 Tips to Styling Your Wedding: Create a Day as Beautiful as Your Love Your wedding day should be a reflection of your unique style and story. Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony or a lavish celebration, styling your wedding sets the tone and creates the magic that lingers in your guests’ memories. Here are our top tips to help you style your special day - especially if you're planning a Margaret River wedding or looking for premium wedding catering services in the South West. 1. Choose a Style That Reflects You Do you love rustic charm, modern elegance, coastal minimalism, or boho luxe? Your wedding styling should reflect who you are as a couple. In the stunning surrounds of Margaret River, think vineyards, native florals, and candlelit receptions under the stars. 2. Let the Venue Inspire You From rustic barns to beachfront estates and forest glades, Margaret River wedding venues offer breathtaking backdrops. Let the natural features of your venue guide your styling - build around the scenery instead of against it. 3. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Colour Pick a cohesive colour palette and carry it through your invites, florals, table settings, signage, and even your wedding cake. Soft neutrals work beautifully for winery weddings, while earthy tones or moody jewel colours create warmth in the cooler months. 4. Create a Sensory Experience with Beautiful Food Your wedding menu is part of the styling! From grazing tables to fine plated meals, food presentation adds texture, colour, and a talking point for guests. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, we specialise in elegant wedding catering across Margaret River, Busselton, Dunsborough, Augusta, Bunbury, and beyond - creating dishes that taste as beautiful as they look. 5. Incorporate Personal Touches Add meaning with personal touches - handwritten notes, family recipes, custom signage, or a memory table. These thoughtful details help make the day truly yours. 6. Work with Local Experts Working with local stylists, florists, and Margaret River catering teams ensures everything runs smoothly. Locals know the best suppliers, venues, and layouts for the area’s unique conditions. Plus, you’ll reduce logistical stress and travel costs. 7. Plan for Comfort and Flow A beautifully styled wedding is also practical. Consider weather, lighting, acoustics, seating, and guest movement. A well-timed catering schedule, shaded areas for summer weddings, and a warm drinks station for winter can all elevate the guest experience. Final Thoughts - Styling your wedding doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right support and inspiration - especially in a region as stunning as Margaret River - you can create a wedding day that is simple, beautiful, and completely yours. If you're looking for exceptional catering in Margaret River or the South West, reach out to Simple & Beautiful Catering to make your day as delicious as it is unforgettable. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
0 Comments
 Melt-in-Your-Mouth Braised Beef Cheeks: A Comfort Food FavouriteIf you’re searching for a dish that’s both elegant and comforting, you can’t go past slow-cooked braised beef cheeks. This rich, deeply flavoured recipe is perfect for everything from an intimate dinner party to a cozy family Sunday roast. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, this dish remains one of our most requested during the cooler months—and for good reason.
Here’s how you can recreate this restaurant-quality comfort dish at home or get inspired for your next catered event. IngredientsFor the Beef Cheeks:
Method1. Season & SearPat your beef cheeks dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sear the cheeks on all sides until browned and caramelised. Remove and set aside. 2. Cook the AromaticsIn the same pot, add the onion, carrot and celery. Sauté until softened and lightly golden (5–7 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for another minute. 3. Deglaze with WinePour in the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to lift all those flavourful browned bits. Let it reduce by half (about 5 minutes). If skipping the wine, move to the next step. 4. Add the Liquids & HerbsReturn the beef cheeks to the pot. Add beef stock and tomato passata until the meat is mostly submerged. Tuck in the thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. 5. Braise SlowlyCover and transfer to a preheated oven at 160°C (320°F). Cook for 3–4 hours or until the cheeks are fork-tender. Check halfway through and top up with stock if the sauce is reducing too much. 6. Reduce the SauceRemove the cooked cheeks and simmer the sauce on the stove for 10–15 minutes to thicken. Adjust seasoning if needed. 7. Serve & EnjoyServe the cheeks over buttery mashed potato or soft polenta, spoon over the rich sauce, and finish with chopped parsley. Chef’s Tips for Perfect Braised Beef Cheeks
Perfect for Catering & Dinner PartiesWhether you're catering a wedding in Margaret River, hosting a dinner in Perth, or adding something hearty to your winter event menu, this dish offers both sophistication and soul. We often serve it as part of our alternate drop or banquet menu—it’s always a crowd favourite. Let us know if you'd like to try this as part of your event menu or order it as a ready-to-serve gourmet meal. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, we make comforting food beautiful again.  Booking Your Wedding Catering with Ease Planning a wedding can be overwhelming—with venue, catering, and photography often being the biggest and most costly decisions. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, we aim to take the stress out of one of those key elements by offering a simple, seamless, and supportive booking process.
