ALL THINGS CATERING WITH EMILY REMPEL

If you’ve met me for longer than five seconds you know I have a DEEP love for Brancato’s. Of course one of the reasons is because of their stellar food, but they are my top choice for a wedding caterer because of their service. Catering can truly make or break a wedding day. You want a caterer who is going to bring extra flatware because they know some will get dropped. You want a caterer who will refresh a buffet before your guests even know anything was out! Most importantly, you want a caterer who will be transparent about pricing and flexible with building the menu you want.

Well, my friends, I have found the caterer for you.

Most questions I get at a tour actually revolve around catering! Catering can be a daunting task to complete when approaching the wedding planning process and there are a lot of faucets that go into what to look for and how the client experience will go. So rather than tell you what I think happens, I have brought in the ONE, the ONLY Miss EMILY REMPEL! Emily and I (Elizabeth) have worked together for years and she is the best of the best in the catering biz. She has broken down everything you need to know from tastings to final menus! You HAVE to get to the bottom to see the CUTEST appetizer idea.

Without further ado….

“Choosing your perfect caterer and planning your menu for your big day is one of the most exciting parts about wedding planning! Who doesn’t want to talk about and even taste the yummy food you will have on your wedding day, right?! Well I am here to help answer some of the most common questions about catering and when important decisions need to be made! So here you go…

How do you prepare for a tasting?

There are some steps that need to be made before scheduling a tasting with us! First, we will have an initial phone call or consultation to get an idea of what type of menu you are interested in as well as the type of service (buffet, plated dinner, stations, etc.). Since Brancato’s is Hawthorne House’s preferred in-house caterer, we have an inclusive menu packet with pricing that all Hawthorne House couples will receive upon booking the venue! This is helpful to see what your options are right off the bat! During the initial phone call/email/meeting, we really want to know what is important to you and your fiancé to make your special day PERFECT! Whether that be incorporating your favorite foods or adding that colored linen napkin to make your tables pop, it is all important! So, after we have that initial consultation, I will draft a proposal to get us started to include a starter menu and the type of plate-ware you would like (disposable vs. china). Then, it is easier to narrow down your items to try at the tasting to help finalize your menu! Other than that, just bring a hungry stomach to the tasting and you will be set (our Chef doesn’t mess around with small portions around here!) 😊

When does the final menu need to be finalized?

Our deadline for your final menu is 30 days out from your event. This gives us enough time to place our food orders and start the kitchen planning process. Most of the time, couples have decided on their menu well in advance to that 30 day out mark as we usually finalize menu items at the tasting! Another quick note: tastings can be done at any time during the planning process – from over a year out to 3 months before. Just whenever works best for the couple!

What do we do with dietary restrictions?

We are very accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions. If the menu you decide on does not allow for a substantial meal for a guest with a dietary restriction, we will prepare a specialty meal for them to be brought out as they go through the buffet line or served to their table for a plated meal. Another plus is that this meal will be no additional charge through Brancato’s! We want everyone to enjoy an amazing and filling meal, so we will work with the couple on requests that come in on their RSVP’s!

When are final guest counts due?

We ask that you have your final guest counts to us 7 days prior to the event date! This allows the couple to get all of their RSVP’s in and on our end, gives our scheduling manager and kitchen manager enough time to confirm their details and planning. Our clients really like this deadline as it gives them plenty of time to make sure their guest list is final!”

Appetizer Station

Mini Grilled Cheese + Tomato Bisque Shooters | Bacon Wrapped Dates | Mini Chorizo Tostadas | Brass Onion Dip with Crostini

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Boulevard Beer Cheese Fondue

and Soft Pretzel Bite Shooters

Plated Dinner

Filet of Beef | Wild Torn Mushrooms | Painted Vincotto Red Wine Reduction served with Smoked Gouda Farro + Grilled Broccolini

Mini Dessert Display

Assorted Dessert Shooters | Key Lime Tartlets | Raspberry Chocolate Cups

Antipasta Bar

Summer Bruschetta

on Edible Cumin-Lime Spoons

MAJOR thank you to Emily with Brancato’s for breaking down all there is to know about the wedding catering process! I don’t know about you, but I’m over here drooling over everything, but ESPECIALLY over those mega-adorable edible spoons.

Happy Planning from Hawthorne House!