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2016 Event Trends

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2016 Event Trends: What will the future hold?

The 2016 Event Planning Season is upon us here at the Ice House and Crushed Ice Catering. With every passing year, we reflect on the trends of that year’s previous events and weddings and look forward to what the New Year will bring. We don’t claim to be psychic, but we typically have a knack for predicting trends for the New Year. Here are the Team’s predictions for 2016:

Erica’s Predictions

The Big Bucks are Back

Luxury. Spending is on the rise again for Weddings and Corporate Events. Clients are willing to spend more money now, than in the previous years. What does this mean? For Weddings, it means more Champagne, longer parties and extravagant amenities. For corporate, it means entertainment, entertainment, entertainment – bands, lighting, audio/visual. Corporate Clients are looking to deliver that “wow” factor that is bright, bigger and louder than ever.

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Pop the Bubbly for 2016!
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Bigger Budgets = Brighter Lights

Lindsay’s Predictions

Say Goodbye to the Southern Theme

The Southern Theme is taking a backseat to the Earthy/Woodland/Bohemian trend.  Expect to see more earth tones and elements such as wood, stone, garland, lanterns – the list could go on and on. Need inspiration for this concept? Look no further – our Friends over at Ruffled Blog (ruffledblog.com) seem to nail this trend on their Blog and their Instagram page.

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The Ruffled Blog nails this upcoming trend

Derek’s Predictions

Classic Cocktails are the Crowd Pleasers

Gone are the days of the Grape-Apple-Cherry-Flirtini-Martini-Whatevertini. The Classic Cocktails are back. You’ll see the bartender’s serving up more of the originals such as a good Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Moscow Mule – just to name a few.  These tried and true cocktails eliminate long lines at the bar – consisting of few ingredients.

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Bar Trends: Classic Cocktails are Back

Lauren’s Predictions

Don’t let the Sun Go Down on Me

Daytime Weddings are increasing in popularity now more than ever. Couples could be utilizing this option as a budget-saving tactic – or it could be that daytime wedding food and drinks are just more fun. There is so much more variety you can offer your guests in the cuisine department (breakfast, lunch, brunch, light appetizers or hor d’oeurves) as well as beverage services. Daytime Weddings give you the perfect opportunity to showcase that pinterest-inspired Champagne, Bloody Mary Bar, or creative “mocktail” station.

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Mocktails are a hit at Daytime Weddings

Chef and Zach’s Predictions

Eat Your Veggies

No one ever said Popeye was a genius, but he did have something behind that whole “spinach” concept. Our Chef and Sous Chef at Crushed Ice Catering predict that we’ll be cooking, and eating, a vast variety of vegetable focused dishes this year. Our Clients’ palates are more adventurous – and health conscience in 2016.

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Vegetables Rule in 2016

In just 12 short months, we’ll be able to reflect back on 2016 and all it had to offer. Here’s to hoping we are on-point with our predictions!

Cheers!

Erica

Choosing the Perfect Wedding Date

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By: Natalie Dedas, Sales & Events Coordinator 

Choosing the perfect wedding date is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in the beginning stages of the wedding planning process, and maybe even in your life. No pressure. There are so many details to take into consideration and what’s more you will want to please everyone that’s planning on attending. Many people choose their wedding date on sentimental value, but will it work? Once you dive into picking the perfect date you may find that one date sticks out more than others and that’s the beauty of the process in itself.  You will find a date that is special to the two people that matter most, you & your hubby to be. But of course, where do you start? With a few insider tips, we hope to make the process as easy as possible to help you find the ideal time to say the two big words “I do.”

Tip #1: Weather & Location

Depending on the location of your ceremony and reception, this is a huge factor in your decision making. Based on your venue for both, it may be good to look at each season individually and weigh out the options. If you plan on hosting your ceremony or any part of the reception outside in the elements, you will want to look at months with the most favorable weather. The weather tends to be favorable in mid-summer to fall, the most popular wedding months tend to be June, September and October. If you’re planning an outside affair these months should be your go to. The truth of the matter is, each season has its pros and cons.

