Delivering December & our 2017 Wedding Trend Predictions

Happy New Year you lovely lot! We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year. 2017 has arrived and we are back at work and ready for all of the exciting events and weddings ahead of us. Our December was full of Christmas parties galore and lots of super fun events.

In amongst the canape and drinks parties, we had some dinners mixed in and some festive lunches too. Christmas parties are all about the fun and the festive treats, think mulled wine, Christmas cocktails and a few hundred or so mince pies to boot! Turkey, trimmings, beef wellington and some seriously tasty sticky toffee pudding. We were lucky enough to be back at Windsor Guildhall for a Christmas Dinner and it really was a beautiful setting. We also got to provide some cute Christmas canapes for the lovely ladies at B.loved for their festive mingle.

We were also invited to a few Christmas parties and gatherings ourselves where we got to catch up with fellow wedding industry pros and celebrate the year with some festive cheer. One of the highlights included a scrummy afternoon tea at The Bingham – such a beautiful hotel in Richmond, with a riverside setting that is ideal for weddings.

December certainly flew past and we can’t believe it’s another year and January already! As event and wedding professionals, people always ask us what we think will be popular in the forthcoming year…well here is our top 5 predictions for weddings and catering.

1. Greenery – Pantone’s colour of the year is Greenery – quite a vibrant bold green which is quite the contrast to last year’s pastel hues. Whether used as a theming throughout your wedding or event, we think foliage will be used in abundance and in a loose, wild and natural way.
2. Tropical – The tropical trend was popular last year, but mixed with the Greenery, we think this will really take off. Long reign the pinks, oranges, flamingos and pineapples!
3. Industrial Luxe – Think copper, marble and warehouses with metal, stone and metallic elements, mixed with geodes and geometric contemporary designs and décor.
4. Foodie Heaven – couples want to go BIG on food and splurge a little. Food after all is a big part of the day! Choosing their favourite food and going all out, matching wines and drinks too. P.S – keep any eye out for completely raw, vegan and gluten free menus too!
5. Food stations and informal catering will be key – as will drinks stations. We have no doubt that artisan gins and craft beers will be big as will botanical drinks.

Are you getting married in 2017? Will any of the above be featuring? We would love to know and find out more about your plans. We have a busy January ahead – focusing on some upcoming weddings and events and finalising plans, also prepping for a Valentine’s wedding too – how romantic!

Until next time…Emma. x

October Occurrences

So the clocks have gone back and the mornings are rather dark and dreary…but that doesn’t mean we are! Far from it! We are now on the countdown to party season and whilst wedding season seems to have calmed down, we’ve still had plenty to cater for this month and are in the full swing of planning ones for next year. Amongst some big birthdays and a corporate to end the month we are planning something super exciting for later this year and we can’t wait to reveal all.

Food and Events

October has bought with it the usual mix of weddings, social and corporates in amongst planning something fabulous for the next couple of months. But that’s for another time. The month started off with a fabulous 50^th. We catered for a fancy but informal tipi based party at the client’s home. Bowls of yumminess were served followed by some sweet treats and bountiful amounts of cheese, all washed down with champagne, wine and some local beers. Sometimes a slightly more informal feel to the catering for a birthday works just as well. We love bowl food – guests get to mix and match with various dishes and it saves on the formal sitting down; you can mingle and chat whilst eating and no formal seating plan is needed!

The midst of the month saw weddings take place, one back at Micklefield Hall. We loved the menu for this one – wood pigeon followed by wild bass, topped off with salted caramel and peanut butter cheesecake – yes pleasseee!

Spread throughout the month we had corporate events, ending in one biggy at Windsor Guildhall for a lovely group of hoteliers. Impressing 70 top hoteliers takes some doing…but luckily we managed! Go Team GB!

Weddings

This month we have mainly been in full planning mode for next year, gathering quotes and presenting them to our clients. This part of planning is always the most time consuming but it pays to get it right, particularly matching the right supplier to couple and ensuring that they have the vision and style that is designed and wanted for the wedding day. It’s actually quite fun and we love presenting all information to the couples and are then on hand for advice.

In between all of the quote gathering we were at Stoke Park’s wedding showcase mid-month where we got to meet some wonderful couples and thoroughly enjoyed chatting about their weddings and plans; it’s always such an exciting time!

This time of year brings various networking and industry events, some of which we have been lucky enough to attend recently and others are coming up over the next couple of months – hello Christmas party time!

We were also super thrilled to see one of our inspiration shoots that we planned and shot earlier in the month featured on B.Loved blog – you can see more here. So much Autumn loveliness!

With that in mind and the fact that we are (I shall say it very quietly) only a few weeks away from Christmas, we have lots to do ready for parties and events, so we best carry on…

Until next time…Emma. x

Goose & Berry are a Luxury Boutique Catering, Wedding, Event & Brand Experience Planning & Design company who specialise in Weddings, Social and Corporate Events.  We are based in Marlow & London and cover London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Home Counties.

www.gooseandberry.co.uk

Did you know we also Plan and Design Weddings and Events!

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/weddings-goose-and-berry

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/events-gooseberry

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Easter Eggstravagance!

Who can resist the temptation that these lovely oval chocolate goodies bring. The Easter Egg has long been enjoyed by many generations and continues to do so (I bet you can’t wait until Sunday!). However, we’ve noticed a bit of a change in the offering that the chocolatiers are bringing us at this time of year. Eggs are becoming fabulous works of art, with wild and wonderful flavours, leaving us with serious hunger in our eyes and belly. Check out the Easter Eggstravagance we have discovered in the shops.

Fortnum & Mason

Beehive Egg

Artisan du Chocolate

Balloon Egg

Geode Rocks (ok not quite egg shaped but close!)

