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Tricks Of The Trade: RSVP Catering

We've decided to start featuring some of our favorite vendors to dish out advice about their particular areas of expertise. Today we're thrilled to welcome our dear friends from RSVP Catering, one of the premiere catering companies here in DC!

Choosing a caterer can feel like a daunting task-- especially because most couples believe that good food is an integral part of throwing a great party [and we wholeheartedly agree!]. Here are some tips from RSVP on how to embark on the search for the perfect caterer for your big day!

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Follow the buzz. Have you been to a great party lately? That’s the best place to start when you’re thinking of hiring a caterer. Find out who the caterer was; you’ll find that the hostess will be flattered that you noticed and will gladly share the information. If you were impressed, that caterer will most likely impress your guests too. Chatting with other vendors can be helpful, too-- event coordinators, florists, photographers and musicians on the local circuit are also good sources for finding out who are good caterers in your area. They’ve been “up close and personal” at a lot of events and see caterers in action.

Do a little research. Find out how long the catering company you’re interested in has been in business to make sure they have a good track record. Businesses with staying power are those who are proven to be reliable and professional. They will also have well trained staff. Make sure the caterer has a business license and a liquor license. Go on to the caterer’s website to find out if the catering company has done events similar to yours. Look at sample menus. You will quickly get an idea of the kinds of foods the caterer offers. Look at the photos: a picture is worth a thousand words!


Chat with the caterer over the phone. Have some facts on hand so both you and the caterer know whether you can work together: the nature of your event, date and time, approximately how many guests you will have, where the event will be held, the style of the event, whether you will have wine and liquor, and what kind of budget you have in mind. Also ask if the caterer can create any special menus, perhaps featuring all-natural, local and/or organic products. See if the caterer is comfortable with vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free requests. If all those questions are answered to your satisfaction, ask the caterer for two references and be prepared to set up a time to meet with the caterer.

A huge thanks to the folks at RSVP Catering for this sound advice! We can't speak highly enough about the RSVP team, so be sure to check them out if you're getting married in the DC area. We''ll certainly be welcoming them back to share more fabulous advice in the future!

[Photos provided by RSVP Catering]

Web Surfing Wednesday

We hope that thoughts of the upcoming holiday weekend is making the week fly by for you all! Since you're bound to be throwing [or at the very least, attending] some Independence Day festivities, we thought we'd share some great Fourth of July printables and DIY projects from around the web.

Adorable vintage-inspired flags and labels via The Sweetest Occasion...

DIY firework drink stirrers via Hostess with the Mostess...

Festive six-pack caddy [perfect for BBQ condiments or to dress up the beer you're bringing to your host] from Design*Sponge...

Charming little ribbon flags atop homemade berry shortcakes via Style Me Pretty...

What are your plans this fabulous Fourth of July weekend?

Gown Silhouette 101

Let's face it-- wedding gown shopping can be quite the challenge. At Hitched, we are in full support of coming into the process without too many preconceived notions, but we have found that many brides find it helpful to have a bit of a sense of what they're looking for when they begin the search.

We spotted this awesome post that Tram from Phi-Style wrote for Brooklyn Bride awile back that provides a bit of education about gown silhouettes-- a great way to get started when it comes to describing the type of dress you're looking for to your bridal consultant.

Tram explains the different silhouettes and provides tips about how to figure out what gowns might suit your figure best. Again, it is good to be open minded when you begin the process [one designer's fit-to-flare A-line/princess cut is another designer's mermaid], but it certainly helps to be able to describe what you like once you start to narrow things down... and we think that the post provides a quick and easy rundown of the many shapes and styles you'll find during your wedding gown search.

Are you finding that all of the variety when it comes to wedding gown silhouettes is overwhelming, or have additional questions? Leave us a comment and we'll be happy to help make your shopping process as seamless as possible [no pun intended!].

[Image via Brooklyn Bride]

 

A Wedding Work Of Art

Coming up with a creative way for guests to leave their mark at your wedding that strays from the traditional guest book is a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding day. One outside-the-box idea that's sure to inspire youthful creativity in your guests is to set out a craft table and have them create art that you can put into a book or have framed after the big day.

Set out watercolor paints, colored pencils, stencils, and construction paper. You'll be surprised at what guests of all ages will come up with to commemorate your wedding day!

Have guests hang their finished products on a clothesline to dry, giving other guests the chance to check out their artwork.

As an alternative, make grids on a large canvas and ask your guests to each paint a section. This will make for a truly memorable piece of art to hang in your home for years to come!

Are you planning to let your wedding guests get crafty? If so, we'd love to hear your ideas!

