Gil's Elegant Catering

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Unique Menu Signs for Your Wedding – DFW Caterer

dfw caterer

DFW Caterer

We can all agree that food is important at any event, but especially at weddings! Whether you are having a full menu, a buffet, or hors d’oeuvres style, you should have some type of menu to show guests what their options are. There are so many unique choices for this now, and we wanted to highlight a few of them for you.

If you are using large greenery pieces, like elephant ears, consider having a calligrapher paint your menu onto a couple and have them near the buffet or scattered around the tables.

If you wedding is on the more rustic side, look into getting a large pallet and painting the menu onto this. The breaks in the wood will make it incredibly readable, and it will be large enough to see further back into the buffet line.

You can also go for a chic choice of a mirror menu. For this, you can either choose a large mirror or multiple small, vintage vanity mirrors. The extra fun part about this choice is that you can wipe off the menu afterwards and use the mirror in your home!

For a more simplistic approach, you can use a scroll or banner for your menu. Have a calligrapher write the menu out, and hang it up on the nearest wall to the food.

If you like the look of wood, but don’t want something as rustic as a wooden sign or pallet, you can always go for a cutting board or cheese board. Using a plate stand to stand it up will make it an easy piece to add to any table.

Whatever menu you choose, we would love to be your DFW caterer and have our food featured on your menu. Don’t hesitate to contact us about any wedding catering needs that you might have.

What Can I Rent for My Wedding?

 

best dallas caterer

Best Dallas Caterer

Do you want the most beautiful, grand, and unique wedding? Is your vision huge, but you just don’t have the budget to create such an affair? Luckily, renting for your wedding is becoming a bigger trend to save some money with. We all know to rent tables and chairs, the dance floor, and the tux, but what else can be rented?

  1. Be sure to rent dinnerware, flatware, and linens to serve your food with. Luckily, if you do catering through the best Dallas caterer, Gil’s Elegant Catering, you can rent dinner and flatware through us. Make sure to rent linens to cover all of your tables, too! It will keep your space looking clean and chic.
  2. As crazy as it sounds, you can even rent your wedding dress now! If you are not the sentimental type and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a dress you’ll never wear again, you can rent your dress! You could have your dream dress for a fraction of the price.
  3. Another crazy sounding thing to rent is the cake. There are companies that now create real looking cakes from the outside with fondant and gum paste, but that are fake on the inside. It gives the look of a beautiful cake, but then there are sheet cakes to serve to the guests. Cakes can be so expensive and this is a great way to cut down on that cost.
  4. You can also rent your bouquet through companies who use silk, and very realistic looking flowers to make this possible. Looking through pictures of rentable bouquets, you would not even guess that they are not real flowers.
  5. One thing to rent that you may not have thought of is if you have an outdoor or barn venue. You might have to rent electricity for these venues if it is not already provided. This would not be a fun thing to forget, as you would have to cut off any celebrating the moment that it gets dark!

What Vendors Do I Need to Hire for My Wedding?

best caterer dallas

Best Caterer Dallas

Wedding vendors provide services for your wedding, and there are a few different types of vendors that we think are incredibly important for your big day.

  1. Whether you would rather go with a DJ or a live band, you cannot forget music! You’ll need music to walk down your aisle to, as well as, to dance to once the party starts. Be sure to book your DJ or band decently far out from your date to ensure you can get who you want!
  2. The venue is such an important vendor for you to choose nearly as far out from your date as possible so that you get where you want. Be sure to shop around and ask lots of questions at each venue.
  3. You want to always remember your big day, so make sure to hire your photographer and videographer. Be sure to not only hire them for your wedding day, but for your engagement and bridal pictures, as well. In 20 years, you will love to be able to reminisce on your beautiful day through pictures and videos.
  4. You will want to find your baker, too! Whether you are going with a traditional or non-traditional cake, cupcakes, a macaron cake, or anything else, you’ll want to start researching and going to bakeries. Popular bakeries fill up on orders pretty quickly, so that is something to keep in mind with your timeline. This vendor is extra fun because you get to try cake and dessert samples while you’re wedding planning!
  5. Last but not least, you’ll need a caterer, and we would love to be that caterer for you! As the best caterer Dallas has to offer, we have so many different options to make your food stand out at your wedding. If you would like more information about our catering, please contact us!

Venue Spotlight – The Empire Room

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Exclusive Caterer

This is a fantastic venue that Gil’s is the exclusive caterer for. When you book a wedding, or any other event here expect the ultimate Dallas experience. Not only will you get our catered food, but you will get incredible views of Dallas at this downtown venue. Have all of your guests step out onto our string-light patio for a beautiful view that will only add to your wedding. 

