Archive for the ‘A Catered Affair’ Category
There is nothing better than an ice cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. I mean when you think of summer, you think of citrus…The same goes with pumpkins and fall… and so on.
These foods mesh so perfectly with their seasons that with every change in the weather, we find ourselves craving that certain ingredient and the ensuing fulfillment it brings to our hearts as well as our stomachs! Why not bring that sense of appetite satisfaction to your special event or wedding reception?
With cooler months approaching, nothing says winter like cranberries. These ruby little gems bring uniquely wonderful sweet yet tart notes to your dish while visually adding depth to your menu and color to your plate.
At A Catered Affair, our favorite way to use cranberries is our cranberry-jalapeno relish. You can really taste the love and time that goes into every batch of the spicy/sweet concoction made from fresh ingredients in house (and the uses are endless)!
Our chef loves to glaze holiday roasts with the relish. In addition to the wonderful flavor that is infused into the meat, the sugars from the cranberry-jalapeno relish caramelize your roast to perfection creating that delicious crunchy topping everyone will fawn over. It also makes a lovely pairing to pork sliders or poured over whipped cream cheese for a festive party dip!
There are so many ways to add seasonality to your wedding, call us at 615-321-2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to see how we can help!
The hustle and bustle of the Holidays is enough to turn anyone into a bit of a Scrooge. With so many details to juggle, baking a Yule log and cooking up a feast for the annual holiday party is just not an option! There are presents to wrap, family time to schedule, and guests to impress.
This year, let Main Event Productions cross the stress of holiday entertaining off of your list so you can relax and enjoy the season!
Sugar plums are great, but your guests will have visions of our chef’s Holiday glazed ham dancing in their heads after leaving your Holiday Party. Whether you are planning simple passed hors d’oeuvres or a traditional feast fit for Charles Dickens himself, A Catered Affair can make your party dreams come true.
Speaking of sugary plums, let’s talk desserts! The Bake Shoppe has traditional delights with new exciting twists that will brighten eyes and spirits.
Our talented pastry chef and cake artists will add a little flair to your soiree with delectable options such as signature Yule logs or a dessert bar filled with house specialties like truffles, cake pops, cupcakes, cookies, and specialty pies!
MEP is ticking things off your to-do list, so forget about the days of the pre-party house cleaning and after party clean up by having your party in one of our beautiful event spaces!
Whether you are entertaining 10 or 210, we’ll help you find the perfect location for your Holiday celebration! Call us today at 615-321-2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to set up your consultation and view our spectacular venues!
We are honored to have our A Catered Affair division as the exclusive caterer at Legacy Farms, Events@1418, and the Woman’s Club of Nashville. We are also the preferred caterer for Riverwood Mansion and CJ’s off the Square, and Belmont Mansion.
Among the benefits of an exclusive relationship are the fact that clients will now only have to work with one organization, from the initial inquiry to the achievement of the event. Clients will enjoy a simplified planning process and can direct more attention to enjoying the event. Plus, our knowledge of each of these venues is extensive and will allow us to create the best possible experience for our clientele.
CJ’s Off the Square – Photography by Ulmer Studios
Riverwood Mansion – Photo by Divine Images
Woman’s Club of Nashville
Want to learn more? Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com.
Each Thursday we feature a thank you note from one of our clients on our Facebook page. Each one makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Here are just a few examples:
Join our Facebook page to see more.
Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com find out how Main Event Productions can help you with your next event.
Legacy Farms was honored to host the Nashville Wedding Planners Group luncheon in September. The Nashville Wedding Planners Group is a group for local wedding planners with the purpose of bringing Nashville’s wedding planners together for the ultimate betterment of the industry as a whole.
The guests were treated to a tour of Legacy Farms and a delicious lunch by A Catered Affair. Several additional vendors demonstrated their products and shared practical tips that each person could take back to their office and use right away.
Featured Vendors:
A Catered Affair
Legacy Farms
Paint Your Event
Chris and Adrienne Scott Photography
BBJ Linens
Jos. A. Banks Formal Wear
A Little Something Detailed
If you would like more information on the Nashville Wedding Planners Group, please contact them at NashvilleWeddingPlannersGroup@gmail.com.
