Tonight a small group of Gainesville’s wedding vendors gathered for socializing at the Tioga Town Square, to chat and talk shop.  Many of us rarely  have the opportunity to actually converse with each other when we’re not sweating, rushing, and super multi-tasking, so this evening of just sitting around some cocktail tables together found us lighthearted and quite generous with our opinions and personal open-ness.  

The group met at Dionysus Wine Bar, where we pushed a group of pub tables into one family-style table, and perched alongside each other comfortably, sipping wine and nibbling on crostinis.  Most of us drank red wine, and most of us admitted we know little about wines, in spite of the wedding business that we are all heavily involved in, where wine is frequently a big part of what we do.

 Michael Patterson, my new event assistant, joined me earlier tonight for dinner at Blue Highway.  We met Layla Ruffino, the owner/manager, and eagerly admitted to her that the meal and the festive atmosphere there was exceptional.  In the food business, one is always happy when there is a new successful restaurant in town, somewhere we can frequent, and count on to be good again with future visits.  Her necklace is worth mentioning, made of nails, so I had to take a picture.

Later at the mixer, I met a few new people (in person finally, and not just on facebook).  Shena and Jeff Hays were there, from Platinum Digital Video,  Noelle Raimondo from A’vie,  and Jessica Slane  and  Kari (husband Andrew too) from Solutions all chatted me up.  I  totally soaked up their young energy!  Inspiring!

I talked quite awhile with Dan Hathcock, Unforgettable Events, and ended up ordering a glass of his suggested wine, which was an excellent recommendation!

The group gathering was simple and easy-going, and I think we’ll do it again. (thank you Jessica for initiating this social!)  

Enjoying your peers and viewing them as allies, as partners in our addiction to the driving force of the  Gainesville event business,  as friends who can relate to the late nights, the long days, and the seasonal schedules.   The various event professions that we all have chosen are never easy, never clearly defined and never autonomous.   Together, we all make a beautiful wedding, our goals the same, to make the bride happy.  It’s nice to know each other better because of tonight’s social!

Austin Cary Memorial Forest is a 2,080 acre teaching and research forest located northeast of Gainesville. Celebrations Catering  often provides  catering for meetings  at this quiet location.  For an all-day gathering, you can order breakfast buffets, beverage service, snacks and meals, even barbecues!   Meeting planners recognize the quiet, non-interruptive nature of the Austin Cary location and enjoy the peacfulness of the surrounding woods.    It is a beautiful place for all types of events, meetings, weddings and parties.  The location is only slightly off the beaten path, about 8 miles from downtown Gainesville.

I eat, sleep and breathe catering and event design!  I can’t stop planning the next event, even before it’s booked, I see everything around me that “could” be a wedding or event prop.  For example… I drove to Orlando yesterday and stopped half way at Wildwood, just before getting on the Turnpike… You know that big place with the neon orange signs and lots of fake oranges, you can see it from the moon practically!  I was only going to get a soda, but ended up grabbing the camera after I saw these cute little miniature bags of candy oranges, thinking about how perfect they were for a Florida-Themed Wedding Reception (we have several coming up, always thinking).  Then I saw the grapefruit spoons and envisioned an appetizer, then some pecans… a dessert, some Gator heads, a cool cook station with Gator Bites, and then I spotted the fresh orange juice, a signature drink… and don’t forget the taffy, boiled peanuts and peaches, whew!

  For Sale, one cheesy Florida Theme Wedding, all purchased from the Wildwood Gas Station, no on-line ordering required.  I think we could actually pull it off!  You decide?

Gotta Love One-Stop Shopping only an Hour or so from Town!