1. The Guests – always begin by considering your guests.  They’re not coming to your wedding to diet.  Plus, there’s just something about love that stokes the appetite, so don’t be shy about serving savory, decadent food.  Always have a Vegetarian option, which in most cases can be Vegan as well.  Some guests may have additional special food needs and preferences, such as allergies or gluten-free, and they are most likely going to speak up for themselves and request this.  As long as you have an option that can suit their needs, all will be well.
2. The Presentation – because we eat with our eyes before we eat with our mouths, visual presentation matters greatly in the enjoyment of a meal.  If it looks great, it tastes even better.  When using seated service, specify how the food will be plated.  For buffet service, use a sumptuous, inviting table design concept and immaculate flatware and linens.
3. The Tasting – you absolutely must do a tasting before deciding on the menu.  Knowing what you’re purchasing and serving to your guests is essential.  It’s what you’ll be eating on your wedding day too so don’t skip the tasting.
4. The Wine – don’t buy the most expensive wine.  A lovely mid-range selection that pairs well with the entree is the best choice.  Most of your guests won’t know the difference anyway.
5. The Entree – offer an option that suits the time of day.  Chicken or fish is ideal for an afternoon meal, and meat or fish fits the evening.  A silent option, where fish is available upon specific request but is not offered, is a smart way to accommodate a smaller budget.
6. The Dessert – as with the protein, offer options in addition to the wedding cake.  A chocolate soufflé and a fruit tart is a smart balance, complemented by an assortment of cookies, macaroons, and small cakes.

Devoting this kind of detailed attention to your menu will be a significant part of making your wedding unforgettable and making your guests feel appreciated.  A final note, however, about service:  As you’re fixating on the food, don’t forget to hire the absolute best service you can find, because how it’s served is as essential as how it tastes.  Bad service can hamstring a perfect menu.  Superior service can make it legendary.

1.  One Party, Three Nights – hosting the party on more than one consecutive night is a smart way to accommodate a guest list that is larger than the venue. It also allows you to organize your guests into groups that will make for ideal conversations and connections.

2.  Three Nights, One Party – offering the same elements each of the multiple nights gives your guests the same wonderful experience and saves you from several host headaches.  Present the same food, drinks, music, and décor each night. Also, using the same staff saves you from having to orient a new crew each time.

Remember to touch up the fresh flowers each day.

3.  Quality is Key – a party in an intimate venue feels like a special, intentional gift given to the chosen guests, and the quality of the food, beverages, service, décor, and music are essential in communicating this sensation.

If the event is in your home, it is even more important that you lead with your best foot.

4.  Mind the Music – whether it’s played live or from your iPod, music is a crucial tone-setter. A small ensemble (3-4 pieces) with a light sound is right for a small space. How it fits who you are is as important as how it fits the space.  Pick music that expresses how you see yourself and your home, and this will communicate seamlessly to your guests.

5.  Give it for Your Guests – it is always true, and especially so with small spaces, that relationships are key. Invite the ones you love and who love you, the ones you want to have a meal with and share your home with. Begin the experience with an elegant, personalized invitation and carry it through to the last goodbye with a warm house full of happy guests. If the guests want to be there, it’s a success.

With the right planning, an economy of space can become a doorway to the most deeply memorable moments, as the need to use fewer, more intimate elements lends an outstanding potency to the experience for your guests. Boisterous, busy events in sweeping spaces are a thrill, but a lavish party in a small space is the perfect reminder that it doesn’t have to be big to be the best.

Here are some of our best tips for designing an unforgettable wedding, learned over our decades of experience and gathered wedding wisdom.

1. Decide what is important to you – what you value most will shape the direction of your wedding, so start with what you want and what you cherish.  Deciding how you want to involve (or not involve) family, faith, and food seems to be the best place to start.
2. Find the Dress – you can’t control when and where you find THE dress, but the sooner you do, the better.  It gives clarity and joy to every other decision, so make this an early priority in the planning process.
3. Personalize – your wedding is YOUR wedding.  You want to look back on your day and feel that it fit you and your spouse as perfectly as your dress.  The more you personalize, the more this will be the case.
4. Consider your guests – these are the people who know you best, the ones who are there to celebrate the love you and your spouse have for each other.  They also are people who want to have a good time while doing so.  It’s your day, but they’re your guests, so don’t forget to factor in their experience while you’re focused on creating yours.
5. Hire Superior Service – speaking of considering your guests, no single factor has greater impact on their experience of your wedding than the quality of service they receive.  Regardless of how elaborate or simple your day is, superior service will define the experience for them.  It will also make you feel proud, and give you less to worry about.  Simply put: do not skimp on the service.
6. Think Event, not just Wedding – truly unforgettable weddings are Events, and Events require the special magic of experts who know how to produce the perfect moments and perfect memories.  There is an inherent theatricality to the most memorable weddings, so don’t be shy when it comes to the production elements.  Venue, service, music, design, lighting, food, beverage, and timing are creative opportunities in the hands of a truly expert event designer.

The wedding you dream of can happen, but it doesn’t just happen.  Once you start thinking about how to put your vision into action, you’ll begin to see the creation of a truly unforgettable wedding.

October 23, 2011 Read Entire Article

October 26- 2011 – Read Entire Article