Bridesmaid Gift Idea: Mar Y Sol Clutch

Mar Y Sol Heart Clutch
Mar Y Sol Heart Clutch

We love our bridesmaids. We love doing good for the world. We LOVE Mar Y Sol’s simply, sustainably gorgeous little clutches (and so do the likes of Daily Candy, Glamour and Lucky, by the by).

We came across Mar Y Sol while dropping in on brides’ chats about which bridesmaids’ gifts were the biggest hits with their girls. Sure, we heard about all the usual stuff—pashminas, spa mani-pedis, earrings, etc. But these raved-about clutches really stood out, and here’s why: Not only are they beautifully designed and incredibly chic, but they are fair-trade bought and handmade in Kenya and Madagascar by local women artists using a combination of traditional weaving and contemporary techniques. Whenever a bride-to-be (or anyone for that matter) buys a Mar Y Sol bag, that purchase contributes to the artist’s economic independence and generates funding for community projects—what a beautiful way to celebrate the spirit of sisterhood with your ’maids, Houston bride.

We’re especially fond of the fresh, elegant Gigi collection, which includes one design with a butterfly closure, another with a contemporary take on the sunflower and still another accented with a carved wood heart to show your bridesmaids how much you love ’em.

Mar Y Sol Garden Clutch
Mar Y Sol Garden Clutch

If you’re still a stickler for the traditional mani/pedi gift, go ahead and pop a gift certificate for a local spa inside one of these beautiful, eco-friendly bags. We guarantee your ’maid will instantly be among the most fashionable girls in town!

Mar Y Sol Sunflower Clutch
Mar Y Sol Sunflower Clutch
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How to Pick Your Wedding Date

He’s popped the question, you’ve said, “Yes,” the ring sparkles oh-so-fetchingly on your finger, all is well in the land of true love. Now all you need to do is pick a wedding date, Houston bride-to-be. And with 365 days to choose from in any given year, that should be easy, right? Not exactly.

Even if you’re not one of those sentimental or superstitious sorts who has to have all the stars precisely aligned on her wedding date, many days are simply not feasible for reasons of his or your work or school schedule. Factor in other potential schedule conflicts, plus factors like weather and venue availability, and that yearlong calendar looks a whole lot shorter.

Here are some common-sense guidelines to follow in picking the best date for your big day.

Season

This is Houston, which means seasons can play a big part in the type of wedding you have, and also in its cost. Because of extreme temperatures and humidity, and a general desire among Houstonians to NOT subject out-of-towners to our fair city’s summer swelter, July and August typically are not top choices for Houston weddings. On the other hand, you just may be able to negotiate a great deal on your event venue if you choose an off-season date.

Fall, on the other hand, tends to be a lovely season for weddings in Houston, with its milder temps and plethora of great activities for visiting guests to enjoy. But fall also overlaps with storm season. We’re all well aware of September, 2008’s, Hurricane Ike, which blasted across Houston leaving destruction—and devastated brides-to-be—in its wake. Sure, Ike is an extreme example, but even milder storms can affect wedding plans, including guest travel, tenting and, of course, anything scheduled to take place outdoors. If you do opt for an autumn wedding, make sure you have contingency plans in place, especially for events with outdoor elements.

Spring is an ideal season for a Houston wedding when it comes to weather, floral choices, etc.—but the popularity of the season comes with the challenge of venue and vendor availability, so start planning early. And avoid the week before April 15! As for winter, it’s a favorite for nuptials here in Houston and offers a great opportunity to plan a “winter wonderland” wedding. But if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll want to choose your florals wisely—many blooms are not in season in winter months, and imported exotic flowers can be exorbitant.

Holidays/Special Events

Sure, it might seem like a totally neat-o idea to get married on Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve. But think about it—if your anniversary were NOT on Valentine’s Day, you’d get TWO romance-fests a year rather than a mere one. And do you really want to run the risk of having your wedding guests treat your celebration like an all-you-can drink blowout? Probably not. Guests also may have their own family commitments during major holidays, while flights often are hard to come by and airfares are at a premium, making it difficult for some to attend. When it comes to picking your wedding date it’s best to avoid major holidays, and the weeks immediately before or after. (Though a holiday theme wedding can be fun any weekend of the year!)

Also important to avoid are special events or annual events. Planning a June wedding? Better find out if anyone on your guest list is planning to graduate that month. A winter wedding? Not on Super Bowl weekend, especially if you, your fiancé or anyone whose attendance you can’t live without is a major football fan (and imagine the Super Bowl/anniversary conflicts for years to come!). Got a pregnant bridesmaid or other important guest? Make sure your wedding doesn’t fall on her due date or in the three months (at least) after she delivers.

Day of the Week

Saturday is the most popular day for weddings—except for Jewish weddings, which are often scheduled for Sundays to avoid taking place on the Jewish Sabbath, and some Indian weddings as well. If you, like the majority of brides, are planning to have a Saturday wedding, make sure you start your planning early, especially if you are determined to have your reception at one of Houston’s most popular wedding sites. These venues often book up a year or two in advance, especially for prime-season Saturdays. Allowing yourself ample flexibility in selecting a venue will go far toward helping you find the right site on the right date for your marriage to Mr. Right.

