Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Venues We Love: The Majestic Metro

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Historic Houston Wedding Venues

The bride is always the star of the show, no matter where she weds. But at The Majestic Metro, she can actually see her name up in lights. That’s because this historic Houston gem retains all of the theatrical grandeur of its former days as the Ritz theater, which opened in 1926 as a vaudeville/movie house. The alluring Downtown site no longer screens talkies, but it does feature the plush decor and ornate interior flourishes one associates with old-time cinemas (along with the state-of-the-art sound and lighting one typically does not–bonus!). We love that couples can bring in the caterer of their choice, we love the vast dance floor, and we LOVE that aforementioned marquee, where a bride and groom can enjoy top billing on the day they premiere as Mr. and Mrs.

Movie Theater Wedding Venues

All photos: J Cogliandro Photography (except top image, bottom right)

Like the idea of a spotlight wedding–but fancy yourself more rock star than film siren? Check out this recent post on another of our favorite Houston wedding hot spots!

Westin Memorial City’s First Wedding Couple Leaves a Permanent Mark

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Deborah and JoeDeborah and Joe Sign Floor

There will never be another Deborah and Joe. And there will never be another first wedding at the soon-to-open Westin Memorial City. Naturally the folks at the fabulous new Westin wanted to commemorate this sweet Houston couple’s very special status…by having them graffiti the walls and floor. Huh??

OK, so it wasn’t exactly spray tagging. But the couple was given a nice little marker and the chance to write their names and wedding date on the ballroom wall and the floor of the guest room where they’ll be spending their wedding night this coming May. “That way they will be a part of the hotel forever!” says Westin publicist Brittany Zucker. Check out Deborah’s bridal hard hat—so cute!

Deborah and Joe 5-21-11

You won’t be able to take a pen to the walls at the Westin Memorial City (at least, not legally), but you CAN book this absolutely beautiful hotel for your wedding. We’ve got lots more details on the new Westin’s wow-worthy architectural features, design elements and ballroom space in this issue of the Wedding Buzz. Or visit the hotel virtually at Weddings in Houston.

 

Venues We Love: The Grove Houston

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

If you’ve visited Discovery Green (and if you haven’t, spring is a great time to check it out), you’ve probably caught sight of The Grove. The 10,000-square-foot glass, wood and steel restaurant—designed by Larry Speck, former dean of architecture at UT Austin, with interiors by Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group partner Candice Schiller—is a sight to behold. AND it’s the site where this month’s giveaway winner will be enjoying a very, very nice dinner with a very special someone. So make sure to get ON that if you haven’t already, Houston bride.

But did you know that The Grove is also an amazing place to have a foodie-friendly rehearsal dinner, engagement party or full-on wedding (three private rooms, room for 250 guests, outdoor ceremony space—everything you need)?

We love that this stunning space “happens to be among the most eco-friendly places in all of Houston,” as catering director Tatiana Escobar puts it. She points to The Grove’s on-site tomato and herb garden, and the restaurant’s use of “eco-friendly materials made from corn, sugarcane or coconut fiber,” along with its commitment to strict recycling and composting practices. Of course, green is great—but eco-friendly, architecturally captivating AND famed for its fabulous food? That’s even better. Escobar says that just like regular ol’ restaurant diners at The Grove, wedding guests take full advantage of chef Robert Del Grande’s “exquisite American Rustic menu featuring a range of tantalizing appetizers, salads, seafood, rotisserie specialties, steaks and decadent deserts,” and The Grove’s “stylish and precise service.” Yum. For more info call 713.337.7321 or visit The Grove at Weddings in Houston.

Welcome, Weddings in Houston 2.0!

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Weddings in Houston Logo

It’s here! It’s finally here! We’re so excited to announce today’s launch of the new Weddings in Houston web site. As we promised, everything you love about the old site–Houston’s top wedding vendors, 360-degree virtual tours of Houston’s finest wedding venues, inspiring Houston Real Weddings, Houston’s hottest bridal and wedding events, in-depth articles and advice on just about any wedding topic you can imagine–remains. It’s all just a whole lot fresher, more convenient and easier to use.

