L.M. TOWNSEND CATERING

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Wedding Receptions

"The food was amazing, the tent looked incredible....and everyone is still talking about it being the best wedding they've been to in years. It couldn't have come together without you." C.F., New York, NY

Planning The Reception

During our first meeting, information is exchanged and the groundwork laid for your event. We review photos taken at previous receptions; review files from recent weddings and estimate costs for your reception; provide you with a wedding checklist and a sample contract including information on any extra fees and insurance. You may also tour Townsend Catering at Templeton Hall Banquet Facility in Cooperstown and take a look at equipment that may be used at your reception.

Additionally, referrals and information on all the extras from florists to musicians are available. Rental needs can also be discussed, with a list of everything from tent heaters to dance floors provided by the Caterer at no additional cost. For a completely hassle free reception, you may also meet with our events planner (charged at an hourly rate) who can handle the arrangements for every detail of your event.

Templeton Hall

If your plan is for a reception for 100 guests or less, or you are searching for a rehearsal dinner, engagement party, bridal shower or post wedding brunch location, Templeton Hall may be the perfect choice. Located in the center of Cooperstown on Pioneer Street, historic Templeton is within easy walking distance of four churches, bed and breakfast accommodations and hotels. Modern amenities consist of full handicap access and bathrooms, bar services, and catering service by L. M. Townsend Catering. All tables, linen, chairs, silverware and glassware are included in the facilities fee with no extra rental costs to contend with. Custom linen, AV rentals, specialty lighting, live music and floral services are also available for your special event. Templeton provides a 25-CD player and wireless microphone if needed. For photos and pricing, go to Templeton Hall Homepage.

All equipment for events is provided with the full facility rental fee. Linen owned by Templeton Hall is included for Friday and Saturday evening rental only. Choices include terra cotta, moss green, periwinkle blue or chocolate brown, all with white toppers and coordinating napkins. There is a small surcharge for linen cleaning on other days, or ivory vinyl table covers are available at no charge. Linen is available in any other color, with a wide variety of fabrics and patterns available (rental fee charged to Host.) Additional items may be rented such as audio-visual equipment, specialty chairs or china, or specialty linen.

Menus - Seated or Buffet

Choosing a cocktail buffet with several food stations is sometimes a good choice for those on a tight budget. However, most opt for a full meal. A short cocktail hour featuring passed hors d’oeuvres, accompanied by a display of cheeses and raw vegetables with dips, and followed by a seated or buffet dinner is a popular theme for many receptions. After reviewing photos and menus, you may have questions on whether to have a seated or buffet dinner, or a less formal “stations” reception. The buffet or stations theme presents a wonderful focal point. We provide most buffet equipment including candlesticks, platters, baskets, carving boards, chafers, and buffet decor.

Alternatively, seated dinners allow more space for dining and dancing, and Townsend Catering’s plate presentations are worthy of magazine covers. Labor costs however are slightly higher for seated meals, as extra staff is required to provide attentive service to each table and to deliver meals promptly. Wedding cakes are not included in the cost of the meal, though a dessert is included. Our most popular dessert substitution option is passed trays of chocolate-covered strawberries, dessert bars and fresh fruit tartlettes at the end of the meal, serving as a light dessert, with cake served later. Our favorite wedding cake baker lives right in Cooperstown and we recommend you talk to her directly. Please contact us for more information.

Dare to be different when choosing a style and theme for your reception food. An upscale barbecue can be just as elegant as a seated prime rib dinner. Dinner stations are not limited to pasta and chef-carved tenderloin. Check out our menus or come up with your own ideas. Do you have favorite family recipes? We are happy to prepare them. Do you wish to express your heritage in some way through the menu? Use our web site ideas as a starting point and keep in mind that we can cook anything!

Tastings

We are often asked if we do “tastings” from our menu. Because our business is fairly small compared to the industry standard, we do not have a larder full of ingredients nor chefs at the helm daily to cook up the extensive menu items we list on our web site. We do however host an annual event at Templeton Hall, generally the first Sunday in May, when we not only feature a buffet with elements from all our wedding menus for the year, but also host our baker with cake tastings, rental companies with samples, florists and other vendors. It’s also a great opportunity to network with other wedding couples and share stories.

Rentals

Rental companies offer a wide variety of services and equipment from the simple to the extravagant. Company brochures list supplies and policies. Most do accept credit cards and will require a deposit. Once contracted to cater your event, we are happy to provide you with a list of your needs. You may choose to send it on to several rental companies for competitive bids. Although some companies are more expensive than others, their prices reflect a higher quality of services. We recommend that you visit the company to review photos of tents, lighting options, and to choose specific patterns of china, silverware and linen colors.

Reception Sites

The Caterer can assist in the selection of a location suitable for the size and style of the reception if a site is not already available to the client such as a backyard space (for a tent) or large home. Among the many choices are museums, parks and historic sites, gardens, barns, church parishes and of course our very own Templeton Hall. Some sites offer such amenities as running water, restroom facilities, and use of tables, chairs, china and silverware, while others offer none. Some list strict regulations while others are fairly relaxed. A follow-up at the chosen site with the site manager or property owner follows our preliminary meeting.

Contracts, Deposits and Finances

Arrangements are finalized with a signed contract listing the details of the reception. A non-refundable $500 deposit is due at that time to secure the date and services of the Caterer. A deposit of one half the projected balance is due one month prior to the event and the final balance is due immediately after the party.