Even though we are almost into the full swing of wedding season, some of you still may be searching for stellar vendors to make your event AMAZING!  With that in mind, I thought this ever-so-helpful advice from our very own Mary Crafts-Homer would be perfect for anyone looking for a top-notch caterer.  These “Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Caterer” are a good way to find out which caterer will fit your taste, style, and budget – so you can sit back and relax, knowing that you’ve picked the best fit for you and your wedding!  Check it out!

1.  Let your caterer know your budget up front and ask what would be the best fit for your event based on that budget.  You may want a 7 course plated dinner for all your guests but that definitely adds major cost to your bottom line – so unless your budget allows for it, let the caterer suggest other options – such as a gorgeous dinner buffet with similar food options to cut your cost.  If the caterer won’t work with your budget or tries to upsell you an event you aren’t sure you can afford – be wary.  Also make sure that you trust your caterer enough to give you ideas you wouldn’t have thought of yourself, but also make sure that they keep your vision at the forefront.  It’s your day, after all!

2.  Ask if there are any additional costs for labor, alcohol service, gratuity, etc. that will be added into your final total.  This is especially important if you have a tight budget and do not want to be surprised with the final bill the week before your wedding.  Most caterers will outline any additional labor costs, extra staff costs, alcohol provider’s costs, and also suggest a gratuity based on your cost.  Make sure you are aware of the costs involved and plan for your budget and there will be no surprises at the end.  Also, remember the gratuity is based on the service provided.  So your gratuity should reflect your overall happiness with the event and service.

3.  Ask if the food is prepared on-site or in a kitchen off-site.  Culinary Crafts prides itself on preparing their food at the event site (which is one of the reasons it is SO delicious and fresh).  This allows you to plan for how much space the caterer will need to prepare the food and plan a layout where they will have their “back of house” or prep area.  You don’t want to be figuring this out on the day of – you’ll have more important things to focus on!

4.  Ask if they are a full service caterer or not.  Meaning, are they just going to show up and make sure the food is taken care of?  Or are they going to make sure that the layout is the way that you (the client) have envisioned?  And that the cake shows up?  Or that the rental company has delivered the chairs and linens you ordered?  Culinary Crafts will make sure all facets of the event are taken care of from layout to set up to execution.  Of course, a wedding planner would do this as well – so if you have hired one, Culinary Crafts will work closely with the planner to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.  One less thing to worry about on your wedding day!

5.  Ask other wedding vendors and past client about their experience with the caterer you are considering hiring.  No matter what the reputation is of the caterer, you should ask vendors and clients you know and trust about their experience with the caterer to find out if they would recommend them or had any problems with them.  It’s always important to know who you are doing business with.  It’ll make sure you are happy in the long run!

Happy planning everyone!

Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County catering at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer

As I’m sure ALL of you know, the internet is an amazing and viable source for many aspects of planning your wedding.  From hunting down your dream dress to selecting the best local caterer (we know one, if you are looking!), the internet has it all – and WAY more.  We at Culinary Crafts see first hand how easy it is for our brides to get overwhelmed with the downright massive amounts of information that are available to them and how it can make the process of planning that much harder.  Here are some tips we’ve come up with to help navigate the process!

1.  Pick a style/theme/color palette – and stick to it.  Now, I know that you’ll use the internet to look at many possibilities as to the colors you may want or the theme you are going for and there will be a whole list of options you’ll be narrowing down.  Once you and your honey hone in on the one you love (and keep going back to) stick with it.  It’s really easy, however, to be tempted to change your wedding’s direction over and over again.  Especially if you are visiting blogs that show the creme de le creme of any and all color palettes and styles!  But changing it again and again will only add stress and overwhelming options to you (and most of the time we see bride’s returning to that first color palette or theme they selected because they really did fall in love with it in the first place!)