 

[Photo Credits: 1 Snippet & Ink, 2 Julia Smith, 3 The Knot, 4&5 One Love Photo]

Strawberries In Season

With summer just around the corner, we can't wait for the taste of fresh, seasonal berries on our lips! In addition to serving as a delectable treat, strawberries are just so pretty to look at. We love the idea of incorporating them into decor for a summer celebration!

This strawberry cake is a gorgeous alternative to a floral centerpiece, and we're excited that Tara Wilson of Tara Wilson Events sent this tutorial our way!

You'll need:

(6) round Styrofoam wreaths in (3) graduated sizes (12”, 8”, 4”)
(1) bag of floral pins or cleats
(2) bolt of red ribbon
(3) flats of Driscoll’s strawberries
(1) cake stand
Cutting knife

Steps:

1. Wrap each of the wreaths with the red ribbon, making certain that none of the Styrofoam is visible.  

NOTE:  if the ribbon is too thick it will be challenging to push the pins through.  Selecting a ribbon that is not tightly woven will make this process easier.

2. Attach the (2) largest wreaths together using the floral cleats to form the base of the cake.

3. Remove the stems of each Driscoll’s strawberry, making sure to create a clean even cut.  Then cut the each berry in half length wise.

4. Begin to cover the outer edges of the (2) largest wreaths with berries in a circular pattern until outer ring is covered.

5. Attach the (2) medium sized wreaths together using the floral cleats to form the second layer of the cake.  

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

7. Attach the (2) smallest wreaths together using the floral cleats.  This will form the top layer of the cake.

8. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

Tara tied a small red ribbon around the center of the strawberry cake to complete the look.  The strawberry cake served as the centerpiece for this spring wedding tablescape. Baskets of strawberries served as a creative holder for each placecard.
 
About the Expert: Tara Wilson is the owner of Tara Wilson Events, a full-service event company committed to providing creative, well-executed and memorable events for individual and corporate clients.

[Photo credits: 1 Source, 2 Source, 4 courtesy Tara Wilson]

Independence Day Inspiration From Simply Chic!

With summer fast approaching, we know that all of you July & August brides are in the midst of pulling together those little details that are truly going to set your big day apart from the other weddings your guests will attend this season. And let's be honest-- plently of you July 2012 brides are busily beginning to plan ahead for next year! To provide some insight on a tricky topic, we thought we'd bring in Jamie Sears from Simply Chic Events (one of our absolute favorite local wedding planners) to help answer a seasonal question from one of our Hitched brides-- her ideas are spot on!

Q: My groom and I are getting married during 4th of July weekend. We'd love to find a way to incorporate the holiday into our celebration, especially since a lot of our guests are giving up their normal Independence Day vacation plans to come to the wedding. How can we do this without coming across as cheesy and over-the-top?

Jamie: Well first off, you're in a prime location-- Washington, DC is such a great city for 4th of July festivities!  There are so many clever ways to incorporate the holiday into your wedding plans.  One of the easiest ways to do so is through your menu.  When we think of 4th of July, we envision a picnic with favorites such as BBQ, strawberry shortcake, apple pie (a la mode, of course!) and fresh squeezed lemonade.  We're excited to be planning a wedding over July 4th weekend this year!  Our couple is hosting a post wedding picnic at the bride's parents’ home.  We're setting up picnic baskets and blankets, lawn games and a snow cone station.  The party will go into the evening where guests will roast marshmallows for s'mores and will end with sparklers. 

Checkered linens, striped straws, and lemonade are the perfect addition to a picnic [via Ruffled]

Drinks are more festive with bright stirrers, like these via Etsy

S'mores kits add to late night fun [via Twig & Thistle]

We also love the idea of a July 4th inspired picnic or cookout in place of a formal rehearsal dinner.  A mojito bar (think watermelon, strawberry and blueberry) and ice cream float station would surely be a hit!

We like subtle touches when incorporating holiday decor.  The key is not to get too "theme-y."  Bouquets wrapped in navy and white striped or gingham ribbon, white table linens with seersucker runners or napkins, striped drink stirrers and spiked lemonade served in mason jars are few festive touches for your Independence Day inspired wedding. Add elements that remind your guests of their traditional pastimes and their holiday weekend will be memorable for years to come.

Using old soda crates is a great way to display bags of popcorn or other festival-inspired treats [via Ruffled]

Make your guest feel like kids again with outdoor lawn games [via Once Wed]

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Having a wedding that falls near a holiday can be tricky, so we really appreciate these helpful tips from Jamie! For more of her wonderful planning advice and inspiration, be sure to check out the Simply Chic Events blog. And as always, if you have a wedding related question you'd like to see an expert tackle on our blog, email us at blog@hitchedsalon.com, or leave a comment!