How do you measure a year?

It is important to measure it well when planning a wedding. Here is a handy go-by that works for most of our brides here at Three Chicks Catering;


“I’m engaged… Now what?”

The first thing you want to do before you start planning details is to figure out a realistic budget. This will help you with ALL of your decisions here on out.

Next, pick a date! You may want to base this on your budget and how long it will take you to work all the overtime needed to afford the horse drawn carriage you simply must have.

Start buying the wedding magazines and researching online (if you haven’t already) for the style of dress you want for the ceremony.

Interview Caterers, Photographers, DJ’s, Florists, and Cake Designers. Enjoy the tastings! It’s even better than touring Costco when they are giving out samples!

Select your bridal party, and begin putting together your guest list. These girls will appreciate as much heads up as possible and your guest list is bound to go through a few revisions.

“… Only 8 months left!!!”

Finalize your guest list and get the “Save the date” cards in the mail/e-mail.

If you are going the traditional route, make sure you select your invitations around this time so that you can allow plenty of time for printing. If you are going green and e-mailing invitations you have a little more time to play with.

Get together with your bridal party and select the perfect dresses for your crew.

Make sure you hire or reserve your Wedding Officiant around this time. Some will require Pre-Marriage Counseling, so you will want to allow for some time for this.

Go out with your honey and get your gift registry going. Make sure to give your guests some upscale as well as some affordable options.

“The year is halfway over… what am I forgetting?”

At this point, you want to finalize floral selections with your florist. They will be able to steer you towards what will be in season when your wedding comes around if you are looking to be green/cost conscious.

… also, let your Cake Designer know what flavors and décor you have decided on. No turning back! There are usually extra costs involved with changes at the last minute.

Be cognizant of your out-of-town guests and make sure there is lodging available for them. This can be in the form of family and friend’s guest rooms or local hotels.

Make sure the Best Man and Maid of Honor have a handle on their timelines for “Bridal Showers” and Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties.

“The final countdown… Four months to go!”

Send out your carefully selected invitations.

Two words; Wedding Favors

Make a date to select wedding bands with your honey.

“Two months left”

Schedule hair and makeup with your favorite salon. You will want to do a trial run before the big day to make sure that you and the artist have the same vision.

Sit down with your DJ/Live Band and select songs that you want as well as those that you DO NOT want.

Plan rehearsal dinner and location.

“One month until wedding bells”

Make sure that you are paid and up to date with all of the vendors you are working with. No one wants to worry about payments on the day of the event.
Prepare your seating chart to avoid confusion the day of the wedding.

Get ready for final dress and tux fittings… then do not gain or lose weight (easier said than done.)
Apply for your marriage license. Be aware of your state’s waiting period.

“Buh-Bye single life! I’m getting married in a week”

Put together a Wedding Survival Kit;
• Gum/Mints
• Extra pantyhose
• Sewing kit
• Make up for freshening up
• Hairspray, bobby pins, etc

Arrange for your exit vehicle for after the wedding and reception

Pack for your honeymoon, and rest up for the big day!

Roller Derby!

Three Chicks Catering has been a sponsor for the Dockyard Derby Dames for a while now. In fact, we love it so much, we are now sponsoring the Slaughter County Roller Vixens as well. It is so much fun to attend the bouts, and you are always welcome to join us. This Sunday (January 24th) there will be a special bout that benefits the Lakewood Police. Come out and show your support!
Here are some basic rules of the sport taken from Life123:

"Roller derby rules state that each of the two teams competing may have five players on the track at once. Three of these players are called blockers (or defense), one is a pivot (the last defender) and the fifth is called a jammer (the scorer). A spectator can differentiate between the players by their helmets. Blockers have no cover on their helmets while pivots wear a striped cover and jammers wear a helmet cover with two stars.

A jam in roller derby is a two-minute period when the pack of skaters (which includes blockers and pivots from both teams) skate around the track, attempting to stop the jammers from both teams (who are starting after the pack) from getting past the pack. During a jam, blockers and pivots must stay in the pack according to roller derby rules. If a blocker or pivot is separated from the pack, she may not attempt to stop an opposing jammer or help her own until she has returned to the pack.

After the jammer gets past the pack the first time, she scores one point for each opposing blocker or pivot that she passes. Blockers and pivots attempt to stop the opposing jammer from getting through the pack using their torsos, but not their heads, hands or forearms.

The roller derby rules requires that the first jammer to get through the pack becomes the lead jammer. The lead jammer can end the jam whenever she wants by placing her hands on her hips.

Positions can change mid-jam. A jammer may remove her helmet covering and pass it to a pivot, who then becomes the jammer. However, the lead jammer cannot transfer her power; if she hands off her helmet covering to a pivot, the position of lead jammer is lost.

Penalties are incurred if a skater blocks illegally, fights or violates another rule. Four minor penalties or one major penalty result in a player being sent to the penalty box. If a skater is sent to the penalty box, the opposing team’s jammer scores an extra point each time she passes the first opposing blocker or pivot in the pack."

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Christmas Time!

The Holiday Season is typically very busy in the events industry.  This year has been no exception for us here at Three Chicks Catering.  The typical day for our Chefs starts at 3:30am and doesn’t end until after 9pm.  We consider it a privilege to be part of your Christmas and Holiday plans.  Just last weekend, we had the honor of teaming up with Julia’s Flowers to create a stunning dinner for some long time clients at Thornewood Castle.  These are the moments that make up who we are as a company.  Thanks again for celebrating another year with us!

Cold Weather, Warm Hearts

These past couple of weeks have been emotional for the people of the Pacific Northwest.  We have lost 5 police officers to acts of horrible violence.  Along with the rest of the area, we at Three Chicks Catering have been wondering what we can do to help ease the pain.  One of the most visually moving acts of support took place on Tuesday during the memorial processional of almost 2,000 police vehicles from McChord Airforce Base to the Tacoma Dome.  The streets were lined with thousands of teary eyed citizens who braved the record low temperatures in order to show their support for the men and women behind the badge.

It was a moment where we were all able to stand together, regardless of our individual experiences and opinions, in agreement that we would not stand for this violence.  These men and women in blue had given their lives in order to keep us safe, and for that they are forever heroes.  Three Chicks Catering was honored to be able to help facilitate the meals for the visiting police force as well.  Thank you, caring citizens of Tacoma and the surrounding area, for helping us fill their bellies as a statement of solidarity!  May we heal, but never forget.

“Glad you’re still in business!”

With the economy showing glimpses of improvement, people are starting to come out to play. The phone is ringing a little more, the inbox is filling up a little faster, and we are hearing a lot of comments like “Glad you’re still in business!” For the record, so are we! This is not to say that the challenging times are behind us, but it is a testament to the fact that we have made it this far.
It makes us wonder how many businesses are experiencing the same thing. We all put on our best “networking” faces and pound the pavement during tough times. It is only in the reflective times that we are honest with ourselves about what it takes to survive as a business right now. Studies have shown that companies that innovate in leaner times are miles ahead of the competition when the “milk and honey” is flowing again.
Surround yourselves with movers and shakers! Here at Three Chicks Catering, we are glad you’re still in business!