Wedding Food & Drink: Dessert Bars

Get Married Magazine

A dessert bar offers a fun and whimsical alternative to the traditional wedding reception. Life is short, eat dessert first!

A wedding is supposed to be a party! So, give your guests the chance to let go, have fun and be a kid again. Help them say good-bye to responsibilities and worries and let them eat cake! But, why only cake? This is a celebration! Let your guests eat brownies, cupcakes, cheesecake and pie; anything they want! With a dessert bar, you can!

“When people see a dessert bar for the first time their first question is always 'oh my gosh, where do I start?', Christopher Hewitt of Southern Graces said. “We just tell them to eat them all, whatever they like, and they love having the choice.”

While everyone loves having such a great selection, a dessert bar is also a great way to personalize your reception and add a touch of where you came from.

“You could have an assortment of cookies that your grand-mother always made when you were little or even your fiance's favorite cookie,” Slomique Hawrylo of Carpe Diem suggested. “You could even serve them with little mini-milks with your wedding date on the container.”

You could even use the dessert bar as décor and replace the centerpiece with a multi-level dessert presentation.

“Why not incorporate a glass cylinder of different candies or cookies on different levels,” Slomique Hawrylo said. “You can do it according to your color scheme so it all matches.”

Take it all the way! Life is short so eat dessert first, right? You could scratch the formal “real food” reception all together if you wanted and just have a dessert reception.

“If you’re going to have a dessert reception I would suggest maybe early afternoon or later after the dinner hour is over, so when your guests come, they’re not counting on being fed,” Dawn Cowart of Traditionally Modern said. “You also need to note that in your invitation, that you’re going to have a dessert reception and dancing.”

Give your guests an awesome experience; let them get in touch with their inner kid and make a meal out of a plate full of sprinkles and candy.

Bride Camp from April 3, 2012

Ron Crivellone from Smokey Mountain Sounds was hosting the Bride Camp last night. The brides were there, listening to everything he had to say. He started out showing a couple videos from you tube. First this video on an iPod wedding that went wrong; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXj4P3iz2yg Ron talked about: What you need to know BEFORE you choose an iPod for your event.As is often the case in society, some things or ideas become trendy with little thought to practical implementation.

Today, the trendy topic is a Do It Yourself reception which uses an iPod and a rented sound system, (usually around $600 to rent), instead of a professional wedding DJ. This idea is fraught with peril, because a great event is more than simply gear and music. It is the talent that a qualified professional brings to the event which matters most. A professional DJ allows for a smooth flow to the event, with no embarrassing surprises. A Professional DJ can provide you with confidence that your event will flow smoothly and will be an event that you, your family and guests will never forget; instead of one they would like to.

After the iPod discussion, Ron then showed this video on a craigslist DJ that went wrong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKEedVwASLo. The brides and grooms to be were horrified about what happened at those weddings.

Ron pointed out that when looking for entertainment that homework needs to be done. Talk with more than one DJ meet with them in person if possible. Don't just base your entertainment on price.

Ron went over questions that your DJ will ask you:
1.      What is the day of your wedding? Plan ahead, not all DJs are available for the date if you call within two months of your wedding.
2.      How many people are you expecting? This will help your DJ know if he needs additional speakers to entertain your guests.
3.      What venue are you using for your wedding? Is this venue just for the reception or for the ceremony as well? Your DJ needs to know where he is going and who to contact.
4.      Are you looking for services for the ceremony and reception?
5.      Are you looking for background music or dancing music, or both?
6.      What do you visualize your wedding day being? Do see your day fun and interactive or elegant?
7.      What feel are you going for? Do you have an idea that you have bright colors, upbeat, or does it feel country?
8.      What do you visualize wanting from your entertainment, what do you want them to provide? Do you want the entertainment to be interactive, fun, laid back, energetic, etc.
9.      What have you seen at other weddings that you liked or disliked? What would you use, what would you avoid from your experience?
10. What are you looking for that you haven’t seen? Is there something that you want at your wedding that will help your event be fun and unique? Any good DJ will make sure that your wedding reflects your personal style as far as music and ambiance as a way of personalizing your reception.
11. What is your budget? Be realistic a good DJ will spend 12 to 30 hours behind the scenes of your wedding, from contacting the other vendors for your wedding to making sure they have all the music you want, to coordinating an itinerary with you. The ceremony is what you will always remember. The reception is what your guests will remember. What type of impression do you want to leave with your guests?
12. Is there anything special I can do for your day? Is there a good friend out of the country that you want to be there that can’t, or a relative? A good DJ will go above and beyond to make your day a unique and special event. Maybe get a recording from the person you will miss at your wedding.
Ron then played a recording of a groom's best friend who couldn't be at the wedding because he was in Germany. Some of the brides were touched by the recording and that Ron was able to surprise the groom with the recording after the toast from the maid of honor.

