What: Planning Redefined workshop | When: November 2018 | Where: Millbridge Court

There’s more than meets the eye to planning the perfect wedding. So where do wedding planners go to get their ideas? The answer is, Planning Redefined. Run by Katrina Otter and Louise, of Louise Perry Weddings, this three-day workshop is an extravaganza of training and mentoring for aspiring, new and experienced wedding planners. Jam-packed with guest speakers, hands-on demonstrations and non-stop inspiration, it’s a go-to event for wedding insiders.

Kalm Kitchen was delighted to be at Millbridge Court – the setting for this inspiration-fest – sharing our ideas for the treats and feasts that are making waves in the wedding world. Our very own Event & Styling Manager, Pete was in charge of pulling out all the stops to create a visual and taste spectacular to set the gathered audience alight.

Foodie highlights

We began proceedings by serving up Organic wild flower bark  as a sweet treat along with fresh juice shots to kick start the day. Then, as attendees got to know each other, we served a gorgeous lunch of Middle Eastern Slow braised spiced lamb shoulder paired with a fatttoush salad and Lebanese breads. An interactive edible ‘garden’ was a show stopper on day three. This was filled with delicious fresh produce, dips and crostinis which proved a wow moment for everyone gathered. Kalm Kitchen’s signature Patisserie Bar was styled with stunning clean lines in cool tones of whites and coppers, hosting gorgeous potted botanical desserts. Finally, as an extra special treat, a delectable S’mores station got everyone talking – and eating!

Pete says, ‘This was an amazing opportunity to showcase some of the more imaginative eating experiences that Kalm Kitchen is renowned for creating. We relished the chance to put together some of our signature sharing stations, and push the boundaries of people’s taste and visual expectations. We believe that when it comes to creating a memorable wedding menu, anything is possible. Why not?’

As well as a non-stop supply of food stimulation, there was a whole range of workshops too. For example, emergency Buttonholes by Liz at Blue Sky Flowers, plus a masterclass in tablescaping. And then, a chance for everyone to create their own place settings using linen, glassware and crockery from Just 4 Linen and Classic Crockery.

Inspiration all day long

Attendees made the most of the beautiful grounds of Millbridge Court by staying overnight for the full immersive experience. And we made sure inspiration lasted all day long by waking guests up to a bouji breakfast. Homemade banana bread, organic Greek yoghurt, New Zealand honey and fresh fruits was the ideal spread to set things off on the right track.

Pete says, ‘This event was such an amazing experience to be a part of. It was lovely to meet with new talent in the industry and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with them again in 2019.’

Feeling inspired and want to come along to the next Planning Redefined event? Find out more details on their website planningredefined.co.uk/

Credits… Hosted by: Katrina Otter {www.katrinaotterweddings.co.uk} and Louise Perry {www.louiseperrywedding.com}. Photography: Hannah at Hannah Duffy {www.hannahduffy.com/}. Flowers: Liz at Blue Sky Flowers {www.blueskyflowers.co.uk/}.  Crockery: Classic Crockery {www.classiccrockery.co.uk}. Venue: Millbridge Court {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk/}. Furniture by Wedhead {www.wedhead.co.uk/}.

2018 was a memorable year for Kalm Kitchen. Busier than ever with weddings, celebrations and all kinds of new and exciting events to get stuck into, we caught up with some of the team to share their stand-out moments…

// Laura & Sebastian’s wedding | Lara Kellaway, Senior Event Manager

‘For me the highlight event for 2018 was Laura & Sebastian’s stunning summer wedding at Northbrook Park in August. Working with and getting to know these two beautiful people inside out was an absolute pleasure. It was clear from the start that this was going to be a truly spectacular day. Their personalised styling and vision for the day inspired many other events we have run since, and sparked a couple of new trends that we’ll no doubt see more of in 2019.’

// Gabi & Matt’s wedding | Jen Middlehurst, Kalm Kitchen Founder

‘Working with Gabi and Matt to create something really special was such a highlight of 2018. We loved developing a new starter, which is now available at the wedding venue owned by Matt. It made it particularly special being on the Isle of Wight, which is now my home.’

// Cat & Angus’s wedding | Lily Dawson, The events team

‘It was such an honour to be a guest at Kalm Kitchen’s very own Cat’s wedding, but even more so to help with all of the behind the scenes planning for her big day. The wedding itself was absolutely beautiful and it was so lovely to be a part of it with her. We went back and forth with food and styling ideas, and her patisserie bar has been greatly admired by lots of our other clients!’

// Georgia & Jamie’s wedding | Emily Houghton-Connell, Event Manager

‘My most memorable moment of 2018 was Georgia and Jamie’s Wedding at Georgia’s family home in Oxfordshire. I loved working with the couple to plan and organise their day. The wedding was for over 250 guests, which for me was a personal achievement and a proud moment! I especially loved the Ferris wheel and steel band.’

Would you like to talk to us about how we can help you create a celebration to remember in 2019, or beyond? Do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360. Happy New Year!

Look out for coverage of Camilla and George Blandford’s wedding in the January issue of Tatler magazine. We were lucky enough to be a part of these stunning celebrations, which took place at Blenheim Palace last September. We loved getting to know the couple and dreaming up some of our most challenging food creations to date. For instance, a seafood stall featuring lobster rolls and its very own roaming Oyster Meister, and an edible glasshouse display of healthy and wholesome bites. We had such a wonderful time working with the couple on their amazing day. So, enjoy the full interview with this lovely couple in the January 2019 issue of Tatler magazine. Or, you can find out some of our foodie highlights here…

Being part of this special day was definitely a 2018 highlight. And to top it off, this January we were also delighted to find out that we’ve been approved as a recommended supplier at Blenheim Palace. We can’t wait to work on many more spectacular events at this historic venue.

