Alchemy Custom Celebrations & Cuisine

I highly recommend Festivities for any special event that you are planning. I have used them many times and each time I continued to be delighted and surprised by just how amazing the food is, how creative they are in the party planning and the staff is always so well trained and attentive to your every need. I can't speak highly enough about how creative the food. If you want to create that very special event you should definitely reach out to Festivities...

Festivities helped us plan the wedding of our dreams amidst a pandemic - not an easy feat! Roe was so flexible and 'on it' the entire time, and everything came together exactly how we had hoped. The food was delicious, the decor was beautiful and everything went off without a hitch. It was truly a memorable day and could not have happened without the Festivities team.

Roe and Bill have done many parties of all kinds for us. Large and small... planning the event with Roe is just as much fun as the special occasion. I am an interior designer and definitely have my ideas. Now that they have done so many parties for us... I just let them do what they do best. It’s so fun for me to now be surprised as she always blows me away with her creations. Bills food is not only delicious but also the presentation is wonderful. They are the ying and yang and our go to for all of our crazy ideas for parties.

Festivities Event Planning was the perfect vendor for my daughter's wedding. We created a vision of what the event (3 days worth of events!) vibe was going to be and Roe and her team achieved it without a hitch. The goal was sophisticated romance and she delivered! They are completely reliable, professional, and easy to work with. Our events included a Rehearsal Dinner on the beach at Penfield Pavilion for 160 people. It was an amazing evening with great food, great service, and the Pavilion looked amazing. The wedding the next day went off without a hitch and Roe orchestrated everything and was on hand from the crack of dawn until the last person left the reception. Roe helped us create a Speakeasy "Lounge" within the reception that was a huge hit and amazing addition. She created a vignette for the wedding cake that included a Chandelier and had a lace cloth on the cake table match the icing on the wedding cake (she coordinated this!). Sunday brunch at our home for 150 people was also amazing. The buffet table was never low on food all morning, and the food was delicious! I recommend the zucchini bread french toast (FYI) The staff was amazing, friendly, helpful, and took care of every guests' need. It was truly a magical day. Even when the rental company mixed up a few table-sizes, Roe had it all under control and you would never have known there was a glitch. This is truly a special company that does their job with love. They get to know you and your family and strive to make sure everyone is happy and informed throughout the process. Not only did we select the perfect Event Planner but we made a friend.

Roe, For days down I’ve asked myself, after a whole year, what’s next?  My daughters creativity was matched by your own creations and together it all came together to create the most beautiful, memorable experience, and not just for the bride but for everyone in attendance! The compliments and gasps continue to pour in.  It was an evening to remember, not only just the food that was beyond, but your hard working and professional team that really stood out. That, and the décor was so magical because every detail seemed embraced by all the love in the room.   Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and my family’s heart, for what was a brilliant and memorable occasion.   With thanks and a lot of love, Kayla C. Mother of the Bride.

Our wedding couldn't have been better. E very suggestion you made was tight on point. My new husband Jack really enjoyed working with Chef Bill on the menu and my mother and I loved working so closely with you Roe. It was like working with my big sister rather than my wedding planner... I wish we could do it all over again. Love Rose and Jack

Roe! I can finally sit down and catch up on a much overdue and sincere thank you! I can’t explain to you how much the entire wedding and evening means to us! Everything was above and beyond anything I could of dream of!! The backyard was completely transformed from a regular lawn into a magical scene of all my favorite places, and I was so excited to see that the lounge tent was enjoyed by so many! Bill and his team in the kitchen, you and your team out front, what a dream! You surpassed themselves!  The food was so bountiful, creative and delicious that absolutely nobkdu missed it! And thank you for allowing us to be a part of the wedding the planning process and making us feel comfortable and confident. Your team delivered a perfect, perfect celebration!   Much love and many thanks! John G.

It isn't often I write reviews but I feel it’s necessary to let everyone know how Roe, Bill and the team at Festivities took care of my new wife and I at our wedding! I was really into the wedding planning. Being a wedding photographer myself, the food and design and the photographic potential of our reception was really important to me. Chef Bill understood exactly the cuisine we were looking for. Bill put together a fun and unique vision for our menu and the food was so delicious and incredibly creative. We were so enjoying celebrating with our family and friends knowing that Kathryn and her team were taking such good care everything. It was a seamless event we wished wouldn’t end! We can't thank you enough! Joe and Marissa

Claire and I just got back from our honeymoon. We didn't want to let another minute go by without telling you what an incredible job you and your team did to make our wedding exactly what we dreamed of...every detail...every taste...every care. If experience and refined taste are qualities of a great event caterer then Festivities has them and more...and I might add "in spades" Gratefully, John Craighaed 09.14.19

This is not the first event that Roe and Bill have helped me with, but for sure it was the most amazing! Festivities is such a creative organization and always manages to surprise and delight me. Everyone commented on the food, which was both delicious as well as fun and ingenious, but their talent is more than that. There’s something about the way they put things together that made the day truly special. They have an attention to detail that is unmatched. I love their food, and their creativity and spirit as well!

