We are already well into August and with the end of Summer fast approaching, it will soon be time to bid farewell to those sticky summer evenings, outside catering, barbeques and bikinis and start preparing for a typically long and chilly British winter. Despite the frozen digits fingers and icy roads, one thing everyone looks forward to in winter is Christmas. Christmas brings people together like no other time of the year, reuniting distant buddies and relatives from across the UK. Alcohol plays a big part in Christmas festivities, often oiling the wheels of interaction between sons and mother-in-laws who perhaps don’t miss each other so much! We all know that alcohol comes with its inherent dangers, ‘don’t drink and drive’ is a message that gets slammed home every year, for some us, this just does not seem to be getting through.

Drink is a bitter sweet aspect of life and will statistically be the cause of fatalities and many other less serious incidents this Christmas period. The laws on drink driving, although well publicized are somewhat ambiguous, a unit is hard to measure and has different effects on each person depending on body weight, tolerance levels and a whole host of other biological processes. While an average sized male may be virtually sober after five pints of bitter and couple of cocktails, another may be over the legal limit after a solitary shandy, even if they’ve gorged themselves on tones of Wedding catering. Aside from carrying your own personal breathalyzer, it is simply impossible to judge whether or not you are officially ‘drunk’.

Some may even be deemed as over the limit if operating a vehicle the afternoon after a particularly boozy night, the best advice then is simply to have no alcohol if you plan on driving within the next few hours. This can be tough, especially if attending a social event like a work Christmas party where drink is the main attraction and your friends are egging you on. The best way to discourage yourself from the overwhelming temptation is to consider the consequences of being caught drink driving, if like myself you are a motoring enthusiast and your car is your pride and joy, or driving is a necessity for work, losing your license would be a life changing occurrence. Next time you are tempted to drink and drive, think sobering thoughts and consider how your life would change if the worst were to happen.

Wedding ceremonies have come a long from the traditional routine we are all used to seeing on television. What images are conjured up when you think of weddings? Long bridal trains, quaint rural churches, the inevitable legless second cousin, a marzipan-laden cake and plenty of cold quiche and Asti? Ok, most of this still occurs! You may not be able to get away from the pomp and ceremony surrounding this most special of days, but you no longer have to suffer with soggy scotch eggs and rancid ham rolls.

Of course at the other end of the scale there are the regimented, set menu sit down meals. While these may feel special with the fine linen table clothes and ostentatious cutlery, for many they are simply a ‘grin and bear it’ routine. The perfect alternative that that is gaining popularity with love birds across the UK, is outside catering.Private caterers can offer you a great deal of choice in both your menu content and how your food is cooked, presented and delivered.

Whether you want a modern spin on the formal sit down meal with silver service, a  laid back gourmet buffet where guest can simply ‘dig in’ to their hearts content, or a hog roast to turn your event into a medieval feast, private catering can serve up the desired atmosphere to keep your wedding celebrations going long into the evening.

Outsourced wedding catering is really taking off at the moment and many companies can now offer the complete experience. It’s not just about food, specially selected venues can also be rented out, forming the perfect backdrop for your party. You may even want to get professional bar tenders in to mix your dinks with finesse and panche, giving your wedding that bit of extra uniqueness that your guests will be talking about for months to come. Forget Agnes from across the road knocking up some jam sandwiches, turn to private catering to ensure your wedding is as memorable for your guests as it is for you and you other half!