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Summer Wedding Do’s and Dont’s

With summer right around the corner and the hot weather already beginning to set in, wedding-goers have to take Texas’ unpredictable weather into consideration. Summer is the onset of outdoor wedding season and while we can’t change the wedding venue, we can do our best to minimize the effects the weather has on us. Here are some summer wedding do’s and dont’s that will keep you looking cool and composed during the Texas heat wave!

Do wear fabrics such as cotton or linen. These fabrics will keep you cooler than a silk or lace dress will. Additionally, since summer weddings have a lot of dancing and moving around outside, cotton dresses are more appropriate. A cute summer dress is the perfect outfit for an outdoor summer wedding. If you are the bride, don’t think that you can’t have the ball gown dress you have had your eye on, but do think about trying a gown made of light silk or chiffon material.

Image courtesy of Polyvore

Don’t wear dark makeup. Although smoky eye makeup is a huge trend, it is not appropriate for a summer wedding. By sticking to a lighter, more natural palette of makeup, you have a better chance of keeping your makeup in place. In the hot summer heat heavy and dark makeup have a better chance of running. Your best bet to prevent your makeup from running is opting for a waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick.

Do work the up-do. If you are going to a wedding where the ceremony and reception are outside, take that into consideration. If the weather is going to be hot, humid or windy you should stick to an up-do. Leaving your hair down could result in unwanted frizz. Read More »

Something Borrowed: Sentimental Style

For many brides their wedding day is a day to honor and commemorate their family. Through sentimental family heirlooms, photographs, and wedding dresses that have been passed on from generation to generation, the bride is able to create a unique experience for her special day, while paying tribute to her roots.

Image Courtesy of Floridian Weddings

Wearing a family wedding dress has become a popular trend among brides. Not only does it allow the bride to carry on a family tradition, but it fulfills the “something old” requirement that most brides follow. While vintage wedding dresses have gained popularity in wedding ceremonies, many brides are customizing their older, familial wedding dresses in the hopes of adding a modern twist to them.

With scissors, tape measures and needles in hand, seamstresses have been peeling back the layers of old, outdated wedding dresses in order to create contemporary and fashionable garments. Many brides find the process of updating an older dress appealing, because it allows them to put their own spin on a piece of clothing that holds significant value for their family members.

Image courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Another way that many brides-to-be have incorporated their family members into their special day is through embroidering a special piece of a family member’s clothing into their wedding dress. To accomplish this, brides choose a specific piece of clothing such as a shirt or dress that their loved one wore. The bride then cuts a small piece of the chosen article into a heart which is then stitched into the bodice of the wedding gown or the train of the dress. To add a personal touch, brides can embroider the clothing swatch with a special message, name, or date.

Once the wedding dress is completed, the bride is able to adorn herself with jewelry to help give her that special bridal feeling. For many brides their wedding day is the perfect time to wear family heirlooms such as a string of pearls or an antique brooch. While both of these are great ideas that can help transform a bride, brooches and pearls are also useful when decorating wedding bouquets. Brooches are a great way to incorporate a bride’s heritage, while also creating an appealing vintage flower bouquet. Sparkling pearls give a visual contrast to the typical flower bouquets that many brides use when walking down the aisle. Integrating antique pearls and brooches into the wedding aesthetics are a great way to add eye-appeal to any wedding day.

Image courtesy of Style Me Pretty

By incorporating their heritage and their loved ones in the little details that make-up their wedding day, brides are able to hold on to their past while welcoming their future!

Getting Great Bridal Portraits: Tips from a Local Photographer

Guest blogger and local photographer, Jen Brazeal, speaks about how to get the best photos from your bridal shoot. She talks tricks, tips, and advice to make your portraits stunning!

Have you ever stopped to listen to the sound of the wind sifting through oak leaves of a hundred year old tree? You feel relaxed and comforted, as if a good novel needs to be in hand, so you can doze off in a carpet of green grass. Now, place a beautiful, pure and elegant bride under the strong arms of the tree and you’ve painted a timeless portrait. This was the inspiration for a country meets whimsical bridal shoot, and where better to shoot such a natural scene than on the land at Moore Ranch!

Capturing the raw emotion of a bride before her big day takes planning and strategy. Creative lighting and natural poses keep portraits alive. With all the right elements such as the setting, florist, make up artist, and photographer your bridal shoot is guaranteed to be a success.

While maneuvering with your gorgeous dress don’t be afraid to live in it. After all, you’ll be spending one of the most important days of your life in it, feel comfortable and don’t be intimidated to “pick up your skirt and let down your hair.”

Dancing will most likely take place at an event such as your wedding day. Make sure your dress has the ability to flow as you twirl! What better place to test this than at your bridal shoot!

Vintage and classic can be seen throughout her style. It’s fun to keep coordination true in your theme. See how Ashley’s make up from Anna Decker Artistry works amazingly with her flower arrangement courtesy of Emily Radcliff Floral Design. And the intricate lace dress from VIP Bridal really pull it all together!

I always try to keep lighting as one of the props in photography. It has the ability to bring a dream to life!

Special thanks to the local vendors who were such a big part of making the shoot a success!!

Floral: Emily Radcliff Floral Design

Venue: Moore Ranch

Photography: Jen Brazeal Photography

Dresses: VIP Bridal

Hair and Make up: Anna Decker Artistry

Coordination: Wonderfully Wed (Helped on the day of the shoot!)

Models: Brittni Crutcher, Jordan Hoppe, Brittney Compton, & Ashley Doss

DIY Pallet Bar

DIY projects are always a lot of fun. Not only do you save money, but you will also get to add your own personal touches to the project. They can also be a great conversation starter! Today, we will show you how to create your own personal Pallet Bar for your wedding.

Supplies: 3 Pallets

Sand Paper

Wood Stain (When choosing a color keep in mind the feel and other decor in your wedding.)

Polyurethane (To make it shine!)

3 Wooden Boards, measuring 1x6x8

1 Wooden Board, measuring 1x6x2

Carriage Bolts, Washers, & Nuts

L-brackets, Rectangle Metal Brackets & Screws

Make the Space Your Own

Bars of all kinds are a growing trend in weddings. This is the space that you can really get creative!

You may be thinking of the typical beer & wine bars, but there are plenty of different kinds to choose from. So, have fun with it! Have as many as you want; make a specialty drinks bar or a dessert bar or a s’mores bar. The list goes on.

Take a look online for inspiration, but let your personality show. A lot of times brides get so caught up with what’s in style they forget to think about what they actually like. You don’t want to look back years from now asking yourself why you picked those bright bold patterns if you typically like the subdued elegant look.

This is the perfect space to really show off the theme of your wedding. Picking a color scheme and feel for the wedding can be the hardest part for a bride, so you are going to want to make sure that after all that effort and planning your theme gets noticed. The different bars can help you reiterate your style.

Dessert & Cake Bar Not only do they look beautiful, but they taste delicious too!