Wedding/Marriage Blog

16 September 2007
So many sites on how to plan your wedding. What little details you may have overlooked etc. etc. I am sure you all know this as you are planning a wedding and have probably done a search for Atlanta Weddings, Planning a Wedding in Atlanta etc. etc.
And that is what this blog was supposed to be about. I wanted it to be truthful on what is out there and the pitfalls that are out there wanting your hard earned money, or Daddy's hard earned money. But I just read an article about Marriage...the thing that the wedding is supposed to be the launching of. 1 in 5 don't make it for 5 years. 5 years!!! That is nothing! The woman in the article stated that she asked for a divorce 11 months after the wedding. She said that she knew it was a mistake from the beginning, feeling pressured by the family, he was the perfect catch etc. And she wouldn't have gone into the marriage if she didn't know she could get out of it. What??? So, another heart irreparably broken (not hers). And I say irreparably because this guy was talking family and that is what made her bolt. Not the lack of a desire for a family but starting one with him and being with him forever. He loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. After 11 monthes he was probably still thinking that he was the luckiest guy in the world to have found the love of his life. Listen, put down the bridal magazines, get off the computer sites and think about this. This is not an extended trip to Disney World, this is work. You think that you are overwhelmed planning this wedding, this is nothing compared to living with that man/woman till death do us part. Take some stock in what you are doing. Is this someone you want to grow old together with. Old is no longer pretty, isn't very muscular and hair goes away both for men and women. Make sure you love THEM! That the days you spend together make you excited that this is who is going to say, "I do" to all the list of vows in a little bit and you can't wait to start your life together. If They are annoying you with the wedding planning. You find yourself saying I can't believe he just said that, or want that, or is being so stubborn about this. Tempers are flying, feelings are getting hurt etc. You are getting a glimpse of the decision making process for the next 50 years. This isn't just about planning a wedding this is (partly) who you will be dealing with. If it isn't you that they are snapping at...just everyone else is being treated badly but they still are treating you as the precious person that you are. BEWARE: you will lose that place of honor in a few years and how they treat everyone around them will be how you will be treated. I am not saying that even the great ones won't lose their tempers, say mean things to you, sulk, whine, manipulate etc at one point in your marriage. We are human, we have bad days, but....if this is how the person is most of the time, that is what you have.This is too broad of a subject to put in one blog. As I think through some of what I want to say I will add more. I am in the wedding industry. I actually tend to enjoy my clients and sometimes we even become friends. It usually goes from strangers meeting talking about food to me being very involved and caring about the 2 families very much. It is definitely my personality. But I always look at the bride and groom and hope that in a few years they aren't looking for an Atlanta Divorce Lawyer instead of a Venue and a Florist. I always tell them. "You can beat the odds, you can make it to the end happily" I had the odds against me 26 years ago. First, I was 24 and hadn't fully learned how to take care of myself. My husband had been previously married and had 2 children (that he had custody of) ages 4 and 6. For some strange reason I had overlooked their presence. I mean they were always around us, but so was his sister (my best friend) with her 2 year old and my future mother in law. I guess we were kind of doing family outings to the beach before we were a family. We would go out alone together often enough, but I didn't have to think about babysitter challenges as they were all living together sharing a rent and it worked for all concerned. On our wedding day, the boys (not too happy about me living and breathing, loyalty issues to their mom) kind of took over the day. We had a tiny, tiny, tiny wedding, no money, no time, no honeymoon etc. We were just going to go to the beach alone after the brunch at my sisters house and then back to the big house, dress and go out to dinner. Well, the boys heard beach and jumped in the car and it took brute force to remove them. I pulled my sister aside and with panic told her "I've made a mistake, I need an anullment" She gave me great advice. Sounding just as panicked as I, to hear her sister say this a few hours after getting married, She dropped this bit of advice," You, you, you just go out there and be married!!"
(Isn't this just like the fairy tales?)
The problem is I just realized at that moment while my prince Charming was pulling kids out of the car while they held onto the steering wheel that I had just become a step-mother. Now we all know the implications of that in the fairy tales and I actually started to see the wicked step-mother's point of view. But to make a long story short and To come to the present. Those 2 boys are incredibly loving and devoted sons to me. They married 2 wonderful girls and have had 2 boys each themselves (A great rewarding situation as I see them struggle to get their kids raised)
We added 4 girls to the mix over the years...Yes 4! Which brought our grand total of raising children to 6! Crazy amount for this day and age. Actually, the Prince just came out sluggishly asking me what I was up to, rubbed my back for a second gave me a squeeze and went back to bed without waiting for an answer to his question. And after 26 years, I look at this man and my heart still spills out so much love for him. I have a certain ringtone on my phone that is him calling me(at least 10 times a day). I still run to answer it. I am thrilled when he comes home from work. I am in love with my husband and he is still in love with me. It is still active, still growing as are we. He thinks I am beautiful and I look at him and think he is one of the hottest men I have ever met. We have made it!! and we are living happily ever after...
email me any questions about marriage, wedding plans and of course catering in this great city of Atlanta.
loaves-fishescatering@hotmail.com

