Wellington Banquet & Conference Center

Give Kids the World!

2011-08-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

We are so grateful to everyone who supported our Ice Cream for Breakfast fundraiser for Give Kids the World Village on Saturday, August 27th! Give Kids the World Village is a storybook village for children with life threatening illnesses and their very deserving families. While their kids jumped with joy in the bounce house, had their faces painted with flowers or monster trucks, and ate ice cream until they nearly burst, the parents of these children talked of their shared experiences of caring for their little ones.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites and the Wellington Banquet and Conference Center sponsored this event as a day of service to the community. Hotel employees scooped ice cream, poured lemonade, handed out raffle prizes, and talked to families who came out to support this great event.
We cannot forget those who helped make this fundraiser possible! Raffle prize donors included Red Lobster, Kids Hair Safari, Texas Roadhouse, Cheddars, All American Car Wash, McAlisters Deli, Cotton Patch Café, Cici’s Pizza, Walmart, Pecan Shed, and the Wichita Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other partners include Creative Portraits, McGruff the Crime Dog, Office Depot, US Foods, Times Record News, KAUZ, KFDX, and Coca Cola.
Thankfully, many of the families we spoke with have children in remission or nearing the “all clear” mark! It was our pleasure and delight to meet these wonderful people and everyone else who came out in support of the Give Kids the World Village fundraiser.

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words.

2011-08-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

Another Saturday has come and gone and so has another fabulous reception! This week we celebrated the love of Paige Muirhead and Aaron Rask. These two are so cute and fun together! I know everyone had a great time! It is almost the same story as last weekend, when we first started talking to this couple in January they were not technically engaged yet. Paige’s sister had just been married and Aaron was thinking really hard about popping the question. So Paige’s parents, Tammie and Mike, came in and booked the venue. Well the next time we see them they are already married! They had a beautiful destination wedding on the beach. The reception we had here was for all of the family and friends who were not able to make it to the first wedding. It was so pretty. The tables were decorated with ivory cloths and burlap runners. The center pieces were gorgeous orange, green, and purple flowers done by the brides uncle Jay Oxford. Mike and Aaron hung old bottles on the windows in front of the terrace and had flowers in them as well. It was a very cute idea. The food was catered by Simple DelecTable. They served an Italian menu with lasagna, tortellini, pasta salad, and a soup. For dessert we had cupcakes for the bride prepared by Dream Bakers and cheesecake for the groom. Now when I say that Paige and Aaron are a super fun couple, I mean every word of it. When the couple made their entrance a dvd of the actual ceremony was being projected on the wall. We hung a larger than life picture of them on the wall in front of the service doors and when they said their “I dos” on the movie they busted through the picture of themselves surprising all of their guest! A picture is always worth a 1000 words, but in this case it was worth 150 very shocked faces! For their first dance they came up with the funniest dance showcasing all of the most popular dance moves since the 1970s! When it was it time for the garter toss Aaron “accidently” pulled off Paige’s undies and threw them! I didn’t come right out and ask but I am pretty sure it was very successful prank because they looked to be about four sizes too big for Mrs. Rask. At one point in the evening I am pretty sure that I seen Mr. Rask on the dance floor doing the worm thanks to the musically styling’s of DJ Joe Martin. Paige’s father created a slideshow for the couple and wrote and sang the sweetest song for his daughter. I do not believe there was a dry eye in the house. The photographs were taken by Ms. Jessica Bailey. She always does such a great job! I can’t wait to see these pictures. As soon as I get some I will post them for everyone to look at! To Mr. and Mrs. Rask thank you for choosing the Wellington to be part of your (second) special day! We very much enjoyed planning all of the details with you and your family! Good luck on your future together as husband and wife!

Pomeranians, Receptions, and Texoma's Best Banquet Facility...

2011-08-15T15:39:00.001-07:00

Hey bloggers! August has started off with a bang! We have two weddings down and one more to go this month! Last week on August 11th we hosted the Texoma’s Best Awards, and heard the awesome news that the Wellington Banquet & Conference Center was named “Texoma’s Best Banquet Facility.” Thank you to everyone who voted for us! We will strive to keep this title and get better each year with it! Now on to the wedding updates!

Shannon & Brandon

August 6 we hosted the Shannon Scott and Brandon Gentry ceremony and reception. Shannon loves anything classic, so this was a vintage wedding from start to finish! Julie Caldwell, one of the maids of honor and wedding planner, helped her friends put together their big day! The ceremony was held on the terrace. The wedding programs were printed on fans which helped their guests beat the summer sun. Shannon’s little Pomeranian dog, Levon Barnabus Scott, played a very vital role in this ceremony. He wore a tuxedo fit for pup, and walked down the aisle as the ring bearer. He was adorable, and made for some of the cutest ceremony pictures ever. After the “I do’s” we made our way back inside, where it was nice and cool, and got the reception started while the newlyweds took pictures in the foyer. The reception tables had ivory linens paired with burlap runners. The centerpieces were composed of old records and books with mason jars holding flower arrangements made by the lovely Paula Hill with Designing Spaces. The foyer table was decorated with an old timey typewriter and suitcase. There were also old keys spread across the table. Shannon’s dress for the rehearsal Friday night had the same keys printed on it. I think it was great how they kept the theme going all weekend. Shannon and Brandon’s wedding pictures were taken in Chicago, and the pictures were made into a book that everyone signed their well wishes in. There was a photo booth set up in the Ballroom with a “Smile” backdrop and lots of fun props to take pictures with. (It looked like so much fun, I couldn’t resist from snapping a pic in it with the other girls and our phones!) Dinner was catered by Johnny Carino’s and Circle M Bakery brought cupcakes for the bride and a chocolate cake for the groom. They were so goooood. It is no wonder Circle M won Texoma’s Best Bakery last week at the banquet! One of the funnier moments of the night came when a member of the wedding party sang “Sexual Healing” to Brandon and Shannon before the bouquet and garter toss. Since he forgot his guitar he had to sing without it, but he was still just as entertaining. Before August 6 was her wedding day, it was already a special day to Shannon. It is her late fathers’ birthday. When the reception ended we gathered all of the flowers and donated them to Hospice of Wichita Falls in Larry Scotts honor. The staff at Hospice sent a “Thank you” card to us at the Wellington and I just wanted to extend this thanks to the Scott and Gentry families for allowing us to do that. In lieu of the traditional wedding favor a donation was also made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Center in honor of the guests who attended. At the end of the night the couple made their exit to Blink 182s “First Date.” (a classic song in my book!) To Mr. and Mrs. Gentry- Congratulations on finding each other and good luck with everything! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Sara and Cole

The next weekend we went with a peacock themed reception for Sara Contreras and Cole Morath’s reception. Exclusive Weddings by Spring Branch was on board for this one, and what a great one it was! Now just a little background info on Sara and Cole for you guys… we have been planning this day since before they were even engaged! Sara’s parents, Trini and Jose, were very sneaky. As soon as Cole asked for permission to take Sara’s hand in marriage, Trini knew Sara would say yes and started looking for venues. Cole finally got up the nerve to ask and a few weeks later the family traveled from Amarillo to take a tour of the Wellington. It was then that we were able to tell Sara the date was already hers and the rest of the planning was able to begin. I can’t believe how fast the actual wedding came! It seems like just yesterday we were supposed to keep it on the hush hush and now Sara is going by Coach Morath at school! Wow, how time flies! Sara was a beautiful bride! Her dress complimented her very well and her bouquet was a little different. She collected broaches from all of the ladies in her family and put them together to create a simple but unique bouquet. The cocktail hour started at 3:00 with wine being served in the foyer. At 4:30 we opened the Ballroom doors and let everyone see the beautiful room that the ladies at Spring Branch had created. Dinner was served at 5:30 by Cotton Patch, so while everyone was waiting to eat we showed a slideshow that Jose had created for the couple. Friday when we were testing everything, I watched it and couldn’t help but cry. He did a great job of putting it together! They even had a snippet of a video on there of Cole proposing to Sara. That was the kicker for me. I always get to see the “I do” part, but not the part where she says “yes.” I love that part too. After dinner came the first dances and the cutting of the cakes. After all of that was out of the way, it was time to dance! Joe Martin was the DJ for the night and he did an awesome job of keeping the dance floor full all night. I’m sure that in 10 years people will still be talking about how much fun they had at this reception. The night always has to come to an end, when the clock struck 11 the bride and grooms horse and carriage awaited them outside. The exit reminded me of a fairy tale. I don’t know if it was the bubbles or the horses, but it was a very impressive way to end the night. Mr. and Mrs. Morath thank you so much for trusting us to host your reception. It was great getting to know you and your families! Good luck on your future together!

P.S. I will post some better pictures of both events as soon as I can get my hands on them!!

Ceremonies, Receptions, and a Super Bowl Champ??

2011-08-02T16:51:00.001-07:00

Hello bloggers! I have sooo much to tell you! Wedding season is still in full force at the Wellington! I suppose we should start with the Hoyer-Ballard reception on July 16. Unfortunately, I was not able to be here that night, but I heard that thanks to the Two Clever Chicks this was the perfect summer reception. The ballroom was decorated in different shades of green, turquiose, and purple. Shelly and Lance are both engineers, so everything about this night was very structured and captured the couples personalities wonderfully. The bride did something a little different with her guests. She picked out a song for each table, and when that song played everyone sitting at that particular table had to get up and dance! The dances were very well thought out and beautifully choreographed. Lance and his mother even did a swing dance when it was their time to shine together! There was also a photo booth set up in the ballroom so everyone could get a chance to catch their fun in a picture! The girls also told me that Monarch did a great job on the food as usual! Here are a few pictures for you guys to look at!

Now on to the Kim Rock- Clayton Harvey reception held July 22. The reception started with light music playing and hors doevres being passed. After the bride and groom were announced, dinner was served! Monarch also catered this event and, as always, brought their A game with the spiced chicken and cheese tortellini. Kathy’s Bakery did the brides cake and for the groom cobbler was served. The music was soft until after we cut the cakes, then we dimmed the lights, turned up the music and everyone got on the dance floor! The colors were yellow and navy blue. The ballroom tables were draped with ivory cloths and navy runners. The center pieces were white hydrangeas with yellow roses. There was also lemon accents in some of the vases and around the cake table. Kim looked beautiful in her white dress. She had her little braids pulled back in her hair. She was so beautiful. Clayton is a lieutenant in the air force so he wore his service dress (which coincidently matched the blue runners perfectly.) Everything about this reception was so much fun all the way until we said our goodbyes. The bride and groom made their exit to a sea of lit sparklers being swirled by their family and friends.

July 23 we changed it up a little bit here and instead of the normal wedding we usually have on Saturdays, we had the great pleasure of hosting the United Regional “Playing it Safe” sports banquet. This event was geared toward parents of student athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers to help keep kids from getting sports related injuries. They had physicians from United Regional that primarily deal with these types of injuries speak and there was also a guest speaker. Now if you are a Dallas Cowboys fan I am positive you have heard this name plenty of times... Bill Bates. He is a former Cowboy, and was a member of the 1992, 1993 and 1995 Super Bowl Champions team. He was a line backer, safety, and a member of the special teams. What an honor it was to have someone with three super bowl rings in the building! He is such a nice guy! He signed lots of footballs, jerseys, and United Regional pinnets for everyone who came out. After the presentation ended, there was a complimentary bar-b-que dinner provided by the hospital and prepared by Monarch. For dessert we had cupcakes in the shape of a giant stadium that were baked by the Ganache Girls. They were sooo yummy! As much as I love receptions this was a nice change of pace! It was so cool getting to meet Mr. Bates and listen to all of the different things that each speaker had to say! I already can’t wait to have this event here again next year!

