The Wedding Connection - The Budget Issue (October/November 2013)

the

wedding + CONNEC

ION

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2013

the BUDGET ISSUE inspiration

for planning a wedding at any budget including S TAT I O N E R Y F LO W E R S THE DRESS + MORE!

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angela free tells you how to fit great photography into a tiny budget

WIN THE P RO D U C T S our editors can't stop talking about!

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photos by Rhonda Elder

Bella Tratta Home & Floral Full Service Wedding Florist 4555 East University Odessa, TX (432) 614-2455 / Find us on Facebook!

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From Trendy to Traditional & Intimate to Lavish

Paula Barnett

Floral Designer

Certified Wedding Planner

432-770-1121

BarnettanDCOFlOral.COM 4

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Contributors

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From the Editor

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The Report

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What Smart Brides Know About Photography 18 Etiquette Primer

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Nicole + Michael

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Clare + Brent

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Bonnie Kate + Tanner

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A Wedding at any Budget 39 Bling on a Budget

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Love. Organically

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Southern + Spectacular

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The Budget Savvy Bride 55 Wedding on a Tiny Budget 58

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Avoiding Invitation Sticker Shock

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Briana + John-Mark

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Bailey + Ryan

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Jenna + Clint

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Nicol + Justin

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Sweating for the Wedding 80

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Save vs. Splurge

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What's a Mom to do?

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Budget Worksheet

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Nonprofit of the Issue

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62 ==contents++

Open HOuse!

Win!

sunday October 20th 2pM-4pM complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres plus a 30 minute dance lesson

Come to the open house and receive 1 entry to the wedding rental giveaway (To be drawn March 2014)

Wedding Venue & Dance Lessons 6602 W. 19th St Lubbock, TX 79407

(806) 793-0396

www.dancewithmelubbock.com f 6

==featured contributor++ J E N N I F E R FA U G H T

WHO SHE IS Jennifer Faught is a modern southern gal, and the founder and principal designer of Something Detailed wedding stationery. At the age of 10 her mom enrolled her in “White Gloves and Party Manners,” where she failed miserably. But somehow she’s been the go-to etiquette expert for her friends for over a decade.

W H Y W E LOV E H E R Jennifer’s “class for mom, sass for bride” approach appears effortless, creating stationery suites both moms and brides adore. www.somethingdetailed.com

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Shellie Alvarado Event Designer youreinvitedbyshellie.com

Marcie Meredith Photographer marciemeredith.com

Lissa Anglin Photographer lissaanglin.com

Linda McMillan Photographer lindamcmillanphotography.com

Jessica Bishop Blogger thebudgetsavvybride.com

Emily Moore Photographer emilymoorephoto@gmail.com

Helen Byrd Photographer helenbyrd.com

Brit Nicole Photographer britnicolephotography.com

Angela Free Photographer studio1401.com

Two Pair Photography Photography twopairphotography.com

Gray's Studio Photographer graysstudio.com

Katie Woody Photographer katiewoodyphotography.com

Adam Hughes Fitness Expert adam-hughes.com 7

WA N T T O H AV E YO U R W O R K F E AT U R E D I N O U R PA G E S ?

We love to feature brides and grooms from all walks of life in our pages and on our website.

Weddings must have taken place in West Texas in 2012 or 2013. Otherwise, we are wide open and can’t wait to see what makes your wedding unique!

We look for high quality, minimally processed images featuring lots of stunning details. Please be prepared to submit 40-60 edited images for consideration.

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

Couples and photographers can visit theweddingconnectionmagazine.com or email irene@theweddingconnectionmagazine.com for more information.

Two Bright Lights is our preferred method of submission.

the

wedding + CONNEC

ION

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 Irene Farrimond E D I TO R I A L S TA F F Calley Parham Binari Witanapatirana S A L E S S TA F F Bailey Jordan Megan Bradford A D M I N I S T R AT I V E S TA F F Alyssa Fiebrantz Caroline Stone 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 accurate as possible, as of 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 L I N DA M c M I L L A N P H OTO G R A P H Y

photos by Michelle Trujillo

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E D I TO R ' S

LETTER Despite its six letters, budget can feel like a fourletter word when you’re planning a wedding.

Whether you’re planning an intimate affair or a lavish party, there’s always room for more guests, more flowers, more drinks, more details… but sadly no more money in the budget.

The secret, as it always seems to be, is prioritizing. Start planning early. Decide with your fiancé and your families what your non-negotiables are, whether its your dream dress, timeless photography, an open bar or having the wedding march played by live bagpipers. Focus on what matters and let go of the rest.

In this issue, we’ve had more than a little fun working with budgets grand and petite. I hope that you will find options, ideas and inspirations that will fit any budget, whether it’s a Kate Spade inspired reception for less than $5000 (page 41) or an swanky fête for 400 (page 52).

Before you get swept away in the more, more, more mentality of wedding planning, take a few minutes to remember why you’re throwing a wedding in the first place. Because the ultimate goal is truly to craft a celebration that is as beautiful, meaningful and sincere as your love, now and forever. And that, ladies, is priceless.

photo by Becca Lea Photography B E I N TO U C H !

Send us a note or ask us how you can be in the next issue at:

�irene� Love, love, love,

1412 Texas Avenue Lubbock, Texas 79401 (806) 744-0234 or irene@theweddingconnectionmagazine.com

Don’t forget to take a peek at our daily blog and other wonderful resources at theweddingconnectionmagazine.com

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You are cordially invited to...

A Grand Reception, A Fairytail Wedding, A Sensational Celebration, A Special Occasion...

Anything you can imagine, Party Planning, Floral Arrangement, Chavari Chair Rental & Lounge Furniture Rental, Event Design...

RSVP Today!

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T H E R E P O RT october + november trends

4 FA N TA S T I C F LO R A L S , clockwise from top left: Add a flirty fullness to your bouquet with lush blooms and wildly cascading greenery, photo by Green Pear Photography. Add southwestern flair with sweet succulents and peachy blossoms, photo

by Gambol Photography. Budget-friendly carnations are making a comeback, but keep the look luxe and fluffy with solid color bouquets, photo by Ampersand Wedding Photography. Go rustic-chic, but avoid overdone burlap by pairing a jute twine bouquet wrap with soft blooms, photo by Sophie Asselin Photographe.

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G O L D S TA N DA R D Look for this gilded beauty to replace silver as the season’s goto metallic. Look for foiling on invitations, gold-toned gowns, and even edible 24 karat covering cakes and other sweets. Photo by Shhivika Chauhan Photography

DA P P E R G E N T S

It’s time to retire the oh-so-tired tuxedo. Spruce up the menswear in your wedding with slim, modern suits in grey, navy and taupe. Top it off with a dashing bow-tie - bonus points for a jaunty print! Photo by Liz Dickinson Photography

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T H E R E P O RT october + november trends

EASY PEASY

Cake-haters rejoice! The latest trend sweeping dessert bars comes straight from Grandma’s kitchen. Ask aunties and sisters to pitch in and bake a variety of homemade tarts and pies for a sweet sensation. Photo by KBattle Photography

LA PETITE SUCRÉ

The best things come in small packages.

When treating your guests to a candy or dessert bar, order a small (and less expensive!) mini-cake (left, photo by Midwest LifeShots Photography) for cutting to avoid sugaring-out your guests. Darling French macaroons (above, top photo by Elizabeth Mercer Photography and bottom photo by Liz Dikinson Photography) make effortlessly chic favors - just don’t confuse the filled egg white cookies with the coconut delicacy of the same name!

SOMETHING OLD + NEW

Modern meets traditional in the latest crop of calligraphy typefaces, showing up on stationery suites everywhere. Our favorites? Carolyna Pro Black (above), Jacques & Gilles, and of course, our signature font, Bombshell Pro, all by Emily Lime Design. Photo by Liz Dickinson Photography

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Print custom ribbons at home (like we did for our organic shoot, page 44!) with the Epson LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit. $70 epson.com

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Function meets fabulous with mix and match Tech Candy iPhone and Galaxy cases. Give them to your bridesmaids for a gift they’ll use every day! $33 techcandycases.com

G I V E AWAY A L E RT !

Everything you see here will be featured as a giveaway on our Facebook page in the months of October + November.

To enter, visit facebook.com/connectmywedding !

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We used gold Toner Reactive Foil from PulsarProFX to foil the invitations from our “Bling on a Budget” Shoot (page 41)! The heat activated foil adheres beautifully to any laser printed ink. $9 pulsarprofx.com

T H E R E P O RT october + november obsessions

the goods our editors can’t stop talking about

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Cotton voile robes in irresistible prints from Plum Pretty Sugar are perfect wedding morning attire for the bride and bridesmaids! $65-70 plumprettysugar.com

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Ask your best ladies to join you in your wedding in style with adorable letterpressed cards from Sky of Blue Cards, or send a sweet note with their macaroon confections. $4-5 per card skyofbluecards.com

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==smart W H AT

BRIDES KNOW ABOUT P H OTO G R A P H Y

by Angela Free

PA RT I I : H I N D S I G H T + P H OTO G R A P H Y BUDGETING

I ran into a former bride just yesterday and we had a candid discussion about how she planned and budgeted for her wedding a few years back. This conversation was very insightful to me because most people admit that after going through the process of putting a wedding together they would have done things differently if they would have only known better before.

