How to choose your wedding caterer

When selecting a catering company you are looking for excellent food, service and the ability to work with the enormity of the detail involved in your day. There are certain key factors that you should discuss when meeting your caterer for the first time.

AVAILABILITY
First and foremost you need to see if your caterer is available on the date you require and find out what the booking and payment process is. Be sure to understand at what point your date becomes secure and when payments are needed. The last thing you want is a sudden shock and unexpected bill just before the wedding.
We suggest that you ideally start researching and meeting with caterers at 12 months before your wedding. Many venues may have a list of preferred suppliers, including caterers, so once your date is chosen and the venue is booked that’s a great time to start contacting catering companies.

BUDGET
It is important you get an early indication of catering costs and what they include. Ask about what options are available to you, if you are on a limited budget tell your caterer what it is – ideally they should be able to provide a package to suit your needs. Consider what is and what isn’t included in the price as often this can vary from one caterer to the next.

The big things to look out for are whether your quote includes VAT – you really don’t want to get stung if this is overlooked. Different caterers may or may not include tableware and linen hire within their quotes so make sure you run this past them as again it’s not something you want to have to find extra budget for right before the wedding.

QUALITY OF FOOD
When selecting your caterer you are looking for stunning presentation paired with sensational taste. Ask to see a portfolio of the caterers work with pictures of their food. It is important that your caterer has professional, commercial facilities and a team of talented individuals to serve your guests on the day. When meeting your caterer it’s advisable to ask about the quality and sustainability of the produce they source. Creating seasonal menus will impact highly on the quality and taste of you meal.

TASTING SESSION
Check the caterer offers a tasting experience but be conscious that popular caterers will have limited availability throughout the summer season. A tasting will allow you to fully understand the quality, style and presentation of their food and gives you the opportunity to explore how your own ideas can be worked into their existing menus.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
A good caterer should understand your overall vision for the day and listen to your ideas, they should be able to use their wealth of experience and build upon your ideas to go beyond your expectations for the day.

EXPERIENCE
Choose a professional catering team with experience in delivering exceptional and inspired weddings and events. Use social media and websites to see what jobs they have most recently worked on and their presence in the catering market.

SETTING THE SCENE
It is important to remember the importance a caterer plays in your day, with the exception of brides using a wedding planner, your caterer is likely to be the last supplier to dress your tables before the celebrations begin. At Kalm Kitchen we take great care to ensure that every element of décor – including the flowers, tablecentres and candles look perfect next to our tableware, we go above and beyond to ensure a couple’s vision is achieved on the day. It’s vital your caterer takes the care and time needed to achieve this.

SERVICE
Finally, service is extremely important, equal to the quality and style of your food. It’s important that you receive the upmost level of service right from your initial enquiry, through to your tasting session right up until the end of the wedding day itself. Your caterer should provide you with the enthusiasm, excitement and expertise your wedding deserves!

sourse: here

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Destination wedding planning etiquette: fast and easy tips

Santorini island

We live in a world of bite-sized information, and with good reason! Hectic schedules, demanding careers and social lives leave little time for anything else. So if you're looking for the inside scoop on etiquette for your upcoming destination wedding without thumbing through a novel's worth of information, here are some fast and easy etiquette tips that we swear by.

Send invites early: Send save-the-dates 8-12 months out to give guests ample time to save and plan. If you don't have that long, three to four months is okay. Invitations go out 6-8 weeks in advance.

Include guests that can't attend: It's easy to make everyone feel included! If you have close friends and family that can't attend, consider a reception once you return home. There are hi-tech options for the actual ceremony too, like video cams so guests can watch the wedding live. Or, go the social route and create a #hashtag for your wedding so family and friends can follow along.

Be kind to the kiddos: Ask about camps, water parks, day and night activities for all ages and if babysitting is offered on the property. Plan fun activities for the kids during your rehearsal dinner, like scavenger hunts or leave out a basket of board games to win extra brownie points.

Make time for your spouse: It's important to remember why you're at this amazing resort celebrating -- because you're starting a life as a couple! Take a sunrise walk on the beach, get a spa treatment, and enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed. Trust us, your guests will understand.

Thank your parents generously: They've been there for you through thick and thin, so don't gift them with anything cheesy or impersonal. Take your time to find something timeless that suits their personality and taste. And of course, don't forget the handwritten note.

Don't combat the opposition: And better yet, don't think about it as combat. You're trying to plan the best wedding possible for you and your guests, so why waste your energy on the naysayers? As long as you are thoughtful and communicate well with your guests, there's no reason you should have to explain or justify your choices.

Find out if your resort is handicap accessible: If it's important for your grandparents to make the wedding, then they shouldn't also risk life and limb at your resort. Make sure they have a comfortable seat at all times and that your resort has accessible walkways and attendants to lend a hand.

Budget: Know what yours is and be reasonable about what you can accomplish with that number. It's that plain and simple.

Add an opt-out clause: It's nice to let your guests know that their presence is a gift, not a requirement. We like the idea of an opt-out clause on the save-the-dates. Keep it upbeat and maybe mention a home reception or party if you're having one so they can still celebrate with you.

Be sensible with gifts: Try a honeymoon fund instead of asking your guests to lug bulky, expensive gifts. Or, opt out of gifts altogether if it feels right and try a charity fund instead.

Create enthusiasm for your wedding: Your guests might not yet have been to a destination wedding before yours. Get them amped up with a wedding website that includes excursions, details about your resorts and any group activities you have planned. A little weather forecast never hurts either.

Get everyone together on night one: Some of your guests might not have met each other before. Let everyone mingle and break the ice with a laid back party or event pre-ceremony. There might be some surprise friendships in the works!

source here

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Weddings in Santorini, Greece: inspiration boards

Beautiful ideas for your dream Greek Wedding in the blue Aegean Isles!

For more info and inspiring ideas contact weddings{at}event-gr.com

By Elizabeth Ann Design 

By Wedding Nouveau

By Postcard &Pretties

By My Wedding Concierge

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Top 10 wedding tips for brides

1. Starting six months prior to your wedding day, have a facial once a month to ensure a radiant complexion.
2. Adopt a healthy eating and regular exercise regime. Also, remember to drink lots of water and herbal teas.
3. If you are spray tanning for your wedding, trial the product or professional service first to be certain you are going to like the end result. A bad spray tan can look tragic, whereas a good one looks fabulous.
4. Do not neglect your hands and feet. Frequent manicures and pedicures are a must. Clean your engagement ring and any other jewellery you will be wearing.
5. Check your wedding gown fits perfectly prior to it leaving the store. Ensure all beading is sewn on securely, zips work and, if needs be, somewhere for you to hang your train so you are free to dance the night away. Another pearl of wisdom is to also try on your gown with the undergarments you intend to wear on your wedding day to ensure they fit perfectly under your dress
6. If you are wearing a strapless gown, take your bra off at least three hours before the photographer’s arrival on your wedding day. Bra strap marks stay embedded in the skin for a long time and look unsightly in photographs.
7. Delegate a trouble-shooter with good people and organisational skills to oversee and deal with any unexpected hitches on the day (touch wood). You do not need the added stress.
8. Confirm hair and make-up artists at least a month before your big day.
9. While getting ready do not forget to eat. Pack straws and organise bite-size portions of food to be available so eating and drinking will not spoil your make-up.
10. The beauty preparations before the wedding ceremony and celebrations are a very important part of your day. Enjoy all the pampering and attention. Have some Rescue Remedy (available from all good health food shops) on hand in case you need to calm nervous butterflies. Make sure you have a compact and lipstick for touch-ups.

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