Catering and Wedding/Event Planning
Adding the Crowning Piece,
that Little Something Extra,
to Achieve the Event of a Lifetime
Kathy Mills, Owner
817-994-7793
About Us
Why Hire Us
We have been successfully catering and planning weddings and special events since 1984; and, totally understand
and appreciate that one of the most important aspects of a day as significant as yours, is serving great food.
Therefore, when we are hired to bring your vision to life, we are honored and never take it for granted.
The Cherry on Top Culinary Team uses only the finest, freshest seasonal ingredients, purchased from
local farmers, to create delicious dishes that are as pleasing to the eye, as they are to the taste buds.
Your satisfaction is our main priority! Our team will work with you designing menu options,
based on your ideas and visions, until Your Perfect Menu is created and we know you are pleased!
Testimonials
Ted C - Groom
One of the things that impressed me about working with Kathy Mills was that she called Taylor's Rental (who provided plates and tablecloths and such) to make sure we had everything we needed. She didn't need to make that call, but it's one example of her going the extra mile to make sure the event went off without a hitch. Another thing, when we came in for our tasting, it happened to be on my birthday and Kathy insisted on surprising me with a small birthday cake. Again, we'd already signed the contract, so this was one of her personal touches that made all the difference. It was clear that Kathy and the manager of our venue worked well as a team and made the process much easier for us. If I didn't mention it earlier, Chef Cary's food was incredible. I've been to too many wedding receptions where the food is a dull spot on an otherwise wonderful evening. This was not the case with our wedding. Kathy worked with us to put together a fabulous menu that all our guests enjoyed. The event staff, servers and bartenders, were professional in their appearance and demeanor. Kathy Mills will be the first person I call, the next time I decide to plan an event!
Richard K - Father of the Bride
Kathy, thank you for the effort you and your team put into catering Laura's wedding. We got nothing but great compliments on Chef Cary's food, especially the Asian Stir Fry and Custom Pizza Stations! With the number of stations we chose, combined with the 300 guests in attendance, we were concerned that something would fall through the cracks; however, thanks to you and your team, everything was executed perfectly and went off without a hitch! Many thanks for your help and for going above and beyond.
Diana M - Mother of the Bride
If you want a great meal at an affordable price contact this amazing caterer. Kathy Mills will give you top service. She provided two tastings so we knew exactly what to expect. Their chef is beyond creative and provides affordable options. Their chef remained at our venue and the captain circulated around the tables making sure everything was well prepared as planned. Kathy greets you with enthusiasm as if you are her only client after over 30 years in the business. You could not ask for a better team. The staff kept the tables clean and moved at a quick pace to meet everyone's needs. We would highly recommend this catering company for any needs large or small. They were amazing and helpful to all the evening of our 272 person wedding!
Michele H - Party Host
Kathy, our event was wonderful! Everyone commented about the food being wonderful, and how attentive the waitstaff was to all. My family is still praising the dinner, and one of the guests requested a business card and information for an upcoming event of their own. That speaks for itself! Your staff was excellent, and I will definitely request them and, of course Chef Cary's food for future parties… maybe a Christmas Open House?!
Maddie M - Bride
Kathy, I just want to say thank you for following through with everything you promised during my wedding planning process. The food, which each of my 175 guests loved, was served and tasted exactly like it had during our bridal tasting. Your staff was so professional, helpful and polite to everyone in attendance; and, they went above and beyond anything I had expected of them during our celebration. You had my back from the beginning to the end and were always willing to help with ideas, suggestions and plans that would help my wedding reception flow throughout its entirety. Thank you again for everything! It was a pleasure getting to know you.