Budget usually isn’t something I talk too much about. I’m a photographer.

Being in the field of expertise that I am I don’t agree with most of the bridal budget guides that are available today. Most will give you exact allowance percentages of your budget per vendor. I.e.: 10% for dress, 15% for flowers, 20% for photography. I simply don’t think anyone should tell you what is most important to you. Everyone is different. That being said, I still have found that a common opinion is that the photography is the most important thing. I tend to agree. Even if I was in the business of making cakes or flower arrangements I would still say that to all my brides. It is simply all you have left after the wedding.

Some brides (like the one I spoke to yesterday) began by setting a certain financial amount for her dress. Then, to her elation, she found one she fell in love with that was on sale. It was only about a quarter of the cost of what she had budgeted for. Score! She and her florist agreed to use less of the extremely expensive flowers she wanted. She still had them in her arrangements but also used others to make the flowers more cost effective. They also moved large arrangements from the wedding site to the reception site to save, as well. The point is, there are things you can do in almost every area to help out with the bottom line of your expense.

Photography is no different. You can choose to hire someone who is really great. Someone who knows what they are doing and have them shoot your wedding. If you can’t afford, at the time, all the glitz and glamour of every single product they sell, you can always come back and get it later. The important thing is to find someone who does know what they are doing. The best way to do that is to look at their business as a whole. It’s not always who’s the biggest in town. More importantly it is who has been around longer. Who is serving repeat customers? The photographer who continues to serve the people who came to them years ago for their wedding is the one who did a good job for them the first time. It’s a dead giveaway.

Angela Free is one of the top photographers in the state and widely recognized as one of the most influential in West Texas. She's teamed up with The Wedding Connection to write a series of articles to help demystify the process of choosing a wedding photographer.

When it comes to budgeting wedding photography I think the most important thing is definitely to suck it up and spend money to hire someone who knows what they are doing. So if that requires more, spend it. Hopefully, there will be ways you have found to save money in other areas to cover the cost of a good photographer. I have almost no pictures from my wedding (not that it was everything I wanted it to be in the first place) but now that I could readily afford to have a nice wedding album, I can’t go back and get it. The images simply don’t exist. So my advice is to get what you want. This might be the most important day of your life. If you can’t afford everything you want now, at least go with a company who offers everything you want. Then get it as you can.

Photography products can be produced after.

It is also good to note that most of the professional photographers in business today will have several payment plans so that you can set up a payment schedule that works for you.

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fix it with frosting Lou McLeod =i Event Coordination & Floral Design

175 Country Lane, Alto, NM 575.336.2969 mcleod65@aol.com | loumcleod.com 19

Ashleigh Fleenor Wedding Hair & Airbrush Makeup Call 806.543.4098 for a consultation photo by marcie meredith photography

Facebook.com/DesignsByImagineIf Bonnie Swanson • 432.889.0767 • msbonnie5@gmail.com

Bringing Life To Your Dreams... and Making The Ordinary, Extraordinary!

Distinctively designed Weddings & Events that reflect Your Style Linens, Furniture & Custom Decor Personal attention from the first day through Your Big Day!

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ETIQUETTE

PRIMER

One of the biggest budgeting challenges any bride faces is to figure out who pays for what.

Here's a handy guide that breaks down just that! Keep in mind that these are traditional guidelines and may not apply to every situation. We encourage you to go into the conversation with an open heart and no expectations to avoid hurt feelings and disappointment!

Photo by Flashes of Inspiration

REHEARSAL DINNER

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

I N V I TAT I O N S , A N N O U N C E M E N T S + S TAT I O N E R Y

BRIDE’S SIDE

M A R R I AG E L I C E N S E

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

OFFICIANT’S FEE

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

C E R E M O N Y LO C AT I O N

BRIDE’S SIDE

CEREMONY MUSIC

BRIDE’S SIDE

CEREMONY DECOR

BRIDE’S SIDE

BRIDE’S RINGS

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

G RO O M ’ S R I N G

BRIDE’S SIDE

BRIDE’S DRESS, SHOES + AC C E S S O R I E S

BRIDE’S SIDE

G RO O M ’ S AT T I R E

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

B R I DA L PA RT Y AT T I R E

I N D I V I D UA L S

B R I DA L B O U Q U E T, C O R S AG E S + B O U TO N N I È R E S

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

B R I D E S M A I D’ S B O U Q U E T S

BRIDE’S SIDE

P H OTO G R A P H Y

BRIDE’S SIDE

RECEPTION, INCLUDING VENUE, D E C O R , F O O D, D R I N K + E N T E RTA I N M E N T

BRIDE’S SIDE

T R A N S P O RTAT I O N F O R B R I DA L PA RT Y

BRIDE’S SIDE

HONEYMOON

G RO O M ’ S S I D E

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the fairytale starts here & continues on page 64

23 Photo by Two Pair Photography

�nicole� �

�michael Photography by Linda McMillan Photography THE BEGINNING Michael and I first met in Lubbock, Texas while attending Texas Tech University.

We both worked in the same building on campus, but never had the opportunity to officially meet. One night while out with friends, we ran into each other and proceeded to talk the night away. Soon after, we were completely inseparable! We spent the next few years getting to know each other, attending football games and enjoying college life. After graduating, Michael received a job offer in North Dakota. We decided to take it. Eight months and one cold winter later, we were engaged!

T H E P RO P O S A L Since North Dakota is one long flight from our family in Texas, we decided it would be best to stay in North Dakota and spend our first holiday together. It was Christmas morning and we had just opened presents and finished eating a delicious home cooked breakfast. Michael insisted we take a walk since the weather was unusually warm and the sun was shining. We went down to a little (frozen) pond right off the golf course and took in the peaceful morning. Soon into our walk, Michael suddenly stopped, looked at me and smiled.

He grabbed my hand, dropped down to one knee like a true gentleman and asked me to be his wife. He then pulled out the beautiful ring. He used the diamond from his great grandmother’s engagement ring.

It was a perfect morning and without a doubt, the best Christmas ever!

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the details++

THE COUPLE Nicole Elizabeth +

Michael Oliver Eck

M E N S W E A R V era Wang Men’s Wearhouse

T H E W E D D I N G April 6,

F LO R I S T Wild Bunches Floral

2013 in front of 80 guests

C AT E R E R Salt Lick BBQ

LO C AT I O N Stonehouse Villa in Driftwood, Texas

C A K E Sweet Treets Bakery D J Altared Weddings

D R E S S Casablanca from Lasting Bridal Couture

T H E B LO O M S The first time I saw the flowers, I cried (okay- I was a little emotional that day, but still!). The bouquets and boutonnières were made up of ivory roses, cream lisianthus, light pink stock, light pink spray roses, peach carnations, light pink astilbe, dusty miller, and seeded eucalyptus- and boy were they gorgeous. I really wanted the floral to be soft and feminine and our florist did such an amazing job helping me put my dream into a reality.

THE DRESS The dress finding process was probably one of my favorite parts of planning the wedding! You truly get to have your own “princess” moment. I probably tried on 10 dresses until finding “the one.” The second I put it on, I just knew. I immediately teared up and didn’t want to take it off! From that moment, I could really start to see the vision for our wedding and felt like I was one step closer to being a bride. My bridesmaids were there with me to share this experience and it was very special.

THE FOOD Michael and I both love anything and everything Texas, so the decision to have BBQ and southern fixings at the reception was an easy one! Our guests had the choice of brisket, ribs or sausage with coleslaw, potato salad and beans. The cake was chocolate and toffee crunch with a butter cream frosting. Guests also sipped their drinks from mason jars with pink, peach, ivory and gray striped straws.

THE VISION From the very beginning, I knew I wanted a country-chic style wedding. Michael and I are very laid back so the idea of having a formal wedding just wasn’t for us. I also knew I wanted to incorporate a lot of DIY details and add my personal touch to anything I could.

Being a graphic designer, all of the paper products such as the invitation suite and signage around the venue were very important to me. I certainly knew they would help tie everything together. Spring has always been my favorite season, so I knew right away we were going to have an outdoor spring wedding with just our closest friends and family. The most important thing we wanted was for our guests to have a great time and for everything to run smoothly- and it did!

T H E S P L U RG E Definitely the mismatched vintage plates! People thought I was crazy for even attempting it, but with the help of friends and family and many, many trips to antique stores, we successfully collected 160 dinner and dessert plates. Although it wasn’t the cheapest route we could have taken, it really made an impression on our guests and pulled the whole country-chic look together.

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FAVO R I T E D E TA I L S The mix of feminine and rustic dÊcor, such as the centerpieces which included different sized vases tied with lace and twine and wood slice table numbers (cut by Michael!). Each plate was carefully matched together for each table, and topped with a wine cork place card. My mother and I spent an entire day making and canning apple butter for our guest favors and they were a hit! Guests wrote their well wishes onto a note card and placed them into a time capsule box to be opened on our first anniversary. We can’t wait to read them!

