The Allan House

Allan House Reception on Style Me Pretty Texas!

noreply@blogger.com (Allan House) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Audrey and Nick held their reception at The Allan House this past June! They were married at Central Christian Church, just right across the street! This morning, their big day was featured on Style Me Pretty Texas, so be sure to check it out! I am especially fond of her one-shoulder ruffled gown, absoloutely stunning on her!

A special thanks to Carlea J Photography for capturing such a beautiful evening!
Here are a few of my favorite images from the day, but be sure to check out the entire post on Style Me Pretty Texas!

Guests danced the night away to the tunes of DJ Nathan Miller.

Being a longhorn, I'm a pretty big fan of the groom's cake by Whole Foods with the lyrics to the University of Texas school song on it.

To see some additional images from the event check out Carlea J's blog post on the event!

Thanks to everyone who took part in such a great day and congratulations to Audrey and Nick!

A Family Affair!

noreply@blogger.com (Allan House) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:06:00 +0000

Earlier this month Elisabeth and Tristan shared their special day with family and friends at The Allan House, an important part of Elisabeth's family history.

Once occupied by three sisters; Lois, Bess and May, The Allan House has been home to the bride's great-great and great-grandmothers. May was Elisabeth's great-grandmother and she honored Lois and Bess by wearing their jewelry during the ceremony.

The house was full of keepsakes, including a display of old family photos and images from the house!

Thanks to Becky at Kittleman Photography for capturing the event!

LeFleur Vintage created their vibrant bouquets!

Their elegant cake was baked up by Whole Foods!

Congratulations to Elisabeth and Tristan! Thank you both for sharing not only your special day with us but also some of the Allan House's history!

Happy Wednesday!

Breanna & Robert 9.17.11 by AJH Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Allan House) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Arol of AJH Photography did an amazing job of capturing Breanna Kohl and Robert Gibson's beautiful wedding here at the Allan House in September! Every detail of their big day made it absolutely stunning.

Congratulations to Breanna and Robert and a special thank you to AJH Photography for capturing the beauty of the day!

Royal Fig Small Plates Debut by Bonnie Berry Photography

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:25:00 +0000

On September 7, Royal Fig Catering hosted their "Small Plates" Menu Debut Party at the Allan House! They featured a wide range of delicious items from their new menu including a seared scallop with pinenut puree, roast butternut squash with goat cheese, and oxtail pierogi with charred onion sauce. Watermelon margaritas and prickly pear lime aqua fresca were also features at this lovely event.

Royal Fig Staff preparing a delicious new "small plate"

Steamed Mussels in White Wine with Chorizo

Corn and Crab Bisque with Basil Oil

Fennel, Roast Pear and Prosciutto Salad

Prickly Pear Lime Aqua Fresca

Corona Braised Pork Cheek Quesadilla

All these "small plate" menu items and more can be found on the Royal Fig Catering website!

Thank you so much to Bonnie Berry Photography for providing us with the beautiful images from this event!

Fall Wedding Trends

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:14:00 +0000

We are finally getting some relief from the heat and in light of this beautiful weather here are some great options for your Fall weddings! We love oranges, deep reds, and browns for the season! There are tons of Fall favor options as well!

Some beautiful flowers for Fall months are leonidas roses, dahlias, orange marigolds, abra cadabra roses, and hocus pocus roses. We also love pumpkins and orange chinese lanterns for a different touch! Check out these bouquets and centerpieces for some inspiration!

The Leonidas roses in this bouquet perfectly capture the feeling of Fall!

(image courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings)

Orange lanterns cascade so delicately out of this bouquet.

(image courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings)

Check out this beautiful pumpkin centerpiece!

(image courtesy of Wedding Bee)

Fall also allows for fun wedding favors in addition to the beautiful seasonal decor. Think delicious desserts and festive treats!

Delicious Salted Caramel Apples!

(image courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings)

These adorable little pecan pies are a tasty treat to send home with your guests!

