An Engaging Evening

Upcoming nuptials bring about more reasons to celebrate than any other event in life…and one of my favorite fetes surrounding a wedding is the engagement party!  Here we can celebrate the newness, the promise, the future…try out some ideas floating for the wedding reception, and still have a more relaxed take on the event.  Bride and Groom can revel in the attention, and interface with a more intimate number of close family and friends.  It gets the party started so to speak.

Bride Zoe planned a lovely engagement party with lush florals of peonies, hydrangeas, roses and billy buttons that she arranged herself in a stunning milk glass collection.  Set atop satin concert damask linens we provided, the vintage appeal was perfect for the event space.  The celebration was held in the Anne Christman Concert Hall at the grand Stambaugh Auditorium, home to the opera, symphony and many traveling theatrical productions.

Guests enjoyed an artisan cheese display with fresh fruit selections upon their arrival, and soaked in the musical talents of The Fabulous Grecian Keys.  After a moving blessing by the priest over the rings of the newly engaged couple, food action stations were opened for grazing.  From saladtinis comprised of organic ingredients to a French crepe station with nutella and vanilla bean ice cream, the food was sumptious and plentiful. 

My favorite station of the evening was our New York Steakhouse themed station.  Chef attendents prepared our famous creamed spinach fresh before the guests with the finest shaved parmesan, heavy cream and organic spinach.  Also on this station, Beef tenderloin was carved and accompanied by our housemade steak sauces and horseradish cream sauce, along with roulades of chicken stuffed with artichoke hearts, sundried tomato and a blend of Italian cheeses.  Baby baker potatoes were oven roasted with sea salt and black pepper and served with an interactive bar of toppings like fresh chives, sour cream, whipped herb butter, cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles, and truffled scallions.  Too die for.

Fresh pastas, gourmet sauces, cheesecakes, an open bar and mini ice cream sundae martinis…and did I mention the Frank Sinatra impersonator?… rounded out the event menu which had such a relaxed, celebratory vibe.

Congratulations! to Zoe and Paul!

Photographic credits: Jody Wimer, JPC Event Group
Florals: Future bride Zoe
Venue: Anne Christmas Hall, Stambaugh Auditorium
Catering, linens and dining equipment: JPC Event Group/Jody’s Pantry Catering
Band: The Fabulous Grecian Keys