I attended the Grand Opening of Grill 55 last week and it was evident that a lot of love, care and planning went into this new WOW facility. The restaurant was replete with beautifully presented food stations and a full house of guests, all dazzled by the impeccable service.
From the moment you enter this newly-opened restaurant at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Huron Church Road, you feel the elegance and ambiance in this urban atmosphere. It’s sleek and spacious with a contemporary lounge club feel. The booths are roomy and intimate; perfect for quiet talks or family occasions. A large and stunning bar graces the room.
Sleek and modern, this spacious restaurant is the perfect place for a light meal or a celebratory dinner. The food is exquisite and well presented, but it’s the feel of the space that is also so very unique.
Outstanding food, presented with flair is the key to their future success. And, this team serves it up in an exemplary manner. Signature dishes and a signature drink, The Grill 55 Shooter is on a menu with international choices, and, is presented with great service and attention to detail.
The new private dining room is a gem of a space that can hold any party from an engagement, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding or corporate meeting.
 Grill 55 Party Room inside Holiday Inn & Suites, Huron Church Road, Photo by Trevor Booth Photography Beautifully appointed with a gas fireplace and internet service, the room can hold up to 50 and is contemporary and filled with warmth. It is appealing to the senses, is soothing and inviting, and looks stunning set-up in party mode.
This is the newest party room in the area and has all the right ingredients to be a popular and busy spot for years to come. The 250 person ballroom is under total renovation and will open in time for December holiday parties.
The culinary team perfects the little details that make up any big day and will take your vision, whatever size your occasion and make it come to life. Dedicated to superior service and outstanding food, this is the place in Windsor|Essex to hold your next celebration.
Executive Chef Steve Meehan who is now the Director of Food and Beverages services has created a balanced and tasty menu that appeals to even the most discerning diner.
For more information/tour, please contact: Susan Holden, Catering Sales Manager, 519-969-7144, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor
Eleven years ago, Marcy Milne found her grandmother’s recipe book with its handwritten notes, written in the margins and she hasn’t looked back. While studying for her Masters and Doctorate degrees, she started Marcy’s Cakes and after her graduation, she returned to cake baking as a full time occupation.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes Cake decorating is an art much like photography and Marcy has her own unique style. Her custom cakes are fresh; eggs, milk, butter and sugar are natural ingredients that produce a beautiful and delicious cake. With many flavours, fillings and icings to choose from and with names like Sunshine Lemon, Calypso Coconut, 24 Carrot and Golden Almond, her cakes have been discovered by Windsor and area brides-to-be.
Fillings for cakes vary and Marcy makes everything from Vanilla Chai Latte to butter cream, ganache, cream cheese and the traditional fruits. The choices are endless and her creativity is always up for a new challenge.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes Her handcrafted, specialty cakes, cake balls and cupcakes are an indulgence and look as good as they taste. Each cake is made from scratch and they are simply unique in design and flavours, reflecting the personal taste of the couple’s wedding theme.
Anything goes for today’s cakes, including Milne’s Tuxedo cake with alternate layers of vanilla and chocolate cake filled with vanilla butter cream and chocolate ganache, Pink Lady, a vanilla cake layered with raspberry and vanilla buttercream and Breakfast at Wimbledon, layered with strawberries and whipped cream. Her flavours, fillings and exterior finishes will make your mouth water.
Marcy recently appeared on Slice Network’s, Cake Walk and showed off her style, baking a stunning Hollywood themed wedding cake that was a wow! Decoration is all important and she can take any idea and produce a memorable dessert. She knows that after a day of celebrating, nothing will taste as good as a freshly prepared, beautiful custom wedding cake.
 Photo: Marcy's Cakes The wedding cake is also a focal point and second only to the wedding dress for attention, as well as being the spot for many picture- taking memories at the reception. Milne takes great effort to “touch” it as if it were her own. Weddings are special for her and the details are ever- important, as she takes pride in adding those touches to make it spectacular.
Marcy is also baking the Groom’s Cake, which is a gift from the bride to the groom, which is a delightful way to honour him. It can be modeled after a hobby, sports or a special interest. It is served at the rehearsal dinner or presented any time during the wedding celebration.
Her new shop scheduled to open October 18 and Milne is now booking weddings into 2012. Her custom cakes and dessert confections are only limited by your imagination.
