Chad Klein Joins Doorstep Diner Catering as Partner and COO
​Doorstep Diner Catering (www.doorstepdiner.com) is pleased to welcome Chad Klein as Partner and Chief Operating Officer. Klein has spent the past 17 years in the food/restaurant industry increasing guest counts and sales and building highly successful teams in fast-paced environments through training, coaching and motivating.
As a key member of the Doorstep Diner leadership team, Klein assumes a leadership role in building, implementing, and overseeing all operational systems and procedures as well as providing leadership and vision to ensure the growth of the rapid expansion of Doorstep Diner Catering.
In less than two years Doorstep Diner Catering has quickly become a hidden gem and leading caterer in Lincoln, Nebraska. With hard work and creative vision, founders Laurie Fraser and Executive Chef Jeff combine their originality and culinary expertise to produce high-caliber catering services at their very finest.
“Watching Laurie and Jeff, I saw a drive to success and great business practices that made it an easy decision to join an already great team,” Klein expressed. “I’m ready to be a part of making Doorstep Diner Catering the top choice for catering locally and beyond.”
Doorstep Diner Catering offers full service catering for all types of occasions, ranging from large events to intimate dining for two. Services are offered for weddings, graduation parties, open houses, company events, box lunches, intimate gatherings, and more. For more information, visit www.doorstepdiner.com.

strictly-business.com/news/personnel/chad-klein-joins-doorstep-diner-catering-partner-coo/

{The Reception: Eat, Drink & Be Merry}For weddings, there’s quite an emphasis on entertaining your guests and making it a memorable event for all. The décor, the fare, the flowers, the music – all of these along with any other special touches you add will set the mood and make it magical.
While it’s common for special event venues to provide catering and bar services for those who book the space, others may not but will be able to present you with recommendations. Only once you’ve had the opportunity to discuss with your venue what is offered and/or allowed should you make your selection. It’s essential to understand the specifics of whether booking that venue means you are entering into an agreement to use their exclusive catering services or partners, or if you have your heart set on a specific company, that you are able to bring them in. Every venue is different, as is every caterer and wedding vendor for that matter, so it’s advised to meet in person and explore what is possible before making the final decision.
Catering is an art and there is a lot of talent and diversity to be found here in the Lincoln area. As such, there are plenty of options out there to fit any taste and budget. When selecting a menu, the more you have to choose from at each price point, the greater chance you’ll have of arriving at a meal that matches both. As previously mentioned, when it comes time to establish a budget, catering is typically one of the first areas to work the numbers depending on whether it’s provided by your venue or not.
Aside from price, which is important but certainly not the only thing that will ultimately factor into your decisions, working with someone who understands your vision is important. Each catering professional has his or her own approach to planning, but since it’s just as creative a process as the decor, the personal details definitely do matter.
Laurie Fraser
Doorstep Diner Catering
“Here’s how I like to open the conversation with the bride: ‘Congratulations on our engagement! Now tell me how the two of you met?’” says Laurie Fraser with Doorstep Diner Catering. “After all, how can I plan the perfect menu if I don’t know them, what is important to them, how their romance blossomed, or what they envision for their day? My job is to take the stress out of choosing a caterer and we make it as easy as possible. From helping a bride select a menu where the cuisine is complementary to everything else about her special day as well as visually appealing, to letting her know how her day will proceed and what our role is, we do it all. Plating the head table is standard at Doorstep Diner Catering. After a long day of standing and smiling (and a few tears) we believe that it’s time for the bride and groom to relax and be served in elegance and style!”
Keep in mind that good caterers book up fast, so reserving them early is key to lock in the date. I recommend first finding your style so you can communicate that when meeting with your options and see what ideas they have to offer. What is it about you that you want to project on your wedding day? Maybe it’s a Garden Tea Party reception or an elegant Late Night Gala with appetizer stations and bite-sized desserts.
Before setting meetings, also ask for recommendations from friends, family, and coworkers. Then, narrow that list down to two or three caterers; any more than that and it’ll be overwhelming. At your initial meetings, ask questions about how your food will be sourced and cooked, the timing of the set up for the buffet or plated meal, if there is a service or delivery fee, and if staff will be onsite to assist in keeping your buffet line running smoothly or if you’ll have to enlist the help of Aunt Betty and the cousins.
I highly recommend using a wedding planner to help with all of the details. Wedding planners know how to negotiate and often receive discounts from vendors, helping you save money! They will also know what caterer will fit within your budget and theme and make recommendations, saving you time and energy!”
Fraser also offers a sampling of creative ideas and trends for those looking for inspiration. “If a unique surprise engagement affair is what you’re going for, how about an appetizer party? We love the interaction with the couple and hosting these is a blast! You choose the appetizers, we show up, and it’s audience participation time! Be prepared to get your hands dirty, drink a little wine or sip on a signature cocktail, and work with our executive chef to assist in creating elegant and gourmet appetizers, which you get to enjoy while we do all the cleanup! Then, in front of all of your friends, you drop to one knee and pop the question! Shy? Want something more intimate? We’ll create a menu just for two, plate and serve, or better yet, leave it there ready for you to serve it to your bride-to-be so the two of you can be lost in the moment.
As for weddings and trends in catering, we’re seeing less family style plating and more upscale comfort food requests. Making it personal is key and dishes that represent the bride or groom’s heritage or upbringing are popular, as well as family favorites reinvented with a modern twist. Another trend is homegrown global flavor; infusing world cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients is the perfect choice for the foodie in you!”

