VENUE FEATURE: TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN

 
Samantha Melanson Photography

Michelle & John's Mechanics Hall Wedding

   The evening started off with a ceremony on stage under a custom floral arch.  Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour complete with a raw bar with stone crabs from the Florida Keys, a ceviche station, and a grand antipasto presentation with imported salamis, local cheeses, olives, bruschetta’s and roasted nuts. The delicious food didn't stop there as a 4-course dinner awaited them in the great hall. 

Michelle and John's wedding style was bold and elegant with a black, silver and dark purple color pallette. We used a beautiful black and silver herringbone table linen and a black water glass for that extra pop! That, combined with the striking tall centerpieces dangling with crystals created the wow factor.

No evening would be complete without something sweet! Our team designed an elaborate dessert bar with assorted sweets and cake accompanied by an espresso bar from Black Tie Espresso. 

VENDORS

Photographer: Love Days Photography
Band: Sweet Tooth & The Sugar Babies
Cake: Cake Art at Peppers Artful Events
Florist: Jeff French
Catering: Peppers Artful Events
Ice Sculpture: Brookline Ice
Espresso Station: Back Tie Espresso

English Garden Chicken Salad
4 Servings

Our English Garden Chicken Salad is one of our most popular salad dishes that has been eliciting oohs & awes for over 20 years. It is a perfect summer salad combining delicious seasonal vegetables with tender chicken and a light lemon dressing.

Chicken Marinade
1 1/4 lbs. boneless chicken breast
1.5 tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
Salad Ingredients
6 asparagus spears - blanch in boiling water for 10 seconds then cut on a bias into 1'' pieces
1/2 red pepper julienne cut
1/2 orange or yellow peppers julienne cut
1/2 red onion julienne cut
2 tsp fresh rosemary coarsely chopped
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes softened in warm water for 10 minutes
4 oz. stilton or local aged blue cheese crumbled *see note below
3 oz. premium ham cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Dressing Ingredients
3 oz. extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 lemon - zested and juiced
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
Dash of salt and pepper

1. Mix ingredients for the chicken marinade and toss in a bowl with the prepared chicken breasts. Let marinate for 30 minutes then grill the chicken breasts until they reach an internal temp of 155 degrees. Set aside to rest before cutting into bite size pieces.
2. Prepare all remaining salad ingredients and combine in a bowl.
3. Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, lemon zest and juice in a bowl. Then pour over salad ingredients.
4. Set over a bed of fresh greens and enjoy with a crisp dry white wine!

*When Peppers began in 1987, we didn't have a local cheese industry so we chose English Stilton blue cheese. Nowadays, Great Hill Blue from Marion or Berkshire Blue from our Western MA neighborhood provides terrific local options.

FEATURED VENUE: THE GARDENS AT UNCANOONUC MOUNTAIN

Tucked away just outside the quaint, New England village of Goffstown, New Hampshire, you will find The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain nestled halfway up the southern slope of North Uncanoonuc Mountain. The property covers 15 acres, with extensive gardens carefully tended over its nearly 40 year history. From tented weddings with 150 guests to smaller more intimate events the gardens provide a perfect backdrop for your celebration.  

Weddings can be hosted mid-May through mid-October. Ceremonies are held by the big beautiful Pine, a majestic beauty of the great New Hampshire woods, or by the lovely Formal Rose Garden.  Following the ceremony, guests enjoy cocktails within the Pine Grove, or at the Cottage nestled in the fountain garden. During cocktail hour your guests can stroll through the gardens and enjoy all the property has to offer. Receptions are celebrated under a beautiful Sperry Sailcloth Tent, surrounded by a field of flowers. Not ready to call it a night at last dance? Enjoy a post wedding bonfire with alcohol service and s'mores! The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain offer a truly unique and beautiful setting for your wedding day.

Come experience their beloved gardens and the natural splendor of the mountainside. Now booking weddings, bridal/baby showers, corporate and nonprofit events.

