Bridal Buzz

Hickory Street Annex and Gil’s Elegant Catering are joining forces to throw a retro-inspired open house and tasting this Wednesday, May 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 501 Second Avenue. Amanda Taylor, event planner at Hickory Street Annex, has filled us in on the scoop for the big event. Expect pretty floral designs from Blue Lotus, tunes from Dallas Gigs, DJ talent from Colby Logan, sweets from Panini Bakery and Hot Shots, and a photo booth from 4 Flashes all set up in a retro-style scene with rentals and vintage cars from Swanky Couch. The venue is also introducing their new studio space which adds 2,000-square feet to their event space.

Now for the food. Gil’s is creating a menu focused on fresh, organic, and local produce with dishes featuring meat, fish, and poultry from sustainable farms. We peeked at the selection and we’re most excited about the heirloom tomato and Texas grown watermelon salad with feta, herbs, and citrus and the adult mac n’ cheese with fried chicken bites. Yes, please.

To register for the event, click here.

Wolfgang Puck's selection of passed appetizers.

Thanks to Wendy Timson, Catering Sales Director of Wolfgang Puck Catering, for answering this week’s reader question:

We’d like a seated dinner at our wedding reception, but we still want to incorporate passed options throughout the night. Can we have both?

You can often create the traditional feel of a seated dinner, while modernizing it with a twist.  Start the reception with passed hors ‘doeuvres, then move into the dining room and have all your guests take their seats.Start with a first course served at the table, and during this time do all the formal toasts while everyone is seated and focused. Then kick off the dancing and get everyone up and socializing. Now start serving small plates, which are smaller servings of all your favorite things. The guests can choose to sit back at their tables to enjoy, or just stand and enjoy a few bites. From a small serving of macaroni and cheese, to a fantastic spring dish like tortilla crusted tuna, caramelized grapefruit with poblano avocado puree, you can mix traditional favorites and unique items. Balancing the formal first course with the modern passed small plates gives your guests the best of both worlds.

For more advice, follow us after the jump.

Brides, if you’re a fan of Oak Cliff restaurant Bolsa (local, seasonal, delicious), you’ll be thrilled to learn of their recent partnership news. Bolsa Mercado Catering has teamed up with the Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) to become the exclusive caterer. Executive Chef Jeff Harris will be on hand to work with brides and clients to create a dream menu for weddings and private events.

The TRAC, eight miles southeast of downtown Dallas, offers incredible views, wildlife, and nature on the 120-acre preserve. The venue offers a unique setting for hosting your indoor/outdoor ceremony and reception. For more information on TRAC, Bolsa Mercado Catering, and booking an event, click here or contact Rachel Gray at 214.254.4936, Rachel@bolsa.com.

Dallas Scottish Rite venue at night

We just got word that Gil’s Elegant Catering is now the exclusive caterer for Dallas Scottish Rite. If you’re curious about what the two have to offer, the historical downtown venue is pairing up with the catering company to host an open house and tasting event on February 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. They’ve also gathered a curated group of local wedding vendors such as Sweet Pea Events, The Blue Booth, Romano’s Bakery, M&M Special Events, and Elan Make-up Studio, to showcase their services and products. Enjoy the complimentary food and drink while you chat with the experts and check out the ballroom. Tip: If you’re interested in a spot that will also hold a ceremony, head to the second floor. RSVP here.

The scene from a recent Culinary Art Catering soiree.

Chef-owned catering company Culinary Art Catering invites you to Falling in Love: A Weddings Preview this Thursday to taste their dishes and chat with their favorite vendors including florists, DJs, photographers, videographers, and transportation companies. The best part? It is free, people. Grab a bridesmaid and head to Nuvo Room (4241 Sigma Rd, Farmers Branch) from 4 pm to 8 pm to munch on a Mediterranean-themed menu featuring pizzettas, carving stations, and sparkling pear sangria.

Weddings can be notoriously complicated. From the guest list to the perfect dress, sometimes planning your special day can feel so overwhelming. Thankfully, on June 20 from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Culinary Art Catering will host their Summer Soiree: A Weddings Preview. Awarded for their delicious contemporary masterpieces, Culinary Art is using its fourteen years of experience for your benefit. They’ve gathered some of Dallas’ most celebrated vendors at Nuvo Room so you can do all of your planning under one roof. Couples are welcome to meet with experts in every field of the bridal biz, so all aspects of your wedding are sure to be covered. Check out the latest bridal trends, treat yourself to savory hors d’oeuvres, and enter to win a prize or two. Admission is free, but space is limited, so hurry and RSVP before time runs out.

Kelly Belter is a wedding intern.

photography courtesy of Guiltless Sweets

When the clock is ticking down to your wedding day, it’s hard not to calorie count every last thing you’re chewing on. And as much as you’re worried about what you will look like adorned in your perfectly fitted gown, your bridesmaids and guests are equally concerned about their figures. Thanks to Guiltless Sweets, a company created by Dallasite Janet Sigler, the celebrating can commence without having to make a mental note to visit the gym later.

Guiltless Sweets offers original-recipe mini muffins and mini bundt cakes that are perfect for pre-wedding festivities, such as a bridal shower. The bakery focuses on making its treats with no added sugar, no cholesterol, no trans fat, and low calorie counts. And we can tell you from first-hand experience that they are moist and delicious!

Already had your bridal shower? Why not order some cakes or muffins for your bridal party to enjoy on the morning of the wedding, or to put in welcome baskets for your out-of-town guests? However you use them, we can pretty much guarantee rave reviews.

Kristi McCann is a D Weddings intern.

The Courtroom offers a gorgeous restored ceiling and wood accents throughout.

If you’re looking for a reception, shower, or rehearsal dinner location that is equal parts vintage, unique, and classy you should definitely check out The Venue at 400 North Ervay. The building, which was erected in 1930 and is now a registered historic landmark, houses not only the downtown post office but three fabulous venues reminiscent of a bygone era. The first floor Grand Hall, complete with original, ornate iron-work, high ceilings and marble walls can work for cocktail hour or for seated dinners. If you’d prefer an outdoor location, the Rooftop Garden, still under construction but taking reservations for all of 2012, boasts New York-style city views. The Courtroom is a former, well, courtroom with a gorgeous, restored ceiling, big windows, and elegant wood paneling. Valet parking is available as well as event planning services and custom invitation design. The Venue has three caterers to choose from – Festive Kitchen, Food Glorious Food, and Beyond the Box, and there’s a bonus for the budget-conscious – clients are free to have their own alcohol brought in. – Bailey Powell

Gina Gottlich, wife of Bijoux’s Executive Chef, Scott Gottlich, has just added wedding planner to her resumé. And to jump-start the endeavor, she’s offering her services for free to the first three couples who hire Bijoux to cater their wedding. (Check out my previous blog on wrote about their catering services here.) Gina will work with the bride and groom every step of the way. She designed the interior of Bijoux as well as The Second Floor at the Westin Galleria so she knows how to make a space look classy and sophisticated. With Scott´s incredible cuisine and Gina´s eye for design, your wedding will be nothing less than spectacular.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Or, in this case, frozen yogurt. And the people screaming will be your wedding guests because you could win Pinkberry catering for your reception (for up to 150 people)! How fun would that be? All you need to do to enter is send an email to pinkberry@strausspr.com and put “BridalBuzz Pinkberry Giveaway” in the subject line. Be sure to include your name, phone number, and wedding date in the email. Contest ends April 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Winner will be notified by May 5, 2011. Good luck!

(Valid only for couples getting married in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.)