Let us feature your event at Legacy Farms. Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to schedule a consultation.
Much of your budget will be delegated to providing your guests with a fine meal and refreshments. Don’t pick just any caterer! It is crucial to ask the right questions when talking to potential caterers. Make sure you have all of your concerns written down when you meet because you can never ask too many questions.
This list of questions should help you make an informed decision so that you get good value for your budget.
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Does the cost cover just the food or does it include linens, utensils, china, flatware or glassware rental?
- Do you offer menu flexibility? Would you, for example, customize our menu using a family recipe?
- Is a deposit required? If so, how much is it and when is the balance due? Is it non-refundable? What is your cancellation policy?
- Will you provide a proposal for us to approve before paying our deposit?
- Do you offer wedding cakes? If we provide our own wedding cake, is there an additional fee for cutting and serving the cake?
- How do you accommodate special requests for meals if guests have dietary restrictions?
- Do you offer children’s meals? If so, what is the cost?
- Do you have a liquor license? May we provide our own liquor? Is there a corkage fee charged for wine or champagne? If so, how much do you charge?
- When will the caterer need the final head count?
- Is there a less expensive meal option for the band, DJ and photographers?
- Can you supply bartenders and, if so, what is the cost?
- Will there be somebody “in charge” while my reception is being held?
- If my reception runs longer than what was contracted for, will there be an additional fee charged?
- What is the ratio of servers to guests?
- Can we sample your menu and is there a fee for this?
- What will the waitstaff wear?
- Will the food be prepared on-site or brought in already prepared?
- How will the food be served – buffet, table service or family style?
- Can the caterer also supply the wedding cake?
- Can we see photos of your previous work?
- Do the staff and servers receive a gratuity that is covered in the fees or is it an additional charge?
Remembering your budget and asking these questions should make selecting the perfect caterer a breeze.
First you will want to choose a meal style for your wedding reception. Most ceremonies are followed by a cocktail hour with appetizers and then a sit down meal. Hors d’oeuvres may be passed by wait staff or a station can be set up to provide a gathering spot for guests.
Instead of a buffet, you might want to consider food stations where eclectic and creative food items can be set up around the room. Buffet or food stations will shorten the length of your reception and are similar in cost to a seated, plated dinner.
Many plated dinners offer a choice of entrée which guests customarily indicate their preference for on their reply card. Creating a seating chart will help in making the plated dinner easy for your guests.
Where does the time go? In less than 100 days the holiday season will begin. Did you know that December is –
- Hi, Neighbor Month (get to know your neighbors with a cookie swap)
- National Stress Free Family Holiday Month (good luck with that one)
- Read a New Book Month (who has time to read in December?)
- Write to a Friend Month (think about sending holiday cards this year)
Some of the more wacky holidays are
- Eat a Red Apple Day
- National Fritters Day
- National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
- National Cookie Day
- Wear Brown Shoes Day
- National Cotton Candy Day
- National Brownie Day
- National Noodle Ring Day
- National Cocoa Day
- National Maple Syrup Day
- Underdog Day
- Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day (I’m not making this stuff up!)
- Humbug Day
- National Flashlight Day
- National Egg Nog Day
- National Whiners Day
- Visit the Zoo Day
- Card Playing Day
- National Chocolate Day (where do I sign up to be the spokesperson?)
Whatever you want to celebrate, we can make it happen. Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to schedule a consultation.
Location: Legacy Farms
Linen: Graceful Tables
Elegant Mansion Setup Paper: Williamson County Weddings & Events
Elegant Mansion Decorator: Amy by Williamson Weddings & Events
Flowers: Enchanted Florist
Fall Setup Paper: Designs In Paper
Dress: The White Room
Event Decor: Southern Events/ Enchanted Florist/Legacy Farms/Main Event Productions
Chargers: Southern Events
Photos: Ace Photography
I decided to take a little walk on the web and find ideas that could easily be incorporated into any wedding reception décor.