Website: The Gardens at Uncanoonuc
Photographer: Lindsay Hackney 

Tower Hill Botanic Garden Photo Shoot

We had the honor of participating in a styled photo shoot at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston MA. The designers at JD Designs wanted to capture two distinctly different looks for the shoot- Great Gatsby and Rustic Romance. The Great Gatsby theme reflected upscale luxury through gold sparkle and black linens paired with ivory and gold china, crystal votives, and statement floral designs. The second design with farmhouse tables adorned with vintage china, wildflowers, lace, and pillar candles created an earthy, organic rustic feel.

For each of these designs we provided a menu to compliment the look. For Great Gatsby our bakery designed a black and white wedding cake with gold and pearl accents. Our chefs created a composed plate of twin lamb chops, fried potato cup with garlic mashed potatoes, silver dollar mushrooms and a Japanese eggplant garnish for the culinary component.

The rustic romance design was complimented with a lace and floral cake and our ever popular short ribs with farm fresh root vegetables, seasonal asparagus and corn pudding. 

Tower Hill Botanic Garden is one of those very versatile venues that can accommodate a vareity of different looks from Great Gatsby to rustic and everything in-between.

Shout out to the vendors!

Photographer: Pizzuti Photography
Venue: Tower Hill Botanic Gardens
Designer: JD Designs
Rentals: Boston Rustic Wedding Rentals &  A Perfect Setting
THBG Lettering: Your Love in Lights
Stationary: August & Osceola
Cakes: CakeART at Peppers Artful Events
Catering & Cheese Display: Peppers Artful Events

FEATURED VENUE: THE CONNORS CENTER

The Ewings Photography Studio

The Connors Center provides a memorable indoor and outdoor settings for weddings, corporate retreats, meetings and social events—just 20 miles from downtown Boston.

Situated on 80 acres in Dover, Massachusetts this unique venue can accommodate events of all sizes.  Offering an array of spaces to include an open air pavilion, functional meeting room, elegant parlors, and outdoor gardens and terraces, you are sure to find the perfect space to host your event.

Connors Center provides a breathtaking backdrop for an unforgettable wedding.  From an intimate garden or chapel ceremony, mahogany parlors with adjoining stone terraces, to an outdoor tent overlooking the surrounding woodlands, Connors Center provides all the ingredients for a memorable day. Sit back and enjoy your day with professional on-site staff, a bridal suite, and lodging accommodations for you and your guests.

Interested in hosting a catered event at the Connors Center? Contact one of our Event Designers today!

Photos By: The Ewings Photography Studio, Melissa Koren, George Street Photo & Video

Tying the Knot at Tower Hill

Planning a wedding is a mix of endless details, decisions, and stressful moments. Recently, we held our "Tying the Knot at Tower Hill" event to offer brides an opportunity to learn useful wedding planning tips in a fun and relaxed setting to help them begin the process of planning their dream wedding. With assistance from Brittni and Shauna at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens and Dave from Allegro Photography, this event turned out to be a big success.

Photography: Allegro Photography
Venue: Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Catering: Peppers Artful Events
Cake: CakeArt at Peppers Artful Events
Florals, Signage, Design: Art & Design at Peppers Artful Events

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ART & DESIGN: SPRING DESIGNS IN BLOOM

Spring is here and we couldn’t be more excited! Our in-house design team has been busy crafting and designing new looks to add color and interest to our food displays.

Tulips are a staple of spring. One of our simpler, yet classic “spring looks” includes various heights of glass cylinders filled with tulips and river rocks, accented with silver candlesticks and floating candles. Not only does this simple but impactful display read “SPRING” but it coordinates well with many settings, venues and types of events. From a modern cocktail reception in Boston to a garden-themed bridal shower at Tower Hill- the look just works!

Hoops of different shapes and sizes with interchangeable fabric creates a great focal point. Our lace hoops are perfect for a rustic, vintage or garden bridal shower. The patterned fabric can be coordinated to fit with the overall look of the event.

Our newest addition "The Wall" can be customized to suit the theme of your event. This unique display creates a wall of flowers as backdrop for a buffet or dessert table.

We love wheatgrass in the spring time. It creates beautiful pops of green in our displays. Our wheat grass terrariums make a beautiful statement that boasts of spring.