Plus, we’ve added some awesome extras, including social media buttons that allow you to share info with friends at a click. Just booked your wedding at one of our featured hotels? Click the handy Facebook button on the property’s Weddings in Houston vendor page and update your friends. Found a fabulous centerpiece idea in one of our articles? Instantly e-mail it to your Houston wedding planner or floral designer. And about those articles–now you can search for them by topic. Just type a keyword or two into our article search, and you’re off and running.

You’ll also find more of the good stuff–more Houston wedding vendor categories, more photo galleries, more videos. We’re a whole lot faster, too.

See what we mean? It’s your beloved Weddings in Houston, only better.

 

 

Venues We Love: The Lancaster Hotel

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Historic Houston Wedding VenueHistoric Houston Wedding Venue

The Lancaster Hotel isn’t just home to The Bistro—the upscale American cuisine hotspot where this month’s giveaway winner will be enjoying a romantic dinner with her hubby-to-be—it’s also Houston’s only member of the esteemed Historic Hotels of America. What that means for a discerning Houston bride like yourself who may decide to wed at this stately theater district property is magnificently preserved architecture and décor, inside and out.

How you choose to use the classically European-styled space for your wedding day is up to you, but catering manager Adrienne Dedeaux-Solomon often recommends the lobby’s sweeping staircase for bridal portraits, and a pairing of the lobby and the adjacent Bistro for a reception of up to 150. What’s more, the venue’s dedicated staff can “plan all of your festivities, from the rehearsal dinner to in-room massages for your bridal party,” Dedeaux-Solomon notes. Plus, your visiting guests can take advantage of any number of the 93 “tastefully appointed rooms and suites” at this gem of a property, which travel guide “Frommer’s” has designated one of its “Favorite Romantic Historic Hotels in the USA.” A little bit of Houston history, a whole lot of national prominence, and all the attentive, every-little-detail-counts service you’d expect from a boutique hotel experience—that’s what you’ll find at The Lancaster. For more info, call 713.228.9500.

Venues We Love (And Are Going to Love Even More in About Five Months): St. Regis Houston

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Houston Wedding VenuesHouston Wedding Venues

We’re already fans of The St. Regis Houston’s refined elegance and perfectly posh River Oaks location. We adore its incredibly attentive, detail-oriented service, overseen by the charming and gracious (not to mention incredibly sharp and creative) Tobias Rimkus, director of catering.

And when May rolls around, we’re going to have even more to love about the St. Regis Houston…1,200 more square feet to love, that is, plus luxurious new ballroom décor and furnishings, and brand-new, state-of-the-art electronics, sound systems and flexible lighting capabilities. That’s because in May, the St. Regis will unveil its gor-ge-ous $7 million ballroom and pre-function renovation, courtesy Dallas-based architectural and interior design firm ForrestPerkins. Brides will find space to accommodate more than 280 guests for a formal ceremony plus dinner—imagine making your entrance via the ballroom’s dramatic stairway, then greeting your guests for cocktails on the ballroom’s outdoor terrace, overlooking the lush greenery of Briar Oaks.

The St. Regis is accepting wedding bookings for dates starting May 22. And hard-hat tours will kick off once structural work is completed (you can check in with Tobias Rimkus at 713.840.7600 for updates). For now, check out these design boards for a glimpse at the rich color palettes, fine furniture and beautiful lighting you’ll be seeing live when doors to the reno’d space opens this spring.

Venues We Love: The Phoenix Special Events Facility and B&B

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience. Your wedding weekend shouldn’t be one. We love that The Phoenix Special Events Facility lets you buy out the entire site, including rustic-elegant event space, plus three charming bed-and-breakfast guest rooms, for an entire four days, at a very pretty price.

That means that you get from Thursday to Sunday to put the final touches on, fully enjoy, and even recover a little bit from your special day. And if you want to have all your wedding-weekend events in one place, you can do that, too. And what a place it is: 75 acres of picturesque countryside in Weimar, a mere 80 miles from Houston. You can enjoy a private pre-wedding celebration with your nearest and dearest, and the next day exchange your vows beneath a canopy of leafy oak boughs beside a sparkling lake, then dine and dance the night away, even treat your guests to a spectacular fireworks show, before retreating with your new hubby to the comfort of your private guest room. Without ever getting in a car.

