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Tag: Houston Wedding

April 27, 2017

5 Creative Ways to Use Cigars at Your Wedding

We talk a lot here on the Houston Wedding Blog about how to celebrate girls and guests, but today is mainly about the guys. If you or your boo love the aroma and sophistication of fine Cuban seed tobacco, or you simply want to treat guests to the luxury of hand-rolled cigars (perhaps paired with single-malt scotch and a live jazz combo?), Houston’s Lucho Cigars is gonna give you reason to celebrate.

From the bachelor weekend to the wedding after-party, we’ve rounded up five ways to creatively use Lucho’s smooth, firm, flavorful, hand-rolled cigars at your wedding celebrations. Read on and savor!

2017-04-20_0004  Photo: Civic Photos | Cigars: Lucho Cigars

1. The Bachelor Bash — Welcome your groomsmen to a weekend of hijinks with a tobacco treat that’ll make each dude feel like a VIP. To make the gift a little more personal, you can pick out a cigar to fit each of your guys’ taste, from Lucho’s 20 different cigar types, ranging in intensity, color, size and shape. Cigar aficionados also can schedule cigar-smoking, cigar-selection and humidor-care workshops, for a unique and educational bachelor party experience at the line’s Uptown Park store.

2. The Post-“I do” Photo Op — Cigars in hand (or mouth) create a celebratory feeling in both your wedding photos and at the event itself. Your pre-reception cocktail hour is the perfect time to take a puff and celebrate that you just made the most amazing commitment of your life! That cigar may also help relieve any lingering jitters you felt while standing in front of tens or even hundreds of people.

2017-04-20_0002  Photo: Civic Photos | Cigars: Lucho Cigars

3. An Interactive Cigar-Rolling Station — For those who aren’t tearing up the dance floor, or just need to take a break, a cigar-rolling station offers a memorable and relaxing source of entertainment. Lucho’s team of master rollers will create fresh handmade cigars before guests’ eyes using their finest tobacco leaves, high-end wrappers and 20-plus years of experience.

4. Customized Labels — For a manlier take on the monogram, couples can request to have personalized labels created for any and all cigars in their wedding. Labels can include a couple’s logo, new initials or even a photo! Think of this as the groom’s way to add his touch to the wedding theme and brand.

2017-04-20_0006  Photo: Civic Photos | Lables: Lucho Cigars

5. A Flavorful Favor — Bid adieu to your wedding guests with a flavorful cigar favor bag that they can use to celebrate your wedding after the official party has ended. Add in a tasteful ribbon or dash of your wedding colors to wrap up the night with a perfect pairing of masculinity and elegance.

Want a handmade cigar of your own to celebrate your perfect day? Contact Lucho Cigars and get on their books. Be sure to let them know you heard about them from their fans at the Houston Wedding Blog!

April 25, 2017

Bright Star Productions Brings Weddings to Life with Lighting Design

Have you ever fallen in love with a wedding’s aura, but you couldn’t explain exactly why? Well, what you might not have detected was the seamless and subtle use of professional lighting to create that soft and elegant, bright and vibrant, or warm and inviting feeling that captivated you.

For more than three decades, Houston-based Becca & Layne Wedding shot by J. Cogliandro Photography 2017-04-19_0005 Lighting: Bright Star Productions | Top Photo: Ama Photography & Cinema | Top Consultant: Kat Creech Events | Middle Photo: J. Cogliandro Photography | Bottom Photo: Adam Nyholt, Photographer | Bottom Venue: Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District

“Design is a collaboration,” Tritico says. “Flowers without lights are just bushes in the dark. Beautiful linens without lights are just tablecloths. It’s that layer upon layer of design that makes something stand out.”

Tritico says that getting to know the couple plays a crucial role in determining their wedding’s optimal lighting design. Often, couples come in with scores of ideas, which Bright Star’s team sifts through to understand exactly how each couple wants their wedding to look.

“People are coming in with these big storyboards, but if you put it all together it would look like a jumbled mass of silliness,” he says. “Once you get to know the clients and you get a sense of who they are, you are able see their vision through their own eyes.”

Tritico and his team recently worked with a bride, Kris, who revealed that she loved the soft amber glow of the “old-timey” light she remembered from summers spent at her grandparents’ home in New England. The team translated her memory into a nostalgic lighting design filled with hanging Edison bulbs, combined with uplighting on the walls to mimic the look of the rising sun. Take a peek at similar Bright Star designs below.

2017-04-19_0002 2017-04-19_0001 Photos and Lighting: Courtesy of Bright Star Productions | Top Venue: Crystal Ballroom at The Rice | Bottom Venue: Bell Tower on 34th

Do you love what you see? Want to create a custom lighting design of your own? Schedule a consultation with the best of the best — Bright Star Productions — today, because these pros book up fast…some might say at the speed of light!

