Weddings West Magazine

PA R K E R C O U N T Y, H O O D C O U N T Y, E R AT H C O U N T Y THE ENGAGEMENT ISSUE

COMPLIMENTARY | VOL I 2020

A NEW FRONTIER FOR THE TEXAS BRIDE

WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, CORPORATE PARTIES, NON-PROFIT EVENTS

Joni & Steve Berry, Owners

THE

817.219.4859 | 817.408.7030 | warrensbackyard.com | warrensbackyard@gmail.com

of

2018 2019

JACQUE GORDON 817-243-4324 JACQUEGORDON@KW.COM

Your Friend • Your Realtor • Your Neighbor

EDITOR'S

LETTER

Love Is Worth It.

I

n adolescence, most of us feel like the adults have it all figured out. I mean, surely they do. There’s responsibilities and commitments to uphold that keep this train going, someone’s gotta do it. As we grow up to be adults, we realize we probably don’t have it figured out, and (sigh) the others don’t either. But, if we can find someone to not know what they’re doing with us, it sure does make the journey more enjoyable.

Speaking of unmet expectations, consider all the pressures we put on ourselves to do well in school, land an amazing job, find someone to marry, have perfect, healthy children, the list goes on. This hardly ever goes according to the narrative we’ve planned, and sometimes we’re better or worse for the wear. However, I’ve found that if we surround ourselves with love, together we seem to find our way.

Listen. Love finds us, sometimes marriage finds us. Occasionally, children and family we never knew we needed, find us. Real love is worth the struggle and definitely worth gushing over. The pages of this Engagement Issue are inspired by all the different ways we find love, unplanned, and in the most unexpected ways. You’ve let love find you, now it’s time to celebrate!

xoxo, Melissa

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Granbury Venues The special day you have dreamed of all your life.

Plan it in a very special place, Granbury, Texas.

Granbury offers a variety of venues: lake settings, historical locations, rustic venues, and country club settings, to name a few. From small to large weddings, casual to formal, there are options for all. Complete your wedding experience with the many other amenities that Granbury provides, such as beautiful Bed & Breakfast properties, wonderful hotels and luxury guest houses.

Customize your wedding details to make your dream wedding come true, in Granbury.

• CELEBRATION HALL • GRANBURY SQUARE PLAZA • HARBOR LAKES COUNTRY CLUB • HILTON GARDEN INN • INN ON LAKE GRANBURY • LA BELLA LUNA • LAKE GRANBURY CONFERENCE CENTER • THE PINES ON LAKE GRANBURY • SLEDGE DISTRILLERY • WARREN’S BACKYARD For Additional Venues visit our website visitgranbury.com

For more information visit

201 E. PEARL STREET

CONTENTS

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16

08 16

8 2020 Engagement Checklist You’re engaged… now what?

By Melissa McGavock

16 18 20 22

16 Series: Get Inspired by Texas Brides

16 True Love at the Gym Macy Hart and Hunter Blaise 18 Swipe Right for Happily Ever After Christin Lang and TJ Trujillo 20 The Best is Yet to Come Clayton Truebenbach and Taylor Torcellini 22 Rekindling True Love Terry and Trish Jones

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About Weddings West Weddings West is distributed free of charge to local businesses, bridal events and visitors centers west of DFW. Our experienced creative team blends current trends and real life situations to create a publication that sparks joy and is a reliable resource for brides and families planning a wedding and uniting families.

Look forward to Weddings West: The Wedding Issue Summer 2020

LOOK FOR WEDDINGS FACTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2 36 28 36 28 So You Think You Don’t Need a Wedding Planner? Here’s 5 reasons why we think you do.

By Kelsey Wallen

30

30 In Defense of the Blended Family The most important factor is always love.

By Andra Mayberry

36 Keep From Overwhelming the Groom A humorous and thoughtful look at the groom's experience.

By Jonathan Hooper

26 34 48

Events to Talk About 26 The Great Granbury Bridal Show 34 Weddings Magazine Launch Event 48 Weddings West Cover Contest

THANK YOU

o t u o Y k n a h T l Specia s r e s i t r dve A r u O Anise Texas

Blush Love Bride

Bob's Off The Square Byrd Mill Creative Chaos Del Norte D'Vine Wine Fall Creek Ranch Farina's Granbury Flower Shop Hard Eight BBQ HEB Here's To You Jacque Gordon La Bella Luna LC Ranch LP Taylor Photography Melinda Owen's Law Firm Michelle Winters Photography Silver Saddle Saloon Sledge Distillery Southern Legacy The Fusion Table The N at Hardway Ranch Town & Country Floral Troy Vinson Visit Granbury Warren's Backyard Wedding Connection White Orchid Photography

FAC T 1:

Brides tradit ionally wear veils because ancient Greeks and Romans believed they protected her from evil spirits.

