The Wedding Connection Magazine April + May Issue

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wedding + CONNEC

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 3

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SWEET SOUTHERN

weddings

H O W TO P L A N A WEDDING WITH

Cover $2500 IT’S THE

DIY Issue!

THE MAGIC STARTS ON PAGE 35

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TIPS FROM ON E OF L UBBO C K’ S TOP TRAIN ER S 1

welcome home!

Affordable living in a quiet neighborhood setting Conveniently located close to Texas Tech, neighborhood schools, shopping, restaurants and the medical district 2

2701 44th Street Lubbock, TX 79413 Three blocks west of University Ave + six blocks north of 50th street.

Phone - 806.795.5514 Fax - 806.785.0378

the

wedding + CONNEC

Contents

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 3

4 C O N T R I B U TO R S 7

F RO M T H E E D I TO R

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T R E N D R E P O RT

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B I G DAY B E AU T Y: T I P S F RO M T H E P RO S

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DRESS CODE, DECODED

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T I M E L E S S W I S D O M F RO M E M I LY P O S T

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I DOS + DON’TS

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U P P E R B O DY B L A S T B Y B A R R E F F E C T

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REAL WEDDINGS

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Z AC H A N D S A R A H

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A A RO N A N D C H R I S T I N A

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C A D E A N D C A RO L I N E

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DIY WEDDINGS

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THE $2500 WEDDING

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M A S O N JA R S : F O U R WAY S

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F O R E V E R Y F LO W E R T H E R E I S A S E A S O N

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$ 1 0 O R L E S S : TA B L E S C A P E S

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S TO C K YO U R B A R

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S I G N AT U R E D R I N K S

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I F I T ’ S N OT M OV I N G , M O N O G R A M I T

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TOA S T T E M P L AT E

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AN HOUR WITH SOUTHERN ELEGANCE DESIGN

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JOB DESCRIPTION: MAID OF HONOR

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F O U R S U P E R H OT B AC H E LO R E T T E PA RT Y LO C AT I O N S

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E I G H T C A N ’ T M I S S W E D D I N G S H OT S

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C H A R I T Y O F T H E I S S U E : P RO J E C T P R I N C E S S

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C O N T R I B U TO R S

becca caniglia marcie meredith Marcie Meredith is a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Lubbock and available for travel. She works with digital and film mediums to create timeless, artistic imagery. Marcie loves to capture beautiful love stories and strives to produce quality photos to be cherished for years to come.

Becca Caniglia started her business in 2010, after deciding that dental hygiene school wasn’t for her. It was the biggest leap of faith ever, and so far it’s been the best decision she’s ever made. She’s going into my third year of shooting weddings. Becca loves traveling, outdoor weddings and all things editorial. She aims to shoot weddings with an artistic editorial flair.

kylee kerby Kylee Kerby grew up in a small west Texas town and went on to marry her high school sweetheart and graduate from Texas Tech University with a degree in Education. After she welcomed her first child, Kylee became interested in photography and capturing those special moments. In April of 2009 she officially launched Kylee K. Photography and have loved every minute of it. In addition to her photography business, she is also currently a stay-at-home mom to her three children, ages 7, 5, and 10 months. They remind her every day why she started on the path of photography and why it is so important to create these memories and photos that will be cherished forever.

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jocelyn kennedy Jocelyn Kennedy has been a Mary Kay consultant for six months and a Mary Kay consumer for nine years. She loves the products and loves the confidence that comes with looking good and feeling great. She is currently a college student at Texas Tech University and plans to graduate in December. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is thrilled to have been asked to give tips for this magazine and hopes it will help many brides and brides-to-be out there.

blair isom

Blair Isom is from Dallas and moved to Lubbock about six years ago for her husband. She has two kids aged three and newborn. She has been in to fitness and nutrition for over 10 years. She created BARREffect because it was a workout that Lubbock was missing. It is a high calorie burning, super efficient workout and all about creating long lean muscles through tiny movements.

terry brown + lea kay adams Having photography in our family for generations has been an inspiration to Terry Brown and Lea Kay Adams, allowing them to follow our creative minds to new heights. We have shot weddings, engagement, glamour, and boudoir sessions, among many other areas for family, friends and clientele since 2009.

amanda haden Amanda Haden has been a Mary Kay consultant for almost nine years. She is married to her high school sweetheart for eight years and has two handsome boys! She loves having her own business as it gives her great flexibility too. “I am able to bless women by pampering them with America’s #1 products!”

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1 2 2 0 B ROA D WAY AV E N U E , S U I T E 9 0 3 LUBBOCK, TEXAS 79401 806/466/3078 E D I TO R I N C H I E F Irene Farrimond C O N T R I B U T I N G S TA F F Justin Cheek Angela Covarrubius Drew Hardy Zachary Hardy Chanda Jackson Sarah McCoy Jillian Roberts

The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. All copyrighted work was reproduced with the permission of the owner.

A M E M B E R O F T H E J O R DA N C O L L E C T I V E Magazines printed in China.

Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Wedding Connection Magazine articles and other information on the web site are up-to-date and accurate as possible, as of the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Wedding Connection Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, Wedding Connection Magazine takes no responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this publication. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wedding Connection Magazine.

C OV E R P H OTO B Y M A RC I E M E R E D I T H

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O H , H I T H E R E , Y ’A L L !

It’s been quite a adventure getting this magazine into your lovely hands! It started as an idea more than a year ago, then slowly delveloped until we decided to just go for it in December 2012. Fast forward exactly 77(!) days, and we’re getting ready to send our first issue to print.

But truly, we’ve had the time of our lives building this for you. This is our DIY Issue, but it sure doesn’t feel like we did it ourselves. In fact, it is only because of this wonderful community of Lubbock that this issue was even possible. I am so grateful to all of our contributors who shared their incredible work with us and our readers.

And our advertisers! What a leap of faith for you to place your trust in us. We literally would not exist without you, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

What did I learn this issue? Besides the fact that you can use a mason jar for almost everything, that burlap + lace is hotter than hotcakes, and that navy blue + tan might be my favorite color combo of all time?

I learned that the hottest trend in weddings right now is ignoring all the trends, all the tradition, and all the pressure your mother-in-law puts on you and making your wedding all yours. Represent your hobbies with your decor (page 25), build a bar of your favorite treats (page 46), and serve guests a cocktail created just for you (page 48).

Oh, and get excited for the June issue! I’m already salivating over the tasty stories in our Edibles Issue!

Peace, love and all things weddings,

Irene Irene Farrimond, Editor-in-Chief

I may be living in Lubbock, but I’m still an (unapologetic) Longhorn at heart! Red Raiders, can we agree to disagree on this one?

G E T I N VO LV E D !

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this issue! Send us a note or ask us how you can be in the next issue at: 1220 Broadway Ave, Suite 903 Lubbock, TX 79401 or irene@connectmywedding.com We also accept blog comments, Facebook posts, tweets and carrier pigeons. connectmywedding.com

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T R E N D R E P O RT april / may 2013 LETTERPRESS I N V I TAT I O N S

NEWS OF A

DIFFERENT

For a truly luxe touch, hire a craft printer to custom print your custom invitations. This 15th century printing process leaves your invitations with an imprinted texture that truly makes an impact.

C O LO R

Pantone isn’t just for printing nerds anymore.

When the industry giant speaks, the fashion world listens. And when the fashion world gets to listening, the results inevitably end up poured all over our lives, including, of course, our weddings!

According to Pantone’s Spring 2013 Fashion Color Report, this spring’s most popular colors “mixes dynamic brights with novel neutrals to create harmonious balance,” allowing for “unique combinations that offer practicality and versatility, but at the same time, demand attention and earn an appreciative glance.”

photo by debs photo courtesy of catering with a twist

Be different this year. Look for neutrals that go beyond basic black and white - think deep navy, sweet blush, tawny browns and rich greys. Pair them with a bright pop of color for a look that is 100% “you.”. We’re especially fond of purples, oranges, or Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year: Emerald.

Check out some of our favorite color combinations using Pantone’s hottest shades.

LINEN + EMERALD

M O N AC O B L U E + N E C TA R I N E

T I DA L F OA M + AFRICAN VIOLET

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RAISE THE BAR Taste the good life and skip the basic buffet. Suprise your guests with an interactive food bar. From a sweet bar filled with milk and cookies or vintage candy to a savory baked potato bar, the possibilities are literally endless.

For tips on creating your perfect bar, turn to page 46.

L AC E , HOLD THE BURLAP Choose inexpensive lace details for a look of pure elegance. Consider traditonal lace gowns, or put unexpected touches on invitations and wedding cakes. Pair girly lace with a solid, manly color like navy or brown to keep it laid back. Buy lace by the yard and hem for an inexpensive alternative to table linens on solid wooden tables. photo by lissa anglin

G R I T + G R AC E Look for lots of country chic details everywhere this spring and summer. As Southern Elegance Design did in the photo above, contrast rough and delicate textures for a sophistacted yet un-fussy look. Mason jars, candles, old windows, wagon wheels and lanterns can also provide the rustic touch.

