Brooklyn Wedding Reception Venues, Sweet 16, First Communion Celebration, Corporate Events, Banquet Halls - The El Caribe

Creating Unforgettable Memories For Over 35 Years

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5 Tips For Booking Your Brooklyn Wedding Venues

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five tips booking your brooklyn wedding venue

So you’re getting married and looking at Brooklyn wedding venues. Congratulations! Nice choice! Brooklyn is a fabulous place for a wedding celebration! And, there are so many reasons why Brooklyn wedding venues are becoming more and more popular. The charming neighborhoods, unique warehouse venues, the quiet of traffic and noise from the city, and, still the best foods and services you could want to create unforgettable memories. While you’re considering so many things, here are 5 tips to consider when looking at Brooklyn wedding venues.

1. Cocktail Hour
More than 50% of people polled said “cocktail hour” is their favorite part of the wedding celebration. Who could disagree? It usually has great food and drinks and you’re visiting with so many of your friends and family you may not have seen for many years. It’s the beginning of the celebration. Friends and family want to sit to visit and catch up while they drink and dine. It’s important all your guests can sit and that means having enough seats for ALL your guests.

While everything may look great on paper when booking your venue, some Brooklyn wedding venues, or banquet halls, will tell you they can seat all your guest while cutting corners. What does that mean for you? They give you less seats with anticipation and hopes that a percentage of your guests will be standing during cocktail hour. Your 200 guests may be placed in a cramped space with seating for half as many people. This makes an embarrassing situation for you, your family and guests as they play musical chairs to find a seat.

Before you book your wedding venue, ask to see the space you’ll be having your cocktail hour. Inquire if every guest will have their own seat. Remember, if the food is great, which it should be, people will be sitting and eating the entire time.

2. Bar Service
Most wedding celebrations plan for an open bar with premium liquor. Great food and drink go hand in hand! Experience shows that as the evening progresses it’s natural for the guests to gravitate toward the open bar. If the bar is outside your room, you’ll find more and more guests disappearing throughout the evening and congregating near the premium beverages. This is a definite party stealer and not what you want. Drinks are a part of your celebration and not the celebration.

As you’re considering various venues keep this in mind. Ask the hard questions. Is the bar inside or outside your event space or ballroom? If it’s outside, beware! This could turn into a real problem!

3. Room Layout
Any wedding reception is filled with a host of activities scheduled thru out the celebration. Your guests, family and friends want to feel included. And, you want them to feel included. This is your special moment! Room layout is really important to helping those celebrating your special day connected on so many levels. Why? Here’s a few things to consider.

While seemingly unimportant, consider what kind of tables you’re seating your guests at for the evening. Are they oval or round? Yes, oval tables do seat more people in a smaller space but interestingly they detract from promoting the closeness and socialization you want. Round tables, conversely, promote the best socialization amongst your guests. It allows them to see and converse with each other much easier and see more people.

Where will your dias and band/entertainment be positioned in the room? Spatial constraints cause many catering halls, or wedding venues, to arrange the band/entertainment and you, the reason for the celebration, on very opposite sides of the room. As the night progresses guests will gravitate toward the entertainment leaving their backs to face the dias where you are seated.

It’s important to remember to find a Brooklyn wedding venue where the dias and entertainment are in the same area. This allows for a more intimate setting, your guests to feel more connected to you, all while enjoying the entertainment.

4. Facility Layout
Most Brooklyn wedding venues make money by hosting multiple events at the same time. It’s a wise use of their space. Some will host events on a second floor and adjoining rooms. If the wedding venue is not built correctly, noise and vibration from the other events can be disruptive to your family, guests, and most important your celebration. Yet, you’re booking a wedding venue to have an exclusive experience.

As you’re looking at various wedding banquet halls take a moment to consider how the facility is laid out. Is there a maximum capacity limit? Are other events removed far enough from your celebration not to disturb you and your guests?

5. On Premises Parking
Your guests will be traveling from a distance to celebrate with you. Yes, you may have a bus for some, but many will arrive in their own car. As a part of your celebration it’s important to consider this detail. Parking your guests takes time. Returning cars to your guests when they leave is just as important and time consuming.

Most wedding venues promote valet or on premise parking services. And, if you didn’t know, there is a big difference between the two. On premise parking, of course, means your car is parked on the event premises. Valet parking can mean a whole lot of things. It could include parking your guests’ cars close or blocks away. And, proper guest parking is critical to the timing of your event. Inefficient parking services can create lag time between your guest arrival and start time making for anxious and frustrated guests, not to mention how you’ll feel with the disruption. When reviewing Brooklyn wedding venues or catering halls inquire about their parking services, parking location and their plans to ensure your guests are taken care of and your celebration begins on time.

