Engaged and what to do part 2

8 03 2011

Okay, now you are overwhelmed. But informed which is good..believe me. Let’s look at this more carefully.

Now you know what you need to consider. What is most important to you? That is what it comes down to. Budgeting is the real deal and for many of you this is the first real experience at budgeting for yourself and your spouse to be. Most brides look at the wedding dress as the big thing. And that is true. My experience is that people remember wedding by 3 things; the dress, the food and the cake. Wow there is more to it than that! I mean what about the photo’s…isn’t that important? And flowers…what is up with that? The truth is it is all important in many different ways.

You will absolutely know the dress you want when you put it on. It is so personal I cannot reccomend anything to you. I will say that you should carefully consider how much of your budget will go into your dress. I know it is important, but consider that this is 1 day in your life to wear it.

The cake will probably follow your theme so consider this:

Let’s start with your theme. Is it beachy….chic…glam….unique in many ways? You can start your budget here, because you can decide where to go bearing budget in mind.

For instance, you can do DYI and go beachy by using shells you picked up on the beach on the tables as a throw or in vases or in a bowl for decor. Also sea grass in trellis small or large.. Maybe use sea glass and sand somehow. Blues and greens of course…

Maybe you do chic and use a single white orchid in a very tall black vase and use a classic black and white theme. I would use black linens and cover them with shorter white organza linens, or table runners of white. You can even do a white AND regular chocolate fountain!

Glam-orous is right up my alley. I LOVE bling! And black shows of bling like no other color. So start with black table linens and throw around some bling from craft stores and on line. Hang bling from the flower arrangements. Use crystal chandeliers. BTW they look great and glamorous in a tent!

Use a garden theme and have flowers in all kinds of pots and containers as if you were in a garden. A few years ago I created an English garden in a retail type bin display stand with colorful crudités in the bins to munch on and beautiful colorful flowers at the base with grass here and there poking out. Use pastel colors for linens and have everything scream spring.

Carry these themes and others into your food and beverage selections.

Beachy might mean a clam bake take off or at the very least seafood for food. I think of lobster bisque sip shots and clam cakes or crab cakes. How about lobster 3 ways? Maybe the lobster bisque soup shots, lobster salad on baby greens with a citrus vinaigrette of some sort and lobster tail with a lemon tarragon beurre blanc garnished with a filet and smokey bacon relish? Yummm if I do say so myself! Pair this with a signature drink of berries and aguave nectar and a pour of champagne- very refreshing.

Chic might start out with a classic martini- shaken not stirred poured through a fabulous ice martini louge. Serve wonderful scallops seared and presented with saffron aioli, then a wonderful micro green salad with pomegranate seeds and toasted candied walnuts and warm goat cheese with sherry honey vinaigrette, then lamb chops, with polenta, marscapone cheese, asparagus bundles and a dusting of smoked sea salt.

Glam might be starting with a simple seared scallop garnished with a light mole and gold leaf. Then a traditional Caesar salad prepared table side. Then beef Wellington and duchess potatoes with pattypan squash.

The garden theme is simple in season crudités in beautiful “picking baskets and flower pots. Then a harvest of seasonal vegetables for a beautiful simple salad and a light fish or chicken dish with a delicate lemon sauce with seasonal fresh vegetables.

The possibilities are endless really. If you can dream it you can create it and you can create it well with the help of professionals in the wedding business. Good luck and above all have fun!





Newly Engaged? What To Do Part One

4 01 2011

So you got engaged over the holidays! How romantic! Congrats to you. What to do next? There are so many things to do you do not know what to do. Take a look at some of my suggestions:

1. Keep on smiling and tell everyone you know!

2. Keep a sense of humor during the planning process.

3. Set a date or maybe even two dates for your search for a venue and a church. Pick dates that are significant to you both and try to look at family availability as well. Remember both families..that is how you need to start thinking!

4. Set a budget. This is where most couples get overwhelmed. According to theweddingreport.com the average 2011 budget appears to be predicted in the $20,000 to $25,000 range with an average guest list of 135 to 150 people for the wedding alone. Will your parents contribute? Or will you finance the entire bill? This is a really comprehensive list that should include all expenses so that there are no surprises.
A. Wedding rings
B. Wedding dress and other attire, shoes and jewelry
C. Bridal party attire for groomsmen and bridesmaids and ring bearer and flower girl
D. Rehearsal dinner
E. Transportation
F. Spa appointments to include test make up and hair appointment for the bride
G. Church and Officient fees
H. Wedding planner fees if needed
I. Band or DJ fees
K. Photographer/ videographer fees
L. Florist fees
M. Venue fees
N. Catering fees
O. Bar fees
P. Cake fees
Q. All necessary taxes and tips
R. The after party costs
S. Rental fees
T. Honeymoon costs
U. Gifts for bridal party and parents
V. Brunch for the day after the wedding
W. Change of outfit for bride and groom
X. Wedding night accommodations
Y. Moving costs
Z. Gift for each other

Wow the whole alphabet. Do not let this overwhelm you. It is guide to help you know the different facets of the entire process. You need to be informed so that you can make appropriate decisions regarding one of your life’s biggest events!