Turn to page 54 for more inspiration from Southern Elegance, or page 35 for ways to do it yourself!

photo by william arthur fine stationary

photo by samdogs

LOV E B I R D S Bird-themed accents have made the leap from the trees to home decor. Now they flutter softly into weddings. Incorporate these delicate creatures with a fun cake topper or simple designs on invitations and stationary. Bonus: use a stylish birdcage to collect cards, envelopes and cash at your reception!

photo by justin snow

photo by victoria made

photo by chiara cremaschi

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SIMPLE BOUQUETS Take a break from the ornate and build your showstopping bouquet out of simple, classic flowers. Try romantic peonies and roses, budget-friendly baby’s breath, summery hydrangas, or monochrome tulips, ala sweet Caroline on page 30.

photo by corey ann

photo by meredith leigh collins

photo by deapeajay

photo by marcie meredith

THE PRINT’S THE THING Fun patterns and prints started to pick up steam in 2012. Don’t look for them to slow down anytime soon.

Favorite patterns run the gamut from simple stripes and chevrons to more complicated florals and paislys. But go easy - the more fanciful the pattern, the less it takes to make an impact!

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TREND R E P O RT

V I N TAG E CHARM

april / may 2013

‘20s glam returns in 2013.

Get the feel of a sultry, sassy speakeasy in your modern wedding with vintage details. We’re talking feminine silhouettes, lacy details and a classic getaway car.

Choose a historic location, light the room with candles, and hire a live jazz band for a roaring twenties reception.

Serve classic American foods in modern miniature form and celebrate with a cake inspired by vintage brooches. photo by facemepls photo by love maegan

photo by naomi king

photo by sweetfacecakes

photo by m glasgow

FUN + GAMES photo by bryan minear

Chugging drinks from the cash bar and watching your Aunt Mildred take a whirl on the dance floor is no longer necessary. Wedding fun takes a new life as couples incorporate all kinds of games and actvities. Think craft tables, karaoke, giant Jenga, and (our personal favorite) photo booths.

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photo by sunshinecity

photo by amiefedora photo by marina aguiar araujo

big day beauty: tips from the pros Totally lost when it comes to your wedding day makeup? We hooked up with Amanda Haden and Jocelyn Kennedy, two local beauty experts and Mary Kay Independant Consultants to give you the scoop on all things wedding makeup.

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P R E P YO U R C A N VA S Don’t wait until your big day.

“Start preparing your face and body months in advance,” said Mary Kay Independant Consultant Jocelyn Kennedy. “Begin a strict skin care regiment three to six months before your wedding.”

“You want to have a good foundation to work on before putting on makeup! You will need to be cleansing your face daily and if needed, perform microdermabrasion. If you have pores or dry patches showing you will need to microderm the day before your wedding,” said Mary Kay Sales Director Amanda Haden. “Make sure you are using the same brand

no matter what on your cleanser, moisturizer and foundation as they are all made to work together.”

Prep all of your body. “When taking great care of your face for your big day, don’t forget your neck and back!

These will most likely be visible too!” said Kennedy. Kennedy reccomends Mary Kay body washes, scrubs and lotions to give your body that beautiful, even complexion.

Looking for an overall grow but want to avoid the dangers of tanning beds? “Consider tanning lotion,” said Kennedy. “It isn’t harmful to your skin like UV rays from tanning beds and you won’t have those annoying tan lines from your swim suit.”

P R AC T I C E M A K E S PERFECT “If you are doing your make-up yourself the key is to practice, practice, and more practice! The more you do it the more confident you will feel, and the more natural it will look on your big day,” said Kennedy Don’t just practice your make-up in person. Practice for the photos, as well. “Do your make-up how you want it to look on your wedding day. Then grab a friend and go take pictures. If your wedding will be outside, be sure to take the pictures outside! If you love the look on your friend’s camera (or phone) you will love the look when it’s done with professional photography,” said Kennedy.

Stick with what you know. “Don’t try brand new make-up and techniques on your wedding day. Stick to what you know flatters your face and makes you feel confident,” said Kennedy.

a consultant match your foundation prior to the wedding to get the perfect shade. If you plan on tanning right up until the big day meet with the consultant one more time a few days before the wedding to find the perfect match.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THEIR

favorite

THINGS...

GET SPECIFIC Your ideal colors are going to depend on the setting of your wedding. “For day weddings you might want a more natural soft look,” said Haden.

“But for evening or candle light you might want to increase the amount of color you have on so you can see it in pictures.”

“Lips, you want to be sure to line even if it’s clear then apply your lipstick then gloss to have some shine.”

TimeWise Microdermabrasion Set Mary Kay, $55

Let the tears flow. “Eyes, you must have a good liner and mascara that is smudge proof and waterproof,” said Haden.

P RO O R N O ?

T H E B I G DAY It’s unanimous. “Your primer and foundation. You need a good primer so that your foundation will stay on the whole day and not shine in pictures or by the end of your special day!” said Haden.

“Since you will be wearing the same make-up the entire day, you need to use primer before you apply foundation to avoid the ‘set-in’ look half way through the day,” said Kennedy.

When it comes to foundation, “don’t try to go a shade darker because you want to look tanner. This will create a line along your chin which will show up in photographs. Yikes! Have

“You could completely do all of this yourself on your wedding day, but as I have seen and experienced it is nice to have your consultant there to do your makeup as you have so many emotions happening that day!” said Haden.

Subtle Tanning Lotion Mary Kay, $16

“If you are trying to save money by doing your make-up yourself, meet with a Mary Kay Consultant. The initial consultation and facial are free! The consultant can help you find the perfect skin care regiment for your needs, match you to the foundations shade you need and provide make-up application tips for your big day!” said Kennedy.

Foundation Primer SPF 15 Mary Kay, $16

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DRESS CODE,

DECODED

Not sure how to phrase your invitations so that your Aunt Margaret won’t show up in her best birdwatching outfit? Our handy chart aims to clear things up.

Just remember, while you can set a dress code, you can’t actually force your guests to dress a certain way, so be ready to laugh it off if they show up with binoculars around their neck anyways.

If your invitation says:

She’ll show up wearing:

He’ll show up wearing:

WHITE TIE

Floor length evening gown

Tuxedo, including white vest, white bow tie and long black jacket with tails

B L AC K T I E

Floor length evening gown or formal cocktail length dress

Tuxedo, including black bow tie and cummberbund.

FORMAL

Floor length evening gown, formal cocktail length dress or dressy separates

Tuxedo or dark suit with tie

C O C K TA I L

Short, elegant cocktail dress

Dark suit with tie

INFORMAL / SEMI FORMAL

Short, elegant cocktail dress

Dark suit, tie optional

D R E S S Y C A S UA L

Cocktail dress or blouse with pants or skirt.

Suit with no tie or sport coat and dress pants

C A S UA L

Sundress or blouse with pants or skit.

No jeans, shorts or t-shirts.

Khaki or dress pants collared shirt or polo. No jeans, shorts or t-shirts.

T I M E L E S S W I S D O M F RO M E M I LY P O S T Though it’s been 91 years since Emily Post’s Ettiquite was first published in 1922, some of our favorite excerpts remain surprising relevant.

It seems being yourself and pure radiance never go out of style.

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“Everyone knows what a wedding dress is like. It may be of any white material, satin, brocade, velvet, chiffon or entirely of lace. It may be embroidered in pearls, crystals or silver; or it may be as plain as a slip-cover—anything in fact that the bride fancies, and made in whatever fashion or period she may choose.”

“What you should say in congratulating a bridal couple depends on how well you know one, or both of them. But remember it is a breach of good manners to congratulate a bride on having secured a husband.”

“The radiance of a truly happy bride is so beautifying that even a plain girl is made pretty, and a pretty one, divine. There is something glad yet sweet, shy yet triumphant, serious yet—radiant!

There is no other way to put it. And a happy groom looks first of all protective—he, too, may have the quality of radiance, but it is different—more directly glad. They both look as though there were sunlight behind their eyes, as though their mouths irresistibly turned to smiles. No other quality of a bride’s expression is so beautiful as radiance; that visible proof of perfect happiness which endears its possessor to all beholders and gives to the simplest little wedding complete beauty.”

I DOS

(+ DON’TS)

It’s hard to find Janelda Williams sitting still.

While she has owned and operated La Tea Da Tearoom, inside KK’s Craft Mall, for 13 years, Williams is also an professional floral designer and wedding designer. Through her company, “I Do” Weddings, Williams helps brides plan the weddings of their dreams. After raising three children, Williams finds it easy to connect with young couples. We sat down with Janelda to find out her best advice and favorite trends for brides-to-be.

C O LO R S + T H E M E S : Natural looks and earthy tones Navy + Orange Burlap + Lace

F LO W E R S : Roses Hydrangea Baby’s Breath (trendy + inexpensive!)

BUDGET TIPS: Rent as much as you can, instead of buying.

Look in to high end silk flowers instead of fresh.

Use creative alternatives to flowers in your centerpieces

B U T D O N ’ T C O M P RO M I S E O N : Photography. These are your memories, and it’s worth paying a professional for the best.

Making it your own. Choose centerpieces and other decorations that reflect your personality to make your day truly yours.

La Tea Da

Tea Room & Bakery Janelda Williams (806) 791-0095 (806) 773-2051 Lunch, Parties, Weddings, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Décor 6409 Indiana Avenue • Lubbock, TX 79413 • Inside KK’s Craft Mall thelateadatearoom.com

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upper body BbyL A S T

BARREffect Meet the incredible Blair Isom of Lubbock’s Studio 57 and creator of the BARREffect workout. She shared with us some workout moves that will make your upper body enviable, no matter the style of your dress!

