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We loved being part of this year's event at California Science Center, "Dogs! A Science Tail." From start to finish this event was full of puppy puns!


The grand room was transformed into a replica as an upscale dog park. It featured details such as indoor trees were covered int winkle lights, street lights, green linens and of course, a dog created from fabrics!

We prepared a dinner menu that featured several references to the animal of the night. We erved salad which featured croutons shaped like a dog with an entree that we named, "Doggone Beef Steak Filet" which we completed with a bone shaped biscuit and green beans that formed a dog lease. For dessert, a delicious selection of chocolate bark was presented!






Venue: California Science Center | Lighting: Images by Lighting | Catering: Good Gracious! Events  and Pink Hot Dogs | Custom Art: Everblock, Lili Chin Art, Puppetude by Melissa Leitch | Decor: Edge Design and Decor, Jaskson Shrub, Theatrework Backdrops | Flowrs: CJ Matsumoto & Sons | Entertainment: Entire Productions, Invisitble Touch Entertainment, Lucent Dossier | Rentals: Town and Country Event Rentals, Wildflower Linen | Photos: Nadine Froger
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We are thrilled to share this dreamy floral-filled Rancho Santa Fe wedding is featured on Ruffled Blog!

"Held on the grounds of The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, this naturally pretty setting set the tone. As the sun set, guests were escorted to an incredible ceremony space. On a white carpet, guests took their seats on rose gold chairs. The aisle was lined with lush greenery and ivory roses. Our couple exchanged vows beneath the most incredible Chuppah made of lush greenery, and in florals of blush, mauve and ivory roses. To complete the look, the moment was lit with a crystal chandelier!

Following a beautiful ceremony, guests were invited to continue the celebration in a tented reception! Guests entered the tent through a stunning floral arch. The tent was draped in soft blush draping, and filled with long wooden tables and round tables draped in blush linen. Tables were set with gold textured chargers, crystal glassware, and towering candelabras. Nancy Kaye of Mark’s Garden elevated the tables with a gorgeous display of florals of blush, mauve and ivory!"

Click here to see the full feature!








Planning + Design: About Details Details | Florals: Mark's Garden | Lighting: Amber Event Production | Carpet: Event Carpet Pros | Rentals: Signature Party Rentals | Catering: Good Gracious! Events | Stationery: Luxe Marie Stationery | Photography: Bryan Miller Photography | Linen: La Tavola Linen
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Our ombre macaron wall from Disney Upfronts with Russell Harris is featured on PartySlate and we are thrilled! Scroll below for the details. 


"With so many different tones across the ROYGBIV palette, it can be difficult to nail down your event's color scheme. Ombré offers the perfect palette compromise — a color family you adore fading from one shade to another. Not only does this make your event's design more flexible, it makes it totally on trend. Ombré has proven itself as one of the most eye-catching décor trends, which is why we're sharing some of our favorite fading color schemes for this week's Tuesday Top 5." - via PartySlate

Click here to see the full feature!


photographer: American Image Gallery | planner: Russell Harris Event Group | florals: InBlume | venue: Walt Disney Studios Burbank | caterer: Good Gracious! Events | furniture & rentals: Blueprint Studios | lighting: LightenUp, Inc.
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Our Dungeness Crab Sliders are absolutely perfect for summer! Scroll below for the recipe to perfect yours.


Makes 22 sliders
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup shallots, minced
2 pound fresh Dungeness crabmeat
2 tablespoons chives
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon parsley
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Tartar Remoulade Sauce

22 mini burger buns
3 ripe avocados
22 3-inch bamboo skewers with knots

In a skillet, sauté the butter and shallots on medium heat until soft. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, mix the crab, chives, lemon juice, parsley, shallots, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and breadcrumbs. Add cayenne pepper to taste and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator and let sit for about 10 minutes to firm. Remove from the refrigerator and form 22 sliders by hand. Sear on a hot griddle or frying pan with a little olive oil for 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

To assemble, cut the buns in half and lay the crab slider (warmed or room temperature) on the bottom half of the bun.  Cut the avocado in half and take out the seed. Scoop the avocado out of the skin. Thinly slice the avocado and lay about 4 slices on the top half of the burger bun. Place a large dollop of Tartar Remoulade Sauce on the avocado and then place the top half of the bun over the crab cake and insert a skewer through the slider to hold it together and serve.

Tartar Remoulade Sauce
Makes 2 cups
1/4 cup pickled relish
1/4 cup minced shallots (3 ounces)
2 tablespoons capers
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 1/4cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and white pepper to taste
Blend everything together in a food processor, leaving the sauce a little chunky
Adjust seasonings if needed



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Impress your guests with something unique for your next dinner party! Our Eggplant with Manchengo Chorizo Ragu will certainly do the trick!



Makes  10  rolls
2  Japanese  eggplants
1/2cup  of  beef  chorizo
1/2cup  grated  manchego  cheese  and  slices  to  serve  under  the  roll
2  tablespoons  fresh  mint,  chiffonade
10  blanched  chives
1/2cup  Vegetable  Marinade (see  recipe  index)

Slice  the  eggplant  on  a  mandoline,  about  1/8-inch  thick lengthwise.  Brush  Vegetable  Marinade  on  both  sides  of  the eggplant  and  refrigerate  overnight.