Now back to what I know is everyones favorite: the ceremonies and receptions! The next weekend on July 29 our building transformed into the “big city” for Holly Morgan and Jason Scheller’s ceremony and reception! Holly is a Jersey girl who relocated to Chicago and then to Wichita Falls. The city is a big part of who she is and she really wanted to incorporate it into her wedding. Every table had its own name and then a description about that table. There was a Central Park, Penn Station, and Union Square table just to name a few. The foyer table was covered in Chicago’s famous Garrett popcorn and the sweetheart table sat in between two skyscrapers. There was a photo booth set up with a city skyline back drop. The colors were red, black, and white because Jason graduated from Texas Tech and he wanted that tied into the wedding as well. I really love how this couple had thought of so many personal touches to add to their wedding. Ann with Mystic Floral did an amazing job on the centerpieces and turning our C Ballroom into a very romantic ceremony spot. Holly did not have a flower girl so Ann created an “S” in rose petals on the floor for Holly to walk through. After the ceremony I was trying to gather the wedding party so we could do a reception line and everyone could say their “hello’s and thank you for coming” and I noticed Jason and Holly in the corner doing a secret handshake. It was so cute; I knew I had to mention it in the blog. We had a cocktail hour were the signature drinks, cosmopolitans and skyscrapers were served, then at 8:15 we opened the ballroom doors and everyone stepped into the “big city.” As soon as everyone was seated, the always delicious Bistro Express served dinner. For dessert there was a candy bar and wedding cake of course! The cakes were prepared by Kim Pirtle. Holly’s cake was a white cake with buildings all around it and Jason’s cake was Star Wars inspired. Everything about this night was original. I think Holly did a great job of planning this out and really making the building her own. (Hey Holly you got this! You're gold girl!)

The next day we did one of the things we do best and we turned the building into Jordan Bailey and Bradley Carvers dream reception. Now we did not do this on our own. Most of the credit needs to go to Bonnie Hill and Ginger Schaffner of Creative Elegance, where details really are their specialty! They showed up at 8am ready to decorate and by 2pm this place looked totally different. The board rooms were transformed into a candy bar and appetizer station. The ballroom was absolutely amazing with all different shades of brown, gold, green and purple. They used some of their designing secrets (which I will never tell!) to really give Jordan the fall inspired reception she hoped for in July! Jordan and Bradley are both Aggies (Whoop!) so instead of doing a bride’s cake and a groom’s cake Aunt Glenda’s Bakery did an Aggie cake for both of them. This reception had a lot of things worth blogging about like when DJ Joe Martin played the Aggie war hymn or I could write about the cute slide show that played on the north wall all night, buuuut the thing I really want to tell everyone about is the dance than Jordan shared with her brother, Taylor. This started off like any other dance, sweet and slow. About half way into it the music starts to skip and of course everyone turns to the DJ like “what is going on?” then out of nowhere the music turns into Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and they begin to do the dance! Then it turns into NSYNC’s “Bye, bye, bye” and they nailed that dance too! They also incorporated the “Oops… I did it again” by Britney Spears and Soulja Boy dance. Then with a little help from Jordan’s mom and junior bridesmaid (Jordan sat this one out for obvious reasons) they let everyone know they needed to “Put a ring on it” like Beyonce said. After the dance medley the music turned back into the slow song and they ended with Taylor dipping Jordan. If it is not already on YouTube, I am sure it will be soon! When it goes viral be sure to give the Wellington its credit! Haha! At 11:00 we called last call at the bar then Jordan changed into her leaving dress and the couple made their exit! I hope you two are having a blast on your honeymoon cruise!

To Mr. and Mrs. Ballard, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Scheller, annnd Mr. and Mrs. Carver THANK YOU for letting us be a part of your special days. You have made July of 2011 one I will never forget. The Wellington wishes you a lifetime of happiness and the best of luck on your futures together as husband and wife!

I would like to give another special thanks to United Regional and Bill Bates for trusting us to accommodate one of your biggest events of the year. And also to all of the photographers, caterers, planners, cake makers, and DJs that helped July 2011 turn into such a successful month for the Wellington. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Teach me how to Dougie...

2011-07-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

July 15, 2011 was the big day for Ashton Miser and Caleb Watson. We hosted their ceremony and reception and I think it is safe to say that everyone had a good time. Kathy Bullard with was their wedding planner and she did a great job on making everything come together the way Ashton wanted it to. The ceremony was held outside on the terrace. We spent all morning draping pink fabric above the east wall, setting chairs out, and even putting little fans on everyone’s seat trying to help them beat the summer heat. The ballroom tables had black linens with hot pink centerpieces and damask design tying it all together. Before the ceremony started we greeted Ashton and Caleb’s family and friends with cold bottled water in the foyer. Finally 7:00 came and it was time. Ashton was a vision in white (and pink high heels.) The way Caleb looked at her when she was walking down the aisle made my heart melt. Caleb kissed his bride and then everyone found their way back into the Grand Ballroom so the reception could begin. While everyone was having dinner, which was catered by Johnny Carino’s, a slideshow played showing the couple before and after they fell in love. After dinner comes dessert! The groom had cake balls in strawberry, red velvet, devils food, and chocolate flavors. They were delicious! The bride’s cake was white with the black damask design covering it. It was also very tasty! My favorite part of the night was when Ashton and the best man, Colbey, got out on the dance floor and taught everyone how to dougie!! They were really good dancers! And I learned a new dance! Thanks you guys! All good receptions eventually have to end. When it was time for the night to be over we sent off Ashton and Caleb with a sea of bubbles! I am sure that the photographer was able to get some great shots of it! I will post them for all you blog readers as soon as we get them!

To Ashton and Caleb, thank you for letting us be a part of your day! I enjoyed this day so much and I hope y’all did too! Everyone looked so beautiful from the bridesmaids in white and black dresses, and groomsmen in white tuxedos, the bride in her dress and pink high heels and the groom in his white suit! We hope your honeymoon in Florida was a blast! Good luck in all your future endeavors as husband and wife!

What a Weekend!

2011-07-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

The first weekend of this month was crazy busy around here! As I hope you have already read July 1, we had Ricka and Blaine’s ceremony and reception, July 2 we got to hang out with Tiffany and Weston for their reception, and on July 3 we got to do it all over again for Aaren and Brandon’s’ ceremony and reception too! I had the pleasure of being here all three days, and now I get to blog about it soooo here it goes…

Tiffany & Weston McCalip

July 2, 2011 was all about Mr. and Mrs. McCalip at the Wellington! We had so much fun at this reception, I was so sad when it was time for the newlyweds to make their exit! Judy with Kathy’s Bakery was the coordinator for this day, and she for sure lived up to her end of the bargain. The ballroom was decked out in hot pink and black. There were even little hints of zebra in some places. The tables had centerpieces on them with hot pink flower arrangements on top. The head table was set up on the stage behind the dance floor. Judy and Kathy made an awesome drape to hang behind the wedding party that had the couples’ initials on it, and a little bit of bling too of course. The foyer was absolutely amazing. The table had Tiffany’s mothers wedding gown and Weston’s mother wedding gown on mannequins, the trains covered the table perfectly falling all the way to the floor. There were pictures set up of the couples grandparents and great grandparents on their wedding days. It was nice to see all of these people still happily married. It was also neat to see the style transformation of the dresses through the years. Tiffany was a gorgeous bride. She looked like just like one of the brides you see in the magazines, only prettier. Mark Schroeder provided the tunes for the night and as always did a great job. When the clock struck 9:00 it was time for the ol’ red Studebaker truck to pull up and take the young couple off into the night so they could begin their honeymoon. It made for some very cute pictures as everyone threw pink rose petals and waved their goodbyes!

Aaren & Brandon Halencak

The next day our team came together to get everything ready for Aaren and Brandon. Kim Southard with The Swanky Thang was the planner and like always everything turned out perfect. The day started with an early morning rehearsal. One for the ladies and one for the guys since the tradition does say the bride and groom are not supposed to see each other on their big day. After that the guys headed of f so the girls could get ready. We turned the music up and got to work. Aaren and Kim decided to go with brown table linens and orange centerpieces. There were also hints of ivory in the ballroom which really set the orange tones off. The ceremony was held inside. The bridesmaids wore brown dresses and the groomsmen wore ivory suits. Aaren looked like the perfect bride in her dress. She really did a great job picking out that gown. During the ceremony Aarens brother, Adam, sang his rendition of “Wait for me.” He has an amazing voice. After the ceremony, always comes the reception, and this was a great party. Monarch set up a mashed potato bar, salad bar, sliders and a fruit station. And as always the food was delicious. Kathy’s Bakery was in charge of the bride’s cake and it too did not disappoint. The groom’s cake showed Brandon’s love for the Texas Rangers and chocolate covered strawberries. Iron Horse set up the bar, and kept the guests cups filled all night. I’d have to say the funniest part of the night was when it was time for the bouquet and garter toss. Brandon with the help of his best man, Austin, pulled out his hard hat and tool belt and then put on quite the show. Finally after using all the tools he had he was able to pull the garter off of Aarens leg and throw it to the single guys in the crowd. What seemed as such a short time after, the clocked turned 12 and it was time for the party to end. Everyone threw birdseed as the couple made their exit.

I had such an amazing time working with both of these couples and their families! Thank you to Lauren Pinson with Lauren Pinson Photography for the great pictures of Mr. and Mrs. McCalip! And thanks to DeEdra with Photo[E]motion Photography for the awesome pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Halencak!

To Tiffany and Weston and Aaren and Brandon, thank you for letting us at the Wellington be a part of your big days. You guys were great to work with and we hope y’all nothing but the best of luck on your new ventures as husband and wife!

"It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding!"

2011-07-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

July 9th was definitely a hot day in July for Nathan and Laura’s Wedding Day! However, despite the Texas heat, even the white flowers held it together for this special day.
The excitement started early here at the Wellington as the bridal party arrived in a white stretch-Hummer. The girls applied their make-up in our Bridal room fully stocked for full-relaxation and enjoyment as the rest of the wedding party and guests enjoyed the sun poolside at the Holiday Inn Express next door! The bridal party ended their time here, before loading back into the limo for the church, getting photographed by the amazing Rachel Archer who is going to provide us with beautiful pictures of this romantic and exciting day! Be on the lookout for her pictures to be posted!

Meanwhile, in the ballroom, the wedding planner was putting her final touches to the white floral arrangements full of roses, hydrangeas, carnations and orchids that were beautifully arranged by Kim Southard with The Swanky Thang. The centerpieces were absolutely stunning and elegant! We even had Shiloh back in the house helping out!

6 o’clock came and went as the lovely couple exchanged vows at a local church. Thoughts of “I Do’s” and first kisses were on our minds as we swept through the ballroom lighting candles and making sure things were just right for the newlyweds.

Hors D’oeuvres were served just as the guests began to arrive. Monarch Banquet and Catering passed bacon-wrapped shrimp along with scrumptious spinach quiche before dinner was served. The couple chose food stations of Sliders, Quesadillas and a Roast Beef carving station with horseradish sauce that would make any guest’s mouth water!