Styling all of our food & beverage tables, for any type of event, is an absolute must and comes standard with any catering or bar package. We pride ourselves in creating unique and artful displays to enhance all of our food tables, bars, etc. and incorporate coordinating props, risers and signage to create looks that will simply “wow” your guests. We can also design custom displays to fit with specific themes and looks. Speak to your Event Designers if you are interest in unique custom designs.

Look for more of our new looks at your next Pepper’s event.

Plan a Stellar Graduation Party

 Graduation parties are a great way to celebrate your recent graduate’s achievements with friends and family. Here are some tips to help you throw a memorable backyard event. Planning a graduation party during the covid-19 pandemic? Check out our blog post on planning a memorable graduation celebration during Covid-19 for our top tips.

1. Choose the date. You should select a date a month out to get your invitations to guests before they make their summer plans. Don't stress if there are other graduation parties on the same day, as most of your graduates' friends will hop between parties.
   
2. Guest count. Determine your guest count based on budget and how many  you can comfortably accommodate. Do you want a smaller get together with close family or a larger celebration including both family and friends?
3. Consider renting a tent. If the party will be held outdoors, consider renting a tent. The weather won’t always cooperate, and large party tents are perfect for keeping your guests dry and avoids the tough decision of rescheduling.  Rain or shine, a tent provides great shade to cool off and relax with friends. Not to mention, it also keeps your food out of direct sunlight.

3. Catering. Booking a caterer to handle the food lets you enjoy the party and make memories. Don’t spend your time cooking and replenishing the food, or standing behind a hot grill for hours. When it comes down to style of service, buffets are a great option for a backyard graduation. Guests can eat when they would like and  you can accommodate guests that come and go. At Peppers, some of our most popular graduation menus include hamburgers and hot dogs, Texas BBQ (pulled meats, briskets, and all the sides), Mexican Fare (quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos) and flatbread pizzas - to name a few!
   
   
   
4. Stock up on supplies. Be sure you’re fully stocked up on supplies like utensils, cups, and plates.  An open-house party creates the kind of atmosphere where guests might put down a plate or cup they were using and forget to pick it up when they want a refill. A caterer can supply all of this and keep it replenished throughout the event.
   

6. Desserts. A sweet morsel is a must at any party.  
   How about a graduation cake designed after the school’s logo or sports team? Or cupcakes topped with graduation hats?  Desserts are a great opportunity to get creativeand have some fun!

7. Decorations. Make the party personal by incorporating school colors in the table linens, balloons, and paper products. Show off memories with a photo wall along with any trophies or awards the graduate has earned. At Peppers, our graduation buffets are adorned with graduation hats with custom tassels to match the school colors- to add a personal touch! 
   
   Most importantly remember to have fun planning!
   
   Interested in catering? The thought of planning a graduation party has you overwhelmed? Contact our team of Event Designers today. We are here to create a memorable stress-free event you and your graduate will remember for a lifetime! 
   
   

FEATURED EVENT VENUE: GORE PLACE

Gore Place (Waltham, MA) is a classic New England Country Estate. The mansion and surrounding landscape provide a regency style atmosphere while their newly renovated carriage house boasts of casual elegance. Gore Place hosts weddings, social, and corporate events year round. 

For weddings the lawn provides a beautiful backdrop for a ceremony or cocktail hour. Dinner and dancing can take place in their three season white peaked century tent with integrated dance floor or inside the carriage house. The tent can accommodate up to 200 guests while the carriage house provides a more intimate space for groups of 90-125 depending on event layout. There is even an on-site dressing room available to use prior to the wedding. Between the 50 acres of gardens, lawns, and farmland, the picture opportunities are endless.

The carriage house is the perfect space for off-site meetings, special events and corporate receptions. With many conveniences from A/V and free wifi to AC and ample parking, the carriage house can host groups up to 125 guests. In the summer the lawn provides a versatile space for company outings with tons of space for games, food and more. The historic atmosphere and alluring grounds create a unique inviting space to host your next event corporate event, whether planning a holiday party in the winter, or an extravagant company party in the summer.

Photo credit (tent & cake): Brandin Tumeinski Photography

Contact us to learn more about hosting your next event at Gore Place.