(image courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings)

Anthropologie Bridal Collection!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:07:00 +0000

I've been eyeing Anthropologie's new bridal collection all weekend, so on this Monday morning I thought I'd share some of my favorite gowns! They are all so elegant and classic, I just can't pull myself away from them!

I love the idea of having a shorter dress for the reception. Even more, I love THIS reception dress!

Check out the rest of the collection, along with the jewelry, accessories and bridesmaid dresses they have to offer!

Vendor Spotlight: The Wedding Theater

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Natalie, current manager at The Allan House, said her vows under the majestic oak trees this past March! The Wedding Theater was there to capture every second of her big day, and the video came out great!

Here is my favorite image of the evening!

This photo was taken by Anthology Photography on the third floor balcony of The Allan House, a great location for sunset pictures any time of the year!

Be sure to check out their video and come by and see The Allan House in person! Give us a call today to set up an appointment, 512.478.8653.

Happy Thursday!

The Midnight Snack!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:22:00 +0000

After a long night of dancing, a midnight snack is a fun way to get your guests through the last songs of the evening! Weddings have featured snacks as simple as ice cream sandwiches and s’mores to something a little more filling like sliders and sweet potato fries. YUM!

(image courtesy of TheKnot)

(image courtesy of Wedding Window)

(image courtesy of Love and Splendor)

Want to do something more exciting that will really stand out in the minds of your guests? We love the idea of having a food truck! Try one of these Austin food trucks!

Try Chi' lantro! Chi'lantro is a Korean and Mexican Fusion Food Truck available for catering! For more information check out their website!

Want to do a dessert food trailer? Try Coolhaus Austin for a fun alternative to your everyday ice cream

sandwich! Check out their website for more info about these delicious treats.

If you don’t have time for a midnight snack at the reception have it for your guests as they are leaving. It will give them a nice little pick-me-up for their travels home!

Adriana

Bridal Extravaganza Austin!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:38:00 +0000

The Bridal Extravaganza Austin is this Sunday, Sept. 11, from 12-6 at the Palmer Events Center! This is the largest bridal show in Central Texas. The Allan House as well as over 200 other fabulous exhibitors will be showcasing what they have to offer! Find out more information and purchase your tickets to Sunday's Bridal Extravaganza here.

Be sure to come by the Allan House booth #505 for find out more information about our beautiful venue! Hope to see you all there!

Perfect Pear Affair

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:25:00 +0000

I am so sad that the Perfect Pear Affair has come and gone! We had such a wonderful time and could not have pulled it off without the help of our amazing vendors! Thanks to Sweetleaf Photography, we have some great shots of the evening to share!

Thanks to Premiere and Verbena our pear inspired evening came together perfectly with gorgeous linens and amazing floral pieces!

I LOVE how Verbena incorporated an actual pear into the centerpieces!

How amazing is this centerpiece? Definitely a piece that would wow guests.

Austin Catering made such beautiful and absolutely delicious appetizers for guests to enjoy! My personal favorite were the paninis.

Austin's Elite served the drinks for the evening, including the siganture cocktail; the Perfect Pear!

Texas Coffee Traders was also there and provided a full iced coffee bar!

Complete Music provided the tunes inside and outside the house for guests to enjoy!

DNA Events also participated. I personally loved their table, so beautiful!

We were so lucky that On The Flipside came was able to participate. Their video flipbook services are so unique and so much fun!

Inviting Affairs created our beautiful programs for the night!

Once again, special thanks to Premiere. All of the linens were so perfect and we could not have done it without you!

We were so happy the wonderful team from Pearl Events was there to help out as well!

Polkadots Cupcake Factory particpated by bringing adorable cupcakes and treats. My favorite was their macaroons!

As always, the wonderful Simon Lee Bakery was there showcasing more exquisite cakes and these delicious cupcakes below!