Vases of varying sizes, shapes, and materials can be unified with mere paper bags to serve as fresh, bright centerpieces at a casual wedding. Slip the plain white lunch bags over the containers and cinch the tops loosely with ribbons tied in bows. www.marthastewartweddings.com
This guest signature picture frame mat is a fabulous and unique alternative to a traditional paper and cardboard guest book, allowing guests to engrave their own names and well wishes into the frame to create a lasting and personalized keepsake to forever remember the special occasion. www.idoengravables.com
Here’s the perfect solution for your table number/name cards! What a beautiful way to light up your reception tables and also illuminate the way for your guests to find their tables. www.momentsofelegance.com
The Main Events Production team can help you with your wedding. From catering, to the venue to the wedding and grooms cake, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to schedule a consultation.
A Catered Affair - Hanging Appetizers
Our first offering is a video created by Martin O’Connor Photography and showcases the wonderful and tasty food we have created at A Catered Affair. The backdrop for this video is our Downtown Nashville venue, Events @ 1418. Click HERE to watch!
As you probably have heard, we have a new venue. Legacy Farms opened a few short months ago and hosted an open house for the events industry professionals in July. We are excited to show you this album of photos from Legacy Farms. Click HERE to view. Enjoy!
Legacy Farms - Photo by Ace Photography
How can we help you? Give us a call at 615.321.2394 or contact Kellie Bryson at kellie@maineventpro.com to schedule a consultation.
You’ve worked hard to set the date, choose a venue and ordered your exquisite wedding couture. Now it is time to reward yourself with the perfect wedding cake! In recent years, wedding cake options have become a limitless and easy way to reflect couples’ personalities. With so many options available, it is important to find the right baker to deliver your dream cake.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you choose your baker. Most importantly that you love the way your cake looks and tastes and that you can rest assured that your baker will have the experience and know-how to deliver your cake beautifully on your wedding day.
These questions will help you choose the right baker for your wedding cake!
- May I see your portfolio and references?
- Do you have a printed list of cakes and prices?
- Can you custom design a cake based on a sketch or vague idea?
- Do you deliver? What services and assurances are included in the delivery fee? For example: Will the delivery person be able to make an emergency frosting or decoration repair if needed?
- Is there a written contract to be signed by both of us outlining payment agreements, cake flavor and design, and services included?
- If I decide to have fresh flowers on my cake, can you coordinate with my florist?
- Can you provide a written proposal?
- How long have you been in business?
- How many wedding cakes have you produced in the past six months?
- Will you be adequately staffed to deliver the cake on my wedding day?
- How do you price your cakes?
- Do you have a minimum cake cost?
- We are budget conscience. Do you have any suggestions to help me maximize my cake budget?
- Do you decorate the cake table to match the cake?
- There are several ancillary items associated with a cake. Does the cake designer rent or provide items such as toppers, cake stands, cake-cutting knives? What is the cost? When will these items need to be returned?
- Do you offer a specialty box in order to freeze the top tier of the cake? Is there an additional charge?
- Is there a deposit charged and when is the final payment due?
- Are there any hidden fees that I should be aware of?
- What is your refund policy if I should cancel my order?
- Do you have a specialty wedding cake design?
- In addition to your standard flavors and fillings, would you be able to create a cake from an old family recipe?
- Do you have organic and gluten-free options?
- Do you have cake tastings and, if so, is there a charge?
- Do you make groom’s cakes? How is this priced?
Having a basic knowledge of the icings and decorations that are available should help you to make the most informed cake choices. Here is some terminology that will help you choose your most perfect wedding cake!
Icings:
Butter Cream Icing comes in many forms with widely differing ingredients and flavors. When choosing between butter cream options, consider temperature, humidity, and the general environment where the cake will be placed on your wedding day. For instance, cakes that will be placed outdoors will need a butter cream that will not melt or lose its shape. For an outdoor reception, you may even opt to cover butter cream with a thin layer of Fondant.
Fondant is a dough like icing that is very sweet and can be stretched over a cake or can be formed into decorations like flowers and leaves and dried to a candy-like hardness. Some don’t care for fondant, but keep in mind that there are great flavors available, and at the Bake Shoppe, we are able to create a very thin layer to smooth over our tasty buttercream icing for a finished, smooth look.
Ganache is a mixture of chocolate and cream that can be poured over a cake for a glossy, delicious look. It can also be whipped to fill a cake. This is a wonderful option for a chocolaty grooms cake or a decadent wedding cake for the couple who adores chocolate.
