Have you had a wonderful experience with Harvest Moon?
What our customers are writing …
April 17, 2013
Everything was absolutely amazing. The food, service and overall presentation were great and exactly what I wanted. The appetizers were amazing. Our friends and family are still raving about them!! Everything was incredible. I would recommend Harvest Moon to everyone getting married in the area.
Thanks again!!
Rachel
April 8, 2013
Everyone raved about the food and service on Saturday night. And I could not have been more pleased. I will be informally a great reference for you and if you have a formal reference program count me in. You especially were a pleasure to work with to help me manifest my vision.
December 10, 2012
Our vision was carried out – even beyond our wildest expectations. I have had so many people tell us that the feast Harvest Moon prepared was the absolute best food they have ever at a wedding! We could not have been more pleased with the service – from start to finish. Professional, courteous, collaborative – working with Harvest Moon was the easiest, most pleasurable part of the entire wedding experience! Again quality of food was superb in every way: quality, presentation, management, preparers, servers, etc.
Harvest Moon certainly took care of us – they lifted any/all possible burdens, worries, or stresses – from start to finish. Harvest Moon listened – not only Barbara, but the chef as well - and they work beautifully as a team – each executing and complimenting the total experience – they are a dynamic duo! Barbara Shifflett is one of the most professional ‘managers’ I have ever worked with, and I have managed several nonprofit events. Barbara is an expert in guiding people without having them feel they have lost any input – - – and Barbara was superb at managing the harried mother-of-the-bride the day of the wedding. And as the mother-of-the-bride who is a Type A – I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am that Barbara ‘managed’ me so effectively. I will always be grateful. Barbara was in severe pain that day – yet powered through – giving all wedding guests by far the best, most wonderful wedding experience they have ever attended. The tasting – was so well executed – and both Barbara and the chef were pushed that day with several venues on their plate. Yet they took the time to answer questions, offer patience and guidance and really listened.
Overall performance: flawless. The on-site crew performed flawlessly, professionally, didn’t miss a beat. They were buzzing all around but you really didn’t see them if you know what I mean. They kept the process flowing. If the team had any issues or problems on their end none of knew anything about it. Fabulous.
Barbara Shifflett is the perfect person to represent Harvest Moon. Her vast experience, her ability to work with all personality types, manage expectations of several personalities from different age groups, families, etc was remarkable. She never over-stated anything; never promised what was not delivered. She is a realist who listened and delivered. And she does it with warmth, grace and humility.
I live in Baltimore, but often think about finding excuses to get to your area so we can sample more of your scrumptious food!
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November 16, 2012
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you – it’s been a whirlwind since our 10/6 wedding! In response to your questions, we were thrilled with the service from Harvest Moon! Everything seemed to go flawlessly and we thought, and heard from guests, that the food was great! One guest commented that it was the best wedding food they had ever had! The servers were all excellent and gracious! And our wedding party absolutely loved that they brought us out drinks and appetizers during pictures. In all, we were thrilled with the service and quality of Harvest Moon for our wedding. Thanks so much for everything!
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November 8, 2012
Barbara did a wonderful job calming our anxiety. We had a lot of DIY decorations, etc. and we felt confident in Barbara and the rest of the HMC team’s ability to carry out all our directions and instructions (which they did to perfection!)
My fiance, David, was impressed that Barbara took the time to pin all the groomsmens’ and father’s boutonnieres.
I was pleased with the continued reassurance by all team members before and during the reception…we felt like we could breath and enjoy the day.
November 8, 2012
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November 7, 2012
We had such a wonderful experience with Harvest Moon. Your staff was wonderful the entire night. A big thanks to Kelly for the ongoing coordination before and during the event. She was wonderful and was a huge help in the entire planning process and helping take care of all the day of decor/ food/ etc. Our vision was more than carried out and Kelly was a great resource for ideas. We were more than pleased with every aspect of your service and the food quality was amazing. I might be biased but it’s the best wedding food we’ve ever had. We wish Harvest Moon had a local restaurant and we will definitely recommend Harvest Moon again and again. Harvest Moon was friendly and took care of us and all of our guests from the first day we inquired about the date through the end of the night. We cannot thank you enough for everything Harvest Moon did to help us. I’ve said it already but the food was amazing and your staff is wonderful. Thank you so very much for everything. You all are flawless!
Best, Jason & Jen
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October 15, 2012
We worked with Barbara and with her knowledge of the location, she was able to tell us a lot of things we could do. She was always available, always returned calls and helped us with all the planning which was really important since we were long distance. The food was probably better than any we have ever had a a catered affair! Even down to some last minute near disasters that Barbara handled and everything turned out great. We felt very confident with Harvest Moon- we had a lot of confidence in Barbara and the event was as stress-free as possible and the quality of food was outstanding! Thank you!!
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October 13, 2012
Thanks for following up with our Harvest Moon service. Everything was exceptional. A few guests commented that it was the best food they ever had at a wedding, another said the selection was perfect. We really appreciate Cristina’s efforts to make sure our mini-burger appetizers were well proportioned (one of those “things” that I obsessed over as a bride), and that Kelly stepped in for our walk-through in Cristina’s absence. Gail was great as well.
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October 12, 2012
The entire staff we worked with (Kelly, Malcolm and Joel) did an amazing job and we heard nothing but rave reviews on the food and decor.
The service was excellent! Servers made every effort to cater to our guests and specially presented our plates and made sure we had drinks and appetizers while we were taking our photos.We had guests still talking about our wedding food and how they felt it was fun, unique and “not like typical wedding food because it was actually GOOD!” Because we had an out of town wedding for a lot of our guests, the New Yorkers asked if all food in Virginia was that good! Haha. From start to finish I felt very secure in our decision to go with Harvest Moon. From the initial first contact, to the tasting, to many emails/phone calls along the way, and then the Big Day itself, the whole experience was wonderful and I would recommend Harvest Moon to anyone looking for a fantastic catering experience. Primarily the dedication to customer service and ensuring everything was as we hoped it would be and more. Everyone was calm, cool, collected and very spot on. Thanks again!
