Blog - Weddings in Dallas

DIY vs. Hiring a Wedding Planner

2011-05-31T18:31:55Z

Every bride's dream is to have a beautiful wedding. A wedding at a wonderful venue, gorgeous flowers, a deliciously decorated cake. great photographer, food, music that the guest will enjoy and the list goes on.

Do you have the time to visit all the venues, florists, caterers, photographers, and bakers you have seen on line?

During these economic times everyone is concerened about cost and getting the most for their dollar.

Many brides believe that a planner will cost too much. The bride and her family can do the work themselves and save money. A planner can save you money and time with the contacts she has with vendors.

The Internet is an excellent source of information for the DIY Bride. However, the Internet cannot prepare you for the unexpected events that could happen on your BIG DAY.

A family member or friend can volunteer to coordinate and plan your wedding. However, an experience certified wedding planner is professionally trained to assist you in selecting vendors, venues and other aspects of your wedding.

Many of the vendors that we use offer our bride's discounts because of the professional relationship that we have established over the years. Your budget is important to you and it is important to us.

There are a number of factors involved in planning your wedding. The bride and her family should spend the BIG DAY getting dressed, visiting with family and friends and most of all enjoying the day.

2011-05-13T18:26:31Z

Image via CrunchBase

BEST OF THE KNOT 2011

Weddings by Carolyn was named BEST OF WEDDINGS by The Knot. We are very fortunate and happy to receive this designation and would like to thank the brides who sent in the wonderful reviews.

Our staff is committed to providing quality service to our wedding couples

We're Moving to Preston Rd in Dallas!

2010-07-16T22:02:38Z

Weddings by Carolyn will be moving to a new location on August 1, 2010. The new office is located at Dominion Plaza, 17304 Preston Rd, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas 75252.

We are very excited about our new location. It affords us more space and the assistance of a wonderful reception staff.

Please call before coming to the office because we still work by appointment only. Our telephone number is the same 214.417.5850.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Leaving Your Wedding in Style - Vintage Cars, Carriages & More

2010-06-06T00:16:43Z

The bride and groom have danced their last dance of the night. It is time to leave the wedding. Your guests are ready to send you off.

We often like to inspire brides to put a creative spin on their wedding with some ideas on how to leave their wedding reception - in style.

One wonderful way to top off the evening is by leaving in a vintage car, and not just any vintage car. How about a 1941 Rolls Royce? Guests gather around the car to get a peek inside as the chauffeur slowly drives the couple away.

For more sporty types, there's the 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Brings back memories for moms and dads.

For receptions in Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas, a horse-drawn carriage will take the couple to their hotel, but not before a ride through downtown to enjoy the beautiful Dallas or Fort Worth skyline. It's the perfect ending for a Cinderella-style wedding.

Some Dallas Country Clubs will have a decorated golf cart to whisk the bride and groom away. Still other venues on or near lakes in Dallas provide gondola rides for a dreamy wedding a la Venice.

Photo: Cloud 9 Vintage Coach, Inc

A Wedding Reception with a WOW Factor

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

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.

A Creative Touch for a Wedding

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.

7 Reasons Why a Wedding Planner is a Good Value

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.