WOW-we had a top day in every way possible. Katherine and John's wedding couldn't have been more spectacular. It was a joyous, love-filled celebration that everyone enjoyed so much. THANK YOU for your enormous part in making it such a successful event. We so appreciate you and your teams Hard work and efforts. Many of our gursts Commented on how accommodating and helpful they all were. Kathryn"s Management of the day allowed us to really relax. And thank you Bill -the presentation of the food,its uniqueness and creativity was enjoyed by all. Thank you for taking care of me from the beginning. You do make magic! Gratefully, Kathy and Lou

When you are looking for a partner to plan a celebration with, I really want to encourage you to call Roe and the team at Festivities. We had the most incredible engagement party that has started our engagement off on the right note and now we can't wait for our wedding day even more!! We love Paris especially as that is where we met. So Roe, Bill and their team put together a French Bistro party for us, complete with "moules et frites" ! We felt like we were back in Paris and took our friends and family with us. The wait staff were impeccably dressed in French bistro aprons and white starched shirts.. so cool. We were so thrilled with the food.. so delicious and the design with the lighting so romantic, we couldn't get over it.. Thank you, Festivities for starting our engagement off on the most wonderful note. We can't wait for June!! Ashley & Josh

Working with Roe & Festivities, was the best decision we made for our wedding! On our first meeting, Roe listened to my vision and then immediately started executed on it. What she and the Festivities team were able to pull off was beyond what we could have imagined. They created beautiful spreads of food for the cocktail hour including a table of locally sourced veggies and a raw bar. Our dinner was a buffet. Everything was warm, fresh and delicious, no one waited in lines, and everyone went home full! Making my wedding sustainable was a high priority for me. I explained this to Roe and she didn’t skip a beat. She trained her staff on the composting system, donated the food and made sure there were no single-use plastics. There are inevitable stresses when you’re planning a wedding, but I was so comforted knowing that I could go to Roe and she would help me sort out whatever I was worried about. I really thought of her as a caterer/planner/therapist because she was so good at this! Roe and her team are also experienced professionals and this was proven on the day of our wedding. Everything ran smoothly and perfectly on time. I would 10/10 recommend Roe & Festivities and you’ll have to book her fast. Many of our guests were asking for her contact information because they were so impressed by what she pulled off.

Festivities created such a memorable wedding for my family. My daughter had big visions and dreams and Festivities helped create a beautiful and sophisticated wedding for my daughter, all within budget. They were creative with their solutions and never sacrificed on quality. They were extremely knowledgeable with their vendor recommendations and helped coordinate every detail – leaving nothing undone. To top it off, their food was exquisite, and our guests raved about it for months! We are so grateful for Festivities and their team!

The Festivities Team took our vision of a wedding and made it a dream come true. They were incredibly strategic and professional. From the moment we started to map out the wedding, they were engaged and thorough. Our planning meetings were efficient, productive and innovative. They would bring ideas to the table that helped support my dream, however also brought incredible ideas that I did not even knew existed. On the day of our wedding, the Festivities team was on time, conducted business with minimal intrusion and professionalism. Everything was set up on time, with consistent communication and a streamlined flow. To top it off, the food was first class! In looking back at our wedding, I cannot believe it was ours – Festivities truly made our dreams come true.

Words cannot describe how invaluable Roe, Pam, and their team was in making our wedding weekend perfect. Not only did they help define our vision and aesthetic for the weekend, but they made sure all the vendors were focused on this in order for everything to flow smoothly. They were consistently available and were very sensitive and helpful in dealing with all the surrounding emotions and sensitivities that come with planning a family-oriented event. I would recommend them 100x over for any event in the future.

Working with Roe was an absolute pleasure! She not only helped us put together a great menu but was incredibly helpful when it came to puting together our timeline. She made sure to visit the site beforehand and we felt like she really understood our vision for the night. Even with the challenges of an outdoor beach wedding the presentation was clean and the food was hot! My husband is Brazilian and we loved how she paid homage to both of our cultures through the food. Would highly recommend

When it comes to planning your big day...Festivities is the event company to go to. They were so creative, the food was so perfect. Made the day so special. My guests have not stopped talking about it. A wonderful day!

