Promises — Wedding Guide for Gillespie County and Texas Hill Country

2022 Wedding Guide

A publication of the Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post

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CROCKETT HAUS EVENT CENTER

Crockett Haus Event Center includes restored 1800’s era buildings, a spacious biergarten, and an iconic stage in Fredericksburg’s downtown Historic District. This unique German classic offers the perfect backdrop for any style event.

• Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners & Receptions • Anniversary & Birthday Celebrations • Fundraisers & Benefits • Corporate Events & Dinners • Dances & Concerts

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New Norms:

Couples are Moving Away from Big Weddings

By Samuel Sutton

Standard-Radio Post editor

Over time, wedding traditions are bound to change.

With advances in technology and other changes that have come during this generation, weddings and the planning period are both drastically different than they were just 20 years ago.

Jennifer Harper, founder of the local wedding planning service, Wed in Fred, has seen some of these new norms through the years. She said one of the biggest changes is couples are opting for the smaller weddings more than before.

“It was changing before COVID-19, but now it’s almost the new norm,” she said. “People are taking the traditional, very big wedding and bringing it down to what we call a ‘micro-wedding.’”

These weddings, she said, still have the same components of a traditional wedding, but they’re greatly scaled down.

“They may be just immediate family, it might be immediate family and friends,” she said. “So, we’re talking about 25 or 50 people versus 100 people that it was before.”

While this isn’t impacting the industry financially, as people are still paying for the DJs, food and venues, it’s just at a much smaller scale.

Another big change from what people used to do deals with photography. Today’s couples seem to be opting more for the first-look photo, where the bride surprises the groom in her dress for a photo opportunity before she walks down the altar.

“I think it’s beneficial to the couple because they get to see each other first, and then take a lot of pictures and get them out of the way, versus when you’re walking down the aisle, seeing the bride for the first time and taking all of your photos,” Harper said. “Although that’s very romantic and sweet, it’s really not very useful to the couple.”

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The way couples send out wedding invites has also changed, as Harper said over 50% of her couples send them via email now.

“It’s easy, you can design it yourself and it’s cost effective,” she said.

“E-Vites are definitely a trend, and I don’t see that going away at all.”

Lastly, people are also tending to elope more than before.

“It’s a really big trend where people aren’t even doing the traditional wedding at all. Instead, they’re just getting away for the weekend,” Harper said.

Harper also owns the company, Elope to Fredericksburg, and she said that business has taken off.

“We’ve been in business for six years and it was already taking off then, and now, it’s insane,” she said. “People are wanting to use their money toward other things.

A wedding can be very expensive, and eloping is a great way to save money.”

About the Cover

Another big factor was COVID-19.

“It had a huge impact on the wedding industry, just like most industries,” she said. “That has really changed the face of the wedding industry.”

In fact, she said one of the bigger selling points for her elopement business is that the cost is so much lower.

“Back when we started, the average cost was $35,000 for a wedding,” she said. “You can elope to Fredericksburg for $2,000.”

And while these may just be trends now, as a planner, she said she doesn’t foresee these ending any time soon.

For more information on Harper’s planning business, go to www.wedinfred.com.

You can find Delaney DeLaFuente at: Web: www.delaneydelafuente.com Facebook: Delaney DeLaFuente Photographer + Holistic Doula Instagram: @delaneydelafuente

4 New Norms: Couples are Moving Away from Big Weddings

Contents

And that’s what most of these come down to. Harper said couple are starting to get married in their late 20s, so finances are more in focus.

Motherhood/Birth photographer + Holistic Doula Delaney DeLaFuente lives in Fredericksburg and specializes in small and intimate ceremonies, including couple sessions, engagements, private elopements and smaller ceremonies with 30 guests or less.

6 Marriage Q&A

10 Fredericksburg Natives to Wed After Seven Years

14 So You’re Engaged - Congratulations!

Now What?

