Wedding Catering in Central Florida: Chinese spoons are a new tradition being introduced into wedding catering. They provide a great way to serve bite sized appetizers without the guests having to use their fingers or other awkward utensils. Chinese spoons have the perfect bowl in which to place a single bite created as a showy addition to your wedding table.

These spoons are different from traditional flatware spoons in that their bottoms are flat and can rest easily on the table without tipping or spilling. That’s something you can’t do with an ordinary spoon. They are most often white, which goes easily with most wedding décor. They are made from either porcelain or polyresin in most cases. Disposable ones are available for a more casual affair.

Chinese spoons have the perfect bowl in which to place a single bite created as a showy addition to your wedding table.

The proper use of the spoon is to use it to hold onto bites of prepared food and to eat the food from the bowl, or use chopsticks to take the food from the spoon and eat it. Since eating with chopsticks might be a bit tricky for some or all of your guests, they can use the spoons to lift the food from the plate up to their mouths, and then attempt to eat it with chopsticks. It’s much easier than trying to pick the food up off of the plate when not well practiced in the use of these utensils. They are perfect for soups as well. A canapé, an appetizer, or a pre-cut bite of a larger prepared dish is perfect when served with Chinese spoons.

Caterers can create elaborate presentations of appetizers by placing, for example, a scallop wrapped in bacon on a spoon. Other ideas for food that goes well when presented individually on Chinese spoons includes tortellini, small meatballs, curried chicken with mango sauce. Desert sweets include mini birtes of crème brulee, one strawberry drizzled with chocolate or white chocolate, or a bite of pecan sponge cake with maple syrup.

• A canapé, an appetizer, or a pre-cut bite of a larger prepared dish is perfect when served with Chinese spoons.
• Caterers can create elaborate presentations of appetizers by placing, for example, a scallop wrapped in bacon on a spoon
• Another clever use for Chinese spoons is as holders for wedding favors.

Another clever use for Chinese spoons is as holders for wedding favors. Place a small packet of cinnamon or Chinese five spices in the bowl wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon. Attach a small card with a recipe using the provided spice for the guests to take home. Be creative in using these handy spoons to create your own version of favors or try making an attractive centerpiece for each table with Chinese spoons, lace, netting, cellophane and something that fits your theme in each spoon. After the event, invite your guests to take a spoon or two home as a memento.

Lupton’s Catering: When all is in place for a wedding event, great care has most likely been taken to assure that everything matches. Brides tend to be nearly obsessed with that point. The table linens, the silverware type, the bows on the church pew ends, the flowers, the dresses, and the tuxes, all must be in the same color theme for the best possible result.

The pictures and video will be seen for years to come and therefore the one-time event must be perfect. The one thing that is often overlooked is the vehicle caravan that‘s used by the wedding couple, the wedding party, and the close friends and relatives that are set to arrive together in grand fashion. This is usually done with a mix up of personal autos and possibly a limo or two. Since most people have different colored vehicles, the chances of them matching the theme or even each other are not good.

Since most people have different colored vehicles, the chances of them matching the theme or even each other are not good

This can be easily remedied with the renting of cars just for the day, or at least part of the day. If your wedding theme is burgundy and gray, for example, why not rent the appropriate number of vehicles in the burgundy or maroon color, or in silver or gray. If a limo is used, the chances are that it will be white or black depending on the company you hire. If that’s the case you can rent the additional vehicles in the same color as the limo that the couple and wedding party will use. This is not a necessary step, of course, but will simply add to the beauty of the day.

• This can be easily remedied with the renting of cars just for the day, or at least part of the day
• Renting just one nice car for the wedding couple can give you more flexibility and help to draw a more unusual aspect to the guests’ attention.
• Think about the vehicles you will be using and consider the rental of something appropriate.

Renting just one nice car for the wedding couple can give you more flexibility and help to draw a more unusual aspect to the guests’ attention. An antique fire engine for firefighters, a horse and buggy for a country themed wedding, or a colorful VW bus for a vintage ‘hippy’ wedding will lend authenticity to the event and draw the theme together. Try renting an antique convertible for a 50’s themed event.

Think about the vehicles you will be using and consider the rental of something appropriate. If your wedding caterer is helping with the planning of the event he or she may have suggestions for you and most likely has a listing of potential rental vehicle companies.

Florida Wedding Catering: The making of the centerpieces for the wedding reception tables is a long standing tradition. There must be a centerpiece at each and every table, and a few lucky attendees will even get to take one home as a remembrance of your special day. Make them pieces that will be enjoyed long after the wedding is over and everyone has gone home.

In most cases, the bridal party engages in making the centerpieces when they meet for dress fittings, before the bachelorette party, or while the bachelor’s party is in full swing. If fresh flowers are used, it will have to wait until just before the wedding so they stay bright and fresh.