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A NEW FRONTIER FOR THE TEXAS BRIDE

ABOUT THE COVER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Engagement photo, Fort Worth, Texas

Andra Mayberry

Amanda Elaine Photography

Autumn Grant

LP Taylor Photography

The couple is Alexia Gyure and

Jonathan Hooper

Lightly Photography

Read Raines. Their favorite things to

Kelsey Wallen

Michelle Winters

Melissa McGavock

Miranda Marrs Photography

White Orchid Photography

do together are taking road trips, going to concerts, attending sporting events,

Swink Photos

and cooking dinner.

White Orchid Photography

CEO ACCOUNTING

Kim Justis |

Eric Wilkins |

COO

SR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R D I G I TA L D I R E C T O R WEB DEVELOPER

Zeke Dorr |

Lindsey Moore |

Melissa McGavock |

Aaron Meeks |

G r e g We a v e r |

SOCIAL MEDIA

CFO

Ti m J u s t i s

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

ART DIRECTOR

SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Hannah Berkovsky

Amy Winters Dustin Beaty

M c K e n z i e Tu c k e r

Autumn Grant Brittney Lopez

Weddings West is created and published by GreenFox greenfox.io weddingswestmagazine.com (817) 330-9015 307 West Pearl Street Granbury, Texas 76048 All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

WEDDINGS WEST

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2020

ENGAGEMENT CHECKLIST WORDS BY M E LISSA MCGAVO CK PHOTOS BY W H I T E ORCH I D PHOTO GRA PH Y You’re engaged… now what? Feeling total bliss followed by an immediate feeling of panic? Whether you’ve planned for your wedding day your entire life or you’ve not given it a second thought, this is a totally normal reaction for a new bride. We’ve put together a short todo list in hopes that it makes this special moment last and wedding planning a little less stressful.

FAC T 2:

Enga gement and wedd ing rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand in because it was once thought that a vein . heart the to tly that finger led direc

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1 2

Reach out to the ones that are closest to you! Text your parents, your siblings, your BFF, your roommate, whoever will feel slighted if they find out on Instagram before you tell them.

If you’re ready to share, take a selfie and post away!

Now, you’ve successfully reached all the peripheral people in your life, your 7th grade teacher, your coworkers from those couple years of waiting tables, and the friends you’ve lost contact with since you moved.

Pro Tip: Get a manicure first!

3 4 5 6

Back to the ring.. Be sure it’s sized correctly and consider insuring it. Adding it to your home or rental insurance is a cinch and totally worth it.

The first step in wedding planning, even before setting the date, is the venue. These days, venues are booked out, often for more than a year. Consider all your options as far as location, even destinations, and generally the size wedding you think you may have.

Then, you can begin to narrow it down based on availability.

Now, breathe! You thought that should be Step 4? No, the venue is more important. Once you’ve started that process, then you can breathe. Go out with close friends and your new fiancé. Celebrate!

This is an exciting time!

Start thinking about money. Nobody likes to bring up the subject and it can be a mood killer, but it’s important to start off your new life happy and not in debt.

Pro Tip: It may seem excessive to hire a wedding planner in addition to all the other expenses, but it is the best thing you can do for your sanity, as well as your bank account. Your wedding planner has connections and knowledge of this industry that you don’t, they keep you grounded and your big day cost effective. See page 28 for more details on wedding planners.

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7 8 9

Consider your wedding party. These days, there are all sorts of creative ways to ask those closest to you to stand by you at your wedding, and host your showers, and your bachelor and bachelorette parties, and your rehearsals, and your luncheons and brunches, and the ceremony and finally, the actual reception. The tradition of taking a lot of time and thought to ask your friends and family to be in your bridal and groom party is on point. It is a commitment of their time and often their wallets so bring the pageantry and be thoughtful, it is the right thing to do.

