Yes, the bridesmaids boquets were in bedazzled popcorn containers.  You can’t have a movie theme without popcorn!

This amazing custom invitation ensemble was designed after the movies, but the poem on the right was written by Tiffany the night she met Mark. Obviously sparks flew with their instant connection!

Tiffany and Mark chose to have a first look so he could check out her custom made gown from Binzario before everything got started.

Alright everyone, find your character and your table, grab a seat and enjoy the show!

Thanks again to all the Wish Granters who participated!  We loved working with all of you!  Good luck to the McCullers and may you life Happily Ever After!

Mark and Tiffany – Highlight from Dulock Productions on Vimeo.

While we planned and designed the evening, these were the amazing Wish Granters that made it all happen.  Thank you to each and every one of you!

Photography: kcassidyphotography.com/
Flipbooks: iloveflipbooks.com/
DJ: glennroush.com/
Venue/Food/Staff: tpccraigranch.com/
Flowers: redsoleevents.com/
Hair and Makeup: maiteemiles.com/
Dress: binzario.com/
Invitations: artcoutureinvitations.com/
Rehearsal Dinner: sauceonthesquare.com/index2.php
Event Decor: shag-carpet.com/
Rolls Royce: cloud9coach.com/
Linen: juleseventdecor.com/
Popcorn: lepopcornandcandy.com
Red carpet and stanchions: bigdpartyrental.com/

Mark and Tiffany’s Story – Wish Upon A Wedding from Dulock Productions on Vimeo.

So what exactly are first look photos? This is a time planned ahead of the ceremony where the bride and groom can meet up and spend a few minutes together prior to the wedding, instead of seeing each other for the first time as the bride walks down the aisle. Usually, the photographer and/or videographer will capture a few pictures of the emotional first glimpse that the bride and groom get of each other, then fade away into the background to allow the couple to share some alone time. This is a very special moment for the bride and groom. It’s a great way to ease everyone’s stress level before the walk down the aisle. It can also be a moment in which you can be fully yourself, without worrying about how you appear in the eyes of your guests. It gives you a chance to experience all the wonderful, dizzying emotions of the day – together.

Many couples, on the other hand, like to preserve the tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other before the wedding. Many of my brides who do not want first look photos want to experience that rush of nerves walking down the aisle. Sometimes, the groom is very adamant about not seeing the bride before the ceremony, wanting to experience the first look with his family and friends. Occasionally this can be a sticking point for more traditional parents or grandparents, and giving in gracefully can give you a bargaining chip for negotiations concerning other parts of the ceremony or reception.

Photographers and planners will often advocate for first look photos because of the timeline benefits. More light for photos is a plus for many outdoor venues. Additionally, taking some photos together before the ceremony can smooth out the transition from ceremony to reception and bring the bride and groom together with their guests much more quickly as many photographers ask for 20-30 minutes with the couple after the ceremony to get some couple shots. These factors are a bonus – but they shouldn’t be the basis for your decision as to whether to do first look photos or not. As a couple, you should weigh the pros and cons together and decide what is best for you. We try to present this as just an option for our couples. Always go with what your heart tells you, regardless of pressure from any of your vendors.

Photo by Crystal Littrell Photography at the Old Red Museum.

You can find us here: Little Black Book Event Planners 

It can also handle a lot of different themes.  It truly is what you make of it.  Edison’s wedding specialists, Lauren Richards and Brittany Kinley, agree.  “One Saturday we will have a rustic wedding with tree stumps, branches and neutral colors and the next Saturday an all white wedding with huge floral arrangements and dripping crystals.”

Edison’s has three areas that can be used for events. The Bentley Room can seat 75, and is ideal for a cocktail hour.

Edison’s also has a small outdoor patio that can be used for ceremonies or cocktail hours.

Finally, the Gatsby Room can seat up to 400 guests.

From past experience, Lauren and Brittany suggest a guest list of 150 to 200 to do your wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in three different spaces without flipping any rooms.  This also allows ample room for dancing during your reception.

One of the best characteristics of Edison’s is that it offers very inclusive packages.  Facility fees include:

• Tables
• Fruitwood Chiavari chairs with black seat pads
• Linens (various colors and styles available)
• Flatware, glassware, and china
• LED lighting in both event spaces
• Faux wood dance floor
• Staging for DJ or band
• Lighting for the stage and dance floor
• In-house sound system

Edison’s also does catering and beverage service in-house.  They have delicious food, and cater for some of the top venues in the area.

We asked Lauren and Brittany to describe one of their favorite weddings for us, and here’s what they told us.

It is difficult to pinpoint our favorite event. Every couple is so unique, and has their own style, color scheme, and love story. One wedding in particular that stands out in our minds is Veronica & Ade’s wedding. They did an old Hollywood theme. The bride wore a custom-made wedding gown with final touches being sewn on right before the ceremony. The bride and groom did an old Hollywood photo shoot before the wedding and hung the photos all around the venue. They had a huge white couch on the stage for them as their sweetheart table with the band surrounding them as if they were VIPs. A cigar roller was stationed on the patio, greeting guests as they came down the red carpet.

So if you’re looking for a venue that’s long on atmosphere and can be molded to fit your theme, call Brittany and Lauren, the wedding specialists at Edison’s!  Check out their website here.  You can call them at 972.524.0741.

Photographs provided by Edison’s and taken by Catie Ronquillo Photography, Don Mamone Photography, Simple Moments, and Shan Ranee.

