June/July - The Soiree Issue The Wedding Connection Magazine

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wedding + CONNEC

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WE S T T E XAS E D I T I O N

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J U N E + J U LY 2 0 1 4

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SOIREE

PARTYING REAL WEDDINGS

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DRESSES + DRESSES FOR EVERY BLISSFUL SOIREE

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FOR THE GROOM

TIPS + TRICKS REHEARSAL DINNERS BACHELORETTE PARTIES BRIDAL SHOWERS -1-

6 CLASSY BACHELOR PARTY IDEAS

complimentary - please take one

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Visit Us Today!

5102 60th Ste M, Lubbock, TX 806-687-1428

TABLE OF CONTENTS

09 | editor’s letter 10 | trend report 15 | ask the expert - bachelorette soiree 16 | tips + tricks - rehearsal dinners 18 | morning brunch 22 | diy: bride badges 28 | real weddings 30 | tara + mark 34 | for the groom 38 | beauty prep 40 | book review 42 | the golden moment 50 | time for tea 56 | elizabeth + randy 54 | jenna + clint 62 | savvy soiree dresses 79 | lindsey + austin 87 | stationary tends 94 | editor's corner -5-

A special place for your special day.

W

hether it’s an intimate gathering or a large wedding, the Civic Center has the room and staff to make your day extra special. Call for room rates and availabilities.

1501 Mac Davis Lane Lubbock, TX 79401 80 6-775-2242 lubbockciviccenter.com

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SPECIAL THANKS TO

contributors A A LO N S A LO N www.myaalonsalon.com

B RO O K E B O W L I N www.hairbybrookebowlin.com

ALLEE J P H OTO G R A P H Y www.alleej.com

K E N D R A S C OT T www.kendrascott.com

AMBER LIGHT COLLECTIVE www.amberlightcollective.com

DILLARD’S www.dillards.com ETERNAL BLISS P H OTO G R A P H Y www.eternalblissphotography. com

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SPIRIT RANCH www.spiritranch.us

KRISTEN RASCO DESIGNS www.facebook.com/ KristenRascoDesigns

STEPHANIE CAMPBELL T H E B AC H www.thebach.com

LISSA ANGLIN P H OTO G R A P H Y www.lissaanglin.com

B E L L A T R AT TA www.bella-tratta.com

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REBECCA MARIE P H OTO G R A P H Y www.rebeccamarieart.com

MOMENT IN TIME P H OTO G R A P H Y www.photomomentintime.com

We love to feature weddings with brides + grooms of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds!

Weddings must have taken place in West Texas between 2012 & 2014.

We love looking at fun + unique weddings.

We look for high quality, minimally processed images featuring lots of stunning details.

We are also always looking for new and exciting stylists, designers and vendors to feature!

Visit us at thewcmag.com or email us at hello@thewcmag.com

kristen.rasco@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/KristenRascoDesigns

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1 4 1 2 T E X A S AV E N U E LUBBOCK, TEXAS 79401 806.744.0234 E D I TO R I N C H I E F Aly Fiebrantz

E D I TO R I A L T E A M Katherine Parker Carlye Pittinger Aimee Eaton Mary Matthews

PRINT DESIGNER Jake Price

O F F I C E M A N AG E R Katie Jones

WEB DESIGNER Sonya McDowell

S A L E S S TA F F Andria Keelin Shelby Carpenter The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. All copyrighted work was reproduced with the permission of the owner.

A M E M B E R O F T H E J O R DA N C O L L E C T I V E Magazines printed in China.

Reasonable care is taken to ensure that The Wedding Connection Magazine articles and other information on the web site are up-todate and as accurate as possible, at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by The Wedding Connection Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, The Wedding Connection Magazine takes no responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this publication. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Wedding Connection Magazine.

C OV E R P H OTO B Y Alee J Photography

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CATERING SPECIAL OCCASIONS

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4701 112TH STREET, LUBBOCK TX WWW.L AS -BRI S AS .C OM CATERING : (806) 687-5332

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photo by Allee J. Photography // styled by Brooke Bowlin

FROM THE EDITOR

GET I N VO LV E D !

Only thing I love more than working on the magazine is talking about the magazine. So drop us a line, e-mail, phone call!

1412 Texas Avenue Lubbock, Texas 79401 or hello@thewcmag.com We also accept blog comments, Facebook posts, tweets and cookies. thewcmag.com 806.744.0234

hello!

Blondes have more fun, or so the song goes. We got a chuckle here in the office out of my new hair color just as our soiree issue went to print. Anywho, what better way to kick off the summer months than with our soiree issue. When you get engaged your focus is often centered on the big day, or life and love with your beau or that kitchen aid mixer you always wanted (just kidding on the last part). Often, people forget about all of the fabulous excuses to gather with loved ones before THE day.

Last summer, my beau and I went home to celebrate my graduation from grad school. This was a pretty big deal for me. Finally completing school and the first time my beau was meeting my family. We held a graduation party for my accomplishments. While people didn’t call me “Master Aly” as I had hoped, what I do remember about that evening is being able to visit and catch up with all of my fabulous family that normally live several states away from me. That is the best part about parties and/or soirees, visiting with the people you love!

Bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties and morning after brunches are all soirees we chat about in this issue. Parties are utterly fabulous not just because you get to wear a wonderful dress but because it is time set aside for loved ones. I hope you love this issue as much as we do! It is probably one of my favorites.

xoxo

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PHOTOS BY CAROLINE GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY - 12 -

3703 19TH STREET, LUBBOCK, TEXAS • (806) 797-0727 DEVAULTFLORAL.COM - 13 -

MONOGRAM

MANIA J U N E + J U LY T R E N D S One trend that never really fades is monograms. More and more, we see Bride’s giving their bridesmaids gifts with their initials monogrammed on it.

Now, it’s time we show all the upcoming and recently married brides some items worth putting your monogram on! After all, it is your initials that are changing.

FA N C Y, F L I RT Y, F I T N E S S Okay, we love this! Granted, this may not be necessary, who wouldn’t want to “fanci-fy” their workout? This particular yoga mat from Monograms off Madison is great because it’s a generous size and made of durable, non-slip foam. It’s quality AND cute! This will have your fitness friends not only wanting your ring- they’ll want your yoga mat!

G O L D & G L A M O U RO U S WITH THE GIRLS Every girl needs a small, dainty bag for special occasions. We love this Monogram Luxe bag from Marley Lilly for nights out with your couple friends or a night on the town with the girls. The long gold chain lets you wear the purse sleek on your shoulder or across the body for convenience. It works great with a going out outfit and gold jewelry too!