Start gathering inspiration. It’s 2020, there are so many convenient options for digital organization. Create your Pinterest boards and research options for wedding websites where all kinds of info can be stored and updated easily for all your guests to see. Also, Google Drive is a great place to organize and store images, notes and documents.

The dress. It’s all about the dress. Research bridal shows, trunks shows (for designers if you’re into that), and begin setting appointments. Again, these can be difficult to get scheduled, often they are months out. So start calling, even if you don’t feel like you’re ready.

Pro Tip: Be very careful who you choose to join you.

Feelings can get hurt quickly, unsolicited advice starts getting thrown around, and a well intended outing turns stressful quickly.

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WEDDINGS WEST

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Let us cater the nights you’ll always remember!

Big or small we feed them all. From tailgating to large corporate events, weddings, sweet sixteens and anything in between is an opportunity for Del Norte Tacos to take care of it all. We help plan the menu and cook your favorite Tex-Mex while you get to enjoy the festivities.

101 E. Hwy 171 Godley, TX 76044 | 817-521-3067 (catering)

AN UNFORGETTABLE WEDDING VENUE AT A TRUE TEXAS WORKING RANCH

Fall Creek Ranch is an authentic working ranch that has been in the Langdon Family for over half a century. It’s comprised of over 1,000 acres of pristine north central Texas land that is also managed not only for cattle, but for whitetailed deer, turkey, quail, and all the rest of the wildlife that call it home. The Langdon Family still resides in the historic farm house that was built in 1882. The ranch receives its name from the captivating creek that meanders along the ranch and its numerous waterfalls that are breathtaking and flow nearly year round. We hope that you will visit us and surround yourself in the peace and tranquility the ranch has to offer and that your next event will create everlasting memories of a place where dreams become reality.

8220 Langdon Leake Ct • Granbury, Texas 76049 Kristyn 817-279-3911 or Kelly 817-578-1250 Kristyn@FallCreekRanch.com B fallcreekranch • V fallcreekranch

We’d like to hear from you!

FACEBOOK: LPTaylor Photography INSTAGRAM: lp_taylorphotography EMAIL: lptaylorphotog@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHERS: Layth & Paige Taylor

817.894.7059

TOP OF THE VINE

Your Wedding Winery • OVER 20 VARIETIES OF WINE • CUSTOM LABELS • GIFT BASKETS • SPECIAL EVENTS • WINE TASTINGS

107 E Bridge Street Granbury, Texas ON THE HISTORIC SQUARE follow us on facebook for events and news.

DVINEWINEGRANBURY.COM • 817-573-7200

T R UE LO VE AT THE GYM B R I D E A N D G RO O M

DRESS DESIGNER

Macy Hart and Hunter Blaise

Essence of Australia purchased at Bliss Bridal Salon

DAT E October 18, 2019

C AT E R E R Babes Chicken

VENUE Trickle Creek Ranch Weatherford, Texas

FLORIST Tracy Spindor, Awesome Blossoms, Saginaw TX

VIDEOGRAPHER Mika Mitchell

WEDDING CAKE Sweet Life of Cakes - Karolina Derden

P H OTO G R A P H E R Swink Photos 16

This was a traditional ceremony without a first look. The bride’s wedding band was made from the diamonds of her grandmother’s wedding ring.

H OW T H E Y M E T Macy and Hunter met a local gym in the town they both grew up in. She was in nursing school at the time and he worked nights, but they made the effort to go on dates and spend time together whenever they could. It didn’t take long before Macy knew Hunter was the one and he felt the same way.

Hunter wanted Macy to be completely surprised by the proposal. He made a plan to show up at her work and coordinated with her co-workers to set everything up. Macy was totally surprised and thrilled!

Macy added, “I said yes to the man of my dreams! Our wedding day was everything I dreamed it would be.”

FAC T 3:

The tradit ion of a wedd ing cake comes from ancient Rome, where guests broke a loaf of bread over the bride's head for fertility's sake.