October 12, 2012
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August 7, 2012
We don’t know where to begin to thank Harvest Moon for their contribution to the wedding celebration. You ask if our vision was carried out? I would say that everything that we envisioned came true. Hannah and Zach felt everything they requested was fulfilled and more. From the moment we did our tasting to the execution of the reception Harvest Moon made us feel as if we were the only wedding they had on the books. Cristina Webster was brilliant in her attention to detail. More than once she went through our planning sheets changing, adding, and revising at our every request. She never made us feel that we were an inconvenience. The staff’s anticipation of the needs of the attendees was phenomenal. It was a flawless presentation, and we haven’t even begun to talk about the quality of the food. The Jefferson is not the easiest venue to cater, actually I would think it is a very difficult venue, with the slanted floor, three levels and the stage to manage. Cristina and the staff made the presentation look effortless. The floating buffet moved to the center of the dance floor and no one even saw it being moved. Again, the staff made it all seem effortless; that takes a lot of practice, and even more than that, love for what you do, and passion for the culinary arts. Harvest Moon Catering has a staff that really do care about the presentation, and love what they do. There are so many things that stand out in our minds about the perfection of the experience with Harvest Moon from start to finish. We all agree it was the best food we have ever tasted at a large event. The presentation was exquisite, but more than that, everything was served hot, and tasty. It was on platters not chaffing dishes, this is exactly what we have been trying to say, you all put special efforts into the care of the food. One more thing, Harvest Moon paid special attention to those with allergies, and provided special food for those that had special needs. Thank you to all that were involved with our daughter Hannah and Zach’s wedding.
August 20, 2012
Harvest Moon exceeded our expectations. Cristina was fantastic and even helped us with the wedding/reception details since we didn’t have a wedding coordinator. Everyone was so nice and helpful the day of. The thing that stands out the most was how smoothly everything was planned and also how the entire team made us feel so special. When we walked in, someone was there to greet us and get us some food and drinks since we missed cocktail hour. Although we had a buffet, our plates were served to us. Cristina was AMAZING! As mentioned above, she helped us with EVERYTHING including giving us tips on the ceremony and decorations.
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July 24, 2012
YES and then some. We didnt have a wedding planner and honestly didnt think too much about how the day would play out but WOW. Everything was perfect. The bar they set up was gorgeous. The cocktail tables were perfectly placed and guests knew what to do (which was one concern have northern folks come down for a non-seated southern wedding). Upon arrival my husband and I were served a small plate of our passed apps and a cocktail since we probably wouldnt have had to the time to do that on our own. Best part/surprise was the striped vintage straws Kelly picked to use in the cocktail mason jars we gave as favors – it was small things like that, that really blew the event out of the water. Even the chairs were what i was looking for and so glad we decided to rent those from harvest moon rather than the standard ugly white rentals from the venue. Service was amazing. Once the grandmothers got there – one being 99 yrs old – they were seated and served a plate of food before everyone else. This was an especially nice touch and something i did not even plan for or think about! Everyone commented on how wonderful the staff was especially immediate family – which is a major kudos. I maybe got the chance to sit down for 7 minutes or so but again with the wonderful service – harvest moon had plates with everything on it and ready for us to eat (they also packed us take home boxes with leftover if we were hungry later!) The food was amazing, their ability to be flexible with the menu and come to something EXACTLY what we were looking for was incredible. When we came in for our tasting (before the wedding) we knew we picked the right caterer. An amazing spread was set up for us on a vintage farm table and everyone in the place from harvest moon was so incredibly nice and flexible and took time to find out what we really wanted. Taken care of doesn’t begin to tell you. Set up to take down the day was amazing and couldn’t have been curated any better some professional wedding planner. Kelly was in control of the event and had an amazing team to carry out the event. I never felt like they were overbearing though or in anyone’s way. They blended in perfectly and were attentive to all our guests at the same time. Honestly the straws – on the day of the event being surprised by a small detail that I never expected made my day. I just couldn’t believe they had put so much thought and personal touch on my wedding day. We looked at 5-6 caterer in the staunton/charlottesville area and no one even came close. They were willing to work with us on price and give us a custom menu (other places just gave you a long list of what they could do and said pick two from here, three from here etc. – so impersonal). From day one i felt confident about going with harvest moon and you all (especially Kelly) did not disappoint. Even when asking venues what they thought of you when we told them our caterer they raved about you and your reputation. It is clear you all do amazing work from start to finish i was never disappointed, and more likely than not was even pleasantly surprised. I will recommend you to anyone having an event in the area.Kelly’s attention to detail was amazing and she always had new and creative ideas for us to cut costs or include something new we hadnt thought about. Having her was invaluable.
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5.21.2012 from Wedding Wire:
We had a great experience using Harvest Moon as the caterer for our wedding. Kelly, our coordinator, was extremely helpful during the entire process, from menu creation to the day of the wedding, where she even assisted with the ceremony! We were looking for fresh, local food and Harvest Moon fit perfectly with what we had in mind. The food for both the cocktail hour and dinner was delicious, seasonal, well-seasoned, and well-cooked. We got a significant amount of positive comments and raves from our guests on the food and the service. The entire service staff, from the captain to the servers to the bartenders were all extremely professional and friendly. Everyone was clearly there to make our night special. Highly recommended !
