Unique Stations: S’mores

There are so many delicious sweets out that there, that it can sometimes be tricky to hone in on one goodie for your guests. One of our favorites is a S’mores Station for several reasons…

1. You have an excuse to build a fire or you can use a fire pit if that is deemed more appropriate.

2. A fire at your wedding (in a positive light, not like the time we accidentally lit the hay bales on fire…) makes for a great photo opportunity and is perfect for a chill, summer night.

3. It gets your guests moving, chatting and just about everyone likes s’mores.

4. You can use your creativity, with different flavored marshmallows and chocolate, or you can keep it old school for a traditional crowd pleaser.

5. You can tie ribbons and decorate the sticks for an even more fun experience.

6. This way you can have S’mores at your wedding! I don’t think it gets better than that!

If I haven’t convinced you yet why this would be a brilliant idea to add to your dessert station or even as a “groom’s cake”, I am officially speechless, but I do have some pictures!

Photo by Utah Bride & Groom

Photo By Undeclared Panache Wedding

Photos By Favor Craver

Photo By Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo By Wedding By Color

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Unique Stations: Tiddly Bar

In celebration of St. Patrick’s day I have decided to feature one of my favorite stations, the Tiddly Bar, its two main ingredients are ice cream and alcohol, sometimes it has the added bonus of a maraschino cherry. What’s not to love?

We set up the station on one of our hi-bars, with the blenders and ice cream behind it. You can select how many different Tiddlies you’d like to offer your guests. They are then made to order or passed, served in a martini glass, giving guests a little taste of Heaven.

A few of our favorite concoctions are…

~ The Original Tiddly ~
Coffee Ice Cream, Brandy & Crème de Coco

~ Grasshopper ~
Green Crème de Menthe, Vanilla Ice Cream & Milk

~ One Irelands ~
Bailey’s Irish Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream & Milk

 

We'll even wear kilts!

Bonus tip: you can make these at home tonight!

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Cupcakes, Cupcakes and More Cupcakes!

What’s not to love about cupcakes? They’re dainty, adorable, and so delicious! Not only are they fabulous, but quickly becoming the new trend at weddings and can be a great way to add a personal, creative touch to this little dessert. Some ideas are to incorporate fall flavors such as: pumpkin nut, praline pecan, or sweet potato cupcakes to your dessert station in addition to your wedding cake or as your groom’s cake. This not only adds richness of flavor to your desert table, but can also be a great way for you to add a unique touch to your reception.

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Epting Events’ Menus 101

If you’re in the early stages of wedding planning or have been planning for a while and purposely putting off the sometimes daunting task of choosing your caterer and food; let me see if I can help.

First, you need to decide your catering budget. Then picture your event, and see what comes to mind… Do you think of white-gloved servers placing gold-rimmed plate in a synchronized service? Do you see your guests loving your specialty drink, and the food is working to support it? Do you want everyone to be seated at the wedding?

Cocktail Buffet:
This is one of our most popular menus. As guests arrive to the reception site, they will have several options; 1. they will go to the bar, 2. they will go to the pick-up station for dips and light appetizers, 3. they will go through the buffet, 4. they will go to the carving station (this depends on the type of beef you choose). We generally open the buffet immediately following the ceremony if it’s on site, or once guests begin to arrive. No one wants to wait in line to get food, nor do you want a huge line going through your party!

The pick-up station choices are at the top of the menu, and you generally pick three of your favorites. If you pick one with an additional number next to it, it is that price per person (this will be applicable throughout the whole menu). The menu is priced according to your choice of beef. If you decide on one that needs to be carved in front of guests (for example, beef tenderloin vs. shaved roast beef), you will have a separate table with a green, beef, starch and bread. Then, you pick one item from each of the categories below; you do not have to choose a seafood if you’d prefer not to. When picking from the list, be thinking about the various colors of the items and how your guests’ plates will look. There is no dessert included in this option, since you will more than likely be serving a wedding cake.

One prime advantage of the cocktail buffet, you will save money on tables and chairs as it allows you to only seat half your guests. Why? All of the food is made to eat without needing a knife. They will chat, eat, drink and be merry!

Don’t be fooled by the name cocktail buffet, your guests will NOT leave hungry! There is plenty of food for them to eat, and it is perfectly acceptable to pick this menu for a 6:30 or 7:00 wedding.

Short Plates or Stations:
This menu is designed around “mini-meals” served on our square, white plates. You will generally serve three or four of these options. Short Plates create wonderful flow throughout your party, allowing your guests to mingle and float to their next dish of choice. You can choose from our pre-designed menus, or you can adapt your own from our cocktail buffet menu. Each plate consists of a meat, starch, veggie and bread. One of the most popular ones: pulled pork slider, mac & cheese, sauteed green beans.

You also only seat half of your guests for this option too.

This is a self-serve Tuscan Station

Dinner Buffet:
If you’d like to seat everyone, and walk into the reception with guests enjoying a pre-set salad this is the choice for you! You might also want to offer your guests passed hors d’oeuvres until you are ready for them to be seated. The salad is priced per guests, the buffet price is based upon your beef or pork choice. You then choose a chicken, fish (only if you’d like), and four veggies. If you are doing a wedding cake, you generally forgo the dessert option. Remember to think about color on this plate too. In order to avoid the line forming, we invite one or two tables at a time to go down both sides of the buffet.

Suppers:
This one is home-style, country food and is amazing! It has a lot of the same items as our other menus, but there are fewer choices. You only choose one of the predetermined menus based at $13/person. All of the choices are delicious and you will not go wrong with any of them!

