Seguin Magazine - January 2024 by Seguin Gazette

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

Bridal Edition

The

JANUARY 2024

Perfect

setting

Find a wedding venue that speaks to your love story

Wedding bells and blue suede shoes Meet the Elvis impersonator turning nuptials into rock 'n' roll extravaganzas

Harmony Beyond sight Transforming wedding celebrations with stellar performances

BRIDAL REGISTRY in store and online

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In this issue January 2024

FEATURES 12 THE PERFECT SETTING

Find a wedding venue that speaks to your love story

18 HARMONY BEYOND SIGHT

Transforming wedding celebrations with stellar performances

26 WEDDING BELLS & BLUE SUEDE SHOES

Meet the Elvis impersonator turning nuptials into rock 'n' roll extravaganzas

ON THE SCENE 34 RADIATE LOVE DOWN THE AISLE

Celebrate every shape, size and beautiful soul on your wedding day

CULINARY CREATIONS

40 THE IRRESISTIBLE CHARM OF S'MORES

Elevate your wedding reception with a sweet and toasty marshmallow experience

AROUND TOWN 44 FAVORITE FINDS

Unique items from small, local businesses

46 FACES OF SEGUIN

Submitted photos from our readers

on the cover Photo by Melanie Krause

Bride Letty Neskora and her groom Jason Neskora joyfully exchanged vows amidst the picturesque setting of The Oaks of Ever After in Marion.

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

E Vol. 10, No. 8 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette. Publisher

Elizabeth Engelhardt magazine Editor

Desiree Gerland Writers

Felicia Frazar Stan Leland Sarah Maskal Dalondo Moultrie Bianca Rawlings Photographers

Felicia Frazar Victoria Gaytan

ADVERTISING

Megan Granzin Gay Lynn Olsovsky Graphic design

Melissa Taylor

FROM THE editor

very year as we dive into the whimsical world of weddings in our Bridal edition, I always feel a little out of place. You see, I've never taken the plunge into marriage, and as the years go by, the allure of a traditional wedding feels like a costume that doesn't quite fit. Something that I've recently realized is the connection I share with my boyfriend is a very unique dance, something that refuses to be confined to a standard box. In fact, the more I think about our connection, the less appealing the whole traditional wedding shebang becomes. It's not about a piece of paper; it's about the whimsy and joy of celebrating love in a way that truly speaks to us. In flipping through these pages, I find myself daydreaming about all the unconventional ways we express our love. Our love story doesn't need a rulebook; it needs a canvas where we can paint our laughter, adventures and quirks. So, whether it's exchanging vows under the twinkling stars or celebrating with a picnic in a sunlit meadow, the possibilities are as endless as the love we share. This edition is an ode to the extraordinary ways we can celebrate love beyond the confines of tradition. Here's to dreaming up celebrations that are as wonderfully unique as the love we've discovered.

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TheStory of �our Love I

n the enchanting year of 2024, in the charming town of Seguin, Texas, there existed a love so magical that it captured the hearts of all who witnessed its radiant glow. In a realm where dreams intertwined with reality, a radiant bride, adorned in a gown woven from moonlight and stardust, awaited her destined moment. By her side stood the dashing groom, donned in a suit that mirrored the hues of a sunset kissed by eternal promises. Their love story, a tapestry of shared laughter and whispered confessions, had blossomed like a rare and wondrous flower in the garden of time. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of passion and commitment, the two embarked on their extraordinary journey, where each step was a dance, and every heartbeat a melody that echoed through the pages of their timeless fairy tale.

{ FEATURE }

The

Perfect setting

find a Wedding Venue That Speaks to Your Love Story

Story by Sarah Maskal Photos by Melanie Krause - Just Smile Photography

wedding is one of the most special and memorable days in a person's life and, as such, everyone wants theirs to be perfect. With so many things to consider for this momentous occasion, the venue is perhaps the most important. The right venue can set the tone for the entire event. There are several things to keep in mind when searching for the ideal venue. Approximate guest size, included amenities, decor and even weather conditions all can play pivotal roles in your venue selection.

12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Recent bride Letty Neskora and her husband Jason Neskora said two of the main factors in their decision were cost and proximity. “For us, I think it was mostly the location and the price. It was only a few miles down the road from our house,” Jason said.

