How do I know which menu and service style is the best fit for my wedding?

One of the most important aspects of your wedding day is the catering services you offer your guests and the style in which it is served. At Made by Meg Catering, we aim to create an experience you and your wedding guests will never forget with memorable and delicious food they will enjoy on your big day, and that all begins with deciding which wedding food service style is right for you, your significant other, and your overall event vision. Whether you’re interested in a formal sit-down plated dinner, a relaxed cocktail-style reception, or themed grazing stations, our team is here to help you find the perfect option to match your vision and needs.

The catering service staff with Made by Meg Catering wants your wedding to be perfect, which is why we ask the intake questions regarding your available wedding details, guest count, and timeline, and are always attentive to your specific wants and needs. Whether you have guests with strict allergies or dietary restrictions to the knowledge that the mother-of-the-bride will want extra dressing for her salad course, our goal is to ensure your wedding catering experience goes as smoothly as possible by taking care of all the little culinary details that make up your day, taking the stress off and allowing you to live in the moment. By having a team that cares deeply about ensuring your vision for your wedding day comes to life in the most spectacular ways with delicious wedding food, you can focus on enjoying yourself and creating lifelong memories on your big day. Whether you want a formal sit-down plated dinner or a more relaxed cocktail-style reception, we can design a custom wedding menu for what you envision for your perfect wedding celebration.

Wedding Reception Food Service Style Options

When selecting a catering style, you’ll want to look for an exceptional custom menu design, kind and professional staff, and plenty of service styles that will accommodate any kind of reception you could imagine hosting. With our full-service catering from Made by Meg, we offer several different formats for your wedding reception, including Plated Sit-Down Dinners, Passed Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktail Hour, Live Action Cooking Stations, Grazing Stations, Buffets, Family-Style, and Dessert Tables.

Here is a closer look at the various types of wedding food service style options:

Classic 3-Course Plated Sit-Down

Classic 3-Course Plated Sit-Down: The full-service multi-course meal is the most traditional and formal option since each wedding guest is served an individual plated meal to their designated seat. This option offers guests three seated courses: bread service, a salad or appetizer, and the main entrée, typically accompanied by dessert, and sometimes including a fourth course such as intermezzo or amuse bouche. Typically guests are given a choice of two main entrees, which they will select beforehand when responding to your wedding invitation RSVP card. Another option is to serve each guest with two proteins such as meat and fish on one plate, often called a “duet” plate. 

Guests with dietary restrictions are noted and individually accommodated based on their seat placement, and this information is provided by the hosts or planner to the caterer in advance along with your final guest count. There’s always a chance that you will have a guest-of-a-guest who might be gluten free, and it’s important to make sure that everyone is able to find something to eat. 

Seated Family-Style

Seated Family-Style: If you’re looking for a seated meal with a more communal and casual feel, any of the Made by Meg main course selections and sides can be formatted for family-style service. This option is somewhat similar to a sit-down dinner, except less formal and, while guests may be assigned to a specific table, the seat/table assignments are less crucial. 

For the family-style reception, the servers bring large platters of food and serving utensils to tables to share, where they are then passed around by the guests, with each taking the quantity they’d like for their own dish. This way, your guests can fill their own plate with their desired portion size of what interests them most while giving you that close, intimate, family-dinner feel.

Buffet

Buffet Style: A buffet is presented to guests with clearly labeled serving platters of food, including both mains and sides, set up on long tables in an area either nearby or adjacent to the dining tables. Guests are excused from their seats one-table-at-a-time to go down the buffet line and build their meal, selecting the items that they would like to enjoy that night. 

For the various food stations set up for the buffet, you can either have it where guests walk along and serve themselves, or another option is to have waiters or waitresses stationed behind each buffet table, scooping and serving each item onto the guest’s dish. Similar to family style, in that both options allow for guests to select their food items and corresponding portion sizes, a buffet is a great option for a more casual style of reception. All Made by Meg course selections can be presented as a buffet, offering you a more social mealtime option for every guest count. 

