Catering Questions For Wedding Receptions & Events

Photo by DUphotography.com Everyone enjoys a wedding reception, party and business event from different viewpoints.  Some guests love the flowers, food presentation and decor, while others comment on the food and service.  While most people host their event with the attitude of having a great and memorable time, we have found the choice for the right caterer comes with hundreds of questions. Would love to have your input and your questions in our Blog. Join us. There are a variety of catering services: Pick-up catering Full Service catering – complete with linens, bar, meal, deserts Location – in-house catering or banquet departments BBQ catering Full Service with a number of reception locations to offer Church or membership halls with food and serving committee Location’s selected vendor list of independent caterers to choose from Lovely locations find themselves dismissed from the bride’s list because the caterer/chef has a poor reputation or same old menu for every wedding. Even a backyard wedding can create space, access and function concerns for food being prepped and served. Photo by DUphotography.com Quick Tips: Tip:  When you choose an event location where all the party rentals, tables and linens, dishes are rented, you will spend as much or more on these items than on the food and catering services. (backyard parties - home events) Tip:  A buffet can be more expensive than a seated dinner Tip:  Saving money – eliminate the canapés (they are labor intensive) Tip:  Request two boxed meals for after the wedding with plastic forks etc. for the bride and groom – include some dessert also. Tip:  When a friends or family gifts you the catering, it may not mean they are also giving you the food nor the services required with staff, please get clear and qualify any charges you will need to cover. Tip:  If you have paid the bartender for services and included a tip in his check, you should not allow a tips jar on their counter Judith's Suggestions: Do not hire a caterer prior to selecting your location.  Many event locations want you to use their selected caterers list or their on-site chef. Couples are challenged by many of the following concerns and ask if the caterer can: provide ethnic style recipes or kosher kitchens health department licensing bring a wait staff to serve the food to seated guests set the buffet display in a quality presentation serve and staff the reception with trained personnel provide adequate food for the number of guests offer extended services such as party rental selection and setup, bartending, cake cutting or valet service Most caterers offer you websites and photo albums, plus printed menus to assist in making your decisions. If there are specific food requests the catering choice may revolve around various ethic foods and menus and service. Circumventing problems is twofold. Knowing the questions to ask  when you interview (sit down with the caterer) and calling their references to make certain their reputation is good. Most important questions to ask their references are: Did the caterer provide the items and menu you requested? Was the food fresh, good and ample? Was the food well presented and displayed? Was the wait staff attentive to the guest needs? Would you hire this person again? Once you have decided you require a caterer, select three. Request interview dates and if you like them during the interview ask for a bid.  Usually they will give you two price points with the option of including items or red-lining them. If a bid comes in higher from your very favorite caterer, then ask them to review the bid with you and see if there are methods where you can lower your costs and still achieve your favored caterer.    Find favorite caterers in your chosen region on WeddingLinks.com  Photo by DUphotography.com With caterers and their staff, the final bill will include tax, tips and often cake cutting charges and corkage fees for opening your wines.  Please ask to see the fees with all items included in the bid.  You don’t want any surprises.  Each catering company has their own policy and contract  to indicate charges and payment structure but generally 50% is requested for the reservation. Most caterers want to know the number of guests attending in the week prior to the wedding day so they may order the food, etc. Most caterers expect the final payment on the quoted price prior to the date of the event/reception. There may be additional charges because of corkage and bar bills. Please place someone in charge of this payment at the end of the event - this can be the wedding planner who reviews the bill, a parent or designated person.  Other questions you may want to ask: Who does the clean up? What happens to the leftover food? What are some lesser priced alternatives? UA-36897602-8

Cocktail & Bar Set Up For Parties and Wedding Receptions

                                           Cocktail Parties, Martinis and blended drinks are in-style. 

Your  wedding reception, special event or cocktail party may begin or evolve in a room set aside, or the entry space prior to entering the reception room.  Some hosts set the bar up in the main reception room.  Couples set up a wine bar or spritzer bar with soft drinks for the youth.  Some couples create an entry area for their reception with soft music, and bar service to create a inviting area of luxury prior to their arrival after their photographs. There are trained bar staff services that will mix the "couple's cocktail" drinks created and named after the bride and groom. But the mixed bar that also serves wine ... is often more appreciated.

