The first wedding here was on August 14, 2010 between Robin Bagley and Andrew Logan.  Due to the Texas summer heat, the couple opted for an early morning ceremony under the trees.  The lawn was lush and green, and was converted to a croquet field following the ceremony.

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

After the ceremony, the reception was held in the main pavilion with an incredible brunch feast including:

Eggs Benedict on Homemade Biscuits
Artichoke, Bacon, and Brie Quiche
Crème Brulee French Toast
Tomato Caprese Salad

We also created several unique touches to display foods, like an elaborate Cheese and Antipasti display, and a tower of Handmade Cinnamon Buns on sticks.  At the bar the couple had custom fresh Mimosas and Bloody Marys with our housemade pickled vegetables.

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

photo by Jenny DeMarco

For more information on Camp Lucy visit their website at www.camplucy.com. Thanks to Jenny DeMarco for all of the gorgeous pictures!

Vendors:
Catering – Royal Fig Catering
Coordination – Alicia Anderson, Love Punk Events
Floral – Love Punk Events
Rentals – Dripping Springs Party Rental
Photography - Jenny DeMarco Photography
Cake – Nothing Bundt Cakes
Music - Continental Graffiti

When Megan contacted us exactly one month before her wedding day to discuss catering options, we were a little nervous.   Could an entire wedding be planned and executed in such a short time?  As it turned out, we had nothing to worry about.  Megan was a breeze to work with, and happily followed our recommendations for the perfect southern meal to complement the couple and the venue.

Photography by The Nichols

Photography by The Nichols

We were thrilled to be a part of this wedding, and the couple, the family, and the guests had a great time.  Thanks to all who helped make this a fun night for us, too!  And congratulations to the happy couple!

The "couch" picture at the Driskill. This is still my favorite picture that Eric has ever taken!

Dan and I getting married at Memory Lane Event Center. Eric really caught the beauty in all of the live oaks that surround the ceremony site.

The big joke that day was that Eric kept trying to get people to make me cry so that he could get it on film! Dan did a good job of doing that anyways as he had someone deliver this card to me in the bridal suite...

Here is a great picture of the Couch Game at our wedding!

The day of our wedding was INCREDIBLY windy, so we went to Laguna Gloria to have some portraits taken a couple of months later.

After we opened Royal Fig, Eric was nothing but supportive.  He has always been around to shoot our food and even took some great shots of our office opening in January.

Royal Fig Catering Westlake Office Grand Opening

Seared Duck Breast with Braised Greens and Pomegranate Sauce

Seared Scallops with Pine Nut Puree and Microgreens

We are thrilled to have Eric as a part of our Royal Fig family!  Be sure to visit his blog and check out his brilliant work.  If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi and see his work all over our office walls too!

Royal Fig has been fortunate to serve and coordinate many outdoors weddings in the past year, and we’ve learned a few rules.  But I did a little research to see if what we learned were sort of universal truths in the wedding industry.  Turns out they are!  I came across this incredible article by Nina Callaway at About.com that really sums it up well.  I cannot think of a better list of Top-10 Outdoor Wedding Tips than this!  Enjoy!

1)    Make your guests comfortable. Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don’t leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don’t forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don’t forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the sun’s rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.

2)    Have a backup plan. What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won’t flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.  We love to recommend Premiere Tents and Events for all of your tenting needs!

Chance of rain? Opt for a tent!

Same goes for our mobile kitchen

3)    Plan for Wind.  Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you’ll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won’t leave you looking like Cousin It!  Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product.  Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.

We know a thing or two about windy wedding conditions! Always have back up linen clips and shims to level your tables.

4)    Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you’re probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the couple and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.

Memory Lane Event Center has a great set up for ceremony musicians!

5)    Decorations. One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mowed, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the bridal party or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it’s been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the couple as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminarias; torches; or farolitas.

These Chinese lanterns added a nice punch to the natural landscape

Vista West Ranch provides a perfect backdrop for an outdoor ceremony. Floral by Petal Pushers and coordination by Lizze Belle Events

Another great shot from a wedding we catered at Vista West Ranch. Photography by the Nichols. Click the picture for more pictures from this beautiful rustic wedding.

