Wedding Planning and Coordination {Alison + Brent}

Alison and Brent got married on a clear day at Star Hill Ranch. Alison is a talented artist and hand letterer that drew out every area of her wedding design for me. Super special lady here, folks. A+B worked hard to bring their vision to life - lots of hand lettering all the paper elements, building a corn hole set, constructing boutonnieres, etc. It all paid off - their lovely wedding was featured on Southern Weddings! A+B have also started Wayfarers Creative Co. to share their lovely creative talents with the world. Congratulations, you two!

Oh, and did I mention I got to work some of my favorite people? Paige Newton Photography snapped the gorgeous images and The Byrd Collective produced absolutely amazing floral pieces. See end of post for the complete list of vendors. 

VendorsPlanning and Coordination {Bird Dog Wedding}Photography {Paige Newton Photography}Venue {Star Hill Ranch}Floral {The Byrd Collective}Cakes {Krissy's Cakes}Brunch Catering {Walton's Fancy and Staple}Dinner Catering {The Jalopy}Rentals {Whim Event Rentals}Band {Julia Ward and The Waywards}Paper Products, Cornhole Set {Wayfarers Creative Co}Hair {Johna Simon at Mirror Mirror Salon}Makeup {Maris Malone Calderon}

Rehearsal Dinner Planning and Design {Entwined 2012 - Annie + Tyler}

Last spring, we had the wonderful opportunity to plan and design the rehearsal dinner for Entwined 2012 - an amazing wedding weekend giveaway featuring some of the best central Texas vendors. Needless to say, we were super excited to be included! I want to give special thanks to Kristin Light and Brandi at Country Sugar for asking me to participate. 
Several couples were in the running, and Annie and Tyler won with the most votes. Annie and Tyler were a dream to work with. They were super sweet and grateful for all the work going into their wedding festivities. They also loved all my ideas and that didn't hurt :). Hope married life is treating you right, Annie and Tyler!
Let me tell you a bit about the design. I wanted to create a French boutique atmosphere using lots of colors, shapes, and textures. Elegant, eclectic, and fun. Luckily, I had an amazing team of vendors to help me carry it out. Overall Entwined planning by Country Sugar. We provided planning and design for the rehearsal dinner portion. The Creative Parasol created all the paper goods, including one of my favorite invitations of all time. Kristin Light Photographie captured the event beautifully. Fresh Urban Flowers provided the gorgeous arrangements full of dahlias, roses, and ranunculus to name a few. Loot Vintage Rentals brought some of their beautiful vintage furniture and decor items. The Cupcake Bar provided delicious cupcake favors to guests. Whim Event Rentals provided linens and tabletop items. Event Ignition turned the room pink for us! Uptown Blanco was the setting and caterer. All graciously donated by the vendors. 



{Photos courtesy of Kristin Light Photographie}

Planning Your Memorable Wedding

You have finally said, "Yes."  This is the start of your life as a couple.  And prior to that much-awaited big day, you, both the bride and groom have so many decisions to make and wedding-related tasks to complete.

Preparing for your wedding day need not be stressful.  On the other had, it should be fun and memorable.  And to do this, start off by putting together a wedding timetable.

A short list of wedding-related tasks as well as a rough estimate of when the activities should be done follows. It presents tips and guidelines to keep you organized and help you think of all the matters that you must take into consideration in the course of planning for your big day.  Of course, these are mere suggestions.  All activities and schedule are still up to the couple to decide on depending on their priorities.

At the Time of the Engagement
- You must tell your parents the happy news as soon as possible that is if they don't already know.  If you were having an engagement party, it would be good to keep your close friends and relatives in the know, too.
- An organizer would be best to have in handy.  This will help you keep track of all the appointments, payments and other wedding-related activities that you must attend to.
- Have your engagement photo taken.  This would be nice to have as a keepsake of this wonderful occasion.

