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You Must Avoid Making These Wedding Cocktail Mistakes

Raise your hand if you are all for free drinks! Flowers and food might be an important part of a DFW wedding party but can we be honest here for a second? The first thing 90% people do at a wedding is make a beeline for the bar! Okay, so we might have made that statistic up..a bit..but you know it’s not that far off the mark.

We guess it’s the stress that drives guests straight to the bar; single folks are stressed out by all the ‘so who are you seeing?’ Q and A coming their way; introverts are stressed out because they have been seated at a table with strangers; the rest of them just want to enjoy the free drinks.

Now for the bride and groom, providing all your guests with adequate liquor without breaking the bank might seem like a tough feat to accomplish. That’s why we contacted some experts and came up with these golden nuggets of advice on how to avoid the wedding cocktail pitfalls.

Self-serve drinks option might backfire

If you think giving people easy access to drinks will ease the pressure off the bar, think again. We have actually seen this tactic go so wrong that it’s not funny. People put up these huge nooks filled with beer or punch and hope that guests will help themselves. The problem is guests end up drinking way way more than they should!

It’s like giving an ice-cream lover a tub of Ben n Jerry’s, and hoping they will only eat one scoop out of it! If you don’t want to end up with an out-of-control (and expensive) situation at your hands, don’t do it.

Champagne toast is highly overrated!

Yes, you heard that right. A lot of our event organizers confessed that they end up throwing most of the champagne away because not all people enjoy the same kind of sparkling wine. What might be a favorite of one person could be too tart or too sweet for another.

If you think an expensive sparkling wine will be loved by all because well, it’s expensive, think again. Most people don’t even notice the difference between expensive champagne and less-expensive wine! So, instead of pouring your money on champagne, let your guests toast with whatever they are drinking.

Having only one bar

Unless you are going to have a small wedding party, it’s imperative to have a second bar. Why? Consider this real-life situation: the one-and-only bar is totally packed and guests know that they’d have to wait a long time to get their next drink, so they end up ordering a double or triple of what they originally planned to save that extra trip!

Serving expensive liquor to specific guests

Other than the fact that it looks super rude when bartender pours a pricey single-malt whiskey for your favorite uncle and less-expensive liquor for guests standing right behind him, this tactic also creates a strange kind of vibe.

Instead, choose to serve the pricey stuff for a certain portion of the party, like the first couple of hours.

Consider the changing weather

People love getting married in fall and spring – two of the most fluctuating-temperature seasons! If you are unsure about the weather on the day of your wedding, consider having two options for the signature wedding cocktails; one for cold weather, and one for warm weather.

Milkshake Cocktail Ideas for Your Texas Wedding

Would you like to serve your DFW wedding guests some delicious boozy milkshakes? Nothing quenches the thirst in this hot weather like chilly-creamy milkshakes. And nobody said that you can’t add some buzz to your milkshakes!

Speaking of buzz, chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, bourbon, and whiskey are some of the best spirits to douse your milkshakes with. The dose of spirit enhances the flavor of the shakes, making them a super cool addition to your engagement party, bachelorette party, or your wedding reception.

Here are some awesome recipes you might want to try if the idea of buzz-with-the-desserts appeals to you.

Vanilla S’mores Milkshake

  • 4-5 marshmallows
  • 2 chocolate bars
  • 6 scoops of vanilla ice cream
  • Graham crackers (1 packet)
  • 4 oz. Drambuie
  • 4 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
  • 4 oz. vanilla vodka

Blend vanilla vodka, Drambuie, vanilla ice cream, and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur together until thick consistency. Pour the mixture into glasses. Assemble the s’mores with Graham crackers and chocolate bars, and toast the marshmallows. Now, put the s’mores on top of the glass and garnish it with skewered marshmallows.

Mint Chocolate Shake

  • 1 oz. crème de menthe
  • 1 oz. crème de cacao
  • 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
  • 2 oz. Kikori whiskey
  • Dark chocolate shavings and scraps for garnish

Pour all the ingredients, except dark chocolate shavings, into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve it in cute little parfait glasses and sprinkle the chocolate shavings on top.

Whiskey and Chocolate Milkshake

  • 3 oz. whiskey
  • 2 cups chocolate ice cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 Tbsp. malted milk powder
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ cup icy-freezing whipping cream
  • 2 cups ice
  • Malt balls and chocolate shavings – to taste

Place chocolate ice cream, whiskey, cold milk, malted milk powder, and ice into a blender and blend until smooth. Take a large chilled bowl and place granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and whipping cream together and whisk until soft. Pour the blended shake into glasses and top with the whisked cream, chocolate shavings and the yummy Malt balls for a to-die-for milkshake.