Tip #2: Off-season

If you haven’t considered the off-season or even heard of it, let’s discuss… Many venues offer deals in the off-season months to gain more potential clients. From venue fees to amenities, discounts are offered and can help you save quite a bit to put towards other wedding expenditures. For example, The Ice House offers off-season discounts in the months of January, February, March, July, August and November. If you’re budget conscience this is a great option to help you not break the bank. Bonus: Many wedding vendors also offer off-season discounts on their services. Don’t ever hesitate to ask about details!

Tip #3: Length of Process

Plan your wedding in a feasible timeline. Best advice for the topic on time, decide what are the most important factors to you when it comes to the wedding. Do you have to have a certain seasonal flower? Must you use pieces of your mother’s wedding dress? Is there a certain black truffle from France you need on the dinner menu that’s only harvested in the winter?  Can your favorite Aunt Judy only make the wedding from out of town in the Spring? Decide what factors are most important and plan the timeline accordingly. There’s no rush. And if there is a rush, just know it takes a little extra on all fronts to pull the big celebration off in no time. But of course it can be done! With the right wedding coordinator, vendors and caterer anything can be done.

Taking all of the factors listed above will allow you to fully comprehend multiple aspects of your wedding day such as catering, bar options and decor rentals, which will only help decision making easier in the long run.

Cheers!

Cross Motors Holiday Party

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The Main Hall was decked with Christmas garland, lights and festive holiday up lighting for the Cross Motors Holiday Party.

Their evening kicked off with cocktails in the Main Hall with passed appetizers including: House-Cured Bacon Wrapped Peppadew Peppers with Capriole Farms Goat Cheese,  Sugarcane Chicken with Green Curry, Caramelized Pineapple & Coconut and Fried Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Balls.

Crushed Ice Catering hosted a wonderful spread of stations and bars for dinner that also included a brittle and bark bar for dessert with Chocolate Bark, White Chocolate and Peppermint Bark, Old Fashioned Brittle with Almonds.

All of the Christmas decor and tall spiral vase centerpieces were provided by our in-house caterer Crushed Ice Catering. Their addition of the LED colored up lighting package added a pop of Christmas colors to the event space. Our new fire pit rentals provided a nice warm area for guests to mingle outside on the East Terrace.

Their Louisville vendors included:

Showtime Photo Booth

DJ- James Hummel

 

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Holiday Edition Wine Tasting

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The Ice House & Crushed Ice Catering hosted a Holiday Edition Pop Up Wine Tasting before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Guests learned how to pair certain wines with the perfect holiday meal. From appetizers to dessert, our Director Erica Schnell choose wines that not only paired well with a Thanksgiving dinner, but wines that were reasonable priced.

It’s not a party without champagne! Champagne is perfect for all occasions, but especially when getting together with family that you may not have seen in awhile. The light and crisp champagne of choice was a GH Mumm.

A rose is always a great pairing option for a beginning course. The Milflores, Rioja, Tempranillo Rose is a nice blend to accompany a salad or small appetizer before the main course begins. Among the other tasting samples were a Gewurztraminer, Beaujolais and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

The ideal way to end Thanksgiving dinner is with dessert. A bold wine such as a port will pair well with dessert, especially chocolate.

Stay posted for news about upcoming tastings with The ice House & Crushed Ice Catering.

Cheers!

 

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3 Holiday Planning Tips

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By: Natalie Dedas, Sales & Events Coordinator

Between the entertainment, decorations, menu and guest list, every planner needs a few tips on hosting the perfect holiday gathering without stressing over the details.  Many corporate planners tend to leave holiday planning until the last minute, because their schedules tend to get busy at this time of year. It’s easy for the holiday party to get put on the back burner, with these simple steps your holiday planning can be a lot easier:

