Photo Credit: Alamo Photographic

Beyond your memories of your special day, you will want to capture and look back at those special moments from time to time. Here is a list of shots that you should ask your photographer to take of your wedding ceremony and reception:

Bride’s Pre-ceremony Shots:

• Shots of bridal party preparing for wedding
  • Bridal party putting on make-up
  • Bride’s dress hanging
  • Bride’s shoes, accessories, garter
  • Placement of the garter
  • Putting on the veil
• Bride completely ready
• Bride w/parents
• Bride w/mother
• Bride w/father

Groom’s Pre-ceremony Shots:

• Shots of groom and groomsmen getting dressed
• Groom completely ready
• Groom w/parents
• Groom w/mother
• Groom w/father

Wedding Party Shots:

• Bride w/each bridesmaid individually
• Bride w/all bridesmaids
• Bride w/all bridesmaids & flower girl
• Bride w/all bridesmaids & ring bearer
• Bride w/all bridesmaids, flower girl & ring bearer
• Ring bearer and flower girl together
• Groom w/each groomsmen individually
• Groom w/all groomsmen
• Groom w/all groomsmen & ring bearer
• Groom w/ring bearer
• Bride & groomsmen
• Groom & bridesmaids
• Bride & Groom w/flower girl & ring bearer
• Entire bridal party

Family shots:

• Bride & Groom w/Bride’s parents
• Bride & Groom w/Bride’s immediate family
• Bride & Groom w/Bride’s grandparents
• Bride & Groom w/Bride’s extended family
• Bride & Groom w/Groom’s parents
• Bride & Groom w/Groom’s immediate family
• Bride & Groom w/Groom’s grandparents
• Bride & Groom w/Groom’s extended family
• Bride & Groom w/both sets of parents
• Any additional family shots

Wedding Ceremony Shots:

• Shot of church/ceremony site pre-ceremony
• Seating of parents & grandparents
• Members of the bridal party entering
• Bride walking into ceremony
• Groom when sees bride walking into ceremony
• Mother’s doing unity candle (if applicable)
• Various shots during ceremony
• Bride & Groom’s vows, rings & kiss

Reception shots:

• Various shots of reception set-up (location, location sign, table set ups, centerpieces, favors, sign-in, gift table, cakes)
• Presentation of Bride & Groom (and bridal party if applicable)
• Guest tables
• First dance
• Any family dances
• Bride & Groom’s rings
• Toasting
• Cake cutting
• Dollar dance
• Bouquet toss & garter removal
• Candid shots of guests
• Couple’s last dance
• Couple’s exit

There are just suggestions and you should definitely sit down with your photographer and let them know about what is important to you for your big day. That way he/she will be better prepared to take the shots you want!

We sat down to talk to Jen Tyson, owner of Cowgirls Unlimited and asked her a few questions:

(PL) What sets Cowgirls Unlimited apart from other bar services in San Antonio?

(JT) We are absolutely 100% professional in everything we do from answering the 1^st phone call to the very end of the special event.  10 years ago, we were the only company in San Antonio who operated in this sort of fashion.  We are an all-female group who can adjust to any and all, casual or formal, special events.  We firmly believe our staff personalities are extremely friendly, kind and catering to all of our client’s needs.  There is also no limit to our services as we can customize any order to fit each client’s needs and budget.

(PL) Do you provide clients with guidelines for the amount of alcohol they should provide for their guests?

(JT) Yes.

(PL) What other services do you offer besides bar service?

(JT) We focus 100% on the bar area.  We want to ensure our clients have the best experience when it comes to their special events.  Alcohol is such a popular but dangerous category so we want to make sure that everyone has a great time but remains safe while doing so.  We also want to make sure that our clients get the most value for their budgets.  Whether they choose an open/hosted bar, cash bar or just want to hire our bartending staff only for what they choose to provide, we always was to make sure everyone is happy in the process.

(PL) What do you hope to get out of a relationship with Plaza Lecea?

As with all our vendor relationships, we want to make sure that everyone involved in the event has a great experience with our services.  We always strive to make processes quick, easy and clean.  Upon gaining 100% trust from our vendors and facilities, we believe the entire process from beginning to end always goes much quicker and smoother.  Then in turn, we hope the healthy facility relationship with us is transferred over to each and every client and their served guests.

(PL) Is there anything else you would like to include?

We never want to disappoint anyone!  We not only cater to our clients but we are also very friendly and kind to other vendors that may be working the event as well.  Positive relationships with everyone is very important to us!

