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    The gown lowdown

    The 11 glitziest galas no Dallas social butterfly should miss in fall 2022

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Sep 7, 2022 | 3:15 pm
    Heather Cole, Michael Ashy
    Michael Ashy and Heather Cole at Cattle Baron's Ball 2021.
    Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Philanthropic Dallasites are ready to flex some fundraising muscle again, if this season's schedule of glamorous galas is any indication.

    For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, fall is filled with black-tie balls and benefits. But there are some new twists. For instance, an opulent Dallas Opera affair has pivoted to a more low-key evening. TACA's high-energy Party on the Green is now Glitz at the Ritz. Two x Two is spreading out over two weeks. And Cattle Baron's Ball is saddling up in a new location.

    Beyond being fun, fancy parties to attend, these events raise crucial funds for the organizations, many of which are still recovering from COVID-related setbacks.

    Now, grab your pen, circle these all-important dates in your social diary, and click the links for tables and tickets.

    Cattle Baron’s Ball, September 17
    Co-chairs Nancy Gopez and Kris Johnson are ready to “Lasso a Cure” — in a new location — at Dallas’ biggest party of fall. Getting back to its roots, Cattle Baron’s Ball is moving out of Gilley’s and back up to Southfork Ranch. It’ll still be a boots-n-bling bash with barbecue, beer, and bidding in the biggest luxury auction of the year. Superstar country band Old Dominion is the headlining entertainer, and Chris Young will rock the VIP stage. Cattle Baron's Ball is the largest single-night fundraiser in the nation for cancer research through the American Cancer Society. Information and tickets (from $1,250) are here.

    Black Tie Dinner, September 24
    The 41st annual gala, taking place at the Sheraton Dallas downtown, is the nation’s largest, one-night LGBTQ fundraising dinner. This year's event will honor Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy with the Elizabeth Birch Award; Kenworthy was one of the first two openly gay men to compete in an Olympic Games, in 2018. In addition, 911: Lone Star actor Rafael Silva will receive Black Tie Dinner’s Vanguard Award. Expect to see other local and national figures, enjoy live entertainment, dinner, recognition awards, auctions, after-party, and more. This year's theme is "The Power of Pride," and the event is co-chaired by Terry D. Loftis and Regina Lyn. For more information and tickets (from $400), visit BlackTie.org

    Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala & After-party, October 1
    This annual mega-gala at the Meyerson Symphony Center promises “a revelatory evening of music, dance, and drama.” DSO welcomes mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and baritone Thomas Hampson, who will perform operatic selections from The Merry Widow alongside the orchestra led by music director Fabio Luisi. Members of Dallas Black Dance Theatre and vocal students from SMU will also take the stage. There are a variety of ways to participate: Start with a cocktail reception and elegant seated dinner, or just attend the concert and after-party, which will feature savories, desserts, and dancing to live DJ-spun music. This black-tie event, chaired by Donna and Herb Weitzman, is one of the Dallas Symphony’s largest annual fundraisers, benefiting the DSO’s music and education programs. Tickets (from $90-$225 for just concert and after-party) are here.

    SPCA Fur Ball, October 1
    The Fur Ball is not only a tail-wagging good time, but an evening to raise critical funds for the SPCA of Texas' important mission to provide every animal with exceptional care and a loving home. (Plus, it's the only black-tie ball where guests include furry, four-legged friends.) Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, the gala is chaired by Dhruva and Hiren Patel, with an assist from live auction chair Cindy Lindsley and table host chair Rebecca Marabito. The evening will include dinner, auctions, and dancing to live music from the Roof Raisers. The emcee for the evening is NBC 5 news anchor Brian Curtis. Get tickets (from $400) here.

    Two x Two First Look and Gala, October 6 & 22
    Perhaps the most star-studded black-tie gala and art auction of the season, this Rachofsky House affair has two parts — one more formal than the other — but both are fabulous. Benefiting amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art and hosted by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky and Lisa and John Runyon, this year's event honors artist Rashid Johnson. (View the complete auction catalog here.) While the First Look preview party and gala traditionally are held the same week, this season they’re two weeks apart. The chic First Look party ($250) is Thursday, October 6, and Gala (invitation-only) will be Saturday, October 22. More information on both events is here. Start wardrobe-planning now because the fashion at Two x Two is always as fierce as the philanthropic power that it serves up (over $100 million to date).

