Cocktail hour guests enjoying bites and music by the pool

A Golden Wedding Anniversary with a Touch of Southern Charm

Early in 2014 our client, Craig, called us eager to plan an incredible party to celebrate his parents' 50 years of marriage, but not quite knowing where to start. He wanted a classic American BBQ with a Southern twist while maintaining the elegance the occasion required.

The event began by the pool where guests, many of them original wedding guests, enjoyed some of the family's favorite signature cocktails ("Pink Lemonade", Whiskey Sour, Gin Fizz, Margarita and a killer Old Fashioned) prepared by our mixologist and a selection of our signature BBQ-inspired bites while listening to the tunes of Bluegrass band Big Bad Rooster.

The BBQ buffet was held in the client's beautiful backyard. Tablesettings included gold and white accents with beautiful white floral in oversized mason jars as a nod to the relaxed BBQ theme. The couple of honor themselves were incredibly cool - working the crowd in their original wedding attire during the cocktail hour - still a perfect fit!

The evening wrapped up with a playful twist - a sweet treat of homemade ice cream sandwiches that were tray-passed to guests at the end of dinner:

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MENU

Tray-Passed Bites:

Watermelon cube salad with French feta, balsamic reduction and micro arugula

Roasted corn bisque soup shots

Shiraz and cassis marinated flank steak crostini with chimichurri, grilled vidalia relish and sriracha aioli

Vertical Mac'n Cheese Croquettes with Truffle Aioli and Edible Flower Garnish

BBQ Buffet:

Spicy Chipotle Coleslaw

Summer orzo salad: chickpeas, mint, basil and baby heirloom tomatoes with red wine vinaigrette

Oven-roasted potatoes: local potatoes roasted with bacon and onion

Grilled sweet corn seasoned with chili, lime and Cotija cheese

Ultimate baked beans with maple, bacon and sausage

Smokey cheddar grits: buttery white corn grits flavored with cheddar and smoked Gouda

Classic "sticky fingers" BBQ chicken

Chef's Smoked BBQ Beef brisket with a Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce

Carolina pulled pork: classic Carolina style house-smoked pulled pork with BBQ sauce and sweet rolls

Assorted Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches:

Guests were surprised with a selection of tray-passed homemade ice cream sandwiches to choose as we wrapped up dinner service including: chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches with vanilla bean ice cream, snickerdoodle ice cream sandwiches with salted dulche de leche ice cream and soft and chewy peanut butter ice cream sandwiches with dark chocolate ice cream

Our fabulous event partners included:

A Rental Connection - The fabulous Kristi!

Big Bad Rooster - The incredible Big Bad Rooster Bluegrass band

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