A Midsummer Night’s Dream Party Ideas and Tips
We’ve nearly reached the beginning of summer, and though the weather might indicate we’re already there, it’s not officially our favorite season until Midsummer arrives. Midsummer is an international holiday celebrated around the various corners of the globe, including the States, and it is frequently looked upon as “the party of the year” in many countries.There are many ways to celebrate Midsummer and Midsummer’s Eve, with the two most popular being first, the traditional Swedish Midsummer celebration, and second, a minor twist on Midsummer, compliments of the great William Shakespeare and his play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We’re going to discuss the latter and teach you how to throw a Midsummer Night’s Dream party of which Old Bill himself would be proud.How to Throw a Midsummer Night’s Dream Party:The ingredients are simple; it’s the degree to which you take each that will be the deciding factor in how “fairytale” your party will be. Here’s what you’ll need in order to celebrate Midsummer like the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.Nighttime. This is a simple concept: host the party in the evening so that the magic of nighttime will put your guests in the right Midsummer Night’s Dream-mood.Nature. The forest set the scene for nearly the entire Shakespeare play, and the weather is most cooperative during the month of June. All signs point to having this event outdoors. If you have the option, choose to host the party in or near the woods, but if that is not a possibility, a backyard will do just fine. Just as it’s important for your venue to be amid the beauty of nature, your decorations should reflect natural beauty as well. Consider decorating with lovely white flowers, putting plenty of them on each table and scattered elsewhere throughout the venue.Magic. While the play’s script itself is quite magical on its own, the plot involves a slew of real magical elements. Play up the magic angle with plenty of eye-appealing illusions, such as glittered jars that look like they are full of “fairies,” sparkling lights wrapped around trees, candles that don’t go out when you try to blow them out, lights hanging from fishing wire on trees to make it look like they are floating…and there are plenty more lighting tricks that will make the evening appear magical.Fairy stuff. The play, after all, is about fairies and their mischievous lifestyles. Consider making your party a costumed affair, inviting fairy wings, glitter, more flowers, long flowing dresses and plenty of white garbs. Create a crown of white flowers, which is traditional in typical Midsummer celebrations, that will add to your “fairy-look.”Cuisine. What’s a party without a themed buffet? Serving your guests at a Midsummer Night’s Dream party doesn’t have to be difficult. No chips, no salsa and nothing deep fried for this light and graceful affair. Think elegant finger foods and natural, grown-from-the-ground or picked-from-the-trees ingredients. Your menu could include tea sandwiches (with the crusts cut off!), fresh fruits, sophisticated vegetable-filled salads and plenty of desserts. Desserts, such as small pies, chocolate cakes and anything fruit-related, are necessary. Fairies love sweets!Surprises. At a Midsummer Night’s Dream party, surprises are most welcome. Small prizes, hidden treasures, surprise lighting, a secret garden and a dance floor that appears later on in the night are all welcomed wonders as the party goes on. Try to plan on revealing at least one hidden party element during your party to shock, impress and entertain guests at this decorative and elegant gathering.See some more magical Midsummer event inspiration on our Midsummer Night's Dream Pinterest board, and view the photos below!
