Hopefully, Emma could help the couple on such short notice.
“Let me see if I have any of their business cards left.” Standing, Liv walked back to her desk. “What about a photographer?”
Even before she stood, Liv knew she had plenty of business cards for Exquisite Flowers on hand. After grabbing one, her hand lingered over the stack for Dalton Photography. Some people might not like it, but Liv saw nothing wrong with sending customers to her friends rather than their competition. They’d do the same for her if Ocean View Catering had any competition in the area.
“I’m waiting to hear back from one,” Gina answered.
Liv pulled out one of Phoebe’s business cards too. “If they don’t get back to you or aren’t available, try Dalton Photography. They’re located nearby.” She handed the other woman the two business cards as she sat down again.
“Have you already decided on a time?” Not that it mattered much. Ocean View wasn’t yet large enough to handle two events on the same day, so Gina and Blake’s wedding would be it for the day.
Gina nodded as she tucked the business cards into her purse. “The ceremony will be at four.”
Why, Liv couldn’t say, but she preferred evening weddings. While she’d never been married, she’d been a bridesmaid in several weddings and catered a few small ones. At least to her, there seemed to be less stress hovering over everyone when the event occurred at night. Maybe it was because people had more time to prepare. Or perhaps it was all in her head. Either way, she wanted an evening wedding if she were to get married.
“Four o’clock is a great time for a ceremony. Have you discussed whether you want a sit-down meal or a buffet?”
Once again, Liv had an opinion on the topic, and if this were her wedding, she’d want a buffet, so her guests had options. But many people considered sit-down meals more formal and turned their noses up at the idea of a buffet.
“Sit-down, but we do want a dessert buffet, similar to the one at Raymond’s party, in addition to the cake.”
After adding the answers to her notes, Liv passed Ocean View’s updated catering menu across the table. “Our current dinner choices are in here. Any of the meal options can be modified. Each comes with either a soup or salad and your choice of bread for the table.”
“We want to give our guests two or three options to pick from.” Gina opened the menu binder. “We also have some guests with allergies, so they’ll need special meals.”
Gina and her fiancé were the ones who had to keep track of who wanted what, so Liv didn’t care if they gave their guests twenty different options.
“That won’t be a problem for us.” Nowadays, restaurants and catering companies had to be prepared for food allergies if they hoped to remain in business. In fact, she hadn’t catered an event yet that didn’t require at least one special dish due to an allergy or special dietary requirement.
For the next few minutes, Gina and Blake discussed the meal options. Occasionally, they’d ask Liv what modifications could be made to a specific dish. Eventually, they—or, Liv should say, Gina—narrowed it down to six possibilities. Either Blake was the easiest-going person alive, or he’d decided beforehand that he was better off letting Gina make the wedding decisions—or at least the decisions about the meal.
“It’s later than I realized. Do we have to decide today?” Gina asked after checking her watch. “We’re supposed to meet Raymond and Scarlet at four. We’re going sailing.”
With the wedding in July, Liv would prefer to have all the details squared away sooner rather than later. But if Gina needed a few extra days, she could have them. “That’s not a problem. Let me print out a contract so you can sign it, and then you can take the menu with you.”
Nothing was permanently added to the catering schedule until she had a signed contract and a deposit in hand. People changed their minds all too often and sometimes at the last minute. Since they’d started catering events, it had happened three times. Thankfully, the initial deposits required helped offset the restaurant’s losses.
“Do you want me to email you our meal choices?” Gina asked as she signed the contract and slid it toward Blake for his signature.
“That would be great.” Liv preferred everything in writing. It helped solve any potential disagreements later.
“I’ll get back to you by the end of next week.”
She handed Gina back her credit card and stapled a receipt to a copy of the contract. “Sounds good. And if you have any questions?—”
A sudden crash, followed by screeching tires, stopped Liv from finishing her sentence.
That can’t be good.
Liv looked out the front window in time to see a large silver SUV hit a pole across the street. Unlike after the first crash, the SUV remained where it was.
“We parked on the street. I hope they didn’t hit us,” Gina said as she followed Blake to the door.
Damn it.
She’d parked the catering van on the street as well—something she rarely did, but she’d been running late, and it had saved her some time.
Liv crossed her fingers as she followed the couple to the door.