WEDDINGS WEST

G e t Ins pi re d by Te x as Bri des

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

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S W I PE R I GHT F O R HAP P I LY EVER AF TER B R I D E A N D G RO O M

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Christin Lang and TJ Trujillo

Pun the DJ

DAT E

DRESS DESIGNER

October 20, 2019

Watters Brides

VENUE

C AT E R E R

The N at Hardway Bluffdale, Texas

Hard Eight BBQ

FLORIST VIDEOGRAPHER

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DH Wedding Films

Granbury Flower Shop Bouquet: Roses, paeonies, hydrangeas

P H OTO G R A P H E R

WEDDING CAKE

Tracy Autem Lightly Photo

Make Your Own S’Mores Bar

throughout the day such as a mirror with “Be Our Guest� written across it for seating, a clock with Alice and Wonderland quotes, white pumpkin decor for Cinderella, and a nod to Beauty and the Beast with a pink rose in a glass dome.

H OW T H E Y M E T TJ is from New Mexico and Christen is from Kentucky, however they connected on the Tinder dating app in 2014 while they were both traveling for work in Indiana. Eventually, they moved to Dallas for work and still live in Dallas. The N at Hardway Ranch was a great option for all the out of state family and friends. As well, Christin had visited Granbury for work and knew she loved this area.

FAC T 4:

Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedd ing rings each year in the United States.

WEDDINGS WEST

G e t Ins pi re d by Te x as Bri des

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S The bride and groom wrote their own vows. They included subtle Disney themes

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THE B ES T I S Y E T TO CO ME B R I D E A N D G RO O M

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Clayton Truebenbach and Taylor Torcellini

Dance Floor: DFW Dancefloors

December 28, 2019

Photobooth: Mir Mir Drapes & Decor: DFW Drapes & Lighting Walton Stout

VENUE

DRESS DESIGNER

DAT E

St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church Lake Granbury Conference Center

Justin Alexander

VIDEOGRAPHER

Aly Caulder Hard 8 BBQ

Cinema Wedding Stories

P H OTO G R A P H E R Miranda Mars Photography Shane Reitzammer

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(black and white checkered)

C AT E R E R

WEDDING CAKE & FLORIST H-E-B

Granbury Chick-fil-A catered the “late-night” food. Debbie Price with Chick-fil-A made the couple a mini bride and groom cow stuffed animal. Chick-fil-A was the bride’s first advertising account as a junior art director, so the gesture meant even more to the couple.

The wedding included a Motown flare with the band, Walton Stout, lending a hand to help bring the theme to life with their musical abilities.

H OW T H E Y M E T Taylor and Clayton met when Taylor’s family moved to Muenster, TX, (population 3,500) before her freshman year of high school. Clayton, then a junior in high school immediately fell for the “new girl in town”. Due to the small population of Muenster, Clayton often jokes that Taylor was the first girl in school he wasn’t related to. Much of their twenties were spent long-distance, before they both moved to Denton, TX. The partnership between Hilton Garden Inn and the Lake Granbury Conference Center was perfect in acting as a resort for their guests and a venue for the reception.

FAC T 5:

Queen Victoria started the Western world's white wedd ing dress trend in 1840—before then, brides simply wore their best dress.

WEDDINGS WEST

G e t Ins pi re d by Te x as Bri des

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

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REKI NDLI NG T R UE LO VE B R I D E A N D G RO O M

C AT E R E R

Terry and Trish Jones

Professional Chef of the Inn on Lake Granbury

DAT E July 14, 2019

FLORAL DESIGN Roses, paeonies, hydrangeas

VENUE Inn on Lake Granbury

WEDDING CAKE DESIGN Rosettes all over the Cake

P H OTO G R A P H E R Amanda Elaine

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Since the day symbolized their family being pieced back together, Terry and Trish found it important that their kids felt included in the day. To accomplish this they opted for an intimate relaxed ceremony with just their children and granddaughter, Ella, there in attendance. The bride and groom’s oldest daughter, Tarrah, officiated the wedding.

H OW T H E Y M E T Terry and Trish originally married on July 14, 1990. Together the couple has three children, two daughters, Tarrah and Tatum, and one son, Tucker. On July 14th, 2019, after spending 15 years divorced, the couple decided to remarry. For their relaxed, but meaningful ceremony, the Inn on Lake Granbury was the perfect venue. Cathy Casey of the Inn on Granbury Lake coordinated the floral, food and cake for the couple’s special

FAC T 6:

Stag parties were first held by ancient Spart an soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.