How to Use Pinterest to Plan Your Wedding Celebrations (And Why We Love It)
We love Pinterest for weddings. In fact, we love it so much that last fall we ran a Pin It to Win It contest, encouraging entrants to pin pictures of their favorite wedding planning tips and ideas. Over 40 Boston brides participated for the chance to win a $5,000 catered wedding rehearsal dinner, and last weekend, our winning bride and groom enjoyed theirs.The wedding rehearsal dinner was exceptionally beautiful, with a shabby chic theme set in a historic barn in Topsfield, MA. After months of planning via Pinterest, our team was able to seamlessly transform the location into a rustic dinner experience that the couple and the BG team designed together.Christina, the bride, chose country elements for her furniture and décor. She selected big, beautiful rural tables, dressed them with birch logs filled with baby’s breath and lit them by hanging rows of café lights for an added sparkle. The entire space came together with a flawless countryside charm. Our wedding planner, Nicole, worked directly with Christina and Jim, the groom, to create a custom menu tailored specifically to their favorite foods, with special twists that they all thought the event guests would love. The entire dinner was a huge success, from the first pin on Pinterest all the way through to the final speech and last bite of dessert. Our bride and groom couldn’t have been happier with the experience.Wedding rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, engagement parties, bridal showers…they’re all such special occasions in a couple’s history together, and those events require a lot of preparing and planning to make sure each goes exactly as the bride and groom want it to. And, for most couples, it’s the first (and last!) time they get to plan such a special time in their lives, so they want everything to be precise and exactly how they’ve always envisioned it.In an age where the celebration possibilities are truly endless, planning and making decisions can be difficult for a couple. Where should we hold our various celebrations? How much food should we order/make? Do we select a theme? How can we create centerpieces? Lighting? Bar services? Menus?The questions are non-stop. When you have a tool that not only helps you organize your visions but also communicates your visions with your event planning and catering team(s), then the entire process becomes so much easier!Pinterest is a wonderful—and free!—wedding planning tool, and one that we frequently use to communicate ideas to our wedding couples and vice versa. Brides can show us examples of what they want to include in their wedding celebrations, and we can share our execution ideas with them as well.Our designers are able to post photos and ideas that match up with each of the brides’. Pinterest is a great tool to collect ideas, share those ideas and, ultimately, plan the wedding of your dreams.Take a look at our Pinterest account for all of the boards we’ve created to help plan special occasions, such as weddings. There are ideas for themes, execution, lighting, décor and design, menu items, recipes, timelines and more.And check out the board that Christina and our designers used to help plan her shabby chic rehearsal dinner to see a wedding planning Pinterest board in action!More wedding planning ideas can be found on our Facebook page.
Memorial Day Food Ideas and Cookout Recipes
Second only to 4th of July, and well ahead of Labor Day, Memorial Day weekend is one of the heaviest barbecue weekends of the year.In addition to being a fine day of remembrance, Memorial Day BBQs are the official kick-off to summer and always involve an immense collection of food. If you’re looking for something fresh and light to ring in the warm weather this year, we’re here to help make your celebration delicious. Below you’ll find an array of scrumptious, summer-filled food ideas that provide a different take on the typical hot dog and burger for your Memorial Day Cookout 2013.
Memorial Day Food Ideas
Try to summer-up your entrées and salads with these twists.The Burger: Inside-out burger made by forming the beef around the cheese and some of the fixings before cooking. TIP: be sure to use a hard or a semi-hard cheese like Swiss, Gouda, Edam or Cheddar.The Chicken: Margarita chicken cooked with lime, chile pepper and a splash of tequila, and served with a light summer salsa. TIP: serve as a main entrée or cut up and serve in a mixed salad.The Salad: A light vinaigrette-based herb potato salad—with no mayo! TIP: add a squirt of lemon juice and a teaspoon of grated lemon peel for a little zest.Memorial Day Appetizers
Appetizers are really just additional side dishes at a Memorial Day BBQ. Accompany your Memorial Day weekend menu with some of these summer apps.The dip: Fresh, spicy salsa served with baked tortilla chips. TIP: when you bake your own chips and serve with a spicy enough salsa, you can skip the salt for a healthier—yet still tasty—appetizer.The fruit: Fruit salsa, though technically another dip, is a delightfully sweet appetizer option. TIP: serve the fruit salsa with cinnamon-flavored pita chips for a killer combination.The cheese: Grilled goat cheese may not be the most popular of side dishes, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy the taste. TIP: dedicate a small section of the grill for any non-meat food items. That way, vegetarians can enjoy this and other dishes without any contact with meat.For more Memorial Day recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.Memorial Day Drink Recipes