THE SONGS The bridal party was introduced to Hale and Oats- You Make My Dreams and we danced our first dance as husband and wife to Griffin House- Better Than Love. Despite tradition, we opted against the Father Daughter and Mother Son dances. Our last song was specially picked out, as it was always the last song that played at the place Michael and I first met: Neil Diamond- Sweet Caroline.

THE FUTURE After living in North Dakota now for almost 3 years and having planned our wedding 1400 miles away, we are enjoying some peace and quiet! We hope to be living back in Texas in the next year, so until then our adventures await.

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full-service, from scratch bakery PIES COOKIES CUSTOM DESSERT BARS

5905 82nd Street Suite 101

CAKES CHEESECAKES ENDLESS FLAVOR POSSIBILITIES

28 {806} 798 2253

www.simplydecadentlbk.com

�clare brent� � Photography by Two Pair Photography

the details+++

THE COUPLE Clare Suzanne + Brent Simon Moyers THE WEDDING June 1, 2013

LO C AT I O N The Historic Paramount Theater in Abilene

DRESS The Bride wore her mother’s dress from 1980 with a few alterations

C AT E R E R + R E N TA L S Celebrations! by June Sheppard

BRIDESMAIDS The bridesmaids all chose their C A K E McKays Bakery own black dresses.

MENSWEAR W E D D I N G D E S I G N E R The guys all wore their own Terry Browder of the Sayles black suits and ties from The Ranch guesthouses Tie Bar.

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F LO R I S T Baacks Florist

THE BEGINNING We met at our church about two years ago when I first started going there. We met the first morning in our bible class and he came up and talked to me after class. He asked me out a month or so later and I turned him down (something we joke about often) but we became friends through our activities and involvement with the group at church. Almost a year after meeting we realized there was something more to our relationship. Through our friendship grew a romantic relationship and we were quickly spending all of our free time together. Soon after that we were seriously dating. We had a great foundation in our common beliefs and a base in our friendship.

THE DRESS I had always thought it would be so neat to wear my mom’s wedding dress. At Christmas right after our engagement I asked my mom if I could try on her dress and see if I could wear it for the big day. When I tried it on I loved it and was very excited. We knew some changes would have to be made to it but I never considered wearing anything else. My mom was SO excited and thrilled to have me wear it. We were able to make the changes and keep all of my favorite parts including the beautiful lace detail and the pleated skirt. My mom worked really hard and did a beautiful job on the lace work. I was just so happy that my dream of sharing that special piece was able to happen. I loved it!

T H E P RO P O S A L It was a Wednesday evening and he picked me up to grab a quick dinner before we went to church. On our way back to my house after church he got really quiet and seemed a little nervous but I didn’t think much of it. I walked in the front door and it was dark inside except for the Christmas tree and there was a lighted Christmas light path into the living room with rose petals all over the floor. I immediately tried to back out of the house back outside because I was very confused and he had to nudge me back inside. The beautiful path led to “Marry Me?” written in rose petals and the ring inside a heart of rose petals. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes! I was totally surprised by the whole thing. It was very romantic, memorable, and wonderful!

THE VISION We got married at the Historic Paramount Theater in the downtown area of Abilene, my hometown. I went to a wedding there when I was about in second grade and thought how wonderful it was. How romantic and it really made an impression on me. I also grew up attending events and productions at the theater. It just has a charm that is so wonderful from the ornate fixtures and beautiful staircases the moving clouds and twinkling stars on the ceiling. It was another one of those things that I had always, in the back of my mind, wished I could get married there but wasn’t sure if I could. My vision was for the wedding to have a romantic feel with rich colors and incorporate little touches that carried a lot of meaning to us as a couple or as individuals.

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T H E FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N We tried to include a lot of family history and mementos. I wore pearl jewelry from my maternal grandmother, a brooch in my hair from my paternal grandmother and carried a bible that my husband’s mother, aunt and grandmother had carried down the aisle. We also used the cake topper that my parents and maternal grandparents used at their weddings. We had my paternal grandmother’s wedding dress on display in her memory, and I wore my own mother’s dress.

THE FOOD We had a dessert reception with three kinds of punch, fruit and cheese along with the cakes. We had five cakes at the wedding.

The main wedding cake my husband designed playing with the peacock feather accents. The “groom's” cake(s) were three tiered strawberry cheesecakes. There were two additional cakes that were surprises from my parents and each represented a part of who my husband and I are. His was a University of Tennessee cake with the traditional orange and white checkerboard and University T emblem. My cake was a DNA themed cake with a little bit of girly whimsy. I am a Forensic DNA analyst and have always loved science so this cake had a DNA strand on one tier and had a pearl and silver crown on the top with some flower design on one tier. All the cakes made for great areas of focus in the wedding reception.

T H E B LO O M S Our flowers were orange and red themed. The bouquets had circus roses, an orange yellow that fade up into dark tips, red garden roses, and orange calla lilies. All the boutonnières were the orange calla lilies. The bridesmaids’ bouquets had a peacock feather accent and my bouquet had a vine lattice that added some interest. The flowers were exactly what I had envisioned and the colors were beautiful with the decor in the Paramount Theater.

T H E S P L U RG E I am very happy we splurged on the photography because that is what we will have for a lifetime to remember the day by and they are beautiful. I also am glad we splurged on the venue it made my dreams from childhood come true.

T H E FAVO R I T E D E TA I L I really loved all the cakes and how filled with meaning they were.

They created great visual centerpieces and visually were beautiful.

I also really loved all of the family pieces and traditions that we were able to incorporate.

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�bonnie kate � tanner� Photography by Katie Woody

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the details++ THE COUPLE Bonnie Kate + Jimmy Olson

M E N S W E A R Masso's tuxedo rental

THE WEDDING June 1st 2013

F LO R I S T Donna Kopp with Walnut Tree Weddings

C E R E M O N Y Walnut Tree Weddings and Events

C A K E Kathy Durham

R E C E P T I O N + C AT E R I N G Walnut Tree Weddings and Events D R E S S David's Bridal BRIDESMAID’S DRESSES All of the dresses were different and came from their store of choice

THE BEGINNING My family had always been friends with his aunts, cousins and grandparents, yet somehow we never had met each other. The December before we met, he went to visit his cousin in the hospital. She, for some reason, felt the need to tell him about me. Our age difference of 5 years made him question whether it would work or not. Apparently he thought I would be some Justin Bieber fanatic with pigtails. Obviously he got over that fear and contacted me in hopes of hanging out. The rest is history.

Little did we know, six months later, we would be engaged.

T H E P RO P O S A L Talk about a SURPRISE! The weeks leading up to the engagement were strange, to say the least. We were both attending school, so there is no question that we were up to our ears in homework. He suddenly began going home during the week to "work" for his dad.... Fast forward to October 13th, we were going to celebrate his "mom's birthday". Before dinner everyone gathered in the living room to watch a quick video. The video begins with wedding pictures of our parents and grandparents from both sides of our families. Questions such as "Tell us some funny stories that happened throughout your marriage." "What does it take to make a marriage work?"

"What do you think about Bonnie Kate and I getting married?" were asked from the parents and grandparents. When the words "The Olson's?" flashed across the screen, I knew at that moment, it was coming. Tanner walked out with a cute little black box in his hand. I made my way to the center of the room to meet him as he got down on one knee. The ring was beautiful ring and he asked me to marry him in front of God and everyone!

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B A N D Derek Roberson (DJ) P L A N N E R Walnut Tree Weddings and Events

THE DRESS Set out on the adventure of finding "The Dress" with my mother, future mother in law, sister in law, and one of my two sisters. We visited two stores. I loved every single second of trying on the gowns fit for a princess! The first place we went to, I tried on roughly fifteen dresses. Loving every single one of them, I thought I had my heart set on the one I was going to buy. We were being typical girls, snapping pictures, being goofy and having a grand time. After trying on all fifteen dresses, I decided to go to my second appointment even though I thought I had found my dress. We get to David's Bridal and I was skeptical, thinking I would not find one that I liked any better.

WRONG! Two dresses in and I am blown away! Everything about the dress was perfect. It was my size, I was the first to ever try that dress on in their store, and it was everything that I imagined my dress would be!

THE VISION Our vision was shabby chic, more chic than shabby. We wanted a romantic yet comfortable setting where the guests felt relaxed. We pictured a lot of pastel colors with accents of robins egg blue, mint green, and coral. I knew my friends at Walnut Tree Weddings would do a fabulous job, but the truth is, they BLEW me away! Everything, and I mean everything, was above and beyond my dreams and visions of how our day would be! I would not change one single thing about our wedding day and the beautiful venue! The setting took my breath away! It was pure perfection!

THE FOOD Creamy Parmesan chicken and pasta, pulled pork sliders, meatballs, assorted fruit, assorted veggies, assorted cheese and crackers, Hot jalape単o popper dip, Corn dip . The desserts, other than the cakes, were bourbon pecan pies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies.

