The Festival’s mission is to present programs of the highest artistic caliber while maintaining a dedication to young artists, a commitment to all forms of the performing arts, a passion for contemporary innovation, and an enthusiasm for providing unusual performance opportunities for established artists. This focus has brought the Festival international acclaim year after year.

Contributing to the Festival’s ongoing success is its location in Charleston. Recognized the world over for its stunning natural beauty, impressive array of preserved historical architecture, and wealth of charming performance venues, Charleston provides an incomparable setting for audience members and guest artists alike.- www.Spoletousa.org

To get your tickets and for more information visit the Spoleto website.
Cru is proud to support the Arts and our beautiful historic city. Cheers!

*Photo Courtesy of Etsy.com

Bright colors (even neon!), crazy fonts, decorative envelope liners and more interactive invitations are topping the lists. We aren’t seeing many of the traditional calligraphy and paper liner sets coming into the mailbox this season. Bride and Grooms are choosing invitations that match the theme of their wedding whether it is modern, naturalist, classic or bold.

*Photo Courtesy of BubblyBride.com

Along with the designs the phrasing has changed. You know longer are incorrect if you don’t use the typical ‘invitation wording’. Some invitations are even containing the couples ‘stories’, pictures and cute rhymed phrases that reflect who they truly are.

*Photo Courtesy of annieatkins.com

The invitation has become a true reflection of the actual wedding (which we know has become much more personal and creative) as well as a true vision of the bride and groom. With today’s technology and options the invitation (as well as the save the date) has become a very creative expression and the options are endless.

*Photo Courtesy of Lovesdesign.com

• 120,00 Gallon SHARK TANK- Wearing helmets that enabled underwater breathing and communication, and decked out in custom-created wet suits (white for her; black for him), the couple enclosed themselves in a steel cage and were lowered into the water occupied by 10 skulking sharks.
• IN MID AIR- Marriage in the Sky offers a 20-seat, 42’-by-25’ platform hoisted 164 feet into the air. This marriage mobile can anchor wherever there’s 5,000 square feet of secure surface area, so the sky’s the limit for location (think the Grand Canyon, a Venetian canal, or above the Sahara Desert).  Afterward, many couples decide to bungee jump off the platform.
• AN ICE CHAPEL- at Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace, where temperatures hover around 25 degrees and there’s iced champagne, two ice glasses, and, for your guests, ice benches draped in animal skins. What’s a shivering bride to wear? Just ask designer Corinne Markey, whose Marie-Ange Collection—created just for Hôtel de Glace brides—features floor-length gowns with fuzzy lining, fur-trimmed hoods, and thick white capes.
• ON TWITTER- While gathered in a room with their officiate and witnesses, the officiate carried out the FULL ceremony on Twitter — including the bride and groom tweeting out their vows.
• TACO BELL (while still open to the public)- During the dining-room ceremony, for which employees displayed hot-sauce packages reading “Will You Marry Me?,” the duo wore dark purple (him) and hot pink (her)—Taco Bell’s official colors.

No matter how you envision your ‘I Do’s’, just remember- It is YOUR day!

Thank you to http://www.travelandleisure.com and http://www.bridalguide.com. 

Over the last few years Charleston has gained much popularity from being announced Conde Nast Travelers Reader’s Choice TOP US CITY for 2011 and 2012 to being one of the top US Destinations on the Rise by TripAdvisor. People all over the world are learning more and more about The Holy City and are falling in love with its charm.

Charleston is one of the top destinations for weddings in the US. It is reported that 2,925 weddings were held in Charleston County, alone, for 2012, and about half of the wedding licenses issued each year are to visitors. Even celebrities are making their way to the historic city for their ‘I dos’ (Who can forget Blake Lively’s southern Boone Hall wedding to Ryan Reynolds?).

Destination weddings are easier in a lot of ways and can be tolling in others. When planning a destination wedding it is important to secure reliable, trusting vendors who can handle all the to-dos while you are away. One benefit to the destination wedding is having less to worry about. You make initial decisions and the rest is taken care of for you. Destination weddings tend to be more intimate, personal and more affordable (believe it or not!). Having one extra guest at a wedding can up the bill $150-$250.

Most destination weddings in Charleston have a local, Lowcountry theme sticking to traditional and cultural Charleston. That’s what visitors come for, the charm of the Holy City. Cru can customize any menu for your Wedding weekend rather southern cuisine or a formal affair. Making our services and staff available and eager to help all bride and grooms to-be have the day, night, or weekend of their dreams.

