If you’re considering hiring a wedding videographer to document the biggest day of your life, you no doubt have a big decision ahead of you. Just like choosing a photographer can be quite a process, deciding who to have filming your entire day is important too! As another big-ticket item on the wedding budget and one whose presence will matter long after the day is done, choosing a wedding videographer is not a decision to take lightly – but we’re here to help! Read on for a few must-know tips to keep in mind before you hire someone.

Photo: Hannah Hix, Photographer

1. Hiring a professional matters.

With so much technology available at our fingertips these days, it’s easy to think, “I’ll just have ___ (a friend or family member) take some video.” But wedding videography is so much more than that. A professional videographer has the equipment and the know-how to capture your day in a way that evokes the best emotions, looks beautiful and lasts a lifetime. Like photographers, they’re the experts in angles, lighting and locations and can truly tell a story through film. A simple camcorder video or phone video simply won’t compare. That said, you can expect to spend just as much, if not more, on a quality videographer as you would a top-notch photographer, so be sure that’s factored into your budget before you begin your search. Some photographers also specialize in videography, and vice-versa, so it is possible to get a package deal!

2. Review the basic wedding videography styles.

While of course these styles can vary, modern wedding films typically fall into one of three stylistic categories:

Candid: the documentary version of a professional wedding film. With more emphasis on raw, candid moments happening as they truly unfolded, without cinematic-style panning shots. Candid films do typically include natural audio and sometimes voiceovers and/or instrumental tunes.

Music video: built on cinematic shots spliced together with professional effects and music overlaid, this style usually won’t include much personal audio, like vows or speeches, but will show several different aspects of the day set to beautiful songs.

Cinematic: a combination of both! With both raw, candid shots that capture dialogue and natural noises, alongside visuals captured in an epic way that will make you feel as if you’re watching a movie trailer of your very own day.

Standard wedding film lengths:

Trailer or Teaser: 1-2 minutes highlighting the most exciting, memorable portions of your day, with very little dialogue. The perfect length for sharing on social media!

Highlight film: 3-6 minutes covering the biggest parts of the day and often just snippets of audio like vows, letter readings and speeches. The video below falls into this category!

Short film: 8-10 minutes long and allows for more complete coverage of the audio elements listed above.

Feature film: 12-15 minutes and longer – a feature film allows for the most storytelling – often including voiceovers to tell backstories, audio from parts of the day not covered in other formats and a more complete, inclusive option to re-live your day.

Long-form: this length will include less cinematic-style editing, but should cover the most important parts of the day, your ceremony and reception, just about in their entirety.

Of course, the lengthier the wedding video, the larger the budget required, generally speaking. With this in mind, you can look at various videographers’ work and have an idea of what your film will feel like, or if you’re not able to tell, ask them what type they specialize in. Many videographers will offer a pairing of a trailer-length film along with a longer format so you can have multiple options to share.

Video // Reverent Wedding Films

3. Cover your bases.

Once you’ve found a videographer you feel a connection with, it’s time to ask a few specific questions if you can’t readily find the answers. Look thoroughly through the contract and make sure expectations are clear about turnaround time (the industry standard for wedding videos is about six months, although some wedding films can take up to a year to finish). In what format(s) will they deliver your video, and is it a format that will allow as much longevity as possible? A DVD probably isn’t ideal for the long haul, but you may want another tangible option rather than only having your film available online.

Think about the important what-if questions like what will happen in the event of bad weather, of a reschedule, or if the videographer can’t make it for some reason?  If your wedding requires the videographer to travel, which costs are you responsible for? Does your videographer have insurance and a license to legally fly drones, if they’ll be using that type of equipment? Do they only use legally licensed music and songs in post-processing? Make sure all your bases are covered!

Just as you would give the same heads-up to your photographer, you’ll want to let your videographer know if there’s anyone or anything they should make sure to capture, while at the same time, trusting them to film your day beautifully without much direction from you (remember, it’s their job! They do this all the time.)

4. Get ready to be mic’d up.

If you’ve chosen a wedding videographer who will include voices and audio dialogue as part of your final film, they’ll likely need to use various audio equipment to clearly record things. You may have a small microphone and wire attached to you for part of the day, or be asked to hold a microphone at some points. The videographer may need a block of time on your wedding day to get certain shots that will add to the quality of your film – so just be prepared and trusting of their needs. It will all be worth it in the end!

Not hiring a videographer is a regret we hear ALL the time from brides. They wish they would have allocated more of their budget to having someone record their day in a way that photography alone cannot capture. If you’re on the fence, we highly suggest springing for a professional videographer to join your wedding vendor dream team! Check out these amazing DFW wedding videographers ready to capture your best day!

Looking for tips and recommendations for picking the perfect photographer for the big day, too? We’ve got you covered with this blog. Cheers!