Cook  chorizo  in  a  pan  until  all  juices  evaporate,  place  on  a paper  towel  until  cooled.  Mix  the  chorizo  with  the  grated manchego  cheese  and  mint.

Grill  the  eggplant  on  both  sides  and  season  with  salt  and  pepper on  a  griddle.  Place  on  paper  towel  to  cool.

To  assemble,  place  one  tablespoon  of  the  chorizo  manchego filling  on  the  eggplant  and  roll.  Tie  it  together with a blanched chive and serve over a slice of manchengo.



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We are so excited to present our new pop up event for any and every celebration! Employee appreciation, new launches, retirement parties, holiday soirees, training sessions, cocktail receptions, project wrap up parties and of course, sporting events! You name the event and we will plan it!



B E N E F I T S

• Promotes goodwill
• Infuses stronger team mentality
• Develops awareness and appreciation
• Encourages employee interaction
• Bolsters company morale
• Serves as a “non-mission” opportunity to connect
• Exemplifies that company isn’t always about the “bottom line”

I N C L U D E S

C A L I F O R N I A  M A R K E T  E X P E R I E N C E 



S P I R I T U A L   L I B I T A T I O N S 


A L O N G  W I T H 
A DJ with a smokin' hot playlist
Conveyor belt serving buckets of white & yellow corn succotash
Four tall cocktail tables with linens
Food station
Bar and bartender
Wait staff
Recyclable and sustainable products
Complete setup and break down
Trash removal


Just give us a date, time and place and we'll do the rest!
For more details and pricing, click here!


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As summer is here, we wanted to share our recipe from our Food, Fun, Love book: Chilled BLT Soup! Scroll below for the recipe!



1/2 cup shallots
1/2 cup white onions
1 teaspoon garlic
3 slices bacon chopped plus 3 slices of bacon to make bits for topping
11/2 cups fresh tomatoes cut into medium cubes
11/2 cups canned tomatoes
2/3 beef broth
1 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup tomato juice
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt and pepper
1/2 head of romaine, shredded small and fine
1 cup olive oil for garnish
2 teaspoons granulate sugar

In a heavy duty pot, saute the bacon on high heat until cooked and golden brown. Add the onions, shallots and garlic and cook until translucent and brown. Add tomatoes and cook until the mixture reduces and becomes thicker.

Add the beef and chicken broths, tomato juice and tomato paste. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, place the mixture into a processor or blender to puree. Check seasonings and add a little sugar if needed.

Meanwhile, lay the remaining 3 slices of bacon on a sheet pan and bake in a 350 degrees oven for 10-15 minutes or until crispy. Strain all the fat off and place bacon on paper towels. When cool, crumble the bacon.

Serve the soup in demitasse cups with bacon bits sprinkled on top. Garnish with shredded romaine lettuce and drizzle with olive oil.




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We adored this spectacular design and we are thrilled this Santa Ynez Fall Fete is featured on PartySlate as a top event of April 2019!



“This dinner party pairs elegant cuisine with scenic desert vistas. Imagine feeling a cool desert breeze as you sample those oysters and other delicious culinary creations. Or sitting back after dinner with a cocktail in hand and a cozy blanket on your lap. Check out how the landscape, building, florals, and even the stationery are perfectly color coordinated. This is a perfect backdrop for a refined and relaxing event, while at the same time wows guests with amazing details and food.” — Paul, Senior Software Engineer"

Click here to see the complete list.  











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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Following a romantic ceremony and relaxed cocktail hour, guests found their seats on the lush lawn. Surrounded by towering trees with beautiful views of the ocean, the setting could not be any more beautiful!



Expertly designed by Alicia of Details Details, round tables were draped in blue linen, while the bridal party sat at a long family-style grey wash wooden table. Each setting featured gold rimmed chargers paired with gold rimmed glassware. The setting was completed with patterned blue china, topped with custom menus, brushed gold flatware, and accompanied by crystal chandeliers glittering above. We served a decadent plated dinner for all to enjoy! Guests had the option of Grilled Halibut, Beef Tenderloin Filet Burrata, or White Cauliflower Lasagna.

With full bellies, guests took to the dance floor to dance the night away! Thinking of the ladies, the couple provided sandals so everyone could comfortably dance. As a late night snack, we served crispy tater tots, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Kobe beef sliders.

Special thank you to Alicia of Details Details for including us in this fantastic wedding and Jana Williams Photography for capturing the details of the day!












Planning + Design: Details Details, Alicia Townsend | Photography: Jana Williams Photography | Catering: Good Gracious! Events | Rentals: Fancy Tables | Florals: Bloom Box Designs | Videography: Hoo Films

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  • FOOD is my passion. I have FUN with my team and my clients and I LOVE what I do! For me, it really is all about FOOD, FUN and LOVE!
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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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