It took me almost a year to look back on the work from this beautiful wedding from September 2016. To be honest, I would skip the photo and video history on my phone and computer, from this entire month, because it was all personally just too painful for me, as this wedding day of September 3rd, was just one day before my dad’s last trip into the hospital where he would stay before he passed away from complications due to cancer, on September 26th.
I worked that whole month while going back and forth to see my dad in the hospital almost every day, taking care of the kids and trying to be super mom/wife/sister/daughter. The background of my life was very difficult, but I’m my dad’s daughter and that means I would do whatever it took. I even catered a wedding the weekend after he passed away. I cried a lot, but the tears didn’t get in the way. These were happy distractions.
Now that it’s about to be Father’s Day, and my first one without my dad, I thought I’d face the weight of it all and just go for it with this post. Dad would have wanted me to. He would have been so proud of me to share my work, as he was most definitely my biggest fan and would re-post everything I ever did regarding my work. (To be so loved!)
This was a spectacular wedding and my personal favorite from 2016, because I got to do it all for the customer/client. This whole family stole my heart. Mom and Dad wanted the best for their daughter and her wonderful groom is such a great, chill guy. I was so very happy to have the opportunity to work with them to make it all happen.
We had a really nice time at the tasting appointment, and I loved how much they appreciated what I had to offer. Mom, Bride and I would work together for about a month to get all of the details just right.
The reception was held at the gorgeous Darlington House in La Jolla. I love this venue and have had the pleasure of catering weddings and events here a few times. Everyone at this location is nice, super professional and both clients and vendors are very well cared for.
One detail, on this hot day, was the shade. They were able to bring in a couple of umbrellas to do the trick. Over exposed desserts for an outdoor venue is such a shame and thank goodness we were able to work it out.
One of the first and most important requests, was to have an abundant assortment of desserts and especially cupcakes, for the dessert table. Vanilla Italia with Lavender buttercream minis, was at the top of the list.
They had a bunch of minis in their assortment but also enjoyed standard size cupcakes that are deluxe and can only be done in the larger size, including Key Lime with a graham cracker crust, and Champagne With Strawberries.
They were able to please the sugar-free needs of their guests, with our fresh seasonal berry and vanilla cream parfaits. The gluten-free offering were our Flourless Brownie Bites.
The cake was definitely the center piece and to be honest, I don’t remember what flavors I made for their three-layered, 8″ cutting cake! I know they will forgive me and what matters is that they remember!
I do remember putting the floral arrangement together at the venue and was beyond-blessed to have my friend Karen there/on-site and doing the florals, who referred me and worked on all of the gorgeous arrangements for the reception. She started the topper and gave me a bunch of clippings for me to go for it. It was so big and so gorgeous! I didn’t want to leave any space on the top of that cake, with so much beauty to work with.
Here are the incredible farm tables that Karen adorned with stunning lifted centerpieces. This was when eucalyptus had just made their way into being popular for weddings and I’ve noticed them as a special detail for almost every wedding I have catered since this day.
One other detail that I was able to provide for the reception, were creating the custom favors. Again, we worked on these special details together. Each bag had a paper inside, a stamp that they ordered and I placed, a paper doilie and a short wooden clothespin for all of the guests to take one. All of the chocolate chip cookies were baked and placed that morning.
Since last year, my daughter has become an important member of my team – getting things prepped for big catering days, and she is instrumental in helping me to carefully set all of the desserts to their special place onto the dessert table(s). We are so good at it, that we barely talk anymore. We are on the same wave length, with little to no stress at all. We just get it done, and with plenty of time to spare. I love this time together. I know she loves the work and our special time too. These opportunities are truly appreciated, and rewarding for us as a family in so many ways.