There are so many things to consider with wedding reception venues. You’ve waited a long time for this moment and you certainly want to get it right. Using these 5 tips when looking at Brooklyn wedding reception venues will save you anxiety, frustration and help ensure the flawless and exciting celebration you deserve.

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Author: El Caribe Caterers
“Creating Unforgettable Memories For Over 35 Years
www.elcaribecaterers.com

For generations, families, organizations and community groups have come to the El Caribe to celebrate life’s most important moments. With more than 35 years of experience in catering elegant banquets and three generations of family ownership, our team at the El Caribe continues to subscribe to the old-fashioned values that built our company from humble beginnings to our current success as industry leaders.

From an intimate gathering to a lavish gala of more than 1,000, the El Caribe will provide you and your guests a memorable experience. If you are considering a venue to host your once-in-a-lifetime event, we cordially invite you to our table, to eat, drink and enjoy all the comforts of being part of our family for the next 35 years.

 

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9 Tips for Planning Her Sweet 16

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For so many girls, turning 16 is anticipated almost as much as a wedding day. It’s like a teenage girl’s passage to early adulthood and it can be quite a formal affair and celebration.

For the parents, the anticipation and work for planning a Sweet 16 can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether a big bash or hosting a smaller affair, here are 9 tips to help you plan a successful Sweet 16.

  1. Determine The Budget
    Set a budget, then be willing to share with her how much you plan to spend on her event. This is a great opportunity to involve your Sweet 16 in the planning and decision making process and where the budget is allocated. This will give her freedom to make decisions about her party and teach her about budgeting decisions. Involving her in the planning and budget process will help her understand the yes’s to some requests and the no’s to others.
  2. Compile A Guest List
    Guest lists always affect budgets. In most cases, the more guests the more the party will cost. Some families plan and save for a big Sweet 16 bash, inviting 100 or more friends and family to the celebration. Others plan something more intimate with a few close friends. Talk with your daughter about her ideas and desires. We’re sure she’s got some great ideas, big or intimate, in mind.
  3. Set The Date and Venue
    Choosing the date doesn’t have to fall on her birthday. Picking a time that’s best for those involved in the celebration, so her moment is special, is what’s important. If you choose to celebrate during busier times of the year; Christmas Holidays, peak wedding season, company parties, graduations; be sure to book well in advance. Some venues offer off-season special rates that could save you money on venues and food. Make sure to create and send out “save-the-date” cards, by mail or email, to your guests so they can calendar in your special day.When choosing the venue, consider the number of guests and the type of event. Something less formal, or an outdoor theme, might be best at a private home, estate or public park. More formal settings would be best at a hotel or event catering hall. The later can also help you choose an array of menu items to serve your guests. Choosing your venue wisely is an important part of setting the tone for your event.
  4. Picking A Theme
    This celebration comes once in a lifetime. So, while picking a theme isn’t necessary, it can sure make the event more memorable. Consider using themes that highlight your Sweet 16’s interests including favorite movies, novels, sports, recent trends, hobbies, things she really loves doing, etc. Here are some of our quick ideas.- Fairytale or Princess
    – Cops & Robbers
    – Lights of Paris
    – Hollywood Premier
    – Mardi Gras.
    – Luau or Beach Party
  5. Book the Vendors
    If you’re having more than a just a simple gathering of a few friends for a day at the spa, a special trip or concert, then you’ll want to consider vendors for the celebration. Consider attending a bridal fair to find and compare services and pricing for photographers, videographers, DJs and other service providers.Some of these vendors offer special package pricing. If you book, say, a photographer and videographer from the same company you could save over booking them separately from different companies. Some companies offer entertainment booking services where they’ll take care of all your vendor needs, saving you time.
  6. Send Your Invitations
    While you may have sent out a save-the-date announcements, it’s important to send your guests an invitation three to five weeks before the event. There are a host of ways to deliver this from mail to hand-delivered. Most important, remember to get the invitations out in a timely manner so your guest will firm up their calendars to attend the celebration.
  7. Prepare The Menu
    Great food makes time together with family and friends extra special. This is one of those times that should be extra special. Choose a menu that fits the venue and will make your guests and the Sweet 16 happy. Easy to eat foods are great for less formal occasions while more formal events, like a Sweet 16 catering hall, would call for maybe a cocktail hour and a sit down, formal dinner. Remember, food sets the mood. Be sure to choose a menu that fits the celebration and venue.
  8. Plan Your Events Itinerary
    How long is the party? What events/programs does she want to take place at the party? Gather these ideas together and then create a rough timeline. Then begin shaping the details. When will the event begin? When will the music first play? When will food be served? What time do you cut the cake? Most importantly, what time will the party end?
  9. Talk About Expectations
    This “coming-of-age” is an exciting time for her. Your little girl is growing up. Yet, it’s still important to set boundaries around your expectations of the party. You want her and her guests to be safe and have a wonderful time. You don’t want her coming of age party to be an embarrassment for either of you. So, it’s important to discuss use of alcohol, controlled substances and expected behavior during the event. Have the hard discussions before so you can have a successful event.