Once the wedding party arrived in an even larger vehicle, the bride and groom were swept off to one of our private rooms for an intimate first-dinner. I love this because, really, when do the bride and groom actually get to enjoy the meal on their special day? This way, they got to share some time together reliving the day’s events before being introduced for the first time as husband and wife in our grand ballroom!
Once Laura and Nathan entered the ballroom, the festivities began! They immediately danced their first dance followed by the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance.

The speeches were to follow. They were each full of laughs as well as tears. My favorite part of the speeches had to have been the matron-of-honor’s advice as a married woman herself. She said, “You fall in love by chance. You stay in love by choice.” These are wise words to live by! With as many weddings as we have seen around here, I will always keep that with me.
Then, onto the cakes! Kathy’s Bakery provided the stunning white bride’s cake and festive groom’s cake, which was surrounded by chocolate-covered strawberries and topped off with sugar made to look like ice! These cakes stood out especially this week thanks to the Wellington’s new toys: upgraded pin-spot lighting! There is nothing worse than your cake not standing out is what I always say!

Next: dancing! I have to say, I had my suspicions for this particular reception. You see the bride is an Aggie while the groom is a Sooner. So, on this particular day, the Wellington was a house-divided. Most of the groomsmen were from OU while many of the girls were Chi Omega sorority sisters from Aggieland. I had imagined the dance floor being divided with the guys not quite sure about these Aggie women. However, thanks to Drive the Band, I was proven wrong. Aggies and Sooners can, in fact, intermingle while dancing the night away. During dinner, the band played everything from Jason Mraz and John Mayer to the Beatles.
Once it was time to kick it up a notch, they really got the crowd up and moving! What got the guests to make their way to the dance floor was when the band played “Shout!” A wedding essential, of course, but the band was so into the song that even I found myself getting a little bit louder now! At this point, the band was taking requests and playing everything from Katy Perry to Michael Jackson to Prince’s “Kiss”, another wedding essential in my book. Being an Aggie myself, I particularly enjoyed when the band took a break to play the Aggie War Hymn. (Whoop!) A wedding involving an Aggie is incomplete without the whooping and swaying that we love so dearly!
The guests were dancing all night until the last song was played at 11:30 that was another Beatles' classic, “With a Little Help from my Friends.”
Once this song was over, it was time for the bride and groom’s big exit. The entry doors were opened and everyone was given a handful of birdseed to toss at the newlyweds who left in style in their, of course, white limousine.

And so an Aggie married a Sooner.
Congratulations, Laura and Nathan!
We hoped your day was just as special as you had imagined it to be. We wish you all the luck and love in your future together.
-The Wellington Crew

The Beginning of a New Chapter ...

2011-07-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

My Final Wedding.

Excuse me bloggers, while I am quite sure that I will become misty-eyed while writing this blog. This is, indeed, my last blog to write for the Wellington Banquet and Conference Center. *Tear*. I am so sad to be leaving this place, but so happy to have gained the knowledge and experience that I have. As some of you read in my earlier blogs, I came to the Wellington to complete my work-study hours here to go toward my degree in Restaurant Hospitality Management with my concentration being in Meetings and Events Management. My time is now up and I will be returning to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. You guys don't have to lie to yourselves; I know y'all will miss me. But, enough about me, let's get on with this past weekend's reception, shall we?

My last wedding reception here at the Wellington was for Taryn and Grant Rogers. These two were a precious couple and had such a wonderful reception. Their ceremony took place at Our Lady Queen of Peace and their reception immediately followed around 4 in the afternoon. For the first hour, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in our foyer and boardrooms. Kim Southard with The Swanky Thang was the planner for this event. She did a FABULOUS job on the decorations! It was absolutely breath-taking with the lime-filled vases topped off with roses painted of pinks, red and purples. My favorite sight, though, was probably the bridal portrait display table covered with pictures that showed off Taryn's beautiful dress and cute and quirky personality. The guests anxiously awaited to see what was in store through the ribbon-tied doors leading into the grand ballroom. 5 o'clock arrived and the doors were opened! The Band, A Formal Affair, began to play some soft dinner music while the guests enjoyed passed hors d'oeuvres. After the wedding party arrived and were announced, Taryn and Grant shared their first dance as husband and wife to Gavin Degraw's "Belief". I don't know if it was the beauty of the moment, or if I was getting sentimental with it being my last wedding, or the lethal combination of the two, but I began to weep like a baby. In fact, all of the staff was tearing up! It was such an amazing moment! The food was catered by some of my favorite ladies from Bistro Express. Their food is always to die for and they are such a joy to work with. Meegan Weaver was the photographer for the evening. She always does such a great job! (We will post her pictures here as soon as they arrive! :) )

You would think that a wedding reception beginning so early would wind down early as well. But, no, Taryn and Grant's reception was so much fun that no one wanted to leave! It was amazing! I have to admit, I was a little jealous that I was working and not a part of the wedding. I definitely would have loved to bust out to some Journey with Taryn and her friends! Taryn and Grant had their send off with their close friends and family tossing birdseed as they ran through the entrance of the Wellington. It was a wonderful send off!

When the night dwindled down and it was time to clean up, I became very sad. I wanted them to stay longer so that my last wedding here would never end. However, what a wedding to end with! The reception was amazing and definitely one for the Wellington books. Congratulations Taryn and Grant! We all wish you guys all the best! Thank you for being my last wedding and for being so fabulous!

On this note, it is time for me to say farewell. I shall always miss writing this blog and filing everyone in on the details of the weekend's previous events. I hope you all will miss me, too! Thank you to everyone who read my blogs!

Ricka and Blaine

2011-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

What better way to start off the month than with a ceremony AND reception! July 1, 2011 we had the great honor of hosting the Ricka Garlington and Blaine Willett wedding here at the Wellington! Ricka and her mother, Diane, did all of the decorations themselves and did quite an impressive job. We draped purple and silver fabric on the east wall of the terrace where they were married in front of about 260 friends and family members! Ricka and Blaine did not stop the Texas heat from keeping their ceremony from going exactly as planned! The flower girl was just as cute as she could be. She did not throw petals down the aisle as most do, she rang a cow bell! Ricka was escorted down by her mother to Carrie Underwood’s’ “Mama’s Song.” It was so sweet. After Blaine kissed his bride they danced their way back down the aisle to Smashmouth’s “I’m a believer” and then everyone headed into the ballroom to get the reception started! Monarch did an excellent job on the food. They served chicken fried chicken and steak with mashed potatoes and fried okra. It was super tasty! For dessert we had wedding cake (of course) and peppermint ice cream in honor of Rickas’ late father. Rickas cake was gorgeous and four tiered with purple flowers that sat on top of it to match the centerpieces on the tables. Blaine’s cake made sure to show his appreciation to his second great love, golf. It was served with chocolate chip cookies. The DJ really knew how to keep the party going! He played everything from Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” A big thanks goes out the wedding coordinator Julie Caldwell with “I do Weddings” for helping keep the night fun and run smooth. Another thanks to Ms. Geri Merrick, the photographer for the evening, for taking such great pictures all night. We got to know Ricka and Diane pretty well since last October when they first came in and toured the facility. A lot of planning went into this event and we are very happy to have got to be a part of it and meet such wonderful people. We wish Blaine and Ricka the best of luck on their new lives together.

Two's a company... Three's a crowd... Unless it's a dog!

2011-06-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Wellington was the place to be on Saturday June 18. We had the honor of hosting the Jordan Haggart and Dustin Jackson reception. Jordan was quite crafty, coming up with most of the decorations and theme herself. The colors were different shades of champagne, chocolate, and ivory which matched the ballroom very well. They draped the most gorgeous fabric down the walls and really made this place look like their own. It was very much a cocktail reception, because the couches and tables that were brought in from Liland’s Special Events out of Dallas. Thanks to Dustin and Jordan’s friends, and day of coordinators, Keeley and Carmen, everything came together beautifully. John Johnston was the florist and really out did himself with the centerpieces in the foyer. The white flowers matched perfectly with the white couches that sat in the foyer as well. The arrangements were over four feet tall! Sally Harlow with Big Tyme Catering out of Iowa Park did a great job with the food! We had heavy hors d’oeuvres served on china. There was shrimp, beef, and a very delicious pasta! The cakes were provided by Aunt Glenda’s and Jordan’s actually sparkled. After dinner the night really got started thanks to The Tyler Rushing Band. They kept the dancing going until it was time for the party to end. Especially when they covered Lil Jons’ “Get Low.” One of my favorite things from that night was when Jordan and Dustin shared their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, they had a special visitor come join them, Dustin’s dog, Cody! He is a border collie mix and super friendly. He was a little scared of the bright flashes from the cameras, but that didn’t stop Kelly Trimble from getting some good pictures of the dancing trio! On a more sentimental and admirable note, Jordan and Dustin made a donation in the name of every guest that attended their wedding to the American Cancer Society in honor of Jordan’s late mother, Judy Haggart. All of us ladies here at the Wellington had a great time planning this event. Congratulations to Dustin and Jordan Jackson! We hope you two had as much fun on your honeymoon in the Caribbean as we did getting to know you and helping making your big day a successful event!

What-a Wedding Weekend!

2011-06-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

The week of June 6th-12th, we had an amazingly crazy/fun time up here at the Wellington! On Thursday, we got to witness a new WBCC first! Mason Vailes proposed to his sweet girlfriend Marie Augustine out on our terrace! It was the sweetest thing. They had been considering marriage and she thought she was coming in simply for a tour. As the tour finished up on the terrace, Mason had flowers on our mantle with a card. He got down on one knee and the song "Marry Me" was played through the out door speakers. Stephanie, Meghan, and I could not stop ourselves from spying on these two through the windows. The moment was so perfect and gave my chills! It was a real first for us. We always get to see and help out with the weddings which is a super special day, but it was nice to see that first moment for a change! After we cleaned up our tear stained faces, it was time to get back to work for our Friday wedding for Patricia and Sean Thompson. Congrats to Mason and Marie, we are SO excited to have your wedding here next June!
The following day, we had the pleasure of hosting Patricia and Shawns ceremony and reception! Patricia did a fabulous job with her wedding! Strands of small Christmas tree lights were wrapped around each column outside. When lit, the terrace looked stunning! The two had the ceremony take place on our terrace. At the end of the ceremony, the couple played the infamous Grease song "We go together". The bridesmaids and groomsmen danced their way down the isle to proceed into the reception. It was so cute! Monarch provided chips and fruits while Kocks provided the kegs. The cakes were created by Darling Cakes by Hannah. The grooms former roommate and close friend, Jason Talbot was the DJ for the evening. Everyone was having such a blast! We even got to meet a girl who turned 21 at midnight! We witnessed her first legal drink! The photographer was Brittney Hunt. As the reception dwindled down, it was time for Meghan and I to get our rear in gear to prepare for our Saturday ceremony and reception!
Saturday was Courtney and Chad Trietsch special day! Courtney and Chads ceremony and reception was absolutely beautiful! Paula Hill with Designing Spaces was the decorator and did a wonderful job on the arrangements! The wedding was very summery using pinks, oranges, and greens everywhere! The ceremony took place on our terrace. Courtney had a wonderful idea to provide water bottles for everyone to survive this awful heat! The bottles each were given with the cutest koozie which had the couples name on it as well as the date. On one side, the koozie read "to have and to hold and to keep your drink cold". Now how cute is that?! One of the bridesmaids sang Carrie Underwoods "Mama's Song". She was amazing! Monarch catered the event with a live carving station and all sorts of heavy hors d'oeuvres. The wedding was an absolute blast! The DJ, Chris Widener, kept everyone on their feet and played some great songs. At one point in the night, Courtney led a conga line throughout the entire ballroom! Benny Daniel made both the brides and grooms cakes. DeeAdra with photo[e]motion was the photographer. She has posted a ton of great pictures from the wedding on her facebook page! It was a great night, however, now Stephanie and I really had to focus and concentrate on our round 3 ceremony and reception on Sunday.
Marlene and Chad held their ceremony and reception with us. It was such a sweet wedding! Being concerned for the well being of their guests, Chad and Marlene kept the ceremony inside and was taken place on the dance floor. It turned out beautifully. Monarch provided an ice cream bar which was so much fun for everyone! Each person had the choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. There were topping galore set out! There were sprinkles and candy bars everywhere! You name it, it was there. The family made the brides cake. Rather than cake for the groom, he requested cobbler! (which was also made by the family) I helped to serve the cobbler while Stephanie and Kelly helped to serve the cake. The cobbler smelled amazing. It took every ounce of my being to hold back and not eat it. I can still imagine the smell. As the night wound down, the couple ended their reception with their first dance out on the terrace with just the two of them. I am a sucker for romantic stuff, and let me tell you, my heart melted a little. It was so sweet and romantic! The wedding was so great.
We want to congratulate each of our amazing couples! It was such a blessing to be a part of each of your special moments!