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May 13, 2012
We had a great time at our wedding last weekend (hard to believe it’s already been a week !) and the catering was a huge part of it. Harvest Moon was our first choice as caterer for our wedding and we know that we made the right choice! The food was a perfect blend of local and seasonal, which we were looking for, and just plain good food, which our guests really appreciated. There were at least a few family members at our wedding who have notoriously “picky” tastes. Our parents, who were sitting at their tables during dinner, told us that these family members could not stop talking about how good the food was (and ate enough of it to prove it). We also received several comments on the professional and friendly nature of the servers and bartenders.
Kelly was invaluable in the planning and setup of the entire wedding, not just the catering. She was very helpful in providing ideas and suggestions for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception and was extremely responsive throughout the entire process. Our original ceremony plans had to be changed due to rain and Kelly did a great job in quickly re-organizing the reception space. Several family members present for the setup thought she was an overall wedding planner (not just a caterer) and commented on how high-energy and effective she was. We felt very lucky to have her on our team. As captain for the night, we’d also like to thank Seth for his leadership and communication. He was a great liaison between us, the catering staff, and the DJ.
What stood out in our minds was the level of commitment and investment we observed from all the Harvest Moon staff. In some weddings we’ve attended, it’s somewhat clear that the catering staff is just going through the motions or trying to get through the night to pick up their paycheck. With Harvest Moon, however, we really felt that the staff cared about us and making our event special. Even the bartenders, at some point in the evening, commented to Laurel about how much they enjoyed our ceremony.
-Matt & Laurel
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May 7, 2012
We loved working with Harvest Moon. They helped design and coordinate the evening into exactly what we hoped it would be.
We couldn’t be more pleased with the service. They were courteous and just absolutely pleasant to work with. They made us feel welcome and took care of us and all of our guests throughout the entire evening
When we did our tasting, we both looked at each other and said the food was the best we’ve ever had. The food at the wedding not only lived up to our expectations, but exceeded them. Numerous guests complimented the food throughout the evening.
The staff at Harvest Moon took care of us from when we first reached out for information through our wedding night. Throughout the entire process all the staff of Harvest Moon where there to address our comments, questions and concerns. They always were responsive and always made sure we understood everything that was going on.
The word that comes to our mind is “ease”. Planning a wedding is stressful and with 10+ vendors and coordinating all the ins and outs, it becomes stressful and there is always something or someone to deal with. Dealing with Harvest Moon and the help they offered was better than we could have ever expected. They truly put our minds at ease.
-Evan
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April 20, 2012
Our vision of the wedding weekend was definitely carried out with the help of HMC. We entertain at home very often and I am usually the person running around making sure everything is in place and everyone is happy, well fed, with a cool drink in their hand. What a treat it was to glance around and see it was all happening without any effort on my part! Captain Chris was exceptional and when she told me that I had a “captain” for the weekend I was over the moon! Her awareness of my need for a drink (whether it was water or champagne) was a clear indication of her focus on making it special for me and James. She fixed us food, and when we kept saying no she fixed us plates and we snuck away for a few bites. We both felt very pampered and special.
The food was exactly what we wanted- we have been to many HMC events and knew it would be that way. We got many rave reviews from our guests, especially about the beef on Friday night.
The friendliness of your staff is what stands out for me. They were very professional but very accessible and friendly. As guests arrived to the Hunt Club on Saturday night one of the tables was right where a crowd was gathering. I stopped a HMC person and asked who I should speak to about getting it moved, and she said she would take care of it. Within minutes it was moved and the party never missed a beat.
I think what I was most impressed with over the entire weekend was how things just happened. The set-up and clean up happened without as much as a thought on my part. The questions were quick and to the point and everything just flowed.
I hope you know that you have some great people working with you and please convey our heartfelt thanks for an amazing weekend.
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November 29, 2011
Our vision was executed with great precision by Harvest Moon and the rest of our vendors. Everyone worked so well together to help us manifest what we had only imagined in our heads. Harvest Moon even executed details that we had not anticipated–like how to fold the napkins and tying twine along the tables to battle the windy day.
We were extremely pleased with the service both on the day of and all the interactions we had prior to the event. We first met Barbara and a few of the chefs during our tasting and were elated to see such professional yet personal atmosphere. Barbara continued to work with us to tweak the menu and rentals to fit our budget yet maintain the style and quality we were looking for. During the wedding, the waitstaff was so attentive to details such as timing of plates/courses and making sure each guest was happy. My husband and I were also greeted by the team captain before the dinner service started and he helped us with anything we needed throughout the night–like instructions on how to cut the cake! He also checked in with us throughout the night to make sure the HM team was doing everything they could to keep us happy. We also really appreciated the bag of food and champagne we received as we were leaving to munch on when we got back to our hotel that night!
During our initial tasting, we couldn’t think of anything to change from the menu! Barbara had helped us plan a very seasonal and local menu that also appealed to a wide variety of tastes. We were a little worried that cooking for two would be a lot different than cooking for 100, but Barbara told me everything was cooked on site and just prepped beforehand. The day of, ALL of the food was absolutely amazing. Our guests are still commenting almost 2 months later that this was some of the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding.
We were definitely taken care of my HM. They not only took care of the food and beverage service but helped us give ourselves and our guests a day we would never forget. Again, we were blown away by the amount dedication exuding from each person to just make us happy. Harvest moon definitely went above and beyond our expectations!
We were definitely taken care of my HM. They not only took care of the food and beverage service but helped us give ourselves and our guests a day we would never forget. Again, we were blown away by the amount dedication exuding from each person to just make us happy. Harvest moon definitely went above and beyond our expectations!
Debbie + Tom
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November 22, 2011
I have never had an event catered, but now I know the value of a great caterer thanks to your wonderful staff! I didn’t need to worry about anything, things were thought of that I never would have even considered and every idea was ran through me before being carried out, which I appreciated. Everyone was sensitive to what I wanted, but at the same time doing what needed to be done to make everything happen effectively. I completely trust your staff to get the job done, to make everything beautiful and to take care of every last detail as needed.