Spending a day on the beach with all your family and friends before the wedding fun begins? Call Cru on the Go to bring by a fantastic lunch, and you’ll never have to leave the shore. Desire a laid back southern BBQ bash for your rehearsal dinner- call Pit Cru. We can set-up and serve or just drop and go. From pulled pork to homemade cornbread, Pit Cru is perfect for any relaxed or perfectly Lowcountry event. Ready to make reception plans? Cru Catering’s creative minds can whip up snazzy cocktails, appetizers or a beautiful three course meal. We are your one stop shop for all things food in Charleston.

You and your guests will get a first class experience while in Charleston when you eat with Cru!
Feel free to give us a call for any help or suggestions with planning your wedding!

He was first introduced to Lowcountry cuisine in 1995 when he moved to Charleston from Myrtle Beach. After spending several years at Sonoma Wine Bar with Chef John Zucker, he became familiar with American fusion cuisine and the love for wine. His culinary fascination continued to blossom as he discovered ingredients from around the world and the endless possibilities that were available.

Before joining the Cru Catering team in 2006, Chad was the banquet manager at one of the Southeast’s most highly-touted restaurants, McCrady’s, which is where he got his first taste at planning and executing events.

At Cru, he appreciates the wide variety of venues, events and clients that continue to allow him and his team to think outside of the box, so no two events are ever the same.

After 7+ years with Cru his favorite dish still remains the Thai Seafood Risotto- it is the meal he and his wife enjoyed on their very first date. Chad also enjoys the charitable side of Cru Catering and participating in the annual Feed the Need and Chef’s Feast Events. “They are both great events and just makes you smile to be a part of both,” says Chad.

Photography: Chrisman Studios / Location: The Old Jail / Event planning and design: Kristin Newman Designs / Catering: Cru Cafe / Flowers, decor, event design, and specialty lighting: Gathering Floral and Event Design / Rentals: La Tavola Linen; Snyder Rental

 Venue: Legare Waring House  /  Photography: King Street Studios  /  Caterer: Cru Catering  /  Rentals: Event DRS  /  Planner and Designer: Bride  /  Day of Coordinator, Design, Paper Goods and Florals: Lara Kocerka and Declaration Boutique  / 

Photographer:  Collette Mruk Photography  /  Caterer:  Cru Catering  /  Event Planner:  Shannon McLeod   /  Floral Designer:  OK Florist  /  Reception Venue:  Boone Hall Plantation  /  Equipment Rentals:  Ooh! Events  /  

Cru can help you with a fully customizable menu for any event! Contact us if you need any help or suggestions for your Big Day!  

Spending most of her life exploring the diverse cuisines of the North East, Emily fell in love with food at an early age.  Realizing this, she quickly dove head first into the Hospitality Industry where she experienced the food and beverage world from the ground up. To further her education as well as to experience a cuisine unfamiliar to her own she moved to Charleston where she attended the College of Charleston. Graduating with a double major in Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management Emily knew she wanted to be involved in Charleston’s Hospitality Industry.

After four years of furthering her food and beverage experience in the Charleston area, she was introduced to Chef Zucker, and took a position as Catering Manager with Cru Catering. Fascinated by the modern cuisine, fresh ingredients, and phenomenal chefs that Cru has to offer, Emily’s love for the catering industry continues to grow daily.

What is Emily’s Favorite Dish at Cru?
“Easy! The Thai Seafood Risotto. Check out the Cru Café blog for the recipe and try it yourself!”

What has been her Favorite Cru Catering Event?
“Any Themed event or gala. Anything where you can be really creative with the menu items.”

What has been her Most Memorable Event with Cru Catering?
 “Our 2 week long event with Infiniti Automotive for their new SUV launch to the media last    March. Hosting guests from all over the world for breakfast, lunch and dinner- a new group every day! Making a restaurant, bar and lounge out of a completely vacant building! The logistics were crazy, the set up incredible and wowing guests every night with food from the Lowcountry was a blast!” 

Tapas (small plates of food derived from Spanish cuisine) is still making a huge appearance at events. Hosts and guests alike enjoy having the options tapas allows. You can mix cuisines, proteins, and flavors using this option. It is also a great way to satisfy everyone’s tastes. This trend is taking many steps forward spawning into things like mini champagne bottles to tiny tacos.

Cooking Stations are also making their way into today’s events. Stations can be set up to control traffic around a room, keep guests interactive with the food, and (again) to satisfy everyone’s tastes. Stations can be anything from wok cooking (very personalized), Paella stations, Pizza stations and even Crepe stations. Anything that is better off cooked right before eaten can be set up as a food station. Following suite are mac and cheese bars, mashed potato bars, grit bars and anything else you could imagine having toppings for.