G E T T I N G S TA RT E D When doing these exercises, start with 2 lbs and then make your way up to 3 lbs. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you do the move slow and controlled, the muscles will fatigue and slowly begin to sculpt. BARREffect recommends light weights to help create that feminine long lean muscle. After fatiguing your arms be sure to follow the workout with a good 3-minute stretch. Think of your muscles as clay - after you have fatigued them, you stretch them to help show them the shape of long and lean.

T I G H T E N T RO U B L E D AREAS Lift the weight and squeeze the muscle at the top. Then lower the weight stopping at your hip. Repeat the exercise 30 times Next, lift the weight to the top position and do tiny pulses. Keeping the weight as high as you can, pulse 30 times.

TRICEP CAN-CAN Do a tricep dip while lifting your leg in the air. Switch feet in between each move.

The closer you can move your seat to your hands the more challenging the move. Lift and lower full range 25 times.

Then bend your arms half way and hold for 20 seconds.

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SHOULDER + UPPER B AC K M U S C L E S Open and close the weight slowly, squeezing your shoulder blade together in the open position. Open and close slowly 25 times.

Then, hold in the open position, and do tiny pulses squeezing the shoulder blades, 20 times.

DOLPHIN PUSH-UPS: Get in to a downward dog position, walk your feet in until you cannot get any closer. Lower to your forearms.

Hold the position for 25 seconds.

Now, begin to lower your chin past your fists, almost touching it to the ground 20 times. Start out by just trying to touch your hands, then as your build up strength you can lower your chin past your hands.

S C U L P T A S E X Y B AC K Lift the weight and squeeze the muscle at the top. Then lower the weight stopping at your hip.

Repeat the exercise 30 times Next, lift the weight to the top position and do tiny pulses.

Keeping the weight as high as you can. Do 30 tiny pulses.

bonus!

Blair’s tasty, healthy, carbless spaghetti

S PAG H E T T I S Q UA S H + T U R K E Y M E AT S AU C E “I promise this recipe is so good even the men in your life will love it. I have served it to my husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law and they are manly meat/carb-eating West Texas men!”

- Blair Isom INGREDIENTS: - 1 spaghetti squash - 1 jar Newman’s Own Marinara Sauce - 1 lb lean ground turkey (93% lean) - 1 red onion, chopped - 1/2 zucchini, chopped - 1 bunch spinach, chopped - artichoke hearts, chopped (optional) - fresh tomatoes, chopped - 1 tablespoon minced garlic

TO C O O K S Q UA S H : 1. Stab your spaghetti squash with a fork many times so that it doesn’t explode.

2. Microwave your squash for 7 minutes.

Rotate the squash and microwave for another 7 minutes. You want the squash to be super soft, microwave times can vary.

3. Cut your squash open and remove the seeds.

4. Once seeds are removed, drag your fork along the squash and watch as the squash comes out in “noodle” form.

5. Add butter, salt and pepper for extra taste or if you are eating the squash w/o sauce

T U R K E Y M E AT S AU C E : (I like to make the sauce a few hours early and let the flavors simmer.)

1. Brown your turkey, garlic and onions.

2. In another pan, saute all the other veggies in just a little bit of extra virgin olive oil.

3. Once the turkey is brown and veggies are cooked combine and mix in marinara 4. Add oregano, salt, pepper, and any other spices you want!

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real weddings +meet...

Zach + Sarah Bristow, a fun, outdoorsy couple who planned a beautiful wedding in Brownsfield.

Aaron + Christina Rejino, who planned their dream wedding on a tight schedule with the help of their loving families.

Cade + Caroline Reddish a laid back couple whose wedding was pure and simple fun.

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zack + sarah

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zach + sarah S W E E T RU S T I C C H A R M

It was an outdoor wedding for a sweet ourdoorsy couple. Zach and Sarah Bristow wed in Brownfield in September 2012 under the big Texas sky and the gaze of more than one hundred friends and family members.

P H OTO S B Y BECCA LEA CANIGLIA

The first caught each other’s attention when out celebrating as students at Texas Tech University. “We met in 2010 at a Cinco de Mayo at this little place off Broadway, Mesquite.

It was the night before one of my last finals, and one of my roommates kind of forced me to go out and celebrate,” said Sarah.

Zach remembers fondly, “We were standing right by the stairs, and she and her friend went upstairs… when she came downstairs, we talked… not for very long, but she gave me her number, and I called about two weeks later.”

“I didn’t think he was going to call,” said Sarah. But he did call. And one date led to another and after one year and four months, Zach knew she was the one.

Returning to the spot of their first date, the Lubbock Memorial Arboreutum in Clapp Park, Zach orchestrated his perfect proposal. “I hired a photographer to go lurk in the woods and act like a birdwatcher… I got a book with a bunch of pictures of us, and then in the back it has a picture of the ring and it said will you marry me?”

Zach and Sarah spent the next year wedding planning. “He was more involved than I ever thought he would be. It was awesome,” said Sarah.

T H E D E TA I L S V E N U E Fulford Barn

F LO W E R S Kelle B

D R E S S Maggie Sottero

D J West Texas DJ Service

BRIDESMAID’S D R E S S E S David’s Bridal

C AT E R I N G Market Street

T U X Men’s Warehouse

R E N TA L S Festive Occasions

C A K E The Cakery

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The couple’s vision for their nupitals? “We really just wanted it to be more laid back than anything… We wanted people to have fun, for it to be more of a celebration,” said Sarah.

the outdoor theme, instead of using a traditional guestbook, they used a tree print, purchased from Etsy. Guests could sign their name on a leaf.

Sarah surprised herself when choosing the dress, at Brides in Amarillo, Texas. ““It wasn’t really the style I was looking for, but it ended up working out really well. I ended up absolutely loving it.” She had thought she would go for something “real simple and flowy.”

Instead, “it was a lot more detailed than I pictured my dress being, but I figured you only get married once!”

The evening was not without its lighter moments, however.

After making it through the ceremony and the beginning of the reception, Sarah experienced a wardrobe malfunction.

“Luckily I had my getaway dress because my bustle broke right away! We had to kind of speed things along, do the garter toss, so I could run upstairs and change.”

The ceremony and decor were filled with sentimental details. Sarah’s father, a guitarist, played Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us” during the ceremony. Zach and Sarah share a love of music, and so they incorporated sheet music from old love songs into their centerpieces and hanging decorations. To compliment

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Surrounded by loved ones, Zach and Sarah found it almost impossible to get a moment alone. “One of my favorite times was we were trying to get away for a moment to go talk, and no matter where we went someone would come try to talk to us,” said Sarah.

“I think 5 different people came up to us,” added Zach. “We were out in the dark and people would just come out of nowhere.”

“Like out of some trees or something,” finished Sarah.

All in all, Zach’s favorite moment? ““Just seeing her face at the ceremony. Seeing how happy she was.”

G E T T H E LO O K Want to recreate the rustic beauty of Zach and Sarah’s wedding? Here are some tips.

S TA RT W I T H A N O U T D O O R LO C AT I O N . When your location has as much natual beauty as the Fulford Barn, it doesn’t take a lot of decorating. Other ideas: a park, arboretum, farm or orchard.

F O C U S O N T H E D E TA I L S T H AT M AT T E R M O S T TO YO U. Zach and Sarah had a blast collecting items for their centerpieces. For “a lot of the centerpieces and decorations, we’d be out and see something, and decide to incorporate it,” said Sarah. They were inspired by their love of music and chose to incorporate that into many aspects of the decor.

C R E AT E A WA R M G LO W. Borrow white Christmas lights from friends and family to mimic the look. Be careful - the LED lights do not give off as warm of light. It’s worth holding out for the natural lights. Add to the atmosphere with candles and lanterns.

S TAY AWAY F RO M F U S S Y F or their heavy hors d’ouevres Zach and Sarah chose simple foods that they hoped everyone would like. By forgoing a plated dinner, they encouraged mingling and dancing.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON Through the stressful planning process, day of execution and even a wardrobe malfunction, Zach and Sarah stayed calm and enjoyed every minute. “It was very smooth, I think because we weren’t so concerned with any of the small details.” Just remember - your guests are there for you, so if you don’t worry about the slipups, neither will they!

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aaron + christina a family affair

They “met” on Facebook through a mutual friend, and 11 months later they became “man & wife” in a flower-filled family affair. Aaron & Christina Rejino chatted with Wedding Connection about their low-stress DIY wedding.

Christina made the first move. He was actually a friend of a girl that I grew up with . . . on Facebook. I added him. Then he thought I was annoying and deleted me. (Long story short) I liked a picture and he added me back. Then I saw a post from Black Friday. (He fell asleep in the mall and ended up on the news) He posted something like “I’m famous. $5 for my autograph.” So I messaged him and asked him, “How much for your number?” Aaron gave her the number for free, and two weeks later they went on their first date, awkwardly waiting for someone to make the first move. Eventually the hardworking couple were driving more than hour just to spend time with each other.

T H E E N G AG E M E N T Planning on spending a special pre-birthday with each other in July, Christina explained that Aaron asked her, “Do you like surprises?” Aaron responded, “No, I said “I’m sorry that I didn’t throw you a surprise party.” They entered Abuelo’s, and all of their family was there. Christina knew the Michael Kors purse was more than just a purse when he slid his chair back, and had that look in his eyes. “The ring was in the bag.

It only took five months for the happy newlyweds to plan their wedding.