20 Joining Hearts in the Hills 23 Holiday Weddings 24 Gift Registries in Fredericksburg 26 Wedding Cost Price Points 28 Help Preserve a Bit of History

30 Obtaining a Marriage License in Gillespie County

To see her elopement business, go to www.elopetofredericksburg.com.

Promises Wedding Guide is an annual publication of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post.

Post. To advertise in the guide, contact Kim Jung at Fredericksburg Publishing Company at (830) 997-2155. ©2022 Fredericksburg Publishing Company, 712 West Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Marriage

Q&A

Carl and Cristol Schoessow

By Reed Graff

Standard-Radio Post sports editor

A lot has changed in the world over the past 50 years.

The way we spend our money, the leaders of our country and the way we meet others have all shifted and developed over time. So, keeping those changes in mind, the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post thought it would be fun to talk to two couples from two different eras and see the differences in their responses to the same set of questions.

First is Cristol and Carl Schoessow, a Fredericksburg couple approaching 50 years of marriage.

Cristol said they met while attending Texas Lutheran University in 1970.

“I was practicing twirling and Carl came by my dorm after football practice to borrow my Fredericksburg High School band jacket for a fraternity picture,” she said. “I was reluctant to turn over the jacket, but Carl was convincing.”

The two became lab partners in a biology class and started dating in the spring of 1971.

Our second couple is Julia and Tyler Feller, a couple celebrating six months of marriage. The two met in 2015 and were married in late 2020.

“I taught Tyler’s twin sibling during the school year,” Julia said.

“At the end of the year, Tyler’s brother told me that I had gone to high school with Tyler. We connected on Facebook and that’s how the ball got rolling.”

We asked both couples the same set of questions. Here are their responses.

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What is the most important factor of a marriage?

“Having Christ in our home is most important for us,” the Schoessows said. “As a direct benefit comes attributes of love, commitment, respect, communication, forgiveness and compromise.”

For the Fellers, it was communication that was kept at the heart of their relationship.

“Communication is important, but understanding your partner’s perspective is necessary for

law school and we were living in different cities and we weren’t able to see or talk with each other daily,” they said. “We became engaged in 1973 on Valentine’s Day after the wedding of Cristol’s best friend.”

communication,” they said. “You both grew up differently, and how you respond or communicate is different, so make sure you are able to understand your partner’s perspective so you can give them what they need.”

When did you know you met your future spouse?

What advice would you give to newlyweds or young couples?

Neither couple pointed to a specific moment or day for when they knew they were in love, rather saying they came to the realization over time.

Much like the younger couple had stated earlier in the interview, the Schoessows preached on the importance of communicating in a relationship.

“We knew we were each other’s forever when we realized we could hear each other’s concerns and move forward together to fix the issues we had,” the Fellers said. “It made us feel safe that our feelings mattered, and the other person wanted to be better for the other.”

Julia and Tyler Feller

The Schoessows shared a similar story, saying they knew they had found each other when they couldn’t live without the other.

“We knew we wanted to spend our lives together after Carl started

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“Communicate, communicate, communicate,” they said. “Each needs to share his/her expectations needs, dreams, values, and everything else that is important so the other spouse can recognize what is important and better understand

and be supportive. Take time for each other.

Share the child and household responsibilities and joys. Admit when you are wrong and choose to forgive.”

The Fellers stressed the importance of love and forgiveness in a relationship.

“When life gets settled and comfortable, your partner’s faults will come out more, and this is only because you two are in a more comfortable position since you are married,” they said. “Be sure to remember that your partner’s faults were always there, your partner is also having to deal with your faults, so give your partner and yourself grace in those moments.”

(830) 456-2280 • maggiegillespiedesigns.com

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Fredericksburg Natives to Wed After Seven Years kind of ‘out of sight, out of mind.’

We were just so young.”

While Lindsey Behrends and Jake Duderstadt have been “High School Sweethearts” for over seven years, their story began in a fifth-grade classroom.

Senior year, the Class of 2017 crowned Behrends and Duderstadt with the “High School Sweethearts” superlative, and the couple’s title is preserved in the pages of that year’s FHS yearbook The Mesa.