2011-06-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

On Friday June 2nd, and Saturday June 3rd, we had the pleasure of hosting Lauren and Brady Penartz dinner reshearsal and wedding reception. These two were so sweet and so fun to work with. On Friday night, the dinner rehearsal was held on our Terrace. Although it was scortching hot that afternoon, the night turned out to be very nice. The tables were topped with beautiful yellow and white roses with daisies and other beautiful flowers. Candles were definitely not lacking for this evening. The setup was absolutely beautiful! Monarch catered the dinner as well as the reception. For the rehearsal dinner, they prepared chicken parmisan and a cajun salmon pasta with tiramisu for dessert. The food was loved by all! At the end of their meal, the couple played a slideshow as everyone gathered around to watch. Lauren and Brady (being the sweet couple they are) brought gifts for everyone who was involved in their wedding and who had an impact on their lives. Each gift was given with a speech. Some speeches made me tear up a bit. The night was perfect!
The next day began their big day! Lauren and Brady had a daytime reception begining at 3:00pm. Kelly Bretschneider did an amazing job decorating for the rehearsal as well as the reception. Each seperate table had a different arrangement of antique pieces. It was such a unique wedding. Rather than a guest book, a long time friend painted a wonderful tree for each guest to put their thumbprint on and sign. Lauren and Brady told everyone that this would be their new artwork for their home. I absolutely adored how unique her ideas were. Monarch provided sliders, shrimp, fruit, a chip station, and sushi. The cakes were provided by Aunt Glendas and David Molina. The wedding was so much fun for everyone! Lauren created a playlist on her ipod for everyone to enjoy. Everything turned out wonderfully! The two changed and were waved off to enjoy their new life together as husband and wife. Congratulations Lauren and Brady! We wish you all the best for your future!

Soulja Boy that Wedding

2011-05-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

When I walked in on this Saturday afternoon I knew I was going to have a good night. Last month (yes, it took me almost a month to write this and I do apologize Mr. & Mrs. Tucker) on Saturday April 23, 2011 we had the pleasure of hosting the Ayres-Tucker reception. Vicki and Amanda Tole with Weddings by Spring Branch were the couples’ planners. Those ladies did a great job with this wedding. It was a very colorful occasion. The tables were covered with black linens and topped with green, pink, blue and yellow centerpieces. The walls were splashed with teal using our specialty LED lighting. The brides’ cake was 4-tie rd with pink polka dots and lime green swirls topped with a turquoise T. The grooms’ cake was the biggest (and tastiest) golf ball I have ever seen! Margie’s Sweet Shop did a great job with the cakes. El Chico’s catered the reception providing chicken and beef enchiladas. And yes, like Kendall, I love my job as food taster here at the Wellington. The chips and queso completed this amazing Mexican feast! Before dinner was served the father of the bride said a prayer and while everyone sat and ate we watched the cutest slide show of the couple. Marissa looked stunning in her wedding gown. The bridesmaids wore matching little black dresses and turquoise heals. The groomsmen wore black suits with turquoise ties and vest. Mr. Tucker himself wore a black suit with a white vest and tie. The photo booth, candy bar, and popcorn maker were outside on our terrace. It is no secret that we Wellington girls like to dance, and thanks to Mad Martin the dance floor stayed packed all night. For the mother-son dance they decided to play my favorite Rascal Flatts song, “My wish.” Now being a huge daddy’s girl, the father-daughter dance always pulls on my heart strings. We dimmed the lights and Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” starts to play, Marissa and her dear old dad start to dance and my heart just begins to melt. Then about a minute into it the music stops and we hear “Hey DJ, play something good!” Then to everyone’s surprise the pair pull out their "stunner shades" and we hear this classic Clapton song turn into Soulja Boy’s “Crank that” and they start to show off their superman moves!! It was so much fun! I personally think this was best father-daughter dance in the history of The Wellington. As the night came to an end, everyone waved the couple off as they whisked away in their limo to start their new life together. To Chris and Marissa, congratulations on finding your soul mates and thank you for letting us be a part of your big day! We wish you all the best!

A special thanks to the always amazing Kelly Trimble with Kelly Kate Photography for providing us with these amazing pictures!!

Proms, Proms, Proms!!

2011-05-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

After all of our amazing weddings we have had the pleasure of hosting, we were so excited to host something we've never hosted before, PROM. This past Thursday, we hosted Iowa Park's Rave-themed prom. It was so much fun! There were crazy lights everywhere you looked. We were able to hang some black lights over the dancefloor to carry out this super fun theme! Mark Tresnicky with Mobile Music Magic, was the DJ. He was fantastic! They had a video recorder going with the video posted on a screen on the dancefloor all night. It was so awesome for everyone to watch themselves on the screen! They had a fun and unique way to decide on their homecoming king and queen. This was decided by having a dance off. Anyone could join in on the dancing and whoever had the most amazing moves won the crown and became homecoming king and queen! Monarch catered the event providing chips and salsa, an ice cream soda bar, and a chocolate fountain! It was such a crazy and fun evening! two nights later, we got another go around at prom! Hirschi High School had the Romance in Rome themed prom. They had an amazing stage with columns for the homecoming court to stand on as they were being announced! Joshua David and his amazing crew came out to DJ the event. They are always so much fun and absolutely amazing! Again, Monarch came out and catered the prom with chips and salsa as well as the ice cream soda bar. It was just such a fun week and it let me relive my good ole high school days!

These are a few photos from Hirschi High Schools prom, followed by Iowa Park High School.

Weddings Weddings Weddings!!

2011-05-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Blog fans,
I am so sorry that I have been so terrible about posting blogs lately! We have been super busy with wedding/prom season. It seems like every week is a busy week which is amazing! To catch you guys up to what has been going on up here at the WBCC, I will break it down for you!
About 3 weeks ago, Mr. and Mrs. Flores had their wedding ceremony and reception up here. It was a sweet ceremony. The bridesmaids wore a jade blue tea length dress with some fun pink converse shoes. Megan looked beautiful in her wedding dress. The ceremony took place on our terrace and the reception followed in our ballroom. Monarch catered the event with some great hors'douervs. The cakes were provided by United Market Street. The wonderful photographer for the evening was Chad Brackeen. He was so kind and let us post this video for all you guys to watch.

Photography by www.ChadBrackeen.com
Music "Mars and Stars" by http://www.danosongs.com/

Our next big event was the following weekend. Halle Walker wed her now husband Matt Rodriguez. They had their wedding ceremony at Sacred Heart. Their reception was held in our grand ballroom. Halle's mother acted as the event planner, decorator, and matron of honor! She did a beautiful job on her the centerpieces. Monarch catered the reception with fajitas that were absolutely delicious. The cakes were provided by Aunt Glenda's. Halle's brother Luke played some dinner music on his guitar. He was awesome! The DJ for the rest of the evening was Mark Cannado. Everyone had a fabulous time at the wedding! Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures for this wedding to show all of you guys! It was so pretty, I wish that I had! Who knows, maybe I can scavenger up a few photos!

4 weeks ago, we got to host Marissa Ayres and her now husband Chris Tucker's wedding reception. Unfortunately, I did not get to work that wedding and instead of writing about it without even being there, Meghan (who did get to work the event) will be posting a blog about it on here soon!

Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours

2011-04-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

*Special thanks to DeEdra with Photo[E]motion for bringing us these pictures!

First of all, each of us at the Wellington would like for all of those who have lost homes and property to these wildfires to know that you are in our thoughts. We know this has been a very trying time for many of you, and we are thinking of each of you.
On a happier note, we had a fabulous wedding here this weekend. Erin and Michael Sherry held their wedding reception and ceremony at the Wellington. It was absolutely beautiful! Despite the violent winds Wichita was receiving throughout the week, Saturday was surprisingly calm! The ceremony proceeded into our grand ballroom for their reception. The room was stunning with light pink black and white everywhere. The Two Clever Chicks created beautiful centerpieces and a wonderful setup. The wedding was so fascinating as it incorporated Irish and Lebanese traditions. Monarch provided a pasta station as well as a beef station with lamb chops. Along with the stations there were passed hors'devours. DJ Rick Hatcher provided the entertainment for the evening. Everyone was dancing from the moment the reception began until the very last second of the night! Erin and Michael choreographed the sweetest dance for their first dance. It was so cute! Everyone just loved watching the bride and groom performing their passion on the dance floor. DeEdra with Photo[E]motion was the photographer for the evening. The whole wedding was so unique and beautiful. It was great working with these two. The night turned out to be such a success!
Congratulations Erin and Michael, we sure did enjoy hosting your wedding ceremony and reception!

Wellington Turns News Room (For a Night)

2011-04-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night was so amazing for us here at the Wellington! KFDX hosted an auction which donated all proceeds to North Texas Rehab Center. It was fascinating to see all of the work that goes into turning a banquet and meetings facility into a news room. Stephanie and I got a chance to watch for a few minutes on TV. It was crazy to see on TV what was going on in the room right next door! The auction was very sucessful. Let me tell you, this crew sure know what they are doing! With all of the equipment they had, I was sure it would take hours to take down. However, I turn my back for 5 seconds and it seemed to all disappear! I asked if there was anything I could do to help and they said thank you but we have this down to a science and it will take no time at all. I was absolutely amazed! Everyone involved with this event was so amazing. They were just awesome to work with! I really look forward to working again with KFDX in the future! Thank you guys for being so fabulous!

Paige and Kyle's Beautiful Wedding

2011-04-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

(Again, I know I have terrible photography skills, but you get the picture. ;))

For those of you in Wichita Falls, you know this past weekend was a windy one! I am thrilled that we have finally been able to maintain some warm weather, however, this wind is just out of control! As strong as the wind may have been, nothing could ruin Paige and Kyle's perfect wedding.

