Why Indoor Weddings are Our Favorite!

We know that one of the most important wedding-planning decisions you will make is deciding on the venue. After all, where you say, “I do” and celebrate with friends and family, will set the mood for the entire day! There are many things you have to consider when choosing the perfect venue. Does it have the right capacity? Is it in the right location?

 

For some couples, their dream is an outdoor wedding and they aren’t interested in even considering indoor venues. But, here at Scarborough Fare Catering and The Martinsborough, we just adore indoor weddings and receptions. Here are a few reasons why indoor weddings are our favorite!

 

No Weather Worries

If there is one thing we know for a fact, it’s that eastern North Carolina weather is unpredictable. From the temperature and wind, to the chance of rain, weather conditions are often a huge stress for couples who have decided to have an outdoor wedding. This often leads to couples having to plan two weddings, their original vision and one indoors as a backup. Weather can wreak havoc on all of your planning. There is nothing worse than wet tables and chairs, or floral arrangements and table clothes that are getting blown by the wind.

 

If you plan your wedding in a beautiful indoor space, you won’t have to worry about a back-up plan that may leave you disappointed. You’ll be able to create your perfect day just how you envisioned it, without the need for possible compromise because of the weather. And, of course, you’ll be able to control the temperature inside the building. Did we mention, The Martinsborough has the A/C in town – perfect for summer weddings!

 

The Lighting!

With an indoor wedding, there is generally little concern about the lighting, which is very important when getting those gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime wedding photos! Of course, professional photographers are skilled at capturing photos in dim lighting, but if you have a particular shot you want to get, indoor venues give you the ability to control the lighting.

 

The Martinsborough in Greenville, NC offers the best of both worlds! With walls of large, beautiful windows, you’ll be able to have the feeling and lighting of an outdoor wedding, with the option of as much as or as little lighting as you want when the sun goes down! You’ll be able to set the mood just how you want to! Lighting including gorgeous candlelight helps The Martinsborough stand out from the crowd of venues!

couple kissing in front of large, beautiful windows at The Martinsborough in Greenville, NC

Convenient Restrooms

This may seem small, but another advantage of an indoor wedding reception space is the convenience of restrooms. Your guests will appreciate this! And, that takes one less thing off of your wedding planning checklist. You won’t have to worry about renting bathrooms, which can get pricey for nicer options!

 

Easier to Host Both Ceremony and Reception

If you want to have your ceremony and reception in one place, and indoor venue, like The Martinsborough, is just what you need. We have space for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and a reception with plenty of room for mingling and dancing!

 

These are just a few reasons why we love indoor weddings! Never underestimate the beauty of an indoor wedding venue! If you’re looking for a place to say “I do” contact Scarborough Fare Catering and The Martinsborough today!

 

 

What to Expect When Planning a 2021 or 2022 Wedding

If you are planning on saying “I do” in 2021, or even 2022, chances are you’ve already started the planning process. With all of the hopeful news about the COVID-19 vaccines, we are all beginning to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. We can’t wait for the floodgate of pent up demand for weddings and celebrations to swing wide open. After all, everyone deserves the wedding and reception of their dreams! The team at Scarborough Fare Catering and The Martinsborough, can make all of your wedding dreams come true.

 

If you’re planning a 2021 or 2022 wedding, here are a few things we’ve noticed, and a few things we expect to see.

 

1. Couples are acting fast!

Keep in mind that more than an entire year’s worth of wedding season was upended by the pandemic. Wedding venues, vendors, and suppliers have limited capacity left to offer you as they’ve been forced to fill so many 2021 dates with weddings that were originally scheduled for last year. The good news – The Martinsborough, located in beautiful uptown Greenville, NC, still has dates available for 2021 weddings!

 

2. Couples are opting for one location for both ceremony and reception.

We are noticing that couples planning weddings for 2021 and 2022 are opting for venues that allow for both the ceremony and reception at the same location. This makes it simpler on both the newlyweds and the guests! The Martinsborough offers space for the ceremony, reception, and our “salon” is perfect for an intimate cocktail hour!

 

3. Expect to see sanitizing stations.

We expect this to be a new staple at all weddings moving forward! Hand sanitizers set up around the event space will make you and your guests feel more comfortable. The Martinsborough will provide these!

 

Beautiful wedding at The Martinsborough

 

As you continue on your wedding-planning journey, we have one final tip for you:
Ask every single vendor about their COVID policies before you book and get it in writing in your contract. What are their safety requirements? What are their cancellation & postponement policies? Here’s the deal, wedding pros are people too and many are understandably uncomfortable working weddings in a pandemic. You don’t have to like their policies, but if you want to work with them, you do have to respect them. So, it’s better that you get this info on the front end instead of feuding with a vendor after they are booked.

 

Contact The Martinsborough today to get started on planning your 2021 or 2022 wedding!

We Can Make Your Event Happen!

Recently, many people have had to postpone, rearrange, or even cancel events due to COVID-19. Because some venues and restaurants are closed to the public or for events, plans are changing for important moments in life. But you still deserve a perfect celebration! Whether you’re getting married, celebrating an anniversary, or any other occasion, The Martinsborough is here to make sure you still get to have your dream day!

 

Our fabulous space in beautiful uptown Greenville is the perfect venue for intimate gatherings! The Martinsborough can serve customers in the form of rehearsal dinners, receptions, luncheons and more! Our space can accommodate up to 100 guests, while still meeting the CDC guidelines for safety, and tables can be set up six feet apart. The Martinsborough allows people to host their celebrations while maintaining safe measures to protect guests.

