The Philander Chase Knox Estate

Are you as tired as we are of hearing the words the new normal? We completely understand feelings of frustration surrounding pretty much everything but, as ...a caterer and event planning company, we 100-percent understand conflicting feelings around your special event. Do you postpone? Do something smaller now and bigger later? We’re here to tell you that you can do either of those, but you can also scale down your event to make it more intimate (read: follow the current CDC, state and local COVID-19 guidelines) and still mount an incredible wedding or party. We asked KT Mallory, event manager at Robert Ryan Catering & Design, to give us the inside skinny on reworking events. It made us feel better we trust it will help you take a breath and consider how your event might work on a smaller scale. - click below! Photo: Martin Reardon Photography

Trend Alert: What’s Hot for Events for 2021 We’re in the mood to look to 2021 better days ahead! We don’t know exactly what will happen with event size and lo...cation restrictions, but we do know how to make the most of any sized affair. We keep an eye on trends, and we’re adept at incorporating them to create your dream event. Click below to take a peek into the future and see what our event planners predict to be the hottest trends in 2021. Photo: Morby Photography

Try This: An Out-of-the-Box Comfort Pairing for Chilly Weather We hear you: You’re kind of sick of the same-old things when it comes to warming your tummy with ...cold-weather comfort foods. We dig macaroni-and-cheese, chili and hearty soups, but after a long 2020 of way too much at-home cooking, we’re looking for something tasty, comfort-y, different and pretty easy to make. Pair it with a cocktail? Don’t mind if we do. How about you? May we present for your drinking and eating pleasure: Spiced Cider Bourbon cocktail and Herbs de Provence Shrimp with Honey Mustard Aioli. Fits the bill on all counts, and if you need a few shortcuts, you can pick up the simple syrup and the honey mustard aioli at the store. Since times are trying (curse the pandemic!) we decided to make the recipes for three. Feel free to double the recipe if you’re social distancing (or just want another round!). Cheers! Enjoy!

Featured Wedding ~ Jennifer & Matthew Jennifer and Matthew tied the knot on a gorgeous day last May. After getting dressed in the hospitality suite, Jennifer made her way to the greenhouse ruins where Matthew was waiting, eager to see his soon to be wife. Jennifer gently tapped him on the back, and he turned to see his beautiful bride. Click below for more!!! Photos: Bartlett Pair Photography... Flowers: Valleygreen Flowers & Gifts Band: The Vibe Tribe Catering: Robert Ryan Catering & Design Events are produced in partnership between Robert Ryan Catering & Design and The Party Center in an effort to enhance this and other sites within Valley Forge National Historical Park for generations to come.

Pandemic Event Planning Tips: Make Your Event Safe... and Fun! We know that 2020 has been difficult, to say the least. There have been many disappointments for ...those of us who have had to postpone an event this year. We have some encouraging news, though, as restrictions are starting to loosen, and safe, smartly planned events are resuming. Think: anything from a small, intimate minimony, to a large, tented celebration. Click below for tips on hosting a safe and fun event from the experts at Robert Ryan Catering. Photo: Jeff Anderson Photography

A Minimony Love Story: Donita and Leigh Brady: This story is exactly what we need right now. It’s a story of love and joy, but also a story of hope and perseverance in the middle of a global pandemic. More specifically, it’s a story of celebrating love right now despite troubling times with a promise to host a party at another time! - Click below to read Donita & Leigh's love story! Photo: Karen Ann Photography

Blog Alert!! Versatile Tents are Keeping Special Events and Weddings on Track Tents have stepped up their game as outdoor venue heroes since more and more event...s are being scheduled and rescheduled outside. Tents provide protection from the elements, ample physical distancing room, and they can morph into just about any configuration to offer you the ambiance you’re looking for to make your event truly special. We sat down with Chris Caba, president of The Party Center, to understand how tents are so much more than poles and canvas. Check out the latest styles and configurations, a variety of lighting options, and accessories that go beyond just drapery and dance floors. Looking to host a wedding, corporate outing or other personal or professional event during the novel coronavirus pandemic? Read on!

New Blog Alert! Easy Lunches for Kids and for Busy Homeschooling Parents MOM! (Or Dad. Or Gramma. Or !) What’s for lunch? During normal times (read: pre-...novel coronavirus), that question can begin to grate on the most creative parent’s nerves. Now, when so many families are juggling work and homeschooling, the prospect of a creative lunch can be daunting. We hear you! So, we went to the expert, a dad who has four kids at home doing schoolwork Korrine, kindergarten; Mark Jr., high school freshman; Brianna, high school junior; and Kayla, college freshman. Sure, Robert Ryan Catering & Design Chef/Owner Mark Ryan also happens to be a chef, but you’ll find his advice is to keep it simple and to not be afraid to defer to the kids’ favorites (repeatedly). Mark’s wife, Nicole, retired five years ago from Vanguard to manage the home front as a stay-at-home mom. Since the onset of the pandemic, she's also taken on homeschooling duties. Check out this advice from fellow parents in the trenches!

