Houston Wedding Blog

Hotel ZaZa Pre-Wedding Getaway Giveaway—Today Only!

Houston brides-to-be in need of a break (and what bride-to-be isn’t?), listen up! We’re giving away a luxurious one-night weekend getaway at Hotel ZaZa for the bride who convinces us she needs a breather, big time.

Here are the deets: Buy your tickets TODAY for the Oct. 14th I Do! Bridal Soiree @ Hotel ZaZa (a bargain at only $12 a pop), and post your comment in the designated comment field ON THE TICKET ORDER PAGE letting us know WHY YOU DESERVE A PRE-WEDDING BREAK for your chance to win a one-night weekend escape at the ultra-hip Hotel ZaZa, complete with breakfast for two at ZaZa’s fabulous Monarch restaurant. Yum. And we’re not just talking about the food.

We’ll announce one lucky winner on FRIDAY—and honey, you can’t beat these odds.

But wait, there’s more! The winner, and everyone else with tix to the show, will get to indulge in poolside beats, celebrity wedding style, divine wedding design inspiration, killer bridal swag and free-flowing Z cocktails at Houston’s hippest hotel, at the most amazing bridal showcase—and hottest party—in town.

Good luck—and see you there!

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Look Like A Celebrity Bride, Feel Like A Million Bucks: The Transformation Studio

Plenty of salons and makeup artists offer bridal hair, nail and makeup packages. A few throw in pre-wedding skin care, massages and other spa services. But only one Houston beauty expert is also a licensed professional counselor and life coach, and a trained portrait photographer, with her own line of custom-blend makeup products AND a 2,700-square-foot “world-inspired” beauty and wellness studio that can accommodate groups of up to 12.

She’s Sarah Ali, owner of The Transformation Studio, and she makes it her mission to provide brides with everything they need to become their beautiful best, from the inside out.

Looking to get in shape for your figure-hugging wedding gown, and have a little fun while doing it? Ali’s studio offers international dance classes, from Bollywood to belly dancing, and Zumba, too! In need of some pre-wedding pampering? Go for one of the studio’s signature treatments, like the Indonesian Oasis Facial of Himalayan Head Rub (absolutely heaven, by the way). Desperate to defuse bridal-party quibbles? Ali says she’s only too happy to “bust out my therapist techniques” and entertain your grousing group with tales of “my tragic yet hilarious man troubles” (they, and Ali, were featured on the front page of the Chronicle Lifestyles section last year—and are, indeed, LOL funny).

All that, and she’ll give you that gorgeous tousled updo, subtle smoky eye, flawless skin and perfect matte-red lip you’re lusting after for your bridal look, too.

She and her team of eight fabulous freelance experts are happy to host you at their place, or yours. Call her at 281.240.7102 or e-mail to schedule a consultation.

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Coming Up This Weekend: Hot Houston Trunk Shows

Still on the prowl for the perfect gown? This weekend, perfection comes to Houston in the form of Australian bridal design house Martina Liana and Atlanta-based designer Anne Barge. Make your appointments NOW. Here are the deets:

On Friday and Saturday, Brickhouse Bridal welcomes Martina Liana. Created by Martine Harris and Leanne Collova of Essense of Australia (Collova HERSELF will be at this show), the Martina Liana line is pure couture all the way, with a thrilling touch of contemporary edge. We love Martina Liana for its ample choices in customization, too. Choose the wedding gown style that suits you, and make it truly your own with your unique combination of shades and fabrics. Fabulous.

Martina Liana Trunk Show @ Brickhouse Bridal

Friday, October 1 – Saturday, October 2

Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

200 Valleywood Drive

Suite A300

The Woodlands, TX 77380

For more information call 281.681.3430 or visit Brickhouse Bridal

Also on Friday and Saturday, Belle Mariée Bridal presents couture designer Anne Barge. View the Fall 2010 collection, with its sumptuous fabrics, museum-quality detailing and embrace of tradition and elegance. If you’re looking for the kind of classic gown that instantly becomes a treasured family heirloom, you don’t want to miss this exclusive show.

Anne Barge Trunk Show @ Belle Mariée Bridal

Friday, October 1 – Saturday, October 2

Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2509 River Oaks Blvd.

Houston, TX 77019

For more information call 713.523.0068 or visit Belle Mariée Bridal

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

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!

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I Do Soiree @ Hotel ZaZa: This Ain’t Your Mother’s Bridal Show

…though you’re welcome to bring her–she’ll love it!

Here’s the scoop: On Thursday, Oct. 14, Weddings in Houston is going to turn the concept of the traditional bridal show on its head, with the I Do Soiree @ Hotel ZaZa.

The deets are top secret until soiree doors open at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14—but believe us, they are JUICY. What we can tell you is that this show is going to be unlike any bridal event you’ve experienced. You’ll get to meet the city’s most innovative and fashion-forward designers, vendors and experts, and sip Z cocktails while you enjoy thrilling entertainment (along with cutting-edge bridal fashion, natch). It’s going to be a sensory environment that is as exhilarating as it is inspiring. And, of course, there’s ZaZa itself—one of the city’s hippest, most luxurious places to see and be.

If you’re looking for something beyond pleasing pastels and soothing violins, something truly unique for your once-in-a-lifetime occasion, this is the show you’ve been waiting for.

Tweet it, post it, show your friends who’s in the know. And more than anything,snag your tickets now (this one’s going to sell out fast), and GO.

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