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    Dallas' grandest gala

    Colorful Crystal Charity Ball tangos into Dallas with South American flair

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Dec 11, 2019 | 2:10 pm

    Crystal Charity Ball 2019 brought vibrant South American style to Dallas' grandest gala.

    Ball chairwoman Pat McEvoy chose the theme "South American Mosaic" for its 67th edition and transformed the Hilton Anatole Hotel's foyer and ballroom with the sights, sounds, and tastes of that colorful continent.

    More than 1,500 guests, dressed in their most dazzling ballgowns and tuxedos, arrived to the hotel for the beloved event on December 7. Upon entering, they walked down a hallway of towering plants and flowers made to look like a tropical rain forest, complete with performance artists costumed as a butterfly, big cat, and exotic bird.

    The Instagram-worthy backdrops continued inside the lobby, where a gurgling fountain and brilliant floral creations were popular photo stops.

    After having professional portraits made by John French Photography and grabbing glasses of wine and bubbly, attendees — including Sabrina Harrison, Field Harrison, Chuck Steelman, Keana Meyer, Dean Fearing, Wanda Fearing, Julia Kananna, Leah Pasant, Luane McWhorter, Lisa Cooley, C.A. Anderson, Annette Anderson, Jennifer Sampson, and Edward Sampson — snaked their way around the silent auction offerings.

    Up for grabs this year were dozens upon dozens of magnificent trips, fine jewelry, artwork, runway fashion experiences, one-of-a-kind accessories, and many more exquisite items. One head-turning piece was a stunning Alexander McQueen gold bead and pearl-encrusted knuckle clutch, which didn't get too far in bidding before someone opted to "buy it now" for $1,500. Ditto on a chance to spend Thanksgiving Day with the Dallas Cowboys, which was sold quickly for $22,000. Of special note this year were several packages featuring stays and experiences at the dazzling new Hall Arts Hotel in the Dallas Arts District. The impressive array was arranged by silent auction chair Jennifer Dix and her team.

    Guests daintily loaded their plates with South American-inspired canapes like beef empanadas and sweet potato crema, then crossed the room for the oversized displays of jumbo Gulf shrimp, donated for the evening by Cassandra Fine Catering.

    Patrons also perused the Plaza del Mercado for holiday gifts, including small electronics and beautiful housewares. Those who wanted to try their luck before dinner hit the casino early.

    At 9 pm, the Chantilly Ballroom doors opened to reveal a scene that evoked a South American nightclub in a lush, tropical setting. Tango dancers, dressed in red, floated around the dance floor to the South American-symphonic stylings of the James Davis Orchestra.

    The dancers and musicians were so entertaining, folks couldn't help but capture video on their phones before finding their seats. Patrons finally sat down to their tables, which were adorned with opulent white and gold arrangements of roses, orchids, and hydrangeas. In contrast, colorful displays of pink and orange roses, lilies, orchids, and more climbed around the stage.

    The orchestra continued playing as patrons dined on a sumptuous multicourse dinner created by Hilton Anatole executive chef Rigoberto Lemus, executive banquet chef Mike Youssef, and executive pastry chef Shirley Chavez. It started with coriander crusted King scallop with corn and wild mushroom relish and roasted corn jus. Main course was a cotija crusted seared beef tenderloin served with aji creamy demi, onion chorizo stack, asparagus, charred carrots, cipolini onion, and blistered tomatoes.

    The crowning touch was South American Coffee Chocolate Delight, a flower-shaped dessert — complete with numerous delicate petals and edible gold flecks in the center — that was almost too beautiful to eat. (But far too delicious not to.)

    Throughout the evening, wines from Ehlers and Beringer Private Reserve and were poured generously by the attentive wine stewards.

    Spotted in the crowd, enjoying dinner, were Bruce Dietz, Gayle Fischer, Jennifer Lind, Emily Elolf, Stari Ewert, Sabiera Figueroa, Maggie Morales, Amberly Sisneros, Sheridan Horn, Kaylan Montgomery, Vinette Montgomery, Tiffany Lawson, Leigh Anne Haugh, Alan Schoellkopf, Karen Schoellkopf, Conner Searcy, Gina Searcy, Randi McParlin, Angela Seaman, Brittany Graft, Jordan Graft, Rosie Caruth, Ian Caruth, Wynne Wideman, Craig Wideman, and many, many more.

    It didn't take long for the music to gear up again and for the dance floor to fill to the brim. A party band whose beats ranged from boogie woogie to Bruno Mars kept the room on its feet long after the last bites of dinner had been eaten.

    Those with tired feet scooped up their party favors — including a big box from Tiffany & Co. containing an elegant crystal candlestick — and exited back to the foyer. There, they could check silent auction bids one last time; hit the casino tables again; and try for one last chance in a raffle for a 2020 Lexus, which was parked inside.

    On the way to the valet stand, guests got one last taste of South America — fresh, hot churros covered in cinnamon, and hot coffee for the ride home.

    Tom Addis of Tom Addis Productions, Junior and Maria Villanueva of The Garden Gate Floral Design, Curtis Butts of Talent Associates, and a host of others helped bring the "South American Mosaic" night to life.

    Crystal Charity Ball is the grand finale of the social season and benefits children's charities around the city.

    "Your support helps ensure that all children in Dallas have the opportunity to achieve greatness in their lives and make this a stronger community and better world," McEvoy writes in the introduction to this year's Crystal Charity Children's Book, which highlights the work of each beneficiary.

    Beneficiaries of this year's ball are Child & Family Guidance Center, Community Partners of Dallas, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, For the Nations Refugee Outreach, Interfaith Family Services, Jubilee Park & Community Center, Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, Mercy Street, Promise House, and Readers 2 Leaders.

