Real Weddings
Catherine Deal & Josh Surface: 06.19.2010
By Andrea H. Melcher
After living in Seattle for a few years, Catherine Deal and her family returned to San Antonio just in time for her to begin her sophomore year of high school. She was less than enthusiastic.
“I missed my old friends,” Catherine says about her first day at Ronald Reagan High School. But on that first day, she would meet a new friend that would, in just a few short years, become her husband – Joshua Surface.
“I met Josh by chance while I was trying to figure out where to sit during lunch,” Catherine reveals. “We also shared a gym class.”The two became instant friends, and after a year, they began dating.
The couple graduated from Reagan in 2006 and went on to study at the University of Dallas and in Rome. They married in San Antonio’s historic San Fernando Cathedral on June 19 in a celebration that included their families and friends from all over the world.
“Because many of our guests were not from Texas, we wanted our wedding to be full of San Antonio flair,” Catherine explains. “San Fernando Cathedral communicates the Old World beauty of San Antonio’s ' Spanish history really well.”
The couple selected a 7:30 p.m. time for the mass, as not only would it be a little cooler for their out-of-town guests, but for a wedding reception that would be a true “party environment.”
To set the stage, Catherine created invitations that blended the style of a “wild west poster” with that of a “rock concert flyer” to be sent to the couple’s college cohorts and younger family friends. A “traditional” invitation in chocolate and gold was sent to “adult” family and friends.
“I was inspired to do a poster invitation because I wanted our friends to be really excited about this wedding,” Catherine explains, adding that the posters were rolled up and mailed in white tubes with fuchsia calligraphy and navy mailing labels.
“I wanted it to be the kind of thing that our friends would hang on the wall of their bedroom or somewhere in their apartment as if it were a poster for a really cool music festival.”
The traditional Latin mass at San Fernando featured classical guitarist Keith Kubena and an ensemble from the Ronald Reagan High School Choir. And, not only did those in attendance hear the sounds of San Antonio, they were treated to a feast for their eyes as well.
“I did not want to limit the color palette of the wedding,” Catherine says. “The bridesmaids’ dresses were a deep blue, and they carried fuchsia flowers. And the flower girls wore fuchsia dresses.”
At the reception held at the historic Main Street Ballroom, just a few steps away from San Fernando, the palette was a little more subtle: the table linens dripped in deep chocolate and gold, with huge centerpieces filled with cream-colored flowers.
“The Main Street Ballroom was amazing,” Catherine says. “The natural stone and wood floors reflect South Texas, and I love the fact that it has so much Texas history in it. Santa Anna and his men camped there during the siege of the Alamo.
“The windows look directly onto Main Plaza and the Cathedral,” she adds. “When walking to the reception, the windows glowed pink and amber because of the special lighting. You could definitely tell that a major party was going on!”
To maintain the party atmosphere, the couple selected butler-passed hors d’oeuvres and carving stations, with all of the food reflecting San Antonio and Hill Country cuisine.
“There were a lot of jalapeños and spicy foods, as well as a lot of meats,” Catherine reveals, adding that her husband “was really excited about the mini chicken diablo: bite-sized chicken wrapped in jalapeño on a toothpick.”
Cocktail chalupas were also on the menu, as was horchata, a Mexican rice, milk, and cinnamon drink, which according to Catherine, became a favorite concoction for her out-of-town guests. Ivy Partridge of the Main Street Ballroom created the four-tier wedding cake.
DJ Eric Holtz of Holtz Entertainment kept the party rolling, with dance favorites blaring from the speakers.
“We wanted our wedding to showcase all of the things that we love about San Antonio and about Texas,” Catherine says. “Our guests left our wedding weekend with plans to return to San Antonio!”
Wedding Details:
Rehearsal Dinner: Amorcito's
Ceremony Venue: San Fernando Cathedral
Caterer: Main Street Ballroom
Cake: Main Street Ballroom
Bridal and Bridesmaid's Attire: Bella Bridesmaid
Bridal Hair and Makeup: LR Salon
Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Florist: Mary Garza
Ceremony Musicians: Keith Kubena, Guitarist
Reception Music: Holtz Entertainment
Photographer: Philip Thomas Photography
Videographer: Video Wave Digital
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