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THE REPORT

H I G H T E C H S AV V Y

In a world where technology is constantly emerging, it’s important to differentiate your devices from everyone else’s. Erin Condren has customizable covers for tablets and phones that will make you stand out from the crowd! Put your name, initials, and any color or design you want and you will never get mixed up with someone else’s phone again!

CA SUAL FURN ISHI NG S| IN SIDE & OUT

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TOT E S A D O R B S We discovered these Monogram Natural Totes at Marley Lilly just in time for summer! You can carry these cute bags on the beach, by the pool, or even just around town for a shopping day. We love that you can order from a variety of natural designs like leaves, honeycombs, diamonds or stripes. You can choose from all different color threads and monogram styles too!

THE

Hitching POST

The Hitching Post is a premium online directory with es e s' best wedding vendors! A vendor's profile will include a description, photos, contact information, links to website,social media and contact forms.

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THE REPORT

PAC K E D A L L P R E T T Y Whether you are ready to travel with your hubby or just need a handy piece of luggage for overnight travel, we recommend the Erin Condren Monogram Luggage. Erin Condren is great because they work with their clients to personalize each order to the customer’s satisfaction! Why not travel in style? And a bonus-it’s much easier to find at baggage claim!

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ASK THE EXPERT

TOP 9 TIPS FOR THROWING A classy bachelorette soiree

1 . L E T T H E B R I D E A P P ROV E THE GUEST LIST The first step to throwing a classy event is to avoid awkward social situations or stepping on someone’s toes. You don’t want to forget to invite an important relative or close childhood friend of the bride’s. Ask the bride to provide the list of guests and their contact information to avoid any confusion.

2. HANDLE GUEST C O O R D I N AT I O N F O R T H E BRIDE Once you have the guest list, it’s time to takeover the planning! Don’t let the bride worry about the logistics of organizing her bachelorette crew. The Bach simplifies this process and allows you to create itineraries, ask for feedback, send invitations and monitor guest responses all from one place.

3. CHOOSE A CHIC THEME Avoid anything kitschy or scandalous and instead choose a theme that exudes elegance. If your group wants to dress up in costume, we love the idea of a Mad Men or Great Gatsby inspired event.

6 . D R E S S TO I M P R E S S A classy bachelorette party is the perfect opportunity to rock that sleek dress you have been eyeing or those fun stilettos. Everyone will love hitting the town while feeling like a million bucks.

7 . C R E AT E A S I G N AT U R E C O C K TA I L Before heading out for the night enjoy some drinks at home or in your hotel room with the girls. Plan a signature cocktail using the bride’s favorite ingredients to make the pre-game more special.

8 . AVO I D R AU N C H Y PA RT Y FAVO R S Skip the penis straws and keep things classy.

Sleek flasks, cute cake pops, personalized bottles of wine, or hangover kits all make great favors for a sophisticated bachelorette party.

9. ARRIVE IN STYLE Surprise the bride with a luxurious limousine to chauffeur your bachelorette crew to all of your destinations for the night. She will love showing up at the restaurant or club in style!

4 . B O O K S O P H I S T I C AT E D VENUES Keep things classy and choose upscale destinations for the bachelorette party. Head to a scenic vineyard for a wine tasting, relax at a luxurious spa, dine at a trendy restaurant or toast the bride with some bubbly at a swanky lounge.

5. PRIMP FOR THE NIGHT OUT Schedule some time with the gals to get all glammed up! Manicures, pedicures and blowouts will have everyone feeling their best for going out to celebrate.

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ABOUT JOANN BACHAN Joanne Barken is the CEO of The Bach, the first online platform for planning bachelorette parties. Joanne has a BS from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and a JD from Brooklyn Law School. Before realizing her passion for the bridal industry, Joanne completed a clerkship at the New York State Supreme Court. After helping to plan over a dozen bachelorette parties, Joanne recognized a need for a better way to plan complicated events and launched The Bach in October 2013. Joanne lives and works in New York City.

TIPS + TRICKS

BEST 3 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN PLANNING

rehearsal dinner

Photo by Renee Clancy Photography

Rehearsal dinners are sometimes an afterthought in the wedding planning process. They exist, and are something people will go to but the in-depth planning normally doesn’t happen. While, we do not recommend you only plan a rehearsal dinner and not your big day. It is the first event of your wedding weekend! Remember to give the event some thought. Planning your rehearsal dinner can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! Here’s the three most common questions people ask when considering how to plan the rehearsal dinner.

1) What kind of rehearsal dinner?

Deciding on type of rehearsal dinner is sometimes difficult.

You have to between formal and casual, restaurant or a family member’s home. The best way to determine this is take an evaluation of how many of your guests will be in town, whom do you want to see prior to the wedding? Answering those two questions will help you determine the size of your rehearsal dinner. This helps guide you towards what type of rehearsal you would like.

Photos by Visavis Photography & Daysy Photography

Often people think that your rehearsal dinner should mirror the theme of your wedding. This is an easy way to organize your dinner. But if your heart is set on something go for it!

Sometimes it is nice to do the opposite of the setting of your wedding. If your wedding is a backyard hoe down, host a fancy soiree for your rehearsal dinner or vice versa! Had a catering item you had to nix from your special day? Have it at your rehearsal dinner.

2) When do I hold the rehearsal dinner?

Normally the rehearsals dinner is in the evening and/or immediately following the ceremony run through.

However this is not set in stone. Sometimes, if the ceremony run through is the in the morning, or a few days prior to the big day, some couples opt to hold the rehearsal a few days in advance, or earlier in the day prior to the wedding. This might allow you a little leeway between the rehearsal and the dinner.

Remember the number one rule of any wedding plan it is your time to shine and have it your way, everyday! If you have strong opinions about your rehearsal dinner be sure to speak up.

3) Who is responsible for paying for the dinner?

Traditionally speaking the rehearsal dinner is often paid for and organized by the groom’s parents. There are always caveats to this, of course!. First, if you have strong opinions of the rehearsal dinner, and especially if what you would like is extravagant or potentially budget straining. The other caveat is if the groom’s family is helping fund other portions of the wedding it is not necessarily expected that they then pay for the rehearsal dinner as well.

Historically, when the groom’s family was responsible for the rehearsal dinner it was because the bride’s family was responsible for the rest of the wedding. This is not often the case anymore; couples are now contributing to wedding funds, as well.

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From Trendy to Traditional & Intimate to Lavish

PAULA BARNETT

Floral Designer

Certified Wedding Planner

432-770-1121

BARNETTANDCOFLORAL.COM

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Got Engaged?

