River Road Chateau, one of my favorite venues, is having an open house on Sunday, August 27, 2023 from 2:00-4:00pm.

An Open House is a great way to tour a venue and meet the vendors they love to work with. There may also be giveaways, raffles, or freebies too. I'll be there with cake samples and will have a special discount in the raffle. 

River Road Chateau is located on 76 acres in Anna, and features an outdoor ceremony space, a 4000 square foot reception venue, and Belle Manor, a guest house that can also be rented for your day. There are also gardens planned by a Texas Master Gardner and lots of beautiful photo locations. 

As if all that wasn't enough, the people at River Road Chateau are what really make the venue stand out. Lori and her team are amazing and truly care about all of their couples!

If you, or someone you know, is planning a wedding, this Open House is the perfect opportunity to get a few check marks on that wedding to-do list. 

One of my most popular cookie flavors is snickerdoodle. In fact, they are second, only to chocolate chip. 

So what is a snickerdoodle? I'm glad you asked! A snickerdoodle is a cinnamon cookie rolled in cinnamon and sugar before baking. I add a little brown sugar to my recipe as well for a richer flavor. Some form of the cookie has been around since the late 1800's, and the name is debated amongst food historians. Some say the name comes from the German phrase "schnecke knodel" (there's an umlaut missing over that o...my keyboard isn't happy with special characters today), which means snail dumpling. Others say the moniker comes from the Dutch "snekrad", also referring to a small snail-ish shape. Escargot? Well that's the French snail delicacy and has nothing to with cookies. Back to desserts!

Snickerdoodles have been on my cookie menu since the beginning, and they are the perfect flavor for the cinnamon lover. 

A couple years ago, I had a bride ask for a snickerdoodle cake. I did not have that flavor on my standard menu, but I am happy to offer custom flavors. So I turned on the mixer and started to experiment. After a few trials to get the flavors right, I created a cinnamon cake with a cinnamon and brown sugar swirl, and I paired it with a cinnamon and brown sugar buttercream. The bride loved the sample and decided that would be her wedding cake flavor.​

Recently I had another bride ask for a snickerdoodle cake, and I dug the recipe out to recreate the flavor for her. My Flavor Development Team... ok, my kids... love the cookie, and they gobbled up the cake scraps which are the bit of cake that is cut off the top so it is flat. They immediately insisted that I add it to my permanent menu. I couldn't argue with them one bit. Well, not about this.

The swirls and darker buttercream cannot be seen from the outside of the cake, and I recommend cream cheese buttercream as the outer icing for this new flavor. Yum!

If you would like to sample this flavor (or any other) for your wedding, please fill out our Contact form, and we can get your design consultation scheduled.

​The Dream Ranch is a new venue in Wolfe City, about 45 minutes north east of McKinney, and they are having an open house on Sunday, March 5, 2023 from 1:00 -5:00 pm. The venue will be open for tours with a variety of vendors set up to answer any questions you have about their services. I’ll be there with cake samples too. 

​The venue sits on 36 acres and features several outdoor spaces including a ceremony site, a barn that has been converted to the reception space, a pond with pavilion, and a three bedroom home with pool.  

​There is a triangular arch at one of the outdoor spaces which is a perfect background for a wedding ceremony. 

​The barn is 9000 square feet, and the horse stalls are a unique feature. They lead to an outdoor area with string lights – a great space for yard games or extra cocktail tables. The stalls would also be a great place for a photo booth, caricature artist, gift table, or even a coloring station for any kids attending the big day. 

​Inside the venue are dressing rooms for the bride and groom as well as plenty of space for your guests. 

​There is no fee to attend the open house, but please register for the event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/532312750767.

​Venue - The Dream Ranch
​All photos by dreamranchevents.com

River Road Chateau is having an open house on Sunday, February 26, 2023, and I am excited to be a returning vendor! I have partnered with this venue for over 7 years, and they are one of my favorites!

Looking at their gorgeous grounds, it’s easy to tell why I love when couples decide to get married here. First, there is the meadow where outdoor ceremonies take place. It’s a hidden clearing surrounded by mature trees with a stone entrance. The lush canopy gives ceremony an intimate feel. A beautiful wooden arch and chandelier are at the front of the meadow which can be decorated to coordinate with your colors. 

There is a French styled garden between the meadow and the venue, and it is the perfect place for portraits.  

​The reception venue has a stone wall creating a focal point at the back of the space. It is the perfect backdrop for a sweetheart or head table. 

There are bride’s and groom’s dressing rooms in the venue, or you can rent Belle Manor, the house next door. The house offers more room to spread out and you can even rent the home to stay in the night before or after the wedding. One of the features of the bridal suite is a claw foot tub. Photo opportunity!

 The open house will be from 1:00 – 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 26. You can tour all of the venue’s spaces, meet the venue manager, and visit with a variety of wedding vendors including photographers, bartenders, DJs, and caterers. Come say hi – you may even get a slice of cake! 

Venue - River Road Chateau
​Open House Planner - Fawn Hollow Events