Love to have your input on this subject....new ideas are helpful. Join us on the blog.

Responsible hosts are moving away from the wine bottles on the tables for two reasons.  One, it is a waste of good wine with many open wine bottles at the end of an event and Two, some people drink way to much – reaching for bottles from other tables. We are seeing small individual bottles with personalized labels as favors and people getting up from their table to have a glass refilled or wait staff serving the alcohol and water.

Two Types Of Bar Setup

The FREE/hosted Bar is taken care of by the host or hostess and drinks are free to guests.  A tips jar is not allowed on the counter at these paid bars, the tip is part of the bill paid by the host/hostess provides.

The PAID No-Host Bar - or Public Bar  is where drinks are paid for by the individual guest.  A tips jar is allowed at this type of bar. 

Clubs and associations and most hotels have their own bartenders with alcohol purchased and do put up a tips jar. 

WISDOM - It pays (insurance wise) to have a bar tending service that practices Responsible Hospitality.
WISDOM - If children are invited - please understand parents get busy drinking and socializing and a good baby sitter or children's entertainment area is very helpful.

Bar Set Up

If planning a winery wedding - you likely will be serving their wines and they will have their

servers on hand to do this. 

If you are outfitting your own bar, we suggest speaking with the in-know people at a specialized liquor store, large warehouse-type beverage companies or a chain store (grocer) with staff who know alcohol serving and beverages. They can guide you.  Please understand if you are serving alcohol to a public group, you probably are required to have an ABC license in your city/county/state.  When you hire a bartending service, they generally come with this ABC license. Please check to see that the date is current on this license when hiring.

To outfit a general bar, understand people like to drink various things.  Water and ice are primary, beer depends on your crowd, wines are often the mainstay and hard alcohol or mixed drinks or special cocktails can be part of the bar setup.  If you do not want the expense of providing all these selections, then make it either or…a cocktail bar, beer bar, wine bar, margarita bar, sangria bar, etc….

Find LOCAL links to all types of vintners, alcohol and beverage stores and bar tending services on WeddingLinks.com and our mobile friendly WeddingLinks.co

Hors d’ oeuvres For Cocktails & Wine and Foods Served With Beer

 Appearances for the (hors d’ oeuvres) one-bite delectable go far beyond the chips and dips with beer, or cheese and crackers served with wines. Hours of prep time go into these adorable and tasty nibbles served on unique plates, stone surfaces, large leaves and unique cups or tiny glassware. The cocktails require specific bar glasses and a very talented bartender or two who know the rules on responsible hospitality. They usually come outfitted to set up in a specific space you designate.  People mingle around some exciting displays or servers bring the trays of hors d’ oeuvres. Attitude LUXURY, Fussy, Fabulous and Caloric are words to describe.  The caterer’s preparation-time is intensive, very tasty and sometimes just as costly as a seated dinner. They do lend elegance to a gathering and are a welcome surprise at the beginning of a dinner party or focus of a grand event. 

Top Twelve Beach Wedding Areas In The World, From California To The Caribbean Islands

 Photo by Judith Rivers-Moore
Find Exciting Beach Wedding Venues from Puhket Thailand to Virginia Beach and San Diego

Along with garden weddings and wine country weddings we find many couples choose to have a beach wedding. Many of these are destination locations, hotels and resorts near the ocean or nearby lakeside settings. There is a tranquility and peace to hosting your ceremony at a beach, and fun quality to having a wedding reception with a beach party atmosphere. Since this is the way women shop for an event site…  You will find a variety of beach wedding venues on WeddingLinks.com with ocean or lake settings. We have linked thousands of amazing beach wedding sites throughout the USA and the world. Mobile Access on WeddingLinks.co

Review the TOP 12 Best Beach Wedding Locations Below
Love your input on the blog - What beach area or resort are you considering?

There are a few management concerns I wanted to tip you off about prior to booking your beach wedding site.  Best use time is important. Blistering heat or early morning fog, when the winds come up, high tide, low tide, dangers to children and public access can be major concerns.

