We’ve all heard at least one wedding horror story. Whether it’s cold food, outdated décor, a disorganized planner or lackluster entertainment, planning a “happily ever after” wedding day starts with whom you hire.
Eileen Dunn is no stranger to orchestrating unforgettable events. “We’ve been planning and creating impactful weddings and events for over twenty years,” says the caterer and planner. The Done To Your Taste founder—currently featured in our print magazine for her straight-out-of-the-garden cuisine and cocktails (see “Agricultural Wedding” in our interactive issue—suggests asking these questions when hiring a wedding planning team.
1. How well do you know the area and venue?
Weather, traffic, seasons and surroundings all impact the wedding day. Ask your potential planner what venues are their favorites and why. Ask them what specific challenges your venue may have and how they plan to overcome those. “Done To Your Taste is located in Park City, but we’ve seen the ins and out of venues—from formal to rustic and from city-style to country chic—all over the Utah,” Dunn says.
2. How do you deal with stressful situations?
The best way to deal with stressful situations is to avoid them. “Proper planning doesn’t happen overnight,” Dunn says. “Find a professional who makes the entire process—from saying ‘yes’ to ‘I do’—relaxed and memorable.”
“A keystone to our planning is that we work closely with many wonderful and trustworthy vendors. Be it florists, entertainers, rental companies, designers or even transportation, we collaborate with all to ensure a seamless celebration.”
3. What drives you to throw a successful event?
You’re likely not the only couple a planner is working with this wedding season, but you want a planner who treats you like your the only client on the books, right? “We promise to offer gracious service and respectful relationships,” Dunn says. “We are committed to putting our love and passion into all we do. Done To Your Taste works to create fresh and delicious, high-quality food that is impactful and welcoming with a little bit of comfort.”
4. Do you support a green event?
Going green is not just trendy; it’s smart. Forget about wedding waste by asking vendors how they practice sustainability in their business. “Done To Your Taste is committed to our environment and offers organic, sustainable and local menus. We compost, use environment-friendly paper products, supply other options than bottled waters, recycle and support blue sky and solar power,” Dunn explains. “Additionally, we are committed to health and always offer healthy delicious menu options.”
5. What menus do you recommend just for us?
Planning a menu can be daunting. From tiny bites to elaborate entrees, the meal is the grand culmination of a wedding—the meeting and celebration of two families. Current wedding favorites include garden picnic buffets, ethnic menus, outdoor barbeques, farm-to- table meals, and five-course formal dinners with wine pairings.
“For one couple, we created a beautiful family-style wedding dinner to honor their Italian heritage,” Dunn explains. “Guests enjoyed charcuterie anti-pasti, basil tomato fresh mozzarella flatbread, Mediterranean branzino with olive caper lemon tapenade, pasta tossed with heirloom tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, parmesan and fresh herbs. We finished the meal with tiramisu, biscotti and espresso.”
“Another favorite is our garden-to-glass cocktails for a farm-to-table wedding.”
In the end, remember the day is about creating memories and starting the next chapter in you and your’s life.
Park City:435-649-7503 | Salt Lake City:801-438-3384
P.O.B. 1003, Kamas, UT, 84036
