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Starting to plan your 2020 wedding? Before you start booking your caterers and your venues, consider settling on a theme. A themed wedding is fun and whimsical, and can also reduce a lot of the decision-making involved. When you have a theme, things like colours, decor, music, and food come together more easily and you can concentrate on the areas of the wedding that matter most to you.

Garden Weddings

A lovely wedding at the botanical gardens doesn't have to wait for spring. If you love fresh flowers, green plants, butterflies, and delicate food and drink, a garden-inspired wedding is a great choice. Garden weddings often have lighter fare, such as canapés and spritzers, and can be held throughout the year in enclosed garden environments. Pay special attention to floral accents such as bouquets and centrepieces, and consider a gown to match.

Nature-Inspired Weddings

Get in touch with your natural side at a venue like the Prince Henry Centre. Nature-inspired weddings can span the gamut from romantic to rustic, depending on what you and your soon-to-be-spouse enjoy. Go to a cabin retreat, or enjoy your time in the rolling hills. Going back to nature can turn a stressful event into a relaxing one, especially if you don't like the hustle and bustle of the city.

Gatsby/1920's Weddings

Bring the roaring 20s to the 2020s. Gatsby style parties are exceptionally popular and decadent. If you yearn for the fashion styles, arts, and entertainment of yesteryear, consider theming your wedding appropriate to a different time altogether. You can pull up old pictures when planning out your decor, and have your groomsmen and bridesmaids dress accordingly. It'll be a special moment out of time for you and your spouse.

Beach-Themed Weddings

Beach-themed weddings are exceptionally popular, and Australia has some of the best beaches in the world. Wylie's Bath, Coogie Surf Club, and the  North Bondi Life Saving Club are all great choices for weddings and other types of events, such as Sydney corporate catering events. Beach-themed wedding can have casual attire such as sundresses, and are a more laid back choice all around. Choose some modern, BBQ-themed menus, and you'll have everything set for a proper "luau."

Black Tie Weddings

Consider going full formal with a black tie event. A lot of people consider weddings themselves the most formal occasion they'll ever go to, but black tie events are even more formal and give people a great chance to dress up to their very best. It may be the only chance you get to create the gala of your dreams! Elevate your menu with a sophisticated palate, canapés, and custom drinks.

Vintage Venue Weddings

Historical and vintage venues are really a theme of themselves, such as the State Library of New South Wales. If you love certain architecture, consider looking for a building that you love, too. You can theme your wedding around the time that the building was developed, and consequently create a beautiful wedding that will look like it stepped right out of a picture book.

Seasonal Weddings

We've talked about using seasonal produce for catering for corporate events, and seasonal produce seasonal themes can also be used to enhance a wedding. Seasonal produce is better tasting, more visually appealing, and supports local Australian farmers. If you're looking for a theme, consider a winter, summer, autumn, or spring wedding.

As you plan out your 2020 wedding, consider Laissez-faire's partnered venues. By working with Laissez-faire, you can get your catering and venue arranged with ease, and start thinking about the other elements of your wedding now. We even provide complete wedding packages, so you don't need to worry about anything at all.

Contact us today at (02) 9209 4810 or make an enquiry online.

When you think about your wedding, do you imagine a "summer" wedding or a "winter" wedding? Many brides instinctively think of a specific season when they envision their perfect wedding, but why is that? Each season comes with its own decor, catering, drinks, and general mood and feel. Here are a few of the differences between summer and winter weddings — things you'll need to know if you're starting to plan a wedding in 2020.

Which Season is More Popular for a Wedding?

There's no "best" wedding season, but summer tends to be far more popular than winter. Summer comes with fewer weather-related issues, and in Australia is around the busy holiday season. If you want a summer wedding, you need to start your planning much earlier. You have to book venues in advance, book caterers in advance, and generally be on top of your preparation.

Winter weddings, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable and easier to book. The truth is only about 5% of weddings occur during the winter, because people don't want to have a lot of overlap with the holiday season. But if you want a small, cozy wedding with close friends and family, there isn't a season better.

Seasonal Foods for the Summer and Winter

Today, seasonal, fresh foods are an important part of wedding catering. During the summer and the winter, different flavours will be highlighted. Most people know which types of food they love. Do you love crisp, refreshing fruits, cocktails, and bright, cheery fare? Or do you like luxurious spices, warm drinks, and comforting, hearty meals?

In the summer, expect that the following will be in season: avocados, bananas, cherries, passion fruit, peaches, plumbs, strawberries, asparagus, beans, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, celery, chillies, eggplant, leeks, mushrooms, pumpkins, snow peas, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnip, and zucchini.