15 August 2007
A few Atlanta Venues that we have catered at:
Fulton County Atrium- for very large parties easily, beautiful in its own right and needing little help with decor, Unfortunately for the caterer, no kitchen at all available to them i.e. water but plenty of electrical outlets, Issues with rentals pick-up. Must be on the same day (you will incur additional charges from the rental company for a late pickup) and wants someone to move all the rentals down stairs to a loading dock. Downtown Atlanta
Historic Pace House and Pavillion (paces ferry rd)
Very Unique in the building where you actually have your reception is an old train depot. (Think of the movie Pollyanna from Disney)
Rustic with great possibilities. If Marble Pillars are more your style forget about it. About 80 would comfortably fit here. They do have a wood patio that connects house, pavillion and caterers warming kitchen together that can be covered to expand your options. The historical house is also available for you to use. Nice unique place to have your reception.
Everett Manor Smyrna
A bank turned to venue with success. A small but nice venue with a separate room that you can have your buffet set up in.
Untold number of houses and churches which are always an inexpensive but good way to go.

29 July 2007(Atlanta Caterer & beyond)
I did a very special catered event this weekend. It was my daughter's 12th birthday. Although this wasn't an elegant Atlanta Wedding We still did all that we would do for our Atlanta brides.
We set it up as a Mocktail Party. All her friends came dressed up, which you do not see that often anymore. We had Frozen Faux Coladas and Strawberry Daquiris. She designed her own cake and loved it, although I must say it looked very odd to me. I told her it looked like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, her excited reply,"Great, that is exactly what I wanted" It was a 3-tiered Barbie pink with teal rope edges and a yellow number 12 candle on top. No I don't do wedding cakes and if you could have seen this cake you would understand why? There are some fabulous bakers in the Atlanta area and their cakes are delicious and works of art. If you need some suggestions just call me or email me I am always more than happy to throw some business their way as they are very talented but I'll stick to catering and event planning.
She went on my website and wrote me an email to tell me her choices for hors d'oeuvres as if she was a client. She was very funny and so appreciative.
Her choices, which are among some of our most popular for Our Catered Weddings in Atlanta were: Smoked Chicken Quesadillas with chipotle Sauce (spicy but great)
fruit and cheese display, Sausage Rolls, Chicken Gaylann Packages with honey butter, (her all time favorite), Skewered Antipasto (marinated fresh cherry tomatoes, peppers, Mozzerella and Cheese tortellini skewered and layered on a bed of fresh rosemary) LemonGrass turkey meatballs with hot & Sour Sauce, ( we made tons of these and literally 2 were left at the end of the night, they just kept going into the fridge and ate them cold) & Shrimp Cocktail. The shrimp cocktail actually gave me an opportunity to try something I had wanted to for awhile. I made an ice bowl and stuck fresh flowers in the water before it froze. It came out beautifully!!! I am going to put a picture of it on this site as soon as I can get my daughter to do her magic with photos. She is a brilliant up & coming photographer if you would like to view her work it is at www.flickr.com/photos/bridgetgreenley. Anyway, the bowl with roses and other flowers out of my gardens imbedded in the ice made a stunning addition to the table. It was of course one of my favorite events this year. Made zero money as I was paid with kisses, hugs and accolades from a very grateful and adoring 12 year old. It doesn't get any better than that.

23 July 07
Why are you getting married? Is it to have this great big expensive party and then go on this just as expensive honeymoon? No, you actually found the person that makes you laugh, you think the same way (about all the important things) and have decided there is absolutely noone else you would like to live with till you are both old and gray.
Ironically being in this "wedding industry", I was married in a church office with a handful of people in attendance. Young enough to not realize that I should have tipped or paid the pastor. My sister made us brunch. We took a walk on the beach. Went out to dinner and back to work the next day. Raised almost (one is 12) 6 kids together and am still very much in love with each other. Sometimes you want to choke them but it doesn't last. He'll do something funny or sweet and I still melt....25 years later. That is what this planning is all about. Don't forget that. You want it to last. You want to beat the odds. So, you made a decision. He said,"Will you?" and you said,"yes". How great is that?
16 July 07

Food options:So many ways to serve....

There are so many different options on how to put the food in front of your guests. Most common is a buffet meal or heavy hors d'oeuvres. But there are also variations of those 2. You can have a popular option called Food Stations. Different "buffet" type tables in different parts of the room with either highlighting a certain type of food or Action Stations, where a Chef is either stir-frying or something at them. There is also the
"small plate" serving style. Buffet tables with small plates, individually garnished, with an already plated small serving of a variety of different foods. Your guest just picks up the plate of his choice. And of course we have the full-service sit down meal. You pick a menu with say 2 choices of Entrees which are served to your guests as in a restaurant. Any questions or additional blogs of your own go to my guestbook and type away.

