Event Spotlight: Circus Sweet and Sour 16

During the month of November, Wilshire Grand hosted some pretty amazing events but our favorite by far was the Circus Sweet and Sour 16!  Some Sweet 16’s are crazy, just like a circus and that’s exactly what inspired one brother and sister duo for their Sweet 16 party!
From the moment guests stepped into the custom-made circus tent entrance they were transported to an entirely different atmosphere. The walls of The Wilshire Grand’s Regency room were draped in red and gold fabric to mimic the inside of a circus tent, totally transforming the classic event room.  Unique lounge furniture was spread across the room so guests could boogie on the dance floor and then relax while they enjoyed customized menu creations from Wilshire Grand Caterers including Philly Cheese Steak, Grilled Cheese Bites, Candy Apples, Cotton Candy and Snow Cones.
Sweet 16’s are one of the many amazing events that the Wilshire Grand hosts every month!  From Circus theme to classic black and white, if you can dream it up, Wilshire Grand can help make it happen!

Choosing the Right Florist

When it comes to your special event, your floral arrangements can really make or break the décor ambiance of a room.  That’s why it’s so important to choose the right florist for your special day.  Whether it’s your wedding, sweet 16 or corporate event, you want to make sure that your floral arrangements make a beautiful statement.

Some good rules to stand by when choosing the right florist for your event:

Make sure they ask questions.  A good florist should ask you for as much event design detail as possible (including event color palettes and themes).  This will give them an opportunity to create unique floral arrangement that will fit in perfectly with your event.  A florist should listen to your wants and needs while giving their professional creative input.

Ask for sketches/demos.  What sounds good may not always look good in reality.  Ask for design sketches of the proposed floral displays or, better yet, ask for a mock-display to be put together so you can see what the finished product will look like.

Look at past work.  Be sure to check out plenty of photos of past work that a florist has done.  Look for tell-tale signs of neglect in these photos like wilted or brown flowers.  Also, ask to look at some testimonials of past clients.  When a client is extremely pleased with something, they will take the time to thank their vendors, so you know that if someone gives a glowing review, they must have really liked the service and product that the florist provided!

Wilshire Grand Caterers in West Orange, NJ has been handling events for years.  We have a dedicated staff that ensures you have the perfect event- from event space to food and even floral arrangements; we have an arsenal of preferred vendors to lead you in the right direction so your event is not only memorable, but flawless as well!

Choosing the Best Autumn Wedding Cakes

With the beauty of changing seasons, Autumn weddings are becoming more and more popular. Fall foliage always makes for a beautiful backdrop for wedding pictures and delicious seasonal menu options allow guests to savor the finest cuisine of the season!

One menu item that never seems to get as much attention for the fall season is the wedding cake. Sure, many of the wedding cakes that make their brief appearance are delicious and beautiful, but many times brides choose designs and flavors that do not reflect this special time of the year.

Flavors: Now is the time of year to celebrate the unique flavors that pop up during the season. Enough with traditional vanilla and chocolate- stretch your taste buds a little bit and go for more daring flavors for your cake like pumpkin, apple spice and red velvet and compliment with fall friendly fillers like Pear & Ginger, Pumpkin Spice and Chocolate Amaretto.

Décor: Fall is the perfect time to have fun with your wedding cake decorations! Instead of the standard climbing flowers, choose climbing leaves! Set in beautiful oranges, reds, browns and yellows it will look like the beauty of nature fell right onto your cake! You can also decorate with other fall-friendly nature items like pumpkins, apples and acorns. If you would prefer flowers choose beautiful shades of bright yellows and bold oranges to complete your tasty masterpiece!

Wilshire Grand Caterers in West Orange, NJ, will help you choose the perfect wedding cake to compliment both the season and your wedding theme! Call us today to create your one-of-a-kind wedding menu!

Choosing the Best Autumn Wedding Cakes

With the beauty of changing seasons, Autumn weddings are becoming more and more popular. Fall foliage always makes for a beautiful backdrop for wedding pictures and delicious seasonal menu options allow guests to savor the finest cuisine of the season!

One menu item that never seems to get as much attention for the fall season is the wedding cake. Sure, many of the wedding cakes that make their brief appearance are delicious and beautiful, but many times brides choose designs and flavors that do not reflect this special time of the year.

