Topiarius Inc.

Boutique Bites

Topiarius — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:53:42 +0000

About Us

SERVICE: Catering
CONTACT: Elaina Vazquez, executive chef & owner
PHONE: 773-313-3211
EMAIL: info[at]boutiquebites.com
WEB: www.boutiquebites.com

We care about creating the best experience for your event! Boutique Bites creates unique and luxurious menus for all types of events, from cocktail parties to seated 6-course dinners. Our clients come to us because they are looking for a memorable dining experience and for their guests to be wowed.

We love it when…

The bridge & groom give us specific ideas of what they like and then allow us to create a menu for them. We ask our brides and grooms what their favorite restaurants are, if they have any ethnic preferences for their menu, what type of foods they enjoy eating, etc. From there we are able to customize a menu and begin the process of choosing their perfect wedding day meal. It’s a fun and exciting process!

Our style

We have a high-end aesthetic and attention to detail which is key. We put a fun, unique spin on classic hors d’oeuvres, such as our braised beef short rib “shepherd’s pie” with a mini mug of Guinness, among others. I worked in some of the best restaurants in the country before starting Boutique Bites, so that is definitely reflected in our culinary style.

What you should know before we meet

That there’s more involved with the catering aspect of your event than just the food. Many times the bride and groom don’t realize that it’s not just food that they are paying for; it’s food, staff and rentals. There are so many beautiful venues in the city but many of them don’t have kitchens, tables, chairs, plates, silverware, glasses, etc. Since Boutique Bites is a full service company, we include all of this in the proposal. So it’s important to keep this in mind when you inquire about catering for your wedding.

Words of wisdom

Eat! The bride and groom never eat enough, especially if they choose a menu of passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations. They are always so busy taking pictures, talking and dancing. We always set aside food for the bride and groom, but even then, they tend to take a few bites and get pulled away. It’s delicious and you paid for it, so make sure you eat it J

We love Topiarius because…

They are the best at what they do! Topiarius has such unique floral designs for themed and classic events. They have so much experience and are great to work with. You can’t help but like Sara and Kim. They also have a beautiful, spacious and organized work space, which is a big plus for client meetings. And I love that they also design urban gardens! We’ll be working with Topiarius this spring on our herb garden at Boutique Bites.

Topiarius loves Boutique Bites because…

She’s extremely talented, dynamic, and passionate about the food she creates. BB’s food is sooo tasty and unique. Her kitchen is top notch and her staff is wonderfully kind and helpful. Her style of presentation is on par with the best. Boutique Bites will provide you with the quality you’re looking for and exceed your expectations.

Ravenswood Event Center

Topiarius — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:30:43 +0000

About Us

SERVICE: Event space and more
CONTACT: Excitementzie (a.k.a. Aly)
PHONE: 773-388-2170
WEB: www.ravenswoodeventcenter.com

We are a full service event company. Venue, culinary services and event planning all in one!

We love it when…

The bride & groom are in love with the venue. I feed off the excitement of my clients!

Our style

I actually don’t fit into one mold. I love the urban chic weddings, but I also love traditional wedding style.

What you should know before we meet

Enjoy the wedding process! Listen to your vendor’s opinions and advice. They will always steer you in the right direction.

Words of wisdom

Don’t worry about following a tight schedule. Go with the flow. Enjoy every moment, smile, laugh, even if it is 10 minutes early or behind!

We love Topiarius because…

They have a unique style, that is timeless, elgant and modern at the same time. They create beautiful work!!

Topiarius loves Ravenswood Event Center because…

It’s an inspiring space that allows us to create all kinds of styles of weddings and events, from modern to classical. And, the staff is fabulous! They are open-minded with ideas and so easy to work with when planning and in the production.

Sine Qua Non Special Events

Topiarius — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:41:20 +0000

About Us

SERVICE: Event Planners
CONTACT: Beth or Stephanie
PHONE: 773.469.6095
EMAIL: info[at]SQNevents.com
WEBSITE: www.sqnevents.com

When a bride and groom decide to hire us, we don’t take that responsibility lightly. We realize that they are entrusting us with their wedding day, and we truly consider it a privilege. We work on a select number of events per year to ensure the best possible service, and we take the time to build a relationship with each and every client.

We love it when…

Trusts us to help them make the best decisions.

Our style

We don’t have a “signature style” because we believe it is our job to help our couples create a wedding that is truly a reflection of them, not us. Each of our weddings is one-of-a-kind, with a consistent level of quality, service and attention to detail.

What you should know before we meet

That they will never regret hiring us and, in fact, will consider it the best decision they made in the wedding-planning process.

Words of wisdom

Enjoy every minute and don’t worry about a single thing (that’s our job!).

We love Topiarius because…

They are pure genius. We have never seen them do the same thing twice. They take the couple’s vision for their wedding and dream up ways to make the décor completely unique and unexpected. They surprise us (in the best way!) every time we collaborate with them. And they are super fun to work with!

Topiarius loves SQN Special Events because…

Beth and Stephanie are what we call the definition of cool, calm, and collected. When we have worked with them at events they are composed, efficient, knowledgeable, and resourceful. They truly want their clients to have the event they dreamed of whether it is for a wedding or a non-wedding event like a fundraiser. They are great at what they do! And, they’re wonderful people too. (Plus they have difficult name to pronounce like we do.)