Ron asked if there were any questions then continued on with Questions you should ask a DJ before you hire them:
1.     Are you insured? Can you supply me with proof of liability? Many responsible business owners carry liability insurance to protect their businesses and the consumer. Many locations are beginning to require proof of liability. Ask for proof of liability insurance. Disc Jockey’s receive a Certificate of Liability which can be used as proof.
2.     Will you be willing to play requests and discuss music ahead of time? A versatile Disc Jockey is willing to listen to your suggestions, give you feedback and play from your desired song list. A professional Disc Jockey will also accept the fact you may not want certain songs played. A professional Disc Jockey cannot know everything about your musical preferences and entertainment needs without communication.
3.     Do you use Professional Equipment? Ask whether your prospective Disc Jockey works with professional audio equipment. Remember that professional gear does not guarantee an entertainer’s talent or service level, but is simply a tool for building an exceptional event.
4.     Do you provide backup equipment at my event?
5.     Does the Disc Jockey know the proper etiquette for your type of party? A professional Disc Jockey will assist you with the planning of your special day. Most professional entertainers will coordinate, emcee and provide the music that you desire. Ask if they have experience with your type of event.
6.      How much time do you allow for set-up? Punctuality is a necessity. Most Disc Jockey’s arrive at least one hour prior to the start time you’ve given them. Your entertainer should ideally be setup and in-place before your first guest walks through the door.
7.     Do you provide a written contract? It is extremely important to have your booking confirmed in writing. Ask for a written agreement, especially if you are paying an initial retainer. The standard initial payment for entertainment services is 50%. If you are expecting a specific entertainer, make sure you get it in writing as well.
8.     Will you be suitably dressed for our occasion? Specify the type of apparel that your Disc Jockey is expected to wear for your occasion. Formal attire or coat & tie are the most popular forms of attire. If you are having a “themed” event, make sure your entertainer is informed.

Finally Ron talked about: Other Items to Note Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability and personality.

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to over $5,000.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.

A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for “4 hours”. Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.

Just remember, you are the one who is the “producer” of your wedding.  A good DJ will be your “director”, he will help you coordinate your vendors; the photographer, wedding coordinator, caterer and baker; before the event. He will also come up with an itinerary for your event. Your DJ will help everything run smoothly during your event, from announcing the bride and groom entering the reception, to the father and daughter dance, to cake cutting.  Every vendor will be coordinated for each step of your event; you don’t have to worry about the photographer missing any moment you want captured.  You don’t have to worry about the baker not having the cake ready for the cutting ceremony. You don’t have to worry about the coordinator not finding the father for the dance. Communication with the vendors will go on during the event.

A good DJ knows a well planned event will always turn out better than one that is thrown together at the last moment. A good DJ will be the type of “director” that you want so you do not have to stress out about anything during your event. A good DJ knows to listen to what you want your event to be.

In short your “director” will provide: Comprehensive Personalization, Creative Involvement, Event Direction, Talented Spokesperson, Music Programming (based on your likes and dislikes of music), Appropriate Presentation and Quality Amplification.

Ron ended the night with a question and answer period and met with couples individually...

Next week, the last week of the Bride Camp for the season, will be "All about Rentals"

History of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

From Get Married Magazine

Every bride has heard of this traditional wedding day checklist. But, did you ever stop and wonder how this tradition came about in the first place?
            “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Every bride has heard of this wedding day checklist, and if you’re hoping to head off bad luck before heading down the aisle, you’re probably planning to stick to it pretty faithfully. But, did you ever stop and wonder how this tradition came about in the first place?
            Well, as it turns out, brides have been sporting some of these good luck charms down the aisle for centuries. The color blue has actually been associated with weddings since way back in ancient Roman times as a symbol of love and fidelity, so who wouldn’t want to wear blue on their wedding day? You can have fun bringing this age-old tradition into your day with a blue sash, blue garter, or even blue shoes! For those of you looking for something a bit more sweet and subtle, you can sew your name or wedding date into your wedding gown with blue thread.
            Something old, borrowed, and new date back to the Victorian era. Something old symbolizes the progression of the bride’s old life into her new married life. It used to be that the something old was the wedding dress handed down from the mother (and sometimes, it still is!), but with fewer brides wearing mom’s gown, it’s a great chance to incorporate a meaningful family heirloom as an accessory. “Something new” symbolizes hope and the bride’s new life, and is a pretty easy tradition to check off the list. As for “something borrowed,” an item is borrowed from a happily married family member to carry the happiness over to the bride and her own marriage.
            Of course, for all you traditionalists out there, you know there’s more to the poem…"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.” The sixpence is an old English tradition where you tuck a sixpence in your shoe on your wedding day to bring you wealth and financial luck for the future (yes, please!). Though not every bride adds a sixpence to her shoe, you can buy a keepsake sixpence, or modernize the tradition with a more current coin!
            So as you can see, something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue are not only fun traditions, but have been a part of weddings for centuries as a way to bring happiness and good luck to the new bride. So if you’re the superstitious sort, go ahead and use these traditions on your big day. After all, they must have stood the test of time for good reason.

