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Bridal Show at South Gate Center was Beautiful

March 23, 2011 by Leslie

Notaries & Wedding Officients, dress & wedding gown boutiques, photographers & a videographer, notary, a musician on piano & DJs, a caterer, jewelry, wedding planners, wedding cup cakes for tasting and Wine tasting ~Brides & grooms met with Sarasota’s best wedding vendors in person!  A mock wedding with dove release was at 5:00 p.m. Over a dozen doves were released to fly over Sarasota. It was beautiful!

The beautiful South Gate’s social hall, designed by Sarasota School architect Victor A. Lundy, sits on five private acres on the shady banks of Philippi Creek, just off South Gate Circle at Tuttle Avenue and Siesta Drive. The hall is available for rent for your important occasion. Mature oak trees & wildlife can be viewed through large glass window/walls. It can easily hold 140 guests seated at eight-foot banquet tables, with room left over for a spacious dance floor. Tables and chairs are set up for you according to your personal floor plan. There is a large, well-equipped kitchen available for catering use. South Gate Community Association members receive a generous discount. It’s open to the public this Sunday, and I’m looking forward to seeing you there. I’ll be giving away Door Prizes and Gift Certificates to go towards your Wedding Video Package.

To inquire about hall rentals, call 941-955-4597 — or better yet, see for yourself why South Gate Center is Sarasota’s best-kept secret! The office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or for an appointment, just call Dan at 941-955-4597.

South Gate Bridal Show Sarasota Wedding Vendors
South Gate Bridal Show in Sarasota 2011

How to Hire a Good Caterer for Your Wedding

April 1, 2010 by Leslie

The type of food served at your wedding and its presentation can add a touch of personal flair that guests will not soon forget. On the other hand, a bad catering experience can really dampen the party. Part of ensuring a good wedding day feast starts with selecting your caterer.

Word-of-mouth recommendations are always a great way to start looking for the right catering company. Talk to wedding professionals such as banquet managers and cake makers to see if they have any strong endorsements for a certain company. Your videographer should have video footage of wedding receptions which includes the presentation of meals, servers/wait staff, buffet tables, table settings, bartending. If they’ve been in business for over 13 years, like me, they’ll have any caterer you’re considering in their archival video footage. (We get shots of appetizers & dinners being served, featuring food, services and creative displays. I wish we had “smell-a-vision 😉  Talk to friends and family who have planned catered events and see if they strongly prefer to work with someone in particular. If you are looking to have a certain type of food to be catered, say Indian or authentic Mexican cuisine, and don’t know anyone who could point you in the right direction, give your trusted local restaurant like SAGE, a try. Many of them offer wedding and reception catering. When you have made a list of potential caterers set up an interview with each of them.

The Interview:

The funnest part of the interview is the taste-testing, especially if you are a “foody” like me. Try the chef’s special. Experiment with regional foods and seasonal produce. Have fun but don’t forget about other important information gathering. Does the food taste and look fresh? Your caterer wants to impress you so if she isn’t very impressive now, she probably won’t be later either. Do they include bar service or will your banquet hall do that? (Crosley Mansion on Sarasota Bay requires that you use their liquor license and bartenders.) Find out how long the catering business has been established. You don’t want to risk your big day to an amateur. Always hire wedding professionals with the experience, creativity & right equipment to do the job.

When you meet with the caterer, talk money too. There are some dishes that you’ll try that will taste great and make for a fabulous presentation but you’ll need to know if those dishes are affordable for 300 guests. If not, ask her for creative suggestions that will still make a great presentation. A true professional will have creative ideas and suggestions that fit within your theme and budget.

Contract:

Once you have decided on a particular caterer, start nailing down the specifics. Figure out exactly how many course you’ll have and how you want to be served (buffet or not). Once you have worked everything out, a verbal agreement will not be enough. Get a written contact that includes everything. It should state the date and time, all food items – course by course, agreed upon services that will be provided ( linens, waiters, cake cutting, wine corking?) and the fees for each. A specific number of guests will not be included in this contract as you need to give your guests ample time to RSVP. A specific number should be given to the caterer a week or so before the wedding takes place. Ask her for a deadline to be sure. Remember to include meals for the band members or DJ, photographer and videographers. It’ll be a late night for your wedding vendors and they will do a better job for you with proper nutrition. Besides, no one wants photos of themselves eating, so it’s a good time for your photographer and videographer to take a break.

When your wedding day arrives, make sure you actually eat the food. No kidding – Some brides and grooms get so busy drinking, dancing & mingling that they never even get to try the feast. Trust me – I know from experience!

Ritz Carlton wedding reception table setting by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions
Ritz Carlton wedding reception table setting. Video/Photo by Leslie Harris Senac

~ article & freeze frame photo by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc.; married 14 years and going strong!

Visions Unlimited Videographers Team

Visions Unlimited Videographers

Visions Unlimited Video Productions of Sarasota, Florida is a multi-media video production company owned by Videographer, Leslie Harris-Senac and partner Mark Senac.

From Leslie’s Blog:

  • Intercultural beach wedding on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL
  • Love Story Tribute Video at Selby Gardens on Sarasota Bay
  • Sarasota videographer gives advice for your wedding video.
  • Tampa Bridal Showcase & Fashion Show ~ Video at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, FL
  • Video ~ St. Armand’s Circle Bridal Fashion Show – Weddings in Paradise

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From our Blog

  • Intercultural beach wedding on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL
  • Love Story Tribute Video at Selby Gardens on Sarasota Bay
  • Sarasota videographer gives advice for your wedding video.
  • Tampa Bridal Showcase & Fashion Show ~ Video at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, FL
  • Video ~ St. Armand’s Circle Bridal Fashion Show – Weddings in Paradise

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