About Us | Castle Gardens ILM

Meet Chef Dex

D'Xtira "Chef Dex" Brown is the visionary founder and CEO of Castle Gardens ILM, a premier boutique catering and event planning firm in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Raised in the Bahamas surrounded by lush, tropical beauty, her early environment profoundly shapes the elegant, nature-inspired aesthetics of her events today. After dedicating nearly two decades to frontline healthcare, the pandemic catalyzed a bold pivot. Driven by a desire to prioritize wellness and family, Chef Dex transformed her lifelong passion for culinary artistry and design into a thriving enterprise.

Today, she meticulously curates refined, turnkey celebrations anchored by fresh, locally sourced ingredients and breathtaking presentation. By seamlessly blending her vibrant Caribbean soul with global flavors, Chef Dex crafts deeply personal, elevated experiences that linger in the memories of every guest.

Planning Your Experience

Chef Dex's Notes

Beyond the Menu
We offer comprehensive venue styling—including linens, chargers, custom menus, welcome boards, and floral bud vases. Every detail is flawlessly handled.

Guest Count & Capacity
Your venue's legal occupancy controls your guest limit. Start by finalizing this number before making any other major decisions.

Menu & Budget Alignment
Your culinary selections directly drive your budget. Premium items like tenderloin and fresh seafood will adjust your investment accordingly.

Bespoke Design & Decor
From rustic Southern charm to downtown elegance, we bring your exact vision to life. Please note that elaborate Pinterest inspirations and lush florals require an adjusted budget.

Seamless Coordination
We highly recommend securing a Month-Of Coordinator to keep your timeline on track. Going off-schedule impacts both venues and vendor success.

Complete Setup & Breakdown
We manage the heavy lifting from start to finish. You simply arrive looking fabulous and leave with zero stress.

Holiday & Seasonal Events
Premium pricing applies to seasonal and holiday dates. We consider it a profound honor to step away from our own families to celebrate with yours.

Tailored Investment
Our services begin at a $3,000 minimum—because you and your guests deserve an exceptional, highly-curated experience worth remembering.

What Guests Are Saying

★★★★★

"I own a childcare business and had the wonderful opportunity to have this company cater our Christmas party. What a great time we had and the food was fantastic not just because of the presentation (amazing display) but how delicious the variety of foods tasted. Want a successful event? Don’t hesitate, contact Castle Gardens ILM for all your catering needs, you will thank me later."

- Cheryl A.

★★★★★

"We really enjoyed the charcuterie boards you made. You were easy to get in touch with and everything looked great with only two days notice. We appreciate it and will definitely use you if we need catering again!"

- Jennifer L.

★★★★★

"I know nothing about decorating and was very fortunate to find someone comfortable doing elaborate weddings who added a perfect touch of elegance to a 75th birthday bash. Many of the guests went out of their way to compliment me about the whole feel in the room. Set up and take down was smooth."

- Scott A.

★★★★★

"Dex did a wonderful job for my father’s funeral reception - beautiful display and absolutely wonderful food, both in selection and taste, as well as presentation. I was completely satisfied, and would highly recommend her!!"

- Randy M.

The Hands Behind Your Event

The strength of Castle Gardens ILM lies in the people bringing each event to life. Our team combines refined service, creative vision, and operational expertise to deliver flawless, turnkey celebrations. Every detail is thoughtfully managed with professionalism and grace. We take pride in creating an experience that feels effortless for you and exceptional for your guests. Your investment is supported by a team fully committed to excellence.

Looking Ahead

Castle Gardens ILM of the FUTURE will be a 10+ acre Botanical Gardens Venue located in Castle Hayne NC. An ecotourism oasis where families can disconnect an spend time outdoors. A place where celebrations, family reunions, business retreats, concerts, festivals, movies on the lawn and so much more can be hosted. We want to keep families connected and create memories of a lifetime. A legacy Wilmington NC can be proud of.

Until then, we proudly serve the Wilmington region and surrounding beach towns, partnering with private homes and elite venues to bring the Castle Gardens ILM experience wherever your celebration takes place.

SUPPORT THE VISION

Locations served: Wilmington, Topsail Beach, Surf City, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Ocean Isle, Sunset Beach, Southport, Bald Head Island, Figure Eight Island, Leland, Brunswick, Whiteville, Burgaw, Wallace, NC (1.5 hrs outside the Wilmington area.)

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OUR STORY

The Heart of Castle Gardens ILM

Meet Chef Dex

Planning Your Experience

Chef Dex's Notes

What Guests Are Saying

- Cheryl A.

- Jennifer L.

- Scott A.

- Randy M.

The Hands Behind Your Event

Looking Ahead

CONTACT INFO