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It can be overwhelming selecting a caterer for your big day. How many people, what type of menu and what whether to do buffet or sit down! Pauline Parry, founder of Good Gracious! Events understands how difficult this decision can be and has ten points that will make selecting your caterer a stress-free success!

1. Choose a menu that reflects your taste, but is not too extreme for your guests to eat. This is the first time that you are hosting as a married couple, so make considerations for your guests when planning the menu.

2. Ask whether your caterer does tastings.  Most venues will give you a tasting once a deposit has been secured.  Some will charge for a tasting, but if you secure their services, they will credit the monies for your wedding. 

3. Ask your caterer how many bites of food are recommended to serve during cocktail hour.  In my world, I would rather you order more than less, for example, 8-10 bites per guest, as your guests have generally traveled to get to your celebration and are usually quite hungry.

4. Balance food items so you have covered all the food options using fish, meat and vegetarian items.

5. If you establish you would like to serve a plated dinner, you can give guests a choice of choosing fish, beef or chicken in your invitation. Knowing actual guest counts can be more cost effective to your caterer.

6. If you decide to serve meat to all guests, I suggest you have a vegetarian plate for those who do not eat red meat or have allergies. Determine how many vegetarians you want to allow for. Another alternative would be to serve the items on the main plate minus the meat to your vegetarians.

7. Discuss service styles with your caterer, such as if you would like a left right serve, serve ladies first or find a point person at each table, pick up plates as each guest finishes food or wait till the whole table has finished.

8. A plated meal and a buffet dinner usually work out to be the same price point.   For a plated meal you need more servers, but can reduce the number of hours they work and the chef can determine exact quantities of food.

9. At a buffet you have to use more food, you have to set up buffets and break down as well as set guests tables, plus you have the expense of chafers, platters, flowers and linens. 

10. Have a menu card at each table or place setting so your guests can see the menu and alert the caterer with any food issues.

Learn more about Good Gracious! Events, HERE

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What do you get when you bring together industry creatives from every corner of Southern California together for a night of celebration and inspiration? A stunning fall fete! Good Gracious! Events joined dozens of Los Angeles-based creative industry leaders to celebrate the season with an elegant affair nestled in mountains of the Sunstone Vineyards and Winery.


Keep reading for a glimpse into the gorgeous gala and photos from our Fall Fete!


Warm and honey-colored in the sweet October sunset, the gorgeous Santa Ynez venue had a classic Italian feel that captured every autumnal hue. As the evening lingered on, guests sipped decadent wine and nibbled on Good Gracious! hor d'oeuvres as they chatted in the sunset. The patio tablescapes bursted with color, and the centerpiece florals overflowed in shades of pink, orange and white.

Guests who wandered inside enjoyed a chic atmosphere full of white and green florals by Casa Blanca, which blended with the rustic Italian interior so seamlessly. As guests gathered around the dinner table, elegant chandeliers hung gracefully overhead, as the leafy green centerpieces reached up to meet them. We served a delicious four course dinner which consisted of Squash Blossom Wood Oven Pizza, Smoking Corn Soup, Grilled Red Cabbage Salad and Chianti Wine Braised Beef Short Rib on the bone. The evening was a delight for all as DJ Senor Amor kept spirits light and feet moving with the lighthearted upbeat tunes.

Each attendee left feeling connected, lighthearted, and inspired after a night of Autumnal celebration, and we were so grateful to be a part of it. Thank you Jenny Quicksall for capturing the cool ambiance of this event!



Learn more about Good Gracious! Events, HERE












Catering: Good Gracious! Events | Design + Planning: Percy Sales Events | Dessert Venue and Accommodations: Santa Ynez Inn | Dinner Venue and Accommodations: Sunstone Winery | Cocktail Venue and Accommodations: The Landsby | Rentals: The Tent Merchant | Sponsors: Alpaca Wraps: Asher Market | Calligraphy: Brown and Code Signs | Floral Design: Casa Blanca | Custom Key Chains and Menus: Cut It Lab | DJ: DJ Senor Amor | Craft Drinks and Bartending: Flair Project | Photography: Jenny Quicksall | Transportation: Jump on The School Bus | BevMo Santa Barbara: BevMo | Linens: Luxe Linen | Videography: Luxury Lifestyle Studios | Lighting: Spark Creative Events | Live Music Soloist: The Replicas Music | Desserts and Sweet Endings: The Sugar Philosophers
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Week in and week out we are lucky enough to work with the most talented vendors in our industry. However, the opportunity to work alongside some of our fiercest friends and competition in the industry is rare. During the “September Celebration” at the stunning OUE Skyspace LA, Mindy Weiss and AllSeated brought together Southern California’s top caterers and the top vendors of Los Angeles and Orange County to display our best work.
With 360 degree sky-high views and blue skies, the two-leveled offered beautiful views at literally every turn. Each level was expertly organized to utilize every inch of the beautiful space. Grand vignettes of varying different themes were placed throughout the two levels paired near a catering team offering guests a space to enjoy delicious bites. Custom cocktails were served by Scarlette Bartending, Pharmacie Events Co, Cocktail Concierge and Paradise Bar Events! As a fun addition to the night, the transparent slide from level two to level one was open and available for guests to use!
Our modern menu paired well with our modern food station that featured a selection of delicious items. Fresh Crostini’s, Parmesan sticks served with a Kale, Spinach, Ricotta Pesto dip and a favorite of the night, Caviar Rings, kept guests of this fabulous event coming back for more!
Special thank you to André Maier Photography for capturing the beautiful details of this fabulous event!



