Music & Fun at Bill Bates Cowboy Ranch
Bill Bates Cowboy Ranch is one of my favorite venues in McKinney (ok, technically Celina). They were sweet enough to actually build a chapel on the property for two of my brides [Krissy & Paul] to use for their weddings. What great customer service! Well, Trina and the gang are up to something new and our now opening the ranch up to the public with concerts from great local talents, such as Maylee Thomas, Kevin Deal, Max Stalling and more! Check out their line up for the month of May:
5/2/09: Ryan Ready, Spur 502 & Max Stalling
5/9/09: Kevin Deal
5/16/09: Maylee Thomas
5/23/09: Rory Payne & Texas Trainwreck, Jerrod Medulla
5/30/09: Eleven Hundred Springs
Each of the concerts start at 7pm and the cover is only $10. Plus, I’m sure BBQ and Beer will be sold, so make it a dinner date and have a blast!
Just the F.A.Q.s for photographers
At my most recent info session on wedding planners, Don Mamone and his fiance Emily (of Don Mamone Photography) attended and brought a special treat for all there. Previously, Don and I had talked about what I offer in the session, which includes a pretty long list of questions to ask wedding planners and the answers planners should give. I told Don how it irked me that magazines will often print a list of questions for brides to ask their vendors, but they do not often give out the answers (or they are incorrect answers), so it becomes a useless list. Well, Don took our little talk to heart and as he says, we share a brain. He has come up with the fantastic “Just the F.A.Q.s” list for photographers. Don’t you just love the name?
Some of my favorite questions are:
Q – How long have you been photographing and, more importantly, how long have you been photographing weddings?
Q – Do you recommend having a second photographer present at the wedding ceremony and reception?
Q – Why haven’t you included a bridal album in our custom wedding photography package?
To get the answers, and check out the rest, you MUST go visit Don’s website, www.donmamonephotography.com. You’ll find his entire list and comments under the information menu.
What’s your favorite question to ask photographers?
Battle of the Brides Comes to Dallas April 26th!
If you are looking for a dress, you NEED to be at the Sheraton Dallas North this Sunday. Here’s the scoop:
A Prominent Wedding Boutique in the D/FW Area is Bringing an Amazing Selection of Designer Wedding Gowns to the Sheraton Dallas North and Selling Them for a Fraction of Their Original Price AND Will be Giving Away Three Designer Gowns to Deserving Military Brides.
On April 26th 2009 from 10am until 4pm, brides and their entourage will have the opportunity to try on and purchase high end designer wedding gowns for only $99, $199 and $299. The prices are so discounted that the wedding boutique has asked to remain nameless until the day of the event.
Where: Sheraton Dallas North (Dallas Galleria) 4801 LBJ Freeway (635) Dallas, TX 75244
10:00 am Doors Open to Tradeshow. Over 20 of the Best Dallas Wedding Vendors will be present to meet with you and show you the latest and greatest. At this time, Brides will get a number to enter the Gown Sale that starts at 1pm. First come, first serve so don’t be late! ONLY 25 brides will be allowed in the room at one time so get there early to be one of the first 25!
1:00 pm Gown Sale begins.. ONLY 25 brides at one time will be allowed in the room so get there early!
4:00 pm Sale Ends
A portion of the proceeds go to AnySoldier.com! In addition to the bridal gowns for sale by an our exclusive D/FW wedding boutique we will be awarding several gowns, a weekend stay at the Sheraton Gunter in San Antonio, a wedding photography package from Bellissimo Foto, a premiere Dallas wedding photography studio, and other Wedding services by some great D/FW wedding vendors to three deserving military brides!
Specifically, the bridal boutique has agreed to give away 3 bridal gowns to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. To be eligible to win, nominate yourself or someone you know that is either in the military or will be marrying someone in the military within the next 12 months and tell us why you should be Champion of the Battle of the Brides.
