When it comes to planning a memorable wedding reception, one aspect that often gets overlooked is the late-night snack menu. After hours of dancing and celebrating, guests are bound to work up an appetite. Offering a delectable array of late-night snack options can keep the party going and leave a lasting impression on your loved ones. In this blog post, we'll explore some creative and mouthwatering menu ideas to consider for your wedding reception's late-night snack selection.
As you plan your special day, one important aspect to consider is the wedding cake. Choosing the right cake can be a daunting task, especially with so many flavors, styles, and designs to choose from. To help you make the best decision, we've compiled a list of cake tasting tips for brides and grooms.
The Groom's Cake is a tradition popular in the South, but where did this tradition come from?
In the Victorian Era, the groom's cake was a dense fruit cake. Small pieces of cake were put into boxes and given to the single women at the wedding. The women put the cake under their pillow to bring dreams of their future husband.
While that tradition has gone away, the groom's cake is still generally darker or denser than the wedding cake. Popular favorites include chocolate cake, carrot cake, or cheesecake. And it is still popular to box the groom's cake and give it to your guests as a wedding favor.
We see lots of our couples serve the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner rather than at the wedding. Usually, the cake is designed with the groom's interests or hobbies in mind. The fun cake pictured here is from Jenna and Andy's wedding, and was created by Classic Cakes and photographed by Fox Fotography.
So do you have to have one? No, it's your wedding - do whatever you want to! But it is a fun way to incorporate a touch of the groom's personality into the wedding day.
At last year's Association of Bridal Consultants' conference, I was introduced to Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka. What a great addition to a signature drink! They have lots of great recipes on their website, but here are two they featured at the conference.
Blushing Bride (shown in photo)
2 oz Pearl Wedding Cake 2 oz Cranberry Juice 1/2 oz Prosecco
Chill champagne glass. Pour ingredients as listed. Garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve.
Tropical Wedding
2oz Pearl Wedding Cake 4oz Pineapple Juice
Pour Pearl in chilled martini glass. Add pineapple juice. Garnish with pineapple wedge.
Do you have signature drink recipe you'd like to share? Post it in the comments below!
When you begin planning your wedding menu, there are many more decisions to make that just sit-down or stations/buffet. Here are some tips to consider:
Think about what foods are in season at the time of your wedding. In-season fruits and vegetables are more budget friendly too!
Choose foods that will pair nicely both in flavor and in presentation. Monochromatic may work as a wedding color scheme, but it doesn't work well on a plate. Be sure to choose a variety of colors and textures for your meal.
Avoid overly spicy foods. There are few things worse that heartburn during your wedding reception!
Ask your caterer about alternate meals for vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies. They will usually offer an alternate entree that will meet all these needs.
Consider printing menu cards that detail the meal and include them at each place setting. If someone does have a concern about a menu item, they can ask their server.
Don't be afraid to ask your caterer about incorporating a family recipe into your menu. Most chefs love to try new recipes, with enough advance notice.
(photo by La Dolce Vita Studios)
Special diets are a hot topic in the catering industry these days - and I'm not talking about South Beach vs. Atkins. Many people have dietary restrictions, including sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan, and why shouldn't they get to eat cake at their own wedding?
Many cake bakers in North Florida recognize the importance of dietary restrictions, and have cake options for their clients.
If you have a special dietary restriction, you may consider ordering a small cake that can be placed near the traditional wedding cake.
Or, ask your cake baker about a dummy cake! Many cake bakers can make a cake of Styrofoam and fondant, making it look very real. Then they can add a small layer of cake made especially for you, which you can cut during the reception. Then, the guests can be served from sheet cakes that are stored in the kitchen. This way, you get to cut your wedding cake and eat it, and your guests can enjoy a more traditional cake recipe.
If you have close family members or friends that have dietary restrictions, some may recommend having special cupcakes for them. While this is nice, it often draws attention to the fact that they have a special need. Consider having a small cake in the back and alerting your caterer to those that should be served the special cake.