Both grew up in Fredericksburg, and attended Stonewall Elementary School, outside of town.

Both hailing from life-long Texas A&M University Aggie families, the couple then attended the university.

While Behrends said they were “always strong” in high school, their relationship was forged into one strong enough to evolve with the inevitable life changes that the college years brought.

Years later, after attending separate middle schools, they reunited in a freshman-level geography class at Fredericksburg High School.

“We sat close to one another and just talked every day. We would snapchat and text. We were really immature high school kids,” Behrends said.

Their relationship blossomed among the plethora of summer festivals and events in Gillespie County. Like any quintessential young couple in classic movies, Behrends and Duderstadt danced together at the small-town Stonewall Peach Jamboree and Rodeo in June of 2014, and rode the Ferris wheel at the county fair later that summer.

On Oct. 3 that year, Duderstadt “nervously sat in the stands” while Behrends competed for the

Lindsey Behrends and Jake Duderstadt

volleyball team. Afterward, he brought her a volleyball with the question, “Girlfriend?” written on its surface. For the next three years, the two were each other’s built-in date for homecomings, prom and other hometown events.

“I don’t ever remember really thinking that we’d get married, but I also didn’t think we weren’t going to get married,” Behrends said. “It was

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“It’s been really special that since we’ve grown up together, we’ve been in each life stage together,” Behrends said. “As we came to college, we changed so much in our goals.

It’s cool to see how we’ve done so independently, so that we can come together and serve one another better once we become one.”

Duderstadt agreed.

“We’ve been together longer than some people have been friends, and we’ve been best friends,” he said.

“In college, now it’s every day that I see her, and there’s all the memories that we’ve made … It’s pushed us to be better for each other.”

The Engagement

While Behrends knows Duderstadt through and through, she said she didn’t suspect a thing until she pulled into her family ranch and saw hints he’d left along the road.

Every couple’s love story is special in its own way — but the long-time sweethearts have a special bond and history that they will take into their new stage in life.

Behrends said that by sophomore year of college, the two knew they would one day be married. A year after that, they were making serious plans to bring that to fruition. By the end of their final year at Texas A&M, Duderstadt popped the question on a sunny April evening last year.

“I really wasn’t nervous because I knew she was going to say yes,” Duderstadt said. “I was more nervous that the details wouldn’t line out. But whenever she got there, I knew it was a done deal, and that I just needed to remember what I had rehearsed in my head and to not drop the ring.”

complete surprise. We drove up and my heart just dropped, and I realized it was finally happening. I was so excited to see what was to come and what he had planned.”

“I’ve not only had (Jake) as a best friend for the past seven years, but also someone who has visibly been able to see almost everything that has gone on in my life,” Behrends said.

“We’ve just had so much life together that we’re going into marriage having really passionate hearts.”

“I was literally the most excited person ever,” she said. “It was a

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Both Behrends, a freelance photographer, and Duderstadt, a soon-to-be bank manager, are currently finishing master’s

programs at Texas A&M. Both said that finding a house, coordinating job offers and other challenges that come with merging two lives have been the hardest part of being engaged. Behrends said that otherwise, their engagement has been “seamless and sweet.”

“We’ve grown even closer than we ever have been before, which seemed impossible because we were so close before,” she said. “But we’ve just learned how to serve and love one another even better. The Lord’s been really faithful in showing us how to do that.”

“I Do” with a View The Hill Country boasts elegant rustic venues, top-notch wineries and stunning scenery that attract people from all over the country.

The Fredericksburg natives wouldn’t have their wedding anywhere else.

“It’s a hometown-feel of a wedding, while still having the opportunity to have it at a destination-type venue,”

Duderstadt said. “And if we had it anywhere else, we wouldn’t be able to have all of our friends and family there, because we’ve got such a big network and such a big community and home team right behind us who have been a part of our relationship.”

Behrends and Duderstadt will exchange vows on May 21 at Featherstone Ranch, just five miles from the elementary school where their paths first crossed.