Thank you to Sweetleaf Photography for the beautiful photos and to all of the vendors for helping making the Perfect Pear Affair a success. We can't wait to work with you all in the future!

Katy & Rick by Ben Godkin

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:59:00 +0000

This past week Ben Godkin shared the beautiful pictures of Rick and Katy's wedding reception at the Allan House on his blog. Katy & Rick were such a gorgeous couple and an absolute blast to have at the house! Here are some of my favorite photos from the evening.

How beautiful is this cake by Sweetish Hill!? It was so elegant and the details are gorgeous!

All of the details of their wedding, including the special lighting helped make the evening perfect!

Thanks again to Ben Godkin for sharing these beautiful photos! And a special thanks to Katy & Rick for sharing their special night with us!

The Perfect Pear Affair

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:28:00 +0000

The Allan House requests your attendance at The Perfect Pear Affair!

Stop by the Allan House on August 24th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and enjoy a pear-fect evening of complimentary treats and drinks as well as the chance to meet with wonderful vendors! If you've already booked with us, this is a great opportunity to get ideas for your big day. Or if you're still searching for a venue, this is a wonderful time to check out the beautiful mansion and get a feel for what it would look like during an event!

A special thanks to all of our vendors for helping to make this possible.

We hope to see you there!

Thank You Sweet Caroline Photography!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:22:00 +0000

A special thanks to Caroline of Sweet Caroline Photography for the awesome photo book of Kelly and Jacob's May wedding! We were so excited yesterday when Caroline stopped by and we absolutely love so many pictures from that day. The details of the wedding were gorgeous and Caroline did an amazing job capturing their big day!

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures!

Thanks again Caroline for the wonderful photos!

Is There An App For That?

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:05:00 +0000

In a day and age where smart phones rule the world, it should come no surprise that almost everything you need to know when it comes to wedding planning is right at your fingertips. You may be thinking, there is no way that apps could possibly cover all the stages of plannig your wedding, but don't be too quick to draw that conclusion. Thanks to a great The Knot Texas article, we are thrilled to share with you our top five favorites in wedding planning technology.

#1 Problem: The Budget
Solution: Mint.com

Mint is a website that allows you to track where your money goes acting as your own personal accountant. By using Mint you can make a wedding budget to calculate what you are spending in every category of the process. This will not only help you to stay within your budget, but can also help you keep track of what still needs to be completed.

#2 Problem: The Dress
Solution: The Knot Look Book

The Knot Look Book app allows you to search gowns of all shapes, sizes, colors and designers! It also lets you narrow down your search by price. Although we know an app can not completely replace dress store shopping, it can definitely lend a hand to cutting down the number of shops you visit. The Look Book allows you to find spcific dresses in your area by searching bridal salons in your city. This app can be a huge asset when it comes to relieving some of the stress that dress shopping creates!

#3 Problem: Gift Registry
Solution: GR360.com

This great tool allows you to consolidate all of your wedding registries into one! No more need to register at several different individual sites, just simply visit giftregistry360! Not only with this save you time, but your guests will appreciate the simplicity as well. They can now find all of your registry items at one place. The Knot's favorite feature (which we have to say is our favorite too) is that your smarthphone acts as your scanner gun! All you have to do is scan the bar code with your phone and GR360 locates the products and adds it to your registry list!

#4 Problem: Communication
Solution: Dropbox

Dropbox allows you to connect with your bridal party at all times online or through your phone! Maybe you wants your bridesmaids advice on cakes or floral arrangements; no problem. With Dropbox you simply upload your idea and then your friends and family can give you immediate feedback even when they can't be with you! Men hear me out on this, you will LOVE this feature. Maybe your man is a little worn out on linen shopping, this way you can send him your idea and allow to him to veto or approve something without dragging him along!

