2013 Wedding Trends No.7 -The Reception Lounge

No. 7 on our list of the top ten wedding trends for 2013 is.....

The Reception Lounge!

Okay so that probably wasn't much of a surprise since we said it in the title, but we can still get excited because this one's really fun!

photos courtesy of Weddings Illustrated, Colette's Events (2), the knot, Green Wedding Shoes, Art of Weddings, Ruffled (2)

   Reception Lounges are a great addition to your wedding or any event really. It's similar to lounge areas in nightclubs in style and atmosphere but without all of the sweaty 20 year old's!
 And just like with nightclubs, there's a variety of themes you can play with to enhance your lounge. From an all white super lounge to bohemian chic.
 When your indoors you can create an amazing atmosphere with lighting and create drama with pipe and drape. Outdoors your lounge can be just as fabulous with tenting structures and loads of candles! And there's tons of rental companies out there specializing in lounge furniture. FormDecor has loads of modern and mid-century furniture, while Found and Archive Vintage Rentals have amazing amounts of vintage and rustic pieces!
But by far the funnest (yes I know that's not a real word) part is taking your lounge beyond just seating. A lounge is a great way for guests to mingle with each other, or take a break from all of that dancing. So add a cigar bar or tastings of your grooms favorite brews. And signature digestif and dessert passed around the lounge area, would be absolutely delightful to all of your guests! And with only one wedding a lifetime everyone should be delighted.

A Picnic Basket

With warm weather in the air and long summer days lingering on, it's the perfect time of year for a picnic.  Picnics hold a nostalgic spot in everyone's hearts whether they've ever been on one or not. And a picnic theme is a great idea for your company's summer events, as well as a great idea for a relaxed wedding or any social gathering.

A great way to host a picnic is to incorporate classic elements but with an updated twist. Just because it's a picnic doesn't mean it has to be full of tupperware and ziploc bags. It can still be as carefully executed as a black tie affair. Having servers tray pass appetizers on wood slabs, and serving your beverages in mason jars(which could definitely be filled with our signature lavender lemonade and and a citrus vodka for a great summer treat!) are perfect nods to the classic picnic.

Christmas in July

It's July! and amidst this sweltering heat we're dreaming about the days of wearing sweaters. So we're celebrating Christmas in July with festive themed parties, holiday sound tracks, and (frozen) hot chocolate! If you too cant wait until December consider throwing your own Christmas in July party. It's actually much easier than hosting Christmas in December, much less pressure, and no gift exchange required. It can be even more fun and games by implementing an "Ugly Sweater" theme or providing all of your guests with Santa hats or reindeer antlers to wear. And if you're not quite ready to climb into the attic and unpack those boxes of decorations, it's the perfect time to buy decor at a discounted rate. There's always the great holiday section on Etsy with loads of items for parties, like these great printable invitations we found.

And it's a great time to visit your local goodwill. Goodwill's are full of seasonal decor right now and even better the cost will go to good cause which gives us even more of that holiday spirit we yearn for. 

Another great reason for Christmas in July? Getting to eat holiday food of course!

 We'll be making turkey and cranberry sauce (which means day after sandwiches as well!) with garlic mashed potatoes and candied yams for miles. And let's not forget about those fabulous seasonal cocktails we all love. Try eggnog on the rocks or our Candy Cane-tini.

Now all you need is a yule log and you're set!

And yes we will make them in july ;)

And for everyone who's not quite ready to celebrate, it's never too early to start planning your holiday party in the actual holiday season! We're offering 10% off your food and beverage plus a complimentary event upgrade if you book before September 1st.

Summer Fun

We know, we know it's still technically spring and the year has been rushing by but we're always excited for the wedding and party season and June is just around the corner! Colette's is ready for your graduation celebrations, father's day BBQs, summer soirees and of course fabulous weddings. And in keeping with the festive mood of summer entertaining we're introducing some delicious menu items that are light and crisp for those hot summer parties.

Try our new crab and avocado salad atop a crisp watermelon medellion or chilled avocado soup shooters

Add a grilled peach and goat cheese salad with blackberries and lemon vinaigrette for a fresh taste for your menu

And fish tacos can be served up by our chefs as an entree or try them mini for a fun and unexpected appetizer that will wow your guests.

For dessert try our Cake Goddessess' newest creation; Avocado Panna cotta (clearly we've fallen head over heels with avocado)

We didn't forget about the drinks either, signature cocktails anyone?

We can't wait to serve Hibiscus Margaritas, and Apple Sage Coolers made from apple pie moonshine. yum!

The Grilled Cheese

We just fell in love all over again with our favorite childhood sandwich, the grilled cheese. What was once as simple as white bread and cheddar cheese has gotten so much bolder, heartier, and tastier all those old feelings just came rushing back. And now we can't get enough! We're creating chefs stations where guests can choose their own cheese and an array of toppings. And we're going way past cheddar here(but of course we still love a good cave aged cheddar) with options like gruyere, brie, and ricotta this station is fun and exceptionally delicious.

But we're not stopping there! Oh no, we've fallen so head over heals we're serving up grilled cheese paired with a classic tomato soup for lunch and dinner

And we love this combo as a tray passed appetizers for cocktail hour too!

 

Share this nostalgic treat at your next event and you and your guests will fall head over heels in love all over again.

The New Cupcake in Town

So of course you know here at Colette's we already LOVE cupcakes, when the cake goddesses are making them who wouldn't?! But you may not know about our newest love affair with these cup sized cakes; we are mad about the newest food trend of savory cupcakes, Think more then actual cake and imagine lasagna made with fresh pasta, marinara, basil, Italian sausage, and fresh ricotta all in the adorable size of a cupcake! 

 

For breakfast imagine a perfectly portioned quiche inspired cupcake with a butter flaky crust and light fluffy eggs all in the adorable packaging of a cupcake!

Or try another classic comfort food and have our gourmet meatloaf "frosted" with our garlic thyme mashed potatoes.

 

Savory " Cupcakes" are perfect for a hearty appetizer or with your main course.

Either way were that much closer to our dream of eating a cupcake at every meal...

To get some of these tasty little treats at your next event call Dario and he'll help you out.

714.447.9190

Colette's Events

www.colettesevents.com