If you’d like to get in touch with Jen Tyson and Cowgirls Unlimited for your next event, check her out on the web at http://www.cowgirlsunlimited.com/index.aspx or at 210.872.8746. We’ll cheer to that!

1. Engravables: Such a fun and fancy way to remember your special day! This company offers an engravable mat or tray with a “signature engraving scribe” aka diamond-tipped pen for guests to engrave their well-wishes! And these pewter mats and trays with never fade or tarnish. Here’s the site: http://www.idoengravables.com/
2. Platter sign-in: Sort of a spin on the engravables idea, but with a platter that has some color to add to your sign in table decor. Plus this is a fun and funky way to remember your wedding when you display the platter at home. You could have the guests sign the front or back!
3. Wine bottle/Champagne: This is the kind of DIY project I could handle. Print up five labels to put on your favorite wine or champagne bottle-mimic the same font as your invite or put one of your engagement photos on the front of the bottle. Lay out a few sharpie fine-tip pens and ask your guests to sign your bottles. On each of your first five anniversaries, open up one of the bottles and toast to your marriage and the guests who signed your bottles!
4. Family tree: Had I know about this when I got married I would have certainly done this alternative guest sign-in…ugh, can I get married again? Find an etsy seller, or if you the creative gene in you, and paint a tree without the leaves. Pick up a green ink pad and a fine-tip sharpie at your local Hobby Lobby and instruct the guests to place a thumbprint on the branches and sign their name next to it! I mean how cute is that?! Here is a sample: http://www.etsy.com/listing/36216397/large-wedding-tree-pdf
5. Calendar: By far one of the most creative ways we’ve seen from our brides has been a calendar sign-in. Our bride filled the pages of the calendar with photos of them throughout their courtship and engagement and asked the guests to fill in their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. The guests signed around their photos too, but it served dual purpose so that the couple could get all their close family and friends birthdays and special events. This idea may be a fun shower guestbook idea as well!
6. Wishing rocks: One of our fun Irish brides set us up on this guestbook alternative! You will need polished black stones (you could use any color really), a silver permanent marker and a vase with water. Leave a directional sign asking guests to sign the rocks and make a wish for the happy couple as they put the stone in the water. Later, the bride can put her bouquet in the vase or just regular flowers when she gets home.
7. Make-a-wish, take-a-wish: This is kind of a twist on the wishing rocks idea above. Ask guests to leave a well-wish for the happy couple and have them place it in a designated vase. After they have put their well-wish in, have them take a well-wish from the couple in a separate vase. Normally it is a quote on love or something that the bride and groom want to share with their guests!

1. Matted frame: Put your beloved engagement photo in a frame that you’d like to display in your casa. Make sure you choose a mat for the frame that is large enough for all of your guests to sign. Pick up a couple fine-tip sharpies and you are all set! Put the mat in the frame for guests to sign because otherwise they might sign too close to the edge and their message may not be readable when you put the glass and frame on.
2. Quilt: Have guests sign or leave a well-wish on swatches of fabric in the colors of your wedding (or really any colors you’d like to have a quilt in). Ask a quilting enthusiast to help put your lovely quilt together!
3. Photo booth: Love this fun idea because it gives your guests an opportunity to take home some instant photos of your special day! Most of the photo booth companies will print two copies of the pictures you take and give one to your guests as a keepsake and put another in a book and have them sign it. And there are so many fun accessories that the photo booth companies bring to make your pictures memorable! We recommend San Antonio Photobooths: http://www.sanantoniophotobooths.com/ or TNT Photobooths of Texas:  http://www.tntphotobooths.com/
4. Guest Book Store: Ok, so we haven’t seen this one here, but I came across it on another blog and thought it was too cool for school! People always find it troubling figuring out what to write in that small two inch space, and a guest book from the Guest Book Store gives them an opportunity to answer a couple of fun questions and even draw a picture of the bride and groom! You will be amazed at the funny things your guests come up with! Here is the site: www.guestbookstore.com.  
5. Wishing tree: Pick up some branches or curly willow from your local florist or Hobby Lobby and spray paint them the colors of your wedding. Cut out shapes (we’ve seen lots of hearts) and connect a hook to the shape so guests can hang the wishes from the branches. You can display this tree at your home or put the shapes into a scrapbook later.
6. Photo book: Gather all of your favorite photos as a couple (or even as kiddos) and put them into a photo book on Kodakgallery.com or shutterfly.com. There are so many ways to personalize the book

Check back tomorrow for six more awesome ideas–you’ve most like not heard of a few of them!!!

Brother Cletus, a renowned artist and Marianist Brother, designed the signature piece for the show and will sell additional copies for $25 with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Hope for the Future. This special piece (shown to the right) sends schoolbooks soaring in the air from a Catholic school, as a sign of hope rising.

