Bridal News

Sue Moss & son Shawn cutting the ribbon.

If you’ve ever been to the Washington Bridal Showcase at the George Mason Patriot Center, the odds are good that you’ve had Kitchen Gourmet’s famous pasta. For over 30 years, Owner Sue Moss and her culinary staff have been fulfilling wedding reception dreams for countless brides. Now to make things easier for their clients, Kitchen Gourmet has a terrific new showroom at Harbour View in Woodbridge.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, members of the Prince William business community were invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening. The showroom featured a variety of tablescapes by Capital Party Rentals and offers plenty of room for consultations and tastings.

Taking advantage of Harbour View’s spacious accommodations, Kitchen Gourmet set up a bar in the foyer of the upstairs venue and featured a signature cocktail called the Pink Kiss - think pink White Russian. Also in the foyer, a beautiful display of cheeses, crackers, spreads and veggies was presented. Inside the main ballroom, guests had their choice of an Oriental stir fry station, a risotto station, a Madi Gras themed buffet and, of course, a delicious dessert table.

In addition to all of these great choices, Shawn’s Smokehouse BBQ, a division of Kitchen Gourmet, was on hand in Harbour View’s new conference room, serving up mouth watering pork, beef and side dishes. This bar-b-que is perfect for a casual rehearsal dinner.

Kitchen Gourmet offers a great value for your wedding dollar, with package prices starting at $24.95 per person for light finger food to a gala seated meal for $49.95 per person. And although Harbour View is now their second home (and one of the venue’s top preferred caterers), Kitchen Gourmet is available for your event at any location.

To learn more about Kitchen Gourmet and to schedule your consultation, call 703.490.1730/703.690.6550 and visit www.kitchengourmetcaterers.com.

Two events are coming you way this weekend (May 14 & 15) to help you with your wedding plans.

Are you an “encore” bride? Then you’ll want to check out the Remarriage Showcase at River Creek Country Club in Leesburg on Saturday, May 14, from 10am to 2pm. Those making that second trip down the aisle often have to blend family, finances and households, so this event focuses not only on wedding vendors, like wedding consultants from A Splash of Elegance, but those issues as well. To learn more about Remarriage Showcase and to register for this event, visit www.remarriageshowcase.com.

And on Sunday, May 15, Georgetown Caterers will host their annual Spring Bridal Open House at Rockledge Mansion in Occoquan from 1pm to 3pm. Tour a lovely historic property, sample goodies from Georgetown Caterers and meet with local wedding pros. Admission to this open house is FREE if you RSVP by Friday, May 13 (otherwise it’s $5 at the door). To register on line, visit www.georgetowncaterers.com or call 703.615.8565 for more info.

Spring is just around the corner, and to kick off the season, A La Carte Catering & Event Design’s Dinner Club will present “The Best of I-66 West” on Saturday, March 26, at The Farm at Broad Run.

This culinary journey consists of a four-course meal created by A La Carte’s award-winning chef Bill Erlenbach and selections from three of Virginia’s top winemakers - Philip Carter, Pearmund Cellars and Paradise Springs Winery. Dinner & dancing music will be provided by Dan Lamaestra. Enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres, a “chef surprise” amuse bouche, three delicious courses featuring salmon, rabbit and lamb, and complete the meal with a sinful trio of chocolate desserts.

Dinner and dancing will take place in pavilion at The Farm at Broad Run, a beautiful garden center located on Route 55 just west of Route 15. And if the weather takes a nasty turn, no worries. The A La Carte staff will create their magic in one of the greenhouses. Either way, this venue offers something different for your dining experience.

Cost for this wine dinner is $125 per person and there’s a 20% discount for parties of five or more. This evening will make a great date night, bachelorette party outing and a wonderful opportunity to sample delicious food from a greal local caterer and see a different venue for your wedding or rehearsal dinner.

To buy your ticket, use the following link: http://alacartedinnerclubmarch2011.eventbrite.com/. Be sure to purchase your tickets by Friday, March 25th.

By attending this Sunday’s (2/20) bridal open house at Continental Event Center, you just might! “Modern Romance” is the theme for this wedding showcase, featuring fine food from Helga’s Caterers and tastings from Cakes by Happy Eatery. Mix and mingle with local wedding professionals like The Dandelion Patch, enter to win some fabulous door prizes and see a fashion presentation by LaBella Bridal Boutique.

