This January, I had the honor of planning the Spring 2009 Bridal Tasting for Catering by the Family.  The event took place at Higgins Hall of St Lawrence Catholic Church – it is an enormous space with huge ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking a patio and fountain area.  We elected a “Beach Resort Chic” motif and chose a color scheme of Tiffany Blue, Caribbean Teal, Bayberry, and Taupe, with Ivory accents.   We called all of our favorite vendors to be present; from photographers to DJs to hair and makeup to stationery.  We ended up having our maximum of 15 wedding professionals present at the Bridal Tasting.  Then we designed a menu, featuring (among other things):

~ A crudités display in square glass jars, arranged in a sand display with a centerpiece of vegetable flowers lit with LED lights!

~ A hand-rolled Sushi Station with custom sushi and sashimi (incredible!)

~ A Mashed Potato Martini Bar with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes and various toppings displayed in giant martini glasses, along with an awesome martini glass pyramid filled with white sand, turquoise water, and LED lights!

~ A Create-Your-Own Pasta Station, complete with pasta “shells” to compliment our beachy theme!

~ A Dress-Your-Own Cupcake Bar with White, Chocolate, and Amaretto mini cupcakes ready for spreading with various fillings and toppings like Peanut Butter, Cannoli Rum Cream, Buttercream, and Chocolate Fudge! YUM!

~ A Chef-attended Bananas Fosters Station offering flambéed Bananas in a Rum-Caramel sauce over Vanilla Ice Cream!

~ A Sand Castle cake made with pulverized Graham Crackers and Sugar Seashells

We arranged a cocktail table area near the main stage, with hightop tables and silver bar-height Chivari chairs.  In the center of the room we created a giant feasting table surrounded by 20 covered banquet chairs tied with coordinating sashes.  This table was dressed to impress, with silver chargers, silver-rimmed China, and a variety of centerpieces and candles, all for display.  Surrounding the feasting table we placed a pair of square tables and four round tables with white Chivari chairs at which guests could sit and enjoy their food!  And towards the rear of the hall, we displayed an amazing conch shell ice sculpture surrounded by plush white bench seating and low cocktail tables featuring an ivory satin net overlay – very chic. 

My favorite florist, Jeff, from Four Seasons Flora of Tampa, did all of the amazing floral centerpieces pictured – they are geniuses there, and are always my first choice!  The feasting table boasted a towering palm and bamboo piece, easily 12’ tall (which looked fabulous since it helped fill the negative space to the ceiling) and crystal-studded vases of orchids were delicately suspended from the bamboo.  Square teal glass vases cradling heads of white hydrangea, and votive candles completed the décor of the show-stopping table.  The surrounding guests tables featured unique centerpieces as well – one of my favorites was the green ocean themed piece, made of a frame of glass cubes filled with black river rocks, floating candles, moss, and orchids, surrounding a large vase of green bamboo poles and gorgeous fancy goldfish swimming around inside.  Truly a work of art and I can’t wait to feature it at one of my upcoming weddings – what a conversation piece! 

As guests arrived they were welcomed by the tropical tunes of a steel drummer, and enjoyed hand-passed appetizers while waiting for the doors to open.  We opened our doors to over 200 guests, half of which were brides, and received an overwhelming positive response!  Gone are the days of the same-old-same-old catering, cookie-cutter centerpieces, and by-the-book wedding vendors!  How about interactive chef-attended food stations?  Custom hand-made invitations?  A photo-booth?  A bridesmaids’ day at the tanning salon?  Walking down the aisle to a steel drum band or ukulele player?  A coffee table-style wedding album?  The possibilities are endless, and if you’re in need of such inspiration, be sure to attend the next Bridal Tasting by Catering by the Family in April…