“We worked in Stonewall together, and we did all these things together so it’s like reliving those memories throughout our wedding day,” Behrends said. “And those people who made such an impact on our lives throughout our entire relationship are being able to have a front row seat to that at our wedding. Everything will come together in one place.”

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High School Sweethearts

So You’re EngagedCongratulations!

Now What?

Planning a wedding can be daunting. So, it is a good idea to start almost immediately after you get engaged.

The following checklist is offered to help couples plan their “I-do’s” efficiently. Enjoy the months ahead!

At 6 to 12 Months • Announce the big news!

Plan an engagement party and don’t forget to announce the engagement in the local newspaper.

that allow you to design announcements, send invites, create registries and track your planning progress, all in one place.

• Crunch the numbers.

This helps to stay on budget and avoid confusion or hurt feelings.

Research costs associated with your area.

• Start a favorites board!

Pinterest is a handy site for collecting ideas for your wedding day. Gather ideas from other websites or magazines.

• Hire a wedding planner, if you so choose.

Wedding planners are not necessary but can alleviate stress and take responsibilities off the couple’s shoulders. If you opt out of hiring a planner, there are websites online

• Set a date and send Save the Date announcements.

Photography by Vanessa

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Coordinating your preferences for season, venue size and other factors with venue availability will affect your options for choosing a wedding date.

Use social media and other technology to obtain guests’ addresses.

• Reserve venues.

Book locations for both ceremony and reception, and account for potential weather and size of attendance.

The Hill Country is a popular wedding destination, so book quickly!

indoor, outdoor and many other weddings! Meals can be formal or casual.

• Determine time and type.

• Who will stand with you?

Formal affairs are in the late afternoon or evening, while more casual ones are usually in the morning or early afternoon.

Choose, ask and confirm the bridal party and groomsmen so they have time to make arrangements.

• Plan a bachelorette party for the bride and a bachelor party for the groom.

Choose a fun but affordable location that works for as many people in your bridal party as possible. Traditionally, these weekends have taken place close to the wedding date, but couples have recently planned them for months before the ceremony.

The Hill Country offers venues for rustic, elegant,

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• Colors galore.

Choose wedding colors early, so you can pick bridesmaids’ dresses and coordinate centerpieces, flowers and other decorations.

• Say “yes” to a dress.

Order the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ dresses and their accessories. Keep the budget in mind. Ordering the dress and making

alterations can take several months.

• Book a hair and makeup stylist.

• Decide the details.

Schedule a trial for two to three months out from the wedding.

Choose musicians, a florist, a photographer and a caterer. Sample their wares and check their references.

Keep their contact information handy for discussing details as they are decided.

Both bride and groom should agree whether it’ll be a simple relaxing outing or an itinerary-filled adventure.

• Register gift wishes.

• A celebratory trip of love.

The bride and groom should visit their favorite stores and register for items that’ll be needed in their new life together.

Visit a travel agency or online sites and review options (and prices) for the honeymoon.

• ‘With this ring, I thee wed …’

Shop and design/ purchase wedding rings.

• Begin pre-marital counseling (required by some churches.)

At 3 months • Who’s coming?

Complete the guest list, count up the names and

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then select and order invitations.

• Moms’ day out.

Mothers of the bride and groom should both get their dresses to compliment the rest of the wedding party in style, color, etc.

• Bite the bullet.

Go ahead and sign on the dotted line for the

honeymoon. Mention to all providers that the guests planning to travel are newlyweds, because many will provide free surprise perks along the way.

• Double-check and recheck.

Call and confirm dates and information with the photographer, musicians, florists, caterer and the church to ensure there’s

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been no double-booking or other potential disasters.

identifications and fees in hand, to procure the official marriage license.

• Plan the rehearsal and dinner. The groom’s family traditionally arranges and pays for this, but the entire family can contribute to the set-up, planning and pulling it off.

• ‘Your chariot awaits …’

Decide on transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites.

Limousine? Horse-drawn buggy? Drive yourself?

