San Antonio Event Inspiration | The Event Center at Plaza Lecea » San Antonio Wedding

Featured Photographer: Caitlin’s Creations

Stephanie — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:09:10 +0000

We just have to thank Caitin from Caitlin’s Creations for the beautiful montages we now have from a few of our past events. She has shot three weddings her in the past year and each of the montages expresses her incredible talents. We absolutely adore the sunset views she was able to capture, as well as the shots on and from the stairs. Simply stunning work! Check out her website for more info and photos: http://www.ccportraitdesign.com/

Wedding Flowers for Each Season

Stephanie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:50:03 +0000

If you can spring for fresh flowers for your upcoming reception, we highly recommend it! There is no better way to add that extra flair to your wedding than with fresh flowers. Plus your reception space will be filled with the fresh aroma of these gorgeous additions.

A way to keep down costs for your fresh flowers is to purchase ones that are in season. You can even combine in-season flowers with flowers that are available year-round to make it more cost-effective. Here is a list of flowers that you can get all year round and by the season. Happy searching!

Year-round florals:

Alstromeria

Aster (if from Africa)

Gerbera (Gerber Daisy)

Winter (December-January)

Aster (US grown)

Filler foliage: Ivy, Holly, Baby’s Breath, Wax Flower, Hypericum Berries

Spring: March – May

Filler foliage: Banana leafs, Heather, Wax Flower, Baby’s Breath

Summer: June – August

Love in a Mist (Nigella)

Filler Foliage: Mint, Baby’s Breath

Fall: September – November

Filler foliage: Ornamental Cabbage, Hypericum Berries, Euonymus, Heather, Baby’s Breath & Wax Flower

Cakes Galore!

Stephanie — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:43:22 +0000

Ok, let me preface with that we know we just did a blog about a month ago about cakes, but they are one of favorite and most fun aspects of our job! After months of planning and with all the details just right, it’s so awe-inspiring to see a bride’s vision come to fruition. There is no better way to express the couple’s personality than through something as special as the cake.

Now-a-days we find that brides and groom’s are becoming more and more cleaver as they wow their guests with quirky exhibits of their personality. We would love to share with you some of our favorite cakes that we’ve seen at Plaza Lecea: http://ow.ly/2adiW.

And if you are just starting your search for the perfect cake, here are a couple more inspirational galleries that might help:

1. Brides.com: http://www.brides.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-cakes/gallery/cakes/editors-pick/results

2. Marthastewart.com: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/cakes

3. For the really fun and fab cakes, check out Charm City Cakes: http://www.charmcitycakes.com/gallery

If you are looking for local bakers that have an edge up on the rest, check out these wonderful vendors:

1. Cakes and More: 210.494.3959 or www.cakesandmoreinsa.com
2. The Cake Shop: 210.561.1800 or www.thecakeshopsa.com
3. Lucy’s: 210.673.5965 or www.lucyscakeshop.com
4. Cakes by Cathy Young: 210.493.8466
5. Seventh Heaven Cakes: 210.490.4115 or www.seventhheavencakes.com
6. How Sweet It Is: 210.861.8468 or www.howsweetitissa.com
7. The Exclusive Cake Shop: 210.520.2004 or www.exclusivecakeshop.com 8. Nadler’s of San Antonio: 210.340.1021 or www.nadlers.com

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Stephanie — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:28:48 +0000

You’ve always invisioned your wedding or event going off without a hitch and one way to curb disasters is to be prepared for the worst. We totally recommend putting together a small kit for the “just in case” moments you might have at your wedding. You never know if Aunt Linda just might spill her third glass of wine on you when she’s giving you that 10th hug of the night…so here is a complied list of items you might want to bring to the church and reception hall, just in case…

The Essentials:

Extra copy of directions to reception
Cell phone
Numbers of all participants in wedding
Numbers of all vendors
Driver’s License
Cash

Beauty:

Nail polish (2 shades)
- Clear for runs
- Shade being worn
Nail file
Nail polish remover
Cloth headband (for pulling back hair while applying makeup)
Compact mirror
Makeup (for touch ups)
Curling iron (humid or outside weddings)
Hairdryer (rainy weddings)
Hairspray
Bobby pins and barrettes
Brush and comb
Perfume

Hygiene:

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Mouthwash
Floss
Deodorant (roll on or spray)
Feminine hygiene products (tampons, sanitary pads, etc)
Breath mints

First Aid/Medicine:

Bandages
Neosporin
Allergy medicine (Claritin, Benadryl, etc)
Aspirin and pain relievers
Pepto Bismol, Alka Seltzer or Tums

