The Festive Season is now upon us and what is more exciting than mouth-watering meals and decadent sweets? In this blog post, we certainly hope to get your stomachs rumbling, as we talk to Melissa from our partner caterers, Oxford Fine Dining. Oxford Fine Dining (or OFD to us on the Weddings Team) have provided our weddings with hundreds of delicious banquets, fine wines, and delectable hors d’oeuvres for hundreds of happy couples and their guests. Settle down and get comfy as Melissa explains it all regarding your Wedding Breakfast!
Hi Melissa! Can you tell us what your job title is at Oxford Fine Dining, and what it is that you love best about weddings?
Melissa: Wedding and Events Director. I find the best thing about weddings is the couple’s enthusiasm and excitement for the little details that makes their day personal to them.
Thank you very much Melissa! Can you tell us also a little bit about Oxford Fine Dining, it’s history and how they found themselves catering weddings?
Melissa: Oxford Fine Dining was established in 2007, it is owned and ran by Sue Randall‚ Managing Director and Della Hutton, Sales Director. With our exceptional service, we have built an outstanding reputation with many venues throughout Oxford’s most esteemed and prestigious venues and have become exclusive caterers at the Bodleian Libraries. In 2017 I was introduced to the team as a dedicated wedding planner supporting couples through the planning journey.
To follow on from that, how would you sum up the Oxford Fine Dining style in one sentence?
Melissa: Our philosophy is to offer our clients’ fine dining experiences in amazing and unique spaces.
When you meet prospective couples, what is the journey from that first contact, right up to the day of the wedding?
Melissa: Our dedicated Oxford Fine Dining planner is always on hand to support our couples. We will guide them all the way through to their wedding day, making sure that every detail of the vision of their special day is considered.
To help couples plan and prepare, this is how their timeline of arrangements will unfold:
12 months or less prior to your wedding date
We will organise a menu tasting date and planning meeting at our tasting suite in Weston on the Green. An opportunity to fine tune your wedding breakfast and wines, as well as getting the planning details underway by selecting your dinnerware, glassware, linens and furniture.
Following the tasting we will produce a vision board based on your final selections.
4-6 weeks
We prepare a bespoke wedding plan guiding the couple through the final details of their wedding.
1 week
Our wedding planner will contact your third-party suppliers to introduce our team and ensure all details align.
Also, what support does Oxford Fine Dining provide to couples on the day and during the Wedding reception?
Melissa: Our bespoke ‘on the day’ wedding coordination and catering management supports a full fine dining experience. We are with the couple every step of the way from set up, assisting with you in assembling a qualified team of industry professionals in floral design, music and photography to ensure the success of your event from beginning to end. Our wedding planner will create a unique celebration that reflects your vision.
With regards to menus, what ideas can you offer to couples who don’t know exactly what they want for their wedding?
Melissa: We believe that it is very important to give our couples as much choice possible. Our legendary menu book is issued each January and includes a Classic menu collection of our favourite dishes. As well as Seasonal menus and a fully vegan menu. We recently introduced our Conscious Collection Menu which has been created with British suppliers and small businesses.
To help guide our couples we offer a complimentary menu tasting, styling and details meeting at the beginning of their planning journey. This gives the couple a chance to create their dream menu with us.
What would you say are some Wedding trends you have spotted over the last few years?
Melissa: Blush pinks and neutral tones are always a classic favourite for the Bodleian Libraries, beautifully blending with the stone of the Divinity School. Long banquet dining tables give a classic Oxford feel, with couples choosing to be seated in the centre of the dining rooms surrounded by loved ones.
And finally, how much time in advance would you suggest for couples to contact Oxford Fine Dining about their wedding day?
Melissa: As soon as they confirm their venue! The earlier planning can proceed the less pressure there is to make decisions on all the details; linen colours, dinnerware styles, seating plans, furniture style, menus and wines!
Thank you very much Melissa, looking forward to seeing you soon!
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