Best Caterer
Cohost Catering
Imagine six restaurants you would like to cater your wedding. Local? Only one location? Small-ish? Go ahead and forget them. They don’t cater. This predicament was solved by Cohost, which provides first-rate catering services to more than 60 restaurants in town. All the eateries have to do is what they do best: cook.
Best Pet Groomer
KP Groom
The Sherry Lane dog spa opened in June with a modern approach to grooming. Pooch parents can book online with their preferred fur stylist and once inside, swipe through an iPad lookbook for inspiration. Using its own all-natural line of canine beauty products, add-on services include brightening facials, pawdicures, glitter tattoos, and semipermanent dye jobs.
Best Birthday Cake
Cades Cakes
Not many bakers can claim to have 18,000 Instagram followers. Samantha Cade does. She can design a cake to look like anything you dream up—whether it’s a frozen margarita, a French bulldog, or a football stadium. Word to the wise: dates book up three months in advance, so order your confection early.
Best Dry Cleaner
Sunshine Laundry and Dry Cleaning
As people who love to host, there’s nothing we love more than prepping for company with fresh, crisp sheets and linens. Getting bedsheets laundered and pressed by Sunshine Laundry helps us become the hostesses with the most—and the brown paper wrapping gives it that extra, vintage touch.
Best Movers for Fine Objects
Curtis Specialized Moving & Storage
This is the fifth year we’ve given the Curtis team this award, and it was once again an easy decision: their personal attention to detail is unmatched. There’s no one we’d rather trust with our fine Turkish rugs or crystal chandeliers. They treat it all with white-glove precision.
Best Stationer
Color Box Design & Letterpress
We’ve seen Rhonda Warren of Color Box Design create wildly different customized invitations for weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, and bachelorette parties, from colorful and vibrant to classic and traditional. But she does more than just bridal events: Warren’s custom process is perfect for large charity galas and small gatherings alike.
Best Tailor/Alterations for Designer Clothing
Irina’s Alterations
In the back of Elements on Lovers Lane, Irina Zhuravsky works wonders. From fixing a stubborn zipper to making changes to a designer ball gown’s neckline—we’ve gone to her for both—she’s got it covered. Her friendly yet professional approach keeps us coming back with all our fine garments.
Best Pet Boarder
Barking Hound Village
Your canine companion is in for a treat at Barking Hound Village, where the pools are shaped like bones, the VIP Suites contain IKEA children’s beds, and your dog can be bathed before he goes back home. You can even keep up with your pet’s antics via BHV’s regular Facebook postings.
Best Floral Throwback
Kyle Branch, AKA Peaches
We’re not sure if Branch’s floral arrangements remind us more of something we’ve see on The Golden Girls set or a prop from Beetlejuice, but either way, we like it. The artist—trained as a fine arts painter—crafts odd pairings, paints Monstera leaves, and uses unique vases to create small living art installations.
Best Party Favor
The Flower Gals
You can follow The Gals (mother-daughter duo Miriam and Taylor Pierce) on Instagram (@flowergalsco) to track down their darling, vintage VW around Dallas, or bring the flower-filled truck to you by renting it for a special occasion. Getting married? The gals will fill the truck with blooms matching your chosen bridal colors.
Best Place for a Piñata
ABC Party
The family behind this North Oak Cliff shop can make your paper-mache dreams come true—from Disney princesses to political figures. Custom orders take about seven days. We once had them craft a giant Christmas tree, complete with ornaments and a star on top. Pro tip: Pick up their cascarones for your Easter table.