Bridal News

Michael Evans, owner of  Helga’s Caterers in McLean, is a regular contributor to the Bridal News Blog. I asked him to describe what a typical weekend during the Fall wedding season is like for him and his staff …

In addition to a weekend filled with weddings, Helga’s catered a cocktail reception for The Diplomatic Connection at the Austrian Embassy. Just a few folks - 475 guests - enjoyed smoked salmon mousse on Belgian endive, miniature red bliss potato baskets filled with sour cream and caviar, chicken Polynesian with chutney butter, and Italian marinated shrimp wrapped with snow peas. There was also a raw bar as well as a tenderloin station.

From diplomats to brides and grooms, the staff then moved on to their weekend events, which included weddings in Arlington at The Hendry House as well as Top of the Town, Sunset Crest in Chantilly, Old Town Hall in Fairfax, and Woodlawn Manor near Mount Vernon. These feasts included the “Big Fat Greek” wedding menu, featuring Spanakopita and chicken Souvlakia with a medley of roasted veggies and a Caribbean inspired presentation offering Jamaican rice & peas, grilled rosemary & garlic breast of chicken, and fresh melons and pineapple spears.

To top off all the international flavors, Helga’s also catered an Oktoberfest at a home in McLean with a chef grilling bratwurst and beef brisket. The buffet featured a roasted suckling pig, sauerkraut, and red cabbage salad with apples and onions. German potato salad, potato pancakes with apple sauce, apple strudel, and Black Forest cake completed the culinary celebration.

As an established catering company, Helga’s can provide a variety of culinary styles to meet your palate and budget. And their knowledge of such a diverse selection of venues means the staff understands the logistics of hosting special events. To learn more about Helga’s, call 703.556.0780 or email mevans@helgascatering.com.

It’s time for another “In the Kitchen” with Michael Evans, owner of  Helga’s Caterers in McLean. This time the topic is vendors …

When you’re planning a wedding, you simply can’t do it all yourself. You need partners. But partnering is more than just burden-sharing. A good partner can help you host a fantastically successful event - without breaking the bank. To enjoy maximum support from your partners, use the following tips:

Work closely with the experts: The more your caterer or venue manager understands your event, the more valuable they will be to you. Make sure you share your goals with this professional. Brief your reception vendor on who and how many will attend. Make sure your wedding partner understands your budget. In addition, take a few minutes to talk about what you’ve liked (or haven’t liked) at other weddings. Experts can use this information to make suggestions and create just the right event for you.

Keep everyone in the loop: Set up a website. This is particularly valuable so out of towners can see where you have booked a block of guest rooms. Use the website to give a schedule of events, RSVPs, directions to the ceremony and reception sites and other important details.

Consider “one stop” solutions: Weddings involve so many factors - location, food, flowers, entertainment, transportation … the more people involved, the greater the chance for important details to be overlooked and for problems to occur. Look for vendors who can help you handle more than one aspect of your event. A caterer can help you with rental items and decor, and give valuable recommendations for sites, florals, cakes and entertainment.

Your venue should reflect your event’s goals: Your site sets the tone for the entire experience. What is the feeling you would like to create for your wedding? Make sure your site fits the guest list - don’t try to squeeze too many people into the venue. And don’t pick a huge site that will make a small gathering feel uncomfortable. And remember, you’re not just choosing a site for an event - you’re also choosing a backdrop for your wedding photos.

To discuss your wedding vision and to learn more about Helga’s Caterers, call 703.556.0780 and visit  www.helgascatering.com.

I am pleased to announce a new writer for the Bridal News Blog - Michael Evans, owner of Helga’s Caterers in McLean.

Helga’s is a family-owned catering company that’s been voted one of Washington Top 5 Caterers by Channel 9. Through their 30 years of satisfying area brides, Michael and his staff have gained a wealth of experience in event planning, and he’s here to share his tips with you. Today’s post involves the overall planning process …

Take some time and visualize your event - close your eyes and walk through it in as much detail as you can, from start to finish. This exercise takes a little time, but you will find that it enhances the creativity while helping you anticipate and avoid problems. While you are walking through your event, rely on the following proven planning techniques:

Include everyone in the planning process:Think for a moment about all the “stakeholders” in your event. For a wedding reception, you want to delight relatives and friends. You don’t need to bring them all together in one room, but enlisting their help in thinking through each phase of the planning assures a much smoother and more rewarding event.

Be very clear about your reception’s purpose: This will help you create the right setting, mood and format for your event. For example, if you want your guests to mix and mingle, don’t choose a sit-down dinner. A buffet or stations create far better movement and interaction.

Define the “personality” of your event: If your rehearsal dinner, for example, is going to be the first time two large families meet, your goal is to put everyone at ease. Even the most elegant and expensive party will flop if the food, location or format makes your guests feel uncomfortable.

Create a master plan: Put everything on paper and in your trusty binder. Writing down each step helps you spot things that are missing before they cause a problem. Include week by week and day by day action steps, identifying who is responsible for what. Include all names and contact information for your wedding vendors in this plan.

Be prepared for emergencies: We don’t like to think about things going wrong. But by thinking about them ahead of time, we can keep little crises from becoming disasters. Have a list of taxicab services handy for those who have had too much to drink. A first aid kit is always a good thing to have, and find out if any of your guests know CPR. (For more info on plannig for the unexpected, check out the Bridal News Blog post “To the Rescue - Wedding Emergy Kit” by Stephanie Hughes of Diamond Events from 7/8/2010.)

We’ll have more advice from Michael in future posts to the blog. In the meantime, you can meet with him and discuss your wedding catering at two upcoming events: On Thursday, 10/14, Helga’s Caterers will be part of “The Wedding Party” at The Registry at Bloomingdale’s Tysons Corner from 6:30 to 8:30pm. And on Sunday, 10/17, Helga’s will be providing delicious samplings at the Continental Event Center Open House in Manassas from from 11am to 2pm.