Ma Maison Winter Soiree | Austin Wedding Designer + Planner
In early January we were asked to co-plan the Ma Maison Winter Soiree with one of our best wedding planner friends, Jennifer of Altar Ego Weddings. We were 100% on board but the kicker was we had about 2.5 weeks to get it together, but that didn’t stop us. Ma Maison is one of our favorite venues and with 6 different areas to showcase and design, we got right to work.
With the help of 52 vendors and gorgeous wedding courtesy of Mother Nature, we pulled it off and can’t wait to share it with you! While we did have five photographers participate in the open house, the photos in this post are from only three of them, and they took photos of all the areas, not just the one they are listed under. They are all amazing photographers and we want to make sure they get the credit deserved, so the photos posted are mixed throughout by Mylah Renae, Mercedes Morgan, and Riley Glenn.
Cast of Vendors Participating in All Areas
Co-Planner & Designer: Melanie of Something to Celebrate
Co-Planner & Designer: Jennifer of Altar Ego Wedding
Stationer: 26 Pressed
Venue: Ma Maison
Videographer: Adam Grumbo Films
Videographer: Waterloo Films
The Chapel
Stop one on this virtual open house is the chapel. A later addition to the venue, it debuted in 2020 and is used for plenty of Plan A ceremonies but is also one of the prettiest Plan B sites in Austin. Blush Bridal showcased two beautiful gowns to welcome you to the chapel, and then once inside you were serenaded by Sienna Strings (playing some Taylor Swift at times) and the beyond gorgeous altar florals from Luis of Jo.An Floral. He made the chapel come to life, and his signature heart shaped bouquet was the show stopper. After your trip down the aisle you could stop for a quick photo with the pink floral backdrop from Oh Happy Day, one of Austin’s many amazing female owned event companies.
Cast of Chapel Vendors
Bridal Gowns: Blush Bridal Lounge
Florist: Jo.An Floral Design
Musicians: Sienna String Quartet
Photo Booth: Oh Happy Day Booth
The Trellis
Next on our tour is the Trellis, quite possibly the busiest area of the venue. Used when guests first arrive, for cocktail hour, and then again during the reception when guests need to step away from the music, it has the most traffic hands down. We decided to make this area a bit more “manly” for the event, using a lounge set from Panacea Collective for our inspiration. By bringing in darker colors and different fabrics in hopes we could make all the groom’s feel a bit more comfortable. Peached Tortilla has some delicious appetizers and drinks to go along with a fun interactive cocktail reception food display from Aphrodite Oysters. The interactive options didn’t end with oysters, we had abia tobacconist on hand to hand roll cigars by the fire pit!
Cast of Trellis Vendors
Catering & Bartending: Peached Tortilla Catering
Cigar Roller: Abia Tobacconist
Florist: Wild Bunches Floral
Lounge Set: Panacea Collective
Photographer: J Bell
Rentals: Premiere Events
Specialty Caterer: Aphrodite Oysters
The Grove
Just down from the trellis is Ma Maison’s most popular ceremony spot, the grove. With its dramatic doors and greenery all around you, its no surprise that its the favorite. Vestals Catering was there to welcome everyone with a glass of champagne from Ma Maison’s adorable champagne cart to enjoy as you enjoyed the afternoon. Live Oak Music was on hand to provide a lovely soundtrack as couples were able to visit with additional vendors or as you watched the incredibly talented team at Vogue Vignette hand sketch an art print of you and your special someone.
Cast of Grove Vendors
Bartending: Vestals Catering
Beer Burros: Hill Country Jennies
Florist: Wild Bunches Floral
Live Artist: Vogue Vignette
Musicians: Live Oak Music
Photographer: Mercedes Morgan
Rentals: Premiere Events
Transportation: Rickshaw Rides
The Lake View
Located along the shores of the Lake Moise was our Sweet Spot. Desserts galore took over with five sweet vendors and a coffee cart to go with all that sugar! Michelle’s Patisseries, Mad Cake & Co, and Sugar Shaker Bakery had delicious cake for us to eat and swoon over, while Sugar Shaker, Sweet Treets, and Churro Burro had the fun sized desserts that we love to see on wedding nights. Even Creature Coffee wanted in on the sweet theme with a chocolate covered strawberry latte!!