Using these tips will help relieve your stress and plan for a successful event. You’ll be able to create memories that the both of you can cherish for a lifetime.

When is comes to planning your Sweet 16, please consider the El Caribe. With over 35 years creating unforgettable memories, like Sweet 16, we can help you plan and prepare for something extraordinary. Our food is rated some of the best in NYC and our ballrooms offer beautiful spaces to make any Sweet16 magical. Click here for more information about our Sweet 16s and visit our Facebook page to see what visitors are saying about the El Caribe.

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Behind the Scenes Room Turnover

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Timing and flawless execution is everything in creating unforgettable memories for celebrations of a lifetime. It’s all behind the scenes. While guests are enjoying the celebration in one room, they are unaware of the feverish preparations in another. We like it that way! That’s the magic of it all! Magicians don’t reveal their secrets and neither do we. While we won’t share our secret to faster and better food service and more dance/entertainment time than any other catering hall in New York City, below we’re revealing a quick glimpse behind the scenes of a room turnover at the El Caribe. It happens quick so don’t blink!

Timelapse – Wedding Reception Venues Room Turnaround. Brooklyn, NY El Caribe Caterers from El Caribe Caterers on Vimeo.

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Adding Live Entertainment To Your Event

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live entertainment at El Caribe Brookly, NY

Adding your own unique touch to an event is important to making it special. It can show offer your personality and give your guests an element of surprise, wonder and excitement. There are many ways to do this from decor and food to themes and special favors. Another way, often overlooked, to add your own unique flare is live entertainment. With decades of experience creating unforgettable memories for our guests, here are some things we’ve seen and some you might want to consider that may spark some ideas, helping you make your event extra special.

Bring In The Big Band. Bring in a big band with a Frank Sonatra, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington or Benny Goodman feel. Mr. Sinatra is always a great romantic and entertainment touch to any event. Make sure there’s plenty of room for dancing.

First Communion. One of our clients celebrated her first communion with a host of guests including the wicked, ugly step sisters, a magician and the arrival of Cinderella with glass slippers for the special honoree.
cinderella live entertainment at El Caribe, Brooklyn, NY










Corporate Holiday Winter Wonderland. One of our corporate clients went with a winter theme for their annual corporate event which included an indoor ice skating rink with an entire ice show for guests.











Irish Wedding Surprise. For your Irish weddings surprise your guests with a single or full band of bagpipers to help you celebrate your first dance on the dance floor. A photo op after, with the pipers, is a great keepsake. Who of your guests wouldn’t love the beautiful, resonating sound of bagpipes?
Bagpiper live entertainment at El Caribe, Brooklyn, NY












Sweet 16 Entertainment. One girl celebrated her Sweet 16 by greeting guests outside with trumpeters, a live string quartet inside, a DJ with a team of dancers, acrobatic performers, roving human cocktail and dessert tables, and an electrically lit up, robo dance man on the dance floor. Talk about not stop live entertainment. The constant surprises kept guests excited and thrilled.
Sweet 16 live entertainment at El Caribe, Brooklyn, NY












Other ideas for live entertainment might include a percussion setup with your DJ for that real time, live beat and rhythm, a live comedian or jugglers. It’s all in an effort to give your event a unique, special touch and wow your guests giving them a memorable experience they’ll always remember and won’t soon forget.

With more than 35 years of experience in the catering and event industry, having created some pretty spectacular events, our team is here to assist you to create a one of kind event. Our list of preferred vendors is a great place for top professionals. Looking for something unique, I’m sure we can help you find it, create it and plan it at the El Caribe.

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Three Room Considerations When Booking Your Next Catering Hall

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three room considerations when booking your next catering hall
Is it roomy enough? There will be a lot of activities happening at your next event; cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, entertainment, possible cake cutting, special speaker or presentation, etc. Coordinating these activities and making sure your guests feel connected to you and the event is important. They’re there to help you celebrate. The way your event room is laid out will be critical to the success of the affair. Why? Here are three things to consider when booking your next catering hall.