The pretty cake featured here is from one of our past weddings, and was created by Simply Delicious! Cakes - they offer a variety of special diet cakes in North Florida.
Announcing our newest seminar, Blueprint For Wedding Success! Join us for an afternoon of valuable tips and information from Master Bridal Consultant, Heather Canada. Topics include:
Ceremony:
Reception:
Extras:
Followed by individual Q&A with Master Bridal Consultant Heather Canada. Plus:
Tickets are only $15 per person, or two tickets for $25. Plus, clients of First Coast Weddings, Avalon Hall, and The Perfect Pear get a special discount! (Ask us for details.) Seating is limited, so sign up today at http://weddingblueprint.eventbrite.com.
Lately, we have been getting a lot of questions from brides about what to put in their welcome bags. In case you aren't familiar with the term, these are little bags or baskets of goodies delivered to the hotel room of your out-of-town guests. They can be as elaborate or as simple as your budget will allow!
The container itself can be inspired by your wedding location, theme, or personalities - we've seen everything from cute beach pails to formal baskets to reusable shopping bags. If you opt for the gift bag route, you can have them printed with your names and wedding date, or attach a cute tag to the handle. The bag pictured here is from FavorsYouKeep.com.
So what goes inside? The most common items are:
From the basics, you can upgrade to include bottles of wine, personalized toiletry items like lotion or bubble bath, even slippers! If you are planning a beach wedding, perhaps a pair of flip flops and bottle of sunscreen. For a garden wedding, a lovely hat. Just remember that your guests will have to pack these items for their trip home, or leave them behind.
When our brides ask us for "regional" favorites, we suggest:
What are some of your favorite welcome bag items?
Too often, I hear about couples that let wedding planning overwhelm their lives. I've mentioned it on the blog before, but I have a quote on my office wall that says, "Now and then, it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." (quote by Guillaume Apollinaire)
What better way to spend time together as a couple than cooking! Here in Jacksonville, we are lucky enough to have an Apron's Cooking School at the Publix at San Jose and I-295. You might think "cooking school" sounds boring, but these chefs are anything but. From the Publix website:
Whether you're a brand-new beginner or an experienced cook wanting to expand your repertoire, we have classes that you'll find entertaining and informative. Renowned chefs, authors, cooking celebrities and restaurant chefs make the culinary arts accessible and fun. Some classes focus on certain cuisines or cooking techniques, others center on topics such as desserts or holidays. We also offer deliciously entertaining gourmet food and wine tastings, and cooking classes just for kids and teens.
Some examples of classes coming up in January are:
Some classes are demonstration-style, where you watch the chefs prepare food for you to sample, while other classes are hands-on. Most classes include wine pairings and 3-5 courses (appetizer, soup/salad, entree, dessert).
Our local chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives has had several luncheon meetings at Apron's, and the food is always amazing! So next time you are looking for a fun date night, check out the Publix website.
Danielle coordinated an amazing wedding last weekend! Since she is busy with her own wedding preparations (CONGRATS, DANIELLE!) I thought I would share this link to a blog post from Oeil Photography about the wedding.
Check out the post for more AMAZING images!
I'll admit it, I've never been into Christmas. My dad's family lives in a town called Christmas, where there is a permanent Christmas tree and until recently had a post office that resembled a gingerbread house. My holidays as a child were a rushed and hectic time being juggled between my divorced parents and extended families. When I was in college, I worked in retail, which meant Christmas was a time of cranky customers and screaming children. After college, I worked in the convention services department of a large hotel where Christmas meant working 6-7 days a week at all hours of the day.
All this combines to make me a little Christmas-weary. Not to mention the fact that they start decorating the mall in OCTOBER.
However, the friendly elves at Serenatea have been hard at work for the past few weeks making an entire forest of Christmas cookie trees. I know, you are thinking, what is so special about a tree-shaped cookie? Well, these are three-dimensional trees!
