Choosing Your Wedding Cake
Monday, January 23rd, 2012Your wedding cake is one of the most essential elements of your wedding day. It will appear in your wedding pictures, and will be a focal point for your guest as they arrive into the reception area. As you decide on your cake type remember that it is what will pull together the colors and theme of your wedding. Your wedding cake should be as individual as you. Take time to shop around and decide on a bakery, the cake, style, and decorations. Here are a few factors to keep in mind while you cake shop:
.Create a checklist:
.What is your cake budget
.How many guests
.How many tiers/designs
.What colors/decorations
.What is your cake top?
.When is Your Wedding?
.When is Your Wedding?
The date and location of your wedding will affect the type of cake you choose. If your wedding will be taking place in the summer, mousse or ice cream cake will not be a good choice. Discuss with your baker the types of cake that will be in season.
.Choose a Reliable Bakery
You can begin your research online. This will allow you to obtain customer feedback, and view images of the bakery’s work. Make sure to select a bakery that provides a wide range of cake styles. Once you have chosen a bakery, visit the location and meet with the staff. This is your opportunity to provide sketches, ideas, and samples of your colors to leave with the pastry chef. Make sure to get everything in writing.
.Give Yourself Time to Pick Your Wedding Cake
If you have already chosen a color scheme and the wedding venue, then it’s a good time to get the cake designed and ordered. Your cake should be ordered 6-8 weeks in advance.
.Go Cake Tasting
This is one of the most important steps before finalizing your cake. If the cake will consist of multiple flavors, taste all of them. Flavors like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla will vary depending on how the cake is made, its formulation, its frosting, and more.
.Cake Size, Icing, Decorations
Wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes—the options are limitless. When deciding on the size of your cake, keep in mind the number of guests attending. The type of icing you choose can be a simple sugar and flour recipe, or even a rich cream cheese icing. Today, many couples are choosing to match their icing color with the overall theme of the wedding. You can decorate your cake based on the décor and theme of your wedding, go with crazy and outrageous decorations or decide on lace, embroidery appliqué or elegant drapes or swag. The decision is all up to you so have fun with it!
Building A Lunch Menu
Friday, October 28th, 2011Whether you’re planning a baby shower, sports event, or an office party, a luncheon is a causal alternative to the late day dinner parties. The menu is usually lighter, served buffet style where guests grab a plate and serve themselves. There are different buffets to choose from to create the perfect luncheon. Keep in mind that it is important to include menu items that will hold up for longer periods of time—and don’t be afraid to step out of the box and try new menu ideas.
Caterers offer several buffet options to create a lunch menu suited for your guest. Some options include:
Deli Buffets: this option is popular and includes a majority of finger foods that pleases any crowd. The menu typically includes mixed green salad with different dressings to choose from, fruit salad, potato salad, antipasto or chips, three types of sandwich meats with a bread choice, and a dessert tray.
American and Ethnic Buffets: allows the event planner to select foods that go with the overall theme of the event. Some popular themes include: American burgers and fries, Italian pasta, pizza, Tuscan style chicken, Southwest tacos and fajita stations, Asian spring rolls, stir fries, rice and noddle dishes. You should also include a selection of appetizers, entrées, and dessert options.
Box Lunches: work best for working lunches where the guests can remain focused on the objective of the meeting. Box lunches offer at least four varieties to choose from, such as turkey, roast beef, ham and vegetarian sandwiches, including a piece of fruit with a cookie, and chips. Make sure to include condiments and utensils.
Build Your Own Lunch Menu: may include the option to go with a buffet style or plated meal. The menu normally includes lettuce salad options, fruit salads, and soup. The entrée consists of chicken, pork, beef, salmon, or Caesar salad with grilled chicken. There is also an option of sides including vegetables, potatoes, pasta, or rice. Don’t forget to include dessert.
No matter what type of meal you select, offer guests a variety of drinks to go along with their meal. Suggestions include assorted soft drinks and juices, bottled water, coffee and tea.
Have fun planning a luncheon, there is a lot to choose from to meet your needs and make the event as smooth as possible!
