#TuesdayTips :: To DIY, or not to DIY?

DIY is a big thing to consider when planning a wedding. If you're able to pull it off with the skills and the girlfriends and the time, it can definitely be a money saver for you in the long run! Keep in mind that it takes planning and forethought so you don't run into last minute problems and no time to fix them on wedding day. Here are some of my suggestions as to what you should and shouldn't try to DIY for your own wedding:

Calligraphy, Invitations, Signs & Stationery
If you're an artistic person and have the time available, DIY'ing your Save the Dates and Invitations is always a great way to go! Other things like signs, table numbers, menu cards, etc... can be made in advance and put aside, so taking on DIY projects like these won't put you out and add stress at the last minute. Place cards and escort cards are the only thing that would have to be done semi-last-minute because guests are still rolling in with RSVPs until a week or so before the wedding.

Food, Cake & Other Edibles
My take on DIY'ing food for a wedding is always no. It's obviously not something that can be done far in advance, and it takes up a lot of time the day before and the day of the wedding. You and your family have enough to do already....feeding and bussing for 100+ people on top of all that is never an easy task to take on. Mom's cooking may be the best in the world, but don't do that to her on wedding day! Give a caterer Mom's recipes instead.

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography

Artificial Bouquet by Michell Events

Fresh Flowers vs. Artificial Flowers
Flowers are something you can DIY if you have a plan! Artificial flowers can be done at any time and could be done well enough in advance that you don't have to worry about it in the days leading up to the wedding. Fresh flowers are a whole different ballgame and would have to be a last minute task! Get your girls together to help with assembling everything the day before or the morning of the wedding (I suggest day before in case there are any problems that need to be addressed). There are even folks out there who host workshops and classes to assist with learning and pulling off DIY wedding flowers. Last but not least, keep them cool and transport them safely to avoid last minute emergencies.

Music & Announcements
I never suggest that anyone DIY their music at their wedding. I know Ipods are great in every day life, but a big event like a wedding should have more attention. Maybe the groom's mom doesn't like to dance or be the center of attention.....your DJ can fade out her song early so she doesn't feel uncomfortable for too long. Your DJ makes special announcements about the wedding party, dinner, last call, and others....which are definitely needed throughout the evening with so many people going so many different directions.

Favors
Favors are definitely something that you can DIY at any time. If you're doing edibles, get together your group to help with creating and assembling so they can be done close to the wedding and stay fresh. If your favors are non-edible, you can take all the time you need making them and beautifully packaging them!

#SignatureSaturdays :: Pumpkin Fizz

2 oz. Kin Brown Bourbon
3/4 oz. Pumpkin Simple
1/4 oz. Orgeat
3/4 oz. Lemon
Heavy Sprinkle Pumpkin Spice
1 Egg White
1 oz. Cream
Top with Soda

Cocktail from Kin Whiskey

#FloralFriday :: Follow our Floral Pinterest Boards!

Flowers are one of my favorite parts of any occasion. They can spruce up any blank space in so many different ways! I always like to share new photos and ideas on our Pinterest boards, so feel free to follow our floral boards for ideas and inspiration! Have fun pinning! :)

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography

Centerpieces: Red Roses

Centerpieces: Submerged

Floral Design

Floral Guide

Wedding Details: Bouquets

Wedding Details: Boutonnieres

Wedding Details: Centerpieces

Wedding Details: Succulents

Halloween Weddings and Events

Halloween is a favorite holiday for a lot of folks, and I happen to be one of them! I've had the pleasure of working on many Halloween themed weddings and events over the years. Back in my school days, I always had a Halloween party every year. Costumes, great food, games, spooky decorations....

Halloween is really defined by one things in particular - candy!! You can create an amazing Halloween themed candy and dessert station for your event that both children and adults will absolutely love!

I always like to include pumpkins in the décor for fall weddings and events. They're readily available, easy to acquire, and they make some beautiful decorations!

Flower girls can carry pumpkins or trick-or-treat containers rather than the traditional flower girl baskets. So cute and classy!

Since Halloween is spooky, go with it! It doesn't have to be cheezy! You can decorate for a spooky themed wedding or event with themed décor and still keep it classy and elegant!

Work with your photographer to get some creative Halloween themed shots. Haunted houses, graveyards, a pumpkin patch, a hay ride, Freight Fest at Six Flags....any spooky location, Halloween themed event or fall themed event can make for perfect Halloween photos!

Follow our Halloween Boards on Pinterest!

As a kid, Halloween was always my favorite! I loved dressing up! I remember being a mermaid, an Arabian princess, an angel, a witch, a zombie cheerleader, and Jack from the Jack-in-the-Box commercials! I loved getting candy and treats everywhere I went, and I loved having parties and inviting friends over to enjoy all the fun with me! Needless to say, I have quite the collection of Halloween ideas pinned on my Pinterest boards!

Whether you're planning a big party for Halloween or just planning a fun night for the kids, my Pinterest boards share a ton of spooky, tasty and fun ideas for Halloween! Be sure to follow my Pinterest account for tons of ideas on party planning for any holiday or occasion!

www.pinterest.com/amynixon79

• Wedding Details: Halloween
• Holidays - Halloween
• Holidays - Halloween Costumes & Makeup
• Holidays - Dia de los Muertos
• Party Planning - Nightmare Before Christmas
• Party Planning - Masquerade
• Skulls

Candy Station & Photo by Michell Events

Candy Station & Photo by Michell Events

Candy Station & Photo by Michell Events

#SignatureSaturdays :: Crownberry

Tart and smooth. The perfect way to prep for fall. Check out @crownroyal on Instagram for tons of amazing cocktail recipes and ideas!