2.  Identify what’s important.  Now that you are armed with the direction you are headed in, identify what’s important to you both as a couple for your wedding.  Have you always wanted a kick-butt DJ to rock the night away or and intimate dinner with delicious food pairings (definitely talk to us at Culinary Crafts for this one!), or is it all in the details?  Make a list of the ‘must haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’ (and even the ‘it would be cool, but I don’t have to have its’).  This is also a really good time to outline a budget and figure out what money you’d like to be spent on which things.  Starting with the must haves and working down your list will simplify and direct your searches so you aren’t wandering the internet becoming enthralled with the latest and greatest trends – although, its nice to visit that side every once in a while, you know, for ‘research’. 

3.Do your research!  It’s all to easy to be taken by the ‘best’ deal or a price that’s too good to be true – and since its on the internet, you are only seeing pictures and the company’s boast that they are THE best.  It’s time for research.  You want to make sure your monies go to a product that you will love and will be exactly what you are expecting (or more!).  So take the time to read the company’s return policies and satisfaction guarantee (if there is one).  Read the fine print that may or may not say ‘item pictured may or may not be exactly what you are sent’ and decide if that’s okay.  If you are needing to have it shipped, read the shipping times and cost and make sure it’ll get to you on time.  And most importantly (especially for vendors), read customer reviews!!!  Make sure that you don’t see a trend of unhappy clients who mention the same problem time and time again.  Make sure you do your homework and you’ll (hopefully) safe guard yourself.  (On a side note, Wedding Wire is a great resource to see local wedding vendors’s reviews and here is Culinary Crafts, if you are so inclined!)

4. Have fun!  Remember, planning your wedding should be fun.  You are embarking on a very special and wonderful event in life and your wedding day is the start of that time together.  It will go by so fast and so you should enjoy the planning and time you put into it beforehand had and then really relish the moments during the day of your wedding!  Also, having an awesome caterer, like Culinary Crafts, can help you select the best vendors and also help you coordinate your wedding details to help alleviate some stress, just sayin’!   Happy planning everyone!

Check out our NEW website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo credit: Forbes

Today I’d like to share one of our favorite (and brand new!) vendors with you!  Its none other than Distinctive Inscriptions Calligraphy!  The owner, Ashantai, is a master of his craft and we are so excited that he has added such panache to the Utah wedding market!  He has kindly shared some photos and a bio with us so check it out!

“Three years ago, a co-worker, upon noticing my handwriting in my laboratory notebook (I moonlight as a chemist) commented: ‘Did you write that? Wow, man, that’s pretty cool! You should do calligraphy. People do wedding invitations and envelopes using calligraphy.’  Initially, I thought little of this.  Then on a whim I bought a calligraphy pen: ‘Let’s see where this goes…’ I thought. I found I liked it. A lot. Like, a whooolllleeee lot!   When I recognized I was developing an enduring passion for calligraphy, I bought a book for instruction and contacted professional calligraphers for advice and help. One, Michele Papineau, responded in kind.  She has since become my mentor and a friend. My start to my calligraphy passion in a nutshell.

Since then my passion for calligraphy has literally flourished. I am thrilled to write names and quotes in exquisite lettering styles and fanciful flourishes. While it brings me great joy to me to hand letter in any manner, I am thrilled to do both place cards and envelopes. I believe the place card puts one’s name on the marquee. Lauren Brady of The Write Image stated, ‘Invitations tell a story — the moment the envelope is opened guests know what type of wedding they will be attending.’ I agree.  Since the invitation tells the story, calligraphy presents exquisite opening scenery, the prelude to an enchanting and intimate engagement. I believe my calligraphy provides that very scenery!

