Perfect Inside/Outside D’Angelo wedding

After meeting with Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering staff and visiting the indoor and outdoor facilities at Finley Creek Vineyards, Katherine D’Angelo non-hesitatingly set up her Saturday wedding reception at Finley Creek for one hundred guests.

Nothing very special about that. Except -- that Finley Creek Vineyards has some pretty fabulous exterior and interior expanses to it’s name, which came in pretty handy when planning an event in May. Nice to know you can easily head inside to a gorgeously appointed party barn, or be outside – enjoying natural floral, almost pastoral acreage.

Turns out, Katherine’s day required both. Her wedding ceremony was outside – ending with brief light rainshowers – but preparations had been made, and umbrellas were on hand for all guests.

Once the “I dos” were said, everyone headed into the party barn for cocktail hour, followed by a tasty sit-down dinner, and then a reception lasting well into the evening hours.

Here is Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering menu for Katherine's special day   :

BUTLERED HORS D'OEUVRES

SALAD

Mixed Organic Field Greens with Pecans, Cranberries, Goat Cheese and Champagne or Balsamic Dressing

ENTREE

And for the vegetarian guests, a Traditional Roasted Ratatouille Lasagna with Basil Pesto and Ricotta.

Katherine’s perfect day succeeded without a hitch – despite the light rain – and created a wonderful memory for all in attendance.

 

 

Finley Creek Vineyards springs a lovely wedding reception

Mary Ann Harrison and Jared Owen tapped early Spring on the shoulder ...and asked it to reserve a sunny Saturday in mid-March for her wedding reception at Finley Creek Vineyards.

The pre-Spring weather cooperated, and the event space was perfect for the kind of relaxed late afternoon reception the couple had in mind.

The Harrison-Owen reception began at 4:00 PM by welcoming family and friends to Finley Creek's rustic splendor. With an open bar and generous appetizers inside the beautifully decorated Finley Creek barn, guests dipped into sumptuous appetizers:

Three Layer Pesto Torte with crackers, butler-served Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach and Parmesan Cheese, and an assortment of Mini Quiches.

After everyone had a chance to mingle, a spring buffet dinner was served:

There were a few children in attendance, and they were not forgotten. Easy to eat Chicken Fingers, Carrot Sticks, and Fruit Cups were quickly gobbled down.

After a lovely dinner, the bar was re-opened and the celebrating went on into the night as any fun reception should (hello dancing and music in the wide open rustic-chic barn!) The group paused to cut the cake (by Classic Cakes of Carmel) and toast to the new couple. Then back to dancing and  a fantastic selection of desserts!

Congratulations to Mary Anne and Jared, and the Harrison-Owen families!

 

 

10 tips on what to know before you set your spring/summer event

It’s tempting to consider choosing an event location you love and then, wrap the menu around all your favorite foods. But – party planning experts say when you truly consider your guests’ preferences over your own, your event will be more successful.

At Finley Creek Vineyards, we have a list of questions we ask event planners, family planners and brides as we begin to plan each event.

Here’s what to consider from the event experts at Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering, the owner/managers of Finley Creek:

Some of these are more obvious, but others are questions you may not have considered yet. It’s important to gain some perspective on your guests so they will feel comfortable at your event. Once you have established the main-frame objectives, you can begin to move on to the fun – impressing your guests.

The most memorable events at Finley Creek all did the following:

At Finley Creek, Jacquie's Gourmet Catering strives to iron out as many details as possible ahead of time. It’s never too early to start planning your next event! Let's talk.

 

 

Spring & summer wedding reception ideas

At Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering, we love to plan spring and summer wedding receptions. The world is in bloom, warm and in love… such a lavish and bountiful time to get married!

There are also so many, many different ideas and themes to choose from when you are planning a wedding reception in the warm months. We enjoy working with the bride and groom to create the right feel, theme and the vibe for the event – and the ideal food and drink, too.

Here are Jacquie’s spring and summer wedding reception tips on how to bring the lovely color and warmth of the season into your big day:

No matter what you choose for your spring/summer wedding reception, let’s meet to get things booked and begin getting a feel for your ideas early. Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering can bring your wedding ideas to life in all kinds of ways, keeping foods fresh and organic, sustainably and locally raised, and always… delicious.