The Ceremony took place on our terrace facing our fireplace. All of the crazy winds seemed to calm just for Paige and Kyle during their Ceremony. Vibrant hues of pinks, oranges, and greens filled the room. Cynthia Brock and Lolly Bernard with Two Clever Chicks created all of the decorations for Paige and Kyle. They did a marvelous job! DJ Joshua David provided the entertainment for the evening. He was fabulous! I have never seen someone get so many people to dance on the dance floor! Everyone was out of their seats for the Cupid Shuffle, and the Chicken dance and so many other fun songs! I was very tempted to join in on the conga line they had going. His wife was in another area of the ballroom taking charge of the photo booth! She was so busy all night. All of the guest just loved the photo booth! I don't think there was a time that I walked by and people weren't waiting in line! Monarch Catering set up a buffet line of BBQ. The food was delish! Rachel Archer was the photographer of the evening. She is so sweet and nice to work with! Her pictures always look amazing on her website! The whole night was so much fun! I found myself sad when the reception was over.

Congratulations to Kyle and Paige Lessor from all of us here at the Wellington! We hope you enjoyed your reception! Have a wonderful honeymoon in Lake Tahoe!

Cary and Doug's Unique Wedding

2011-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was so much fun as we hosted Cary and Doug Thompson's wedding reception. Cary was such a sweetheart to work with! Her ideas were so unique and made for a darling wedding. Cary and Doug both enjoy outdoor activities, so in their wedding, they Incorporated all of the things they enjoy doing together. The bar was outside and the beer was held inside of a canoe which was such a cute idea! Cary chose turquoise blue and tangerine orange as her colors. The decorations and flower arrangements were done by the amazing Paula Hill with Designing Spaces. I just love working with Paula, she is so sweet and amazing! DJ Billy with Sound F/X System's had amazing music to keep the party going. As you all know from my previous posts, one of my favorite moments of the evening is the food tasting. Monarch catered the wedding. They had the most amazing sliders, pizzas, and fajitas. It was so enjoyable! Kathy's bakery created both the brides and the grooms cakes. Kathy is so creative. When they were trying to come up with a cute way to serve the cake balls, they decided since there was a fish theme, they would get sand buckets and have the cake balls spilling out. Kathy is just marvelous that way! Devon Jones was the photographer for the wedding. She was very nice to work with as well! This wedding was just so much fun to do. I loved working with each one of these fabulous people! Congratulations Cary and Doug! We hope that you have a wonderful honeymoon!

And now for my pretty pictures...

What a Weekend!

2011-03-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun this weekend as Wichita Falls High School (Old High) celebrated their 40Th class reunion. The crowd was amazing! Everyone was having so much fun catching up on old times. Awards were given out to classmates who had the most children, most grandchildren, worked at the same place the longest, who has been married the longest, and other fun categories! Everyone was having a great time grooving to music played by D.J. Mad Martin! He played music from the 60's and 70's, and everyone loved it! The reunion was catered by Monarch who provided enchiladas, and build your own tacos. There was also a cash bar that was provided by Iron Horse Pub. Officer Hulett and I had a great time flipping through their old yearbooks and checking out all of their styles. I just love the hair and clothes from the 60's and 70's! Over all, the reunion went fabulously! I can not wait to host more high school reunions!

So Blessed

2011-03-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

This past week has been so crazy busy with business conferences and weddings. I truly feel that we are so blessed to get to meet some of the greatest people!

Just within this past week, Eli Lily, Texoma Independents Physicians, Intrepid, and Echometer have chosen us to host their conferences and lunches. Each of these groups were absolutely amazing and just the sweetest people. On top of that, Alicia Rasco and Adam Meza had their Rehearsal Dinner, and Reception with us. The Rasco family and the Meza family were all just so sweet! The families were both so supportive and so involved with every aspect of the wedding. Their Rehearsal Dinner had food provided by Branding Iron. For the Reception, food was provided by a family friend who made some amazing pinwheels, mashed potatoes, broccoli with cheese, chicken, and so much more! Dixie Dobbins was the photographer of the evening and I had the great pleasure of meeting her and Jackie who also helps with the photography. These two women were great! I am hoping to post some pictures of the wonderful navy blues, turquoise, and greys that were used around this fairy tale wedding very soon! The brides cake was provided by Kathy's Bakery, while the grooms cake was provided by Benny Daniels. The Reception was just beautiful. We wish Adam and Alicia the best of luck on their marriage and would like to thank them so much for choosing to have their Reception with us! Congratulations you guys!!

Our other amazing wedding that took place with us this past week was for the absolute sweetest couple! Thuy Tran and Marcus McGee had their Ceremony and Reception with us on Sunday. The Ceremony took place on our terrace and the weather was just perfect! Thuy looked beautiful in her wedding gown. She was escorted down the aisle by her brother Trung. Stephanie and I watched from outside our gate and I had some near tears coming down my face while watching the two give their wedding vows. I was a little embarrassed until I looked around and saw that so many others were in the same emotional mess I was in! The ceremony proceeded with the reception in the ballroom. Thuys bridesmaids wore pink and her reception was filled with fuchsia and magenta. She used white tulips, cherry blossoms, and other pink arrangements. Her brides cake was also provided Kathy's Bakery. All In the Family helped with the decorations and provided the catering. I just love working with All In the Family. The whole crew is so helpful and so much fun! Marcus (the groom) had a friend DJ for the reception. Marcus hopped up there and showed off his amazing talent as well! The dance floor was filled all night long. Everyone had such a blast! Thuy and Marcus had a beautiful Ceremony and Reception. I wish the absolute best for this amazing couple!

As I stated before, we are truly blessed here at the Wellington Banquet and Conference Center! We get the opportunity to meet the most amazing and sweet people! Thank you to all our clients for choosing us to be a big part in your special events! We would like to wish Alicia & Adam Meza, and Thuy & Marcus McGee the absolute best for your marriages!

Weddings Galore!!

2011-02-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

The aroma of fresh flowers filled our ballroom last night during Lauren Tucker and Justin Morath's wedding reception. The room was absolutely beautiful with its shades of purples and greens. Kim Southerd with The Swanky Thing, did and amazing job with the decorations! The guests enjoyed fajitas and chips with salsa and queso provided by Monarch. One of my many great responsibilities here at the Wellington is food taster. What a tough job it is (not). The food was amazing! I got to sneak back into the office for a few minutes to enjoy a wonderful steak fajita! The Lauren's cake was a beautiful all white cake with a sweet bow across the front, white the groom, Justin, had an adorable replica of his dog as his cake. DJ Rick Hatcher tore the place up with some funky music. The dance floor was filled all night! Lauren and Justin were to make their exit with sparklers, but they were having so much fun that the walked out through the sparklers and came right back through to come in for more dancing! I dont think anyone was ready to leave when the reception was over! Meegan Weaver was the wonderful photographer for the night! Lauren and Justin are a lovely couple and so sweet! All the guests were amazing too! Everyone had a blast including myself. I speak for the entire Wellington staff when I say thank you so much for such a fun eventing and we wish you too the best of luck and a wonderful honeymoon!

Photos by the one and only.... me!

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting Ashley and Kristian Valdez ceremony and reception! The ceremony was beautiful. Ashley looked stunning in her wedding gown. The bridesmaids wore brown floor length dresses. During the ceremony, Kristian and Ashley made their way to a table with two separate jars of sand which they each poured into another jar to represent their lives coming together. It was beautiful. Afterwards, guests made their way into the our other ballroom and partied to some fabulous music! It was such a fun day to be a part of! The friends and family of the bride and groom had a wonderful time eating, drinking, and dancing! The two made their exit through guests blowing bubbles! It was such a cute send off! I hope you two had a blast on your honeymoon in VEGAS! Congratulations and best wishes to you two!

Valentine's Day Wedding

2011-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

We could not have asked for more beautiful weather on Monday, February 14th, as newly weds Mr. and Mrs. Yowsa had their wedding ceremony on our Terrace. The sweet couple made their wedding debut in front of a few close friends and relatives. The mood was set with dim lighting and a cozy fire in our fireplace as hot chocolate was served to the guests.
The bride, Jennifer, looked beautiful as she made her entrance through the side gates making her way towards her future husband who was standing in front of the fireplace. The ceremony was very simple and so sweet. Afterwards, the bride and groom received their congratulations and best wishes from their guests.
I felt so honored to witness such an important day which was witnessed by some of the most important people in their lives.
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Yowsa and thank you for choosing us to be a part of your special day! We wish you a happy marriage and a beautiful life!

First Comes Snow, Then Comes Marriage

2011-02-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

*Photos provided by DeEdra with Photo[E]motion.

This past weekend was nothing short of exciting, nerve racking, and satisfying all bundled into one emotional day. You guessed it, this past Saturday was my very first wedding reception that I was a part of! Skies cleared, and the sun came out for Jennifer and Scott Briscoe's special day. Those too must really have it in good with the gods! After an insane week when snow, sleet, and ice came roaring in, so many things could have gone wrong! Missing linens due to icy roads, a band unsure whether or not they could make the journey to Wichita Falls, missing tulips... so many opportunities for great disaster turned around and became a perfect day for the beautiful couple!
Wedding planner Ann Bomar and her amazing staff worked very hard and made the ballroom as lovely as can be for the couple! They used an array of coppers, oranges, and purples to feed off an elegant rustic vibe. The Wonders drove in all the way from Houston for the occasion playing all kinds of music. And what a band they were! They kept the whole party pumping through out the night. Guest enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvres provided by the Bistro Express. Sitting in my office to keep out of the way was not easy as the room filled with fragrances of Pork Tenderloin, Salmon, Macaroni and other irresistible dishes. I could do nothing to stop myself from sneaking a few bites. The food was AMAZING! As was the cake of course! The photography for the wedding was done by DeEdra with Photo[E]motion.
All of these near disasters turned miracles confirmed that our lovely bride and groom were meant to get married on this fifth of February. Not even Mother Nature could stop them!

Attention All Blog Fans

2011-02-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

Dearest Wellington Blog Vieweres,

I would like to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Kendall, and I am the new Event Coordinator here at the Wellington. I was born and raised here in Wichita Falls but went all the way into Roll Tide land in Tuscaloosa Alabama to attend the University of Alabama. I am still currently enrolled there and I am working my way to achieving my Bachelors of Science in Restaurant Hospitality and Meetings Management with my concentration in Event Planning in May 2012. So what brings me back to Wichita you say? I have been given the wonderful opportunity to work here at the Wellington (living at home and not paying for groceries and rent is just a plus) until I return to Alabama in the Fall.

I am finishing up my second week here at the Wellington, and let me tell you, I have not been wasting any time! We have been crazy busy with events and with wedding season in the air, I do not predict that we will be settling down anytime in the near future! I am so pumped to begin my journey here at the Wellington and getting to know all of our wonderful clients and being a part of so many important days for our special brides and grooms!