6 to 12 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

- The couple should have already picked and decided on the wedding date.  Do the reservation for the venue where the ceremony and reception is to be held.
- Set an appointment with the wedding officiant.
- Establish a budget for the wedding, and try as much as possible to stick to it.
- Prepare a wedding guest list.  You wouldn't want to leave somebody uninvited unintentionally.
- Look around for a photographer, florists, musicians, and a caterer.  Obtain estimates for these services.
- Register at the bridal gift registry.
- Pick a wedding dress and accessories to go with it.  If you are having a seamstress make you one, this is the time to have it arranged.  Several fittings may be required for this.
- For the bride, select your bridesmaids.  Set a date for ordering dresses for them.

4 to 6 Months In Advance Before the Big Day
- Have the invitations, stationeries, and thank you notes ordered.
- The photographer, florist, musician, and caterer should have already been chosen. Go over details with each of these services to make sure that everything is as agreed upon.
- For the groom, select attire.
- Honeymoon reservations should be made already at this point.
- Confirm the delivery of the bridal gown.

2 Months In Advance Before the Big Day
- Plan your rehearsal dinner.
- If you are having out-of-town attendants, arrange for their lodging.
- Make an appointment with your chosen photographer for the shooting of the bridal portrait.<br>
- Order the wedding cake.

1 Month In Advance Before the Big Day
- The couple should decide on a wedding band set.
- Mail the invitations.
- Check the apparel for the wedding party.
- The couple attends showers.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding.
- It is time to apply for marriage license and attend to other legal matters, especially for the bride - name and address changes on bank accounts and other official documents.
- Plan a wedding hairstyle and make-up with your stylist.
- Check with the caterer and the reception venue for last minute changes.

1 Week Before the Wedding
- Do your honeymoon packing.
- Wrap gifts for the groom and attendants.
- Schedule the wedding rehearsal.
- Remind the wedding party of the exact time and place for the occasion.

On Wedding Day
- Take breakfast!  Fainting on the aisle wouldn't be cool.
- Have your hair and make-up done.
- Shake off all your wedding details worries and enjoy your day.

7 Steps in Planning the Perfect Wedding Hairstyle

In China, the typical hairstyle of a married woman is tied up in a bun.  Such style is done in most Chinese brides in a ritual: a woman who has had a successful family life, is asked to help in dressing up the bride's hair. While setting the bride’s hair up, the “good luck woman” speaks of good fortune for the bride and her upcoming married life.

In the US, preparing the bride’s hairstyle is also becoming a ritual, as it plays an important part in her overall look.  Much preparation has to go into the bride’s dress, and so should her crowning glory, the hair.  Follow this simple guide on how to plan for the perfect wedding hairstyle.

Weeks before your wedding day choose a hairdresser that will make your do at the wedding.  Find a hairdresser that is recommended by someone you know and trust; someone that they had a good experience with.

1. Establish a good rapport with the hairdresser.  You should be comfortable in discussing with him or her on the style and look you want.  Some hairdressers insist on some do that they dreamed would be made for them.  Be firm in telling him or her what you want and don’t want.

2. Discuss in length the shape of your face in relation to the hairstyle that he or she proposes. Try the following styles:

-Up do’s signify elegance and this is what most brides want.

-Tired of the bun?  Achieve the same polished look with braids instead.  From cornrows to French twists, there are numerous interesting ways to set your hair in place.

-Letting your hair down, especially of the mid-length can emanate romance.  Flip the edges out for a little retro look.

-Short hair can be spruced up with color highlights or shiny curls.

3. Ask to schedule a practice session to mock-up the intended hair do for your wedding day.  You may need to pay extra for this mock-up session, but it’s worth the buck to ensure you look lovely during your wedding.

4. Part of the mock-up is for you to carry the hairstyle.  Check side and rear views for how the hairstyle looks and make sure it is made to your liking.  You are the center of attention on the wedding day, so you should be beautiful 360 degrees!

5. Walk around the salon with your hairstyle.  Try to bob your head abit or do other head movements that you think will happen on wedding day.  Make sure your hairstyle withstands all the head activity and that you and your scalp will be comfortable for hours.

6. Now, traditionally, they say it is bad luck to try on your wedding dress before the wedding day.  But you need to be sure that your hairstyle matches the gown.  Don’t worry; you can still approximate the look by using other dresses.  Look for a dress that has the same collar style as your wedding dress.  Then put on something that approximates the same lines of your wedding gown.  View yourself on the mirror, and imagine yourself in white… does the hairstyle match?