In the winter, expect that the following will be in season: beansprouts, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, fennel, mushrooms, potatoes, winter, and spinach. 

Winter menus are going to lend itself to thick stews and warm drinks such as mulled ciders and wines, while summer menus will likely have more delicate fare. But you're not married to any of this:   take a look at our menus to get some ideas, and explore different types of possible cuisine.

How Do You Decorate for a Seasonal Wedding?

During the summer, things are often kept light and breezy, with bright colours and pastels. During the winter, things can be brought into a cosier, warmer atmosphere, replete with fireplaces and holiday-themed decor. Of course, any theme can be modified to fit any season, depending on what you want your ideal wedding to look like. The only caveat: a winter wedding is more likely to be indoors, which does need to be taken into consideration.

When you want to decorate seasonally, take a look at the "themes" of the season. For instance, fall colours are browns and oranges, with different types of gourds. Comparatively, summer colours are pastels, and winter colours tend to be dark blues and whites.

How Do You Find the Right Venue?

Summer weather opens up a    lot of wonderful outdoor locations in and around Sydney. But as mentioned, these venues are more likely to be booked during the summer. The winter venues are less likely to be booked, but you won't be able to choose any outdoor locations. It's a definite trade off that you should consider.

Does all of that sound a little overwhelming? Just like planning parties and catering for corporate events, planning a wedding can be a tremendous undertaking. Why not get some help? At Laissez-faire,   we offer wedding packages  that will take the pressure off your wedding planning. By booking a caterer early on and letting them take the lead, you can get help with your catering, trends, menus, venues, and more. Whether you want a winter wedding, a summer wedding, or any other type of seasonal theme, we can help you get exactly what you want. 

It's the perfect time to start planning a wedding, especially if you just got engaged. To get started, contact us today at (02) 9209 4810.

After the proposal and engagement party is done, taking the first steps to planning your wedding can be daunting. The world of weddings seems full of endless possibilities. You have so many ideas for your wedding reception in a beautiful forest, or maybe you’ll have an extraordinary disco, a big white wedding in a giant hall, or a princess wedding with ball gowns and tuxedos. If you’re thinking of adventure, you may wear your wedding jumpsuits and after saying your “I do's”, jump off a plane and parachute to the ground!

These ideas may sound fun and truly unforgettable, but then, you sit down with your bride or groom to be and actually start planning your wedding. All the endless wedding possibilities becomes an endless circle of decision making. Where do you start? How can you afford your wedding? How many guests will you have? What about the food and drinks?

There are many checklists that you can print out to keep up with your wedding preparations. To get you started thinking about the different aspects that make up a wedding, we’ve included the most basic and the most important things that you need to prepare for the big day. Let’s begin.

 

When every detail is perfect #events #cater #catering #laissez_faire_catering #events #perfect

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Set A Budget for Catering, Venue, Decor, Photographers

Setting a budget will get everything rolling. You need to allot your budget for dresses/suits, wedding theme decorations, the wedding and reception venues, food and drinks, flowers, wedding photographers and videographers, entertainment and the audio visual setup.

Make Your Guest List

This is one of the first wedding logistics you should think about after setting the budget. When you know how much money you have to spend, you’ll know roughly how many people you can accommodate for. This may change so don’t make any promises to work acquaintances or distant 3rd cousins who want a wedding invite.

The number of guests will also depend on the season your wedding date falls into and how far guests will have to travel to the wedding venue or reception venue. Once you have a rough number this will give you an idea of how much food and drink needs to be prepared and possible venues that are suitable.

 

Wedding ready #privateparty #privateevents #wedding #laissez_faire_catering #cater #orderin #yes #love

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Find your Perfect Sydney Wedding Venue

There are so many wedding venues in Sydney that will fit your budget and still come out as a romantic and memorable place for your wedding and reception party. Some good wedding venues include:

• The Australian National Maritime Museum
• Harbor 220
• Prince Henry Centre
• Barangaroo Reserve
• State Library of New South Wales
• The Island
• Cell Block Theatre
• Wylies baths
• Bangarra
• The University of Sydney
• Roundhouse
• Coogee Surf Club
• Hyde Park Barracks
• The Royal Botanical Gardens
• White Bay Cruise Terminal
• Carriageworks
• The Venue
• Chinese Gardens
• The Freedom Hub
• La Porte Space

Click here to read the full details about these venues.

