The Corinthian in downtown’s Historic District is one of the most drop-dead gorgeous venues in Houston. So it’s no surprise last weekend’s tour and tea with venue director Jackson Hicks—Founder and CEO of famed catering firm Jackson and Company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year—was one of the city’s most spectacular bridal events on record.
Floating candles welcomed brides and their guests as they ascended the venue’s regal stairs, led by Hicks, who held forth on The Corinthian’s history and wedding offerings. As if The Corinthian isn’t already amazing enough, top Houston designers lent their talents to dressing the space. Rob Smith of Events in Bloom brought in creamy white flowers and country-French furniture, while Darryl & Co. did up a divine chuppah in tons of cascading blooms. More fabulous flowers, courtesy Bergner & Johnson, adorned the tea tables, where guests nibbled the most delicious cakes, scones, pastries and tea sandwiches this side of the pond. Fashion, too, was at the fore, with luxury bridal salon Ivory Bridal Atelier showing off stunning gowns, accessorized with jewelry from—where else?—Tiffany & Co.
Get a feel for last weekend’s event—and for what your own Corinthian/Jackson and Company wedding might look and feel like—with these terrific photos from Larry Fagala and Nhan Nguyen! Photos: Nhan Nguyen Photography (top 5 images), Larry Fagala (bottom 2 images)
If you needed one more reason to purchase tickets for next Sunday’s exclusive and certain-to-be-EXTRAORDINARY Tea and Tour of The Corinthian with the inimitable Jackson Hicks of legendary Houston catering firm Jackson and Company, well, this it IT:
Brides who call 713.222.2002 to purchase tickets by Thursday, Nov. 3 to attend this not-to-be-missed event, taking place Sunday, Nov. 6 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., will be entered to win a fabulous in-home bridal shower for up to 50 guests, with table settings, exceptional cuisine and impeccable service, from internationally renowned Jackson and Company (host will provide beverages). Jackson Hicks will personally design the menu for the winner’s magnificent shower.
The value of this incredible prize is $3,750, and entry is open ONLY to Houston brides who purchase tickets for next Sunday’s Tea & Tour of The Corinthian with Jackson Hicks by Thursday (entry is NOT open to non-brides or guests of brides attending the event, and is non-transferable).
The giveaway winner will be announced at Sunday’s event, and must be present to claim her prize.
And don’t forget, now through Thursday, Nov. 3, brides who mention Weddings in Houston when they call 713.222.2002 to reserve tickets for Sunday’s event will receive one complimentary ticket for each $25 ticket purchased—a perfect opportunity to bring your fiancé, mother or best friend to this once-in-a-lifetime event.
A sumptuous tea, an inspiring tour with a living legend, an opportunity to mingle with the city’s most esteemed wedding experts, a chance to win the bridal shower of a lifetime—oh, and free tickets, too. How can you refuse?
When Mark Badgley met James Mischka at Parsons School of Design in New York, something beautiful happened. That something will be showcased in Houston this Friday and Saturday, when Ivory Bridal Atelier hosts a Best of Badgley Mischka Bridal 2011 trunk show featuring favorite styles from the duo’s 2011 collections. Badgley Mischka’s 2011 gowns are standouts in a standout line, so if you’re looking for an understated, impeccably crafted wedding dress that exudes the pure, distilled essence of “bride,” we strongly suggest you GO. But before you do, make sure to schedule your appointment–they’re required. Call 713.550.1622 to lock yours in!
If you’re searching for a seriously standout wedding gown in Houston, this Friday and Saturday’s WOW trunk shows may just be your best bet to strike gold.
At Joan Pillow A Bridal Salon, the spotlight shines on hot-off-the-runway gowns from fashion legend Carolina Herrera’s spring 2012 bridal collection. Look for crisp silks, antique silver and crystal embellishments and origami-inspired accents. With gowns this dreamy, it’s no surprise Herrera was tapped to design the wedding gown for the “Twilight” series’ Bella Swan—to be featured in the much-anticipated (by us and zillions of other hopeless romantics) “Breaking Dawn” installment, out this fall!
From designer Francesca Pitera, it’s the Jim Hjelm fall 2011 collection at Ivory Bridal Atelier. Pitera applies bridal-worthy materials and exquisite embroidery to prêt-a-porter silhouettes; the result is a luxury line of wedding dresses with runway-chic presence—the choice of many a fashion-forward bride. Look for plenty of silk organza and Alençon lace, elegant dropped-waist bodices and petal-pretty skirts.
Ever wonder what Houston’s finest wedding vendors are doing when they’re not creating, you know, totally incredible weddings? Well, on July 21 , 300 of them were living it up at La Colombe d’Or—site of the Weddings in Houston August 2011 Issue Launch Party!