Come to Marcy’s Cakes for endless wedding possibilities, authentic elegant taste treats and the sweetest moments of your wedding day! Specializing in wedding, cheesecakes, cake balls, cupcakes and special event cakes.
2694 Howard Avenue, 519-962-1099, http://www.marcyscakes.com
Planning a wedding is a very exciting time. However, it is important to create three important lists.; guest list, budget and wish list.
All go hand-in-hand and everyone knows that you can’t include everyone on the guest list. It would be wonderful to share with all you know, but it is impossible and expense is the biggest reason. It’s a special day with special guests. Your whole dream day will hinge on the guest list, so be realistic with your available money.
 John Lyons Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel Create only one guest list; this is the one! Never exceed the capacity of your venue. These guests most be very special to the bride and groom. And remember, once a guest is invited and accepts the invitation, that guest is counted as attending and can never be uninvited. Never feel that you have to add a guest as a courtesy.
When your budget is established and your final guest list tally is in; divide the number of guests into the budget and you’ll get your cost per person. Your total budget must include everything required for the day, so prioritize carefully.
Trimming your list is doable and sometimes those guests on the first draft are eliminated. You don’t have to invite everyone from your yoga class, office, home neighbourhood or workplace. In fact, you and your fiancé will have guests that have come to a beautiful celebration at a stunning location. The happy couple will be able to spend time with everyone.
The bride’s family and guests sit on the left and the groom’s on the right. If one of you are expecting more guests than the other, you should ask guests to sit evenly distributed throughout the church.
 Trevor Booth Photography, Windsor, Ontario-will travel You should reserve seats for your immediate family. Seats can be reserved by marking them with ribbons or flowers.
The first and second rows are reserved for immediate family, parents, siblings and grandparents. If your parents are divorced, the parent you lived with sits in the first row with your stepparent. Your other parent and their family sit in the second row. The third through six rows are usually reserved for uncles, aunts, cousins, godparents and any other special guests.
In a Christian ceremony, the mother of the bride’s family is seated on the left (when the guests enter from the back). The groom’s family is seated on the right. For a Jewish wedding, it is reversed. If either the bride or groom have a much larger family than the other, it is a good idea to seat the guests on either side so it looks balanced.
If it is a formal wedding, the ushers will escort the female guests to their seats while her male escort follows them. If your ceremony is informal, the ushers can greet your guests at the door and say, “Please follow me”. For every 50 guests, you should have one usher.
“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” Richard Wagner
I have been to many weddings and receptions. There have ranged from down-home to deluxe, from country to urban. I’ve eaten sandwiches in church basements, and attended receptions where the flowers, champagne and white glove service cost more than my son’s university tuition fees!
 Brandon Scott Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel Creating an unforgettable wedding day is possible, regardless of your budget. In Windsor|Essex County, there is an enviable list of vendors; florists, caterers, rentals, musicians, photographers, bakers and more to make your reception as warm and wonderful as you are as a couple. Wedding Guide Vendors love brides and it shows in every thing that they do!
The Wedding Guide is the perfect way to get started on your wedding planning. Your first priority is setting a budget and sticking to it. Once you know how much latitude you have in spending, the rest of the planning will roll out accordingly.
Our wish for you is that you have as much fun planning your celebration as you do on the actual day. The Wedding Guide makes it easy for you to stay organized with a realistic time line for scheduling.
In this, the 21st century, there are many options for you to choose, when you embark on your wedding planning. Be who you are and put your fingerprint on your special day.
So how do you make your reception one your guests won’t forget? It’s all in the details.
Get a feel for your reception site by visiting it during another wedding reception.
Serve food that is appropriate for the time of day and the season.
Mail your invitations early so you know who is attending, 2 weeks before the day.
Have an open bar for your guests and leave out that tip jar.
Have a great Master of Ceremonies who keeps the party moving along well.
Assigned seating is more work for you, but your guests will be more comfortable and appreciate being seated in a grouping of people that they know.
Mix up your music so there is something for all age groups, that are attending.
Keep your gifts locked up in a secure room to avoid theft.
When taking photos after your ceremony, keep the session short. Your guests are eagerly awaiting your arrival.
Your reception will pass by quickly so remember to stop and smell the roses and be in the moment. It is a magical time for you and you don’t want to remember it as a blur.
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