A wonderful centerpiece can be made up of almost anything you might imagine.

A wonderful centerpiece can be made up of almost anything you might imagine. Candles make a fabulous part of the most elegant pieces. They do double duty and act as a soft illumination device while everyone enjoys winding down after a long and exciting day. Place fresh flowers in the wedding party color scheme around a large diameter white candle. The wide diameter type candles are hard to tip over, providing a safety catch in case things get a little rowdy. If your wedding reception is outdoors in a tent check with local public safety authorities who will be doing an inspection to be sure candles are allowed in that setting. The alternative is to use flameless hollow wax candles that have a small electronic flame inside.

Paper origami sculptures are another great idea. If any of your friends possess an artistic side, any number of animals and shapes can be fashioned from delicate colored papers. Swans are particularly popular for wedding centerpieces, along with fresh greenery for accent.

• Candles make a fabulous part of the most elegant pieces.
• Paper origami sculptures are another great idea.
• The traditional pieces are always available for purchase and if you have the event catered be sure to ask our caterer about them.

The traditional pieces are always available for purchase and if you have the event catered be sure to ask our caterer about them. You may be able to have them made for you according to your specifications or you can let the wedding planner determine the best match for the day’s event.

The centerpiece on each table will be a focal point when your guests arrive at the reception. You needn’t serve dinner on a plain unadorned table, even if you are on a tight budget. Ask the caterer to help you with possible designs and vendors who sell the necessary supplies needed if you want to make them with the help of your bridal party.

Wedding Catering: There is a dream that’s shared among most women that says the wedding day should be the single most significant event of her life. It happens only once and will be photographed, blogged, videoed, and remembered by all forever.

You had a small, intimate wedding in mind in an unusual beachfront setting but you can’t accommodate everyone your sister says you need to invite.

There’s also a little detail that seems to sneak into many a well laid wedding plan and it has to do with friends and family. Someone wants you to have a gigantic wedding with many more people than you can possibly afford. But, they say, this is a one-time event and you certainly can’t leave out so-and-so from the guest list. And if you invite so-and-so, which is a must, you’ll also have to invite his cousin and 3 ex wives as well. Others may decide that you simply can’t have a proper wedding with a buffet, but it must be a formal sit-down plated dinner served by uniformed servers and wait staff.

Your budget can’t afford these things? You had a small, intimate wedding in mind in an unusual beachfront setting but you can’t accommodate everyone your sister says you need to invite. The mothers have been wonderful, but are now arguing over the flowers and what type is appropriate for the event.

• Hire a wedding planner and meet with her or him to plan the details of the wedding you want.
• Be firm with your well-wishers and let them know that you are planning the wedding of YOUR dreams.
• Don’t let your dearest family members and friends incite you to elope to escape the stress of planning your special day.

Believe it or not, this happens in many more instances than you might imagine. It’s always unpleasant, and is always frustrating to the bride and groom who seem to be swept under the carpet as others begin to express their ideas and insist on them. There will be a way for you to avoid all this but do be prepared as it is quite common. You see, everyone who knows and loves the couple wants to somehow contribute to the events of the day in some significant way. There are as many different ideas about what a perfect wedding looks like as there are wedding held every year so this is no surprise.

Hire a wedding planner and meet with her or him to plan the details of the wedding you want. Be firm with your well-wishers and let them know that you are planning the wedding of YOUR dreams. You’ll pick the wedding party, the guests, the venue, the music, the food, and who will perform the service for you. Don’t let your dearest family members and friends incite you to elope to escape the stress of planning your special day.

Central Florida Wedding Caterers: Providing wine for your guests would be traditional and can be done whether you have a cash bar or an open bar paid for by those holding the wedding event. You’ll want to offer a few different types as most guests will have a definite preference. As a rule of thumb, the least you should provide is one type of white and one variety of red. Leave it to the guests to decide which type they would like to drink, even at the meal.

“The typical wedding plans on about 5 glasses of wine per person.”

Each bottle of wine will hold about 5 standard measure glasses of wine. The wine should be available to all, regardless of what other alcoholic beverages are offered. Always plan to have plenty for everyone, as it’s much better to have left over wine than to run out before the event is over. The leftover wine will always find a home somewhere, if not in your own home for future use. You can also send some unopened bottles home with some of the guests if you so desire. The typical wedding plans on about 5 glasses of wine per person.

Provide a white that isn’t too dry, but not too sweet either. Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio are good choices for your white variety. Provide about 60 percent of your wine supply in whites. The reds should be similarly not too sweet or dry. Good choices for reds are Shiraz and Merlot. Merlot is darker and fruity, while Shiraz is a bit spicier. Some describe it as having a slight hint of pepper. It’s quite popular.