1. Tables. While seemingly unimportant, consider what kinds of tables are being used to seat your guests. Are they oval or round? Oval tables allow for more seating of guests in your event space. That’s a plus. The downside – oval tables don’t promote the socialization and intimacy you may want for your guests. It’s more difficult for them to socialize at the table. Conversely, round tables seat less people at your event yet they create a more intimate setting for your guests allowing for better dinner conversation and socialization. Guests feel connected with you and a part of the celebration.

2. Dais and Entertainment. Another important consideration in helping your guests feel connected to the celebration and guest(s) of honor, are the placement of your dais and entertainment. Because of spatial constraints, many catering halls arrange the dais and band/entertainment on very opposite ends of the room. While this looks great on paper it’s not functional. As the night progresses your guests will gravitate toward the entertainment leaving their backs to face the dais and guest(s) of honor. You certainly don’t want to find yourself in this situation. When booking your next catering hall, find a facility that has the dais and entertainment in the same area.

3. Facility Layout. Most important, next to room layout, is facility layout. A majority of catering halls host more than one event at a time. Some will host events on a second floor. Others in an adjoining room. Noise and vibration from those other events can interfere with your special affair. You should feel like you’re the only event at that moment so consider how the facility is laid out. Is there a maximum capacity limit? Are other events removed far enough from your event not to disturb you with noise, vibration or foot traffic from other events?

While it seems simple, room layout is really important to the atmosphere you create for your guests. Following these tips will help you and your guests enjoy a successful celebration.

 

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Five Fall 2016 Wedding Trends To Consider

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El Caribe's Five Fall Wedding Trends For 2016

Summer is coming to a close with September upon us. Everyone is prepping for the fall months. With the weather change comes a change of wedding trends. If you’re planning a fall wedding here are five trending ideas to consider as you plan your special day.

    1. Fall Wedding Colors
      While you may have your favorite colors (who doesn’t) consider deep, romantic colors, like dark hues, for your fall wedding. Dark plums, purples and navy are classic colors that never go out of style.

 

    1. Long Sleeves
      Made popular by Kate Middleton, long sleeves are making a comeback and a big trend this year. Whether romantic or modern, this bridal style is perfect for cooler weather weddings. Fall is the perfect time to show off your style with a long sleeve wedding dress.

 

    1. A Little Scruff
      While your guy may not be a lumberjack, that lumberjack look is certainly in style for your fall wedding. So, if you’re good with the look, tell your guy to grow out that facial hair in preparation for the celebration. Just make sure he trims or grooms it for the big day.

 

    1. Have Him Go Tweed
      Maybe you’re not Scottish, but the Scottish made it popular – the tweed suit. It’s a perfect dapper choice for the season. The texture is ideal for the cooler weather and autumn weddings. Add that scruff we just talked about and you are sure to be the center of attention on his arm.

 

  1. Your Fall Style Decor
    Fall is a fun time to celebrate the harvest and Halloween. Let your personality and style shine with some fun choices for your fall wedding decor. Think of pumpkin place cards for your guests or rustic décor center pieces. Maybe you want the playfulness of Halloween with a festive cake topper or a childhood favorite of caramel dipped apples as favors for your guests.

No matter your choices, use the unique fall season to spice up your wedding celebration. Choosing the best combination of colors, décor and clothing are sure make your wedding one a joy and one your guests will talk about for years to come.

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Two Tips For A Successful Cocktail Hour

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Two Tips For A Successful Cocktail Hour















More than 50% of the people polled said “cocktail hour” was their favorite part of an event. Cocktail hour allows people to unwind with great appetizers and alcohol and get into the mood of the event. And, who doesn’t love eating a variety of great foods while socializing with family and friends?

If cocktail hour is as important to you as it will be your guests, and you plan on having “cocktail hour”, here are two tips for a successful cocktail hour.

 

  1. Make Sure To See The Space Before The Event. While menus and event space look great on paper you really need to see the space. Sometimes what you think might be a perfect space, based on recommendations by the catering hall, end up to being a small closet sized space that will feel cramped and uncomfortable for your guests. So, schedule a time to visit the catering hall. Ask them to show you the room where cocktail hour will be held for your specific number of guests. Given your number of guests, the catering hall can determine the best room for your cocktail hour. Look at this space and make sure it feels adequate and comfortable for your guests.