These desserts served as the grooms table, which was in the bed of the antique pickup truck. The brides table had an assortment of cakes, as well. The main cake was vanilla with butter cream icing, smaller cakes were strawberry, carrot cake, and a chocolate turtle cake.

T H E F LO W E R S Coffee beans, hydrangeas, Peonies, calla lily, an assortment of roses/ garden roses, Aspidistra Green filler flowers, Salal tips lemon leaf flower and Lily grass filler. I got my inspiration from Pinterest, of course.

T H E B E S T A DV I C E Take your time, enjoy yourself, don't forget to laugh even on the most hectic days, and breathe! When you allow yourself to sit back and enjoy the planning, it makes your life much more peaceful. Save the "bridezilla" drama for your llama, not your mama.

THE FUTURE Our plans are to finish school, grow our business, establish who we are as a couple, and start a family in the long run.

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The finest custom bridal jewelry since 1979.

Visit our showroom to view our extensive bridal collection, custom designs, class rings and other fashion jewelry collection. We also specialize in jewelry repair and restoration as well as watch repair.

4210 82nd St. #202 Lubbock, TX 79423

(806) 794-7766

www.thackerjewelry.net

Inside the Kingsgate Shopping Center

Lou Dee’s Floral 614 Avenue H37 Levelland, TX (806)894-7207

Las Brisas Southwestern Steakhouse 4701 112th St, Lubbock, TX (806) 687-6050 • las-brisas.com

SK Couture

Custom Bridal Accessories skullkandyhair@yahoo.com (432) 413-6520

Website coming soon! Photo Compliments of Angela Free

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bling on a budget /41 love. organically / 46 southern + spectacular /51 39

Beautiful, Elegant, Timeless

Everything your wedding should be and more.

Chase Tower, LB 1206

600 S. Tyler St

Amarillo, TX40 806-373-4361

www.amarilloclub.net

total budget: $5000

on

aďż˝

budget++

Photography by Marcie Meredith

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THE VISION Our editorial staff has an obsession with Kate Spade that borders on unhealthy, so we dreamed up this designer-inspired bash that was fun, flirty and fabulous! We wanted lots of gold, pink and glitter, sugary confections and sweet moments. The catch? The celebration had to be doable on $5,000 or less!

T H E S P L U RG E S We set out to prove that cheap can still mean chic. Successful budgeting is all about prioritization, and so we started with our two essentials: a great location and amazing photography. For the location, we went with McPherson Cellars in downtown Lubbock. Their gorgeous courtyard was perfect for an intimate ceremony, and their urban chic event center carried the evening into a reception. As far as photography, we were lucky to have the spectacular Marcie Meredith capture the event with both digital and film cameras.

T H E S AV I N G S With our budget nearly spent in photography and location, we had to get creative for the rest. We skipped a stuffy sit-down dinner in favor of a sweet spread of desserts and cocktails, and decorated with some simple DIY projects (below!). A single oversized hydrangea stood in for an expensive bouquet.

Dillard's provided apparel that was easy on the budget but high in glamour. By skipping the bridal gown we saved thousands, and we used fun accessories to dress up basic separates that the groom can wear again and again.

T H E P RO J E C T S We focused on a few fabulous projects that made a big impact without creating a crafting emergency.

First up were the invitations. We wanted the look of gold foil stamping, but couldn't stomach the cost of a custom print.

Instead, we discovered a perfect solution - Toner Reactive Foil from PulsarProFX. The foil, when heat activated by a household laminator, bonds to the toner on a laser printed invitation - resulting in a perfect foil effect for less than 25 cents per invitation! To limit postage costs, we swapped a traditional reply card for We finished the suite with DIY pink glitter envelope liners.

Our outdoor ceremony needed a focal point, so we fashioned a flirty backdrop for our altar of pink, white and gold streamers affixed to a 14ft length of pine moulding with hot glue.

For our dessert bar, we wanted an array of white cake stands to display our treats, but didn't want to spend big bucks for the boring basics. Instead, we glued thrift store vases and candlesticks to oversized chargers and covered them with white gloss spray paint, for impressively good results.

creditsďż˝

Location: McPherson Cellars in Lubbock, Texas // Photography: Marcie Meredith // Apparel: Dillard's // Models: Jake Keas + Deanna Dorado // Hair + Makeup: Ashleigh Fleenor with Salon Sculpt

T H E RO W DY G E N T Combine 1 oz rye, 1 oz elderflower liquor, 0.5 oz black cherry liquor and 1 oz fresh lemon juice, in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and pour into a pint glass. Top with bock beer.

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T H E P I N K L A DY Muddle a couple fresh raspberries at the bottom of a champagne glass. Add a splash of Chambord raspberry liquor. Top with brut champagne or sparkling wine.

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

www.ediblearrangements.com 44

No one ever gushed about how tasty the flowers were.

45

love.

�organically� 46

total budget: $20,000

THE VISION We wanted to craft a romantic evening, as wild and sweet as the love between the bride and groom. With fresh accents and custom personal touches, the celebration was pure, simple and so much fun.

Photography by Gray's Studio

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Models look familiar?

When our original couple had an emergency and couldn't make the shoot, our Editor in Chief, Irene and her boyfriend Zac jumped in at the last minute!

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T H E D E TA I L S The setting at Bar Z Winery was so beautiful we didn't need to do much in decor, so we focused on the simple touches. We greeted guests with glasses of sweet peach lemonade and a spread of fresh cheeses and stone fruits, before treating them to a beautiful alfresco dinner.

Weddingstar, Inc. created us a monogrammed burlap table runner to lay beneath gorgeous floral arrangements from Freeman's Flowers. Individual place settings sat atop custom cedar plank chargers and were finished with individual pies, also from Weddingstar, Inc. The star of the show, however, was the almond infused naked cake from DomestiCakes, set atop an unfinished wooden pallet and garnished with fresh fruit and flowers.

With our budget of $20,000, we had room to splurge on a spectacular Maggie Sottero gown, while effortlessly modern menswear came from Tuxedo Junction.

creditsďż˝

Location: Bar Z Winery in Canyon, Texas // Photography: Gray's Studio // Bride's Apparel: Maggie Sottero // Menswear: Tuxedo Junction in Lubbock, Texas // Floral: Freeman's Flowers in Amarillo, Texas // Cake: DomestiCakes in Lubbock, Texas // Stationery: Blissful Duo // Hair + Makeup: Ashleigh Fleenor with Salon Sculpt // Table Runner, Favors + Accessories: Weddingstar, Inc.

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Diamontrigue Your every occasion jeweler since 1978.

Diamond and gemstone simulants in 14kt gold and platinum No pressure, no commission jewelry consultants Men’s wedding bands Bridal style consulting and Jewelry Leasing Program 10% off bridal party gifts

Free gift wrap.

We ship anywhere.

2013 Small Business of the Year, Lubbock Area

2811 S. Loop 289, next to Furr’s 806-745-7522 50

www.diamontrigue.net

southern

spectacularďż˝ and

Photography by Angela Free Styling by Shellie Alvarado

total budget: unlimited 51

THE VISION Designer Shellie Alvarado of You're Invited

by Shellie pulled out the stops to create a celebration that was uniquely Southern. With an unlimited budget, opt for upgrades like handcalligraphied invitations, place cards and menus from Narda Poe and a couture bridal gown from Absolute Bridal. Transform an old family home into a fairytale evening with draping and lighting by Boyd's Events, complimented by soft candlelight. Finish the look with luxe linens, gorgeous chargers and a bedazzled cake!

creditsďż˝

Location: Private Residence // Photography: Studio 1401 with Angela Free // Styling, Chair Rentals, Chandelier, Candelabras: You're Invited by Shellie // Bride's Apparel: Absolute Bridal in Midland, Texas // Calligraphy: Narda Poe // Linens, Napkins + Chargers: BBJ Linens // Draping: Boyd's Events // Bridal Accessories: Skull Kandy Couture // Hair + Makeup: Kasey Smith

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1502 5th Ave • Canyon, Texas • (806) 655-8700 www.canyoncakeninjas.com 54

THE

BUDGET

10

TOP

==savvy++

BRIDE

TIPS FOR saving money on your wedding

After the initial excitement and celebration of your engagement dies down, it’s time to get down to the business of wedding planning. Sure, there are tons of fun to-do’s on the list like dress shopping, cake tasting, registry picking, etc – but before you go hog wild with your florist, you need to take some time to figure out what exactly you can spend on this soirée.

Jessica Bishop is the editor of the award winning blog The Budget Savvy Bride, which she founded in 2008 while planning her own budget wedding. Jessica and the site have been recognized by Glamour, Southern Weddings, and other publications as a goto resource for brides planning a wedding on a budget. Visit TheBudgetSavvyBride.com for tips, tricks, inspiration, and DIY projects to help you save money on your big day!

I recommend sitting down with your families to find out if they can or plan to contribute to your wedding day financially. With many couples getting married later in life, oftentimes the couple foots the bill themselves. You’ll want to get clear about the numbers and figures before you even take a meeting with a planner or a venue. Trust me, it will save you a lot of headaches and heartache in the long run. Once you’ve got that magical number figured out, the following tips will help you cut costs on different aspects of your big day!