Pros to Hiring a Photography and Videography Team

Authentically Capturing Every Kind of Couple

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When it comes time to start the search for the perfect wedding dress, all the styles and fits to choose from can be overwhelming. You may think you gravitate toward a certain style, but when you actually try it on – not so much. Or maybe there’s a style you’re considering, but aren’t sure if it will flatter your body type. No fear! We are here to help with our ultimate wedding dress cheat sheet. Refer to this blog as you’re preparing to shop to guide your choices. We’ll break down each style and fit below!

Not sure where to begin your search? We’ve got you covered there, too. You can trust these North Texas bridal boutiques to help you find the dress of your dreams. Happy shopping!

Wedding Dress Style Definitions

A-line: Universally flattering and oh-so-versatile, the a-line silhouette is a solid choice for any bride. This style is flowy with skirt that gradually flares out from just above the hips.

Mermaid: A fun, beautiful silhouette for the bride who has a playful, sassy side. Mermaid dresses are fitted from the bodice all the way to the knee, where they flare out to resemble a mermaid’s tail. A flare starting just above the knee is called a trumpet fit, while a flare starting just below the knee is a true mermaid fit.

Sheath: Sleek and sultry, the sheath style is a gorgeous choice for the modern bride who wants something understated and form-fitting. This contouring style follows the natural lines of the body with no extra material or flare – typically straight cut with no seam at the waist.

Ball Gown: The ultimate style for the bride who wants to feel like a true queen. Ball gowns feature a fitted bodice (the uppermost part of the dress covering the chest and back above the waist) and a very full skirt, flaring out dramatically from the natural waist.

Which wedding dress style will work best with my body type?

A-line: An A-line silhouette can help create the illusion of curves where there aren’t any, but can also work wonders in slimming and hiding midsection curves you may rather not show off. The shape of the skirt works really well to balance a larger chest, as well.

Mermaid: Keep in mind that mermaid dresses are the tightest-fitting of all styles and will hug your midsection – waist, hips and thighs. If you’d rather not draw attention to that part of your body, it might be best to go with another style, but if you love to show off your curves and accentuate your figure, this is the style for you!

Sheath: A sheath-style dress best accentuates a lean, slender frame. If you don’t have many curves, a sheath dress will reinforce that, so you may want a different style (or add a belt!) if you do want to accentuate your waist. Sheath dresses are elongating and can help a petite gal appear taller.

Ball Gown: This style is fairly universally flattering and works well on curvier body types, too. The full skirt can add balance to a heavy chest or broad shoulders, but can also look gorgeous on a more petite frame. However, ball gowns can overwhelm ladies of shorter stature.

Wedding Dress Neckline Styles

Sweetheart: Often seen on strapless gowns, this style is ultra-feminine and versatile across a wide range of bodice materials. A sweetheart neckline draws attention to the chest and is suited well for medium- or larger-chested ladies.

Off-the-shoulder: a dramatically stunning style for the bride who wants to flaunt her décolletage in a lovely way, off-the-shoulder looks can be seen on dresses from boho to ball gown. If range of movement is a priority, however, this might not be the style for you.

Illusion: another beautiful option to accentuate your décolletage, the illusion neckline features a sweetheart hem with added mesh tulle acting in place of straps. Perfect for any chest size and practical, too.

Boatneck: a timeless, delicate style best-suited for smaller-chested brides, a boatneck style pairs wonderfully with a chic updo to show off the shoulders.

Straight: a great option for both the modern and the classically chic bride. This style also works best for small- to medium-chested ladies.

V-neck: a wonderful option for the bride who wants to dance the night away and not worry about her bodice holding up, this style also accentuates any chest beautifully.

Wedding Dress Train Lengths

Don’t underestimate the wow-factor a train can add to your dress! Remember, if you’re worried about it interfering with movement after the ceremony, most trains can be bustled (if not removed completely) and blend seamlessly with your dress.

Sweep or Brush Train: just enough fabric to barely skim the floor behind you.

Watteau Train: a true Watteau train attaches at the shoulders like a cape, but this style can also attach at the back or the waist as a detachable piece or as part of the skirt

Chapel Train: a popular option, best for brides who do want a train but don’t want a ton of extra fabric weighing them down.

Cathedral Train: a jaw-dropping look for a formal affair, a cathedral train will trail several feet behind you for a dramatic look.

Royal Train: the ultimate train for the most formal of affairs – fit for royalty!

We hope this wedding dress cheat sheet can help you as you’re looking for your dress for the big day. Remember, ultimately the choice is up to YOU and what you feel best in is all that matters. No matter what, you’re sure to look amazing!

Ahh, the ever-important guest list. Knowing your total number of guests is a crucial foundational step that needs to come before most other aspects of wedding planning, so creating your wedding guest list is an important task to complete right off the bat. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know as you decide who will be celebrating with you on the big day!

Photo // Stephanie Brazzle Photography

1. Set your budget before writing any names down.

Guest list size usually correlates with budget size. If your budget is on the smaller end, a 300-person guest list probably won’t be feasible. A larger budget will allow you to invite more guests or, if you’d still like to keep the guest list smaller, have extra funds to spend in other areas.