Cocktail-Style Hors D’oeuvres

Cocktail-Style Hors D’oeuvres: A cocktail-style reception offers hors d’oeuvres and other various small bites for a specific duration of your evening, either before dinner at cocktail hour or served all-night at a cocktail-style reception instead of a sit-down dinner. The hors d’oeuvres sizes are typically a one-or-two-bite portion and can be various combinations of hot and cold menu items. These bites can be tray passed around via servers or set up at stations for guests to help themselves at their leisure. This is a great option for couples who want a more laid back and casual feel with more focus on mingling, dancing, and enjoying a few drinks.

Typically, 3 different types of appetizers are the minimum for cocktail hour, and you can’t get away with less without slight disappointment, with most couples opting for 5 of their favorites. The perfect bite size and packed with flavor, a few of our most popular hors d’oeuvres are Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Chile Cumin Filet Mignon with Mango Salsa, Seared Ahi Tuna Poke Guacamole Tacos, Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower, Saag Paneer Pizzettas, Mac N’ Cheese Poppers, Bacon Bourbon BBQ Chicken Kebabs, Goat Cheese Tarts, and the LA Dog with Shishito Relish. 

Grazing Stations for Cocktail Receptions

Grazing Stations for Cocktail Receptions: As an alternative to tray-passed apps, a grazing station allows your guests to snack for either a designated amount of time or all night long, available to groups of 25 guests or greater. Choose from a variety of small bites or an already curated station, and Chef Meg’s team will make sure everything looks picture-perfect while capturing your attendees hearts and taste buds. Five of our most popular Grazing Stations for Cocktail Hour include our Crostini Station, Tuscan Station, Tapas Bar, Little Saigon Station, and 3 Hand Selected Cheese & Charcuterie.

Prepared Dinner Stations

Prepared Dinner Stations: A station-style reception offers food spread out among different stations near your dining areas throughout your event space. Dinner stations are completely customizable, and some couples choose a specific ethnic cuisine, while others may mix-and-match their favorite International dishes. Before your event, you’ll choose the dish style and theme, and our team will handle perfecting the presentation for your event. With a variety of combinations, your guests can select their desired ingredients to build their perfect meal. 

Your different stations displays are maintained by our staff throughout the designated service times for your event, giving you the opportunity to present a more creative and diverse menu. There are a variety of popular prepared stations to choose from for Lunch Receptions and Dinner Receptions, with five of our most popular including the Gourmet Taco Bar, Premium Sushi Station, California Coastal Poke Station, Savory Waffle Station, and Gourmet Slider Bar paired with a French Fry Station. For Brunch Receptions, popular stations are the chef attended Belgian Waffle Bar, Parisian Crepe Bar, and Farm Fresh Omelet Bar.

Live Action Cooking Stations

Live Action Cooking Stations: With the Live Action Cooking Stations, we love seeing guests filming the chefs flipping the skewers on the grill or tossing their selected pasta with their favorite sauce combo in a skillet, then panning off to the finished product. One of our most popular Live Action Cooking Stations is the Tuscan Pasta Station, where guests get to choose their own pasta (raviolo, penne, or cheese tortellini), sauce (brown butter sage, garlic alfredo, spicy marinara), and topping (chili flakes, shaved parm, fresh basil) combinations and watch their pasta be cooked right in front of their eyes. Efficiency is key, with the pastas noodles and tortellini constantly being prepared by our chefs so that they’re readily available for guests, and the sauces are held warm in large vats and then added directly to the personal skillet. Watching the Chef prepare globally inspired dishes adds an exciting element to your cuisine offerings at wedding reception, adding both buzz and deliciousness to your menu. “Guests love that they can watch the Chef make their food,”

The 7 Most Popular Wedding Menu Service Style Options: 

1. Classic 3-Course Plated Sit-Down
2. Seated Family-Style
3. Buffet
4. Cocktail-Style Hors D’oeuvres
5. Grazing Stations for Cocktail Receptions
6. Prepared Dinner Stations
7. Live Action Cooking Stations 

Don’t Forget About Dessert!