 

Event preparation #cellblocktheatre #cellblock #events #cater #catering #laissez_faire_catering #laissezfaire #food

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Choosing The Wedding Reception Style - Your Sydney Catering Options

Whether you’re thinking of an elegant or traditional wedding or a small and intimate gathering with your family and friends, there will be a style that fits your taste. Here are some examples our staff have seen first hand:

#1 Plated Dinner

This is a sit-down dinner, which is considered the most traditional and most formal since each guest is individually served a plated meal. Usually three courses are served; the entrée, main and dessert. The caterer will usually give guests a choice of two entrees which are selected beforehand or guests can swap with each other to get the meal they will most enjoy.

With this style, every guest will get their food at the same time and the caterer will know how much food will need to be purchased since the menu is pre-selected. Catering this way can mean that costs are lower as compared to a buffet or family-style meal.

#2 Buffet

Food   buffets are usually set up on long tables and guests can walk along and serve themselves. Servers can also be stationed behind the buffet table to serve the guests. This style is considered one of the most casual styles of meal service, but it’s also efficient.

This style requires fewer servers, thus you may save money on catering staff charges. Buffets are also a cost effective way of providing guests with a variety of food choices and promotes interaction among guests.

#3 Food Stations

This is similar to a buffet but the food is usually spread out across the venue at different stations. One area may be a carving station for meats, one for desserts, a sushi bar, a tapas station and a beverage station. Portions are served in a food station style, meaning they are on the smaller side which usually takes just about three bites to finish.

 

Purrfect Saturday afternoon #Catering #laissez_faire_catering #Food #foodstations #harbour #harbour220

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Just like a buffet, your guests will be pleased with the wide variety of food and drinks being served. Guest won’t have to wait in line since every station is spread all over the reception and people have different tastes. This also promotes a lot of interaction and mingling among the guests.

#4 Family Style Service

Just like a sit down dinner, guests are assigned specific dinner tables and the servers bring large portions of food to the dinner table on serving platters where guests can fill their own plates, just like they would at home.

#5 Cocktail Style

This style features hors d’oeuvres and other bite size offerings served all evening in contrast to a sit down meal. The hors d’oeuvres are usually one or two bite sized portions and can be a combination of hot and cold food options. The bite-sized foods can be served by waiters or they can be at stations for guests to get themselves. This is a good choice for a more casual atmosphere and gives the most opportunity for guests to mingle, meet and talk to each other.

 

C A N A P E S #laissezfairecatering #laissezfaire #laissez_faire_catering #events #catering #cater #party

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Planning the Drinks

Choosing the drinks can also be a daunting task, but you don’t have to worry. Below are some examples of drinks that you can have on your wedding day.

#1 Bubbly

Good ol’ bubbly as a celebratory drink never gets old. You can have a little before your wedding to calm your nerves and celebrate the union by popping up another bottle. Bubblies vary in flavor, so if you can, do some tastings before you decide what bottle to get. Champagne can cost you $12 for a decent bottle and about $60-$250 for the best and top of the line champagnes.

#2 Wines

When choosing wines for your wedding, consider the time of the year and the wedding location. Summer weddings and lunches are best suited for whites, lighter-style reds and rose like pinot noir or cabernet franc. Winter weddings on the other hand are suited for robust merlots and bordeaux. The menu will also play a part in choosing your wine. Your chosen caterer will help you with pairing a great wine.

#3 Beer and Non-alcoholic Drinks

Serving good beer is an easy option and can be great for rain, hail or shine. Also since, you’re a responsible host, there should be also plenty of non-alcoholic drinks like juice, non-alcoholic cocktails, punch, sparkling mineral water and sodas.

 

Ready? #yesplease #eventlife #events #launchparty #laissezfaire #laissez_faire_catering #drinks #veuveclicquot

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Incorporate an Audio-visual System

The size and equipment will depend on how big the venue is. Hotels and other large venues provide their own AV system which is usually included in the package whenever you rent one of their ballroom or event spaces. If not, consider hiring only the essentials. Maybe you want some lights to hit the dancefloor?

Find Wedding Entertainment

You can hire a DJ or a band to provide entertainment for your wedding party. Most live performers will bring their own equipment to the venue. But mostly all the other PA systems like speakers and microphones will be provided by the venue or you can also hire a 3rd party sound system company if the equipment provided by the venue is not adequate.

As always, it’s best to prepare early so that all the details can be ironed out before the event and everything will go according to plan. Good luck.

When planning a wedding you want to make the event as memorable as possible, and this is why it is so important to take advantage of today's latest wedding catering trends. After all, no one forgets a fantastic meal! Let's take a quick look at a few of them.

