What's New at the Embassy?

Last year when I launched our blog I was new to Charlotte and to the Embassy Suites. The possibilities were endless and before I knew it, an entire year had passed. Over the past year, we've welcomed a new Director of Catering, renovated our property and introduced new and exciting packages for our brides!

Introducing Susan



In March of 2008, Susan Weissen joined our team as the new Director of Catering here at the Embassy Suites Charlotte. Susan has been a part of the Culinaire family for over 10 years and relocated from Dallas, TX. In Dallas, Susan was the Director of Catering at one of city's premier venues, the very prestigious Belo Mansion.

A native New Yorker, Susan has shared her expertise with culinaire in Florida, Texas and now in the great state of North Carolina. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and a distinctive flair.

We are excited to have Susan here in Charlotte and look forward to working together to make the Embassy Suites the city's new place to meet, wed and stay! Welcome Susan!!

Raising the Bar

Imagine attending a special event that you've been invited to. You've dressed in your very best and walk into a gorgeous venue where you are met with smiling and familiar faces. You make your way through the crowd, stopping a few times to mingle with friends, and find a place to sit as you take in the stunning decor. As you think to yourself how fantastic everything looks, you are greeted by a member of the serving team, offering you a Miniature Beef Wellington. Just as you oblige and pick up the small delight, the server informs you that they are $3.75 each.

While this scenario is a bit extreme, it is definitely comparable to setting up a Cash Bar at a wedding. One of the most common misconceptions about Cash Bars at Wedding Receptions is that they are completely acceptable and offer equal accommodation to your unsuspecting guests. Aside from the fact that your guests are usually unprepared, with little or no cash on their person, they are certainly not expecting to have any out of pocket expenses at an event that you invited them to. It is, without a doubt, akin to asking them to pay for their own food.

Whenever discussing bar options with brides and grooms to be, the budget usually plays a critical role in what type of beverage service they are planning to offer their guests. In fact, in my experience, open or hosted bars are usually one of the first elements to be revisited when when the budget starts to balloon. Believe it or not, there are many feasible (and budget friendly) options for beverage service that won't leave your guests holding the check.

Let's explore some of the alternatives:

Red, White & Beer

Instead of going for a full open bar, consider offering only wine and beer. Beer is usually less expensive and most of your guests will graciously accept complimentary red or white wine.

Bultered Beverages

During the cocktail hour, forgo a tranditional bar and have the venue's serving team butler pass wine and beer. Have you ever noticed how most people only take one hors d' oeuvre when it is presented to them by a server? This is mostly attributed to them not wanting to feel improper or overindulgent. The same holds true with kindly taking one beverage at a time and will help you get more beer for your buck.

Table Side Wine Service

This option allows for elegant presentation is the perfect companion to Butlered Beverages. Once your guests transition from the cocktail reception into the actual dinner reception, have the servers present them with a choice of red or white wine for each course. This continues to eliminate the presence (and price tag) of a traditional bar

What's Your Signature

Delight your guests with a a special drink selected by you! Novelty Martini? Your favorite concoction? Décor matching cocktail? These personalized beverages are awesome and the possibilities are endless! Opting for Signature Drinks rather than a full bar is a sure way to keep your beverage budget in tact.

It is important to remember that no two weddings (or wedding budgets) are the same. For most couples, your wedding will be the largest and most detailed event that you will ever plan. There are the dresses and tuxedos, the colors and the cake, the entertainment and the transportation. It is all too easy to get overwhelmed with the mounting expenses and find yourself looking for different ways to keep your budget in tact. Just keep in mind that food and beverage are two of the most pivotol areas that are directly related to making your dream day a reality. While selecting a Cash Bar for your special day may seem like a painless way to save a few grand, take a look at saving in ways that are not at the expense of your guests.


Raise the bar in 2008 and just say "no" to cash bars!!!

HTA 14th Annual Dinner

Last night, the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance held it's 14th annual dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center. Over 600 hospitality professionals turned out for this black tie affair and enjoyed an evening filled with tribute, appreciation and excitement. During his welcoming speech, HTA President, Mohammad Jenatian marveled at how much the annual event had grown from it's first dinner of about 50 guests.

