Posts Tagged ‘ceremony’

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.

Vacation rentals – From weddings to honeymoons

Vacation rentals – From weddings to honeymoons and everything in between

Vacation rentals are the perfect venue for a wedding or honeymoon. Need a place to host your out-of-town wedding parties or future in-laws, without having to play host and bride? Perfect solution – vacation rental! Looking for a unique destination wedding location, or maybe even a non-traditional venue for your nuptials? What better than – a vacation rental! Want the perfect honeymoon getaway? You guessed right: vacation rental. Honeymooners can even pick from both exotic and nearby destinations. From quaint cottages to magnificent villas, vacation rentals accommodate all travel preferences and budgets, and help you focus on the more important things, like creating memories that last a lifetime.

Why a vacation rental?

Typically, vacation rentals range from conventional condos and homes to fabulous and luxurious mansions and even castles. Whatever your preference, vacation rentals are priced 50-80% less per square foot than a hotel, with the average vacation rental measuring 1850 square feet (versus a hotel’s 325 square feet). What this means is more bang for your buck, and the ability to stay together as a family or group, or get the privacy you’re looking for on a romantic getaway.

Tips and tricks

Renting a vacation home is different than a hotel. At HomeAway, once you find a property you like, we put you in touch directly with the property owner or manager via our online inquiry form or phone. With so many homes to choose from, we recommend checking on the availability of multiple properties in the location you are interested in. This will ensure you receive enough owner responses before making your final choice.

Once you’re ready to secure your vacation rental, it is standard for an owner to require a deposit to hold the date, as with any wedding venue. Be sure to get a written agreement with details like arrival/departure times and payment and owner policies. Find the perfect vacation rental for your wedding, honeymoon or next vacation!

Feature Friday: Angel Springs Event Center

The Wedding Guide is pleased to show you one of our beautiful event facilities, Angel Springs Event Center located just a few miles north of Austin, Texas.

The hill country styled wedding and reception venue is located on a secluded hill surrounded by majestic oak trees. A courtyard and grand entrance greet your guests as they arrive to share your special day. Soaring ceilings rise over the main hall, which can seat 200 guests. A private bride’s suite and groom’s den await them and their attendants.

Angel Springs offers:

• Secluded location
• Located north of Austin and west of Georgetown
• Ample on-site parking
• Banquet & Dining Tables, Linens, Chiavari Ballroom Chairs included
• Try our custom wedding packages or use your own vendors
• Built-in sound system
• On-site management
• Seating for 200 guests

You and your guests will enter your reception ballroom through an intimate courtyard and decorative iron doors. Then step inside our beautiful, spacious ballroom with soaring ceilings for your elegant reception.

Photo-friendly places in the courtyards, under the majestic oaks, along our meditation pathsor with a beautiful Texas sunset as the backdrop.

The natural beauty of  tree-shaded back lawn is a perfect site for your outdoor wedding in Austin. Rain or shine, the ballroom can also be used as a gorgeous setting for ceremony.

Other Amenities include:

• Private bride’s suite and courtyard
• Private groom’s den and courtyard
• Covered back veranda
• Oak-studded back lawn

If you are looking for a venue in Austin area, check out the Facilities section of our Austin website.

If you are looking for a venue in the San Antonio Area, check out the Facilities section of our San Antonio website.

Feature Friday: LoneStar White Dove Release

LoneStar White Dove Release

Make your wedding day even more memorable! LoneStar White Dove Release adds the beauty and splendor of pure white doves to your event.  White doves are symbolic of Peace, Love, Unity and Hope. The significance in the release of white doves and the symbolism of their journey will give your event a powerful, meaningful, and lasting impression, as the doves grace the sky, circle together and fly off into the horizon. White doves provide a stunning, spiritual and emotional effect at weddings and other special events.

LoneStar White Dove Release

They offer a variety of release plans, from the simplicity of a hand held release to the magnificence of the release of an entire flock. Their staff will work closely with you to customize your release so that it suits your preferences and is unique to the occasion. The doves are healthy and are properly trained to arrive safely back to the comfort and security of their home loft (yes, they really do fly home!).

LoneStar White Dove Release offers unique and personable service throughout Austin and the surrounding communities.

