Villa St. Clair

Check out the new Villa St. Clair YouTube Channel. http://www.youtube.com/villastclair
See our most recent wedding celebrations with our amazing brides & grooms!

After the garden ceremony, Asra & Mani’s guests moved into the Ballroom at Villa St. Clair. The tables were adorned with beautiful golden linens and fabulous centerpieces. A plethora of crimson flowers overflowed the footed vases. The stage was magnificently decorated with a beaded backdrop and lush furniture. A delicious meal of traditional Indian and Iranian foods was served. The dishes included spinach salad, ratatouille, saffron rice with raisins and nuts, sun-dried tomato couscous, vegan curry, chicken curry and crusted tilapia. After the sumptuous feast, a fabulous vegan wedding cake was enjoyed by all.

This wedding was full of rich colors everywhere you looked. Their guests were greeted with fabulous paisleys flowing down the aisle runner. The paisleys were constructed of red and yellow rose petals. Located behind the bride and groom were two grand urns with a wide variety of red flowers including peonies, orchids, dahlias, gladiolas, and pin cushion proteas. The lush red florals complimented the beautifully beaded crimson sari which Asra wore. All the women of bride’s family wore gorgeous turquoise saris. This wedding was truly a feast for the eyes.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom sat facing the Sofreh, a beautiful table containing foods and traditional items which symbolized their future married life.

Villa St. Clair was host to a wonderful wedding celebration for Asra and Mani last Saturday. The joyous event reflected the Muslim, Indian and Iranian heritage of the bride and groom.

A wonderful new trend in the wedding industry is having your wedding early in the day, followed by brunch.  Not only does this save money, but it allows you to start your honeymoon the same day.  Usually the ceremony would begin around 11am followed by a meal where all the traditional brunch favorites such as eggs, fruit, and pastries would be served.  This is a great way to save a little money because breakfast is usually less expensive than dinner and people normally eat less.  If you are worried about the bar, just remember a few of the favorite morning beverages like; Mimosas, Screwdrivers, and Bloody Marys.  I am sure that your early wedding will be a big hit!

Food For Thought
Chef Gabby
gabby@villastclair.com

Villa St. Clair was featured on KEYE CBS- We Are Austin on Valentine’s Day. Click on the link below to view our segment.

I am super excited to say that the new Villa St. Clair website is up and running! Check it out!!
www.villastclair.com

I am super excited to say that the new Villa St. Clair website is up and running! Check it out!!
www.villastclair.com

photo by stacycross.com

The man of your dreams has finally popped the question. The most gorgeous ring you could ever imagine is on your finger. You’re engaged and a wedding is in your future. . . ..”Where do I go from here?” Over the years, this question has been asked by every bride. During the next few weeks, I would like to walk you through the steps to planning a fabulous wedding celebration.

1. Relax and Enjoy the Moment! This newly-engaged period is so precious. Savor every time you put our your left hand and share the story of your engagement. Purchase a journal and document the moment he proposed. Your children and grandchildren will enjoy reading your memories for years to come. Don’t rush into wedding planning mode. There will be plenty of time for that later.

2. Dream a Little! How do you see your wedding day? What is your vision for this momentous day? Do you see a chic contemporary celebration, a traditional Texas affair, or maybe an evening fit for a queen? If this step is hard for you, look for inspiration. There are hundreds of websites dedicated to weddings. A few of my favorites are: theknot.com, austinweddingday.com & thebrideandbloom.com. Another great source of inspiration is magazines. I suggest you go to a large bookstore, like Barnes & Noble, where the bridal magazines abound. You can spend a pretty penny on these. So only purchase 2 or 3-be discriminating. Sit down and do a preliminary “look see” through each magazine before you purchase it.

3. Size Matters! How many guests will you invite to your wedding? Will the celebration be small and intimate or large and grand? How many of “your girls” will be in the Bridal Party?  Ultimately these decision belongs to you and your fiance. But, you should definitely consult with your parents.   Early on, you should ask all of the parents for a guest list.  Combine these lists, do the math, and see if all of these guests will fit into your vision.  Yes, this day is about you and your beloved; but, there are friends and family who want to and “expect” to be invited.

4. $$$$$-Now is the time for BUDGETing. Such a nasty word!!   But the reality is that it takes dollars to make dreams come true. How much money do you have to work with? Who is paying for your dream day??- - You and your Fiance? your Parents? his Parents? other Family members? Traditionally, weddings have been funded by the Bride’s Parents. But statistically this is no longer the norm. Most brides and grooms pay for at least a portion of their wedding celebration. Many weddings are funded by contributions for both sets of parents and the bride and groom. The bottom line is: no matter where the money is coming from, it is super important to know your budgetary constraints before you start the planning process.