Colors and Textures

Photo Credit: Thisbe Grace Photography // Venue: Nasher Sculpture Center

Clients often ask us to help them decide on a color palette for their big day. We love assisting with this portion of the planning! Remember to think beyond just colors, as patterns and textures can play an important part in your overall aesthetic.

Bridesmaids' dresses. We love the look of muted, tone-on-tone bridesmaids' dresses. Not only does this compliment many body shapes and sizes, but it really makes the bridesmaids' bouquets pop!

Lace. Lace is making a comeback! Whether on the wedding dress, cake design or table linens, showcasing lace in combination with other, more modern touches can create a gorgeous look.

Pretty patterns and terrific textures. We LOVE patterns and textures! Don't be afraid to be bold. Linens with fun patterns and textures can really enhance your overall decor. La Tavola is our go-to company for gorgeous linens that are sure to make a statement! 

Hot Tips for a Cool Summer Wedding

With its glorious weather and longer daylight hours, no wonder summer is one of the busiest wedding seasons. Here are some tips to consider when diving in to plan a successful summer wedding!

Timing is everything. Photographers often refer to the "golden hour," which is about an hour or two before sunset when the light is soft, flattering and free of harsh shadows. Not only will your pictures turn out better then, but your guests will be less likely to melt in the sun. 

Always have a backup plan. Place a tent on hold or reserve an alternative indoor space in case of inclement weather. That way, you won't be scrambling to find cover if Mother Nature decides to throw an event on your big day! Having a plan B in place may cost a bit more, but peace of mind is priceless.

Consider your guests' comfort. Getting married somewhere really hot? Offer your guests cold beverages and/or fans. Provide sunscreen and/or sunglasses if you're expecting direct sunlight, or bug spray if your ceremony is in the woods. Pashminas are always a nice touch if your locale gets cooler at night. In addition to helping ensure your guests are more comfortable, these thoughtful gestures are often the details people remember.

Dress for success. There is nothing worse than sweltering in your formal wear. If you're getting married outside in a hot climate and want everyone to enjoy themselves, you might opt for more casual attire. Also consider covering metal chairs, which are a conductor of heat.

Protect your cake. News flash: cakes can melt! To prevent this from happening, ask your venue to store the cake in a refrigerator until you're ready to cut it. 

Wedding Dates to Avoid

One of the first questions people often ask when learning that you're engaged is, "When is the wedding?" There are numerous factors to consider when choosing a date -- how much planning time you'll need, the season you'd like to get married, and when and where you want to honeymoon, to name a few. It's also good to consider which dates might inconvenience your guests and adversely affect your budget! With that in mind, here are some dates to avoid in 2016 and 2017.

Holiday weekends. At first blush, holiday weekends might seem like an ideal time to host a wedding. Lots of people travel anyway then, you might reason. And many people won't have to work on Monday, so you could potentially hold the celebration on Sunday -- an historically less expensive day for receptions. But think again! In reality, travel and lodging costs skyrocket during these weekends. So do prices for labor, flowers and just about everything else! Besides, holiday weekends are often reserved for family gatherings that people may have to attend instead of your wedding.

Memorial Day
Weekend of May 28-30, 2016
Weekend of May 27-29, 2017

Labor Day
Weekend of September 3-5, 2016
Weekend of September 2-4, 2017

Columbus Day
Weekend of October 8-10, 2016
Weekend of October 7-9, 2017

Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
November 24, 2016
November 23, 2017

New Year's Eve. We constantly have clients who envision throwing a New Year's Eve wedding. Once they find out the extra cost for the venue and vendors, however, they often decide to choose a different date.

New Year's Eve
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, December 31, 2017

Super Bowl Sunday. Cross this date off your calendar now...unless you want to rent TV's to live-stream the game during your wedding or risk having die-hard fans miss your celebration!

Super Bowl Sunday
February 5, 2017, in Houston, TX

Religious Holidays. Make sure to check the calendar for any religious holidays, even those you don't observe. Scheduling your wedding during Lent, Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah, for example, may prevent guests from attending due to cultural obligations.

