FROM THE PRODUCERS OF HOUSTON’S LOCAL BRIDAL PLANNING EVENT
Why is Lighting so Important?
Tour the Venues Morgan Falls The Annex The Grand Hall Mirage at Lake Conroe 15 Acres Moffitt Oaks
A GLIMPSE INSIDE: VISIT THE
VENUES!
My First Time Attending Visit the Venues
STORY BY: ELIZABETH CRAFT
Lux Vita The Estates at Pecan Park
ets k c i T le b a l i Ava W! NO
Visit the Venues Edition SAVE THE DATE:
November 2021 Cover photo by Grace Rose Photography
FIRST PERSON
M F
y First Time Attending isit the Venues
V
or anyone planning a wedding in Houston, I’d highly suggest checking out Visit the Venues. The event, hosted by Bridal Extravaganza, is held every year and helps people in the wedding planning process. Whether far along in your planning or starting at the very beginning, Visit the Venues is a great opportunity for brides to learn their options when it comes to vendors. Everyone is welcome to attend the event: mothers, fathers, and members of the wedding party. Even a few grooms attended the event. A range of vendors are there to help with anything and everything you need. In fact, I assure you that you will find something you want to include in your wedding you hadn’t thought of
By Elizabeth Craft
already. It is a wonderful opportunity for brides to see first-hand the many options available when it comes to different wedding styles and decor, catering and bartending options, entertainment, sweets and treats and even travel options. My fiancé and I attended Visit the Venues together. It was great because it encouraged my fiancé to get in on the wedding planning. We decided to make a date out of the day, and not only did we have loads of fun, but we booked a vendor we would have never considered if we had not attended. My fiancé and I travel to the pick-up location where we will be escorted by bus to the venues we will be seeing today. On arrival we
The Grand Hall
are greeted by the Bridal Extravaganza team and given a goody bag with the latest edition of Texas Weddings magazine along with a brochure detailing the different vendors that would be present at each venue. There is also a cute travel size mirror and comb provided by Simple Beauty
Artistry, a make-up and hair design company, included. How cute! I am already excited to get to the venue to sample some treats and hopefully get some free goodies. After boarding the luxury buses, we had about a 25-minute trip to the first venue. Walking into The Grand Hall was amazing. The main building was set up as if it were someone’s actual reception dinner. The decorations, done
by Rexberry Luxury Weddings & Events, are gorgeous. The vaulted ceilings are littered with brightly lit chandeliers setting the mood to compliment the romantic décor. In the center focal point of the room is a fireplace and a grand mahogany table for the wedding party to sit. The table is overflowing with beautiful flowers, large pink roses and white hydrangea among smaller pink and white rose buds. Candles in golden etched candleholders illuminate the assortment of flowers, and along the table on the floor are varying lanterns to complement the lavish, rustic feeling. There are also several round tables which are decorated similarly with textured tablecloths
FIRST PERSON
and exquisite centerpieces, a golden tree with sparkly candles and another with an ornate wooden rectangle candleholder, all are surrounded with the same gorgeous fresh blooms. We drift towards a table of food but stop because we smell the most mouthwatering flavor of fried dough. We follow our noses which leads us to The Donut Fairy booth. They are frying mini donuts fresh and have a variety of toppings to decorate your little donuts. To sate my desire, I don’t even take the time to add toppings and pop an entire donut in my mouth. Delicious! I may have to save some room for another round later, but I need to try some hors d’oeuvres. The foods provided by Phoenicia Specialty Foods are quality. There were several varieties of cheeses I tried that I had never even heard of. It was all equally fresh and delicious. We were also complimented to two delicious alcoholic drinks, one Jameson and cream soda and another fresh, fruity drink by Pour Habits, a mobile bartending company. Of the other several vendors at The Grand Hall venue, mine and my fiancés favorite was Proof It Happened photo booth. We had so much fun taking photos with the different props available. It included a feature where it printed out
The Mirage left the event shorter than previous years, but all the same it was enjoyable and informative. I became aware of options I never would have previously considered, such as including The best part of attending Visit the Venues, was a photo booth at my wedding. Also, wedding planners, Blue the first-hand experience Poppy Events and The Best Day Ever Events, attended option which allowed guests the event. In talking with the planners, I have learned the to record messages to congratulate the married couple. importance of hiring a planner. Wedding planners help you by keeping everything organized. The best part of attending Instead of stressing about Visit the Venues, was the first-hand experience, seeing making sure your caterer arrives on time with hot food, the decorations, tasting the a planner can take that responfoods, and getting to talk sibility and greatly reduce your directly to vendors about options. It was all really nice stress allowing you to focus on what is important, enjoying The Grand Hall photography by Grace Rose Photography and convenient. This year’s The Mirage photography by Weddings Unlimited your wedding! I am having so struggles with corona virus copies of your photo directly, as well as options to text the image to your phone or send it in an email. Not to mention the premium
