Style Me Pretty Featured Wedding at the Adamson House in Malibu, CA

This lovely wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty not too long ago. We catered this wedding at the Adamson House back in September of last year and absolutely loved all of the special details that the bride and groom put together. 

Weddings are always reason for joy and celebration. This wedding was no different. From the moment we met the beautiful couple, we knew this would be a special wedding. 

What made working with this couple an enjoyable experience was their knack for good design, and a sharp vision of what they wanted. Very straight forward, they told us what style of dinner service they wanted, a family style dinner, and the floor plan they envisioned for their big day. Harvey was amazing and even sent over a visual design for the rental company to see!

From a caterer's standpoint, working at the Adamson House is no easy feat. It takes a lot of planning and collaboration from your rental company and the bride and groom, as well as an amazing team of people (servers, chefs and coordinators) to put everything together. For the bride who wants the freedom to customize and DIY their wedding, the Adamson House is the perfect beautiful beach venue. You are allowed to bring any vendors of your choice, no restrictions! Any bride and groom should be aware, however, that as a California State Park, there are rules and regulations that need to be respected. Also, this venue does not have a kitchen for your caterer to work out of. What is the solution? To build the kitchen. This will require you to rent a tent with lighting, prep tables, a commercial gas range stove or two (depending on your head count and menu) and simple protective floor covering  (per the Adamson House's regulations). The Adamson House provides a wonderful large area that is used for kitchen prep area where everything is set up and out of sight from your guests. Once all the details get taken care of however, the result is a beautiful and unforgettable wedding. 

For Harvey and Sophie, we provided a family style dinner service which included, a sit-down salad course - field greens with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, crumbled feta & raspberry vinaigrette, grilled salmon with orange ginger sauce, lemon chicken with light lemon caper sauce, bowtie pasta with eggplant, zucchini, and diced tomatoes, roasted acorn squash with slivered almonds, as well as fresh baked rolls & squaw bread with butter. We also stationed some fresh fruit and vegetable crudites & dip for guests to help themselves to. They also had tray-passed hors d'oevures during cocktail hour. We passed crab and gouda stuffed mushrooms, mini beef wellingtons, sweet & sour meatballs and split pea soup shots with grilled cheese skewer. As part of our services we also set up a pre-ceremony greeting beverage station with water and lemonade and coffee during the reception. Our team provided all the china, glassware and flatware and helped to arrange all of the place settings at the tables.

A great team of vendors worked together to make this wedding a fun and memorable day for the bride groom and their guests. We were happy to be a part of this special day - life is full of celebrations and we are lucky that in this line of work we get to share these incredible moments with our clients.

Enjoy the pictures captured by the talented Bethany and Whitney Dean of Glass Jar Photography. To see more pictures check out Style Me Pretty's original post.

Photography: Glass Jar Photography | Videography: Glass Jar Photography | Event Planning: Renee Lee - Table 8 | Florist: Ixora Floral Studio | Cake: Porto's Bakery | Catering: Henri's Exquisite Catering | Wedding Venue: Adamson House Rentals: A Rental Connection

4th Of July Dessert Inspiration - Mini Apple Turnovers

With 4th of July just around the corner, we thought we would share a little bite size dessert that is sure to have your family raving. The Apple Pie has long been a classic American favorite. In the middle of summer, a slice with vanilla ice cream on top is perfectly satisfying. However, when you are out on a picnic ready to watch fireworks, an Apple Pie might not be too practical. These bite size apple turnovers have all the familiar flavors everyone loves, are not too sweet and super easy to make.  

Here's a list of ingredients you will need:

• Puff Pastry Dough
• Flour
• Granny Smith Apples
• Brown Sugar
• Granulated Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Butter
• 1 Lemon
• Egg Wash

Peel and cut your granny smith apples into little cubes. Then squeeze about 1 table spoon of lemon juice into the apples. Add some brown sugar and cinnamon - to your liking. Toss your apples with the ingredients together so they are well incorporated. This is what we came up with afterwards.

After, have a pan or skillet on medium heat and melt about two tablespoons of butter. Then add the apple mixture and stir occasionally. You want your apples to get soft and you will notice that a glaze will start to form. This is from the sugar in the apples and the butter in the pan. You want your apples to get nice and soft and for this glaze to form. If you feel you need a little more butter or sugar, feel free to add it to the apples in the pan. After they are cooked and ready, this is what they should look like.

Once your apple mixture is done, remove it from the skillet and into a bowl, you can even place the bowl with the mixture in the fridge to have it cool down a little. This will make it easier to scoop into your puff pastry dough.

Then you will need some puff pastry dough. We make our own dough, but if you do not have the time for that, frozen puff pastry sheets from your grocery's frozen dessert section will be perfect! Make sure they are thawed out so you are able to work with the sheets of dough. Place some flour on your work table and then a piece of puff pastry sheet. You might want to roll out your dough a little bit so it's not too thick. Then cut your sheets into 3-4 inch circles with a biscuit cutter.