• Pick a final wedding cake design and groom’s cake design and any other pastries for the reception and get them ordered.

• Get the groom and his groomsmen to get fitted and order their tuxedos.

• Enjoy your bachelorette or bachelor weekend!

At 2 months and closing ...

• Mail out invitations to the pre-determined guest list.

• Pay for honeymoon and finalize any side trips or relevant details to the trip.

• Give credit where it’s due.

• Help guests with reservations for flights or at local overnight accommodations.

• Buy gifts for the wedding party.

• Have someone plan a bridal shower.

• Take care of final dress and suit fittings, as well as appointments for beauty treatments, pedicures/manicures and hair salon visits.

Mothers, grandmothers, other relatives and friends of the bride and groom can come together to celebrate. This event is often a semi-casual brunch!

• Host a bridesmaids’ luncheon to show them support and appreciation.

At 1 month Lists, lists and more lists …

• Start a list of gifts being received. Begin writing and mailing “Thank You” notes as soon as gifts arrive.

• Buy a guest book, choose where to station it at the reception, and designate a “keeper” of the book who can encourage guests to sign.

• Visit the courthouse together, with photo

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At 2 weeks It’s getting close, so …

• Finalize transportation to the church, to the reception and off to the honeymoon.

• If planning to take the groom’s last name, brides should visit the proper offices to officially change their driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, passports and other official documents.

Also put in calls to credit card companies, utilities, doctors’ and dentists’ offices and others regularly contacted.

• Communicate a plan, so those with questions don’t bother the bride on her wedding day.

• If RSVP’s are still arriving late, finalize last-minute seating charts.

At one week Full speed ahead …

• Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit.

• Start packing for the honeymoon.

• Give the caterer a final estimate on number of guests. Plan seating arrangements.

The wedding day

• Practice hair styles and/ or makeup for the big day.

Hearts joined at last.

• With all the planning taken care of, the final hours leading up to the wedding should be a snap.

• But don’t forget …

Brides should find time in the rushing about of final arrangements to take care of themselves.

Drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest each day and smile, knowing they’ll soon be united with the ones they love.

• Best advice for brides: NO amount of planning guarantees a “perfect” ceremony or reception.

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Remember: It’s the mishaps that make things unique and memorable, but the bride’s reaction to these events becomes unforgettable in the minds of her family and friends.

So, roll with the flow, smile and enjoy the spotlight (and the happily ever after, of course).

Joining Hearts in the Hills

Fredericksburg boasts many beautiful churches that make for an unforgettable backdrop for your ceremony. But as outdoor weddings become increasingly popular, many venues that offer amenities for both on-site wedding ceremonies and receptions dot the picturesque hills of Gillespie County.

Choose from a variety of indoor and modern outdoor chapels, rustic

barns and dance halls or elegant ballrooms sure to fit your wedding style and your budget.

Barn at Rock House 197 Rock House Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 rentFBGTX@gmail.com www.rockhousebnbs.com/the-barn

Camp Hideaway 123 Golden Sunset Trail Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-992-0001 www.camphideaway.com

City of Fredericksburg Pioneer Pavilion and the Tatsch House (Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park) Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-4202 www.fbgtx.org

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Contigo Ranch 13454 Lower Crabapple Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-685-3464 www.contigoranchfredericksburg. com

Featherstone Ranch 870 Klein Road Stonewall, Texas 78671 830-456-3990 www.featherstoneranch.com

Fredericksburg Inn & Suites 201 South Washington Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-0202 www.fredericksburg-inn.com

Former Texas Rangers Heritage Center 103 Industrial Loop, Ste 700 (office) Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-1192 www.thrc.com

Gilbriar Gazebo 208 Danos Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 210- 393-7351 www.gilbriar.com

Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association Exhibition Hall 530 Fair Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-2359 www.gillespiefair.com/rentals

Gillespie County Farm Bureau Events Center Pape Events Center 237 Equestrian Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-4396 www.gillespiefarmbureau.com

