Alyson and Jeff are Married!

Just a sneak peek from Susan Sancomb Photography of Alyson and Jeff's Wedding....

More to come...

We are so excited for you both!

Vineyard Wedding

We are so excited to share photos from one of our first weddings of the season at Saltwater Farm Vineyard! Jean and Jim were married on a beautiful April day, in front of 50 of their closest friends and family, after many many years together. Everyone was so excited to celebrate with the Bride and Groom, and we were thrilled to be a part of it!

Here are some of our favorite shots, courtesy of Robert Norman Photography:

Beautiful Bouquet from Hana Floral Design

Rentals provided by Rentals Unlimited

Hana Floral Design

Our Custom Designed Buttercream Cake with Mousse Filling Stole the Show....
the guests all voted this their favorite thing on the Menu!

Harissa and Honey Grilled Shrimp, Lime Creme Fraiche

Pecan and Gorgonzola Stuffed Mushrooms

Artichoke and Spinach, Herbed Phyllo

Congratulations, Jean and Jim! Thank you for allowing us to be such a big part in your special day!

Vendor Recognition:

Catering and Event Coordination: Coastal Gourmet Catering, Keri Gannon

Wedding Cake: Coastal Gourmet Catering and Mystic Market

Florist: Hana Floral Design

Music: Keith Alan Productions

Photographer: Robert Norman Photography

Rentals: Rentals Unlimited

Linens: Table Top Fashions

Stonington Meadows Tent

We are so excited to host Waterford High School's Senior Prom tomorrow at Stonington Meadows! The class of 2012 had so many kids that wanted to attend that we had to put an addition on to our beautiful ballroom. Here is a sneak peek of the stunning Sperry Tent that was just put up in our back yard. What a wonderful addition to our serene setting...looking forward to the celebration!

Photos Courtesy of Keri's iPhone!

It's Prom Season!

Photo Courtesy of Seth Jacobson Photography

We were so happy to host Williams School's Senior Class this past weekend, and are looking forward to having Waterford High School's Seniors this weekend at Stonington Meadows. I must say, I was quite impressed with the decorating committee - they did a great job! Check back to see how our Ballroom was transformed for the festivities!

Top Wedding Insurance Claims of 2011

While every couple hopes that their wedding day will be seamless, with no unexpected twists or turns throughout the planning process, or on the day of the actual wedding, sometimes things happen that throw a wrench into your plans. Some issues can be easily fixed (think cute boots and umbrellas on a rainy day), and others may cause a financial strain (like having to cancel your outdoor wedding because a hurricane is hitting land the day of your tented wedding). 

Since catering takes up a big portion of the wedding budget, and our team at Coastal Gourmet is so heavily involved in the overall planning process, our clients frequently direct a lot of the "what if" questions our way. 

Some of the most common inquiries:

"What if it rains and my ceremony is planned outdoors?"

"What if it snows and our guests are unable to travel to the wedding?"

"What if one of my vendors doesn't show up?"

"What if we need to cancel the wedding or postpone it for some reason?"

I would like to believe that we have seen it all, and have excellent solutions for almost every scenario that might come up, but on occasion, there are things that are out of our control, or anyone's control for that matter! That is when we suggest purchasing some good'ole Wedding Insurance. 

Propertycasualty360 recently published an article about Wedding Insurance Claims, which might persuade you to consider looking into this option if you are investing a lot into your upcoming wedding celebration. These were the major contributors in 2011:

Unavoidable Cancellations, such as Cold Feet the Day of the Wedding: 4%

Military Deployment: 5%

Attire Problems, like a Bridal Shop Closing: 8%

Weather: 10%

Vandalism/Theft, like someone stealing your wedding cards and cash: 13% 

Sickness/Injury/Mishaps: 19% 

Vendor/Venue Issues or No-Shows: 31% 

*For the full article, click here.

For the record, if you are getting married and you are reading this, YOUR wedding day is going to be the picture of perfection...the sun will be shining, the grass will be green, birds will be chirping, and I am almost certain there will be a rainbow off in the distance that will appear just as you share your first kiss. In the off-chance that my psychic powers are off today, I suggest having a plan-B in case of rain, and an insurance plan in case of any other un-anticipated problems.

Mother of the Bride

Is your daughter getting married this year and you are stressed out about what to wear?  Don't be!  Check out this website for Mother of the Bride Dresses ; and the best part...they're having a SALE!

Although, it's your daughters special day, treat yourself to something nice too.  After all you deserve it!

xoxo,

Coastal Gourmet Team

Light Bites

Spring is here, and we are very excited for some seasonal celebrations!

Looking for a unique twist on a traditional lunch or brunch menu for a Bridal or Baby Shower, Christening or Communion Party?

Try some fun and light items like these: