The Abbey Blog

Each year, every high school boy and girl enjoys (or dreads) the time-honored tradition of prom, but no one imagines going to their prom pants-less.  Unless, you’re a San Diego Yelper and attended the Pants-Less Prom party at La Jolla Cove Suites on April 24 for Yelp’s elite and many of the guests were in states of tasteful undress.

Guests arrived at “La Jolla Cove Suites High” for an evening of delectable treats and beverages as well as various activities atop the best rooftop terrace venue in all of La Jolla, La Jolla Cove Suites.  The event also a going away party for the San Diego Yelp community manager, Danny, guests enjoyed a hosted bar as well as some amazing appetizers provided by The Abbey Catering.  With a spiked punch drink in hand, guests sampled and raved about our Italian-style ahi poke on crispy wontons, Polynesian chicken salad atop a toasted baguette, gazpacho with watermelon ball shooters, coconut-crusted golden shrimp with a sweet Thai chili sauce, and homemade hummus and pita.

Since the theme of the evening was “pants-less,” attendees came dressed and undressed in all sorts of outfits, from a mic-holding Tom Cruise (think “Risky Business”) to ladies in full ball gowns, ruffles and all.  The anticipation of this party was so immense, word had spread up to the coast, and a contingent from Los Angeles was in attendance (one of which never went to their own prom).  To help stay warm in the cool evening breeze, guests shook their tail feathers on the dance floor or partook in the Abbey Catering’s fake-ID photo shoot.  Votes were also taken for a pant-less prom king and queen and winners were crowned at the end of the evening.

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Hello,

I really want to thank you so much for participating in the Art Alive opening celebration. I have heard so many rave reviews about how impressed people were with delicious cuisine at this year’s event. We could not put on such amazing events without the help and support of fantastic partners like you. You will be receiving an official thank you letter shortly in the mail. If you need anything else from me please do not hesitate to ask. I really hope we get a chance to work together on an event again sometime and I’ll be sure to visit you at your site soon. From all of the staff and the board of The San Diego Museum of Art I want to thank you again so much.

Samantha S

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People are always looking for new and interesting ways to make their wedding or private event a little more unique. Colors, linens, centerpieces and the like are all traditional ways to help achieve that goal. But why not try something different and use The Abbey Catering’s versatile floating buffet?

Instead of having a traditional buffet line to serve guests, the floating buffet can be used to hold almost any kind of food item, from pre-made salads to condiments paired with a mashed potato or mac & cheese bar. It can also be used during cocktail hour to hold rows of champagne flutes or martini glasses with any flavored beverage. The floating buffet can also be a great alternative to the typical placecard table. Consider displaying photos of the bride and groom on it or use it as a place for the wedding favors.

The floating buffet is one of the many items in The Abbey Catering’s all-inclusive package, so reserve it today by calling one of our event consultants at (888) 238-0949.

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Congratulations on your Engagement! When the flurry of excitement subsides and you’re ready to get down to the task of planning, one of the most crucial steps in the process is to procure the right Reception Venue. I always council my couples to have a completely comprehensive budget plan prior(within reason, things change) so that you don’t go broke on your Venue. Once you have that down, let the search begin:

Step 1. Be realistic. If your budget is 25k for 150 guests, don’t look at a Venue that is more then 5k or you will be taking from some other areas that will inevitably have a bearing on the final execution of your day.

Step 2. Location, Location, Location! Are you next to the ceremony site or Church. Make it easy for your guests as best you can. Obviously it’s your day and that is the major consideration but , try to keep it simple for your attendees. If you have out of towners it’s nice to scope out a Venue close to a variety of Hotels.

Step 3. Additional Costs. You don’t just have the Venue Fee to access. Bear in mind that many Venues do not have Chair & Table Rentals included. Do a little research and get a quote on exactly what you are looking for in these items. Note that some venues have preferred rental companies so get those on your walkthrough. Also, do they allow outside caterers and what is their

alcohol policy. If a venue is on your short list, you will  need to get full proposals from their caterer to ensure you’re making a good overall decision. Budget aside, you want to know you’re dealing with a reputable company that is there when you need them. For bar, do they have a preferred bar company they work with or can you bring your own. Alcohol is where you’ll find taxes are the most heavy. If there is a preferred bar company, get that quote based exactly on what you are looking for. This along with the rentals are something that you should directly factor into the venue rate. If you are lucky enough to bring in your own alcohol or bar service, do your research. Check reviews on bar companies before you make a final decision. If you are B.Y.O.B. all together, go to Evite.com and use their drink calculator to determine how much to purchase.  Keep in mind you will also need: ice, cups or glassware, soft drinks & mixers, and qualified bar staff. After you have an out the door on your expenses, compare that with the Bar Service and make your determination based off that.

