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

Featured Photographer: Once Upon a Time Photography

Stephanie — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:44:52 +0000

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!

San Antonio Weddings Debut Party

Stephanie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:50:09 +0000

Last night I ventured out to the annual San Antonio Weddings Magazine debut party with a couple of my coordinators (Adriana & Kelley). We had such a blast checking out the amazing decor provided by Botanika (Melissa is seriously talented!) and tasting the yummy bites from the Holiday Inn (the crab cakes were perfect). I think my favorite part of the whole event had to be the juice bar by The Lemonade Co. Their peach-banana frozen concoction was heavenly.

Lighting and music by Alusstra Events was wonderful as usual and we loved seeing the familiar faces of Limelight photographing all the beautiful event people. The lil San Antonio Weddings cookies by Elaines Custom Cakes & Cookies were awesome! We absolutely love the lounge furniture by The Lounge Concept–btw, they are super affordable!

All in all it was a fab time. Mingling with some of San Antonio’s finest wedding professionals is always a ton of fun.

From left to right: Specialty linens by Yarlen; Shimaliers by Theme Travelers; Centerpieces by Botanika

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

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!

Vendor Spotlight: Cocktail’s Bar Service

Stephanie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:20:32 +0000

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

We heart Philip Thomas Photography

Stephanie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Philip Thomas Photography has to be one of the top photography companies in San Antonio (in our humble opinion!). We have worked with Philip Thomas for a few years now as he has done several weddings at our facility and we are consistently impressed by his ability to capture the most intimate moments (whether they be super sweet or slightly awkward–see his photos below) with out interrupting a thing.

Philip’s love of photography began early as a teen and developed into a career some years later. Gathering inspiration from turn-of-the-century photojournalist and newspaper broadsheets, Philip honed his techniques as a press photographer for a few years. In 2006, Philip moved to San Antonio and expanded his professional photography scope to include weddings, while still doing the occasional corporate event, head-shots and fashion models.

His experience gained as a photojournalist truly prepared Philip for wedding photography by making sure he captured the moments all the while anticipating and reacting as they unfold. His unobtrusive manner and documentary style of photography totally work for the modern bride.

Our coordinator Adriana Valdez, who has worked with Philip on previous events had this to say, “Working with Philip was just fantastic. He was around for every shot, there was not one instance where we had to go looking for him. He was on top of every moment, every picture. It made for a pleasurable experience for the guests, bride and myself as the coordinator for the event. Too many times the photographers are not on top of things and its up to the coordinator or family to look for them and the couple lose out on that special moment. Philip also scopes our building out and even though he’s been here before, he takes extra time to find the best location for shots.”

When it comes to shooting at Plaza Lecea, Philip loves the ambient lighting, especially at dusk when the natural light outside mixes with the tungsten indoor lighting creating a beautiful blue hue. We have to agree…it’s really beautiful here!

Some quick facts about his work:

Shoots approx. 25-30 weddings a year, so book him now ladies!
Member of the Professional Photographers of America and Wedding Photojournalist Association…he’s legit and an International Award Winner!
Typically shoots between 500-1000 shots per event
Proofs take approx. 4-6 weeks along w/draft of album design (yes! he does a FABULOUS job with photo books–a must! You can check out a sample book at our facility)
Only shoots one event per day AND depending on the client, will bring on an assistant if needed
Wedding coverage starts at a mere $2500 (a bargain for his work if you ask us!)
The Essentials: Website: www.philipphotography.com; Blog: www.philipthomasblog.com; Twitter: http://twitter.com/Philipphoto; Phone: 210. 833.1168

We highly recommend Philip Thomas Photography for your wedding or special event. He’ll capture more than just the traditional photos and you will be more than pleased with the results.