Fonts and flourishes, pens and ink, and styles and swirls enrapture me!  I have developed an exquisite love affair with my calligraphy pens, creating art in a variety of styles, from the whimsical to the formal to the fancy flourish. All of my lettering styles are done by hand with brass dip nibs and ink or water-based pigments such as gouache. I produce quality work and take pride in my keen sense of attention to detail, engaging my clients to encompass their vision.  It is pleasing to receive compliments on my work. Most rewarding, however, is to see the ebullience and scintillating effervescence on the faces of clients when they receive their completed works of art.  As one client stated to me: ‘My guests are saving their envelopes.  They are so beautiful!’  I responded in kind, ‘That’s exactly what I want.  Enthralling impressions, Enchanting memories.’
My desire is to create the same impression for you, enhancing your intimate engagement with works of art and enchanting your guests.  I would be thrilled to do so.

-Ashantai

Ever notice how ‘What the Hell?’ is always the right answer?’
-Marilyn Monroe“

Thank you so much Ashantai for sharing you talent, works, and a little bit about you with us!  Calligraphy is such a great detail to set your event apart and really elevate the look and feel of everything from the invitations to the place cards!  We hope this inspires you to check out Distinctive Inscriptions Calligraphy!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

We have some exciting news!  Culinary Crafts has had the distinct honor of being asked to be a contribute at Trend Summit for 2012 on September 25th!  Actually, we were overjoyed – three times over – because Kaleb Crafts, Ryan Crafts and Jacque Riehl are all presenting!  How awesome is that?!

The Utah Wedding Trend Summit will be held on September 25, 2011 and will be the wedding event of the year! Local speakers will introduce and present the hottest and most current trends in the wedding industry. The latest color palettes issued by the Pantone Institute for 2012 will be displayed and discussed within the framework of all things wedding—from bridal gowns to floral centerpieces, from dinnerware to the newest and coolest beverage concoctions and more. This will be the place for the who’s who of Utah wedding professionals!

The Utah Wedding Trend Summit will be held at Pierpont Place, 163 Pierpont Avenue, Salt Lake City, 84101. Pre-register by September 23^rd and the fee to attend is $50, if you register at the door, the fee is $75. Register at: www.myupfa.com

This event is sponsored by Utah Bride and Groom Magazine, The Utah Professional Florist Association, Pierpont Place and The Wedding Professionals of Utah.  Do not miss this one of a kind event, where you will be sure to learn the latest and best trends in the wedding world, which will set you and your business apart as the place to go for the best a wedding professional can offer!

Ryan and Kaleb Crafts will be presenting on catering trends and Jacque Riehl will be presenting on design and planning!  Not to mention all the other fantastic scheduled speakers!  Another enticing tidbit is that we at Culinary Crafts will be providing lunch (which is included in the cost of registration)!We are so thrilled to be a part of this event and hope to see many of our fellow vendors there!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Graphic and italicized text re-posted from Utah Bride Blog

So today (as promised) we’ll be returning to the Wednesday Wedding Spotlight of the one and only Mary Crafts and her equally amazing nuptial weekend.   Today, Jacque Riehl has kindly agreed to write another fantastic guest post highlighting some of the many FABULOUS vendors making Mary and Rick’s day so special.  Take it away Jacque!

“When it came to vendors for Mary’s wedding, she pretty much had the pick of the cream of the crop. Everyone wants to be involved in her three big days and Mary has been gracious enough to want everyone to have a part.  So today we are going to pay homage to the absolutely wonderful and incredibly talented companies and individuals that will be making Mary and Rick’s wedding a one of a kind event!

Firstly, some of the details -  Mary will be attired in her Augusta Jones designer gown from Alta Moda – hand-selected by the owner, Hilary Anderson.  The rest of the wedding party will be attired in custom designs by James Walker at The Emporium.  And the invitations will be done by Ann Elizabeth Custom Invitations, so you know they’ll be gorgeous and set the tone for an event to remember.  SO EXCITING!  Now, on to the breakdown of the three day event!