For the “What ifs”:

Wine Remover (Satin Devil Fruit and Red Wine Remover)
Small hand towl (for stain removal on dress)
Wet wipes and tissues (for tears and spills)
Lint brush
Extra earring backs
Travel size sewing kit (with small scissors)
Extra buttons
Double-sided hem tape
Extra pantyhose
Flat shoes for the reception
Foot cushions
Crochet hook (for bustling)
Umbrella
Mini flashlight
Swiss army knife
Smelling salts
Static guard
Febreze (the small bottle)
Tide Pen
White chalk (for covering up stains on dress)
Q-tips
Super glue
Visine
Purelle
Bottle water
Snacks
Hand Lotion
Straw (so that you don’t spill your drinks on you as you are getting ready)
Baby powder
Safty pins

With all of these items, you’re sure to curtail the the typical wedding day debacles!

Vendor Spotlight: True Flavors Culinary Concepts

Stephanie — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:09:51 +0000

One of the first caterers to be on our approved vendors list was True Flavors Culinary Concepts. We knew from the start that San Antonio’s brides and corporate clients would love their food and services, so to have them on our list was a must!

True Flavors really had a truly unique start. Chef and owner Johnny Hernandez had a passion for cooking that eventually lead him to New York City at the mere age of 16 to study at the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America. After graduating, he spent time sharpening his skills as a chef in four-star hotels and resorts across the country.

Just five years later, in 1994, True Flavors began their catering services here in San Antonio. They have notably grown to be one of San Antonio’s most regarded caterers in the past 16 years, collecting covenant awards along the way. When you hire True Flavors as your caterer, you will be choosing the 2006 Restaurateur of the Year and NACE’s (National Association of Catering Executives) Caterer of the Year (twice mind you!).

What we love about True Flavors is their outside-the-box thinking when it comes to décor and their fabulously fresh food, not to mention impeccable service. They have the ability to serve intimate groups of 5 people to lavish parties of up to 5000 guests. Their experienced team is dedicated to making sure that all guests will have a great culinary experience. True Flavors is always committed to providing the highest quality of artistic and sustainable cuisine, excellent service, and stylish décor.

With all that said, on average, True Flavors executes approximately 1000 events every year, so you most likely have had their food at one of the many events they have done in San Antonio. In addition to all of those stellar events, True Flavors has found time to diversify their business to include a traditional Latin-inspired restaurant, La Gloria that will open next month on the banks of the San Antonio River Expansion at the Pearl Brewery.

Back to their catering side, True Flavors has a distinction of creating culturally inspired dishes. Chef Johnny has travelled the world to learn about different types of cuisines so that their food has the right preparation and ingredients to make authentic versions of the originals. Some of their more popular dishes include their fresh fish ceviche, tequila shrimp shooter, mole verde and Mantachie grapes (we had to look it up–goat cheese coated with fresh herbs and pistachios, doesn’t that sound wonderful?). Breakfast pricing starts out at $7.95 per person, lunch from $11.95 per person and dinner at $14.95 per person. They customize their menus as well to suit your budget and taste.

Our partnership with True Flavors has really worked out for the betterment of our facility as well as for True Flavors. Knowing that a professional and helpful staff will be onsite for your next event is crucial for a good working relationship.

Here are the essentials: Website: www.trueflavors.com; Phone: 210.226.3670; Email: areyes@trueflavors.com or dlopez@trueflavors.com. Call or email them today!

Obtaining a Marriage License

Stephanie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:08:48 +0000

We get this question all of the time, so we thought we’d share some information on how to obtain your marriage license here in San Antonio.

Where you need to go:

Bexar County Clerk’s Office, 1st floor

300 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: (210) 335-2221

When you can get it:

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

What you’ll need to bring:

Proof of age and identity (i.e. Driver’s License, Miltary ID, Passport)
Social Security card
$36 cash (they do not accept checks or credit cards)
If you have been married previously, a copy of your divorce decree

Important things to remember:

72 hour waiting period after you obtain license before you can get married
Only good for 30 days
Must have present at your ceremony (this might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s happened before!)

Vendor Spotlight: Heavenly Gourmet

Stephanie — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:54 +0000

A recommendation from a corporate client in 2008 is what brought Heavenly Gourmet to Plaza Lecea’s doorstep. Our client insisted that we had to have them on our list so we did a little research and thought they might be a good addition to our list of approved vendors. Owner Loretta Ortiz personally promised to make sure that they would serve our clients with affordable, hearty and “heavenly” food and they have surely exceeded our expectations! What we really love about Heavenly Gourmet is that they are genuine people who want to make sure that their customers are extremely satisfied with their services and cuisine. Loretta is one of the most humble people we have come across, consistently striving to make sure all of her customers get the best value possible.

