Brittany Musk and Matthew Ekstrum - Kansas meets Louisiana in a Fairytale Wedding at Loyd Hall - May 5, 2012

What a glorious day for a fairytale wedding!  The Prince, Matthew Ekstrum was from Kansas and he and Princess Brittany Musk from Louisiana had met and fell in love.   In an intimate ceremony surrounded by family and friends, the couple exchanged vows on the front lawn of  Loyd Hall Plantation with the birds chirping softly and love in the air on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
With all of the new family members in town for the wedding celebration, the newlyweds wanted to give them a glimpse and a taste of some South Louisiana food and they did just that.

Best Catered Events offered up Louisiana Crawfish Etouffee with rice, Smoked Salmon Display, Spicy Gulf Shrimp Dip in Phyllo Cups, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Cheesey Jalapeno Bites, Stuffed New Potatoes, Italian Bruschetta, Sonoma Chicken Salad with crackers,asparagus cheese bites,  fresh fruit and cheese and Pecan Smoked Beef Brisket with Freshly Baked Rolls.  Almond Iced Tea and Raspberry Lemonade completed the menu. 

The guest tables were decorated with white floor length linen tablecloths, white chaircovers and claret red bows and centerpieces accented throughout the outside reception area.  There were Southern magnolias and red roses everywhere. 

Brittany's older sister, Ashley Hancock, was the cake maker for this most special day.  Although she  resides in Crestview, Florida, and is busy with two toddlers most of her day, she created a  wedding cake that was intricately detailed in red scrollwork. The magnolias and rose flowers on the cake were made with sugar gumpaste and she handmade those as well.  There was strawberry cake underneath the fondant and buttercream.   A beautiful work of art and we were told, very delicious!

As the evening comes to an end, we realize that Brittany, our newest bride will now be residing in Kansas with her Prince Matthew......click your heels together three times Brittany....you are now at home with your husband!  You made such a beautiful bride.

Congratulations and Best Wishes from your Best Catered Events Team
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Ben and Tara Zachary - May 5, 2012

An absolutely perfect day, a beautiful setting at the Christ the King Catholic Church on the campus of  Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. and then there was Tara, the bride to be.  Her groom Ben waited anxiously to get their Special Day started.  At the rehearsal dinner, Tara told me that she was so very excited and had been waiting for her wedding day for her whole life.  It was here and she was radiant, smiling and so very happy.  This bride had a heart full of love for her waiting groom.  Ben was confident and his eyes were so full of adoration and love for his bride as she made her way down the aisle on the arm of her daddy Mike.

After the ceremony, guests entered the reception hall and were greeted by the awesome team members of Best Catered Events passing mini martini glasses of shrimp and grits, crab mornay cups, mini crawfish pies, cheesey asparagus bites and raspberry lemonde.

The buffet was decorated according to Tara's wishes with the citrus theme she loved.  The menu today was:
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Fresh Gulf Shrimp Pasta
Teriyaki Chicken and Fire Kissed Vegetables
Chicken Salad Croissants
Assorted Finger Sandwiches
Fresh Crudite Cups with Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Louisiana Strawberries, pineapple, grapes, Sugartown Melons
Brandied Pineapple and Apricot Torte with toasted almonds
Pecan Smoked Beef Brisket and Pork Loin with freshly baked rolls

The cakes were provided by Gambinos, Allie Wester with Weddings by Allie kept everything on schedule, Warren Connerly photographed the memories being made, GeauxDJ provided the music and Luvette Walls with Memorable Events handled the table decor, backdrops and all the linens.  Best Catered Events provided the food for this event.  The team of professionals made this 375+ person reception flow smoothly.

Ben, I remember when you were about a year old because your family was neighbors with my mom and stepdad.  Tara, I remember you when your Aunt Cheryl married Steve at St. Isidore and you were in their wedding.  But mostly, I remember today, an absolute beautiful ending to alot of planning and the beginning of your new lives together.   CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES.

Love, Mrs. Dianne

Ben and Tara's Rehearsal Dinner -Friday, May 4, 2012

The beautiful, quaint Women's Club on East Boulevard in Baton Rouge, was the chosen venue for the rehearsal dinner honoring Ben Zachary and Tara Lejeune on Friday, May 4, 2012.

The bridal party, family and friends enjoyed a buffet style meal after their mixed greens  salad with balsamic vinagrette.  Choices were Baked Catfish Parmesan, Stuffed Pork Loin and Grilled Chicken Breast, Vegetable Delight and a mashed and sweet potato bar, along with freshly baked rolls.  Dessert choices were our freshly made fruit crepes and pecan praline bread pudding.

Tomorrow is your Special Day....and we are excited for you!

Community Healthworx Palate, Plate and Pleasure - May 3, 2012

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, Best Catered Events once again created a collaborative event with Community Healthworx in Alexandria, LA. 

This year for the first time, the event was held at the newly renovated Red Cross building on Bolton Avenue.  The building was a former bakery and the brick and open floor plan made for a great evening. 

Best Catered Events provided Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta, Cheesey Asparagus Bites, Mini Muffelettos, Smoked Pork Loin, Chicken Salad, Crawfish and Grits Station, Raspberry Iced Tea. 

A Flaming S'mores bar provided fun and dessert with brownies and fortune cookies added for conversation.  This owner asked several guests what their fortune read.  Amazingly, three different men told me that, "You are going to meet a short stranger".  I would quickly bend down and we all laughed.  A fun event every year, this one was no exception.  As usual, I got outbidded on my favorites, but there were the cutest birdhouses this year that had been painted by a preschool class...too cute!

Community Healthworx.....your 4th year for this event.....our 4th year as your caterer...thank you for your continued confidence!  What will year 5  bring??????  Did someone say, "Avocado Bar"?

Go Red For Women May 3, 2012

Go Red For Women Luncheon was held at the Alexandria City Hall on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Best Catered Events provided a light lunch and staffing for the event, along with several volunteer waiters who asssisted in serving the main salad plate.

This American Heart Association Fundraising event featured an auction, guest speakers and wonderful testimonies in the fight against heart disease in women.  In 2011, Best Catered Events catered the kickoff luncheon for the steering committee for this annual event in Alexandria, LA.

Today's lunch plate featured our Spring varietal lettuces misted with raspberry vinagrette, Apple Fruited Chicken Salad and Tri Colored Rotini Salad.  To save time for these working women, we preset low fat pound cake with seasonal fresh berries, water and Peach Iced Tea as the guests were arriving.

Special thanks to Laurie DeSelle and Charla Ducote for your hard work.  This was an awesome event!