Archive for the ‘Venue’ Category
Villa Antonia Opens Up Its Vistas for Brides
Monday, April 8th, 2013By Nadia Husayni
What a beautiful weekend to spend the day in the great outdoors. What’s even more beautiful, was spending a nice Sunday afternoon at Villa Antonia for their bridal open house featuring more than 35 vendors in the Austin area. A lovely breeze, gorgeous Hill Country views and music by Angelic Strings really set the mood for the afternoon. If you have not checked out this venue, now is the time to do so with wedding dates just around the corner.
Villa Antonia is 19,000 square feet and 5,000 of it is heated and air-conditioned. Rain, heat, or shine, there is always a back up plan in case the weather does not fall through on your wedding day. You can enjoy a lovely wedding service inside their own chapel or a small reception outside overlooking the breathtaking hill country in their main house. One thing to keep in mind about Villa Antonia is that this is an actual villa, not just the Hill Country. You get to enjoy Austin’s true beauty through the chapel, gazebo, courtyard, main house, and the wine cellar bedroom. Villa Antonia really wants to make your big day a dream come true and can provide a day of wedding planner and assistant. At night, lighting is provided that lights up the whole venue under a starry night.
Also at the open house, a variety of vendors brought their best forward to show planning brides and couples. Michelle’s Patisserie provided guests with delicious cakes and offers a variety of designs and flavors to bride. These are custom made cakes to meet the bride’s request that is made out of love. You can even have different flavor for each tier.
Food was provided by a variety of different caterers, but Catering by Mopsie really stood out and had guests going back for seconds. After being in business for 50 years, this family-owned, full-service caterer offers anything from traditional to custom-made menus. There are absolutely no limitations, and it’s open to whatever your heart (or mouth) desires.
Sterling Affairs is the largest independently owned catering company in town with over 100 people on staff. Along with catering, they also can take care of everything silverware to linens. They have plenty to choose from in their 16 page menu packet, but also allow you to build your own menu. The nice thing about Sterling Affairs is that their owners are always involved from start to finish. Their door is always open.
Amy Weison Photography had beautiful pictures and portraits of happy brides and her family on her wedding day. Amy treats all of her brides like family and captures every moment as if it were her own daughter’s wedding. Photographs can be taken from start to finish including engagement photos to wedding day photos. She can meet every need no matter how big or small.
Looking for unique stationary? Pink Tulip was on hand and at your service. This stationary company is flexible with your needs and has a variety of stationary goods from programs to napkins to wedding invitations to thank you cards. And even if you find something on Pinterest, they will work with you and try to match what you find. What a great service.
Bouquets of Austin is a full service flower company dedicated to weddings and brides only. They put their flowers together in a traditional manner with a twist; flowers stay in the season and have various flowers available to choose from. One of the great things about Bouquets of Austin is everything is custom; there are no packages.
Other vendors represented at the event were:
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Heirloom Blooms at Acres Wild Ranch…More Than Meets the Eye
Monday, March 11th, 2013
The day was beautiful, crisp, and beckoning an early Spring. The type of day that called for a leisurely drive in the country. Luckily, the open house for brides yesterday provided just such an opportunity. The open house at Heirloom Blooms at Acres Wild Ranch was the backdrop for an afternoon filled with roaming the 40 acre property. And this wedding venue is a fairly new entry among the hundreds of beautiful locations to have your wedding ideally situated between three major cities: San Antonio, San Marcos and Austin.
Upon arrival, you are greeted with large scale metal artwork pieces that dot the property. From a trio of troubadours to giant horses on hind legs, the metal sculptures definitely added a sense of whimsy to the venue.
Always so gracious, Waverly of Heirloom Blooms, greeted all warmly and explained the layout of vendors for the day. The wedding professionals represented for the day were:
Heirloom Blooms at Acres Wild Ranch
Professional Makeup & Hair Design
SweetCreation Cakes
The Honey Pie Bake Shop
Crescent Dental
Loot Vintage Rentals
Wimberley Flower Shop
The Root Cellar
Silpada
and many others…
Brides were able to see multiple ceremony sites, cottages for guests, a menagerie of animals that roam the grounds and several property initiatives that the venue is trying to get underway. From community learning gardens to recycled water systems and proposed toxic gardens, Heirloom Blooms is doing their best to cater brides that are “green.”
