Tips From the Team

TIPS FROM THE TEAM :
Remember that bridal magazines are a guideline for inquiring brides, not a sacred scripture. Many columns will give you tips on every loophole and corner to cut when trying to save a few extra pennies, but there are a few things they don't tell you that you would do well to consider.

RULE #253
LESS IS NOT ALWAYS MORE


CONSIDER THIS :: LESS IS NOT ALWAYS MORE : when trying to decide what kind of bar package to choose, overshooting is okay. No, not everyone will be drinking alcohol at your event but why worry about running out? Don't you have enough to fret over? There's no faster way to bring a raging party to a screeching halt than to run out of bar supplies, and no bride wants to hear "sorry we're all out, you only ordered drinks for half of your guests" at 9:00pm... So while trying to save a few bucks by low-balling the estimate of drinkers, consider your priorities. Perhaps you'd rather shoot low for your Hors D'eouvres considering that everyone will be mingling, bubbly, and waiting to congratulate you.

Salisbury House : Wedding Reception
May 19th, 2012

As previously mentioned in our last blog post, one of the most unique and highly esteemed venues in Des Moines (and arguably the state of Iowa) is the Salisbury House and Gardens located just south of Grand Ave. This regal estate stretches over a breathtaking terrace of cobblestone paths and looming brick archways lined with freshly primped shrubs and elegant gardens. Last Saturday we had the pleasure of catering a fabulous wedding reception at this priceless venue. Take a look at the video we've posted and see for yourself! This clip is a quick glance of the set up uniquely designed for this event. You'll get a sneak peek of the hors d'ouevres display as well as the bar set-up, the desert station, and guest seating arrangements.

What They Loved: something that can make or break the vibe or feel of your event but is often overlooked : THE FLOW : This event couldn't have run any smoother if we had greased the aisle with shea butter ourselves! The ceremony took place just a few yards away from the dance floor/patio in the extraordinary serene Salisbury Garden, so when it was over, the guests turned right around and walked up the cobblestone steps right into cocktail hour! There was no hustle and confusion between guests lining up to get directions and drive over to the reception hall because it was literally a bouquet-toss distance away. The guests were greeted with friendly smiles from our highly-trained staff at Christiani's as well as : HAND PASSED HORS D'EOUVRES : This new functional way of treating your friends and family to tasty appetizers and scrumptious sangria is a huge hit with this years brides. This Saturday's bride chose a mouth-watering trifecta of Tomato Basil Mozzarella Bruschetta; Mango, Chimmi-Churi, and Cocktail Shrimp Shooters; and Fruity Traditional Sangria to be hand passed to their guests as they entered the reception area. As seen in the video, they also opted for a Stuffed Mushroom Station on the patio to be served along with the hand-passed appetizers.  And to tempt their guests even further, just behind the bar wall you'll see the towering desert station that we've fittingly named
: THE TEMPTATION TOWER : This massive desert display was the talk of all the guests as it was gradually filled with one decadently sweet treat after the other. This bride ixnayed the traditional 2 tiered wedding cake and opted for a whopping 5 foot beautifully lit display of Heath Bar Cheesecakes, Chocolate Bacci Tortes, Peach Crostadas, and Lemon Blueberry Tarts. Needless to say, it more than won over her guests, and it's convenient location just inside the bar cove played well with the flow of the event.

Venue vs Caterer

May 23rd, 2012 : Venue VS Caterer
                                                                                                -NO LONGER A BATTLE

One of my favorite parts as a Event Designer is viewing and experiencing new Venues and taking the "vision" our brides create and tastefully fusing them with the natural beauty and unique qualities a venue has to offer. At the Salisbury House (for example), original beauty and traditional class are never in short supply. The highly esteemed layout offers a truly unique, yet extremely functional flow for your guests to enjoy while helping you celebrate your big day. This being said, the antique style mansion isn't exactly paved for just any bulky caterer and all the works that accompany such.

So, when it comes time to choose your venue, keep in mind that not all caterers will be able to accommodate such unique work spaces kink-free. When you fall in love with that perfect spot, do your homework! Take time to talk with the hall coordinator and ask them who's on their preferred caterers list. They'll be able to tell you which caterers they've had the best experiences with, and who this season's brides are raving about. Lucky for us, Christiani's Catering is on the preferred caterers list for over a dozen venues in the Greater Des Moines area, and the Exclusive Caterer at Jester Park Lodge in Granger.

So what does this mean for you as a bride? It means you can feel totally secure and confident knowing that your caterer has been around the aisle a few times, if you will. ESPECIALLY if you've made the smart choice to go with a full-service caterer like Christiani's Catering. Christiani's has been around long enough to know what works and what doesn't, without stifling or smothering your dream. We've been an independent family owned business in Des Moines for over 32 years with over 6,000 successfully catered events under our belt, and we're proud of it. We strive in every way imaginable to take you from overwhelmed frazzled bride, to super-confident wedding planner of the decade. We want to make you feel the way a bride should; large and in charge of the one day she's been dreaming about her whole life. We've spent the last quarter century planning your day to superb perfection, so what are you waiting for? Let's team up to make your shining vision a glowing memory.