< PreviousD iana Navarro’s dream wedding always had included her sailing away on a boat just as Ariel, the protagonist from the Disney movie, “The Little Mermaid,” did. Her dream became a reality after she found out Sea Star Base Galveston offered a wedding feature that allows brides and grooms to sail on its boats, Luna Sea, Gazelle and Secret. Navarro loved the idea and decided to do it for her wedding, she said. “It was beautiful,” she said. “The crew was professional, accommodating and nice. The venue was also afford- able.” Sea Star Base Galveston even played the “The Little Mermaid” theme song for her and her husband as they sailed away. “They made my dream come true,” she said. Sea Star Base Galves- ton, 7509 Broadway on the island, offers a seaside wedding experience that not all venues can offer. Couples can make note- worthy entrances and exits at their wedding with Sea Star Base Galveston’s “Sail-In, Sail Away” wedding addition. Luna Sea is a 40-foot-long sea green catamaran sailboat; Gazelle is a 66-foot-long red schooner with five sails; and Secret is an antique 20-foot-long wooden cruiser. Wedding guests typically don’t know about the bride’s special en- trance, said Suzi Hanks, Sea Star Base Galveston marketing and community outreach manager. “It’s an incredible way to enter a wedding,” Hanks said. “The guests are waiting for the bride to come down the aisle but she comes in on a sailboat.” The bride sails in on the Gazelle and stands on the bow of the boat, said Angela Escue, Sea Star Base Galveston special events manager. The bride and groom sail away on the Luna Sea, she said. Couples always receive complimentary Cham- pagne on the catamaran. The bride and groom can enter and exit the wedding with the “Secret” cruiser, Hanks said. Sea Star Base Galveston uses the “Secret” to bring in the bride and father to begin the wedding or the bride and groom can sail off together after the reception, Hanks said. Sea Star Base Galveston has a commercial kitchen, preferred vendors, suites for the bride and groom to pre- pare for the wedding and ex- ceptional views, Escue said. Revenue from special events at Sea Star Base Galveston, which is a nonprofit organi- zation, go toward the ven- ue’s many programs, which include summer camps and sailing classes, she said. Sea Star Base Galveston also offers an outdoor waterfront wedding chapel for wedding ceremonies and a reception hall, Hanks said. The boats, views, grounds and other amenities separate Sea Star Galves- ton from its competition, Hanks said. “It’s a beautiful, unique opportunity and something that the bride, groom and guests will always remember,” Hanks said. 20 COAST BRIDAL 2021 FEATURE NAUTICAL NUPTIALS For some brides, the grand entrance and exit are better by boat story by MYER LEE photos courtesy of SEA STAR BASE GALVESTONSea Star Base Galveston offers sail-in and sail-away options for couples. The island venue has several sailboats available to bring the bride and her father in to begin a wedding in the outdoor chapel. The happy couple also can sail off into the sunset after the reception.1019 Lewis Drive, Kemah, TX | 281.334.0501 | events@KemahGardens.com | KemahGardens.com …where relationships flourish GARDEN CEREMONIES RECEPTIONS SPECIAL EVENTS K emah G ardens stay@JacobsCreekCabins.com | 830.964.2638 | JacobsCreekCabins.com Canyon Lake Pavilion Coming Soon! 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Whether you’re celebrating with an intimate group of three or a gathering of 70, receiving a single spa treatment or multiple treatments, we’ll work with you to accommodate your needs ensuring a unique experience, complete with onsite food & wine from our very own Bistro 313 Day Spa Tucked away in Friendswood, Texas Bergamos Retreat makes for a beautiful setting to celebrate a wedding featuring: 22 SPA TREATMENT ROOMS INTIMATE SALON PRIVATE VIP PARTY SUITES GRAND BALLROOM BISTRO & BAR “My personal event coordinator took care of every detail... a perfect party in the most luxurious space” 281-992-3775 | BERGAMOSRETREAT.COM | 313 E. EDGEWOOD, FRIENDSWOOD Largest in Texas24 COAST BRIDAL 2021 WEDIQUETTE ZOOM, TRADITIONAL OR BOTH? L ife is opening up more, but the pandemic still can make wedding planning unpredictable. Some couples are opting for smaller, intimate weddings or a mix of in-person and virtual ceremonies. Coast Bridal asks wedding planner Connie DeRome of Galveston Bridal Group for tips on ensuring your big day goes off without a hitch. Here’s her advice: Avoid snags with these helpful tips DECIDE ON THE DATE Choose your date as soon as possible. Decide on your venue then select vendors soon as well. Everyone wants your date and vendors. If you need to reschedule, choose your date as soon as possible. Review your vendor contracts and discuss options. Flexibility and consideration makes a great vendor relationship. MAKE A GUEST LIST Downsizing your wedding? Consider your guest list and decide who likely will attend and who won’t. Guest count is information needed for your venue and vendors to help guide you to the best solutions. Zoom still is a good option for guests who can’t attend, but want to be included in your festivities. SHOPPING VENUES For small gatherings, consider beach ceremonies and beach house receptions. Backyard ceremonies and private home re- ceptions also are an option. Also consider church ceremonies and restaurant private room receptions and venues with small rooms for ceremonies and receptions. You can get married and still have your large party at a future date. GIVE GUESTS TIME Let your guests save the date as soon as possible. Send your invitations out as soon as you can. This will give more time to plan logistics. Reservations for travel and lodging might be limited for a time. PLAY IT SAFE Be sure to follow safety protocols and offer masks and sanitizers for your guests. A fun and safe environment shows you care. photo courtesy of RYAN R JONES PHOTOGRAPHY In response to the pandemic, many couples are taking their weddings to video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom and Facebook Live. This couple exchanged vows in front of close family members and a propped-up iPad in their backyard. PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT Consider wedding insurance. Your insurance agent will advise. 