And the ACE Award Goes To...A ‘Love at First Rose’ Wedding

Planning the wedding of ABC’s Bachelorette alumni Joelle Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers was far from conventional for Colette's Catering & Events.

Joelle Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers from ABC's The Bachelorette.

Logistically, not only did they have the challenge of transporting all necessary equipment and fresh ingredients to the venue a four-hour drive away from their kitchen commissary, but a full kitchen build-out was also required. For the wedding, Colette's Catering & Events were able to prepare the hors d'oeuvres, chef station, and five-course plated meal through the use of à la minute cooking style.

Hors d'oeuvres platter for the bride and groom. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

The couple entrusted Colette's Catering & Events to take culinary lead. Their only request, menu-wise, was beautifully plated and photo-ready food with innovative signature cocktails. The initial menu proposal evolved over two years (thanks to a postponement due to COVID-19 (to further reflect the couple as the team grew to know them. Things like their favorite meals together, cherished places to visit, their shared southern upbringing, falling in love in Los Angeles, and their values for clean eating and sustainability became foundational pillars for the final adapted menu, which was a fresh, modern new American approach. The menu included Italian and Southern charms, and used local, seasonal, and high-end ingredients. 

Highlights from the menu included the Burrata Bar, which delighted attendees during cocktail hour, as well as a third course offering of filet mignon with red wine demi, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, oven-dried tomatoes, roasted king oyster mushrooms, and sautéed spinach, plus the Baja sea bass with romesco sauce, heirloom bean ragout, hazelnut, frisée and Tinkerbell® pepper salad.

Prosciutto + Burrata Table featuring prosciutto, burrata, onion, jam, tomato jam, caramelized pear, arugula, balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, house-made focaccia, grilled ciabatta, and grissini. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Dinner was executed with skilled professionalism, however halfway through dinner guests began mingling and moving to different tables, which added the challenge of figuring out "on the fly" assigned seating and protein choice changes.

Colette's Catering & Events were recognized for their efforts as this year's recipient for Best Off-Premise Catering during the annual ACE award ceremony (held as part of Catersource + The Special Event this past March in Orlando, FL)!

Here's a look at their award-winning event!

All photos courtesy Valorie Darling, unless otherwise noted

Congratulations to Colette's Catering & Events on their award!

Beautiful long tables setup at Sunstone Winery by Found Rental Co + Signature Party Rentals.

Classic Moscow Mule.

Passion Fruit Margarita.

Lobster roll with Meyer Lemon aioli, tobiko, and brioche.

Scallop tartare with avocado, Aji Amarillo Mojo, pickled Fresno chili, apple, cucumber, and micro cilantro.

Hamachi tartare with white soy onion, purple potato chips, avocado mousse, micro cilantro, and house furikake.

Freshly sliced prosciutto board with arugula.

Sunstone Winery is an organic vineyard, winery, and villa retreat located just 35 minutes north of Santa Barbara in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Salad course (arugula, frisée, Manchego cheese, dried apricot, dried fig, Pink Lady apple, toasted almond, white balsamic vinaigrette). Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Reception premium bars with beautiful colored vintage glassware. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Reception table setting. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Filet Mignon with red wine demi, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, oven-dried tomatoes, roasted King Oyster mushrooms, and sautéed spinach. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Baja sea bass with romesco sauce heirloom bean ragout, hazelnut, frisée and Tinkerbell® pepper salad. Photo courtesy Colette's Catering & Events

Toasts to the happy couple.

To submit an entry to this year's ACE awards, please visit our awards portal.   

Important Dates

If you are interested in entering in the Gala awards instead, you can enter The Special Event 2024 Gala awards in the same online portal as the ACE awards. Catersource + The Special Event will run February 12-15, 2024 in Austin, TX. Both the ACE and Gala awards will be presented during the conference at a to-be-determined location in Austin.