Being that Plaza Lecea is centrally located, we have so many churches to choose from in this area or just a short drive away. There are a couple things to consider when choosing a church for your ceremony:  the cost of using the church if you are a parishioner maybe lower than if you are not one and some churches will only marry parishioners.  Also, remember to ask if there are any pre-marital classes that are required and if they have any restrictions for photography. Here is a list of churches in the area and their phone numbers so that you can call and see what their policies and charges are:

• Grace Point Church 210-447-0032
• Bandera Road Community Church 210-523-5185
• St. Brigid’s Church 210-696-0896
• St. George Maronite Catholic Church 210-696-5937
• Oxford Church 210-696-0192
• Lutheran Churches Missouri Synod: Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 210-614-8723
• University Unite Methodist Church 210-696-1033    
• Shavano Baptist Church 210-696-0826
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 210-492-4600
• The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints 210-641-4700
• BAPS Hindu Temp/Mandir 210-492-4008
• Fortress Church 210-690-6360
• Baruch Heshem Messianic Congregation 210-593-0113
• Trinity United Methodist 210-684-5214    
• Islamic Center of San Antonio 210-614-0202
• Community Unitarian Universalist Church 210-614-2014
• Oak Hills Presbyterian Church 210-342-0271
• Emmanuel Worship Center 210-684-2687
• St. Matthew’s Catholic Church 210-487-5099
• Colonial Hills United Methodist Church 210-349-2401
• Our Savior Lutheran Church 210-696-2716
• Shenandoah Church of Christ 210-696-5532
• Oak Ridge Baptist Church 210-696-5475
• Destiny Church 210-349-2295
• Saint Andrew Church 210-341-4441

Plaza Lecea also offers brides the opportunity to host their on-site ceremony throughout one of the numerous spaces within our facility. Our grand entrance lobby, with two-story windows and gorgeous lighting, provides a modern backdrop for any wedding ceremony. Our brides also have the opportunity to make a grand entrance down our spiral staircase.

We also have a stunning Boardroom in our penthouse suite with views of the Texas Hill Country as the backdrop to your ceremony. With accommodations for up to 90 guests, you can exchange vows with the sun setting in the background.

Special thanks to Once Upon a Time Photography who shared some of their work for our office. We have a large bridal portrait taken on our grand staircase and a great shot of the front of our building.

They have a wonderful special going on right now: Book your reception at Plaza Lecea and your photography from Once Upon a Time, and you will receive a complimentary engagement session! Check them out online: www.onceuponatimephoto.com or give them a call at 210.495.3686!

Putting words to paper makes everything seem a bit more real so for many brides. This is the moment that you feel that the wedding you are planning is finally here! Invitations are a great way to let on some details about your upcoming nuptials without giving away everything. Invitations set the tone and formality of the event as well. Now-a-days brides are more creative than ever and this week we plan to spend the next couple of weeks going over different types of invitations you might want to consider for your wedding festivities. Here’s what we’ll show you:

• Bridesmaids
• Engagement Party
• Save the Date
• Bridal Shower
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Wedding Invitation
•  Thank You Card

We’ll start with the first one, the Bridesmaid’s Invitation:

Asking your friends to share in your special day is uber important! They are the people (because you can totally have a male bridesmaid or Man of Honor) that have already been by your side through thick and thin and sharing this day with them is almost as important as the groom . We have found a great source of pre printed selections here:   http://bit.ly/dlapbx. Although a lot of these already have a poem or some sort of copy already included, a nice personalized note would be a fabulous addition!

I have to say this was my favorite invitation that I sent out (actually hand delivered) was to my bridesmaids. I went to The Invitation Chickshere in San Antonio and made a fun little card asking them to be a bridesmaid in my wedding. I think the girls loved it more than the gifts I got them later on! I spent hours searching the internet for the perfect wording and I came up with this:

You have always been there, more than just a friend.
You know just who I am and everywhere I’ve been.

You’re the one who I can turn to, any hour of the day.
Seems, I only have to think of you and you’ll be on your way.

