wedding pages describe wedding planning, a discovery call, a dedicated coordinator, assistance with timelines and seating plans, and on-site coordination alongside catering.

Can The Urban Element accommodate gluten-free wedding guests?

The company says it can omit gluten from selected menu offerings and take precautions during preparation. It also states that it is not a fully gluten-free kitchen and cannot guarantee zero cross-contamination for severe celiac cases.

Does The Urban Element offer wedding bar services?

Yes. Its official FAQ says it offers host, cash and open-bar services tailored to the event, and its turnkey-service description refers to bar execution under its liquor licence endorsement.