Chai Tea and Vanilla Milkshake

  • 1 dirty chai tea bag
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup bourbon
  • 4 cups vanilla ice cream
  • Ground cinnamon and whipped cream – to taste

Put the dirty chai tea bag alongwith bourbon in a large mason jar. Let it steep for 1-2 hours. Now for the milkshake, place half cup of the infused bourbon, milk, and vanilla ice cream into a blender and pulse/blend until it thickens. Pour the mixture equally into glasses and serve with ground cinnamon and whipped cream garnish on top.

Marshmallows Milkshake

  • 1 cup Lucky Charms marshmallows
  • 3 large marshmallows
  • 1 cup mini colored marshmallows
  • 2 pint mint chocolate chip ice cream
  • 3 oz. vanilla vodka
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3 Tbsp. sprinkles
  • ½ cup Funfetti frosting
  • Whipped cream and vanilla extract – to taste

Take your milkshake glasses and frost it with the Funfetti frosting. Stick the Lucky Charms marshmallows to it and set aside. Now place vanilla vodka, milk, vanilla extract, and mint chocolate chip ice cream in a blender and blend until a smooth consistency. Pour the shake into the milkshake glasses and put whipped cream, mini-colored marshmallows, sprinkles, and leftover Lucky Charms on the top. For a final touch, garnish with skewered marshmallows…because you can never have too much marshmallows.

Quiz time! What Type of Wedding Cake Suits Your Personality?

A lot goes into deciding which type of cake you want for your DFW wedding. Availability of thousands (okay, exaggerated) of different cake flavors doesn’t help either. Then you also have to decide the design of the cake – naked, frosted, or fondant?

Your budget plays a crucial part in the decision process, obviously. Certain elements, like those delectable flowers made of sugar, are more expensive than others due to being more labor-intensive.

Another factor that matters is the weather. What are the conditions of your wedding venue? For example, if it’s summer and you are having an outdoor wedding, then buttercream cake will be a bad choice (unless you’re aiming for melted-gooey cake).

So, if you’re still not sure about the style of your wedding cake, you’re in luck. After you’ve sorted out all the above mentioned details, it’s time to choose the perfect style for your cake. And we are here to nudge you in the right direction.

Ask yourself

What does your dream wedding venue look like?

a. A beautiful outdoor garden amid lush greenery
b. A chic loft space
c. A barn, ranch, or club amid mountain
d. A grand ballroom

What would you rather have?

a. Flower crown
b. Veil

This is your wedding flower:

a. Sunflower
b. Calla Lily
c. Peony
d. Rose

This is your wedding color palette:

a. Pop of bold colors
b. Clean white
c. Graphic patterns
d. Soft pastels with a hint of metallic

What is your ideal honeymoon plan?

a. Hiking through the wilderness to spend one-one-one with your hubby
b. A private beach retreat with lots of champagne
c. A trip to Paris (think wine tastings and macaroons)
d. Romantic candlelight dinners in Italy

What are your wedding favors?

a. Small potted saplings
b. Champagne splits
c. Mini pies

Results

If you mostly chose option ‘a’, then you are clearly a Bohemian spirit. In keeping with the theme, your Boho wedding cake should be naked, with the sole focus on the fillings and layering.

If you mostly chose option ‘b’, then your style tends to be more Classic. This style of cake is simple yet elegant. The design of the cake is focused on one element like a motif or small flowers, while the rest of the cake is clean finish of white.

If you mostly chose options ‘b’ and ‘c’, then your style is Glamorous. These kinds of weddings have stunning details and you can incorporate that into your wedding cake. A humongous cake with tall tiers, elaborate piping, and imperial-looking metallic detailing will be perfect for you.

If you mostly chose options ‘c’ and ‘d’, then your style runs toward a Rustic theme. A rustic wedding cake should feel like farm-to-table and delightfully fresh. The design should be simple with elements of greenery here and there, and the ingredients should be fresh.