One of the highlights of the afternoon had to be the food. The Root Cellar in San Marcos came out and provided a spread that would make any mouth water. The lamb sliders with mint and pesto were a big hit along with the prosciutto wrapped asparagus with wasabi sauce. By far, however, the item that kept all ages coming back for more had to be the Snicker-doodle bread pudding with caramel sauce. Warm and gooey, it was one of those desserts that was a comfort on a crisp March day.
Tours of the property were held throughout the afternoon, which really added to the event. It was not until you climbed in their tour vehicles to understand how large the sprawling property was and truly how much access you had to all the hidden areas.
Tags: bridal open house, Heirloom Blooms at Acres Wild Ranch, wedding venue
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The Oasis Event Set to a Beautiful View
Monday, February 25th, 2013
Last weekend The Oasis on Lake Travis hosted a fun filled day filled with all types of wedding professionals for brides and couples alike to come and see. The open house and mini bridal show was a huge success. Attendance was extremely steady all day long and there was plenty to see and do. From gorgeous decor and tasty treats to rockin’ music and a fashion show that definitely brought giant pops of color to the day, everyone had a great time and enjoyed the great views that were Lake Travis.
The afternoon was set with stunning decor by Premiere Party Central. They did a fabulous job on the rentals with everything from plush furniture to added chandeliers embellished with butterflies and jewels draped from them. It was as if the spring was brought indoors for the afternoon.
Texas Pro DJ did an amazing job with the fashion show. It was high energy and quite entertaining. The show even had a number of dance solos from some of the male models trying to keep the crowds going with the festive mood.
Drama was definitely added from original headpieces created for the models that day. They were both impressive to see on the on the runway and on the models who steadied them on their lovely coiffed heads all afternoon. After the runway, the models even stayed for an impromptu photo shoot on the decks of The Oasis overlooking the lake.
We were so please that so many of the Wedding Guide’s wedding professionals were asked to participate in the day’s event. Represented that day were:
2nd Generation Video Productions
Wild Bunches
Life Styled Events
Tags: Austin wedding venue, bridal fashion show, bridal open house, The Oasis on Lake Travis, wedding venue
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I Love the 80’s Open House at Game Plan Entertainment
Thursday, February 21st, 2013 By Nadia Husayni
Having a stressful time planning the wedding? Are you thinking about having a night out with your groom and a couple of friends? Maybe you’re having some 80’s withdrawals and want to go back to the “good ole days?” Game Plan Entertainment in south Austin is an awesome solution to take a step back and have some fun before your big day. This past Wednesday, Game Plan had an “I <3 the 80’s” open house that was filled with 80’s music, games, and fun for all guests! And let’s face it, who doesn’t love the 80’s?
Game Plan Entertainment is Austin’s only private arcade and events facility. This 5,000 square foot venue is filled with some of our favorite arcade games from the 80’s, as well as games from up to the present. Game Plan has a variety of retro games, a retro room with old school game consoles such as Nintendo and Atari and a “game cave” that contains eight huge flat screen TVs mounted on the wall with the latest games for Wii, Xbox and PlayStation.
And if you are wondering, ” How in the world am I going to use this venue?” Well, Game Plan is a perfect place to plan your bachelorette/bachelor parties. One of the latest and upcoming trends is having the bride and groom start their parties in the same place and then part ways to your nightly activities. You can even bring your own alcoholic beverages, and their bartenders will take care of the rest. You are also welcomed to bring in your own catering to provide snacks for your guests. At the open house, Rosemary’s Catering brought delicious treats from the 80’s such as crackers and Easy Cheese, a “Build Your Own Lunchable” station, string cheese, pizza and yummy hamburgers.
So the next time you have the urge to play some arcade games or want to have a reunion with your future in-laws, be sure to check out Game Plan Entertainment. No matter how young or old your guests are, there is some fun for everyone.
Awesome game cave set up for comfort.
Game Plan Entertainment owners Mike and Sarah Dodd. Thanks for a great night!
Tabletop 80′s games were a hit.
Sweet Solutions provided the most amazing truffles. Look at her Pac Man truffles! Aren’t they adorable?
Build your own lunchables?! Yes please!
Nick Streeby from Texas Poker Supply and Jordan Monday.
The giant Connect 4 was all the rage.
Who doesn’t love a classic like skee ball?
The Wedding Guide was there to cheer everyone on.