The Phoenix is very accommodating to vendors, too—bring all your own, or use theirs. Owner and event coordinator Bruce Koehn is on hand to help you plan everything from start to finish, or simply help ensure that all runs smoothly on your big day. If you’re looking for comfort, relaxation and oodles of Southern hospitality for your Houston-area wedding, you really oughtta check out The Phoenix. Call Bruce at 979.733.0304 to schedule your visit—and tell him you found The Phoenix on the Houston Wedding Blog!

To Do This Week: The Bell Tower on 34th Open House (Today!), The Villa Rinata Open House (Tomorrow!)

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

There’s still time to RSVP for two totally fabulous Open Houses at two top Houston wedding venues. So do it. Now.

Photo by Evoke Photography and Video

This evening from 5-9 p.m., The Bell Tower on 34th welcomes to-be-weds and friends to sip, snack and mingle with vendors in an atmosphere of Old World elegance and grandeur. Which includes a 30-foot-high water wall. Wow!

The Bell Tower on 34th Bridal Open House

Wednesday, September 15

5 to 9 p.m.

901 West 34th St.

Houston, TX 77018

For more information and to RSVP call 713.868.2355 or e-mail

Tomorrow the Mediterranean-style Villa Rinata (Lordy, do we love those carved-stone arches and bubbling fountains—TOO romantic) invites brides and grooms to an oh-so-intriguing Masquerade Ball Open House. Be there for the magnificent décor, great music and unveiling of the venue’s brand-new Jewel Collection menus.

The Villa Rinata Bridal Open House

Thursday, September 16

5 to 8:30 p.m.

2840 Chimney Rock

Houston, TX 77056

For more information and to RSVP call 713.334.7765 or e-mail

To Do This Week: Bridal Open House at The Club at Falcon Point…TODAY!

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Who needs happy hour when there’s a fabulous bridal open house at The Club at Falcon Point, today from 5-8 p.m.? Get your drinkie & nibbles, and get a chance to check out a great potential venue for your 2011 wedding, all in one shot! You’ll be delighted at the manicured lawns, all-inclusive services and elegant reception space at this Katy favorite, and your visiting-from-out-of-town, golf-loving guests will get a major kick out of the much-admired Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge course. Bonus!

The Club at Falcon Point Bridal Open House

Thursday, August 26, 2010

5 to 8 p.m.

24503 Falcon Point Dr.

Katy, TX 77494

For more information call 281.392.7888

To Do This Week: Simone Carvalli @ Brickhouse Bridal, WestLake Club Open House, Northwest Forest Open House

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Nothing to do this weekend? Yeah, right. When you’re a bride planning her wedding, there’s ALWAYS something to do. And this weekend, there are three more exclusive bridal events to add to your calendar, so mark the dates, grab a bridesmaid or two, and get out there. PS: RSVPs are always appreciated. But then, you knew that. You’re a bride-to-be, after all!

This Friday and Saturday, check out high-glamour, high-fashion, figure-hugging gowns from Simone Carvalli at Brickhouse Bridal, and get 15% off when you nab your Carvalli creation during this event!

Simone Carvalli Trunk Show

Brickhouse Bridal

Friday, August 20 – Saturday, August 21, 2010

200 Valleywood Drive

Suite A300

The Woodlands, Tx 77380

For more information and to RSVP call 281.681.3430

Looking for the perfect indoor-outdoor wedding venue? Lakefront lawns and opulent ballroom space for up to 350 of your nearest and dearest await you at the conveniently located WestLake Club. Come see it (and taste it!) for yourself this Saturday.

WestLake Club Bridal Open House

Saturday, August 21, 2010

11AM to 1PM

570 Westlake Park Blvd.

Houston, TX 77079

For more information or to RSVP call 281.556.5100 or e-mail

It may be located on 80 spectacular rural acres in Cypress, but Northwest Forest has all the modern amenities to make your wedding the event of a lifetime. Check out its unique ceremony and reception spaces—we especially love the Old West-style Settlement House with its big ol’ Texas-size ballroom and delightful wraparound porch—this Sunday afternoon.

Northwest Forest Bridal Open House

Sunday, August 22, 2010

2PM to 4PM

12715 Telge Road

Cypress, TX 77429

For more information or to RSVP call 281.256.4249 or e-mail