“We were wasting so much time on the road, and we really didn’t want to be away from each other anymore,” Aaron offered. The trip was “an hour . . . hour and fifteen minutes . . . if you drive the speed limit,” chimed in Christina. But Christina did not want to plan the wedding at first. “We had to pick colors. I think he wanted to have an all white wedding at first, but we eventually ended up with “apple and plum.” So Aaron helped make their dreams come true . . . “in like literally three weeks.”

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T H E B I G DAY Christina and Aaron described their wedding as a “medium-sized” and “really traditional” wedding, but they had a remarkable family that showered them with love, support, food and flowers! Christina shared that “we really didn’t want food at our wedding. We just really wanted to have cake and snacks really. But with a Hispanic wedding we really couldn’t do that!” Thanks to the parents who shared the cost of the food, brisket and pulled pork sliders satisfied everyone.

The couple did everything without a company doing anything for them. That’s because their talented families pitched in. Christina’s sister designed their invitations, which they printed at Staples. “The envelopes cost more than the invitations,” Christina noted. Her mom made the cake and finished off her look.

“She made my veil, which was really special. She just used a pattern. And then she added the brooch on my dress. My mom did just a few little things to add to the dress. She just sewed them on by hand.”

The signature element: the flowers! Aaron’s brother owns a flower shop, so they didn’t have to spend a dime on the flowers. “My brother came in town the Thursday before the wedding and did a really amazing job. He gave us like to $2,000 worth of flowers.” Flowers served an important part of the decorations from the aisle to the centerpieces. Aaron and Christina had flowers in all different colors, everywhere in their wedding.

T H E I R FAVO R I T E M O M E N T Aaron fondly recounted the moment when the doors opened. “I saw her in her dress for the first time that was something I will remember forever.” For Christina, “just having the double doors open . . . and seeing him and seeing him try not to cry and then starting to cry myself” was her favorite moment of the wedding.

A DV I C E F O R A “ Q U I C K ” WEDDING? We probably would have spent a lot more money to have the type of wedding that we had.

Everyone really just came in and wanted to help us out.

Just enjoy it. Don’t let anything stress you out.

We didn’t have a dance or anything like that. It just happened so fast.

Two Families, One Wedding. You can incorporate the ideas of their family and friends.

Just remember what you are doing this for..

Stay Local. A lot of the times, [local vendors] give you a lot better deal than many of the big city people. A lot of people just do it because they love what they are doing.

Start early. Plan ahead. Don’t wait to the last minute. Just start early because we waited too late to get started.

Everything turned out beautifully, thanks to family!

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cade + caroline simple elegance

After nearly four years together, Cade and Caroline Reddish finally tied the knot on June 9, 2012. The evening wedding took place at the Historic Baker Building in Downtown Lubbock.

The couple first met in September 2008 when out with friends at what was then the Hub City Brewery. “I think it was one of those things where we both eyed each other,” said Cade, and he approached Caroline that night.

Cade, born and raised in Lubbock, and Caroline, who hails from Tennessee, spent the next three years following passions and dreams, including career changes for both of them. Cade is now a police officer and Caroline a nurse.

Eventually, the timing was right. In July 2011, after a romantic dinner at the 50 Yard Line Steakhouse, Cade popped the question. “We were too shy to do it in front of people, so he waited until we got home,” said Caroline.

T H E D E TA I L S V E N U E + C AT E R I N G The Historic Baker Building D R E S S David’s Bridal B R I D E S M A I D’ S D R E S S E S David’s Bridal M E N S W E A R Men’s Warehouse C A K E DomestiCakes F LO W E R S Market Street D J Lil Pete’s DJ Service HAIR + MAKEUP Paige Cunningham, Davidson-Taylor Salon

P H OTO S B Y M A RC I E M E R E D I T H

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That low-key spirit would carry through their wedding. “People who attended the wedding,” said Caroline, “said it was really laid back, that it felt like us.”

Each had a bridal party of six childhood friends to celebrate the day. Caroline and her bridesmaids got ready at the Baker Building, sipping drinks while getting their hair and makeup done. Cade and his groomsmen did the same.

When everyone was ready, the couple met outside for their first look. While a departure

from tradition, both Caroline and Cade were happy with the decision to see each other before the ceremony. Cade considered it one of his favorite parts because it “eased the nerves” before starting the ceremony.

The ceremony was filled with touches of family. Caroline carried a bouquet of tulips, her late grandfather’s favorite flower. Cade’s childhood pastor peformed the ceremony. The topper on the cake was that of a grandparent.

In the end, it was smooth and “it was perfect.

It was just what we wanted,” said Caroline.

G E T T H E LO O K Craving some simple southern elegance?

Here are some ways to do it yourself.

I T ’ S A L L A B O U T YO U. You as a couple, that is. Let your personality shine through your wedding. Caroline couldn’t wait to try the appetizers she had carefully picked out during the cocktail hour.

C H O O S E C O LO R C A R E F U L LY. Cade and Caroline were very deliberate with their usage of their colors, purple and green. They used only solid shades for their bridesmaids’ gowns and cake decorations, in stunning contrast to the bright whites used as a neutral.

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T R Y A M O N O F LO W E R B O U Q U E T. Caroline’s simple tulip bouquet oozes sophistication. Other good options: peonies, calla lilies and orchids.

Choose something in season for an affordable bouquet.

F I N D A C L A S S I C LO C AT I O N .

The Baker Building was perfect for this simple wedding, but many other options exist in Lubbock. An older, wellmaintained building can be the perfect backdrop for modern elegance.

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(806) 794-7766 thackerjewelry.com

DIY Weddings +inside 36 40 43 44 46 48 50

The $2500 Wedding Mason Jars: Four Ways For every flower there is a season $10 or less: Tablescapes Stock your bar Signature drinks If it’s not moving, monogram it

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THE $2500 WEDDING (no big deal or anything)

Aquila Jordan spills her secerets...

Engaged after only one month of dating, my husband and I planned a mid-summer wedding to correspond with my school schedule and his birthday (we got married on his 23rd!).

T H E P RO B L E M S : six months, law school, out-of-state planning Living in West Texas, this Colorado girl wanted to be close to the Rockies and outdoor options. The only problem: every outdoor summer venue was booked.

T H E B U D G E T: being students made us creative and flexible Mom gave my sister a $2,500 budget 3 years ago, and as starving students, we decided to do our best to stay within it! I started with a list of things we needed, and when friends or family asked us what we wanted we told them something on the list. Confession: I

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splurged on one item: $500 on a knee length dress. Paired with a borrowed cathedral length veil, it was perfect!

THE BASICS: we skipped the fluff and tossed the traditional We started with a family meeting and worked our way through each task that need to be completed. We quickly ditched the extras found at most weddings and kept the interesting elements that we loved. We cut the Save the Dates (emails & Facebook), skipped the expensive tux rentals, and avoided floral arrangements. We chose citrus-filled vases and borrrowed the rest.

THE VENUE: we opted for help and DIY options to save money We got married outside. My mom found a secluded park with a waterfall in the background. Because we got married on a Sunday afternoon, we only spent $200 to secure the site with a $100 deposit. The city also owned the rec center down the street, so we only spent $640 to secure the location for the whole day (set up and tear down takes time).

THE REHEARSAL DINNER: a backyard barbeque ($100) Instead of a swanky dinner, we had a potluck. It was a great time to relax with family and friends before the big day.

THE GUESTBOOK: Hardcover 8x8 Photo books from Shutterfly ($20) We took advantage of offers from Shutterfly and created two Photo Books (one of us during our relationship, and one of our engagement photos). The guests signed it like a yearbook!

T H E AT T E N DA N T S : spent less than $100 each For the Bridesmaids: The Mac Counter did the makeup (for FREE!).

The girls did their own hair. I chose the fun summer dresses (no input from the bridesmaids), which only cost $75 and let them choose their own shoes and jewelry.

For the Groomsmen: They wore khaki pants ($35) and solid button downs ($20) with their basic black shoes and belts. They can keep the pieces and their hats! ($6)

THE FOOD AND CAKE: Buffet Pasta & Cupcakes ($500)

STEAL THE SECRETS BUDGET $2500 F O O D Southwest seafood alfredo + traditional chicken alfredo M U S I C Thank you, iPod playlists!

V E N U E A City Park + City Recreation Center F LO W E R S I made the bouquet + opted for parasols for my bridesmaids C A K E One giant cupcake + homemade cupcakes I N V I TAT I O N S Linen paper, Laserjet printer, and handstamped with butterflies

When the caterer fell through only a few weeks before the wedding, my sister came through with a friend who could do the cooking if we could find the servers. ($150) No problem. Friends pitched in to help with that. My mother-in-law made the rest of the cupcakes and butterfly cakes. ($35). We topped it off with a beautiful giant Red Velvet cupcake! ($12)

THE RECPTION: an iPod playlist keep the party going after we left An iPod and iPhone replaced our absentee DJ. We danced to Chrisette Michele’s “Golden,” and guests jammed out to “I Gotta Feeling,” “When I Fall in Love,” and the “Cupid Shuffle.” We left to enjoy our first cocktail as a married couple while every stayed and danced the night away.

W H AT H A P P E N E D TO T H E S AV I N G S ?

We spent less than $2,500 on our wedding. We used what was left to on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico. We spent seven days in paradise in a junior suite with an awesome view for only $750. A friend gave us the flights, and we negotiated all of our excursions while on the island ($250).