 Desserts are also making a smaller mark these days. Opposed to having large cakes and pies, and choosing what you want, hosts are serving tastes of multiple desserts following the tapas trend.

The most important thing to remember this year is to have fun with your food! You don’t have to have a beef or chicken option, you don’t have to have any main course, you can do whatever sounds delicious to you. Breakfast for dinner or load up on small bites! It is your day and enjoy the food YOU love. Food can be just as creative as any other part of your wedding or special event. Talk to your caterer about what you savor and enjoy the most and what you want people to remember about your food- let them craft a menu that matches your event!

• Middleton Place, located at 4300 Ashley River Rd.
  Middleton Place is a Mount Pleasant waterfront event venue looking directly at downtown Charleston. The Gardens at Middleton place are said to be the “most important and interesting gardens in America”. For intimate or formal affairs you can choose the Middleton Oak or one of the Secret Gardens. No matter what your style Middleton Place can host the event of your dreams.
  

• Legare Waring House, located at 1500 Old Towne Rd.
  At the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, The Legare Waring House, originally built in 1840, has hosted South Carolina’s first families, national officials and international dignitaries. This beautiful house and gardens is ideal for indoor or outdoor affairs fully equipped with four bridal suits, groomsmen quarters and catering facilities. *Photo Courtesy of Richard Bell photography and A Lowcountry Wedding

• The Woodlands Mansion, located at 125 Parson Rd (Summerville, SC).
  Woodlands Mansion is an impeccably restored 1906 classical Greek revival mansion set a midst 11 acres of parkland grounds. It is an elegant estate that draws its guests and visitors into a special sanctuary of southern hospitality, superb dining and exceptional experiences. It is located 25 minutes from historic Charleston. Newly purchased by local businessman Tom Limehouse the Woodlands Mansion and Grounds will be reopening for this coming wedding season!

• New: Venue 549, located at 549 East Bay St.
  For those looking for a more modern downtown venue this is the place. Approximately 5,000 square foot historic event space featuring multi-level dining areas with built in banquettes, tables & chairs, a well-appointed outdoor covered patio with granite bar and teak furniture, outdoor courtyard space with benches and bocce court, a private dining room with separate entrance and restroom and well equipped catering kitchens.

These are just a few of the venues in the area to check out. The plantations, hotels, restaurants and resorts surrounding our Holy City and neighboring areas are numerous. The important part is that you find what fits your style for your Big Day, let us know if Cru can help! Happy Planning!

What’s the best part? The Wine + Food Festival benefits scholarship programs for the culinary and hospitality workplace! “Since 2006, $276,000 has been provided to area charities and scholarship programs. The 2012 charitable funding for the Signature Charity—Feed the Need—(Which our own Chef John Zucker is Vice President of) helped feed approximately 40,000 people in the Lowcountry that would have not received meals otherwise. Scholarship programs have also been started at The Art Institute of Charleston, the Culinary Institute of Charleston and the College of Charleston.” Wine + Food Festival Annual Report.

Cru Catering is ecstatic to be a part of the Festival and to work among such talent. If you’re headed out to the festivities make sure to visit us! We will be participating in:

Jailhouse Shake-Up: March 1, 7-9pm
Taking place at the old jailhouse the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is hosting this new event. Enjoy cocktails, yummy treats and dancing with a local DJ.

Cru will be serving Panko Center Cut Tuna, Mascarpone English Pea Risotto, Roasted Beet Coulis, Pickled Garden Radish and Braised Baby Artichoke and Sun Choke Salad with Rogue River Blue, Chilled Iceberg, Tear Drop Tomato, Grilled Balsamic Red Onion, Aged Sherry Vinaigrette.
You won’t want to miss out on the food or the fun!

Lowcountry Jazz Brunch: March 3, 11am
This seated brunch taking place at Lowndes Grove Plantation is sure to amaze your taste buds. Presented by Motley Rice LLC + The Post and Courier this three course meal will be set to the tunes of The Mark Sturbank Group, featuring Quiana Parlor and Quentin Baxter. This unique set-up allows you to choose which caterer you want to serve your meal! Cru will be serving:

Bread/Biscuit Basket
FIRST COURSE
Local Shrimp Hash, John’s Island Creamed Collards, Coddled Egg,
Lobster Hollandaise
SECOND COURSE
Short Rib Pancakes, Boysenberry Syrup, Blood Orange Fruit Gazpacho,
Local Honey Mascarpone
DESSERT COURSE
Sticky Bun Bread Pudding, Pecan Cinnamon Glaze

The entire weekend is sure to please and we hope to see you there. Eat, drink and have a blast all for a great cause!
For more information on the events or to purchase tickets visit http://charlestonwineandfood.com/.