We suggest – when selecting a beach wedding venue…

Pacific Sunset - Photo by Judith Rivers-Moore

• Ask the site management which part of the day offers the best use time. Listening to the management regarding best time of year to plan and best part of the day is a very good idea. They know their event location.
• If they seem sketchy, look for articles and complaints on Google regarding the location. If it is nearby, visit a few times to understand the beach location and look up the tide times for the specific date.
• Ask what the policies are for set up and break down of the ceremony and how you get to the ceremony site in your wedding dress.
• If a beach reception, you will want to know how things can be set up, water and power concerns, and lighting the way back to cars as the sun sets.
• Certain beaches have “invaders” protected by environmental agencies.  Many of us do not want the “wonder sea crabs” crawling through our wedding ceremony.
• Setting your ceremony area to close to the tides, can be a disaster as it rolls in.
• Our ever-changing earth gives a variety of sunset times. I find many couples want their vows at sunset. Beautiful yes and very photogenic with western sunsets.
• All state and most city beaches require wedding permits. You will find links to state beaches on our WeddingLinks
• Consider the difficulty of getting the chairs to the ceremony area and out later. The dynamics of this is time consuming and a struggle in the sand.

Creative Beach Wedding Ideas

Tahitian Theme Wedding - Photo by, Judith Rivers-Moore

• No high-heels.  Have a basket of flip-flops for guests
• Umbrellas for the guests to protect from the sun or fun sun hats as favors.
• Sun block available for the guests.
• When it is a beach party reception find someone to attend the children for their safety. Water is an attraction to little ones and parents may not notice their child wandering toward the water.  A play tent outfitted with fun games and a nanny may help the situation.
• There are fun tents and colorful awnings you can rent at the party rentals.
• I love the favors for beach weddings and found BeauCou.com has many ideas.
• Some resorts along the beach have transportation (golf carts) to the beach event for the elderly. Walking through sand is a struggle.
• There are catering companies that specialize in “beach parties” offering bbqs, themes and entertainment with wedding planners to help you complete the details.

TOP 12 Beach Wedding Locations For Weddings

WeddingLinks.com/Hawaii 
WeddingLinks.com/Pacific Islands  -  Tahiti
WeddingLinks.com/Caribbean Islands
WeddingLinks.com/Florida   -    both coasts and the Keys
WeddingLinks.com/San Diego
WeddingLinks.com/Orange
WeddingLinks.com/Virginia
WeddingLinks.com/Indonesia
WeddingLinks.com/New York - Long Island
WeddingLinks.com/Texas           -  Galveston
WeddingLinks.com/South Carolina
WeddingLinks.com/Thaiiland   -  Phuket

Also Consider Beautiful Lake Beach Areas Worldwide:
Lake Tahoe in California, Lake Louise in Canada, Lucerne Lake in Switzerland, Great Lakes in Michcigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Lake Como in Italy, etc.

Copyright © Judith Rivers-Moore, JRPublications 2012-14-15, Santa Rosa, California,
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Hotels For Wedding Venues, Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Resorts

Hotels and lodging are an integral part of wedding planning. We find brides and grooms want a hotel for a stunning ballroom as their wedding venue. Crystal chandeliers and regal settings plus the nearby housing of the wedding guests make the hotel venues very popular. Hotel lodging for your wedding guests and the rehearsal dinner at the hotel often works well. Many hotels have lovely banquet rooms, terraces by the pool and beachside spaces for dining. The hotel suites give you an excellent setting for wedding preparation and later your honeymoon suite.   Mobile Access to great hotels worldwide on  HoneymoonLinks.co  and our WeddingLinks.co

Our readers love to know your favorite hotel and why you booked that hotel on this blog.

 Honolulu Hotel by Judith Rivers-Moore

Resort hotels are perfect for destination weddings. They often have a staff person to assist with the wedding planning details for your ceremony and reception. Hotels can give you group reservations rates.  Some hotels are all-inclusive with food, drinks, beach toys and some unique area tours included.

Major hotel chains and boutique hotels cater to honeymooners with special packages. These romantic honeymoon resorts are often in spectacular settings on beautiful beaches and near snow ski runs, African safari jungle adventures and adventure sports hotels with the ocean at their doorstep with reefs for scuba diving and rain forests for hiking. Many couples love the resorts near Disneyland and Disney World for another type of adventure.

Hotel poolside by Judith Rivers-Moore

 Weddinglinks.com  and our mobile friendly WeddingLinks.co offers a vast array of hotel links throughout the USA and the world. Many have amazing spa facilities and unique features with tours and experiences found in their region of the world.  We have reviewed many of the United States National Park’s lodging and find them beautifully maintained in their awe inspiring environments. The USA’s standards for beautiful hotel resorts finds couples enjoying exciting getaways and honeymoons through out the states and Hawaii.

