#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!

Venue Spotlight :: Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas

Today I had the opportunity to tour the Longhorn Ballroom and see the renovated event space! I visited back in April while the renovations were going on, and I have to say the finished product is amazing! If you love music history or country + western, this venue should be right up your alley! Longhorn is the oldest ballroom in north Texas, and a lot of the original wood, signs and materials were used in the renovations.

Some of the all-time music greats have played right here on this stage! How memorable would it be to get married right where the Sex Pistols played? Or George Jones? Or Selena? This place really is a local legend!

Longhorn Ballroom can seat up to 1200 guests, so it's not a small space by any means. It can be sectioned off for events like a wedding....ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner & dancing....and there are many spaces available for each. There's the classic Longhorn stage that would be great for ceremonies, an outdoor space by the water that is in the process of clearing, and the perfect bar space for rehearsal dinners! Give them a call to take a tour and see the newly renovated amazing piece of Dallas history!

Website :: www.longhornballroom.com

Instagram :: @longhornballroom

Facebook :: @LonghornBallroom

Twitter :: @longhorn_Dallas

  

25 Classic Father-Daughter Dance Songs

Looking for suggestions for your Father-Daughter dance? Here are a few popular suggestions from all genres of music:

Photo by LMAC Photography

John Mayer - Daughters

Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Billy Joel - Lullaby
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely
Paul Simon - Father and Daughter
Frank Sinatra - I Wish You Love
Darius Rucker - It Won't Be Like This For Long
Natalie and Nat King Cole - Unforgettable
Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me
The Temptations - My Girl
London Wainwright - Daughter
Edwin McCain - Walk With You
The Beatles - In My Life
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
Steven Curtis Chapman - Cinderella
Rascal Flatts - My Wish
Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses
Louie Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
Heartland - I Loved Her First
Tim McGraw - My Little Girl
Bruce Springsteen - When You Need Me
Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes
Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are
Michael Buble - Daddy's Little Girl

Photo by Lambert Photographs

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Entertainment

Entertaining your guests is an important part of any event. Give them something memorable to look back on! The suggested budget for entertainment is 10%, so for example, a $20,000 wedding would have a $2,000 entertainment budget. Keep in mind that you can lessen or not use other portions of the budget that you don't want or need and add that to your entertainment budget.

Entertainment can include the following types of vendors:
-DJ
-Live band for the Reception
-Live musicians for pre-ceremony, ceremony entrance and exit
-Live painter to paint your event as it happens
-Caricature artist to draw your guests 
-Live dancers to put on a show
-Fireworks show and a sparkler exit

Here are some ideas for FREE or extremely inexpensive entertainment:

- Create a scavenger hunt for your guests. Print the list for your guests and include it in your programs or at each place setting so they can join in the fun throughout the evening.

- Get social! Create a #hashtag and/or Snapchat filter for your wedding. Put out signs or cards asking guests to snap photos and post them using your #hashtag and filter. Entertainment plus memories to keep!

- If you have an outdoor venue, set up lawn games for your guests. Hula Hoops, Horseshoes, Lawn Dice, Cornhole, Giant Jenga, etc... If you don't have the ability to put these together on your own, they can be rented rather inexpensively....or maybe even borrowed from a friend.

-Surprise Dance! Whether it's the bride & groom, bride & her father, or groom & his mother...a surprise fun and funky dance will be loads of fun for the guests! Start out slow and then surprise the guests by switching it up into something fun! You can even invite the guests to join in and increase the fun!

- Flash Mob! Plan it with family and friends in plenty of time before the event. Pick a song and dance, teach it to some family and friends, and create your own surprise flash mob at the reception!

:: TIPS ::

1. Combine portions of your budget to get extra bang for your buck:
Fresh Made Cotton Candy Cart with Take Home Bags (entertainment/favors)
Photo/Video Booth with Props (entertainment/photography)
Surprise Late Night Food or Dessert Truck (entertainment/food + beverage)
Chocolate Fountain and Hands-On Desserts (entertainment/food + beverage)

2. Be sure to check your contract for start and end times and any additional fees or requirements. Know what the overtime charges are so you can plan accordingly just in case.

3. Make sure any musician, bands or live entertainment will deliver and set up themselves, and make sure they come with all necessary resources needed to perform (sound system, a plan for power access, etc...). You don't want to have surprises at the last minute!

4. If you're having multiple musicians (for example, a harpist for the ceremony and a band for the reception) see if you can book them all through one agency. This makes coordinating much easier, and you may even save a bit when booking this way.