Gillespie County Historical Society Pioneer Museum 325 West Main Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-8441 www.pioneermuseum.net

Hangar Hotel 155 Airport Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-9990 www.hangarhotel.com

Hoffman Haus 608 East Creek Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-3755 www.hoffmanhaus.com

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Kairos The Celebration Barn 1213 Kott Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-9515 www.kairos-celebrationbarn.com

La Bonne Vie Ranch 1827 Pfiester Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-998-7601 www.labonnevieranch.com

Lodge at Country Inn Cottages 3319 Lower Crabapple Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-998-6200 www.thelodgeeventcenter.com

Luckenbach Texas Dance Hall 412 Luckenbach Town Loop Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-3224 www.luckenbachtexas.com

The Moss Ranch at Enchanted Rock 7502 Ranch Road 965 Llano, Texas 78643 830-992-0425 www.themossranch.com

Rafter E Ranch

Trois Estate

Vista Oaks Event Center

170 Side Saddle Lane Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-2345 www.thevenueraftere.com

300 Trois Estate Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-685-3415 www.troisestate.net

8192 U.S. 290 East Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-992-0277 www.vistaoakseventcenterfbg.com

The Resort at Fredericksburg

Venue at Monarc Ranch

Willow Grove Estate

1659 Jung Lane Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-9482 www.monarcranch.com

1111 Kneese Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-542-2023 www.willowgroveestate.com/ weddings/

3567 U.S. 290 East Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-308-7118 www.theresortatfredericksburg.com

River Road Ranch 160 Glad Heart Trail Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-456-5756 www.riverroadranchresort.com

St. Joseph’s Halle 212 West San Antonio Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-8967 www.stjosephssociety.org/halle

Swallows Eve 1411 Lower Crabapple Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-307-3192 www.swallowseve.com

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Holiday Weddings The holiday season is already one of the most joyful, festive times of the year.

For many couples looking to tie the knot, it can seem like a no-brainer to embrace the season and arrange a holiday season wedding.

Couples considering tying the knot in the holiday season should make sure to consider a couple of factors that can influence a holiday wedding.

Availability One thing to consider when planning a holiday wedding is the availability of the guests.

Most families have holiday traditions that they will stick to through thick and thin and asking them to change those plans for your big day may not always go your way.

Couples that want to invite a large number of guests may want to stay away from the holidays if they want to see the majority of their invitees.

Travel Anyone that has attempted to travel during the holiday season knows how big of a hurdle this could potentially be.

Travelling during the busiest time of the season can be stressful and expensive, leaving many potential guests at home or in fear of making the drive.

On the other side, it could be a benefit of a holiday wedding, as some guests could see your wedding as a chance to reunite with family and friends they might miss otherwise.

Another factor to consider with travelling is your guests might be more willing to make those drives considering it’s the holidays and they don’t have plans the following Monday.

Regardless, it is important to consider the drives you might be asking of your guests before booking a holiday wedding.

Cost Every young couple planning for a marriage has the cost of the event on their minds.

Venues tend to be less expensive on Fridays and Sundays, with costs going up on busier days such as Saturdays. You may save money on your wedding on a Sunday and increase the chances of guests showing up, since many will be free on Monday.

On the other hand, the holiday season can be busy for the vendors you may be hosting at the event.

That means their prices will go up.

The competition to secure a venue during this time of the year will also likely be up, although this may have changed since the pandemic. This likely means booking a venue could potentially be a tougher ordeal, which in turn jacks up prices.

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Gift Registries in Fredericksburg Opening up a gift registry should be done as soon as an engagement occurs, according to wedding planners.

Choosing multiple stores and interviewing sales representatives can help a couple ensure they receive all they need to start their lives together.

Der Küchen Laden

Segner’s Jewelers

Linens-N-More

Walmart

830-997-4937 258 E. Main St.

The following is a list of places around the Fredericksburg area that will help with gift registry.

830-990-1212 302 E. Main St.

In addition, some couples choose to register out of town, ask for monetary gifts to help pay for the honeymoon or decide they have everything they need and register for donations to their favorite charity.

