August 16, 2018

Action Stations to Wow Your Wedding Guests

August 16, 2018

Action Stations to Wow Your Wedding Guests

Guests have a few basic expectations when attending a wedding. They expect a nice meal, a little booze, and dancing late into the night. What they probably don’t expect? Interactive stations where guests can see our chefs in action!

We recently sat down with Stacey Combrzynski, an Event Coordinator on our team, to discuss how action stations can captivate guests at a wedding (or any event!)

Why Would Someone Want to Use a Food Station at Their Wedding?

Food stations offer an element of interactivity that’s missing from many weddings. Normally at a wedding, you come in, sit down, and talk to the people at your table. We love action stations because they get people up and moving, adding a fun and social element to the experience. 

How are Catering by Michaels’ Action Stations Different Than A buffet?

The main difference is that we push the envelope when it comes to interactive stations and are willing to try new things that will be exciting for guests. A recent example is when we used tea siphons as a way to infuse wild mushrooms into broth at a ramen action station.

Interactive Ramen Station

Because of their dynamic nature, action stations can cater to the couple’s personalities more. We can also be more creative with action stations, so it really takes the guest experience to the next level.

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In the case of Chris and Daniella, it was their professional involvements that brought them together. After quitting her job at a rival company, Daniella became a client of Chris’, and a networking event turned into love at first sight. From there, they became coworkers, friends, and the rest is history. 

Since both Chris and Daniella have connections in the hospitality industry, they were extremely easy to work with, and had an intimate knowledge of the wedding planning process. This helped make the process so much more fun! We worked closely to find the perfect venue to fit the romantic, city vibe they were looking for, and eventually settled on Harold Washington Library.

To complement the urban feel of their wedding, they wanted to serve a menu that was delicious, fun, and a bit different than what guests might expect. Since the couple love Gene & Jude’s hotdogs, we brought them in for a surprise late night snack, which was a huge hit! And if one Chicago favorite wasn’t enough, Chris & Daniella followed the theme of their wedding through to the guest favors and included Garrett’s popcorn (yum!). Needless to say, the wedding was a Chicago foodie’s dream and we had a blast putting it all together!

Photographer Jill Tiongco matched the vibe of the wedding seamlessly and captured these magical images of the day:

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February 7, 2017

Top 10 Things to Know Before Your Wedding Tasting

February 7, 2017

Top 10 Things to Know Before Your Wedding Tasting

Food tastings are probably the most fun and delicious part of wedding planning. However, there’s more work involved than you may initially think. We want to make sure that you walk away from the wedding tasting not only full, but feeling confident and excited about your custom menu.

Here are the top 10 things to know before your wedding tasting.

Be open-minded.

Be willing to think outside the box. There’s a good chance that almost everyone has had a Caesar salad at a wedding before, so guests will be more excited by something unexpected. Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you like what you taste, then it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser on your big day.

Consider the timeline.

Though your designer will guide you with timeline items, it’s helpful to have a general idea of flow during your big day. For example, consider where you will be during cocktail hour. If you’re not there, be sure to have some hors d’oeuvres set aside so you don’t get hungry.

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It’s hard to think of something we love more than wedding season.

While Gina + Quentin’s wedding didn’t have any specific theme per say, the event was elegant and romantic. The beautiful and non-traditional location is really what set this wedding apart.

The North Bay Pavilion at Independence Grove is a rustic outdoor event space situated on the scenic North Bay. The striking covered cedar pavilion features high ceilings, black iron, and cedar timbers that add to the natural ambiance. A large white tent expanded the waterfront space with beautiful white floral arrangements and plenty of candlelight to set the mood.

Photography: Evan Perigo Photography

View of North Bay at Independence Grove
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