The food was amazing! I heard nothing, but positive feed back and people raving about how good the food was! I was able to try it before hand, of course, so I knew how good it was going to be. The presentation of the buffet table was amazing, the cheese display was gorgeous and the appetizers just kept coming. I know people say “you get what you pay for”, but I feel as though I got a bargain! The quality of the food, all the details and thought that went into the preparation and display, went above and beyond my expectations. Not to forget the taste – excellent!
Kelly was amazing to work with for the pre-planning. She was attentive and always available to quickly answer every question and concern and the staff that was at my event went above and beyond! I have nothing but praise for all of the wonderful people you have on your staff.
I didn’t need to worry or stress about anything and that was priceless!
-Sarah
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November 6, 2011
Amy L. Malerba and Ryan Hemingway want to thank Harvest Moon Catering for the wonderful services they provided for our recent wedding at Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery. Food was one of the most important elements of our wedding and our guests say Harvest Moon didn’t disappoint. People are still talking about the pumpkin ravioli among other items! Beyond the food, their professionalism and organization is second to none. We can’t imagine any other caterer pulling off family-style dining for 170 people in a unique space. That’s where planner Barbara Shifflett comes in. She is fabulous! Hats off to her and her staff for making it happen. Thanks so much!
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October 26, 2011
The best thing about HMC is Barbara Shifflett. I shudder to think what would have happened to without her ownership of our event early on and suggesting that we change venues. Nothing short of brilliance. After I saw CHC, I knew that HMC was the right choice. She patiently answered all questions from January to September and always in a professional, yet friendly kind manner. She was instrumental in all vendor and sight meetings.
Barbara is a gem and I will happily recommend her.
Mary
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September 7, 2011
You wowed us! We were seriously elated with the results of your efforts! We were blown away by the staff’s friendliness and professionalism. They all came through with flying colors – we were thrilled. The crew also went the extra mile, taking care of details above and beyond their role as caterers. The placement of details was perfect and so creative, just one example being the Irish/American combo flag draped over a garden bench. Fantastic idea – made for great photos! Everyone was so in charge, getting lights in the trees reconnected and on and on and on – each individual worked so hard to pull it all together.
We felt very confident after the first tasting that Harvest Moon would provide delicious food and again you exceeded even our high expectations. We are still hearing from guests how much they enjoyed the food. One guest even asked if you had a restaurant in Charlottesville because they wanted to enjoy the food again the next time they have a reason to be in the area! The food was beautifully presented and the staff did a great job keeping guests moving in the buffet line in a steady and streamlined manner. Inviting guests table by table to the buffet and using both sides of the buffet table at the same time worked seamlessly. No queuing at all – we were so pleased with this – it was just as nice as a sit-down dinner, especially with the served salad and wine service during our dinner.
Again, we were very confident from our first phone call to Harvest Moon after many referrals and positive comments regarding the company, that we were making the right choice. Choosing Harvest Moon caused us to increase our original budget for catering, but we decided it was worth spending more and having the peace of mind that “all would be taken care of”. After each email to Barbara, bombarding her with a million questions, she would diligently respond with answers and explanations of how various aspects of the catering should be handled. I felt assured again and again that we were in good hands and had made the correct choice of a business with the expertise and experience of handling events with all the expected (and unexpected) variables. We had originally thought of having a very small wedding guest list and we loved that you were willing to provide service for our event no matter whether our event ended up being big or small. You are accustomed to doing multiple events at the same time so we were confident that our smaller event would get the same attention as any larger event.
The staff – very competent individuals with a real work ethic, desire to do a great job and to top it off, warm and friendly. The food – top quality, delicious and presented beautifully. The service – professional and attentive. To sum it up, Harvest Moon is a top-notch operation, striving to be among the best caterer in Charlottesville and in our opinion judging from our experience with your company, you deserve that accolade!
To sum it up, we were always confident that Harvest Moon would do a great job and you all so delivered. Harvest Moon so contributed to the success of the wedding – we are so glad we chose you as our caterer
On behalf of the Galvydis and Loughlin families, a heartfelt thank-you!
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August 19, 2011
My and my husband’s vision for our wedding ceremony and reception was carried out beautifully, thanks to Harvest Moon Catering. We wanted the natural ambiance of the King Family Vineyards grounds to shine, allowing the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia countryside to shine, thus Harvest Moon Catering decorated the ceremonial and reception space to compliment the natural backdrop. From the rose petals down the grassy aisle, the lemonade and sweet iced tea stands, the numerous candles in the reception hall to the bright, summer colors of the linens and flowers that were thoughtfully chosen and displayed, it was a lovely scene to drink up! It was a romantic, summer wedding that we had envisioned and it was successfully carried out by the planning and artistic details carried out by Harvest Moon.
We were extremely pleased with the service of the Harvest Moon team who set up the wedding, served the food, kept the reception timeline on track, and kept an eye on the bride and groom to ensure we were having a good time and all of our needs were met. I knew with hiring the Harvest Moon Catering team, we would not have to worry about anything the night of the reception. My husband and I were able to enjoy every minute of our ceremony and reception without a single worry because the Harvest Moon team were extremely professional, punctual and knew how to orchestrate a 150 reception.
The food was delicious! The food tasted just as savory as the food tasting months before the wedding, which says a lot about Harvest Moon’s Catering chefs because cooking for six individuals for a tasting is completely different than cooking for 150 wedding guests, however the food tasted the same and it was mouthwatering. The quality of the food and cooking did not seem to change from serving six individuals to 150 individuals, it was amazing. My wedding guests raved about the food after the wedding, saying they have never had such delicious food at a wedding before.