2. Keep in mind who is paying for the wedding.

…Or at least the majority of it. If you and your fiancé will be footing the entire bill, etiquette rules state that you certainly have the final say in who’s on the list. However, if parents, in-laws or other family members will be helping to pay for your wedding, their guest list requests should be accommodated and respected as best as possible.

3. Start big and get smaller.

You and your fiancé will both want to create a list (you can combine later) with names of the following: close family, close friends, extended family, other friends. From there, you’ll want to prioritize the names into three groups: non-negotiable invitees, preferable invitees and potential invitees. A good rule of thumb to ask yourself for those on the fringe is: have I interacted with these people in person within the last six months? If not, they may need to be bumped down a priority level until you confirm your budget can accommodate inviting them.

If necessary, pare down. Kindly ask your parents to narrow down their guest list requests to absolute must-haves only. If you’re not super close with your colleagues, definitely don’t feel obligated to invite them, but if you do choose to invite certain work friends, be respectful of other co-workers and don’t discuss the wedding at the office. No need to invite your neighbors unless you’re truly good friends. Other factors to consider when it’s time to make cuts:

Are you close with these friends anymore or have you drifted apart? Will these people be an active part of your future? Remember, you don’t owe anyone an invitation, even if they invited you to their wedding. Realistically, and especially with a larger guest list, you’ll likely only be able to interact with guests outside of your family and wedding party for minutes or even seconds at a time on the big day.

4. Use guest list technology to your advantage.

You’ll want to be able to easily see (and organize) not only names, but numbers. The guest list is not something you’ll want to be editing by hand with pen and paper. Use a spreadsheet you can quickly update and move around, or better yet, use one of the dozens of free tools online for managing guest lists. Even if you’re doing traditional invitations with mail-in RSVPs rather than online RSVPs, these programs can help you keep track of everything related to your list as it changes day to day.

Should we invite children or plus-ones?

If you know a guest is engaged or in a serious relationship, it’s proper etiquette to allow them to bring a date, but for single guests not dating anyone, there’s no need to give them a plus one. Not inviting children can save costs in several areas of the budget, and it’s perfectly fine to host a kid-free affair, especially if your wedding is more formal. There are plenty of ways to politely word an invitation to indicate children are not invited. Just ask your invitation designer! To avoid potentially awkward situations, if you do choose not to invite children or have plus-ones, be consistent and try not to make exceptions if asked.

How many wedding guests will actually show?

You can expect 75% – 85% of invited guests to actually show up (fewer if you have a high number of out-of-town invitees or are doing a destination wedding).

What about a B-list?

The B-list refers to a short list of invitees who would only receive an invitation in the event first-priority guests decline. B-lists can be socially tricky and risk hurting feelings, but if you do decide to send a second round of “overflow” invitations after you receive initial RSVPs, create that list of possible invitees from the get-go, don’t send them a save-the-date and make sure their invitation suites are printed with a later RSVP-by date.

When it’s time to create the seating chart:

Once you receive all RSVPs and it’s time to create your seating chart, we can help! Check out our helpful seating chart blog with all the must-knows for creating the best possible seating arrangements for your guests.

Need an unbiased, professional wedding planner to help you navigate the guest list and budget every step of the way? We can introduce you to several experienced North Texas wedding planners.

We wish the best for you and all your guests! Cheers!

Once you’re engaged, one of the first tasks you’ll want to check off the list is choosing a wedding photographer! As the person responsible for documenting all the memories of your #bestdayever and delivering images you can look back on for years and years, it’s an important decision, no doubt. Not sure where to begin or exactly what to know when choosing a wedding photographer? We’ve got five helpful tips to guide you through the process.

Photo // Sami Kathryn Photography

1. Know what you’re willing to spend.

Quality wedding photography is not something to skimp on. Often, photography (and videography) can end up being one of the largest single expenses of your entire wedding. You can expect an experienced professional wedding photographer to charge anywhere from $2500 all the to way to $10000 and beyond. Packages vary, but remember their prices factor in not only their creative talent and honing of their craft, but their equipment costs, travel time and many, many hours of preparation and editing in addition to the time they’ll spend actually photographing your day.

2. Decide which style you feel most drawn to.

Photography, like any art form, can vary immensely from artist to artist. It’s up to you and your fiancé to decide which artistic style you like best, and let that heavily influence your decision.

Are you drawn to fine art photography? These photos tend to have more muted colors, less contrast, more brightness and cool tones. You’ll tend to see more posed, “still life,” artful shots. Often, fine art photographers use film to help achieve this distinct look. Because film has been around for generations, these photos will definitely stand the test of time, but film is also more expensive to shoot and requires a different skill set than digital photography, so you can expect to pay more for someone who incorporates film into their work.