 

We have heard of a lot of couples who are no longer able to have their rehearsal dinners at certain restaurants, and we hope to be of service to you! The Martinsborough can even host wedding ceremonies while allowing guests to be seated at their tables! Check out our blog – “Planning A Wedding During COVID-19” to learn more about beautiful, intimate ceremonies at The Martinsborough.

 

We are offering special pricing for June and July to help give back to those who’ve had to change their plans. Like we said, we want your day to be just what you had in mind. Our amazing team will do whatever we can to make sure everything is perfect!

 

Contact the Martinsborough and Scarborough Fare Catering today to start planning!

Finding the Perfect Venue

Finding the perfect venue for your event can be a daunting task. After all, this is likely the first big decision you will make in the planning process and it will help set the feel of your entire event. There are a few questions you need to consider, and a few small things you need to confirm, before you book any venue. Whether you need a venue for a wedding, party, luncheon or any other special occasion, asking these questions will ensure that everything goes smoothly!

Is the venue in a good location?

We all know it’s about location, location, location. So, when choosing your event venue, we know this is probably the first thing that you think about. Is the venue convenient for guests? Is it in a beautiful setting?

The Martinsborough, located in gorgeous, uptown Greenville, NC, combines both traditional elegance and modern charm. Nestled in uptown, this historical building stands out in the best way possible.

What does the venue provide?

It is important for you to ask what is provided by the venue. Do they have tables, chairs, and linens? If so, what do they look like? Also consider if the venue has staff on-site to help with setup and breakdown after the event.

The Martinsborough provides everything from glassware, flatware, centerpieces, candles and much more! And a bonus, we have the most gorgeous linens – not the typical, generic venue linens. Award-winning catering is provided to The Martinsborough by Scarborough Fare Catering as well.

Here a few more questions to ask, that you may not have considered.

  1. Is the venue heated and/or air conditioned?

  2. Are there coat racks for guests to use?

  3. How many bathrooms are there and are they in good condition?

  4. When will I have access to the venue to set up for my event?

With so much to think about, consider The Martinsborough for your next event – it really does have it all! A truly all-inclusive event space, and with catering provided by Scarborough Fare Catering, our venue is the PERFECT one!

Contact us today to start planning your perfect event!

Tips for Stress-Free Wedding Planning

Planning your wedding is supposed to be fun, remember? Too often couples let the stress of coordinating the big day get in the way of enjoying this special time. How can you kick wedding planning stress to the curb? Let Scarborough Fare help make some recommendations.

1. ALWAYS Hire Wedding Professionals You Can Trust

This is our number one piece of advice! You need an all-star team with experience to help guide the way – and that’s us! For the past twenty years, Scarborough Fare Catering, has handled weddings all the way from Raleigh to the coast. We’ve seen it all and have helped a tremendous amount of couples make their wedding dreams come true!

2. Book as Many Services as You Can with One Vendor

At Scarborough Fare Catering, not only do we provide fantastic food and full bar service, we handle  design and coordination of tables, chairs, linens, and even tents! We also help with location scouting, sound and lighting, equipment rental and much more. We’re your all-in-one caterer and event designer!

The Martinsborough, our premiere event space, located in historic uptown Greenville, NC can make your planning less stressful. You can host your bridesmaids’ luncheon, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception  all at one beautiful venue! With The Martinsborough, there is no need to book multiple venues for your wedding events.

The Martinsborough located in uptown Greenville, NC.

3. Start with the Guest List

Creating your guest list first will help you select the perfect venue and menu! It really is a great starting point for all the planning that will follow. Once your list is compiled, Scarborough Fare Catering can help plan the perfect menu. We will help you determine the best way to properly serve your number of guests. Creating a guest list will help determine the account of alcoholic beverages you can expect to be consumed.

When searching for the perfect venue, don’t forget The Martinsborough, which can accommodate nearly 400 guests. We have beautifully upholstered chairs, adjustable lighting, exquisite décor options.  We will be on site to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Wedding reception at The Martinsborough.

4. Establish a Wedding Budget

Get started on a wedding budget right away. This will keep you accountable for your spending, and it will help to make sure you don’t forget anything important. Make sure to account for unexpected guests, gratuities and transportation for guests if needed.

5. Create a Wedding Email Address

This is a great tip! Create an email address exclusively for all things wedding-related and for coordinating with vendors. This will help you avoid accidentally missing something important in your inbox!

6. Always have a Back-Up Plan

No matter how much you plan, some things are just out of your control – namely the weather. If you are planning on having an outdoor ceremony or reception, be sure to have a back-up plan. This will alleviate stress on the big day if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Scarborough Fare Catering can even help you with a tent rental! In all of our years of business, tented events are special and unique, and  time after time they are extremely well received. But we often have plan A, plan B, and if all heck breaks loose, plan C.

7. Have a Meal Specifically for You

The day of your wedding is magical, but some stress is unavoidable. Between greeting guests and  celebrating your new “married” status, many couples don’t even have a chance to sit down and enjoy their wedding food during the reception. Scarborough Fare Catering will make sure that couples experience every aspect of their wedding by setting aside food for you to eat, including appetizers and the main meal. We will even make to-go trays with the leftover food for Bride & Groom and also their families.

8. Keep Your Wedding Party Informed

The final days leading up to your wedding will seem hectic. Create a shared calendar with your wedding party to keep everyone informed of important events and set alarms to remind them of things that need to get done before the big day!

Are you ready to start planning your wedding – stress free? Give Scarborough Fare Catering a call. We can’t wait to help you plan your perfect day!