From the Editor | March 2017

Dear Readers,

This year couples are shaking up the bridal industry by personalizing their weddings to reflect their personalities, from bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses to floral bouquets and cakes.

Ivory and champagne remain the bridal gown color of choice, and some gowns have threads of color woven through the fabric, sometimes a colored ribbon belt is used to highlight the waist. Chapel veils, headpieces, hair bling and headbands add a vintage look, and bridesmaids dress hemlines are on the way up to reflect a flirtier, sassier persona.

Where a couple decides to have their reception varies from castles to hotels, chapels and halls. This being Texas, many wedding ceremonies are held outside and receptions move either indoors or under a glamorous tent. Today’s bride has many options and they don’t need to leave Central Texas to find what they are looking for to complete their dream wedding.

La Rio Mansion in Belton was the backdrop for our bridal fashion shoot for this year’s Killeen Bridal issue that corresponds with the March 5 Killeen Bridal Expo at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. Thank you Lilian Halabi for opening your facility to us, Page 37.

Another popular venue in Central Texas is The Terrace in Salado. The Terrace’s grounds and large facility offers couples a venue that can accommodate an outdoor or an indoor wedding and it has an as-big-as-Texas dance floor, Page 33.

Local wedding planners Beverly Moon of Unforgettable Events and Geri Schwartzman of Milestone Memories and Events each give their input on how technology has changed the way weddings are planned, Page 19. Technology seems to have touched most areas of modern wedding planning, and Phil Enderle of Marvel’s Florist in Killeen talks about the reality of some of the bouquets brides see on sites like Pinterest, Page 27.

Liz Parker of Liz Parker Photography has been taking pictures for 15 years. Her digitized approach to taking wedding photos offers couples a lifetime of memories,

Page 53.

When it comes to wedding and grooms’ cakes, Shellie Campos of Pink Tulips Cakery offers unique designs that reflect a couple’s personality. From bridal cakes that are a “little wonky” to a billiard table groom’s cake, whatever a couple can imagine, Campos will deliver, Page 29.

Brides, and grooms, who want some pampering for their big day don’t have to travel too far. Blonde Salon and Spa in Killeen offers a full range of beauty preparation from micro-dermabrasion and facials, to eyelash extensions and massages, to full hair and makeup. Upon request, her staff will travel to a bride’s home or venue, Page 51.

We hope this issue will give you some ideas about planning your wedding. We wish you a lifetime of health and happiness.

Catherine Hosman


Catherine Hosman is editor of Tex Appeal Magazine. Contact her at editor@texappealmag.com or 254-501-7511.