“
”
FIRST PERSON
“We learned a lot about the various options available to consider regarding vendors. ” much fun and we still have yet another venue to visit. Once again, we load on the buses to head to our next venue. This trip is shorter, 15 minutes or so. We arrive at The Mirage on Lake Conroe. Walking in, we are greeted and given the opportunity to sign up for prize give-a-ways. The foyer is crowded from the people unloading from the buses, and so we make our way into the venue. We walk down a grand staircase, the banisters lined with fluffy, white balloons as if they were the clouds reflecting off the crystal, clear lake that stretches out behind the venue. The only thing breaking the view is a halo of flowers as the backdrop. More lanterns set the ambiance. I imagine standing under the halo of flowers at sunset. This venue is breath-taking and is completely in-doors, which is something I must consider regarding some of the elderly guests whom will be attending my wedding. Always something to consider. The last venue, while completely gorgeous in its own regard was a little too hot, despite the event being held in mid-September. We meander through the side rooms with varying vendors. The reception
area is decorated in a kind of four-seasons, these done by Party Time Rentals. Summer with bright yellow tablecloths and blue china setting, fall with burnt orange cloth and black dinnerware. Each centerpiece is slightly different with varying rings of fall flowers. Winter is elegant, with all white and clear placements. Its centerpiece has a tree with crystals hanging off it like icicles. Of the fourseasons my favorite is spring. The colors are pastel pinks and creams. There is a sample backdrop with decorative books, the pages folded like hearts and arranged amongst roses of every variety of pink. I also love the wedding party table. What catches my eye is the birdhouse decorations and again more beautifully folded books and flowers. Of the second venue, my favorite vendor was For Heaven’s Cake. They had the
most delicious cake balls I have ever had. There was red velvet cake and lemon berry. Chocolate and white chocolate. If I had the opportunity, I would turn back time so I could get some more of their cake balls. Instead I am stuck with the better, in my opinion, alternative, and that is convincing my fiancé that we need For Heaven’s Cake’s cake Featured Vendors: balls at our wedding. My fiancé and I meanSimple Beauty Artistry der through the various Rexberry Luxury Weddings & Events booths throughout the The Donut Fairy venue. There is another Phoenicia Specialty Foods photo booth in the Pour Habits Proof It Happened corner and several wedBlue Poppy Events ding parties are having The Best Day Ever Events fun posing for pictures Pull It Together Party Co. with the various props. Party Time Rentals This photo booth was For Heaven's Cake by Weddings Unlimited; Weddings Unlimited The Grand Hall it was fun and had the The Mirage at Lake Conroe option to do video Grace Rose Photography mementos. Weddings Unlimited
The day is coming to an end and they call for us to load on the buses. My fiancé and I had such a great day. We learned a lot about the various options available to consider regarding vendors available for hire for our wedding. It is also worth mentioning that several of the vendors can be hired for a range of events, not only weddings. We enjoyed many tasty foods and sweets as well as varying alcoholic beverages. We even got some nice goody bags with extra treats to take home and enjoy. There are many reasons why I recommend attending Visit the Venues. Whether you attend with members of your wedding party, with your mom or dad or with your soon-to-be, Visit the Venues is fun for everyone and a great resource for anyone planning their wedding.
Tony Chicas Photography
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
15 ACRES MOFFITT OAKS LUX VITA THE ESTATES AT PECAN PARK
Ivan Garcia Studio
Visit the Venues Ivan Garcia Studio
TRENDS
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Tony Chicas Photography
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Tony Chicas Photography Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Visit the Venues Bridal Venue Tour Launches in Houston By Laurette Veres and Lorie Speich
Brides-to-be visualized their own weddings at five distinct Houstonarea wedding venues on the inaugural Visit the Venues Bus Tour. This new program takes wedding-open houses to the next level, as each venue fully stages a complete wedding and reception. You can envision how it must feel to walk down the aisle on your wedding day. Trending color pallets are brought to life with table linens and centerpieces, while you eat, drink and make merry. Guests say it’s like crashing a wedding while getting a behind-the-scenes tour. Visit the Venues is a luxury bus experience, designed to eliminate one of the biggest frustrations of planning a wedding – driving all over the greater Houston area looking for a dream location. Imagine riding with your family and friends as you experience fully-decorated ceremony and reception sites in your area.