The lively and visually stunning (of course) bash—with fabulous country-French décor and luscious flowers from Rob Smith of Events in Bloom—brought out many of the city’s most in-demand wedding vendors. Among them, Susie’s Cakes & Confections and Cake Creations, whose dazzling and decadent cakes were so “so beautiful, it was a sin to cut them!” noted Weddings in Houston publisher Radhika Day. As if these divine cakes weren’t enough, the sweet gals from SWEET gifted guests with to-die-for French macaroons (big with Houston brides for 2011-2012 weddings–if you haven’t yet, you’ve seriously got to try them).
Of course, this being a Weddings in Houston party, you better believe some amazing entertainment was on the menu. Guests couldn’t get enough of the killer DJ and alluring “table girl,” courtesy Jetspeed Entertainment—and they couldn’t wait for a go at the photo booth from JPL Entertainment, who also showed off their unique hand-crafted albums and guest books, btw.
Big—no HUGE—thanks to Rob Smith, Susie Edwards, Bobbie Taylor, John Escamilla, Jeff Landry and Sandy Tran, as well as Dan Zimmerman and Hannah Kramer of the sumptuous and spectacular La Colombe d’Or, and to the talented Danny Heinlin of DW Photography for fabulous pics of the event, featured here!
Yes, this is bridal open house season. And yes, lots of the season’s bridal open houses offer goodies aplenty–free food and drinks, door prizes, raffles, complimentary valet parking, the list goes on and on. But it stops at Sugar Creek Country Club. Because at its bridal open house this weekend, this lovely, intimate, gracious, gloriously green-lawned Sugar Land club is giving away AN ENTIRE WEDDING. That’s right, one lucky bride in attendance at this Sunday’s event will win a ceremony and reception package for up to 100 guests. And we’re not talking streamers and soda pop either. We’re talking stunning outdoor I Do’s, Champagne, butler-passed hors d’oeuvre, hosted bar, plated dinner, centerpieces, DJ, cake–the works.
For your chance to win your Sugar Creek Country Club wedding, attend this Sunday’s open house from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (which you were going to do anyway, right?), enjoy beverages, nibbles, chit-chat with the club’s very experienced event staff, follow their giveaway entry instructions…then just wait. Winner will be announced at the event, and must be present to win. For more info call 281.494.9131 or click here. And bring your lucky rabbit’s foot.
If you happened to pop over to Bering’s on Friday or Saturday, June 18-19, you no doubt caught a glimpse of the future of fine china and crystal. For two gleaming, glittering, gorgeous days, Houston’s emporium of elegance hosted Lord Wedgwood, of the famed British china dynasty, accompanied by Waterford Wedgwood international spokesperson and arbiter of entertaining excellence Jorge Perez. Big thanks to Bering’s for pairing with Rolls-Royce to bring this terrific twosome to Houston!
For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we snagged an exclusive chat with Perez and Lord Wedgwood, who dished on serving platters, teapots and such, and told us why today’s tabletop registry is all about breaking free of the “china prison” (Perez’s cute term for grandma’s hands-off china hutch). Here’s what we learned:
Lord Wedgwood: Registering for your wedding is not just saying something looks pretty. Yes, it looks pretty, but you should also be able to say, “Wow, we can use it for this and this and this.” Wedgwood has been at this game for 250-plus years, and the reason we’re still in business is based on the legacy of a number of things. One of them is quality. And quality absolutely illustrates that this is something that can be used multiple ways for time immemorial.
Jorge Perez: There is nothing like a Houston bride. These are world-class brides. They’ve had great parenting, and this region of the country is one that still entertains with style. It’s in their blood. We also know that with brides today, they have so much going on in their lives. Registering is a point in time when a bride stops and takes time to think about the future. We may not be the sexy part of wedding planning, like the cake or the venue. But we are about life after the wedding. We’re here to inspire a bride to think about why she might need a teacup. It’s not just for tea. A tea cup can be used for tapas, spicy sauces, holding flowers or serving soup in. We’re here to give brides permission to use these things in many different ways, so you can use that china that your parents or grandparents left in the hutch too long. Get it out of that “china prison!”
Lord Wedgwood: Entertaining is all about creating atmosphere and ambiance. In so many instances, that is so critical to the whole experience. Even the food can be relatively mediocre, as long as you’ve created the right ambiance with lighting, flowers and the right kind of accessories. It just requires a little bit of thought. And if you have put that thought into your registry, then you’re able to draw from the things that are there.
