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Event and Catering Trends for 2017

Event and Catering Trends for 2017

Balloon Garlands, Arches and Statement Balloons

·         Balloon Garlands

o   Think traditional tissue paper garland with a twist.  Add tulle and twinkling lights for a dramatic updated look on the ceiling.

·         Organic Balloon Arches

o   Take everything you know about arches and throw it out the window.  Balloon arches are taking on their own life with less structure and more flowing lines. 

·         Statement Balloons

o   Have your special message, logo or design printed on latex balloons.  You can use them to make a garland or an arch.  Or try large Mylar letters to make a backdrop spelling out your name, company name, or themed message.

Thrifted Glassware, Tableware and Décor

·         Shop at your local thrift stores, Habitat for Humanity Restore, consignment shops, Ebay, or garage sales for glass tableware and serving pieces.  Mix and match colors, materials and styles to create an eclectic vintage design.

Textured Table Linens

·         2017 is the year for bold dramatic colors and linens.  You will see less of the sequined table linens and more velvets and silks.  To make a dramatic look, use more standard linens on the dining tables and mix in upgraded linens on the cake, present, head or other special table.  You can also mix in fabrics that have a special meaning to you over risers on the buffet and dessert tables.

Pantone Color of the Year

·         Each year Pantone chooses the color of the year.  According to their website, the Color of the year is a symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.  The 2017 Color of the year is Greenery. It is described as fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Brunch is back – But who said it left??

·         Remember that vintage serving ware we talked about before?  This is a great way to show it off. Serve mini/bite size versions of some of your favorite dishes.  Not everything needs to be bite sized, but a few nibbles here and there is a great starter. 

·         Instead of serving standard orange juice mimosas – try a Mimosa bar.  Mix in your favorite juices (Orange, Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Pineapple, or any other flavors), fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, lemon slices, orange slices, blueberries, etc.) and bubbly (Champagne, sparkling white wine, Prosecco, club soda and ginger ale).  Put juices in matching glass bottles, fruit in matching bowls and chill the bubbly.  Encourage everyone to mix and match their favorites.

·         Mimosa not your thing?  How about a Bloody Mary Bar?  Start with a great basic Bloody Mary Mix.  On your buffet put the mix, ice pepper, celery salt, hot sauce, horseradish, and Sriracha sauce.  Add your alcohol – vodka, tequila and gin.  Finish your presentation with garnishes – celery, pickle spears, pepperoncini, stuffed olives, cherry tomatoes, bacon strips, cooked shrimp, lemons and limes.  Have skewers and straws available as well.

LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL -  

·         This is not new for 2017, but a continuation of previous years.  Think sustainable catering using locally grown/sourced items.  In addition, use locally grown season flowers, vegetables and herbs for centerpieces.  For a twist on classic cocktails, substitute standard ingredients using local items.  Using infused vodkas and syrups, swapping fruit and veggie ingredients (cucumber margarita) and new techniques like freezing juice and/or garnish for ice cubes using local items.

Grazing Tables

·         Here are 5 steps for creating the ultimate grazing table for your next casual get-together

o   Mix It Up. 

§  Choose a variety of aged, hard, soft, and blue cheeses, then add plenty of accompaniments. Seasonal and dried fruits, nuts, jarred condiments and preserves all work well.

o   Location, Location, Location. 

§  Position your grazing table in a central place with enough space for guests to mingle. Sharing is all part of the fun, and you never know who you might meet over the perfect brie!

o   Display + Serve. 

§  Wooden boards are a great way to keep the look casual + rustic. But marble boards, porcelain bowls, cake stands, and even enamel baking trays all look great on a crisp white tablecloth.

o   Add Another Dimension. 

§  Introduce foliage + florals of varying heights to bring dimension, life and color to your table. Just avoid any flowers that are too fragrant so they don’t compete with the food.

o   Let Loose! 

§  Scatter nuts, crackers and sprigs of herbs without over-styling. Dip a spoon into the preserves, cut leave a knife in the cheese. Guests are guaranteed to feel more comfortable about digging in if things already look a little “artfully disheveled”. Promise!

I would like to thank the following sources for helping me write this article:

·         Revelandglitter.com – 10 Hot Party Trends for 2017

·         Revelandglitter.com – Entertaining with Pantone color of the year

·         Onestylishparty.com – 2017 Hot Party Trends

·         Pantone.com – Color of the year 2017

·         Blog.westelm.com – Grazing Tables

Planning an event?

Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, First Communion and Graduation parties are coming up.  Let's talk about catering your event so you can enjoy the big day.

