Good as Gold

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We're always looking for fun details that are on trend without being trendy.

Gold has been on everyone's radar over the last several years but we're starting to see it pop up in some fresh and unexpected places.

Gone are the days of faux pas, gold lame bridesmaids dresses! Brides now have fun and flirty options for their best ladies. Doesn't this group of girls look amazing!

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Another fun place gold is popping up is on cakes! Sophisticated glamour with a touch of whimsy...my own holy grail! How fun would this be at your best friend's bachelorette party or wedding shower?!

The Special Event, 2012

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Good morning Texas!

It's a gorgeous morning here in Florida as Resha, Lauren, and I are getting ready for the 4-day Special Event conference, hosted by International Special Events Society (ISES). Here's a sampling of what's in store for us these next few days:

  • Event Design Trends
  • New Trends Inspired by Hollywood and Pop Culture 2012
  • Balancing the Mother-Bride Relationship of Wedding Planning
  • Exciting and Challenging Spaces
  • Rethinking and Repurposing Decor
  • Turning You Ideas and Inspirations Into Flawless Events
  • An Event Planners Guide to Lighting Design
  • The Art of Environmentally Responsible Event Planning
So fun! I feel like we're at Wedding Planner summer camp! :)

xoxo,
jessica


My new favorite things!

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Below is a collection of my new favorite wedding trends! I hope they inspire you to add some unique and creative touches to your events as they have mine!














Why not dress up your table with a scalloped table runner?















I love the idea of having your floral centerpieces in bowls, especially Anthropologie bowls!















A cute idea for place cards for your spring wedding!















These matchbooks double as favors and escort cards!















A nice departure from the traditional floral boutonniere!


Happy Creating!




All pictures from marthastewartweddings.com

Whimsical Countryside Wedding

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Signature Drinks

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I love having signature drinks at weddings. It is one more way of making your wedding unique and personal to the couple. To keep costs down, maybe have beer, wine, and a signature drink. Here are some ideas of signature drinks for your next event!


Raspberry Mojito
Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess


Photo Credit: The Knot


Meg and Devin's Signature Drink Menu (See Wedding Here)

Enjoy!

Lorena Alexandria

Customized Wedding Favors!

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I just love finding new do-it-yourself wedding favors!

How about creating customized crayons for your wedding guests? Sounds great, huh! Just heat your oven to 200 degrees and find a cute, silicone mold that you would like to use and you are set! Here are some mold ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Photos: Off Beat Bride

Happy Planning!

- Kristen Barton

Camp Lucy

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Last week, Lorena and I had the privilege of visiting

Camp Lucy

. Lorena featured this venue before

on this blog

, and there's been lots of talk about Camp Lucy throughout the wedding industry. Now that I've seen it first hand, I can vouch that Camp Lucy is worth the hype!

This venue is gorgeous. The owner bought a Vietnamese church and then disassembled and shipped it to the Texas hill country where it was reconstructed in gorgeous splendor. I was so glad to bump into

photographer Matt Johnson

there, as my iPhone camera just didn't do the venue justice (maybe one day, when I get the 4G, but I digress...).

Camp Lucy is hosting its first professional wedding next month - it has previously hosted two weddings for family members. So excited for Lorena to coordinate Brittney's wedding at Camp Lucy this December!

Here are some of Matt's shots - check out

his blog

for more:

Love this cottage - the Bride's House.

Main room of Bride's House

Restroom of Bride's House

Amazing chapel. The pavilion is almost identical, but with open sides.

The Camp Lucy heart logo is found throughout the property.

We're excited to coordinate many weddings at Camp Lucy. :)

jessica

There's a game this weekend...

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... right? I'm not entirely sure because there are few things I care less about than football, but I love an excuse for a party! And if someone in your group is excited about watching grown men chase a ball (I kid, I kid!), then you've got a great excuse to throw a party. Why not make it fabulous?

Have you discovered the deliciousness that is cake balls? I first heard about cake balls a couple of years ago, on the bakerella blog. And about a year ago, I was introduced to Stacey Bridges of Austin Cake Ball, an expert in all things cake ball! Check out these amazing cake balls that she has designed for this weekend's game:



Who knew football could be so pretty?? And, given my first-hand experience with Stacey's cake balls, I am sure they taste as amazing as they look. Give Stacey a call and serve these bite-sized samples of heaven to your pigskin-loving crowd. And, while you're at it, send a box to your favorite pregnant wedding coordinator! ;) Yum.

Go team!
jessica

Personal Touches

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With all of the fantastic wedding blogs and magazines, it's easy to start pulling pictures that inspire you - they help you to form a more concrete idea of what you want your celebration to look and feel like. But don't limit yourself to just these ideas! You and your spouse-to-be are unique, and the two of you are the reason your guests will travel to be a part of your celebration. The more personal touches you can integrate, the better! Your guests will love studying the many little details and sharing the stories the items spark. As your coordinator gets to know you two as a couple, she'll be able to suggest ways to incorporate your story, your unique YOU, into your celebration. No cookie-cutter weddings here!

Here's a short list of some of the personal touches our clients have incorporated:
* dog lovers: table numbers were portraits of their dog chewing on a number; doggie treat bar where guests could make a to-go bag of doggie treats for their furry friends back home; couple's dog serves as ring-bearer in the ceremony, reading "Falling in Love is Like Owning A Dog" during the ceremony, include their dog in portraits
* travel enthusiasts: each table is named after a spot the couple has traveled to; table names include pictures of the couple at that destination, along with a short paragraph about their adventures at that spot and how the trip was significant in their relationship; each area of the reception is themed reflecting a destination
* heritage: celebrate your rich heritage by bringing in meaningful items such as your great-grandmother's quilts, antique figurines, pictures from your parents' and grandparents' weddings

Let us help you brainstorm unique ways to incorporate the things that make you guys the couple you are. Your guests will love the personal touches!

