2013 Event Dates Officially Open

2013 event dates are now open for business!  To check availability, including a few open 2012 dates, and to also request a detailed rental packet, send a request to Kathy at: earleharrisonpapegardens@gmail.com. Our website – earleharrison.com is  experiencing technical difficulties, thankfully a new website will be up by February. In the meantime, EHHPG’s basic rental details are listed below.  Please do request a rental packet to see how extensive our services are – you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised with all we offer. Rental tours are scheduled by appointment only after the packet is emailed.

Package A – $5,000.00   Monday-Sunday, up to 250 guests  Up to 12 hour timeframe includes a 1-hour rehearsal, & bridal portraits by appointment.  Use of Grounds, Double Gazebo, 60’x90’ White High Pole Tent; extensive décor inventory, tables, chairs, linens, setup/teardown/cleanup. Golf cart transport is provided. No rental deductions are made for wedding or reception only; smaller guest lists than contracted for, decreased hourly use or only specific areas of the property being used. ($15 per person over 250, we’ve hosted 500+ guests events due to the property’s ample size)

Package B – $3,000.00   Weekday and Sundays only, up to 75 guests Up to 12 hour timeframe includes a 1-hour rehearsal & bridal portraits by appointment; same amenities, staff services & limitations as listed above. **May add five (5) extra guests @ $15 per person

Package C – $4,000.00   Weekdays and Sundays only, up to 150 guests, includes bride’s wedding cake, punch, coffee, & light appetizers 4 hours total time on the property, includes setup/teardown/cleanup with minimal décor inventory. Catered customized menu & cake by Patti’s Kitchen & Bobby Rudeen

**Our renters may host a rehearsal dinner for an additional fee. The price is negotiable based on details, timing, and expected guests in attendance        ($500 minimum charge).

Lauren & Gabe, Courtesy Mantle Films, Brynn Sankey

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October 2011

October is one of my favorite months in the garden. The grass is still green, and temperatures drop enough to allow for a fall flush of blooms on most of the 499 rosebushes. Each of this year’s October weddings have included vintage decor elements, yet all are unique with different elements and palettes.   Patti’s Kitchen and Bobby Rudeen provided catering and the cakes for  three  October receptions, so included in this post’s slideshow are gorgeous 10/8/11 food shots taken for Patti and EHHPG by our DIL Nikki (www.nikriggsphoto.com). Nikki also documented decor for that event (+ grandparents with an adorable grandson!)

The 10/15/11 reception included horseshoes, boot-filled bouquets, flour sacks and burlap. 10/22/11′s afternoon military wedding/reception incorporated a rust red, navy & cream palette to compliment the gorgeous formal Army uniforms worn by several including the groom. We’ll wrap up October  on 10/29 with decor centered around branch centerpieces, twinklelight & hundreds of candles.

So. Much. Fun!

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Ty Sprague Videography: Ashley & Kevin

Ashley and Kevin’s 7/19/11 wedding and reception. Videography courtesy: Ty Sprague

Ashley + Kevin from Ty Sprague on Vimeo.

Justin Scheidt Videography: Lena & Blake

The 8/13/11 Antioch Church wedding of Blake and Lena, followed by a reception at EHHPG.

Video courtesy: Justin Scheidt, 817/797-0063, justin.scheidt@mac.com. Thank you Charles Waters (Lena’s dad) for encouraging me to post this sweet clip! I appreciate seeing the behind-the-scenes moments & ceremonies day-of; Justin beautifully documented the joy and emotion shared by all that day.

http://vimeo.com/29794052

Native Plants Tolerate Droughts Best

Ellis Street photos taken this week. These beds are watered 1x/wk with sprinklers. Texas Lantana (lantana urticoides or L. horrida) grows best in poor, gravelly soils in hot, dry areas, in full sun or light shade. It is a perennial in Waco, it should be cut back in the fall as it blooms on new wood. It’s leaves are poisonous to humans (wear a mask and gloves when trimming), but the flower’s nectar is a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds. Lantana flowers bloom consistently from mid-summer thru October.

9/10/11: Kristen and Lance

Wedding and reception photography courtesy –  http://WWW.RandyTinneyPhoto.com/

For the announcement of Kristen’s new CD, or to follow her adventures – http://kristenkellymusic.com/

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Legacy Imaging: Clay and Christen

Photography: Legacy Imaging

Personals and floral arrangements: Paul Farney Productions

Catering and cakes: Blanek’s

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8/13/11: Lena & Blake’s Reception

To see larger pics from this sweet event visit: www.taylorlordphotography.com/blog/

Lena and Blake wanted a FUN reception. They expected August to be hot and planned accordingly (of course this summer has been hotter than usual, or expected).  275 guests arrived at EHHPG from the church ceremony around 7:30pm – when the sun goes down temps usually do drop.

Water/cold drink stations, along with chilled wash cloths and paper fans were setup; four portocoolers from RSVP were rented to supplement our fan inventory. Decor was kept fresh & light – white linens with rented buttercream napkins, log slices, mossy branches, and votive candles. A variety of our mason jars filled with bouquets and the bridal party’s bouquets by Rosetree Floral did double-duty at the church and as table centerpieces. Lois Ferguson provided day-of coordination. JD’s Coffee & Catering served from tents in the grass, they also baked & served the bride’s cake. Penguin Pete’s SnoCones were dished up from a red trailer parked in the grass.  When It Clicks videographed; FaceBooth provided photo fun for the guests. Steve Deramee Bartending served cold beer and wine at the bar.  Diamond Productions kept the guests dancing throughout the evening, including a  ’Second Line’ number with white hankies led by Blake to honor his family’s Louisiana roots.

Lena and Blake’s goal of a FUN celebration was a success – smiles, much laughter and cheering will be my memory of their special evening.

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HOTPPG Shootout

The gardens are one of Waco’s few visual respites from our surrounding brown landscape this summer. Our garden work is being split to avoid the heat (6:30am-noon / 6pm-9pm, give or take), focused mostly on weeding, while watering as little as possible. Greg or I mow at a 4-4.5″setting, Greg weed-eats once a week. Greg & our part-time summer staff, Terrance, Jonathan & David have also added tons of (free City) mulch to flower beds and around the trees in order to conserve water and decrease soil temps. Hard, hot work performed by a competent, conscientious crew – thanks guys!

A few months back the Heart of Texas Professional Photographers Guild spent an evening on the property practicing their skills and competing in an annual local competition.  Although bridal portraits are frequently scheduled at EHHPG, we seldom are booked for other types of sessions, likely due to our $75/hr portrait fee, which is required to help pay the water bill ($4,750.11 for July), and maintenance  of the gardens. This week a disk of photos and the note below was delivered:

I wanted to take a few moments to thank Earle-Harrison House & Pape Gardens for hosting our annual professional photographer’s shootout. The property is a perfect place for us as it lends itself to elegant pictures in any genre, be wedding, high school senior, family or whatever. Our photographers are free to produce images that are both diverse and competition-level quality.

Greg keeps the grounds so immaculate it is hard to take a bad photo! You are both the consummate hosts. Attached are some photos our members took, feel free to use them in your blog and advertising.

Sincerely,

Tom Sergent, President

Heart of Texas Professional Photographers Guild

Thank you Tom and HOTPPG members!

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