1.5 oz Crown Royal Regal Apple
4 oz Cranberry Juice
Garnish with an apple wheel

Cocktail from Crown Royal.

Rain on Wedding Day is Good Luck!

No one out there will really tell you that rain on  your wedding day is bad luck. While sometimes it definitely creates havoc, stress and changes in plans when rain shows up on wedding day, rain on the big day doesn't necessarily mean anything bad. Here are a few of the things that rain on your wedding day symbolizes....and they're all good!

Cleansing

Rain on your wedding day is goof luck because it signifies the cleansing of tough times or sadness in your past. Sources say this since rain tends to wash away dirt and even pollution.

Unity

Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies that your marriage will last. As you know, a knot that becomes wet is extremely hard to untie – therefore, when you “tie the knot” on a rainy day, your marriage is supposedly just as hard to unravel! We can thank Hindu traditions for this belief.

Renewal

Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies washing away of bad memories or occurrences and, in effect, gives you a completely new, fresh chapter in your life. You know that refreshing scent after the rain, just when the sun starts peaking back through the clouds? That “new day” feeling is where this belief came from – that your wedding will truly be the beginning of a new chapter in your lives.

Tears

Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it symbolizes the last tears that the bride will shed for the rest of her life

Source: The Pink Bride

#TuesdayTips :: Rainy Wedding Days

Well, Dallas is certainly having it's fair share of rain over the past few weeks, and it looks like it won't let up any this week at ALL! "Rain, rain, go away" is playing in my head at this point lol! While my event this past weekend was indoors, I did get soaked walking through parking lots and have wet socks most of the day! I saw tons of posts from others who were fighting the weather and dealing with what rain can do to your wedding day. Here are a few of my top suggestions if you get stuck in this situation!

Photo by Imagine It Photography

First and most importantly, have a Plan B. If you're planning a wedding during the known rainy season and you have an outdoor event planned, be sure to have a backup indoor location already locked down and available if the weather won't permit your outside event to go on. There are always tons of other people scrambling for last minute indoor venues when the rain hits, so make sure you have your plan worked out before the last minute!

Some venues have both indoor and outdoor spaces available, so it's an easy change that doesn't require notifying your guests. If your location is outdoor only and you change to an indoor location elsewhere, you'll need to update your guests that the location is changing due to weather. It's best to have someone (or a few people) designated to handle that task.

If there are any uncovered walkways or similar that your guests must navigate, be sure to have umbrellas provided to keep them as dry and as comfortable as possible. A pretty basket of rolled-up "dry-off" towels to use once your guests make it inside is a nice touch as well.

Lastly, make the most of the rain! Even with all the headaches it brings, let's be honest....it makes for some amazing photo opportunities on wedding day!

Photo by Studio B

VIP Event at Choctaw Casino & Resort in OK

This weekend I had the opportunity to work with several other vendors on a VIP event going on at Choctaw Casino & Resort in Norman, Oklahoma. Over 80 tables, over 800 people, thousands of flowers, Moulin Rouge themed décor....it was an amazing day to be a part of! My tasks for the day were adding filler to some of the red rose centerpieces and creating four large arrangements for the food buffet stations. I think everything turned out beyond amazing!

#SignatureSaturdays :: Captain Morgan Pumpkin Pie Shots

I worked a HUGE event yesterday at Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma, so I missed out on all of my regular posting! I can't just skip over Signature Saturdays because it's one of my favorite weekly posts! There are so many creative cocktails you can incorporate into weddings and events, like this one from @javiontherocks. He's local to Dallas and I love his posts! Be sure to check out his page and follow for tons of amazing cocktails!

Mix ¾ ounce of Jack-O-Blast with ¾ ounce of  LocoNut and enjoy!

#FloralFriday :: Flowers Available in the Fall Season

My first tip for brides with a tight floral budget is to go with what's in season. It will be readily available and easy to access, and the cost will be lower than special orders for non-seasonal flowers.

There are a lot of beautiful options available in autumn in hues of warm reds, oranges, yellows and browns. Some of the available fall options are Asiatic Lilies, Asters, Billie Balls, Calla Lilies, Camellia, Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Delphinium, Gerbera daisies, Gladioli, Hydrangea, Marigolds, Pampas, Roses, Succulents, Sunflowers, Zinnias....

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones

Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo & Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo & Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo & Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo & Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo by Leach Photography

#WeddingWednesday :: Tips for a Fall Wedding

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! I chose October and the rich tones of fall for my own wedding! Pumpkins are a fall staple, they're readily available just about anywhere, and they can make for some beautiful decorations! I always suggest sticking with what's available in the fall, including pumpkins and gourds.

Photo by Michell Events

Centerpiece by Michell Events

Photo by Michell Events

Certain blooms are in season during fall months. Using these will keep your floral costs down. The color palette available is amazing, so embrace the rich colors and go with the golds, reds, oranges, browns and yellows that are abundant in the autumn months!

Photo by Michell Events

Bouquet by Michell Events

Photo by Michell Events

Bouquet by Michell Events

Fall could bring chilly weather, so be sure you have something planned to keep your guests warm. Throw blankets for guests is a good idea, sweaters or pashminas for the 'maids and moms, and you could even offer a hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and/or hot cider station. Warm beverages take care of a chill quickly! Mobile espresso bars are available whether your event is indoors or outdoors!

Photo from Jedidiah Coffee

Photo from Jedidiah Coffee

Fall desserts - apple & pumpkin pies, caramel apples, smores by the fire....get creative with desserts for your guests and show them a true taste of fall! There are so many options available to choose from...it's such a hard decision, I'd have to have them all. :)

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography

Caramel Apples from Dallas Caramel Co.

Photo & Pies from Texas Petite Pies