 

  1. Inquire About Seating. While this sounds like a given, there’s a little secret you need to be aware of in the catering business. To cut corners in staffing and resources, some catering halls offer far less seating than your number of guests during cocktail hour. While the room may be appropriate, many of your guests will have to stand to eat. The catering halls’ excuse to this business approach? Not all your guests will want to sit to eat so less chairs are adequate. Remember if the food is great, which it should be, your guests will want to sit to enjoy it. So, when the room fills up and your guests don’t have a seat to eat great appetizers you’ll have an embarrassing situation making your guests feel uncomfortable.To ensure this doesn’t happen you need to ask a critical question and be specific to get the clearest answer. Ask if there will be enough seating for every one of your guests. You want to make sure that if you have 200 guests there will be seating for 200 people.

 

Start your event off on the right foot. Follow these two tips for a successful cocktail hour. You’ll be glad you did and your guests will be talking about you well after the event is past.

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Three Food Things To Consider When Booking Your Banquet Hall

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Ah! Food, glorious food! It’s such an integral part of our world. We eat food every day for sustenance yet it’s also a social urge. Meal times are historically events when families, settlements and villages have gathered. Julia Child said, “Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”

When it comes to your celebratory event, food should be one of the most important considerations in your decision process. Great food and great company create wonderful memories for a lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone has a great food experience. Why? Find out below as you discover three food things to consider when booking your banquet hall.

    1. The Freshest of Foods. This sounds simple. Consider though that catering and event halls can have numerous events in a week. This can be very challenging for them to keep up with and manage fresh food onsite. Consider all the vegetables, meats and other food products that go into the delectable course of meals you’ve selected for your event. Freshness of fish and vegetables make an enormous difference in taste, texture and overall satisfaction. Some catering halls cut corners using older or frozen product still on the shelf, still barely meeting food safety regulations, to save costs. Make sure your catering hall provides you the freshest food for your event.

 

    1. Food Is Cooked Fresh. Nothing tastes better than fresh, just-off-the-stove or out of the oven food! That’s how you have it at home or your favorite restaurant. Yet, if you’ve had a bad food experience consider that it might be because many catering halls will cook your menu several days before and reheat it the day of your event, serve it to your guests and call it fresh. You’re not paying that per-plate-price to be served leftovers. Consider too that health risks are statistically higher for food that is cooked, refrigerated and reheated for serving. That’s not a risk you want to take with your guests. When hiring your next catering or banquet hall venue, make sure to ask if they cook your food fresh the day of the event.

 

  1. Food Is Cooked Fresh Onsite. There’s the saying, “Kitchens are made to bring families together.” While you won’t be eating in your family’s kitchen, the importance of the food cooked onsite is important and will give your family and friends the best experience. There are inherent challenges and health risks with food being cooked offsite and transported to the event. Temperature control, bacteria, and over cooked food are just some of the many challenges. Some event logistics make it impossible to cook food onsite so food must be transported to the event. Some catering companies have mobile kitchens that allow them to cook your menu fresh onsite. Other catering halls don’t have their own kitchen. They only provide an event space. This requires they hire an outside company to provide your event food and transport it in. If freshly cooked food is important to you, consider a banquet hall that has a kitchen onsite, for your special occasion, where they can provide you the very best food experience.

As you’re searching for and inquiring about a catering or banquet hall for your next special event, take the time to discover these three food things to consider when booking your banquet hall. The time invested in inquiring will pay off in spades as you create lasting memories with family, friends and great food!

About The El Caribe – With more than 35 years in the catering and event business, The El Caribe, in New York City, provides the freshest food, cooked right onsite in our kitchens the day of your event, in perfect timing for your celebration.  Our food has been rated some of the best in New York City. We also offer celebratory space for 100 to 1,000 plus with one of the largest outdoor spaces in New York City. Guaranteed you won’t need to worry about the three food things to consider when booking your banquet hall. Call our banquet hall now and for your next wedding reception venues, social events or corporate events.

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Happy Valentines Day from the El Caribe

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ec-irish-wdg-12102015-32Happy Valentines Day and welcome to our new website at the El Caribe!

With the introduction of our new El Caribe website we wanted to to point out a few things. First, our site was designed to better visually showcase all we have to offer to make your event unforgettable. The interactive photos and videos gallery allow you to immerse yourself in the experience of others celebrating their day or special occasion.  Secondly, while this site is mobile friendly, there are some special features you won’t see on mobile devices, only on a laptop or computer. Third and most importantly, while we know all these visuals are enjoyable to see, the most important thing is you. It’s the weddings, social events and corporate events we help you celebrate that is most important to us and you. It’s what we’ve done for more than 35 years and the reason we work hard every day, to create unforgettable memories for you, our clients, friends and family. Let us know how we can make memories for you.

Happy Valentines Day! The El Caribe