1

G O F O R A C H E A P DAT E Did you know that not only certain months of the year but also different days of the week can save you thousands on your wedding? Peak wedding months are typically in the spring and summer, but fall is becoming increasingly popular.

Choosing to get married in the winter and opting for a Friday or Sunday ceremony can really cut down on your costs. Be sure to check with your venue about seasonal discounts.

2

LO O K AT N O N -T R A D I T I O N A L V E N U E S You can find a cheap or even free venue by opting for something a little outside the box like a public library, a friend’s backyard, a local park, or even a restaurant. Many of these places, especially outdoors, would need minimal decorations, which could cut even more off your total spend.

3

GET ‘THE DRESS’ FOR LESS Got your eye on a designer gown but assume it’s impossible to fit into your budget? Be sure to check out sites like OnceWed.com or NearlyNewlywed.com to purchase previously worn gowns at a huge discount. You might just find your dream dress for 50% or more off the retail price. Now that’s budget savvy!

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4

CUT THE GUEST LIST One of the best ways to cut your costs is to trim that guest list! Although it’s the easiest way to bring down the budget, it can also be very difficult to leave people out of your day. Remember that it is your day, so don’t invite anyone you don’t know personally like your mom or dad’s former coworkers. Keep it to the people who are truly important to you as a couple.

5

U S E T H E ‘ I T TA K E S A V I L L AG E ’ A P P ROAC H Enlist the help or talents of your close friends and family. Perhaps you have a friend who is great at floral arranging, or maybe your cousin does graphic design and could create your wedding paper goods. Hiring ‘friendors’ who donate services as a gift can really help to keep costs down. If your budget is really tiny, you could even turn your wedding into a casual chic potluck by having everyone bring a dish to share.

6

K E E P C AT E R I N G L I G H T A N D C A S UA L Ways to save on the food for your wedding include keeping things light with a dessert only reception, doing light bites and finger foods, or keeping things casual by serving barbecue or something similarly inexpensive. Check with local restaurants about preparing a menu for your big day- more often than not their quotes are much less than traditional wedding caterers.

7

NO OPEN BAR One of the biggest budget busters is alcohol. Feel free to skip the bar entirely or if you like to party, consider going with a signature cocktail or sticking to just beer and wine. Shop at discount liquor stores or stock up on cheap wine from Trader Joe’s or Costco.

8

B E A S AV V Y S H O P P E R Save on décor for your wedding by shopping at Thrift stores or Goodwill. Do your research and price compare before purchasing, and always use coupon codes when shopping online! My favorite coupon site is RetailMeNot.com!

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D O W H AT F E E L S R I G H T TO YO U Everyone from your Great Aunt Sally to the big bridal magazines will have an opinion on things you should do or have for your wedding. Remember that this is your day and you cannot please everyone. Don’t let pressure from outside sources convince you to spend more than you have, especially if it’s not something that is important to you. In the end, if you trust your gut and focus on what matters, you will be much happier as well as closer to your budget.

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Photography by IQ Photo Studio

F R E E E N T E RTA I N M E N T – T H E I P O D D J If you’re really trying to cut costs, the DJ is one area you can skip. Create an iPod playlist and hook it up to some speakers for an easy entertainment solution. There’s even a great app called Qusik that lets you fade in and out for special moments like Cake Cutting or Toasts!

Queenie’s Jewels brooch bouquets

to order call (432) 638-7076

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WEDDING ON A TINY

BUDGET Karena + Najee Ward not only had to plan a wedding on a tight budget, but they also had to do it in three months. They quickly learned that their friends and DIY websites were their best resources for their cost-effective wedding.

Photography by Emily Moore

At the end of the day, God was the provider for our wedding.

We were broke college students who didn’t have anything and He made a way out of no way.

What God brings together, no man can separate. -Najee Ward 58

T O TA L W E D D I N G B U D G E T:

$3325

THE VISION

THE BREAKDOWN

The vision we had for the wedding was classic and chic. We wanted to keep it simple and still look elegant. Using lavender and charcoal as our colors, made it a great ensemble for a summer wedding. I wanted to play with the lighting to give our guest a relaxing ambiance. Using purple floralytes in the centerpieces made the transition to the reception nice and elegant. My family and friends were heavily involved in the decorations and the planning.

We utilized a lot of DIY activities to make it more cost effective.

Involving those who were closest to me made our wedding very special.

Dress: $850 (sale promotion, originally $2000+) Menswear: $200 Floral: United Super Markets, $75 Dessert bar: Compliments of coworkers, $300

F O O D, D R I N K S A N D D E S S E RT S

Venue: D'Venue, $1200

We did a dessert buffet and my coworkers from SportClips provided that to us as a gift.

Officiant: Compliments of a Friend

T H E S AV E

DJ/Entertainment: Custom playlist by the groom, FREE!

We cut back on the food and decorations. For the dĂŠcor, we did a lot of DIY ideas from Pinterest. We also cut back by having a dessert bar instead of a full entrĂŠe for each of our guest.

Photography: $600

T H E S P L U RG E

Invitations: Walmart, $100

We decided to splurge on the cake.

Our reason for this was because we both love cake and wanted to do something out of the box instead of a traditional wedding cake. We decided to have a 3 tier red velvet cake with butter cream icing.

I was also happy that my mom splurged on a Rolls Royce for us to drive off in. It was classic and everyone loved it.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

The biggest challenge was planning a wedding in three months, being full time students, and working part time while planning a wedding.

B E S T A DV I C E

The best advice I would give to brides on a budget would be to utilize friends and DIY websites for cost effective creative ideas. Also allowing yourself enough time to do a trial and error run with certain projects and not waiting until the last minute to do them.

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T H E S O M E T H I N G D E TA I L E D G U I D E TO

AVO I D I N G invitation

STICKER SHOCK Picking out your wedding invitations is an exciting but stressful process. It’s one of the first decisions a bride makes where she begins to see her vision, literally, on paper. Your invitations are the first thing guests will see, so it’s important to make a good impression.

A common misconception about wedding invitations is what percentage of your budget you should spend. Many outdated resources allocate 3-4% of your budget toward wedding invitations. Brides should really spend 4-10% of their budget on stationery, which is a more realistic number when including all other paper goods like programs, save the dates or reception paper.

The best advice I can give is to know your budget before you get your heart set on a certain style of invitation and to talk to a professional stationer who can help you navigate this tricky process.

W H AT S H O U L D YO U S P E N D ?

To find out what you should be spending, you’ll need you’ll need to know 3 things: number of guests invited, number of invitations you need and your overall paper budget.

To calculate how many invitations you need, it’s usually about 50% of your total guest count. Don’t forget to order about 10 extra than you need, just in case! To find out what to spend, you’ll need to play with the numbers a bit to get the amount you are comfortable with, so use these formulas to help point you in the right direction:

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N U M B E R O F G U E S T S ÷ 2 = Q UA N T I T Y O F I N V I TAT I O N S TOTA L W E D D I N G B U D G E T X 4 - 1 0 % = TOTA L S TAT I O N E R Y B U D G E T

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W H E R E C A N YO U S AV E ?

There are so many factors that can affect the cost of your wedding invitations. So, before you fall in love with something you can’t afford, keep these cost saving tips in mind:

P O S TAG E Most wedding invitations will require a regular $.66 stamp. The Post Office charges for cards weighing over 1oz and for square cards, so if you are using layered cards, multiple enclosures, double envelopes or embellishments, be aware it may cost your more to mail. You can save by using a postcard reply card (make sure to include a stamp on any reply card!), which is a $.32 stamp and making sure your invitations are within the normal shape and weight regulations.

PA P E R + M AT E R I A L S Quality paper is expensive and unfortunately, you cannot purchase quality card stock at your local office supply store. Upgraded papers like metallic, linen or cotton paper are considered an upgrade.

Layered cards require assembly and tape, which is also an upgrade.

Embellishments like ribbon or rhinestones can also add additional cost. You can save by choosing a nice heavy card stock for your invitation and a lower weight for your enclosures or by including fewer enclosures so you aren’t sacrificing quality on your invitation.

You dream it, we create it!

4511 North Midkiff Rd Suite A-04 Midland, Texas 79705

PRINTING TYPES Printing is expensive. The inks professional printers use are bleed proof, have true- to-life color, are fade resistant and long lasting. If you want your invitations to last a lifetime, you will need to have them professionally printed. Digital printing is the most economical printing method. Thermography or raised ink printing simulates the more expensive engraved printing, but keeps the price lower.

Letterpress is also beautiful, but is usually the most expensive option, along with engraving. You can save here by choosing different types of printing throughout your suite like letterpress for your invitation and digital for your enclosures. Also, choosing to include a smaller card with your wedding website instead of a few different enclosures can save you on paper and printing costs.

(432) 689-3090

Jennifer Faught is the founder and designer of Something Detailed Wedding Stationery. She is also the author of Invitation Essentials: The Modern Rules of Wedding Invitation Etiquette. She has been designing wedding stationery for over 10 years and teaching wedding invitation etiquette for over 5 years.