Flavors: Now is the time of year to celebrate the unique flavors that pop up during the season. Enough with traditional vanilla and chocolate- stretch your taste buds a little bit and go for more daring flavors for your cake like pumpkin, apple spice and red velvet and compliment with fall friendly fillers like Pear & Ginger, Pumpkin Spice and Chocolate Amaretto.

Décor: Fall is the perfect time to have fun with your wedding cake decorations! Instead of the standard climbing flowers, choose climbing leaves! Set in beautiful oranges, reds, browns and yellows it will look like the beauty of nature fell right onto your cake! You can also decorate with other fall-friendly nature items like pumpkins, apples and acorns. If you would prefer flowers choose beautiful shades of bright yellows and bold oranges to complete your tasty masterpiece!

Wilshire Grand Caterers in West Orange, NJ, will help you choose the perfect wedding cake to compliment both the season and your wedding theme! Call us today to create your one-of-a-kind wedding menu!

Falling for Color: Hottest Wedding Colors for the Season

If you’re planning a wedding for this fall season, it’s time to put away the summer brights and spring pastels and look at the richer hues of fall. We’re not talking about the standard browns, oranges and yellows; we are talking about colors that are mirroring fall fashion’s most popular palettes!

Rich Purple: This regal color has been “in” in the fashion world for quite some time, and now it’s making its way into wedding design trends for the season. Deep, rich purples can be brought into weddings with beautiful bridesmaid gowns and colorful décor options. Creating a sea of purple at your reception space is easy- tie the color into tablecloth and chair covers and accent walls with deep purple fabrics. Beautiful plum floral arrangements (try flowers like) will bring the color to life and can be accented with deep red flowers.

Gold: Deck out your wedding with beautiful gold accents to fall in line with one of fashion’s hottest fall 2010 trends. Gold goes great with everything- from brown to white- so adding this accent color into your wedding will not be a problem. Try layering white and gold table cloths, use golden drapery on your reception venue’s walls and pick favors that offer a golden sheen.

Pale Blue: Blue’s have been making a comeback this year and this is no exception when it comes to weddings. Pale blues, like periwinkle, are creating a design stir in fall 2010 weddings. This soft color is perfect to brighten up a brisk autumn day, and brings about a reminder of the warmer months. Outfit your reception space in this soft color and bring in metallic accents like gold or silver or, for a warmer feel, try adding touches of chocolate throughout your event (like for napkins and centerpieces).


To learn more about this fall season’s hottest wedding colors, or to start planning your fall 2011 wedding, visit Wilshire Grand Caterers in West Orange, NJ!

Back-to-School Bashes: Themes for Homecoming

Homecoming is the highlight of the back-to-school fall season, and with good reason- it’s a chance for students to come together and celebrate the coming year.

This year, skip out on boring general parties and plan a If you’re a student and you’re looking for great homecoming party ideas, then you’ve come to the right place!

Having a central theme for a homecoming party helps to create a fun atmosphere and makes for easier event planning.  Some of this year’s most popular themes are:

Black & White Parties: Black and white adds sophistication and elegance to any party.  To create your own, use a (mostly) white event space and deck it out with black accents (tablecloths, balloons and a “black” carpet for entrance).  Keep foods low key and tied to the black and white theme- finger sandwiches on white and pumpernickel bread, black & white cookies, etc.  To add to the fun, ask your guests to dress in either black or white, while homecoming king and queen nominees dress in playful colors!

Hollywood Glamour Parties: Nowadays, everyone wants to feel like a celebrity, so it’s no surprise that Hollywood glam parties are all the rage.  To outfit your Hollywood Homecoming, you’ll need a red carpet, and lots of gold!  Tables can be draped in red and mini Oscar statues can be used for table numbers.  Finger food should reflect the taste of California but stay teen-friendly (California sushi rolls, “McDonald Style” mini sliders, “California Pizza Kitchen style” pizza bites).  For a sweet treat to the end of the party, hand out cupcakes decorated with different Hollywood stars.

Brining Back the 80’s: If you’re in high school now, you didn’t have a chance to experience the 80’s decade, but that doesn’t mean you can’t live in it for one night!  Give your homecoming a throwback with neon fabrics and tunes from the decade.  Fun candy like ring pops, pixie sticks and candy necklaces will add a nostalgic kick the party.  To get in the festive spirit, students should dress accordingly- big hair, acid-wash jean jackets and all!  To further educate students on the decade, play popular 80’s movies, like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club, in the background on television screens.