WEDDINGS WEST

G e t Ins pi re d by Te x as Bri des

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S

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THE FUSION TABLE IS PLANTING ROOTS AND EXPANDING IN GRANBURY! COMING SOON OFF THE HISTORIC GRANBURY SQUARE. Chef Courtney Billens’ The Fusion Table has been inviting the community to savor the events of their life through personal chef and on-site catering services for the past year. The Fusion Table is embarking on a new culinary journey with the addition of The Fusion Table Cooking School & Savor Room.

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE TODAY! CHEF COURTNEY BILLEN | CELL: 281-508-0464 | OFFICE: 817-910-8244 206 E PEARL STREET, SUITE 101, GRANBURY 76048 | WWW.THEFUSIONTABLE.COM

WEDDING AND EVENT VENUE (817) 243-6789 www.lcranchtexas.com lcranchlandri@gmail.com 4610 Shaw Road Tolar, Texas 76476

LC Ranch is a quaint country gem hidden in a ring of oak trees overlooking 40 acres of lush coastal fields. The ranch boasts an unforgettable venue where rustic truly meets elegance.

Whether indoors or outdoors your event will be one to remember.

LC Ranch... where your dreams come true.

T H E G R E AT G R A N B U RY BRIDAL SHOW S AT U R D AY, A U G U S T 2 4 T H 2 0 1 9 | 1 : 0 0 P M - 6 : 0 0 P M PHOTOS BY MICHELLE WINTERS

A l l b r i d e s - t o - b e i n t h e g r e a t e r We s t - O - P l e x a r e a attended the bridal show at the Lake Granbury Conference Center. They and their entourage were invited to sip mimosas experience a wide variety of wedding options in one place, everything from a trunk show worthy wedding dress to a unique cake topper. The excitement and energ y from all the brides and talented vendors is tremendous. Keep the Great Granbury Bridal Show in mind if you're considering h a v i n g y o u r b i g d a y w e s t o f D F W. @ v i s i t g ra n b u r y a n d v i s i t g ra n b u r y. co m f o r u p d a t e s

k o Bo our nce Y rie e p Ex

CATERING FOR EVERY EVENT Weddings Parties Private Dinners Wine Pairings Corporate Events Birthdays

www.anisetexas.com

So you think you don’t need a wedding planner?

Here’s five reasons why we think you do.

We get it! You’re organized. You’re creative. You’ve been envisioning this day for a long time. None of this means you don’t need help on the big day. Weddings are expensive, but before you write off a wedding planner completely, read this first.

1 2 3 4 5

Save Time Wedding planners are networkers. They have great relationships with all the various, traditional and unique vendors you may need. Want peonies in October? No problem. Yoga with goats at the reception? Also, no problem. We’ll even hire the pooper scooper.

Save Money Because of our relationships, we get discounts! Vendors want to ensure we are pleased so we keep bringing them business. We find you the best event options at competitive prices.

Budget and Contract Management We manage these sticky situations for you, drawing on our years of experience. We know what different contracts can and should provide. We hold vendors accountable, relieving you from added stress and ensuring your budget is adhered to.

Your Vision Comes to Life We are with you from the beginning. Wedding planners listen and our goal is to ensure no detail is overlooked. We even anticipate day-of obstacles and prepare accordingly so you don’t have to and often, you don’t even know about it. We free you up to just be the bride and enjoy your day!

Keep Your Sanity Your sanity is priceless. You want your day to be stress free, beautiful and exactly what you have pictured since yesterday or since you were a little girl. A wedding planners’ job is to keep up, manage the specifics and make your day seem as original, perfect and effortless as you are.

FAC T 7:

The bride stands to the groom's left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.

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“In my decade of experience planning and coordinating weddings, I have heard every last reason why brides say they don’t need a wedding planner.

On the flip side, I’ve never once had a bride regret hiring me for their big day, even the ones that had to budget to afford me. Their tear-filled eyes and smile, alongside the biggest hug and thank you afterwards tells me that it was absolutely worth it to them.”

- Kelsey Wallen, Wedding Planner

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In Defense of the Blended Family A “blended family” or stepfamily forms when you and your partner decide to make a life together with your children from past relationships, as well as past partners who may still be involved in parenting.

Marriage is an exciting time full of happiness, love, and big expectations. But, what if your kids or your new spouse’s kids don’t feel the same way?