Don’t Forget About Dessert! No event is complete without a sweet treat. Whether you opt for a traditional cake-based dessert option or have a preference for other sweet treats, anything goes, so long as you don’t forget this part of your course flow! We’ve enjoyed seeing new and non-traditional requests for a couple’s favorite dessert, and recently we’ve catered a variety of sweet dessert stations focused on churros with a trio of dipping sauces, customizable ice cream cookie sandwich bars, beignets, dessert shooters, ice cream, milk topped with cookies, and s’mores stations. Recent trends show that couples are choosing delicious, creative options, and our team at Made by Meg Catering can provide the wedding dessert options that fit within your personal preferences, whether that’s something we make in-house or a referral to a local traditional cake baker.

Let Us Help You Make Your Wedding Day Perfect

Our clients aren’t just business relationships, we care deeply and truly become involved in every part of your big day to make sure that it’s everything you have ever dreamed of. From detailed wedding catering consultations and in-person tastings to cross referencing your notes to ensure your day-of menu exactly reflects your vision, to our meticulous quality checks before the food is served to your guests, we take all the tried & true steps to exceed your wedding-day food expectations. One of our top priorities as a premier Southern California wedding catering service is to ensure your wedding day is everything you have ever wanted with food that you and your guests will crave and remember fondly for many years down the road.

We are truly here to help you in any way and we go above and beyond to ensure that your day is stress free with food that surpasses your standards. We look forward to potentially sharing one of the most important days of your and your partner’s lives by offering our delicious wedding menus and service.

Looking for Your Wedding Caterer?

Ready to find the perfect catering for your Southern California wedding? Contact us today to set up a consultation to discuss how we can help bring your dream wedding menu to life. As your premier Los Angeles catering service for weddings, we look forward to helping make your wedding day absolutely perfect and delicious! For examples, be sure to check our press and media page for photos of events and weddings we have catered!

One of the most exciting and fun parts of wedding planning is thinking about your favorite foods and crafting the perfect menu with your wedding caterer. Your wedding day should be perfect, which means the local caterer you select to do the catering for your wedding must have top-notch service and capabilities to execute an exquisite menu. The professionals at Made by Meg Catering want to create an incredible dining experience on your wedding day that both you and your guests will never forget. Now that you are happily engaged, here is what’s next for catering your wedding.

First, Choose a Theme

First Up, Choose Your Overall Wedding Theme & Style

Before you can truly hand-select your menu items for your wedding day, you need to decide on a theme for your wedding so that your wedding food matches the overall feel. If you are going for a more casual wedding, you may want to take advantage of the plenty of food stations we offer so guests can grab and go and continue to dance the night away. If you want a formal sit-down dinner for a more upscale theme, such as a formal or black-tie wedding, you can choose a menu that works well with a multi-course plated style and can offer larger portions. Once you know what type of wedding you and your partner want, the decisions on menu items will be much easier, and, of course, we will be there to help you every single step of the way.

Made by Meg Catering offers the following types of wedding catering menus and services:

• Server Passed Hors d’oeuvres for Cocktail Hour
• Plated Sit-Down Multi-Course Dinners 
• Seated Family-Style
• Buffet Tables 
• Grazing Stations for Cocktail Receptions
• Prepared Dinner Stations
• Live Action Cooking Stations 
• Dessert Tables

If there’s a service style you’re looking for that isn’t on the list above, please let us know and we’ll do our best to see if we can accommodate.

Second, Taste the Food!

Second, Taste the Food from Your Caterer – Make Sure You Love Every Bite!

Once you know which type of wedding catering you want for your big day, the real fun part begins. Your designated representative from Made by Meg’s team of experienced catering professionals will set up a special private tasting session for you and your fiancé/fiancée to taste-test the variety of different menu items you are considering for your special day. We will be there in person to answer any questions you have on the presentation, ingredients, flavor profiles, and expected day-of setup. Tastings are held at our Torrance headquarters during business hours Tuesday to Thursday, typically one hour in duration and priced for 2 guests, with a charge of $100 for each additional guest. 