If you know of a deserving military bride, please send all nominations to battlingbrides@gmail.com All nominations must be received by 5:00 on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009. Winning brides must be available to select their gown at the Sheraton at noon on Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Check out www.battleofbrides.com for full information and follow event on http://twitter.com/BattleofBrides
It’s a zoo out there…
Last week I had the pleasure of touring and lunching at the Dallas World Aquarium with Kellye Hollis, the aquarium’s catering manager. I love the Dallas World Aquarium. It’s such a fun place, and excuse me for being girly, but they have so many CUTE animals there! I just love the tiny orange monkeys, the sweet penguins, noisy otters and while I don’t think many would describe them as cute, the wondrous manatees. I’ve been there many times, but when I was invited by Kellye to come check out their event spaces, I just couldn’t wait! I’d never toured there since becoming a wedding planner, so I’d never really seen it from that perspective. So off I went, of course with my camera in tow.
We started out entering from the side street, which is a grand entrance as you can see above, entering into the penguin exhibit. (Yes, that’s little white speck on the rock is a penguin.) Guests can enter here from the valet entrance and proceed into the Reef room by going through the spectacular underwater tunnel you see below. They can even have a diver swimming with a sign to welcome your guests! (No, not all of these are pictures I took. Kellye sent me some better ones since I’m just not a skilled photographer.)
The Orinoco room is just fabulous and of course my fave due to the view of the manatees. (I have no idea why I like them, I just do.) The water in the background is just amazing at night.
Next we checked out the Port Hole room, which I had no idea they even had. It’s such a large space, kind of tucked into the aquarium so you’d hardly know you were in a rain forest. With their amazing linen selection, every event is beautiful.
Their newest space is in the Mundo Maya exhibit. In this exhibit, you’ll see everything from flamingos to Jaguars (really). I was lucky enough to have lunch in the Mundo Maya restaurant, which has the most beautiful wooden tables and chairs. From within the restaurant, you can look out into the rain forest. It was amazing getting to see all the things birds do in the wild and up high (since we’re up at the top of the exhibit). There were definitely some fun moments.
Thanks to Aquarium for allowing me to come in and see what unique spaces you have avaialble for brides. I can’t wait to help with a wedding there! I’m sure this is one of the most unique wedding reception venues in Dallas! After watching everything that goes on there, all I can say is that Kellye has a great place to work, but it can be tough since it’s still a zoo out there, literally right outside her office window.
PSA: Summitt Ballroom Brides
In the past week, it became known that Summit Ballrooms in Plano has closed. Unfortunately, there are many brides affected by this close since they had a contract with Summit Ballrooms to be their venue and caterer for their special day. If you are one of these brides, please know that many in the Dallas area wedding vendor community are here to help! I have spoken with venues and other vendors who are more than willing to work with you on pricing due to this unfortunate event (including myself). Please call or email me if you or someone you know was affected by this closing.
Fairytales do come true….
Laura Parker of Fairy Tale Photography had a dream. She wanted to create a venue with the bride in mind, with beautiful indoor and outdoor space, white chivari chairs and linens in all colors. She wanted it to be a wonderful place where brides and grooms are treated like princesses and princes. Laura actually called me the week before Thanksgiving asking me if I knew of a place for her to take over. I gave her a suggestion. Now see this:
Fairy Tale Manor
Laura’s dream has come true! She now has Fairy Tale Manor, located in north Frisco, and it fits all those ideas she had. In only two months (or a little less actually), she has done an amazing job. Couples can now choose to marry under a beautiful white gazebo, in the hearth room in front of the fireplace and surrounded by candelight, or even in an elegant ballroom in front of white pillars and with a custom aisle runner. This wonderful place is an amazing new choice for brides and grooms in Collin County.
Hearth Room
I was fortunate to visit this amazing venue and I just can’t tell you how excited I am about it. Laura has thought of every detail. From amazing centerpieces filled with crystals and flowers in your color choice, to flip flops for your guests to help them dance the night away, thought was given to every little detail to make sure it was all a bride would want.