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Walk—Or Dance—On Water

Liquid Fusion
Liquid Fusion

If you’re planning the kind of reception where let-your-hair-down, kick-your-heels-up dancing is certain to take center stage, you must check out this unique and incredibly cool dance floor from Holo-Walls.

Liquid Fusion Floor Tile
Liquid Fusion Floor Tile

Liquid Fusion flooring tiles—a favorite of celebrity wedding planners like L.A.’s Mindy Weiss, who recently used them for a stunning all-blue reception—are each filled with two opposing bichromatic liquids. When dancers step on the tiles, the pressure causes the liquids to swirl into each other, creating a thrilling visual effect. Liquid Fusion tiles, which are available in Red/Orange, Blue/Sky Blue, Orange/Purple and other vibrant color combos, can be snapped together to form dance floors of varying sizes. They’re also great for creating impressive entry walkways and stage surfaces.

We think a Liquid Fusion floor would be perfect framed by modular banquettes and low cocktail tables at a reception with a sophisticated lounge feel, or surrounded on three sides by long, rectangular dining tables done up with chic, sleek linens. And how about a luminous liquid dance floor in the middle of a white-on-white reception room? Fabulous!

Liquid Fusion Tabletops
Liquid Fusion Tabletops

Like the idea of liquid, but not sure if you want a whole floor full of it? Holo-Walls also has Liquid Fusion tabletops, which look amazing on cocktail tables. Picture your guests sipping drinks and nibbling hors d’oeuvre at tables topped with liquid color that undulates at the touch of martini glasses. They’ll be talking about it for months to come, Houston bride.

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Modern Bride and Elegant Bride May Be Gone—But We’ve Got You Covered, Houston Bride

If you’re used to loading up on the latest bridal mags, Houston bride, your load just got a little lighter. That’s right, last week brought the news that publisher Condé Nast will cease publication of Modern Bride and its sister magazine Elegant Bride.

We’ll miss the two mags’ timely features on fashion, reception décor, floral design, planning and more. But we at the
Houston Wedding Blog and Weddings in Houston magazine plan to work that much harder on seeking out the latest discoveries, tracking the most popular trends and bringing you the absolute best in EVERYTHING wedding from Houston and beyond.

New to the blog? Check out some of our most popular recent posts, like these great items on
Indian weddings, or this roundup of our favorite head-to-toe beauty finds. Searching for the perfect wedding shoes? Have a look at either these or these lovelies! Plus we’ve got handy tips on how to handle
kids at your wedding, figuring out whom and how much to tip, when and where to get a wedding license in Houston, and much, much more.

For those of you who love the heft and high-gloss inspiration of an honest-to-goodness print magazine (and what bride doesn’t?), the new issue of Weddings in Houston hits newsstands in January. Look for all your favorite departments and features, incredible photo spreads featuring the latest in gowns, cakes, floral and more, plus the most comprehensive guide to Houston’s ceremony and reception facilities (including information on size and capacity, rental fees and available services).

Still missing something? Tell us! If there’s a topic you want to see covered by the Houston Wedding Blog or Weddings in Houston magazine, email blog@weddingsinhouston and let us know. Be our most valuable resource for feedback and suggestions, and we’ll be your most valuable resource for wedding-planning advice and inspiration. Promise!

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Hotel ZaZa Hosts an Indian Engagement Party with Panache

Likhari Engagement
Likhari Engagement

Known for its edgy, elegant decor and chic, cosmopolitan vibe, Houston’s Hotel ZaZa seems like the perfect place for a party. And on Sept. 6 it hosted one heck of a great party, indeed.

Likhari Engagement
Likhari Engagement

The 300-guest engagement celebration for a lovestruck Indian couple took full advantage of ZaZa’s incredibly cool semicircular ballroom—not to mention sleek, sophisticated black chiavari chairs (the hotel has them in house…no need to go outside for rentals).

Ballroom at Hotel ZaZa
Ballroom at Hotel ZaZa

Sure there were gorgeous flowers from John Freidman and amazing linens from Touch of Elegance. Yes there was that sensational candy bar created by Darryl & Co.   Houston Photographer, Steve Lee, was on hand to capture the festivities.

Candy Buffet
Candy Buffet

But ZaZa senior catering manager Lisa Hudson says the luncheon event’s food might have been the most enticing element of all. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that the ever-accommodating ZaZa, unlike some properties, allows clients to bring in culturally specific or traditional hors d’oeuvre and desserts, which it serves alongside its own divine contemporary American offerings (exactly what the couple did).

To bring even more zing, ZaZa created a “spice table”—a delicious nod to the couple’s South Asian heritage, which featured tantalizing spices and sauces, and added color and excitement to the festivities.

Hudson says the hotel is working on a whole new catering package that will include plenty of South Asian specialties and vegetarian options for clients who want to add a taste of tradition to their weddings, engagement fetes and other events.

Looking to add a little spice to your own event? Give Lisa a call at 713.639.4505—she’d love to help you out!

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