Find a Wedding Catering Service at affordable prices
Friday, August 13th, 2010Planning a wedding is a mammoth but a very exciting task. The highlight of the ceremony is the party catering. Though, wedding catering can get very expensive it can be scaled down to your budget by keeping a few steps in mind.
Firstly, you need to find a caterer who will function within your budget. The food should also blend with the wedding theme, décor and scale of the ceremony. There are many good full service caterers available in and around Philadelphia. The wedding could have an outdoor theme which would call for a picnic catering or it may be a destination wedding demanding holiday caterers.
With some negotiation and smart menu planning you can easily get your desirable wedding caterer to deliver in your chosen budget. The thumb rule is wise selection of menu items which will make all the difference to the price strategy. Like for example, choose items keeping seasonal fruits and vegetables in mind so as to bring the cost down per item. This way the caterer does not need to use expensive canned ingredients which are not available in a particular season.
The way a meal is served can also make a huge hole in your pocket. A classic sit down dinner has many more elaborate menu items as compared to other arrangements like food stations. A food station is a popular concept serving a particular type of world cuisine. These could be limited in number and they serve full meals which are quite filling. Like, a pasta station is a must-have by all caterers in Philadelphia.
You may cut your catering bill by requesting a simple set up for the food stations and sitting tables. By using a single color for tablecloths, usually white, will cut down on hiring expensive upholstery. Also, no need to order for expensive dinner services and party trays, the caterer can use the standard cutlery available.
Even the time of the post wedding reception can make a difference. If you’re planning your wedding reception for 7 pm, your guests will be expecting a dinner set up. You can consider a morning reception, brunch, or an afternoon cocktail reception. This would make it a smaller affair in terms of an elaborate menu and require less food.
If the catering contract allows, buy your own liquor and ask a friend to be the bartender. Generally, they are stringent only for a certain amount of liquor which you have to purchase from the wedding caterers and the rest can be brought by you. Limiting the guest alcohol choices to wine and beer will bring down cost further.
The wedding cake can become an elaborate affair and good things don’t come cheap. Choosing one flavor instead of several and decorating it with fresh flowers will cut back costs. Instead of a fancy designer three – tier cake you can go for a sophisticated but smaller cake for the cutting and have a general cake laid out on the table for consumption by guests.
So it is as simple as this to get wedding catering of your choice in your preferred budget.
The Knot Best of Weddings for Philadelphia
Monday, April 5th, 2010Catering by Mario’s has been keeping busy this winter with weddings, corporate events, & holiday parties. We have also launched a newly designed website which is a one-stop shop for all of our services: off-premise catering, event planning & management, as well as our wedding & banquet venue, Richmond Hall. Check us out at www.cateringbymarios.com.
As the weather gets warmer, you may be starting to plan celebrations such as graduation parties and summer picnics. Check out the menus below for some party ideas. Mention this email and receive a 10% discount if you book a buffet or picnic package before 4/15/2010.
We also have great news to annouce: Richmond Hall has been selected as a 2010 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings for Philadelphia reception sites. We wanted to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful brides who took the time to comment to The Knot on their experience at Richmond Hall. It’s great to know we have lived up to your expectations on one of the most important days of your life. Thanks again!!!
Sincerely,
Mario & John Incollingo
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Thank you and testimonial for our Wedding Catering in Philadelphia
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010Hello Lauren,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for making Saturday’s wedding so amazing. I just received the email about your honors with the Knot and I have to say that I can’t imagine a venue where this is more deserved. Your staff was incredibly friendly and professional! You eased a very indecisive bride and made everything just gorgeous! We received rave reviews regarding the food and everyone had a blast which was the goal of the bride and groom so I again say thank you so much and I will be certain to keep Richmond Hall and Mario’s catering on the top of my list for any upcoming events.
My sincerest thanks,
Tania Kinniry
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Wedding Receptions Philadelphia – Catering Philadelphia – Banquet facilities Philadelphia
Monday, March 22nd, 2010Richmond Hall is pleased to announce it has been selected as a 2010 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings for Philadelphia reception sites.
We wanted to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful brides who took the time to comment to The Knot on their experience at Richmond Hall. It’s great to know we have lived up to your expectations on one of the most important days of your life. Thanks again!!!