Food Fun and Love

Posted by Pauline Parry

Food ... and Love. Where's the fun, you ask? All around! The yellow theme and the easy-going bride and groom really allowed Good Gracious! Events to have some fun with our food.

As you can see from the menu below, the event was a non-stop culinary adventure. We introduced the sandwich bar at this event and we provided a full after-party menu of tray-passed hors d'oeuvres for 175 guests at Saddle Rock Ranch in Malibu.

As Guests Arrived ...

They were greeted by a beverage station featuring lemonade, grape-flavored water and sparkling lychee water

Waitstaff also offered trays of
Sparkling LOVEcello (lemoncello) in martini glasses

Tray-Passed
served immediately following the ceremony in the cocktail area by the pool

Beef Short Rib Popover
chive petite popover filled with creamy horseradish mashed potato topped with braised short rib in a Cabernet reduction

Chicken Salsa Tortilla Spoon
five spiced crushed chicken with oven-charred salsa topped with avocado jalapeno crumbs on an edible tortilla spoon
(see photo at very top of post)

Curry Friesbox-wedge cut fries with curry salt and curried catsup served in small mirrored box

Mac and Cheese Cupcake
creamy macaroni cheddar cheese layered in cupcake form with panko gratin crust
Shrimp Pancake
grilled shrimp seasoned with a coral spiced sauce wrapped with a doll-house sized corn pancake with fresh chive tie

Ahi Tuna Tartar Cone
seared tuna tartar with ponzu sauce served in a baked petite sesame wonton cone

Sandwich Bar
Grilled sandwich bar with these offerings ...
lobster salad with watercress

italian meatballs with marinara
turkey tomato and swiss roast pork caramelized onion and munster blt with avocado

Seated Dinner

First Course

Yellow Food Inspirations

One

carpaccio of yellow zucchini with hearts of palm and baby arugula sprinkled with pine nuts tossed in a light lemon olive oil

Two
blonde vine-ripened tomato soup served in a pony shot glass topped with a heart crouton and crispy basil leaf

Three
baked polenta sandwich triangle with country ham topped with bubbly smoked gouda panini

MAIN
Grilled Flat Iron Steak

grilled flat iron steak served with green peppercorn sauce served with creamy layered potato square sauteed brussels sprout petals and long chinese bean knot

For Vegetarians

portabello mushrooms layered with tomato, eggplant, roasted red pepper with mozzarella and basil pesto topped with frizzled leeks

DESSERT

PLACED AT EACH GUEST TABLE
On house-made paper liners printed with inspirational words of love

Parisian Marcarons
English Yellow Bon Bons

Espresso Coffee service

Wedding Cake
Strawberries and Lemon Cream

After Party Indulgence

Bag of Chips
house-made chips of taro and potato dusted with sea salt served in silver striped bags with a "Lauren and Ross Wedding Day" seal

Artisan Cheese Bar
English Stilton
Black Wax Cheddar
St. Andrea Triple Cream Brie
Humboldt Chevre
Smoked Gouda

and tray passed ...

Flatbread Pizza
three styles of pizza -- margarita, meat lovers and falafel on a flatbread

Chicken Waffle
tiny toasted waffles topped with crispy fried chicken breads drizzled with maple syrup

Banana S'mores
banana s'mores with banana bread, chocolate squares, yellow house-made marshmallows on skewer

You could say we didn't leave anyone wanting more!

But if you are still hungry for more, here is one last look at the tabletop and a detail of how the chairs were "dressed."
,

By Pauline Parry

Because a picture tells a thousand words, it's always been very important to us to work with top photographers and plan ahead so that we have great photos of the events we produce, design and cater; events that exist just for one night. We use these photos in our portfolio, on our web site, in magazines and the industry awards we enter.

Today, I want to share the work of one of our favorite professional photographers, Will Henshall from Brilliant Studios in Los Angeles and five of the TOP TIPS he's passed along to us and the brides with which we've worked.

And in the interest of full disclosure, this is the wedding of my son Ross Purnell and his bride, Lauren Bennett at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California. After producing weddings for 25 years, it was so rewarding -- and fun -- to go over-the-top for family!

1. GOLDEN HOUR
Time your ceremony two hours before sunset to make the most of this beautiful natural light.

Saddlerock Ranch is owned by Malibu Family Winery whose vineyards are everywhere on the property. In the late afternoon light, the hills take on a beautiful glow, as did Lauren! I love the look of a bride and groom in a natural setting such as this.

2. THINK AHEAD
Visit the ceremony and event site (if they are different) before the big day at the same time your wedding and photo session will occur. Predetermine favorite backdrops and settings. This will help you create a good timeline and also ensure that the light is just right where and when you want it. If it's not, work with your photographer and adjust your shot list according to the good light.

For us, as the design team, we also visited the site before the event and took scouting shots so we could then go back and assemble the right lighting for the overall event and to make this amazing tree the evening's focal point. It was perfect for the bar area and we enhanced it with strings of light and chandeliers. (P.S. That patio heater in the first shot was moved for the party!)

And, we also knew we would want to do another photo shoot during the party at the piano when Ross played for Lauren. Yes, we brought a piano in! I love the combination of the elegant and the natural together. The song and the photos were on the wedding schedule; lighting was preset and Will was ready to capture it in both black and white and color film.

3. TELL A FRIEND
Appoint a person in your wedding party or a family member to take charge of organizing the appropriate people for the family and friend shots. Believe me, this is an important role, so choose wisely! It's difficult for a photographer to know who to capture on film and you will be too busy having fun.

4. CAPTURE ALL THE MOMENTS
Be sure you have hired the photographer for the hours when you really want photos, and by this I mean beyond the ceremony and reception. For instance, will something be happening before the wedding that you want capture professionally? Or perhaps you would like the photographer to be there until the final moment and the "send off."

At this wedding, we wanted Will to be there for the rehearsal dinner as well. It was a casual Mexican Fiesta theme held at High Performance, a Los Angeles photo studio, and Good Gracious! did the design, coordination and catering.

And on the day of the wedding, Will was everywhere. Here, he captured Ross and his "posse" in their pre-ceremony hideaway on the property -- a collection of classic AirStream trailers.

5. GETTING PUBLISHED
Many brides today send their weddings into bridal magazine or blogs for possible publication. If you are doing this, think ahead and put together a list of shot lists of design and floral details that really help tell the entire story. Editors love details! Discuss with your photographer the feasibility of him or her covering it all. Honestly, it might mean hiring and another assistant but it will be well worth it in the long run. (And remember, when you send the photos in, be sure to include the photographer's credit.)

Capturing details such as the table setting is important to getting press for your wedding.

And giving editors dramatic shots such as this one below that "set the stage"
is also a very good idea.

In the next week I'll be covering this wedding with two more blog posts. One on the menu and the food shots and the other on the "rockumentary" of the wedding.

See you back here soon!

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.

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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