Archive for the ‘Reception’ Category

Reception Contracts…Don’t Panic!

Contracts, in general, can be very intimidating. But when you add into the mix the idea that the contracts you sign for your wedding could make or break your budget and be the difference between going down the street for your honeymoon or somewhere tropical with a lovely cocktail (with an umbrella) in your hand, it might be a good idea to get well versed on what questions should be answered in your vendor contracts.

Today we are looking at your reception contract. So once you’ve decided on where to hold your reception and what it will include, be sure the contract includes the following information:

• Total cost and a line-item breakdown of what’s included
• Amount of deposit and when it was paidBalance outstanding and when it’s due (payment schedule)
• Exact date, time and location of your wedding. If using a venue with multiple rooms, be sure to include exactly which room your wedding will be in
• Detailed list of everything the facility will provide (tables, chairs, linens, amplifiers, etc.)
• The name of the site representative who will be on hand on your wedding day, and the name of an acceptable substitute
• Proof of liability and liquor insurance
• Cancellation/refund policy
• Any other details that were agreed to orally you want to be sure are included

And now that you’re armed with some very definite tools for the task at hand, feel confident that you can stay on budget and possibly book that awesome dream honeymoon.

Venue Selection 101

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.

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. Do they have adequate coat check and bathroom facilities?
4. 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?
5. Is there a payment schedule? What kind of deposits are required?
6. Are there any hidden costs? (Before you sign the contract, read it carefully.)
7. What are the overtime charges?
8. Do they have a liquor license?
9. Will they allow you to bring your own liquor? (This is usually cheaper, even with the customary corkage fee.)
10. Is there room in the wedding venue for a band and/or dancing?
11. Does the wedding venue already own a sound system with adequate speakers or will that need to be rented?
12. Is there a space for the bride and groom to change and/or relax?
13. Where will you take photographs? Is there a park nearby, or do the coordinators have recommended spots on the grounds?
14. 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?
15. Where can your guests park? Are there extra fees for parking? Do they have valet parking?
16. 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?
17. Are candles or other open flames allowed?
18. 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.

Kendall Plantation Offers Some Southern Hospitality

It’s always difficult to make wedding decisions based on just pictures or a recommendation from someone else who has used them in the past.  For this reason, various venues have open house events to bring in large groups of couples to not only see their venue, but also to sample first hand various foods, trends, music, etc. as possible options for their big day.

Kendall Plantation is hosting just such an event tomorrow, November 2, from 5:30 – 8:30pm.  Some of the vendors that will show off their skills and wares will be: Capture the Fun Photo Booths, Bartenders 4 You, Stephanie’s Colorful Creations, and many others.

In addition to all of these wonderful vendors, Kendall Plantation will be giving tours of their newly completed venue.  Completed with floor to ceiling windows with monumental French doors on all sides of the building, the open feeling through the ballroom creates an elegant and romantic backdrop for your wedding. Wood floors compliment the beautiful cascading chandeliers, with wall sconces carefully chosen to warm the room providing elegance and charm. The 13-foot wrap-around porches allow for a lovely cocktail hour and some Hill Country R&R. Black shutters, wrap-around porches, a lighted cupola on top, and giant white columns are surrounded by century-old oak trees, a natural pond, rolling hilltops and magnificent sunsets.

So if you’re looking for something to cross off your wedding planning list, head on over to the new Kendall Plantation and get some great ideas and sample everything firsthand so you can make a thoughtful decision.

Please RSVP to Lisa Morales of Haute Weddings
Haute Weddings Events
(210) 215-5820
lisa@myhautewedding.com

Spooky New View

This week inevitably brings back memories of childhood Halloween’s and all the fun stuff we did throughout the years.  I know that for me, several memories come to mind.  Some of my earliest trick or treating memories are of my mom conspiring with the other neighborhood moms to carpool a group of kids to the “rich” neighborhoods for the “good” candy, then later on when I became a teenager, the cool thing to do was to go to the Nightmare on Grayson haunted house and go get scared with your friends.

And what made that experience so memorable was not only the people walking around outside portraying all your favorite scary villains, but also the atmosphere that surrounded the venue.  The long line for the the entrance snaked around the couple of blocks encompassing the location, so you couldn’t help but look over your shoulder to see what was around you.  What instinctively was a defense mechanism to make sure nothing crept up behind you, allowed you to get glimpses of the shadowy outlines of all the old buildings.  And the main one, the Pearl Brewery, which had long since been closed, provided such an austere look of the historic building that it immensely added to the ominous feel of the night’s activity.

So a few years ago, when I heard that a major project was under way to restore the historic brewery for commercial use, I was intrigued as to how they were going to be able to accomplish turning what I always thought of a creepy place into a viable, inviting, commercial development.

