How long have you served the Barrington area?
We started Wild Asparagus in July of 2008, opening our first Downtown Barrington location on Applebee Street in November of 2010. We quickly outgrew that space and moved over into our current location on Pepper Road in Lake Barrington. This July will be 9 years serving the Barrington Area.
What’s the best part about catering weddings?
For us, it is the opportunity to touch the lives of some really great people on one of the most memorable days of their lives. There isn’t anything more gratifying after a 14- or 16-hour event than to see the happy couple enjoying their wedding day with their family and friends without a care in the world. We take those cares away for them.
What’s trending right now in catering for events?
A lot of clients opt for food stations and small plates, rather than a traditional buffet or sit-down meal at their event. It’s a very interactive style and really engages the crowd. We’re also seeing people choose to do a “perpetual cocktail party.” Rather than having guests sit down for a few hours to have their meal, events are designed so guests can mix and mingle all night long. This works best with lots of passed food with fun, unique presentations. Food trucks are hugely popular for late-night snack service. It’s a great way to keep your guests satisfied while they dance the night away.
Specialty cocktails are still a big way to wow your guests. The oldies but goodies are making a comeback – guests love a great Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Bourbon and scotch bars are gaining popularity, and a champagne cocktail is always a big hit.
Spice up the party with some really unique décor items, like colorful linens, ornate tablescapes and modern floral arrangements. Custom ceremonies are also a beautiful way to show off your unique personalities. For an outdoor space, lawn games and a tented reception area are always fun. Make a real statement with a grand exit! Some couples change outfits. We even have one couple planning to leave the reception on a bicycle. So fun and unique!
What do you take into consideration when planning a menu?
As a Full-Service Custom Caterer, our biggest consideration is the vision and palette of the client. Some are looking for us to point them in a certain direction, while others come to us with family recipes to incorporate those traditions into their special day. We meet with all of our clients and get a sense of their likes and dislikes and then build a custom menu for them.
Everything at Wild Asparagus is made in-house, from our handmade hors d’oeuvres to our artisan desserts. Special dietary considerations are always available. We believe every client deserves fresh, restaurant-quality food for their guests – not food that’s been heated in a facility and then held for hours in warming ovens. With Wild Asparagus, our product goes straight from the oven to the tray or plate.
What’s your favorite part about catering at Barrington’s White House?
Convenience, convenience, convenience! Barrington’s White House is equipped to handle any style of wedding or event. There’s an ease of use, along with an exquisite kitchen design and an easy load-in and load-out process. And with more equipment on-site then most venues, it helps keep equipment rental costs to a minimum. BWH also provides the hardscape – an inventory of tables and beautiful gold chiavari chairs that are part of the rental rate.
What’s your best wedding story?
Each wedding is special to us. Our team takes the time to get to know every couple and their family from the moment we begin planning their big day. We think the story behind each couple is important. However, one particular wedding is still in my heart.
One of our wedding couples contacted us six months before their planned wedding reception and said they needed to move up the date. The bride’s mother was losing her battle with breast cancer and they didn’t think she would make it six more months. They needed to move the wedding to the next weekend!
In seven days, we assisted them with the turnaround for the flowers, officiant, food, rentals, tent – everything in their original plan. The day of the wedding was beautiful. The bride’s mom was able to participate in pictures and have the one thing she wanted – to see her daughter in her wedding gown and happily married to the love of her life. There wasn’t a dry eye at the event. The bride’s mom passed away just three weeks later. Being part of this couple’s wedding was incredible and it’s something we will never forget.
The contact information for Wild Asparagus may be found on their website: www.WildAsparagusCatering.com
