A8 www.havredailynews.com BEYOND THE BOUQUET Winter 2010 Catering Q & A 10 Questions for Your Wedding Caterer A great caterer will do more than just make good food. He or she will pay great attention to details, making sure the presentation is just right, the food and wine are served at the right temperature, the servers are wellgroomed and attentive and that cleanup is efficient and thorough. part of your wedding budget. Make sure you know what it is you'll be getting for your money. Take your spouse-to-be and a friend with you to the tasting so that you can get varied opinions. Some caterers will charge a tasting fee, but it's worth it. May I see photographs of your table displays? family recipe at the reception — grandma's meatballs or foods from the family's ethnic traditions. Find out if your caterer will personalize your menu with these kinds of items. Do you offer cakes? 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You'll find a hibiscus on your breakfast tray, a rainbow over your shoulder and a smile on every face. One hundred thirty two islands dot 16,000 miles of the Design and style tips offer a creative spin on an old wedding tradition So how do you make sure the caterer you hire is a great one? By asking the right questions. May I have references? Most caterers get their business from word of mouth. Ask for at least 10 former clients and call as many as you can. Ask questions such as: work with? and non-intrusive? and did it arrive hot? that came up and how did the caterer deal with them? Do you have a business license and liability insurance? Caterers should be licensed are displayed in the office, but if you're not positive, then ask to see it. Make sure you see proof of liability insurance as well. Can we sample from a typical wedding menu? Catering can be a large Some caterers who provide buffets or food stations include floral arrangements and other decorations. It's also a good idea to discuss your color theme so that decorations and floral arrangements coordinate What does the price per person include? Is the cost strictly for food, or does it cover tables, chairs, linens, tableware, punch service, table displays, etc.? What other fees do you charge? Are tips and taxes included in the price? Some caterers will charge a cake-cutting fee or corking fee for wines. Make sure you get all fees in writing up front. Do you handle special menu requests? You may have guests with special menu needs, such as food allergies or vegan or kosher requirements. Make sure your caterer will accommodate these needs. Some couples want to have a special ed in the price. Will you pack us a "doggie bag" for after the reception? Sometimes the wedding couple is so busy at the reception that they have very little time to eat anything. Attentive caterers will prepare small boxes of food for the couple to enjoy when they are finally alone. What are the payment arrangements? You need to find out how much of a deposit is required, and if it's refundable or not. Ask when the final payment is due and what the caterer's preferred form of payment is. When you finally settle on a caterer, make sure you have a written contract to sign. This guarantees that they will provide the food, timelines and details you discussed. Asking these 10 questions will help you choose the right caterer to help make your wedding a truly special celebration. Courtesy of Family Features Something old, something new; Something borrowed, something blue; And a silver sixpence in her shoe. An enduring Victorian tradition steeped in superstitious symbolism, the verse containing a series of old, new, borrowed and blue good luck tokens for the bride dates back centuries in England. John C. Franke, style expert and faculty member at The Art Institute offers a creative spin on the age-old tradition for the bride-to-be in 2010. Something old: Continuity with the bride's family and the past Ac c o r d i n g t o Franke, trends suggest a rising popularity in vintage gowns. "A 1960s-era gown will not only allow a bride to check something "old" off her list, but may also offer affordability and superior workmanship," says Franke, who recommends vintage shops as well as eBay to begin the search. "To make her purchase even more meaningful, a bride might consider purchasing a dress from one of many organizations who recycle wedding gowns for charitable fundraising." For another possibility to represent something "old," Franke suggests implementing a table of wedding photographs collected from family and friends attending the reception. The photos will honor the marriages of couples close to the bride and groom as well as provide a wonderful center for conversation. Something new: Optimism and hope for the bride's life ahead "Renewable is the new 'new,'" s ays Fra n ke. Fo r a f re s h approach to something new, Franke suggests environmentally responsible decisions such as selecting potted perennials for ating a buzz. "Why not borrow an antique car and create a dramatic exit from your wedding?" Franke asks. Another emerging trend is the borrowing of the cake knife from one bride to another within a family. Starting a tradition now of passing along your cake knife or other wedding essentials is not only cost-saving, but also creates a legacy that future generations will treasure. Something blue: A color suggesting purity and fidelity as evidenced in the 19th century phrase "Marry in blue, lover be true." Building blues into the wedding color scheme is an option for completing your old, new, borrowed and blue checklist, and at the same time, developing a color scheme for your reception. "Think like a graphic designer," says Franke. "Consider your wedding colors as a controlled palette." Franke encourages the bride to visit a paint store or define a series of colors, never more than three. Once selected, the bride can keep the color chips with her throughout the planning period so that the exact colors are always available when decisions are made about bridesmaids' gowns, table linens, floral arrangements and other decorative elements. According to Franke, blues are an elegant choice for any season. He suggests pairing royal blues with yellow for a classic summer wedding; blue and pink for spring; and icy blues with whites or silver for a winter wedding. To learn more about The Art Institutes’ schools, visit www. artinstitutes.edu/nz. Courtesy of ARA content will create a vibrant setting for the reception and can later be planted in the garden at the newlywed's home." Franke also suggests seed satchels as favors to serve as a long-living connection to the wedding. Even guests can get into the game. "If you're invited to a wedding this year, consider presenting the couple with a gift that offers a new spin on traditional gift options." Franke suggests antiques carefully selected for the couple or aluminum serving pieces. S o m e t h i n g b o r rowe d : A reminder that the bride can still depend on friends and family. Traditionally, a bride can borrow anything from her best friend's punch bowl to her grandmother's pearls, but Franke suggests fulfilling the adage by cre- Stacy Mantle Melanie and Brett Gilman's Wedding at Prairie Farms Golf Course on August 22, 2009.