So there you are. Did you find out what your perfect wedding cake should look like? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature on Birds of a Feather for Kendall & Tyler’s Wedding

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Feature on Birds of a Feather for Kendall & Tyler’s Wedding

Kendall and Tyler’s classic elegant wedding with its moody maroons, sophisticated greenery, and other dusty hues was absolutely breathtaking. Everyone came together to make it a truly spectacular event. We are incredibly honored to be a part of such beautiful events such as this one. And the opportunity to work with some of the best vendors in the Dallas area.
Take a look at the incredible work that was created below:

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Planning and Design: Birds of a Feather Photography, Charla Storey Photography

Venue: Clark Gardens Flowers, The Southern Table Catering, Gil’s Elegant Catering, Babe’s Fried Chicken

Lighting: LeForce Entertainment Photobooth, Flock Together Fotobooth

Tabletop: POSH Couture Rentals

Hair and Makeup: Meg B

Linens: La Tavola

Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets

Rentals: Taylor’s Rentals

Stationery: Minted

Calligraphy: Harts and Quills

Benefits of an Action Station

benefits of action station

Benefits of an Action Station – Gil’s Elegant Catering

Still trying to decide which serving style is best for your special day? Buffet meals and plated dinners each have distinctive pros and cons; but the great thing about buffet meals is you can add or only use action stations.

Similar to a buffet, except chef’s prepare and serve foods at the buffet (rather than in the kitchen). Adding a couple of action stations to a buffet style of service can help alleviate the long lines at the main buffet, plus it adds a fun interactive element to the event and guests love the chance to interact with the chef.

Foods that lend themselves well to action station service include wok stations, mashed potato bars, fajitas, pasta stations, grilled meats, omelets, crepes, sushi, gourmet taco, gourmet burgers, and flaming desserts. These stations are sometimes called “performance stations” or “exhibition cooking.”

Catering stations provide entertainment, variety, and tasty food. They allow flexible timing for guests to eat whenever they’d like, and encourage movement flow throughout your venue. Additionally, serving food right off the grill at an action station ensures food will be hot, fresh, and delicious.

So if you decide to go with a buffet style for dinner, don’t forget to incorporate an action station or two.

Late Night Snack Ideas for Your Texas Wedding Guests

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A new post-wedding trend has seen rise in the recent years – late night snack parties. We love this because it shows a lot of care and consideration on the wedding couple’s part. The wedding dinner is worked off by your guests long after they hit the dance floor.

After hours of dancing and drinking, a lot of guests can be seen looking for leftover food. Not to mention, something that can help them ward off the inevitable hangover the next morning. So, if your budget allows, talk to your wedding caterer about creating an after-party menu. This can include small bites and snacks that your guests can enjoy without having to sit down.

Think about convenient munchies. Here are some ideas for a fun menu.

Stick bites:

After the wedding party, your guests will be preparing to hop on a bus or a cab to make it back home – snacks on a stick will be very convenient to have on the go. For this, you can order mini corn dogs with little pouches of mustard and ketchup. Or think salad – tomato, mozzarella, and basil on a skewer with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Yum.

Shots are fine:

How about tortilla strip shooters with nacho cheese dip? These are classic recipes but so much fun with the shooters. For a more elegant choice, you can try something like lobster claw with a bisque shooter, or shrimp with a cocktail sauce. Even maple syrup shots with French toast strips are a divine choice. Or you can go the old way and choose grilled cheese strips with tomato soup shots.

Texas style wraps:

Thinking of portable food, how about pop-tarts. And not just any pop tarts – pulled pork ones. You can also try creative rolls, like a Philly cheesesteak rolled up like an egg roll.

Mini treats:

Other than storing kitchen stuff, those cute little muffin tins can also be used to serve fun snacks like mini meatloaves, mini tacos, or how about mini frittatas? Since the party keeps going until late night and into the morning, you might as well serve them breakfast.

Magic in a Cone:

A cone is not only very convenient but also a perfect way to serve delicious snacks to guests on their way out of the party. You can have nuggets in a waffle cone crusted with blue cheese, or a sesame cone lined with seaweed and stuffed with pickled tuna.

A small snack Bar:

You know what would be the perfect late night snack idea for your wedding guests? A popcorn bar with varied flavors and seasonings. Another great Texan snack idea would be a biscuit bar with pimento cheese, ham, pickle, and mustard dressing. And if nothing else, you can always go with the classic yet yummy burger slider bar.

Cookies and Milk:

However ‘homey’ this may sound, your guests will appreciate this cozy snack that will remind them of all the late night munchies they used to enjoy. For cookies, you can choose oats and raisins, or almond butter and chocolate, there are a lot of options. For milk, you can opt for nut milk and soy milk, other than the standard one to suit the diverse preferences of your various guests.

Possibilities are endless. You might decide to choose one snack option (like a burger slider bar) or go with multiple snacks. Whatever your choice, the guests will thank you for this thoughtful favor.