This is the time to ensure you are completely in love with the menu options for your special day. Taste everything and let us know of any major or minor adjustments so that we can create the most ideal menu for your special day.  

Here are a few of our favorite main course entrées from the Made by Meg Catering menu:

• Seafood: Grilled Salmon with Meyer Lemon and Basil Pesto
• Beef: Fig and Carneros Petit Syrah Braised Short Ribs
• Poultry: Pinot Gris Braised Chicken Thighs with Roasted Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Burrata Cheese, Balsamic Creme, and Fresh Basil
• Vegetarian: Mediterranean Cauliflower Steak with a Roja Chimichurri, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, and Lemon Citrus Quinoa
  

Third, Decide on the Number Guests

Third, Decide on the Number Guests You’d Like to Have at Your Wedding

One of the most critical parts of choosing the wedding catering menu is knowing how many people you will need to serve. When sharing numbers with your caterer, start with an estimate based on the number of invites sent and responses received thus far, and be prepared with a hard cut-off closer to your event so that we can ensure that perfect amount of food. Your final guest count is due two weeks before your wedding date to ensure our team can order the accurate number of ingredients and staff accordingly. By communicating your guest count with your caterer, we can ensure we’re prepared with the correct quantities and that the palates of everyone attending your wedding are fully satisfied. 

Some couples choose to stagger their invites into tiers, with their A list receiving the first round on invitations with RSVP cards. The A list includes anyone who you cannot imagine having your wedding without, and typically consists of your closest family, friends, and wedding parties. After the majority of your A list’s responses are received, couples repeat with a separate B-list of the people who you would really love to have there if possible, and potentially even a C-list of backups who you would like to share your day with if space allows.

The RSVP cards often include a space for recipients to mark their main entrée selection if you’re moving forward with the Plated Sit-Down Multi-Course Dinner service style (unless you’re planning on serving duos with this service style, where each guests receives two types of protein on the same plate), along with any dietary restrictions or allergies that we as your caterer will accommodate for.

Full Service – We Can Help With It All!

Full-Service Catering Means We Can Help You With It All!

Made By Meg is a full-service wedding caterer, meaning we don’t just prepare and serve the food. We are deeply involved and assist in many other ways on your big day. We set up the tables, chairs, and all place settings, we help coordinate rentals, provide the wait staff and bartenders, serve the food in a timely manner, clean up all of the dining areas and kitchens, pack up all leftovers, and we get rid of all of the garbage so that the venue is as spotless as when we arrived.

When you hire Made By Meg as your wedding caterer, you are not only entering a business relationship, but a true partnership. We’re involved in every part of your wedding day, from the tastings to sticking to the timeline. We want all of your wedding dreams to come true. 

Premier LA Wedding Caterer + Premier OC Wedding Caterer

Voted South Bay’s Favorite Caterer by The Beach Reporter and Daily Breeze, we do everything we can to make sure we’re also YOUR new personal favorite. We strive to make your wedding cuisine and service so memorable that you want us to return to cater your anniversaries, showers, and birthdays for years to come. 

Made By Meg provides exceptional catering services for weddings throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, including Malibu, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Palos Verdes, Long Beach, DTLA, Manhattan Beach, and more. Our wedding catering services include an exciting menu design, knowledgeable staff, and varying styles that will accommodate any type of wedding reception.

Your SoCal Wedding Catering Partner!

We Are Here To Help As Your Southern California Wedding Catering Partner

Contact Made By Meg Catering today to set up a consultation to discuss your perfect wedding menu. As your premier Los Angeles Wedding Caterer, we can’t wait to help make your special day both perfect and tasty. Check out our press and media page for additional information on weddings and events we have catered, and feel free to give us a call at (310) 376-8600 with any questions you may have. We are excited to be a part of your wedding day!