Mr. & Mrs. St. Andre

2010-12-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

SURPRISE, SURPRISE was every guests expression as the bride entered the ball room wearing her wedding gown with her father by her side as they walked onto the dance floor to meet her groom. Guests thought they were attending an engagement party on 12/12/10 where as the bride and groom had other plans for all their guests. The ceremony was defiantly a conversation starter as everyone was so excited to talk about how they had no idea they were having the ceremony that day and how fun of an idea it really was. I heard one of the guests walk by the favors table before the ceremony and he said," are those real and then he was like no I bet there for decoration." And little did he know they were for the guests that attended their big day. The bride and grooms colors were brown and turquoise that looked beautiful with the winter theme. As the terrace lights sparkled blue and the fire place blazed hot the guests were able to enjoy themselves outside as well. The dancing began as well as the food and drinks. The cakes were cut and the groom had a surprise for the bride when he put the cake straight in her face. Laughter filled the room and as the night ended the guests were still in amazement over the ceremony and reception that they had no idea was going to take place.

Mr. & Mrs. Hoedebeck

2010-11-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

On Nov 27 2010 was a new chapter that began for this couple. The ceremony took place at their church at 4pm and their reception started here at the Wellington around 7 pm. With all the uniquely done table decor with colors of red and gold and the glowing of candles while white Christmas lights lit up the terrace and the fire blazed hot, this place was ready for their guests to come and enjoy themselves. When I say enjoy that's exactly what I meant! As for all the fans who watched the OU game last night against OSU the couple had TVs put in one of the board rooms and outside on the terrace so their family and friends could enjoy cheering their team on, while dancing, eating, and watching the bride and groom on their special day. The bride wore a white knee high dress with outlines of red with a set of red high heels. While the groom was in his tux and a red tie. During the commercials of the OU game the family and friends enjoyed food stations that set in different places around the ballroom including quesadillas, egg rolls, empanadas, and of course the chips and salsa. The cake was a unique design thought up by the bride and with the amber gold LED light that lit up behind it the cake looked fabulous. The DJ played everything from the 70's all the way up to today's top hits that had all the guests enjoying their type of music. To top the night off all the guests, family, and friends enjoyed margaritas with the bride and groom as OU won the game 47 to 41 let me just say they played the OU theme song along with the release of OU balloons from the terrace to celebrate their victory. Guests left with koozies from the bride and groom that were red to stand for OU that had the bride and grooms name in a heart along with their wedding date. The night was wrapped up by midnight as the bride and groom walked over to the Holiday Inn hotel to enjoy a nice nights sleep.

Mr. & Mrs. Curts

2010-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

What a Beautiful day to have a ceremony outside, not to cold not to hot just perfect for Mr. & Mrs. Curts to say "I do". One hundred and seventy five of their family and friends joined together to witness the celebration on the couples special day. The Ceremony took place on the terrace facing the fire place that was all decorated. A guitarist played the ceremony music for the bride and wedding party as they walked down the aisle. The reception began shortly after. The decorations were beautiful flowers of all shades of fall and candles that set on top of coffee beans. Pictures of the bride and groom were set up in different areas around the Wellington for family and friends to admire. One table was set in particular with pictures of the brides father who passed away but was still there in spirit with his little girl. The couple enjoyed their dinner along with all of their guests. The Couples first dance was to the song "Only You Can Love Me this Way," by Keith Urban. After a little dancing came time to cut the cakes. The Brides cake was a vanilla three tier cake covered in ivory icing and white roses. The Grooms cake was a two tier chocolate cake with strawberries on top. I will have to say the chocolate cake was gone before they knew it. The bouquet and garter toss came soon after where many of their single friends swarmed together on the dance floor to catch each one. More dancing came to follow with allot of two stepping to the couples favorite songs. As the guests starting leaving the very close friends sat together at two of the tables with the bride and groom talking about old times, fun times, and new times. The laughing and dancing between the bride and groom didn't stop until midnight as they left holding hands and walking over to the Holiday Inn for a nice relaxing evening after their wonderful wedding day. To the bride and groom and their guest from us here at the Wellington, "it was an honor to be apart of your special day."

Fire Place on the Terrace

11+5+2010= Mr. & Mrs. Rowland

2010-11-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Well ladies & gentlemen it appears that we have had another successful event at the Wellington. Last Friday night we had the pleasure of hosting the Burns-Rowland Reception. Our friends at Kathy's Bakery & Paula from Designing Spaces had this place looking exactly how it needed to be for the beautiful bride. The tables were draped with chocolate brown linens with cute little hints of turquoise everywhere to match. The backslashes of aqua lights provided by our specialty LED lighting really made the specialty tables pop. The centerpieces were fabulous displays of spider mums & hydrangeas. Some of them actually lit up & some just had candlelight to go with them; but, let me be the first to say not even in a million years would I have thought of flower arrangements like these. I knew that this wedding was going to be a blast when I first walked in the door & saw that the Groom's cake was a giant calculator paired with two 1040 forms. Then, I saw a couple carrying in what appeared to be a large bench & I just thought, "How clever is this?" The newlyweds, going back to their country roots, did not take the normal route when it came to their guest book. The Groom hand-made a bench & all of their guests were able to write their best wishes on it! I got to sign it, heck, I even got to participate in the conga line! It is going to be quite the conversation starter on the front porch of their new home. The DJ Played everything from George Strait to Lady Gaga. Thanks to the Zac Brown Band we all also got a little "Chicken Fried" before the night was over. The party really got started though after we did a bubble blowing fake leave and dimmed the lights. The bride was a vision in white on the dance floor, wearing white crocs that is. The new Mrs. Rowland wasted no time getting her comfort on with her shoes. Hey, we have all heard that line "Beauty over Comfort," but I am firm believer that whoever made that up never owned a pair of Crocs! The couple showed off their humorous sides & their accounting careers by sending all of their guests off with calculators & pens that read "James & Mindy 11/05/10." We know the couple were able to catch some great sleep at the Holiday Inn Express last night after the party, we just hope they didn't have too much trouble waking up to take off on their trip to Branson this morning. I think the newlyweds make a great equation & on behalf of everyone here at the WBCC we send a sincere " Congrats" & a big "Thank You" for letting us be a part of your special day.

Brides Cake by Kathy's Bakery & Deli

Groom's Cake by Kathy's Bakery & Deli

Roses Are Red!

2010-11-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

Mr. & Mrs. Folden

From the sweet happy tears that filled the bride's eyes before the ceremony to the smile on her mother's face before she walked her daughter down the aisle made a wonderful impression on how close the mother and the bride are and the bond they share together. Kimberly Southard, the Wedding Planner and Decorator did a fabulous job designing for the bride's thoughts into a vision of red rose's in vases of all shapes and sizes that came together as elegant as ever. From the black and white table runners, to the white Chinese lanterns that hung over the dance floor the Bride, Groom, family, and friends were excited to celebrate their evening together. Kathy's Bakery & Deli did a fabulous job on designing the cake to match the decor of the room. The Bride and Groom stood at the grand doors to their Reception to give each of their guests a hug and to thank each of them for celebrating their wedding. Once again we had the privilege of having DJ Rick Hatcher kick off the night with the music that had guests dancing away. The wedding planner and I did some dancing ourselves to the Cupid Shuffle to teach some of the guest. The photographer Meegan Weever did a wonderful job catching all the memorable moments throughout the night. The Bride and Groom departed through sparklers held by friends and family to a Hummer limo to vanish off into the night together.

Bride's Cake by Kathy's Bakery & Deli

The Wellington Girls

2010-10-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

My name is Stephanie Briley and I am the new Event Director of the Wellington! (I suppose I

should tell you I'm in the middle, of course.) I have been at the Wellington since June but started my new position as Event director in September. My staff and I are extremely excited to start our new journey here at the Wellington. We each come from different backgrounds and each have our very own strengths and unique personalities, yet work excellent as a team together.

I am originally from Wichita Falls but have spent my last 4 years in College Station where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Texas A&M University. WHOOP! (Sorry, had to throw that out there.) I was very sad to leave College Station but also excited to embark on this new journey in my life.

My favorite part of Directing Events for the Wellington would have to be meeting and working with our Clients. I enjoy getting to know each of our Client's from our very first meeting up until the day of their event. Weddings would have to be my favorite event. What can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic. I also enjoy seeing their day come to life, down to every last detail.

This new position definitely has its challenges but also has many great rewards and lessons that I will cherish and take with me wherever I go in life. I have learned and grown so much already and cannot wait to see what else this opportunity has in store for me!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Briley

Event Director

Hi! My name is Shiloh Hanson; I'm the little blonde on the left! I just recently received my certification in Wedding & Event Planning the end of August at UTA where I met Stephanie, Wellington's Event Director. She called with this amazing job opportunity so I packed all of my things & moved up to Wichita Falls the beginning of September to take the position as the Event Coordinator for the Wellington. I'm so excited to help each & every person that walks through the doors to visualize their event & make all the details come to life on their big day. I am very excited to be a part of the team at the Wellington; Stephanie & Meghan are amazing girls & work very hard at what they do. I am privileged to be able to be in such a position to cherish each event that we have here at the Wellington & to be able to write about it on our Wellington blog page. I look forward to meeting all of our future clients & making your dreams come true!

*Shiloh Hanson

Event Coordinator

Hi! I'm Meghan! I'm the taller one on the right! I am so excited about my Administrative Rxecutive position at the Wellington and helping everyone have their fairy tale events come to life! So far it has been a blast. We have had a lot of early mornings turn into very late nights, but it has all been worth it to see the blissful looks on everyone's faces at the end of the day. I love meeting all of you and hearing all of your different ideas. Every event so far has had its own great style to match the different individuals and I just love that! I am in the office Monday through Friday from 8am-1pm and if you come in to say "Hello" you will see why! I also work at the Holiday Inn Express next door, and I have watched them build this place from the ground up. So I really am just thrilled about the Wellington and getting to work with Stephanie and Shiloh every day. They are such sweethearts and I think we make a great team. I cannot wait to officially meet everyone but until then "Adios Amigos!"

Meghan Byram

Administrative Executive

Enchanted

2010-10-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

Mr. & Mrs. Harral

A night of an Enchanted Reception was held on 10/23/10 at the Wellington. The Decor by Two Clever Chicks of white & green pumpkins, the decorated wine barrels, to the grand flower pieces of all colors, & the lighting of romantic candles with a splash of amber gold on the walls gave this Bride & Groom a dream come true. The laughter & smiles by all their guests & the wedding party, to every detail went as perfectly as expected. The DJ Rick Hatcher hatchmobileparty@aol.com did a fabulous job with the entertainment for the reception the excitement on the dance floor never stopped. The Father of the Bride shared many sweet moments with his daughter from the father daughter dance, to making her laugh with all his dancing moves, memories were made that will never be forgotten. The Groom looked at his Bride with amazement in her beautiful gown & when she changed into a cocktail gown her mother surprised her with for more dancing & fun for the evening, everyone was in AHHHHH all over again. Before the clock struck midnight the Bride & Groom departed through the tossing of white sprinkles of confetti by friends & family & off they went to begin a new chapter in their life together.

Let the Introductions Begin!

