Words from the Witch

I was having lunch with a dear friend the other day.  She has been in the wedding business as long as I have and wanted to vent, or cackle in her case, about one of her pet peeves.  I told her she was preaching to the choir and she should put her keyboard where her mouth was and I would share her words of wisdom on my blog (she refuses to get her own).  To my huge surprise, she did just that!

We affectionately call my friend by a nickname.  Because of nature of the name and because it is a few days before Halloween, I think it is now appropriate to introduce her and her commentary – I give you The Wedding Witch…

 

“Rules for Perfect Toasting, and I’m not talking ‘bout Buns!”

So, we sat and we sat and we sat.  I listened to about the first three minutes of the Best Man’s speech then, because I was the wedding planner and could move around without raising any eyebrows, I got up.  Rude, maybe, but I needed a drink (diet coke-this was work).  I was chatting up the bartender when I realized that 20 minutes had passed and THE GUY WAS STILL TALKING!!  The audience looked glazed, their glasses were empty, the bride looked like her feet hurt from standing still so long.  This called for desperate action.

The next speaker (can’t call them a “toaster” though the unplug option would be very handy), were two bridesmaids.  I took them aside, glared at them with my best “planner” face and showed them my new, very pointy, very tall stiletto pumps. I then explained to them that if they talked for more than 60 seconds, one of these shoes could come flying from behind and stick them right in the back.  NO MORE SPEECHES-the mob was getting restless and was going to revolt at any moment.  With big eyes, they nodded their heads, gave a funny, cute, SHORT toast.  The mic feed was cut, the bars re-opened and peace, once again, was restored in Wedding Land.

For planners, brides in tight shoes and wedding guests everywhere, let me share the simple rules for toasting at weddings:

1. Be brief! Saw that coming didn’t you – tales from middle school, extremely personal and private feelings and anything that occurred while you both were drunk/with other women/wouldn’t tell your mom about are not things to say over a mic in front of a crowd.  Be a little funny, be sincere, wish them well, sit down.  Anything else is for sharing at the Bachelor Party, Rehearsal Dinner or in a small group while watching the game.
2. Be prepared!  Don’t look like a deer in the headlights -you know you are going to stand up there and be asked to talk.  We all learned in 7^th grade to write notes on 3×5 cards and look at them if necessary. If you don’t know what you are going to say in advance you will either be miserable up until that time worrying and writing notes on cocktail napkins or you will get up there and break all the rules noted in #1.
3. Speak into the mic!  Now that you are prepared, have the perfect toast, let’s all hear it.  There is a reason all the singers on TV look like they are about to swallow the microphone, you have to hold it right up to your lips or anyone past the second row of tables won’t be able to hear a thing.
4. Beware the cocktails!  A drink or two, maybe three, can do wonders for your confidence and drown the butterflies in your belly.  Please though, the slurring “I love you man!” and getting the bride’s name wrong is just not going to add anything to the celebration.  It will be memorable, just not in a good way.  After your done, party on and give your keys to a friend.
5. Smile!  Remember, these people are your friends, they want you to do well.  You have been asked to speak at a very important day in their lives.  Look them in the eye, take a deep breath, share your feelings, and know that, if you remember the 4 rules above, it will all be good.

Happy toasting, my broom is waiting–

The Wedding Witch

(to reach me or April, email us at eventscateringblog@gmail.com)

 

 

It Starts at the Beginning

How lucky I am.  I get to be there at the beginning of a new family.  The happy couple says their vows, their friends and family celebrate.  The joy can be felt.  I’ve literally been involved in over a thousand weddings in my 28 years in the business and I still, to this day, get choked up.  Silly yes, but this is a day that the couple will remember forever as one of their best ever – I’m honored to be a part of their beginning, of their new life as a family.

During the planning of a wedding, I get to know my brides and grooms and their respective families.  I enjoy knowing how they met; what they do; she loves cats-he hates them; we are rivals on the football field (I’ll look past that); they are looking for their first house, etc.– weddings are personal things and I can best serve my clients if I know who they are, not just a name and a date. 

With that being said, I thought maybe our clients, and prospective ones, would like to know just who we are, since we are the ones you would be trusting with the important responsibility of your wedding day.  Let me introduce us –

Craig and I opened Events Catering almost 22 years ago in Atlanta.  We quit our jobs at a downtown hotel, I sold parties and then we went into a rented kitchen and produced them.  It was a long first year but we have been blessed to grow ever since.  We added event facilities to the business over the years and have slowly moved from the downtown Atlanta area to our current home in Roswell.

In 1992 we found time to do our own wedding and have since added two sons, three dogs and a cat to the Bloomer home.  The boys, now 13 and 12, have followed their father into the kitchen and include Steak Diane and  Fettucine Alfredo to their collection of recipes when it’s their night to cook.  We take food very personally in our home – cooking is a competive and interactive sport!

While we are not in a tiny rented kitchen anymore, Events Catering is still a small, family-run business.  I still sell parties, Craig still oversees the kitchen.  We care personally about each and every party we do.  There are no “re-do’s” and only one opportunity to get it right.  We believe in offering only the best in food, beverage and service and you can be sure that we will do everything possible to ensure that every celebration is a joyful and memorable one.

There is nothing more important than family.  We are blessed to have ours.  We have enjoyed being a part in so many new ones.  We look forward to being a part in the beginning of yours.

All the best,

April

Want to comment-write me at eventscateringblog@gmail.com

Atlanta Wedding Receptions!

Welcome to Events Catering, where we have been celebrating life’s events since 1987. Owned and operated by Craig and April Bloomer, Events has grown to one of Atlanta’s leading caterers by providing only the best in food, beverage, service, facilities and always treating each and every event as a “once in a lifetime” celebration.

We invite you to tour our web site and view our unique special event facilities and learn more about us. Questions are sure to come up and our professional staff is ready to answer them and help design your event around your personal requirements. Please honor us with a call!

Whether you’re planning the wedding of your dreams, a corporate dinner, a bar or bat mitzvah, or a holiday event, the owners and staff of Events Catering are here to serve you as you are celebrating your life’s events.

The Ivy Hall at Roswell Mill