  1. Great Service is Key- This is an employee appreciation event. Even if you have the smallest of budgets, do not cut back on this aspect of your event. If you need to lower costs look elsewhere such as decor expenditures. People always remember poor service when they receive it. The holiday party is an important event, it shows your employees how much they mean to your company. If there’s one thing you should never sacrifice it’s your event labor. Your team has worked hard for you this year and it’s time to repay that service.
  2. Food Styles with a Twist- It’s always fun to think outside of the box. If your company has hosted its holiday party at the same place, at the same time, with the same buffet for many years, it may be time to switch things up a bit! You can always get creative with food. Instead of a traditional buffet, try stations and bars to offer your guests variety. Offering multiple stations around the room allows your employees to mix and mingle around the event space. You can even host a family style dinner. This type of dinner setting encourages interaction between your employees, while offering a more family style setting rather than the typical corporate feeling.
  3. Get Creative with Entertainment- You do not need a headlining rock band to set you over budget on the entertainment expenditures. Local musicians, college orchestras and bands offer discounted rates. You can even hire within the office for entertainment services. If you really want to put on a show, a karaoke machine rental will definitely liven up the party.

Instead of stressing over details, now you can relax and enjoy a cocktail at the party you helped bring to life.

Cheers!

Cocktail Hour

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By: Natalie Dedas, Sales & Events Coordinator 

If you’re in the initial stages of wedding planning and you’re trying to decide whether you should have a cocktail hour or not, the answer is simple… absolutely! Cocktail hour allows your guests to mingle, enjoy entertainment and some awesome mixed drinks. The prelude to your reception should incorporate three aspects for a successful pre-party:

  1. Hors d’ oeuvres. After your ceremony guests tend to get a little hungry. This is the perfect opportunity to offer them something light to nibble on prior to dinner. The best part about a wedding are the passed or stationed  hors d’ oeuvres! Three is the magic number. This amount can offer your guests a mixed variety without going overboard on the options. It’s always nice to offer a cold, hot and vegetarian option if you really want to please your crowd. Cocktail hour is not just about your guests, it’s about you too! Chances are you haven’t eaten all day and neither has the bridal party, which is why here at The Ice House our in-house caterer Crushed Ice Catering always saves a few platters of each option for your group. We know after your ceremony the first thing you want is a small bite and a cold beer to get the party started!
  2. Mixed Drinks. The bar, quite possibly the most important aspect of your wedding. This is your chance to personalize the details of your wedding. Add a few signature cocktails to help mix things up a bit. Give the cocktails funny names or title them something cute that means a lot to you and your hubby! They could be your favorite cocktails or a seasonal beer you like, the best part, the bar can make these ready to order at a fun beverage station as well. If the drinks are flowing, the night will kick off without a hitch! What if majority of your guests do not drink? No problem at at all! Remember those beverage stations? Crushed Ice Catering can even provide flavored teas, lemonade or infused waters.
  3. Getting Social. Cocktail hour is the first opportunity your guests have to socialize. Setting the scene is important. Here at The Ice House, our Main Hall Package includes an outside East Terrace that is perfect for mingling and even includes an outside bar. With seasonal flowers and market lights, the scene can be topped off with lounge furniture and cocktail tables to provide the perfect atmosphere for your guests. Presentation is everything, after all. While your guests get to know each other, set the scene even more with the proper entertainment. Whether it is the perfect playlist, an acoustic guitar or live band, every cocktail hour must be accompanied by musical entertainment.

Once you have set the scene and spoiled your guest with delicious hors d’ oeuvres & drinks, your on your way to wedding reception success!

 

Winter Weddings: you need to have one.

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By: Natalie Dedas, Sales & Events Coordinator

Who doesn’t want a snowy backdrop for all of their wedding photos?! Snow is everything. But in all seriousness, from event coordinator to client, Winter should be the prime time for all weddings. I will fill you in on a few planning secrets…

Booking a Date- Don’t let your world come crashing down when your venue of choice is booked on your wedding date. Typically, Saturdays book up first and most brides-to-be want a Saturday wedding. Look into the Winter months because there’s more availability, especially on Saturdays. Here’s why: Winter is corporate season. They mostly host their holiday parties on the weekdays, which is why you should be pouncing on these available Saturdays.  Also- wedding vendors tend to be less busy and if you have your heart set on a certain florist that has 12 weddings every Saturday in May, chances are they will only have one or two on your Winter wedding date.

More Bang for Your Buck- In our industry, Winter is less busy. Enter, promotions and discounts. Many venues offer lower prices on facility rentals as well as catering and bar minimums. Don’t ever be afraid to ask your coordinator what promotions they offer at specific times of the year. You can always put the money you save towards another appetizer choice or specialty cocktails.

