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Wedding Scope Oct 11

Essential Herbs — Event Proposal   ·   Prepared for PLANNER + COUPLE

Googie + Michael's Big Celebratory Wedding

October 11, 2026 at Apollo's, 27 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Event
Wedding Celebration
Date
October 11, 2026
Guest Count
95
Service Style
Family-Style + Stations

The perfect evening for an elevated party in the heart of the city. A celebration meant to be shared. 

A celebration of their love, and the power of exceptional food shared in an iconic downtown setting, surrounded by the energy of New York City. We create an evening that is both refined and generous—where ingredient-forward cooking and thoughtful hospitality elevate the simple act of breaking bread together. Nothing stuffy or formal. A big celebratory party!

October — Peak Fall Harvest

October brings root vegetables, mushrooms, winter squash, apples, pears, and late-season stone fruits. The season calls for grilled and roasted meats, hearty preparations, warm spices, and the comfort of fire-cooked food. Perfect for a celebration that feels both elegant and deeply nourishing.

Apollo's, LES — A New York Celebration Space

Apollo's is a sophisticated venue at 224 Centre Street in the heart of Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. The space offers soaring ceilings, refined design, and flexible configurations perfect for celebrations. Your event runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (4 hours), providing ample time for cocktails, dinner, and celebration before the afterparty.

Vegetable-forward. Fire-cooked. Ingredient-driven.

Cocktail Hour — 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Pause & Reset — 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Main Service Buffet — 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Dessert & Coffee — 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Client-Supplied Alcohol with Full Bar Service

Essential Herbs provides full beverage professional bar service. Alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, spirits) and non-alcoholic beverages (sparkling water, still water, coffee, tea) are client-supplied and sourced independently.

Bar Service Staffing Included

2 Bartenders + 1 Bar Back coordinate service of client-supplied beverages throughout the event (cocktail hour through 10:00 PM close). Full bar service pacing integrated with food courses.

Menu is naturally suited to accommodate pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests. Meal includes options that feel equal in thought and execution, not modifications. Please confirm final counts and any dietary needs 2 weeks prior to event.

What EH Handles

Kitchen & Food
All food, ingredients, prep. Sourcing coordination (within 250 miles of Brooklyn).
Day-Of Kitchen Staff
Chef Russell + CDC+ 2 Sous Chefs + 2 Line Cooks + 1 Porter
Bar Service & Beverage
1 Bar Captain + 2 Bartenders coordinate client-supplied alcohol service. Non-alcoholic beverages provided by EH.
Front of House
1 Floor Captain + 6 Servers + 1 Porter. All tableware coordination.

Complete Catering & Beverage Package

Food & Kitchen Labor (95 guests × $177 pp) $16,815
Bar & FOH Staffing (95 guests) Included in above
Admin Fee (9%) $1513.36
NYC Sales Tax (8.875%) $1,626.64
Grand Total $19,955.00
50% Deposit Due to Book $9,977.50
*Cash gratuity after service at the discretion of the couple. 
Menu Kickoff
90-minute call with Russell to refine menu direction, discuss cocktail strategy, confirm dietary needs, and explore flavor preferences. Two rounds of menu revisions included.
Menu Finalization
Menu locked. Sourcing plan finalized. Final guest count due.
Kitchen Planning
Kitchen plan, plating details, service timeline, final dietary accommodations, and staff briefing.
Payment Terms
50% deposit (non-refundable) · 25% due 4 months prior (half refundable up to 3 months before) · Final 25% due 6 weeks prior (half refundable up to 3 weeks before). Payment by ACH (preferred) or credit card (+ 4% processing fee).

Chef. Curator. Sourcing obsessive.

Russell Markus founded Essential Herbs to bring chef-led rigor to private events. Every menu is built from his understanding of what's at peak season, who grew it, and how to honor those ingredients. He approaches each event as a full production—menus are never recycled, service is never generic, and the sourcing philosophy is non-negotiable. Featured in Bon Appétit, WSJ, Vogue, Eater, and the New York Times.

Seasonal. Ethical. Direct.

All produce sourced within 250 miles of Brooklyn at peak season. Chef Russell maintains direct relationships with growers, ensuring ingredients are harvested days before the event. This approach delivers three benefits: maximum freshness and flavor, environmental integrity through minimal transportation, and fair compensation that allows farmers to maintain their teams and economies.

ACH / Bank Transfer
Essential Herbs will provide ACH details upon booking confirmation.
Credit Card
Contact Russell for credit card payment link (includes 4% processing fee).