Tags: alternative venues, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, gaming, open house
Posted in Bridal Events, General info., Venue | No Comments »
Planning Tips for Selecting Your Perfect Wedding Venue
Monday, December 3rd, 2012
Are you in the stage of your wedding planning where you are looking for a venue? This can be a daunting task indeed, but, with the right questions in hand, you can be confident that you are going to get the venue of your dreams.
From our friend, Chandra at Oh Lovely Day blog, she has composed a list of fail safe items that we would like to share with our community.
Rancho La Mission venue
Finding your wedding venue can be one of the most important, and hardest, parts of planning. So today I’m going to give you some tips to finding your venue. My first two quick pieces of advice: there is no perfect venue and being open to any date will help you have more options.
Some questions you need to ask yourself when looking for a venue:
1. Do you want to get married in a church or religious location? (because this automatically means to need two locations)
2. Do you want your ceremony and reception to be in one location? (this is often more affordable and convenient)
3. How many guests will you be having?
4. What time of year will you be getting married?
5. What geographical location will you be getting married?
Once you have decided as a couple that you want a summer wedding, or an outdoor wedding, or a church wedding, or a destination wedding, you have a better idea of how to narrow down your venue search.
Granberry Hills venue
Once you know what you’re looking for, you need to find some locations to visit. Some great resources can be:
1. Ask married friends who have gotten married in the same place. They may have done a venue search and can recommend some places or tell you places to avoid.
2. Look online. You can go a Google search for your area, look on sites like The Knot or Wedding Wire, and check out vendor guides on wedding blogs for ideas.
3. If you’re in a larger area buy a wedding magazine specific to that area, like The Wedding Guide, which has ads and listings for local venues.
Venues at Pat O’Brien’s
Once you find a few venues you want to visit, here are some questions that you might not think of that are VERY important to ask:
1. Do you have a cut off time or a time limit? Lots of places make you cut off the music by 10 pm or give you 4 hours for your reception, and if you want to party to the wee hours this is important to you.
2. Do you cater on site, have rentals, etc. or do we have to bring everything on site ourselves?
3. What is the parking like for your guests?
4. What are the bathrooms like for your guests? (This is important! You don’t want porto-potties for your guests right?)
5. Can I bring my own alcohol on site? (This is a gem and can save you a lot of money.)
6. Where will the guests eat, dance, have cocktail hour, sit for the reception (if applicable)? You want to be sure there is room for the number of guests you have in mind at each location.
7. Can we use any vendors we want? Do you have any vendor requirements or restrictions?
8. What are the extra fees or hidden costs? Sometimes ceremonies cost extra. There is a fee if you go over a certain number of people.
9. Do you have a minimum cost that we must meet? Many venues do, and while they are usually easy to meet, if the minimum is $20,000 and that is more than your budget, that is not the venue for you.
10. What other restrictions do you have, if any? Some of these could be a noise restriction (could prevent you from having the band or DJ you want), decoration restrictions, etc.
These ten questions will help you narrow down your venue choices to find the right one for you. I hope these tips will help you to find your wedding venue. And remember, no venue is perfect. But, there is one out there that will feel right for you. You’ll find it, I promise.
Tags: Venues, wedding venues
Posted in Planning, Reception, Venue | No Comments »
Common Location Questions
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Every now and then we receive a blog submission that seems to go against the expected. Such is the case with this week’s blog from Knotting Hill Photography. One would expect this wedding professional to speak strictly on the perils within his own industry (photography), however, we found out that these professionals have other skills. And since most wedding professionals gain new skill sets mainly based on the sheer volume of events they work, they have gathered some interesting insights from their observations over the years.
Common Location Questions
- Some venues expect you to use their own caterers and florists. Especially caterers, you might have to pay a bit more to use your own vendors in addition to what you are paying.
- Provide transportation in 15-minute intervals at the following three times:
- Before the ceremony transportation should start arriving one hour before the ceremony; up until the ceremony.
- After ceremony vehicles should be waiting, then be available until a half hour afterwards.
- After reception vehicles should be available immediately and until 30 minutes post-reception.
- Ask for the venue’s to give you a list of rules. Make sure get all the Do’s and Don’ts.
- Here are some things to cover.
- Types of alcohol? Museums for example no red wine.
- Types of lighting are allowed? Candles with open flames are not always welcome.
- How early can your team get into the venue to set up? Some sites won’t permit a setup until the public hours of operation are over. If a gallery closed at 5 and your reception begins at 7 might pose a severe time crunch.