Invitation from The Grand Hotel and Ballroom

Many assume that for etiquette purposes, you always allow a single person to bring a guest.  Thus, the “and guest”  on the inner envelope.  Not true!  Those you must include are the spouses, fiance(e) or live-in partner of each invited guest.  There is no requirement for singles to be allowed to bring a date.  This is solely at your discretion.  Most people tend to add an “and guest” for friends who are in a committed relationship of some duration.  Brothers and sisters can be allotted an escort.  Wedding party members who are single may want to bring a guest.  It’s up to you.

Keep a few things in mind when deciding on who will be given an “and guest”.  First, if your friend is in a long-term relationship with someone you absolutely don’t want at your wedding, do not feel committed to allotting your friend a guest.  Be prepared to talk about it, but stick to your guns if you feel strongly.  Additionally, if you know that giving your sister an “and guest” will stress her out about finding a date, don’t put her under pressure to produce a someone for the wedding.  Second, remember that you can always fall back on your rule about not inviting people the bride and/or groom have never met.  Third, make sure your additional guests do not expand your total list to an unacceptable number.  It is not worth redoing your entire wedding budget if the “and guest” can be cut!  Finally, check your list to ensure that the added guests do not skew the overall guest division between the bride, groom, and two sets of parents.  Everyone should have an equal number of expected attendees.

Many a magazine has advised creating a “B-list”.  In essence, they direct couples to make an A-list of people that must be invited, then create a B-list of people to be invited if guests from the A-list cannot attend. We do not recommend this method.  Your “B-list” friends and family could be very hurt by finding out they are on this list, which is easy for them to do if an “A-list” guest speaks to someone or posts on Facebook that they received their invitation and a “B-list” guest doesn’t receive theirs until weeks later.  Also, you would need to print response cards with a different response deadline for the “B-list”, making it an additional expense.

If your guest list gets out of control, consider making the following cuts.  Anyone who will be more excited about the open bar than the ceremony can be cut.  You want people at your wedding who are excited for you and the step you are taking together.  Don’t feel shy about cutting people you don’t know, or that you haven’t seen since graduating a decade ago, or that guy in payroll who helped you straighten out your vacation time.  Children can be a big factor in guest list cuts as well.  Don’t feel obligated to invite children if you do not want them there.  If it’s a big problem for your guests, consider providing childcare back at the hotel so that your friends can enjoy the party without worrying about the kids.  Unfortunately, some guests try to bully their way on to your guest list, or try to bully you into allowing them to bring someone not invited.  Stand your ground!  They are the rude one, not you, so if they threaten to not come, just let them.  It’s their issue, not yours.  Above all, make sure that your guest list reflects the community you want to support you on your wedding day.

Photo by Celina Gomez Photography

The Frisco Heritage Museum is truly unique, including a prairie-style farmhouse and a one-room schoolhouse, that each recreates a piece of Texas history.  The centerpiece of the museum’s living village is the Frisco Lebanon Baptist Church, which is over 100 years old!  It was literally rolled across town and set down in its new home after the congregation outgrew its original building.  The original pews are still in place, as is the tin ceiling and wooden floors.  Chandeliers and sconce lighting add to the venue’s charm, and the original bell tower can still ring out at the end of your ceremony.

For more information, visit www.friscovenues.com, or click here to register.  We hope to see you there!

photo by Frisco Heritage Center

It can be difficult to figure out where to start when listing potential invitees.  The best way to start is to first pick a total number of guests that you want to attend.  Yes, we said attend, not invite.  (We’ll talk more about this later.)  Make it a logical number – if you know the groom has more than 30 close family members, a total guest count of 75 probably isn’t going to be realistic.  Think about the style and feel of your wedding as well.  If you know you want a small, intimate ceremony in the tiny chapel you grew up attending, then starting off with a guest list of 300 is going to lead to a lot of heartache later.  When deciding on this number, also keep in mind your overall budget.  Here are some useful statistics:

• The average spent per wedding in the U.S. in 2011 was $25,000.
• The average number of guests was 150.
• That means the average amount spent per guest was $166.67.

So, if you have  budget of $25,000, you can easily see that you may not be able to afford to invite 250 – 300 guests.  Once you’ve got a nice round number in mind, divide the list into four pieces: a quarter of the list to the bride, a quarter to the groom, a quarter for the bride’s parents, and a quarter for the groom’s parents.  If either set of parents is divorced, split their allotment evenly between the father and mother.  Make sure the bride works with her parents and the groom with his to ensure all family members make it onto the list.

After everyone has a list of names, ask each person to go through and make a realistic projection of whether or not each guest will attend.  This doesn’t mean you need to start emailing or calling people – in all likelihood, you don’t have a date yet!  But most people know, for example, that the groom’s Uncle George never comes to family events, or that the bride’s college roommate is deployed overseas and just can’t get that kind of leave.  Take a look at the lists and make sure that no one’s portion has been decimated by the probably-won’t-come estimates.  Adjust accordingly.  And voila!  You have your draft guest list for wedding invitations.

Of course, it’s not all about numbers.  You – the bride and groom – should have the ultimate decision-making power when it comes to guests.  If you don’t want someone at your wedding, do not feel obligated to invite him or her.  If you attended someone else’s wedding, you aren’t required to invite them to yours.  Close personal friends or your boss from work are fine, but don’t ask the entire office if you would rather they not share in your special day or you are restricted on head count due to venue or budget.  Set some ground rules with your parents about who they can include on the list.  A good rule of thumb is that either the bride or the groom should have met every person that will be invited.  Whatever rules you decide to follow, once they have been established, stand firm!  Don’t let yourself be bullied into adding extra guests or people you’ve never heard of once you and your parents have agreed on the boundaries.

We’ll be talking more about this and other great ways to get started on your wedding planning at our free info sessions next weekend.  For more information or to register to attend, click here.

photo by Katie Cassidy Photography