Join us for our Summer Bridal Extravaganza August 10th, 2014 1pm-4pm Lubbock Civic Center The Bridal Services Associates of Lubbock, TX bridalserviceassociates.com

Photographers - venues - floral - catering - alterations - cakes - wedding planners - DJ service - travel and more!

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Coffee with Your wedded bliss Photo by Amberlight Collective

MORNING AFTER FA M I LY B RU N C H

The ritual of leaving the night of your wedding is becoming a trend of the past.

Couples often find themselves so exhausted after their wedding they do not leave for their honeymoon for a day or even a week after their actual wedding. Oftentimes, brides describe their wedding day as hectic, a whirlwind, and overwhelmingly emotional. This can leave couples exhausted and portions of the big day a little blurry.

Wedding days are difficult, every single guest is there vying for your attention, you want to pay attention to your beau, and before you know it your big day is over.

A great solution to this is a morning after family brunch! The morning after your big day, keep the party going and host a breakfast or brunch with your family and friends. Hosting a breakfast the morning after your wedding guarantees you’ll get time with the people you love. It ensures you get to visit with family and friends who have traveled a long way to support you. Here are a few ideas of how to set up a fabulous Bridal Brunch for your big day plus one! Regardless of what you decide to do the morning after your big day, do something fun as a couple or with family.

Why not use any excuse to keep the party going?

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MORNING BRUNCH

HOME IS WHERE THE FOOD IS

Another option for a morning after brunch is to have a family member host it. Have a casual relaxed get together. Invite your closest and dearest. It is a chance to create a small intimate gathering immediately following your large grandiose day. One bride reminisced that her favorite memories were sitting around with her family the morning after her wedding and opening presents with them. It made it a family affair.

Photo by Rebecca Marie Photography

FAVO R I T E LO C A L E AT S

L E T T H E H OT E L D O T H E W O R K

One of the best parts of travelling is eating at fun new places.

If you don’t want something as formal as a hotel gathering or as intimate as a family’s house, eating at your favorite local breakfast place is another great option! Gearing up for the wedding you probably did not have a lot of time to hang out with people coming into town. Now that you’re experiencing married bliss, share your favorite food eats with your friends and family.

Often, there is a single hotel that your friends and family stay at when coming in to town for their big day, or maybe you and your beau are spending the night in a hotel after your wedding day (highly recommended). Your hotel can set up a small intimate brunch for you and your loved ones in a conference room, or even at a large table in their restaurant.

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We know you’ve got

something to celebrate.

We’ve got a flavor for every occasion wedding party gifts • guest goodies • wedding showers

Lubbock 5217 98th Street, Ste. 300 (806) 794-2000 - 25 -

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DIY:

brides badges What you'll need: Flower

Ribbons (varying textures and/or colors)

Pins / Clips (if not already on flower)

Glue Gun

Burlap

Letter / word cut outs (I used cardstock & a Cricut cutting machine

M

onths (maybe years ago), I saw this adorable rustic flower badge online and pinned it onto Pinterest right away. The pins, however never lead to a DIY, and was only linked to the party where the badge was photographed. I was slightly disappointed, but knew that it couldn’t be too difficult. A few months ago, I found the perfect flower for this DIY at Michaels, and since I am hosting a bridal shower, I thought it would be the perfect time to try this out!

Let’s start with the burlap. I purchased precut ribbon-like burlap because I thought it would be easier, but you can purchase it in bulk (which is an even cheaper option for you thrifty folks).

AS you may know, burlap can sometimes fray, and get a bit messy, and we definitely don’t want that on an accessory that our bride is going to wear all day!

First, make sure that the burlap is larger in size that you want the swatch for the badge.

Once you determine your dimensions, find a strand that you want to be the edge of your badge. Take the strand, and pull it out – there may be some resistance, you should be able to pull it out fairly easily. *I precut all my burlap, so that removing strands would be easier (it can be difficult if the burlap size is too large).*

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This will leave a bit of a gap – and will make it look like a ‘run’ in the burlap.

Now cut the excess burlap (keep your scissor path closest to the excess) Now you should have a clear edge around at least 3 sides. I did mine on all 4 sides, just in case.

Decide how you would like the badge to look (how many layers of ribbon you will use, what kinds of ribbons/patterns, etc).

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DO IT YOURSELF

Begin layering your ribbon. You can add as many types of ribbon or style them as you like.

I couldn’t find a ribbon width I liked for this, so I actually used two overlapping ones as my second layer. I cut each of the sheer ribbons at a diagonal, and layered them so that they made a “V” at the end.

I like to keep things simple, so my final layer (3rd) was this gorgeous rustic silk ribbon that I purchased from Michaels. To give it the pretty tail, fold the ribbon in half, and cut diagonally Once you have created your layout, begin gluing each layer together. Once the ribbons are all together (in a stack), create a glue line across the ribbon stack (or across the back of the flower) and adhere the badge to the back of the flower.

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Thankfully, these gorgeous paper flowers already included a clip and pin on the back.

If you are using a regular flower, now would be the time to attach those.

Now, lay out your pre-cut letters and space them accordingly. Once you find a layout you like, simply glue your letters/word cutout directly to the main/center ribbon.

Voila!

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8215 University Ave #130 Lubbock, TX 79423 (806) 748-8000

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No one ever gushed about how tasty the flowers were.

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l s a g e r ddin e w Photo by AleeJ Photography

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THE BEGINNING We met when Tara was sixteen and Mark was twenty three. She was working as a teller at Happy State Bank, while Mark was starting out his career at Happy State Bank. Tara thought, “Man, He’s so cute, but so old!” Mark remembered her as ‘his boss’s daughter.’ Fast-forward seven years later, one afternoon at the local grocery store, Tara was looking at a store item when she felt that someone was watching her. Sure enough when she whips around, there was Mark…AND as she thought to herself, “I’m pretty sure he was checking me out!” They talked nonstop. But it wasn’t until two years later that Mark & Tara ended up in the same Bible study and the spark continued to grow into a relationship; and the rest was history.