Photography courtesy of Something Detailed and by Twila's Photography, Chelsey Somohano Photography, Paula Player Photography, Chris Mastalia Photography and Joy Marie Photographers.

WWW.FIXITWITHFROSTING.COM 61

�briana� � �john-mark� Photography by Helen Byrd

the details++

T H E C O U P L E Briana Sheree + John-Mark Wilson Echols

W E D D I N G P L A N N E R Imagine If

W E D D I N G DAT E July 20, 2013

F LO R I S T Stanton Floral

C E R E M O N Y First Baptist Church Chapel Midland, TX

C AT E R E R Green Tree Country Club

R E C E P T I O N Green Tree Country Club Midland, TX

C A K E Leslie Rabenaldt

D R E S S Allure Gown from Absolute Bridal Midland, TX

V I D E O G R A P H E R Maxwell Film Works

B R I D E S M A I D S Mori Lee

L I G H T I N G Boyd's Events

H A I R / M A K E U P Kasey Smith from Plush Salon M E N S W E A R Tuxedos from Men’s Wearhouse, Groom & Best man’s bolo ties belonged to their late grandfather, Groomsmen bolo ties B A N D The Shades and Coyote Crude from The Turquoise Shop in Cloudcroft, NM.

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THE BEGINNING John-Mark and I first met in our young professionals Sunday school group, The Gap. We had been around each other, but didn’t talk much until a mutual friend invited us to bring our dogs to the dog park with a group from church. We hit it off immediately and became fast friends. For our “first date” John-Mark invited me on a camping trip with his brother and 8 of his brother’s friends to Fort Davis. At night the temperature got down to 27 degrees. Later in our relationship, he told me that he was testing me to see if I could handle it, and I guess I passed. Throughout our relationship, we have enjoyed many outdoor activities such as shooting guns and hiking with our dogs Waylon and Gambler.

THE DRESS I had been looking at wedding dresses online for a while and I knew that I liked the A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline. We decided to go visit Absolute Bridal in Midland and they had a great selection!

I brought my mom, John-Mark’s mom and grandmother, my sisterin-law, and my cousin to help me look. I tried on several dresses, but we were all in agreement that the Allure gown was the perfect choice!

We finished off the look with a Cathedral length veil from a company called “Bling”.

THE VISION I wanted a beautiful garden wedding. Unfortunately, we live in HOT West Texas! Bonnie from Imagine If and Amanda from Stanton Floral were able to take my garden wedding vision and bring it to life. My Maid of Honor was John-Mark’s sister-in-law and she just happens to be a brilliant interior designer. She was able to take the vision I had in my head and relay it to Bonnie and Amanda so they could create the perfect wedding.

T H E P RO P O S A L John-Mark’s family has a house in Cloudcroft, NM. He took me there early in our relationship and I have come to love it as well! John-Mark planned a normal trip to Cloudcroft with our good friends Derek and Ali, who had just gotten married two weeks before. That Saturday morning, we went for a hike on our usual go-to trail, the Osha. When we were down in the meadow, about the half-way point of the trail, Ali asked if she could take pictures of us. As we are posing for pictures, John-Mark kissed me, told me how much I mean to him, and got down on one knee! Of course I said yes! I could not have dreamed of a more perfect place for John-Mark to propose and we had our amazing friends there to document the entire thing!

FAVO R I T E M O M E N T S The music was amazing! John-Mark and his brother played their fiddles at the reception and it was so much fun! John-Mark really enjoyed singing Sweet Home Alabama with all of his fraternity brothers from the University of Alabama.

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FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N We had a lot of sentimental items like jewelry from our late grandfathers. My brother walked me down the aisle, which was so special.

THE FOOD Green Tree catered an amazing meal. Before the bride and groom arrived there was a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres were served. The main course included beef tenderloin with a Gorgonzola cream sauce, poblano chicken, and roasted red potatoes. There was also a shrimp station complete with an ice carving.

T H E B LO O M S Amanda at Stanton Wedding and Floral used beautiful garden roses, spray roses, ranunculus and dahlia with succulent accents. I told Amanda that I wanted a soft, classic look with peachy colors. She did the rest!

T H E S P L U RG E It is worth it to splurge on a photographer and videographer.

Our photographer, Helen was so fun to work with and she captured our wedding perfectly. Matt from Maxwell Film Works made a video telling our story that included family interviews. He was also there to film our rehearsal dinner and wedding day. We will cherish these photos and videos for years to come!

FAVO R I T E D E TA I L S I loved the grove of trees behind our cake tables. It truly made it feel like we were in Cloudcroft! The center of the room was beautiful as well. The crystal and floral centerpiece was just incredible.

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around the bolos that belonged to John-Mark’s grandfather and I would not have had it any other way! Those little things make the wedding so special.

THE SONGS First dance: “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison – Van Morrison is one of our favorites and we listen to this song often. It’s just a classic. Brother Sister dance: “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by George and Ira Gershwin, Willie Nelson’s version – Jake and I went through hundreds of song ideas for our dance and this one was by far our favorite. I believe Jake was the first person to introduce me to Willie Nelson’s music. Jake’s wife, Rebecca sang this for us and it was beautiful! I sang “Make You Feel My Love” and John-Mark’s sister sang “My Wish.” We have a very musical family and it was a blessing to have the opportunity to showcase their talent.

W H AT ’ S N E X T ?

Next on the agenda, we are going to build a house. We are currently renting a townhouse and are anxious to have a home of our own. We close on our lot very soon and are in the process of designing the house. Thankfully, we have very similar taste, and we expect the process to be relatively smooth.

We also have several weddings to attend and a few short trips planned. In the meantime, we just want to enjoy each other’s company and spend time with our families and our dogs.

G O O D A DV I C E Make it a sentimental event. It is so special to have little pieces of your families involved. Our entire color scheme revolved

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boydsevents.com / 432-262-1951 Available for Travel.

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DJ/Emcee Event Lighting Uplighthing Photo Booth Draping

Boyd’s Events

Illuminating Your Dreams.

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the details++ THE COUPLE

Bailey Sue + Ryan Lee Damron T H E W E D D I N G DAT E June 22, 2013 CEREMONY AND RECEPTION The bride’s family’s estate in Pampa, TX D R E S S David’s Bridal F LO R I S T Brandon’s Flowers C AT E R E R Desperado’s C A K E Sugar Rush D J All About Music

�bailey� �

�ryan�

Photography by Brit Nicole Photography

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THE BEGINNING We both grew up in Pampa. Being a small town, we went to the same high school and our friends at the time tried to set us up. I didn’t really like him but I took him as my date to the choir banquet. That fall, I was backing out of my parking spot after school and hit his truck. Ever since, we have been inseparable!

T H E P RO P O S A L Ryan joined the Marine Corps in August and was in training until about April. On my spring break I decided to fly out and visit him. On the last night I was there we went for a walk. During the walk, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

THE DRESS Honestly, I thought I was going to look forever. But, one night I tried on about five or six dresses, then the consultant brought out one in the bag and immediately my mom and I looked at each other because we knew it was it!

I tried it on and it just felt right. It was perfect and just what I was looking for!

THE VISION We’re both small town country kids and I knew I didn’t want a big fussy ornate event. I wanted it to be fun and light hearted. I love turquoise and coral and sunflowers. I knew there would be lots of boots and glitter too!

FAVO R I T E M O M E N T Both of our favorites was as soon as I stepped out and we got the first look of each other. Once I finally got up close enough I saw the huge grin on his face and I had one on mine too. Seeing each other that happy just made it all perfect.

FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N I had my great grandmother’s hankie and brooch on my bouquet. It was really special to feel like she was with me. Also, my family has a tradition of putting a sixpence in the bride’s shoe for good luck...It’s been the same sixpence forever now!

T H E F LO W E R S I’ve loved sunflowers and wild flowers forever and I knew I wanted them in my wedding. The sunflowers made the arrangements look so natural and relaxed yet still beautiful and timeless.

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4210 82nd Street Suite #224 Lubbock, TX 79423 (806) 795-1112 www.houseofflowerslubbock.com

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THE FOOD We had Desperado’s cater and we each picked our own meat and side that we wanted. I picked brisket and mac and cheese and Ryan picked smoked sausage and mashed potatoes.

We had the brides cake- alternating layers of cookies and cream, caramel and vanilla bean.

And the groom’s cake- German chocolate cake decorated as the captain America shield. We also had a chocolate fountain and chocolate covered strawberries.

T H E S P L U RG E Looking back I am so glad that we splurged on our photographer. Now that the wedding is over, pictures and memories are all we have left. I’m definitely glad that we spent good money on having great pictures to remind us of our day forever.

A DV I C E I was a bit of a control freak during the planning and my mom gave me the best advice- she said that something would always go wrong but it wouldn’t matter because at the end of the night I would be married to Ryan and that’s all that would matter. She was right- your wedding is only the beginning and even if nothing goes right- your marriage will still be there and it will be more beautiful than your wedding.

THE FUTURE Ryan is stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA. He deploys soon so I will be starting school and working here in California for now. Basically we’re just living life day to day as a military family.