Feature Friday: The Gardens of Cranesbury View

Photo by Bokeh Photography

The Gardens of Cranesbury View offers brides an enchanting story book experience. Nestled on 32 acres, this venue features beautiful Italian sculptured gardens with scrolled boxwoods, large urns with color, and water features where your guest can casually stroll. The gardens include a reception house that replicates an old English chapel that accommodates 300 seated. This reception house can be used for a church like setting for your ceremony, or your reception. The outdoor lawn area is able to accommodate 500 guests beautifully under the starry nights of Texas. Our event venue is distinctively different and perfect for weddings.

With 20 years of experience in weddings including floral design, andcoordinating, Gardens of Cranesbury View is a full service venue that offers the romance that only a piece of Europe can bring. So just sit back, have fun and enjoy the experience The Gardens of Cranesbury View has to offer you and your celebration.

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Some of the amenities The Gardens of Cranesbury View offers are:

Feature Friday: Blossom’s Floral Artistry

Flowers by Blossom's Floral Artistry

Blossom’s Floral Artistry has been creating wedding and special event floral since 1995. The highly skilled staff endeavors to provide the most extraordinary service along with exceptional designs.

• Blossom’s takes pride in creating the most innovative and unique floral decorations for any occasion
• Combining the highest quality floral from around the world
• They have extensive design expertise,
• They will create extraordinary arrangements that will exceed your expectations
• From concept to completion, no matter how small the details or size of the event, Blossom’s offers you peace of mind that your wedding day dreams will exceed your expectations
• They offer services from design meetings, to hand selecting the flowers, to set-up and installation in the Austin area
• Blossom’s has been creating special event floral for over 15 years, producing thousands of arrangements exclusively for weddings and special events
• They have worked in locations ranging from private homes, Country Clubs and Hotel Ball rooms, to Disney’s Wedding Pavilion,  Epcot Center, and  Universal Studios

Flowers by Blossom's Floral Artistry

Click here to visit the Florist page of our Austin website for a complete list of our florists in the Austin area.

Click here to visit the Florist page of our San Antonio website for a complete list of our florists in the San Antonio area.

Mazel Tov!

Jewish weddings are full of  distinct traditions and with the Hanukkah holiday in full swing, it’s a great time to learn more about Jewish ceremonies.

In a Jewish wedding procession, the bride and groom are each escorted down the aisle by both of their parents. The bride and her parents circle the chupah seven times, a tradition which has different religious implications.

The chupah is a canopy with four decorative poles  where the ceremony takes place.  This tradition is originated from the Biblical wedding of Abraham and Sarah, it symbolizes the bride and groom creating a home together and that it will always be open to the guests.

The ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract signed by the rabbi that is usually framed and hung on display in their house.

At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom smash a glass with thier foot and at this point in time the guest join and yell “Mazel Tov!” which means good luck. There are a couple of interpretations on this tradition.  One of the  interpretation is that the marriage will last as long as the glass is broken (forever).

Modern Jewish weddings are incorporating traditions from other cultures and creating unique ceremonies that blend modern ideas with their ancestral roots.

Pick the Perfect Petals

Flowers by De Vinnie's Paradise Florist

Roses, tulips and peonies are just some of the few flowers that brides love to add to their wedding. From the ceremony to centerpieces, flowers are a visual element that add elegance to any wedding. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t know the difference between an orchid or a lily; we’re here to help!

How do you express what you want when you don’t know the names of the flowers you like? Pictures are the answer. Taking pictures to a flower consultation is the best way to go! Samples of your wedding color choices, swatches from your linens and pictures of your dress and the wedding party wardrobe are always a big help.

With this information in hand, your florist will be able to suggest floral combinations and artistic treatments to create beautiful floral complements for your wedding.

You may want to consider the traditional meanings behind flowers as you make your selections. For example, hyacinth signifies constancy. Some herbs, too, are important in bridal lore. In medieval Germany, brides wore rosemary to guard against pregnancy!

For non-traditional wedding flowers, consider including unusual greenery. Asparagus fern and multicolored coleus are attractive in summer bouquets. Holly and pine sprays are popular for December nuptials. Stalks of golden-brown wheat are a sentimental touch for harvest brides.

With all of your flower selections, be guided by the advice of your florist and remember, if budget is a consideration, flowers and greenery in season are more abundant and generally less expensive. Also, be sure the flowers you select will hold their shape throughout the day. Tulips, for example, look lovely when fresh, but by the end of the day in Texas heat they will open fully, loosing their normal appearance.