-- By: Carolyn Dix

Bride Camp March 6, 2012 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

All About Cake

• Hosted by 2911 Event Studio
• 865-769-5550
• 2911 Event Planning Studio
• 8078 Kingston Pike Suite 119
• Knoxville, Tn 37919

Come join us for great food and fun.Alicia Fugate with Cakes For All Occasion's, will be doing a cake tasting and you will learn the difference between butter cream and fondant icings, Remeber this is a FREE event.Come out join the fun, taste some great cake and decorate your own cupcake.We will have time for you to ask all those questions you might have about your wedding cake. 29:11 Brides Camp is a 10 week brides camp that will answer all your question about planning your wedding with ease! Come join us for all 10 classes or pick the ones that fit you best. This weeks class is "All about cake". These classes are free for everyone. When you attend 3 classes you will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a bride and bridesmaids sleepover with morning brunch at Castleton Farms and a bridal shower held at Womens Basketball Hall of Fame. Please RSVP so that we can save you a spot. Remember you can bring your groom, mom, or bridesmaid or just a friend. All of this is free to you the bride.

There will be a wonderful give-away that night as well.

29:11: your complimentary wedding planning resource studio.

Bride Camp February 28, 2012

Brides walked into the room seeing a great looking dessert bar and other bars giving off a very pleasant and appealing aroma.

Hosted by Simply Southern. Owner and Chef, Hope Ellard introduced herself and let us know that she has had her business in Knoxville for the last six years and been in the food industry for the last twenty years. In last nights presentation Hope discussed what your caterer will ask you, what you should ask them and what is popular at weddings.

Things you need to know before looking for a caterer, be yourself when meeting with the caterer:

• Your budget, know your budget and be realistic. Take your budget and divide it by each person you expect to come to the reception. Is that dollar amount realistic? If your budget is not realistic, are you flexible, flexible about food choices and time of day? Are you inviting too many people with the budget you have?
• How many guests will be there? With the economy where it is today, many brides and grooms are inviting family only.
• How formal are you wanting your meal? Be honest with yourself, do you need the five coarse meal?

The above items the caterer will want to know, they will also want to know:

• Your food style so they don't waist your time or their time talking about food you don't want or like.
• How many guests will be attending, a general rule is that if guests are in town usually 75% of them will come to the reception.
• Do you have any dietary concerns such as allergies, or limitations? The caterer can give you options.

Things you need to look for in a caterer:

• Do your personalities work together so you feel comfortable communicating and so you know you will get what you want for your wedding.
• Does the caterer serve the types of food you are wanting? Don't feel pressured into getting the wrong food choice.
• Do they offer tastings? If they are proud of their product, they will share it and feed you, if not, move on.
• Ask them how long they have been in business and how did they come about getting into catering?
• Do they have a menu online?
• Are their prices online? If the prices aren't listed, it is usually because they are pricey, which can seem scary.
• Do they have references? Ask the references what the caterer's demeanor was, what did the staff look like, how was their food?
• What are their fees, if any? Some charge 20% serving fee which covers staff, platter usage, linens, etc.
• What is included in their price?
• What kind of deposit is needed? Some require a flat fee, some a percentage. What is their payment schedule, what type of payment do they request?
• Do they have a buffer in case more guests show up that didn't RSVP? Most do.
• Is cleanup included in the price?
• If the baker does not provide cutting of the cake, does the caterer and is there a fee? Does the caterer provide boxes for leftovers?

Make sure everything you require is in the contract and make sure your read the contract so you know what to expect.
If you feel like you found your caterer, ask how many weddings in a day they do, do they make sure that everyone they serve gets the same quality and service. If there are changes in the menu how much notice do they require and is there additional fees? Can they still stay in budget?