- The director serves as the person behind the curtain at the reception. This person is responsible for things like timing, food presentation; escorting guest.
- Be sure to get a list of the Facility Director’s responsibilities and confirm with them attendance at the wedding before you sign the contract. You shouldn’t have to pay extra for this service if the facility pays the director, but a tip is encouraged.
- NO, you are expected to pay only for the wedding dinner and the morning brunch, there are way too many extra events you could shell out for, but no guest will expect to pay. If you can, maybe the wedding party’s room, or a room that sleeps a group, like a villa might save them some money.
- No matter where your wedding is, find out if you need to hire somebody to set-up and break down the wedding set. Cleaning up after the event some reception halls will cover this and some will add additional fees. If your wedding is in your backyard, offer the vendors extra money to help. You certainly don’t want to be picking up litter on your wedding night.
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Honoring Those Who Serve
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
We love a good wedding story around here, and when we heard of another group of individuals that love one as much as we do, we wanted to hear more. It looks like two forces are heading up an endeavor to see one fantastic couple through all the stages of their dream wedding.
Kendall Plantation and Haute Weddings have been on the lookout for other wedding professionals to see if they would like to join in on their quest to make this good idea into reality. An outpouring of businesses have answered the call and the excitement is building fast. Almost 20 hosts and sponsors have already committed time and services to this worthwhile undertaking, and we’re so proud that a large majority involved are our dedicated Wedding Guide clients. To see a list of all these very generous vendors involved, take a look at this link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303483553005324.71237.303365833017096&type=1 or type in MISSION Wedding to locate their dedicated Facebook page on the event.
Here are the current details we have on this amazing opportunity.
To honor and thank our military service men and woman, Kendall Plantation and Haute Weddings have joined forces to host a wedding for a military service man or woman. Valued at $40,000 MISSION Wedding will include all the wedding details for 150 guests donated by some of the most respected wedding vendors in San Antonio. Our goal is to reach active duty military and honor him or her with the wedding of their dreams. We are looking for military candidates who can submit their love story in 500 words or less and information as to why they should be chosen for a hosted dream wedding! One or both of the candidates must be in the military. Stories must be submitted no later than February 20, 2012. The chosen couple will be determined and announced by March 1, 2012. Entry submissions will be available on our MISSION Wedding website. Website link coming soon!
So submit your or some deserving persons entry to Kendall Plantation or Haute Weddings’ website. We know with such a large military community that San Antonio and Austin has, we can flood submissions and find the most deserving couple to win this contest. Use this as your chance to share someone’s amazing story with us and have everyone else know how this couple’s love story is a story for the ages.
Tags: contest, dream wedding, honor, military, venue
Posted in Bridal Events, Ceremony, Contest/Giveaway, Uncategorized, Venue | No Comments »
Christmas Time Events
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
While sitting at lunch today, a group of us starting discussing possible weekend plans. And since it is December 1st, the conversation brought about all the various options related to seeing Christmas decor and lights. Most of the smaller neighboring communities came up with their holiday festivals starting and some of us discussed the local schools having their caroling shows. But if you don’t have a child in school or you simply cannot make it out for the drive out of town to see the festivities, what can you do?
Well, some of the best things to do around the city during the holidays has to be going around to see all the beautiful homes and their Christmas decorations, sometimes quite literally, in your own backyard. Pick any well-known neighborhood in your city and you are bound to think of Christmas’ past sitting in your car “oooo-ing” and “awe-ing” at the magical displays that takes us back to our childhood.
With that in mind, it just might be the perfect time of year to see some of the most amazing venues in the city with all their finery in place. Venues can tend to look somewhat generic during an initial tour, however, during the holidays everything is decorated to the “T” and provides a better visual as to how a space can be transformed with beautiful items.
A local venue participating in a holiday event this year is our very own Lambermont. They will be a part of the 15th annual Christmas on the Hill Tour of Homes on December 11 from 1-5pm. Sponsored by Government Hill Alliance, it promises to provide an afternoon filled with fun and gorgeous Christmas inspiration. There will also be free carriage rides, food and arts and craft booths presented by Government Hill Partnership. For more information on the event or how to purchase tickets, contact Donna Liston at 210-271-9145 or visit their website at www.lambermontevents.com.
So whether you venture out here or any other number of beautiful spots around your city, let us know where you are going or if you see some venues that are absolutely transformed beyond your expectations. We would love to have tons of holiday photos of your favorite spots along with the memories they evoke.