Offer a healthy selection of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, but offer both with a summer variation.The Cocktail: Watermelon-flavored martinis are the epitome of summer drinks—what’s more “summer” than a watermelon? TIP: serve this as a greeting cocktail, and limit it’s availability to before dinner only.The Beer: Local breweries will have the best selection of summer beers, and fortunately for us Bostonians, Samuel Adams has a deliciously refreshing Summer Ale. TIP: Boston beer lovers have all of New England’s breweries to choose from, including such summer beers as Red God, Fisherman’s Sunrise Saison, Otter Summer and Harpoon Summer Beer.The Lemonade: Arnold Palmers are the traditional half-lemonade, half-iced tea beverage that’s often overlooked at barbecues, but loved by all. TIP: premix the drinks in a large lemonade dispenser and offer the option of adding vodka to the adult beverages.For more Memorial Day drink recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.Memorial Day Dessert Recipes
Not many will have room in their bellies for more food after you’ve served them all of the above. Nonetheless, Memorial Day desserts are still a necessary part of the weekend BBQ tradition.The Crisp: Peach Crisps are sweet and summery in all the right ways. TIP: cook two, leaving one out to eat and the second warming in the oven. Those waiting to digest their meals can still enjoy a warm treat.The Shortcake: Very Berry Shortcake is an easy and customizable meal topper because you can put any combination of your favorite berries (or the most readily available berries) into the recipe. TIP: use blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream to show off a little support for our red, white and blue.The Cookie: Lemon-flavored shortbread cookies are the summer cookies. TIP: leave a few platters of the cookies out on several tables so people can nibble on them as they mingle with other guests.For more Memorial Day dessert recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.Healthy Memorial Day Recipes and Ideas
Memorial Day food doesn’t have to be unhealthy. In fact, most of these menu ideas are the lighter versions of standard BBQ food concepts. For an even healthier Memorial Day experience, you can always consider these ideas:Healthy cookout alternatives: Grilled veggie gazpacho, red cabbage coleslaw, veggie baked beans, lettuce wrapped turkey burgers, salmon burgers, water with lemon, unsweetened iced tea, angel food cake with fresh strawberries and fruit sorbet—these are all an even healthier alternative to the Memorial Day appetizers, salads, main dishes, sides, drink and desserts listed above!For more healthy Memorial Day recipe ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.Memorial Day Cookout Recipes
Some people might envision how to prepare and cook some of the Memorial Day food ideas above, while others might be looking for the actual recipes. Below you can find the Memorial Day grilling recipes for some of our suggested menu items, in the event that you’re not the creative culinary connoisseur you wish you were. You can still provide something fabulous for the party!Recipes:Inside-out Burger, recipe makes 4 servingsYou’ll need: ½ lb your choice of cheese, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 egg, ½ tsp pepper and your choice of fixings.To prepare: mix beef, spices, sauce and egg in a bowl using your hands. Shape into eight very think patties. Mound ½ tsp cheese into center of four and cover with remaining four patties. Seal the edges with hands. Grill evenly on each side over medium heat. TIP: Do not “press” the patties or the cheese will ooze out.Herb Potato Salad, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need: ¾ cup olive oil, 1 lemon, 1½ tsp grated lemon peel, 1 green pepper, 1 small- to medium-sized onion, ¼ cup each of chopped cilantro, basil and mint and 2½ lb red-skinned potatoes.Directions: Mix oil, juice of 1 lemon and lemon peel in a bowl. Mix in green pepper and onion, finely chopped, and cilantro, basil and mint. Cut already boiled and cooled potatoes into cubes. Mix in with other ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.Fruit Salsa, makes 12 servingsYou’ll need: 2 kiwis and 2 green apples, peeled and diced; 1 lb strawberries, diced; 8 oz raspberries, diced; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; and 3 tbsp fruit preserves.Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.Watermelon Martini, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need: ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, 5 cups seedless watermelon, 1¼ cup vodka, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 3 oz watermelon schnapps.Directions: Boil the sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. In a blender, puree the watermelon. Blend the sugar water, watermelon, vodka, lemon juice and schnapps. Sweeten with simple syrup to taste and serve with watermelon garnish.Very Berry Shortcake, makes 8 servingsYou’ll need: 1 lb sliced strawberries, ½ lb blueberries, ½ lb raspberries, 1/3 cup sugar, juice from one lemon, 8 ounces Greek yogurt, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup sugar, 2 tbsp brown sugar and 8 store-bought or handmade biscuits.Directions: In a large bowl, mix berries, 1/3 cup sugar and juice from one lemon. Refrigerate. In a medium bowl, whip yogurt, cream, ½ cup sugar and brown sugar until fluffy and stiff. To serve, cut biscuits in half and spoon on berry mixture and sweet yogurt whipped cream. Cover with top half of biscuit and serve.Fun Memorial Day Family Activities
This weekend is about getting up and having fun as much as it is about eating. Try these fun, family-friendly Memorial Day activities to loosen up the party and cause a little laughter.The games: pickup slow-pitch softball game, badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, swimming or water games, card games, card tournament between tables, guess-the-amount-of-candy-in-a-jar game, bocce ball, lawn darts, Frisbee golf and, the ultimate barbecue game that all Memorial Day cookouts must have: bags, or, as some people call it, cornhole.For more fun Memorial Day celebration ideas, visit our Memorial Day Party Ideas Pinterest board.Corporate Summer Outings in Boston
Why should you host a company picnic?
We’ve put a lot of time and effort into studying the perfect summer corporate outing in Boston. So much time, in fact, that we’ve created a dictionary of terms describing some of the symptoms and actions resulting from stellar corporate outings.Among the numerous reasons to host a summer corporate outing, perhaps the most common one we’ve found is to increase company morale. Also at the top of that list are: to increase productivity and encouraging teamwork and office chemistry. Having a good time together will do that to a group, no matter how big or small. So, in an effort to get the summer fun started for all those companies deciding whether or not to host a company picnic in Boston this year, let us make the decision even easier for you by sharing our Summer Corporate Outings Dictionary.Here’s a glossary of terms that you can hope to experience when you host a summer corporate outing this summer:Picnicology: nounDefinition: the study of summer outings and their positive impact on productivity and company morale.Typing reflux: nounDefinition: the inability to do data entry whilst jumping on a moonwalk.Condimentment: nounDefinition: the ego boost often associated with seeing a spot of mustard on the VP’s tie.Priceless: adjectiveDefinition: term used to describe a 100% tax deductible summer outing experience.Kidagainitis: nounDefinition: condition impacting the mood of someone who just splashed the company president with a water balloon.MMMM: nounDefinition: the sound one makes when tasting a delicious, professionally catered picnic spread.Limborock: verbDefinition: to beat one’s boss at the limbo.Jimmy Buffettism: nounDefinition: the belief that at a company picnic, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere.Hopventory: nounDefinition: the list of excuses one hears from the sales department after the logistics department wins the annual potato sack race…again.Zilch: nounDefinition: the amount of stress one underwent to plan the perfect summer outing.Corporate Outings Study: The Results
How can you help the decision makers in your company make the right choice? Bring this list of definitions to them and ask how they feel about a little fun outside of the office. Picnicology is a science! The results of our studies show that corporate outings, especially in the summer, lead to great returns on investment including higher employee engagement, more streamlined teamwork, bigger boosts in morale and productivity and, perhaps most of all, a whole lot of sophisticated FUN.Want to see what a corporate outing would look like with BG Events and Catering? View our spectacular photos below for a glimpse at an elegant, rustic outdoor event. This buffet, set along the picturesque views of an ocean-side venue, boasts inspiring floral arrangements and delicious cuisine grilled on-site by our fabulous chefs.Our three summer outings menus offer an array of options that say “Thank you” to employees, and our wonderful event planners provide endless resources to turn your company picnic vision into the real thing.How to Select Your Wedding Producer and Caterer
You’re about to embark on one of the most important relationships that you’ll ever encounter: a relationship with the group that will take your wedding dreams and turn them into a reality. Finding the right wedding event company and caterer to produce your wedding day requires many important considerations, so it is imperative to take the time to cultivate a delicate dance with the team.
