SOURCES
ARCHIVES
Special Touches
LIGHTING
Absolute Lighting
3000 Carlisle, Suite 113, Dallas, TX 75204214/871-9900, www.absolutedfw.com
A trio of North Texas alums with degrees in music performance founded Absolute Entertainment in the early 90's. Since then, the agency has expanded its staff and services to include lighting. Absolute Lighting's credits incude some of the city's high profile weddings and social events, and their work creates memorable ambiance at some of Dallas' nicest venues. See Absolute Entertainment under our Source Section on Entertainment.
Beyond
100 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, TX 75207972/458-7569, www.beyondld.com
"Lite Dallas is going Beyond." Indeed Lite has morphed into Beyond for all your lighting, sound and video needs. Beyond, with founder Ryan Kelley at the helm, stages some of the most creative lighting scenes to accent and highlight your major events – from fabulous weddings and charity events to the special party for a birthday or anniversary.
Hall Production Services
P.O. Box 116532, Carrollton, TX 75011972/395-7870, www.hpslighting.com
SMU theater- trained John Hall has been a mainstay of the wedding, small private event and charity circuit since the early 90's. HPS provides that "finishing touch" with atmospheric lighting for weddings and events at many of the area venues, such as the Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Discovery Gardens, Dallas Zoo and the Hall of State, as well as at country clubs, private homes and local theatres.
Switch Lighting Group
1937 Levee, Dallas, TX 75207214/239-8118, www.switchlightdallas.com
Matthew Nicholas and Michael Tooke have combined their Dallas Theatre Center lighting experience to create theme and drama for events and weddings. Impressive credits include the annual Two x Two Aids Art Gala and Auction and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala, as well as extraordinary weddings and an awesome Dallas Museum Art Ball we saw a few years ago.
Beyond Lighting
Absolute Lighting
AUDIO AND SOUND
Crossroads Audio, Inc.
2623 Myrtle Springs Avenue, Dallas, TX 75220214/358-2623, www.crossroadsaudio.com
Crossroads has handled some of Dallas' biggest audio, lighting and productions since 1972. In addition to providing sound for some of the major touring road shows, it handles equipment sales, rentals and provides event services and system design/consultations
Edwards Audio-Visual Services
214/552-7710, www.edwardsavs.comSince 2000, owner Dwayne J. Edwards has been is a leading provider of audio visual equipment and technology to the conference and event industry. Whether it's audio, visual or lighting engineering that you need, Edwards Audio Visual can supply each event with high-end technological services and equipment.
Peak Audio Productions
7118 Tucker Street, # B, Dallas, TX 75214214/660-0030
Owner Creighton Curlee and the Peak Audio Productions team are dedicated to professional sound services for concert and event productions.
STAFFING
Viki Hall Staffing
4514 Cole Avenue, #600, Dallas, TX 75205214/651-7020, www.vikihallstaffing.com
Viki Hall Staffing provides trained waiters and bartenders to parties of all sizes, be it a wedding, charity event or private party. We can attest the servers are polished and professional and will dress as the occasion demands. Viki Hall provides the staff for Neiman Marcus, as well as the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Museum events.
Trinity Event Staffing
25 Highland Park Village #100, Dallas, TX 75205214/405-6703, www.trinityeventstaffing.com
Trinity Staffing has 20 years experience in providing well-trained and professional wait staff and bartenders. No event is too large. Last year, they staffed the annual Côte du Coeur preview party, as well as for the wine auction, a major fundraiser for the American Heart Association.
VALET
Gold Crown Valet Parking
901 Waterfall Way, Suite 107, Richardson, TX 75080972/470-0000, www.goldcrown.net
Gold Crown provides courteous and well-mannered valet attendants for private homes and party venues. The company was started by R.W. Raabe in 1994 while he was still a graduate student. The company has grown since then with an impressive venue and client list.
Jack Boles Parking
4311 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 175, Dallas, TX 75219214/880-4477, www.jackboles.com
Jack Boles has been the benchmark against which other parking services have been measured. Dallasites have been spoiled by Boles' parkers since the company's origin in 1947. Still family-owned, Boles' welcoming and efficient parkers are seen at Dallas' major social and charity events, no matter the size, and at private parties of corporate and civic leaders. Boles prides itself with the level of satisfaction and the experiences of event guests. Remember, the parkers at your party create the first and last impression.
