With fall here, it's time to start planning all your fall parties. You have the perfect backdrop for beautiful outdoor parties now with the gorgeous colors and the amazing weather. So, what is the perfect pairing to your fall party? Of course, the delicious food you serve. Food during this time of year is simply tasteful. Wedding and Party Network has our top picks for yummy fall treats that will be a hit at your next party.

Cheese Board – The first thing you need is a great cutting board. Either choose a wooden one or they even make chalkboard cutting boards, which is  a fun way to display the cheese and tell what kind they are eating. Next, find the meat, cheese bread and cracker you would like to serve for your fall party. You can even dress up the cutting board by adding dollops of jelly and mustard around the board and garnishing it with basil leaves.

Pumpkin Cheeseball -An adorable way to display a cheeseball. Stick to your recipe and just shape it into a pumpkin and even add a stem and a basil leave on top with crackers scattered around it.

Soup – Of course, during the cooler months, the ideal food is soup. However, you may think it's difficult to eat at a party. It doesn't have to be. First off, serve it up in a pumpkin. How great is that? Next, to make it easier, serve it in mason jars where your guests can walk with it and sip on it.

Miniature Pies – Miniature pies are simply adorable and when you think of fall desserts, pies immediately come to your mind. It's the time for pecan and pumpkin pies! These are great desserts that are easy to pop in your mouth. No one wants to try and mingle while eating a piece of pie. Miniature pies can literally be popped in your mouth. You can even get more creative by putting them on a stick!

Candy Apples -Of course, when you think of fall, you think about the carnivals and festivals that you will be attending. Along with that, you'll also think about the candy apples that you get at them. Candy apples are great to have at your party and are so much fun. Create a candy apple bar that lets everyone dip it in chocolate or caramel and let them pick their toppings.

Cupcakes – These are also great to serve at any party. Create pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting or even a candy apple cupcake. Just pick your favorite fall flavors and turn it into a cupcake!

Fall is a great time for delicious appetizers and desserts. You can incorporate the fall flavors into each item. That way, your guests will get a feel of fall in each bite. Simply delicious!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a caterer near you!

A Halloween party is a great excuse for the inner-child in all of us that loves to dress up and act goofy or spooky to come out. It's way for us to escape reality for a few hours and pretend to be someone or something else. The typical Halloween party is decorated in black, orange and red, with blood splattered serving trays and black widow spiders hanging from above, and there is nothing wrong with that! However, this year we should take it up a notch and create an elegant upscale, but still fun and spooky Halloween extravaganza!

Think white, silver and a touch of bronze. Creating a fun and beautiful Halloween party is simple, especially if you have the creativity and patience to plan it out. Here are some party tips for White Halloween Decor.

• Put Ghost Peeps on lollipop sticks and display on a cake-pop tray.
• Display white jordan almonds, white dutch mints and white champagne bubble candies in white serving bowls.
• White pumpkins spread around the room look dazzling paired with silver sparkling skulls.
• White table clothes, sparkling white bat cut outs and spider webs are great for added party decor.
• Bones are white! Decorate with plastic bones,  mummies, ghosts and white chocolate covered fruit.
• White frosted cupcakes, white sparkling cookies, and sparkling white grape-juice are just right for your frightful night.
• Don't forget white spiders, white serving trays, and silver touches through out the party.

Have fun and get creative – thinking  outside the box will pay off when you see the final outcome of this fabulously frightening Halloween Treat!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Decoration Suppliers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party decoration supplier near you!

Special thanks to Sweet.Eventide for her fantastic photo via Flickr.

Ask The Celebration Advisor:

I am trying to find a caterer in Columbus GA. I am throwing a surprise party for my husband and need a good caterer.

Thanks,

Mandee

The Celebration Advisor:

Hi Mandee,
We actually have a vendor in your area that is located in Columbus, GA. It's called Cafe 209 On The River. I'm attaching their contact information along with their website, that features great pictures and their catering menu. Hope this helps!