2010-09-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

Mr. & Mrs. Schmader

Saturday night is always a night to remember here at the Wellington. There is always a wonderful event taking place and let me say last night was nothing less than Perfect. From the introductions of the wedding party to the theme song "I'll be there for you" to the introduction of the Bride and Groom to "Sweet Emotions" by Aerosmith this reception started with a bang. All the way through the night the Bride and Groom along with all their guests were very active yet enjoyed every ones company. The DJ Todd Rafter lit up the dance floor with colorful lights and a stream of high energy dancing songs that had guests dancing the whole night. I will have to admit even a few of us here at the Wellington did the Cha Cha dance with the guests and wedding party. The feathers, candlelight, pictures and especially the grooms cake by Aunt Glenda's Cakes an ear of corn representing Nebraska Cornhuskers where the Grooms family is from gave a sense of the bride and grooms hobbies and the love they have for each other. From the setting up to the end of the reception night, I will speak for us here at the Wellington,"We are here for you" and share in all the emotions throughout the planning and fulfilment of your perfect event.

WFHS class of 1955

2010-09-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

To those of you, whose souls have parted

the memories remain, and the thoughts are deep-hearted

We've shared laughter and tears...

We've shared good times and fears.

The days have flown by, and turned into years.

We wish you were here, to reminisce the good old times.

Because the absence of you presence,

Weighs heavy on our minds.

The good times and the laughter, will not be quit the same.

And it will seem a little awkward, not even hearing your name.

So to let you know we miss you all...

And the memories still remain.

We honor you tonight our friends...

The Class of '55

Wow! What a wonderful group of classmates. They have kept in touch with one another for 55 years and were all pleased to start planning their next reunion. We can all remember our high school days and let me say they still had their own small battles with one another even after 55 years yet they all came together to celebrate and to have a wonderful time laughing, dancing, and enjoying one anothers friendship. The decorations by Kathy Stovall and Kim Dixon were amazing. They used beautiful red flowers on the tables to set off the school spirit and on Saturday they decorated the ballrooms in mardi gra colors to celebrate their last night for the '55 reunion. The Don Cowan Quintet band played for the evening and had those folks dancing out of their own shoes. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful evening reminiscing about old times and new. We were so pleased with the entire weekend and were happy all the guests had smiles on their faces when they left.

Diamond's are a Girl's Best Friend

2010-09-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

*Courtnye Sikes & Tyler McKnight's Wedding*

From the lanterns that lined the aisle for the ceremony to the beautiful shades of purple & diamonds that decorated many areas in the ballroom for the reception it was a night that will be remembered by many. The food by Javier with The Orchard Catering was exactly what the couple wished for. The DJ Mark Schroeder did a fantastic job with entertainment for the night & had all the guests two stepping around the dance floor. Kathy's Bakery & Deli made a beautiful five tiered brides cake that made the guests gasp in ahh. Lots of laughter & happy tears filled the evening. The wedding party, family, & guests had a fantastic night ending with Karaoke.

Lanterns on the Terrace for ceremony

Centerpiece in the Ballroom for reception

Diamond Studded Bridal Cake

By: Kathy's Bakery & Deli

Q: What Black and White and Blue All Over?

2010-06-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

A: Valerie Ruyle and Andrew Halverson's Wedding

Better late than never right? Two months have flown by and I am just now writing this post. There is really no other way to sum up the night than unbelievable. It was seriously straight out of some Bravo, Style, or A&E show about crazy nice weddings. The Two Clever Chicks made the magic happen. And boy did they do it right. It was so classic with the black and white and the highlights of baby blue. Absolutely loved it. Not to second guess the chicks, but I didn't really see how the second one would compare with the first one, but it most definitely did. They were completely different looking weddings that fit the girls to a tee. That my friends takes true talent. Having a finish building this time around was definitely an upgrade! Duck Soup from Austin provided the entertainment for the evening and rocked the hiz-house. They also played at a class reunion a few weeks ago and did an awesome job at that one as well. Chef Love sauntered on down from Fort Worth again to serve a smorgasbord of deliciousness including some of the most amazing macaroni and cheese I have ever tasted and not one, not two, not three...but five WHOLE roasting pigs complete with the five pairs of eyeballs. I did not partake in the pig eating, but apparently it was delicious. Not surprising. I cannot say enough about the Chicks and their whole crew. Karilea from the Holiday Inn Express came over for a bit during the day Saturday, and said she felt like she was on Wedding Survivor. That pretty much sums up the hours and hours of tireless work that went into this amazing wedding. Awesome, awesome, awesome job. Take a look at the pics! Mucha gracias to Frances Knowles for the great pictures!

Duck Soup jamming out

Foyer without the main big table. So creative!

Terrace view with one of the many bar set-ups

Most of the Grand Ballroom

One of the fantastic bars in the Ballroom

Tents for cooking and more entertaining space

View of details from the Women's Restroom

updates coming soon...

2010-06-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

the Wellington has been the choice venue of many fabulous weddings and corporate events lately. We are having such a great time!

Details and photos to update you are coming soon.

enjoy your weekend...

we are busy around here - 2 weddings this weekend!

Chaos

2010-04-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am currently sitting in my office listening to Elton John's Benny and the Jets blare from an actual radio-stero thing with an antena and a turn knob (its been a while since I have seen one of these brillant dinosaurs) with the lights off hiding from the mayhem. Just kidding I'm not really hiding...maybe. The next two weekends are completely rediculous at the Wellington- in a good way. This weekend, we have Valarie Ruyle and Andrew Halverson's wedding reception and next week is Rider Celebration. Whew! Anyway, its going to be big. I cannot wait to see the final product. There is some majorly exciting stuff going on and it is going to look PHENOMENAL. The Two Clever Chicks are the masterminds of this little (ha) shindig and they are pulling out all the stops. The last time the Ruyles were around back in August, it was blistering hot (now we are praying for the rain to stay away), we were scrambling to get our construction site into something that could be inhabited for the night (now I'm moving things out to make room for all the insanity), and I'm pretty sure I myself looked like a deer in headlights (now I'm a seasoned pro- duh). All in all big changes. We are so excited to have them and I can only speak for myself, but I am so grateful it is a little less stressful this time around. I love seeing how something so beautiful can come out of seemingly nothing. Well its off to the races...

A Healthy Dose of Spring Cleaning

2010-04-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is going to be short and sweet, but wanted to comment on all of the great things we've got going on at the Wellington. Frances Knowles is the photographer behind all of our fabulous new photos that we may have seen on our fabulous new website. Like I said- a lot of excitement! Really she is wonderful and has helped us out a ton! We definitely owe her. Below are just some samples of her work.

Next exciting thing- website! Crane-West has taken over and brought us into the light. Yes, I call our previous website a dark blimp on our amazingly sunny outlook. Long story short, we had some issues with our previous provider, but have been nothing but pleased with the new direction. We launched it today, and have received some really great feedback already. You need to check it out- click here.

DaVinci to Die For

2010-04-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, we have the pleasure to host a very special guest- a VERY special guest. He was escorted in bubble wrap and rolled in (literally) with a whole entourage, giving a completely new meaning to the term VIP (no offense to our other guests). The new DaVinci robot at United Regional is the character in question. While they were setting up, I strolled over to it and said, "Oh I've seen this before on Grey's Anatomy" half joking really. Only to be answered with an eye roll and a yes. This thing is a big deal. The ladies and gents at the hospital wanted to introduce him to some members of our community and the medical communities of the surrounding area. The guests got to watch him in action, and even operate him via the video game-like control panel. It was pretty impressive. Other than the massive, amazing robot in the room, there was other things going on as well.

For instance, the food. Holy cow, I wish I had a picture of some of the trays that were served. They were absolutely stunning. I would try to rattle off some of the menu items, but I know I would butcher it, no pun intended. For one, there was a lobster and onion quiche served in a crisp prosciutto tart. Let that stew in your mind for a while. Salivating yet? Quite possibly one of the best things I have ever eaten. It was my professional duty to sample the food, can't help it, one of the least enjoyable parts of the job. Ryan Dennis with the Traveling Bistro was the culinary mastermind behind the unbelievable menu. Awesome job as always. Torin Hasley was here taking pictures, so hopefully he got some of the food!

Speaking of as always. The Two Clever Chicks did the decorations for the fete. See the pictures below, they speak for themselves. What I particular liked about the decor was how completely appropriate they were for the function. It was a corporate function with a social aspect, which was perfectly mimicked in the sleek but fashionable orchids in shallow clean clear rectangular vases. The foyer table looked unbelievable.

I would like to take credit for these phenomenal pictures, but unfortunately they are not the result of my amateur photography. Frances Knowles gets all the credit and a HUGE thank you thank you thank you to her for making us look good!

Blogging is Hard Work

2010-04-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

So I am new to the whole blogging thing, and I must admit we have a love-hate relationship. I love it when I stay on top of it, but when I let it get our of hand, I DREAD it. This is the vicious cycle that I fall into. I put off blogging after an event, because I "don't have time" to just sit down and do it. Then there ends up being three of four events that I haven't blogged about and then I REALLY don't have time, so just about the time that I'm about to throw in the blogging towel, I get these little nudges such as a text saying, "I've gone to your blog and nothing new (sad face)" or my lovely bosses' friendly reminders, "How's the blog going?" To the slap in the face, Lindsey get it in gear, information request from our website saying, "I love your blog!!!" followed by a sweet voicemail reiterating how much she enjoys reading our blog. Let the self-deprecating begin. It's not that hard, just do it. So here I am with what seems like an eternity to blog about because so much has been happening around here. Luckily for me, I have all evening to sit in the back of the room witnessing the North Texas Rehab Auction's Live Auction to blog. Now the subtle roar of happiness and go-doing is buzzing in the background, so I apologize for the mushiness in advance. Also, if anyone happens to be reading this from 7-10 on Wednesday, April 14th, turn on the TV and bid on something! It is for an amazing cause, and you will have awesome feel-good fuzzies floating around for a while, not to mention GREAT KARMA!

Prom 2010

2010-04-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last night we got the chance to host Iowa Park's Prom. Now coming into the evening I was a little apprehensive because it was our first high school party. I'm envisioning all sorts of unsavory things, but that could not have been further from what actually happened. These kids were so polite and well-behaved . Their chaperones and advisors were so enthusiastic and truly wanted the kids to have some good, safe, clean fun. Prom was not a big deal at the high school I went too, so it is a little foreign to me. The girls looked beautiful in their formal wear and the guys threw a little twist on the traditional tux. We were so happy to host them, and would do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks for making prom experience so great! Monarch provided the food for the evening- which looked beautiful-but the kids were a bit preoccupied and didn't eat very much!

I Heart Hart

2010-03-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

I try to come up with creative titles for these posts, and sometimes they are cheesier than others. This one would rank about a seven, but I like it. It would make a good t-shirt. Enough of my bantering, lets get down to business- Alicia Hart and Mason Adams.

What a great looking couple! Not to mention, nice and sincere. It was a pleasure getting to know them, and be a small part of their big day. Both of the families were so supportive and helpful as well, which makes a huge difference. Alicia was a beautiful bride, and definitely looked the part. They had the ceremony and reception both at the Wellington, with the ceremony outside on the Terrace. With this crazy weather we have been having, I was a little nervous that the guests might freeze, but the forecast was definitely in our favor. We had a hot chocolate and coffee station on hand to help keep the guests warm, but ended up being marshmellow entertainment for the kids more than anything- that was how nice the weather was. I am so so so glad! It is always so interesting to see how everything comes together, and the person largely in charge of that here was Judy at Kathy's Bakery. She did a fantastic job, as did Kathy with the cake (see photos below). Instead of having a groom's cake, they had angel bites scattered on each table in little fuscia bags. What a fantastic idea! They are so delicious, and really added something to the table decorations as well. Jameson's took care of the floral needs. They used really colorful and happy colors in the bouquets and center pieces. Deedra was on hand for pictures- I can't wait to see what she came up with! The Ken Nelson Band was the entertainment, and I was very impressed at their versatility. They played some really great jazzy music. Take a look at the pictures below! Adamses thank you so much!