On the contrary, many couples are drawn to a more adventurous and photojournalistic style – with less emphasis on curating the ‘perfect’ shots, rather documenting the day exactly as it unfolds. These photos tend to have more contrast, warmth and saturated colors. This style can reflect more raw emotion via candid shots and shots that capture movement.

Of course, not every photographer’s work will fall exactly into one of these categories. You’ll see photos with a combination of these and other elements. Photography is subjective, so it comes down to identifying photos that elicit a heartfelt reaction from you.

Not sure how to nail down your ideal style? We recommend gathering several of your favorite wedding photos you’ve seen and assessing what they all have in common. Is it the lighting and colors? the emotion and movement? Which type of photos do you feel would better reflect your personality?

3. Do your research.

When it comes to narrowing down your short list of photographers, you’ll want to rely on word of mouth (who have your friends used and loved? what are reviews saying?), Instagram (remember to use location-based hashtags to your advantage) and local photographer listings on resources like Brides of North Texas.

Narrow down your list to 3-6 photographers (you’ll always want to have a backup, even if you have a favorite, in case that person is unavailable for your date). Peruse their websites and Instagrams to get a feel for their individual personalities. You’ll be spending essentially all day with this person on your wedding day – you want to make sure they’re someone you can be friends with!

Now’s the time to send inquiries and fill out those contact forms. Figure out what’s included in their packages. How many hours? Is an engagement session included? A bridal session? A second shooter? All things to consider and ask. It’s fine to ask to see a full gallery so you can get an idea of what the less frequently shared images look like – like their style of family shots, cocktail hour shots and reception shots. It’s also OK to request an in-person meeting.

Once you’re ready to sign the dotted line, read your contract very carefully and clarify any questions you have. What happens in the event of a reschedule (Coronavirus, anyone?)? What happens in the off chance the photographer comes down with something and can’t make it? If your wedding requires the photographer to travel, which costs are you responsible for? Will you get a print release, or are you required to purchase digitals and/or prints through the photographer? Protect yourself and your money as you finalize this decision.

4. Be clear with your goals.

When choosing a wedding photographer, it’s important to be clear with your goals. Do you want these photos to be published in a magazine or online publication? Do you NOT want them to be published or shared? It’s important for your photographer to know these things ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to let them know which types of shots are most important to you – not specific poses or copies of photos you’ve found on Pinterest, but do you care more about the details, the candids, the family shots, the portraits of just you two?

Bring your photographer up to speed on any potentially awkward family dynamics, and tell them if there’s anyone in particular you’d like them to pay attention to. Do you have a grandparent you’re especially close with? Any family traveling from far and wide? Let them know so you can be sure and get photos with these people while you have the opportunity.

5. Trust your photographer’s vision and creative intuition.

Remember, you hired this person for a reason! Be open to their expert advice and let them work with your planner to create the day-of timeline. After all, they’re the lighting experts, and great photos depend a lot on great light. Time of day factors into this, as well as artificial lighting and the structure/directional orientation of your venue. Your photographer will be able to use all of these factors to help devise a timeline that allows for the best photos to be captured as you celebrate your commitment.

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Don’t forget: once you’ve made a decision and hired a photographer, reach back out to any other photographers you’d inquired with and let them know you’ve gone with someone else. Don’t worry – there won’t be any hard feelings. They’ll appreciate the courtesy and will be able to open up your date for other interested couples.

Choosing a wedding photographer can be a daunting task, but trust us, it’s one of the most rewarding. Having beautiful images to cherish is one of the sweetest parts of this season. Brides of North Texas is happy to recommend several DFW-area photographers for your big day!

Wedding Photography Shot List

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Ahh, wedding planning. On one hand, such a blissful time. On the other – completely stressful. It can be so easy to lose sight of things as you’re checking off a million to-do lists and keeping dozens of obligations straight. But as you’re in the thick of these, remember not to let these common wedding mistakes derail your bridal bliss. From the planning process to the actual day of, keep these pitfalls in mind and know what to do to avoid these extra stresses.

Photo // Gaby Caskey Photography

1. Not setting and sticking to a budget

Probably the top mistake we see brides dealing with has to do with the numbers. Budget is a sensitive subject and if it’s not discussed candidly from the beginning, problems are sure to arise. Sit down with your fiancé and/or family members who may be helping to pay for things early on in the wedding planning process and decide on figures that are comfortable for everyone – an overall number is important, but be sure to set budgets for sub-categories, as well. As you meet with vendors, be up front about your budget and don’t look at options you know will cause you to exceed your agreed-upon budget. There’s never any sense in spending more on wedding expenses than you can realistically afford.

2. Letting other people’s opinions carry too much weight

Aunt Mary would prefer you pick a summer date rather than a fall date? Your future sister-in-law thinks you should go for a blush color scheme, rather than the green and gold you’ve picked out? Your cousin doesn’t care for your wedding dress? Uncle Bob wishes you would’ve done a steak dinner instead of hors d’oeuvres? Let it all go, sister. You will never, ever be able to please every single person who chooses to share their opinion about your wedding, and truthfully, the only opinions that matter are yours and your partner’s. Be confident in your decisions and don’t be afraid to respectfully and succinctly stand up for yourself and your choices. This is your day, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you choose to celebrate.

