FRIENDSHIP TO FOREVER

FRIENDSHIP TO FOREVER

by | Feb 28, 2024 | Weddings 2024, Spring/Summer 24

Brittany Beldon Weds Blake Rosenthal

By Jake Gaines Photography by Caroline Lima

From playmates to soulmates, these childhood friends who have known each other since found a lifetime of love with each other that started at Sunday School at Temple Beth El. Brittany Raye Beldon, daughter of Susan and Brad Beldon, married Blake Rosenthal, son of Jill and Robert Rosenthal, both of San Antonio. In fact, they are fourth-generation family friends, and the wedded couple’s romantic relationship began when they both lived and worked in Dallas after college.

My Girl by The Temptations played overhead as the groom invited his future bride to his grandmother’s house as a ruse. After dating for three and a half years and surrounded by family and close friends who had flown in from Dallas, Blake asked for Brittany’s hand in marriage. After a resounding yes, everyone enjoyed delicious Mexican food, margaritas, and mariachi music throughout the afternoon to commemorate the special occasion. The couple shared the secret of their love by saying, “Brittany has always admired Blake’s charm, and he has always been attracted to Brittany’s confidence. We share many of the same values and always keep each other laughing.”

The longtime Texan duo decided all their wedding festivities would be in their native hometown of San Antonio. They wanted somewhere unusual for the nuptials, so where better than the city’s legendary venue, the San Antonio Zoo? The color theme was bright, springy shades of purple, pink, and orange. The wedding and reception, planned by Becky Levin Navarro of Pearl Events in Austin, also incorporated beautifully lush, nature-like verdant plants, created by David Garcia with Statue of Design, as an ode to the venue full of animals. Not only was it the largest wedding the San Antonio Zoo had hosted, but it was also the first large-scale event on the new lawn, where the 600 guests enjoyed mingling and chatting under the stars. It is such a sentimental venue for Brittany and Blake since they both grew up visiting there often with their parents and grandparents.

The bride chose a strapless wedding gown and veil from Julian Gold Bridal, designed by Mark Ingram, which was adorned with leaf and butterfly applique as a tribute to the wedding venue. Brittany’s second outfit for the reception was her mother’s 35-year-old wedding dress. Brittany had two Maids of Honor: Dylan Beldon and Mackenzie Beldon. She was attended by fifteen Bridesmaids: Molly Aaron, Gabriela Bresnahan, Emily Carpenter, Paige Farrimond, Hailey Hoppenstein, Emily Kahn, Emma Lynds, Elizabeth Massari, Hannah Matula, Anna-Blaire Ozdil, Samantha Preblich, Emily Rosenbloom, Aubrey Rosenthal, McKenzie Vaught, and Jordan Wilson. Blake’s Best Man was Justin Rosenthal and twenty-four Groomsmen: Cole Bailey, Ryan Baumgartner, Marshall Beldon, Brian Bell, Christian Biedenharn, Kalen Brockwell, Walker Coffman, Clayton Comeaux, Drew Dawson, Jeffrey Dubrof, David Duncan, Walker Dyess, Tyler Freed, Charles Giammalva, Charles Hoffman, Dillon Hurley, William Keller, Rusty Kiolbassa, Blake Klumpp, Jacob Maloy, Daniel McCarty, Bryan Stankey, Robert Thomas, and Thomas Tyng. Completing the attendants were four Ring Bearers: Dylan Kaplan, Emmett Kustoff, Theodore Preblich, and Oliver Sandoloski.
Brittany’s parents surprised both Brittany and Blake with butterfly stilt walkers during cocktail hour and butterfly light-up dancers during the reception. Brittany and Blake surprised their guests with various animals to engage with during cocktail hour and later. Both couple’s parents surprised the newly married duo with a unique exit by way of the San Antonio Zoo train, which Brittany and Blake grew up riding during their visits to the venue as children.

The couple both attended The University of Texas at Austin and now enjoy careers in real estate. The bride is the Development Manager at Hixon Properties, while the groom is the Capital Markets Associate at Merit Commercial Real Estate. “We hope to play a part in bringing many of our friends back to San Antonio,” shared the couple. They chose Saint Kitts as their honeymoon destination.

ON THE WILD SIDE

ON THE WILD SIDE

by | Feb 28, 2020 | 2020 March April, San Antonio

Zoo Ball’s The Polar Express Rolls Into San Antonio

By Leanne Raesener           Photography by Greg Harrison

THE SETTING: Fittingly, Mother Nature provided a perfect winter cold snap for the San Antonio Zoo’s 37th Annual Zoobillation themed, The Polar Express. Dipping temperatures brought out more than 800 prominent patrons and philanthropic community leaders donning glamourous winter fashions. Brackenridge Park’s newest narrow-gauge engine was on display outside the reception tent to carry on the legacy of the San Antonio Zoo’s 1956 Eagle, and a phenomenal locomotive ice sculpture greeted the guests inside.

Before a delectable dinner, guests ambled through the zoo’s annual enchanting light displays to join a buzzing reception filled with a wealth of generously donated silent auction holiday gift opportunities. The new locomotive welcomed all into the main dining area in an outside foyer resplendent with silver and blue scenes creating a genuinely magical esplanade under a canopy of the best snow flurries one can expect in San Antonio.

THE STYLE: Inside a real star-filled night, laced silver accents were throughout the room and across all the tables. Custom passports offered guests access to their own imaginations on the express across time and into their childhoods.

The SA Zoo CEO Tim Morrow welcomed Jayme and William Russell, the event’s chairs, through the grand entrance. The Russells outlined the strides the zoo has made, where it stands, and where it is going―from the new exhibits, the Will Smith Zoo School, and Kiddie Park, to the new train engine. They also highlighted the zoo’s primary purpose, which is to educate, awe, entertain, and spotlight the exceptional leadership, business partnerships, and generous patrons building legacies for tomorrow.

Tony Parker, a Zoo board member, joined Morrow on stage to spur on dynamic live auction support with impromptu friendly banter. Guests supported the auction with seasonal generosity and all the energy of San Antonio’s very own Polar Express.

THE PURPOSE: The San Antonio Zoo, through its passion and expertise in animal care, conservation, and education, commits to inspiring its community to love, engage with, act for, and protect animals and the places they live. The zoo welcomes more than a million visitors each year and is open year-round.

 

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