Hey, hey hey what a lovely day! Lynn Michelle Photography is on Voyage Dallas!
Voyage Dallas contacted me a week ago for a spotlight feature. I have seen some amazing local talent on the website so I was just tickled pink by the opportunity … and the fact that a wonderful photographer-friend and past client, Court Griner, recommended me for this!
I moved to Oak Cliff (aka ‘OC’ or ‘the Cliff’) over two years ago but this is the first time I have officially been referred to as an Oak Cliff photographer so it’s almost surreal in some ways.
For those of you who are not familiar with Oak Cliff, it’s an emerging neighborhood south of downtown Dallas, bordered by highway 30 on the north side, loop 12 on west, 20 on the south and 35 on the east. It’s actually part of Dallas proper – annexed in 1903. Oak Cliff is best known as the home of the Bishop Arts District – an area known for it’s chic shopping, eateries and colorful street art. Murals are all the rage around here and they reflect the diversity, creativity and vibrancy of the area.
Up until recently, there were only a handful of wedding venues in The Cliff such as the Orion Ballroom – a beautiful location with amazing views of downtown Dallas. However, in the past year, the surge of new residents and re-vitalization in the area has led to an amazing amount of unique (and historic!) Oak Cliff wedding and event venues.
Cliff House – I drive by Cliff House every day – it’s a simple and elegant former church with a beautiful history – tracing back before the 1900s, located off of Polk and Davis. The Cliff House was recently completed and the place glows with light and airy fairy dust. Not even kidding.
Turner House – A few short blocks north of me sits The Turner House. The Turner House also has rich history here in Oak Cliff and is home to the Oak Cliff Society of Fine arts, which hosts a variety of local art events and exhibitions. The beautiful 1912 historic home is an incredible draw for those who love the feel of the established Oak Cliff neighborhood of Winnetka Heights.
Jefferson Tower Events – Aptly named and located in Jefferson Tower on Jefferson Boulevard, the thoroughfare has been deemed the last real ‘main street’ in the city – containing the longest walkable stretch of retail left in the area. This venue has a loft-like feel, with a fantastic view of downtown Dallas on the north side of the building and loads of glorious windows that completely illuminate the space. It also has two eclectic and well-designed getting ready rooms for your wedding party.
House of Dirt – located on 7th street, in the heart of Bishop Arts, this location is for those unique souls whose heart screams for something totally out of the box and wants to surround themselves with friends and family in a perfectly intimate space. It offers a perfectly sublime indoor and outdoor area in a greenhouse-like feel.
Chijmes Dallas – a boutique hotel and event venue toted as a “departure from the ordinary” and housed in a 1940s revitalized church, which retains the original stained glass windows and jaw-dropping oak flooring. The venue is openly LGBT inclusive and full of all of the visual eye candy that creatives love.
Place at Tyler – Tyler station, located at Tyler and Vernon, was the original space of the Dixie Wax Paper Company many years ago and was purchased in 2016 by Monte Anderson, the same gentleman who was behind the reinvention of the Belmont Hotel. The Place at Tyler is located in the same building as the newly opened Oak Cliff Brewing which makes it doubly cool. The venue is a clean slate with some really, really neat furniture rentals for you to zhoosh (pronounced ‘juj’) things up.
The Kessler – The Kessler Theater, an Art Deco movie house built in the 40’s, is the home of musical acts and unique performances throughout the year. It allows outside catering and is the perfect location for those couples who have always wanted to see their names in lights.
The Belmont Hotel – The Belmont Hotel was built in 1946 and is located off Sylvan and Fort Worth Avenue, near the Sylvan 30 development. Committed to the preservation and improvement of the hotel’s original atmosphere, giving perfectly kitschy-modernized 40s and 50s vibe paired with an impressive view of downtown Dallas in the distance.