I don't decorate my house for the holidays, but I could definitely get used to having one of these cuties around - at least for an hour until I ate it!
Today I spent a great afternoon at The White Room in St. Augustine with bride Hsinyi and groom Kevin. In addition to sampling the yummy food like beef tenderloin and paella, strawberry mojitos and white wine sangria were offered as signature drinks.
The mock reception decor looked gorgeous. Serena chose an assortment of linens themed by row: blacks, whites and grays; blues and greens; and neutrals. Soft classical music set the tone for the afternoon, and florals by Flowers By Shirley accented the decor.
Claude's Chocolates (a local St. Augustine treat!) were featured in a display, packaged in adorable favor boxes.
Plus we got to preview The White Room Loft's new third floor balcony! What a view - I can't wait to see it with new flooring and lounge furniture.
Thanks for a great afternoon!
I saw this photo and just had to post it - this totally adorable and edible work of art was created by Gaby Colindres. Gaby is the owner of Sweet Art Shop, and one of the owners of Serenatea.
Serenatea offers a variety of items from petit fours to cupcakes to hors d'oeuvres. Some of my favorites are the cookies, which make wonderful favors for a shower or wedding.
Snacks may not be one of your top priorities as you are planning your wedding day. But guess what? You'll need them! I had a meeting with one of my Spring '09 couples on Saturday that reminded me of this point. As we discussed the bride's love of sunflowers, the groom asked if they would still have seeds in them. Then when we talked about using hypericum berries in the boutonnieres (I love berries, by the way!), he made another snack comment.
So, for all of those grooms-to-be out there that love to munch, here are some yummy recipes for Trail Mix that can fit nicely into a plastic bag on your wedding day!
SUGAR FROSTED TRAIL MIX
4 c. Sugar frosted corn flake cereal 2 c. dry roasted peanuts 2 c. plain chocolate candies 1 c. chopped dried apricots 1 c. raisins
In large bowl combine all ingredients. Store in tightly covered container or plastic bag. Yield 10 cups.
ULTIMATE TRAIL MIX
1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup dried blueberries 1 cup dried pineapple 1 cup dried apple pieces 1 cup peanuts 1 cup cashews 1 cup almonds 1 cup marshmallows (any kind) 1 1/2 cups puppy chow 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup peanutbutter chips 1 cup butterscotch chips 1 cup white chocolate chips
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
VANILLA CHIP TRAIL MIX
1 stick butter, melted 2 tbsp. cocoa 2 tbsp. sugar 4 c. Cheerios cereal 4 c. Wheat Squares cereal 1 c. slivered almonds 1 c. golden raisins 1 (10 oz.) pkg. Hershey vanilla milk chips
In 4-quart bowl, place butter. Microwave on High 1 minute or until melted; stir in cocoa and sugar. Add cereals and almonds; stir until evenly coated. Microwave at High 3 minutes, stirring every minute; stir in raisins.
Microwave on High additional 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Cool completely stir in vanilla chips. Store in tightly covered container in cool, dry place.
(I found these recipes on Cooks.com - check out the website for more!)
Did you know that Roy's in Jacksonville Beach has a great private dining room that is perfect for rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, or other events? I am such a huge fan of the food and atmosphere at Roy's. Plus, once a month, their Waina Hui (Wine Club) meets for a wine tasting. You can sample 5 wines, all paired with yummy appetizers, for only $20!
Be sure to check out www.RoysRestaurant.com for more information.
I met with Rachel Deremer of The Perfect Pear Catering Company earlier this week, and she shared a great idea that she is working on. Rachel is creating menus based on destinations so that couples can select the theme that matches their honeymoon location. These menus are perfect for rehearsal dinners or post-wedding brunch, and wil have food items that are completely different from the wedding reception.
The theme can be carried into linens, centerpieces, maybe even a photo backdrop. Travel brochures or postcards can be scattered around a floral arrangement that matches the flora of your destination. Linens can be bright colors or luxurious jewel tones. And don't forget about a wonderful signature cocktail!