Beyond the still wines as described, you will want to provide champagne for toasting the happy couple. There is a nice range of prices for decent bubbly. Ask your caterer to advise you as to which variety might be suitable and affordable for your wedding reception budget. You’ll want to plan for about 2 to 3 glasses for each adult at the wedding. Be sure not to run out of champagne before the toast.

While white wines are known to be traditionally acceptable to eat with fish and veggie dishes, reds are more apropos for meats, particularly red meat. Don’t let this tradition rule who drinks what, however, as these days there is a mix-up of wines that are used and it has more to do with personal preference than what is appropriate to drink with specific foods.

Tampa Bay Wedding Catering: You will need to sign a contract with your caterer before you can expect to receive their service on your event day. Signing the contract will be of advantage to you both. The price will be agreed to, assuring you that the price will be within your budget agreed to, and assuring the caterer of work for that particular time period.

The menu items to be served will be settled, extras will have add-on prices that you’ll know of ahead of time, and the caterer will know what you have agreed to serve so they can begin preparation. It will be easy for you both to go forward with what you need to do prior to the event to make everything go smoothly. The manner of serving will also be settled at that time, which also helps with the preparation since a plated dinner has different requirements for staff and equipment than a buffet style meal. When you sign a contract for a plated dinner, you will be assured that the caterer is well aware of the staffing that will be needed well ahead of the event. The staff can be properly outfitted with appropriate attire and should be practiced in the serving and bussing process.

You may, for example, determine that it will be easier to have the caterer provide tables, chairs, linens, and silverware as the event gets closer and you don’t have time to obtain it yourself as originally planned. The important thing is to know what each add-on item might cost before you order it. Often there are additional guests that must be accommodated after the signing of the contract. The caterer should have a price for you in case that should happen and it should be clearly marked in the contract.

The contract should also have provision for the payment of the services. It may contain a specific percentage due as a deposit, and the amount due as the balance upon completion of the event minus add-ons. The policy should be outlined where deposit return is concerned in case of cancellation of the event.

Of course, go over the contract with the caterer and make sure you understand what is meant in all aspects before you sign it. If it is complex, in legal language you don’t understand, or you have questions about it, contact an attorney for advice.

Planning a wedding -Tampa Fl: The wedding cake is one of the centerpieces of your wedding reception. Everyone will gather around the cake when it’s time to do the traditional cutting and eating of the first piece by the bride and groom. It will be most likely sitting on display throughout many of the activities prior to the cake distribution, so the way the cake looks will be just as important as how it tastes. Remember that the most delicious cake in the world will not be impressive in the photo documentation if it is just so-so looking or doesn’t have the appropriate style for the wedding theme you’ve chosen.

Some caterers either make wedding cakes as part of the catering package you can buy, or they know someone who does make them separately as a specialty item. The way to find out is to ask your caterer. In fact, you can ask as one of your preliminary questions when you are looking to hire your caterer. When you receive the name of a cake maker, contact them or ask the caterer to set up the appointment for you to see their offerings and provide a taste testing session. Most cakes can be made in a wide variety of flavors and fillings and the taste won’t necessarily affect the look. Most cakes for weddings are white, so that does limit the flavor of the outer frosting, but if chocolate is preferred it can be used for the cake flavor or for the filling between the cake’s layers.

Some caterers either make wedding cakes as part of the catering package you can buy, or they know someone who does make them separately as a specialty item.

Talk to the experts about your wedding cake. Another good idea is to get references and contact them as well. You may have friends that can recommend a good cake maker, too. Ask them if they were pleased with the overall cake, if it appeared on time, if the taste and quality was what they expected it to be, and whether or not they were willing to work with the caterer.

Don’t hesitate to be creative in your request. If you don’t want a traditional cake, then be sure to say so. Let them know that you are interested in alternative choices. Some weddings now serve decadent chocolate cakes, rich organic carrot cakes, and other custom sizes and shapes to fit the occasion’s theme. Who says your cake has to be 3 tiers of white with little statues of a bride and groom on top?

Weddings on a budget- Tampa Fl:  Have you considered catering your own wedding to save money? You may not have checked the prices to have professionals come in and take care of it for you. There are plans to fit almost any wedding budget so do some research and find out what it would really cost you. You may be very glad you did. The big day will be stressful enough for the bride as well as family and friends who are helping to plan and coordinate everything that has to fall in place the day of the big event.

Having a caterer take care of feeding your wedding guests can be the best money you spent as it will free you and your family up to actually enjoy the day, which will happen only once. There are services available from caterers that include everything from food service and cleanup to finding you a good photographer to document the grandest of days. On the other hand, if you are working within a tight budget, simply tell the caterer what you budget is and get some advice on what you can get for the money you have to spend.