The setting is also a crucial aspect to take into account. “I wanted it to be an outside wedding,” Letty said when talking about their venue search. “We like being in the backyard and just kind of hanging out being in the laidback atmosphere, so that's one of the things I was looking for.” The event venue they chose, The Oaks of Ever After, had an outdoor rustic appeal the couple loved. This upcoming year, a variety of venue options are forecasted to be popular. They range from traditional ideas like destination weddings at beautiful beaches or 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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popular attractions to some newer and more unconventional trends. One trend that gained traction during the beginning of the COVID pandemic was mini-weddings. Even now that larger gatherings are back in full swing, smaller weddings at local venues still have an intimate charm. For more eco-friendly couples, green wedding venues have become quite sought after. Sustainable businesses that boast less waste and locally sourced foods and flower arrangements are becoming more widely available. Non-traditional locations have made a rise on the list of favorite venues as well. With many brides and grooms opting to get married in art galleries, barns, museums, boats and more, this venue option lends a unique atmosphere sure to make any wedding special. Another trend sure to make your wedding more enjoyable for guests is experience-oriented venues. Whether they offer a fireworks show, interactive food displays or acrobatic performances, your friends and family will certainly be entertained. If that's not enough, you could even go all out and hold your event at a casino or amusement park. If none of these choices feel like quite the right thing to showcase your big day, perhaps the wedding weekend is the new trend for you. Why not make it an all-out affair with a venue that includes lodging for you and your guests as well as amenities like spa treatments and brunch gatherings? This alternative lets you spend more time with the people you love to celebrate your new marriage. With so many great ideas to choose from, it's no wonder it can leave some couples' heads spinning. Just remember, in the end, the most important thing is that your venue selection is a place that brings you joy. No matter where you get married, you'll be making memories you'll never forget. 16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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{ FEATURE }

Harmony

Beyond Sight

Transforming Wedding Celebrations with Stellar Performances

Story BY STAN LELAND Photos by Felicia Frazar

eorge Winfield has been playing piano and organ music for weddings since he was 15 years old. He also plays for a local church twice a month and does special occasion music when asked. George does all this totally blind. “I was born blind,” George said. “I attended a school for the blind from first to 12th grade.” During second grade, the music teacher invited the students to learn how to play piano.

18 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“I said, ‘why not,’” George chuckled. He began his musical career by not only learning the mechanics of playing the piano, but also learning the Braille notation system for music. He said blindness enhanced his ability to hear the music with greater clarity than a sighted person. At home, his family had a Spinet piano, an entry-level piano produced from the 1930s to the 1990s. It was difficult to tune and did not hold the tuning very long. Consequently, the piano tuner made frequent visits to their home. Because of George’s ability to hear the proper pitch for each note, he said he could tell when a note was off. “The piano tuner regularly left a few of the notes slightly off-key,” George said, adding it made it a distraction when he played. In high school, one of the elective classes offered was piano tuning. “I decided I could do a better job tuning our piano,” George said. He learned how to open the various types of pianos and tune the 230 strings found in an average piano.

"...everybody looks different on the outside but under the skin we’re all alike." “I do it all by touch and feel,” George said. “It’s kind of like surgery; everybody looks different on the outside, but under the skin, we’re all alike.” George still tunes pianos in the Seguin area. He also plays piano and organ for a church in Cypress Mills twice a month. Since he became a church accompanist in the 1960s, he has most of the hymns committed to memory. 20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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On occasion, he’ll get a song he doesn’t know. If so, the other accompanist will dictate the song over the phone to George, who will transcribe it into Braille. He then practices it until memorized. As impressive as this process is, it’s even more so knowing he gets the song list the Tuesday before the Sunday he plays. Besides church services, George has played in retirement homes and brings a full repertoire of oldies the residents enjoy. He even played in a three-piece country band in high school. He also began playing for weddings in high school. His cousin was getting married in El Campo, and she wanted George to play for her wedding. At the time, George was 15 and had never played for a wedding. The date was July 20, 1969, a day his family will always remember, as well as the entire world. That was the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon. The wedding was scheduled for 3 p.m., which also was the time the astronauts were to land on the moon. George was at the organ playing the songs his cousin had selected as prelude music. While he played, he assumed guests were coming in for the wedding. Unknown to him, because he was blind, all the guests went into the reception hall to watch the moon landing on TV. George played all the prelude music, and because he never got the signal that the bride was ready to come down the aisle, he hesitated for a moment and then began playing all the prelude music again. Astronaut Neill Armstrong made his famous statement, “Tranquility Base, The Eagle has landed,” at 3:17 p.m. CST. At about 3:20, George’s father interrupted the crowd around the TV by asking, “Y’all gonna get married or not!?” While most people his age would retire, George continues to play piano and organ on Sundays, tune pianos during the week, and provide piano and organ music for weddings and special occasions. “My talent is a gift from God, and I would be selfish not to share it,” he said. 22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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{Feature }

Wedding Bells & Blue Suede Shoes

Meet the Elvis Impersonator Turning Nuptials into Rock 'n' Roll Extravaganzas

Story by Dalondo Moultrie Photos By Victoria Gaytan

rom the beginning, it seems Seguin resident Mike Andrews was put on earth to perform. Born in Hollywood, Andrews began making people laugh and smile at an early age and continues to do so now. “I was one of the original ‘Kids Say The Darnedest Thing’ kids when I was 3 in 1963,” Andrews said. “I was telling jokes then.” Since way back then, his act has changed. He now does voice impressions and, most often, dons an Elvis Presley costume to perform as The King.