Growing from 50 guests to the crowd that turned out this year did not stop the HTA or Charlotte Convention Center from flawlessly executing this splendid occasion. After a long and busy day at the office, the ladies of Embassy Suites & Culinaire International got dolled up and were on site to take in all of the action!



Avery, Erin and Allison posed with their prettiest smiles on their way out to the big event. And on the way to the Convention Center, Allison and I paused for a quick photo op.

The girls and I arrived just after 6 o'clock and enjoyed the cocktail hour and took a few pictures while we waited for the crowd to arrive. As you can see, we were all smiles. Once inside the room, we stopped and took a moment to admire the space and perfectly set ballroom for us and our 600 hospitality cohorts.

After taking our seats, we were served a beautifully presesnted three course meal featuring a dual entree and white chocolate creme brulee for dessert. The staff was extremely attentive and made sure the wine flowed freely throughout dinner. In between the live band and intense auction, Allison and I managed to take home a few prizes ourselves. Allison was surprised with a gift certificate to The Palm restaurant and I took home a bottle of wine from North Carolina's own Childress Vineyards.

The HTA's 14th Annual Dinner was truly and experience and night to remember. We took great pride in being present at an event that honored and thanked the professionals who protect, promote and serve the hospitality industry.

Square Biz

The 2008 wedding season is quickly approaching! Each year, brides to be look for ways to put their own unique spin on a day that is laced with tradition. Whether it's a little twist on something old, or a nostalgic touch on something new, our blushing brides look for something to set their special day apart from the rest.

In 2007, we saw traditional granduer cakes give way to cute little novelty cup cakes. Gone were the pastel color schemes that dominated in previous years. They were replaced with bold chocolates, kiwis and tangerines. And gaining momentum at a slow and steady pace was the Square table. But at the end of the year, it stilled played second fiddle to the traditional round.

When I first started trying to sell my brides on this concept, I was met with stiff and, more often than not, unyielding opposition. They were loyal to rounds, afraid to go in another direction and unable to grasp the visual effect of square tables. They all but grimaced at the thought of squares. And so the blushing brides of 2007 would cling tightly to tradition and proceed to dress their rounds in everything from eggplant pintuck to pink and black polka dots. Et tu, Brute?

But at last - there was a breakthough! After one successful wedding with squares, the demand for them began to increase. Aside from giving your reception a crisp and innovative appeal, these 60" tables also seat up to 12 guests. If you're not ready to completely walk away from tradition and the infamous rounds, here are a few tips and ideas:

• Use square tables to line your center aisle - this makes for a fabulous entrance
  
• Make your reserved tables square - these tables are usually in the front and highly visible
  
• Try using a combination of squares and rounds - work with your venue or planner to create your own design
• Use a smaller square for your sweetheart table
  
• Position the square to look like diamonds - it's an optical illusion with stunning effects
  

Check out the squares in action!

Our 'Rising Star'

Each year NACE, the National Association of Catering Executives holds an induction ceremony to ring in the new year with a new board of directors. During this ceremony, they also honor one deserving NACE member with the Rising Star Award. The recipient of this award is recognized for their unyielding dedication, desire to excel and commitment to excellence. This year Embassy Suites Charlotte's own Allison Myers was honored with this distinguished award for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Charlotte Chapter of NACE.


Allison is the Programs Co-Chair for NACE and wholeheartedly plans each of the Charlotte chapters monthly meetings and special programs. In November of 2007, Allison dedicated months of planning, along with NACE President Cortenay Matters and immediate past President Linwood Campbell, the 8th Annual Crystal Ball. The event was held on Allison's home turf, Embassy Suites Charlotte, and she took special pride and extra care to make sure no detail was left undone. The event was so well planned and the theme so thoroughly executed that it was also honored at the induction ceremony.


In October 2007, Allison assumed a new challenge and transitioned into the Corporate Catering market at the Embassy Suites Charlotte where she plans everything from corporate meetings to seminars to company kick-off events. No matter the market, Allison is a planner at heart with a natural flair for bringing concepts to life. The decor at tonight's induction ceremony was evident of Allison's eye for detail and passion for event design.


Tonight was a night of recognizing and showing appreciation for all who contribute to making the world of Catering and Event Planning the exciting and rewarding industry that it is. Our very own Culinaire International Food & Beverage Director, Matt Mellon, attended the ceremony to present Allison with her award. They were both all smiles!