Happy wedding day, Nina & Chris!! We can wait to celebrate with you tonight! #ofishallyomalley Photos: Antiquity Photography by Tara Betz

Blog Alert! Manage Wedding Stress, Plus Get Healthy and Fit, With These Top Tips Your big day is on the way, and some days you feel so much stress! Perhaps yo...u’re snacking a bit more (or, comfort eating!), or being kept awake with details swirling around your head. Or maybe you're weary of advice from well-meaning friends and relatives we’ll stop there. Great news alert: We have an abundance of tips to help you with all of that and more. We sat down with Dr. Kate Henry, a naturopathic physician with advanced training in mind-body medicine and functional psychiatry; she’s also a biofeedback and mindfulness trained clinician. She’s got your back with simple things you can start doing at six months, three months, and one month out, to help you handle stress and to look and feel your best, before and during your wedding day. Stick with this advice, and that feel-good will last after the wedding, too! Photo: @Rooted Image Photography

New Blog Post ~ 7 Wedding Planning Tasks You Can Do From Home You’re engaged! Huge congrats! We know that it seems planning your once-in-a-lifetime event during the novel coronavirus can be a bummer. The mitigation efforts are in flux frequently in reaction to current happenings. We get how frustrating that can be as a human on the planet, and as someone newly engaged who’d hoped to enjoy all the planning and the big event. We have news for you: You can still have fun pl...anning your wedding from home! Click below and start checking tasks off the to-do list!! Photo: Bartlett Pair Photography

Blog Alert!! How to Plan a Next-Level Virtual Bridal Shower Bridesmaids, take a deep breath we get it. You planned and kept secret the bride’s special shower date, and now it’s been cancelled due to the novel coronavirus. It isn’t fair, but we’re here to tell you, it’s possible to host a bridal shower and deliver a lot of fun and festivities online. Click below and get planning!!

Blog Alert!! Top Things You Need to Know When You Have to Postpone Your Event There are lots of reasons why you might have to postpone your event especially n...ow. It’s extremely disappointing to have to delay an event, especially when it’s out of your control. Take a breath... You’ve got this! We asked the experts at Robert Ryan Catering & Design for the inside scoop on the best way to postpone and reschedule. Here's what they said click below! Photo: Annie Sharp Photography, LLC

New Blog Post!!! Family Fun: Get the Kids Cooking! As the states we live in open up more and more, we’re mindful that many people will still be spending plenty ...of time at home. Whether you read this in the middle of a home-school day, or in warmer months when school is out, we’re confident that you’ll cook up some fun with the kiddos using our chefs’ favorite make-at-home recipes. Chef/Owner Mark Ryan and Executive Chef Danny Salazar relish creating memorable meals for our Robert Ryan Catering & Design events. What really puts them to the test is wrangling the kids in the kitchen! In the end, a delicious time is had by all, and the kids come away with valuable culinary and teamwork lessons. Who knows? The next executive chef might be in the making among Mark Ryan Jr. and Korrine Ryan, and Lorena Salazar and Vivian Salazar!

The time has come to reopen our doors and hearts to our hospitality, tourism and events community! We are #EventReady. We are #TourismReady. We are #HospitalityReady.

Blog Post!! An Engagement Story and Reschedule! Tracy Pfizenmayer and Steven Carr We revel in sharing happy tales about how our couples' became engaged and ...then the ensuing wedding and reception magic that follows. In 2020, our first story to tell was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as Tracy Pfizenmayer and Steven Carr had to regroup and reschedule their big day. The beauty of love is that it's strong, resilient and in this case determined. We're happy to report that we rescheduled the happy couple's event to Oct. 2, 2020. Click below for their journey in love and wedding re-planning. Photo: Joel Thomas Photography

New Blog Alert! Looking Ahead: Schedule (or Reschedule?) Your Event at Home Weddings, rehearsals, showers these precious events, and more, have been understandably postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. Delaying long-made plans with family and friends has hurt all our hearts. We’ve been working closely with couples and planners, alike, to reschedule these events at one of Robert Ryan Catering & Design’s venues. Just as importantly, we’ve been working with many folks, helpin...g them to pivot and to eventually host those events at home once social distancing requirements are loosened. Catering a home-based shower, rehearsal, wedding, graduation or other type of party or gathering is one of our specialities. Even extend your options by thinking outside the walls of your home to your backyard we’ve got you covered! Click below for our team's expert tips! Photo: Moonloop Photography

Being homebound is just the excuse we need to think outside the box and combine a few simple ingredients with what’s in the pantry for an elegant dinner at home.... Pair it with a vodka cocktail, some candles on the table and your favorite playlist, and it’s a next-level, stay-at-home experience that will feel like a night out! See more