Friday the 13th. If you're at all superstitious, you may want to avoid a wedding weekend that begins on Friday the 13th, which is known as the day of bad luck.

Friday the 13th
May 13, 2016
January 13, 2017 
October 13, 2017 

Say Goodbye to Uniformity!

Mixing and matching has never been trendier. Here are some ways to mix and match your way to a gorgeous event.

Round and rectangular tables. Try one long head table in the middle of the room surrounded by round tables, or flank the dance floor with three rectangular tables and fill the remaining space with rounds. Either lends itself naturally to a variety of centerpieces, adding interest to your reception space. 

Photo credit: Amy Karp Photography

Types of chairs. From cross backs to round backs, chiavaris to ghost chairs, feel free to mix and match -- even at the same table!

Photo credit: Pepper Nix Photography

Photo credit: Amy Karp Photography

Silver and gold. Don't be afraid to mix metallics! You can absolutely use petite silver vases and gold silverware or gold chargers and silver flatware. In fact, we love BBJ Linen's new silver birch linen, which highlights both gold and silver tones. 

Photo credit: Thisbe Grace Photography

Patterns and textures. There's nothing more fun than a client who opts for mixing it up with bright, bold, patterned linen! 

Photo credit: Thisbe Grace Photography

Photo credit: Thisbe Grace Photography

So try a little variety...you'll be glad you did!

Tricks for Transforming your Venue

You don't have to love everything about a venue to transform it into your dream wedding space! Here are some easy fixes for the most common complaints.

Carpet. Don't worry if the carpet wouldn't be your first choice. Once the tables, chairs, stage, and dance floor have been installed, your guests will see very little of the actual carpet. To ensure this is the case, plan a statement piece in the middle of the room that will draw their eyes. Among other ideas to consider are a floral installation hanging from the ceiling or a unique dance floor.

Wallpaper. Does the wallpaper scream country French when you're looking for art deco?  Find a pattern you love and make it into a GOBO (a patterned light projection). By shining this on the walls, you'll elevate the wallpaper into a stunning light feature!

Linens and Chairs. If you're not happy with the venue's linens and chairs, consider renting others! From rustic, wooden farm tables and benches to elegant linens and colored glassware, find the rental items that best fulfill your vision. If budget is a concern, rent specific pieces that will have a big impact -- like a love seat or king and queen chairs for the bride and groom or a specialty linen for the cake table.

Stamp of Approval

No wonder couples love getting married in Park City, Utah. Its quaint charm, natural beauty, endless outdoor activities, and laid-back vibe make it ideal for a destination wedding. And we're not the only ones who think so. Conde Nast Traveler recently ranked Park City the third-best small city in the United States! So, be sure to put Park City on your list of possibilities if you're planning a destination wedding.

The Icing on the Cake

As some of you know, our founder/CEO Rachel Derman married Eric Moore on October 4, 2014, at The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas, Texas. It was a dreamy affair that created lasting memories for all who attended, thanks in large part to the yeoman efforts of the wonderful vendors who participated. That's why we're especially honored that The Knot chose to recently feature Rachel and Eric's wedding.

Click on this link to check out the details and view the stunning photos: https://www.theknot.com/real-weddings/a-garden-inspired-jewish-wedding-at-ritz-carlton-in-dallas-texas-album

Party Schools!

Colleges aren't just for learning anymore. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, many schools have begun marketing themselves as wedding venues!  

It makes perfect sense. Prime wedding season falls during summer break when students are away and facilities are going unused. Plus, these institutions are able to accommodate groups of all sizes and are adept at meeting their needs. Equally important, most don't insist that you attended school there to marry on their campuses. No wonder the WSJ says that "the number of college-affiliated venues listed" on WeddingWire "has increased by 144%" over the past five years. 

So, if you're looking for a venue to host your wedding, contact your local college or university. It may not be your alma mater, but it may be a party school!