Donna M - Party Host
I should have done this sooner but it has been so crazy around here since the party. But I wanted to say THANK YOU TO YOU and YOUR STAFF for such an AWESOME job!!! You guys were AMAZING!!!!! THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THINGS RUN SO SMOOTHLY!!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
How We Can Help
Catering
We love catering for our brides, but we also enjoy catering events of all types: Fundraisers, Corporate Board & Lunch Meetings, Customer Appreciations, Employee Appreciations, Grand Openings, Open Houses, Military Breakfast, Birthday Parties, Reunions, Anniversary Celebrations and more! Therefore, if you have an occasion that needs catering, we'd be honored to be a part of your event!
Please look through our menu below. If you don't see something on our menu that excites you, just let us know, because we have lots of other ideas & creations!
The Sky's The Limit!!
Staffing
Our servers and bartenders always arrive 2 hours prior to an event's start time, to completely set up. They remain an hour after guests leave to ensure everything is properly cleaned and put back to the way it was found. Prior to leaving the venue, the event captain always checks with the venue’s Manager on Duty, to confirm everything has been properly cleaned to their exact specification.
Captain & Wait Staff
Event Captain
Our Captains are very important to our success. He or She will be your main contact during your event and are there to ensure your event runs smoothly from beginning to end. In order to put your mind at ease on the day of, he or she will attend our final meeting. Prior to that meeting, he or she will have been informed and familiar with your timeline and understand the expectations you have for your event.
Wait Staff
To ensure proper service throughout an event, we recommend 1 server for every 30 guests for buffet dinner service, 1 server for every 20 guests for family style dinner service and 1 server for every 15 guests for plated/seated meal service. (Additional servers may need to be added to ensure proper service because of the complexity of and event.) Our servers will pass hors d’oeuvres; and, if you’d like, trays of wine or champagne as your guests arrive and throughout a cocktail hour, serve your guests the items you have ordered for your catering, clear tables once your guests have finished eating, clear away our catering items, clean the catering area and ensure the venue’s kitchen passes the Manager on Duty’s inspection. However, if you need assistance with a task during your event, all you need to do is ask! They are there for you!
Bartending
TABC Certified Bartender
To ensure proper service throughout an event, if you are serving wine and beer only, we recommend 1 bartender for every 75 guests. However, if you are plan to serve a full bar, wine, beer and mixed drinks, we recommend 1 bartender for every 60 guests. Your bartenders will show up with nothing but their corkscrew. They are responsible for setting up the bar with items You have purchased and brought to the venue, Alcohol, Cups, Mixers, Condiments, Swizzle Sticks, Beverage Napkins, Ice, Ice Chest, etc., and ready to serve the first guests walk in. They will continue serving your guests throughout the evening until the couple is ready to leave
Wedding/Event Planning
Cherry on Top is a seasoned full-service catering and event planning company. We have successfully planned and catered weddings, corporate events and special celebrations, both large and small, casual to black-tie, since 1983. The key to our success is our ability to take a client's vision and creatively bring it to life by adding the Crowning Piece to Ensure the Event of a Lifetime!
Our Packages
Complete - Wedding PlannerManage all aspects of your event. This is for the Client that has the Vision, but doesn't have the Time or the Want in order to Execute that Vision
- We will...
- Have an initial Face to Face consultation to go over and understand what your event vision is
- Go over your Wedding/Event Checklist
- Customize design concepts for you to choose from
- Help identify and put together your event budget
- Help identify which venue will work best for you, keeping your vision and budget in mind
- Make sure you stay on budget and on task
- Recommend those industry vendors we believe will be the best choices to help bring your vision to life, including: florists, rental companies, entertainment, bands, DJs, photographers, etc...