2024 SEAWALL BLVD., GALVESTON ISLAND, TX 409.765.7721 | HotelGalvez.com | @ HotelGalvez Hotel Galvez & Spa has long been the location of choice for romantic weddings in Galveston. The beachfront location offers expansive Gulf views, the island’s finest spa, delicious cuisine, two elegant ballrooms and charming gardens. Contact us today to arrange lifelong memories. a dramatic backdrop for a storybook wedding Sue Johnson 45 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 2020 EMERALD ELITE TOP PRODUCER Broker Associate, GRI 409.682.9050 Sue.Johnson@garygreene.com Karen Gandy 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Broker Associate, GRI 832.752.2041 Karen.Gandy@garygreene.com ©2021 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens ® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. From the Bay Area to Galveston Island , we have your coastal living needs covered. Featured Listing23187 Camino | Terramar Beach | $639,000 Timeless newer-construction three story home with both beach and bay views! This gorgeous home was custom-built with beautiful design & character. COAST BRIDAL 2021 2526 COAST BRIDAL 2021 photo by JENNIFER REYNOLDS COAST BRIDAL 2021 27 FEATURE LONE STAR LOVE From barbecue to Gulf-caught seafood, caterers meet demand for Texas-style receptions story by SHANNON CALDWELL I n Texas, barbecue pairs well with just about any happy occasion, so it’s little wonder more couples are choosing grilled and smoked meats for their wedding reception dinners. Barbecue is a hit because it’s a high-quality product made with time and love and stands out from standard banquet food, said Mary Bass, who caters about 50 weddings a year with her companies Chef Mary Bass and La Cocina. Bass’ companies cater for a lot of couples who live in Galveston, but aren’t original- ly from here. Some might be studying at the University of Texas Medical Branch, or they’ve moved to the island for work. “They love to choose barbecue because it’s a celebration of Galveston and Texas,” Bass said. “When their friends and family come from all over the U.S. and the world to attend the wedding, the couple can show off the local food and say ‘hey, we get to eat this delicious barbecue all the time.’” For one recent wedding, Bass cooked Texas brisket, Kansas City burnt ends and Carolina pulled pork with traditional sides such as mac and cheese, green beans with bacon and slaw. “The three different styles were important to the couple as they ate these styles at dif- ferent milestones in their relationship, so the food told their story,” she said. “We also had a condiment bar with all these cool pickles and sauces from local places so the guests could dress their plates with all this cool and funky stuff.” Barbecue weddings are part of a wider trend to make the reception dinners more fun and less formal, she said. Think food stations and elaborate small bites, rather than a sit-down dinner. “Another trend we are seeing a lot is Mex- ican street food and tacos with bright flavors and fresh salsas,” Bass said. “It’s a good way to include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options without making separate menus. 28 COAST BRIDAL 2021 FEATURE Couples want their weddings to be more elaborate productions than in the past and food is an important part of making it a fun experience for every guest.” Don McClaugherty, owner of Riondo’s Ristorante in Galveston, said the private events his team caters are known for fresh, Gulf Coast Italian cuisine. But Riondo’s also has catered barbecue for both rehearsal and reception dinners. “My business partner and chef Rico is of Argentinian, Spanish and Italian heritage so he knows every trick in the book to making meat delicious,” McClaugherty said. Riondo’s has private venues popular for both receptions and weddings and Mc- Claugherty’s team likes to work with couples to make sure whatever the event, the food will be personal and memorable, he said. “We are farm to fork and sea to table, so people come to us because they know it will be high-quality, local, tasty food,” he said. “We make all our own bread and 90 percent of the pasta, too.” Mother-and-son team Judy Elmendorf and Todd Schott of Chopin Mon Ami in Galves- ton have catered more than 1,500 weddings and won many industry awards. Although Chopin Mon Ami has cooked barbecue for reception dinners, it’s more popular for COAST BRIDAL 2021 29 rehearsal dinners because brides don’t want to take any chances with dropping sauce on their dresses, Elmendorf said. “If you have a family barbecue recipe that you want for your reception dinner, we can cook it for you,” Elmendorf said. “Converting family recipes for large weddings is some- thing we are known for.” Chopin Mon Ami has catered everything from Thai to Russian cuisine for weddings A DIY condiment and topping bar, like this one created by Galveston County caterer Chef Mary Bass, allows guests to fix their plates exactly how they like them. COURTESY PHOTONext >