Grand Hotel and Ballroom Bridal Open House
We’ve written about The Grand Hotel and Ballroom on the historic square in McKinney as one of our favorite venues in town. As a part of Rick’s Chophouse, this very popular spot is one of the most elegant wedding venues in McKinney. So we’re excited to announce The Grand Hotel and Ballroom Bridal Open House will be taking place on Saturday, March 31 from 11 am to 2 pm. Join Each & Every Detail and a variety of other wedding vendors for a fabulous afternoon, which will conclude with some great raffle prizes! RSVP to melanie@rickschophouse.com or call 214.544.9612. Come on out and join us!
Invitation from The Grand Hotel and Ballroom
McKinney Bridal Show
It’s that time again! Come visit us at the McKinney Bridal Show this Saturday, January 21st, from 10am-3pm. This is a great opportunity to get to know McKinney vendors, and of course spend some time on the fabulous square!
Venue Love: The Grand Hotel
It’s time for another favorite venue! Located only a block away from our office, the Grand Hotel Ballroom is an elegant space that we absolutely adore. This ballroom was actually the original Opera House of McKinney from 1885 until 1923, when it was shuttered and closed off until Don Day took over. They’ve restored it to it’s 19th-century charm, including pressed tin ceilings, crystal chandeliers and an entrance through French doors. With space for approximately 150 guests (including a dance floor), it’s the perfect space for a charming and intimate ceremony and reception.
photo by Peyronet Photography
The Grand Hotel is part of the same building as Rick’s Chophouse, connected through the fabulous lounge in the back of Rick’s. This allows you access to Rick’s 110, another fab event space, as well as the semi-private rooms in the restaurant proper, the Library and Wine Room. Many couples use Rick’s 110 as a cocktail space if they choose to have their ceremony at Rick’s, so the ballroom may be reset while their guests enjoy drinks and hors d’ oeuvres. Some use Rick’s 110 for their rehearsal dinner, or the smaller rooms, depending on guest count. If you’ve ever eaten at Rick’s, you know the food is scrumptious, so you will never be disappointed with your menu selections!
Rick’s 110, photo by Mary Phillips Photography
Of course, when you talk about the Grand Hotel and Rick’s Chophouse, you also have to talk about Sauce on the Square and Grotto Live as all of these fab venues falls under the Rick Well’s Hospitality umbrella. Sauce on the Square caters to the family style dinner, with pasta and wood-fired pizzas to die for! They do not have a separate space here for events, but you can certainly reserve a few tables for any celebration. Grotto Live shares it’s kitchen with Sauce, but it’s an entirely different vibe. This rock and roll bar is the perfect place to relax with friends and grab a drink. Whether in their intimate dining space or the super-cool Mezz level, you’ll love it here.
Grotto Mezz, photo by Mary Phillips Photography
Grotto Dining, photo by Mary Phillips Photography
So who do you call to find out more details about these unique spaces? Why, Rick’s Angel’s of course! Debi Morelli-Matzke and Melanie Kosarek are the two sales managers for all of these spaces, and they can give you all the scoop. With Melanie’s degree in Hospitality Management, she knows exactly how to make your guests feel special and make sure your event goes off without a hitch. Debi has been with Rick’s since 2007 and knows all the ins and outs, so she’s got it all completely covered. Shawna Darden is the Special Events and Catering Manager who will be with you from the moment your guests arrive to the end of the event, making sure you and your guests experience the genuine hospitality of the entire staff. She’s the firecracker who executes all the plans, down to the last detail!
We love working with Rick’s Angels and hope you’ll give them a call to consider one of their spaces for your wedding plans!
Venue Love: TPC Craig Ranch
Choosing the venue(s) for your wedding ceremony and wedding reception is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make during the wedding planning process. For one reason, the venue along with your food and beverage costs usually takes up 50-60% of your budget. (If these costs are taking up more of your budget, you should probably re-evaluate your spending!) For another reason, it sets the tone of your events. The decor, formality and accessibility of your venue will greatly affect how you plan the rest of your elements, from linens to lighting. To help out with your search, we’ve decided to start featuring our favorite venues on the blog and give you the reasons why you should love them too! We’re kicking it off with TPC Craig Ranch, since they were the spot for our Peaches on Par table scape photo shoot.
TPC Craig Ranch is located at the southwest tip of McKinney, near the corner of Highway 121 and Custer Road. (TPC stands for Tournament Players Club.) It’s a hidden treasure of McKinney, with most McKinney residents not even knowing that this exclusive club offers it’s amenities to non-members. The club is known to those who have attended events there as having the white-glove service without the white glove. With a five-star chef, the food is amazing and of course, the golf club is a beautiful back drop for photos.
The club has two ballrooms, separated by robust wooden sliding doors. The ballrooms’ walls of windows show off how they are surrounded by a wrap-around, covered, stone terrace that features gas lanterns and ceiling fans. With a breathtaking view of their lush fairways and precision greens, it is an amazing outdoor space. The Portabello Ballroom features a beautiful stone hearth fireplace and a built-in marble counter top bar, backed by wine shelves. You could easily describe the space as romantic and intimate! Some things to know about TPC:
- The ballrooms can accommodate up to 200 seated guests, including a dance floor. For a cocktail reception, they can accommodate up to 250 guests.
- They regularly provide customized floor plans and menus.
- The club only books one wedding per day so they can pay sharp attention to details.
- The club is available from 12pm-12am for set up, decorating and event time.
- The ladies locker room is available for the bride and bridesmaids to prepare, including a sitting area and makeup area.
- The Board Room is available for the groom and groomsmen to prepare.
- Gentleman and ladies can enjoy golf privileges to the TPC PGA golf course, which is ranked #10 in the state of Texas!
- Engaged couples receive time for one photo session (engagements or bridals) on the golf course or inside the club.
- TPC offers their smaller ballroom, the Weiskopf room, free of charge to their clients for smaller events, such as bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, etc.
photo by Don Mamone Photography
So what sets TPC apart? Without a doubt, their customer service. Their Special Events and Catering Manager, Christina Degelia, is why we recommend them over and over to brides. Christina is dedicated to her clients, working meetings to their schedule, advising them on the best vendors, working with them on their color schemes, developing the perfect floor plan and even helping to create a custom menu! She has fifteen years in this industry and has a high standard that not only does she hold her team at TPC to, but the vendors she recommends as well. She was recently named McKinney’s Hospitality Hero 2011 in a contest held by the McKinney Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Diann Bayes, MCVB Director, said “Christina was the clear winner with about three dozen emails commending her poise, class, professionalism and hospitable nature.” We have worked with Christina many times and couldn’t agree more. For more information on Christina, visit her bio here. (photo by Katie Cassidy Photography)
If you are looking for a private space, with excellent food and elegant but rustic decor, please consider taking a tour of TPC Craig Ranch. We know you won’t regret it! For more information on TPC Craig Ranch, visit their website, www.tpccraigranch.com or give Christina a call at 972-359-2110.