Would you like to talk to us about planning your big day? Contact us at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

What: Kalm Kitchen Tasting Evening | When: September 2018 | Where: Millbridge Court

We take great pride in working closely with our couples in the run-up to their wedding celebrations, and one of our favourite ways to bring their ideas and vision to life is by inviting them to a very special tasting evening. Every few months, we throw open the doors of one of our partner venues, Millbridge Court or Micklefield Hall, and immerse our couples in an extravaganza of food and styling inspiration.

The tasting evening is a treat we offer exclusively for our booked couples, giving them the opportunity to sample a selection of dishes. Along with a range of fabulous suppliers, we dress the venue and recreate the magic and celebration of one of our weddings. At our most recent tasting evening at Millbridge Court, we kicked things off with a canapé and Prosecco reception in the front foyer, followed by a sit down main meal in the gorgeous breakfast barn. Couples take their seats and dinner is served! For each course, we also showcase a delicious sharing option – one of our favourite, interactive ways to delight guests on the big day.

 

For this particular event, we teamed up with Bubblegum Balloons to create a beautiful patisserie display filled with an abundance of delicious desserts, plus our famous, bite-sized chocolate lollipops and macaroons. Jenni Bloom was responsible for creating a breathtaking floral display on the tables giving them an ombré effect. This was incorporated throughout the venue using beautiful stems to dress our canapé trays.

Here’s a glimpse of what we served up…

 

Our couples were delighted with the evening and were happy to share their praise…

>>‘Wednesday evening was amazing! Thank you so much for having us. We’ve only just recovered from all the food.’

>> ‘We had a great evening, thank you to all involved for hosting and giving us a sense of what our wedding day will be like.’

>> ‘A big thank you to you and the team for the tasting evening! It was amazing and we really enjoyed ourselves! We are sooooo looking forward to April now!’

>> ‘Was lovely to spend Wednesday evening with you. The food was fabulous.’

If you’d like to talk to us about how a tasting evening is all part of the service when you book us for your wedding, do get in touch at info@kalmkitchen.co.uk or call us on 01483 813360.

Credits… Photography: RS Brown Photography {www.rsbrownphotography.com/} Flowers: Jenni Bloom {www.jennibloom.com/} Stationery: Katie Second Star Lettering {www.secondstarlettering.com/} Balloons: Bubblegum Balloons {bubblegumballoons.co.uk/} Music: Estilo {estilostringquartet.com/}Venue: Millbridge Court {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk/} Linen: Just 4 Linen {www.just4linen.co.uk/} Glassware & Tableware: Crystal Hire {www.crystalhire.co.uk/}

At Kalm Kitchen we love coming up with brand new innovations and ideas to bring a personal touch to your proceedings – whether that’s a special event, or your big day. This year we are super-excited to launch four new treat-filled stands, which are guaranteed to see your guests tucking in.

Hole Lotta Love

First up, our doughnut wall, where everyone’s favourite naughty treat is elevated to a ‘hole’ new level. We first introduced this concept around two years ago, but it was so popular we gave it a new fun, freestanding look. Kalm Kitchen’s Jen Middlehurst says, ‘It’s the perfect stop-gap if your guests are arriving early, but you’re having a later ceremony. It’s such fun (kids will love it, of course), and you can really go to town with the decorative elements – like here where we played around with a bold burst of florals and botanicals.’ Gorgeous!

 

Keep your cool

Hot days often go hand-in-hand with summer weddings, and so our Lemonade and Lolly stand is a refreshing way to keep your guests cool. We work with premium popsicle brand Pops and mix up our own thirst-quenching cloudy lemonade to keep everyone hydrated. Not only does our nostalgic stall look stunning, who wouldn’t be tempted to help themselves to a Champagne or Bellini popsicle, or an alcohol-free iced treat?

Summer summed up!

One of the greatest joys of working with so many creative clients at Kalm Kitchen is finding new ways to present traditional concepts. It’s always such a thrill being able to elevate generic ideas and add a truly innovative edge. What could sum up the British Summer more than our interactive Eton Mess stand featuring an array of meringues, ripe, scarlet-coloured fruits, cream, wildflower & elderflower jelly, pink rhubarb compote, honeycomb and a generous abundance of other irresistible sweetness. Jen says, ‘It’s not just the visual excitement of our Eton Mess stand I adore, it’s also the fact that the interaction invites everyone to get up from the table, graze, get involved, and lose any sense of formality.’ 

Comfort & Joy

Of course, summer brings all kinds of opportunities for edible treats, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a mix of mouthwatering options for autumn and winter events. Our Hot Chocolate & Honeycomb stand is the ultimate in comforting and cosy indulgence. Rich, melting hot chocolate is served up with marshmallows, Oreos and crumbly chocolate, with a side order of bubbly, crunchy honeycomb. Yum! When designing this concept, the Kalm Kitchen team wanted it look as good as all the elements tasted. Jen explains, ‘Styling this stand was a dream – we worked with copper tones, and geometric honeycomb shapes for an earthy, autumnal vibe. Imagine the warm welcome this visual feast would give your guests on a cold, dreary day.’

Get in touch if you’d like to talk about how any of our stands could be a beautiful part of your big day info@kalmkitchen.co.uk 01483 813360

Credits… Food: Kalm Kitchen {www.kalmkitchen.co.uk} Styling: Jen {Instagram @kindredxstylingbyjen} Photography: Laura Harvey {Instagram @bylaurasophie} Flowers: Hannah Berry Flowers {www.hannahberryflowers.co.uk} Location: Millbridge Court {www.millbridgecourt.co.uk}