Continental Event Center is located at 9705 Liberia Avenue in Manassas. The open house is from 11am to 2pm. Admission is complimentary, but space is limited. To RSVP for this event and to learn more about the FREE wedding by Continental, call 571.208.1208.

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.

Weddings involve so many great gatherings of family and friends - rehearsal dinners, receptions, post-festivity guest brunches and of course, bridesmaids luncheons and bridal showers.

If you are looking for a charming place to take “the girls”, consider the Pink Bicycle Tea Room in historic Occoquan. With its lovely, intimate rooms, Pink Bicycle can accommodate up to 25 guests and offers a variety of tea time delicacies.

Looking to host a luncheon or shower in your (or someone else’s) home and need light fare? Pink Bicycle also offers off premise catering.

The tea room is open Wed.-Sat. from 11am to 4pm and noon to 3pm on Sunday (which does require an RSVP). To learn more about the Pink Bicycle Tea Room and to schedule your event, contact owner Lisa Johnson at 703.491.5216.

Cindie

April plays host to a full slate of bridal fairs and open houses, with three events happening this coming weekend.

On Saturday, Apr.10, Battlefield High School in Haymarket will host a wedding fair, featuring local vendors and musical performances by the Battlefield Orchestra. These talented young musicians are available for weddings, so they’re worth a listen. Admission and parking are complimentary and there will be lots of door prizes. For more details, visit www.haymarketbridalshow.com.

On Sunday, Apr. 11, Georgetown Caterers will host their annual Spring Bridal Showcase at Rockledge Mansion in Occoquan. Sample tasty treats, visit with local wedding pros and tour this delightful historic mansion. Admission is $7 at the door, $5 in advance and you can RSVP at www.georgetowncaterers.com.

If you’re up for a drive to the country, check out the Boutique Bridal Show at Charlestown Races & Slots, hosted by Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase on Sunday, Apr. 11. Get married at the track and have a racehorse named after you! Admission is $5 per person. To get all the details, visit www.blueridgebridalshowcase.com.

There will be miles of aisles of wedding professionals and a great fashion show by LeReve Bridal House at the April 18th Washington Bridal Showcase, held at George Mason Patriot Center. LeReve will also be hosting an on-site sample blow out sale, so bring your checkbook and get a great deal on a beautiful wedding gown. To get your 2 for 1 admission coupon to the largest bridal show of the Spring, go to the show listing on the Quick Clicks page of www.bridesandweddings.com.

And to round out the month, check out the Boutique Bridal Show hosted by Blue Ridge Bridal Showcase at LaGrange Winery on Sunday, Apr. 25th and receive a free wine tasting. For more details see www.blueridgebridalshowcase.com.

To learn more about these events, and other items of interest on the Northern VA wedding scene, visit the Quick Clicks page of www.bridesandweddings.com.

Cindie

Here’s an opportunity to combine a fine dining experience with a rehearsal dinner site visit. Enjoy an evening of exceptional food and award-winning wines Wednesday, March 31st, At Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Fairfax (4100 Monument Corner Drive).

For $65 per person, you’ll will sample hor’s d’oeuvres and a three-course meal, all perfectly paired with just the right wine. This beautiful restaurant can accommodate private parties of up to 70 and in the near future will offer off-premise catering for your event.

Seating is limited, so call 703.266.1004 to reserve.

Cindie

Spring is coming and the folks at Grandale Farm, located just west of Leesburg on Harpers Ferry Road, are getting ready to put in their crops. Meanwhile some great events are popping up in March. Check out their roster:

Grandale Farm Restaurant

Get out of the house and hear some live music! Marty Fair will appear Mar. 4; Andy Hawk is set to play Mar. 11; The Acoustic Burgoo will appear Mar. 18; Steve DeVries will return for a Mar. 19 engagement, and Jake and the Burtones round out the musical calendar on Mar. 25.

On the first and third Friday of every month, Grandale Farm Restaurant offers a 4-course meal with wine pairing for only $45. And on April 4th Grandale will host an Easter outing for $35 per person. What a great way to check out the place and food for a possible rehearsal dinner!

In addition to the restaurant, Grandale has an assembly hall for smaller receptions and grounds for tented events. They also provide off-premise catering. To schedule an appointment with Executive Chef Author Clark, call 540.668.6000.

Cindie