Trend - Serving Styles

There are so many different serving options for cocktail appetizers, reception set ups and desserts now. Be sure to discuss your multitude of options with your caterer or restaurant staff. It could be fun to mix up the serving styles and keep guests anxious for more.Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Get Creative With Your Caterer

When talking to caterers, tell them what theme or vision you have for your wedding and be willing and eager to take suggestions from them about what they've done with a similar theme before. You can also brainstorm some creative concepts together.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Menu Cards On Tables

While your guests already made their entree choices when sending in their reply cards, it's a nice touch to have a menu card at each spot or at your buffet detailing the main ingredients. This will allow guests to know what to anticipate and help avoid any food allergies. It can also be a good conversation starter at the tables. "Oh! I love spinach salad with candied walnuts. Don't you?"Photo provided by Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Reception Dinner Seating Cards

Even if you're not doing assigned seating, don't forget to still create name cards for plated dinners so servers know by color or card style who's getting what entree. It will make food service faster and more convenient.

Photo provided by Sharpe Photographers

Trend - Red and Yellow Make...Fun!

This summer, red and yellow are bright inspirational colors that can stand out as primary wedding colors or add a powerful complement to a black and/or white wedding. a great place to do it is with your drinks. Hostess with the Mostess put together a lovely drink tray with a few great options.

(Clockwise from left: Pomegranate Martini & Yellow Passion Fruit Caipirinha {via Brides}; Tequila Sunrise; Bloody Mary “Light” featuring organic tomato water as the “juice”; Screwdriver & Ruby Red Grapefruit cocktails on the rocks)

Trend - Salty Treats

One of the food trends for 2009 is colored and flavored salts! They come in variety of flavors ranging from lavender to smoked paprika. They can be used to garnish the entrees or set out on the dinner tables for your guests to pick and choose.

Photo courtesy of Steamy Kitchen

Trend - Self Serve Stations

Self serve non-alcoholic beverages can be a huge hit and weddings and keep traffic down at the bar.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Toasting Clean Plates N.Y.C.

Blog stalking this weekend, I came across a book at Anderson Green Events blog, that made me wish I lived in NYC. We need a book like this in every city! For those brides that are using their wedding as a motivator to get healthy, be healthy and stay healthy, a handy guide like Clean Plates N.Y.C. should become your new sidekick! This could also be a great tool when selecting a restaurant for your rehearsal dinner, catering your wedding or hosting an event. If you know of a similar book, touting the healthiest tasting restaurants in your city, please share!

Trend - Keep Wine On Your Palate & Off Your Clothes And Teeth

You've probably heard of Wine Away, one of my favorite products (I should really own stock :I) which gets red wine stains out of clothes! It's available in five sizes and, I can tell you, is well worth it.


Hold onto your vino! Now there's a red wine stain remover for your teeth! Wine Wipes are taking wine bar bathrooms by storm. Now when you see a lady swabbing her teeth in the ladies room, you'll be asking, "Might you have a Wine Wipe to spare?". Check out these handy little compacts full of 20 orange blossom flavored wipes and a handy mirror.

Photos courtesy of Wine Away and Wine Wipes.

Tip - Themed Rehearsal Dinner

When planning your rehearsal dinner, organize a fun, festive meal allowing for mingling and a relaxed atmosphere. You're going to host a formal, scheduled meal the next night so consider a themed meal like a BBQ, Mexican fiesta, etc..

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Tip - Choose Bar Drinks and Ware Wisely

Choose bar drinks and glassware that complement your theme. If your theme is Winter Wonderland, consider Hot Toddy's and Spiced Cider served in mugs with a cinnamon stick garnish. If you plan to have a backyard country wedding, serve hard lemonade in Mason jars or consider chocolate martinis if your theme is focused around decadent sweets.

Photo courtesy of With A Twyst

Trend - Cocktail Themed Reception

Polka Dot Bride, a fun filled, dynamite blog we stalk has added a new series to her blog postings, The Cocktail Celebration!! Ms. Polka will share a signature cocktail idea, with ingredients and a storyboard matching the theme of each chosen cocktail. It's a great concept and we wanted to share them with you. Check out and start stalking Polka Dot Bride like we do to follow this tasty series :)! To see the original blog post click any of the images below. Her first signature drink was the martini:Here is the themed wedding to match:
Love it Ms. Polka!! Can't wait for the next cocktail... on the blog and in front of me! :)

Trend - Box Me In

Add your wedding day flowers, themed items, signature drink details or pictures into shadow boxes that can serve as a bar topper.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Tip - Menu Choices

Deciding what meal options to offer to your guests can be a difficult decision. While you're deciding on what to offer, consider the guests that you're inviting. When you go to dinner with family and friends, do they order red meat, pork, chicken, fish, vegetarian? Consider 3 options to allow guests to choose from. If someone is not happy with the choices available, they will surely let you know. Remember...you can't make EVERYONE happy.Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Cozy Caramel

I found this fantastic tasty treat on Martha Stewart Weddings and think it looks delicious! I just had to share:

"Just as the coffee is being served, the dancing always seems to begin in earnest, leaving guests with cold coffee when they return to the table. At your reception, offer caramel wafers to rest across the top of the cup -- the coffee will stay warm and the caramel will soften, turning the wafer into a sweet gooey treat. To prevent premature nibbling, the wait staff should let guests know what the wafers are for when they first bring out the coffee."

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Tip - All Things Considered

You think you've already tackled your biggest expenses? Don't forget to include your bar bill in your overall budget. Be sure to sit down with your caterer to discuss your bar style and serving options to figure out what makes the most sense for your group and budget.

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Child's Play

Looking to incorporate some child's play into your day that even the eldest adult will enjoy? What about a hot dog stand or ice cream/gelato served on your favorite waffle or sugar cone! You can add a condiments/topping bar with all the fixings to make it your own.

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Dessert Station Surprise

Surprise your guests after your cake cutting by having a line of wait staff parade individual desserts to a dessert bar or have them carted from table to table for selection.Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Desserts by Sugar and Spice and...

Trend - Bite Size Hors D'oeuvres

Out with the large pastry puff appetizers and bowls of soup before dinner. Make room for the bite size hors d'oeuvres and demitasse of soup. More couples are planning receptions with poppable treats and tiny shots of flavor fusion. There's nothing more awkward then trying to enjoy a delectable hors d'oeuvre that's hard to handle and take a bite from without spilling the contents down your chin. Bite size solves your potential dilemma.

Photo provided by Sarah Maren Photography
Hors d'oeuvres by Events at Quarry Ponds

Trend - Wine Tasting Stations

For those oenophiles looking for a way to incorporate their favorite wines into their big day, consider wine stations. For example, have a few different stations set with a different style wine from your favorite region. Perhaps your stations could consist of: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, Grenache. I went with all reds, but you get the idea. ;) It's fun and gets guests talking.

You could even do this with different champagnes or even beer!

Share your passion with your guests and they may leave with a little more than a wedding favor. They could have a new appreciation for a wine they never knew about.

Photo provided by Sarah Maren Photography