Turn the page for Aquila’s tips on planning your own budget-friendly wedding!

T H E V E N U E : Not bad for $300!

I N T E R E S T I N G N OT E : I got lucky. My husband actually liked the wedding planning process. In fact, he spared me the stress and did a lot of the planning with my mom.

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10

things we learned

1 . A G O O D G U E S T. Shrink the guest list, only send Save the Dates to outof-towners, limit kids and use online options to RSVP (saves the card) 2 . LO C AT I O N . LO C AT I O N . LO C AT I O N .

Don’t get stuck on one place. Great venues can be found in the most unlikely places 3 . C LO S E D M O U T H S .

Ask for discounts, options, and alternate dates to save you money. There are deals available for those who look.

4 . D I TC H T H E F O R K S .

Avoid an expensive sit down meal with have a brunch or afternoon wedding. BBQ’s and finger foods are fun!

5 . TO S S T H E B O U Q U E T. Most people spend big bucks on flowers. Instead, try candles, parasols, and lanterns. Also, wildflowers and silicone bouquets are great!

6 . J U S T D E S S E RT. Why spend $2,000 on cake? A dessert bar & cupcakes are just as sweet. Try a small cake and hand out presliced servings from a delicious sheet cake.

T H E S E A R E N ’ T R E A L . For less than $30, I made a beautiful bouquet from silicone flowers, ivy leaves and floral tape. It took 20 minutes to make!

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7 . LO O K S C A N K I L L .

Can’t afford great photos? Try your local college for graduating student photographers, building their portfolio. They may amaze you.

8 . D E C O R AT E W I T H L A N D S C A P E .

Use a venue with natural elements that add class, charm, intrigue or beauty at no extra cost to you. A waterfall doesn’t hurt any.

9. GIVE THEM A 2ND CHANCE. Use bridesmaids flowers for center-pieces, find a venue that doubles as a reception (reuse the chairs), or hang Christmas lights.

1 0 . S H O E S T R I N G S A N D S A N D. Don’t spend money you don’t have. Set a budget, stay in the budget, and save the rest. Use it to make the honeymoon amazing instead.

A SWEET ENDING We loved our giant cupcake, done in our wedding colors and theme (butterflies)! It was only $12. Family helped us bake smaller cupcakes for the guests to enjoy!

Goody’s World Famous Popcorn has great gourmet popcorn perfect for every occasion! Birthday parties, holiday parties, graduation, college gifts, businesses, and much more!

*Custom colors and flavors available *Will deliver on orders over $100 *Please call to place large orders at least one day in advance.

Located inside South Plains Mall 6002 Slide Rd Lubbock, TX 79414

POP by or give us a call to place your order today!

806-792-CORN (2676)

Located inside South Plains Mall • behind Barns and Noble •

6002 Slide Rd Lubbock, TX 79414

by or give usa call to place your order today!

806-792-CORN (2676)

Goody’s World Famous Popcorn has great gourmet popcorn perfect for every occasion! Birthday parties, holidays, graduation, weddings, quincenieras, and even custom coloring for baby showers, businesses and much more! *Custom colors and flavors available • Will deliver on orders over $100 Please call to place large ordersat least one day in advance.

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M A S O N JA R S

four ways

This country staple is becoming nearly ubiquitous at weddings these days. How do you stand out from the crowd? Try one of these easy twists on the classic.

PA I N T E D O N T H E I N S I D E Each quart sized jar requires nearly a two-ounced sized container of acrylic paint, so stock up!

+

W H E R E TO B U Y ?

We bought mason jars by the case at our local Walmart, where prices are very competitive. For more variety in shapes and sizes, look for them at thrift stores and flea markets.

Etching cream can be purchased at any craft store. All other items are available at Walmart or any craft store.

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Start by squirting a small amount of paint inside the jar. Slowly swirl it around until the base is coated. Work your way towards the top, adding paint as needed.

When completely covered, dry facedown on a sheet of waxed paper covered with paper towels. Paint will continue to drip out of jar. After about 24 hours, turn over to allow for more air circulation and improved drying. Paint should be dry within another 24 hours.

Do not pour water directly into painted jar. If you’d like to add flowers, put a second plastic cup filled with water inside the jar.

B U R L A P + L AC E The easiest of the bunch!

DISTRESSED Coat mason jar with white spray paint and allow to dry.

E TC H E D Etched pint sized jars make excellent favors or reception drinkware.

Decorate mason jars with burlap, lace, or any other accents that compliment your wedding.

Once dry, apply spray paint in the color of your choice to jar, being careful to completely cover the white. It is not important for the paint to be even, however, so don’t worry about drips! Add a second coat of color if necessary.

Create the pattern you want to etch on the computer and print out. Cut a rectagle of contact paper large enough to cover the face of the jar.

Tape printout on top of contact paper, and cut out design with a craft knife. The design should be facing the right direction on the clear side of the contact paper.

Hot glue is the best bet here.

Allow to dry completely, at least 24 hours. Once dry, distress using heavy grade sandpaper. If you plan to put a candle inside, clear a large enough area on the front of the jar to allow for light.

Combine with other rustic accents and local Texas snapdragons for a complete country look!

Remove the cutout and apply the contact paper stencil to the jar. Press down hard at all edges to seal.

Apply etching cream, according to package directions. Rinse, dry, and enjoy!

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F O R E V E R Y F LO W E R THERE IS A

SEASON

Slash your floral costs and snag the prettiest blooms by choosing flowers in season. Here’s a handy guide for what’s prime pickings for your wedding.

spring

summer

H YAC I N T H

HYDRANGEA

SWEETPEAS

L I LY

TULIP

S N A P D R AG O N S

PEONY

S U N F LO W E R S

L I L AC

E N G L I S H L AV E N D E R

fall

winter

DA H L I A

JA S M I N E

ZINNIA

H O L LY

ASTER

RANUCULUS

MARIGOLD

TULIP

DA F F O D I L

CHRYSANTHEMUM

+ year-round

A S T RO LO M E R I A

AMARYLLIS

B A B Y ’ S B R E AT H , C A L L A L I LY, G L A D I O L U S , O RC H I D S , RO S E photos by (clockwise from top left) geishaboy500, the mitochondrion, kitay + parvin

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$10 or less:

tablescapes L AY E R S O F RO M A N C E The key to the luxe look on a dime?

Layering. Here, we used three heights of candle holders: votive cups, inverted mason jars and inverted champagne flutes (all available for about $1 each).

The highlight, however, is heaps of fluffy paper flowers. These are made from coffee filters! For a video tutorial, go to connectmywedding.com.

To cover the table, again look to layering. Here we layered sheer tulle ($1.50 per yard) over a textured fabric we purchased and hemmed.

FRESH SQUEEZED Think beyond flowers for a fresh looking centerpiece. Lemons and limes are only $1 for 4-6. Fresh looks better and costs less than fake.

It’s worth being careful when you select your fruit from the supermarket - avoid any with dark marks.

To complete the fresh from market feel, creat your own chalkboard signs using trays from the dollar store and chalkboard paint. Leave chalk at the table to encourage guest to write their own messages to you!

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C U S TO M W I N E L A B E L S : T H E U LT I M AT E M U LT I TA S K E R

(806) 763-3333

There are so many reasons we love to use custom wine labels as a centerpiece in DIY wedding decor.

Here are a few ways to put them to work: + You can print them yourself on white or kraft paper labels. For some fun printable templates, check out connectmywedding.com. + Remove old wine labels with warm soap and water, and dry well before applying. + Use them as table numbers, as shown. + Include a corkscrew and a note inviting guests to help themselves while they’re waiting for your entrance. + Use personalized labels on inexpensive bottles for wedding favors people will actually want to take with them. + No one will know the original label of the wine, so there’s no pressure to buy something pricey!

I Do Weddings

wedding & reception decorating •

We at I Do Weddings welcome the opportunity to help you plan your special day. We can design your vision, anything from elegant to rustic. We have packages to meet your every need.

We travel for any weddings.

Professional Floral Designer Janelda Williams

Find us on Facebook • Wedding Wire • Eventactive

janeldawilliams@gmail.com 806.773.2051

Flowers • Centerpieces • Decorations

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FOR THE KIDS! Pass them out during the champagne toast so everyone can participate.

Adults can appreciate it too!

SOMETHING S AVO R Y Guests may be all sugared out after cake, so be sure to offer a salty snack, too.

MORNING MUNCH Take the classic coffee and donut combo and minify for an elegant but whimsical treat.

S TO C K YO U R B A R Not that kind of bar, silly. The latest craze in catering are gourmet spreads offering the ultimate cravings of the bride and groom.

Customize yours with your favorite foods and treats, or get inspired by some of our favorites.

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RU S T I C TO U C H For a softer touch, include something homemade.

Here we used candided ginger, made with the leftovers from our Whisky Gingers on page 51. For the recipe, visit connectmywedding.com.

O L D FAVO R I T E S Include classic crowdpleasers, as well as the bride’s and groom’s favorite candies from childhood.

N OT I N TO SWEETS? Not to worry, there are plenty of ways to go savory (or even adult) instead of sweet!