Before you get to that stage, though, you have to go through the selection process. To help you through it, read our suggestions about what you should ask, look for and decide before you sign with a wedding caterer or wedding event company.
Look for PhotosDo a little homework before you agree to meet with any companies. Most event and/or catering companies are specialists, meaning they excel in certain types of wedding celebrations. Find out which companies do well with certain types of events by checking out images online from their website, Facebook page, Pinterest boards and Twitter accounts. Photos can speak volumes! Perusing those galleries will help to determine very quickly if your styles are cohesive. Be wary of companies with websites or social media profiles that do not have any real photos of events that they have produced.Ask About the FoodWhile style is extremely important, food also plays a vital role in your event design. Ask the caterer about their food practices. What is the chef’s training and background? From what sources do they purchase their food? Where and when will your food items be cooked and prepared for your guests? Questions like these allow you to better determine the level of service the culinary team will bring to the event table.Additionally, address some food concerns before selecting your caterer. Creative caterers will provide couture menus that are developed with you and your fiancé in mind. Consideration should be taken about dietary restrictions and your preferences. How does the chef do tastings? Some event companies may invite you to view a sneak peak of an event they are setting up prior to the guest arrival. This will give you a clear understanding of how the team works and what your own celebration may be like.
Request a Price RangeEarly in your “courting” phase, ask the production/catering company representative for a pricing range for the type of reception you want to have. Remember, many elements may change and your pricing may vary accordingly, but this general range will help you decide with whom to further develop a relationship.
Note: not many companies will offer you a tiered pricing model, which is one of the models we’ve instigated. We’ve found that with our special tiered pricing—which is essentially a matrix offering you a sliding scale of prices and production based on your wants and needs—is what 99% of brides and grooms prefer to see!
Learn About On-site SupportAnother important aspect in the production team selection is whether your team will be on-site during your celebration. Find out if you will have a key contact on the day of the event and who that contact would be. Will your event planner/sales representative be handling your coordination on the event day? How are the staff chosen for events? Are those individuals temporary staff or are they professionally trained by your caterer? How will event staff look during setup and while guests are present? What is the event company’s professional recommendation for the number of staff members based on the size and type of wedding reception you’d like to host? Small details such as how the staff are dressed can help you see a glimpse of the technique, level of formality and attention to detail your caterer will provide.
Find Out About the Catering VendorsMany event production companies and caterers use multiple vendors to supplement their own equipment and services. Ask how the company will coordinate this effort on your day and how it will provide seamless and unified execution. Be wary of too many vendors. Responsible producers (the type A personalities) will manage through conference calls, walk-throughs and production schedules so that all the key players act as an ensemble.
Know Before You SignAsk your production team how many events it will produce at the same time as your wedding. If it can do multiple parties, ask about the size of the team. This will help you feel comfortable that the team will be able to provide the special attention to detail that you deserve for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Compare Apples to ApplesIt is extremely important to compare apples to apples when you are choosing your production team. Some event companies give you a quote that includes food, staffing, rentals, set up and take down, beverages and everything that is used to cook and present the food. There are some caterers who give a list price, then add a required gratuity and service percentage to that price. Make sure you know all of the additional fees or add-ons that the company may have. Then, comparatively shop with the knowledge of not only how much your investment will be per person, but the level of service the group will provide.
Looking to have your Boston wedding catered? Give us a call today at (617) 581-1150!How to Host a Cinco de Mayo Party
Cinco de Mayo—the fifth of May—is one of the largest Mexican and Mexican-American observations of the year.It commemorates Mexico’s surprising victory against the French in La Batalla de Puebla as well as celebrates Mexican heritage well across North America.These days, you don’t have to be of Mexican descent to wear a sombrero and sip a margarita in celebration. In fact, we’d like to share with you some party tips and hosting ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.