Stepchildren sometimes don’t understand where they fit following the big day.

Weddings West talks about the blended family.

Real Life Accounts by Andra Mayberry

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FAC T 8:

and In several count ries, includ ing Germany Greece, the bride would attempt to cover to her husband’s foot while danci ng as a way establish domi nance in the relationship.

Hieeee. I’m sure you’ve seen us out and about. We are the family who has multiple children, a little bit of chaos, maybe a touch of unfamiliarity and a little bit of awkwardness. You see, we have only been a family as you see us since 2015. We are still navigating a lot of issues, thank you very much.

We are a blended family. My husband and I were both divorced with children when we met each other. He has two girls and I have a boy and a girl. So together our little families of three have blended together to now become six. We’re kind of like the Brady Bunch. We couldn’t be better matched, my husband and I. Our children have, for the most part, followed suit. Of course there are times when there have been strong feelings and someone has felt slighted, but even nuclear families have the same issues. There are so many other families out there just like us.

In doing research for this piece about the blended family, I learned divorce rates are actually lower than the scary 50 percent we all hear about. What I also learned is that fewer people view marriage as an ideal but rather an option. So what are the statistics for blended families? That number actually is scary. According to the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, the divorce after remarriage rate rises to 60 percent for second marriages and to 65 percent for third and fourth marriages.

With all this divorce and remarriage happening all around us, the blended family is very much a part of our social fabric. Taking on the task of marrying again, especially with children involved, is not for weaklings. While your broken heart can be mended with a new love, the precious cargo we bring into a new marriage can be damaged in transit if you’re not mindful of how bumpy the road can be.

One of the best things about my new family has been getting to know my bonus girls without having the context of knowing them as babies and toddlers. I don’t have his memory of the girls’ fuzzyheaded silhouettes during a midnight feeding and my husband didn’t experience the joy my daughter felt when her baby brother was finally here. We both love children, but because we were married at age 40, we knew having children of our own was probably not in the cards. Just learning the nuances of these new children in our lives has been challenging, and also rewarding.

While our story has had its share of great times, we’ve also had our share of difficulties. Sometimes, we don’t agree on parenting strategies. To add, we don’t realize we differ on various issues until a conflict actually arises. We try to work on our disagreements as a family and talk about what’s fair and not fair and what is expected moving forward. It’s an ever-changing landscape.

WEDDINGS WEST

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Blended families handle situations in lots of different ways.

Stephanie Blair, herself a wife and mother of a blended family and also raised in a blended family, has seen every aspect of this relationship. She recalls at age seven, a conversation with her new stepdad, Dan Painter after he and her mom had been married for about a year. “I told Dan right off I hated him as we sat in the backyard at the picnic table. He told me ‘the feeling is mutual, kiddo.’” She didn’t know what the word “mutual” meant and had to go look it up. When she did, she knew she was in for it. Of course, Dan didn’t actually hate Stephanie. He was that rare breed of parent who doesn’t bend to a child’s whims and wasn’t afraid to have the highnoon showdown to prove he wasn’t going to be intimidated or manipulated.

Fast forward a decade or so, the bond between stepchild and step-parent grew and Stephanie saw this man was going to love her no matter what. “As time went on and I kept proving not all little girls are always full of sugar and spice and everything nice, Dan kept proving that I could be as ornery as I wanted and he was still going to be there, strong and steady with whatever I needed, whenever I needed it because now we were family and family came first, even if it wasn't always pretty.”

That is exactly what it takes to make the blended family work: consistency, unconditional love, and having the ability to look a teenage girl in the eyes and mean what you say, even if she isn’t the teenage girl whose birth changed your body forever.

Stephanie and Dan grew so close, she told me that by the

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time she was in junior high, he was her favorite person. There was a balance of both love and justice. In their blended family, the parents laid down the law and didn’t issue idle threats. A 10 PM curfew meant 10 PM and not a moment later. Lying about anything, big or small, was also one of their no-nos. In concert with her mother, Kathy, Dan enforced the rules and seemingly had no problem doing it. Clear boundaries are important for any family but for the blended family, if the lines are blurred, children can feel insecure and find ways to get around the rules and into trouble. In concert with the rules of the house was Dan’s ability to listen to the kids and earnestly hear their concerns. As a step-parent, it is crucial to establish a connection with your spouse’s children. Stephanie says Dan was a great listener and wanted to hear about their lives, their concerns, their dreams and their problems. She knew he genuinely loved her and wanted nothing but the best for her.

