I love the anticipation at this time of year! What is coming round the corner, the new people I will meet and the ideas we will share makes me very impatient!
Themes are fun for everyone involved, from the party hosts to the guests. There really is something to be said about hunting down the perfect venue or favour for your chosen theme. A tipi tent camp might be the perfect setting for a relaxed festival themed significant birthday. Likewise, a beachfront wedding lends itself to a sea theme. You can even go for a non-traditional theme like Christmas in July or a medieval themed picnic party held at a Shakespeare Festival. It’s your event; have fun.
Vintage I think the lovely Vintage theme is set to continue, why not it's a perfect wedding theme but also great for summer garden parties with it's relaxed laid back feel. Mix and match crockery with flowers in jam jars and homemade bunting with family favourite foods, whats not to enjoy? Little ideas such as serving champagne from vintage tea cups, homemade jams and preserves as favours, a giant 7 tiered cake stand with miniature desserts and small but beautiful wedding cakes for each table. Celebrate all our traditions from afternoon tea to Pimms and strawberries to a good pie and mash. Butlers would be great fun serving small bowls of great British grub! This theme is so versatile and so easily made personal with small touches.
Family style
Another strong theme which carries on is the family style service with the emphasis on sharing, informality and casualness. This is a shared experience which satisfies the need for community and friendship. Magnificent Beef Wellington carved at the table by an honoured guest brings people closer together in the shared serving of the meal. Tapas, mezze, sharing platters can be a wonderful way of starting a sit down meal and gets everyone talking passing food back and forth, a great ice breaker!
Individual table buffets served on over sized mirrored "Lazy Susans" give the informal dining experience whilst allowing people the freedom of choice without the traditional queueing system.
Bowl food
This an alternative way to encourage sharing and variety and can easily be incorporated into your theme. Several bites up in size from a canape these are more substantial but just as beautiful and a great talking point. A much more informal approach to feeding your guests as these are perfect for standing and eating at the same time.
Speciality stations
We have seen them in the past, but they will explode in 2013. The hog roast has had it's day and a more elegant alternative called for. From olive tasting stations to seafood bars and ice cream sundaes, what type of speciality station to have at your wedding is only limited by your imagination. In fact, depending on your theme, you could even venture to include a cigar bar or have an entire reception centred on the idea of wine and cheese sampling.
The dessert table gains more ground. Guests love the idea of getting up when they’re ready and picking out one or two special treats. Thoughtful hosts love being able to offer everyone’s favorite with this option. Miniature meringues, single-serve banoffee pies and three bite trifles all fit the bill and satisfy the sweet tooth. Believe me no one will be watching the calories!
Candy buffets are also poping up and look beautiful in varying sized glass containers and personalised with names and colour, a visual delight. The late night cheese buffet also gets a long overdue make over, presented on simple white china cakestands with elegant glass domes. Move over cheddar and brie it's time British artisan cheeses take centre stage and get the respect they deserve.
It's your party and the fun starts here!!