 Maui Westin by Judith Rivers-Moore

In our searches, we discovered the United Kingdom and Europe offer a number of castle hotels and India has ornate palaces to choose from. The Italian countryside and Venice canals offer charming villas and romantic hotels.  The Caribbean Islands, Tahiti and Fiji prove there is sugar white sand and black sand on beaches just waiting for your feet. We have been writing articles on HoneymoonLinks.co regarding travel. Trust you will take a few minutes to discover those faraway places.  


Copyright © Judith Rivers-Moore, JRPublications 2013-14-15, Santa Rosa, California,
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Simple To Sexy Wedding Dresses, Designer Wedding Gowns & Bridal Shops

 Women seek a variety of styles in their wedding apparel today. While some of us want stunning bridal gowns with elegant lines, lace and figure flattering chic forms, other brides-to-be choose casual beach wedding styles or short length dress and many desire traditional ethnic gowns from their native culture.

                                                             Photo by  DUPhotography.com

The  Wedding Dress Galley on WeddingLinks.co provides you with an opportunity to review the designers who specialize in every style from all over the world.  From that great page with links to mother of the bride, flower girl, bridesmaid and top designers, Find Your Style - then enjoy opening the pages in your Local Area that offer you great service.  

This one link leads to both famous gown designers to review wedding dress styles and to our thousands of bridal shops in your search area of the USA and global cities.  Mobile Friendly access to to inspiring bridal shops. You will also find VIDEOS from the current fashion designer shows on the home page of WeddingLinks.co

Photo by DUphotography.com

There are a few tips you may want to consider before selecting your wedding dress

And we invite you to add your input on our Blog:

1. Choosing your dress style has a great deal to do with what type of wedding you are planning.  Some gowns adhere to elegant black-tie evening weddings, and other styles look best at the beach. Believe me, you will know when it is the “right dress”.

2.When this is a church wedding, check with their rulings prior to purchase. Some churches request shoulders be covered and no backless gowns.

3. You will want to emphasis your body’s positive lines and down play the over obvious. This often takes your acceptance of your figure and someone who will offer an honest opinion. I have swimmers shoulders, so I do not seek puffy sleeves and my face is heart shaped, so I look for specific necklines that enhance it. I have a narrow waist, but blossoming hips. Figure problems can be relieved by the right styles.

4. There are seven colors of white and some of these tones can drab down our coloring. Find out which white looks the best with your skin tones or work to achieve make-up tones to enhance your purchase.  Because shop lighting is not natural, request a mirror by a window to view your coloring as you try on dresses.

5. Ordering your dress from a bridal shop can take six to nine months and if you are having it made by a professional dress designer, this can take a year or more.  Most dresses when ordered require a great deal of fitting by a qualified seamstress.  Most quality shops and salons have this service.  It is with purchases from the web and pre-owned or family gowns, we run into dresses that require remodeling.

6. Wedding veils and be-jeweled headpieces, tiaras and hats are available. Selecting these has a great deal to do with the dress you decide upon. Often we can find gorgeous matches. Because of winds, you will want to fasten veils well on to your hairstyle. Many ladies choose to have elaborate wedding hairstyles and no other adornments.

7.  Getting ready and freshening up on your wedding day can lead to dropped lipsticks, and makeup getting on the dress. Use a covering over your dress, when applying.

8. Planning to dance at your wedding reception brings the element of bustling your long dress after the ceremony.  The more bouffant a skirt is, the more complicated the bustle. Bring a bridesmaid to learn how the bustle works from the seamstress or shop owner. This bridesmaid will assist you on the wedding day.

9.  Plan to have your wedding dress cleaned within three days. Stains set in quickly.

WeddingLinks.co  has a signup to receive our FREE e-Wedding Planning Book "The Wedding Manifesto"
authored by an educator of wedding planners. You will also receive management forms, time lines for the rehearsal and day-of wedding and several gifts along with our "Best Style California Wedding & Honeymoon" e-Magazine. 

Find bridal shops, wedding venues and wedding services on WeddingLinks.com also.