#5 Problem: Everything
Solution: Wedding911

The Wedding911 app is absolutely essential no matter where you are in your wedding planning process. This tool provides answers to numerous crucial questions that will arise during this process. From simply ettiquette questions like how to word your invitations to questions about the actual ceremony, Wedding 911 has the answers you need. Think you have a question that will stump the app? No chance. If you cannot fnd the answer your looking for, you have the ability to post a question on the app and receive feedback from brides across the country. This app is my personal favorite!

So whether your planning your budget or simply browsing through dress options, allow the experts and their handy apps to help guide you!

Judy & King by Studio 563

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Andy Peterson from Studio 563 captured yet another breathtaking wedding at The Allan House this past May. Judy and King's colorful summer wedding was absolutely beautiful! The perfect ceremony for a couple so in love!

The beautiful and vibrant florals were supplied by Parkcrest Floral

I absolutely love this color combination they chose from Marquee for a summer wedding. It's fun yet sophisticated!

How gorgeous are these floral centerpieces from Parkcrest Floral? They are perfect for summer elegance!

The bride and groom's table was covered in a yellow linen to stand out, and their chairs had yellow chair sashes on them as well!

I am completely obsessed with the stunning cake from Simon Lee Bakery. It is so elegant and matches their reception perfectly.

Thanks again to Studio 563, and congratulations to Judy and King! We are so glad you allowed us to be a part of your big day!

Katy & David by Studio 563

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:29:00 +0000

Katy and David held their wedding and reception at The Allan House this past May. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for a couple so in love! My favorite part about the wedding? The attention to detail!

The florals. both bright and elegant, were my favorite accent to the event, created by Bouquets of Austin!

It's probably no surprise that I ADORE these fresh fruit centerpieces. So festive and seasonal!

The elegant cake was done by Cre8tive Confections.

Thanks so much to Andy Peterson Studio 563 for these great images along with all of the other vendors!

Allan House Wedding on Style Me Pretty Texas

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Jamie's May wedding was absolutely stunning, and has been featured on Style Me Pretty Texas this morning!

Check out a couple of my favorite images from Kristi Wright!

Chandeliers were hung from the trees, giving the reception such an elegant look!

I love this picture of their first dance. They look so in love!

Keeping it Cool

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:06:00 +0000

If you are planning a wedding in Austin, chances are you've been brainstorming ways to keep your guests cool, especially during these hot summer months! Our suggestion? Have Texas Coffee Traders at your event! They are a full service coffee bar that arrives fully stocked for all of your coffee needs!
From iced coffee to espressos they can do it all, and I can personally testify that it is incredibly tasty! They even offer candy bars with rock candy and chocolate covered espresso beans!

To add to our post about creative wedding favors, how about sending each guest on their way with a bag of delicious coffee? Texas Coffee Traders can even customize the bags with your wedding date, names, and even a fun engagement photo!

Check out this custom label they created for The Allan House. We added a little tulle (a great and simple way to tie in the wedding colors of your choice) and voilá, a practical favor for your guests that they are sure to enjoy!

To learn more about Texas Coffee Traders, what they offer, and how they can cool down (or warm up) your special day visit their website, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter!

Party Favors Your Guests Will Love

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:59:00 +0000

You've been diligent in your planning and now you are down to the last finishing touches. The dress is ready, venue booked, linens chosen and caterers set to serve. One task you may be putting off? Choosing those dreaded party favors. Since party favors are typically allotted a small part of your budget, it may seem impossible to find something your guests will enjoy and that you will feel good about giving out. But don't fear just yet, thanks to a wonderful article from The Knot Texas, we are here to help guide you through the process!

It's easy to be unimaginative when choosing your party favors, it may seem like less work or money to settle with the comfortable or typical favors. But surprisingly enough, there are several cute, clever, and inexpensive ideas your guests will enjoy.

The Knot surveyed hundreds of subscribers and found that the bulk (about 50 percent) of brides spent around $1-3 for their gifts and the second place (15 percent) spend between $3-7. With these brackets in mind we researched and chose our top five party favor ideas!