How It Works: Once you send through your enquiry, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. (Please note: weekends can be busy with events, but we always respond within 48 hours.) From there:
Country Weddings – Rustic Beauty, Relaxed Vibes, and Seriously Good Food There’s something truly special about a country wedding. The fresh air, open skies, and peaceful surrounds offer a beautiful contrast to the fast pace of everyday life. It’s a chance for couples – and their guests – to slow down, soak it all in, and celebrate love in a setting that feels warm, grounded, and utterly serene.
We’ve had the joy of catering many weddings in the South West and rural Western Australia, and they always hold a special place in our hearts. From working beneath gum trees to serving under the stars, country wedding catering allows us to get a little creative – think fire pit cooking, rustic banquet buffets, and hearty, soulful dishes made to share. A Feast That Matches the Setting The relaxed nature of a country wedding opens the door for beautiful food that reflects the surroundings – comforting, wholesome, and full of flavour. Some of our favourite menus have featured:
The Simple, Beautiful Joy of the Country We’ve shared a few of our favourite country wedding photos below – moments of quiet, connection, and natural beauty that perfectly capture what we love about these events. If you're planning a country wedding in Bunbury, the Ferguson Valley, Margaret River, Dunsborough or beyond, we’d love to hear your vision. Simple & Beautiful Catering is here to bring the flavour, the creativity, and the relaxed magic your day deserves.  Venues We LoveFrom Perth to Augusta, we are incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most breathtaking and unique venues across the South West. Whether you’re planning a wedding, private function or corporate event, these venues offer stunning settings that pair beautifully with our bespoke catering.
Here are just a few of our favourite venues we regularly cater at—and highly recommend:
 Spring Has Sprung – Time to Eat What’s Actually in SeasonAhhh, Spring. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining (some days, anyway), and our menus are starting to look a little lighter, brighter, and fresher. It’s the perfect season to embrace what’s growing locally and ditch the out-of-season imposters that somehow sneak into supermarket shelves all year round.
Yes, supermarkets look like everything’s always in season – but let’s be honest, that sad, grainy mango in July says otherwise. There’s something magical about using seasonal produce in Western Australia. Not only are fruits and vegetables packed with flavour, but they’re also more affordable, nutrient-rich, and perfect for spring catering menus across Perth, Bunbury, and the South West. What’s in Season This Spring (WA Edition)If you’re planning wedding catering in Margaret River, corporate events in Bunbury, or just cooking something special at home, here’s a quick list of local produce to look out for: Fruit: Apricots, strawberries, guava, lemon, lime, mango, blueberries, figs, mulberries, and Valencia oranges. (It’s smoothie, pavlova, and fruit tart season – we’re ready.) Vegetables: Artichokes, asparagus, cucumber, cauliflower, broad beans, peas, garlic, and brussels sprouts. (Don’t fear the sprouts – roast them with garlic and thank us later.) Simple Is BestWhen it comes to seasonal catering in the South West, our rule is simple: let the produce shine. Whether it’s a shared banquet table, a spring-inspired grazing platter, or fresh canapés at a winery wedding, the best ingredients don’t need dressing up. Serve your fruit raw, grilled, or tossed with herbs. Steam or roast your veg with a dash of olive oil, salt, and confidence. With fresh spring produce, less is more – and the flavour speaks for itself. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, we love working with the best the season has to offer. From Perth weddings to Dunsborough sundowners, we create menus that celebrate the time of year – because seasonal food is always in style. Ready to serve something fresh this Spring? Get in touch – we’ll bring the produce, the creativity, and a whole lot of flavour. A Celebration of Local Flavour: Our 7-Course Degustation We recently had the honour of crafting and presenting an intimate 7-course degustation menu, designed to showcase the best of locally sourced ingredients through a lens of creativity, care, and culinary technique. The evening was a celebration of earthy flavours balanced with delicate acidity, and a true testament to our team’s passion for pushing boundaries. Each course was a carefully composed moment, layered with flavour, texture, and storytelling: Amuse Bouche Slow-roasted beetroot, beetroot confit, molasses, five-spice sherbet. Course One Corn chowder with Shaoxing jelly, fresh sweet corn, sour cream, drunken chicken, nigella seeds & roasted sesame. Course Two Crispy potato nest, cauliflower purée, 64° egg, white beans, salsa verde, confit beetroot, sea salt & pansies. Course Three Burnt driftwood essence, scallop, wakame, truffle foam, saltbush, edible sand & lemon zest. Course Four 24-hour braised beef cheek ravioli, smoked tomato velouté, confit onion relish, roasted eggplant, burnt butter & olive oil. Course Five Foraged mushrooms, sous-vide pork, pumpkin reduction, labna, black garlic glass, porcini dust & pork crackle. Course Six – Palate Cleanser Grapefruit ice & jelly, green tea ice & jelly. Course Seven – Dessert Apple galette with brown butter & honey sauce, clotted cream, honeycomb & walnut praline. The night was as rewarding as it was inspiring—reminding us why we love what we do. Every element told a story, and we look forward to creating many more experiences like this with our wonderful community across Perth, Bunbury, Busselton, and the South West.  How to Build the Perfect Grazing Table for Your Next EventIf you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ve likely seen the rise of the grazing table – and for good reason. Overflowing with artisan cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruits, dips, and crackers, a grazing table isn’t just food – it’s a statement piece. At Simple & Beautiful Catering, we’ve been creating stunning grazing tables across Perth, Bunbury, Margaret River, and the South West for all kinds of events – from weddings and engagement parties to corporate functions and festive gatherings.