Interactive Culinary Kiosks

While it might seem traditional to provide guests with already prepared food items, the truth is, letting your guests get interactive with the foods they enjoy at a wedding is a great way to make the event more memorable. With interactive culinary kiosks, guests can easily customise their cocktails and meals. While they are enjoying a nice, slow dance on the dance floor, the chefs and bartenders can be creating their specific culinary requests. One type of food that you will definitely want them to customise is canapes. Check out our extensive canapes menu here.

Provide Healthy Options

There is nothing better than providing wedding guests with a meal that is not only hearty but healthy too. By using organic ingredients, it becomes possible to create food items that are good for the heart and good for the soul. With this in mind, it's always a good idea to offer at least one or two green courses on the wedding menu, such as a fresh salad or organic string green beans. And don't let the healthy eating stop with food. Did you know many types of alcoholic beverages can be created with organic ingredients? With this in mind, you'll want to ask your catering company about the various organic beverage options they provide.

Get Bold with Colours

When picking out wedding linens and flowers, you are definitely going to want to consider your food options. Yes, your food will need to coordinate with your wedding decor. Today's top wedding catering companies have started infusing various colors into different food items, easily allowing food menus to complement wedding decor. To keep things simple, however, you can always go with a black and white wedding and take advantage of ice cream sandwiches on the dessert menu. As far as your cake goes, consider white buttercream icing on top of rich chocolate cake slices.

Don't Get Greedy with Beverages

If you're going to serve alcohol, make sure you serve a plentiful buffet of choices. From wines and cocktails to hard liqueurs, you'll want to include everything from California wine to schnapps and more. On your beverage bar buffet, make sure to provide bowls of fruit that can be used to top off the beverages. Some of the best fruits to offer include diced pear pieces, white grapes and a variety of berries. Check out our vast menu of beverage options here.

The Takeaway

There are a variety of wedding packages to choose from, so it is extremely important that you consider your different options. Check out our wedding package options here. Also, make sure to ask your caterer about the different wedding catering trends that are becoming more popular in 2018; you'll want to incorporate these trends into your wedding to make an event that leaves the happy couple and guests with memories to last a lifetime.

See more wedding catering photos on our instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/laissez_faire_catering/

So you’ve just become engaged and you’re wondering when you should have your wedding. Part of you would like to have a summer wedding, on a beautiful warm day with a very lovely evening that everybody can enjoy. On the other hand, winter might be the ideal time to get married. Venues might be easier to book around this time, and there’s always the option of planning a proper white wedding overseas, with a beautiful church in the snow, candle lights and the festive atmosphere.

 

#equality #yes #thankyou #australia #voteyes #laissez_faire_catering #lovewins #lovewins🌈 #samelove #weareone #celebrate

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Here are our tips for planning your wedding - whether it’s in summer or winter.

Venue

Weather aside, the first thing you need to consider if you want to get married during summer or winter is the venue. A number of venues make themselves available at different times of the year.

Say for example, if you were able to get a fabulous outdoor area that you want to fill with marquees, then plan on getting married during the warmer months. On the other hand, if you want your wedding to be more intimate and have a cosy feeling, a winter wedding can work to your advantage.

 

Wedding ready #events #wedding #cater #catering #sydney #university #thegreathall #laissez_faire_catering #laissezfaire

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Budget

Other important things that you need to consider are your budget and the venue’s availability. A large percentage of couples tend to marry during summer as compared to winter, thus more popular venues tend to be booked well in advance, specifically on weekends. Also wedding suppliers such as photographers, florists, caterers, and chauffeurs are likely to be very busy.

If you schedule your wedding on a less popular day of the week, say Wednesday or Thursday, there’s a high chance that you will get the venue and wedding suppliers of your choice. Keep in mind there can be waiting lists for venues, wedding dresses and decorators during the more popular months so it’s never too early to start planning.

Winter Wedding

One good thing about a winter wedding is that more people will actually attend the event because they are less likely to book holidays during winter. Plus, most people tend to enjoy a good family get together at this time of the year.

As mentioned earlier, finding venues and suppliers will be easier if you’re looking to book for winter. This might mean your wedding will be kind to your budget and your stress levels! Your dream venue will likely be more available and they may give a special rate which is always good. Your out-of-town friends may also find plenty of accommodation with special rates.

Winter weddings can still be creative. Dress your bridesmaids with brightly-coloured pashminas or scarves. Decorate the venue using tea lights and twinkling candles, serve hot chocolate or warm/hot mulled wine at the reception together with some spicy canape sausages, mince pies, warm soups and hearty stews.