3. Going overboard on trendy elements

With a plethora of inspiration at your fingertips, from Pinterest to Instagram to wedding websites like this one, you’re sure to see a wide variety of beautiful trends worth emulating within your own celebration. However – there’s a fine line between tastefully trendy and way too many trends. If you truly love a trendy detail, go for it! But anticipate looking back on your wedding photos many years from now: you don’t want your first thought to be “Wow! That’s all so 2019.” Utilize trends carefully, as accentual elements among a timeless backdrop, and you can enjoy the best of both worlds. An experienced wedding planner can help you put all the pieces together and figure out the best way to incorporate all the elements that feel most like you.

4. Letting life revolve around wedding planning

An an engaged gal, planning your wedding will undoubtedly take up a large portion of your life. But it should never become your whole life! Be cognizant of how you’re spending your time throughout the wedding planning process and make sure to set aside time for self care, friendships, relaxation and of course, your partner. Don’t forget to keep dating your sweetheart throughout this season! Need more advice on balancing wedding planning with real life, all while keeping your soon-to-be spouse on board and excited for all the plans to be made? Check out this post.

5. Not having a backup plan

This is a huge one, and in the midst of COVID-19, we’ve unfortunately seen this play out in some very disheartening ways. Obviously, not a single one of us ever anticipated a global pandemic to up-end the wedding industry and hundreds of thousands of brides’ plans along with it, but if there’s one thing this situation has taught us, it’s that things don’t always go as planned. No matter when you plan to wed, be prepared to go with the flow, adapt and accept that things may not look exactly as you’d envisioned. Especially when it comes to weather – if your plan A includes an outdoor ceremony, always, always, always have a Plan B thoroughly thought out in the event of an unforeseen storm.

6. Setting unrealistic expectations for vendors

Finding the right vendors is an integral part of making your wedding day visions come to life, and it’s our hope that you’ll get to work with a team of pros who feel more like friends! However, it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, wedding vendors are human, too, and they also have multiple clients and multiple costs that go into the services they’re providing. It’s perfectly fair to expect open communication, a professional job well done and to get what you’re paying for, but it’s also fair to treat vendors with respect and understanding. Mistakes and miscommunications sometimes happen and a little kindness can go a long way.

7. Trying to do it all

One of the easiest wedding mistakes to make? Taking on too much. Even if you’re the most Type A bride in the world, there are certain things best left to professionals and certain things that will still get taken care of if you delegate them to a trusted family member, friend or fiancé. Split the work, trust your vendor team and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

8. Being too stressed to enjoy the actual wedding day

All of the effort that goes into planning culminates in one final day: your dream day! And trust us: you’ll want to be fully present so you can enjoy it. If a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator is not a priority in your budget, we strongly recommend asking a trusted, detail-oriented family member or friend who’s not in your wedding party to help oversee logistics on the day of. Make sure you’ve given detailed instructions to all privy parties to help navigate the wedding weekend (like an itinerary for your bridal party and family members with addresses, phone numbers and pertinent times on the schedule to be aware of). Either way, once your wedding day is here, it’s not worth stressing about things you can’t control or change. Let things unfold naturally, sit back, enjoy yourself and take it all in! You only get to live through this day once, and it goes SO fast.

Bottom line? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Nobody’s wedding planning process, much less wedding day, goes 100% as planned. Be flexible, ask for help, focus on the big picture and always, always remember that your marriage is 1000 times more important than any detail of your wedding day. It’s just the beginning of your story! Remember, Brides of North Texas is always here to assist and to provide helpful resources. We’re cheering for you the whole way!

You’ve got the ring – now it’s time to plan the thing! Overwhelmed and not sure where to even begin the wedding planning process? No worries. We’ve got your back!

First, on behalf of the Brides of North Texas team, we want to give you our sincerest congrats! We LOVE nothing more than genuine love stories. You’re about to kick off forever with your person – how exciting is that?! So, no matter the plans you start making, the lists you start creating and the signatures you start signing (trust us, there will be plenty of those), remember to soak the sweetness of this time up as often as you can.

The wedding planning process is no doubt, a large undertaking. But it doesn’t have to be daunting. We’re here to help every step of the way. Let’s begin!

Photo // Stephanie Brazzle Photography

Choose Your Style and Set a Budget

First things first: before you make any other decisions, the dreaded budget conversation has to be had. You’ll soon be signing contracts and paying deposits with Every. Single. Vendor. So you can’t begin without a budget in mind! Deciding on a budget with your fiancé and your family, if they’re helping to pay, can help you make the other big decision you’ll want to begin with: your size and style. Do you want to jet off for a destination wedding with a few dozen guests? Have a small, intimate elopement? A small affair, or a giant celebration with a few hundred of your closest friends?