Believe it or not, you don’t have to plan a fancy, sit down dinner every time you host a special event. Sometimes, a cocktail party is the perfect solution for when you want to bring together good company, treat them to good food and drinks and enjoy a few hours of socializing without the pressure of planning a three-course meal. Cocktail parties are easy to plan, they’re glamorous and low stress and you can experiment with different flavors since you’ll be serving a variety of hors d’oeuvres. Whether you are planning a cocktail party for a corporate event or a special milestone, we have compiled our top five tips for catering a cocktail party to make it even easier for you!

The Invitations

Before the party begins, you have to invite your guests. Depending on the type of event you’re hosting and the level of elegance you are trying to achieve you can send printed invitations in an envelope via the postal office, or you can send an informal, but elegant email invitation. 

The Drinks

If you are catering a cocktail party, you need to offer a full bar with a variety of liquor and mixers, and also come up with some signature drinks that feature a unique and delicious combination. The most important thing is to make sure you have enough alcohol for the number of guests in attendance. A 750-ml bottle of wine is enough for four generous glasses, so if you have 30 guests you will want to have at least ten bottles – remembering that white wine tends to be more popular. When stocking a full bar, keep in mind that each adult will consume an average of two drinks during the first hour and at least one drink for every hour thereafter. A one-liter bottle of alcohol will typically be enough for 22 mixed drinks, but it’s always a good idea to get extra. Also, make sure to offer plenty of water, both flat and sparkling. You can make it special by serving it in a nice drink dispenser with fresh slices of lemon or a handful of colorful berries. 

The Food

The best part about a cocktail party is planning out the delicious hors d’oeuvres and little bites to serve. You are not obligated to serve a full meal, but a variety in flavor, texture and presentation is a must. When it comes to catering a cocktail party, here are some guidelines we like to follow:

• Use seasonal flavors – explore local farmer’s markets and design your menu to be in line with the best tasting options. 
• Mix it up – your food options don’t have to match in any way. It’s ok to have five different flavors and textures, your guests will appreciate the variety. 
• Offer traditional favorites – people love bite size appetizers like mac and cheese balls, soup shooters, ahi tuna on a chip, skewers, caprese bites and others!
• Think of the vegetarians – always offer meatless options for guests who have dietary restrictions. This also includes Kosher, gluten free or vegan guests. Make sure to have dietary information ahead of time. 
• Keep fillers like nuts, olives and cheese on hand for guests to snack on before the food is served. 
• Consider offering a specialty station, like crudité, charcuterie, or a pizza. This way guests can nibble without waiting for the tray passed food to come around. 
  

The Décor

You don’t need to provide full size tables and chairs for a cocktail party, but you will want to have bar height tables and maybe a lounge area where guests can sit and chat. Keep the décor simple – think black or white tablecloths, simple florals and tasteful tealights. You can add cute décor like custom bar napkins and monogrammed drink stirrers at the bar. You also want to make sure you have enough rentals for your guests – plate ware and glassware specifically. 

The Staff

When catering a cocktail party, you will want to hire a bartender and service staff. Based on the size of your event, it’s typical to have one server per 10-15 guests, depending on the level of service you are looking to offer.  

Hosting a cocktail party is a fun and low-stress way of bringing people together for a good time. When you work with our team, you can leave the planning and execution to us! We’ll come up with a unique menu to wow your guests and we’ll ensure your event is professional, elegant and goes off without a hitch! Contact us to inquire about our availability and service options!

Planning a wedding is an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. Finding the perfect venue is the first step in the process, and while there are many outstanding options to choose from – we’ve compiled a list of the top ten Los Angeles wedding venues to consider in 2023. 

La Venta Inn

La Venta is an all-season, full-service venue for the ultimate ocean view wedding. Nestled in the hills of Palos Verdes Estates, La Venta is famous for being the first structure built on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. La Venta overlooks the Pacific Ocean with an incomparable panoramic view. With its picturesque Spanish villa architecture and gardens filled with lush flowers, succulents rose bushes, and palm trees, La Venta creates the perfect backdrop for your historic private estate wedding.