Roe and her team exceeded our expectations! From the consult, menu prepping, execution to follow up-- she is a pro and will deliver. Roe is warm, honest, prompt in communication and a seasoned caterer. Trust her judgement, listen to her advice and allow her to work her magic. Highly recommended!

I can't say enough to truly describe how wonderful it was working with Festivities. Roe made the process so wonderfully easy, she was so supportive every step of the way, and was always thoughtful about the style we wanted and staying within our budget. She went above and beyond to be sure that our wedding day was a celebration of our love, filled with personality and fun. On the day of, everything went off without a hitch, all of the details were attended to, the food was amazing, and the drinks were wonderful. Everyone at the wedding keeps talking about how perfect everything was! Every person on the staff was friendly, professional and delivered top-notch service. The passed hors-d'oeuvres were delicious and plentiful, and there were so many options to choose from. The dinner service was amazing, every course was served promptly and hot, and was so tasty. When we first started the process, I told Roe that on the day of our wedding we just wanted to enjoy it and not have to worry about anything of the details, and boy did she deliver. I don't know how we could have pulled it off without them, so don't hesitate to book Festivities for your wedding!

Rosinne was hands down the best! She went above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable and appreciated. She always got back to us in a timely manner and helped us all have fun while keeping everything on track and running smoothly. 10/10 would recommend! Her kindness, wisdom ,and experience are simply unmatched! Can't wait to use her for my own wedding :)

The team over at Festivities was beyond accommodating and helpful to the needs for my nephew's wedding! They were responsive and amazingly sweet to everyone in our family.

Amazing service and great people! Would recommend to anyone!

I cannot give enough praise to Roe and her team at Festivities. She transformed my venue into exactly what I had been dreaming of and then filled it with the most delicious food and drink. Her staff was the picture of professionalism. Roe made planning our evening easy and so very fun!

Fantastic experience. I highly recommend working with Roe. She is fun, professional and knows her stuff! The staff is impeccable and the food is 5 ⭐️ . Everyone at my wedding raved about the service and how delicious the food was.

My husband and I just had our 50th wedding anniversary two weeks ago and the best decision we made in planning our celebration was hiring Festivities. The party was perfect in every way -- the venue, decor and professional, friendly staff. Roe was so helpful in calming my nerves for such a large gathering. My guests raved about everything, especially the food -- Bill cooked the most delicious paella I've ever tasted! I highly recommend Festivities. You will be delighted with the results!!

My husband and I had a September backyard wedding with a few different food trucks throughout the night. When we realized a few months out that our guests would need a little more food for appetizers and sides, we employed the help of Festivities. The appetizers and sides were unique, delicious, and were displayed with beautiful presentation! Our guests absolutely loved the food, and they even made me a special meal when I developed some food allergies right before the wedding and couldn't eat the meal from one of our food trucks. I highly recommend!

Wedding Day: October 21, 2017 Rating: 5 Working with Roe and Kathryn made our excitement about our wedding even more fun if you can imagine that! Festivities was a real partner in the planning process, helping us make the right decisions for us. They really understood our vision, and when we walked into our wedding, we just knew it was “our” special day. The food was beyond delicious.. Even as the evening started, everyone was talking about the Potato Leek Soup on the Farm Table. The Festivities staff always had a smile on their faces and were ready with whatever our guests needed. It was a truly wonderful experience, from the first day to the last day.. and I promised Roe I would be back to visit and plan more parties. Gratefully, Robin and Ben

We can't wait for wedding with Festivities!! Our engagement party was an amazing taste of what's to come. We loved every hors d'oeuvre and as we love Asian food, the dim sum cart and Korean barbecue were crazy great!! We so love working with kathyrn on every detail. Thank you,Festivities, for a great start to our wedding planning!

What a dynamic du0! Roe and Bill and their team at Festivities. They gave us everything we wanted and more. From sitting down with Bill to plan the perfect menu (I am very picking with my food) to working with Roe and Kathy to plan every detail made our celebration perfect for us. Thanks

Brother of the bride and happy to support Roe and her team at Festivities. They are pros and made the entire experience smooth so we could focus on the fun!

We hired Festivities for our daughter's wedding last month, every detail was beyond our expectations! Our guests couldn't stop raving about the food. The whole event went off without a hitch thanks to Roe and her amazing staff.

we have been married now for almost a year and still our guests and families are raving about our reception this past New Year's Day... the Festivities team made it happen...and make it happen they did from Chef Bill's remarkable foods to Roe and Kathryn's patient, kind and warming counsel through thick and thin and with blended families there was more thick than thin... whenever we needed help making decisions on how best to organize our 175 guests Mike came to the rescue... we told Festivities we wanted a signature drink that reminded our guests of where we met... the we met on the boardwalk in Atlantic City and then Festivities birthed the "Boardwalk Bubble" ... we asked Festivities and they gave us the recipe...Claire and I make this amazing cocktail once a week...its now a ritual ... my wife and I are both in customer relations for separate financial institutions in NYC... service was critical... service and detail were achieved !