Let us introduce ourselves

Who We Are

Cannon Events & Catering Co. is a boutique catering and event planning/coordination company with the emphasis on personal service.  It started with an idea that clients are more than just clients. They are our friends and family.  Our approach is not only getting to know the event, but the clients as well.  We can’t give you your perfect day without knowing who you are.  ​

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There is no magic formula for what every client needs so even our fees are customized to your budget and needs. ​Let us get a chance to know you and your events needs to make your vision our vision.

What We Do

Catering:

We cater to your needs.  We start with your wish list & budget.  Then we work to make them match.  Our menus are custom created for each person & event.  We will make recommendations as needed, but we want to hear what you want.  If you don’t see something in our catering menus you are looking for please let us know and we will see what we can do.

Event Planning:

From meetings to weddings to large scale community events, we can plan your event from start to finish. We create that special environment for any event.  We work with you to create a package that will provide you the needed services without breaking the bank.

Event Coordination:

Have you handled planning the details and now you want to enjoy your event?  We specialize in day-of-coordination.  Let us take the reins to make sure everything is perfect down to the last detail.  Then you can mingle with your guests & enjoy your event.

Golf Outings:

Want to host a golf outing but don’t know where to start?  Mike has run several successful golf outings for companies and non-profit fundraisers.  Contact Mike today for more information and a quote.

Marriage Proposals:

Need help planning the perfect proposal?  We can work with you to create a one-of-a-kind proposal to make sure she says yes. 

Have you figured out all the details, but need an extra set of hands for the execution? Let us take care of the details so you can enjoy the night worry free.

Looking to Hire a Caterer?

I found this article at marthastewartweddings.com.  It's one of the first questions we're all asked after attending a wedding: How was the food? The dining arrangements at your wedding constitute one of the biggest decisions you can make. Food helps set the tone of the wedding, and menu variety, quality, and presentation all contribute to the culinary experience.

If your reception venue doesn't provide in-house dining service, it can be difficult to distinguish between caterers that offer similar services. Peter Callahan, founder of Callahan Catering and recent caterer of Martha's nephew's wedding, shares tips on choosing the right caterer for your wedding (Our answers to these questions are listed below each question):

• Ask what they do best: A caterer might present itself as a jack-of-all-trades that can give you whatever cuisine you envision, but every caterer has its specialty. "Find out what he thinks is terrific on his menu," Peter says, "and decide how well that melds with your own sensibility.
• At Cannon Events & Catering, we have a couple specialties.  We love to do cocktail parties and intimate dinners.  We do buffets and plated dinners as well, but as stated above, everyone has a specialty.
• Consult friends: No one knows better than the customer whether a caterer does a good job, so ask friends whose taste you share if they have any firsthand recommendations -- or horror stories.
• We have a list of "love letters" that talk about what we do.  We will provide those to you with our full catering packet. We are constantly updating them.
• Know what they supply: Be sure to ask what kind of rentals the caterer supplies, such as china, silver glasses, linens, etc. Sometimes the reception venue or florist will provide these items.
• As for what we supply, it depends on the event and number of guests.  We do have china, silverware, glassware, and linens for smaller parties.  We also supply disposables for different events.  For what we don't have we rent from Sun Rental and L'Nique Linen Rental
• Book early: The best caterers are in the greatest demand, so book as far in advance as possible to ensure that you get your top choice
• While booking early is the best options, we have done several events at the last minute.  It isn’t ideal, but a good caterer will do their best to accommodate last minute requests. 

Why hire a planner or caterer?

When I sit down with a new client, the first questions I ask are about the people themselves.  I don't want to just know about your event.  I want to know about you. If I don't know the client, how can I plan or cater an event for them?  It is a little odd, but I have found that it works much better that way.  This even works for day-of-coordination.  You have to understand the person that you are working with to make their event everything they have thought it should be.

We have planned events from large scale community events to dinner for 12.  While catering a dinner for 12, I got to know the family that was hosting it.  The dinner was for their mother who was turning 86 years young.  They also had a nephew who is gluten free.  That was an interesting dinner with dietary restrictions.  After we sent a few options to the family that would be appropriate, I added gluten free options that were similar to the original meal - even dessert.  We settled on garlic herb chicken, risotto, and steamed vegetables.  For the gluten free option, we did a baked chicken breast and brown rice medley in vegetable broth. For dessert, our baker made a two layer chocolate cake.  Our gluten free option was brownie bites.  

We are willing to go the extra mile for our clients.  That is the way it should be.  If we don't go the extra mile, what is the purpose of hiring an event planner?  We think of those things that you don't.  We take the time to look at the whole event and break it down to smallest pieces.  If we don't look at all the options when planning your menu or event, we aren't going our job.  

More to come...Let us know how we can help you.