Our space was recently updated, and is a versatile blank canvas that can be transformed into what you want it to be. The space can be used as is to make a modern minimalist vibe or can be turned into the lavish wedding of your dreams. Be ready to perfectly customize our space to exactly how you have always pictured your wedding. There is even indoor vehicle access for photo booths or wine trucks. When we say that it is a versatile canvas, we fully mean it.

Another great thing about The Empire Room is that the space can be used for all sorts of events. It is the perfect space for fundraising events, corporate parties, and of course, weddings. The Empire Room also offers a beautiful, modern bridal suite and lounge so that the bride will feel as special as she is on her wedding day. This suite offers luxury furniture and mirrors to get ready in.

This venue will make your wedding talked about for weeks to come by all of your guests. Not only for the beauty of the skyline and how much you customize the space, but the location is amazing for out of town guests, as well! The venue is in the heart of the Design District. 

If you are interested in The Empire Room on Riverfront Boulevard, feel free to contact them, they love hosting beautiful events and weddings. 

Brunch Wedding Tips – Dallas Wedding Caterer

dallas wedding caterer

Dallas Wedding Caterer

There are always new trends coming about in the wedding world, and the newest trend is one that we on board for —brunch weddings! We all love brunch, and it would be even more enjoyed with everyone you love surrounding you on such a happy day. Let us help you couple your big day with everyone’s favorite past time here in North Texas. Are you looking to ramp up the uniqueness of your wedding with brunch foods? As your favorite Dallas wedding caterer, we can help with that.

Think of all the brunch trends that we see in the Dallas area and know that they could easily be a part of your special day. Brunch weddings bring a whole new category of food which means a more unique menu for you to choose from.

  • For finger foods and hors d’oeuvres, pastries become an option, like croissants, muffins, and gourmet cinnamon rolls. You can couple the pastries with full breakfast items that may include breakfast tacos, waffles, and we can even do chef prepared individual omelettes for each guest to make the experience even more unique!
  • On top of the unique food options, alcohol and bar options are differing, too. If you like bloody mary bars, mimosas, tequila sunrises, and mint juleps, then a brunch wedding might be the type of wedding for you! 

If you have always pictured your wedding as a more intimate or cozy affair, a brunch wedding might be for you. It will feel like you are having a beautiful brunch with all of the people that you love. We at Gil’s Elegant Catering would be more than happy to help you out on your wedding day to create the perfect menu for your brunch wedding. It will be a wedding meal that no one will forget. Contact us for our brunch catering!

Wedding Event Caterer Dallas – Gils Elegant Catering


Wedding Event Caterer Dallas – Gils Elegant Catering

Food and Beverage Trends 2019

This year, we have so many fun wedding trends for food and beverages at your wedding. With the Wedding Event Caterer Dallas you can rest assured you will find classic and trendy food options on our menu.

 

Cocktail Hour Hors d’oeuvres

Serving small bite-size versions of favorite foods of the couple is a great way to personalize a wedding. Foods such as flat breads, fruits or meats on a skewer, stuffed mushrooms, marinated shrimp and many more are sure to make a splash.

 

Cultural Dishes

Honoring your culture with various foods is a great way to personalize your wedding. If you have Chinese heritage, then you could put custom messages in fortune cookies for your guests. Even if you and your partner favor a certain culture, you could adopt their foods on your menu. An Italian menu consisting of gourmet pizzas and pasta would be an exciting surprise for your guests.

 

Brunch Foods

Serving brunch items is getting very trendy among millennial couples. Waffles, pancakes and muffins served gourmet style would be great for brunch themed weddings. For drinks, you could have mimosas, bloody marys and mint juleps. There could even be an omelette station where a chef prepares individual omelets to your guest’s liking.

 

Cocktail Bar

Who doesn’t love a great cocktail bar? It’s long been a hit to serve your favorite cocktails to guests on demand at the wedding. If there is an open bar, then every guest to get their favorite drinks prepared as their request as well.

Whatever trend you choose on your menu, we are experienced Wedding and Event Caterers in Dallas who can help you with your wedding catering needs. Our service is top notch and our food is prepared with the freshest ingredients imaginable. Your wedding is special so you deserve the best!

What to look for in a Dallas Caterer?

Whether a catered lunch for a business meeting or a full-service wedding reception, there are a few qualities you should look for in a catering service to ensure they have the ability to cultivate your vision and execute an event that exceeds your expectations.