A Moment

2010-03-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

So this is not one my usual blog posts, but I felt compelled. I mean really compelled- like stopping in the middle of a wedding that is set to tee off in t-minus one hour to sit down at my computer and write about it. I was sitting back in my office going over the music for tonight when some movement on one of the security cameras caught my attention, it was the camera of the front of the building and it was the bride and groom. Just the two of them, no one else, and it was one of the sweetest things I have every seen. With most weddings there is just so much that is going on. You have looked forward to this day for so long, thinking it will never come, and then WHAM the week of, you start getting ready, finalizing, the day before people come in town, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, go to bed semi-early so you're rested for the big day. The day of, you are primping, taking pictures, the florists does their thing, the wedding planner does hers, the venue gets one last spot shine, the photographer is directing who, where, when, etc, etc. You get my drift. There is A LOT going on.

So back to my story before that tangent. They were out under the portico just talking and having a moment. A moment to breathe and soak it all in just for a second. She was showing him something on her shoes, and it looked like he was absolutely engrossed with what she was saying. They were interrupted for more pictures, but that one little moment is what the WHOLE thing is about. It is so easy to overlook, and yet the most genuine. So the future Mr. and Mrs. Adams, thank you for that little moment- it totally made my day.

Happy Happy Joy for Ms. Hicks!

2010-03-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

First off, I want to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet this gracious woman. She was an absolutely doll throughout the entire process, and I was so so so sad to have to miss the big day! She was in very able hands, and everything went off without a hitch. Her and her beau were married out on the Terrace facing the fireplace. They had candles lit along the ledge and on the mantle. I am becoming an even bigger fan for orienting ceremonies that way, it just looks so great. The weather was phenomenal, it was really the first brisk, not cold, evening this year.

Kathy's Bakery in Iowa Park provided the food and cakes, which tasted wonderful I'm sure. Judy Culverson did the coordinating, and as always did a fantastic job. Ken Adams out of Dallas was the DJ for the evening. Take a look at the pictures of the happy couple! Thank you again guys for choosing to let us be a part of your big day!

So simple, classic, and classy- got to love it.

Second picture of the fireplace, but it was beautiful can't help it.

Everyone ready for Shiryl to join the party.

Blurry but very artistic and cool. Lighting makes such an impact!

It just doesn't get much better than that.

2010-03-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we had the pleasure to host Kalli Luig and Sam Moss's wedding and reception. The couple themselves were so sweet, as well as their families. Kalli's mom and her aunts are like jacks of all trades. One was the photographer and one helped with the flowers and cake, which was delicious and looked great. They are all from Windthorst, and did such a magnificent job! Kalli (and now Sam) is so lucky to have such a multi-talented family!

During the ceremony, I was helping to make sure that everyone made their appearances at the correct times. The flower girl had a different idea. She was so precious and serious about her job to throw flower petals down the aisle, that she was seriously upset when the ring bearer wanted to hold her hand. The little ring bearer did take too kindly to this, and hit the flower girl- all while the music is playing and the congregation staring. They got it together and made it down to the alter, just in time for the bride and her father to make their entrance.

Logistically, we changed over a portion of the ballroom, Ballroom A, from the ceremony to the reception. We had numerous people helping make it a smooth and quick transition. It was a lot of work, but we were in and out in 17 minutes tops. Pretty impressive if I must say so myself! A huge thank you to the Luigs and Mosses for letting us be a part of such a great day!

25th Anniversary

2010-02-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago, we had a great party for an anniversary party! It was a blast, and the guests in attendance seemed to have a fantastic time. This was the weekend right after the entire country was engulfed in snow and ice, but there were still people who came from all over the place to help celebrate such a momentous occasion. I'm talking Chicago, Buffalo, NYC, and even the Caribbean. The couple was absolutely wonderful, and it was so nice to see such an amazing accomplishment. Unfortunately, I did not get very many pictures, and the ones I did get are courtesy of the iPhone so I apologize for the quality.

They brought in a caterer from Oklahoma City that cooked appetizers and a full Indian meal on site. This was such a great party, and we were so pleased to be a part of it!

Catching A Wave

2010-02-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday and Friday, we had the pleasure to host United Regional for a two-day conference. The team in charge always themes these events, and this one was a Cruise Line. They did a great job of making it festive and fun, which is quite an accomplishment for a two-day meeting. They had breakfast and lunch both days on site, Monarch and Branding Iron did a fantastic job for us. It was quite the way to conclude the week!

A huge thank to Shana Vordenbaum for helping us with the centerpiece for the Foyer table! No goldfish were harmed, well almost none.

Audiovisual-wise, we had a lot going on with two screens and projectors, microphone, DVD player, an Ipod, and music for intermissions and lunch. They had some really great guys in charge of the technology side, and I am so happy that they were happy!

This pink flamingo and palm tree added a little pizzazz to the Drink Station.

The drink service was set up in the Women's Boardroom using a three sided set-up. This worked wonderful because we had coffee in the center, soft drinks on one side, and bottled water on the other.

Thanks again for everything guys! Hope to see you back soon!

Veith-Witherspoon Wedding

2010-01-19T08:13:00.000-08:00

All I can say is that these two must have pulled some serious strings with the big man upstairs. They were planning on having the ceremony outside on the Terrace at 5:00 Saturday evening, and at about 3:30 the clouds parted, the mist stopped, and the sun even came to make an appearance! They were our first couple to have the ceremony with the fireplace as the backdrop, and it really was beautiful. The bride had her mother and father escort her down the aisle, which I thought was such a sweet moment. I got a few pictures, but they really don't do them justice. The reception after the ceremony was a great party and everyone had a great time!

This little guy knew how to party- as evident by the tie.

Brides, Brides, and More Brides

2010-01-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

Well you will be happy to know we survived the weekend! Not only did we survive, it was quite the success. We got to see many of our brides who have already booked with us, and met some new ones as well! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. We served strawberries and chocolate sauce courtesy of our friends over at Monarch, which was a huge hit by the way. For those who were not able to come by, there are pictures below. It being our first year, we really did not know what to expect. And I know I am a little biased when I say this, but our booth looked fantastic! Thank you to everyone who helped it come together! Brides- come see us!

Bridal Market 2010

2010-01-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

This weekend is busy, busy, busy! We have a wedding on Saturday with a great couple, and we also have the KFDX Bridal Market on Saturday, which we are very excited about. Since this is our first year, we do not really know what to expect, but know it will be very exciting and informative. We have a corner booth, so if you are in the neighborhood on Saturday drop by the MPEC and see us! It is $5 at the door, and you can register for all sorts of giveaways and raffles from a ton of different vendors- so it would definitely be worth the time. Speaking of prizes, we are giving away some FABULOUS items, so don't miss them, come register! The Bridal Market will be open from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

1-2-2010

2010-01-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

That date just has a ring to it! On the second day of 2010, we had the privilege to host Alisha Franklin's wedding reception. She hired the Two Clever Chicks as her wedding planners, and as always that did a fantastic job. Just look at the pictures below. It was a day time wedding, which was our first. They had a live country band, Shasta and the Ranch Rockers, who played a wide variety of music and kept the party going strong all afternoon. Live music adds so much energy to an event, and they did just that. Monarch catered a great looking Mexican-themed meal, with a live quesadilla food station and some scrumptious individual banana pudding and cherry cobbler shooters. There was a lot going on, but the bride and groom were definitely center stage. The father of the bride gave one of the best toasts I've heard and topped it off with a toast of brandy that was bought on the day Alisha was born by her grandfather and was to be saved for her wedding day. What an amazing tradition! Take a look at the pictures below, but if you want to see a real photographer's rendition, go to Deedra Folmer's blog. She was the photographer for the day and always takes amazing pictures. All in all, it was a beautiful day with a beautiful couple.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that 2010 is here, and 2009 is history. Out with the old, in with the new. We celebrated the new year at the Wellington with two weddings this past weekend. 2010 is going to be a good year! On the first, Stephanie Wirmel and Dan Mendenwaldt were married. They are really just a wonderful couple, and everything that they did was very elegant and classic. She won a bridal packet from one of the local radio stations, so she had some really great things things from some local vendors, like a gorgeous velvet red rose centerpiece from Paula at Designing Spaces. They played up the date with black eye peas, hot chocolate, and Stephanie's grandmother's famous wassel. Stephanie and her mother are both dancers and dance instructors, so there were some really sweet choreographed dances by their students. It was a great night and we wish Stephanie and Dan all the best!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2009-12-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

We are trying out a new blog, and what better way to kick things off than with pictures of the Blizzard! I am thankful we did not have any events scheduled during the storm and we could just enjoy the beautiful snow. Not so much at the Holiday Inn Express- they were shoveling people out, rescuing people from the side of the icy roads, and trying to accommodate as many stranded travelers as possible. Meanwhile, all was quiet at the Wellington and the building just got to look pretty in it's snow frosting. The Terrace looks absolutely amazing covered in snow, I wish there was a way to make it stay! Stay without the gushing winds or bone-chilling cold, unlikely yes but it could happen! Take a look at the pictures below to see our winter wonderland.

Much of the snow has melted away despite the lovely little snow yesterday, but just in time for our weekend's festivities. This weekend we have the pleasure of hosting two wedding reception for two beautiful brides. What a way to start the New Year! Thank you to everyone who has planned events at the Wellington in the fall, attended parties or meetings here, or made inquires. 2009 was a great start for the Wellington, and we are looking forward to 2010!

Wellington Banquet & Conference Center

Give Kids the World!

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words.

Pomeranians, Receptions, and Texoma's Best Banquet Facility...

Ceremonies, Receptions, and a Super Bowl Champ??

Teach me how to Dougie...

What a Weekend!

"It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding!"

The Beginning of a New Chapter ...

Ricka and Blaine

Two's a company... Three's a crowd... Unless it's a dog!

What-a Wedding Weekend!

Soulja Boy that Wedding

Proms, Proms, Proms!!

Weddings Weddings Weddings!!

Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours

Wellington Turns News Room (For a Night)

Paige and Kyle's Beautiful Wedding

Cary and Doug's Unique Wedding

What a Weekend!

So Blessed

Weddings Galore!!

Valentine's Day Wedding

First Comes Snow, Then Comes Marriage

Attention All Blog Fans

Mr. & Mrs. St. Andre

Mr. & Mrs. Hoedebeck

Mr. & Mrs. Curts

11+5+2010= Mr. & Mrs. Rowland

Roses Are Red!

The Wellington Girls

*Enchanted*

Let the Introductions Begin!

WFHS class of 1955

Diamond's are a Girl's Best Friend

Q: What Black and White and Blue All Over?

updates coming soon...

Chaos

A Healthy Dose of Spring Cleaning

DaVinci to Die For

Blogging is Hard Work

Prom 2010

I Heart Hart

A Moment

Happy Happy Joy for Ms. Hicks!

25th Anniversary

Catching A Wave

Veith-Witherspoon Wedding

Brides, Brides, and More Brides

Bridal Market 2010

1-2-2010

Happy New Year!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Enchanted