Ivan Garcia Studio
The Visit the Venues team has chosen popular wedding venues and grouped them together to create area-specific tours in and around Houston. Check out www.visitthevenues.com to find upcoming tours and dates.
Ivan Garcia Studio
Experience the Next Step in Planning • Every venue is dressed up to make you feel like
you are crashing a wedding. • Each stop has a theme, a reception and
more
• Experience what
it would really feel like to get married at each venue on the tour
For tickets and more info visit www.visitthevenues.com
The Grand Hall At Deer Lake Lodge
Rustic elegance & country charm!
Call today to learn about our booking specials!
281-639-8077 Grandhalltexas.com
TRENDS
The Grand Hall
Visit the Venue Planners
DONUT FAIRY
GRACE ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY POUR HABITS PANACHE BRIDAL & FORMAL FONDA’S CAKES SHAKE & STIRUP REXBERRY LUXURY WEDDINGS & EVENTS PHOENICIA FOODS PROOF IT HAPPENED
Blue Poppy Events PHOTOS: Grace Rose Photography
SIMPLE BEAUTY ARTISTRY WEDDINGS-UNLIMITED
TRENDS
The Grand Hall
TRENDS
Mirage
at Lake Conroe
Best Day Ever Events PHOTOS: Weddings Unlimited
PARTY TIME RENTALS VICKI & THEODORE ODOM DREAM VACATIONS
WEDDINGS UNLIMITED FAUXTASTIC FLORAL CREATIONS FOR HEAVEN’S CAKE BEST DAY EVER EVENTS
Visit the Venue Planners
PULL IT TOGETHER PARTY CO. MIRAGE CATERING SIMPLE BEAUTY ARTISTRY
TRENDS
Mirage Conroe
TRENDS
Ivan Garcia Studio
15 Acres A FINER EVENT BLUSH HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTISTRY
Ivan Garcia Studio
CAKES BY GINA CHAIR COVERS N MORE CYPRESS PHOTO CAMPER IVAN GARCIA STUDIO MEN'S WEARHOUSE OH SO ELEGANT EVENTS Tony Chicas Photography
PB&DJ EVENTS THE BETTER HALF GOURMET TONY CHICAS PHOTOGRAPHY VENTURA'S BRIDAL FASHIONS WEDDING CAKES BY TAMMY ALLEN
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
YELBA'S VARIETY BAND AND LATIN FIRE
Tony Chicas Photography
Ivan Garcia Studio
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography Ivan Garcia Studio
TRENDS
Ivan Garcia Studio
Moffitt Oaks
Ivan Garcia Studio
BAVARIAN CAKERY Ivan Garcia Studio
BLUSH HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTRY WCAFÉ NATALIE CYPRESS PHOTO CAMPER FOR HEAVEN'S CAKE HOLYOAK FLORAL DESIGNS IVAN GARCIA STUDIO JPL ENTERTAIMENT MEN'S WEARHOUSE
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
VENTURA'S BRIDAL FASHIONS
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio Ivan Garcia Studio
TRENDS
Ivan Garcia Studio
Lux Vita BLUSH HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTRY CAKES BY GINA
Ivan Garcia Studio
CHAIR COVERS N MORE FLORAL EVENTS HOMETOWN CHEF CATERING CO. IVAN GARCIA STUDIO LG EVENT ENTERTAINMENT & PRODUCTION LLC MEN'S WEARHOUSE PICTURE ME HOUSTON PHOTO BOOTH THIRD FLOOR STRINGS TONY CHICAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
VENTURA'S BRIDAL FASHIONS
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio Ivan Garcia Studio
Ivan Garcia Studio
Tony Chicas Photography
TRENDS
T
The Estates at Pecan Park CHAIR COVERS N MORE
Tony Chicas Photography Tony Chicas Photography
DJS ENTERTAINMENT FOR HEAVEN'S CAKE FRANNY'S BARTENDING & EVENT SERVICES J DESIGNS
Tony Chicas Photography
MEN'S WEARHOUSE PHOENICIA FOODS SUNNY HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTISTRY TONY CHICAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Tony Chicas Photography
VENTURA'S BRIDAL FASHIONS
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography
Tony Chicas Photography Tony Chicas Photography
TRENDS
Moonstruck Events
Morgan Falls EXQUISITE TASTE MOBILE BARTENDING FOR HEAVEN’S CAKES GRACE ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY HABANERO’S GRILL & BAR KARY KING BOUTIQUE ATELIER KC EVENTS & FLORALS
Visit the Venues Planners
LITEPRO HOUSTON MOONSTRUCK EVENTS SNAPIT HTX STEVEN PHILLIPS MUSIC THE RED EXPERIENCE WEDDINGS UNLIMITED
TRENDS
The Annex CC LA RUE BEAUTY EPIC EVENTS BY MARILYN FOR HEAVEN’S CAKES GRACE ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY KC EVENTS & FLORALS KARY KING BOUTIQUE ATELIER KATIE HABY MAKEUP ARTIST MOONSTRUCK EVENTS THE ANNEX WEDDINGS & EVENT VENUE