Thanks,

The Celebration Advisor

http://www.uniqueeventsandmore.com/

209 On the River and Creative Caterers
Specializing In Tasty Food for All Occasions
706-722-9692 or 706-814-7705
Glen and Cassandra Brinson
209ontheriver@gmail.com

October is knocking on our door and is ready to appear in the next couple of days. This is a great month to host parties due to the beautiful weather, gorgeous fall colors and limitless party ideas. There are tons of great holidays to celebrate and use inspiration for your party. Wedding and Party Network is here to give you great party ideas and tips for the month of October.

Fun October Facts

October is the 8th month of the year and one of the seven months that has 31 days in it. Where did the name come from? It retained its name from the Latin word "Octo" meaning eight. It was named after Julius & Augustus Caesar, which was placed into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans.

October is associated with the season autumn in the Northern hemisphere and spring in the Southern hemisphere. Also, in common years, October starts on the same day of the week. While, no other month starts on the same day as the week as October in leap years. October ends on the same day of the week as February every year and January in common years. In leap years, October starts on the same day as August of the previous year. Just some fun facts about October.

Birthstone & Flower

The birthstone for October is opal. It is actually said that the opal will crack if worn by someone whose birthday is not in October. The color of opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta slate, olive, brown and black. It also varies in opal density from opaque to semi-transparent. Use this birthstone as color inspiration for your party or even as part of your party decorations.

For the birth flower, it's the calendula, otherwise known as the pot marigold. These flowers come in beautiful yellows and oranges which represents the autumn weather perfectly. These are a definite must for floral centerpieces!

October's Astrology

The astrology signs for this month are Libra, Scorpio or Virgo. Libras are diplomatic, romantic & charming, yet self-indulgent. Scorpios are determined, emotional and yet jealous. While Virgos are modest, shy, yet a worrier.

October Events & Holidays

Adopt-A-Shelter-Animal Month
Family History Month
National Apple Month
National Pizza Month
National Popping Popcorn Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 1st – Homemade Cookies Day, World Cardmaking Day
October 3rd – Child Health Day
October 4th – National Golf Day
October 5th – World Teacher Day
October 8th – National Costume Swap Day
October 10th – Columbus Day
October 12th – Farmer's Day
October 15th – National Grouch Day, Sweetest Day
October 16th – Boss's Day, Dictionary Day, World Food Day
October 20th – Monster Mash Day
October 24th – National Bologna Day
October 31st – Halloween

October is a great month to celebrate. Use popcorn, apple and pizza as part of your party menu to represent these national observances. Also, if you have a 1st birthday for a little boy, create a golf or farmer party theme. How cute would that be? Don't forget to go all out for your Halloween party! There are many great ideas out there for your party, so start planning!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find party planners near you!

Sad to say, the baseball season is almost over. Tentatively, Oct 19th is the beginning of the World Series. After that we'll begin 6 months of down time until the next season starts. So, come on all you baseball fans – let's end this season with a HOME RUN!

Here at Wedding and Party Network we have some MAJOR fans of baseball, and they just can't wait for the Series to begin – a big baseball bash is the only logical way to end the season, right!?!?

Hosting a World Series Party is as easy as 1 2 3. So, batter up!

Decorate your party space featuring the team of your choice. If you have fans of both teams, you'll have to divide the party decor to be fair. Use the colors of the preferred team. You can create an elaborate atmosphere or a simple, kick-back kind of party space with your party decorations. Choose what fits your party best!

• Memorabilia is always a great way to decorate for a sport's party, and don't forget the big foam hands! If you want to add  a touch of elegance to the decor, incorporate some fresh flower arrangements sporting the colors of choice with miniature team flags inside!

Hot Dogs – Get Your Hot Dogs Here!

As far as the party food goes, think concession stand. Hot dogs, nachos, chips and dip, over sized pretzels, candy and popcorn are all staple food for any baseball stadium. Therefore, this is your party menu. Drizzle melted chocolate or caramel over your popcorn for added flair. Sodas, punch, sports drinks and a signature drink (Yankee Doodle Spritzers) are perfect for this World Series party! Don't forget about the desert! You can special order cupcakes with your team's logo on it or a personalized team cake that will pull everything together!