1. Maracas:

This may seem like an odd choice, but hear us out. These can be a great favor that can be used to keep the party going on your big day! By handing these out to guests, you can start a conga line or play festive music and guests will surely put their new favors to use! The maracas pictured above are from The Oriental Trading Company for only $15 for a dozen.

2. Cocktail Mixes:

Cocktail drink mixes are a great favor to give guests that can be used beyond the reception. It's a fun way for guests to try new drinks, and not to mention these cocktail mixes in the picture above are absolutely adorable. The Knot offers these fun and creative packages for only $1.55 each!

3. Bubbles

Bubbles like these cute ones offered from The Knot are low-cost and can add some flare to your send off. Oriental Trading Company also offers adorable bubble bottles in the shape of champagne bottles for 50 cents each! This is a great low-cost and practical alternative to the typical cookie wedding favor.

4. Measuring Spoons

These measuring spoons called "Love Beyond Measures" are offered at just $2.15 a set from Creative Wedding Favors. At a low price, this favor is one that is not only cute, but super practical! Guests will love a gift that they can actually put to use following your big day.

5. Herb Favor Boxes

Boxes like this Parsley Herb Box from Green Wedding are great ways to go Eco friendly while still maintaining practicality. Guests will love taking home their own parsley box to add to some of their favorite recipes, and you'll feel good keeping it Eco-friendly. Green Wedding offers several Herb Boxes at just $3.50 a piece!

An important fact to always remember when choosing the perfect wedding favor is that your guests are not coming to the wedding to receive a killer gift. They are coming to support you on your big day. So don't stress too much about an appropriate price range or what your guests will think of their favors! Trust your gut and choose what feels right. When stuck on ideas, creativity is always a great way to go!

Fruit filled fun!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Whether your event is set to take place in the spring time or the fall, adding fresh fruit to your centerpieces can really bring out the time of year, and add to the festive feel of your event! We love using lemons or limes on your table tops. The colors are so bright and fun for the spring and summertime!

If you're having an outdoor event and looking for a more rustic feel on your tabletops, we love this setting!

We also love the idea of have fruit in water, whether it's to showcase the inside pattern or just to have them floating!

Having a wedding inspired by green? Go with green apples on your tables and white linens for a fresh and clean look! Even if you aren't having a "green" wedding, feel free to add them to you centerpieces with florals to tie in your wedding colors (as pictured above).

Fall wedding? Try oranges or orange slices!

And honestly, what could be more fall than pumpkins? They are espically fun when you carve them to be personalized for your special day!

Whenever your event may be, look into spicing your event up with some fresh fruit!

Setting Sail With The Allan House

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:20:00 +0000

Last night at The Allan House, we hosted our June Open House and had an absolute blast. A special thank you to all of our guests as well as all of the fabulous vendors that helped make the event come alive!

Marquee supplied the beautiful linens and Verbena added gorgeous flowers that really set the tone for the nautical-inspired evening. Wonderful appetizers were provided by Dagar's Catering and delicious treats were available thanks to Simon Lee Bakery and The Cupcake Bar! A+ Student Staffing supplied our guests with refreshing drinks all night, including our signature cocktail!

Complete Music provided fun tunes out in the courtyard and BoothBooth supplied the photo booth for guests to relax and have fun.

Anthology, Your Wedding Your Way, and The Inviting Pear were also there mingling with guests and guiding them through the wedding planning process.

We are so thanksful for everyone who had the chance to come out!

Set Sail With The Allan House....

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:10:00 +0000

TOMORROW!

Don't forget our June open house is tomorow from 5:30 to 8:30.

Dagar's Catering will be here serving delicious appetizers and A+ Student Staffing will be there providing refreshing beverages inlcuding our signature cocktail for the event!

Some of the tastiest cakes in Austin will be served by Simon Lee Bakery plus extra delicious treats will be provided by The Cupcake Bar.

