Trend- Thank You Brunch

Every bride agrees on one thing – the wedding goes by too fast! Enjoy looking back on your wedding reception the next day with a Thank You Brunch or BBQ. Most couples leave for their honeymoon two days or more after the wedding to allow time to get organized, recover from the wedding, and enjoy visiting family. Bring the wedding party and families together the next day to enjoy a brunch or BBQ and get a sneak peak at wedding photos, stories, and extend the joy of the occasion as long as possible.Trend provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Taste Testing Fun

It’s Your Day . . . Have Fun! Whether you attend the tasting with just you and your fiancé, or ask your parents to attend with you, try to schedule the tasting for a late lunch or early dinner so that you can enjoy your special meal and a glass of wine.
Tip provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Consider Veggie Options

Consider Vegetarian Options ~ Do you anticipate having any special dietary needs, vegetarian, or vegan guests at your wedding? If so be sure to let your caterer know in advance and ask to taste the special dishes they will prepare. You want to be sure that the alternative selections are just as wonderful as the rest of the menu so that your guests do not feel left out!Tip provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Kids Meal Please

Does the caterer offer a meal option for children or a discount from the normal price? Often for wedding receptions with a large number of children you have the option of a separate buffet or plated meal that will be much more kid-friendly then Chicken Duxelle En Croute. Chicken fingers are a great alternative!

Tip provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Profinish Design

Trend - Hors D'Oeuvres Centerpieces

Save money in style!
If you need to cut costs within your budget here is a NEW idea ~ save money on hors d’oeuvres and on your centerpieces by incorporating the two. Have easy to eat snacks at guest tables to nibble on throughout the cocktail hour and reception as part of your centerpiece, eliminating the need for pricey hors d’oeuvres.

Fill a tall glass hurricane with a pillar candle and filler such as flower petals, river rocks, or a colorful item to match your wedding colors. Stack this inside of a larger and shorter glass bowl or plate with a three to four inch lip and fill the bowl with snack or your choice.

Great snack items include spicy mixed nuts, yogurt covered pretzels, M&M’s to match your wedding colors, dried fruits, or your favorite snack. You can make this yourself or have your catering company provide the snacks for you.

Trend provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography

Tip - Be Prepared With Food Questions

Come to Your Tasting with Questions! ~ Be sure to take notes of your questions and bring them to your tasting appointment. This is a great chance to meet with your event planner to discuss the presentation, style of service, options available, and make changes.
The tasting appointment is also a great opportunity to ask to see the china, glassware and linens that the caterer plans to use at your reception!

Tip provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography

Trend - Family-Style Dinner..Creating Conversation

Looking to create a more intimate feeling at your reception? There is a strong turn towards embracing casual elegance, and like any other party of close friends and family, your reception dinner goal is to bring a table full of people who may not know each other into conversation.

Many couples are choosing to use their dinner style to initiate interaction and interest. Family-style serving is quickly becoming the hot trend of the year, though it is not a service that every catering company provides so you want to be sure to ask early on. Rather than excusing your party table by table to the buffet, or incurring the high cost of a plated dinner service, family-style service will provide your guests with a platter of each menu item to the table. Guests then serve themselves, circulating the platter and stimulating conversation. This is executed best with a two course system, the first being salad service with bread or rolls similar to a restaurant, and the second course being the entrees and side dishes. For an extra touch, you may decide to add a third course with a plated dessert and save your beautiful wedding cake for later in the evening.

Trend provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Taste YOUR Menu, Not Theirs

Be Sure You Are Tasting Your Menu ~ How will you know what to expect if you are tasting samples of items the caterer has chosen?
Be sure to taste an actual mock up of your menu in as close to the presentation style as possible. This allows you to both see and taste your items of choice and make changes to better suit your needs.

Tip provided by Capital City Catering
Photo courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography

Trend - Sample Food Stations

Looking to personalize their wedding receptions and break away from the traditional buffet, brides are enjoying the idea of sample stations. This trend can be interpreted for every bride and groom by incorporating their favorite drinks and delights.

Some of the more popular examples include wine and cheese stations with a professional sommelier to educate guests on the wines and pairings, bruschetta bars, pasta sauté stations, and signature cocktail bars featuring different varieties. The big hit this year is the champagne bar; pick your favorite bottles of bubbly and create custom drinks with mixers such as Chambord, Midori, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. Guests can join in on the fun by adding fresh fruits or garnishes to top off the cocktail!

However, our favorite trend is starting the honeymoon a bit early with a station dedicated to the location and cuisine of your honeymoon destination. From tropical Hawaiian treats to wintery wonderland soups, this is a special treat for your guests and a memorable way to personalize your wedding.

Trend provided by Capital City Catering

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Finding the Perfect Location

Many brides are choosing historic mansions or outdoor gardens for their wedding versus a large hotel with numerous banquet rooms. Brides want to feel special on their wedding day and don't want to be one of four weddings going on at a hotel, country club or banquet facility. It make take a bit more searching and effort, but finding the perfect private wedding location will be a memorable treat to you, your family and all your guests!

Trend provided by Capital City Catering

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Capital City Catering

Capital City Catering was founded in 1984 as a full service catering company to provide the best in menu selection, presentation and quality service to the Greater Sacramento area. Since that time, Capital City Catering has continued to grow in experience, creativity, and a true passion for California cuisine inspired by local flavors and ingredients. Our catering services include a customized variety of food, beverage and bar options to suit the need of every event with personality and detail. The Capital City Catering team of Wedding & Event Specialists, Brianna Kleinschmidt and Amanda Petersen, will turn your vision into an orchestrated design of food, beverage and attentive service.

site: www.capitalcitycatering.com
email: events@capitalcitycatering.com
contact: Brianna Kleinschmidt & Amanda Petersen
phone: (916) 641-6111
address: 2600 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95821