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830-997-2559 236 E. Main St.

830-997-2633 1435 E. Main St.

Start your future... ...with our history.

The Texas Ranger Pavilion - Leasing for weddings & other occasions - Catering kitchen - Lots of parking - HVAC restrooms - Multiple ceremony sites on 12 acre campus - Seats up to 350

Contact jeannew @ 830-990-1192 or visit www.TRHC.org

Wedding Cost Price Points The average couples have been spending on weddings has decreased since 2018, according to the wedding website The Knot.

to pay for their weddings and where they may need to cut costs.

People were spending around $33,931 in 2019. Since then, it’s dropped down to $22,500 in 2021.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, average expenses fell all the way down to $19,000.

According to ValuePenguin by LendingTree, couples typically spend $9,261 on a venue.

Donna Solbrig, founder of local retail and rental party store, Party Affair, the average cost of a wedding is $35,000 for a guest list of 100 people.

“From there, it goes up,” she said.

Individual costs do vary greatly depending on couples’ preferences, including where they hope to tie the knot.

By breaking down wedding expenses, couples can get a clearer picture of how much they may need

Reception Site

Fredericksburg venues range from $7,000 to $10,000, said Donna Solbrig, founder of local retail and rental party store, Party Affair. One smaller venue, The Alegria Barn, is less expensive at around $5,000.

The average price for catering per person is roughly $70, according to The Knot. Locally, catering can range from $20 to more than $100, depending on whether it’s Rabke Catering or David’s Pit Barbecue, yet plated dinners can run up to around $100 each, Solbrig said. She added that a family style dinner is currently popular.

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Bar service may be around $2,000 to $4,000 for a three- to four-hour party. Some reception sites combine the room cost with the food and beverage costs, while others have a la carte fees. Solbrig said many venues have their own alcohol licenses, and clients go through them for alcohol sales.

All venues require venue insurance, a liability that covers accidents between a 24-48-hour period, depending on what the venue is requiring.

“They are also requiring security for everyone’s safety,” Solbrig said.

Cake Wedding cakes tend to be multitiered intricate designs, so they will cost more than birthday cakes.

According to Statistics Brain, wedding dessert will come in around $390.

Solbrig said local prices ranging from $5-$8 a slice is standard around the Hill Country. Desserts such as donut walls, cookies and small pastries are growing trends.

Music The Knot says average cost of ceremony musicians is almost $800.

An average cost of a DJ is almost $1,300.

Locally, DJs charge anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on strobe lights, karaoke and other options.

Planners Many couples employ wedding planners to make planning their weddings easier.

Wedding planners cost between $2,500-$6,000, Solbrig said.

Solbrig customizes her plans for each client, so prices can vary greatly. Guest count depends on how many staff she herself has to hire.

Transportation Limousines and other transportation prices vary depending on the vehicle(s) couples choose.

WeddingWire.com notes that wedding limo and bus services can cost an average of $750, with most couples spending between $500 and $1,100.

Gown Brides-to-be should expect their gowns to cost around $1,000, according to WeddingWire.com.

A dress usually ranges from $280-$1,650.

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Solbrig said custom gowns can go all the way up to $15,000.

Photography/Video Preserving wedding day memories costs around $2,500-$4,000 or more for video and photography services.

Smaller details, such as accessories, gifts, officiant fees, stationery, spa services, and favors can quickly add up, as well. Some cover rooms, hair and makeup for bridesmaids. Grooms can add in golf, skeet shooting or a fifth of whiskey for groomsmen.

Couples should be sure to leave some wiggle room in their budgets for incidental expenses that may pop up.

Help Preserve a Bit of History Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post can help spread the good news.

In a world of sharing news and life events on popular social media sites, it is easy for couples to forget to announce their engagements and weddings in the newspaper.

By including engagement and wedding announcements in the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, couples are sharing their news and preserving a bit of history for future generations.

The Standard-Radio Post will run wedding and engagement announcements and photographs, as well as follow-ups on wedding parties and showers.