It the Most Wonderful Time of the Year- There’s a reason why we have a song titled this. The holidays allow many friends and family to take time off and head home or take a vacation. This is a the perfect opportunity for you to host all the most important people in your life without work or hectic schedules getting in the way. New Year’s Eve is becoming more and more popular for weddings. What better way to kick off the new year?

Endless Color Palette- If you’re a fan of color and want to incorporate this in your decor- there’s no better season. Experiment with your color palette. You do not need to feel restricted to any color scheme for this time of year, emerald is great, burgundy is classic and metallics are forever. Make your colors pop by adding some fun winter foliage!

Baby It’s Cold Outside- Another song title because it’s oh-so appropriate. Unlike Spring or Summer, where you never know what the weather is going to do… in Winter you know it’s going to be cold. You do not have to worry about rain or thunderstorms, you get the best alternative out there snow. You can prepare for this type of weather and your wedding festivities will be held indoors no matter what.

Your Hair- Obviously the most important reason was saved for last. Don’t waste cans of product trying to keep your hair from having its own zip code during the Summer. Ladies, you know what I mean. There is virtually no humidity in Winter. Let me just stress on that one more time, virtually NO humidity. Also, while on the subject, no sweating in your wedding dress because its not 98 degrees outside. Think about it.

Channel your inner Phoebe Buffay and shake things up a bit. Instead of sending out those invitations for a early Spring or Summer wedding (like everyone else), look at your options for the holiday season.

Cheers!

Wedding Traditions You Can Skip

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By: Natalie Dedas, Sales & Events Coordinator

Sticking with the romantic wedding traditions is not everyone’s cup of tea. After all it is your day, and it’s nice to break the rules every now-and-then. Your not cursed for all eternity if you do not throw your bouquet to a bunch of ravenous single ladies while listening to “Single Ladies.” If skipping the old fashioned wedding traditions make you and your future husband happy, do it! Simplify your wedding by skipping out on some of the old school traditions to focus on the traditions that mean the most to you two.

  • The Big White Dress– As the bride you’re expected to wear the big fluffy white dress with 20 pounds of ruffles. The white wedding dress is the tradition you should skip first! Wear whatever color you want. Depending on your complexion you may want to wear ivory or cream. If you want to be bold and go with color, be bold! Many brides seem to stick with an off-white and do accent colors with their accessories.
  • The Veil– Even though we all want to be Princess Diana, the long traditional veil is not necessary. You may want a specific look to fit the feel of your wedding. Top off the most important dress you’ll ever wear with a fun headpiece. In many religions, the veil is symbolic. If you are not highly religious, you may not want to include the veil in your ensemble.
  • You Can’t See Each Other Prior to the Ceremony–  Although this is the biggest wedding tradition of all wedding traditions, it is not one you have to do. Every couple is different. Many couples want to stick to a strict timeline and get everything done accordingly, others want to get the pictures and formalities out of the way to enjoy precious time with family and friends. You may want to opt for a first look. You will still get to see your groom’s amazing first reaction to how breathtaking you look! Let’s be honest- that’s the best part!
  • Vows– Some have a way with words, other do not. Personally written vows are very touching and quite humorous at times, but if writing is not your strength do not feel the need to come up with your own. Sometimes it’s beneficial to stick with the simple standard wedding vows.
  • Matching Bridal Party– You may feel the need to have matching nails, dress and hair for every member of your bridal party. Although our inner OCD screams yes, more and more brides are mixing it up a bit. Not every dress style will miraculously fit all of your bridesmaids. Allow your bridesmaids to wear different styles of a dress to help fit their body type. You can always have them styled in one matching color, or opt for a fun ombre option. Being mismatched is a style trend that’s here to stay!
  • The Long Ceremony– You do not need to have a unity ceremony, readings, lengthy vows or a long mass. Exchange simple vows, make your ceremony short and sweet, direct and to the point.  Trust me, people will thank you. No one will be upset with you if you don’t have the traditional hour long mass.

Before the wedding craziness sets in sit down a discuss which wedding traditions are important and which wedding traditions might need a new twist.