
Before you know it, suddenly it’s the end of Summer and things can seem a little lax on the celebration front. And, with evenings close in, the weather taking a turn and lush greenery falling away, what do you need to lift everyone’s mood? Autumn is the perfect time to throw a celebration! As if you already needed convincing, our Vanilla Bean team has put together a few excuses to host your next party in Autumn.
Of course, you’ll want event catering in Surrey – or elsewhere, to truly lift the occasion and make it one to remember long into the Winter period. With an array of different seasonal produce on offer, Autumn is a treat for the tastebuds! So, without further ado, let’s delve into our list…
The top excuses to throw a party in Autumn
As if you really needed an excuse! But, should you need a little more convincing that an Autumn party is right for you, our Vanilla Bean team have come up with a few of their favourite reasons behind an event in this season.
#1 A variety of calendar dates
There are a variety of dates running through the course of Autumn that are certainly worth celebrating. You don’t always need a birthday or anniversary as an excuse to throw a party! Plus, these dates are an excellent opportunity to theme your event and add an extra twist that your guests will remember for a long time to come! So, what are the key dates in this period that you might want to celebrate with event catering in Surrey?
Oktoberfest: early October
Dress up and enjoy a pint or two with family and friends, and of course, no Oktoberfest would be complete without themed catering! Try a German twist on some of your favourites with a fully tailored menu available from our experienced team.
Halloween: 31st October
Let’s get spooky! You can have a lot of fun with this one, making it a truly unforgettable evening with twists and turns. Or, why not try a more sophisticated take with a murder mystery dinner party?
Bonfire Night: 5th November
Who doesn’t love fireworks? Go off with a bang and treat your guests to an explosion of colour and flavour alongside a fantastic display.
Thanksgiving: 25th November
Borrow this American tradition and celebrate this fantastic harvest with seasonal, local produce. Get together with your loved ones and give thanks; after a difficult year, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate and reconnect.
#2 Unexpected invites in a quiet season
Autumn can be a flat season in the social scene. With Summer over and the countdown on for Christmas, the autumnal months can seem endless. Typically then, invitations will be more than welcome as your event fills this elongated period.
We all need something to look forward to and an event is certainly something your guests will be thankful for! Mark the calendar and dock your finest fit for an evening of entertainment that will brighten up the autumnal months.
#3 Stunning decor to bring any space to life
The Autumn months are full of incredible displays of colour – rich reds, opulent orange and golden brown hues line the pavements, and this image is one you can recreate for your event. The warm colours are a fantastic accompaniment to your celebration, utilising lighting to bring the outside in. Why not take this a step further too and style your table with seasonal produce?
You can cleverly create an impressive table setting that will see your guests enchanted. The warm colours really enhance any space but are particularly effective within a marquee interior as you add another dimension to the blank canvas.
#4 Delicious English produce to tantalise your tastebuds
From pumpkins and wild mushrooms to pheasants, game and rich coastal shellfish, the Autumn harvest certainly provides you with quite the selection to base your menu upon. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support your local suppliers when searching for event catering in Surrey – or beyond!
Be sure to enlist a caterer that understands how to incorporate seasonal produce creatively into their dishes – get the ‘wow’ factor and impress your guests this Autumn with something they’ve never seen before!
#5 Quirky themed cocktails
Shaken not stirred! There are endless possibilities to the concoctions you can create aside from the typical mulled wines and spiked hot chocolates. Again, it’s a great opportunity to utilise the local, seasonal harvest and take a twist on a few of the classics!
So, what are some of the top picks for this year? Why not try:
- Pumpkin-pie martini
- Blackberry mojito
- Spiced pear Collins
And, you could add a little something special with glitter drops, mini-sparklers or a spooky eye ice cube to create a drink like nothing ever before!
#6 After a year without events celebrate the now!
It’s been a difficult year for us all with multiple lockdowns disrupting our social lives considerably. With the future unknown, Autumn is the perfect time to celebrate the now, as we never know what could be around the corner! Bring together your friends and family with event catering in Surrey, or elsewhere, and reconnect after far too long apart.
#7 Get in before the Christmas rush
Christmas is notoriously busy for events – with work do’s and family get-togethers, it’s a non-stop season! So, beat the rush and schedule your event ahead of the Christmas season. In fact, your event is far more likely to stand out from the crowd as your guests will be able to differentiate it from those in their choc-a-block calendars!
#8 Show off your home
We’ve all become accustomed to spending more time in our homes over the last year and, as a result, it’s likely you’ve ‘spruced up’ or renovated your living space. Show this off to your friends and family but extend the area to accommodate all your guests with a heated marquee. This is a great addition as you bring the outside in, allowing you to utilise enchanting lighting features and toasty fires that really elevate the evening celebrations.
#9 Get the kids together and form new connections
Autumn is an exciting time for your little ones with school restarting and new friendships forming. As they settle back into a routine, you can celebrate this exciting new chapter and connect with parents and friends over some toasted marshmallows. It’s a great opportunity to bring everyone together and do something a little different. Certainly, it’ll linger in your little one’s mind for weeks if not months to come, and get them even more excited for Christmas!
But, it doesn’t just have to be the kids having all the fun! Offer a few fun cocktails for parents, or why not recommend a marshmallow roasting and cocktail evening for your next work-do as something a little different. It’s a wonderful way to spend the evening as we head towards chillier nights and will get everyone talking.
Our sample menu for the season
Take a sneak peek at our offerings with our sample menu here:
CANAPÉS
“Crispy Starfish” – Salmon fishcake, lemon pepper mayo and pickled pearl onion
“Pea” – Pea tartlet, pea puree, fresh peas, mint oil
“Cheesy Chips” – Triple cooked chips, rosemary salt and baked camembert
Pulled ham hock croquettes, piccalilli fluid gel
DINNER MENU
STARTER
Sweet cured trout, avocado mousse, charred spring onion, lime gel. pickled green chillies and coriander
MAIN COURSE
Salt Marsh rump of lamb, thyme potato gratin, podded legumes, redcurrant jus
DESSERT
Chilled chocolate fondant, salted butter caramel, toasted hazelnuts
Event catering in Surrey: Vanilla Bean and your Autumn events
As you can see, Autumn really is the perfect time to hold an event this year. Whether it’s to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, calendar date or ‘just because’ – it’s an excellent opportunity to add a sprinkle of fun into the quiet season. Although, we’re sure you already didn’t need much convincing to throw a celebration after the year we’ve all had!
At Vanilla Bean we work with local suppliers to provide you with the very freshest, seasonal ingredients and create stunning dishes to accompany any event. Working closely with you, we can personalise your menu to really make it stand out from the crowd. Make a lasting impression and ‘wow’ your guests this Autumn. To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our website by clicking here, or get in touch to discuss your upcoming event.