Step 4. Flexibility. Find out what the Venue has to offer from additional rentals to policies and at what point changes can be made throughout the process of planning and if there are any penalties to change your contract. I like to get all of these documented in your contract to ensure you have them in writing. Getting responses via email are also good to reference back to.

Step 5. Use your gut. How do you respond to the venue when you walk in? This is an affair of the heart and you should use your emotional reaction to a space to finalize your decision, balanced with price tag of course. Additionally, consider the people at the Venue you are partnering with. You want to make sure they like every other partner on your day are pleasant or at least professional and will give you the service you are looking for.

So, get out there and start hunting. Don’t hesitate to contact a professional planner to give you some insight. At the Abbey, we offer complimentary venue searches and tours. It’s something I offer as I have a high percentage of out of town couples that can’t even get to town to see venues. This will give you a unique vantage point for  different spaces because  you get to see things through the eyes of someone who has executed numerous events at these venues, what works , what doesn’t and logistical items that may arise. Also, there are many sites that offer Venue suggestions but that can be only the tip of the iceberg in options.

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We all approach this in a different manner but as a Mom of two daughters who are getting married 1 year apart from each other I have had the experience of what it really means to shop for that “Perfect Dress”.  All girls are not created equal!!

Some brides have had visions of what they will wear on their special day from the time they can walk, and some wait until the very last minute to create that dream.  Wedding dress shopping can be a very daunting task and while it is ultimately up to the “Bride to Be”, she needs constructive input from her Mom and her Bridal Party.

You never want to step over the boundaries when dress shopping because something that I might like as a “Mom” may be way out of line from what the Bride is looking for!!  As a mom of two brides, I had the experience of thinking I knew my daughters, but when it came down to shopping for their dress I was totally off.

So here is my two sense, if you are a Mom, encourage your daughters to look at all the wedding sites they could possibly imagine to check out dresses before they go shopping, or I can guarantee they will end up frustrated because they have no vision of what they might be looking for.  Go to Bridal Fairs and see the dresses on the models, have them take pictures of what they envision their dress to look like, etc.  Once you get to your dress shop appointments, have them talk to your sales person and give them their thoughts on what their perfect dress will look like.  Have them be prepared to say I want traditional white, I don’t want silk, I want beading and lace, etc.

Make sure the day you have scheduled for wedding dress shopping will be stress free and have no time constraints.  You may end up going to 1 shop or 5 different shops to find that perfect dress.  Have someone that is going to take pictures of every dress the “Bride To Be” will be in, so that you can reference those dresses again, in case there is a maybe situation on deciding.

Last but not least make sure everyone has a good breakfast, coffee and take water with you.  Don’t forget to stop at some point to energize and refresh everyone that is in attendance.

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Dear Jaime,
Honestly, I cannot thank you enough for your  time, effort, and professionalism. You have been amazing throughout the planning process. I am extremely grateful that you put your heart & soul into each event. You have made Colleen & Mitch feel although this is your only reception – a true mark of excellence ! Bless you!

Dianna Huston

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On behalf of The Abbey Catering & Event Design, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIG DAY!

We very much appreciate your confidence, and in an effort to continually improve our customer communications, event production skills, and sales presentation skills, we would like to ask for a moment of your time to complete our client approval survey.

• Event Date:  April 25, 2012

On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, please rate the following questions:

Event Captain: Petr Trebin

1)    Your Captain’s communication skills? Very good

2)    Your Captain’s attention to detail? Very good

3)    Your overall experience with your event Captain? Very good

4)    The service level of your event staff (specifically servers/bartenders)? Very good

5)    The appearance and cleanliness of your service staff (specifically servers/bartenders)? Very good

6)    Would you recommend your Event Captain? Absolutely yes

***Please list any additional comments***

Great service and great food. The Abbey highly contributed to the success of our event.

Best regards

Dining Experience:

1)    How would rate the level of your gourmet cuisine based on your expectations?

• Appetizers       Good
• Salad
• Dinner
• Dessert            Good

**Please list any additional comments**

OVERALL EXPERIENCE WITH THE ABBEY CATERING & EVENT DESIGN:

1)    What would you rate your overall experience with our company? Highly effective

2)    Would you refer us to another bride/groom/client?     YES

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Every once in a while a couple comes along with sincerity and hearts as big as the world.  Young Love is virtuous and innocent.  It leaves the heart of others gasping for the same romance.  Nicole and Brandon tied the knot on April 28^th in beautiful sunny San Diego.  Brought to life was their vision of a casual beach theme an old world, tropical paradise.