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THE BEGINNING We met in High School when I was a sophomore and he was a senior. We were both in the same class together but we never talked to each other. This guy would actually wear pajama pants to school but for some reason I thought he was really cute and he would never go for a girl like me. I was sort of a nobody and he was more social.

Later in life, when we were both in college but visiting home, and the rest is history.

We were a couple for seven years and now we're married!

T H E P RO P O S A L We had already been looking at rings but he told me he couldn't afford the ring until he graduates and gets a better job. He just wanted to get an idea of what I would want. One day I get home from class and notice he isn't home yet so I go outside to get some sun. He gets home and finds me outside but I notice he looks a little worried. I'm thinking something bad happened and now I'm worried but then he gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him with the ring I picked out. The ring I thought I would get only in my dreams. After I said yes he had the biggest smile on his face. It was definitely a moment I will always remember.

the details++

THE COUPLE Jenna Shea + Clinton Brian Brown THE WEDDING June 29, 2013 in front of 100 guests C E R E M O N Y Alto Lakes Golf and Country Club R E C E P T I O N + C AT E R I N G Alto Lakes Golf and Country Club

THE DRESS Finding my wedding dress was a process. I had no idea what I wanted so I tried on probably around 20 gowns before I found it. After trying on different styles I narrowed down what I wanted my wedding dress to look like. I wanted Ivory, lace, strapless, and either a ball gown or princess silhouette. The last dress I tried on was the one. It was everything I wanted. Ivory, lace, strapless, princess silhouette, and classic! This dress made me feel beautiful.

THE VISION I knew what I wanted but I had a hard time visualizing it and explaining what I wanted to other people. Luckily I had Denise (my wedding planner) to help me bring my dream wedding to life. It was simple but classy. There was lace everywhere, pearls, books that had wear and tear, jars with tea lights. Exactly what I visioned.

DRESS Alfred Angelo in Albuquerque, NM B R I D E S M A I D’ S D R E S S E S David's Bridal M E N S W E A R Vera Wang from Men's Wearhouse F LO R I S T Lou McLeod C A K E Sashay B A N D DJ. Pete Davis H A I R Kelsey Stegall PLANNER, DECOR + L I N E N S Denise Thomas of Lubbock Wedding Solutions

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THE BEGINNING We met in High School. Not a very interesting story….We split up for a few years to allow us both to experience life and found out that we didn’t want to be apart. We were together for two years before the proposal.

T H E P RO P O S A L Well I sort of ruined it. I accidentally saw a text between Justin and his sister that wasn’t meant for me to see. He found out I knew so he postponed his plans until right before Christmas when we opened our gifts from each other. When I got to my last gift from him it was a box. Inside of this box was coal bubble gum on top of another box which had reindeer poop candy and another box which had a ring box. When I opened the ring box it was a piece of coal on a ring. He had the ring with him so he came where I was sitting and got down on one knee and proposed.

THE DRESS My mom and I just went one day to start looking and kind of get an idea about waiting times and styles, not really expecting to be really shopping. I knew from looking at pictures that I wanted something lacey with cap sleeves. I could not find anything I liked that met this picture in my head. One of the girls at the bridal shop gave me one to try on. I looked at it and it was nothing like I had pictured, but I tried it on anyway. It was perfect. It fit perfect and I just had a feeling when I put it on. We left the store with it that day.

THE VISION I had so many ideas going through my head from looking at Pinterest, but I couldn’t pin down just one. One day we were talking and I just went with it. I wanted everyone to feel comfortable. I wanted it to feel like a backyard BBQ with the flowers and tables to be amazing. And they were!!

Photography by Studio 1401 by Angela Free

�nicol�justin� � � 76

FAVO R I T E M O M E N T S My favorite moment would have to be the ceremony. I blocked everyone out and just focused on Justin and what this meant. For Justin, his favorite moment was seeing me for the first time. He said he was nervous the whole day until he saw me and knew that we would be together.

FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N It has been a tradition in my family since my mom married my dad that the brides carry a handkerchief that was my mother’s grandfathers. It was carried by my mom, my aunt, my cousin, and now me. I wore Justin’s grandmother’s pearls. My mom’s Nana designed pins out of costume jewelry. One of those pins was used at the reception as part of the decorations. All of these elements were put together with my boots I wore.

THE FOOD We had the most amazing BBQ with all the fixings. We had wine and beer for the guests as well and sodas and water. Our Bride’s cake was traditional white with buttercream icing in a rough application and placed on a custom cut tree stump. The groom’s favorite cake is German chocolate, and it was placed on a custom made stand of old barn wood and was topped with deer horns and had shot gun shells placed for accents.

T H E B LO O M S From Paula Barnett, wedding planner: Nicol provide me with pictures of 2 different looks, rustic ranch and bling. We combined both looks at the reception using ivory burlap and lace runners over ivory linens. For the décor we utilized lots of glass with candles to give us a great sparkle throughout the evening, votive cups filled with rice and topped off with fresh cut succulents, and tons of flowers! Nicol selected 3 shades of pinks for her bridesmaid’s dresses so we were able to use multiple shades of pinks with our flowers. The flowers used included a mixture of Antique Green Hydrangea, Romantic Antique Garden Roses, Pink Finesse Roses, Carpe Diem Roses, and Pink Spray Roses.

Arrangements were accented with Chapeau Alstromeria Lily, Pink Dianthus and of course Baby’s Breath T H E S P L U RG E The band. Aaron Watson put on an awesome show. It was his acoustic group, so it wasn’t too big. It was very intimate and everyone enjoyed it. He spent so much time afterward with everyone signing autographs and giving Justin and I advice. We loved it and had so much fun.

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FAVO R I T E D E TA I L S The dance floor and the lights. The lights were strung over the dance floor from tree to tree and everywhere. It really made it beautiful.

THE SONGS First Dance – One Woman by Randy Rogers Father Daughter Dance – There goes My life by Kenny Chesney Mother Son Dance – Through the Years – Kenny Rogers G O O D A DV I C E Don’t get so consumed with the wedding you neglect each other, and don’t stress about making everything perfect, in the end what ever you do will still have the same end… each other And you will always enjoy it and have a blast.

W H AT ' S N E X T ?

Right now we are focusing on our new home together and making it ours.

the details+++

THE COUPLE Nicol Diane + Justin Charles Tester THE WEDDING June 21, 2013 in front of 250 guests LO C AT I O N The Willows in Odessa, TX D R E S S Absolute Bridal

WEDDING DESIGNER, F LO R I S T + D E C O R Paula Barnett with Barnett & Company C AT E R E R Brenner's Pit Bar-BQue C A K E Leslie Rabenaldt B A N D Aaron Watson

M E N S W E A R A-1

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Owner: Shana Bailey (806) 392-1894

www.pinkcookiebox.com

Shallowater, TX

pinkcookiebox@sptc.net

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S W E AT I N G -FOR THE-

WEDDING

Adam Hughes, owner of RetroFit Performance Training LLC in Amarillo, Texas, has advice to help brides, mothers and even grandmothers begin the journey of modifying their exercise to fit their lifestyle before the big wedding day.

For some women, preparation for a wedding may provide more motivation to get into shape than they have ever experienced. This surge of motivation can drive us to make some unrealistic, short-term changes that could do more harm than good.

It is important to remember that although you’re motivated, weeks one and two are the hardest on your body because it is adapting to new movements and demands. It is normal to experience mild, tolerable soreness. Soreness is a result of micro-tears in your muscle, which needs ample time to recover (generally 24-48 hours of rest). Start by giving yourself a full 48 hours of between workouts and increase the time you exercise before you increase the frequency. Just 10 minutes of exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on the body, but I recommend starting with a 20-30 minute workout and progressing from there. For first-timers, start basic with 2 workouts in Week 1, giving yourself ample time to recover. Then try a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule in Week 2 and increase workout duration from there, never forgetting to stay active on your “off” days!

Remember that exercise affects not only the physiological aspect of your body but the mental portion, too. Human movement helps metabolize stress hormones that are released during the chaos of wedding planning and in return, releases endogenous opioids and hormones to enhance mood and improve brain function. This cascade of events in the body explains the positive energy that active people experience, all of which create a happier wedding party!

For my workouts I like to use interval training which makes use of a circuit of exercises performed one after another to allow different muscle groups to rest. In return, you get more work in a shorter amount of time and get a mix of strength and cardio.

Research says that to see the strength and tone changes in the muscle choosing a weight that you can do 8-12 times is best! Don’t have a gym?

Don’t worry, most people do not need a trainer, gym or equipment, as you can create enough momentum from your body weight to develop all kinds of beautiful changes.

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A DA M ' S E X P E RT T I P S :

Do what you love! If 90% of the work is just showing up then the other 10% involves tricking yourself into doing something wherever you showed up to, and doing what you like is easier!

Workout just before your normal shower time. Shower in the mornings? Wake up 45 minutes early and move your body! Planned exercise becomes a chore when you have to add extra shower and prep time into your already busy schedule.

Exercise in the sun if at all possible. From skin tone, to Vitamin D, to an antibacterial effect, the benefits from the 3-types of UV rays are worth it!