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REAL WEDDINGS

THE DRESS

THE P RO P O S A L

Mark & I were not engaged Mark had to install yet; however, we had discussed equipment on the top of the if we were to get married, the best time downtown building in Amarillo. would be October. My mom & I were visiting my However Mark promised her the work would little sister in Lubbock who decided for fun, to set up be done and we could go out on a nice, romantic date. appointments for me just to look! I literally had NO idea what When he came to pick Tara up, she wasn’t quite ready, but kind of dress I wanted. I had decided on a key hole wedding dress, Mark got a phone call stating he had to go back to the bank. He told when my Bella’s rep said, “Before you say yes to the dress, let’s try on Tara, “I’ll be right back and then we can go eat!” Tara was not ok with one that is completely different than every thing you have tried on.” So I that. She had just gotten back and didn’t mind going with him right tried it on just to make sure I loved my dress. I remember standing there then. Mark had locked himself up on top of the roof. It locks in front of my mom & sister and the scene in “Run Away Bride” hit me automatically and he left his keys in the car to keep Tara cool. Tara where Julie Roberts is swaying like a bell, so happy! I loved that dress. makes her way up five stories and finally is at the final staircase to reach the roof . She opens the door, but there is no Mark. Turns the corner, and sees her man on one knee, a candle-lit dinner in the background, Aretha Franklin music playing softly (her favorite). Tara FAVO R I T E M O M E N T S bursts out laughing and squealing, Mark finally coaxed her into coming Mark: The shofars being blown and the sanctuary quiet as I walked over to him. He said some really sweet things and asks, “Will you marry down the aisle. I could hear my pants hitting together with each step. me?” Tara responds, “Yes, times infinity!” After the emotions die It was completely silent in there. And then Tara coming down the down, Tara said, “But what about the dinner!” Mark laughs, “I got it aisle. to go, now let’s go eat, my future wife.”

Tara: When the shofars were blown, I was in a stairwell by myself.

It was a sweet moment between God & I, knowing that Mark T H E F LO W E R S entering the sanctuary for me, Jesus too will come for his bride I had no idea what kind of flowers I wanted, so one afternoon, my mom one day. And then the giddy anticipation to see my man!

(Nancy Hickman), Brenda Rusten and I went to a whole-sale flower shop. We went through each one. I am very ‘marketing minded’. Since our colors were gray, gold & ivory, I picked flowers based off of that.

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B E S T A DV I C E

We recommend a shorter engagement.

It took a little less than four months to get my dress in; however, a short engagement helped us make decisions.

We didn’t have time to change our mind on the details of our ceremony or reception. We had to make it and go.

We were always told, “Enjoy! It flies by!” Through out the engagement & wedding, we would say, “I love you.”

And yes we love each other, but it was our reminder to stop, breathe it all in and remember this moment! In the grand scheme of things, whether a popcorn display is on a square or round table is petty. What matters is that you will get to say “I do” forever to your best friend, comrade and love of this life.

THE FUTURE

We are living and loving life in Amarillo, Texas. We get to worship and serve together in our church’s student ministry. We hope to have children one day, but are not rushing anything and just enjoying one day at a time while living the American Dream.

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THE DETAILS THE COUPLE

MENSWEAR

Tara Ann

Vera Wang Men's Warehouse

+ Mark Goodwin Murray

F LO W E R S + D E C O R AT I O N S

THE CEREMONY

Brenda Rusten

First Baptist Church, Amarillo, TX

T H E C AT E R E R

Joe Anderson

THE RECEPTION

Happy State Bank Amarillo, TX

THE CAKE

Gluten Free Cupcakes from Ruffled Cup

THE DRESS

Maggie Sottero BRIDESMAID DRESSES

David's Bridal

THE BAND

Dave & The Wavetones

FOR THE GROOM KEEPING IT CLASSY

T

he term “bachelor party” doesn’t always ring a positive bell with the Bride to be. Despite society’s norm of the typical bachelor party, it is definitely important for the guys to have their last “hoo-rah.”

We’ve come up with a list of some classy ways for the guys to get together and celebrate, all the while giving your bride peace of mind knowing you are in the care of your best buds.

S AV V Y S I P P I N G Ever taken a wine tasting class? Well this is a similar concept!

We love the idea of buying a variety of whiskies, specialty beers, or any other liquor of your choice and having a tasting bar at your bachelor party. Hangout or cookout as well as and you boys are set for the night!

Photos by Reese Moore Photography

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N OT YO U R T Y P I C A L B A R Men love cigars. It’s not a matter of whether or not they enjoy smoking, but there is something sophisticated about cigars that men seem to be infatuated with. So we recommend an out of the ordinary idea of hosting a cigar bar. Let each bachelor roll up their own ingredients and enjoy their masterpieces.

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FOR THE GROOM

Photo by Dave Hirzel

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Photo by Bryan Jonathan Weddings

RO U G H I N G I T Camping is always a low budget, fun and easy way to spend your last night as a bachelor with your buddies reminiscing all your single days together. Load up the truck with some tents, pop up chairs, and everything you need to build a fire and enjoy hanging out in the countryside.

W H I T E WAT E R W I L D E R N E S S This one is for the brave adventurers!

If you are looking for a story to tell, get your guys together and plan a road trip for white water rafting. Although this may be the costly option, it’s without a doubt a bachelor party no one will forget!

Photo by Grant Cochran Photography

L E T ’ S P L AY B A L L Round up the guys for your favorite sport and get tickets for a good game because we think that this would make a great get together for the bachelors! One great thing about this is no matter what season it is, there are always sporting events going on. Don’t live near a professional sports team? Make it a weekend trip!

AC E I N T H E H O L E If you’re looking for a low maintenance night out with the guys, then put on your poker face! By staying in for the night you and the boys get to put the money that would have been spent on pricey bar drinks on the poker table instead, and there is no need for a designated driver.

Another plus-you get the chance to win a little extra cash for you and your bride-to-be for the honeymoon!

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Photo by Sura Nurapalid

THE ART OF STRESS FREE

wedding day hair

Hello, my name is Tommy Talley owner/stylist of Aalon Salon in Lubbock, Texas. After 28 years in the hair industry, I’ve seen just about every scenario you can imagine, when it comes to Wedding Day Hair. “DON’T WORRY EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT” wedding parties to the “OMG….PLEASE LET THIS BE A DREAM” wedding parties. Being a busy bride can add an ocean of stress to “The Big Day”.

At Aalon Salon

we suggest setting up a pre wedding day event to have the wedding party enjoy hors d’oevres, wine, mimosas or whatever suits your fancy. You can customize this event to your special design and style. We have just started doing this at our salon. We would like to ask The Wedding Connection Magazine readers to help us come up with a name. Please submit your answers to myaalonsalon@gmail.com or katherine@thewcmag.com. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Aalon Salon.

In the event you can’t get the whole wedding party organized for this occasion, we definitely recommend that the Bride do a practice run so there are no surprises. We would also recommend, bringing in pictures of how you would like your hair, if it’s possible we should be able to duplicate the picture or recommend something more suitable for your hair type. One last thing…. The wedding day is ALL about the bride; she is queen for the day, with that being said, we can hope the best for NO BRIDEZILLAS! All in good fun, we want to make your wedding day style unforgettable!

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BEAUTY REGIMENT

ABOUT AALON SALON At Aalon Salon, we are committed to cultivating lasting relationships through individual artistry and exceptional customer service. We strive to raise community consciousness and provide our clientele with an educated staff, in a relaxed, full service salon environment!