The show will also feature student’s work from local Catholic high schools,  judged by Kathy Armstrong, Director of Exhibitions for the Southwest School of Art. Approximately 25 submissions will be on display and up for sale with 50-100% of the proceeds going towards Hope for the Future in support of its mission to provide tuition assistance to families in need.

Details:

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Refreshments provided by The RK Group & Sessi Wine Co.

$40 per person

RSVP: hopeforfuture@archsa.org or 210.734.1963

Hope for the Future is a non-profit organization that makes the proven benefits of Catholic School Education available to economically disadvantaged children. With tuition assistance and grants for programs and technology, Hope for the Future supports the 45 Archdiocese of San Antonio Catholic schools.

1. Where are you located? Our physical address is 5441 Babcock Rd., SATX 78240. Our offices are located in Suite 200, but the event center is located on the fourth floor–you will need to come to the second floor and sign in with us during the week in order to reach the fourth floor. We are located on the corner of Babcock & Eckhert Rd., just north of the Medical Center. Sonic, Valero and The Bubble Car Wash are adjacent to us.

2. When do you tour? We tour Monday-Friday between normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. by appointment and on weekends (when we have events) by appointment as well. Contact us at 210.615.0009 to set up a time to tour.

3. What packages do you offer? We have day-time and evening packages available. Pricing is always based on date, time and number of guests. For more info, you can find pricing here: http://www.plazalecea.com/wedding-reception-fees.html 

4. Do you offer ceremony sites? Yes, we have two ceremony locations available. Our first location is in our two-story atrium lobby which boasts floor to ceiling windows and a grand staircase. The second location is in our Boardroom which overlooks the Texas Hill Country and has picturesque sunset views. We provide the chairs, all you need to provide is the decor, minister and groom!

5. Do you have adequate parking? Yes, we have 145 close parking spots available.

6. Is your facility handicap accessible? Yes, we have handicap accessible parking, ramps and elevators.

7. How many hours do we have for the event? We provide you with three hours prior to the event for set up, five hours for the event and one hour aftewards for the clean up. You can also add extra hours for $150 per hour or $75 for a half-hour. This charge is inclusive of your security guard’s time, coordinator’s time and associated building costs.

8. How far in advance do reservations need to be made? The is no real time constraint, just as long as we have the date available. Dates around holidays and specialty dates (ie: 11-11-11) book up quickly, so try to contact us sooner than later!

9. Is there a dressing room? Yes, we have a space off the second floor that has a private restroom, floor-length mirror and space for your bridal party to relax before the ceremony and leave their property in a secure spot during the event.

10. Are there convenient and adequate restrooms? Yes, we have women’s and men’s facilities available and both are handicap accessible (which will help with your ballgown!)

11. Is there a dance floor? Yes, we provide you with a 400 sq ft. dance floor in our large ballroom that is movable for an additional charge. You can also extend the dance floor where it is located to 600 sq ft. for an additional fee as well.

12. Are there any restrictions on decor, photography, videography or dj services? Nothing is allowed on the walls, but we do allow free standing objects (such as arches). Please consult with us if you have specific items you’d like to bring in. We do allow candles, but they must be in glass. We do not allow smoke or bubble machines from the dj. The photographer and videographer can access any part of the event center with the bride & groom but may need to have the coordinator give them access.

13. Who will coordinate with the vendors about set up? We will actually contact them the week of your event to go over set up times and specific details about your event. One less thing for you to worry about!

14. Do you provide a cake cutting service? No, this is something that is normally done by the caterer.

15. Is there an on-site caterer? Are we required to use your caterer? We have a list of approved caterers who are familiar with our facility. Although we strongly suggest you use one of our approved caterers, we do allow outside catering as well. We do add a 15% surcharge of your catering bill to your final payment when you choose an outside caterer. We also require that they have proper licensing and insurance. Outside caterers are required to adhere to the requirements of the Event Center at Plaza Lecea.

16. Do you have specific vendors for bar services? Yes, we have two approved bar services: Cocktails or Rookies. They can do a cash or open bar service for your event, but you will need to contact them for specifics. All of our caterers can provide a bar service for you as well.

17. What can I use for a grand exit? Please keep in mind that you will need to clean up anything that you use for the grand exit. We allow rose petals (must be silk if thrown inside), sparklers or bubbles. No confetti, birdseeds or rice.

18. Who will be my on-site coordinator? We have two awesome coordinators that have years of experience with special events. We normally know which one will be your coordinator a month prior to your event.

