A Santa Fe Love Story Reimagined in The Vault

Sep 15

Boyd and Hector's Anniversary Dinner at Corinthian Houston

[A publication draft for Weddings in Houston]

For Boyd and Hector, an anniversary celebration in The Vault at Corinthian Houston became a return to the spirit of their Santa Fe wedding - an evening shaped by art, music, vintage details and an extraordinary progressive dinner. Inspired by the couple's wedding weekend, which they devoted to exploring Santa Fe's galleries, the celebration transformed the historic former bank vault into a deeply personal setting filled with pieces from their own lives and collection.

An Arrival Into the Vault

Guests arrived at the dedicated Vault entrance, where valet attendants welcomed them before they stepped through the smoked glass doors. Inside, the first impression was part cocktail hour, part gallery opening. Darryl Murchison designed a sculptural installation with an iron base created specifically to showcase Boyd and Hector's collection of Fostoria Block Optic bowls and platters. The treasured glassware became art in its own right and immediately established the evening's personal, collected aesthetic.

Friends gathered for signature cocktails, passed hors d'oeuvres and Le Chemin du Roi Brut Champagne as David Truong captured the moment. The guest list included longtime friends and familiar names from Houston's hospitality community spanning more than three decades. Pianist Scott Graham and the guitars of Moodafaruka created the soundtrack as guests explored the art-filled rooms and welcomed Boyd and Hector upon their arrival.

A Gallery Inspired Setting

The decor carried the story of Santa Fe throughout the evening. Amie of College Park Flowers created the floral design, while vintage china and glassware from R&B Rentals and Edward Sawicki, known as @edtheglassguy, gave every place setting the layered character of a carefully assembled collection. Rather than relying on a single matching pattern, the tablescape celebrated age, artistry and individuality.

The walls completed the gallery-inspired setting. They were adorned with work by two of the couple's wedding witnesses: photographs by David Jones of D Jones Photography and a special piece painted for Boyd and Hector by mixed media artist Lisa Anhaiser. The result felt less like conventional event decor and more like an intimate exhibition - a visual homage to the wedding weekend that began their life together.

At the center of the room, dinner seating took the form of a dramatic four-armed table. Boyd and Hector shared the place of honor on a round tufted sofa, its raised center back crowned with a lush white floral arrangement. The distinctive layout kept the honorees visually central while allowing conversation to flow along each arm of the table.

Ten Courses Until Midnight

The culinary experience brought together several of Houston's notable hospitality teams for a ten-course dinner with thoughtful wine pairings. Service unfolded slowly and ceremonially, beginning with passed American classics, coconut shrimp with mango-jalapeno chutney, brie and pear brioche, and torchon of foie gras with cherry gastrique from Jackson and Company.

Once seated, guests moved through a menu that balanced luxury with a sense of place. Monarch Hospitality opened the plated progression with fresh truffle penne in cacio e pepe, black truffle creme and Parmesan, finished with black truffles shaved tableside. Hundred Percent Hospitality followed with sweet corn veloute and chilled crab, then a Southwest garden bouquet with cilantro-lime vinaigrette. Swift and Company presented Dover sole with Meyer lemon labneh, smoked oyster aioli, baby Marzano tomatoes and trout roe, accompanied by grilled sunburst squash and shaved asparagus.

A champagne-citrus granita refreshed the palate before Santa Fe lamb chops arrived with smoked sweet potato puree, pomegranate and pistachio. The savory courses continued with charcoal-seared prime rib cap steak, shiso-yuzu salsa verde and smoked Japanese sweet potato puree enriched with miso butter. Individual apricot tarts layered vanilla tart, pistachio frangipane, apricots and thyme-infused mascarpone, followed by a final cheese course of Point Reyes blue, herbed chevre, St. Andre and Cypress Grove Lamb Chopper with Marcona almonds and roasted grape chutney. The final course was served at midnight, turning dinner into a true evening-long experience.

Cake Then Disco

The wedding cake from Susie's Cakes was a showstopper, dramatically spotlighted just inside the Vault door. After the ceremonial cutting, each guest received a duo of cakes boxed for the journey home - an elegant and practical gesture after such a generous dinner.

Then the mood shifted. The Disco opened with DJU presiding over a lit mirrored dance floor, and guests danced through the close of an unforgettable night. From the first champagne poured beneath the Vault's historic doors to the last song shared among friends, the celebration honored not only Boyd and Hector's marriage, but also the art, hospitality and community that have surrounded their life together.