Aalon Salon opened our doors in June of 1990. We began with 3 original owners, Donnie W., Brad W and Me, Tommy Talley. Our original concept was to “Bring the World to West Texas”, meaning, to bring the latest hair, fashion etc to our little slice of heaven, Lubbock, Tx. After about 3 yrs, Brad and I bought out Donnie and continued Aalon Salon till Jan 08, when I bought out Brad and own to this day, almost 24 years. WOW! We offer most hair services, nails, massage, waxing, airbrush tanning, special occasion styles, blowouts, smoothing therapy, Highlights, color and Professional products to recreate your style at home. Please give us a call at 806-744-2478 or come by 2422 Broadway ste A Lubbock, Tx

Perfect Weddings Begin at the Overton Hotel • 20,000-square-foot column-free Grand Ballroom • Receptions for up to 500 people • Junior Ballroom for smaller receptions or ceremonies • Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Luncheons, Departure Brunches • Unique & Personalized Catering Options • Impeccable Service • 303 Upscale Rooms and Suites • Bridal Suite on 15th floor with Romantic Views • Hospitality Suites for Bridal Party events

Phone: 806.776.7012 • Email: sales@overtonhotel.com Internet: OvertonHotel.com

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Ritz

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806-239-5101

book review

Weddings mean parties and parties mean carefully choosing whom to invite, what to wear amongst a gazillion other things. For this issue’s fabulous book review we decided to read (and reread) an etiquette book for all of those hard to answer questions!

E M I LY P O S T W E D D I N G ETIQUETTE: 6TH EDITION B Y: A N N A P O S T & L I Z Z I E POST We just love this wedding etiquette book. It creates a perfect blend of traditional notions of a wedding day, and offers modern practicalities at the same time. Sometimes, it is difficult to determine who is expected to pay for certain events, and what are the specific responsibilities of each individual (or “star” as they call it in the book). We just loved Chapter

3’s focus on the practicalities of your special day. This chapter has specific divisions of cost and responsibilities lists. We just love lists don’t you?

Another fabulous part of the book is, the great great granddaughters have updated it for the modern age. There is a specific chapter dedicated to appropriate and inappropriate electronic communication. The book discusses appropriate items to communicate via e-mail and what needs to occur in printed form.

We loved this chapter! Print invitations are sometimes difficult to do, and we too often

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rush to e-mail or Facebook or text message because it is faster. What we loved about this book is while it acknowledged the ease of this, it recognized when it was appropriate to go traditional.

The book is rather lengthy, and we know most people do not have time to read the entire book, but that’s okay! We recommend grabbing it as a go to answer guide when you are not sure what is the most appropriate. You don’t have to read it in one sitting but it’s a great resource to have on hand to help answer those hard to answer questions!

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the*

golden moment Photography by Eternal Bliss Photography

Engagement parties are a fun way to kick starts the planning frenzy that proceeds your wedded bliss.

Your engagement party is the first time you and your loved ones get to gather and celebrate your upcoming nuptials. We wanted this to be an utterly classy affair.

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THE GOLDEN MOMENT

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THE GOLDEN MOMENT

SPECIAL KUDOS TO

STYLIST + DECOR

Kristen Rasco F LO W E R S

Bella Tratta

Seating a large group of friends and family in rounds as opposed to one long table is a great way to ensure conversations happens. While all guests may know you, they may not know each other.

Round tables are a great opportunity for people in your bridal party to meet each other. And any other wedding day stars they are not familiar with one.

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Wedding Receptions Bridal Showers Baby Showers For this utterly elegant affair we chose mint and gold as the theme for the blissful night. Selecting simple floral pieces places the emphasis on the table-scape itself. A tall thin arrangement works well on the round. It adds a touch of floral while still allowing guests to speak to one another across the table.

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Galleries remain open Ellen Noel Art Museum during your event! (432) 550 9696 Call for more information. Abbie@ellennoelmuseum.com 4909 E University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79762

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TIME FOR TEA

Women think of their bachelorette parties, engagement parties, wedding day and rehearsal dinners. Bridal showers are an exciting wedded event.

It is a wonderful time for the bride, bridal party and all of her nearest and dearest gal pals get together and enjoy time together.

We were tired of the old and tired, simple backyard bridal shower. We thought, instead, that creating a getaway was the perfect theme for a bridal shower. Our staff loved having tea parties when we were little and we wanted to recreate those moments for our bridal shower!

Photography by Eternal Bliss Photography

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TIME FOR TEA

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Mention seeing this ad in The Wedding Connection Magazine & receive a free bracelet with the purchase of 2 beads or more!

Having an Alice and Wonderland Bridal Shower Tea party is a great idea for your bridal shower. This gorgeous bridal shower is elegant (how can tea in china tea cups not be elegant?) but also a lot of fun. If you think back to the Alice and Wonderland movie, it is all about the details and this is true of this gorgeous Bridal Shower table as well.

We just could not get enough of this gorgeous table with the bright vibrant colors! Who would not want the colors as vibrant and fun as the guests? The gorgeous background is a great setting.

We were also particularly obsessed with the googley eyed red flowers! We could not think of a better way to decorate this highly sophisticated bridal tea.

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TIME FOR TEA

But wait, what do you do at a bridal high tea? Aside from the obvious answer of drinking tea, there are tons of fun things. We set up a hat rack, and a decorate your own Mad Hatter hat. It’s not a Mad Hatter tea party without Eat Me and Drink Me signs!

Relax, and enjoy your gal pals. That is the best thing to do at a Bridal Shower and enjoy the gorgeous, fabulous décor!

SPECIAL KUDOS TO STYLIST + DECOR

Kristen Rasco F LO W E R S

Bella Tratta

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elizabeth &* randy Photography by Moments in Time Photography

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THE BEGINNING

Randy and Elizabeth met when they were both working at Big Brothers Big Sisters in Abilene, TX. Both Randy and Elizabeth attended Abilene Christian University, but did not actually meet while in school.

Randy graduated with his Masters from ACU in May 2012, and decided to stay in Abilene for another year for his job at BBBS. Elizabeth still had one more year in school while Randy was working at BBBS. Soon after they met at work, Randy and Elizabeth started dating, and the rest is history! Randy and Elizabeth must have crossed paths at ACU countless times, but it wasn't the right time yet. God brought them together at the perfect time.

T H E P RO P O S A L

Randy and Elizabeth were dating long distance for he summer of 2013. Elizabeth was interning in San Antonio while Randy was working in Abilene. Randy had been thinking about proposing to Elizabeth for some time. He planned to go visit her in San Antonio.