Last week I made a trip down there to refresh myself with the area, and I was very surprised to find such a lovely area.  Yes, the Grayson haunted house is still there, but as with most things, looked completely different in the light of day.  The complex is now a series of fully restored buildings used for everything from a culinary school to restaurants and specialty shops.  But by far, the gem that stands out has to be the Pearl Brewhouse facilities.  While maintaining its original historic architecture and character, it has had a remarkable facelift.  Everything looks so fresh and welcoming.  It’s unique layout makes you want to park your vehicle and lazily walk through the compound to see what else lies around the corner.

The Pearl is a community gathering place where you can plan any event in an elegant historic Stable, a modern industrial warehouse, along the banks of the San Antonio River, or on the Pearl Grounds complete with the iconic Brewhouse and Pearl Smokestack in the background.  Events at Pearl include music concerts, barbeque cook-offs and Saturday morning shopping buying fresh produce from the Pearl Farmers Market.  You can also plan an awards banquet for a convention group, a corporate holiday event, a symposium held by a non-profit organization, or the picture perfect wedding and/or reception at Pearl.

If you have not had the opportunity to see what this venue looks like, this one is a must see.  If you’re a bride who teeters on the side of nostalgia and is looking for something with a sense of character, make an afternoon of your visit, then head over to Timbo’s in their complex for a wicked burger with deep San Antonio history.

Foodie Friday

It’s Foodie Friday!  If you’re  looking for some places to try this weekend, here are our suggestions.

Austin – In a town that lives and dies by tortillas and salsa, it’s nice to see that some new culinary niches are trying to gain momentum.  What first exploded on the east coast, sushi is gaining ground amongst couples that want to give their guests a little something different.

How Do You Roll? is a unique maki sushi restaurant that caters to each individual “roller.”  It’s all about YOU there, where you get to personalize your sushi experience as much as you like.  With pre-determined rolls like a 3 Alarm Roll for the super spicy lovers and locale specific concoctions like the Fruit Roll-up dessert roll made with fresh fruit, to “you call it” type of orders, you can’t go wrong at this place.

Stop by and visit our new friends at the Arbor Walk location and tell them the Wedding Guide sent you.  Rob and Susan will take good care of you.

San Antonio – Although Mexican food reigns supreme in San Antonio, Italian has to be pretty high up on our short list of food favorites.  And it’s always a lovely surprise when Zio’s Italian Kitchen shows up in our offices for lunch.  We can smell it from a mile away as it wafts down the hallways, distracting us from the task at hand.  It’s funny how Zio’s seems to make everyone in the office want to take an early lunch.  I can’t imagine why?

All the traditional items are well represented on their menu, but favorites in this office have to be the heavenly stuffed pillows of pasta they call 4 Cheese Ravioli, the island inspired flavors of their Greek Pasta and their yummy brownies for dessert…mmmmm.

We love the fact that after a busy show season, our boss rewards us with this tasty treat.  Thanks Bob!

A Tower of Memories

How many of you that grew up in San Antonio have a fond childhood memory associated with the Tower of the Americas?  Was it a 5th grade trip that was the culmination of your elementary experience?  Did you end up at the Tower after a day long field trip at the Institute of Texan Culture?  Did you roll up your jeans and play in the fountains that surround the base of the Tower?  I know I did.

If you had a childhood sweetheart and the Tower of the Americas spurred some sort of loving memory, or…maybe that’s where you had you first date or where he proposed, you could incorporate this venue with your wedding day.  Did you know that you could have your wedding at the Tower?  You might want to make a trip downtown to check this unique venue out.  Let’s face it,  many people choose their wedding venue based on some sort of connection to that specific place.

You can treat your guests to the spectacular 360 degree view of the San Antonio skyline that only Tower of the Americas can offer.  Two private dining rooms are located on the 4th Level Observation Deck and can accommodate any special dining experience; the Bowie Room seats up to 60 guests and the Crockett Room seats up to 40 guests. Tower of the Americas offers tailored menus with only the finest food prepared by the Chart House Restaurant.

Hidden Gems

Sometimes my work is too difficult.  I am forced to visit beautiful locations to scout for upcoming photo shoots, all the while wishing I had a special event coming up to book these places myself.  In our last two shoots, I discovered a hidden gem in One World Theatre and a hip restaurant, Sazo’s Latin Grill.  Both of these might not be the first locations to pop into a bride’s mind…so let me paint you a picture.

Austin – Want to have an Italian destination wedding, but right here at home?  You might want to consider One World Theatre as the canvas on which to paint your romantic Italian dream.

I can almost hear the single guitar playing O Sole Mio in the background as the beautiful property sits atop a hillside reminiscent of a Tuscan Villa.  As you wander the venue, your can just see yourself dining al fresca under a gauzy tent with twinkle lights, sipping on carafes of vino and nibbling on Italian fare.  And can you believe you can have all of this happen without flying all your guests roundtrip to Italy?  Us either.

