Jen + Francois

05.08.10

Jen and Francois had the kind of at-home wedding we all dream of.
 

Sweet, homegrown flowers, an intimate setting and fresh, delicious food...

From Beef Satays to Mahi Mahi with Margarita Lime Butter,

Mixed Berry Skewers and Grilled Cheese Bites and Tomato Soup Shooters-

their eclectic menu was just the right touch for their close friends and family.

Many thanks to Lauren Youngs for sharing her beautiful photos.

   

    

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Congratulations Jen and Francois on your happily ever after!!

Photo Inspired Weddings

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, imagine how many will be said
about your unique, photo-inspired wedding? 

Photos are the most expressive way to represent your new life together,
by celebrating how you got there.
Or honoring family and friends that have supported you.

Instead of table numbers, honor incredible marriages
by naming the table after them!
The "Grandma and Grandpa Fitzpatrick" table can be adorned
with photos of their wedding day.
How surprised would Mom and Dad be by a table dedicated to them?

 Or, for a smaller wedding, have a friend take Polaroids of guests at the ceremony. At the reception, string them up or paste them to a large photo mat for guests to sign throughout the night. 

 

 Another idea is a homemade "banner". It's a cheap, adorable DIY project that can transform even the stuffiest reception hall into an intimate gathering. Skip the flowers and toile and string together photos over the years- your first day of kindergarten, your high school prom, intermingled with photos of you two dating.

The best part about a photo "banner" is it can be dressed up to fit an elegant reception, or more casual for a picnic wedding.

More Station Ideas

We were recently featured in Catering Magazine, in an article detailing stations. Check it out and get some ideas for your wedding! Smoothie Station, anyone?

Fun & Festive Stations, Catering Magazine"One tried-and-true strategy caterers across the country have employed is the use of food stations. A food station is high-impact, low-cost, festive and fun. And itsn't creating a "festive and fun" atmosphere why we're all in this business anyway?

"Stations truly make an event," says Carol Thompson of Katherine's Catering in Ann Arbor, MI. "If a client has a tight budget or can't afford that extra 'oomph'- the entertainment factor- we like to suggest a station because it brings an element of class and extravagance. It's the reason people watch the Food Network; they love to see live cooking, professional chefs or bartenders in their world. The fact that it's still a part of their meal is very appealing."

The staff at Katherine's Catering has a unique idea for a breakfast station. They offer the Pancake Station with a Smoothie Bar- which is much more than the name suggests. Katherine's chefs fill the station with an assortment of baked goods, fresh fruit, bacon and sausage, transforming an everday breakfast into an actual event for a good price.

Originally, this station featured myriad choices of pancake toppings, such as fresh fruit, chocolate chips, pecans, whipped cream, jams, butter and five different syrups. Needless to say, the station was a hit, frequently requested by clients. But as the recession commenced, our friends in Michigan noticed that this station became very costly for the clients. Offering all those extra ingredients added up to a pretty heft price. Instead of getting rid of the options that the station offered completely, Katherine's merely revamped it's ingredients. They now offer three signature pancake batters, replacing the variety of previously available toppings. This change gave them a way to stay cost effective but still give their clients that "wow" experience.

Katherine's Catering Smooth Bar complements the Pancake Station with delicious, freshly made smoothies in Berry Banana and Peach Mango. For elegant adult breakfasts, Katherine's even offers a Champagne Smoothie. To help keep the costs down, the company tweaks the menu to feature smoothies made with in-season fruits."

A Charming Rehearsal Dinner

We love local businesses.

There's something about the community of being a Michigan owned company that creates a sense of warmth and hospitality

that no corporate place can touch.

Which is why, whenever possible,

we love to give shout outs to some amazing people who are doing things right.

Like Amici Italian Bistro in Plymouth..

An Old Village farmhouse transformed into a quaint, traditional Italian restaurant. Owned by two brothers, one runs the kitchen and the other the dining room, you feel like family the minute you walk in the door.

The best part about Amici is that everything is homemade and local. 

Absolutely everything- from the salad dressings to the desserts.

Fresh, handmade pastas, pizzas and a chicken parmigiana

that would make your grandmother jealous!

As we dined, all we could discuss was how this place would be the perfect spot for a rehearsal dinner (or perhaps to pop the question?). A quiet setting with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, space is limited but it just adds to the cozy appeal.

Definitely check it out and keep supporting local businesses!

Tone Down Your DIY Wedding

The latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings had an amazing article about DIY weddings- including a few couples whose entire wedding was made by their own hands!

While that is an impressive feat, most brides just don't have the time to sew their own dress, bake their own cake or arrange their own flowers... and that's okay.

Make your wedding special by choosing just a couple elements or personal touches. One idea we found is the invitation. Since it can be made a few months before the stress sets in, it's a great way to add your own flair and set the tone of your wedding, simply. Try this idea we found on the DIY Website...

A simple stencil on recycled paper creates a fun, fanciful style! Flip the stencil or use a different color paint or paper on your Thank You cards for a continuous look without extra work or cost.

 

Another way is to add a few signature ideas to a professional's touch. Like a few of your grandmother's antique brooches to your bouquet, perhaps?

Or add a few favorite recipes to your delicious wedding dinner!

Just hand your caterer your mother's (Top Secret!) Italian meatloaf recipe
and it can become Tuscan Mini Meatball Skewers with Rustic Italian Pepperonata. She, and the rest of your guests, will adore it!

Kyle + Mike

This past weekend's wedding was a particularly special one for us. Mike, our service manager, married Kyle, one of our event planners. What an amazing gift to be able to witness two people fall in love, right in front of your eyes. And their wedding was i n c r e d i b l e . . .

 

 

Their custom made martini luge was the hit of the cocktail hour! Cotton Candy Martini, anyone?