Malibu Rocky Oaks

This private vineyard has 360-degree views of the Santa Monica Mountains and rolling hillsides. Throw a gathering here and you will be enveloped in cool night breezes from the Pacific Ocean while basking in the most glorious sunset you have ever seen. Ceremonies on the Helipad make for truly iconic wedding photos! Founded and family owned since 2003, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards consists of 10 planted acres on a 37-acre plot. Hand-picked and meticulously maintained by the same team of professionals since conception, the vineyard has become one of the most recognized and awarded in the region.

Greystone Mansion & Gardens

Located in Beverly Hills, Greystone Mansion is a historic building available for special events and weddings. It offers exclusivity, old Hollywood glamour and a charm that will make your wedding ceremony and reception truly unforgettable. You can host your ceremony in the luscious outdoor gardens and then dance the night away in the courtyard. The mansion’s grand staircase is also a wonderful place to take pictures.

SmogShoppe

The perfect setting for an intimate wedding with your closest family and friends. With all of the beautiful lush greenery, you don’t even feel like you’re in Los Angeles. Once a 1980s smog-check center, Smog Shoppe is now a 100% solar-powered, private 6,500 square foot indoor/outdoor haven for desert plants, vertical gardens and chic vintage furnishings. The combined interior and exterior areas allow for quintessential California entertaining, making an ideal vintage wedding venue.

Hummingbird Nest Ranch

Hummingbird Nest Ranch is located far from the hustle and bustle of the city and offers an oasis of tranquility and beauty. The location extends over 140 acres and has much to offer for special events. This venue allows couples to embrace the a-la-carte way of planning a wedding, which means you have complete control over your event! 

Smashbox Studios 

Smashbox Studios is spectacular for your one-of-a-kind wedding. The clean lines, modern spaces and fully functional kitchen make this a very popular venue. Founded in 1991 by Dean and Davis Factor, great grandsons of acclaimed Hollywood makeup artist Max Factor, Smashbox is known throughout the industry as a hub for world-class photographers and directors to shoot important content for major magazines, ad campaigns, music & entertainment projects and brand visuals. In 1996 Dean and Davis launched Smashbox Cosmetics that has become the leading trend-setting global brand.

Saddlerock Ranch

This location is truly one in a million! The 1,000-acre estate is hidden in the hills of Malibu and is a highly sought-after film location. Couples will find there are numerous ceremony options to choose from with stunning backdrops, like a 250-year-old oak tree. Perhaps the most incredible part of this wedding venue is that you will find pastures inhabited by herds of horses, cattle and llamas along the way – you may even see a gorgeous peacock or a zebra!

Vibiana 

This 35,000-square-foot cathedral is over 130 years old! It was also LA’s first Archdiocese Catholic cathedral before it was transformed into a beautiful wedding and event space. The Baroque-inspired interior is incredibly grand and offers enough space for a wedding party of 400-550 guests! The outdoor lush garden is stunning and secluded – you wouldn’t even know that you were located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. 

The Lombardi House

Clean lines, open air spaces, manicured lawns, and twinkling lights. Nothing says Hollywood style more than the Lombardi House. Cultivate the wedding of your dreams, using their indoor outdoor space to create a day that is all your own. Built in 1904, Lombardi House is a fully restored Victorian-style farmhouse in the heart of Hollywood. Surrounded by mature fruit trees and gardens, this 7,000 square foot historic home sits within walking distance to the charming restaurants of Franklin Village, as well as Hollywood studios, theaters, shopping and dining.

Wayfarers Chapel

For those of you who are looking to get married in a church, but not interested in the traditional church setting – Wayfarers Chapel is the place for you. Located in Rancho Palos Verdes, this church is entirely made out of glass and offers breathtaking ocean views. There are already white flowers adorning the church as well, so you won’t have to splurge too much on florals and décor. Wayfarers chapel speaks for itself, once you see it, you’re sure to fall in love. 

