Spring has sprung here in Charleston! Weddings are in full bloom this season with bright, lively designs and cheerful colors. Check out a few of our favorite inspirations for the season, and feel free to share your own!
Happy New Year to all of our beloved friends, vendors and clients. We’re all excited about what the new year has in store.
Congratulations to those that are newly engaged over the holidays! We’re sending you our love and the wish for all things in the coming year to sparkle as much as this beautiful wedding exit…
We’re loving this beautiful Fall wedding put together by our Catering and Design team. Abby was the lead designer and created this elegant and luxurious draping in the pavilion and you really can’t go wrong with a sparkling exit!
Meet Kari and Pete. We loved working with this couple at the rustic cottage on the creek!
It was February of 2009, Pete was in Iraq serving in the US Marine Corps and Kari was in San Diego working as a health educator. Kari had moved in with a friend, Renee’, who’s husband Tom was deployed with Pete in Iraq. After some serious scheming by Renee and Tom, Tom encouraged Pete to add Kari to his myspace (yes, myspace) – he did, and Kari and Pete began e-mailing every day for the next 3 months until Pete returned to San Diego. Two weeks after getting back, Pete had completed his contract with the Marine Corps and moved to Charleston, SC…they kept talking and that fall Kari was accepted to nursing school in Charleston and the rest is history!
Duvall is so happy to have been a part of this couple’s amazing story and wedding! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness!!
1. How many staff members can I expect to need at my event?
The number of staff you need at your event will vary greatly depending on your venue, menu, style of service and the flow of your event. Be sure to ask your caterer how many staff members the style of event you’re looking for would need to be a success!
2. What rentals are included in your price estimate?
Different companies include different rentals in their basic food estimate. When working with Duvall, your menu price will include all cooking and serving equipment in addition to tray jacks, basic linens for service and more. It is important to understand what is included in your estimate in order to know what value you are getting.
3. Where is the food made?
All catering companies have different processes and standards for preparing their food. Make sure to ask where the food for your event will be made. The capabilities will change based on the location of your event but knowing that as much food as possible is made on-site and fresh for your guests is important.
4. How long is your food open for?
All catering companies keep their food stations open for varried amounts of time- is it by the hour? By quantity? The full length of your event? Be sure to follow-up on this question to ensure your vision is executed.
5. Does this company have the tools to execute your vision?
Do you want a specialty food? Decor? A full-service company? A food-only company? What kind of experience do they have in doing the type of event you’re looking for? Make sure to know what your vision is before you pick up the phone so you know what to ask for.
One thing we love about our job is being a part of our clients’ most memorable days. We recently had the opportunity to play a hand in a clandestine proposal on the terrace at the South Carolina Aquarium. Here’s the story….
Meet Thomas and Laura
The evening went a little something like this….
Proposal
Custom Menu Rooftop Dinner for Two
Surprise Celebration with Friends and Family
We had an amazing time being part of this lovely couple’s memorable evening- and our hat’s off to Thomas for planning such an amazing surprise! Cheers to the happy couple!
1. Invite fewer people for a more intimate setting
2. Buy a vintage wedding dress
3. Consider using beautiful branches instead of blooms
4. Look for decorative details on etsy, ebay or at fleamarkets
5. Have small dessert bites instead of a wedding cake for everyone
6. Use minimal blooms and have small decorative herb gardens
7. Using bigger flowers means using fewer flowers
8. Keep your wedding party small
9. Instead of buying individual bouquets for each bridesmaid- pin one blossom onto each of them
10. Use potted plants as both centerpieces and party favors
Thanks to you, our brides, we’ve been Wedding Wire rated for 2011!
Over the years, Duvall has brought more than 15,000 special events to life and we’ve been lucky to share all types of memories with our clients. If you’ve had a good memory with us, we’d love to hear from you. Rate us on Duvall’s Wedding Wire page and help us continue to reinvent the event experience. Duvall. Catering to you.
Succulents are all the rage these days. Not only do they take little effort to take care of, they make for an attractive center piece. Kelly of the blog “Yes, Please” has a great post about DIY succulent center pieces and favors. Check it out below or go straight to the blog here.
Duvall Catering & Event Design’s wedding for Mary Francis and Andy Southernland was featured in “The Wedding Row” blog this week.