L e s s o n in Lighting W
By Carolina Hernandez Photography by Grace Rose Photography
hat provides depth and ambiance to your wedding day? What helps set the mood?
What helps guests focus on the special elements that make your event great? The answer to all of the above is: Lighting. The right kind of lighting will illuminate the most important details of your big day. You spent hours on every detail and they should be shown in their best light. Industry website, Theknot.com explains lighting as follows: “We like to think of lighting as the jewelry of a space- just as a certain mix of accessories can make an outfit, the right lighting will make your reception unforgettable.” Leigh Ballinger from Houston based LitePro says, “The key is to make your event stand out, not the lighting company’s gear.” The gear should be hidden from site, allowing your décor elements to take center stage. When
considering lighting, he says the party should “glow, not explode.” The right setup is paramount to success. Focus your guests’ attention on what matters most. Whether it’s the dance floor, the expensive ice sculpture, the floral backdrop, the head table, or the beautiful centerpieces; show them in a proper light. Lighting is important during your vows as you want the focused light on both of you during this intimate moment. It’s equally important for a first dance. Light essentially guides your guests’ attention putting the focus where you want it. It’s often taken too lightly, and we are here to explain the psychology and tips as to why you should not underestimate the power of lighting. How many times have you stepped into a room and it did not feel warm and welcoming? The various lighting elements are tied to psychology. We are emotionally connected to light and respond cognitively based on what different lights are chosen. “A bright light helps to make sense of an environment … making it a more pleasant space,” according to Robert Davis, who has a doctorate in cognitive psychology. If a room doesn’t have sufficient light for us to understand what’s going on, we are less likely to enjoy the room.” Different hues affect mood, for example warm, red to yellowish light creates a relaxing atmosphere. Optimistically, lighting is a quick fix that can change the atmosphere in the room with just a simple change in illumination, focus, and mood. However, it takes someone with a keen eye that knows the psychology and emotional connection it has along with what the couple’s goal for their wedding day.
These images show the lighting that Leigh Ballinger and LitePro set up for the Visit the Venues tour.
How much will all of this cost? According to Ballinger, the size of your floral displays and how many lights you need will help determine the cost. Also, find out if your venue allows outside lighting vendors.
Ballinger’s company LitePro has the experience you need to correctly light your event. He has personally worked with five presidents. “We have so many relationships and we have the credibility. When we say we’ve got this, we’ve got this.”
Questions to consider when working with your lighting expert. ·
What room features do you want to highlight?
·
What elements would you like to highlight?
·
Are there any areas in the room you want to make a focal point?
·
Can the lights be dimmed and controlled as needed?
- EVENT PLANNING AND COORDINATION CUSTOMIZED PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR hoto credit: heather purvis photography
FULL, PARTIAL, MANAGEMENT & DESIGN SERVICES
”
"Let us be your something blue...
www.bluepoppyeventstx.com
info@bluepoppyeventstx.com
(832) 350-8505
Experience the Next Step in Planning • Every venue is dressed up to make you feel like
you are crashing a wedding. • Each stop has a theme, a reception and
more
• Experience what
it would really feel like to get married at each venue on the tour
For tickets and more info visit www.visitthevenues.com