Some things to consider when choosing flowers are:

• Seasons
  • Choosing flowers that bloom in the months around your wedding may be less expensive because they are more abundant
• Color
  • All white wedding flowers are a trend of the past. Infuse your wedding theme with color through bright blooms in your bouquets and centerpieces.
• Your Dress
  • Tie together your ensemble by accenting it with a great bouquet. Add embellishments such as pearls and crystals to your bouquet to make it a coordinating accessory.
• Ceremony Location
  • Check with your ceremony location for any possible restrictions.  Repurpose your ceremony flowers for your reception if possible to save on flower costs.
• Reception Location
  • The size of your reception hall may call for a bolder more dramatic arrangement. Take into consideration if you have an indoor or outdoor venue and what flowers and greenery are at your reception location. Again, check with the reception venue for any possible restrictions.
• Centerpieces
  • Floral centerpieces are a great way to incorporate color into your reception. Centerpieces can be large and dramatic, low and simple or a combination of the two.
• Personal Flowers
  • Traditionally, wedding ceremonies include bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, corsages for the mothers and grandmothers and guest corsages, and boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen, fathers and grandfathers.
• Cake
  • Adding flowers to a traditional white wedding cake is a beautiful and elegant way to add color.

Flowers by The Elegant Bee

When you are selecting your florist, be sure to ask about special packages. Also, ask to see photos of their work, not just arrangements from a catalog, as well as references. Expect to spend about 9 percent of your budget on flowers. Once you have decided on the right florist, it is always a good idea to request that your florist give you an itemized bill in advance. Make sure that you in turn supply the florist with the names, addresses and times for delivery of your bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages and floral arrangements.

Tags: Advice, austin wedding, bridesmaid, Cake, centerpieces, ceremony, Event Ideas, Flower Ideas, Flowers, Flowers for my wedding, Reception, san antonio wedding, wedding, wedding flowers, wedding ideas, weddings
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Wedding Locations for Small Ceremonies

When planning your small wedding, try thinking outside the box. A smaller wedding offers a variety of options for locations that are not possible for receptions of more than 50. Here are just a few ideas.

Bed & Breakfasts: With intimate and romantic settings, a bed and breakfast is a wonderful place for simple yet elegant wedding. Not only can you have the wedding on site, you can have a wonderful wedding night. Inn on the Riverwalk in San Antonio and The Winfield Inn in Austin are beautiful locations that provide a wonderful setting for intimate weddings.

Historic Sites: Nestled among the hustle and bustle of modern city life are many unique historical sites that can host your unique wedding. The Neill-Cochran House in Austin and Lambermont Events in San Antonio offer the beauty of a modern wedding in a historic setting.

On The Water: Celebrate your wedding on your own private island! Treat your guests, and yourself, to a floating celebration on a ship, yacht, or even old-fashioned riverboat. Both the nautical charm of the boat itself and the breathtaking scenery floating by enhance the dreamy effect of a wedding on the water. Flagship Texas offers sunset ceremonies on Lake Travis with a view and experience that will be unforgettable.

The Great Outdoors: There will be no place to marry as unique as the great outdoors. The changing of seasons can boast beautiful fall colors or sensuous spring flowers which will be different every year. An outdoor wedding can range from a simple garden atmosphere, a picturesque river or lakeside event, or an elegant buffet design set up to watch the sunset. State parks as well as city parks make excellent choices. The Gardens of Cranesbury View in New Braunfels and McMurtrie Farms in Pflugerville offer breathtaking outdoor ceremony options.

A Home Affair: Sometimes the perfect wedding site is one you’ve visited a hundred times: your parents backyard. Having your wedding in a place that has personal history will add to the beauty of a place more than any decorations. Walking down the banister you used to slide down or reciting your vows under the tree you used to climb will make beautiful wedding memories. The extra planning an at-home wedding takes is well worth the effort for brides who have their heart set on a romantic and memorable wedding.

The Place You Met: Ranging from the exotic to the very unusual, more brides are making their weddings memorable by hosting the ceremony, and occasionally the reception, in the very spot they met. From coffee shops to airports to zoos, you can make that first date or meeting the place where you say your final “I Dos.”

Magic 105.3 Dream Wedding at Granberry Hills!

Congratulations to Sarah & Adam and their Magic 105.3 Dream Wedding at Granberry Hills!