Jorge Perez: And that ambiance we’re talking about really begins at curbside. That’s where your guests should start feeling this incredible evening coming on. And that table, make sure it’s real for you. Don’t set your table for a photo shoot, set it for the purpose of evening. And remember, there are no rules. We just want you to enjoy yourself. Do, though, try to keep the centerpieces low, and the candles and flowers fragrance-free. Also, one of the things we love to advise at Waterford Wedgwood is always do something unexpected. Guests might not remember the meal, but they will remember the experience. So turn that Waterford glass upside down and use it for a votive. Pour the soup out of a coffeepot into a cup and saucer. Your guests will remember that forever. It’s really all about doing simple things in a fabulous way.
Jorge Perez will return to the Houston Wedding Blog to offer his top registry tips in just a few weeks. Trust us, you won’t want to make your list till you check this post…twice. We’ll announce it on Facebook and Twitter when we post, so stay tuned!
For a full gallery of event photos, visit Bering’s bridal blog
One legendary landmark retailer + two iconic arbiters of gracious entertaining = a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Houston brides. This Friday and Saturday Lord Wedgwood–yes that Lord Wedgwood–joins Waterford Wedgwood national spokesperson Jorge Perez for two exclusive events at Bering’s. On Friday from 5:30-8 p.m., Lord Wedgwood talks china, crystal and the art of entertaining, and signs Wedgwood products purchased at this event, a benefit for the Junior League of Houston. On Saturday, Lord Wedgwood and Jorge Perez welcome brides and their guests for a delightful few hours of dishing on dishes–and platters and crystal and tea service. Champagne will be involved in both events. And so will we. Join us?
Houston-based wedding gown designer Melina Cristina knows that every bride deserves to feel special on her big day. Like, extremely special. Like, one-of-a-kind special. Which is exactly how you’ll feel when you work with Melina to create your perfect “true couture” wedding dress.
At the recent grand opening of Melina Cristina Bridal Couture in River Oaks, we sat down with Melina to discuss what makes her gowns extraordinary. The simple answer? YOU, of course. All of her gowns are custom-made to fit each bride’s unique style, providing a true couture experience from start to finish. The moment you step through the door, you will be greeted warmly and made to feel comfortable while Melina and her staff begin the process of creating the dress you’ve always dreamed of wearing.
Not sure what you’re looking for? Not a problem. As a bride, you are welcome to browse through her current collection, try on any one of her previously made dresses, and determine what look you like the most. From there, Melina will work with you to decide on a specific design, complete with stunning details like authentic Swarovski crystals—and, if you’re game, lots of ‘em…Melina loves her bling—to make your dress one-of-a-kind.
The whole idea behind Melina Cristina Bridal Couture is for each bride to find the dress that is meant for her in every way, without having to pay a fortune. The prices range from about $1,800 to $9,800, depending on the material and embellishments used, which is about what you’d pay for a gown in any local bridal salon. And rest assured, we’re talking about the finest quality silks, laces and ornamentation, chosen by Melina Cristina herself.
And here’s the best part: OK, OK, your very own one-of-a-kind couture wedding dress is the best part. But here’s the OTHER best part: Twenty percent of all Melina Cristina’s sales are donated to Melina’s own non-profit organization, which builds vitally important water wells in Africa. Just imagine–you can help save lives by purchasing your dream gown!
Look good, do good, feel good. It’s a wedding win-win-win! Call 713.489.4424 to make an appointment or visit her online.
You may remember when we blogged about the amazing National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) “Indian Weddings”-theme wedding trends luncheon awhile back. Well this year’s annual wedding trends event promises to be even more spectacular, if that’s possible. First of all, the Thurs., April 21 “Sky’s the Limit”-theme bash is not going to be a luncheon at all, but a seriously delish dinner, starting with cocktails and hors d’oeuvre at the wonderful 1940 Air Terminal Museum. Next, guests will jet over to the museum hangar, which will be totally transformed for the occasion by members of NACE Houston—the nation’s largest NACE chapter, which counts Houston’s top wedding experts among its members. It also counts our very own Radhika Day, publisher of Weddings in Houston as one of its longest-serving members. And proudly so.
Naturally, we’ll be there, checking out the latest, greatest trends in wedding design, décor, catering and production from Houston’s finest wedding pros. And we’d love for you to join us. While the NACE wedding trends event is typically geared toward wedding professionals, this year’s dinner is open to brides, too. Buy your tickets, register for this year’s giveaway and you may just win yourself a luxurious Dominican Republic honeymoon package (there’s a reason they call it Paradisus Resort).
For more details or to register for the April 21 “Sky’s the Limit” even, visit WT2011 or NACE Houston. We’re ready for takeoff. How ’bout you?