The industry in which we work is fast paced and demanding and often we perform a thankless job. By the time the details are finalized, the courses are served and the clients are bid farewell, we are on to another event and on to making another client's vision a reality. Tonight, the Charlotte chapter of NACE and the Embassy Suites Charlotte paused to recognize, to honor and to thank Allison Myers, a Rising Star.

Congratulations!!!

Bredgeth's Quinceanera

On January 19, 2008, we had the honor and pleasure of hosting Bredgeth's Quinceanera. A Quinceanera is a young woman's celebration of her 15th birthday and it is on this occasion that she is presented by her family to society, no longer as a girl, but as a young lady.

This celebration goes far beyond your typical birthday party and Bredgeth's parents made sure that her every wish became a reality. From the Robin's Egg Blue decor to a menu composed of her favorite foods , Bredgeth was pampered and truly a princess for the day!

Our staff and I arrived early that day to begin setting the room and it wasn't long before Bredgeth's vision began to come to life! The tables were covered with white linen and finished with baby blue napkins. To complete the look, Connie Duglin provided the chair covers along with white satin sashes. Bredgeth's family placed blue balloons that had her portrait on them in the center of each table. We made sure that the dance floor was large enough for Bredgeth and all of her friends to dance the night away! And finally we set a head table for Bredgeth and six of her closest friends, which they dubbed the "VIP Area". =)

The afternoon literally flew by and before we knew it, we were all waiting for Bredgeth to make her grand entrance. So many of Bredgeth's friends and family came out with this commemorative affair. Even the little lady above was decked out in her finest attire to witness the event! Bredgeth's guests enjoyed authentic Peruvian desserts (provided by her family) while they anticipated the arrival of the guest of honor.

Bredgeth arrived just before 7pm accompanied by her "VIP" entourage. She was dressed in a traditional Quinceanera gown, custom made with her signature color. She carried a rhinestone embellished scepter and was adorned with a princess tiara. Her friends and family all came out to greet her and each waited to have their picture taken with Princess Bredgeth!

While all of the excitement and picture taking ensued in our garden atrium, the Embassy Suites Charlotte staff was busy in the front and back of the house. Here are members of our catering operations team making sure that the everything is set and ready to go on the buffet. And in the kitchen, a dedicated member of our culinary team puts the finishing touches on Chef Phil's famous Dessert Nachos! Yum!!

What celebration would be complete without a cake? Like all of the other extraordinary decor, Bredgeth's cake was "true blue" and followed suite. It was three tiers accompanied by four heart shaped cakes and enhanced with a glowing blue fountain in the center. Bredgeth managed to escape the "VIP Area" and take a few pictures with her parents.

Aside from being an awesome (not to mention fun) event to host, it was also extremely sentimental. The best part was seeing Bredgeth's parents beam with pride as they watched her that night. It was a time of joy, a day of memories and a picture perfect night of splendor! Feliz Cumpleanos Bredgeth!!!

2008 Bridal Showcase

Last Sunday, hundreds of bubbly brides poured into the Charlotte Convention Center to attend the Annual Bridal Showcase. There were cakes artists, videographers, bridal boutiques and florists galore – pure Bridal Bliss!!!

Being new to the Charlotte area, I was both anxious and excited to participate in this year’s showcase and delighted to help new the city’s new brides-to-be kick off their year of planning.

Thank you to each and everyone that visited our space! To Classic Party Rentals, Connie Duglin and Todd Crawford: A most sincere expression of gratitude for making our booth come to life!!

Check out our pictures!

Something sweet from Embassy Suites: Tiny organza satchels filled with kisses

We attached our business cards, but how cute (and cost-effective) would these be as favors???

Two tables; One color scheme; Two Visuals Effects

We wanted to demonstrate how upgrading your linen,

centerpiece and table setting (or all three) can make a huge impact

on the visual effect that your event has.

Mission Accomplished!



This little box turned out to be a crowd favorite!

It's a chinese take-out box, colored to match our decor and

finished with pink, chocolate & ivory polka-dot organza ribbon.

This trendy and thrifty favor is sure to be a hit on your special day or next special event!

(From l to r: Erin Hobbs, Fontella Gilmore & Lauran Peoples)

The Ladies of Embassy Suites Charlotte!

Here were are wrapping up the day and pausing for quick snapshot.