The money conversation can be intimidating, but it truly is the best place to start because it sets the stage for everything else. Always remember: a wedding, at the end of the day, is nothing compared to a lasting marriage. There’s absolutely no reason to cause anyone any financial hardship. No matter your budget, you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful celebration with the ones you love most, and that’s all that counts!

Don’t be afraid to reach out to a wedding planner to help from the very beginning. Seasoned wedding planning pros will work WITHIN your budget to help you find the right venue, vendors and other details. They’ll be able to share with you what things cost, realistically, based on different variables and can help steer you in the right direction as you navigate this season and bring your vision to life.

Think About a Rough Guest List

A guest list, already? You read that right. It’s a good idea to go ahead and start considering your guest list at the beginning of the wedding planning process because your overall budget and your venue both rely significantly on how many people you’ll have in attendance. No need to have the complete list set in stone right away, but think about rough numbers of attendees who will definitely be there, as well as a “contingency” count for those who may or may not show up.

Don’t forget about +1’s, and don’t neglect talking to your close family about the guest list. It’s better to get their input from the start than to have disagreements later on about who should be invited or not invited.

Go Ahead and Book Your Venue

Aside from a wedding planner, if you’ll be using one, your venue is the first booking you’ll want to make! The venue is important for several reasons – namely, because the location of your wedding determines so many other facets of the day. Think about these factors as you explore potential venues:

• Date – Which dates do they have availability? Venues often offer discounts for Friday or Sunday weddings.
• Style and Amenities – Does the venue fit your vibe and come with amenities included? Or will you need to set aside more of your budget for decor and rentals
• Capacity – How many guests can fit comfortably
• Cost – While the venue is typically one of the more expensive bookings you’ll make, there’s no magic number or percentage of your budget a venue should hit. Just make sure that you’ll have enough budget remaining for all other must-have vendors after you’ve booked the venue, and don’t forget to consider tables, chairs and necessary decor!

It’s a Date

Remember as you go into appointments with potential venues – they may not have your dream date available. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t have your dream day! Go in with an open mind and flexibility, but with your personal calendar in hand. Consider future commitments like holidays, busy seasons at work, potential weather concerns, and any obligations your immediate families and closest friends may already have. Once you’ve settled on a date with your venue, embrace it and get excited! This is the day you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.

Pop Some Bubbly and Take a Breather

There’s no stress quite like the stress of the wedding planning process. At some points, it’s just inevitable. Take things day by day, try to let the small issues roll off your back, and don’t forget to savor this time with your fiancé, your families and your best friends! Not every day has to involve wedding plans. Go on date nights and agree to not discuss wedding plans. Take a weekend here and there, just to yourselves. Before you know it, the plans will be finalized and it will be time to say I Do!

We’re here to help along the way with vendor recommendations and inspiration galore. We’re so happy for you! Cheers!

If you’re anything like us, you LIVE for all things wedding planning. Making wedding decisions and picking things out, while sometimes overwhelming, is also super exciting, right? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, after all! However, not everyone shares this same passion – and that’s OK! If your partner seems apathetic about wedding planning or isn’t totally eager to participate in the planning process, you’re not alone! Not sure how to get your significant other on board for all that comes with wedding planning, or at least to share their input? Check out our tips below!

Photo // The Lockharts

1. Limit the wedding talk.

Wait, aren’t we talking about wedding planning here? Don’t we need to talk about the wedding as we’re planning it? Well of course! But if your partner isn’t as excited about the planning process as you are, one sure way to make them even less excited about it is talking wedding plans 24/7. Be conscious of how often your conversations revolve around wedding planning, and resolve to take it down a notch. Pencil in a few dates each month where you can both focus several hours on decision-making, and outside of those days, find other things to talk about. Go on dates and vow NOT to discuss anything wedding-related. Trust us – by limiting the planning discussions and not overwhelming your partner with wedding talk, they’re more likely to want to be involved when you do decide to discuss important decisions together!

2. Find out which wedding decisions they DO care about and take their ideas seriously.

You can’t expect your partner to be on board for wedding plans if they feel like they aren’t being heard or that their opinions don’t even matter. Soon after getting engaged, sit down with your significant other and have a candid conversation to find out which wedding-related decisions they do care about, and honor their ideas! Maybe they have strong opinions about the catering or dessert menu; maybe there are certain guests they want to make sure to invite; maybe they have ideas about the reception entertainment – whatever it is, let them voice their ideas and truly take them into account! Remember, the wedding should reflect both of your personalities and preferences!

