Feeding the masses

So on a "lunch break" at home to let the dogs out to play and, you know... I found the energy to report the biggest day in Flying Fish Catering history! I realize that I briefed the reader(s) with my previous post but this day deserved a post all of its own!

Saturday, July 23rd we catered the wedding of Ryan Burgher & Neena Kishan. The guest list was finalized at 496- the biggest event we have ever done!

Both have been friends of ours for quite some time & we could not have been more honored to serve at their wedding. After the disaster that was Friday. After the generator was returned. After the rain cleared up on Saturday.

(Yes, it rained on & off all day Saturday as well. In fact, minutes before the ceremony was to begin, we were wiping down all the chairs with any piece of dry cloth we could find!)

And after setting up a tent of 62 tables, 2 long buffet tables, & one fairly well-stocked bar....

...the wedding ceremony began...

It was one of the most beautiful wedding ceremonies ever.....

And then all 496 people were dismissed from the ceremony to the bar. To us. And despite all the scrambling before, we were ready. We were organized. Servers were told that if they even made a peep about the heat, I would throw something at them! However, the attitudes were high & I am not sure that it was my pre-wedding speech that made them that way. Our staff is amazing. 

We had out own tent for the food

We plated & served 496 individual salads

We watered every glass

We put bread, compound butter & olive oil at every table

We were ready for the masses. We loaded the bar with bartenders & watched as the thirsty guests flooded in. It was so.much.fun.

There was a cocktail hour where we served drinks & sushi. Guests chatted about the ceremony & staked their claim on seats in the reception tent. Some began eating their salads but, whatever... : ) As guests mingled, we began plating the buffet for dinner.

Chicken skewers, fresh pasta...

...grilled asparagus w/ manchego...

...and figs! LOTS of figs!

Dinner service went off without a hitch. I was signaling to my 'captains' in the reception tent from my station in the buffet tent... dismiss 1 table, dismiss 2 tables... We got 496 people through 4 buffet lines in 50 minutes! A new world record for Flying Fish! We were 40 minutes AHEAD of schedule! The speeches that were supposed to keep the night flowing as guests continued through the food lines gathered the undivided attention of everyone there while they were finishing their meals.... It was a win! 

Tables began to be bussed & the dishes started coming back... lots to wash!

Then came the cake plating.... again, 496 plates of assorted Betty's cake!

And after all the food was cleared & all the glasses were emptied, we began to pack it up... It was truly a success in our eyes. We had done something that we truly didn't know was possible.... And although it was a success, at the end of the night, this picture kind of says it all... : )

Congratulations Ryan & Neena! What a memorable day!