April 24, 2017

Venues We Love: Agave Estates…PLUS A Romantic Dinner for 2 GIVEAWAY

2017-04-24_0002  Venue: Agave Estates | Photo: Ama Photography & Cinema

When it comes to weddings, it’s all about the ambiance, darlings — that total experience of sight, sound, fragrance, flavor, setting, landscape and design, all rolled together. And TBH, it’s hard to imagine a wedding location with more built-in ambiance than Agave Estates, Katy’s beautiful hidden gem, nestled into a 30-acre wildlife sanctuary that feels a million miles away from downtown Houston (in reality, it’s only 30).

When you first glimpse the terra cotta walls, wood arbors and curved archways of Agave’s private enclave, you may think you’ve somehow stepped back in time…and into an era of cobblestones and courtyards, the sound of a burbling fountain somewhere in the distance. But nope, no time travel here, honey. You’ve just found yourself face-to-face with a full-service wedding site designed specifically to create a sense of total escape and immersion for your outdoor wedding ceremony and unforgettable reception. In other words: You’ve found a little slice of Paradise.

2017-04-24_0003 Venue:Agave Estates | Photo: Ama Photography & Cinema

Agave Real Wedding Ceremony & Reception  Venue: Agave Estates | Photo: Akil Bennett Photography

For those couples seeking a true Spanish Villa vibe — and room to celebrate with up to 300 of their nearest and dearest — the estate’s Agave Road is a favorite. With towering oak trees, fluttering palms, huge hand-carved wood doors and 10,000 square feet of reception space, Agave Road doesn’t just offer ample space and great service, but some of the most gorgeous photo opps in the entire region.

For weddings on the more intimate side, Agave Real features natural stone and wrought-iron accents, glowing sconces, plus a lovely view of the lagoon-like reflecting pool, and is a superb celebration spot for groups of up to 200.

The newest member of the Agave Estates family is Agave Rio — a delightful patio restaurant serving up fresh seafood, steaks and Latin-influenced fare, along with classic, tropical-leaning cocktails, all in an al fresco environment that welcomes you to linger long, and savor the feeling of a relaxing oasis. It’s also a perfect place for elegant rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, bridal showers and day-after brunches. Want to try it out for yourself? Comment on our Agave-themed Facebook and Instagram posts, or email us your first and last name, fiancé’s name, wedding date and wedding venue (either booked or wish listed!) for automatic entry into our Agave Rio Dinner for 2 GIVEAWAY! One lucky bride or groom will WIN; winner will be notified on Tuesday, May 2 and announced on Facebook and Instagram. Shouldn’t it be…YOU?

2017-04-24_0004 Venue:  2017-04-24_0005 Venue:  2017-04-24_0006 Venue: Agave Estates | Photo: Civic Photos

Want to find out more about Agave Estates? Schedule your tour now, and make sure to tell them you found them on the Houston Wedding Blog!

April 18, 2017

The 8 Commandments of Perfect Bridal Fit by MW Couture

Having begun sewing at the age of 15, Minerva Wooldridge quickly moved on to creating custom wedding gowns from hand-selected materials and exquisite embellishments, eventually founding her own Houston atelier, MW Couture. She is known throughout Houston and the U.S. as an alterations expert and designer of heirloom-quality special-occasion garments, who follows a strict set of rules to ensure that every bride leaves her store with the perfect fit. “My goal is to put my quality on display all the time,” she says. “You don’t take your dress from here unless you are 100 percent happy and satisfied.” We talked with Wooldridge about her rigorous regimen, known to her and her staff as “The Eight Commandments.”

Black, White & Blue Wedding at Crystal Ballroom at The Rice by Ever & Anon Photography Gown Alterations: MW Couture | Wedding Gown: Brickhouse Bridal | Photography: Ever & Anon Photography

1. The First Fitting — Wooldridge and her team strive to create the most welcoming and comfortable environment possible for the clients who have entrusted MW Couture with their wedding-day look. One way she does this is by reminding brides from the very first phone call to bring their slip, bra and shoes to their first fitting, so she and her team can get the entire look right from the get-go.

2. Dress With Care — Wooldridge also dresses the bride herself, paying special attention to every detail of the dress. She says that this helps her client feel more confident, as she expertly sets the gown to each bride’s body.

3. Find the Vibe — “Sometimes having the bride describe her wedding is like looking into a crystal ball. It lets me know her personality,” Wooldridge says. By hearing more about the event, Wooldridge can determine if she should go more romantic, modern or elegant with the design and fitting.

4. Listen and Answer — “The first time the bride comes in she might be very emotional,” Wooldridge says. She and her team listen intently to make sure they don’t miss any key elements the bride might mention, and that they answer all questions and address all concerns with confidence and empathy.

Black, White & Blue Wedding at Crystal Ballroom at The Rice by Ever & Anon Photography Gown Alterations: MW Couture | Wedding Gown: Brickhouse Bridal | Photography: Ever & Anon Photography

5. Talk It Out — Once alterations are underway, Wooldridge and her team go into great detail to explain all changes that have been made to the dress and offer any further ideas they might have, leaving the floor open for the bride to ask questions of her own. “Everything has a solution,” Wooldridge says. “I am trying to find the best solution, so she can have a dress that is both personal and unique.”

