Showing posts with label Caterer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caterer. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

How many guests to invite?



You want to invite how many people?!

You're engaged, you're excited and you're telling everyone.
Of course! But wait a minute...

When you run into your long lost friend you haven't seen in years and you tell them the great news... stop... just before inviting them in person.

Tell anyone you want.  Blast it out on social media.  But leave out the "You have to come!" part for a little while.

Vision

Develop a vision for your event first. Your event will look A LOT different if you invite 30 people, 75 people or 150 people.  You can pay a lot of detail to tables, flowers, drinks and food at a smaller level that you cannot at a large scale.  Unless you hire a large staff and have a large budget.
(Vision post coming soon! We know, you can hardly wait!)

Budget

Go read The Cost of a Guest

Make a realistic budget. Goto WeddingWire.com to create an easy and customizable budget.
Then think about how many people that really fits.
For example...
$7,000 may look like a lot of money for food but may really only feed 100 people.


$45pp for a minimal buffet dinner & very light appetizers.
Cake cutting fee $2.50pp
$15 per server per hour (~$1,000)
Gratuity 20%
Tax 8%
Total Due $7.452

Now if you just want a bbq delivered drop catering service you may be able to spend less.  But decide early as this may make you sad when it kills your vision and causes lots of work for you and your family and friends without a budget for set up, refill and clean up help.  If it's your plan from the get go then it's not a problem. Surprises during wedding planning can often burst your bubble.

Inviting Guests

The plan...
1. Announce without inviting all

2. Plan your vision. (We'll help you tomorrow.)

3. Determine a realistic budget.

4. Plan a number of guests.
(Don't worry, we"ll help you determine who to invite and how not to let people feel left out.)

It's a big week here at Icing Side Up.
Don't Fret!

We'll help you...

Enjoy Your Event!





Friday, October 19, 2007

New Colorado Site!

Denver Botanic Gardens

at Chatfield


Open House


The Fabulous Denver Botanic Gardens has a new undertaking. A quiet little (ok the preserve is 700 acres in total...so not small) farm right off C-470 and Wadsworth. It's like a time jump- off the highway and into calm, into peace, into a longstanding (19th century) ranch & schoolhouse. You can faintly see cars going by in the distance- you just can't hear them.
Your drive in is a picturesque view of a red barn with natural gardens all around.
But when you enter the barn, it's not so 'farm'- no dusty shoes here, no animal smell, no horse tack- just brand new gorgeous wood walls and beams and concrete floor. Even an indoor real bathroom.

A quaint little room. Really ready to be dressed up.
No adding
"please wear appropriate attire"
(read flat shoes and nothing angered by dirt) on your invitation.




seating indoor ~120 guests-150 guests



When entering the barn... an amazing smell! (ok, that's extra) If you're interested in this 'add on' call
Rocky Mountain Catering
303-216-0553

In order...
1- Great Smell
2- Great Display
3- Great Food


-The most upscale toast points, fresh salsa, we've ever seen. These people can make even the simplest look and taste amazing.

-Crusted Beef Tenderloin served with smooth, unique and very well made sauces.

-Fresh Spinach Salad with blue-cheese, walnuts and raspberries.

-Bite size chocolate pastries

These people are a world away from their bbq roots (which they still do if you'd like- and they are great at it)


Thanks Rocky Mountain, you can make me dinner anytime.


thanks also to County Line Liquor.

Also available at Chatfield: Deer Creek Schoolhouse




Saturday, May 5, 2007

Your Tasting

One of the most anticipated planning events is your caterer's tasting.

Here's a look at one bride's meal and experience.

How to know if your caterer is into you…

They...
· Serve it in a clean ballroom
(Catering offices send a budget cook message )

· Set a table for the bride and groom to see
(Bride’s have trouble visualizing.)

· Let you meet the chef
(Make them feel like a star)

· Serve a plate that actually looks like it will to their guests.
(Artistic Food Tastes Better!)

· Send them with a tuxedo strawberry
(Chocolate sets every wedding contract well.)






Menu

Chicken Limoncello
Light refreshing grilled breast of chicken on
A bed of flavorful minted Limoncello sauce
Served with fragrant jasmine rice and steamed baby vegetables

Served with a Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

Piedmont Petite Fillet
Petite fillet with herbs and tri-colored peppercorns pan seared and roasted to perfection. Served with roasted rosemary potatoes
And seasonal vegetables

Served with a MacMurray Pinot Noir
***


Special thanks to Emily Burger at http://www.magnoliahoteldenver.com/
My bride felt like royalty