Whether you're planning a birthday, a Christmas party, or corporate catering, a grazing table is a beautiful, low-fuss way to offer variety and elegance. Here are our expert tips to help you build the ultimate grazing table at home (or better yet – let us take care of it for you!). 1. Start with the CheeseThe heart of every great grazing table is a solid cheese selection. Choose 3–4 varieties for balance – we recommend sharp cheddar, creamy brie, blue cheese, aged gouda, and perhaps a herbed or peppered cream cheese for flair. Cheese is always a crowd-pleaser and adds structure to your table layout. 2. Add a Variety of Cured MeatsA grazing table isn't complete without a mix of sliced meats. Think prosciutto, salami, Spanish chorizo, pastrami, jamón, and quality leg ham. These add depth, saltiness, and richness – and pair beautifully with cheeses and crackers. 3. Don’t Forget the OlivesOlives deserve their own section. Go for marinated or stuffed varieties from your local deli – kalamata, green olives with garlic, or those filled with feta or capsicum are always a hit. 4. Include Dips, Pastes & PâtéAdd fresh flavour and creamy textures with dips like hummus, tzatziki, and French onion. A touch of quince paste works wonders with salty cheeses, and pâté served with crackers or sourdough rounds out the savoury selection. 5. Dried Fruit, Nuts & Fresh ProduceTo add variety, texture and colour, scatter dried fruits like apricots, figs, and cranberries alongside almonds, walnuts, and pecans. For a vibrant finish, include fresh seasonal fruits such as strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and cherries – they make the table pop visually and offer a sweet contrast. 6. A Bread & Cracker Selection Is EssentialOffer a mix of textures – sourdough slices, Turkish bread, artisan crackers, rice crackers, breadsticks, and water crackers. Local markets often have beautiful small-batch options that bring extra flavour and crunch. 7. Fresh Extras for Crunch & ColourWe love adding crisp vegetables like carrot sticks, celery, cucumber rounds, and cherry tomatoes. These add freshness and are perfect for dipping. 8. Style It BeautifullyThe key to a stunning grazing table is casual elegance. Mix up your display with wooden boards, cake stands, vintage plates, bowls, jars, and boxes. Finish with edible flowers, sprigs of rosemary or thyme, and textured linens for that effortlessly styled look. Want the Stress-Free Version? Let Us Create It for YouOur team at Simple & Beautiful Catering creates custom grazing tables for events across Perth, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Busselton, and beyond. Whether you’re after a casual vibe or something styled for a wedding or gala, we tailor our tables to suit your event, theme, and budget. Planning a party or event soon? Get in touch to discuss your grazing table needs – and let us help you make your next celebration both beautiful and delicious.  In March we had the pleasure of presenting Cambray Cheese - A wonderful local cheese maker - in one of the courses of a 5 course menu at Howard Park Winery. Cambray established in 2005 has become one of Nannups jewels in a the crown of this must see little town in the South West. The unique range, all awarded gold medals, includes soft white-mould cheeses, a traditional Greek style feta, and a variety of matured cheese including the famous Farmhouse Gold, winner of Grand Champion Cheese and Champion Dairy Product at the Perth Royal Show. The pairings selected on the night are below ... So if you are thinking of a little drive down south, then please pop in and pick up some of the gorgeous products available to us all :)
|