Pop & Drop set the scene with their fun balloons that went along with the super fun linens from Nuage Designs and the incredible tables and lounge set from Panacea. We had so much fun designing this space with fun colors and textures, with the pink cowboy boot pillow that just had to be included. Photographer Riley Glenn fit right in with her fun and bright personality, making the Lake View the area guests loved to relax and enjoy on this gorgeous day.
Cast of Lake View Vendors
Baker: Mad Cake & Co
Baker: Michelle’s Patisserie
Baker: Sugar Shaker Bakery
Baker: Sweet Treets Bakery
Balloon Garland: Pop & Drop
Coffee Cart: Creature Coffee
Dessert: Churro Burro
Linens: Nuage Designs
Lounge Set, Cocktail Tables & Bar Stools: Panacea Collective
Photographer: Riley Glenn
The Great Hall
Every Ma Maison wedding uses the Great Hall so showing how it would make a beautiful reception space was a must. Unique Design and Events set the backdrop with their beyond gorgeous draping along the back wall and down the sides. The Great Hall has so many different options when it comes to draping, we decided on a nice ivory with a criss cross pattern along the back wall and curtains along the side.
The room was set much like a typical reception, with the DJ up front behind Ma Maison’s white facade and up on their stage for a bit of extra impact. Ma Maison’s black and white dance floor took front and center in a diamond shape with a head table and rounds behind set for an intimate reception. Premier Entertainment paired up with Sienna Strings for a DJ and electric violin duo which always puts a smile on our faces.
We went with an elegant yet neutral design for the tables with a gorgeous floral pattern linen that we just fell in love with. Keeping with the classic elegant feeling we stayed with ivory plates with a scalloped edge, and ivory pearl flatware to add just a little bit more. Wild Bunches provided some color with a springtime palette of pink, coral, and yellow that tied in with the menu and place cards from 26 Pressed.
Vestals Catering had some delicious stations for guests to sample and Alba Artisan Bakery had a gorgeous cake displayed in its signature Ma Maison location, and so many beautiful mini desserts that were almost too pretty to eat. We also used the bridal suite and groom’s ready room to showcase some additional vendors like hair and makeup, babysitting, mobile massage and ATX Classic Cars welcomed guests with one of their vintage getaway cars as they arrived.
Cast of Great Hall Vendors
Baker: Alba Artisan Bakery
Babysitting: Jovie Care
Catering & Bartending: Vestals Catering
Draping: Unique Design & Events
Florist: Wild Bunches Floral
Hair & Makeup: Mistique Makeup
Ice Sculpture: Full Spectrum Ice
Lodging: The Liney Moon
Lodging: Sleep Inn Dripping Springs
Massage: Live Love Relax
Musician: Sienna String Quartet
Photographer: Mylah Renae
Rentals: Premiere Events
Transportation: Your Day Charters
Vintage Car: ATX Classic Cars
The Green Cathedral
You might be wondering, what is the Green Cathedral, well, its what most people call “the birdcage” and to us its the pièce de résistance of Ma Maison! With its minty green color and open lawn visible as you enter, we really wanted to show it off. While it is often used for ceremonies, we changed things up a bit and had it set for an intimate rehearsal dinner for 18 guests. The table was set with spring in mind, with soft velvet linens, whimsical pastel florals, and quite possibly one of my favorite place settings ever. Clear ghost chairs and oatmeal colored linens kept a neutral background to make the tabletop to tableside florals from Sixpence just set the tone. Place settings with amber, sage green, pale pink, and a touch of blue coordinated perfectly to make the table of our dreams.
On the lawn Urban Cowboy served fancy versions of comfort food as appetizers along with an agua fresca that was the talk of the day. We continued the pastel colors and soft velvets with a lounge set that just made you want to sit down and relax and scattered cocktails for guests to place their drinks as they took pictures with the softest and cutest alpacas from Sundance Hill Farm. Mother Nature also didn’t want to be left out of this area, and she brought the bees along to enjoy the florals (but luckily leave the guests alone)!
Cast of Green Cathedral Vendors
Alpacas: Sundance Hill Farm
Catering & Bartending: Urban Cowboy
Florist: Sixpence Floral Design
Lounge Set & Ghost Chairs: Panacea Collective
Photographer: John Winters Photography
Rentals: Premiere Events
It was a beautiful event and we so enjoyed co-planning with Jennifer and showing off all that Karen’s beautiful venue can provide. Working with so many amazing vendors is always a pleasure and honor and we can’t wait to work with them again!