Mixing and Mingling

Make sure to have adequate seating, since most of your party will take place in front of the television. You will want to set your food tables away from the seating area – as to give your guests a reason to get up and mingle a little. Snack bowls arranged close by seating will help when the munchies kick in! You can have fun activities for commercial breaks – something like baseball trivia is always fun.

Send guests home with a token to remember the party – anything from a key chain, flag, t-shirt or personalized candies with the team logos will hit the mark!

Who doesn't love a good party???

Between, great food, friends, family, entertainment, great music and lots of laughs, there isn't a better way to reconnect with the people you care about! Yes, parties can be stressful if you're the one planning them, but here at Wedding and Party Network we want to help relieve that stress by bringing you the best tips, trends, and inspiration for your top-notch party!

What's your party theme?

So, do you really need an occasion to throw a party? NO! Not really. If you can't think of a good enough excuse to throw a party, you should know that everyday of every month is actually a holiday! Somewhere in the world, someone is celebrating something fantastic! Do a little research for the day you're planning your party to get inspiration for your little shindig. (Sept. 12 is National Chocolate Milkshake Day – throw a 50's style ice cream parlor party)

Now that you have your theme or excuse to party – What do you think about decorations? Do you really need to spend the majority of your budget on party decorations? I wouldn't suggest it. Play off of the holiday or theme you have chosen and find a basic color scheme. Say your colors are coral and turquoise, use these colors in your balloons, streamers, table clothes and paper-ware. A few lanterns, banners and floral centerpieces will tie everything together. Simplicity is key! Don't go over board, your guests are there to mingle and have fun. Just keep your focus on the food and entertainment.

A good menu – equals a good party! So, once again, play off of your theme. You can reflect the color scheme in your food menu as well. Brightly colored fruits and veggies are always a hit – appetizers and finger-foods are a great choice too. It makes it easier for people to mingle and walk around with their plates and not be stuck at a table. When it comes to party food - variety is key! Not all of your guests have the same taste in food – so make sure you have different options for everyone to try. Cater to those of your guests who might be vegetarian or have food allergies by having the proper foods available.

As for desserts, you can stick with mini desserts by having small pastries, cupcakes, a candy buffet or ice cream bar. However, the party cake is what ties everything together! Your cake should incorporate the atmosphere and theme of your party all in one. After all, who doesn't love to cut into one of those big tasty, over-the-top cakes?!? Be ready for some "oooing and aaahing'!

Entertainment – Don't stress, it might seem impossible to find the PERFECT entertainment to keep everyone happy. It's really not as hard as it seems. Fun activities and games are always a good idea – it keeps people mingling and moving which keeps things entertaining. The key to good entertainment is good music! Finding the perfect music will set the tone for the entire event. A great jazz band or steel-drum band will get  people on their feet. Go over the list of guests in your head and think about what the majority of your guest list enjoys to do – then mix it with your theme and Voila!

The keys to a good PARTY are:

P. Is for Plan. Planning your party ahead of time is Key. With a good plan – you can't go wrong!

A. Is for Action. Put your party plans into action – send invitations, send reservations and shop for supplies.

R. Is for Rest. Make sure you don't over do yourself – ask for help.

T. Is for Telling. Tell everyone about your party! Your friends and family might have creative ideas perfect for your event.

Y. Is for YOU! Remember that the party is planned by you, decorated by you, and hosted by YOU. So, you need to enjoy it too!

Relax and have fun – YOU deserve it!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find party caterers near you!

When planning for your wedding, you want the night to be memorable. You want guests leaving thinking to themselves, that was spectacular! One element to think about is the food. What will you serve your guests? Whatever you are thinking, the food stands out and is an element that makes your wedding memorable. So, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few wedding food tips before planning on what to serve.