One thing that stands out in my mind about my experience with Harvest Moon Catering was the staff’s attentiveness to the bride and groom and immediate family members to ensure the evening carried out as we hoped and wished it would be. In addition, the staff seemed to have dedication to the details of the venue and the food which was most important!
Jamie
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August 18, 2011
Mark at Harvest Moon listened to us and really responded to our desires to make changes to the original menu. Service was AWESOME. This was one part of it that I hadn’t really thought about much before the event (I was more concerned with how the food would taste), but any expectations that we had for service were completely exceeded. The staff was smiling and friendly and our guests really felt like they were taken care of. The food was just awesome. Those little crab cakes rocked. Not only did they produce a great product, but they were very supportive as we prepared for the event and really made us feel like everything would be taken care of. Thank goodness that Mark at Harvest Moon convinced us that the reception should be indoors (it was 107 degrees on our wedding day). That was the right decision! Even though we planned to have the event outside, the staff was very able to accommodate a change of setting with the setup and decor. How aware the staff was of making sure that our guests were taken care of and how friendly the staff was. They were always smiling! The other thing that stands out was the elegance in the presentation of the food. Of course it tasted great, but the way it was presented was classy and just what we wanted.
Colleen
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August 5, 2011
We were pleased with everything about Harvest Moon. The food was great (better than we even expected!), all of the presentation was exactly what I wanted, and the staff was very friendly. Several guests have commented that the bartenders were some of the best they’d ever seen at a wedding. Harvest Moon helped us create a relaxed and fun party atmosphere. We didn’t have to worry about any details on the day of the wedding.
It’s also worth saying that we are very impressed with the value we received from Harvest Moon. When we were initially researching caterers, many caterers in Charlottesville were fairly unwilling to work with our budget, and nickle and dimed us for every additional service. Harvest Moon was the opposite – very open and flexible, and when everything was said and done, we didn’t feel like we were stuck paying for any hidden or unwanted charges. Our budget was important to us, and we really appreciated that we were still able to work with a well-respected caterer like Harvest Moon. Barbara also gave us lots of good recommendations for other vendors, coordinators, etc, and even did our flowers for us. The flowers were gorgeous, and much more affordable than any of the other quotes I received from other floral vendors.
One thing that stands out in my mind is Harvest Moon’s dedication to details. They showed up with perfect little “extras” like cute striped straws, and planned additional rain-plan rentals that ended up saving the day. Thanks for making our day so much fun, and for freeing us to focus on our guests and each other.
Lee
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July 30, 2011
Barbara and the Harvest Moon team somehow pieced together all the nonsense we threw their way and put together exactly what we wanted, and more. Walking up to the tent after the ceremony I saw the vision that had been floating around in my head for months right in front of me. Perfect! What a special moment for all of us!
We were thrilled with the service! So many of my friends have all told me the perils of being a bride were that you spent all your time trying to get to the bar or to the food and always found yourself carried away in a conversation. Thankfully, that was not the case for me! I never found myself without a drink, a glass of champagne or food when I wanted it. From the first moment, a lovely server introduced herself to me and our families and said she was there for whatever we needed her for. And she was! She seemed to always magically appear with a tray of champagne or a plate of food before you even knew you needed it. However, it was not at all intrusive. Each member of the catering crew was as willing as the next to make sure the wedding party, the families and all the guests were well taken care of.
I still dream of the food from our wedding! We chose the meal specifically as everything that was served was a favorite of ours or representative of where we are from. Despite the reviews of other brides before me, I never intended to not eat at our wedding! After all, they were serving our favorites for a reason! I made sure (thanks to the help of the aforementioned service staff) to try everything that was served. When we left our tasting I couldn’t wait to have it all again at the wedding, and I was not disappointed! People are still complimenting me on the food they had at the wedding. Food is oftentimes a forgotten element of the wedding circus, but not in this case. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all! I wish we could always have a monthly anniversary celebration dinner with the same meal!
From our first meeting with Harvest Moon we knew that what we wanted would be taken care of and that we were in good hands. It was wonderful to know that as ideas sprang in our minds we could express them to the Harvest Moon team and that they would be taken care of. From our meetings to our tastings to the execution of the wedding, the service was wonderful.
To have Harvest Moon be a one stop vendor for us was incredible. Handling the rentals, the set-up, the catering, the service everything handled by one team was incredible. We only had to communicate changes, orders and ideas to one person to know that it would be handled.
Service. Deliciousness. Creativity. Execution. Logistics. Did I mention amazing food?
Julie
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July 26, 2011
Hi Mark,
Our wedding was fantastic, and we couldn’t have asked for more from Harvest Moon!
I literally gave Shay a hug when I met her on Saturday before the wedding, because she was so organized and on the ball and I knew she would make sure everything went off without a hitch.
The food, drinks, decor, and service were all perfect. Thanks so much! We were talking last night about how Harvest Moon exceeded our expectations, and what a great value (incredible service for a price that worked with our budget) we got from your team.
Send my thanks along to Barbara and the team!
Lee
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July 26, 2011
Just wanted to let you know how wonderful the event was – everything was even better than we hoped! We are still getting notes and emails from guests telling us how much they loved the food, the flowers, the venue. Barbara Shifflett did a FABULOUS job, and I could not possibly give her a higher evaluation. She took care of every last detail and I truly just sat back and enjoyed myself. Wish my younger son would get married in Cville someday and we could use her again! If a potential client asks for references please feel free to give my contact info to them. Anne
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July 25, 2011
Mr. Hahn,
We were very happy with everything Barbara Shifflett and her team at Harvest Moon did for Caitlin and Luke’s wedding. Barbara managed to capture exactly what we hoped the event to be and more with her attention to detail and managerial oversight. As I stated in a separate email to Barbara, all the elegance we could have hoped for and all the special touches right down to the lemonade stand and the tomatoes and garlic displayed around the pasta stand were absolutely perfect and made us really appreciate her skilled abilities. The wedding cake was absolutely wonderful! We loved it all. The evening could not have been more perfect!
