By Jody B.

Congratulations! You just got engaged, graduated, had a baby, or are about to celebrate a significant anniversary or that long-awaited retirement. There are so many milestones in one’s life that give us a reason to pull out all the stops and celebrate with family and friends.  

But where to celebrate?

In every community there exists a host of venues at your disposal, each adding unique details. Do you prefer an elegant, refined site with beautiful architectural details?  Or a location with a stunning view or exhibits to wander through? Should it be indoors or outside?

No matter the location you choose, ambiance is key.  Each venue will offer ambiance in differing ways, pairing what the location offers with your event’s specifications will add cohesion to your party vision.

Other things to keep in mind when selecting venues:

• Budget
• Guest count
• Length of time for the party
• Whether or not you’ll need room for dancing or other entertainment
• Space available for your guests to park
• What you’ll venue would look and feel like at the time of year you’ll be holding your event

Now that you have the framework to find an event venue that reflects your style and specifications, take a gander at Pepper’s list of preferred venues and see what each has to offer!

Blooming With Color

• Connors Center
• Elm Bank
• Habitat
• Garden in the Woods
• Tower Hill Botanic Gardens
• Tyrone Farm
• Roseland Cottage
• Concord Art Association

Historically Speaking

• Village Hall
• Sherborn 1858 Town House
• Commander’s Mansion
• Mechanics Hall
• Tuckerman Hall
• Asa Waters Mansion
• Holliston Historical Society/Asa Whiting Barn
• Pierce House
• Gore Estate
• Paine Estate

Start Your Engines

• Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Be a Sport

• Bosse Sports Club
• Harry Parker Boat House
• Donahue Rowing Center
• Vashon Sanctuary
• Outlook Farm
• Sandy Burr Country Club
• Camp Wing
• Camp Kewanee

Night at the Museum

• Higgins Armory Museum
• Fitchburg Art Museum
• Danforth Art Museum
• Fuller Craft Museum
• Worcester Art Museum
• Russian Icon Museum
• Griffin Photography Museum
• New Bedford Whaling Museum
• Concord Museum

What’s Cooking?

• Clarke Luxury Appliance Show Room

 Now Playing

• Hanover Theatre
• Jordan’s Furniture IMAX Theatre

Once you select a venue, allow Pepper’s to assist with party catering and event planning. No one understands the importance of cohesion in design and great food like we do!  We’ll work with you to create a delicious menu that your guests will savor and a memorable event to remember.

Celebrate the excitement in your life!

By Linda S.

Gala is another word for celebration—a celebration with a purpose. Galas are generally designed by a committee who work together with an event caterer and other vendors to raise money for an organization or to celebrate an accomplishment in the community, such as a new wing opening in a hospital or a new school being built.

Galas are inclusive affairs, incorporating the entire community to reach a goal or celebrate a job well done. Because they involve so many and their function so significant, there are a number of key elements to consider in the planning stages to help make your gala exciting and memorable:

            1.  Venue Selection

The venue is perhaps the most important component of any event—it sets the stage. A lot can be down to spruce up a bland space, but the basics like size and location should be regarded in choosing your gala venue. 

            2. Theme

Your event doesn’t need to have a theme, but theme can do wonders in getting your attendees excited about your cause. If you decide to go with a theme—try to match it with your cause. Raising funds to repair the library? How about a theme that celebrates the great books and authors of the 19^th and 20^th century?

            3. Fabulous Food

Selecting your event caterer is a crucial part of wowing guests. You’ll want to choose a caterer who will work seamlessly with your committee, designing a menu that will take into account the dietary and ethnic considerations of your many guests, while also wowing their palates.

            4. Entertainment

How will you entertain your guests? If it’s a fund raising event – be sure to select an auctioneer who can engage your guests and open their hearts to financially support the cause.

            5. Make it an Event to Remember

Many galas are re-occurring events. Be sure to choose unique elements that will set you apart from others and encourage your guests to return next year and continue to support your organization.   