Complete Music will be in the courtyard providing tunes. You don't want to miss out on photo booth fun provided by BoothBooth either.

Gorgeous linens and rentals from Marquee and stunning florals from Verbena will set the mood for the Nautical inspired evening.

Your Wedding Your Way, The Inviting Pear, and Anthology, will all also be here to mingle and share their expert advice.

We hope to see you there!

Your Cake, Your Way

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:54:00 +0000

The days of the traditional multi-tiered white wedding cakes are behind us. Now brides and grooms are using their cakes to match their personal styles and preferences. From colorful cakes to ice cream bars, the cake cutting tradition is rapidly changing!

Below are some of my favorite cake ideas for the bride and groom.

Pairing cupcakes with a cake is a great way to still allow a cake cutting but still and a fun flair to your reception!

Colorful cakes are taking weddings by storm! This is a great way to use your cake as extra decoration!

Cake balls are the latest and greatest alternative to a traditional cake. Not only are they easy to eat but their shape and decoration are always a hit.

Similar to cake balls, using cupcakes in the shape of a traditional cake is a great alternative as well!

If you have a favorite flavor like this cheesecake cake, do not hesitate to choose it! There are so many great options and ways to dress up your favorite cake style.

Not huge on cake? Ice cream bars like this one are a fun idea. With a toppings bar, your guests will have fun creating their own ice cream cone. Not mention, these are a great way to cool down during a hot summer wedding!

Brides aren't the only ones getting creative with weddings cakes though. Grooms cakes continue to become more creative! Below are some amazing grooms cakes done by one of our favorites, Simon Lee Bakery.

Cakes designed around the grooms alma mater have remained a huge hit. This amazing one of the UT tower is absolutely gorgeous!

Men love their golf. When stuck on ideas, a cake inspired by their favorite hobby is always a great route to take!

This cigar cake is one of my absolute favorites! It's such a creative and fun cake that guests are sure to love!

If you are having trouble picking your cake and you aren't interested in going the traditional route, do not be afraid to be unique! Let your cake work as decorations or use easy-access cake balls or cupcakes. In the end, creativity is key!

Anchors Aweigh! June 2011 Open House

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:59:00 +0000

It's that time of the year, and The Allan House is excited to host our June 2011 Open House! The event is set to be held Wednesday, June 22nd from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m.

Get ready to set sail with us as you tour The Allan House and meet with our fabulous vendors. If you've already booked with us, this is a great opportunity to get ideas for your big day. Or if you're still searching for a venue, this is a wonderful time to check out the beautiful mansion and get a feel for what it would look like during an event!

A special thanks to all of our vendors for helping to make this possible.

We hope to see you there!

Accessory Alert!

noreply@blogger.com (The Allan House) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:35:00 +0000

On your big day, you want to look perfect from head to toe. You spend months searching for that perfect dress and several consultations for the best hair and makeup, but we can't forget about those wonderful accessories that add the finishing touch to any bride. Here are some of my favorite accessories!

Lace gloves are a great way to add your own flare and extra sophistication to your day!

I am a sucker for hair pieces like this beauitful flower on a bride from The Allan House. It radiates such soft elegance!

Pearls always add a subtle statement to make any dress beautiful

Or if you want a more bold look, chunky necklaces on a strapless gown make a will wow your guests!

And of course you can never go wrong with a great pair of classic earrings!

My personaly favorite accessory has got to be a great pair of shoes! From beautiful traditional heels to fun and funky kicks, your shoes are another great way to add your own personality to your wedding gown!

Cowboy boots are a great option for an outdoor or rustic wedding.

Traditional flats or heels add a touch of sophistication.

Colorful heels like these red ones will definitely pop as you glide down the aisle!

These funky sneakers are one of my favorites that we have seen at The Allan House. Not only did the brides personality shine, but they were great dancing shoes!

If you are looking for ways to add some personality any of these accessories are a great place to start! Have any other great accessory ideas? Don't hesitate to share them with us!