LOVED the photo booth- it added a fun touch to a very elegant affair!

The ballroom absolutely sparkled with diamonds and the fresh flowers at each table were accented with dangling crystals and crystal rocks around the table.

The happy couple!

More photos to come of this amazing night...

Picnic Under the Stars

A new idea for a casual, picnic wedding? Ditch the tables! AND chairs!

Offer each of your guests a blanket to sit on with a picnic basket dinner and mason jars full of lemonade.

Think of how much you’ll save on rentals, centerpieces, a fancy reception hall and decorations!

Just reserve your favorite park or even set up in your backyard.

Go all out with the picnic theme and set up areas of hula hoops for kids, horseshoe or croquet.

 Dance under the stars, with grass under your feet and your closest family and friends nearby.

 

 Finish your evening with a s'mores station, the perfect end to a warm summer night.

Just be sure to give your guests a heads up, so that Aunt Sharon doesn’t show up in that red mini dress and stilettos she loves so much…

Top 5 Wedding Food Myths

One comment we hear constantly in the wedding business is, "We're not exactly foodies..." or "we love good food but we don't know much about gourmet." So we'd like to debunk the top 5 wedding food myths.

Myth #5- Family Style means Cheap and Easy

 

Eh, not exactly. From a caterers point of view, family style (when large platters of food are set out on the table for guests to pass around) certainly brings a level of intimacy to the event. However, it can be hard logistically. There tends to be a lot of extra food gone to waste, extra platters need to be rented, extra dishes to be washed, centerpieces are small or nonexistent... And unlike served dinners, your guests will be determining their portion size, instead of the trained Chef. So little Timmy might have eyes bigger than his stomach, leaving Uncle Joe with a smaller size (or feeling ripped off!). Family style can be done very nicely, but note that it requires a lot of planning to appear this casual.

Myth #4- Your alcohol choices are limited to nonalcoholic, wine and beer OR full bar. Period.

Mango Mojitos

While your venue may have specific limits on alcohol, you are by no means limited creatively in your cocktail conundrum. If you choose just wine and beer, add sangria to a summer wedding or hot spiced wine to a winter affair. Or champagne smoothies for a more whimsical touch.

     

Wanting to do a full bar but not sure what to get? Stick with the basics (vodka, rum, gin, tequila, whiskey), add in some mixers (triple sec, vermouth, sour mix, grenadine, soft drinks, juice), some garnish (lemons, limes, cherries and olives) and just a couple add-ins (Kahlua, Bailey's, etc.). Wedding guests know what they like to drink, but if offered a world of free liquor, most people use the opportunity to taste test (costing you more money).

    

A word on dry weddings... unless your venue forbids it or it's a morning ceremony, please consider cocktails. Remember that your guests will be mingling with strangers, sitting at a table of mixed company and dancing in the midst of many flash cameras going off. Since they are here to support you, libations are appreciated.

Myth #3- Buffet Food is straight out of the 80's

Garden Themed Buffet

The word buffet has become somewhat negative over the years- conjuring up images of chafing dishes, mirrored platters and servers with really bad hair. But the word has long evolved into a fresh, new take- ranging from towers of sculpted cuisine to creative arranged bites. And while chafing dishes may still show up at your wedding, rest assured that they will not be the centerpiece. Most caterers create beautiful food displays without being prompted, but be sure to let them know what your vision is. A candy themed wedding? How about strands of gumdrops draped in the background, with colorful layered platters holding your food. A rustic, outdoor celebration? Handwritten menu items on recycled paper can be hung from cut tree branches in a vase.

  

Myth #2- Vegetarian Bride means Vegetarian Wedding

Summer Pasta Toss

Oy. This is a popular one. Again, it's about personal taste and respecting that everyone might not share your love for tofu. But instead of the "Beef, Chicken or Veg" option, mix it up with a strolling station wedding. Offering tables and bars set up around the room with various items (both vegetarian and carnivorous) lets your guests mingle, cocktail in hand, and enjoy the best of both worlds! Besides, it much easier to convince your meat-and-potatoes family of the joy of vegetables when it's offered from an exotic station and not off of your fork with a plea of "try this!!"/

We suggest a Spanish tapas style mixed with Mediterranean. Garlicky, delicious hummus with freshly baked tortilla chips mingling with assorted olives, savory beef empanadas and lamb meatballs means heaven for your eclectic group of guests.

    

and the #1 Myth about Wedding Food- It Must Be Gourmet

Mac N' Cheese Cakes

This is your wedding. Don't let anyone tell you what "should" be or what they would do. If you and your fiance fell in love over a plate of Mexican food and a pitcher of margaritas, incorporate it into your wedding with Exotic Nacho Bites (individual baked tortilla chip bites topped with fresh pineapple mango salsa) with a Tropical Margarita Bar. Are you more the picnic type that can't stand stuffy affairs? Throw an outdoor wedding with Martini Hamburgers (to-die-for burgers stuffed with bleu cheese and olives and topped with crispy onion slices), a Smoked Sausage and Mixed Vegetable Grill and an array of salads and fresh fruits. 

Anything can be made "gourmet". Mac N' Cheese, Bagels, Pizza, Sushi, Popcorn... Just stick with the foods you love and you can't go wrong.

Ann Arbor Farmers Market Wedding

Mekkena and James celebrated their love with a true Ann Arbor classic. A unique wedding, in the middle of the most organic setting,
the Farmers Market. 

After the farmers and vendors cleared their booths, the covered walkways were draped with twinkle lights and antique frames were hung.
 

The food was pure and simple, vivacious flavors of fresh tomato and garlic in the bruschetta, a tossed spinach and strawberry salad with crunchy pecans, herb crusted pork loin with Michigan apples and more.