26 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

While showing off his Elvis impersonation at a relative’s 2011 wedding in Liverpool, England, Andrews said he sort of found a niche he had never expected. He was asked to perform as Elvis at the wedding and has done so several times over in subsequent years. It took off when a friend offered to stitch together an Elvis-appropriate outfit for him, Andrews said. “She knew I could do voices, and she said I’ll make you an Elvis suit,” he said. “She made the white jumpsuit. I started doing more events, but then I had some people want me to sing at weddings.” Some have asked him just to wear a wig. Others want a wig and a hat or something more formal for a wedding. Still, other wedding participants request it all — full jumpsuit, wig, the whole nine yards, Andrews said. At the Liverpool wedding, the bride loved the color pink, so she had him sing in a pink jumpsuit. While he takes such requests from a bride and groom, one thing Andrews said he won’t take from a couple for whom he performs is money. He does the weddings for free. Having had a daughter and a son get married, he knows what a wedding can cost and wouldn’t want to put any further undue burden on couples, Andrews said. “It will always be my gift,” he said. “I’m not a handyman, I’m not physically strong and all of that kind of stuff, but I can make people laugh, and I can make people smile.” Beyond weddings, Andrews said he also offers his time as Elvis for free in other ways. He performs as the Rock 'N' Roll legend at Alzheimer’s units in the area. Again, he doesn’t charge and thinks the performances are beneficial to people facing cognitive issues. “It’s good for them. It helps 28 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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with their memory,” Andrews said. “I only do three or four shows performing in the cafeteria at the nursing home.”

"...I love making people laugh and seeing smiles on faces. Even when I’m singing, they’re smiling and some are dancing.” But there is a business component to his impressions. Andrews impersonates other famous people and takes the show on the road. He gets paid for performances, emceeing and hosting gigs, he said. Even the ones where he acts like Elvis can draw crowds and a paycheck, he said. “Most of my appearances as Elvis are non-wedding related,” Andrews said. “I go to Vegas a couple times a year. I do some standup. I do some dueling Elvi with another Elvis impersonator.” Initially, he wasn’t a huge Elvis fan. But after developing the performance dedicated to The King, Andrews developed an enormous affinity for Presley. He dug into performances, gained a deeper respect for the artistry and learned to love Elvis. There’s something great about being The King, Andrews said. “There’s a vanity portion to it,” he said. “Elvis doesn’t really perform with other people. I get (all) the attention. I love making people laugh and seeing smiles on faces. Even when I’m singing, they’re smiling, and some are dancing.” What else could a born performer ask for?” 30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 31

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{ on the scene }

Love Radiate

Down the Aisle

Celebrate Every Shape, Size and Beautiful Soul on Your Wedding Day

Story by BiANCA RAWLINGS

he journey to the altar is a special occasion filled with joy, yet societal pressure to conform to beauty standards can cast a shadow on the celebration. Couples often find themselves striving to achieve a specific look before their big day and not just in terms of the decor and venue. This pressure to look a certain way, no matter the costs, for a (typically) one-time event can significantly impact body image and overall well-being, particularly for brides-to-be who already face numerous body-related pressures in their everyday lives. Body image can be defined as our thoughts, perceptions and attitudes about one’s physical appearance,