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

Vendor Spotlight: Absolutely Delicious Catering

Stephanie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:07:52 +0000

Since opening their doors in 2000, Absolutely Delicious Catering (ADC), headed by owner Veronica Esparza, has grown to be one of San Antonio’s most successful full-service catering companies. With NACE’s Cater of the Year and President’s Award in hand, ADC has set a standard in the catering industry with in San Antonio. So what exactly do they do that sets ADC apart from the other catering companies? Veronica feels that developing personal relationships with her clients, guaranteeing that ADC exceed expectations is why they have become so successful. She has also worked very closely with her staff to ensure that they are able to grow professionally and personally, making them better employees and happier individuals in the long run.

With nine years of experience, ADC has hit the ground running in the San Antonio market. You will find them in a few dozen venues, working private parties and holding down the fort at their restaurant, Old San Fransisco Steakhouse, where their corporate offices and kitchen are located. ADC can serve up to 7000 people per event and do on average 800 events per year. They are known for their delectable food, but they also can provide rentals (linens, place settings, tents, stages, dance floors, etc), decor (including floral, arches, lighting, drapery, etc) and entertainment. They fequent our facilities as often as possible and we love it when they are out here!

Some of their more popular dishes include their international cuisine, like their Tour of Italy or their South of the Border menu. Our favorite here at Plaza Lecea is their ever so popular Chicken Picatta, garlic scalloped potatoes and vegetable medley. Menu pricing starts at $13 a person and is inclusive a salad (we recommend the spring salad with a raspberry vinaigrette), a protein, a starch, vegetable, roll and either tea or water. ADC is also our exclusive caterer for corporate meals here at Plaza Lecea. We have special pricing for their menus when renting our space. We can offer their breakfast, lunch, snacks for breaks, cocktail hour menus and bar services.

While their food is honestly amazing and completely lives up to their name, we really feel that their service sets them apart. Time and time again, our clients rave about how they felt like they were at a fine dining restaurant when being served by ADC because of their impecable attention to detail and above-and-beyond attitude. Each of their servers that pass through the doors of our facility treat guests as if they were serving them in their home and all reasonable requests are always prompty attended to.

You have many choices for catering here in San Antonio, but we highly recommend you checking out ADC for your next event! You wont be disappointed! Check out their menu here: http://www.absolutelydelicious.com/abdelmenus.pdf or call them at 210.342.2321 for more details.

We Heart Maihar Design

Stephanie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:00:53 +0000

Being in the shadows of Austin and all of the amazingly creative work that comes of out that town, it is so refreshing to see a vendor team here in San Antonio that is far beyond their time. That team is Maihar Design and they produce completely unique and one-of-a-kind ring bearer pillows and flower girl wands.

Sister duo, Melanie Ford and Ashleigh Davis established Maihar Design in 2008. They have since exploded on to the wedding accessory scene and haven’t looked back yet. Soon to expand nationwide, Maihar Design pairs creativity with good business sense to offer brides a chic alternative to the cookie-cutter pillows seen in bridal boutiques, out-of-date catalogs and online showrooms.

Even better, these pillows are not only distinctive, they are gorgeous! Meticulously crafted, the pillows combine lightweight linen, embroidered silk and textural weaves and are all trimmed with the highest quality grosgrain ribbon. These pillows exude style, modern design and unparallel craftsmanship. Not only are you getting a product that will WOW your guests as your little man walks down the aisle, it’s definitely something you can showcase in your home afterwards (what a great memento from your wedding!).

Their current collection couples traditional and ornate design into a 10” square pillow. You can view the collection and purchase these pillows online at Etsy. You can find them this fall in San Antonio’s own Bella Bridesmaid store that will open in Alamo Heights this September. Maihar Design’s Summer 2009 collection will be debuting soon and these smaller, 8” square pillows are quirky and whimsical with new color combos—different shades of pink paired with lime green and more!

In addition to the pillows, Maihar Designs also offers flower wands for your delightful little flower girls! These fabric wands are made from a quality silk material and are hand-sewn. Their colors and design will correspond with several of the pillow lines. Can’t you just see your adorable little ring bearer and flower girl walking down the aisle now?

Till next time…