B A K E D P OTATO B A R P E A N U T- B U T T E R A N D J E L LY B A R H OT D O G B A R PA S TA B A R SLIDER BAR B LO O DY M A R Y B A R PIZZA BAR R AW B A R G UAC A M O L E B A R

C O LO R C O O R D I N AT E Almost anything can be ordered in your perfect wedding colors. Order monogrammed M+M’s at m-ms.com.

The same goes for popcorn!

Lubbock’s Goody’s World Famous Popcorn has 80 flavors and can create a custom color to match your wedding.

GO BIG. Levels are key to an eye catching display. You won’t believe what we used to prop up our goodies for this shoot!

We used everything from a 12-pack of paper towel rolls to old medical textbooks.

A WA R M W E LC O M E Create your own chalkboard sign for pennies by using a dollar store tray and chalkboard paint. The possibilities are endless.

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S I G N AT U R E DRINKS Want to avoid the high tab of an open bar, but hate the idea of asking your guests pay for drinks?

Whip up a big batch of one of our signature cocktails to slash bar costs and add personal touch to your sippers.

C H A M PAG N E S PA R K L E R

TRADITIONAL L E M O N D RO P

+ Muddle 3 raspberries at the

+ 1 oz vodka

Carbonated drinks, like the Whisky Ginger and the Champagne Sparkler will lose their fizz after a while of sitting out. To avoid this, spring for a bartender to pour on demand, or ask a groomsman to replenish every hour.

Everything else can be prepared ahead of time and served chilled.

sparking wine

While fresh lemon and lime juice are nonnegotiable, store-bought grapefruit juice from the refridgerated aisle can be substituted for fresh squeezed.

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bottom of each flute.

+ Add 1/2 tsp of grenadine or

+ 2 oz fresh lemon juice

raspberry liquor.

+ 1 oz triple sec

+ Top with champagne or

+ 1 oz simple syrup

+

TO M A K E S I M P L E S Y U R P : Combine 2 cups sugar with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil on the stove.

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

SASSY SWEET TEA

G R A P E F RU I T M A RG A R I TA

WHISKY GINGER

TEXAS COSMO

+ 1 oz vodka

+ 1 oz tequila

+ 1 oz whiskey

+ 1 oz vodka

+ 6 oz strong black iced tea

+ 1.5 oz triple sec

+ 1 oz ginger syrup

+ 1 oz triple sec

+ symple syrup to taste

+ 1.5 oz grapefruit juice

+ 4 oz club soda

+ 2 oz grapefruit juice

+ garnish with lemon

+ 1 oz lime juice

+

+ 2 oz cranberry juice

TO M A K E G I N G E R S Y U R P : Combine 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water and 2.5 cups of sliced fresh ginger.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Strain to remove solids, allow to cool.

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Monogrammed hand towels, $20, Bed Bath & Beyond

photo by samdogs

photo by clevercupcakes

If it’s not moving...

MONOGRAM IT Look to the letters for great bridesmaid gifts, favors and accents.

photo by tracy hunter photo by mom2sofia

photo by naomi king

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Use a stamp to make your own monogrammed thank you notes!

monogram

PRIMER F O R A N I N D I V I D UA L

MJ A Mary Anne Jones

FOR A COUPLE

CH D David and Charlotte Henry

F O R H Y P H E N AT E D N A M E S

T CA D Tara Elise Cooper-Anthony or Elliot and Tara Cooper-Anthony historic

SINGLE LETTERS REPRESENTING FIRST OR LAST NAMES ARE A LWAY S AC C E P TA B L E .

Baker Building

bakerbuilding.com 806.741.1539

private parties ~ weddings receptions ~ proms

1211 13th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401

The Baker Building is featured on pages 30-33.

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S U R V I VA L G U I D E : W E D D I N G TOA S T So every wedding has a moment. That moment when every says “ahhhhh.” Unfortunately, the Best Man’s Toast can leave a lot to be desired.

Before resorting to a website to buy a wedding toast (yeah, we found those), give the Best Man the words that will melt your hearts. (Even if you have to write it for him!)

W H AT YO U C O U L D H E A R : The best man at one wedding thanked the guests, hit on the bride, and reminded that he no longer be with other women.

At a different wedding, the best man explained that if the groom didn’t marry the bride he would have gladly tried.

SOMETHING TRADITIONAL My name is _______________, and on behalf of _________________ and his beautiful bride _____________, I would like to thank you for attending this union today. I have the honor of serving as the Best Man and sharing with this couple as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

Remind him of a great story about both of you. Explain to him that he should avoid embarrassing moments, talking about past relationships, or drinking too much to calm the nerves.

5. Please join me in celebrating the first hour anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name). So far, their marriage seems to be steeped in all the things I wish for them for the rest of their lives: love, joy, friends and family, peace, warmth and strength. I know you will work hard to share these things every hour of each day and that will make your marriage one to be envied. (Raise glasses) To their 2nd Hour Anniversary!

WA N T S O M E T H I N G F U N ?

The Best Man can give keys to female guests and open with “Ok, single ladies, this man is officially ‘off the market.’ It’s time to turn in his apartment keys.” (Give them to the Bride!)

S O M E P E R F E C T L I N E S TO S AV E T H E DAY Never go to be angry . . . . always stay up and argue Always remember the three little words . . . “You’re right dear” Keep the lid done . . . It will save your life The best way to remember your anniversary is to forget it once May you both live as long as you want, and never as want as long as you live May you never lie, steal or cheat. But if you must lie, may it be in each other’s arms. If you must steal, may it be moments alone together. And if you must cheat, may you cheat death.

Let’s raise our glasses and . . . CELEBRATE!

S H O RT A N D S I M P L E W E D D I N G TOA S T S F O R SHY BRIDES MAIDS. 1. Live. Laugh. Love. Live life to its fullest. Laugh as often as possible. And Love like (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name). because love is blind and she married him anyway. Please join me in drinking to their continued joy and partnership.

2. I would like everyone to join me in wishing the bride and groom a life of good health, happiness and prosperity together. (To the Groom) You are one lucky man, and I know you will do everything you can to deserve a woman like (the Bride). You deserve the best and I know you will find it together.

3. In each person’s lifetime, they only have a few days so momentous and I know that this is a perfect start to the new life that (Bride’s Name) and (Groom’s Name) will be sharing together.

(Raising glass) To the blessed marriage of (Bride’s Name) and (Groom’s Name).

4. Life is meant to be lived to its fullest. By joining their lives together, (bride’s name) and (groom’s name) are fulfilling their potential to live their lives as deeply and lovingly as possible. Please join me in wishing the bride and groom love, joy, and unity for eternity.

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Want more...

T R E N D U P DAT E S ,

D I Y P RO J E C T S , FA S H I O N A DV I C E ,

P R E T T Y P R I N TA B L E S , REAL WEDDINGS, FITNESS TIPS, ORIGINAL VIDEOS,

FA B U LO U S G I V E AWAY S , + P L A N N I N G TO O L S ?

Well then, scurry on over to

connectmywedding.com

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Tonjua Smith, Shelley Melton + Brooke Kellum

photo by lissa anglin

AN HOUR WITH

SOUTHERN ELEGANCE DESIGN Sit down with the ladies of Lubbock’s own Southern Elegance Design and it won’t take you long to see why the dynamic trio of Brooke Kellum, Shelley Melton and Tonjua Smith has been so successful. It’s simple: they’re driven by pure joy and passion for what they do.

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A small example: in between finishing each other’s sentences, Tonjua had to jump up to field calls as they rescheduled several weddings that were misplaced by a flooded venue. All part of a day’s (and night’s) work for Southern Elegance.

WC: TELL ME ABOUT YO U R S E LV E S .

SM: We’ve been in the business just about two years now. We’ve been lifelong friends. Tonjua and I have known each other a long time. We raised our kids together. Then Brooke actually taught school with Tonjua. And so we all have kind of known each other for quite some time.

We started together planning one another’s weddings. Tonjua helped with Brooke’s wedding and then Brooke helped with Tonjua’s daughter’s wedding, we all kind of dabbled in it really.

And then we all worked together

on a friend’s wedding and that one was published in The Knot.

So when that happened, we kind of thought “Hey we’re pretty good at this.”

BK: That wedding was burlap, and it was one of the first to be with the burlap and the lace.

SM: We do everything. We do invitations, we do catering, we do all the design. When you ask for a vintage design we have all the old stuff. We have the old windows, we have the burlap, we have the mason jars, we have everything. So when you ask us to be your designers, we do it all.

We don’t like to really call ourselves all inclusive, because we don’t do a wedding in a box, we don’t do it like anyone else’s, we do it unique to you and your groom, but we can do everything and take that stress. We pride ourselves on a stress free day.

We know both the cakes that both taste good and look good.

That’s a hard thing to find.

Because you can get a really pretty cake that’s really dry or a really ugly cake that tastes delicious. We’ve had some of those, but it’s hard to find both. We know a lot about the vendors in town and we have a really good rapport with them.

We’re not, you have to spend a million dollars to have a certain look. We’ll take your tiny budget and we’ll make a really nice look out of that.

W C : W H AT ’ S T H E AV E R AG E B U D G E T YO U A R E U S UA L LY WORKING WITH? SM: It is a big range. The average budget, I would say is probably ten [thousand].

BK: The average wedding in Lubbock costs $24,000 to $27,000, I believe.

SM: And when we tell brides, they’re usually, “What?”

They’re very shocked. If we’re they’re first stop, they’re like “oh my word, oh my word.”