34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

according to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). This can be negative or positive. Positive body image generally includes feeling comfortable and confident in your body. It involves acknowledging that the way your body looks has little to do with your character or value as a person. Negative body image includes feeling shame, anxiety or self-consciousness about one’s shape, as well as a distorted perception of physical appearance. Individuals who identify as women are more likely to have negative body images than those who identify as men, according to research from Bradley University. Women are given messages throughout their lives that their bodies and looks are the most important things about them. Through media, advertising and social media, women see false beauty ideals nearly all day long. These standards of beauty are usually not achievable or realistic and, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, some may turn to expensive appearance-altering procedures, including plastic surgery, injections or “fillers,” in attempts to mirror what is shown in the media. This causes poor body image, which can trigger disordered eating, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, shame, eating disorders, self-hatred, depression and low self-esteem. All of these are very harmful to a person’s mental health. With this information in mind, it becomes obvious how damaging the culture of “sweating for the wedding” can be for brides-to-be, not only in the short term but potentially beyond the big day. A recent study reported on healthysocialmedia.org, uncovered that more than 50% of female participants planned to shed pounds before their wedding, with 67% intending to intensify their exercise routines. While the natural desire to look and feel one's best on the 36 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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wedding day is understandable, the short-term hyper-focus on body molding is often unsustainable and damaging. Crash diets and extreme exercise regimens can have immediate adverse effects, making individuals feel sluggish, moody, nauseated and achy, USnews.com reported. Beyond these short-term consequences, such drastic measures can set up individuals for rebound weight gain in the long term. It's essential to recognize that the pursuit of an idealized body for a specific event may compromise one's overall health and well-being, both in immediate and extended timelines. The “sweating for the wedding” mindset parallels the pattern observed with New Year's resolutions for weight loss. Drawing from personal experience as a fitness professional, I have observed that clients who prioritize feeling healthy, strong and confident — rather than solely appearance-related goals — are more likely to adopt sustainable lifestyle changes. I would suggest swapping out rigid, negative-focused goals such as “lose 20 pounds or be a size 8” with a more flexible, positive goal of “enjoy a walk or jog (or another activity that brings you joy) every day with my fiance.” This sort of simple swap will help you be closer to your partner but also bring you closer to who you are and how you want to live your life. Redefining the culture around wedding preparation is crucial for brides and grooms, emphasizing sustainable well-being over shortterm aesthetic goals. Couples should be encouraged to focus on celebrating their love and commitment as well as embracing each other for who they are as they work to build healthy (both physically and emotionally) relationships. Shifting the focus from appearance to overall well-being promotes a healthier and more positive journey toward the wedding day and beyond. 38 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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{ CULINARY CREATIONS }

The irresistible charm of

�'mores Elevate Your Wedding Reception with a Sweet, Toasty marshmallow Experience

Story and photos by Felicia Frazar

hen brides and grooms plan their weddings, they take into account all of the things they like. They decorate with their favorite flowers, plants, fountains and sculptures. They hand pick the music that speaks the most about them and their relationships or where they have come from to where they are. They’ll sample and serve their favorite eats, and sometimes treats, to their guests. From steak and fish to donut walls, if you can think it, someone will dish it up. In 2015, one of my cousins got married at Lord Thompson Manor in Connecticut. It is a beautiful venue that is not far from where the couple lives. 40 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

The event included several offerings that included post-ceremony appetizers with a few meat carving stations — each offering a different sample of meat — a full sit-down meal, the wedding cake service and an after party complete with snacks. While all of it was very memorable — and delicious — I would say the after-party snacks really stuck with me all these years. In the ballroom, there were tables placed in each corner offering something a little different. There were homemade potato chips of all flavors — barbecue, sour cream and onion, plain. Another was filled with a variety of popcorn — caramel, butter, cheddar, extra butter, candy.

The one thing that rose above the rest for me was a make-your-own s’mores bar. The table was filled with everything you would think to make a s’more and more. There were homemade marshmallows, graham crackers, cookies and more chocolate options than a candy store.

For the s’mores bar I recently created, I gave people the option of traditional graham crackers, stripes cookies or coconut cookies with dark chocolate. You had the options of vanilla or chocolate marshmallows from Kindness Bakes or strawberry or peppermint marshmallows from Holiday Charcuterie. Since I didn’t have a large, backyard fire pit like the post-wedding party, I used a tabletop fire pit and bamboo sticks. For the chocolate, I arranged a variety of flavors including Hershey’s bars, Almond Joy, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, York Peppermint Patties, and Ghirardelli Squares — caramel, peppermint, 60% cacao, mint. To recreate, throw in a menu to give people ideas or let them create their own flavors. Make-your-own bars are easy to create and fun for everyone. 42 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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at at Landa Landa St. St. (830) 625-0401

(830) 625-0401 (830) (830) 625-0401 625-0401 482 Hwy. 46 S 482 Hwy. 46SSS Next to Kohl’s 482 482 Hwy. Hwy. 46 46

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at FM 3009

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SCHERTZ NEW BRAUNFELS BRAUNFELS SCHERTZ NEW SCHERTZ SCHERTZ NEW NEW BRAUNFELS BRAUNFELS 1190 Borgfeld Rd. Rd. 988 Mission Dr. 1190 Borgfeld 988 Mission Dr. 1190 Borgfeld Rd. Rd. Landa St. Dr. 988 988 at Mission Mission Dr. 1190 at Borgfeld FM 3009 988 Mission Dr.

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(830) 379-6659

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(830) 626-3280 992 Business IH35 S 830-214-0622

1044 Hwy. 123 (512) 396-3439

123 S. King St. (830) 379-6654

at FM 3009

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Next to Kohl’s

OPEN: Mon - Fri 8AM-6PM • Sat 8AM-5PM

at Court St.

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1044 Hwy. 123 (512) 396-3439

OPEN: 8AM-6PM Sat8AM-5PM 8AM-5PM OPEN: OPEN:Mon Mon Mon --- Fri Fri Fri 8AM-6PM 8AM-6PM •••Sat Sat 8AM-5PM at Court St.

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at Landa St.

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