Previous Post: Budget Breakdown :: Flowers + Decor

Happy Anniversary :: Stacey + Ben

Stacey + Ben

September 18

Stacey + Ben are the most adorable, bubbly, sweet couple ever! There was so much love floating around at this wedding you could see it in the air! They had a beautiful outdoor Jewish ceremony with a homemade chuppah, and a barn style reception complete with a live band and all the festivities! Colorful mason jar centerpieces, lighted lanterns throughout the whole ceiling, and rustic décor made for such a lovely event! It was a truly beautiful day, one I'll never forget! Happy Anniversary Stacey + Ben!

Photo by Steven Mastroianni

Photo by Steven Mastroianni

  

Wedding Day :: Cutting the Cake

In doing over 100 weddings and events, I've seen many so many different options when cutting the wedding cake. Everyone should make it personal and their own style! The cake cutting is the first task you complete or accomplish together as husband and wife and it symbolizes your promise to each other, so make it great! Here are a few do's and dont's, tips for choosing music, things to remember to make it go off without a hitch, and even some alternatives to having a wedding cake.... 

Choose a Great Cake-Cutting Song
It's important to choose a great wedding song! Here's a link to some great cake cutting songs to choose from! I've been asked to research alternative interesting songs for all sorts of weddings. Some want traditional songs, some want a song no one's ever heard before at a wedding....here are a few links with options for whatever you want!

9 Totally Unexpected Cake Cutting Songs from Loverly

Most Popular Cake Cutting Songs from Project Wedding

10 Country Cake Cutting Songs from Wedding-Music-Help.com

Photos :: Cut the Cake, Feed the Cake to Each Other and Smash the Cake
Your photographer is going to want to get the perfect pic of you cutting the cake, so don't feel like you have to rush through it. Go slow, take your time, laugh and enjoy the moment. Generally you want to cut the bottom tier, and the top tier is saved in the freezer to enjoy on your first anniversary. The venue may provide a cake knife and server, but most choose to buy their own and some even have them engraved.

After the cake cutting, take the slice you cut and plate it. You each take a fork and feed a bite to each other. Again, don't rush...your photographer is wanting the perfect pic for you, so go slow and enjoy the moment. Then it's on the cake smash. You take a small portion of the cake you cut and smash it in your new spouse's face. Some choose to leave this out (maybe she doesn't want to take the chance of getting chocolate frosting on the dress, or maybe she doesn't want to chance her perfect make up being smudged when cleaning off cake... Several reasons might halt this part of the tradition...and that's ok! It's your day, so do it however you choose.

When to Cut the Cake
Most weddings opt to use the wedding cake as the dessert for the evening, so that means the catering staff needs time to cut it and plate it after it's cut. Generally the best time to cut your cake is before dinner. That way, the staff has it cut to pass once the guests are finished eating. If you're not serving a plated dinner and you're having a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres type reception, you can alter the time and have it served whenever you choose.

Where to Place & Cut the Cake
Make sure to cut the cake in a central location that all the guests have a front row view...depending on your venue, maybe the center of the dance floor, maybe near the head table...just make sure to make your cake table front and center! Everyone loves to see the cake and watch as the bride and groom cut it. It's a fleeting moment that happens quickly, so make sure everyone has a shot to see it! You can even add some flare to the moment by having the bridal party line up and create an entry way to the cake location.

Options Instead of the Traditional Wedding Cake
These days it is becoming popular to provide something instead of the traditional wedding cake. No matter the situation or what you decide to use, you can still order a small cake to cut into and feed to each other so you can have the traditional moment for your reception if you prefer. Here are a few ideas of what we've used in the past instead of wedding cake:

Cupcakes - Cupcakes are a great alternative to the traditional wedding cake. They can be presented in the same fashion, as you can see in the photo there are 6 tiers for a dynamite presentation. One bonus to choosing this option is you forego the cake-cutting fee some venues charge to take your cake in the back and slice it up and plate it. This way, your guests can grab their own cupcake after you're done cutting the top tier together. If you want to keep the top tier for your first wedding anniversary, have a separate small cake like the top tier make for you to cut into...or even take a cupcake, plate it, cut it together, and feed it to each other.

Pies -  Pies can still be cut traditionally as a wedding cake and fed to each other the same way too. It is always wonderful to get a delicious different dessert when going to a wedding. the cake is expected, so the surprise of a delicious alternative is always welcomed! In this particular photo, you'll notice they opted for the small wedding cake to cut for tradition and photo purposes, then they have a pie/dessert bar available for the guests. Loved it!