On his way, he stopped in Elizabeth’s hometown, San Angelo, to ask her parent’s permission to marry Elizabeth. Of course they gave their blessing! Randy didn’t get much sleep that night knowing he was about to propose to the love of his life the next day.

Randy surprised Elizabeth at the church she was interning at in downtown San Antonio. He was so nervous, and couldn’t keep his secret for much longer.

Soon after they reunited, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Elizabeth was so surprised, and they both started crying with joy.

Obviously, she said yes!

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THE DRESS

My mom and I went together to a local bridal shop in San Angelo, Jackson’s Ladies Fashions and Bridal Shop. I also found my high school prom dresses at Jackson’s and they have a great selection of bridal gowns. I knew the style dress I was looking for- classic, elegant, with soft lace. I had a picture in my head of how I wanted it to look.

The dress I bought was actually the first one I tried on in the store! I knew it was perfect the moment I tried it on. I felt elegant, classy, and W E S T T EIXwanted AS EDITto ION beautiful- everything feel on my wedding day! And I knew my groom would love it too. It was so hard keeping it a secret from him.

FAVO R I T E M O M E N T S

the

The whole day was perfect! We both loved having a “first look” photo session. It was nice to have a quiet, intimate moment before the whole day started. We also loved being surrounded by our friends and family.

That really made the whole day that much more special. Looking back, the whole day is such a blur- in the years to come, I doubt we will rememberC O N N E C EBRUARY + MARCH 2014 small details like theFcake flavor, decorations, etc., but we will always remember feeling the love and support on that day from the people we love the the most.

wedding + CONNEC

the

ION

ION

the wedding wedding ding wedding wedding + RECEPTION

C

the

ION

COONNNNE C E C I OINO N C

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 3

cover issue

DECEMBER 2013 +

AUGUST + JANUARY 2014 SEPTEMBER 2013

CONNEC

ION CONNEC +ION

the

T E XA S issue

ultimate dress issue

!

1

1

the

wedding + CONNEC

ION

Check out our daily Real Wedding blog posts and our Weekly Staff Obsessions posts where we review services and products for our readers. See all this and more at THEWCMAG.COM - 64 -

The Wedding Connection | THEWCMAG.COM | f

Tp

REAL WEDDINGS

T H E F I R S T LO O K

We decided to do a first look to help calm our nerves before the ceremony.

We couldn’t wait to see each other. I actually made Randy wait longer than anticipated since getting ready took more time, so we were both excited to finally see each other!

FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N S

I wore my great grandmother’s cameo necklace that three generations of women have worn before me. It was so B I G G E S T S P L U RG E special to be reminded of all the great Definitely our photographer! We marriages in our family. knew from the beginning that was one thing we wanted to splurge on T H E F LO W E R S because pictures last a lifetime. Jennifer Our wedding coordinator, Susan Ball, Nieland, owner of A Moment in Time from City Café and Bakery also selected Photography, did such a wonderful job our flowers. I told her my vision of capturing all of the special moments of having autumn colors with reds, soft the day. We know we will treasure her oranges, and lots of green leaves. She photos for many years to come. Jennifer chose red and orange roses as a focus. I also helped me in so many other ways also really love succulents, so I wanted the day of the wedding from doing my to incorporate those into my bouquet makeup to announcing us at the as well. reception. It was such a blessing to have her there making sure the whole B E S T A DV I C E day went smoothly.

Try not to stress too much about all the details. In the end, your wedding day is THE FUTURE such a blur and is over so quickly. The We currently live in Irving, TX where only thing that matters at the end of the we both work. I am planning on startday is being married to the love of your ing graduate school this fall (2014), and life and having your friends and family Randy is in the process of becoming there to celebrate with you. Enjoy your a teacher. We love being married and engagement, and don’t let little details are enjoying this new season of life stress you out. I also encourage couples together. Also, we were not able to take to be true to who they are, and plan the a honeymoon right after our wedding, wedding that reflects their relationship, so we are planning one for this summer rather than trying to impress others.

(2014).

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THE DETAILS THE COUPLE

Elizbeth Claire

+ Randall Andrews Woods, Jr. THE CEREMONY + RECEPTION

Emmanual Episcopal Church San Angelo, TX THE DRESS

Jackson's Bridal Shop San Angelo, TX MENSWEAR

J. Ferrar T H E F LO W E R S + F O O D + CAKE + DECOR

Susan Ball, City Cafe & Bakery, San Angelo, TX

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SAVVY

SOI - 68 -

REE DRESSES

Photography by AlleeJ Photography

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

E

veryone focuses on THE dress. The wedding dress you wear on your special day.

But, what they don’t tell you is there are many dresses for all the celebrations leading up to your special day. Weddings are about celebrations, and why not look utterly fabulous for all of your wedded blissful events? Here’s some fun (colorful) ideas for laidback and elegant looks for your bridal showers, engagement parties, bridal brunches, rehearsal dinners, and whatever else you want! We thought it would be fun to dress each model up in a colorful theme based upon their style, and personality. The average bride needs three dresses outside of their wedding dress: bridal shower, engagement party and rehearsal dinner. Check out these lovely ladies themes and dresses!

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Queenie’s Jewels brooch bouquets

to order call (432) 638-7076

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

R A D I A N T O RC H I D

Amy loves purple. The fun, bright color of the year we thought was a perfect color for Amy’s dresses.

We kept all of her dresses short and fun. We opted to keep them all the same color. Something like this is a great option if you want to wear your favorite color for your big day!

BRAIDED PURPLE

We just love the back of this dress.

This is perfect for a fun backyard rehearsal dinner. Sometimes, the more casual events are the most difficult to dress for. You want to look elegant, but not too overdressed for the occasion. The silhouette of the dress makes it flow gracefully and combined with the braided back allows the bride to dress it down with a pair of strappy sandals or western boots, or to dress the look up if the event is to be a more formal one.

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

F U N + F L I RT Y

This gorgeous dress was the perfect option for an outside bridal shower brunch. The simple form, and cinched waist creates a wonderful silhouette. Added bonus?

The fun flirty sleeves cover her shoulders so she is protected from the sun, and not worrying about tan lines on her big day.

SWEET LUXURY

This Grecian like dress serves as the perfect statement piece when making your grand entrance at you and your beau’s engagement party. There is an emphasis on enhancing Amy’s figure by creating a natural, elegant look with a cinched waist and semi scoop neck. This beautiful dress gives the bride an opportunity to look beautiful without any discomfort. How could it be any better?

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MINT GREEN

For Celeste, we decided to focus on the beautiful mint green. This color has become a recent hit with brides everywhere, and for good reason!