We love working with Hilary at Elite Events Rental!
Primary Contact: Hilary Keiser
402-489-7000
eliteeventsrental.com

Hillary says " I enjoy helping people navigate the logistics side of planning an event and the satisfaction of a completed event."
​What is your favorite part about working with brides? I love the excitement brides have when planning. I also enjoy helping them solve problems and alleviate anxiety.

What sets you apart from your competition? We are a smaller rental company and can provide very strong customer service. 
What is the number one service/good requested from you? Chairs are our most popular items.
​
What trends do you see in your industry? We are seeing a return to elegant designs.

What types of questions should a bride ask of someone in your industry? I always encourage brides to ask all their vendors as many logistics questions as they can. That way there are no surprises as you execute all you plans.

It's always a pleasure chatting with Alexis!  Her smile and her passion for her work are amazing!  It is our honor to feature Ashley & Alexis Photography as this weeks featured vendor!

Primary Contact:
Alexis  402-499-2799
 or 
Email    [email protected]
 
Why we do what we do!   We strive to giving quality memories to last a lifetime.   Moments are gone in seconds, let us capture the best of them!  I feel accomplished each time someone returns to me, or uses their pictures online, or refers someone to us.
 
What makes you tick?  I've always been a variety gal!  One reason I love photography is the variety of jobs it includes!  check out her galleries... the diversity of photography is amazing!  I have a firm belief in being a real legal business.   It is unfortunate that many photographers don't even know what that means.   To make it, you have to be almost more business savvy than talented in picture taking.   Without the business knowledge, you aren't really a business for long.
 
What is your favorite part about working with brides? Love hearing how they fell in love, all the little romantic things that have happened along their journey!
 
Have you done anything crazy in your business?  I feel so lame, or maybe what I encounter just isnt crazy to me, lol.    I've gotten to photograph a lot of interesting things and people with fun stuff.   I've had couple include pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, cupcake fights, bounce houses and so much more!   It's all part of what I love about my job!
 
What wedding trends do you see? Last years was mason jars and burlap....I think this year couples are being a little more budget minded and doing less (the whole less is more thing).  I also think people are moving away from traditional cakes and exploring other options like pies, doughnuts, candy bars, etc.
 
 Consider doing couple pictures on a different day other than your wedding day (or in addition to).   The day goes by quickly and this seems to be the one thing I always wish I had more of!  Couples want to be around family and friends the day of the wedding and are spending less and less time with their photographer in a one to one setting.   Yet, these are likely the pictures you will put up in your home and give out to everyone.   Any couple that I've had do an additional day in their wedding gear has totally loved the results!
 
check out our video  on our facebook page!   There is a lot to ask and consider when picking out your photographer!   Most important are contracts?  what happens if your photographer gets sick or hurt?  and to really see more than what they just put online for public (it's always their best stuff online)
 
Ashley & Alexis Photography
 
Website ~ www.ashleyandalexis.photography
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/ashleyandalexisphotography/?fref=ts
Instagram ~ ashleyandalexisweddings 
 

Moments in Time Images, we do wedding photography and videography
 
Primary Contact: Lori Black
 
Best way to reach you: [email protected] or 402-802-1649
 
My passion for photography was discovered late in life. I was doing wedding video with my brother when I decided we should add photography to our business. I had some photography background but basically taught myself. I really enjoy working with engaged couples and finding new ways to create art through photography. My goal is to provide them with images they will treasure for their lifetimes.
 
What's your philosophy in  life?
Be positive, be persistent and always rely on your higher power.
 
What makes you feel accomplished?
When I complete a wedding and discover I have some tremendous images.
 
Is what you're doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?
No not at all. I was a journalist – a newspaper reporter. That is what I went to college for. While some photography was involved in journalism, my job was as a writer. I never in a million years would have thought I would become a wedding photographer. It’s funny how life changes.
 
Do you believe in second chances?
Yes of course. Me starting wedding photography was sort of a second chance at a new career. I believe anyone can improve and change for the better if they want to when given a second chance.
 
 
What sets you apart from your competition?
Well – I suppose one thing is that I’m completely open. Setting prices is a challenge for wedding photographers. I looked at other photographer’s wedding photos and prices and am amazed how many of them don’t discuss their prices on their webpage. I believe that couples should have this vital piece of information before they call you so they know what they are getting into.
Also, the fact that we do both wedding photography and videography sets us apart. Many couples hire both a photographer and a videographer and choose two different companies. Then often the photographer and the videographer compete with each other for the best shot. Since our one company does both, our photographers and videographers work together, support each other and make sure we don’t get in each other’s way.
 
If you could give your bride/client one piece of advice what would it be?
What types of questions should a bride ask of someone in your industry? Ask to see photos from an entire wedding rather than simply just photos selected by the photographer to show. Ask about how long it will take to receive the photos and how much editing is done on the photos.