I work very full time, and I needed someone to really have my back. Roe and her team at Festivities were there for me in every way. We wanted to get married at our beach house, and Festivities made it happen. We love food, and we knew we had come to the right place when we met with Bill Kaliff, Roe's brother, and Festivities Executive Chef. He created a menu that was exactly us..so when our guests started eating hors d'oeuvres and saw the incredibly fun food stations, their first comment was, "YES, this is Lizzie and Ted!" Thank you, Festivities, for bringing it all to life and keeping me sane. You told me you would "tell our story", and you did!

I know that all weddings are special.. but I have to say that I think ours was the MOST special! The wedding team at Festivities, starting with Roe and Kathryn, really had me at "hello". I really felt that they could see our vision. Home, delicious, different, easy and so much fun! We love to have fun and our event team, headed up by Meghan, made our fun possible. Our timeline ran so smoothly... even when it started to rain a bit .. we had a plan. Thank you SO MUCH for an incredible night. We are married now.. the most important part, and it was a perfect way to send us off!!

Festivities made my dream a reality. While I thought I knew what I wanted in my head, the team at Festivities was able to bring it to life and surpass my vision! Not only did they make the entire process seamless, they did all of the heavy lifting, which was huge for me since I work full time. They kept the entire planning of the wedding on schedule and also mapped out our wedding day perfectly. The day flowed beautifully, with no lulls or any drama! On top of precise planning and execution, Roe Chlala, our Wedding Planner, navigated my large family effortlessly. Emotions ran high during the planning of our wedding, and Roe was able to keep everyone at bay. The fact that the whole process was so easy made getting married just as fun being married. Thank you, Roe and team - you are all amazing!!!

What an awesome time we had at our wedding! The best part is that my NEW wife and our families got exactly what we wanted and more, a great party. Roe and her team made our experience so effortless, beautiful, and so much fun that we never wanted it to end. Meghan, who was our coordinator, kept us in her line of site. Whatever we needed, she was right there a step ahead of us and working hard. The Photography was with someone there to give us champagne and hors d’oeuvres. From there it was clear sailing. Everything just kept happening the way we planned, and we just looked at each other and smiled from ear to ear. Thank you Roe and Festivities for a memory we will always have.

Getting married at the home I grew up in was always my dream! Roe and her team at Festivities made it happen in every way, even in ways I hadn't thought of. From helping us figure out the right tent to our special craft cocktail bar, it was all we had hoped for and so much more! Thank you to Meghan for being right there with us every step of the evening, gently finding us when it was our turn to make a speech, have a dance or check out something happening that was unexpected and not to be missed. Thank you, thank you! We can't wait to work together again soon.. lots of parties in our future. Fondly, Charlotte

I live across the country but I felt I was right there in Connecticut the whole time. Planning a wedding long distance can be a challenge, but not with Roe and her team! Between Skype and phone calls, we were always able to communicate and talk about all the details that made our day truly ours. When the day came.. at my family's home on the water, I knew everything would be just as we had planned it, and it was! Kathryn was amazing.. so calm and smiling. The mantra of the day was "it's all good"! and it was.. the flow of the day was so easy, the smiling, friendly staff were right there before we even knew we needed something. The food was so delicious and interesting. So many of our friends commented on how every hour or so, a new food was presented. Thank you SO MUCH for an unforgettable start to our lives together. Fondly, Kat

I really don't know where to begin.. maybe at the beginning.. We had planned a whole day of visiting caterers and started at Festivities. They work in so many wonderful venues that we thought we could get a great overview. From the moment we met with Roe we knew we had arrived! She was so excited to meet us and learn all about us and what we wanted for our wedding. Working with her and her team was so easy and fun. The best part .. the day of our wedding everything we had planned from the way the ceremony chairs were set (lots of conversation!) to the special family moments that came just at the right time were just what we had planned. The food was beyond delicious and our family and friends commented all night about how great the Festivities staff was in making each of them feel welcome. Thank you again to Roe and Kathryn and the entire team at Festivities! We love you!! Susie and Glenn xo

I can't say enough wonderful things about Roe and the rest of the Festivities staff! Within minutes of first meeting with Roe, my husband and I both knew she was the right person for the job. Her vision for beauty and excellence is devine. No matter what our questions or concerns were, Roe and her staff were right there to answer and put my mind at ease. My husband and I were married at the Gallaher Mansion in Norwalk, CT. Working with Festivities was such an amazing experience. They were on top of every detail to ensure our day was absolutely perfect, and it was! And the food.... DELICIOUS!!! Bill is such an incredibly talented chef. He produced the best tasting food we've ever had! It was so creative and different from the typical wedding food you'd usually see.Our guests were very pleased and are still talking bragging about how awesome the delicious is all!! Festivities was one of the best choices we made and we look forward to working with them again in the future!!