Whether your preference is traditional, rustic or ocean view, you are sure to find the perfect place to say “I do” in Los Angeles. Check out our preferred venues for additional inspiration, and keep us in mind when selecting the ultimate caterer for your special day! 

Summer weddings can be a lot of fun, but lately many couples are opting for fall weddings. Fall weddings are the coziest and the warmest ones, and let’s be honest, in Southern California you may just get better weather during fall than over summer. Fall flowers, vegetables and fruits are different from those that are in season the rest of the year, which opens up so many new possibilities for food, drinks and décor. 

When it comes to putting together your wedding menu, keep in mind that most guests appreciate when there are a few options to choose from. Traditionally, this means offering a meat, chicken, fish and a vegetarian option for the main course. Modern brides have embraced the idea of food stations and unique food bars that provide a wide range of appetizers, munchies and main courses for guests to enjoy. It’s not uncommon to see a sushi bar at a Los Angeles wedding regardless of the season! Additionally, you may see a raw bar, salad stations, soup bars, desert tables and more! Are you looking for a unique fall wedding food bar for your dream fall wedding? Here are a few inspired options that you may enjoy!

Charcuterie Station

A classic charcuterie station will never fail at a wedding reception. Guests can graze on a selection of cheeses paired with fruits, jams, veggies, cold cuts and more. An impressive charcuterie board is a true form of art, so it’s extremely important that the station is arranged to look beautiful. Guests will also surely appreciate if there is a suggested wine pairing offered with the charcuterie. 

Taco Bar

There’s nothing better than a delicious taco bar featured at a SoCal wedding. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared carne asada, chicken and steak served with guacamole, chips, cilantro and spicy salsas. 

Mac & Cheese Bar

Macaroni and cheese is no longer just a favorite childhood meal – it has become a staple at dinner tables across the United States! If you and your beau are fans of delicious, gooey mac and cheese then consider including a mac and cheese bar at your fall wedding. Guests can snack on an upgraded version of this nostalgic childhood favorite and enjoy elevated toppings like garlic and herb bread crumbs, Applewood smoked bacon, sautéed mushrooms, toasted walnuts, shaved truffle and more!

Fondue Station

Is there anything better than melted cheese? Probably not! A unique and elevated fondue station is sure to be a crowd pleaser at any event. You can serve various flavor combinations like spinach and artichoke, crab and artichoke and more. Pair the station with a selection of crudité, crostini, fresh baked bread and more. 

Chili Bar

If your wedding is taking place towards the end of the fall season and you expect chilly weather, think about offering guests the option of a warm chili bar. The chili can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm, but guests will be able to choose their toppings, like shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, scallions, red onions, etc. 

Donut Station

Who doesn’t love donuts?! You don’t have to offer fancy, artistic donuts to your guests, but it will definitely be a fun experience to allow them to choose their favorite donut and add sprinkles to it. Allow guests to choose from multiple flavors like cinnamon and sugar, sugar glaze, powdered sugar, chocolate glaze or maple glaze. Toppings can include chocolate sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles or any other fun twists you can come up with.

S’mores Bar

Organize a gorgeous s’mores bar to encourage people to socialize and enjoy a delicious sweet treat that everybody loves. Hide the hot fuel cans in a wooden box with pebbles so it looks pretty, but is also safe for use. Set up the graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate and sticks separately so people can build their own s’mores sandwiches. You can even pair this with a hot chocolate station, include a selection of cookies and other sweet treats to make it the highlight of the evening!

Pie Bar

Consider a pie bar instead of a traditional wedding cake for desert! Give your guests the option to choose from a few different flavors like apple pie, blueberry crumble, pumpkin pie, key lime or peach crumble. Remember that a warm pie is best served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Everyone appreciates a cocktail bar at a wedding, but some of our new favorite bars actually serve food. If you’re looking for more inspiration or ideas for your fall wedding contact our team – we’d love to brainstorm with you. We would love to bring your concept to life and put together an exceptional and unique fall wedding food bar for your special event. Follow us on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Temperatures are dropping and wedding bells are ringing! Summer tends to be a more popular time of year for weddings, but living in Southern California, we get incredible weather for the majority of the year! In fact, a summer wedding may not be the best option for some couples since temperatures tend to run high. Spring, fall and especially the winter season are beginning to gain popularity, and couples have more options to be creative as they plan their big day. Making cocktails for Winter are great for that!