We put Celeste in a variety of fits to show off her figure and just how adaptable mint can be! This color is easy to pull off, and can be combined with other accent colors such as coral or pale yellow if you want to accentuate the beauty of mint.

FRINGE FUN

This dress is just so much fun! The fringe and small keyhole opening in the front of the dress gives the perfect amount of fun and style wanted at your engagement party. It has a shape that is perfect for anybody and can do nothing but compliment the wearer.

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

LOV E LY L AC E

We just cannot get over how sweet this dress is! The lace, the green, the sash, it is the perfect embodiment of bliss. The lace and midsleeves give the dress a casual elegance that cannot be denied. Debut this dress at your rehearsal dinner and it is sure to be a hit.

FITTED FUN

To be sure, this dress is a knockout. From the fitted silhouette to the detailed sweetheart neckline, the dress is sure to make an impact.

It is the picture of sophistication and flair. The perfect dress for the perfect shower!

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

B L AC K A N D W H I T E

When you hear the colors black and white, you probably don’t see the two quite like us, or Lacy. While sticking with the classic colors of style, we decided to mix them up and have some fun! These black and white dresses show that classics are anything but ordinary.

C O LO R B LO C K

This little number is an absolute beauty. Its fitted silhouette and black details is flattering for the figure and helps create an extra amount of confidence as soon as it is put on!

The dress is perfect for a formal rehearsal dinner when all you really want to do is dress up!

SASSY SEQUINS

The second dress we put Lacy in is primarily white, but has several different colored sequins, which makes it so much more exciting! Wearing this to your bridal shower gives the perfect amount of chicness while still being fun and not overly formal.

The sequins combined with the fit and V neck create a feisty look that won’t be overlooked!

THE SASS IS I N T H E D E TA I L S

This dress is just perfect for an evening engagement party. We loved the simple black shift dress with just small embellishments.

This creates an utterly elegant look, for the night that you and your beau celebrate your newfound engagement.

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WEDDING WHITE White is sometimes a hard color to wear, but it is also THE color for your special day. We decided to give Ragan lots of practice.

Wearing white to all of your soirees pre-wedding is a great way to figure out what looks best on you!

Personally, we are most afraid of spilling, so it gives you chances to practice not being clumsy for one evening.

S H I F T E D L AC E Ragan looks perfect in this lace shift dress! The capped lace sleeves create just the perfect amount of detail for this dress.

She chose to pair it with a gorgeous Kendra Scott necklace, in a bright teal. This created a wonderful contrast on her gorgeous tanned complexion and the bright white dress. This is a perfect, fun dress for a wonderfully scrumptious bridal shower afternoon tea!

D OT S + G O L D Wedding white with flair! We added a bit of pizazz with this perfect gold belt for this wonderful dress. If you look super close, you will see embossed polka dots that we just love! It adds a different texture to this gorgeous flowy dress. WE can just imagine this dress at a gorgeous mint and gold engagement party. (Be sure to check out our wonderful mint and gold party!)

W O N D E R F U L LY WHITE This mock halter dress is so in right now. The gorgeous straps create a flattering silhouette on Ragan. This fitted gown with a looser skirt works well for a rehearsal dinner at a snazzy restaurant. Just stay away from the spaghetti and red wine!

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

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SAVVY SOIRRE DRESSES

BRIGHT PINK

The first thing you notice about Maddy is her big smile! She almost could not stop laughing during her time in front of the camera, this made bright pink the perfect color for this gorgeous blonde. Hot pink was a huge color this year, if you fell in love with it as much as we did, you can wear it in all sorts of ways!

O M B R E P I N K + B O OT S

Who doesn’t love ombre pink?

This dress might be a solid color but it has so much going on! Long sleeved, short hem, dark pink fading to white. It’s the perfection combination for an outside BBQ. Don’t worry Maddy didn’t forget her boots for her engagement party hoe down.

Boots are fun to pair with dresses, but they have to be the right dress and this is it!

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ONE-SHOULDERED ELEGANCE

This gorgeous one shoulder coral dress is just so much fun, the cinched waistline is super popular right now. How could you not be smiling in this great color? This would be a great dress for a fun bridal shower. Regardless of the season we think this color would be amazing on anyone!

SPECIAL KUDOS TO HAIR

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Hair + Makeup

by Brooke Bowlin DRESSES

Dillards JEWELRY

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lindsey �

austin - 85 -

THE BEGGINING

Tell us your story as a couple. We met in 2008 through a church small group. I, Lindsey, showed up one day and Austin was sitting in my spot! We joked around and got to know each other in the following weeks, and we’ve been together ever since.

T H E P RO P O S A L

Austin took me to my favorite restaurant, Abuelo’s, and then drove us all around Lubbock to places that were special to us.

For instance, the house we first met in during small group, homes where our closest friends live, a park where we swung and talked, and then to our very own special place where we’ve had many good talks and dates. I knew once we got there why we were there again. He proposed in the same spot that we had years prior had a fantastic talk. Now it’s REALLY my favorite spot.

Photography by AleeJ Photography

THE DRESS

I bought my dress in Midland, Texas (my home town).

The bridal shop is called Absolute Bridal, and believe it or not it was the very first dress I tried on! I tried on about 4 more just because I thought I needed to make sure, but they fell short of the first.

FAVO R I T E M O M E N T S

I think my favorite moments of the wedding revolve around the dance floor. Watching some of the younger kids dance was absolutely hysterical. Also, our first dance was really special to me, to soak it in and realize I was dancing with my HUSBAND. It was hard to believe.

T H E F I R S T LO O K

We did a first look about an hour before the ceremony started. We ultimately decided to do a first look because it was convenient for us and would allow us to do all our pictures before the reception without us showing up late to our own party. In the end, I am glad I did the first look. Our first look was so special and emotional. For the first time all day, it was just us.

Of course, our photographer was there too but it was so natural and romantic. It really helped calm my nerves before walking down the aisle.

FAVO R I T E D E TA I L S

Our favorite details of the reception were the food options. Our wedding reception was totally “us.” From fajitas, to chick-fil-a cookies, we had all our favorite foods in one room. On paper it seemed mismatched, but we made it flow and look so fun and inviting.

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REAL WEDDINGS

F O O D + D R I N K S + D E S S E RT S

Abuelo’s catered fajitas and enchiladas for us. We both wanted fun, yummy “normal” food. Not escargot. We actually did not have a wedding cake! We asked Sheridan’s Frozen Custard to make us 250 wedding cake concretes instead. It was so delicious, I was the bride walking around holding a concrete and talking with my mouth full. We also did a dessert bar that had Chick-fil-a chocolate chunk cookies, and homemade chocolate cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries.