Everyone is still raving about the amazing food and claimed they had never had better at any other wedding they have attended. We agree. Barbara and her team should be commended for providing such outstanding services. We would highly recommend Harvest Moon Catering and may seek out your services again one day.
Thank you again for making our daughter’s wedding day a success,
Paul and Joann
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July 20, 2011
Barbara listened to everything we wanted but also was able to guide us using her knowledge of the site and of the whole process. She struck a great balance between listening and guiding. It’s impressive that HM can achieve that quality in such high volumes. Well done! That trout is incredible! We were definitely taken care of at the tasting, which we really enjoyed and were impressed by. At the wedding, any time I made a request, even in the middle of a chaotic time, the staff responded very professionally and did all they could to support me and my family. Professionalism on all fronts!!! We really appreciated it. HM was an important element in making our wedding so great. Guests were gushing about all the details of the wedding. Thanks HM!!!!!
Jenny
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July 5, 2011
We definitely felt that Harvest Moon went above and beyond our expectations for the wedding day. We loved the lemonade stand and the mason jars that the lemonade was served in was perfect with our rustic themed wedding.
Harvest moon is truly a full service caterer in every sense. Not only did they provide us amazing food, but they were exceptional organizers, took care of all the finer details like the linens, provided us the most incredible day of coordinator (Kelly Mahanes), and worked with our vendors so we could enjoy the days leading up to our day! Kelly was not only a day of coordinator, she was a several weeks before our wedding coordinator who created a minute by minute time line of the day before and day of our wedding and contacted all our vendors to make sure everyone was there on-time to set up on the wedding day. Everyone worked together to ensure our day was flawless. We are telling all our friends to use Harvest Moon!!
Nina & Mike
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June 23, 2011
I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experience with Harvest Moon. The service was fantastic with the staff being both professional and fun. My guests are still raving about the food and drinks. They especially loved the family style dinner: such a cool idea. My husband, Marco, and I really felt taken care of. Thank you for helping to make our special day perfect. We had a ball.
Katie Becerra
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June 19, 2011 Abby Reid Reception at McGuffey Art Center – Alice in Wonderland Theme!
I absolutely felt like my vision was carried out. I had specific things in mind for the reception (making sure there were kid-friendly dishes, having a signature cocktail that corresponded to the theme), and you accommodated all my requests to the letter.
I could not have been more pleased with the service. All the employees I came across were incredibly friendly and had smiles on their faces the whole time they were there. Everyone throughout the whole process was super nice and made it possible for me to relax and enjoy my wedding.
The food definitely lived up to my expectations. It was just as delicious as it was at the tasting. Several people have asked who catered the reception, because they are interested in talking to you about their own reception.
Harvest Moon was very accommodating and everything was taken care of without me even being super involved (which sounds weird but it made for a calm bride!) Basically, I just told Harvest Moon what I wanted and you made it happen.
I remember that of all the people I dealt with involving my wedding, you were the promptest in getting back to me. The tasting was incredible for many reasons (presentation, actual taste of the food, friendliness of the people at Harvest Moon), and the employees at the reception were incredibly friendly–everyone really went above and beyond and made me feel special. I can’t say enough good things about Harvest Moon, there was not one thing that disappointed me.
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June 15, 2011
Everything was perfect Saturday night. I received so many wonderful comments about the food, the service, the professionalism….
What a wonderful job by you and your team! I will be writing this in WeddingWire also! I cannot imagine the catering being any more perfect! Carrie, Che and the entire group were terrific! Katie and Brian were so so happy with how everything turned out!
Thanks again….
Wendy
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May 31, 2011
Hello,
I just wanted to thank you for the amazing work you did for our wedding. The food was absolutely delicious, and all your employees were so nice and helpful. I am so glad you were a part of our big day—I couldn’t have asked for anything better! You blew us away. Thank you so so so much! –Abby & Josh Morris
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Emily Rowell Reception: May 14 2011 Colonnade Club
I certainly did feel that Harvest Moon listened to my preferences. So many of our guests commented on how wonderful and attractive the food was at the reception.
I loved that Harvest Moon came to find Dan, the groom, and me while we were taking pictures to offer us something to eat! That was such a nice touch and absolutely not necessary but much appreciated. Our friends and family noted that the food displays never ran too low; Harvest Moon remained conscientious about replenishing. We really were happy to hear that since we were worried about our guests feeling full enough from the appetizers we offered, but it seems like it worked fine!
I didn’t get to taste the food as I would have liked–the menu of course sounded delicious!–since the night proved so busy, but I heard wonderful things about the food and it looked beautiful. No complaints on our end certainly.
We loved working with Barbara. She was so attentive, organized, and efficient. We definitely felt comfortable with her abilities and rested easy knowing that the details were in her hands. I communicated a loose, overall idea of what I had in mind and she brought the idea to fruition. I trusted her judgment and knew that from her experience, she would make the best decisions. It was nice not worrying about what would happen with the weather (it did of course unfortunately rain, but Harvest Moon had a back-up plan in place), finding the table linens, and delivering the cake stand to the cake designer since Harvest Moon carried all of that out.
We were immediately impressed with Harvest Moon’s experience and professionalism when we had our first meeting with Barbara.
As you can see, my family was very pleased with Harvest Moon. Thank you for helping making this special time in our lives worry-free and enjoyable.