You might have a couple passed hors d'oeuvres as your guests arrive

Served Dinners:
If you want formal dining at your wedding, you’ll choose this option. Each table of eight, is assigned four waiters for a synchronized service. Your guests will begin their evening with an appetizer then a salad, priced per person. You will then choose the entree that you like, if you see two options we can always do a duo with smaller pieces of meat. The entree comes with the sides predetermined, then you choose the green of your choice. Dessert can be added, or again you may serve a wedding cake. Each price is based per person. Service is also increased on this option.

All of the menus are based only on the food aspect, and do not include service. It does include the standard plates and cutlery, serving utensils and dishes. Also, please note all menus are just suggestions, we are always happy to make your grandma’s casserole, a Kosher meal, completely local menu! Hopefully, this has helped some with the breaking down of the menus, and how to best chose the option for you!

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Unique Station: Martha Stewart Station

A Martha Stewart Station is the perfect way to serve refreshments to your guests during outdoor, wedding ceremonies. The station generally has lightly sweetened ice tea, homemade lemonade and chilled water. Guests are invited to take a cooling refreshment before the ceremony. The station has a beverage attendant to provide prompt service for guests. We have a variety of glass containers, and sometimes add ribbon around the middle for extra color.

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Groom’s Cakes: Unleashing Creativity

Groom’s cakes are an old southern tradition, where the bride surprises the groom. The cake used to only be served at rehearsal dinners or as a favor to guests leaving the wedding. Now, it is being served at the same time as the wedding cake.

In the past, groom’s cakes were seen as a good luck charm to single women; they would put the cake under their pillow and dream of the man they will marry.

Below are some of our favorites.

The groom’s cake is usually more fun, and is often related to his favorite sports team, place or hobby. It comes in a variety of flavors and is placed on a separate table from the wedding cake.

GOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the Fishing Fanatic

Cecilia Villaveces Cakes in Athens, GA is the provider of Epting Events’ cakes.

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Look Ahead: Groom’s Cake

Creative Ideas for the Groom’s Cake… Coming Friday

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Having Trouble on What to do for a Favor? Donate to a Cause in Your Community or Abroad

Wedding favors have been around for centuries. French and Italian aristocrats began the tradition by giving their guests a bonbenniere, a small porcelain box with sweets insides, at the end of a party.

Now, in 2010, favors are still a big part of weddings. Brides put hours of thought and effort to come up with the perfect favor; ranging from homemade preserves, to luggage tags, to Lee’s famous pralines. Along with the décor, the food and the time they spent with the bride and the groom; the favor should be one of those lasting memories that guest leave with.

In lieu of a tangible favor, several of our brides have opted to support a cause that is important to them–donating to a local charity or preserving a piece of land in honor of their guests. This new trend is a great way give back to your community.

Here in Athens, GA, there is a local charity called Athens PBJs, which provides meals along with friendship to Athens’ homeless. The group was founded by the brother of one of our grooms, so in order to show their support and let their guests know about this great cause, we packaged mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in white bags that were sealed with a sticker mentioning a donation made in their honor. They were a huge hit!

The table is topped with the PBJ favors and the description of the charity. Thanks to Jason Trasher for these photos.

One of our recent brides came up with an idea after having much difficulty coming up with the perfect favor. She and her fiancé spent a summer together in Argentina, and felt the need to help a cause in the country. The couple decided to protect a piece of the land in the Argentinian rainforest in honor of their guests. The land was donated in the La Esperanza area in Argentina, where the World Land Trust is currently working. At the wedding, there was a large sign staged at the entrance to the dining tent, mentioning the donation and showing the location of the land for guests to read as them made their way to dinner.

The newlyweds displayed this sign informing guests of the donation to the rainforest habitat.

As always, the possibilities are endless. Choose a favor that reflects you, your fiancé and your wedding, and you can’t go wrong!

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Whimsical Trays

A fun Friday post….Having a music themed party or event, or is the groom-to-be a huge music lover? Check out these pictures from a recent party of ours using old records on the passed hors d’oeuvres trays. Guests loved them, and it’s a nice change from your regular old passing tray.

Who’s records would you use?

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Lucy + Jim

Here it is! Thanks for waiting…

Lucy and Jim’s wedding was held at Tucker Plantation, with the ceremony outside, and the reception held inside the barn. The feel of this venue could be considered “classically funky”. They used fabrics and linens from Hable Construction to create an updated signature look with the same bright colors that blanket the hills of Appalachia in fall.

These flower arrangements incorporated elements of the season, including crabapples. It is a great idea to keep your floral arrangements personalized to what you like, as well as having them blend in with the natural surroundings for a relaxed effect.

Get creative! The image on these cocktail napkins was found on many printed items for their celebration. But don’t stop there-pair these with your signature cocktail. We think its a great idea to personalize your napkins, etc. but don’t print the date and marriage. By using monograms, or a symbol like the ones here, you can take them and use them at home.

Brides always think about the cake but sometimes forget to consider how it is going to be presented. Think of the plateau like the frame for a picture, the cake of course being the picture. In this case, with all the decorations and such a great plateau, it was good balance for Lucy to choose the cake to be clean and simple. A perfect example of her sense of style.

We love using antiques for centerpieces such as this 100 year old wheelbarrow. If your caterer doesn’t have props like these, see if there aren’t decorations around the facility that can be incorporated into your look with flowers and linens.

Consider having an action station such as someone to make pralines on location. It’s fun for your guests, and yummy too! These also make great favors for guests to take home.

As the most important side note…Have Fun!

When you start off with a get away car like this, you know the marriage is going to be full of laughter.  Everyone was so excited and rolling when this ride pulled up.  A couple’s exit is like the personal dessert of the evening and sends the guests home with that perfect glimpse and memory of you as a couple.

thanks to Rinne Allen for these beautiful pictures

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