3. Ask them to join you for just a few of the major in-person visits.

Wedding planning can involve quite a few visits to vendors. From the photographer to the calligrapher, rentals to rings, you’re likely to rack up several meetings before your big day. If your partner doesn’t care to attend every visit with every vendor, that’s OK! You shouldn’t expect them to want to attend all meetings, so it might work better to pick a few major vendor visits that mean the most to you or where you’ll really value their input (let them know that!) and ask them to attend those few with you. If they join you for the initial venue walk-through and a visit to the caterer to taste menu options, but prefer not to pick out linens at the rental shop or go over layouts with the planner, remember: don’t sweat the small stuff! Tackle the big things together and take care of the smaller tasks on your own (or get your maid of honor involved!).

4. Learn what they’ve liked before.

If you’ve been together for a while, you’ve likely attended at least a few weddings together in the past. Ask your partner to think back on those events and pinpoint what they liked (or didn’t like!) about them. Did your college roommate’s wedding have a great band or an awesome cake? Did your cousin’s wedding have fun yard games to play during cocktail hour? Perhaps there was a wedding you attended where something happened that you both want to avoid. If wedding planning isn’t your partner’s thing, it can be hard for them to come up with their own ideas or even to be confident in what they like. Thinking back on past events you’ve attended can help jog their memory and get the ideas flowing, for both of you!

5. Give them one thing to focus on.

Once you have an idea of your partner’s preferences and priorities, give him or her one major task to tackle, and let them run with it! Would they love to come up with a signature cocktail for the bar? Could they be in charge of creating the must-play song list for the DJ? Maybe they’re great at crunching numbers and wouldn’t mind creating and overseeing a budget spreadsheet. This task could be large-scale or smaller, but whatever it is, give your significant other autonomy in the decision-making process and let them know how much you value their help.

Remember, Brides of North Texas is here to help during the planning process, every step of the way! We’ve got thousands of inspirational images to pour through, dozens of top-rated wedding vendors to explore and a team of experts sharing tips and tricks daily on our social channels. We’re here for you and we can’t wait to see your wedding day vision come to life!

You’ve said yes to the ring and to your soulmate – now it’s time to say YES to the dress! In the age of the internet and social media, the wedding gown options are truly endless. When you spend hours scrolling and looking for your dream dress, thinking about purchasing a dress from an online retailer, a chain retailer or from a retailer outside of your home market may seem like a sensible direction to go. But before you type in a URL, head to a chain store or embark on a trip to a destination bridal boutique, we encourage you to consider shopping for your wedding gown from a locally owned boutique. Buying your dress from a local retailer is so important for a plethora of reasons. Scroll below to see why we’re all about the #ShopLocal movement when it comes to choosing the wedding dress of your dreams.

Photo: Carsyn Abrams Photography

Why Buy Your Wedding Gown Locally?

1. Take advantage of the boutique’s connections with other local vendors. Trust us: the local wedding community is extremely connected. Your wedding dress retailer may very well have great recommendations for vendors you’re searching for and can help point you in the right direction as you plan your special day.

2. Enjoy a personalized shopping experience. Make an event out of shopping for your dress with your closest friends and family. Locally owned wedding gown stores don’t have to follow any rules set by a corporate overseer, so they can typically offer a more relaxed appointment experience, more flexibility with orders and specifications, potentially faster order windows and often, many more customization options. If your local dress shop doesn’t have what you’re looking for, they can work to source exactly what you need and communicating those needs in person is always easier. Plus, you might even find a local or regional designer you never would have known about otherwise.

3. Easier alterations and help with last-minute issues. This one is extra important. More than any other piece of clothing you’ll ever wear, your wedding dress is meant to fit you like a glove. Nine times out of ten, wedding dresses require at least a few rounds of alterations to get the perfect fit, and that process is much easier if you’re able to easily attend fittings at the shop and meet with your seamstress in-person. In the event you find yourself with a last-minute issue (tears and stains happen), a local wedding dress shop will be able to help out more easily than somewhere requiring you to send your dress off for assistance.

4. Supporting small businesses and your local economy is always a good idea. This one’s a no-brainer! It’s incredibly important to shop small and support the businesses involved in your local economy. These wedding dress boutiques are typically family-owned, often women-owned businesses with a heart for supporting local initiatives and a passion for being a part of this special season of life with you. You’ve got a friend in them!

Lucky for you, we have a directory of incredible bridal boutiques right here in North Texas for you to explore. They carry many of the most popular designers, countless styles to fit any bride’s tastes, an array of accessories to complete your look and most importantly, items you won’t find anywhere else but in their stores. Make an appointment today to see the magic they can create!

Searching for that special place to say “I do”? If you’re in the North DFW area, Verona Villa is absolutely worth putting on your list of possibilities. This place is so special, and scrolling through the photos below, it’s easy to see why! Take a peek at why brides have fallen in love time and time again with Verona Villa in Frisco. You’ll want to see it for yourself!

1. Amazing Location

Located directly off the Dallas North Tollway in Frisco, Verona Villa is conveniently located next to attractions such as The Star, Legacy West, Dr. Pepper Arena and Toyota Stadium. In addition, there are 30+ hotels located within a 4 mile radius plus various options for fine and causal dining making it ideal for those with out-of- town guests.