As we enter the winter season and the SoCal weather finally starts to cool off, we’re excited for the holiday celebrations we’ve got coming up. As we put together creative finishes on our upcoming menus, we want to share some inspiration to show how fun a winter wedding could be! We all know that weddings are exciting, but they’re always more fun with an open bar and some creative signature cocktails. When planning a winter celebration your signature cocktails should include the flavors of the season! A traditional mojito or whiskey drink is satisfying, but it’s so much more fun to select creative and playful signature cocktails for a winter wedding! Whether you choose to plan a local wedding with mild weather, or you opt for a destination wedding with a dreamy snowy landscape, there’s much to love about winter weddings, and here are a few incredible signature cocktails we’re sure guests will enjoy!

Our Incredible Signature Cocktails Include:

Mulled White Wine

Sangria is for spring and summer; mulled wine is for fall and winter! This mulled white wine mixture is brewed with fruit, spices, herbs and a kick of brandy – making it a seriously delicious signature cocktail that can easily be made in big batches! Here’s what you need:

• 2 tsp. black peppercorns
• 2 tsp. whole cloves
• 1 (750-ml) bottle of white zinfandel
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 small bunch sage
• 1 small bunch thyme
• 2 tbsp. juice from one lemon, and the rind
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 ripe pear, thinly sliced

To put this recipe together you will want to stir the ingredients together and simmer over low heat in a medium pan for ten minutes. Strain out the peppercorns and cloves and return the mixture to the saucepan to stir in the pear slices and simmer for another eight to ten minutes. 

Irish Coffee

Is there anything better than hot coffee spiked with the nutty flavors of Irish whiskey? Serve this signature cocktail with desert to ensure your guests leave satisfied and happily buzzed (remind them to take a cab home if they’re drinking!). Here’s what you need for this delicious cocktail:

• Coffee
• 1 oz. Irish whiskey
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon or chocolate powder for topping

To prepare, have the bartender brew hot coffee and pour it into mugs. Then simply add in the whiskey and brown sugar and decorate with a dollop of whipped cream and choice of powdered topping! 

Raspberry Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail

Champagne is a MUST at every wedding, and this fun cocktail is a sweet and festive way to add a twist to the traditional beverage. Here’s what you need:

• Pomegranate juice
• Raspberry sorbet
• Chilled champagne
• Pomegranate seeds

This deliciously dangerous cocktail is best served in frosty glasses, so tell your bartender to plan ahead! To put this together add 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice to the bottom of the glass, add a few small scoops of raspberry sorbet and top with pomegranate seeds. Top each glass with chilled champagne and enjoy!

Rosemary Bourbon Fizz

This sparkling cocktail is refreshing and delicious! All you need is some rosemary, lemons, sugar, ginger ale and your favorite bourbon. To bring it all together use a twig of rosemary, a small squeeze of lemon and one teaspoon of sugar and muddle it well in a cocktail shaker. Once it’s done, add ice cubes and one ounce of bourbon and shake it up really well. Pour the mixture into old fashioned glasses prepared with extra ice and top it off with ginger ale. Garnish the cocktail with a sprig of rosemary and a lemon twist and say cheers!

As you can probably see – the options can be truly endless when picking out a signature cocktail for your winter wedding. Whether the beverage is hot or cold, sweet or sour, flat or fizzy – it’s sure to be a hit and will have your guests dancing all night long! If you’re looking for more menu inspiration check out our catering services for various options. We would also be happy to help you pick out the perfect southern California wedding venue for your big day. Contact us to learn more about our services or to request a quote – we look forward to helping you plan your big event!