Lone Star Valet Parking Services
4099 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244972/406-8400, www.lonestarvalet.com
Lone Star Valet handles parking management for a multitude of venues, including restaurants, hotels and condominiums, as well as valet services for a growing number of area events. Shuttle service to events is another specialty, as is "Driven by Lone Star," a newer personal driving service addition.
Jack Boles Parking
TRANSPORTATION
DFW Town Cars
8001 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, TX 75209214/956-1880
Ranked by many and recommended by Frommer's for town car service. Whether it is an airport or around town service, DFW Town Cars is price competitive and a popular favorite.
Executive Limo Dallas
214/352 7500, www.executivetowncarlimodallas.comNot only does Executive Limo offer luxury limo transportation services in the Metroplex for special events such as weddings, proms and airport transport, they can provide vans and mini-buses for any occasion for larger groups. Their fleet includes Lincoln Town Cars, BMW's, suburbans, Hummers and stretch limousines
Premier Transportation Services
1341 West Mockingbird Lane, Ste 201, Dallas, TX 75247214/351-7000, www.premierofdallas.com
With a stable of vehicles from town cars to Hummer limos and party buses, Premier can get you there – from wedding to Cowboy Stadium to prom party. There is a vehicle for your occasion. The company has garnered many industry awards for its outstanding service.
Premier Limo
PHOTOGRAPHY
Carpe Vita Photography
1200 Main Street, Grapevine, TX 76051817/410-9975, www.carpevitaphotography.com
"Every event deserves a photographer," so say Kim and Steve Cooley of Carpe Vita Photography. The Cooleys create memories of life's milestones from babies to weddings to birthdays and anniversaries.
Dana Driensky
11840 Donore Lane, Dallas, TX 75218214/755-1975
Dana Driensky is the camera pro for many of Dallas' top events. He is the regular at events such as the Cattle Baron's Ball, the Sweetheart Ball and the Art Ball. He has the credit lines under many "Papercity" photos, and a web site, www.photoguy.net, where you can look for yourself and your friends among the photos he posts. He has been joined by his son, Daniel, to cover more events.
Jason Wynn
840 Expositon Avenue, Dallas, TX 75226214/673-4422, www.jasonwynnphotography.com
Jason Wynn specializes in portrait and event photography and has regular credits in the social media, such as "Brillant Magazine" and " Papercity." We admired his photo spread in Kimberly Schlegel Whitman's book, "Setting the Table with Style."
Photo by Kristina Bowman
Kristina Bowman Photography
P.O. Box 191413, Dallas, TX 75219214/631-1111, www.kristinabowmanphotography.com
Kristina Bowman is a top-of-the-list photographer for Dallas events. Her credits are many, including the opening events for the Performing Arts Center, debutante and charity balls, and fundraisers for AWARE and Equest. While many of us know her name from frequent credit lines in "D Magazine" and "Papercity," her photos have appeared in publications and books worldwide. Her website includes photos from events where you can perhaps find yourself online.
Photo by Marty Perlman
Marty Perlman Photography
1222 Manufacturing Street, Dallas, TX 75207214/502-0881, www.martyperlman.com
Marty Perlman specializes in event portraiture on location as well as studio photography for individuals. He takes fabulous event photos and, to the delight of "foodies," great food photos.
Nan Coulter
4415 Shirley Drive, Dallas, TX 75229214/352-6608, www.nancoulter.com
One of the city's many blogs referred to Nan Coulter as "the Annie Leibovitz of Dallas." With this in mind, the talented photographer and contributor to "D Magazine" is seen at major community, charity and special events with camera in focus. Like her comparison, her photos capture the best of the events and guests.
SPECIALTIES
Bifulco Vanishing Scuptures
4008 Commerce Street, Suite 321, Dallas, TX 75226214/824-5020
Both chef and sculptor, Robert Bifulco has a special niche in the art of ice sculptures, with 20 years of experience to perfect his metier. We have seen fabulous masterpieces from open shells for seafood presentations to entire tables carved from ice. Alas, they are short-lived.
Entertaining Sources, LLC © . All rights reserved.