Your winter wedding will not be forgotten any time soon, because everyone enjoys something different once in a while. It will be more intimate with a cozy and warm atmosphere.

Winter Wedding Menu Ideas

With a winter wedding, you can provide a cozy atmosphere for your reception with a warm and hearty meal using seasonal flavors with classic winter cocktails and treats.

For appetisers and main dishes, a soup course will not be out of place. Soup shooters served during cocktail hour is a good starter, comfort foods like mini grilled cheese sandwiches, butternut squash ravioli, tiny spaghetti and meatballs hors d’oeuvres and a hearty meal of meat and potatoes with gravy as your main dish.

 

What's new #springmenu #new #laissez_faire_catering #laissezfaire #catering #events #menu #lamb #australianlamb #victoria #seasonal

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Drinks can be a spiked hot chocolate bar for the adults. You can set up toppings like whipped cream, nuts, small candies and marshmallows. You can also go for signature warm cocktails like mulled wine and some good old bottles of scotch.

For desserts, pies and tarts work well for winter weddings, if your place has no snow and is close to the beach or a fireplace, create a s’mores bar. You can also have pudding, lemon curd crème brulee with hazelnut flapjacks, coffee, petits fours, Boozy marzipan balls, chocolate macaroons. A fruit bar will also be a good fit for the setting.

Summer Weddings

Obviously, the weather is usually much nicer in summer. Summer just gives people a happier and more energised vibe. Think about having a mid-afternoon wedding and then dance throughout the evening with your guests at the reception.

You’ll need to book early for everything if you’re planning for a summer wedding…. the venue, the wardrobe, photographers, catering and florist.

Summer Wedding Menu Ideas

Summer weddings are fun and you can start off with plenty of refreshing drinks. Nonalcoholic lemonade or iced tea bars are popular, offering different flavours and colours. Sangria is an easy and refreshing option for alcohol. For cocktails it can be hibiscus iced tea with raspberry liqueur and citron vodka or cucumber-mint lemonade.

For entrees, barbecues are an easy to manage option that everyone will enjoy. Make sure you have some grilled vegetarian options. A whole pig roast is a great summer wedding main, but if you prefer a lighter meal, you can always go for chicken and fish. Still, grilled carved meats will never go out of style during summer weddings.

Desserts can be a mini-scoop trio of sorbet flavours that mimic the colors or decorations of your wedding. With so many flavors to choose from - melon, lime, raspberry, mango, and more - you're sure to find something yummy that suits your style. Fruit platters served with chilled sparkling wine are also a welcome treat after having some barbecue with friends and family. Or for the ultimate dessert, check out this donut wall!

 

Breakfast? A perfect donut wall for some sweet clients #donuts #donutwall #events #catering #food #laissez_faire_catering #sydneyevents #events #eventspace #eventstyle #eventplanner #evebtdesign #eventadvisers

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If you need more tips on wedding catering ideas, check out this blog post.

Laissez-faire Catering also offers Wedding Packages. You can download our package information by clicking on the banner below:

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Wedding Food Trends in 2017, as Predicted by the Experts (us!)

Food is always a big part of any wedding, and this is what our brides want:

1. Seasonal Food

 Seasonal food, served family-style. As we all know, people are much more conscious about what they’re eating these days, so serving a good range of food (seasonal sides, salads, meats, crispy potatoes…) on big platters allow people to customise what ends up on their plate. It’s also a very social way to share and enjoy food.

2. Farm-to-table

Farm-to-table isn’t just the biggest trend in restaurants right now; it’s also the hottest thing in weddings. Nowadays, brides aren’t just asking for organic greens – they are asking for the exact farm that their greens came from. We are working with local farms to create the best menu and experience for the new-age bride.

3. Fancy Comfort Foods 

Who doesn’t love a delicious burger or some French fries? It doesn’t mean that you have to risk your wedding becoming more of a party than an elegant affair. Couples are loving comfort foods that are presented in innovative and elegant ways.

4. Bread and Butter

A selection of breads and flavored butters. We all love homemade butter and fresh-from-the-oven loaves of bread. This adds a special touch to any event.

The Ceremony took place in the courtyard surrounded by all the lovely old sandstone blocks, followed by drinks and then an amazing dinner in the cell block with a Phantom of the Opera inspired theme.

Large candelabras twinkled on three long grandeur tables all in white and silver and accompanied by amazing lighting and sound!  The bride and groom even put on a dramatic dance on stage which then transformed to a dance floor into the early hours of the morning - what a night!