Tags: Christmas, events, inspiration, venue
Posted in Bridal Events, Celebration, Venue | No Comments »
Need a Dose of Reality with Your Date?
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011As most couples realize throughout the planning process, it can fast become an overwhelming task. It’s best to approach your daunting list with lots of organization and hopefully a method to your madness. And above all else, don’t forget to breath and remember why you are undertaking such a monumental feat. It’s all about you as a couple and celebrating the beginning of a wonderful life together.
So when it does become a little too much for you, find a creative outlet that let’s you and your betrothed an opportunity to reconnect again. Whether it’s those important dance classes you’ve been meaning to do, listening to that “must have” band for the reception, or possibly an outing that incorporates a venue option along with some scrumptious food.
Look no further than today’s recommendation for a fun event. If you haven’t already been told, reality cooking show, Top Chef has made Texas their home this season and we’re showing it off the only way Texas knows how…BIG!
Shot mainly in San Antonio last summer, this season’s episodes show off our city along with Austin and Dallas in a big way. Hollywood and foodies alike are taking notice that our culinary palette is growing up, and we couldn’t be more excited to be in the national spotlight.
So here is the fun wedding connection…the Hilton Palacio del Rio. All season long, Wednesdays are dedicated to a viewing party at this gorgeous hotel. What a great idea for couples to reconnect, see a cool hotel, and sample some top-notch cuisine. We’re sure if you incorporate this date night event, you’re sure to get some cool foodie ideas from the show and get to know an outstanding group at the Hilton.
Over here at the Wedding Guide, we’re also marking our calendars to venture down there and rub shoulders with other local foodies who have tips to share with us. Bring your appetites, your special someone, and a big bowl full of enthusiasm. Dig in ya’ll!
Posted in Advice, Bridal Events, Catering, food, General info., Inspiration, News, Planning, Venue | No Comments »
Venue Selection 101
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
On the flip side of that extreme, are these random temperature drops like the one we will be experiencing tonight. 39 degrees when you wake up in the morning?! Yikes. If you are a bride this weekend and these temperatures took you by surprise, I hope you have a Plan B.
All kidding aside however, there are plenty of things to consider when choosing your venue. Indoor or outdoors, budget big or small, make sure you jot down these crucial questions we found in an online article entitled Chosing Your Wedding Venue by Nina Callaway.
- What’s the decor like? Does it fit your style and wedding colors? Will you have to spend a lot of money on flowers and decorations to make it beautiful?
- Do they have an in-house caterer, and do you like that food? (While an in-house caterer can be easier and cheaper, sometimes the food is not as beautiful as the room. So make sure you taste it!) Do they have a limitation on which outside caterers you can use?
- Do they have adequate coat check and bathroom facilities?
- Is the wedding venue wheelchair accessible? If not, are there many stairs to climb? How close is the parking to the ceremony and reception rooms?What’s the cancellation policy?
- Is there a payment schedule? What kind of deposits are required?
- Are there any hidden costs? (Before you sign the contract, read it carefully.)
- What are the overtime charges?
- Do they have a liquor license?
- Will they allow you to bring your own liquor? (This is usually cheaper, even with the customary corkage fee.)
- Is there room in the wedding venue for a band and/or dancing?
- Does the wedding venue already own a sound system with adequate speakers or will that need to be rented?
- Is there a space for the bride and groom to change and/or relax?
- Where will you take photographs? Is there a park nearby, or do the coordinators have recommended spots on the grounds?
- Who will be supervising and troubleshooting before the day of your wedding? Who will be supervising and troubleshooting on the day of your wedding? Can you meet them now?
- Where can your guests park? Are there extra fees for parking? Do they have valet parking?
- Is the wedding venue convenient to public transportation, especially in big cities? How long will it take your guests to get there?Especially in museums or private clubs, are there limitations on decorations? Do they limit food and drinks to only certain areas of the wedding venue?
- Are candles or other open flames allowed?
- If its an outdoor location, do they have any backup plans for rain or other inclement weather? If not, is there a place that you can put up a tent?
So after you have done you due diligence, you can feel confident that there will be one less thing to worry about on your special day. Don’t forget to visit our venues section in our San Antonio and Austin websites to start your venue hunting with some truly exceptional locations.
Tags: ceremony, Reception, venue, wedding locationPosted in Articles, Ceremony, Planning, Reception, Venue | No Comments »