Houston Wedding Blog

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

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!

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.

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HWB Hearts: Pressing Events

We Buzzed on Pressing Events’ new CITYCENTRE store last week, but we just couldn’t get to all the stuff we love at AND about the new PE in that teeny, tiny newsletter item. So here we go.

First up, Emilie Sloan bags. How cute are designer Lisa Murphy’s fully lined totes, market bags and carryalls? The folks who put on the Academy Awards think they’re awfully cute, which is why they included Emilie Sloan in this year’s official swag. Pressing Events owner Nancy Billingsley Calvert is likewise a fan, and told us she “expects big things” from the collection, which, she notes, is already attracting brides and graduates in droves. These would make fabulous bridesmaid gifts, don’t you think?

Next: Kaas Decoupage. The renowned New York decoupage studio makes absolutely gorgeous decoupage plates with designs sourced from flea markets, antique shows and estate sales. If you’re a bride with vintage vibe, or a traditionalist with a passion for classic wedding commemoration, Pressing Events’ newly expanded line of Kaas plates is perfect for preserving wedding invitations, photos, collages…you name it. Then press it.

We also adore Pressing Events’ very impressive selection of stationery, which includes all our favorite styles from Crane, Elum, Smock, and Charleston, S.C.’s wonderful The Lettered Olive, among others. But PE’s forté is “one-of-a-kind, singular design,” Calvert points out—“much like a designer-original wedding dress.” If you’re looking for truly distinguished custom invitations, you must meet with Pressing Events’ Amber Anglin Fowler. Calvert regaled us with the story of how Amber searched Dallas without success for a store to produce the exact right custom invitations for her wedding last year…and ended up creating her own. “Though her mother grew quite weary of her quest, I must say she has found her home with us,” Calvert says. “Our brides love her!”

And we do, too.

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Houston Trunk Shows: Maggie Sottero @ Brickhouse Bridal

Four days of delicious Maggie Sottero gowns begins TODAY at Brickhouse Bridal. That’s four full days of trunk show fabulousness, so no excuses if you miss it, Miss bridey-bride! Here’s what we love about Maggie Sottero gowns: The large selection of styles, each one unique and gorgeous–including the wow-worthy shimmer-satin “Darci” (left), with figure-flattering asymmetrical waist and lavishly bustled skirt (plus detachable jeweled halter straps for those of us who welcome a little extra support), and the glamorous “Gail” strapless A-line (right), with fan-pleated neckline and ethereal floral waist embellishment. Plus many, many others, of course.

And here’s what we love about this week’s Maggie Sottero trunk show at Brickhouse Bridal: 10% off the already reasonable price of a Maggie Sottero gown–but only on purchases made during this exclusive four-day show, March. 16-19 !

Call 281.681.3430 to schedule your appointment. And bring a friend!

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Did The Amazing Ring Race ROCK, Or What?

…especially for the adorable couple who won that truly spectacular $15,000 Art Carved diamond ring. As for the rest of us, the Amazing Ring Race was one heck of a good time (despite the winter chill…brrr!). Thanks so much to Thomas Markle Jewelers for making this awesome event happen last Saturday, and for bringing all those sweet, enthusiastic and VERY DETERMINED Houston brides and grooms out to The Woodlands for so much fun. We’re thrilled to have been a part of it.

Check out all the excitement, anticipation and race-day spirit, perfectly captured in this clip!

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Venues We Love: The Grove Houston

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.

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Welcome, Weddings in Houston 2.0!

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.

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Our March-April 2011 Cover (And How To Steal That Look!)

You’ve been asking about the cover of the latest Weddings in Houston (“Who’s she wearing?” “Where did that stunning headpiece come from?” “That necklace–OMG, I gotta make it mine,” and so on). So we’re answering. Here’s the who, what, where and how much on the items worn by our gorgeous model, styled by the ridiculously talented Summer Salah, and shot by the superb Larry Fagala.

Gown: Rivini, $5,900, at Ivory Bridal Atelier

Headband: $149, at Parvani Vida

Jewelry: Earrings, $49,650; ring, $59,665; necklace, $99,230; all at Zadok Jewelers

Set Design: Darryl & Co.

So there ya go, now ya know. We are so thrilled to work with such outstanding Houston wedding vendors and professionals, and delighted when you take notice, get excited and let us know. Please keep it up!

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To Do Today: LulaKate @ Bella Bridesmaid

A combination trunk show AND open house? We think we’re in heaven! Bella Bridesmaid is inviting Houston brides-to-be, and their best gals, to sip champagne, nibble hors d’oeuvre and marvel at the loveliness of the LulaKate bridal collection this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. The Charleston, S.C.-based design house, well known for its ready-to-wear and vibrant bridesmaid dresses, launched an “alternative bridal” line earlier this year–think clean lines, crisp shantung, not to mention very nice prices–and we are loving it. Loving Bella Bridesmaid, too, who showed such sweet, fun frocks at our January I Do! Bridal Soiree at The Houstonian. Don’t you think?

Call 713.528.2778 to let them know you’re coming, would you? And bring a friend…or two!

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