• Your wedding menu should reflect YOU! Forget about what you know people don't like and do, this day is completely about you and your groom.  Forget about the wedding etiquette and do what makes you happy!
• A lot of weddings give their guests a lot of variety to choose from, which can cause a strain on budget. So, choose a few welcoming drinks and canapes for your guests when they first arrive. This will hold their appetite over while they wait for your arrival. Next, choose one to two starches, red & white meat, a few vegetables and salad. You can finish it off with your wedding cake as dessert.
• Keep it simple. You and your guests don't want to eat heavy foods throughout the night so you'll be weighed down. It's nice to keep your food light and refreshing. Just play up the presentation in a unique way so the food stands out. This also helps with your budget, however, you still focus on taste.
• For informal yet classic, create fun self-serve stations. Create a finger food bar, dessert bar and a drink station for your guests. You can play up the presentation of these bars and they add a special touch to any wedding. You can easily create a beautiful presentation to match the theme of your wedding.

The main thing to keep in mind when planning your menu is to think about what YOU like. It's your day, therefore, you should eat what you enjoy. You can easily find food that you enjoy that conveys the theme of your wedding. Also, don't forget to play up the presentation!

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Caterers.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find a wedding caterer near you!

Are you planning a party? Do you think it's a lot of work? When planning do you follow the party etiquette rules that you've always heard people talk about? Well, you may have heard wrong. Wedding and Party Network is here to put all those party myths to rest.

Myth #1. Throwing a joint party is never successful

Wrong! You can combine birthday's, holidays, and special occasions without taking away the spotlight from the special guests. Whether it be two birthday parties at once or maybe combined baby showers, the two focal points will create a one-of-a-kind party!

• Intertwine two mini themes or create one party theme that covers both occasions to celebrate with style. Depending on what you are celebrating, your menu, entertainment and activities will revolve around each special guest. Having two-party cakes is a great option or you can create a desert bar with several finger-food desserts so you will satisfy both guests of honor. Create a neutral menu to include both occasions. Say you're having a child's birthday party and an anniversary party together, the themes can be beach/mermaid theme. These two things create the same feel, yet are two separate themes.

Myth #2. If you want to throw a successful party, you have to spend a fortune!

Not so! If you are throwing a big bash, things can add up quickly leaving you with a big bill. However, with a little creativity and imagination your party can be a hit without breaking the bank.

• Start by creating a budget and make sure you stick with it. It's best to leave a little elbow room in case you need any last-minute extras. Home made party decor is always the safest bet when trying to keep costs low. Dollar stores and craft stores have great inexpensive party decor that will mix well with anything home-made. Balloons are a great choice for decor when you are on a budget, they look great, take up a lot of room and don't cost much at all. Flowers are also a great way to bring class and elegance to any party. You can easily work with a florist to create simple centerpieces that will keep you in your budget. As far as your menu goes, think small finger foods or go for a potluck party where your guests will bring a dish to pass.

Myth #3. Every party has to have a theme.

A party is a party with or without a theme! Bringing friends and family together to celebrate for no reason at all is nothing short of FUN! Even if you are throwing a birthday party, it doesn't have to have a theme, just invite your friends and family over for some great bonding time. You can still have your cake, your party food and even decor, without having a theme or even a reason to party!

Myth #4. You have to invite everyone to your party, other wise you will offend people.

If you are throwing a big bash, it's easy to invite all of your friends and family to join in on the celebration. If your party is more intimate, it can be difficult to narrow down your guest list without offending certain people. Here is how to do it without offending anyone!

Start by making a list of all the people you would normally invite. Next, break down your list into three categories including,

• People you NEED to invite.
• People you would LIKE to invite.
• People who you MIGHT invite.

Once you have sorted through, you will get a better estimate of how many people you are working with. Start by eliminating the last group – the people you MIGHT invite. Then, work your way up. If you get questions about why someone wasn't invited, you can mention that your party is very small and would love to invite them to the next one.

Myth #5. Creating a party menu is too much work.

We live in a time where the world is at our fingertips. Creating a party menu is as easy as 1. 2. 3. You just need to know where to begin!

• If preparing your own food is out of the question, all you will need to do is a have a broad idea of the type of food you want, the date and time of your party and a list of local caterers. Party Caterers will build your menu for you without a fuss. Desserts? YES! Along with a themed cake, also incorporate delicious desserts into your menu. Professional bakers are trained with pioneering techniques and can create some mind-boggling desserts. All you need is an idea of what you want your cake or dessert to represent and your baker will do the rest.