Food can go a long way in making your event truly memorable. Serving just another piece of tenderloin on a plate may not be enough to set you apart, however, a piece cooked to perfection, topped with an unusual sauce, garnished with parsnip flan and served on beautiful platinum boarded china plate paired with a complementary wine selection  can certainly help set your event apart from the others.

Don’t be afraid to step out and pull out all the stops when planning a gala. Galas are celebrations with a purpose and to that end they should not only be a blast, but accomplish a lot for your organization, too.  

By Leslie C.

The art of celebration is the combination of delectable food and seamless party planning. Very often we reminisce about our favorite events to draw inspiration and entice creativity for future events.

Nothing excites the Pepper’s team quite like party catering. Once the thinking caps go on, it’s no holds barred on fun, unique ideas that will make the event truly stand out.

When we think back to our favorite party events, it can be difficult to narrow it down. What makes an event a favorite? Is it menu, design, guest list or entertainment?  We believe it’s all of those things. And vision. For us, a memorable event springs from taking our client’s vision and using our imaginations to fulfill and surpass their party dreams.  

A very recent favorite was the transformation of a rather drab banquet catering hall into a magical holiday themed event. The client wanted to incorporate the “Little Drummer Boy” into the theme, and knowing the client’s taste, traditional wasn’t an option.

Well, how does one make the “Little Drummer Boy” contemporary and glamorous?

We got crafty.  We purchased hat boxes at Michael’s, painted and embellished them with glitter, rhinestones, and glitzy ribbons to mimic the look of a drum.  Then, we stacked them on tables preset with decadent colored linens to compliment the client’s request.  They were thrilled. 

You can create your own special party moments, too. Regardless of what your elementary school art teacher may have told you, we know there’s a crafter in all of us.

Our recommendation when planning your party is quite simple:

1. Go crazy

2. Have fun. 

When creating your own event, aim for cohesion in décor and cuisine. Integrating all the elements of party planning to pair together well will go a long way in making your event a favorite with your guests, not to mention show off your killer do-it-yourself party planning skills.

Have you attended or planned a fantastic holiday event this season? We’d love to hear about it. Share some of your favorite holiday events details, from décor to menu ideas, in the comments section below.   

By Liz O.

The countdown begins!

The pressure always seems to be on for New Year’s Eve Party hosts.  You’re trying to create a memorable experience for your guests, a celebration worthy enough to usher family and friends into the coming year—and that can cause party planning stress.

New Year’s celebrations should be the icing on your holiday cake, so from all of us at Pepper’s Catering, here are some Event Planning Tips to help your Auld Langs Syne celebration yield wonderful memories.

Ten, Nine, Eight…

• For music, consider a band or DJ—or create a play list on your iPod that includes holiday and dancing tunes.
• Activities or fun games always add fun or games.

Here’s a fun game idea: everyone writes down his or her resolutions on a slip of paper (no names), toss them into a hat, and randomly read them aloud. Everyone has to guess which resolutions belong to whom.

Seven Six, Five, Four…

Plan a fun and festive menu.

• If your party starts later in the evening, a nice selection of hors d’oeuvres and sweets will hit the spot.
• Serving alcohol? If you’re like most of us, we never know how much to buy. Event Planners like me, use on-line Drink Calculators to solve the mystery, such as E-Vite’s: http://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator.jsp
• Do you have a bit more room in the budget this year? Hire a local special events caterer who can design a party with cuisine and décor that will suit your personal taste and budget.
• Don’t forget about New Year’s Day. Save some champagne for mimosas in 2012.

Three, Two, ONE!

 What to wear? The age old question for NYE parties!  

• How about a costume party? Themes set a tone, and provide a common focus.
• Not in to costume parties? Be sure to swing by your local party store, like iParty and pick up hats, noisemakers and party horns for your guests to have fun with

HAVE FUN! You’ve planned and prepared, so sit back, relax and enjoy the festivities!