On the first day of Mary’s three day event, the rehearsal dinner (and rehearsal!) will take place at Mary’s home.  The vendors involved in this event will be putting on a beautiful English Garden poolside picnic for all of Mary’s guests.  The rentals will be provided by Bacchus Rentals, linens by Wildflower Linens, the design and florals will be done by Riehl Events, and, of course, our fabulous picnic/bbq will be provided by Culinary Crafts.  This evening, forty-eight people will be privy to an intimate event with lots of great picnic style activities and a plethora of great food!

Day two is the ceremony and luncheon at the gorgeous Red Cliff Ranch. We have an English Riding design (we are on a horse ranch after all!)  and the scene will be set with rentals from Diamond Rentals and Wildflower Linens. The design and florals will be done by Riehl Events (natch, of course) and the music will be provided by Michael Lucarelli for both ceremony and luncheon.  The sit-down luncheon will be family style and served by none other than Culinary Crafts.  Eighty lucky people will attend this event and walk away with something they will remember for a lifetime, both because of Mary and Rick’s love and also because of an unbelievable event.

Then we come to day three – the big event…. The reception!  Five hundred people will be attending this evening on the stunning Roney Estate in Springville, Utah.  Those arriving will pull up to valet parking and then be ushered off to a gorgeous event designed by SceneMakers and rentals provided by Diamond Rentals.  Bacchus Event Services will be providing delicious “mocktails” and they are sure to be “wow”-ed by Culinary Crafts‘s ring of fire, delectable delights, and culinary spectacles!  The highlight of the “mocktail” bars will be the ice sculptures from Chad at Swanovations and Carrie from Carrie’s Cakes has been given free reign to create a masterpiece reflective of Mary’s discriminating eye for detail. The guests will dance the night away to the sounds of the amazing Joe Muscolino Band. The evening is, simply put, going to be a marvelous night to all whom attend!

For all three days of events, Culinary Crafts will be providing the stellar food and drink and Riehl Events will be partnering to do all of the planning, production, and event management of the events.  Pepper Nix Photography, ZumaPhoto, and David Perry Films will be on hand each day to record all the memories on film and video for everyone to enjoy for many years to come!

And, in true classic style, for both the ceremony and the reception Something Vintage Something Blue will be carrying Mary and Rick away for their farewells.

I’d like to express again just how very excited we are to be a part of this AMAZING occasion and we know each vendor involved are equally as thrilled as we are!  It is quite a feather in our caps to be selected by the Grande Dame of Utah Weddings to create her special day and I think this is the finest team of wedding specialists ever assembled.  We all look forward to creating the perfect three days for Mary and Rick – and all of their guests!

Congrats to Mary and Rick.  And thank you to all of the vendors involved in making these three days full of memories to last a lifetime!”

Thank you so much Jacque!  And we at Culinary Crafts also want to thank all of these fantastic vendors for lending Mary and Rick your talent and creativity!  Check back for more updates soon!

Also, check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

I know every one who is planning an event or who has planned an event is always looking to make theirs a special, unique, and memorable time for all their guests.  Well, may I suggest adding Shutterbooth to your party?  What/who is that, you ask?  Well, Shutterbooth is THE BEST photobooth for rent in Utah!  Not only will your guests totally love being entertained by the photobooth itself, but they’ll also get their very own photo strip of their hijinks to keep forever.  You also can customize just about any part of the booth to make it totally unique to you and your event.  They can customize the actual booth itself, add a event logo to the photo strips, add props for your guests, and even provide memory books so your guests can write a message next to their photos for you to keep as well!  Seriously AWESOME!  Plus who doesn’t remember photobooths as being a blast?  I mean honestly?  (Okay, can you tell I love photobooths?)  Now, on to the pictures!

I love it!  Especially the memory book.  What a great keepsake to have and what fun pictures!  I hope this helps you think of some fun elements you can add to your event too!  Happy planning!

Check out more vendors we love on our website, www.culinarycrafts.com!