Creative Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas
There’s something fun and spicy about the colorful Cinco de Mayo celebration. It’s an occasion open to so many creative possibilities, beginning with the cuisine. From Mexican favorites to flavorful twists on classics, consider these Mexican menu ideas:- Pineapple salsa with corn chips
- Chicken fajitas with peppers, onions and chipotle en adobo
- Roasted green beans with Latin spices
- Tortilla romaine salad with grape tomatoes, peppers, onions, Cotija cheese and strands of tortilla
Cinco de Mayo Decoration Ideas
Bold, bright colors should adorn your entire set up on Cinco de Mayo; it is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration whose famous décor and architecture are amongst some of the most colorful in the world. Pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and blues…they all have a place on the table.Consider using:- Brightly colored flags and banners
- Lots of green, white and red
- Paper flowers and paper lanterns
- Colorful fabrics to use as table linens
- Colorful napkins and place settings
Cinco de Mayo Party Games
While most know that a piñata truly is a must-have for your Cinco de Mayo party, your guests will likely desire additional games to play throughout the day or night. As most Cinco de Mayo fiestas are multi-generational, consider breaking down the itinerary with games for adults and children.- For the kiddies, try the “Pass the Orange” game. Break everyone into two teams. One person on each team holds an orange underneath his chin and passes it to the next person on his team. The trick is no hands allowed, and no dropping the orange, or you must start over.
- For the adults, chili pepper eating contest is a spicy favorite not meant for the weak of taste buds. Line up contestants with a bowl full of chili peppers and a one-minute time limit.
- For both kids and adults, Mexican “kick ball” is a traditional Mexican party game. Set up two identical obstacle courses through which two teams must dribble a soccer ball. When the contestants reach the end of the course, they run back to their original starting point and pass the soccer ball to the next contestant.
Cinco de Mayo Music
Load your iPods and smart phones with traditional Mexican music—that means meringue, salsa, Latin and, perhaps most of all, mariachi. With this great, upbeat music, you can expect to have people up and dancing the meringue, salsa, rumba and mambo at any moment—so it would be wise to incorporate an open space in your layout to use as a dance floor.Consider including these artists in your repertoire:- Vincente Fernández and son Alejandro Fernández
- Luis Miguel
- Carlos Santana
- Los Tigres del Norte
- Juan Luis Guerra
- Maná
- Selena
Boston’s Newest Event and Beverage Trend
BG Events and Catering’s Dr!nk Wall
You’ve heard “dinner and a show.” You’ve heard “dinner is the show.” But what’s all this talk about dinner when drinks can be entertaining, too?!Our team here at BG Events and Catering recently competed in the Movers and Shakers April Cocktail Competition against Boston’s best restaurant mixologists. We entered with a Boston original: our BG Dr!nk Wall.We premiered our Dr!nk Wall at the Boston Center for the Arts, and couldn’t believe the crowd’s reactions to the innovative extension of our beverage brand. They couldn’t stop smiling!
A Dr!nk Wall isn’t for the everyday party planner. It’s new, unique and one-of-a-kind here in Boston, and here’s why you’ll want to check it out:
Our Dr!nk Wall…
- Is completely customizable to a guest of honor’s—or a bride’s—favorite cocktails
- Allows hosts and guests to “build their own experience”
- Has a show-stopping design and sleek look that can match any color scheme and décor
- Is a completely unique way to serve beverages in Boston
- Comes with endless possibilities
- Will be the talk of the event!
In the photos below, you’ll find the first three beverages ever served in a Dr!nk Wall, concocted by our own Beverage Developer and served to eager guests: cucumber, lemon ginger tea and blackberry thyme. We paired these beverages with Chef Tony’s Cured Tuna on a Kaffir Lime Rice Cake with Ponzu Custard and Hibiscus Caviar.
Can you imagine what your guests will say when they show up to your next event and see a Dr!nk Wall?