Ah…that’s amore.

San Antonio – When you think of Latin food in San Antonio, what comes to mind?  Casa Rio? La Fogata? Blanco Café?  Have you ever thought of Sazo’s Latin Grill?  It might be time to try something different.  True, not the traditional Tex-Mex fare that us locals are probably used to, but undoubtedly a menu worth trying.  When you think of Sazo’s, think Latin infusion that veers towards the fine dining end of the spectrum.

Located in the Marriott Rivercenter, Sazo’s is a well-kept secret.  We dare to say that it’s worth the drive downtown to taste some of their dishes.  And Sazo’s is famous for handling all your rehearsal dinner needs or small wedding reception in an elegant, top-notch way.  So if you’re bringing family and friends in from out of town, and want to treat them to some “Latin Cool,” head on over to Sazo’s.

Your wedding itinerary

Submitted by Cutting Edge Entertainment

Most brides plan their weddings for several months and some even years. When so much thought and planning is put into this one special day, it is important to remember to develop a reception itinerary to ensure the evening flows smoothly.

Your disc jockey will use your reception itinerary to guide the evening along. He will make the appropriate announcements to your guests and discreetly remind to you what is coming up next so you can be prepared.  This will allow you to have for fun at your reception, and you won’t have to wonder, “What are we doing next?”

If you have a wedding coordinator, your DJ  will easily work with them and they will be the ones with direct contact with you. Your DJ will also work with your photographer so he is always “in the know” and is ready for the big events.

An itinerary is intended to give the DJ a list of things he will need to announce, the order in which they are to happen and the approximate time for them. By preparing your itinerary ahead of time, you are sure to have the time of your life at your wedding reception!

Vintage wedding at Palm Door

Take a look at this beautiful, vintage-inspired wedding at Palm Door with stunning photos by Now Fly Away. We especially love the unique cake from Austin Cake Studio, too!

Frosting is simply ‘Icing on the cake’

Don’t know your ganache from your galoshes?  Before you begin looking for your dream wedding cake, here are some definitions to help you decide what best suits your needs.

Butter cream – This is a smooth, creamy butter-based icing that is generally used to ice the entire cake, giving it a traditional look. Butter cream is often used as the base icing, to which decorations can be attached.  Butter cream is not overly sweet and can be giving a wide variety of fruit flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate, lemon, hazelnut, coconut or any other fruit flavors.  Butter cream is generally a good choice, and a good value.  There is a difference in butter cream icings, however.  Some bakers use only butter for the icing.

Some butter cream icings are made using a combination of butter and shortening or just shortening.  These butter creams are generally not as smooth as butter cream using 100% butter, but they are less expensive and can be quite acceptable tasting, if not the same a pure butter cream.

Fondant – This icing is one of the most popular choices of brides.  It is a very smooth, matte, elastic icing that gives cakes a flawless, porcelain finish.  It is rolled out like a pancake, draped over each layer of the cake and smoothed out.  Flavored, tinted fondant can be used in a variety of designs, including woven, or checkerboard designs.

It is an extremely labor-intensive process, and therefore is generally more expensive than butter cream icing.  To use fondant, a cake must first be coated with a layer of glaze to seal in crumbs.  Often this glaze is fruit-flavored.  Then a layer of butter cream icing must be applied to the cake to hold the fondant in place. Another thing to keep in mind with a fondant-iced cake is the thickness of the fondant.

Ask your baker how thick the fondant they use is.  Usually if it is more than 1/8th of an inch, the cake can be difficult to cut.

Some brides elect to have butter cream frosting with flower-shaped fondant and decorations.

Ganache – Ganache is more properly considered a glaze than a frosting.  Made from heavy whipping cream and usually chocolate, the icing is poured over he cake.  It dries to a finish similar to fondant, but is less labor intensive.  It doesn’t require the cake be sealed with other icings before the ganache, although a flavored mousse can be used first to give the cake a better taste.  Ganache itself is extremely rich and sweet and is also used as a filling for cakes.

Royal Icing – royal icing takes on two forms.  When applied to the cake it is soft and pliable, then dried to a hard finish.  It is usually used to create leaves, flowers and other edible decorations, but rarely on the whole cake. A type of royal icing, run-in sugar is thinner in consistency than royal icing and is generally used to fill in shapes.

Whipped Cream & Mousse – these use large amounts of dairy products.  Whipped cream icing not only requires refrigeration, but is also not a good choice for multiple layers because it is not as stiff as most icings, so layers can easily slip.  Like whipped cream icing, flavored mousse is sometimes used as an icing.  Both of these icings must be refrigerated until servings, so generally are not used on wedding cakes, which are usually on display throughout the reception until serving time.