Uncommon Catering: Orlando’s Top Boutique Caterer
We love shining the spotlight on amazing local vendors, and this time, we had a chat with one of the best caterers around – J. Travis Smith of Uncommon Catering! Keep reading to discover Travis’s favorite wedding moments and planning tips!
How did you get your start in the event business?
We (my fiancée, Tara, and I) have been in the hospitality industry since we were old enough to work. After many years of working in restaurants, I got my first taste of catering working for Arthur’s about 10 years ago… I was immediately smitten with the industry.
What do you love most about being in the event/wedding business?
I love this question as I always compare it to my years in restaurants. At any given time in a restaurant, a customer can be having a bad day, and take it out on the way you put their lemon on their ice water. In the wedding business, you spend months helping couples plan their big day, and I find great joy in executing that day with them. You are literally dealing with clients on the happiest day of their – and their families’ – lives. Nothing brings us greater joy than that hug and thank you at the end of the night.
If a bride is considering a theme to their wedding, what is your best recommendation for incorporating a theme?
We love themes! As a boutique caterer, we work with a small number of clients at a time, which gives us the ability to work closely with them on decor. We seamlessly incorporate our buffet and station decor to match their centerpieces and overall design. We even go as far as to work with our own florist to match their greenery and colors (I love having fresh flowers around our house every week LOL). As a starting point, Tara will usually ask the bride to clean up her Pinterest board, then share it with her. At that point, we know exactly which direction to steer them.
What approach do you advise in order for it to be tasteful and yield an amazing looking event?
The trend these days tends to be keeping things very minimal. The best first decision the couple can make is what their color palette will be for their event. Once they figure that out, Tara can work closely with them, and we always refer future clients to our facebook.com/uncommoncatering page, so they can peruse through some of our past clients’ designs. I always remind them that the most important thing is the first impression. When too much is going on in the design, their guests tend to get lost in their intended design, so we always recommend keeping it visually pleasing and minimal.
When people inquire about your services, what can they expect?
They can expect the most personal experience out there, hands down. We proudly label ourselves as a boutique caterer, with the “bigger isn’t better” mindset. We are your first point of contact, and your last hug before getting into your getaway car for your exit.
What is your best advice to avoid planning stress for any special event?
I always remind my brides and grooms that at the end of the day, no one is going to remember if a flower was out of place on their centerpiece. Their guests are going to remember how beautiful the dress was, how happy they looked together, and of course, how amazing the food was! My last bit of advice is always to relax and enjoy their day to the fullest, as it goes by in the blink of an eye.
Time really does fly on the wedding day! Thank you for all the great tips! Check out Uncommon Catering – you’ll find amazing food and extraordinary service! Get in touch with J. Travis Smith by sending him a message at travis@uncommoncatering.com