Remember the Peacock party I posted earlier this week?  I’ll refresh your memory here.  Today I’d like to spotlight the creator of those AMAZING invitations: Ann Elizabeth Custom Invitations.  Ann Elizabeth is a true design maven and makes the most extraordinary invitations for any event, as well as any other paper goods you would like.  And she does holiday cards to boot!  Here are some invitations for events we have personally been involved with.  I think you will agree she is a genius!

How cute is this?!  You can see this event here.  The invitations really set the tone for the party!

Such beautiful design!  Love it!

Check out more stellar vendors on our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Photo Credits: Top set and bottom set, Logan Walker of ZumaPhoto; middle set Ashlee Raubach of Ashlee Raubach Photography

We are truly blessed to be able to work with some of the most talented people in our industry.  One of the best and most fantastic of them all is Alta Moda!  They are a bridal couture mecca and bring over 10 of the most well known and spectacular designers to the Utah market.  Some of the designers you can check out at their boutique are Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Atelier Aimee, Melissa Sweet, Anne Barge, Jorge Manuel, ModelNovias, and Augusta Jones just to name a few!  And for all the brides out there looking for a more modest or temple ready option, their team of stellar seamstresses will expertly handle your needs.  Alta Moda’s staff really go above and beyond to meet and exceed all their clients’s wants and desires and have an unfailing eye for beauty and construction to boot!  Every year, they head to NYC to check out the new collections and luckily, they’ve posted some of the sneak peeks of their most recent trip.  And now, here are some of the gorgeous creations! Enjoy!

So much eye candy!  So many beautiful details…

Sorry for so many pictures, it was so hard to narrow it down!  Definitely check out Alta Moda for even more spectacular gowns!

Check out our website to see more fantastic vendors at www.culinarycrafts.com!

We here at Culinary Crafts are always looking for new and outstanding places to include on our venue list and today I’d like to showcase our newest addition:  Blue Sky Ranch!  Kaleb, Mary, Rachel, and Ryan took a trip up there and here’s what Rachel had to say:

“We had the opportunity to visit a brand new venue just recently.  Blue Sky Ranch features a hilltop yurt, a pond, horseback riding and hiking trails, a horse arena, and a cabin bar on top of a mountain!  Not only is it perfect for company retreats and team building exercises, the arena can seat up to 400 guests to accommodate a wedding or a holiday dinner.  Check out these photos from our visit.  We love Blue Sky and cannot wait to begin hosting events there…”

Here are some photos:

Ryan, Mary, Rachel, and Kaleb standing in front the rowing pond, just beyond the Yurt.  So picturesque!

Gorgeous scenery and the Yurt.  The Yurt can host up to 30 guests for a company meeting or intimate dinner.  How fun!

What a unique place!  This is the mountain top bar, all within this rustic cabin.

Aren’t the horses beautiful?  Horseback trail rides are available!

This is the view from the mountain top bar area.  I wouldn’t mind hanging out there all day!  Lucky Mary!

This is the horse arena…  Its still in it’s construction phase, but what a fantastic place for large events!  We can’t wait to start hosting events here…

Simply GORGEOUS!  What an amazing and incredible venue and we are so proud to partner with them!

For more stellar venues like this one, visit our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

As always, your team was amazing. Many people inquired directly with me about the catering – the reviews were, as always, fantastic! Thanks again for being there for me. I cannot wait to work with you again! -Corporate Client

How can I properly express my deep appreciation for the contribution you and your staff made to our event? The food was beyond delicious, the service impeccable, and the presentation magnificent! Never have I had a vegetarian meal at an event that could begin to match the eggplant you served. And the fish and beef (such mundane words for such great dishes) were reportedly just as great. It is a day I will remember always. Thank you so very much! -Family Reunion Client

Thank you for all of your help and hard work in making our event such a success. Everything went flawlessly and your team was fantastic! The client was thrilled and you really made my job easy. You were a pleasure to work with! Thank you again! -Event Planner