Caitlyn and Jeff

I met with Caitlyn this past September 29th. Caitlyn came to me with a unique situation. Her mom was suffering with cancer and not getting any better. Not knowing how long her mother had to live, Caitlyn and her finace Jeff had decided on having a small backyard wedding at Caitlyn's parents house in Coatsville, so that her mom would be able to attend the ceremony and if she wasn't feeling up to it, would be able to go back in the house during the reception. One small obstacle was in the way, they were planning the reception for Saturday November 5, 2011 (36 days away!).
As off premise caterers, we handle last minutes requests all the time; lunch for 15 tommorrow afternoon; Tray of chicken for 30 this Saturday, no problem. But a wedding in 36 days? When planning a wedding, there are a million details that need to be taken care of. Where will be preparing the food? China, linen and glassware need to be picked out and ordered. Tenting, tables, chairs, lighting, heat have to be reserved. Timelines for the day of. Cake, flowers, decor,etc. All of this can be taken care of reather quickly, but I forgot to mention that the bride was living in Pittsburgh and would only be home intermittingly leading up to the wedding, so everything would have to be take care of thru phone and emails.

The next day we had a plan in place, a contract signed and an appointment to see the property.
2 weeks before the wedding I receive a call that Caitlyn's mom had taken a trun for the worst and although she would be home for the rest of the time leading up to the wedding, she had would be spending all her time at the hospital and she was leaving it in my hands to take care of all the details.
November 5th comes and I assembled my staff at our shop before heading over to the house. I explained the situation the family was going thru and that we were arriving a little earlier than usual to help assist them with any loose ends they may not have had time to attend to. Unfortuantly Caitlyn's mom was in the hospital and would not be able to attend the ceremony, but we later found out they had did a small ceremony at the hospital a week before so that her mom would be able to see her get married. The ceremony started about 30 minutes later than planned, but our staff did a great job once the ceremony ended in not only getting drinks and appetizers into guests hands, but also moving the tables and chairs into place,(they had been moved for the ceremony); but also in getting the day back on schedule. Although it was a very lo key reception, guests enjoyed a stations menu with a crab cake station, pasta station and carving station. Dessert was an assortement of cupcakes set up on a large tired stand.
One of the coolest touches that day, was an assortment of paper decorations that one of the brides long time friends had made just for the day in Mexico where she lives.


As dessert was being served, Caitlyn's father excused himself to return to the hospital to be with his wife. We later learned that she passed away peacefully the next morning with her husband by her side.