Can’t squeeze a workout in? Find quick ways to increase your own activity such as: park further away from the grocery store, commit to always taking the stairs, stand vs. sitting (you’ll burn 25% more calories), or grab some headphones and talk to mom during your stroll around the neighborhood.

BREAK OUT THE WORK OUTS G E N E R A L WA R M U P : Speed Walk/Jog forward & backwards (5-8 mins) Arm circles 20x forward/backward 20 Body Squats ARMS FOR THE AISLE Repeat workout 4x.

Inverted Rows (8-12x) Jog for 1 min Push Up Matrix (2x each position) Jog for 1 min Shoulder Shrugs (8-12x) Prone Plank with Head Tilts (8x each direction) Walk for 2 min (Repeat) RU N AWAY B R I D E L E G S Complete Circuit 4x.

For each exercise write number of reps and time to complete.

Body Squat Matrix (2x at each position) Walk for 1 min Lateral Shuffles (back and forth for 1 minute) Bicep Curls (8-12x) Jog for 1 min Step Ups (20x each leg) Jog for 1 min Calf Raises (30x) Walk for 2 min (Repeat) HONEYMOON ABS Repeat workout 4x.

Medicine Ball Slams - 10x Split Stance Curl to Press - 10x each side Prone Plank holds - 45 seconds Standing Side-Bends – 10x each side Side Plank holds – 30 seconds each side Burpees – 30 seconds

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S AV E

vs

S P L U RG E

THE GUIDE TO PLANNING AND PICKING YOUR WEDDING PRIORITIES

SPLURGE

S AV E

P H OTO G R A P H Y

DRESS

BEER + WINE

NUMBER OF GUESTS

photo by Bota Box

Don’t want to pay for rounds of Jäger Bombs, but can’t stomach a cash bar? Instead of an open bar, opt for a selection of beers and wine. Choose one red and one white wine and a selection of beers. For extra savings, choose an upscale boxed wine (we love Bota Box Pinot Grigio, $21 for 3L) and decant it into carafes before serving to your guests!

A year from now, your photos and your groom will be all you have left of the day. Entrust it to a professional who will do your big day justice.

While you may get a discount by contracting a photography student or by just having your friend and her digital camera take photos, it will show in the final product.

A LT E R AT I O N S F O R D R E S S

Great alterations are an amazing bang for your buck and can turn an inexpensive dress into a total knockout. On the other hand, bad alternations can ruin a perfect designer wedding gown and may not be reversible. Spend the money! photo by Midwest LifeShots

photo by Gambol Photography

With fabulous off the rack and pre-owned options, a custom dress is not an essential! Try one of our favorite online resources like preownedweddingdresses. com and oncewed.com for the best selection of high end gowns.

Or, start with something nondesigner or even your mother’s gown and have it altered to make it perfectly yours!

You’re already investing in great photography, custom alterations and perfect shoes. Complete the look with professional hair and makeup.

Choose an artist that’s experienced with wedding day beauty and definitely don’t skip the trial run a few weeks before the wedding.

P O S TAG E F O R R S V P S

When sending out wedding invitations, be sure to include a stamp on the RSVP envelope. Not only is it tacky to nickel and dime your guests on postage, you won’t have to chase down as many responses if you make it easy for your guests.

BRIDESMAIDS BOUQUETS

H O R S D ’O E U V R E S photo by Valerie Ott

FAVO R S

Let’s be honest, no one will miss the candy with your names printed on them. Instead, opt out of favors or make a donation to a favorite charity in lieu of favors. Have cards printed explaining that in lieu of favors, money was donated.

While your shoes may not show underneath your gown, that doesn’t mean you can skimp on cheap shoes! You will be standing on your feet for several hours and you want to make sure your shoes are comfortable. We’re particularly partial to shoes by Jimmy Choo, for both comfort and style.

HAIR + MAKEUP

The easiest way to save money is to keep your guest list lean and mean. Keep it intimate and invite the people who really matter to you. And whatever you do, don’t invite a lot of people who won’t be able to make it – a wedding is a celebration, not a gift grab!

You don’t need huge bridal bouquets for everyone in your bridal party. Splurge on your bouquet and get something smaller for your Bridesmaids. Consider choosing a single full flower (think hydrangeas or peonies) for each of your bridesmaids to hold.

SHOES

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You don’t have to serve an elaborate meal during your reception, but don’t skimp on hors d’oeuvres, especially if your guests are waiting while you take pictures during cocktail hour. Guests will likely be hungry after the ceremony, and the evening can go downhill quickly if alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach.

{ } If you're the mother of the groom, it may seem like everyone else knows what to do but you!

While the bridal party and parents of the bride traditionally have very specific responsibilities, things are a little bit more open ended for the mother (and father) of the groom.

W H AT ' S A

MOM

TO D O ?

B U T S TAY AWAY. . .

From the bachelorette parties! While mothers from both sides may want to join in the fun, we say NO parents is typically a good rule!

SHOPPING SPREE Tradition dictates that the Mother of the Bride will first choose her wedding day outfit, then notify the MOG so that she can choose something similar in length and formality. If you're not sure, ask the bride what her expectations are for your attire.

FIRST THINGS FIRST Traditionally the parents of the groom are the first to reach out to the bride's parents after the engagement. Invite them over for cocktails or send a handwritten note in the mail.

THE REHEARSAL DINNER This is typically your biggest project - the parents of the groom are responsible for planning and paying for the rehearsal dinner. Check in with the bride about her vision and guest list before you start planning!

S H O W E R T H E LOV E The mother of the groom may choose to host an engagement or bridal shower for the couple. However, traditionally the parents of the bride get dibs on the first shower! If you'd still like to throw one, go right ahead (can't have too many presents and parties, right?), just make sure it's after the first one.

Photo by Jaye Kogut Photography

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Wedding Budget

Wedding budgets can be overwhelming, so we broke it down for you. Keep track of your wedding expenses, from flowers to gifts for your out of town guests, using this budget planner.

TOTA L B U D G E T

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Welcome gifts for out-of-town guests

TOTA L S P E N T For more fabulous printables visit theweddingconnectionmagazine.com 85

N O N P RO F I T OF THE ISSUE

l oe n n e ll e e h t � m u e s art mu

We loved using the Ellen Noël museum for one of our August + September shoots, that we couldn't resist learning more from Judith Motyka, Director of Development, and sharing it with you!

W H E N , W H Y A N D H O W WA S T H E E L L E N N O E L MUSEUM FOUNDED? Opened in 1985 and incorporated in 1995, the Ellen Noël Art Museum is the culmination of years of fundraising efforts by the people of Odessa to build a fine art museum. The Museum honors the leadership and philanthropy of Mrs. Ellen W. Noël, who generously supported the Museum.

T E L L U S A B O U T T H E M U S E U M A N D YO U R MISSION. The Ellen Noël Art Museum’s mission is to provide access to art of enduring quality to the culturally diverse audience in the more than 100,000 square mile region of the Permian Basin. The Museum engages the community through changing exhibitions, the growth of the permanent collection, art education, family art activities and artist workshops. Being a Smithsonian Affiliate member, the Museum can display traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institute. The Museum is also a member of the American Affiliation of Museums and the West Texas Triangle, a consortium of five neighboring art museums.

photo by Eternal Bliss Photography

Other fabulous non-profit wedding venues: Botanical Gardens Amarillo, TX www.amarillobotanicalgardens.org The Legacy Event Center Lubbock, TX www.legacylubbock.com The Underwood Center for the Arts Lubbock, TX www.lhuca.org

W H E R E D O E S T H E M A J O R I T Y O F YO U R F U N D I N G A N D S U P P O RT C O M E F RO M ?

As a nonprofit organization, the Museum receives its funding from donations, memberships, grants, fundraising events, endowment income and fees for rental space.

H O W C A N T H E C O M M U N I T Y G E T I N VO LV E D ?

Become a member! Because admission to the Museum is free, membership at the Individual, Family and Corporate level is important to maintaining and growing the Museum’s programs, exhibitions and collections. Volunteer! There are many fun and helpful activities that are available for volunteers. Visit! The Museum has three galleries that allow exhibitions of varied works, each in a unique setting.

W H Y I S T H E E L L E N N O E L A P E R F E C T P L AC E F O R A WEDDING? The Rodman Auditorium can be transformed into a lavish and intimate reception area holding 120 guests. Outside the Rodman is the Sculpture and Sensory Garden, a beautiful and secluded place for a wedding ceremony or reception. Use of the Caterer’s Kitchen is included as are the tables and hotel-style chairs. The Museum facility rental staff can answer any questions you may have about planning the perfect wedding.

The Ellen Noël Art Museum 4909 University Blvd Odessa, TX 432.550.9696 www.noelartmuseum.org

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

Walnut Tree 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.

2611 US Highway 70 Olton, Texas

806-292-7516 87

walnuttreeweddings.com

photography by Aric + Casey (top left and middle row), Amy Rose King (top right and bottom row, ec

FIRESIDE Videography

2216 Broadway

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Lubbock, TX