Stephanie and her family lost Dad Dan in January of 2015 after a fierce battle with cancer. “Dan was my dad, biological or not. I was his kid, biological or not. He was my favorite person in the world by the time I was in junior high and he died, my favorite person in the world.”

While there are many aspects to any blended family, making individual connections, establishing clear-cut boundaries, including everyone who comes with the new family, the most important factor is always love.

“But if there's love, dear... those are the ties that bind, and you'll have a family in your heart, forever.” - Mrs. Doubtfire, Greatest Blended Family Movie Ever WEDDINGS WEST

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WEDDINGS MAGAZINE LAUNCH EVENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 PHOTOS BY WHITE ORCHID PHOTOGRAPHY

We d d i n g s We s t w i l l b e t h e f i r s t r e g i o n a l , s p e c i a l edition magazine published alongside its parent publication Lake Granbury Living (ca. 2014).

Guests shopped a Kendra Scott pop up boutique, enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, entertainment a n d a n L G L p a s t c o v e r s p r e s e n t a t i o n ! We w e r e p r o u d and excited to present these large scale covers to m e m b e r s o f o u r co m m u n i t y.

For this region, this is a unique opportunity for wedding couples and local businesses to belong, also d i s c o v e r a n d g e t i n s p i r e d . We d d i n g s We s t w o r k s directly with locally-owned businesses in the DFW metroplex, as well as non-profit organizations to put together a publication that has the potential to boost the local economy and tourism efforts.

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Fine Art Award Winning Wedding & Portrait Photographer

Modern, yet timeless images for the joyful, romantic, adventurous couples. www.whiteorchid.photo | 832-466-3798 | deboraconn@whiteorchid.photo

Keep From Overwhelming the Groom W O R D S B Y J O N AT H A N H O O P E R P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y L P TAY L O R P H O T O G R A P H Y

FAC T 9:

In many cultures, the hands of the bride ol and groom, “tying the knot,” are a symb . other each to t itmen of their comm

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PA R T I .

It Is A ll A bout T he Bride A generation or so ago, the roles at a wedding were pretty well defined. While traditions varied from one geographical region to the next, and certainly from one ethnic culture to another, in this part of the world, one had a fairly accurate assumption of what one was to expect when attending a wedding.

It is the bride’s day, so let her wear white and look perfect.

It is not the groom’s day, so put him in an ill-fitted rented tux to sweat bullets.

It is really the Day Of The Bride’s Mother, because this is the wedding she really wanted, but her mother made her have the wedding that her mother really wanted, and so on. Mom can and will wear whatever she wants, as long as it does not overshadow the bride.

It is the Day of Debt for Dad, the cost of which is double what he had budgeted, and his role is to not mention the cost until the reception. His tux must be even more ill-fitted than the groom. But he owns the tux.

It is the day when the mother of the groom wears beige and remains silent. Her day will come.

It is the Day of Invisibility for the father of the groom. Who? Nice brown suit. On sale?

It is the Terrifying Day of the Church Organist. Did she practice? No. It is the Day of Anguish for the friends not selected as bridesmaids and groomsmen, but fortunately, the bride and groom have the same number of siblings, so all is well, except the sister of the groom is nine months pregnant, due yesterday, so the bride’s cousin is subbing in at the last minute, and she is noticeably uncomfortable, because her dress doesn’t fit at all.

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PA R T I I .

A New Day Cometh for We d d i n g G u e s t s At some point between the birth of my grandchildren and retirement, these time-honored traditions went the way of the dial-up internet and mullets.

Burdensome roles had to evolve, just as the wedding itself has evolved. The typical church wedding has become atypical, adding enough flowers and smoke and mirrors and musicians and dancers flanked by twenty or thirty attendants wearing matching suits and strapless dresses.

Lady Di’s wedding would pale in comparison to the opulence found inside the sanctuary on a Saturday afternoon, only to be swept clean of all worldliness by 9:00am Sunday morning. No more rice. We must throw bird seed from now on.

Or glitter, which would mysteriously remain stuck to both bride and groom long after the honeymoon is over.

