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Tips for Planning a Wedding Without a Seated Dinner

When looking for Dallas wedding catering have you ever wanted to try something different from the typical seated dinner? A wedding without a seated dinner, however, is not necessarily a wedding without food—but removing a traditional, seated dinner leaves you with endless possibilities.

Dessert Reception

If you and your fiancé have a sweet tooth consider a dessert reception. We have a lot of stunning dessert presentations from shortcake buffets to cheesecake martini bars. If somethings not on our menu, just ask and we will be happy to create your own custom dessert bar.  Side note, if you do opt for a dessert only reception just make sure to let everyone know beforehand and give your guests time to eat before heading to the wedding.

Brunch

Want to still serve a meal but not dinner? Try a brunch reception. We’ve written several other posts on ideas on what serve at brunch, check them out here.

Buffet

If you’d still like to serve dinner then a buffet may be the best option. These self serve stations allow guests to pick and choose what they want as well as mingle with other guests not just at one table. Just make sure to have some seating and cocktail tables for people who want to sit or put their food and drinks down.

Elevate Your Wedding Bar Without Breaking the Bank

There’s a reason we are known as the best Dallas wedding caterer. It’s because we know all the tips and tricks to elevate your wedding day bar without spending a fortune and still create some pretty tasty beverages along the way.

Personalize It

A full bar can be costly, but a great way to cut costs are to create signature cocktails. Guests will love sipping on a “Bloody Marry Me” or a “Something Blue”.

Go Local

Choosing local is a great budget friendly option and also makes for a unique drinking experience. With so many local breweries and wineries in the area your guests will be able to take a trip through DFW with their taste buds.

Spice it Up

Similarly consider what products are in season and can be utilized in your cocktails. Fresh herbs can add a bright twist to most drinks. Rosemary is great for the summer and Mint in the winter.

Floats

Cocktails have become a work of art, from layered drinks to intricate designs dropped into egg white foam. These can be difficult and expensive to replicate in bulk and still get a drink in everyone’s hand quickly. However including simple garnishes and liquid floats can still add that wow factor at a fraction of the cost.

Spice it Up

Similarly consider what products are in season and can be utilized in your cocktails. Fresh herbs can add a bright twist to most drinks. Rosemary is great for the summer and Mint in the winter.

3 Things You Should Know When Customizing Your Menu

Whether you’re planning a wedding or looking for corporate catering in Dallas there are three things you should know when creating a custom menu for your event.

Your Style

It may seem obvious but the first step in customizing your menu is to determine the type of food that matches your vision. Then based on what type of food you choose consider what service style works best for serving it to your guest: passed hors d’oeuvres and buffet service to food stations, plated meals, or family style are some options.

Your Guests

For couples, while it is your wedding and you should be able to choose things you like it’s also important to consider your guests. If you or your fiancé has unique taste by all means incorporate a unique dish but also provide more standard and universally liked dishes to compliment it.

Another important tip is to ask your guests before hand about major dietary restrictions such as allergies, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free. Also if kids will be included, having kid-friendly options doesn’t hurt even in limited quantities.

All of these things insure that your guests don’t go home hungry.

Your Budget

Customizing your menu can be done within your budget. The best way to do this is to determine your must-haves. The second thing to consider from there is what alternatives you can do to cut costs such as buffet vs family-style.

If you have further questions about customizing your menu we always love to chat, just send us your questions.

Corporate Catering for Your Office Meeting over Lunch in Dallas

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The next time you call a conference call or office meeting over lunch and need corporate catering give us a call. There’s nothing quite like a fresh, delicious homemade lunch to energize your group and maximize productivity. Here are some protips for a productive luncheon.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Coffee

Not all businesses work 9-5 anymore. Sometimes a brunch with a coffee bar is more appropriate or a dinner to talk business. Regardless of the time of your meeting, we can make sure the food is delicious and delivered on time so all you have to do is focus on your agenda.

Order food that’s easy to eat

Don’t order food that might make you look awkward while you eat it or cause a mess. As experienced Dallas caterers we can help guide you in choosing an appropriate meal that will be both appetizing and make for a seamless business meeting. We are also experienced in meeting the needs of any employees who have dietary restrictions or allergies.

Segue into business at the right time

While business lunches are a casual way to conduct business, but don’t let the informality distract from your goals. Politely keeping the conversation on-topic throughout the meal. However, don’t launch into your agenda as soon as you sit down. Enjoy a little casual conversation first.

How to Have a Successful Company BBQ

As a Dallas caterer we love everything about summer, especially the food. Having a company BBQ in summer is great for boosting employee morale and showing appreciation for a job well done. Here are some tips on how to have a successful company BBQ.

Figuring out a headcount

After you’ve chosen a date, send out invitations at least 30 days in advance as summer calendars fill up quickly. If not everyone RSVPs anticipate that about 80% of those you invite will be able to make it.

Planning the menu

While it may seem obvious what to serve at a BBQ, a success cookout is all about presentation (and dessert). We highly recommend looking at our menus for inspiration. There’s action stations, family style, buffet, or you can get in touch with us about creating something unique for your event.

Drinks

A lot of this depends on company policy as to whether you provide alcohol. However if you do provide alcohol make sure to have a mix of alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages especially if employees are going to bring their families.

Entertainment

Have some ice breakers and team building games and play good music to create an enjoyable environment. Also if your employees bring their families it would be good to have some children’s activities as well to keep them preoccupied.

6 Edible Wedding Favors To Give Your Guests

Top Dallas Caterer | Bridesmaid Brunch Editorial Feature
Catering Company Dallas

Couples are moving away from monogrammed trinkets and instead choosing edible wedding favors in Dallas. We have put together a list of 6 delectable treats that your guests are sure to love.