6)    Make things tasty outside.  Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they’re planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.

7)    Don’t leave your guests parched.  Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.  Check out our beverage menu for a list of options!

Ice-Cold, refreshing margaritas to greet guests as they arrive! We prepared 350 of these cocktails for guests at a corporate party we catered at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

We made a prickly pear margarita to match the bride's dress!

Guests helped themselves to this outdoor drink station before the ceremony started. It kept everyone cool! Our fresh squeezed lemonades even come in a variety of seasonal flavors.

8)    Those pesky flying things.  Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won’t spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.

9)    Here comes the sun.  Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests’ backs rather than in their eyes.

The sun was really shining on this day at Zilker Clubhouse! The ceremony was held inside while the sun went down.

10)    Permits.  Don’t forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.

This short list of do’s and don’ts can really save your outdoor wedding and make it picture-perfect, just like you imagined.

Photo by The Nichols

This was the menu for this rustic chic event:

Passed Appetizers:
Yucatan Pulled Pork on Arepas with Queso Fresco and Ancho Paint
Vera Cruz Shrimp Shooters
Cilantro Masa Cake with Black Bean Salsa

Family Style Dinner:
Southwestern Green Salad with Poblano Ranch and Lime Vinaigrette Dressings
Smoked Chicken with Chimichuri Sauce and Mexican Rice
Chili Rubbed Tilapia Tacos with all the fixin’s
Black Beans with Queso Fresco and Cilantro
Fire Roasted Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Butter
Pineapple Jicama Slaw

Dessert:
Ice Cream Bar with Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (the groom’s favorite!)
Mexican Hot Fudge, Sprinkles and Nuts

Specialty Cocktails:
Prickly Pear Margarita (bride’s drink – matched her dress!)
Manhattan (groom’s drink – another favorite of his)
Fresh Squeezed Cucumber Lemonade

Over the past few weeks, I have been privileged to attend several weddings at which Royal Fig prepared family-style meals.  This style of service has become very popular in the catering world, and understandably so.  At each event, the guests can enjoy a plated first course, such as a crisp spring salad, while the main course is being prepared.

Soon after, the servers set each table with heaping platters and bowls of warm food straight from the kitchen.

And just like at Thanksgiving, the guests prepare their own plates with each item and then politely pass the platter to their neighbor.  This is a time for the guests to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and have a common means of participating in this special day.

This family style was truly a family affair!

Now that you have a sense of what family-style is all about, let me itemize some of the pros and cons of this style of service to keep in mind when planning your event.

Advantages:
1)    A real sense of community with others attending the event.
2)    The full meal is brought to the table, so no interruption of the table’s conversation to go stand in a buffet line.
3)    Atmosphere is more relaxed than a plated meal.
4)    Food is served directly from the oven, instead of being overcooked in a chafing dish at a buffet.
5)    The food acts as a colorful centerpiece to the table, saving money and time on large or elaborate arrangements.

Disadvantages:
1)    More service staff is generally needed compared to a buffet.  (But still less staff than a plated meal.)
2)    Some caterers charge per additional platter used.  (Although Royal Fig’s pricing remains the same!)
3)    Some foods do not work well with family-style, as all dishes and platters must be passed. (This rules out the heavy dishes or hot dishes directly from the oven, like lasagna.)
4)    If the couple or party planner has a vision for an expansive centerpiece, a larger table rental (72” round) will be necessary to accommodate the food platters.
5)    This service style is very informal compared to a plated meal.  Your vision for the event will dictate.

So, analyze these pros and cons of family-style and determine whether or not it fits in with your vision for the big day.  But do realize that when you select family-style service for your wedding or special event, you will provide your guests with a sense of community at the table.  A place where they can comfortably interact and reconnect as they share their food and their stories, at their own pace.  Besides, what brings people together in celebration better than discussing the masterful preparation and colorful presentation of the Grilled Sockeye Salmon with Caper Buerre Blanc they are passing around the table?!