Happy planning! :)
jessica

Ceramic "Pillow" for your Ring Bearer

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Yesterday, I met Caroline.
Caroline (of Paloma's Nest) is somewhat famous in the wedding-related blog world because she makes these awesome variations on the traditional ring bearer pillow:


Her tagline is "Handcrafted modern heirlooms" and that is so appropriate! Many of my brides have used their family's heirloom ring bearer pillow, but they end up being so delicate - yellowed, brittle fabric held together with restitching or cleverly placed lace - that I'm almost scared to let the cute little ring bearers touch them! The traditional ring bearer pillow just can't withstand the hardships of time.

But a ceramic bowl? What a great way to carry on your family's tradition and add a new (and durable!) heirloom to the collection! In just 3 weeks, Caroline will personally create this piece of art for your wedding....

I really love this idea, but I am also pretty darn impressed by the artist herself. She's so sweet and humble. And her Etsy rating is 100%, so I'm guessing her charm shines through in each transaction. Plus, she's one of our South Austin neighbors. :) Introduce yourself, and tell her I sent you her way.

And be sure to check out the other unique items on her site: http://www.palomasnest.com/

-jessica

How Crafty Are You? | DIY Austin Wedding Planning

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I don't know if I should be proud of this, but I consider myself pretty crafty. Yep, I love scrapbooking, knitting, sewing... I wish I had more time for craftiness!

I instantly fell in LOVE with these DIY lanterns.



And the blogger even gives step-by-step instructions so gather some crafty friends, whip up some mojitos and make a night of it! (And invite me....) ;)

Cheers!
jessica

Cigar Rollers | Austin Wedding Planning

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Back in October 2005, I did a fabulous wedding full of interactive activities for the guests. One of the novelties was an on-site cigar roller - it was a first for me but has since proven to be a trend that is gaining momentum!

You need to have several cigars rolled ahead of time because you don't want them smoked while still wet. The ones that are rolled on-site are best saved for the following day, complete with a cigar band showcasing your monogram!


This picture was taken by Hyde Park Photography at Reagan and Anthony's wedding in December 2007, and is featured in the current issue of The Knot Best of Weddings 2009.

Teacups

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Here's an eco-friendly idea for centrepieces - teacups as the vase for your floral arrangements! Pretty as a picture and unexpected, teacups can bring a lot of color and pizazz to your tabletop. Perfect for a bridal shower as well.

I know many of you probably have tea cups passed down from generations ago - what a wonderful way to incorporate a very personal touch into your wedding.

Hope you enjoyed!

Cortney Zieky

Couple from Normal, Ill weds at Taco Bell

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When I first read this story, the first thing I thought was, "I HAVE to blog about this!"

Talk about a cost effective wedding! Could this be The Trend for 2009?

NORMAL, Ill. — Wedding bells meant Taco Bell for Paul and Caragh Brooks.

Customers inside the fast-food restaurant continued to order tacos and burritos as the couple sat Friday in an orange booth at Taco Bell and exchanged vows.

"It's appropriate," groom Paul Brooks said. "It's an offbeat relationship."

Employees displayed hot sauce packets labeled with the words "Will you marry me?" They decorated the restaurant with streamers and balloons.

The bride wore a $15 hot pink dress and the entire wedding cost about $200. Several dozen guests looked on as the couple's friend, Ryan Green of Normal, administered the vows while wearing a T-shirt. He was ordained online.

"This is the way to go — there's no stress," said the groom's mother, Kathy Brooks.

Caragh Brooks, 21, of Australia, met Paul Brooks, 30, on an Internet dating Web site. They already had the same last name.

The couple wrote back and forth and talked on the phone for nine months before Caragh Brooks moved to the United States.

"We have the same brain, just in two bodies," Paul Brooks said. "We think alike in virtually every manner. We have the same interests, viewpoints."

He proposed on New Year's Eve and, because they like to spend time at the local Taco Bell, they decided to wed there.

"I would never have expected in my life in working here there would be a wedding," restaurant manager Carl Hamlow said.

Source: FoxNews.com

Have a great Tuesday!
[cori]

So many blogs. So little time!

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That's how I feel sometimes -- there are so many great wedding blogs out there and, of course, I have to check them all out. Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Hostess with the Mostess and on and on. Inspiration comes from everywhere!

So, you know how I always say we have such AMAZING photographers here in Austin? Well, here's another blog featuring three fab photographers to add to your bookmarks. The Divas (Lisa Woods, Shannon Cunningham and Sherry Hammonds) feature "real" weddings, trends and all kinds of fun Austin wedding tidbits. And look for some planning posts soon -- if I would stop blogging and start writing -- from yours truly ;)

Enjoy!

Becky

For the guy that has everything! | Texas Wedding Planner

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I think that every guy has a friend that has a Man Cave. Or maybe he IS That Guy (I know my husband is). You know the one, sports jerseys on the walls, a fridge stocked with beer, and of course, bobble heads. I do NOT understand the fascination that men have with these (maybe it’s the same as we feel about shoes?), but they’re everywhere. Every major sports player has one. And Those Guys, the ones with the Man Cave, display their scary Big-Headed sports heroes proudly.

So what wedding gift do you get a guy who has a Man Cave filled with Guy Things?

Bobble heads that look just like him and his wife-to-be, of course!

http://www.momentville.com/CustomBobblehead Custom Bobble Heads will make bobble heads in the likeness of the bride, groom, or the whole bridal party. They can be wedding favors for guests (who doesn’t want a mini bobble head of the Bride and Groom?), cake toppers, or even picture frames.

So there you go. Now That Guy has everything.