12 Wedding Brunch Ideas that are Trending in 2017

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Times are changing and a lot of couples are choosing to make their own traditions. This could mean choosing to have a wedding ‘brunch’ – a casual gathering of friends and family the day after the wedding.

If you have friends and loved ones who have travelled from far away to be with you on your special day, it makes sense to extend the festivities, don’t you think? It is entirely possible to throw a light brunch post-wedding, to thank and appreciate your guests.

And speaking of brunch, here are some creative Dallas wedding brunch ideas that will (truly) compel you to throw a wedding brunch party.

Afternoon Tea:

Just like the wedding, your post-party brunch can be designed to follow a theme. If you wish to choose a classic and elegant Victorian theme, a great option for the brunch dessert menu would be tea paired with light snacks like gourmet macaroons.

Going traditional:

Speaking of classic, how about going with lovely European Bundt cake. There is no dearth of recipes for Bundt cakes – you can choose a selection of fillings from chocolate to lemon-raspberries. Choose toppings of whipped cream and garden fresh berries for an exotic treat.

Old love:

“I don’t love donuts” said no one ever. For an awesome wedding brunch dessert idea, serve an assortment of donuts – chocolate frosted, blueberry, vanilla, cinnamon, Bavarian crème, we can go on and on because options are unlimited.

Mini pancakes:

You can never go wrong with mini pancakes. Serve your guests these tasty treats with a twist; for example, you can serve mini pancakes with fresh berries on adorable little skewers. Drizzle honey or maple syrup on top. Mmm.

A light affair:

If it’s an open venue, or better yet, a garden venue, you can pull off a wine n’ cheese brunch effortlessly. Throw in some fresh fruits and some more cheese (because you can never have enough cheese obviously) and you are golden.

Mimosa love:

Ah, the joy of having as many mimosas as you can even earlier in the day. Set up a mimosa bar for the cocktail hour and the grannies in the family will bless you.

Cheesecake:

When we said earlier that you can never have enough cheese…well an ultimate brunch dessert idea would be a layered cheesecake. That’s right! Layers upon layers of delicate, scrumptious, mouth-melting cheese.

Extra fun:

To relieve the stress, you can indulge your wedding guests in some table games that are fun and engaging – like crossword puzzles and Pictionary.

Sitting affair:

Though people take it to mean that brunch is a strictly casual affair and you don’t really need to have seating arrangements – we disagree. You can make it as elaborate as you see fit, using fine china and table service complete with wait staff to serve the guests.

Contrasting decorations:

If your wedding was pastel colored or an all-white colored theme, you can choose a bright colored theme for you after-party brunch. Add a magenta pop of color with flowers and gold colored flatware for example.

Keeping it light:

Since the wedding affair is grand, it is a good idea to keep your wedding brunch party light and simple and fresh.

Cute invitations:

For your brunch invitation cards, you can choose light and fun stationary suites that will suit the daytime theme much better.

Pippa Middleton’s Wedding Favor Might Just Be the Yummiest Ever

Elegant Wedding Catering

Did you hear what Pippa Middleton gifted her wedding guests? Those who were lucky enough to get an invitation to the coveted affair were delightfully surprised – and who can blame them. In our opinion, the invite to the most anticipated wedding of the year would have been enough, but nobody asked us.

The Duchess of Cambridge was in the bridal party and could be seen fuzzing over her little sister, but it was Princess Charlotte and Prince George who stole hearts with their adorable flower-showering talent.

On May 20, 2017, Pippa Middleton exchanged vows with long time sweetheart, James Matthews, at St. Mark’s Englefield in an elegant ceremony that saw 350 guests in attendance – but we digress. The edible wedding favors, we hear, were the courtesy of Pippa’s brother, James Middleton. Isn’t that sweet?

According to Hello! Online, UK, the guests were given sweet marshmallows that were personalized with bride and groom’s initials. Marshmallows, guys! Pippa and Kate’s brother, James, is apparently a professional food entrepreneur and wanted to add a personal touch to the wedding. He owns Boomf, a company that specializes in freshly baked sweet treats and wedding favors. We hear the DIY monogrammed marshmallows were a huge hit among the guests; it wasn’t the first time James showed his culinary skills either. In 2011, when his eldest sister Kate wed Prince William in the grandest royal ceremony ever, he reportedly served personalized cupcakes in the wedding. It certainly pays to have a baker in the family.

Maybe you can’t afford a custom made Giles Deacon wedding dress that Pippa could, but you can definitely copy her edible wedding favors for your own. You can order similar sweet treats from us and make your wedding a touch more royal.