And if they’ve been shopping a while, it’s easier on them. But, normally, they’re like oh my goodness, it’s so expensive.

BK: But most brides come to us with a budget of about $10,000, or between $10,000 and $15,000.

W C : W H AT K I N D S O F Q U E S T I O N S D O YO U ASK A BRIDE WHEN SHE COMES IN FOR THE FIRST TIME? TS: Even though they write their vision down on the checklist, I really like to hear it and see them say it. I can read a lot out of that, you can kind of tell what’s most important to them versus just writing it down.

SM: We also like to see their Pinterest. Sometimes they’re crazy.

TS: Sometimes they’re all over the place.

SM: Sometimes it takes us a couple of visits to get them to narrow down a vision.

Sometimes we have to tell them, they don’t have the budget for what they’re looking for. That happens often.

BK: But we can do something similar, on a smaller scale.

W C : I F YO U H AV E A B R I D E T H AT ’ S S T RU G G L I N G W I T H B U D G E T, W H AT D O YO U T H I N K T H E B E S T T H I N G S TO A R E TO SKIMP ON? TS: Save the dates are a great place to cut. Because that saves on postage and printing.

BK: And, even if it is a holiday weekend, or an important weekend, and you want to send save the dates, we recommend only sending them to out of town guests, only sending to a select few.

SM: We use email on RSVPs a lot to cut down on cost.

Because, you see, that cuts down on your insert for your RSVP as well as postage on RSVPs on postage.

TS: It’s a great way to save.

SM: For the throwaway bouquet, you can always use a bridesmaids bouquet. We think chair covers and chair sashes are often a waste. But we’ve come across a few really ugly chairs, that we’ve had to use chair covers.

TS: But usually they kind of disappear.

SM: My daughter cut costs on DJ, she did a playlist with an iPod, that’s a great way to cut. Corsages are often a great way to cut...

BK: ...if your mom doesn’t care about wearing a flower SM: And invitations are often negotiable.

W C : W H AT PA RT S O F T H E WEDDING DO YO U L I K E TO P L AY W I T H TO MAKE IT MORE UNIQUE? TS: Décor.

photo by caitlin thurman, beauty of you photography

BK: Definitely the décor. That’s probably the main area we like to play with. Overall, we’re really detail oriented to be able to do as much as we do.

We see the big picture

and that helps us to pick out unique, individualized details for each bride.

TS: We never feel finished.

We think, “oh we’ve got thirty minutes. Oh! We’ve got thirty minutes! We can… fix this area over here… “ BK: “I’ve got three flowers left! I’ve got to put them somewhere, I can’t leave them in this bucket.”

SM: We do that with the food too. We decorate our food tables to coordinate with our guest tables.

TS: We want a very cohesive feel throughout the wedding.

SM: From the registry table all

their

LITTLE B L AC K BOOK Get the inside scoop on some of the best vendors in town, all through the eyes of Southern Elegance Design.

P H OTO G R A P H E R S Aric + Casey Madison Bamert VENUES Fulford Barn The Legacy Event Center Lubbock Windmill Museum BAKERIES Pink Cookie Box Taste DJ + VIDEOGRAPHER Delta Jamma / Contract Creative

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the way through to where we have the sparklers as they’re leaving.

TS: We’ll even start at the inviations. We like that feel to go through the whole wedding.

W C : H O W LO N G I N A DVA N C E D O YO U S TA RT W O R K I N G O N A WEDDING? SM: It just depends when we

they’re just like “Ohhhh.” It’s just like “ok, we did that. We made it. We hit that. We got it right.”

TS: One really neat thing about us: one wedding I was working on a candy table and it just wasn’t looking good. So I walked away, and here in a minute I came back over, and Brooke came over and she was just like “why are you working

TS: There’s more labor, they’re so labor intensive.

TS: Or that we thought was crazy.

SM: But they’re so cute! And I think Pinterest is spurring on some of that.

BK: Somebody else might think they were crazy, but we didn’t.

BK: And, it goes along with a lot of the vintage type feels. Not necessarily the rustic but the vintage.

SM: And bars are big. Popcorn bars, cookies bars.

BK: Any kind of bar, candy, cookies.

SM: We have a wedding coming up that is going to be very interesting. She’s having 100 umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, a milk and cookie bar, a vintage game area, a lego area, bobble highlighting station, photobooth, oh my goodness, advice tags, a peanut butter jelly station for the kids, chicken potini bar. We’ve never done anything with quite this many details.

photo by dawson taylor studios

get a call from the bride! We have done a year in advance, and we’ve done what we call “desperate brides”. We’ve had the DIY people call and say “you know what, I thought I could do this on my own. And here’s my pickup load of stuff I bought at Hobby Lobby half done, and tag.”

TS: Yeah, tag, you’re it.

SM: If we’re open, we’re up to do whatever comes. It’s fun either way.

TS: It’s fun. We like the challenge of it all. We kind of thrive off of that.

SM: It’s fun to work with a $5,000 budget, and it’s fun to work with at $20,000 budget.

TS: The best thing is when they can get to go see the reception area before the wedding, and

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so hard at this, do what you did at the registry table.” And I was like “Oh!” We’re really good about that, we’re real honest with each other if we don’t like something. Because we all just can see it in a different way, and we compliment each other, and we don’t get our feelings hurt, we’re like “good you make it work!” That’s what makes us such a good team.

W C : W H AT A R E YO U S E E I N G T H E M O S T O F, A S FA R A S T R E N D S I N FOOD? SM: Right now, I think the coming trend is these minifoods. Like mini-hamburgers and mini banana puddings, mini sandwich sliders, and things like that. But really, cost wise, it ends up being the same as a plated meal.

TS: Yep, we’re excited.

SM: And it’s going to be coral, bright yellow, and cobalt. So you never know what the next wedding is going to be.

W C : W H AT ’ S T H E CRAZIEST REQUEST YO U ’ V E E V E R H A D F RO M A B R I D E ?

TS: I’m sure there have been some crazy requests.

BM: They don’t seem that crazy after the fact.

SM: That pickle and popcorn bar was pretty crazy, but we didn’t do that one.

BK: We’re doing a pretzel bar.

Jumbo pretzels. I’ve never seen that on Pinterest.

SM: I don’t think we’ve ever had anything that was too, too crazy.

SM: Well, 100 umbrellas from the ceiling is pretty crazy.

TS: But that wasn’t her idea. I think I came up with that one! I guess we’re the crazy ones.

TS: We really like the challenge of doing something different.

We do not like to do the same thing every time.

BM: And I think the trend, that we like the best, is that weddings aren’t traditional anymore. You can do whatever you want to do.

SM: And we always encourage a bride, when she comes in and says “I know this sounds a little bit crazy, but…” we say “but, it’s your day, and we want it be about you.” And if you want an ice cream cake or a rice krispie treat cake, that’s great. We want it to be about you. That’s what makes it so fun, and that’s what makes it so different and that’s why try to make each bride have.

BM: Even though burlap and mason jars might be the trend, we want to try to do something different with it. We will add something uniqe and twist it a different way, so it’s not the same wedding you’ve seen 15 times already.

W C : W H AT I S T H E BIGGEST BENEFIT TO A B R I D E TO H I R E WEDDING PLANNERS? SM: Stress.

BK: Well, we take care of it when your venue cancels.

TS: Yeah, they’re not having to go crazy.

SM: I know people don’t believe it. But you really can’t afford

their H OT L I S T BURLAP

C H E V RO N S

M A S O N JA R S

WOOD

PURPLE

MINI FOODS

N AV Y A S A NEUTRAL

FOOD BARS V I N TAG E

not to have a wedding planner.

I want to tell all people, “wait before you leap into buying, before you reserve. You need to think things over.” They’ll go out, and they’ll secure this venue that’s so expensive, and then they don’t have any money left over to do anything else. Or they buy this expensive dress and they didn’t allow for anything else.

visionary.

TS: We see that a lot.

TS: We work off of each other.

BK: And a lot of that is because they’re just not aware of what it’s actually going to cost.

BK: It’s, like … seamless.

TS: A lot of people don’t know what weddings cost.

SM: And when it stops being fun, it’s just not worth it.

TS: And we really pride ourselves on giving the bride and her mother their day together. So the mother can be there if she needs anything, and she’s not torn between the two things. When I did my daughter’s wedding, I probably spent more in the last two weeks than I had anticipated at all. You know, things that you forget.

Well, when you use us, unless you really just want something outlandish to add on, it’s all inclusive in what we start with.

SM: So if the price of flowers go up, well then, we take that cost.

W C : D O YO U E AC H H AV E K I N D O F A S P E C I A LT Y ?

BK: Tonjua is kind of like the

TS: I read people really well, I like to hear what they’re saying, and it helps me get a feel for what they want.

BK: And she kind of starts us in that direction and then we all contribute.

SM: I would say that we all compliment each other.

TS: We had a wedding, and this girl had never worked with us before. My daughter had found us some of her friends, and she came and she goes, “y’all are so funny. It’s very interesting to watch y’all. Y’all are like seamless. Brooke kind of starts this, and then she stops, and you take over and then you may stop that and then Shelley comes...

It’s like you all think the same way but a little different.”

SM: Well, if we’ve gotten in the day before, it’s better. But, if we don’t get in the day before and we’re doing everything, it’s high stress. We try to load the night before, and then show up there as early as we can and start unloading.

TS: Our day starts early, like 7.

SM: They’re like 16 hour days, usually. And we just start unloading and we try to organize all our stuff, and then we just start according to where the photographer’s going to be first, that’s where we start. Then we’ll separate up kids (interns), strongest ones unloading the truck!

BK: Employees, not kids.

SM: But, I like to call them kids.

BK: Not necessarily kids, they’re like my age!

SM: Anyway, we put the proper people where we need them, and we know their strengths, and so that’s what we start on.

W C : W H AT A DV I C E C A N YO U O F F E R O U R BRIDES? SM: I think the biggest piece of advice is don’t do anything

until you talk to a planner.

Even if you’re not going to use them, don’t make any rash decisions. Don’t book anything, don’t go out and spend anything. There will be girls in here two weeks engaged that have already booked something, or put a big deposit down, and haven’t thought, oh did you know they don’t have tables and chairs?

Well that’s another $1500.

They just don’t know. So even if you don’t choose to have a wedding planner, just go and get a consultation. And since ours are free…

TS: It just makes you think about things!

BK: Because we dealt with so many vendors at such an in depth level, we know the questions to ask. We have that experience.

SM: That’s why we say you can’t afford not to come see us, at least. It’s worth an hour and a half of your time.

SM: We have grown really, really fast. We have over 20 weddings in 2013 already.

TS: It’s been great, a little overwhelming, but wonderful.

SM: It’s been wonderful.

BK: And even our conversations, when we’re at an event, and we’re trying to hash something out…

TS: We don’t even finish...

BK: None of us actually finish a sentence. So our employees are just standing there and at the end they just look at us like…

TS: “So what do we do?”

W C : W H AT D O E S YO U R DAY LO O K L I K E O N T H E DAY O F A Tonjua Smith, Shelley Melton and Brooke Kellum (from left) themselves!

WEDDING? photo by garrett menichini

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photo by princess ashley

JOB DESCRIPTION: MAID OF HONOR You’ve probably known her longer than you’ve known the groom, and she plays a critical role in the big day. Tear this out and share it with her so she knows what she’s getting herself into, and more importantly, what to look forward to!

Essential duties:

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Have her cell phone turned on at all times just in case there is a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies include, but are not limited to: a shoulder to cry on when the bride realizes the diet she has been doing has not worked; the bride wants to rant about her future in-laws being crazy (she doesn’t want her future children to have THAT “crazy gene”); the bride just wants to talk about [incessantly] the wedding and wants the MOH to listen.

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Plan the best bachelorette party of the century (1) without using hunky male strippers (because future hubby will NOT approve) or (2) without anyone guessing you are using hunky male strippers (because the bride will kill you!)

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Shop for, try on and LOVE and any and all hideous bridesmaids dresses she makes you wear (because it is still my day!) no matter how much it costs

Attend EVERYTHING the bride has planned, which includes: engagement party, bridal party, bachelorette party, bridal shower, countless fittings, rehearsal dinner . . . the wedding.

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Constantly reaffirm the bride that she is the most beautiful woman in the world and she will live happily ever after no matter how many times you want her to put down the extra cookie

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Laugh at all the brides’ jokes even if they are not funny, which they probably aren’t.

Find a script writer to write the most beautiful and heart-felt toast and email it to the bride for prior approval (Better yet, I might just need to do the Best Man’s speech too!) See page 52.

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Look pretty in the pictures, fluff the wedding dress train, fix the bride’s make-up when it smears, and hold the bouquet of flowers during the wedding even if she is allergic.

9 10

Be at the bride’s beck and call at all times. (ok, maybe this one is too much, but how else will I avoid being Bridezilla).

Remember that the friendship will survive the day, so save evidence — ALL the evidence — of the bride’s craziness and remind her why she has to deal with your behavior when she is your MOH!

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4

S A N TA F E , N E W M E X I C O

L A S V E G A S , N E VA DA

Only 5 hours driving from Lubbock, Santa Fe is the perfect destination if you’re looking for an luxurious, artsy getaway with girlfriends. Book group spa treatments at Absolute Nirvana and indulge in a some shopping downtown before heading out for tapas at La Boca.

The ultimate girls night out, Sin City is not for the faint of heart. After downing a little liquid courage, sign up for a pole dancing class at Stripper 101. Whatever you do, just don’t lock the bride on the roof of your hotel and forget where you left her!

S U P E R H OT B AC H E LO R E T T E PA RT Y D E S T I N AT I O N S

Want to make sure the party stays behind from the wedding? Plan an all-girls last chance getaway. Just make sure you’re all sworn to secrecy!

AU S T I N , T E X A S

N E W O R L E A N S , LO U I S I A N A

Plan for some aquatic adventures in the River City. only 6 hours driving from Lubbock. Start the night with a sunset boat cruise on Town Lake, and then transition over to sixth street for some good old fashioned Texas fun. Spend the next day recovering with a BYOB river float on the Guadalupe.

Head down to NOLA for a mysterious night of fun. Spend the day sipping bloody mary’s from Frank’s restaurant as you wander the French Market. As night falls, head over to Bourbon Street for hurricanes, hand grenades and jello shots!

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8

the list

o

CAN’T MISS WEDDING S H OT S

N 5

The dress hanging up or lying on a bed

Our fabulous friends over at Liquid Lubbock Photography have put together a list of photos you can’t live without.“From ‘The Kiss’ to the receptions, you will want to see and share all of this even after you have left for the honeymoon,” they said.

o

N 8

Father walking the bride down the aisle.

o

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N 7

o

The Bouquets

N 6

The walk back up the aisle

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N 4

o

N 2

The Groom getting ready

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N 3

The Rings

The bride’s last minute preparations

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N 1

The kiss! “This is where two photographers would come in handy to get multiple perspectives,” they said.

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CHARITY

OF THE ISSUE Not sure what to do with those all those bridesmaid’s dresses the bride swore you’d be able to shorten and wear again? We caught up with Katelyn Campbell, director of Austinbased charity, Project Princess, who puts those dresses to great use.

W H AT I S P RO J E C T P R I N C E S S ?

Project Princess is the philanthropy of the Texas Lonestars, an all female service and spirit organization at the University of Texas at Austin. Project Princess is the heart of Texas Lonestars and we are proud to say that it is run completely in-house by our organization!

Project Princess’s goal is to help in-need central Texas high school girls go to their prom by alleviating the monetary demand that this event can bring. We spend all year long collecting new and gently used dresses, shoes, and accessories that are then provided free of charge to in need high school girls. All of our efforts culminate each March during our annual Spring Boutique Weekend, where girls can come and shop in a fun, boutique environment for their perfect prom dress!

H O W D I D YO U G E T YO U R S TA RT ?

Project Princess was started by the original founders of the Texas Lonestars organization, eleven years ago. The founders wanted to the Lonestars to support a philanthropy like every other service and spirit organization did on campus. They decided to create their own charity and named it Project Princess. In 2009, Project Princess’s application to be considered a 501 (c) (3), nonprofit philanthropy was approved!

H O W M A N Y G I R L S D O YO U H E L P E AC H Y E A R ?

During last year’s Spring Boutique Weekend in 2012 we helped approximately 350 girls. We hope to increase that number to 400 to 450 during this year’s Spring Boutique Weekend!

W H AT A R E YO U R M A I N S O U RC E S O F F U N D I N G + D O N AT I O N S ?

We work year round to collect gently used and new donations from the local Austin community and fellow UT students.

We also fundraise year round to help monetarily supplement our philanthropy. We hold an annual BBQ on campus, an annual benefit concert, and other fundraising events. We also continually seek donors and sponsors to help support our cause.

A large amount of donations come from local Austin businesses who donate gift cards and certificates for free meals, makeup applications, corsages, etc. that are raffled off during the Spring Boutique Weekend that help to make these girls’ proms even more special!

W H AT H AV E B E E N S O M E O F YO U R FAVO R I T E MEMORIES? My absolute favorite memories from Project Princess revolve around our Spring Boutique Weekend where the high school girls come to choose their perfect prom dress and accessories. Each Texas Lonestar serves as a personal shopper for each participant and has the opportunity to connect with them on a personal level.

The personal shopping element of our event makes each high school girl feel special and important! I love getting to know each girl and spending quality time with each one. The moment that the girl finds her perfect dress and her smile spreads from ear to ear, it makes all the hard work, preparation, and fundraising absolutely worth it!

HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP OUT? People can help by simply spreading the word about Project Princess! We accept gently used and new donations year round.

If you’d like to provide a monetary donation you can send a check to 100B West Dean Keeton SOC Box #39 Austin, TX 78712 or send a PayPal payment using our email, projectprincessut@gmail. com. All questions can be sent to the Project Princess email at projectprincessut@gmail.com.

Chelsea Norcom, Kate Campbell and Kristen Dugie at their 2013 Benefit Concert.

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Through June 1, Wedding Connection will be collecting dresses in the Lubbock area on behalf of Project Princess.

Email irene@connectmywedding.com for drop-off information!

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(806) 747-7100

CapRock Winery is located a few minutes south of Lubbock. As you pass through our gates and down our picturesque entrance, you will discover this is where your journey as a married couple begins.

408 E. Woodrow Rd. Lubbock, TX 79423

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Our nearly 30,000 sq ft mission style winery and tasting room can accommodate large or intimate weddings, inside or outside on our 25 acre estate. Contact us today for a tour of our property.

806.686.4452 • CapRockWinery.com