07
Budget???

The average wedding is fast approaching the $30,000 mark per in America.

Average as reported by CNN
Photography/Videography $2570
Ceremony/Reception Music $1250
Rehearsal Dinner $1153
Flowers $1121

But...What do I really need to get married?
Obviously a Fiance'
VENUE VENUE VENUE
for ceremony & reception:
Expect to pay over $1000, way over. Even with a tent these are the prices unless you have a big house that can handle it all.
Table & chairs
Alot of times this comes with the venue, but if it doesn't tables run between $8 and $12 each. Chairs can be as little as $1.25 (samsonite cushioned metal) to $8 or more for Chiviari Chairs
Linens
Tablecloths (depending on size of table and if you want it to fall at lap length or to the ground) Between $10 and $25 each.
Napkins around $1 each
China Varies greatly by what you want
There are so many to choose from along with silver or flatware, glass or Crystal etc.
But expect to pay average for everything between $5 and $15 per person.
I can't price serviceware, chafers etc as all of this is included in our price and have never needed to rent them.
So I am sure you are all saying that this is alot of money and not only have we not eaten a thing, we haven't decorated a thing either.
We at Loaves & Fishes try to help you have that incredible reception without that high price tag. Of course we do food, but did you know we also can help with Flowers, table, buffet and room decor even wedding consultation to get you through the steps of planning a wedding reception. And our prices for all of this is as good as our food prices. Give me a call to discuss how we can have your guests think you spent so much more than you did.

2July2007 Atlanta Catering finds down home Cave Spring.
Great Wedding Venue this weekend. It was in the small quaint town of Cave Spring,
Ga. This was the deal of all time for the bridal family. It is located around 75-90minutes outside of downtown Atlanta, but considering the popularity of destination weddings, this is nothing. They rented the old stone church for the ceremony, built in the 1800's and rented the Historice Hearn School for the reception, right next door. Incredible building with the option of renting the ballroom upstairs as well. (Looked like something that Jane Austin would have felt at home with) and the Hearn B&B with 6 bedrooms, 4 baths for out of town family and the entire cost for them was....ready...$875.00. (there is another B&B in town if you need more room) The town is absolutely picturesque, duck pound and waterways. The bride is a photographer so this is why she picked this unique and beautiful setting. You can view some of the pictures of the buildings I have mentioned at www.cityofcavespring.com. I would love to see more people take advantage of this great place at this great price. Atlanta is short on Venues, I always seem to find a bride who didn't realize the problem and is looking for one that isn't expecting their first born child in payment. This might be the answer.Take a look. Shoot me an email if you want to talk about the possibility of me catering your event there.

July 28th Venues
Okay, being an off-premise caterer, (one who comes to your wedding venue with the food) versus an on-premise caterer, ( one who owns the venue that you have decided to use) I am going to be slightly slanted in my opinions. This is just fair warning and no offense to be taken by my fellow caterers who own their own place,hats off to you maybe someday I will be in the same position.
The upside of using off-premise catering seems to be in the ability to choose who will work the best for you for a price that you can afford. Obviously once you chose a place that has their own caterer your options are limited by what they offer and by the price that they have listed. But also, everything is there, linens, tables, chairs, china etc. (at a price) so it really is a one stop shop. Again the choice may be limited to what they have. When you find a venue that allows outside Atlanta caterers (as we are called) sometimes a fee is attached if you use outside their preferred catering list. I have a had brides pay the fee so that they can use me and still save alot of money in the process. There are not alot of Venue choices in Atlanta that have the freedom of you picking your own without a fee so, as far as I am concerned this is first thing that you need to investigate and book is the Venue. A few places we have worked catering in the Atlanta area that does not require a fee is Everett Manor in Smryna and the Historic Pace House off Paces Ferry Rd & Riverlanding @ Roswell. I also believe that the Fulton County Atrium in Downtown Atlanta did not charge for using outside of their preferred list. I know that the Fox Theatre does require you to pay.
Back to the one stop shop-We as off-premise caterers will handle all of your rentals, we will organize the timing of the delivery and set-up, and let you know what is available out there in Atlanta for tabletop specialty linens, china,chairs etc. We will try to make it as easy as if you were renting our own place. The other option is to rent a tent on your own property or someone elses property. There is alot of beauty in a white tent and so much that you can do to decorate it. Tent rentals can be cost effective if the date is right. If it is August in Atlanta you will have to pay the $1500 or more for air conditioning ducts to be put in the tent so that it will be usable. If you are looking at April or Early May or Early Fall, it could be the best thing for you to choose.
Well, I am not a writer so if this seems all scattered, I apologize. I talk better than I write. Feel free to call with any questions -or maybe I can figure out how to take them through this blog someday. Have a good one.