 Note: If you don't have a cookie or biscut cutter,  you can also use a glass or plastic cup to cut your circles. 

 

Grab a small scoop or spoon and place a generous table spoon or two into one half of the circles. We apologize for not having a picture of this step! Then after all of your circles have filling in them. Fold the circles in half and seal the turnovers with a fork.

After all your turnovers are sealed, brush some egg wash on them (we made ours with eggs & water). Then mix up some granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle your turnovers with this sugar-cinnamon mix.



Have your oven pre-heated at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your baking sheet full of turnovers in the oven for about 15-20 minutes and/or until golden brown. After they are out of the oven, this is what they should look like!

Let them cool a little, then they will be ready to enjoy. They keep pretty well out of the fridge for about two days or so. You can make them the night before and pack them in a container and enjoy them the next day on your 4th of July fireworks picnic!

Summer Wedding Inspiration

Last year, we catered a beautiful Rustic/Vintage inspired wedding in Simi Valley, CA. Captured by Wild Whim Photography.  

Summer is here! In celebration of it, we thought it would be nice to reminisce and get inspired. Take a look at a wedding we catered last July in 100 degree weather… 

We love a gorgeous outdoor summer wedding.  Not only do you have the natural beauty of your venue to admire but your photographer will love the natural lighting to make every detail shine. 

The Tuscan Villa Estate is nestled in the Santa Susana Pass that takes you into Simi Valley. What makes this venue so special is that you can book this estate as long as you want and can accommodate up to 30 guests overnight. The bride and groom took full advantage of this and had a week long wedding celebration that included a rehearsal dinner and a farewell brunch.  

From the moment we met this adorable couple we knew this was going to be a fun wedding full of unique special touches. Their wedding day was one of the hottest days in Simi Valley, reaching up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit right before their ceremony was scheduled to start. As a vendor, we have to say this made setting up the 200 guest reception much more challenging – but that much more rewarding afterwards. We kept the tablescape simple, per the bride’s request, and only placed water goblets along with the silverware, which was rolled up in a napkin and tied off with twine. The bride’s centerpieces, which consisted of assorted vintage medicine bottles filled with colorful wildflowers, chalk numbers, and candles all placed on top of beautiful vintage crochet doilies really stood out and looked beautiful against the light grey table linens.  The reception was full of unique personal touches, from signage on vintage frames, burlap banners, a custom wedding hashtag for instagramers, and more.

We provided tray-passed hors d’eouvres during cocktail hour and a delicious buffet dinner that included a sit-down salad. [For brides and grooms considering a buffet dinner but still have reservations, you can do a hybrid buffet dinner and offer a sit-down salad course. This way, your guests get something to eat right after they sit down for the reception and then have the remainder of the dinner course on a buffet. Your guests will still feel special and this offers a sense of formality for the wedding reception.] Throughout the reception, guests kept themselves busy with a fun photo booth provided by The Tommy B.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the bride and groom cut into a small token cake and enjoyed a variety of delicious pastries and desserts. We provided freshly brewed coffee with Fresh Whipped Cream, Dark Chocolate Chips, Non Dairy Creamer, Sugar Cubes and Sugar Substitute.

We had so much fun working this wedding and enjoyed being a part of this couple's celebration of love!

Enjoy the beautiful pictures captured by Wild Whim Photography.

Venue: Tuscan Villa Estate

Wedding Coordinator: Amanda Marie Events

Photographer: Wild Whim Photography

Caterer: Henri's Exquisite Catering

Dessert: Carrara Pastries

Florals: Acton Creative Flowers 

Rentals: Tri Valley Rentals 

Photobooth: Tommy B Photobooth 

Wedding Gown: T.O. Bridal Collection

Invitations: Paper & Lace 

Menu:

Hors d'oevures

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Mini Grilled Vegetable Pizzas

Crab and Gouda Stuffed Mushrooms

Salad

Field Greens with Candied Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Crumbled Feta and Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Buffet DInner

Chicken Picatta with Lemon Caper Sauce

Penne Pasta with SunDried Tomatoes, Garlic and Fresh Basil

Summer Grilled Vegetables with Tri-Colored Peppers

Fresh Baked Rolls + Squaw Bread and Butter

Vegetable Crudites and Dip

Fresh Fruit Cascade

Fresh Brewed Coffee with European Set-Up

Our Favorite Pinterest Wedding Trends

Happy Pinning! We have been active on Pinterest and just love some trends we have been seeing this past year.