6. Right On Time — The team at MW Couture is always conscious of brides’ timeframes and takes pride in making achievable alterations within acceptable pickup dates.

7. Quality, Quality, Quality — Wooldridge insists that all alterations at MW Couture are “equal to or better than the original construction of the dress.” We can vouch for that!

8. Conclude with Gratitude — Lastly, Wooldridge thanks the bride for trusting the family at MW Couture with the most important garment for the most important day of her life! She wishes all wedding couples luck and a lifetime of memories.

Ashleigh & Quinn-Brad Adcock Photography-Cadillac Bar-Isabella Invitations-Dream Bouquet-MW Couture-DJU-043 copy Alterations: MW Couture | Gown: Lillian West from Whittington Bridal | Photo: Brad Adcock Photography

There are few experts in the wedding business as professional and caring as Minerva Wooldridge and the team at MW Couture! Want to get your perfect fit? Schedule a consultation with MW Couture today!

April 12, 2017

5 Ways to Plan a Socially Conscious Wedding by Cup of Charisma

Join us in welcoming Jillian Goltzman, the creator of Cup of Charisma, to the Houston Wedding Blog! Jillian founded her Houston-based blog, which just so happens to be a favorite among the HWB team, to help others learn how to give back to their community in style! Keep reading to see her five ideas on how to use the biggest day of your life to bring comfort, joy and love to those who need it most.

Cup of Charism_ Lipstick and Brunch© 9 (1) Photo: Lipstick and Brunch

Social consciousness may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a day that’s all about you and the one you love, but introducing a cause to your wedding ceremony can make you and your guests feel an even deeper sense of compassion and connection. Giving back actually can create a feeling known in scientific circles as the “giver’s glow,” where dopamine and endorphin levels rise, making you feel euphoric and tranquil.

Planning a wedding built on social good can give you a sense of purpose and gratification that last long after you leave the dance floor and say goodnight. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite ideas for introducing philanthropy into your big day.

1. Find Your Dress — We all dream of saying “yes to the dress,” but how great would it feel to find a dress that makes someone else feel as good as you will when you walk down the aisle? There’s an under-publicized market for fair trade, eco-friendly and charitable gowns that are as gorgeous and intricate as anything you’d find in a boutique.

Celia Grace, a nationally-acclaimed wedding dress designer, empowers dressmaking women in Cambodia and India with fair trade income that helps break the cycle of poverty. To make the deal even sweeter, Celia Grace will donate one school uniform to a Cambodian child in need for every dress sold.

Pure Magnolia Couture  Photo: Courtesy of Pure Magnolia Couture

Eco-friendly environmentalists will love Pure Magnolia Couture, an Etsy shop that creates sustainable dresses from recycled fibers. If you’re more of a fundraising gal, buy a dress or donate your own to Brides for a Cause, an organization that raises money for various women’s causes.

2. Pop the Question to Your Bridal Party — Give your bridal party a gift that gives back. When sending your bridal party announcements, throw in a token of appreciation that they can wear down the aisle in social good style.

Cup of Charisma 5_Jillian Goltzman  Photo: Jillian Goltzman | Earrings: Sasa Designs | Paper Products: Cause Box

Support physically challenged women and men in impoverished countries with understated and elegant earrings from Sasa Designs. To help fund college tuition for inner-city students in the United States, pop the question with the bridesmaid collection from The Shine Project.

3. Get Ready in Style — Pamper yourself and your maids with socially conscious staples when getting ready for your big day. Define Me Fragrance, a cruelty-free perfume company, donates $1 from every bottle sold to She’s The First, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to girls in low-income countries with the goal of creating first-generation graduates.

Cup of Charisma 8_Jillian Goltzman  Photo: Jillian Goltzman | Perfume: Define Me Fragrance | Hair ties: Banded | Necklace: The Giving Keys

When your girl gang decides to let loose on the dance floor, Banded hair ties will sweep up their locks into the perfect top knot while providing three meals to a child in Uganda, Latin America or the Caribbean.

4. The Centerpieces and Bouquets — Incorporate positive prints and philanthropic accents within your table decor at your “feel good” festivities. DEW Collection bouquets make thoughtful centerpieces, since the company plants a tree for every arrangement purchased, in partnership with the organization One Tree Planted. After all is said and done, donate your wedding flowers to Floranthropy, an organization that will deliver your event blooms to assisted living homes, hospitals and nonprofit organizations throughout Houston.

Cup of Charisma 4_ Jillian Goltzman  Photo: Jillian Goltzman | Bouquet: DEW Collection

5. Cater with Care — When working with a catering service, ask if they have a food rescue program in place. If not, have a volunteer from your bridal party bring the feast’s leftovers to a local shelter. Check out this list of Houston homeless shelters to get your giving juices flowing.

See?? The shift from “I do,” to “I donate,” is easier than you thought! Happy giving, xoxo, Jillian Goltzman from  Cup of Charisma,