Archive for the ‘reception’ Category
STC Turns One!
Posted on: September 29, 2009
- In: Affordable | Budget | Event Planning | Money Saving Tips | reception | Special Occassions | Unique
- 4 Comments
*Correction to my Oct. E-Newsletter: The Lake Dallas Halloween Celebration is Oct. 30th, not Oct. 31st
I can’t believe my little event planning business will be 1 year old on Oct. 20th–ahh, they grow up so fast 🙂 It has been a great first year for Something to Celebrate and I want to thank all of you out there for hiring me, referring me to someone, subscribing to my E-News and/or reading this blog! I could not have made it without people who care so thank you. This year has been filled with receptions, private parties, non-profit events, weddings, city festival consulting and now currently preparing for a huge event for North Central Texas College. Whew, it tires me to think about all those events but what a blessing to be able to see them come together!
Since my business would not be possible without YOU, I want to provide you with a little anniversary gift blog of some of my very favorite venues and vendors for events and special occasions:
- The Band for any occasion: Paul D’Adamo is an amazing musician, performing arts teacher and ring leader of two great bands–Plan B and the D’Adamo Jazz Quartet. Plan B plays basically anything you could ever want and all those songs everyone knows. They can cover dance, R&B, disco, rock and classic rock. The D’Adamo School of Performing Arts offers vocal lessons and performance lessons on pretty much any instrument. You can also see the Jazz Quartet perform on the Performing Arts site. Paul recently returned from Nashville recording an album with members of Genesis and the Phil Collins band so he knows his stuff! As part of my anniversary gift to you I will book Plan B, the Jazz Quartet or set up a vocal/performance lesson for you for free (& get you a great booking rate)!
- The cool, chic, new Denton business: If you haven’t noticed already, the Unicorn Lake area in Denton is really changing and growing in a great way! My favorite newly opened place out there is Cafe du Luxe and get this: it is a coffee house, great lunching spot, wine bar, art gallery and place to hear some awesome local tunes. I am a coffee snob and I’m telling you, their coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had! The cafe’ has a clean, modern and beautiful decor about it and would also be a great place for a private party or just to hang out with some friends. It’s located at 3101 Unicorn Lake Blvd, Denton.
- The best place for breakfast to go & homemade desserts: I’ve mentioned them here before but Crickles Sweets & Treats really bakes up some amazing stuff (and make breakfast in bed for someone really easy!). They operate out of the NY Sub Hub in Corinth but don’t let that take away from how unique and special this mom and daughter duo is. I’ve had them cater an event before and the food got rave reviews–so they do more than just desserts if needed. They’ve been running coupons in Ad Pages so you might check that out.
- The best blank canvas event space: The Downtowner has The Star Room that provides a perfect place for private parties, receptions, or other occasions with 185 guests or less. The room as beautiful wood floors and get this–they let you bring in your own alcohol at no additional charge. You won’t find many venues who allow that! The VERY reasonable fee for the room includes tables and chairs and set-up/tear-down of everything. They have a sound system you can use for just a small, additional charge.
- Really cheap but high quality printed materials: This is my best secret…Club Flyers is my go-to printing company when I need a large quantity of printed materials (think brochures, flyers, door hangers, business cards, post cards) and a very high quality. Everything is full color and on nice, glossy stock. You just upload your design and they ship it right to you!  Some products you can order a minimum of 1,000 and others you must order a minimum of 5,000 pieces. The price for what you get is amazing.
Well, now that I’ve shared some of my best event planning tips I may be out of the business but oh well–you’re worth it! 🙂 Give me a call if I can help you with any of your holiday parties!
Davenport-Robbs Wedding
Posted on: April 26, 2009
Here are some photos from the Davenport-Robbs wedding reception I coordinated on April 18th, 2009 at The Ranch House in The Colony. Although we encountered some plumbing/septic issues in the very OLD house, it was a beautiful reception and all the 215 guests seemed to have a great time!  Our prayers for the rain to hold off were answered and by the time all the guests arrived the sun was shining and a nice breeze kept everything the perfect temperature. The Ranch House is really a house that someone used to live in so we used the main “living room” to set up the buffet and drink station.  Just behind the house we set up a big tent and all of the reception activities. I slid the windowed walls on the back of the house open so that people could roam easily from inside the house to the tent. People also utilized the tables in rooms throughout the house. The photos will better explain my description!
This was the breezeway between both sides of the house where the guests came through to get to the back side of the house where all of the reception activities would take place. Carolyn, the mother of the bride, put together the framed pictures of Ruth and Tim (bride and groom) as they grew up. The table featured their engagement photos and a sign I made to direct people to the reception area.
This is what the guests saw as they came through the breezeway to the reception area. The florist used bright colored tulips. Robin Pratt did all of the floral arrangements and decorations–check out her website here!
I had a 40′ x 60′ pole tent set up for the majority of the reception seating, dance floor, DJ, chocolate fountain and cakes. The tent had windowed walls on two sides and was open on the other two. Because it had rained a lot the day before, we had to improvise with some ply wood to safely get people into the tent and to prevent dark black mud from being tracked into the house. Robin (the florist/decorator) decoratively draped silver sheers over the poles (a great way to hide ugly poles on tents!).
Another view of the tent. I rented 60′” round tables and covered them with floor-length white linens. We also rented the white wooden chairs you see here. Basically we had to rent almost everything because The Ranch House is just an empty house with a little furniture! I rented everything from Dallas Party Tent and Event–they gave me a great price on everything, their products are high-quality and they do a great job setting everything up.
The dance floor! This floor is 16′ x 16′ and was built with a subfloor to make it level and stable.
This is the head table at the back of the tent. It had a white linen on top and white skirting across the front.
Here is a good view of the windowed walls (back of the tent).
The bride’s cake! Thanks to Delicious Cakes in Addison for the great job and VERY tasty cake! I rented lattice pieces to go behind both cake tables.
Another shot of the bride’s cake table (a better view of the lattice)
The Groom’s Cake! Yummy chocolate.
We also set up tables on the patio for additional seating.
This is just the view from the tent–the property at The Ranch House is beautiful. You feel like you’re way out in the country when you’re actually just minutes from 121 and Plano!
Fireplace inside the house. Gotta love the flowers on the longhorn 🙂
Hopefully this was a good glimpse into this wedding reception! Not pictured is the awesome catering we had via Blue Mesa Grill (Plano location). The food beautiful & delicious and the Blue Mesa staff working the reception were fantastic! Congrats Ruth and Tim!
Next post: Stark-Lawson wedding reception!
Something to Celebrate 