Total Events Catering & Event Planning

SHOUT OUT to our daughter, Lily!!! She is 13 and loves to help make social media content for us! I struggle with reels, videos...takes me literally hours and then I end up trashing it. Lily comes in with ideas, and we couldn't do it without her! She made this one tonight of one of our favorite dinners! Slow cooked, Cuban style pulled pork, cilantro lime rice, seasoned black beans, fresh jalapeños and red onions. Drizzled with cilantro lime...delish! #FamilyBusiness #FamilyDinners #SundayNight #RiceBowls #cateringFamily

The question I am asked the most is if Mike cooks amazing meals at home?!!?! People say, "WOW! you must eat so well!" The answer is not so simple. While he loves to cook and we have plenty of fun family meals, you will also find us running in different directions with our kids! Feeding them pizza or supporting local restaurants during our busy nights. Typically, we dont enjoy these big meals on the weekends, as we are often working events and home very late. But when he does cook for us, there are always leftovers! (It's a challenge for him to cook small meals! Lol) Family meal nights are always the best, and we try to carve them into our busy schedules. We can't wait to share some of our favorite meal ideas with you, as we are currently in the process of developing our new "Family Dinners" menu! These weekly meals will be available for pick up at our commissary kitchen, and it will be a perfect way for you to easily create family dinner night memories! A simple heat and serve option! #familytime #familydinners #marriedtoachef #cateringlife #familydinnerchallenge #pizzanight #supportlocal #charlottecatering #takeandbake #GottaEat

Family dinner night! Kids loved helping to make these Shepherd's Pie Twice Baked Potatoes! A classic dish with a unique twist Switch out the mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower or sweet potato mash. We used ground turkey but could use ground beef to make a traditional cottage pie or ground lamb for a traditional shepherd's pie. Comment "IRISH" and I'll DM you the recipe! #familymeal #potatoes #cookingwithkids #comfortfood #stpattysdayfood #luckoftheirish #charlottefoodie #cateringlife

Supporting and shopping at local businesses directly impact your community! BUT - you don't have to purchase to support! Here are a few ways to support local without spending a dime! 1. Follow on instagram 2. Like the post, reel, or story 3. Share business links on social media / word of mouth 4. Write a 5star review Now, take a quick second to do this for us and all of your favorite local businesses! You are supporting a family and your community! #supportlocal #growth #community #smallbusiness #cateringlife #charlotteweddings #lakenormanbusiness #womensupportingwomen #weekendproject

Wedding show day at Southern Charm Events was a HUGE success! So many vendors showed up, and all supporting each other! We had the most fun meeting with newly engaged couples and fellow vendors. That is the BEST part about shows like this! AND - I got to wear heels today!! Lol! I don't wear them often, so seeing me in actual cute shoes, and not kitchen shoes, is a big deal 😍 A huge shout out to the beautiful Southern Charm Events and Lemons & Willow Event Management 👏AMAZING event, and I can't wait to work with everyone again soon! #charlottleweddings #fortmillwedding #weddingshow #newlyengaged #supportlocal #cateringlife

Our family business extends far beyond Mike and I. It takes all FIVE of us, coming together with their individual strengths. Each of them enjoy learning to cook with dad at home or camping. Our oldest enjoys being my sidekick at weddings, then washing dishes at the catering kitchen after the events. (Yes, you read that correctly) They have watched us grow from the ground up. They know first hand the amount of time it takes to plan, organize, create, and execute events. They see the gains produced by the sweat and long hours. Most importantly, they recognize how hard work and perseverance can pay off. Regardless of where you work, you are teaching young minds how to chase their own dreams. Giving them a little spark of imagination and the knowledge that dreams can come true. Show the love and support of your favorite small businesses by tagging below! Thank you for supporting local! #familybusiness #youngminds #bethechange #cateringlife #family #foodies #hardworkpaysoff

When you book a catering with us, you will hear me ask, "Are there any allergies or dietary restrictions to be aware of?" We ask because we take your needs very seriously and make this a top priority when designing your menu. We can customize your menu to fit your needs, regardless if it's gluten - free, vegetarian, vegan, various food allergies, or much more! If you're hosting an action station, our chef attendant is equipped with the proper skills to handle allergies by changing gloves, cooking utensils, and pans to eliminate any cross contamination. Creating unique menus and constantly trying new ideas is the best part of our job! Let me know your needs so that we can create the perfect menu for you and your guests! #veganfood #vegetarian #glutenfree #foodoptions #custommenus #cateringlife #dietaryrestrictions #foodallergies #healthylifestyle #charlotteweddings #lakenormanevents

Interactive food stations are one of the most popular food trends in 2024! They are entertaining and a perfect option that allows your guests to personalize their meals. From corporate events to social gatherings and weddings, food stations offer engaging experiences that foster connections. Experiment with different cultures or cuisines to create a unique menu. From Hibachi Stations to Pasta, Taco, Dessert, and Shawarma Stations...options are endless. Things to consider when thinking about adding food stations to your next event: 1️⃣ Venue layout - What type of space is offered? Stations take table space, and the idea is to spread different stations through the event space. Therefore, make sure you have a venue with additional space 2️⃣ Seating - Stations create a casual, mingling / networking environment. It's ok to remove the seating chart and large round tables, but make sure you have a good mix of cocktail tables and seating for your guests. Depending on the event, your guests will still want to have a spot to put their personal items, especially for weddings 3️⃣ Attendance - Consider having a minimum of 2 stations or mix a station with a serviced buffet. Never offer just 1 station. It will be too crowded, especially if your group has 50+ attendees. Whatever stations you decide on, have fun with it, be creative and ENJOY Tell me about your favorite station! #Foodtrends #interactivestations #foodstations #customize #custommenu #culture #LKNfood #charlotteweddings #charlotteevents #eventtrends

Such a FUN night mingling with fellow hospitality / event leaders at @theivorybarn. A huge thank you to Gayle for inviting us to be part of this event! January is probably the only month when these vendors can be together, at the same time! Lol! Planner / designer Matt Starnes with @hospitalitybutler Worked his magic, creating a sophisticated speakeasy atmosphere, using soft velvet, dark wood, and brass tones, along with rich leather seating areas for conversations. @bartendersplusclt was on site, serving signature cocktails, and we danced the night away on what felt like a spring evening in January! Cheers to everyone below for creating a memorable night! If you are recently engaged or just want to take a peek, stop by today (Saturday 27th) during their open house from 2-6pm! Venue @theivorybarn Planner / designer @hospitalitybutler Caterer @totaleventscatering_planning DJ @carolinadjpros Bar @bartendersplusclt Rentals @curatedevents Photographer @harrymclaughlinphoto and @dancpdavis Florists @kevinlearonmain and @malayafloral Beverage truck @properpourevents

Elevate your event experience! Check out this birthday celebration at Events at Lakeside Their arena is perfect for large gatherings! We were asked to provide a more traditional campfire chuckwagon cookout with an elevated approach. This menu was full of action at the chef station and complete with our chili bar, brisket on the board, BBQ, roasted jalapeños, skillet corn, roasted winter veggies, house made biscuits and so much more! Dressing the part and engaging with each of their guests made this event one for the books! Even enough space for a mechanical bullride and dance floor! 🕺 👢🤠 #elevateyourevent #customized #BBQ #Chuckwagon #corporateevents #birthdayparties #lakenormanevents #chefstation #custommenus #mechanicalbull #linedancing #castironskillet