For fun, we had a Nothing Bundt Cake (lemon!) to cut and serve each other. I guess that was our “cake.”

T H E F LO W E R S

My vision for flowers was soft, big flowers with lots of greenery. We ended up using hydrangeas, garden roses, succulents, carnations, cabbage plants, queen anne’s lace, peonies, and a few others I can’t remember. I loved my florists at Dayspring Design; they helped pick out my flowers once I explained my vision!

B I G G E S T S P L U RG E

FLOWERS! I am so thankful I spent the extra money on fresh flowers. To see a room full of fresh, floral centerpieces was beautiful. Our flower arrangements on the wine barrels were breathtaking. It was a big purchase, but I am glad I chose to do so.

B E S T A DV I C E

My advice to couples planning their wedding right now is to put more effort into planning your marriage than your wedding. Don’t get caught up in all the hype and drama of weddings and forget what the wedding is celebrating!

Your wedding is just a party. It’s your groom’s day too! Don’t pretend like it’s only your day ladies; ask for his advice and opinions. My husband was a huge help and turned out to be very opinionated; which wasn’t a bad thing.

THE FUTURE

Now that we are married,we are spending all our time remodeling our house. We have big dreams to make this a beautiful home for us and start our family in this house eventually. Married life is great, I love waking up next to my best friend every day.

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REAL WEDDINGS

THE COUPLE

MENSWEAR

LINDSEY RUTH

MEN'S WEARHOUSE + JOSEPH A. BANK

+

T H E F LO W E R S

AUSTIN GRANT TAYLOR CEREMONY + RECEPTION THE LEGACY EVENT CENTER THE DRESS

THE DETAILS

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MADELINE GARDNER (MORI LEE)

DJ

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bridal shower invites

Pop quiz! Who sends bridal shower invitations? Is it acceptable to include registry information? First, bridal showers are typically planned by the maid/ matron of honor. Couple showers are becoming more popular. The matron of honor can plan these with the best man. While it’s considered “déclassé” to include registry information in wedding invitations, bridal showers are notably different. The person hosting the party (MOH) is not the recipient of the gifts (the Bride). Here’s some adorable Bridal Shower Invites to choose from!

BLUE MOON Couple’s showers are happening more often than a Blue Moon now. This adorable couple shower invitation is a great invitation that is both adorable and not too feminine! We love this Blue Moon invitation; it’s a great example of a classic clean look for a shower initiation.

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STATIONARY TRENDS

S AY Y E S TO T H E S H O W E R

This adorable classic gown invitation is a little more feminine, and a great option for a lovely bridal shower. The bridal shower invitation does not have to include your wedding colors. The look and style of the bridal shower invitation can allude to the type of party you are going to have.

Our staff would love to attend this chic bridal soiree!

F LO W E R S O N YO U R H O N E Y M O O N

Honeymoon showers are becoming popular. This is a bridal shower but with at home! Your MOH can decide to host a honeymoon shower instead of your traditional mimosa bridal shower. A honeymoon shower is a great option as a smaller shower with just close friends. Showers refer to showering someone with gifts, so I think you can imagine the types of gifts you would receive at a honeymoon shower.

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RO S Y G A R D E N

Who doesn’t love flowers? This gorgeous invitation invites you to spend time with the bride and her bridal party. This is a great example of a bridal shower invitation that is probably being hosted by the entire bridal party as opposed to just the MOH. This is definitely an option especially if you’re hoping to defray costs. We loves this wonderfully feminine and girl rosy flowers. Brides blush on their wedding day why not be rosy pink at their Bridal Shower!

CHALKY SWEET

Chalkboard signs are huge at weddings right now. They can create a fun, backyard look. If you add a distressed whitewashed frame you will create a vintage feel.

Regardless, if chalkboards are going to be common on your wedding day why not carry that theme over into your bridal shower invitation? Our staff is just obsessed with anything and everything chalk!

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STATIONARY TRENDS

S W E E T L AU R E L

Simple is sometimes the best option. This utterly gorgeous sweet laurel branch invitation is great for a wonderfully sweet, sophisticated traditional bridal shower. Tradition, is a tradition for a reason, and who doesn’t love a lovely Bridal Shower brunch with your nearest and dearest?

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Your perfect day should include your perfect cake!

Call us to schedule your consultation today!

6301 82nd St. Ste 801 Lubbock, TX 79424.

(806) 783-9091 www.cakerylubbock.com

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EDITORS CORNER

photos by Captivated Images + Eternal Bliss Photography

ha ir

keup by a m

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Decoding Beauty Regimes eauty care is hard. Staying up to date with the current trends, newest products, seasons and more.

How is a girl supposed to decide the best skin care treatment or foundation for your skin? Luckily, being the editor of a wedding magazine comes with its perks. One of those perks is reading articles, and beauty bios like it’s my job ‌ oh wait it is!

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Here’s the deal, it is hard to figure out how to look amazing not just on your special day but every day. Personally, I had a hard time transitioning from the grad school sweats to my utterly fabulous editor in chief uniform. No uniform just sundresses. The best and most useful tool for this transition and maintaining my skin has been a person not a foundation brush or face soap. Hair and Makeup by Brooke Bowlin is utterly amazing. She not only does hair, but makeup and facials as well!

Prior to meeting Brooke, I was a once in awhile, special occasion type of facial girl. Now, after working with Brooke I am in LOVE with microdermabrasion amongst other things. I was a little worried at first but now I just love it! You lay down in her adorably decorated room. She will cleanse your face, and then begin running her microdermabrasion wand over your face. At first, I was concerned that it would hurt or my face would be raw afterwards. Not true on both accounts!

The best part is afterwards; Brooke can do your make-up! She is seriously amazing. She has done makeup for two of our shoots as well as a few of my appearances! Heck, she even helps me choose what make-up to use and how to use it. It’s utterly amazing! I love it.

xoxo

�aly

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When Unique Matters . . .

2611 US Highway 70 Olton, Texas

806-292-7516

walnuttreeweddings.com

- 100 photography by Aric + Casey, Amy Rose King & Katie Woody

When you’re looking for a custom wedding, we are the perfect venue!

Walnut Tree, West Texas’ Premiere All Inclusive Venue, takes the stress out of wedding planning. From the venue to DJ services, florals, catering, and even your wedding cake, we take care of it all.

- 101 photography by Aric + Casey, Amy Rose King & Katie Woody

Beautiful, Elegant, Timeless Everything your wedding should be and more - 102 -

CHASE TOWER, LB 1206 600 S. TYLER ST AMARILLO, TX 806-373-4361 WWW.AMARILLOCLUB.NET

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