To help couples share their news in the paper, the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post has several options available for submitting the information.

There is no charge for having engagement and wedding announcements and shower stories published in the newspaper.

And while there is no deadline prior to or after the wedding, couples are still urged to submit the

information and photographs in a timely manner.

The deadline for submitting articles and photographs for the “Scene” section of each week’s paper is noon on Monday.

Black and white photographs or

Also, e-mailed photographs will be accepted, provided that they are submitted in a jpg format at a minimum of 300 dpi resolution.

Couples are discouraged from submitting photographs that are reproduced on a home printer or copy machine.

In an effort to aid couples in submitting information to the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, engagement and wedding forms are available at the newspaper office at 712 West Main Street.

color photographs can be used, providing the picture is in good focus and is of good quality.

Photographs that do not meet reproduction standards will not be used. Also, full-length wedding pictures will not be used.

Photographs can be submitted in a variety of formats. Some couples may choose to submit an original photo with their information while others may choose to submit the photograph on a CD or flash drive.

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Forms are also available by telephone at 997-2155, by writing to P.O. Box 1639, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 or by e-mailed requests to fbgnews@fredericksburgstandard. com. In addition, couples can visit www.fredericksburgstandard.com for online engagement and wedding forms.

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Obtaining a Marriage License in Gillespie County While planning a wedding may be romantic and hectic, it’s important not to forget about the legal part of the ordeal.

The following are important reminders about applying for and using a marriage license:

•

Marriage licenses will only be issued from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays or 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays in certain cases.

They will not be issued on holidays or weekends.

•

Rusche asks that if anyone has any questions about types of identification needed for obtaining a marriage license, they should call first to confirm the type of identification they have is proper to purchase the license. This saves them a trip to Fredericksburg and not having the right identification.

Where To Go: •

Located in Room 109 of the Gillespie County Courthouse, the Gillespie County Clerk’s Office is where to go for a marriage license.

County Clerk Mary Lynn Rusche and personnel there are ready to assist with paperwork.

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In order to set up an appointment, call the county clerk’s office at 830-997-6515. An appointment is required beforehand.

What to bring?

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Couples applying for a marriage license must both be present when the license is issued.

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•

Each person should bring at least one form of photo identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) or two forms of nonphoto identification (such as a certified birth certificate, Social Security card or current utility bill).

•

Be prepared to pay the $71 cost of the marriage license by check or cash.

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Couples who complete the eighthour “Twogether in Texas” course will have a reduced marriage license fee of $11. They must bring in a certificate of completion when applying for the license.

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The course is offered online or in person. In Fredericksburg, the course is not religion-based and is offered through Victory Fellowship

Church, 414 East College Street.

Their telephone number is 830-997-9717.

•

•

The minimum age required to apply for a marriage license is 18 years. Anyone younger should bring with them a court order to obtain a license.

Common Law Marriages •

That informal marriage fee is $36.

•

Couples claiming to be married by common law should keep in mind that if they have a baby, the father must undergo an affidavit process to claim paternity unless the couple comes to the county clerk’s office sometime before the baby is born and declares that they have

of the license and return it to the county clerk’s office where it will be recorded, and the original will be mailed back or be picked up by the newlyweds.

been married and living together since a certain date.

Someone claiming an informal marriage cannot claim a date that places them at less than 18 years old.

What Else?

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A divorced person applying for a license to wed must be divorced for 30 days or longer, unless there is a waiver in the divorce decree.

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Same-sex marriage has the same process as opposite-sex marriage.

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When the marriage license is issued, the couple should take it to the person officiating the ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant will fill out the remainder

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•

The marriage license must be used within 90 days of its issuance, or it will become void.

•

There is also a waiting period of 72 hours after the license is issued before the wedding can take place.

•

The waiting period to use a license may be waived by a district judge or if one of the applicants is on active duty with the United States military and can show proper military identification. Completing the “Twogether in Texas” course will also waive the 72-hour waiting period.

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