Hi Everyone - Happy New Year! Nicole is out this week and I am holding down the fort which is great as it gives me a chance to blog and say hello.

Nicole and I have been chatting in the office and we have either been attending, hosting, or listening to our friends and families with their experiences in tastings. We are actually heading to another RA account at Princeton University - The Prospect House - to see how they do their tastings in a couple of weeks. They have stopped doing individual tastings and instead do 2-3 group tastings throughout the year. Benefits to this include evening or weekend hours, the chance to sample more food, mingle with other couples, see more linen firsthand, look at other rental upgrades firsthand, and meet with vendors. Their clientele is giving them great feedback - the couples like meeting other couples, sharing ideas, and the entire experience. Drawbacks - Couples then have to make another appt to come back and meet with their event coordinator to answer questions and go through the timeline of the event. You also do not get a lot of personal attention at the group tasting since there are multiple couples. We like the group tasting scenario better then this next one…

 One of my friends just attended her tasting this past weekend. Some of the items she asked to taste were not made available at the last minute. Her catering representative was taking potential clients through the spaces on tour and was not available to answer any questions. My friend was seated in the restaurant - not at a banquet table with a banquet server or the banquet chef. Basically Nicole and I see this as just another chance for a dinner - not a wedding tasting. You do not get an accurate picture of what your food will taste like when you are using the spaces restaurant in lieu of a catering room. On the upside they were able to taste different wines because it was the same wine they used in the restaurant and so the wine did not go to waste as it would if we were to open bottles during tastings.

Currently we are offering tastings for the bride and groom, privately with us. We feel as though this affords you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you need to feel good about your upcoming wedding and get everything personalized to you. We did use to offer the tasting for up to 4 people but so many times people only wanted to come to eat, not to help plan and work on all of the different aspects that we cover at the tasting. Brides and grooms have said to us that being at a tasting by themselves is a great bonding experience and they are able to make decisions quicker, rather then second guessing with a family member.

Let us know your thoughts. Drop us your comments here and let us know what you have enjoyed or would like to see in a tasting. As always we look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas!