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A Wedding Reception with a WOW Factor - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2010-04-06T19:55:06Z

Wedding receptions are generally pretty typical - cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter and dancing.

But recently, guests to a wedding I coordinated received a special treat. The bride, Audra, who loved to sing and had a beautiful voice, serenaded her new husband at the reception.

No one, except the band leader and I, knew she was going to sing, not even the groom.

The band leader asked everyone to clear the dance floor. I put a chair in the middle of the dance floor and asked the groom to have a seat. Audra took the mic and started to sing "Fly Me To The Moon". The groom was blown away. It was the highlight of the evening.

Of course, when she finished the song the groom gave her the biggest kiss. The guests went wild. It was a wonderful moment.

Congratulations to Angel & Roman - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-09-28T22:00:09Z

Congratulations to newlyweds Angel and Roman who were married this month. After saying their vows at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, they celebrated with family and friends at their wedding reception held at the Sheraton Dallas, which features panoramic views of downtown Dallas. We're so happy for you!

Enjoy highlights from their beautiful wedding from a video produced by LaDonna Visual Artistry.

Angel and Roman from LaDonna Aiken on Vimeo.

Dallas Bridal Show - July 11-12, 2009 - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-06-15T22:35:21Z

Join Weddings by Carolyn at the Dallas Bridal Show, July 11-12, 2009. The show will be held at Dallas Market Hall, 2100 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas.

Come by our booth to get answers to your questions about planning your wedding or about Weddings by Carolyn's services. We will be offering a 20% discount for our Complete Wedding Package for brides who sign up at the show.

Outdoor Weddings in Dallas - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-06-03T22:41:17Z

While it's true that Texas weather can make having an outdoor wedding a challenge, with some savvy planning and a good choice of venue, an outdoor wedding can be a magical place to tie the knot. Outdoor settings are great for photos and you'll save on the cost of decorations by having your wedding surrounded by the natural beauty of trees and flowers.

Types of Locations for Outdoor Weddings in Dallas

- Garden or Park

Some parks and botanical gardens in Dallas rent space for weddings. Enjoy your ceremony amidst the fragrant bouquet of a landscaped garden or beneath a grove of shady trees.

- Overlooking the Lake or Canals

Imagine tying the knot in a beautiful locale overlooking the water.

- A Courtyard

Hotels and country clubs throughout Dallas, offer lovely courtyard settings and solariums for wedding ceremonies.

Things to Consider

When planning an outdoor wedding in Dallas, it's important to have a back-up plan, such as an indoor facility or tented area, in case of rain. Some brides opt to have only the ceremony outside, but

then take the reception inside. And in Dallas, where temperatures run the gamut between too hot and too cold, a tented area is a good idea as it can be cooled in the spring/summer with fans and portable air-conditioning units or heated in the fall with patio heaters.

Lakes, canals and trees can bring out the bugs, especially in the early evening. Outdoor areas can be sprayed before your event and decorated with citronella candles to keep the bugs at bay.

Be sure to find out the restrictions for catering, electrical hook ups such as sound amplifiers, alcohol, and parking as well as noise-level ordinances at your outdoor wedding site. Some sites may also require a special permit to hold an event.

Meet Us at the Lakeside Bridal Fair in Dallas - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-04-13T22:52:30Z

We will be participating in the Lakeside Bridal Fair at the beautiful Hilton Bella Habor on Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall, Texas from Noon until 6 pm. The Bridal Fair is a great opportunity to meet vendors such as bakers, floral designers and venues and to learn about the latest wedding trends. Stop by our booth for a special gift and to chat with us about your wedding planning.

Thank You for Attending Our Wedding Planning Seminar - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-04-07T22:56:09Z

We would like to thank the brides, grooms and moms who attended our Free Wedding Planning Seminar hosted by Weddings by Carolyn and Expressions of Decor.

Your fantastic questions led to a lively discussion: Why have a wedding coordinator? What is the difference between a florist and a decorator? What steps do you take to select the right venue? What affects the budget? Also, we greatly appreciate the favors and delectable goodies provided by Radford Cakery, Lifestyle Portraits, Meaningful Mints and Spirit Wear.

Please check our blog regularly or subscribe to our RSS feed to get updates about the next Free Wedding Planning Seminar.

A Creative Touch for a Wedding - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-03-09T22:58:34Z

This past weekend we coordinated a wedding for a wonderful couple in Dallas. Expressions of Decor, a florist and designer in the Dallas area, provided the flowers and decoration.

What we love about Expressions of Decor are the creative touches they add to their wedding decorations. For this last wedding, the flower girl, instead of carrying the typical basket of flower petals, carried a big lollypop decorated with flowers. The guests loved it. When the flower girl walked down the aisle, you could hear a collective "Ahh, how sweet!" from the guests.

FREE Bridal Planning Workshop - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-03-09T22:57:38Z

Join us on April 4 at 2 pm for a free Bridal Planning Workshop designed to answer your questions about planning your wedding.

During this informative two-hour bridal planning workshop, we will discuss:

How to choose the right vendors
Setting a budget
Mistakes to avoid
Floral Decor, What is That?

This will be followed by a Question and Answer Session. Cake and punch will be served and all guests will receive goodie bags filled with unique wedding favor ideas.

Date and Time: April 4, 2009, 2 pm - 4 pm

Location: 605 Business Pkwy, Richardson, TX

Presenters: Weddings by Carolyn and Expressions of Decor

7 Reasons Why a Wedding Planner is a Good Value - Blog - Weddings in Dallas

2009-02-24T00:11:20Z

You just got engaged and the excitement of the coming event is heightened by the fun of combing through magazines for the perfect dress, the most beautiful decoration ideas, and all the details you can't wait to incorporate into your wedding. Then, you realize that you not only must find a florist, photographer, calligrapher, caterer, venue and other vendors, but you'll have to coordinate their work and manage them on the day of your wedding - the day you're supposed to be enjoying, not working.

Fortunately, the ultimate goal of a wedding coordinator is to make planning your wedding stress-free and to ensure that your wedding day is one of the best days of your life. In fact, there are seven benefits of hiring a coordinator that make this goal possible.

1. You have access to vendors that best meet your needs

Over years and countless wedding, planners have developed long-term relationships with vendors they respect and trust. When you work with a planner, you have access to highly qualified and experienced florists, bakers, DJs, photographers and other vendors that would be hard to find on your own.

You get to pick which vendors you like best from the planner's carefully chosen network.Or your coordinator will work to find one for you. What's more, a wedding consultant can guide you to the vendors and services who best match your taste and style.

2. You have a manager for your vendors

More vendors than you might first think will be involved in your wedding: a tent supplier, florist, caterer, band, sound equipment service, officiant, calligrapher, printer and more. Each one needs instructions, selections, schedules, payment plans, arrival times and location information.

Your coordinator arranges meetings with vendors and organizes details such as when payments must be made, when design decions must be finalized, when colors must be chosen, and when supplies need to be ordered. You never have to worry about these details. You can be involved in the planning to the degree that you wish. You can leave the other details to the planner.

3. You save time

You get to concentrate on fun activities such as finding your dress, addressing invitations,and planning the honeymoon. The planner worries about the mundane details like schedules, meetings, and budget that take up your precious time and energy. The coordinator will do the research and legwork necessary. You can focus on the aspects of the planning that you enjoy.

4. You save money

A coordinator will help you establish and maintain a budget to ensure that your priorities are met. She will also advise you in creative ways to curtail expenses. Since coordinators have long-standing relationships with vendors, you often get a better deal than if you were to negotiate a vendor contract on your own.

5. You benefit from the planner's skills and experience

Planners coordinate many weddings all year, every year. They know what works and what doesn't. They also know etiquette rules and little details that you may have never thought of.

What's more, with a coordinator, you get assistance in deciphering the fine print in vendor contracts to avoid wedding day surprises such as "What do you mean silverware is not included?"

6. You can enjoy the wedding day with little stress

From the first stages of planning to the reception, a wedding coordinator will keep track of every detail. When it gets close to the wedding and guests are calling for information, groomsmen are having tux issues, vendors are asking for payments and they all need schedules and answers, it's easier to pass the problems on to someone you trust, someone with experience.

7. You have a go-to person on your wedding day

From last-minute dress repairs to helping the best man find a misplaced ring, a wedding coordinator will be your "point person" for all the little emergencies that inevitably pop up during the wedding day. This way none of the problems come to you.