With a little creativity and a touch of imagination your can bring your perfect party to life! Have fun and enjoy the ride as well as the destination!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

To create the ideal event, everything about your occasion must compliment each other. From the event decor, flowers, linens, lighting, sound and the food, everything must work together to create the perfect event. If one thing is not up to par, everything else can be thrown off from it. Therefore, choose your vendors wisely. So, if you're in the Ocala, FL area, Woodlea Gardens will be your go to vendor for catering.

Touch of Southern Flair

With 15 years of experience, from simple to grand, Woodlea Gardens has achieved a sterling reputation. Well, what type of events do they cater? Well, all of it! Whether you are planning a wedding, event, charity event or corporate meeting; they cater it all.

Large to small & casual to formal, this experienced caterer will cater it. You'll find that their food has distinctive southern flair with a touch of Italian, Latin, Greek and French. Also, no matter what type of budget or event you're hosting, they feature different menus for you to choose from. Everything is truly exquisite!

Choose Your Menu

Family gatherings, brunch, lunch, showers, weddings, dinners and tailgates are the different menus & events they cater for. With football season coming up, let Woodlea Gardens cater your tailgate. Maybe you're planning a bridal or baby shower. If so, choose from chicken salad finger sandwiches, pecan & lemon tartlets, tomato feta basil dip, mushroom thyme turnovers or cream filled puffs. Everyone will absolutely find all the event food to be divine.

Now, if you're planning a wedding, you'll find their menu pleasantly exquisite. They'll love to sit down with you to first decide what type of wedding you're going for. Next, choose if you want to serve hor d'oeuvre, buffet or have a seated dinner. Next, decide on your gourmet food that will wow your guests.

Marinated beef tenderloin, baked brie with apricots & pine nuts, mushrooms with sausage stuffing, beef with burgundy sauce, chicken with artichokes, various salads, beef Wellington or poached salmon or some of the choices you have when planning for your wedding. Your guests will walk away from your wedding with a sense of joy. The combination of you in your wedding dress, wedding reception decor, flowers and wedding food will create an elegant combination.

So, if you're in need for a caterer, no matter what type of event, choose Woodlea Gardens. Their unique flair that they add to food and beautiful presentations will have guests ecstatic that they attended to your event.

Food is such an important part of any event. Guests remember what the food tastes like at your party. Therefore, spectacular is expected. Not only is food such a staple piece, but it conveys the theme of your event, as well as a special treat to guests. So, if you're in the Madison, Wisconsin area, Upstairs Downstairs Catering is the only choice.

Passion For Food

Why is this skilled caterer the one for you? You'll find they offer catering services for all types of audiences and events, including weddings, birthday parties, picnics, anniversaries, corporate meetings and other celebrations. Their team consists of highly qualified professionals that make your event pleasurable.

You'll be blown away with their attention to detail, experience and reliability. It will all show through in their delicious event food. All meals are prepared with a passion for perfection, so you know you're receiving the best.

Traditional, Elegant Fare With A Twist

Upstairs Downstairs Catering offers absolutely divine food for any occasion. Whether you are planning a wedding, birthday or event; they give quality service with amazing event food. Of course planning a wedding is your main priority, and they make it theirs too. Their staff wants to work with you to make sure that your wedding day is picture perfect and tasteful.

Choose from Greek salad, capresi salad, bacon wrapped filet mignon, chicken marsala, cherry pork tenderloin, grilled mahi mahi, portabella ravioli and lava cakes for your sit down dinner.

However, if you want to take a different approach; you can choose from standard buffet, traditional, deluxe or executive.

If you want to keep it light and simple, pick several of their mouth-watering hors d'oeuvres. You'll find such a variety in their menu. So, if you have someone who loves beef, chicken, pork or is a vegetarian, their menu provides those options and more. Your guests will be so thankful that you chose this caterer and treated them to a divine meal.

You've found the perfect location and perfected all the details for your event, now leave the food up to Upstairs Downstairs Catering. Their close attention to detail and striving to produce appetizing food makes them a great choice for your caterer at your next event.