As you may already know, the McNay is a fantastic venue for weddings. Lisa Morales of  Haute Weddings has planned her fair share of occasions on our grounds and was kind enough to answer a few questions in our first ever guest blog!

What’s one thing you wish more brides knew?

That hiring a planner to help them with the planning process from the very beginning will save them so much time and relieve their anxieties. Many couples look at the cost of hiring a full-service professional planner and think it is outside the scope of their budget. However, if they were to calculate the additional time and energy spent on trying to figure it all out on their own…lots of time and money would actually be saved. Planners spend hours upon hours on each event, making sure all the services acquired result in a wonderfully beautiful event that all enjoy. They are advocates for the couple and the liaison between them and the vendors. 

What is your favorite part of wedding planning?

There are many, but I think my most favorite is just watching the couples’ reactions as each part of the day unfolds. The pre-ceremony jitters, the excited look of anticipation on the groom’s face awaiting his bride, the happy tears of joy during the ceremony and then the many laughs and smiles throughout the reception. It really is the best feeling to know you were a small part of someone’s big day.

What do you think makes the McNay special as a wedding venue?

I do feel that the McNay is one-of-a-kind. I love how the guests enter through the historic mansion entrance and experience all the architectural from a specific time period, then travel through the galleries viewing classic art pieces and then walk outside into the courtyard only to be transported to another time period all together. I love the Leeper Auditorium because it truly appeals to all couples. It is a blank slate to do whatever they wish and I love transforming that space into an elegant jaw-dropping surprise. 

See more from Lisa Morales on her  Facebook and Instagram!

Interested in learning more about weddings and other special events at the McNay? Contact our Special Events Department at 210-805-1782 to get started!