    A performance artist costumed as an exotic bird greets guests on the way in.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2019
      
    Photo by WJNPHOTO
    A performance artist costumed as an exotic bird greets guests on the way in.
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    news/society

    Celebrity wedding

    Dallas Cowboys cheerleader ties the knot in dreamy wedding in Tuscany

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Jun 16, 2025 | 4:24 pm
    Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Marissa Phillips, Braden Leschber wedding, Tuscany
    Photo by Kseniya Palchi via Facebook/Marissa Phillips and People magazine.
    Marissa Phillips and Braden Leschber wed on June 3, 2025 in Italy.

    Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Marissa Phillips married her college sweetheart, Braden Leschber, in a picture-perfect wedding under the Tuscan sun of Italy on June 3, 2025.

    People magazine got the exclusive on all the wedding details and gorgeous photos by Milan-based photographer Kseniya Palchik.

    Phillips just completed her third year with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and reportedly cut the Italian wedding trip short to return to Dallas and "buckle down" for the next season's auditions. She appeared in Season 1 of Netflix's hit series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Season 2 begins streaming Wednesday, June 18.

    Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Marissa Phillips, Braden Leschber wedding, Tuscany
      

    Photo by Kseniya Palchi via Facebook/Marissa Phillips and People magazine.

    Marissa Phillips and Braden Leschber wed on June 3, 2025 in Italy.

    Phillips, a Round Rock native, began dating Leschber in 2017 when they were college students: she, at Texas A&M University and he, at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. They got engaged, fittingly, on the field of AT&T Stadium in Arlington - home of the Cowboys - on August 10, 2023.

    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Braden Leschber (@braden_leschber)

    According to People, the couple chose to marry in Italy for two reasons: because of Phillips' proud Italian family heritage and because it was (somehow!) cheaper than a big, traditional Texas wedding. So, they and 75 friends and loved ones jetted off to romantic Tuscany for a destination wedding extravaganza that lasted several days.

    "We wanted to make this celebration as special as it could be and stray away from the typical wedding scene whenever we could," Phillips told the magazine. "We also don’t get a lot of time to slow down and enjoy the company of our friends and family, so we really loved the idea of a destination wedding, where everyone could unplug and spend time together."

    Festivities started Monday, June 2 with a welcome party that included Italy's two most important food groups: pizza and gelato.

    The wedding was held the next day at Borgo Stomennano, a historic estate in the Chianti Classico region, near Florence and Siena. According to the website, the estate's villa and farmhouses are surrounded by woods, vineyards, and olive groves in a tiny village built on ancient Roman and Etruscan ruins that are still visible.

    For the ceremony, People says, the bride wore Katherine Tash's elegant "Luna" wedding dress, featuring a wide-scooped neckline and hand-draped bodice and skirt, from Dallas bridal shop a&bé bridal. To complete her bridal look, she rented diamond stud earrings and a tennis bracelet from Verstolo and wore shoes from Bella Belle Shoes. Her hair and makeup were done by The Styling Stewardess. Bridesmaids wore black dresses from Birdy Grey and Kendra Scott jewelry.

    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Marissa Phillips (@marissaphillips__)

    Phillips walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games" and Phillips' brother-in-law officiated the Christian ceremony, in which bride and groom exchanged traditional vows.

    "[Marriage] means we are stuck with each other for life, through the good times and the bad, tied together as one under God and what God has joined together, let no man separate," Phillips told the magazine.

    At the reception, guests dined on a three-course plated dinner of Italian favorites, including trofie pasta with arugula and walnut pesto; fagottino (filled pasta) with bufala ricotta and artichokes and pecorino cheese sauce; and pork chops lacquered with honey and chopped pistachios. Dessert was traditional Italian wedding cake, which the couple "made" in front of guests. (A photo shows them sifting powdered sugar on top.)

    Phillips told People that she and Leschber took the food so seriously, they traveled to Italy a year before their wedding for a tasting with their caterer, Il Sorriso Ricevimenti.

    The bride changed into a custom party dress designed by her best friend and bridesmaid, Kathryn Emily of Belvedere Couture, made of fabric, lace and pearls from Phillips' mother's preserved wedding dress. The newlyweds and their guests then danced the night away to the live music of BritPops.

    Marissa Phillips, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders wedding.The bride and fellow Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed "Thunderstruck" at the reception.Photo by Kseniya Palchik via People magazine.

    And, in keeping with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders tradition, members of the squad performed their iconic routine "Thunderstruck."

    Before heading home, the couple and their guests gathered the next day for a "La Dolce Vita"-themed pool party. The new Mr. and Mrs. then slipped away to Lake Como for a quick "mini moon." (They'll take a longer honeymoon at the end of the next Cowboys season, they say.)

    Back home in Dallas, Phillips is not only a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, but also an administrative assistant at an accounting firm and co-owner (with her sister) of the online Joey Lynn Boutique. She's also involved in the Alzheimer's Association in honor of her father, who died of Lewy Body Dementia in 2021.

    She's also a social media influencer. She went viral in December 2024 for gifting each of the 40 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders members a Dyson Airwrap hairstyling tool, valued at $600 each.

    “Huge thank you to @dysonbeauty and @dysonusa for helping me pull off the biggest surprise to the girls who deserve it most! All the love,” she wrote in the Instagram caption of a video of the women opening the $24,000 Christmas haul.

    celebritiescheerleadercowboysitalianreal-housewivesweddingweddingsmarissa phillipsvacationdallas cowboys cheerleaders
    news/society
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