Come back in a week or so and see part two. Any questions please contact me.





Holiday Engagement?

28 12 2010

I am sitting in my recliner next to our Christmas tree and
in front of a great fire as I write this blog. It is blizarding out
there and I am thankful for the roaring fire. Since it is nearing
the end of 2010 I think it is a good time to look back at this year
and say I have a lot of things to be thankful for. We celebrated
our 10th year at our cafe and catering business. It is hard honest
work. Not only are we chef’s but professional schleppers. Yes that
is a industry technical word! Kathleen Kelly of Kathleen Kelly
Photographers spent and recorded a day in the life a caterer with
me last winter. It was a solid 14 hour standard day in my life as a
caterer. I think she was amazed at how hands on I am in the
business and with what stamina I have. It is good to love what you
do and I really do. It is the rush of a good job done at the end of
every event. The comments and hugs feed my soul. I am truly living
my dream as I explained to Annette Fazio during her interview of me
last spring on her radio show “Resilience is Brilliance”. I am
really lucky to have Chuck share the same dream. Chuck and I
celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary and are looking forward to
our 27th in March 2011. Even though we live and work together 24/7
we still somehow end the day reflecting and laughing over cocktails
and dinner. Some days are easier than others. Just ask our staff!
Speaking of staff, we have the BEST in the world. Although we have
a few new staff members many have been with us more than 8 years!
Everyone of our members really care about CVC Catering Group. They
are true professionals in every way. I am grateful for them and I
try to tell them that every chance I get. I am grateful for
returning customers and new customers as well. We added United Way
of Greater Portland to our customer list and catered their Grand
Finale “Back to the Future” at the awesome Ocean Gateway. We also
added Cabelas as a new customer for a cocktail party for 1225
people! I love customizing anything and this year The Maine
Historical Society allowed me to create a signature drink honoring
Henry Wadsforth Longfellow that I call the o’Henry! Emeril Lagasse
had an idea when I spoke with him and Chuck and I expanded upon it!
It was a great hit at their Holiday Celebration a few weeks ago. We
had the pleasure of working with Steve Dimillo and his very
talented Chef Melissa Bouchard at Nonesuch Golf Club for a
fundraiser and donating our services. It is great to work with
other chefs. We had a great time and it was a big success. I am
thankful for my family and friends as well. I am looking forward to
2011 with a great deal of enthusiasm and all of the new experiences
and challenges to come. Look out 2011 because here I come!





Reflections of 2010

28 12 2010

I am sitting in my recliner next to our Christmas tree and in front of a great fire as I write this blog. It is blizarding out there and I am thankful for the roaring fire.

Since it is nearing the end of 2010 I think it is a good time to look back at this year and say I have a lot of things to be thankful for.

We celebrated our 10th year at our cafe and catering business. It is hard honest work. Not only are we chef’s but professional schleppers. Yes that is a industry technical word! Kathleen Kelly of Kathleen Kelly Photographers spent and recorded a day in the life a caterer with me last winter. It was a solid 14 hour standard day in my life as a caterer. I think she was amazed at how hands on I am in the business and with what stamina I have.

It is good to love what you do and I really do. It is the rush of a good job done at the end of every event. The comments and hugs feed my soul. I am truly living my dream as I explained to Annette Fazio during her interview of me last spring on her radio show “Resilience is Brilliance”. I am really lucky to have Chuck share the same dream.

Chuck and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary and are looking forward to our 27th in March 2011. Even though we live and work together 24/7 we still somehow end the day reflecting and laughing over cocktails and dinner. Some days are easier than others. Just ask our staff!

Speaking of staff, we have the BEST in the world. Although we have a few new staff members many have been with us more than 8 years! Everyone of our members really care about CVC Catering Group. They are true professionals in every way. I am grateful for them and I try to tell them that every chance I get.

I am grateful for returning customers and new customers as well. We added United Way of Greater Portland to our customer list and catered their Grand Finale “Back to the Future” at the awesome Ocean Gateway. We also added Cabelas as a new customer for a cocktail party for 1225 people!

I love customizing anything and this year The Maine Historical Society allowed me to create a signature drink honoring Henry Wadsforth Longfellow that I call the o’Henry! Emeril Lagasse had an idea when I spoke with him and Chuck and I expanded upon it! It was a great hit at their Holiday Celebration a few weeks ago.

We had the pleasure of working with Steve Dimillo and his very talented Chef Melissa Bouchard at Nonesuch Golf Club for a fundraiser and donating our services. It is great to work with other chefs. We had a great time and it was a big success.

I am thankful for my family and friends as well. I am looking forward to 2011 with a great deal of enthusiasm and all of the new experiences and challenges to come. Look out 2011 because here I come!