Wedding Guest Dilemma: How to Tell the Couple about Dietary Restrictions

DFW Dietary Wedding Advice

As a wedding guest, the last thing you want to do is make things more imposing for the stressed-out couple. Planning a wedding is not a piece of cake after all. However, if you have true intolerance or allergies, this isn’t the time to be shy. When it comes to your health, do not feel embarrassed to let the happy couple know about your special dietary needs. Remember, they invited you to their wedding because they really want you to be there – they wouldn’t want you to fall ill on their wedding day.

Are you really allergic?

Okay, so the first thing to do is ask yourself, are you truly allergic to peas? Or you just simply don’t like peas? It’s an important distinction, and you need to be honest here. For example, if you don’t love tomatoes but aren’t allergic, or if you don’t like to eat red meat but are fine with the chicken or fish, don’t mention it. Pick the tomatoes out of your salad if that’s what it takes. There are always a lot of options so choose a meal that you will have no problem eating.

On the other hand, if you are truly allergic to something, let the couple know about it before the wedding. Growing up with the allergies is bad enough; you need not feel any embarrassment in requesting a healthy meal.

Share your dietary restrictions as soon as possible.

We recommend using your RSVP card for this purpose. You can choose a meal out of the meal options mentioned in the RSVP card and attach an additional note describing your allergies. This will help the couple choose a catering menu with dietary restrictions. If you’re allergic to an ingredient that’s commonly used like, wheat, onions, garlic, or dairy – include that in the note. Almost every appetizer contains at the very least one of the above mentioned ingredients (butter, butter, everywhere!). This will make sure that the caterer comes up with at least one main dish that you’ll be able to enjoy. In addition to the note, send a message or email to confirm that they got your note. Doing so makes it easier for the couple (and the caterer) to get in touch with you regarding any questions about what you can and can’t eat.

That’s all. Don’t get in touch with the couple regarding the catering menu with your dietary restrictions any more than that; they already have a lot on their plate.

A last word, do not forget to bring along your allergy medication as a precaution or prevention.

The Gils Elegant Catering staff is always notified of the special meal requests by the couple, however you are more than welcome to repeat the request upon your arrival.

Foods to Eat Before You Walk Down the Aisle

Wedding Day Food Advice

We have some wedding day advice for you! Far too often we see brides who forget to eat before they walk down the aisle. Whether it’s nerves, excitement or a mix of both, taking care of yourself before you take that walk is essential. With your wedding day comes a rather unfortunate case of the jitters. It is perfectly normal to feel bloated and stressed, but the main goal here is to keep your body healthy, hydrated, and above all, free from the cravings! The wedding stress is bad enough; you do not need an additional boost of hunger to trigger the next bridezilla episode just moments before you walk down the aisle.

 

Lots of Water

It is essential to stay hydrated on your big day. Wedding jitters are natural and weddings often work over a packed schedule. Needless to say it can get a little overwhelming. Keep a bottle of water handy with you at all times to help you stay hydrated and calm.

 

Keep it Balanced and Avoid Experimenting

The night before the wedding and the day of the wedding itself are not the time to experiment with exotic cuisine. You do not know how your body might react to something unfamiliar provided your stressful and hectic schedule.

Plan your meal for the night before. Be sure to take in an adequate dose of nutrition by incorporating lean meat, vegetables, and something filling like brown rice.

The goal is to keep you well fed but not to the point where you feel like you have had too much to eat. As for breakfast the next day, keep it light and nutritious. Go for something like a green smoothie or a whole grain toast.

 

Don’t be Scared of Fats

Contrary to common belief, healthy fats are actually very good for your skin, hair, and nails. Weddings often call for diets but do not be too harsh on your body. Healthy fats contribute to naturally radiant skin that captures beautifully in photos. Healthy fats include avocados, coconut, eggs, olives, etc.

 

Keep it Fresh

Fresh fruit and veggies are full of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and healthy fats. In addition to making your skin feel healthy and glowing, they do amazing things for your body as well. They keep you from feeling bloated but keep you full, hydrated, and healthy.

 

Love for Comfort Food and Fun

Food does not just sustain your body. Food keeps you sane. Stress often triggers the worst cravings. The night before, it is okay to have a small portion of your favorite comfort food to keep you happy and content. Don’t forget to take some time out to unwind and dwell in your favorite activities to relax your mind and your body.

 

Your wedding day is meant to be enjoyed heartily. Stay hydrated, well fed, and above all else, relaxed and composed. We are sure you will do great.