Renowned Wedding Planner Opens Up New Events Venue in Fort Worth — Roots Fort Worth is Sure to Make a Splash

You need to know that Ambra Costner-Portillo is a bright light of energy and ingenuity everywhere she goes. When you sit down with her, she brings life and enthusiasm to your plans.

She was born and raised in Fort Worth and has a passion for the city that is truly contagious. Ambra found her calling in event planning, more specifically weddings. Gorgeous, down-to-the-last-detail, intentionally designed weddings.

The kind of weddings that get published in magazines and gushed over in wedding blogs. She started her event and floral design company, Query Events, in 2011. Now, Ambra has set out on another entrepreneurial venture: an event venue called Roots Fort Worth.

Located on Fort Worth’s North Side, on North Main Street, Roots Fort Worth stands in a historical building that was originally built in 1910.

Ambra chose the North Side for a couple of reasons. One being that the city of Fort Worth’s bridge to the North Side is almost finished. A $400-million project is expected to breathe new life into the Fort Worth Stockyards and the surrounding areas.

Secondly, as a true Cowtown lover, Ambra wanted to be near all of the upcoming changes coming to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

“As a wedding planner, I began hearing from clients that there is need for smaller event spaces. Spaces that can accommodate wedding showers, intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners, even birthday or holiday parties, or even a place to take photos,” Ambra tells PaperCity.

“Fort Worth has no shortage of larger spaces and restaurants that can host events, but on a Friday or Saturday night, it can really cost you.”

Inside Roots Fort Worth

The entire space of Roots Fort Worth can hold around 150 people. The indoor space can fit around 70 people for a seated dinner, while the outdoor patio and rooftop can hold a combined total of 80 people.

Immediately, one can see that a great deal of TLC has been poured into the light-drenched space. The walls are complete with black wainscoting and champagne paint, a neutral palate that can host a multitude of events of different styles. Every fixture has been well thought-out, from the chandeliers and sconces, down to the replica 1920 pulls on the front door.

“Since we are in North Side and so close to the Fort Worth Stockyards, we wanted to bring a more industrial feel with glamorous elements. There’s a good juxtaposition with the dark and the light on the walls. But, my absolute favorite rooms are the restrooms,” Ambra says.

“I chose the moody floral wallpaper before I even owned the space. That was the starting point. Then I found this geometric print for the men’s restroom and went from there.”

The space also boasts a back patio surrounded by wrought iron with a delicate rose design and upstairs, a rooftop patio that has been completely refurbished. Ambra wanted to bridge the gap and give the people of Fort Worth another option.

Although Query Events and Roots Fort Worth are totally separate entities, Ambra has no plans to force her planning services on clients, but she can bring some free advice to the table.

“I’m really excited to see other planners and florists brought in so I can see what they do. It always inspires me to see how other people arrange spaces,” Ambra notes.

Roots Fort Worth will provide 6-foot-long tables and simple black chairs for all events. Clients need only bring their decor.

As far as food and drink go, Ambra has a robust list of vendors from her wedding planning experience, but she has no plans on restricting vendors as long as they meet insurance requirements. She doesn’t want to stifle anyone’s creativity.

Roots Fort Worth is offering discounted rates through the rest of 2019.

“We would love to get as many people through the space as possible to get feedback. We feel that feedback from our clients is so valuable,” Ambra says.

Roots Fort Worth will be hosting a grand opening in January for the public.

Ambra is continuing and will continue to plan weddings. She is currently booking for 2020, but she can’t contain her enthusiasm to grow Roots.

“I am so excited about this new project,” Ambra tells PaperCity. “I cannot wait to sit down with my clients and sketchbook and bring their visions to life.”