Let's suppose the bride does not want an indoor church wedding and opts for a garden ceremony. In this instance, the ceremony becomes less sacred, and more civic. Perhaps the officiant is a newly ordained pastor of the Internet Church of Football. As couples from different faith backgrounds decide to marry with a minimum of fuss, this solution becomes a more viable option. But if held outdoors in August with 98 degrees of humidity-laden heat, no wind, no clouds - the wedding party and the guests are reminded of what it must feel like to burn alive. Either way, the bride wears a full-blown wedding dress.

There are countless variations: an intimate service with the Justice of the Peace with parents and step-parents as witnesses; the ballroom at Disneyland with the wedding party dressed as their favorite character from “Frozen;” the underwater scuba wedding can be nice, unless the groom’s father can’t swim; a destination wedding is popular, and always held at an expensive tropical location requiring three flights and a water taxi for all guests; or the rustic-chic backyard BBQ wedding and light beer festival, which is starting to make a real move.

PA R T I I I .

But What A bout The Groom?

Did the bride ever have family that attended the University of Alabama? Rest assured “Roll Tide’ will be proclaimed by the minister at least twice--five times if the groom’s family are Auburn alumni. Will there be any orange at an Aggie bride's wedding? Is it legal for a Longhorn to wed a Sooner in either state?

What if there is a bowl game on tv? What do you serve when the brisket runs out? Who hired the bride's cousin to sing with the band? If the bride’s father-who is also the pastor and officiant at the ceremony—is overcome with emotion and blabbers nonsensical syllables for the vows, does the groom say the correct words, or repeat the mumbles?

No one prepares the groom for the ceremony. After all, it is not about him. But it is disturbing just how close the minister stands to the not-quite-married couple 38

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during the ceremony. And why all those personal questions regarding what he will or will not do years into the future that he must pay attention to and answer correctly, lest the bride’s father (comfortably seated just ten feet away) reconsider the whole thing and whisk her away. With all those people staring at him and perspiration soaking the back of his rented tux, the groom pretends to be suave, meticulous, loquacious, and even tranquil. Is he overcome by his bride’s beauty, anticipating a life together filled with wonderment and merriment, or is he scrolling through the list of “girls who might have been?”

If the officiant is a close friend of the couple, perhaps he interjects a little inside humor into the ceremony, causing the entire wedding party to smile or even laugh out loud, while the groom mutters, “That was between you and me.”

Or maybe the officiant just thinks he is funny, interjects a little humor into the ceremony, causing no one to smile at all.

This causes him to sweat, get his words confused, and then it is all back on the groom to decide whether he should say the correct words or mumble along with the bride’s former Youth Minister.

PA R T I I I 1 /2 .

Where Did I Put T he R ing? (a n d ot h e r f a u x pa s) Long ago, there was a Ring Bearer who deftly walked through the Valley of Death—or the pews on either side of the aisle, which is the same thing to a 3-year old—to take his rightful place among the grownups near the preacher. The cootie-laden Flower Girl stood way too close to him, so he moved a bit lest a cootie or two would leap from her person

and on to him. He was dressed up in a tiny tux, which was every bit as uncomfortable as the groom’s, but he was 3, and lacked the social grace to deal with it. And he had a severe need to use the bathroom. As his mother was not nearby, but way back on the fourth row down the Valley of Death, he could not ask permission to leave. He decided at quick trip to the bathroom would be better than the alternative, and left for a few moments to attend to this severe need, returning to a church filled with faces turned directly toward him. It seems that in his absence, the time had come and gone for the ring to appear in the ceremony. The ring? Still in the bathroom.

The last three or four weddings I've attended included the not-so-funny bit where the groom and all the groomsmen frantically look in their out-turned pockets for the missing ring. Everyone pretends to find a great deal of humor in this charade, and laughs accordingly. The minister smiles for the 127th time he has seen this bit, and continues. At one memorable wedding, the groom did in fact forget to bring the ring to the ceremony. Now that was humor, but no one laughed. Not right away.

Here is the little secret that everyone knows, and will be included by the best officiants, and smiled upon by both sets of adoring parents and close friends, and even the slighted, always-a-bridesmaid: “You will get some words wrong. You will stumble a bit here and there during the next few minutes. But, the moment you two say ‘I do,’ it all works out.”

Even if the ring is still in the bathroom…

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