The most expensive meals at receptions are the plated five coarse meals where there are servers for each couple of tables and constant attention to your guests.

The most popular is the buffet line, you have less servers and guests can get what they want to eat.

Also popular is heavy horderves , look at the plate size to be covered, usually six to eight items would fill the plate. If you and your guests aren't vegetable people, don't get the vegetable platter. The vegetable platter is the most waisted item at receptions, a salad will usually replace it nicely. Make sure you take into account the season you are in regarding fruits, the fall and winter are not the best times to get chocolate covered strawberries, they are sour.

The hottest trend today is personalizing the reception. Making the reception about the bride and groom. Using stations are budget friendly and offer the favorite foods of the couple. Place cards at each station would talk about their first date, their favorite food, their favorite things to do, etc. Food at the Stations could include: A white bar could include white potatoes and sweet potatoes with all of the toppings; a Macaroni bar can have everything you can put in and do with macaroni and cheese; a Pasta station would have multiple choices of sauces and meats; a dessert bar would have several dessert choices which can include ice cream and all of the toppings, mini pies, cupcakes, etc. Some brides are offering just the dessert bar with their cake for an afternoon wedding.

The Grooms Cake is not just chocolate cake anymore, it is now whatever makes the groom happy, whether pie or cake, this is all about him.

For afternoon receptions Tea menu's are very southern and a lot cheaper than a sit down meal. They are still nice and filling. Tea Time is all about silver and elegance.

Hope's "niche" is fried chicken and southern food. She is from Mississippi and has a great personality.
After her presentation we got to sample the food we had been smelling since we walked in the door.
There were mini versions of the bars: Tea Time, with tasty cucumber sandwiches and turkey sandwiches, she also had a seafood dip and corn chips. There was also a slider and potato wedge bar. The sliders were cooked to perfection and the potato wedges were seasoned very well, all sorts of sauces, cheese and relish were there for you to personalize your slider. Finally the dessert bar: pecan pie and s'mores, along with a burning fire to toast the marshmallow and then dip into any topping you want...yum! the pecan pie wasn't too sweet and the crust was crisp, tasty and flaky, very good.
Next week, March 6th, Bride Camp it is all about the cake! Alicia from Cakes for All Occasions will be hosting the event. RSVP today: 2911 Event Planning Studio, 865-769-5550 ; 8078 Kingston Pike Suite 119, Knoxville, Tn 37919

Catering and Cooking

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 • 6:00-8:00

• Hosted by 2911 Event Studio
• 865-769-5550
• 2911 Event Planning Studio
• 8078 Kingston Pike Suite 119
• Knoxville, Tn 37919

Come join us for great food and fun. We will have time for you to ask all those questions you might have about your wedding day catering. 2911 Brides Camp is a 10 week brides camp that will answer all your question about planning your wedding with ease! Come join us for all 10 classes or pick the ones that fit you best. This weeks class is "Cooking & Catering". These classes are free for everyone. When you attend 3 classes you will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a bride and bridesmaids sleepover with morning brunch at Castleton Farms and a bridal shower held at Womens Basketball Hall of Fame. Please RSVP so that we can save you a spot. Remember you can bring your groom, mom, or bridesmaid or just a friend. All of this is free to you the bride.

There will be a wonderful give-away. Also register to win a bride and bridesmaid sleep over with brunch at Castleton Farms. Also register to win a bridal shower at the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame.

29:11 is your complimentary wedding planning resource studio.

Foothills Bridal Extravaganza February 26, 2012

Excited brides entered the room after walking past bridal fashions into the double doors. After in the room, they excitedly talked with many of the vendors available for them to talk to and see if the vendor would be a good fit for their wedding. All of the caterers brought out amazing food and the bakers brought out delicious cakes and cupcakes. Photographers, Videographers, Wedding Planners, Florists, Venues and Entertainment kept the hall beautifully decorated and lively. The brides were looking forward to the fashion show and the giveaways as well, especially the grand prizes.

Ron was the Master of Ceremonies for the event; he welcomed the brides and gave information about every vendor that was there, and hosted the fashion show. Every half an hour there were door prizes given away. The game show started off the events; there were five bride to be volunteers. Twenty questions were asked and these brides knew their stuff... there even had to be a tie breaker, great fun!The fashion show went off well, Bridal Fashions from Gilded Gown, Tuxedos from Savvi Formals, and Honeymoon fashions from Maurices. The guests loved the fashions and upbeat mood in the room. Following the fashion show was a mock wedding and finally the last of the door prizes and the grand prizes. One lucky bride won a free wedding, and another bride won $500.00.

This was a great event.