- Help with menu development and selection
- Set up and attend vendor meetings, either as your liaison, or with you
- Thoroughly review your vendor contracts before you sign them
- Work with selected hotels securing several rooms, or blocks of rooms, for your out-of-town guests to comfortably stay in during your wedding weekend
- Coordinate transportation, if needed, for you and your guests, ensuring the appropriate vehicles arrive on time per the reservation
- Create your timeline
- Send your timeline to vendors and others that need to know your day of schedule
- Organize your attendee list when guests begin returning their RSVP cards
- Collaborate with vendors about delivery and arrival times for "Day Of"
- Organize and direct your rehearsal, if applicable
- Execute and direct event timing for "Day Of" (2 Coordinators)
Partial - Day Of CoordinatorSteps in, usually about a month before the event begins, to help wrap up the detailsThis is for the Client who has chosen the venue and vendors, but would like someone, besides a family member or friend to coordinate the "Day Of"
- We will...
- Have an initial Face to Face consultation, to establish what has been done and what needs to get done in order for your event vision to become reality
- If it hasn't already been created, create your event timeline. If it's been created, thoroughly review the details in case we have questions
- Obtain a copy of your vendor list, so we can communicate that we are now their point of contact person for your event
- Identify if any additional items need to be secured for your event
- Handle your last minute "To Do" list, freeing you up to take care of other pressing matters
- Collaborate with vendors about delivery and arrival times for "Day Of"
- Organize and direct your rehearsal, if applicable
- Execute and direct event timing for "Day Of" (2 Coordinators)
FAQs
Most Frequent Questions Asked by Clients...
Why do most catering companies add a service fee to their bill? Is it actually used as gratuity for their wait staff?
I truly hope this explanation helps explain why it's necessary.
- First, in no way is a service fee ever used for gratuity. Gratuity isn't added to our clients' bills, because it's not mandatory. If you decide you'd like to tip our staff for a job well done, know that it will be greatly appreciated, but never expected.
- A service fee is used to offset operating cost for components of an event that clients never see, i.e. Liability Insurance, which is needed in order to cater at any event venue in North Texas, Administration Staff Salaries, Advertising, Food for Tastings, Catering Truck or Van Maintenance and Insurance, Fuel to get to and from Events, Nice Disposables, IRS Taxes, Office Supplies, Rent, etc.
I wish we could exist without charging a service fee; however, if we didn't add it to the invoice, we wouldn't be around for long!
Do you add a service fee to "drop off" caterings?
- For drop off caterings, there is a $50 minimum event production fee. If the fee is less than $50 the event production fee will be replaced with a $50 delivery fee. For set up and breakdown caterings, there is a $125 minimum event production fee. If the fee is less than $125, the event production fee will be replaced with a $125 delivery fee.
Photo Gallery
What We Do
Weddings
We Love Our Brides!
To ensure everything is perfect on your wedding day, we work closely with you from the beginning.
When your big day finally arrives, there is nothing better than watching as you walk down the aisle to start Your Happily Ever After,
except maybe seeing a smile on your face as you say good-bye, because the wedding you've dreamed about for years, has become a reality!
Corporate
If you're looking for a company to cater an Employee or Customer Appreciation Event, a Board or Committee Meeting or Luncheon, an Open Houses, a Grand Opening, or a Fun Company Party, look no further. We've been successfully doing just that for many years.
Social
If you have a special occasion coming up, make your life easy and give us a call. We are excellent at coming up with menus for any type of event, with any type of theme. We've coordinated a wide variety of them; from a 1960's Birthday Party, Halloween Party, Talk Like a Pirate Pool Party, Game of Throne's Season Premier, Cinco de Mayo Fiestas, Mid Summer Night's Dream Celebration, Top Chef Competitions and Many More!
What's in a Name
Cherry on Top
Our Company's Name is In Loving Memory of My Precious Grandmother, Adalyn Cherry.
Some of my best memories are times spent in the kitchen with my Grandmother.
You never knew what aromas would hit your nose as you walked through the door, but there was never any doubt they'd be mouthwatering.
It might have been the rich smells of cinnamon and chocolate, the savory goodness of fried chicken, or the sweet, tropical scent of banana cake.
Whatever it was, you knew you were in for a treat!
I hope she'd have been proud of what we've created!
Kathy Mills, Owner
Cherry on Top Catering and Events