Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

We had the opportunity to start off the 2011 holiday season with transforming the National Portrait Gallery into a winter wonderland. In the heart of Chinatown, the National Portrait Gallery provides a historic yet modern space perfect for large events. Cocktails, dinner & dancing were held in the Kogod Courtyard with tours available of America’s Presidents.

 

We used rich blue up-lighting to cover the walls and ceiling with snowflake washes on the cocktails & dancing areas. There were tall standing illuminated trees that divided the room for cocktails and dinner. During cocktails, guests enjoyed sipping on winter mojitos and bites of sushi & a Chesapeake raw bar while listening to a walking solo violinist in the background.

For dinner, we incorporated a mixture of illuminated and glass tables with lucite chairs. Jack Lucky provided the gorgeous arrangements that included white Manzanita trees with white carnation balls, groupings of floating candles with white birch branches & snow at the base and arrangements of white amaryllis, roses & ginestra.

The savory menu included a variety of seasonal fall dishes. The dessert menu included delicious holiday treats such as peppermint baked alaska, white chocolate mint pots de crème & of course the traditional Susan Gage nutcracker sweets. During dancing guests were offered yummy late night snacks such as gourmet popcorn, sliders & milk shakes.

 

We had so much fun planning this event and working with wonderful vendors such as Weddings by Pamela, Elan Artists, John Farr Lighting, Jack Lucky Floral Design, Bernie Tippet & Sons & Sushiko. Special thanks to the Smithsonian’s Emily Chamberlin. We are eagerly awaiting this party in 2012!

Stacey Benefield

We had the pleasure of working with Terry & Chris on their wedding over Labor Day weekend at one of Washington’s best-kept secrets- The Brewmaster’s Castle (also known as Heurich House). This late Victorian home provided a great city venue for the couple! The ceremony took place in the courtyard and cocktails followed in the house, with tours available.

Terry & Chris put so much effort into every detail of the planning and design of their wedding. From antique memorabilia to having their pets being included in the ceremony, it was truly a wedding that represented the couple! They collected every piece of china and fabric for their napkins so the wedding would reflect their style. The couple also made all of their escort cards and place cards.

The menu included:

PAN-SEARED CHICKEN WITH KALAMATA OLIVES & PRESERVED LEMONS

SUN DRIED TOMATO CRUSTED COBIA

ASIAGO, OREGON MOREL & WILD MUSHROOM TART

ROASTED YUKON GOLD POTATOES WITH ROSEMARY & SHALLOTS

BABY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

ARUGULA SALAD

COUNTRY BREADS

Instead of doing a traditional wedding cake, Terry & Chris opted for doing an assortment of pies from Dangerously Delicious Pies on H Street and milk displayed in shot glasses. Guests loved the unique treat!

We had so much fun getting to know Terry & Chris and being a part of their special day!

Stacey Benefield

*Special thanks to Scott Nelson at Heurich House & Eva Lampert Photography

We had the pleasure of working with Matt & Chris on their July wedding at the Meridian House on Crescent Place. This historic house provides an excellent backdrop of 18th century French drawings and Oriental porcelains.

Guests were greeted in the Loggia and escorted to the gardens & lawn where the ceremony took place. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in the courtyard with a jazz trio playing in the background.

The menu included gazpacho soup with a tower of tomatoes, hearts of palm and avocado, chipotle & preserved lime chicken, pommes de terre anna & sugar snap peas. Matt and Chris put thought into every aspect of the ceremony, food & décor, which made the wedding all the more memorable. Matt & Chris made the chocolates that were delicately placed in the handmade boxes that were used as the guest favors. Matt’s aunt also made the five tier wedding cake.

We loved getting to know Matt & Chris and sharing in their special day!

Special thanks to Meridian House, Hay McKenna Photography, Frost Lighting & Chris Laich.

Stacey Benefield

It was our pleasure to be a part of the first wedding at The Yards Park. It is located in the Capital Riverfront neighborhood next to the Nationals Stadium. The day of weather was perfect for this outdoor venue. The ceremony and cocktail hour were located on the upper level terrace and our bride made her entrance while crossing the bridge. Following the ceremony, there was a seven course dinner served under the bridge. The menu, created and executed, by Chef RJ Cooper of DC’s Rogue 24, included:

PASSED HORS D’OEUVRES:

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TARTARE/BALSAMIC CAVIAR/PARMESAN CRISPS

TUNA TARTARE/SESAME CONE/WASABI ICE CREAM

CUCUMBER-SHEEP’S YOGURT SHOT/SALMON ROE/SMOKED SALMON BUBBLES/EVERYTHING “BAGEL”

PIQUILLO PEPPER/GRILLED TOFU/OLIVE OIL POWDER

GOUGERES/WHITE TRUFFLE OIL/CAVE AGED GOURMINO

FIRST COURSE

URUGUAY OSSETRA CAVIAR/BUCKWHEAT/CRAB/

APPLES/CREME FRAICHE/BLOSSOMS

SECOND COURSE

GRILLED ASPARAGUS/PISTACHIOS/

OLIVES/TRUFFLE EMULSION

THIRD COURSE

FIELD VEGETABLES/MOZZARELLA SKINS/

CLEAR GAZPACHO/MICRO HERBS

FOURTH COURSE

CORN-MASCARPONE AGNOLOTTI/

CORN TEXTURES/VANILLA EMULSION

FIFTH COURSE

SWORDFISH COLLAR/OLIVES/SMOKED EGGPLANT/

BOUQUERONE ANCHOVY/LEMON ASH

SIXTH COURSE

CAMEMBERT/FIELD CELERY/

GRAPE RELISH/BLISS VINEGAR

DESSERT

MICRO BRIDE’S CAKE/LEMON/POPPY SEED

MICRO GROOM’S CAKE/CHOCOLATE/PEANUT BUTTER/CARAMEL

*Special thanks to RJ Cooper, The Written Word & Bash DC.

Stacey Benefield

We recently had the opportunity to cater a corporate Christmas party at the National Postal Museum. The Museum, which is operated as part of the Smithsonian, was previously the Main Post Office for Washington, DC from 1914 to 1986. The building is now available to tourists and to hosting events. It is a hidden gem due to its great location and that it tends to fly under of radar compared to other event spaces in DC.

For this year’s party, we worked with a French theme. The Main Hall in the National Postal Museum provided a great backdrop of golden tones, woods and marble, and the incredibly detailed walls and ceilings gave a wonderful art-deco feel to the event. In the lower level we incorporated bronze linens to add to the rustic architecture currently on display. In the main hall, we chose to incorporate French blue linens with gold detailing, gold beaded base plates and gold-rimmed stemware.

The menu was also French-inspired cuisine. The cocktails included French 75 and a champagne bar featuring fruit purees and liquors. The dinner menu included French classics such as: Beef Bourguignon, Coq au Vin, Coquilles Saint- Jacques, a crepe station.

Special thanks to April Parreco of the National Postal Museum, Jack Lucky Floral Design, photography by Weddings by Pamela and John Farr Lighting.

Stacey Benefield