Experience

The greater the importance of your event, the more important it is to seek professionals with a proven track record of success. The best way to research any service provider is to seek out people who have used them in the past, whether a friend or an online review. Catering is no different. The longer a caterer has been in business in your area, the easier it is to find a wide range of quality feedback.

Accessibility

Never underestimate the value of returned calls. Hiring a catering service is just the first step of a long, and hopefully collaborative relationship. You want to find a service provider who will be available at your convenience. If you have an idea or a change of heart about any element of your event throughout the planning process, you want a catering service that will readily accept and apply your feedback.

Full Service Capabilities

It goes without saying that you expect great food from your catering service, but it is important to have equally high standards for the “service” element. Regardless of how thorough the plan, the day of your event will undoubtedly present stress. It’s important to find a professional caterer with full-service capabilities to absorb any stressors so you and your guests can focus on enjoying the day.

Flexibility

You do not want to settle on a catering service that will attempt to shape your event based on their strength, you want a catering service whose strength is the ability to shape an event around your desires.

Don’t settle on a cookie-cutter option. Use these criteria to find a partner to collaborate with you to deliver the event you have always envisioned. The key to finding the right caterer for you is finding the caterer that places the greatest value on YOU!

Interested in scheduling a tasting? Contact us today!

 

Pre-Ceremony Drink and Snack Ideas

When it comes to DFW wedding catering, one can never be to prepared. If you’re guests have traveled a long way, chances are they will be thirsty and a little hungry. A thoughtful gesture is to serve a cold drink and a snack to guests once they arrive at the ceremony. Check out these snacks and drinks and see if you would incorporate any of them in to ceremony.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a universal treat and perfect for snacking on during the ceremony. Consider branding your popcorn bags by stamping them with your logo or ceremony program. You can easily sub out popcorn for other popular on the go snacks such as trail mix.

Welcome Beverage Bar

A welcome beverage bar where guests can choose their drink of choice before finding their seats is the perfect way to welcome guests to your wedding. A cold beverage such as beer, rosé, rosemary lemonade, and water is especially welcome during the warmer months. For cooler seasons a coffee, tea, cocoa or cider bar is a great way to keep guests warm and cozy.

Passed Canapés

Having a more formal affair? Serving passed canapés like Swedish meatballs or devilled eggs is a great way to impress your guest. The thoughtfulness of these bite sized snacks goes along way to keeping guests comfortable until the main meal and allows them to enjoy your I dos without an empty stomach.

2019 Wedding Food Trends Everyone Will Eat Up

As a Dallas event caterer we’re excited about what’s happening in the industry this year. From playful dessert station to plated dinners, here are some food trends we anticipate gaining in popularity this year.

Present Something Unexpected

We’re seeing a trend in couples really having a lot of fun with cocktail hour hors-d’oeuvres. Impress your guests either through flavor profile or presentation (or both!).

Welcoming Back Tradition

After several years of the industry shifting to unconventional food experiences at weddings, there seems to be an appetite and nostalgia for plated meals reemerging.

Grab-and-Go Dessert Table

Once dinner is over however and it’s time to hit the dance floor, couples are opting for a grab-and-go style for desserts with an assortment of fork-free options for easy takeaway.

Merging Cultures Through Food

More and more couples are going back to their roots and honoring their cities or family heritage in their menu creation. It’s important to have a caterer that can provide a diverse menu to cater to different palettes.

Subtle Substitutes

As more couples embrace different dietary restrictions, the food industry is blurring the lines between what’s vegan, gluten-free, paleo and your traditional dishes. There is now an emphasis on creating inclusive menu items that are seamlessly modified and are just as delicious.

Merry Christmas from Gil’s

As a DFW holiday caterer, we feel extremely blessed by this year. We’ve had so many wonderful features and collaborations thanks to our amazing couples and vendors. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the fantastic opportunity to serve as your caterer. It’s a truly rich experience getting to know each one of your stories and being such an integral part of your big day. To us it’s more than just an event, it’s the reason we are here – to come together and celebrate life’s big moments. As we reflect on this past year we’d like to further thank you individually. Our gratitude is beyond words for what you’ve made our business become.

To our vendors and collaborators, thank you for allowing us to use your spaces and help create beautiful things and tell unforgettable stories.

To our couples and hosts, thank you for letting us be a part of your beautiful event. We love how creative you all are and how you show off your unique personality through food.

It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos that is the holidays. Just remember to spend the holidays with those closest to you.

We can’t wait to see what 2019 brings. Merry Christmas from Gil’s Elegant Catering.