As a mother of a bride that just celebrated her daughter's wedding (10/22/11), I am delighted to have a chance to share with future brides and their families what a very lovely and professional job Festivities did for our family under the care and guidance of Kelly Arias. Our budget was small and their hearts were big and full of kindness. From phone calls to emails, meetings, food tastings, etc. our journey with Festivities was an easy and professional one. I felt so confident in their guidance and suggestions and will always be grateful that we were lucky enough to have them organizing one of the biggest days in our family's lives. Our guests were all so complimentary of the staff and food. The presentation and service were absolutely the best. I could only wish for all other brides and their families the same wonderful time. Calling Festivities and working with Kelly Arias and Rosinne Chlala is certainly the only way to start!!

My dream wedding was given to me. Everything I wanted, everything I needed was provided. Roe, is amazing and has been doing this for many many years, she knows her stuff, listen to her! The food was amazing, and The Meadowlands, breathe taking...couldn't be happier with the end result, thank you!

I feel in love with The Meadowlands but after working with Festivities for 6 months, the poor service, quality and value for what we were getting could not be overlooked any further. We finally lost trust that they could even handle our wedding and found a new venue at the cost of losing our deposit. These comments to do not come lightly and I would not recommend the venue or the caterer to anyone I know.

“We have been overwhelmed with phone calls and letters as to how splendid the wedding ceremony was. I agree: it was a splendid and distinguished ceremony and your organization was a critical part of that success…you participated from the very beginning in the overall planning and were of great comfort to us…I believe the time you invested(and it was considerable) paid back in excellent results on March 6. The food, the service and overall catering were nothing short of outstanding and as one guest remarked, “impeccable”.”

“…thank you for helping to create a beautiful wedding for our daughter and her new husband…to have a vision and then find a team that can not only fulfill that vision but go beyond is truly a gift. The continued comments we receive; it was seamless, magical and the most beautiful, joyful wedding most have ever been to…it could not have happened as it did without all of you… our heart felt thanks"

I just want to let you know that everything was PERFECT on my wedding night. Brian and I had the best night ever - it was truly amazing, so thank you and Roe and Bill for all your help. It was spectacular! I absolutely love sharing my wedding pictures because my wedding was amazing - thanks to all of you!

I can't thank you enough for all of your help with our wedding day! We had the greatest day and we love reliving it and looking at pics and everything!! Festivities, you were so wonderful to work with!! Guests still tell me that they felt like they were on the set of The Great Gatsby when they were in the courtyard. It truly was a magical place with a warm and helpful staff!

The Meadowlands and Festivities catering are the perfect combination for a great wedding! We had our wedding at the Meadowlands in Darien, CT on September 18th 2010 and it was absolutely a dream! The food (by Festivities) has been raved about by all of our guests and the coordination and planning done by Roe and Kelly and their team was phenomenal! We could not have asked for a better wedding day or reception!! The team worked so hard to make sure all of our needs were met and took the time to make sure everything was absolutely perfect. A special thanks to Kelly (and Jennifer) who were more than helpful on the actual wedding day and made sure my husband and I had everything we needed :-) THANK YOU!LOVE,Kate and John Matis

The minute I visited the Meadowlands, I knew I had to have my wedding there. It was exactly what I was looking for - a beautiful, private backyard for an intimate ceremony with a large room for a reception indoors. Plus, the home had multiple wings for the cocktail hour where we set up other activities and guests could easily mingle without feeling crowded. I received a ton of compliments about the site, and I have a bunch of great pictures as well. It had many settings for great photos.

About a month before my wedding, I ran into Festivities at the Meadowlands at the Best of the Gold Coast gala where they had won best place to have a wedding reception. I was so excited and had my fingers crossed that it would live up to its title. Our reception was incredible thanks largely in part to the quality and service of Festivities. Roe and Kelly were so helpful throughout the whole wedding process and always wanted to go the extra mile to help our day go exactly the way we wanted it to. Great people, a beautiful mansion with an amazing English garden, tasty food, what else could you ask for!?