Sometimes when the stresses of life and organising a wedding are too much, it is wonderful to have in your corner, dedicated people who will do it all for you. Cuisine on Cue based in Brisbane, is one such company. Not only do they work with an amazing array of function spaces – think  Old Government House, Lightspace and many more, as well as their own venue Walkabout Creek – they also organise everything from event styling, to flowers and staffing and of course – the most important aspect of their business – elegant, mouthwatering food. Whether it is a casual BBQ meal or the most formal of occasions, Cuisine on Cue provides the freshest seasonal and local food to surprise and delight you and your guests – your dream menu presented flawlessly on the night. Caitlin, their Wedding Co-ordinator, is on hand to coordinate your day down to the smallest of details and to make sure that your wedding day is truly memorable, and here she gives us a peek into the Cuisine on Cue story.

Tell us a little about Cuisine on Cue?

Cuisine on Cue was founded in 1995 and has grown to become one of Brisbane’s leading catering companies. As a leader in the industry, Cuisine on Cue provides professional staff who are committed to delivering the freshest local and seasonal cuisine to your event. We are renowned for our consistency in unsurpassed customer service and the attention to detail we bring to every event, regardless of the size, catering style or budget. Cuisine on Cue offers full event planning including organising event equipment, staffing, event theming and venue hire, for events & catering in Brisbane and wider South-East Queensland. We have over 21 years experience in delivering amazing event experiences from a corporate boardroom lunch with 10 guests to sit down dinners with 1000 guests.

Image by Millyjane Photographer

In terms of a wedding, what does a ‘full service catering company’ mean?

As a full service catering company, Cuisine on Cue can manage all elements of the bridal couple’s wedding. Whether couples just want us to take care of food service or if they need help with hiring marquees, guest furniture or wedding theming, we can help. We work with a range of quality suppliers to ensure that we provide the couple with the most stress-free experience so that they can relax and enjoy the big day. We also work with multiple amazing venues around Brisbane so we can help them to find a setting that suits them as a couple. We can offer a range of options in one company to ease the stress of finding the perfect place.

What is exciting about being the wedding planner for Cuisine on Cue?

Having worked at Cuisine on Cue as the wedding coordinator for 5 years, I have seen so many amazing weddings come to life. The exciting part is being on a journey with each couple and being invested in helping them to create one of the most memorable days of their lives together. No two weddings are the same and I think that the work the couple put into the day to really make it ‘them’ creates a unique look and feel each time. It’s exciting being able to get to know the couple and knowing that their wedding day is in very capable hands with Cuisine on Cue!

What steps do you take the couple through when they first contact you about planning their wedding?

The first step when a couple contacts us is to get a feel of what they are envision for their wedding day. Do they prefer cocktail style or a formal sit down dinner or something in between? I really think speaking to the couple over the phone or meeting face to face is key in identifying what works for them. We will then talk about how much of the wedding they would like us to organise, what they will be looking after themselves, what venue they are getting married at, their budget and all of the finer details to help tailor a proposal for the big day.

Image by Millyjane Photographer

What services do you offer to bridal couples when helping them plan their weddings?

Cuisine on Cue can offer a range of services for our couples. We can provide food and alcohol as well as professional staff to run your event. We can also provide all of the crockery and cutlery, glassware, linen and all of things the couple will need to create the big day. We use our experience to guide to couple during the process and maybe even bring up elements they hadn’t yet thought about! We also offer complimentary menu tastings for the couple.

Are you also able to recommend and work with other vendors during the wedding planning journey?

We work with a range of Brisbane event professionals such as Event Rentals, Beautiful Weddings, The Styled Group, Gathering Events, Millyjane Photographer, Rebecca Williams Photography and When Freddie Met Lilly just to name a few. We have many industry contacts that work with often and that we know are professional and reliable.

Image by Rebecca Williams Photography

We see you also work alongside many different and gorgeous venues. Are you able to recommend and visit venues with couples to walk them through their options?

Of course! Our event coordinators will arrange a time with the couple and the venue or venues that they wish to see. We have such an amazing range of venues that we work with so we love to help to guide couples through their venue search and to help them to find unique venues.