We had chosen the front ceremony garden facing an European style fountain. In front of the fountain, the father of the bride made a stunning customized arch for his daughter that was adorned with tropical center pieces by Four Season’s flowers, one of our preferred vendors for the Abbey Catering.  For this tropical paradise, facing the tree, there hung floral balls and lighted lanterns from the tree, feeling of an enchanted Hawaii.

The north arbor-covered terrace was the definite spot to have the cocktail hour.  Guests were welcomed into the space by an Abbey staff member, each greeted with a signature cocktail, “The Mai Tai” that was hanging off a beautiful metal sculpture that the Abbey has to offer their Bride and Groom.

The Bride and Groom walked to the ocean for photos while guests were enjoying cocktails and  hors d’oeuvres,  returning to the club in time to make their grand entrance. Nicole and I had a vision to move the Arch that Richard Morse built, to be re-located to the main stage. The cake table was placed just in front of it to create a striking photo opportunity.

Creating a space for the grand entrance for the guests and the Bride and Groom is crucial to a wedding.  Nicole, Brandon, and I came up with a grand entrance that was breath taking for everyone.  However, this grand revealing was kept from everyone until the doors opened.  The guests were stunned by the captivating details and colors and the elegance of the drapings from the chandelier which were highlighted by amber lights.  As they entered, the focal point was the beautiful soft coloring of a buttercup and sea theme, only to be highlighted by the amazingly crafted arch.  The Bride and Groom entered the space and had their first dance under the soft draping of the white chiffon canopy and with all their guests to watch them with smiles on their face while true love exuded.

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The bridal party and I had a wonderful tasting together where I first became part of the family.  We laughed, smiled, and talked about the vision for their wedding at the tasting.  The chef and I created an exquisite menu for them as they tasted samples of food that could be catered to their wedding.  These meetings are just the beginning where I become close to my bride, groom, and their family.  The Abbey Catering and Design made a menu for them that had stuff mushrooms with Ratatouille, beef skewers with a homemade Asian glaze with sesame seeds, coconut crusted golden shrimp, and fresh homemade pita with hummus for appetizers.

This was only to follow by the Abbey preparing a delicious fresh summer green salad with mandarin oranges, a hint of color to match the wedding, cranberries, caramelized walnuts, and a homemade raspberry vinaigrette in a red cabbage bowl.  As everyone always knows, you first eat with your eyes, and then taste with your mouth, the catering had both.  The salads were preset which gave such a color pop to the tables that it created a stunning view with splashes of orange, purple, and green, and a hint of white.

Dinner followed with succulent chicken Payard with a Sherry reduction and sautéed mushrooms and a black peppered pork chop with a black berry demi glaze only to be accompanied by a delicious Israeli sundried couscous and grilled mixed vegetables.

The Abbey staff and I catered to everyone by having first-class service.  We, at The Abbey, always cater to our guests as if they are royalty and I take pride that each and every wedding I coordinate is perfect.  Together, the bride & groom, sometimes family members, and I create a special and magical day like if it was out of a fairy tale.  The day of blissfulness becomes enchanting and with the help of The Abbey Catering Company and Design we do make dreams come true for each and every lovely couple.  Congratulations to my new family, Mr. and Mrs. Henzie.  May all your days be as glorious as the day of your wedding.  Thank you for choosing The Abbey and having me as your coordinator and making your vision come alive.

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Anna B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
12/6/2011
5 Stars

My review is not based on previous catering service, but rather on an event I attended where a few representative from Abbey were present and had samples to try.

I ran into a few of their staff, but one person, Martin, really stood out because we chatted for a while. He was friendly and interesting, so while we talked about food, I was scarfing down their samples: mashed potatoes with chicken that could be dressed with toppings.  They had sauteed mushrooms (with extra butter), shredded bacon, cheese, but what really blew me away was their phenomenal garlic! It was whole chunks of succulent garlic that had the creaminess texture to it without the over-pungency that garlic usually has… oh man.

So I plan on finding a groom soon just to order from them.
YUM.

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Thanks to you and your very talented staff as the reviews are still pouring in from Saturday’s Staff Party!  Everyone, and I do mean everyone was totally pleased with the job The Abbey did.  From the food to the execution of set-up, and break-down it was a total professional experience that our staff is still abuzz about.

Sincere thanks goes out to you for personally overseeing our event and I look forward to working with you to finish the details of this event, and the possibility of more collaborations in the future.

Have a great day,

James Rowten
Corporate Development Manager
www.KPBS.org

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