There are services available from caterers that include everything from food service and cleanup to finding you a good photographer to document the grandest of days.

The caterer may tell you that he can provide you with a fabulous served meal for a limited number of guests as long as you, family, and/or friends do your own cleanup. The decorating can also be handled by a few people you know will enjoy doing the honors. There are many options available and at different price ranges so be sure to ask. Don’t assume you can’t afford to have help until you discuss it with a professional. It costs nothing to ask and most caterers are happy to sit down with their potential clients and go over the price list. Items and services are broken down into specific costs for each line item or you can purchase a package that includes several of those items.

If your budget is tight, consider having less people attend, or serve a simpler meal. Check the price list and have the caterer help you to decide if you aren’t sure what you want. They do this for a living and are accustomed to working with people of all event budget levels, so ask away. The answers may surprise you in a good way. Don’t stick the mother of the bride and your sisters in the kitchen cooking all day when they could be enjoying your happy moment.

Staff management is an important part of the total catering experience. An event with food service provided by a well run staff will be a pleasure and will make a big difference in the satisfaction of your guests

Planing an event with Catering -Tampa FL: Your event will be a joyous occasion and you expect it to go relatively smoothly. Once you have the menu planned and the décor figured out, the entertainment and photographer booked, you can relax and wait for the big day to arrive. When that day comes, you should be able to count on each and every professional you’ve hired to do the job properly.

This will depend on the leadership skills that your caterer has in managing the staff. Just making great food is not enough for the professional caterer.

One of the critical factors that will make a difference is how your caterer handles his or her staff. Catering staff should quietly go about their business, preparing food, laying out table settings, and setting up food service stations. They should each have a specific job and you or your guests shouldn’t even notice them moving like a well oiled machine in the background.

This will depend on the leadership skills that your caterer has in managing the staff. Just making great food is not enough for the professional caterer. Unless you are putting on a small event that can be cooked for by one person, the caterer or event manager must have the skill to coordinate and keep the staff working in a way that results in a beautifully presented final product – the food.

The leadership on the catering crew should show an enthusiasm for what he or she is doing. A proactive approach to serving and keeping the buffet tables or dinner courses moving is a skill in itself. The best caterers work very hard and lengthy hours because they usually have numerous clients.

This keeps them very busy and their staff must appear to be cooperative and responsive to the boss’s requests. Motivating the employees to treat the event guests with attentive respect takes a good and capable leader. While most customers don’t think of that as a prerequisite for choosing a caterer, it can most certainly be very important.

Ask around if you aren’t sure about a catering company’s reputation. You’ll find plenty of comments from those who have had a great experience with a caterer. Those that do events well have many fans. Recommending a good caterer will include not only the taste and quality of the food served, but the customer service that goes along with it. That’s where the staff leadership skills are evident. Keeping the staff motivated to keep moving and to provide service with a smile is one of those special skills that great caterers have honed to perfection.

There are ways to save money when planning your wedding so that you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to make it happen. Ask your caterer for money saving tips and use your own resources to cut the bill by hundreds of dollars.

Wedding Catering on a Budget -Tampa Fl:  Many engaged couples hesitate to plan the wedding soon as they know it will cost them a small fortune to hold the event. If you are careful and use all the money saving tips you can find you may be able to go ahead with your wedding day sooner than you think. If money is the thing holding you back, worry no more. There are lots of ways to create a wonderful and memorable day without taking out a second mortgage on your home or selling everything you own.

First, find a good place to hold your event that won’t cost you anything, or perhaps just a deposit that will be returned to you when the event is over. Think of your relatives and close friends’ homes and you may find that someone has a lovely yard in which to hold your wedding. You might even consider having it at your own home. It’s amazing what a caterer can do to offer either decorating advice or to bring in nice wedding decorations to make it special.

First, find a good place to hold your event that won’t cost you anything, or perhaps just a deposit that will be returned to you when the event is over

The second way you can save money is to have a friend who takes great photos capture a picture of the two of you and make your own invitations. You can do a simple ‘save the date’ postcard with your photo on it. Then follow up with your formal invitations announcing the venue or location and the time details. Even stationery can be made with discount software right on your home computer. Take an original to the local print shop to run them off as it might be cheaper than the ink you’ll use in your home printer.

Third, as far as decorating goes, there will inevitably be flowers throughout the day. Get someone you know to make the flower arrangements for the church or venue and even the bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids. This might be a great job for the moms to do together. Buy the flowers in bulk that match your chosen theme and let them design and wrap them up for display. The supplies can be purchased at hobby or craft stores.

The fourth and fifth tips are for the day of the event. Plan to borrow a nice car to arrive and depart in. There’s no need to rent a limo as someone close to you probably owns a classy car you can borrow. For the entertainment, hire a local band or dj that could use the exposure and will do a decent job.