Located on the Historic Canton Square in Canton, MS, The Opera House 1853 is the newest venue for weddings, rehearsal dinners, training seminars, business dinners, Christmas parties, or any other type of event.  Completely renovated inside and out, this The7400 square foot building brings together the charm and character of yesterday with state of the art technology and convenience of today.  We talked to Morgan Pitts, one of the owners of The Opera House 1853 to tell us more about this great event venue.

{Tell me about your background.  What drew you and your team to wanting to open a venue?}
There are 6 of us that make up the Opera House team.  Our team consist of myself and my husband Daniel, Mark Ann Hobart, Andrew Brooks, and Eddie and Becky Briggs.  This has been a dream of mine for many years and the dream seemed so far away…until this year!  I went to my husband and told him I was ready to start a business and it had to be a wedding venue.  He thought I might be a bit crazy, but he had seen the look in my eyes before and knew there would be no talking me out of it!  We mentioned our plan to our good friends Mark Ann and Andrew and it didn't take them long to decide they wanted to join us on this adventure!  Eddie and Becky are the restoratives of The Opera House 1853.  When we came in to view the newly renovated building, our dreams for The Opera House aligned and we all decided to make this dream a reality together!

{Tell me about The Opera House. When did you open? Where are you located? How/why did you select your location?}
We are located on the Historic Canton Square in Canton, MS.  If you've ever been to Canton, you know there is no other town around with its character and history!  Our venue actually just opened in May of 2017.  The question always comes up, "Why Canton?"  I always respond "Why not Canton?!"  The courthouse lawn, the architecture of the original buildings, the rich history, and character alone makes Canton one of a kind!  Our venue on the Square truly completes the picture.  It is the perfect stage for memories to be made celebrating the marriage of two people in love!

{What does The Opera House 1853 offer to their clients/customers?}
We always put our clients first.  The Opera House 1853 team truly bends over backwards to make sure each and every event goes off without a hitch!  We have many amenities that are included with bookings.  We provide tables, chairs, linens, a catering kitchen, beautiful bridal suite, and the use of the Bose surround system.  We also offer all-inclusive packages that include catering, floral, and bar services.  We try our best to do as much for our clients as we possibly can to make sure they are happy with their event!

{Describe your style in one sentence or less.} 
I'd say our style is rustic elegance.

{What sets The Opera House 1853 apart from other venues?}
We have a bridal suite also that sets us apart from other venues! Our location definitely sets us apart also.  But other than that, Eddie and Becky didn't hold back on renovating The Opera House 1853.  You won't find another venue with the class, character, and finesse that the Opera House 1853 holds.

For more information on The Opera House 1853, please click here.

After a romantic proposal in the mountain of British Columbia, Brooke Warrington and August Morris began planning an incredible wedding.   “August and I are both from Mississippi and appreciate and love all music, so the Grammy Museum was the obvious choice for our reception!” says Brooke.  The two wed in an intimate backyard ceremony in the Mississippi Delta.  Donning her grandmother’s gold and diamond choker, bracelet and ring, the radiant bride said “I do” to her groom.  Following their romantic vows, family and friends danced the night away at the Grammy Museum, Mississippi’s coolest venue. 
 
VENDORS:
 
Photographer:  BARREG Weddings
Event Planner:  Leslie Warrington (step-mother of Bride)
Dress:  Sarah Seven
Bride’s Jewelry:  Belonged to grandmother and mother of the bride
Hair:  Kathryn Davis at ISH
Make-up:  Alyce Meador and Jena Dimberg
Bridesmaid Dresses:  Jim Hjelm
Venue:  Grammy Museum and Warrington Residence
Rentals:  Event Rentals, Inc. in Pontotoc, MS and Delta Party Rental, LLC in Cleveland, MS
Florist:  Mary Ann Alford
Catering:  Delta Meat Market
Bar:  Delta Beverage
Band:  Coop D’Belle
Bride’s Cake:  Alice Chow Clarksdale, MS
Groom’s Cake:  Strawberry Cake Sugaree’s Bakery, Caramel Cake Sally Mae Watson.  Table decorated by Stefanie Jordan
Car Service:  Trolleys from Carbo Limos, Morgan City, MS

In the early 1960’s, a couple of aspiring Ole Miss apothecaries bonded.  Little did they know, their friendship and mutual passion for music would one day turn into a legendary recording studio.  Tommy Couch hailed from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and Gerald “Wolf” Stephenson from rural Marion County, Mississippi.  Tagged as Social Chairs of their fraternity, they sought to bring the south’s best bands on campus.  These festive fetes would only catapult their love of music.
 
“In 1967, Couch and his brother-in-law Mitch Malouf opened a shoestring four track recording facility on West Northside Drive in Jackson, renting space adjacent to a record storage warehouse next to venerable record veteran, Johnny Vincent, and christening this dream Malaco Recording Studio,” recalls Stephenson.  Stephenson worked in the studio as well, and soon both pharmacists had left their practices to focus solely on Malaco.
 
In the beginning, Malaco struggled greatly, but a production deal with New Orleans musical genius Wardell Quezergue led Malaco to a string of hits, including “Mr. Big Stuff” and “Groove Me.” Malaco march on through the 1970’s and 80’s, which welcomed blues musician Z.Z. Hill to their front door.  “Couch and Stephenson’s second offering on Hill, ‘Down Home Blues’ remains to this day arguably the best selling blues album ever released,” boasts Malaco.
 
2017 marks a significant anniversary for Malaco Music Group – the fiftieth anniversary of the first recorded session in the Jackson studio.  Today Malaco Music Group is comprised of recording studios, record labels, music publishing companies, direct marketing operations and distribution services.  Mississippi’s capital remains the home of Malaco, and they continue creating extraordinary Blues, R&B, Gospel and Soul records with their signature “Down Home Malaco Sound.”   Congratulations to this legendary recording studio.  We cannot wait to see where the next fifty years lead.

Seafood R’evolution and Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry are hosting an Oysters & Pearls Wine Dinner on Monday, October 16, beginning at 6 p.m. A five-course menu will feature expertly paired wines with each course for $125 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

Often-told tales surround pearls, the Queen of Gems, once known as the most expensive jewelry in the world. There is a story about Cleopatra, often titled Cleopatra and the Pearl or The Banquet of Cleopatra. According to legend, in order to show her power and means, she told her lover, the Roman leader Marc Antony, that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal. Roman philosopher and naturalist Pliny the Elder recorded this event in Natural History, writing: Cleopatra ordered the second course to be served. In accordance with previous instructions, the servants placed in front of her only a single vessel containing vinegar. She took one earring off, and dropped the pearl in vinegar, and when it was wasted away, swallowed it.

The reception begins the evening with guests enjoying hors d’oeuvres including Murder Point Oyster & Salmon Roe, Oysters Rockefeller, Rabbit Confit & Red Onion Marmalade, and Tomato Galette with Basil Pesto all paired with a Black Pearl Cocktail. The first course will be Cream of Oyster Bisque paired with Hope Estate Chardonnay. Next, attendees will enjoy Oyster Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon paired with Gassier Sables d’Azur Rose. Seared Scallop & Black Truffle Risotto with Oyster Cream paired with Dom Arnoux Bourgogne will follow. The fourth course will be Braised Short Rib with Oysters and Colcannon Potato paired with H. Mynors Zinfandel. Dessert of Chocolate Oyster Pillow with Chocolate Ganache Cream, Assorted Berries and Creme Anglaise, paired with Ferreira Ruby Port will top off the evening.

For more information on Seafood Revolution, click here.