19. Are there any additional fees associated with the rental? We do require a damage deposit–this is normally just a credit card number on file–we do not charge your credit card unless any damages incur.

20. What are your terms of payment? We require a $600 deposit to secure your date (basically your first payment toward the rental), 1/2 is due nine months prior to your event, 1/4 due six months prior and the final 1/4 due one month prior to the event. Any monies paid towards the rental are non-refundable as they are liquidated damages.

We are also extending this offer for weddings as well! Always wanted a winter wonderland-themed reception? Or just in love with the idea of a Christmas wedding? Let us help you create the memories that will last forever!

We currently have a few dates available, including a Saturday! Contact Stephanie for more information at 210.615.0009. As an added incentive, An Event to Remember is also offering a special on catering for the month of December as well-5% off your catering. Tis the season for savings!

While serving as the executive chef at the Dominion Country Club, Chef Mike began to take on side jobs for his clientele, providing them with delectable business lunches and scrumptious private dinners. Pretty soon he knew that working for himself and creating the food he loved to prepare was where he needed to be, and thus Spice of Life Catering was born.    

What we love about Spice of Life is their approach to ensuring that their clients get the best value and service for their money. They create distinctive menus for each of their clients to guarantee that their event will be completely unique. While they do offer set menus, they consult with their clients and connect with their hopes, dreams and history. What a great idea to create a menu that reflects the couple’s first date, or what they ate on their first vacation together. Investing a little bit of time into their couple’s history really makes all the difference.

Some of their most popular choices include ethnic foods, chef stations (where uniformed chefs prepare signature dishes to order in front of guests—it’s quite a show!) and family style service. With dinner service starting at $15 per person, they have something to suit the needs of all their customers. They also have the experience to back it up too, with hundreds of satisfied clients every year. Just call them up for a consultation and they will create an exceptional menu for you and your fiancé as well offer a complimentary tasting to try out their mouth-watering fare! Call Jessica Silvaggio, Spice of Life’s newly married catering manager (she can totally relate to you brides planning for your big day) for a tailored menu at 210.366.1220 or check them out on the web at www.spiceoflifesa.com.

Spice of Life Catering loves working with us too! We are one of their top venue choices because of our prime location and elegant décor. We have a great partnership with Spice of Life as they enter their 5^th year on our list of approved vendors. If you have a chance to venture out tonight, and you’re in the mood for first-rate food, check out their open house at 6:00 p.m. at their 11319 West Avenue location.

Until next time, happy planning!

For girls: Sugar & Spice! We love this theme the most because all of the fun activities that the hostess can provide for the guests and mommy-to-be! You can truly incorporate any color scheme with this theme. Try having a candy bar for your guests to represent the sugar part–or even a cupcake bar where guests can personalize their cupcakes and mommy-to-be can judge the winner. For the “spice” part, flavor different teas so that guests can have a taste of something different, or pass out spiced teas as favors. Even do mini candy bars at each table as a centerpiece (two to three vases filled with candy) or incorporate large lollipops into a floral centerpiece to further the theme.

For boys: Rockstar! A little outside the box, but completely fun for the mommy-to-be that doesn’t want a cutesy shower. Again, colors options are endless but the most common colors are blacks, gold, silvers and reds. Beginning with backstage passes as invitations will set the tone for this fun event. Try renting a red carpet or silver disco ball to hang in the center of the room. Place a “set list” out so that guests can see what the plans for the event on the table or in a central location so that everyone can see it. You can have mini grammys as awards for the games that you play and label the tables as “Rockstars”, “Groupies”, “Roadies”, “#1 Fans”,   or by instruments: “Bad-a** Bassists”, “Lead Guitarists”,  ”Deadly Drummers”, etc. For a fun game idea, come up with rock songs that have Baby in the title and make people name that tune and make sure you have some Rockstar beverages available for your guests as an added fun touch!

For twins: Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat has the best inspiration that we’ve seen so far: Thing 1 and Thing 2. Just perfect for a twins shower! With a red, aqua (or tiffany blue) and white color pallatte, this theme can come to life! Think goldfish centerpieces (very cheap to get at your neighborhood Walmart or pet’s store) or bright Gerber Daisy’s in red or dyed blue (they also have the silk ones so you dont have to worry about dying anything). Even stacking Dr. Seuss books could make for a fun centerpiece and they can always be found for a discounted price at Half-Priced books. Think props too! Fun Cat in the Hat hats around the cake area and pop ups can be found easily. Have guests sign the inside of a Cat in the Hat book as the sign in book.

We offer great rates for Sunday day-time events! Call us at 210.615.0009 for details!