Photo: Bay Productions

2. Flawless Experience

Verona Villa includes an expert venue coordinator to ensure a seamless experience! Director of Coordination Makenzie Judah attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Hospitality and also holds a certificate in Professional Event Management from Texas A&M. She’s successfully executed over 150 weddings with Verona Villa and brides can’t get enough of her.

Photo: Erica Mae Photography

3. Grand Interiors

Outfitted with Tuscany, Italy in mind, Verona Villa makes the perfect backdrop for any wedding. Inside you’ll find an elegant setting with soaring ceilings, a stately staircase, Floor to ceiling wood paneling, and breathtaking chandeliers which set the scene for traditional romance.

Photo: HG Photo & Film

4. Expansive Outdoor Patio

Verona Villa is outfitted with a large outdoor patio covering 7,000 square feet and stretching from the ceremony space to the reception space. Upon walking outside, you’ll find a patio that’s decorated with string lights, multiple fountains and “lock of love” garden for that personal touch.

Photo: Matt + Julie Weddings

Photo: Matt + Julie Weddings

Photo: Bay Productions

Want to tour Verona Villa and see all of its Tuscan-style glory for yourself? Reach out to their team to schedule a walk-through!

With the landscape of weddings forever changed because of COVID-19, elopements in lieu of traditional weddings are gaining popularity. Even after this pandemic passes and its effects are mostly behind us, industry predictions point toward elopements remaining a viable, enticing option for couples ready to tie the knot. What is eloping all about, anyway? Why choose to elope rather than host a more traditional wedding? We’re covering all the elopement basics for you, below. Keep scrolling!

Photo: The Lockharts

How is an elopement different than a wedding?

Technically, the term “eloping” means to “run away” and originally was used in the context of running away together for a secret wedding – not telling anyone you’re getting married. As times have changed, eloping has evolved to cover things like getting married just the two of you, having a small, intimate ceremony that may or may not be followed by a larger reception later, getting married without any guests (or very few guests) whether in a destination locale or locally, like at the courthouse – elopements can cover a variety of scenarios! While eloping often saves money in comparison to a traditional wedding because you’re not covering expenses like a large venue, catering, favors, entertainment and other guest-centered costs, couples can still opt for a “luxury elopement” with nice formalwear, a professional photographer and even custom decor. Most often, a couple will choose to elope with the goal of getting married in a specific timeframe, not having to worry about the logistics of inviting guests, saving money or some combination of the three.

Elopements take significantly less time and resources to plan than weddings because again, the guest count factor is all but removed. These ceremonies typically include only the couple, officiant, witnesses if necessary and fewer than ten guests. But whether you’re inviting zero people or a few of your very closest loved ones, couples who choose to elope do still need a marriage license and officiant, and certain venues do still require a waiting period or advanced reservation to host the ceremony, however small. It’s important to note common elopement etiquette includes foregoing a wedding registry since you’re not hosting an all-out affair for guests.

Can we still have a reception after eloping?

Absolutely! Many couples still choose to host a celebration after eloping, whether that’s a small get-together after they’ve returned from a destination elopement, a dinner party the same night as a local elopement or a larger reception with lots of friends and family weeks or even months after a private ceremony. However you choose to celebrate is really up to you – when, where, how many guests – but you definitely don’t have to have any sort of reception, either.

Where should we elope?

The beauty of eloping is that you can do it just about anywhere, with a few considerations, of course. Las Vegas’s no-wait marriage licenses and plethora of “walk-in” venues makes it a popular destination for elopements, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Your local courthouse is always an option for a no-fuss affair, but consider places like a romantic resort, a park, the beach, a rooftop venue, a mountainside – if it can accommodate you, your fiancé and your officiant, it’s probably an option! Just be sure to do your research and make necessary reservations.

How do we get our families on board with an elopement?

Although not true for every family, many families, parents especially, may respond with shock or disagreement when you mention the idea of an elopement. It can be tough to please everyone, certainly when your plans don’t line up with family members’ assumptions or expectations (which may affirm your decision to elope and not deal with family drama at your wedding!). It’s important to reassure loved ones that your intention is not to hurt them by excluding guests – it’s simply to keep your focus on your fiancé and your marriage. Unless you are taking part in a true secret elopement for personal reasons, it’s best to give immediate and even extended family a heads up about your plans to elope and inform them of a celebration to follow or let them know a special way they can support you, despite not having a traditional wedding.

If a true elopement is just too extreme, consider hosting an intimate wedding, instead. With a slightly larger guest list but still a low-key approach in terms of vendors involved, costs and fanfare, this can be a great compromise between an elopement and a large wedding, and ensures the focus is kept on you and your love.

An elopement may be the perfect solution for you and your sweetheart, and no matter how you choose to go about it, we’re here to help! Check out our blog for inspiration and don’t forget about our catalog of wonderful local vendors.

Happy eloping!