Learn more about Good Gracious! Events, HERE















Event Organizer/Event Technology: AllSeated | Photography: André Maier Photography | Photography: Visuals by Arpit | Photography: Sarkis Studios | Event Planner: Mindy Weiss | Venue: OUE Skyspace LA | Floral Design: Butterfly Floral & Event Design | Floral Design: Keith J Laverty Floral and Event Design Studio | Custom Wedding Dresses: Trish Peng | Hair & Makeup: BreLuxe Beauty | Entertainment: Entire Productions | Entertainment: Luxury Entertainment Group | Sound: Surface Productions | Lighting: Ambiance AV | Design & Rental: Rrivre Works, Inc. | Design & Rental: Bright Event Rentals | Design & Rental: Form Décor Furniture Rental | Design & Rental: Archive Rentals | Design & Rental: LuxLounge EFR | Design & Rental: AFR Event Furnishings | Linen: Wildflower Linen | Catering: 24 Carrots Catering and Events | Catering: Good Gracious! Events | Catering: roomforty | Catering: Oysters XO | Catering: Patina Catering | Catering: Contemporary Catering | Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering | Bar: Scarlette Bartending | Bar: Pharmacie Events Co. | Bar: Cocktail Concierge | Bar: Paradise Bar Events
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The Hevadu Vineyard Estate in Malibu is one of the most naturally venues Malibu has to offer! Wits its stunning vineyard, roaming horses and lush gardens, it’s no surprise Samantha and Corey chose this majestic property to exchange vows! Providing a selection of our delicious tray passed  hors d'oeuvres and a delectable meal, we are thrilled this romantic wedding is now featured on California Wedding Day!
As a wedding planner at Details Details, Samantha was focused on ensuring the design was representative of the couple and their relationship. “Our goal was for our guests to enter into a space that made them feel comfortable and cozy,” says Samantha. As such, the décor reflected items they love and, in some cases, have in their home, such as wood tables and chairs mixed with gold and mirrored accents. Reflecting the beauty of the estate’s gardens along with Samantha’s aforementioned adoration of blush and greenery, floral arrangements fit for an English garden set the tone for the couple’s vision, a “formally informal” garden party. An array of garden roses, fringed tulips, hyacinths, ranunculus, jasmine vines and an abundance of peonies (and more peonies!) composed their ceremony arbor, flanked the aisle and lined the gracious wood farm tables at the reception.
To view the full feature, click HERE.



Learn more about Good Gracious! Events, click HERE


Planning: Details Details | Photography: John and Joseph | Florist: Bloombox Designs | Catering: Good Gracious! Events | Rentals: Chiavari Chair Rentals Found Rentals Casa de Perrin Signature Party Rentals Luxe Linen


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We are proud of our work with Project Angel Food who serves over 500,000 meals a year; medically tailored to the needs of men, women and children affected by life-threatening illnesses.
Without the constant support of their donors, this amazing fete wouldn't be possible! To give thanks to these generous individuals, we treated them with the unique opportunity to dine in the Project Angel Food kitchen for a Chef's Dinner, prepared by top chef, Pauline Parry from Good Gracious! Events and the PAF staff and volunteers.
A delectable four-course meal was served along with a selection of wines and the custom cocktail of the night! Mark McBride, Director of Philanthropy shared the amazing story of how Project Angel Food started 28 years ago to “Send Love in the Form of Food”. Along with an amazing announcement of Project Angel Food receiving funding for a pilot program to jointly study and publish how healthy food can help reduce costs in healthcare.
Learn more about Project Angel Food here: http://www.angelfood.org/. Learn more about Good Gracious! Events, HERE



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Pauline Parry

Founder Good Gracious! Events

About Pauline

Educated in the prestigious British hotel and restaurant management tradition, Pauline is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of GOOD GRACIOUS! Events. Professional event planners, private clients, and corporations - both nationally and internationally - seek out her innovative expertise and imaginative concepts.


GOOD GRACIOUS! Events was established over three decades ago and is an award-winning full-service LIFESTYLE food and beverage company that has earned the trust of a diverse set of clients and has a reputation for being a trendsetter in producing unique, quality and fabulous presentations in all aspects of weddings and events.


Pauline has been inducted into the Catering industry Hall of Fame for Events and Weddings and has published a book called FOOD FUN LOVE Party Styles.


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Joanne Purnell

Joanne Purnell
Vice President

About Joanne

Joanne Purnell is a graduate of the California Culinary Institute and before joining GG! Events worked and traveled in England and Paris to gain working experience.


Joanne has been Chef de Cuisine for nearly 20 years at GG! Events and during this time she has won numerous awards including Chef of the Year. She has been published in magazines on various food topics including presentation, trends and all aspects of cooking and is a contributor for, “Inside the Recipe Box of Catering Chefs”


Joanne is an educator in the catering industry and is regarded as a leader. Today, Joanne is Vice President at Good Gracious! Events.


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