Photo Credit: Glass Jar Photography

 

Engagement season might be coming to a close but that just means that spring weddings are just around the corner! Pinterest has blown into a mega successful site with millions of pinners creating boards and adding pins about food, travel, arts and crafts to weddings. At Henri's Exquisite Catering we finally joined the Pinterest bandwagon (you are more than welcome to follow us - http://pinterest.com/henriscatering) and I have to say, we absolutely love it! It's a great forum to share ideas and inspirations as well as help with planning a wedding.

 

When it comes to weddings there will always be lots of different trends that go in and out of fashion. What is most important is that you as the bride get inspired and gather ideas  that fit your unique style and budget. The result will be a beautiful wedding that is the reflection of who you and the love of your life are.

 

Here are our top 10 favorite pinterest wedding trends.

 

1. Do-it-Yourself...Hand-Made Details.

For many, the days of Mommy and Daddy paying for a big wedding are gone. The world and economy we live in have changed, and now, more than ever, we see young couples saving and paying for their own dream wedding. Every single detail involved eats a chunk of the wedding budget - as the little things always add up. To save money and add some of their own personality, brides are taking care of those little things. From signs leading guests the right way. Hand-Made Pom Poms to decorate the wedding isle. We love this idea - because flowers will eat a significant chunk of your money - while we think that flowers are beautiful - if your budget is a little tighter keep it more simple in the ceremony and get flower centerpieces for your reception. For beach weddings starfish and twine to place on the wedding isle chairs. Brides are not just limiting themselves to the decor, they are taking charge and creating their own beautiful invitations for a lot less than the cost of custom ordering them.

                

2. Chalk Boards

They look great - they're inexpensive and allow you to completely customize your wedding. You can find them in dollar stores, craft stores or for those that are more adventurous you can find frames in thrift stores and paint them with chalk paint!

 

3. The Signature Cocktail

For those that enjoy their cocktails, having a few signature cocktails in addition to beer, wine and soft drinks will make your guests feel special and will have those that enjoy their drinks happy. If you are looking to save money and are considering a cash bar - we highly suggest against it - wedding guests don't usually come prepared to spend money on their drinks. Save money by buying your own liquor and drinks instead of having your caterer do it. If you do this ahead of time you can look for specials and save lots of money. If you feel like you can't afford to buy hard liquor for signature cocktails, do beer and wine - your guests will be just fine.

                        

4. Mason Jars

Yes, they are all over pinterest and the rest of the world wide web. We love them. For a party of 100 guests all you need is a dozen box of mason jars that you can buy anywhere nowadays. Give the jars to your florist and have them arrange your centerpieces in them. To save money keep the arrangement simple - have them tie some twine or ribbon, and you have the makings of a gorgeous centerpiece.

5. Burlap

Now we realize that this does not necessarily work with all weddings. Most of this depends on your style, theme, and venue. But for those that are going for a more rustic/barn look we love the creative use of this material.

     






































6. Ombre Wedding Cakes

The Ombre. It's on hair, nails, and cake! If you want to be bold have the outisde of your cake frosted in ombre style. If you want to be a little more suttle, have a simple white frosted cake with an ombre pink champagne cake center.

 

 

7. Bite Size

Hors d'oevures are not just for cocktail hour anymore! Many more creative  brides on a budget are going for nothing but bite size for their reception. While some might be skeptical as to how well fed your guests are going to be - if you work it out with your caterer and get other things in the mix (we include fresh fruit displays, vegetable crudites and dip, fresh made rolls, and a beverage or two) you will find that your guests will leave your wedding with happy tummys. We are seeing people request sliders, soup shots, and lots of small appetizers.

                                         














































8. Food Bars

They are great for a relaxed and casual reception. People love anything they can customize. Some popular choices are: Soft Taco Bars, Mashed Potato Bars, and Pasta Bars. These are especially great if you know you have a  lot of picky eaters.

                                    

9. Goodbye Wedding Cake!

While we simply love a traditional wedding cake, lots of brides are stepping outside the box and going with cupcakes and cake pops and just having a small topper to slice.

If you want to go this route to save some money, just be careful and always go with a simple design. Cake and flavor don't necessarily increase the price of your cake it is the design and materials that can skyrocket the cost.

10. Thoughtful Outdoor Weddings

Outdoor Weddings are beautiful. But if it's one thing we don't have control over it's mother nature. It's best to always be prepared and get things like fans, sunglases or shawls for your guests. Go to discount stores and get these in bulk for savings. For those in Southern California, check out Downtown Los Angeles for great deals in the Garmet District.

              

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whatever your inspiration is, always be sure to remember that while thinking of your guests is important at the end of the day this is YOUR wedding. This is the day that you will remember for the rest of your life and the day that you will one day be telling your children and grandchildren about. Do what you think is best and make it all about you and the love of your life. The one piece of advice we can share with you is keep it simple to keep it elegant to keep it affordable and have a great time!