Spectacular Wedding Venues Near Dallas, Texas…

A winery, a beach, a vineyard, a ballroom, a Victorian home, or ? Weddings are done everywhere now with wineries and vineyards being the most popular trend.

In this article I'll mention a few wedding ceremony and reception venues near Dallas, Texas. Ceremonies are sometimes done at the same site as the reception; often the ceremony will be held outdoors at a site, then move (but on the same property) so the reception is held inside. Many ceremonies are still done in churches and the receptions are being held just about anywhere. Please keep in mind the hot Dallas summers and plan your wedding sites carefully, taking in account the possibility of very hot weather when you're outdoors.

First, the Texas Cappella Court, in Richardson, where they can handle up to 400 guests, for both the ceremony and the reception. The chapel can be your ceremony site or you can choose a room with towering towers or a winding staircase where you can make a grand entrance. Buffet style or sit down meals are available. They provide the catering and the cake and all the packages include a groom's cake. Both the menus for the various meals and the wedding cake are extensive - how about a cake of white chocolate champagne, filled with fudge mousse and iced with milk chocolate butter cream. In the ballroom, your cake can be rolled to the center of the room so all of your guests can see the cake cutting. They also open the Cappella Court and the Alexander Mansion in two hour blocks for wedding pictures Tuesday - Friday, if available. (Please contact them at www.cappellacourt.com for additional information.)

The other site, also owned by the same people who own and manage Cappella Court, is the Alexander Mansion. A winding staircase ends at the beginning of the aisle you'll walk down for your ceremony, so all your guests will see you glide down the stairs like a princess. This venue is located in the Downtown Garland area of Dallas with many hotels nearby. They can handle crowds from 50 to 200. Again, they will handle both the catering and the cake which includes the groom's cake also. (For details see www.alexandermansion.com.)

Campisi's has been a Dallas tradition for 60 years. Papa (Joe) Campisi introduced pizza to Dallas by opening the Egyptian Lounge after World War II. It's still there, on Mockingbird Lane, and, as of this writing, there are four other locations as well, all run by third and fourth generation family members. (On the evening of November 21, 1963, Jack Ruby, who later killed Lee Harvey Oswald, had dinner at the original eatery.) In addition to their restaurants, they do off-site catering as well. In this article, we'll look at the restaurant in the downtown Dallas area, on Elm Street. Inside they have two banquet rooms for your reception, the Stone Street Dining Room holding up to 200 guests for a cocktail party and 150 for a sit down meal. The other banquet room is the Urban Dining Room which can handle a crowd of 150 for cocktails and 100 for a formal meal. Outdoors, their beautiful patio can handle 100 seated guests and up to 350 for cocktails. You might have the cocktail party outside, then move inside for a sit down dinner. (Please visit them at www.campisis.us.)

Next are the wedding venues at The Lawton Estate, a private estate catering to private events, located in Garland. This is a location, classically decorated, with both indoor and outdoor locations for both the wedding ceremony and reception. They can handle a guest list of up to 300 persons. It all starts with a grand entrance to the facility, which is graced with a beautiful crystal chandelier. From there you can go to the ballroom, which features a sound system that can be used for both your ceremony and reception. The soft cream shade with white crown moldings will blend beautifully with any color décor. This will be a superb backdrop for your wedding and wedding pictures. Their in-house caterer, DeWell Events Catering, has received an Award of Excellence by the city of Richardson for their exceptionally clean kitchen facilities. (Check out their website at www.dewellevents.com for more details.)

Lush gardens with spectacular flowers and greenery are the surroundings of the next wedding location. It's the Dallas Arboretum, and it's also a testing ground for new plants to be used throughout the US. Each site here is always the same place, but you'd never know that because the blooms change with each season. They also offer an afternoon tea and that could be fun for a bridal luncheon or wedding shower. Many annual events and flower sales are held here so be sure to contact them way in advance of your wedding date. (Contact them at www.dallasarboretum.com for more information.)

And, last but not least, is the location I added only because of a personal reason. It's Lawry's The Prime Rib of Dallas, and I remember most vividly dozens of great dinners eaten at the San Francisco Lawry's on Van Ness Avenue. In fact, I think I need to visit them on my next trip to the "City by the Bay." They relocated from their original Dallas location to a very luxurious site in the Addison neighborhood of Dallas. This restaurant can handle your wedding reception if your guest list is less than 190 persons. It will make a very warm and elegant backdrop for a formal occasion. (See their website at www.lawrysonline.com for details.)

Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to wonderful wedding venues in and around Dallas, Texas. There are lots, and lots, and lots more places to hold your wedding - ranches, golf courses, parks, hotels, etc. Look for another article about more great Dallas area wedding sites coming soon.

Happy wedding planning!