Carasco Photography

Topiarius — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:13:14 +0000

About Us

SERVICE: Photography
CONTACT: Cara Nava
PHONE: 773-383-4112
EMAIL: info[at]photocarasco.com
WEB: www.carascophoto.com

Photography is an essential part of your day and you want photographers that offer personal attention, can be your eyes, and capture the real you (with a little optimization, of course). We appeal to the modern bride and groom looking for something beyond the traditional.

We love it when…

We respect the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony. However, it can be a significant time-saver and allow for more creative photos of the bride and groom and bridal party without interfering with the cocktail hour. Once we finish the bridal party photos and family portraits, we can focus on documenting the candid moments that the bride and groom will want to see after the wedding day has passed.

Our style

Photojournalist, editorial

What you should know before we meet

That we truly love what we do.

Words of wisdom

(1) Don’t forget to breathe and take everything in on your wedding day. It goes so quickly and it’s easy to get caught up in the production of it all–you want to be in the moment and enjoy this milestone. (2) Hiring a planner or day of coordinator ensures that you won’t have to concern yourself with a myriad of logistics like the missing cake cutter or DJ’s arrival time.

We love Topiarius because…

Sara and Kim offer not only an amazing talent and imagination but impeccable service and personal attention. They are always excited about translating a concept (no matter how abstract) into a creative design and hit the ground running with ideas. Topiarius never ceases to surprise us with their ability to bring a couple’s style, color scheme and vision into reality.

Topiarius loves Carasco Photography because…

Cara and Scott are a fabulous team with fantastic associates. They bring a positive, delightful energy and professionalism to all that they do, which has gained them much respect in many industries (including by us!). They are able to capture such wonderfully unexpected moments that make us go “wow.” They know how to work with their clients and other vendors in such a way that you can count on the fact that the job will be done and done well.

Michelle Durpetti Events

Topiarius — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:58:57 +0000

About Us

SERVICE: Event Planning
CONTACT: Michelle Durpetti
PHONE 312-988-9900
EMAIL: info[at]durpettievents.com
WEB: www.durpettievents.com

For me, being a planner is more than my job, it is my passion. I love when we get to apply our knowledge, experience, and attention to detail to someone’s day, allowing them to be a guest at their own wedding and celebrate this very important day with family, friends, and with one another.

We love it when…

The bride & groom have opinions and visions and questions! The more information a bride and groom can provide me about who they are and what they envision for their day, the better I can bring that vision to life. I want to know what their style is, what inspires them and what is important to them so that I can make sure it is factored into their day.

My style

My style within my industry is very much my style and my approach to every other area of my life…I love nothing more than to participate in the world around me, be inspired by it and add to it! I love to travel, eat great food, I love fashion…all of these factor in to the esthetic side of my work style. As far as the logistical, more pragmatic side goes, I believe that as a planner I am only as strong as the relationships I have with the vendors I am fortunate enough to work with … to me relationships are everything, and being able to collaborate and learn from vendors, fellow planners and my clients definitely plays in to who I have become as a planner. My hope is to be constantly evolving with the world around me, while not forgetting some of the more important classic, timeless things. I also think that humor is key. There is a lot of pressure in what we do, because we are entrusted with what is beyond a doubt one of the most important days of someone’s life. It is our job to make sure everything runs seamlessly and smoothly and that family, loved ones, and the bride and groom are treated to a memorable, beautiful experience. With a responsibility of that size and scope can come pressure, deadlines, and sometimes even occasionally stress … Part of my style, and part of what I try to always offer my clients is a positive attitude and a little bit of humor to lighten up some of those potentially heavier moments.

What you should know before we meet

I would love it if a bride and groom came in with questions…honestly I don’t really need them to know any one thing…usually they are coming to me because they know that they would like to have access the knowledge and experience of someone who speaks the language of events on a daily basis, and for me that is a great starting point for me!

Words of wisdom

My biggest piece of advice is to be present as much as you can…to soak up every moment. So much planning goes into that one special day and it can go by in the blink of an eye! I think it is really important to make your day about who you are as a people, and what you mean to each other, and to try to not let anything else spoil that.

I love Topiarius because…

… of exactly what I mentioned in an earlier response. As a planner, I am only as strong as my relationships with vendors, so, to be able to have a working relationship that is full of positive energy, creativity and collaboration makes everything feel like fun and not work. The team at Topiarius bring their artistry, creativity and heart to each event they help bring to life, and I LOVE that! They are always looking to grow creatively and certainly raise the bar in floral design and “visual delightfulness” on a consistent basis…I also happen to love their amazing senses of humor! Setting up an event can get really stressful, and this team comes in every time with a “can-do” approach and just the right blend of humor to make those long hours fly by…

Topiarius loves Boutique Bites because…

They strive for the very best in everything they do – Michelle understands what it means to go all-out for a client. She handles herself professionally, communicates clearly, and is organized. She has a gift of flexibility so that she can work with everything that comes her way. She and her staff are also wonderfully nice and helpful; for example, when we arrive on site for an event there is no hesitation in offering their help. They have the sense that we’re all in this together!