No matter where life takes me, no matter where I roam.
When I’m with you my friend, my heart feels right at home.

So on my wedding day, I will need you more than ever.
Please say you’ll be my bridesmaid now…. and my friend forever.

Here is another example:

Our friendship just gets better, through every passing year.
But it really has been this one, that I hold truly dear.

In helping with my wedding, and knowing you will be,
sharing in this day, by standing up for me.

You’ve taken something special, and added from your heart,
all the things that made us friends, right from the very start.

And though our lives are changing, our friendship will stay true.
This my heart will count on, as my life begins anew.

Thank you for being such a wonderful part of my life.

OR this is a fun spin on how to ask your bridesmaid, a la Letterman style:

Top 10 Reasons to be My Bridesmaid

10. You look great in (color of bridesmaids’ dress).
9. Someone has to help me go to the bathroom in a ballgown.
8. I know you will plan a great bachelorette party.
7. I will give you a great bridesmaids gift.
6. I want the people at my wedding to see how beautiful my friends are.
5. These wedding favors won’t make themselves.
4. You get to have the best seat in the house at the ceremony.
3. I need someone to pretend to want to catch the bouquet.
2. My fiance asked for some hot girls to be in the wedding party.

And the number one reason you should be my bridesmaid is…because you are one of my best friends and I love you!

There are surely other ways to ask your bridesmaids, and you can use your endless imagination if you want to create your own poem/wording but whichever way you ask your nearest and dearest, they will surely remember how special you made them feel that day!

Cocktail’s Bar Services (Cocktails) has been serving San Antonio’s event industry for almost seven years. The idea for such services stemmed from owner, Lisa Scherrer’s own experience in the bar and restaurant industry. After working for years for different companies, Lisa decided to venture out on her own and launched Cocktails in 2003. First starting with staffing for caterers, venues and events, then in 2007 they were granted licensure by TABC to provide full bar and catering services.

Cocktails offers clients the option of doing an open bar, cash bar or partial cash bar for their next event. For an open bar, the client would bring in the alcohol and Cocktails would serve it to their guests. Or, for a nominal fee per person, you can have Cocktails do all the work and provide all of the alcohol and mixers so that you don’t have to worry about a thing on your special day. For brides on a budget, a cash bar is a wonderful option. You simply pay for the set up and your guests pay for the drinks. If you would like to offer your guest some beverages, but do not want to break the bank, a partial cash bar would do the trick. You could do a cocktail hour, where you pick up the tab during a 1-2 hour timeframe and then a cash bar the rest of the evening. Another option is providing beer and wine free of charge for your guests, but if they would like hard liquor, they can pay for that themselves.

Making their mark in the event world of San Antonio, Cocktails works approximately 75-100 events per year and provides services for events exceeding 3000 guests. They are also very comfortable working at Plaza Lecea because they have the same priorities as we do: Keep the client happy (the night time view is a plus too)! They continuously work with their clients to provide the best service and customize packages to fit their budget. They also take that extra step to ensuring client satisfaction on the day of their event as well by assisting caterers when needed, arriving early for set up and staying late to help with the clean up, or providing a special drink recipe for an individual’s wedding party.

A bar service tends to be an after-thought, but in reality it is an integral part of a successful event! Don’t leave it to last minute to book or hand it off to your groom. Here is some insight from Lisa about the importance of a professional bar service,

“Brides should remember that as well as the venue, caterer and decorations, the bar service is a vital part of an enjoyable wedding. A professional, responsible and courteous service will always leave a lasting impression on your guests. We spend most of the event providing service to your party, (so) don’t let your bar service be an after-thought in your planning. Cocktails will help you decide on a service to fit your budget and can also provide you great contacts and suggestions, for all your needs on your special day.”

The Essentials: Website: www.cocktailservices.com Phone: 210.363.8025; Email: info@cocktailservices.com. Click here to see all of their happy client’s testimonials: www.cocktailservices.com/testimonials.htm