Catering By Robert . Event Concepts : 08/01/2019

Sunday, August 18, 2019

One of A Kind Wedding at A Private Estate

Sarah and Ben

Choosing a private estate as destination for a formal wedding can be captivating for the bride, the groom, and their guests.

If the celebration is in Florida, where early spring offers milder weather, the results are cherished for years to come in memories and pictures.

Such was the wedding for Sarah and Ben at Casa Bella Estate in West Central Florida. While the majority of the event was held outdoors, picture-perfect poses of the couple and their entourage were captured inside the stunning mansion owned by Diane and Larry Dyer. Many of the indoor photos were set against the backdrop of Larry's beautiful wildlife paintings.

Photos by Vintage Queen Photography

Interactions with family and friends are much more easy-going when you are getting ready in a beautiful, comfortable residence.

Larry was the official "chauffeur" for those that needed a ride including the bride!

The ceremony took place across the pond from the estate house. The bride and groom simply decorated the large, sprawling oak tree with yards and yards of white fabric.

Sarah chose a light mint green for her attendants with bursts of bright coral, touches of yellow, and vibrant green for their bouquets.

Social hour was held in the main reception area around the pool patio area.

Most of the base linen for the event was a neutral champagne with touches of gold. A special memorial table paid tribute to loved ones who could not be there for their wedding day.

The sign in table featured a polaroid camera for capturing pictures to be put in a sign in album.

Cocktail Hour high top tables lined the immediate area around the pool. Sarah and her attendants ordered extra loose flowers from Carmen's Flowers, for various centerpieces.

Hand-Passed Appetizers included Grape Caprese Skewers, Greek Tiropita, and Mini Meatballs.

As a marine biologist, Sarah wished to incorporate treasures from the sea on her wedding day. A seating board directed guests to their tables.

Coral accents were found in fresh flower centerpieces and napkins on the guest tables.

Our in-house trio of glass cylinders featured stems of flowers and baby's breath provided by the florist.

As part of the entertainment for the evening, Ben and Sarah hired a caricature artist to sketch guests.

One of the highlights of our cuisine for the evening was our Torched Glazed Salmon Station.

Many beautiful memories made on Sarah and Ben's wedding day.

Planning, Design, Coordination, and Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL

Florals: Carmen's Flowers

Rentals: West Coast Events and Rentals

Thursday, August 8, 2019

The Right Chemistry at the Morean Center for Clay

Kate and Kevin

Photos by Rachael Burkhart

A destination wedding for almost all of the guests, Kate and Kevin's celebration weekend in mid-summer was a welcome break from their education endeavors back in Alabama. They started their journey with us nine months prior to their wedding. Although their visiting time here was limited, we accomplished a huge amount of detailed planning via emails, texts, and phone calls. Their college studies kept them busy.

During one important visit to Tampa Bay, we were able to do a tasting and sample guest table trial at our studio. They also were able to sample some sweet options from Goldies Goodies Bakery, located a mile from us.

Kate's aunt lived in St. Pete so they decided to hold their ceremony at St. Raphael's Catholic Church with the reception at the Morean Center for Clay.

The couple's vision of simple elegance, neat and natural came to life in the center, which once housed a bustling train station. Located in the St. Pete Warehouse Arts District, the Morean Center for Clay offers lots of natural light via its floor to almost ceiling height windows. Exposed brick walls created a timeless backdrop for their 120+ reception.

Kate and her entourage enjoyed the comforting, "getting ready" surroundings of her aunt's home in Snell Isle.

Kevin and his guys rented an Airbnb close by.

Spending time with family and friends was a big priority for Kate and Kevin. Thus, they made the decision to do a first look before the wedding so formalities were kept to a minimum. They also wanted to be a part of some of the social hour.

The couple entrusted our team with installing and placing many different DIY projects they enjoyed creating during their free time together. One was a welcome sign hung at the entrance to the center.

The small lobby had the perfect amount of space for a welcome/sign in/seating chart table. We hung a collage of pictures with a chemistry formula . . . representing their mutual fondness of the subject.

Guests signed jenga pieces.

A simple photo booth was set up next to some high top cocktail tables also in the area.

Inside the main room, our service staff hand-passed an assortment of hot and cold hors d'oeuvres that include Caprese Skewers, Mini Quiche, Kielbasa and Apple Brochettes with Carmel Sauce, Mango Salsa in Phyllo Cup and Drunkin Dogs. (below is a separate presentation we offered the bride and groom at their head table)

Not long after the reception started, the couple arrived with their bridal party.

Kate and Kevin expressed an interest in having all long feasting tables for the guests. This formation suited the center layout to a "T." White garden chairs added to the bright disposition of the sunlit space.

The bride had collected a huge assortment of small and medium clear glass vessels which we mixed with some of our crystal bud vases and other in-house pieces. Her florist provided an assortment greens and white/blush buds which we placed in the vessels down the centers of the tables.

Wedgewood/Dusty Blue runners and napkins, along with silver chargers added a subtle pop of color to the all white tables.

Three off-center flower hoops were hung behind the traditional head table. We utilized additional greenery garlands and the church altar arrangements to add décor to this focal point table.

The father of the bride provided a casual cigar bar that was set up under a wood and tin roof pavilion across the parking lot from the clay center.

Kate and Kevin gave us some leeway in how we utilized their wedding colors for the buffet and other display tables. We chose some custom watercolor blue and sage green accent fabrics along with our tall in-house candle holders.

Our popular Paella was a hit of the evening.

As they had hoped, Kate and Kevin had plenty of time to visit with the many guests who traveled near and far to be a part of their special day.

Goldies Goodies Bakery was our suggestion for a small formal wedding cake with miniature displayed confections that ranged from mini parfaits to macarons. We provided the stands for these.