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BY RHONDA BASSAT-RIVERA
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
WEDDING TRENDS
Last Tuesday night at 10 p.m., TLC debuted its latest wedding show, "Masters of Reception." Perhaps because it's produced by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, or perhaps because the subject of the show concerns two brothers from New Jersey, this wedding show is quite unlike the others on the airwaves.
Each "Masters of Reception" episode follows Robert and Jerry Frungillo, the owners of Frungillo Caterers, as they celebrate two weddings at their facilities.
Frungillo Caterers owns four facilities in Northern New Jersey - The Villa at Mountain Lakes, The Castle at Skylands Manor in Ringwood, the Oakeside Mansion in Bloomfield and The Mezzanine in Newark. They also do off-premise catering.
Click here for the Masters of Reception website.
The hallmark of this show, unlike most other offerings out there, focuses on how these two brothers and the staff at Frungillo Caterers make wedding dreams happen. They care about their clients, and want them to have the happy memories that will last a lifetime. Sounds cliché? Perhaps. But this truly is at the core of what this company is all about.I have worked with Frungillo Caterers on multiple occasions, and what I can tell you is that they consistently deliver good food and even better attitudes (if that's possible!) at every event. In addition, many on their staff have worked with them for decades, a true testament to the company.
If they haven't made a certain dish before, they never say "no" but rather work with the couple to make it - like the non-alcoholic signature drink in the pilot episode of "Masters of Reception." They are not "hamming it up" for the cameras!
I was very happy to hear that this hard-working company was selected to show the behind-the-scenes workings of a devoted caterer. This is not the typical "bridezilla" show, or one manufactured to make someone look bad. Rather, it highlights how wedding vendors really care about their clients and the lengths to which they will go to make their wedding as close to perfect as possible.
And I'm not alone in my feelings about this new show. Molly Tully, editor-in-chief of New Jersey Bride, in her blog, writes about "Masters of Reception":
The show "proves that wedding reality shows don't need to be full of backstabbing drama in order to be successful. Finally, we get a glimpse into everything happening behind the scenes of a wedding, minus the made-for-T.V. craziness, which is wonderful for all of you brides to see. Not everything always goes right (as in the horrendous rain we've all experienced this summer!), but with the proper professionals on hand, you can solve almost any problem. And these brides wind up happy!"
Click here to read her full blog.
Of course, the show is centered on Frungillo Caterers, and is not focused on the other vendors that comprise a great wedding. Starting with a Frungillo property is great, but then you need to add on other top-notch vendors such as a photographer, videographer, florist, entertainment company, transportation company and wedding consultant.
To be honest, a lot of the "fires" that Robert and Jerry Frungillo and their staff were called upon to put out during the pilot episode could have been avoided if the couples were working with a wedding consultant.
For example, the Plan B chapel at Skylands Manor – located a half-mile away from the reception site – would have been discussed with the limo company well in advance of wedding day and the proper arrangements made so that Robert's last minute scramble to move the wedding party could have been avoided.
A memorable wedding is the combination of excellent vendors working together to create an atmosphere where the couple and their guests can truly celebrate the new chapter in the couple's life. If it's about just one thing, it isn't the venue or the food or the music or the flowers, but rather it's about the newlyweds.
All too often, however, a vendor will forget the reason for the celebration and try to take over the spotlight. As "Masters of Reception" shows, the Frungillo brothers honor and respect the bride and groom. While it's their facility, their staff and their food being highlighted in this television show, the real stars are the happy couples that have wonderful memories of their once-in-a-lifetime day.