Booja Booja

Around Midnight Espresso Easter Egg

Marks & Spencer

Lattice Egg

The Artisan Egg

Betty’s

Imperial Easter Egg

Not on the Highstreet

Anges de Sucre – Unscotch Eggs

Chococo

Honeycombe Egg

Waitrose

Heston’s Golden Egg

What will you be tucking into on Sunday morning? Will you be dining out on an Easter Eggstravaganza or keeping it simple with egg and soldiers? A clue as to how our Sunday will look…surrounded by packaging and a room that Choccywoccydoodah would be proud of!

 

Words by Emma

Goose & Berry are a Luxury Boutique Catering, Wedding, Event & Brand Experience Planning & Design company who specialise in Weddings, Social and Corporate Events.  We are based in Marlow & London and cover London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Home Counties.

www.gooseandberry.co.uk

Did you know we also Plan and Design Weddings and Events!

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/weddings-goose-and-berry

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/events-gooseberry

Twitter: www.twitter.com/gooseandberry / www.twitter.com/gooseberrywed

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gooseandberry 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gooseandberry

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gooseandberry / www.instagram.com/gooseandberryweddings

Google +: https://plus.google.com/106611460730365369102/posts

 

 

Terrifyingly tasty Pumpkin Recipes

If you’re carving out your pumpkins, ready for Halloween on Saturday, then make the most of the pumpkin flesh by making some of these terrifyingly tasty treats, no tricks involved!

Pumpkin Risotto

Perfect for these cold Autumn evenings.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin – after peeling, scraping out the seeds and chopping into cubes, you need about 400g/14oz
• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus a drizzle for the pumpkin
• 2 garlic cloves
• 8 spring onions
• 25g butter
• 200g risotto rice
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1l hot vegetable stock, plus extra splash if needed
• 50g grated parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
• small handful coriander, roughly chopped

Method:

1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Chop up the pumpkin or squash into 1.5cm cubes). Put it on a baking tray, drizzle over some oil, then roast for 30 mins.
2. While the pumpkin is roasting, you can make the risotto. Crush the garlic first of all.
3. Cut up the spring onions with scissors.
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil with the butter in your pan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and garlic. Once the onions are soft but not getting brown, add the rice and cumin. Stir well to coat in the buttery mix for about 1 min.
5. Now add half a cup of the stock, and stir every now and then until it has all disappeared into the rice. Carry on adding and stirring in a large splash of stock at a time, until you have used up all the stock – this will take about 20 mins.
6. Check the rice is cooked. If it isn’t, add a splash more stock, and carry on cooking for a bit. Once the rice is soft enough to eat, gently stir in the grated cheese, chopped coriander and roasted pumpkin.

Thai Pumpkin Soup

The most delicious lunch or starter!

Ingredients:

• 1½ kg pumpkin or squash, peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 tsp sunflower oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 lemongrass, bashed a little
• 3-4 tbsp Thai red curry paste
• 400ml can coconut milk
• 850ml vegetable stock
• lime juice and sugar, for seasoning
• 1 red chilli, sliced, to serve (optional)

Method:

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the pumpkin or squash in a roasting tin with half the oil and seasoning, then roast for 30 mins until golden and tender.
2. Meanwhile, put the remaining oil in a pan with the onion, ginger and lemongrass. Gently cook for 8-10 mins until softened. Stir in the curry paste for 1 min, followed by the roasted pumpkin, all but 3 tbsp of the coconut milk and the stock. Bring to a simmer, cook for 5 mins, then remove the lemongrass. Cool for a few mins, whizz until smooth with a hand blender, or in a large blender in batches. Return to the pan to heat through, seasoning with salt, pepper, lime juice and sugar. Serve drizzled with the remaining coconut milk and scattered with chilli.

Pumpkin Cake

A great alternative to carrot cake and with spooky frosting makes delicious Halloween treats.

Ingredients:

For the cake

• 300g self-raising flour
• 300g light muscovado sugar
• 3 tsp mixed spice
• 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 175g sultanas
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 200g butter, melted
• zest 1 orange
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 500g (peeled weight) pumpkin flesh, grated
• For drenching and frosting

• 200g pack soft cheese
• 85g butter, softened
• 100g icing sugar, sifted
• zest 1 orange and juice of half

Method:

1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line a 30 x 20cm baking or small roasting tin with baking parchment. Put the flour, sugar, spice, bicarbonate of soda, sultanas and salt into a large bowl and stir to combine. Beat the eggs into the melted butter, stir in the orange zest and juice, then mix with the dry ingredients until combined. Stir in the pumpkin. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 30 mins, or until golden and springy to the touch.
2. To make the frosting, beat together the cheese, butter, icing sugar, orange zest and 1 tsp of the juice till smooth and creamy, then set aside in the fridge. When the cake is done, cool for 5 mins then turn it onto a cooling rack. Prick it all over with a skewer and drizzle with the rest of the orange juice while still warm. Leave to cool completely.
3. If you like, trim the edges of the cake. Give the frosting a quick beat to loosen, then, using a palette knife, spread over the top of the cake in peaks and swirls. If you’re making the cake ahead, keep it in the fridge then take out as many pieces as you want 30 mins or so before serving. Will keep, covered, for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Recipes via BBC Good Food.

Goose & Berry are a Luxury Boutique Catering, Wedding, Event & Brand Experience Planning & Design company who specialise in Weddings, Social and Corporate Events.  We are based in Marlow & London and cover London, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Home Counties.

www.gooseandberry.co.uk

Did you know we also Plan and Design Weddings and Events!

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/weddings-goose-and-berry

http://www.gooseandberry.co.uk/events-gooseberry

Twitter: www.twitter.com/gooseandberry

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gooseandberry 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gooseandberry

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gooseandberry

Google +: https://plus.google.com/106611460730365369102/posts