We have had Heavenly Gourmet out here for numerous luncheons, offering our clients a variety of menu options and also creating a completely custom menu to fit their needs. Box lunches start out at $7.50, which include a hot or cold sandwich kettle fried potato chips, your choice of pasta or fresh fruit and a homemade cookie. Hot lunches are around $12 and include nine different options.

If you are looking for an evening event, they have you covered as well. Dinner options start at on $10 a person and are inclusive of a choice of salad, protein, starch, veggie and a dinner roll. Our personal favorite is their Penne a la Vodka w/Chicken and we think it’s actually heavenly (pictured above). Some of their other popular dishes include their Heavenly Chicken (signature dish: Breast of chicken, stuffed with goat cheese, cream cheese, and black forest ham, then breaded and sauteed and topped with a poblano cream sauce-a gourmet take of chicken cordon blue), Pecan Chicken with a Honey Chipotle sauce, and a Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Chicken with Lemony White Wine sauce. Are you drooling yet? We are! Budget savvy brides also love Heavenly Gourmet because of the quality of their food is amazing, while being completely affordable.

Loretta says that what really started her uber successful company was a dollar and a dream. With fresh food, old fashion customer service, humble hearts and a lot of gratitude, they continue to succeed in a competitive market. They are strickly focused on catering services so that they can direct all their attention to providing brides, corporate clients and social clients with tasty food and unbeatable prices. Last year alone, they did over 320 events (17 of which were at our venue)! Can you say busy? They continue to work to surpass that this year and they would love to caterer your next event.

If you are looking for a caterer with reasonable pricing, impressive service and down-right good food, Heavenly Gourmet is perfect for your next event. Here are the essentials: Website: www.heavenlyg.com; Phone: 210.496.9090; Email: heavenly.gourmet@scbglobal.net. Call or email them today about doing a taster at their office.

Vendor Spotlight: Columbia Culinary Team

Stephanie — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:45:40 +0000

A rising star in the catering community here in San Antonio is Columbia Culinary Team (CCT), one of our latest additions to our approved caterers list. Their incredibly creative menu is what sets them apart from any other cater that we’ve worked with yet! They are definetely not serving the bland and dry “catered chicken” at your event. This caterer’s menu is flooded with gourmet renditions of classic and contemporary foods. With items such as the Tandoori Style Quail, Veal Osso Buco or Scampi Modo Mio, your guests will be amazed at restaurant-quality style of food served at your next event.

Prior to opening their doors over 2 1/2 years ago, the CCT catered private events and gained a rather large following here in the Alamo City. Handling crowds of up to 1000 guests (w/events for up to 2000 guests in 2010) is the same as catering a small dinner party for their team, as they strive to pay attention to the customers needs completely. CCT prides themselves on provided a dining experience that is at least equal to, if not better than that of the city’s best restaurants and we have to agree! Plaza Lecea has had CCT cater numerous in-house events and we have all experienced the first class service and savory dishes. They always have plenty of staff on-site for the events to ensure that every guest has a pleasurable experience.

Some of CCT’s most popular dishes include: Seared pepper crusted tuna on a chipolte cream cheese crisp with chili escabeche, smoked marinated pork loin with a peach jalapeno glaze, and bleu cheese stuffed bacon wrapped dates in a maple sabayon (is your mouth watering yet?!). Executive Chef, Jeff White, has a great ability to create tantilizing dishes for the masses, which is not an easy feat when you have cook the meals in their kitchen and then transport it to an event.

One of our favorite things about CCT is their affordability. Brides on a budget can still serve an amazing meal with quality service to their guests with CCT. Prices start out at $12.50 a person and go to around $50 for the works (majority of the dishes are under $25), but this pricing is also inclusive of porcelain plates and glassware. They also have a unique spin on service style. While most caterers only offer seated or buffet meals, CCT also has an option for family style service in addition to a seated or buffet meal. This is their most requested option, where they deliver large platters of food to each table–kind of like a buffet at your table. Your guests can choose the amount of food and the specific items that they want, fostering a family dinner-like atmosphere.

In addition to catering, CCT also provides bar services, linen, decor and event management services for your event. We are very proud to have such an innovative catering service on our list of approved vendors and we hope that you will check them out as well: www.thecct.net