    TACA Glitz at the Ritz, November 3
    It's out with Party on the Green and in with Glitz at the Ritz, the new black-tie fundraising event benefiting The Arts Community Alliance (TACA). Taking place at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas (of course) the evening — co-chaired by Wanda Gierhart Fearing and chef Dean Fearing — will include a multicourse dinner by Fearing's and stage show starring actor/singer Erich Bergen (of CBS' hit show Madame Secretary and Broadway's current Chicago revival). Tickets (from $750) are available here.

    Perot Night at the Museum, November 12
    The annual gala that takes over all floors of the Perot Museum celebrates the museum’s 10th anniversary. Dallas’ most VIP couple, Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki, are chairing all of the 10th anniversary happenings and have big things in store. Guests can expect food and drinks inspired by the museum's exhibits, hands-on experiments, live music, and more. It's not only a fun event but a powerhouse fundraiser, last year bringing in $4 million for the museum. More information and tickets to come, but underwriting opportunities are here.

    Dallas Historical Society Centennial Gala, November 12
    A 100th anniversary deserves a swanky gala, and that’s what co-chairs Kristen Sanger and Lisa Singleton have planned to celebrate Dallas Historical Society's 100 years as the pre-eminent repository for the collection, preservation, and exhibition of the heritage of Dallas and Texas. The gala evening, taking place at the Hall of State at Fair Park, will begin with a cocktail reception among the Dallas Historical Society exhibits, followed by a seated dinner with specially designed menu, recognition program, and more. The Moody Foundation will be honored with the DHS Centennial Jubilee Award. Tickets (from $1,500) and information are here.

    FGI Night of Stars, November 18
    Hundreds of Dallas’ most stylish will descend on the Thompson Hotel for Fashion Group International of Dallas’ haute black-tie gala and runway show. Event chairs Ken Weber, Richard Rivas, and Cristina Graham will preside over the evening, which will celebrate creativity and raise funds for scholarships for aspiring fashion professionals. Awards will be presented to House of Cardin, Fern Mallis, and Palmer Harding. For more information and tickets (from $500), go here.

    AT&T PAC Bravo! Gala, November 19
    Always an applause-worthy evening, the fundraising celebration in support of the AT&T Performing Arts Center will feature an intimate performance by Broadway star Joaquina Kalukango. The evening also will include performances by local artists and the center’s resident companies throughout the Winspear Opera House, progressive cocktail hour, and three-course seated dinner. Kalukango, who won a Tony Award for her role in Paradise Square, will cap the evening. Co-chairs for the event are Morgan W. Cox III and Derrall Hill. It will honor the late philanthropist Margaret McDermott and The Eugene McDermott Foundation. Information and tickets (from $1,200) are here.

    Crystal Charity Ball, December 3
    The grande dame of all Dallas galas is set to knock guests off their Guccis, as event chair Susan Farris has given the 2022 ball a “Splendido Italiano" theme. Think Italian fashion, vespas, gelato, and culinary delights from five regions of Italy. As always, the glamorous black-tie evening will take shape in the Chantilly Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole. All proceeds will go to the 10 local charities that were selected as this year's beneficiaries, including the Agape Clinic, Educational First Steps, Family Compass, and more. Tickets are invitation-only; inquire about underwriting and more opportunities to participate here.

    11 more galas to save the date for:

    • The Concilio Big Dreams Gala, September 15
    • Hope Gala, benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, October 7
    • Hope for Humanity, benefiting Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, October 13
    • Spirit of Taos, benefiting Wilkinson Center, October 14
    • African American Museum, Dallas' Masquerade Cabaret & Auction Gala, October 15
    • Ruby Red Gala, benefiting Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, October 21
    • St. Jude Evening Under the Stars, November 5
    • Zoo to Do, benefiting Dallas Zoo, November 5
    • Folds of Honor Gala, November 12
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Black Tie Ball, November 12
    • Operation Kindness Canines, Cats & Cabaret Gala, November 12

    For more gala and benefit listings, visit our complete event calendar.

    Michael Ashy and Heather Cole at Cattle Baron's Ball 2021.

    Heather Cole, Michael Ashy
      
    Photo by Ashley Gongora
    Michael Ashy and Heather Cole at Cattle Baron's Ball 2021.
    fundraiserscharitygalas
    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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