7. On the eve of the wedding, get a head massage, on second thought, get a whole body massage!  This relaxes your body, opens your pores and freshens up your skin.

Gets yourself ready for your momentous event: plan for your wedding day hairstyle and achieve the perfect wedding day look!

Wedding Planning – Choosing the Gown

The dress is always the highlight of all wedding fantasies and make-believes.  Ever since their youth, people will most often dream of a beautiful princess-bride in a snowy white, ethereal wedding dress of stunning beauty.  It comes as no surprise that choosing the perfect wedding dress for your wedding will prove to be one of the most challenging and exciting part of planning your wedding.

Marriage is – ideally – an once-in-a-lifetime event. There isn’t much leeway to practice or make mistakes. So to make the bride’s entrance down the carpet perfect and memorable, one must take great pains to ensure that everything is done correctly – down to every little detail on the wedding dress.

From watching fantasy-like weddings on TV, or reading about them in books and magazines, or hearing about them from other people, many brides-to-be form an image in their minds of the kind of wedding dress they would like to wear on their wedding.  Many people take a watch and learn stance as they formulate, plan and dream up their ideal wedding dress.

If your time has come, and you are shopping for the perfect dress to make your wedding dreams come true, then you have come to the right place.  Here are a few tips to help you get over the wedding dress hump will less sweat.

1. The Dress Comes First
Although it may go both ways, the theme of your dress should follow your desired theme – or vice versa.  Some couples choose a theme before choosing a gown, and in effect, they make the gown fit the theme they have chosen.  But for some people, the choice of gown comes first, and the theme of the wedding follows the gown’s theme.  So if the gown that catches the bride’s fancy is ultra beaded and formal, then the wedding may tend to be more formal. If the bride chooses a less formal dress, then the wedding may follow a less formal route.

2. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself with Choices
Yes, it may be tempting to try every gown that comes your way.  But what if you find yourself buried under a pile of 20 or so gowns you think you really like and can’t make a decision?  That sort of scenario will prove to be a terrible headache – not to mention a great source of stress.

To avoid this, try making decisions in stages.  You could try an ‘American Idol’ style way of choosing a gown.  You could vote off the least liked one and then reevaluate the remaining gowns.

Another method is trying 5 gowns and then choosing two of the best.  These ‘champions’ will be pit against 5 more new gowns. Continue the tournament until you get to the perfect gown.

It may become tempting to say, “Aw, but that other gown might have been better.”  Try to make sure you make your final decision among 5 gowns.  If you end up with too many to choose from you may get overwhelmed and end up choosing an inferior gown, or choosing the perfect gown but forever asking yourself whether you made the right decision or not.

Choose Wisely
And choose a wise companion; take along one or two of your closest friends or confidants who know a thing or two about wedding dresses and style.  Their advice will come in handy when choosing a gown. Also, make sure you check the durability and quality of the gown, the material and the accessories. You don’t want your gown falling apart on you during the ceremonies.

Planning {Lori + Nathan}

Recently, my bestest friend, Lori, and her adorable fiance, Nathan, tied the knot at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The best way I can describe the wedding style is eclectic, vintage, fiesta! It was a colorful blast! I took on a few projects for the wedding including bright, big poms for the aisle and a fun honeycomb garland for the arbor area. I also helped Lori plan the design portion throughout the planning process - one of my absolute favorite things to do! 
The wedding design incorporated tons of great details: colorful, vintage vessels for flowers and desserts; a green, golden yellow, and fuchsia color palette; succulent favors; a "cake bar"; and fun ribbon streamer wands to send them off into marital bliss in style! With Katherine O'Brien Photography of Austin snapping the wedding pictures, it's a wedding designer's dream come to fruition! Will post those pics when available. 
Congratulations, Lori + Nathan! {10.01.2011}


{All pictures instagrammed by me!}

Planning {Wedding Shower}

Recently, I helped plan a wedding shower for my best friend and her fiance. It was a lot of fun and I undertook several projects including paper flowers, lots of fringe, and DIY tequila favors (idea via Ruffled). The wedding is October 1st! Can't wait.


{Pictures by me!}