Flip Flops
Visit their website at www.fairytalemanor.com to find out more about this precious place, see the amazing photographs and check out their pricing. Call soon because they are booking fast. Congratulation Laura!
Arlington Hall at Lee Park
Finding venues and previewing them for brides are another integral part of my job. In the past, I have focused mainly on Collin County, but as more and more brides from Dallas and Fort Worth are reaching out to me, the more I’m looking at venues in these areas. So, from time to time, I’ll update you with some of my fave finds.
Recently, I visited with Marissa Ritter at Arlington Hall at Lee Park. Wow, what a gorgeous place! It’s located on Turtle Creek, just north of Hall street. LITE Dallas was there setting up for an event, so you’ll see some of their equipment in the photos. I took lots of pictures, but of course they are nothing compared to photos of the place in action. Here’s just a snippet of what I saw that day:
Marissa was a delight to talk to, along with the other ladies I met. I can’t wait to host a wedding there! To see an actual wedding at Arlington Hall, visit the photographer Larry Sengbush’s website. Click on Weddings and select Wedding 1. Yes, the entire wedding was shot at Arlington Hall. Isn’t it just amazing?
Wedding Auction
Some vendor friends of mine have teamed up and created a fabulous wedding package and donated it for auction for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon online auction. This package, worth $9500, includes your rehearsal, ceremony and reception for 100 guests at the Bingham House in McKinney. Among the vendors involved are Kate with RainFlorist Designs, providing all the floral needs, Sarah with Sweet Art Bakery providing the bride’s cake and cookie favors, and Jules with Jules Event Decor providing all the linens. What more could a girl want? Head on over to the auction now to get this steal of a package and donate some money for such a worthy cause. The auction closes on September 4th.
Summer fun
I recently spoke with the new NYLO Hotel in Plano and found out a few fun things they offer. So, if you’re looking for some summer fun you should definitely check it out! This hotspot is open to all, not just their guests, so head on over.
Currently, they are having a “Movies Under the Stars” event Thursday nights in July at 7.30pm. They have a huge inflatable screen in the pool area and are showing some of their faves, such as Jaws, There’s Something About Mary and Casablanca. Their pool area is fantabulous and has tons of couches, lounge chairs and an outside bar area to help keep cool. I can’t wait to find time for this!
They also have “The Loft”, which is their restaurant there. You will find some great appetizers and even better drinks to be had, with Dj’s providing the best tunes to relax to. Their happy hour is M-F, 5-7pm and on Saturdays from 4-6pm. They have a Library as well, which includes pool, fun board games and a rentable Wii. How much fun is that?
When to hire who?
1. Hire a wedding planner and find your venue
If you would like a wedding planner to help you from A to Z, this is obviously the first vendor you’ll find. Immediately after, you’ll start looking at venue choices. (If you are not hiring a planner for the entire process, add planner to step 2.) Your venue is probably the biggest determining factor when deciding on a wedding date. Plus, it sets the style and tone of your wedding, so it helps to determine what vendors you’ll need. Venues also have preferred vendors they work with, so you have the opportunity to see who has worked well there before.
2. Hire those who only work one wedding a day.
The photographer, videographer, officiant, entertainment and specialty transporation (like a horse carriage) usually fall within this category. Those who only work one wedding a day book fast, so you’ll need to go ahead and place a deposit to make sure you reserve those you truly want to help with your special day. If you have not hired a wedding planner yet, they also fall into this category.
3. Work from the biggest budget item down.
Your top budget item will be the food and beverages. If this is not included with your venue, you’ll need to start shopping for an outside caterer. The next vendor will depend upon your priorities, but here’s a common order I follow: florist, rentals (including linens), transportation (such as a limo), bakery (for your cake or other dessert choice). The reason I do this is to help prevent overspending. If your love florals and are willing to sacrifice your limo, this is the way to go. If your cake is first priority, move it up on the list, etc.