Copyright © Judith Rivers-Moore, JRPublications 2012-14-15-16, Santa Rosa, California,

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#weddingdresses    #designerweddingdresses    #newyorkweddingdresses   #redweddingdresses
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Wedding Photographers & Video Services Capture Your Wedding Ceremony & Wedding Reception Memories

There is no way to convey in words of what the wedding photographer captures in reflective moments of your wedding ceremony and celebration. The video services vibrate the moods, exciting movements and treasured sounds of the big day. Both are important wedding services to remind you of that moment in time.   A friend said, she did not cry during the wedding, but tears rolled down her cheeks as she viewed her wedding photos.

While we see a variety of photo ideas with photo booths, table instant cameras, family or friends running around with their digitals at the reception, and exciting online wedding albums, this is no area you want to short change. The difference between my quick shot digital and the ones the professionals use are miles apart.  Below you can see their quality over mine, at a glance.

Non-Pro Photo by Judith Rivers-Moore

Photo by a Professional - DUphotography.com

As a writer of wedding planning and honeymoon books and ceo of WeddingLinks.com, I find it impossible to complete a project without the submissions of fantastic photos from these awesome wedding photographers.

A picture is worth a thousand words, no matter how good a writer is.  They tell the truth of a life-story’s moment, and remain in our mind’s eye for years to come.

Contracting With A Professional Wedding Photographer:

In your contract you will provide them with specifics:

a.                   list of who you want photographed

b.                  notify them of the exact times they are to arrive and address

c.                   when you want the formal portraits

d.                  review the contract for all the details

e.                   give reminder calls 1 week ahead of your date

New things on the market are; photographers who do green photography, offering special paper and album services, unique albums, photo shop enhancements, large signature portraits, combined services of photo booths and photographers, and oil canvases of your favorite wedding photo for the wall.  The online fun you can enjoy with your photos is endless and you will find links to these many types of weddding services on WeddingLinks.com for all these and more, specific to your event region. 

The interesting thing about a wedding photographer, is they often become your family photographer and are often there for you through the years.  They love to assist with portraiture of your anniversary, the baby portraits, the family and business portraits and graduations. 

WeddingLinks.co and  HoneymoonLinks.co are part of  JRpublicationsinc.co  partner

websites. Sign up for our  free online wedding planning book and receive management forms, budgets and timelines for all you planning details.



Copyright © Judith Rivers-Moore, JRPublications 2013-14-15, Santa Rosa, California, UA-36897602-8

Limo Services - Red Carpet Treatment With Hummers, Vintage Cars, Wine Tours, Buses & Town Cars

        Limo Service - The Added Luxury To your Red Carpet Event - Your Wedding Celebration

We are often amazed at the length of Limousines and Hummers as they round the corners. They are huge and meant to keep a group togetherm and be part of a party and celebration!!!.  While many of us view limousine service for dignitaries, movie stars and the wealthy, they are possible for all of us to enjoy.  Their many services include: wedding day transportation, birthday parties, business events, wine tours, informative city tours, bachelor and bachelorette parties and graduation celebrations.  Often a great party on wheels!

photo by DUphotography.com

The limo becomes center stage and invites fun. Popping the question is a popular scene for limousine trips. And some new dads are so euphoric they take mom home from the hospital in limo style. The limo is an excellent gift for any reason and we find this gift is popular for wedding anniversaries and dining parties.

 When booking a limo, you may want to consider some of the following tips…and feel free to add some of your ideas to the Blog.

1. Book with a company that is licensed and insured.
2. When a wine tour, or tour of a city, you want to request a knowledgeable person.
3. Book well in advance of your required date and exact time needed.
4. If a wedding, you may desire a white car and need to say so in the contract.
5. Tipping the driver is additional to the fees already paid to the limo service.
6. Airport runs will not guarantee you get to the airport on time, anyone on the road is subject to traffic issues that include accidents, road work and weather.

The limos stock alcohol within reach of those riding. If young people are why you are booking the limousine, ask to have it replaced with soft drinks.

You will find limousine services and ideas for transportation throughout the world on WeddingLinks.com and mobile friendly  WeddingLinks.co

Copyright © Judith Rivers-Moore, JRPublications 2013-12-15, Santa Rosa, California, UA-36897602-8

#transportation #weddingideas,  #limo services,  #sonoma limos,  #weddinglinks