We know you’ve been dreaming of a luxury wedding and the most important element of that dream is to find a luxury wedding venue. The first place to look isn’t always the most obvious. Many brides search wedding venues in search engines and receive results that are less than desirable. One of the first places to think of when you think of luxury is old historic Churches. Churches, especially of ancient origination, have exquisite architecture and features that you just can’t find anywhere else. One Church that is very popular and a must see for beautiful features is the Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas. The cathedral is absolutely amazing, with its attention to detail and high ceilings. It is breathtaking and shouldn’t be missed on your list of places to check out.

Other luxury venues to hold your wedding at are places such as museums, vineyards, or old industrial buildings that provide a blank canvas to create your dream masterpiece.

Museums can be filled with art, old cars, abstract collections, or special rarities that only you can decide is right for you. Most museums are beautiful in them and need little help in sprucing up the place. For most museums, there is a venue or gathering space available, such as the lobby that can be transformed into an amazing ceremony and reception site with just the right touch of lighting and décor. A couple amazing museum spots we found in Dallas are: The Old Red Museum, an 1892 Romanesque courthouse; The Trammell and Margaret Crow Museum of Asian Art; or the Nasher Sculpture Center.

Wine rings sophistication. Wineries are luxury at the least. They have the ability to host events in grand spaces full of luscious wood and the smell of wine in old wood barrels. You can host an event outside beneath trellis covered in grape vines. Having a wedding at a winery can have the best of both worlds with outdoor sophistication and indoor elegance. You can separate your ceremony and reception between the indoor and outdoor options, or have your soiree all in one place. The great thing about it is that you can offer your guests wine that is made right on sight- a true treat for the wine enthusiast.

We recommend checking out the San Martino Winery just 34 miles east of Dallas in Rockwall, Texas.

There are so many different industrial areas that once were. They used to be booming areas of commerce for Dallas and now are empty facilities that provide the perfect clean slate for your wedding. Most of these buildings require imagination at first, but once you see examples of what can be done, it is known that you’ll kick yourself for passing them up. One place in particular that has hosted some of Dallas’ premier weddings is History Street Annex located in an old industrial area right off of Deep Ellum.

Whether you are classic and traditional by choosing a Church or more of an artistic soul, one can definitely find luxury in many of Dallas’ non traditional venues.

Most wedding receptions have special moments and events that a wedding DJ can capture and make ever entertaining. The First Dance, the father-daughter dance, the bridal party dance, a money dance, the bouquet toss, cutting of the cake, garter toss, departure, and all the line dances in between. For experienced wedding DJs in Dallas, Texas, they can turn a traditional bouquet toss into a movie moment by adding “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in the background. What about “Bringing Sexy Back” during the garter toss, or “Gold-digger” during the money dance? Whatever the event, whatever the song or your personality, Dallas wedding DJs can sure spice it up.

Wedding DJs in Dallas Texas vary in price, personality, and availability. Just like with any vendor of your wedding planning, you want to make sure to speak with your disc jockey prior to booking. You want to make sure that you have a great relationship to make for a great wedding reception. You want to book your wedding DJ just like you would book your venue or photographer…in advance. Look to interview DJs and start narrowing down your choices 5-6 months out from your wedding date. Some DJs require deposits to reserve your date, while others look for the balance two weeks prior to the big day. Wedding DJs in Dallas range from $350.00-$1500.00, just depending on the hours that are included, travel fees, and the DJs tenure/reputation in the business. It’s important to research your wedding DJ. There is really not a portfolio that you can look at, like with a photographer or florist. However, you can read testimonials and research your DJ online. Ask for references if you wish- this is your day after all.

For Wedding DJs in Dallas, Texas, here are some that we think you’ll enjoy.

Art of Music DJ’s & Entertainment

Carol Marks Music Entertainment Agency

Groovy Sound Productions

The Dallas area has a multitude of vendors and venues to host your Dallas Platinum Wedding, including places like the Aldredge House, a 17 room mansion; Arlington Hall at Lee Park, a lavish and grand hall with the acreage to match; Enchanted Memories on the Hill, a quaint outside gazebo facility; Cappella Court Gardens, little Italy in the Big D; or Hickory Street Annex, an eclectic industrial atmosphere. There are just as many outdoor ceremony sites as there are indoor, and the Dallas area has about a 1553 Churches, ranging from Anglican to even the one Vineyard Church in the area. Whatever your personal style, or Religious affiliation, you are sure to have an abundant list of choices to choose as the place of your special day.

The Dallas area offers something for everyone, including your guest list. One bride that we have helped sent out Save the Dates for her wedding date, highlighting area attractions for her out of town guests. The announcement included the Bride and Groom’s Name of course, the date to save, and the engaged couples’ wedding website. On their site, (can be created at TheKnot.Com) they listed things to do, places to stay, and places to eat, for their out of town guests. By doing this, you can give your guests tips on what to do on the days before and after your wedding day. Most out of town guests end up taking off for 2 ½ days -5 days for an out of town wedding- depending on how far they have to drive and how close they are to the bride and groom. It’s also a nice gesture to give your guests a heads up on your favorite places and block of hotel rooms at certain hotels, so they are guaranteed a place to sleep. Don’t want a major event in town, besides your wedding of course, to be booking up all of the best hotel rooms in the Dallas area. True story- a friend of mine had her wedding on race weekend near Texas Motor Speedway and didn’t block off any rooms for her guests-people ended up driving one hour to the ceremony site. If you want to go above and beyond to accommodate your guests and show off extreme etiquette, include information on roadway conditions (if there has been on going construction on the road for awhile) or even list which roads require tolls. For the out of state guest? Remind them that in Texas, if you don’t like the weather, stay awhile and it’ll change. Have them prepared with minor necessities such as an umbrella or light sweater.

The day of course is not all about accommodating your guests- but YOU! Your Dallas Wedding should be everything you ever dreamed. Whether you envision a beautiful sunset as you say “I do” at Ashton Gardens, or want to experience the nightlife of Deep Ellum and Greenville Avenue with your bridal party after your wedding, you are sure to be smilin’ mighty big as you celebrate in Big D.

Cake budget has been on the minds of brides for as long as wedding planning has been going on. However, the opinions are changing at a rapid rate. The base budget of your cake, whenever you decide what your budget is, is going to be the “per slice” fee. Most bakeries and cake designers start with that. Cakes range from $1.50 per slice (for do it yourself brides) to $20.00 per slice, for the most elaborate wedding cake design. With the “per slice” fee being said, its important you coordinate this to the amount of RSVPs that you’ve received. Remember, those who eat the main course, will also expect cake. The average wedding cake costs around $550.00.  There is no set design or tier that coordinates with this cost.  It all depends on who you get to design your cake and how many embellishments that you add to it.

The design element of the cake deciphers how much you pay for it, after deciding how many mouths you want to feed. The two main frosting types for wedding cakes are: butter-cream and fondant. Butter-cream is far less expensive than fondant and traditionally tastes better. Embellishments like fondant pearls, gum paste flowers, and multiple tiers will add additional costs to the cake. Since the topic of design is up to bat, there have been new spins and creations on the traditional wedding cake concept. Some brides are choosing to serve “mini cakes” to their guests that would otherwise replicate a large centerpiece. Others opt for cupcakes designed around a cupcake tree, a structure built to hold individual cup cakes somewhat in the shape of a cascading Christmas tree. For an idea on new wedding cake design in Dallas, one could look up www.thecakeguys.com.

It has to taste good. Glass half-empty personalities would often say that wedding cake doesn’t even taste good and they don’t know why brides spend money on it. Well, today’s cakes aren’t from your mother’s wedding. Today’s bakers and cake specialists are coming up with some of the most creative and delicious flavors to incorporate in wedding cakes. Flavors can range from the traditional vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry to some fun and elaborate tastes such as butter pecan, Italian cream, and pear. Bakers are incorporating fruit flavors in between cake layers and drizzling chocolate over the tops of layers to act as a bonding agent.

Whether your cake is round, square, abstract, or traditional, we are sure that with the top 3 things to think about when designing your wedding cake, you will feel confident knowing that you planned ahead.

Cinema Style Wedding Videographers in Dallas, Texas can do just that. They can capture the moments in your wedding, not only in film, but in spirit. They will be able to make your wedding day like that of the movies. When you watch the video of your wedding day, with family and friends, you’ll be sure to go through all the same emotions that you felt that day.

Imagine how you feel when you watch a documentary on television, candid interviews with real people, with raw emotions. The music is lightly played in the background, as the people fade in the background, the music changes ever so slightly to begin the magical moments of the day. Picture the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready in their bridal suite, slow motion effects capture the slow strokes of the brush as the bride touches up her makeup. The girls in the background can be seen admiring the bride for the beauty that she is, for the moment that this is. Close ups are captured of the flowers sitting on the vanity, of the beautiful arrangement she pondered over for months, carefully selecting the perfect flowers to commemorate the day. The view switches to the magnificent ring on the left hand of the bride as she gently places her veil behind her shoulders, ever careful not to displace the family heirloom. The picture fades and becomes blurred, where all you see in the background is the mother of the bride, with hands clasped over her mouth as if witnessing the most precious sight her eyes had ever seen. This, the truth as she is awing her daughter, her first born, about to experience one of the most special moments in her life, her wedding day.

What a wonderful experience one can have when they choose to hire a cinematographer for their wedding day. Prices and packages vary by company, but we have found bargain deals from $150.00 to packages starting at $1,000.00 for the highest quality film and production. For a taste of what Cinema Style Wedding Videographers in Dallas, Texas are all about, we suggest you check out www.eventcinema.com serving the DFW area.

To find a Dallas Wedding Planner you do not have to look very far. There are many wedding planers in the DFW with different years of experience, different creative visions, and different price tags. It’s important to know what you are looking for your wedding planner to do. There are wedding planners that create and envision everything for the indecisive couple, and then there are wedding planners that produce what the inspiration sets in front of them. Dallas wedding planners do everything from order invitations to setting up the honeymoon. They attend vendor meetings with the bride and groom and assist the couple with the budget and staying on track.

Dallas Wedding Planners offer professionalism and fun personalities. They are very organized and understand how to get the job done in an efficient and succinct manner. They know the best in the business and have usually seen the vendors’ work live, or have viewed their portfolio and know their prices up front. Instead of the bride and groom having to go through hours of hours of research, the Dallas Wedding Planner will line up a list of vendors for the couple to visit, narrowing down the list based on the client’s budget, location, values, and vision. For the couple who may be contemplating finding a Dallas wedding planner, the pros definitely out weigh the cons to the decision. Think of all the hours you may spend researching and calling venues, photographers, bakeries, florists, and such. The Dallas Wedding Planner will be able to take on that task as one can focus on other matters, such as spending time with family and friends in celebration, or focus on becoming ones’ personal best in preparation for the big day.

Every Dallas Wedding Planner offers different packages for different prices. Some packages and price details are based on a flat fee for the entire planning process, while others are selective or work by the hour. Definitely ask for references or to see the planner’s portfolio of work. An experienced and trained Dallas Wedding Planner may even have the credentials to back up her expertise, such as American Associate of Certified Wedding Planners, with specialization in the Dallas Wedding Planning program.

We would love to be your first choice when it comes to choosing your own personal Dallas Wedding Planner.  If you are interested in what we have to offer, please use the contact Kaye form on the side of this page.  If you are still up in the air and would like to see what some other Dallas Wedding Planners have to offer, here are a few that we recommend.

www.eachandeverydetail.com

www.kaywatson.com

www.asyouwishevents.com

There are many websites that are devoted to finding wedding venues in all major US cities, such as www.theknot.com, www.mywedding.com, www.modernbride.com. These sites include searches for every part of your wedding planning process, but most importantly, let you search the city that you will be holding your wedding venue. Most of these websites have pictures, contact information, and reviews of the venues. Bridal shows also will provide you with countless number of ceremony and reception sites. They usually bring pictures of their facilities, price guides, and even testimonial letters.

Once you’ve found a plethora of venue sites to put into a pile, how do you choose which one is right for you? The first thing you should think of is your budget. Just exactly how much do you intend to spend on the entire wedding in the first place?

The average cost for the ceremony is usually (or rather should be) 10% of your budget for fees and decoration, music, etc. The cost for the reception which should cover the venue fee, food, beverages (not bar) linens, tables and decorations should be around 45% of the budget.

You can use the percentages above to gauge how much you put towards the ceremony and reception sites. For all inclusive sites, that include ceremony and reception space on the same property, you may receive a good deal for booking at the same place. Second thing to think of when finding a wedding venue space is what has been on your mind? Before getting engaged, how did you envision your wedding day? Are you the earthy, free-spirited type that can stand the unpredictable weather forecast and can hold your big day out in the great big open? Are you the traditional bride that pictured yourself in a grand Church surrounded by the light of only candles? Whatever you have envisioned, center your focus on those types of venues first. If you haven’t found anything to fit your budget or your date, switch to alternatives. Try the websites above and stay true to what you want. There are many alternative venues that will fit your budget, regardless of what it is. You can make anything look beautiful with inexpensive florals and décor. Check out www.theknot.com for weddings on a budget.

What? How? Where? When? Who? Are these thoughts running through your head right now? I was asking the exact same thing when I first learned that my co-worker was using a dress she found on e-bay. Ever heard of someone who was going to get married and called off the wedding like a week before? Ever wonder what the brides do with the dress they bought? You cannot take it back to the store you purchased it from, and heaven forbid they sold it at a garage sale for the bargaining prices that people try to hound you down to. Most dresses end up in bridal resale shops and on the internet closet of e-bay. She got the dress for $250.00 and it was a one of kind designer creation. The dress had its original price tag and sale receipts to prove how much the dress was. Obviously this was one former bride to be that just wanted to get the dress out of her life-the dress was originally $5000.00- what a deal! It’s a rare find, but it can be done. You just have to be open to look around and not think of these dresses as hand-me-downs, but rather ‘someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.’

If you are considering purchasing a resale wedding gown, remember that there are some things to look for before you take the giant leap.  Consider sizes of different designers run differently. You will want to take your measurements at a tailor prior to purchasing a dress online. Ask the owner of the gown to list the measurements and any alterations that were done to the gown, because most gowns have been tweaked to fit the body of the previous owner. Be sure to learn about the cleaning of the dress. If the dress was one that hasn’t been worn to the actual event, like our cold feet bride above, there could still be body oils on the gown from the previous owner and you want to make sure to inspect the gown. Most dry cleaners have special cleaning techniques they use on bridal gowns due to the delicate and intricate designs of them. Whatever the case, make sure you know before you commit to purchasing a dress that you can only see pictures of. Ask what the return policy is. This can be the case at a resale bridal shop or online. Be creative. Once you get the gown home, look for places on the dress that you can jazz it up. Add a beautiful silk sash to the waist line in one of your wedding colors; add a broach to the gown; add Swarovski crystal straps to an otherwise strapless dress. Use your imagination, and what was once someone else’s bridal gown can now be your Resale Wedding Dress masterpiece.

The day that you have dreamed of.

What can you do to make sure that you have the fairytale wedding that you have dreamed of since you were a little girl?

Contact Kaye at Dallas Platinum Weddings!