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Jane Kim Reception: May 7 2011 Alumni Hall
The Harvest Moon team did a great job of executing my vision for the reception. As a DIY bride, I wanted to take care of a lot of the details myself, and Harvest Moon was always accommodating and worked with me to put everything together.
The service was always prompt and attentive. I was asked in several instances if I needed anything, but everything was so well taken care of, that I was never without.
The quality of food is what brought us to Harvest Moon and was an essential part of our wedding. It was important for me and my husband to be able to actually eat at the reception and we’re so glad we didn’t miss out on our amazing meals! With families from all over the county we really wanted to use the food as a “welcome to Virginia” and Harvest Moon provided the most delicious “southern” foods. We are still getting rave reviews!
Barbara was wonderful to work with and always quick to respond to any emails. I never had any doubts that Harvest Moon wouldn’t deliver, mostly due to Barbara’s guidance and confident demeanor.
As for the food, my husband and I couldn’t pick just 2 of the 3 entrees and Harvest Moon brought us all three for dinner. Also, the mason jars for lemonade prior to the cocktail hour/ reception were a perfect detail.
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January 12, 2011
Dear Barbara,
Wow, Wow and Wow! I cannot thank you enough for an absolutely perfect wedding day. The compliments are still coming in about the fabulous food and excellent service. The staff were outstanding and the food – from the fantastic and delicious appetizers to the beautiful entree were exqusite. I really cannot thank you enough. You are an impressive, memorable and amazing person – and all of that shows up in the presentation and product of excellence you provide. I want to get the check in the mail to you tomorrow and would most appreciate your giving me the balance again, so I have it exactly right. If I can ever do anything to assist you, please do not hesitate to ask – we were so very pleased with everything. Katie and Chris are over the moon about the whole day and much of that is due to you-thanks.
All the best to the Best,
Maureen and Family
January 8, Colonnade Club
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Dear Mark,
A big thank you is in order for the fantastic food, you, and your wonderful folks who helped make Annie and Scott’s wedding a huge success! We have heard nothing but compliments and positive feed back on you menu, serving, and cordial staff! I think you got a big dose of advertisement May 22nd…EVERYONE wanted to know who the caterer was, and we were, and still are, quick to tell them!
You were so kind to us all from beginning to end, and always listened to Annie’s wishes… making her feel like the true bride should. Her take on the wedding and Scott’s, too was that it could not have been more perfect from start to finish…you made that happen, and we appreciate every minute detail you covered…wish I had more of that good food right now!
Our best to your bride and Otis,
Fondly,
Sarah and Bill
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Dear Mark,
A big thank you is in order for the fantastic food, you, and your wonderful folks who helped make Annie and Scott’s wedding a huge success! We have heard nothing but compliments and positive feed back on you menu, serving, and cordial staff! I think you got a big dose of advertisement May 22nd…EVERYONE wanted to know who the caterer was, and we were, and still are, quick to tell them
You were so kind to us all from beginning to end, and always listened to Annie’s wishes… making her feel like the true bride should. Her take on the wedding and Scott’s, too was that it could not have been more perfect from start to finish…you made that happen, and we appreciate every minute detail you covered…wish I had more of that good food right now!
If you need references, yell…in fact, if you need ANYTHING, yell! William and Daniel are right…you are a great guy!
Fondly,
Sarah and Bill
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Hi Mark!
Yes, It was a beautiful day! We could not have been more fortunate with all the lucky coincidences … clear skies, full moon, fireworks in the distance. Many of our guests even asked us if we rented the peacocks–too funny!
The food was delicious! Everyone was raving about the beef brisket in particular:) All the staff was wonderful and we really felt like things were under control the whole night. I don’t think that we could have put it all together if not for Carrie’s help. She personally went above and beyond what I expected from a catering service. Her availability and advice was so appreciated and right on. THANKS CARRIE!
We will highly recommend Harvest Moon for any future events.
Sincerely,
Keri Shreffler
Wedding reception
October 3, 2009
Ash Lawn Highlands
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Hi Mark,
We really enjoyed the food and the service was excellent. I know Rachel enjoyed working with Carrie very much and she did an exceptional job pulling together all the details for us. She is quite an asset to your company! Thanks again for helping make Rachel and JR’s wedding a wonderful, delicious evening.
Debbie Adams (Rachel’s mom)
Wedding reception
August 1, 2009
Kluge Vineyard
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Dear Mark,
I just returned from my honeymoon, I apologize for the delay in responding! I simply wanted to say thank you to you, Barbara, and specifically to the staff assigned for our wedding reception. Barbara was receptive and attentive throughout the planning process and I really enjoyed her personable and organized nature. The staff who worked our reception were courteous, thoughtful, conscientious and careful. Everything was fluid and seamless, and the presentation of the food was stunning. The food itself was so incredibly delicious, people keep commenting on how much they enjoyed the food, and one person (who attends MANY big banquet functions in her line of work) commented that the food at our wedding was the best she had ever had at a big event. Really, we couldn’t have asked for anything more, your staff went above and beyond our expectations to create a perfect and memorable experience for us and our wedding party.
Thank you, and please share my appreciation with them, they deserve the highest compliments.
All the best,
Laura Pedersen Doherty
Wedding Reception
July 11, 2009
Fry Springs Beach Club
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Hi, Mr. Hahn
My daughter and her now-husband requested a simple low-key lunch reception but with really, really good food – and Harvest Moon really came through! The meal was truly exceptional and I couldn’t even count how many of our guests made a point of telling us so. Rachel’s cake was awesome and we heard lots of positive comments about it not being “typical” wedding cake. Barbara is just wonderful to work with, as I’m sure you know, and the on-site staff were professional, efficient and courteous. Thanks so much for everything – I will definitely be a repeat customer if my other kids get married locally!