Donut Favor Boxes

You know what rarely ever has leftovers? When someone brings donuts. Create an instant party favor by putting them in a cute box with a punny note on top along the lines of “Thanks for coming. I donut know what I’d do without you.”

Cherished Family Recipe

Does your grandmother or aunt make a special jam that you could ask her to make a batch of? Spread the love by sharing your families homemade recipe with your guests.

Favorite Snack Food

Showcase your love of snacks with a his and her favorite snack bags. Sometimes the simplest foods are the best. Send your guests home with something to snack on in the car on their way home.

Tea Time

Here’s a tea-rific idea. Give your guest mini-tins of your favorite brew for them to use at home the morning after. This also works for your favorite brew of coffee and is a heart-warming take-home favor.

Sugary Sweet

Sugar cookies are a great take away treat and you can easily have your caterer add your names or initials to the cookies or maybe a sweet phrase.

Candy Bar

Create a candy bar where guests can make a goodie bag of their favorite candies to take home with them. Choose you and your fiancé favorites and label his and hers so guests can get to know you both better.

Tips for Having a Morning Wedding With a Doughnut Brunch

Dallas Caterer

If you’ve been thinking about having a brunch reception in Dallas then you’re not alone. During the summer months, many couples opt to have their ceremony and reception earlier in the day to escape the heat. We have put together some tips and tricks for a successful morning reception brunch complete with donuts and mimosas.

Bring on the Donuts

Donuts are a great conversation starter at your reception. If you have lots of different flavors to choose from, everyone will love talking about the doughnuts and deciding which one they are going to pick. Pro tip, before the reception have your caterer set aside you and your fiancé’s favorite donuts with some mimosas so that you favorites donuts don’t disappear before you can try them.

Brunch Menu

You want something savory to go with your sweet dessert. In addition to donuts, include other great brunch foods like omelets, croissants, maple bacon or chicken and waffles.

Mimosas or Milkshakes

Set up a mimosa bar with different flavors of drinks such as strawberry-kiwi, mango-peach, orange, pineapple and grapefruit. Add fruit to skewer with your customized stirrer or simply add it to the rim. If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic milkshakes are a great alternative.

Inspiration for Your Company Party

Corporate Event Caterer

As a corporate event caterer, Gil’s Elegant Catering has catered some amazing company parties in the past. We’ve put together some inspiration for your company’s next party to help elevate your next event.

Classy Contrast

Contrast can be key in pulling together a seamless look. This can be done through color, texture or pattern. Easily incorporate a pop color with a dark color such as black and you’ll have a classic, stylish party that will appeal to all your coworkers.

Rustic Elegance

For a laid-back yet elegant affair consider some rustic charm. This can be brought in through natural elements against white. Think wood, burlap, twine and greenery set against white linens and florals. It’s just what your guests need to feel welcome and destress from work.

Fun Food Tables

Our personal favorite is to have a fun food display. There’s many ways you can incorporate this theme. You can simply be inspired by the color of foods or have them as part of your displays. A buffet could even be the center of the event after all who doesn’t like an after work party with food as the main affair.

Formal Fun

For a more formal affair use neutral linens and table décor. But to make it fun have everyone dress up in black tie and have lots of clear elements made from glass or lucite to make the night shine. You could even consider adding a statement pattern throughout the event – use it as a backdrop for a photobooth or the stage and incorporate it in to the runners on the tables.

5 Cocktail Hour Dos and Don’ts

Dallas Caterer

As a Dallas caterer, we’ve seen quite a few cocktail hours. With that experience in mind, we’d like to give you these 5 dos and don’ts for a successful cocktail hour that will set the tone for the rest of your event.

Do Have Comfortable Seating

People will want room to mingle easily, so don’t crowd the room with furniture. However, you will want some comfortable seating for older guests and somewhere for people with heels to take a break. Consider having a lounge area and some high tables and chairs for people to gravitate towards.

Don’t Have Loud Music

Typically during cocktail hour, guests are not looking for entertainment but rather socializing. Keep the music low so people can hear each other and the vibe mellow. Guests will have plenty of time to party later once the bride and groom arrive and they’ve had dinner.

Do Have Scrumptious Bites

When serving alcohol its important to have something bite-sized for guests to snack on as they mingle – this also tides people over until the meal. The best appetizers are the ones that you can pop in your mouth.

Don’t Forget the Signature Cocktails

Let your personality shine with a signature cocktail or two. Have fun and give them creative names that reflect who you are or as a couple. You can even name ones after your bridal party or in honor of your parents.

Do Have Non-alcoholic Options

Not everyone will want to drink, but they will still want to celebrate with you. Make sure not to leave them out by offering other options such as water, soda, sparkling water, or even a virgin cocktail.

Showcase Your Love of Snacks on Your Wedding Day

Have you always been someone who loves snacks – if so then these wedding reception snack ideas are the perfect idea to incorporate in to your big day. No matter whether your event is an upscale or a laid-back affair, snacks can be incorporated in to any wedding day. Check out our ideas below.

A Midnight Snack

If you’re a late night snacker you can showcase your love of an after hours bite by bringing out your favorite snack after dinner. Your guests will welcome the extra treat as they probably worked up an appetite on the dance floor.

Snack Bar

Have to many favorite snacks and can’t choose which one to serve? Then create a snack bar of you and your fiancé favorite treats. You can even label which ones are the groom’s favorites and which ones are the bride’s favorites. This also allows guests to choose rather than hoping everyone loves your favorite snack.

Build Your Own Trail Mix

Almost everyone loves trail mix, but always a little differently. Setting up a station for guests to mix their own is a great way to incorporate a snack in to your reception. This sort of set up is perfect for a laid back gathering.