An Essex Wedding - Page number 94 - September/October 2021 (Issue 100)

DID SOMEONE SAY BRUNCH? The brunch craze – unless you’ve been under a rock for a few years it’s a fusion of breakfast and lunch – is a fab contemporary wedding breakfast offering for relaxed ‘I dos’. Although 2021 weddings are perhaps opting for touch-free alternatives to grazing tables, we expect to see them return bigger and better than ever in 2022. Whether you provide mini ‘brunch baskets’ of much-loved favourites of pastries, fruits and cakes, or are planning your extravagant tables for next year of masses of continental breakfast delights, and hot choices to boot; the key is presentation. For the small option, think quirky hampers and baskets with red and white picnic blankets and mason drinking jars; and for the full on table platters opt for fun quirky signs such as ‘You’re the bacon to my eggs’, or ‘spread the love’ flagging up the condiments table. The beauty of hiring in foody trucks/stations is that you can combine multiple offerings for guests, think: brunch bars, waffle and crêpe stations, and pizza vans in the evening. Not only are they indulgent comfort food options loved by all ages, but the ‘live cooking’ aspect is added entertainment value. If the whole day is outdoors, think about how you can break down the day’s food offerings in to themes so, light lunch, fruit, brunch, bloody marys and desserts with picnic-style cushions and blankets during the day; then as the night sets in, have lanterns providing the light, pizza vans, firepits to toast marshmallows with s’more kits for guests. End the night with a mulled spiced cocktail and sparklers – a picture-perfect end! TAKE YOUR SEATS As we approach the winter months, seasonal weddings really come in to their own. Floral displays have more texture, plenty of greenery and alternative elements such as pinecones; while colour palettes boast deeper, richer tones reflective of the time of year. One element which is restricted though is outdoor dining, and with Covid at the back of our minds for the rest of 2021 at least, couples will be opting for sit-down waiter service when it comes to the wedding breakfast. But alas, traditional certainly doesn’t mean boring, far from it. Firstly, table layouts and tablescaping: T-shape table designs are proving oh-so popular enabling the happy couple to sit at the ‘head’ of the table while not being too far away from their guests. While tablescaping – creating a scene in the centre of the table with a cohesive theme and feel – will ensure your guests have a visually pleasing view no matter how long they are seated for. With the sit-down three-course (or four if you’re real foodies) making a return, how do you get creative with your food choices? Canapés remain a firm favourite and offer a way to show your personalities; if you love a toad in the hole, why not offer mini-versions? It’s always worth having sweet options, savoury, vegan and vegetarian to make sure all your guests are covered. Ask your caterers to hold some back for you both as it’s easy to miss these making the round when chatting to guests. If you’re tying the knot at the height of a season i.e summer or winter, let that be your inspiration for your menu. Christmas nuptials can start with a rich homemade chicken liver and calvados pâté, with spiced apple chutney and toasted walnut bread, followed by lamb shanks in a deep port sauce, finished off with a hearty stick toffee pudding; veggies can enjoy pumpkin soup, beetroot and cheese risotto, and a chocolate, peanut butter and avocado pudding. Your chosen caterers can advise what produce is in season, be it asparagus, and create a dish utilising this – it’s also great for your sustainability and eco-credentials which is at the forefront of couples’ choices nowadays. What’s more, ‘farm to fork’ is again something the last year in lockdowns has shown us; where does our food come from? How is it sourced and where is it sourced? Using local suppliers not only supports small independent businesses, but it also cuts down on your carbon footprint so you can have a ‘green’ big day. Check out … THE TEAPOD Essex’s The TeaPod offers a range of packages starting with providing a healthy breakfast for the wedding party, early afternoon snacks or just the sweet treat on the big day right through to bringing the ‘midnight munchies’. The TeaPod serves sweet and savoury crêpes and waffles alongside milkshakes, speciality teas (which make perfect wedding favours), coffee, cold drinks and a range of confectionery items ‒ vegan, dairy- and gluten-free items are also available! The trailer, with an eye-catching floral design, sits well in natural settings in stately manors, hotel gardens, woodland sites, walled gardens and lots of homes! To complete the full service wedding offering, The TeaPod’s owner/operator Therese is also a certified wedding celebrant so is really in tune with all aspects of your big day! Check out: www.theteapod.co.uk 94