Lisa Johnson
Wedding reception, July 11, 2009
Grace Episcopal Church
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Mark,
I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with Harvest Moon for our daughter’s reception. Carrie was absolutely phenomenal in every aspect and made the entire experience stress free, fun and full of happiness. Again thank you so much and we will definitely recommend Harvest Moon to others.
Renee Cinalli
Cinalli Wedding,
Alumni Hall, May 2009
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50th Birthday Celebration
Dear Carrie,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Everything for our party was splendid and magical and delicious and wonderful thanks to you and your colleagues at harvest moon. I loved how everything looked (I’ve
attached some pictures of the beautiful tables, which might be great to show prospective clients), and how everything tasted, and how lovely and generous, and professional everyone on the staff was. It really was amazing and fabulous. I still can’t get over the way everything looked in that setting and on that perfect night under the evening sky with all the twinkling and flashing lights. I can’t remember ever seeing food so interestingly displayed–witty and architectural AND delicious! All of our guests and family were raving about everything. So thank you a million and more. We’ll have to crash another harvest moon party sometime to savor the deliciousness you put on. Our guests loved it and we were thrilled with everything. thank you so so much.
Warm regards and thank you again,
Cindi
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Hi Mark,
I just want to tell you how WONDERFUL the food and service was at the reception. People do not typically remember the food at wedding receptions, but my friends and family couldn’t stop talking about how good the food was!
The staff were absolutely top notch – the event went off without a hitch.
Thanks,
Karen
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Mark,
You cannot imagine how much I appreciated you and your staff when you said “we can make it work.” It was like a gift!!!!
Thank you and your staff!!!
SLB
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Carrie,
I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did for Tim and I to make our day so special. I could not have asked for more. You and the rest of the folks at Harvest Moon did an amazing job and far exceeded our expectations. The food was fabulous and everyone we have talked to has said the same. The picnic basket was simply wonderful and such a nice surprise! Thank you so much!
Mistie
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Mark,
All I can say is wow. Everything exceeded my expectations – the food, the staff and the decorations. The servers were very friendly and Matt, the manager was wonderful in helping to coordinate things. Everyone was complimentary of the delicious food.
I really can’t say enough good things about you all. Thank you so very much and please extend my thanks to everyone who was involved in making our reception perfect.
Brigette
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Hi Mark,
I just wanted to let you know that we received the invoice and will put a check in the mail today. Please pass our thanks along to your highly professional and very talented staff. You all did an amazing job with the reception – everything was perfect, and our guests are still talking about the food even weeks after the wedding.
Thanks so much! We look forward to spreading the good word about Harvest Moon and doing business with you all in the future.
Best,
Faith
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Dear Barbara,
While we have long been impressed with Harvest Moon Catering, the event you accomplished for us this past Friday evening has made us even more appreciative of the quality of food, staff, and service you provide to your clients. From the moment I contacted you about what we were planning for September 12th, you have been spot-on – with menu development, helpful suggestions, recommended equipment rentals, everything.
I was even more impressed when everyone arrived punctually and dealt professionally and helpfully with the threat of rain; when I saw the perfect linens you chose for the evening; when we tasted every delectable morsel that came out of the kitchen; when the crew put everything back in place and cleaned the kitchen beautifully after the event.
It was a wonderful evening. We have received nothing but compliments about the good food, service, and lovely evening – even with the humidity and threat of rain outside.
Thank you again for thinking of and taking care of all the details and, most of all, for making us look so good.
All the best,
Robin and Jerry Baliles
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Dear Barbara,
I just want to tell you that everything was great at the wedding, and Chris and the rest of the staff were just awesome. The food was everything we expected and more, presentation was great, and all your recommendations were perfect.
Thank you for everything, and working with our financial needs. We will surely recommend you to all our friends and if you ever need a reference, we would be happy to be one.
Sincerely,
Jon and Lauren
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Dear Barbara,
Andy and I wanted to thank you (and all of the wonderful people at Harvest Moon catering) for helping us pull off a spectacular Saturday night reception! The food was absolutely delicious and the presentation was beautiful. One of Andy’s good friends (and groomsmen) is a true foodie and said that “hands down, this is the best wedding reception food I’ve ever had!” (if you knew him, you’d understand what incredibly high praise this is!). We gobbled up the food in the basket when we got back to the room–we were both so glad to have a moment to eat! (By the way, please let my mom know if you need the black basket and the two forks back).
I also understand that you were thrown a few curveballs because of the rain (and had to break down the bar at the last minute)–I’m sorry about all of this but it looked like it went off without a hitch (at least from our perspective) and I think all of our guests still had a wonderfull time!
It has been a pleasure to work with you and my mom and I greatly appreciated how flexible you were and how willing you were to work with our limited budget. Thank you again!
All the best,
Sallie (and Andy)
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Barbara,
Everything was perfect!!! I got so many compliments on the food. Everyone was still talking about it the next day. The staff did a wonderful job, too.
Dear Barbara and Sabra and Josh and Dan,
Thank you so much for all your help! Everyone had a great time, even our little grandson who was initially overwhelmed with all the people. We could not have asked for a more helpful, considerate team of caterers! We never expected it to be so easy and seamless. If you ever need any recommendations, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Bev
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Barbara, et al. -
Just wanted to tell you what an awesome time we had this past weekend, in great part because of your fabulous food and excellent service. We had rave reviews all around from our guests. And Will and I finally got to sample all of the reception food the next day thanks to the picnic basket that Matt put together. Really great. I’m not a foodie but wow, really good. (Please pass this on to Gus as well, I do not have his email address.)
Also, for your consideration, I’m attaching the website of the place where I bought the compostables – www.biodegradablestore.com. They do sell in industrial quantities that might make this an affordable option for future clients.
Anyway, we await the final bill(s), but by all means, take your time …. 
Jenny & Will