Are all the venues in the city or do you have country venues you can recommend?

While we do offer some city venues, we have worked at many around Brisbane and the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. We have a venue at Walkabout Creek which offers a country and rainforest back drop just 12 kilometers from the Brisbane CBD. The Lakeside Lawn at Walkabout Creek is perfect for a magical marquee wedding or the reception rooms can provide a more traditional or rustic vibe. We have also worked at country halls with rustic feels such as Mt Pleasant Hall and Coronation Hall as well as Samford Showgrounds.

Image by Judit Losh

If a couple was to request a backyard garden wedding, are you able to work with them on this?

Definitely! We have catered for many back yard weddings of all different sizes. We will come to the home to view the space before the day and work with the couple to ensure everything runs smoothly. We can also provide the kitchen equipment needed if the kitchen at home isn’t suitable to cater for their number of guests.

You have everything from a high tea menu, a shared plates menu to a food stations menu. What are you seeing as trends for the coming wedding season?

We offer a range of menus to suit different styles of weddings for our couples. We are seeing more and more demand for food stations featuring antipasto and cheese as a great alternative to canapes. They look amazing when set out in a rustic style, think wooden boards, fresh herbs and lots of colour. Dessert stations are also great instead of a traditional plated dessert. Couples can incorporate their cake as well as mini versions of their favourite desserts for guests to enjoy between all the dancing. Share plates is also a rising trend offering a family style meal rather than the traditional alternate drop. At Cuisine on Cue we think that it’s really important to incorporate things that the couple love. It is important to cater for guests but the wedding should be a reflection of the couple. We are also happy to create bespoke menus for our couples.

At the beginning of each season do the chefs get together and create new and innovative dishes? What influences do they draw on?

Our Executive Chef is committed to making each new menu innovative and exciting using the freshest locally sourced seasonal produce. Drawing on influences from what is trending and also incorporating what our couples are looking for, our team of chefs ensure that each menu is designed to amaze both the bridal couple and their guests.

Image by Millyjane Photographer

Do you see a demand to keep up with the latest food trends or do bridal couples enjoy familiar dishes with a twist perhaps?

A bit of both! We have couples who are all about the traditional and choosing options that stand the test of time. We also have couples who do want to do something different and incorporate trending elements into their menu. We try to have a range of innovative menus that incorporate classic dishes and modern twists to suit different requirements but are always happy to create something bespoke for our couples.

What should the bridal couple consider when choosing the dishes for their wedding menu?

As one of the biggest elements of a wedding reception, couples should consider what style of menu they would like to serve at the wedding reception. Are they wanting a more relaxed reception with food stations and canapes, a traditional alternate drop style or a trendy family style meal with share plate options? The menu should be a reflection of the couple’s style. Our menus are designed to offer a range of delicious and amazing options. We also offer complimentary menu tastings for couples and are always open to listening to their ideas and encourage input into their wedding menu. Once the couple have chosen their menu, they can put their faith in our professional chefs and staff to execute it with style and let us work our magic!

Image by Judit Losh

What is a favourite dish for the coming season?

One of my favourite menus is our banquet style menu as it creates such a great atmosphere and looks amazing when it’s served to guests! It also offers guests a little more choice and favourites include the Vodka baked Atlantic salmon with beetroot and crème fraiche and the braised lamb shoulder .w. tahini chickpeas and coriander yoghurt.

A wedding is not only a celebration, it is an experience. What do you love most about seeing the elements of the ‘experience’ come to life? 

I love seeing how happy the couple are at the end of the wedding day when all of their hard work has paid off and they have had the best experience with us. Working so closely with a couple during the planning process makes you very invested into the outcome of the big day and seeing everything come to life and how beautiful everything looks is the most rewarding part of the job!

How do you and the team celebrate the end of the working week?

With a large glass of wine!

Thank you Caitlin for sharing your story. Delicious food, and your wedding day organised with style and panache – with nothing more for you to do, than enjoy your day.  To find out more about Cuisine on Cue visit the website.

Headshot courtesy of Cuisine on Cue.