Create Your Perfect Event with a Tent

What is more gorgeous than a Texas sunset? Couples who plan an outdoor spring or summer wedding in Texas often are spoiled by the beautiful backdrop of oranges, pinks, and purples of the Texas sky. Finding an outdoor venue in Texas is easy, but finding a tent that compliments the space sometimes proves to be a bit of a challenge. Some of the most amazing wedding tents can be found at these DFW vendors: Big D Party Rental, Live Wire Special Events, and M&M Special Events Company. Each of these companies carries multiple tent sizes, catering to any wedding size. Not completely sold on the idea of a tent wedding just yet? Here’s some inspiration….

This is one of my favorite ideas for a tent wedding. They used an old parachute!! How creative! It gives the traditional idea of a tent a fresh, fun twist…not to mention how ELEGANT it makes the space look! I adore this look.

This couple created a romantic, warm, elegant reception area by adding florals, chandeliers, colored lighting, and colored linens. Chandeliers hanging from the tent have become more and more popular. I have to say, it is one of my favorite trends! Chandeliers remind me of jewelry, and no outfit is complete without jewelry… just like no space is complete without a chandelier. It adds a feminine finishing touch to the space!

These two tent creations show how versatile a tent can be! On the left side, the couple chose a clear tent which allowed for the greenery and sunlight to shine through. On the right side, the couple opted for a cozier, more intimate setting by choosing darker colors and choosing to enclose their tent with walls. Both of these couples chose to drape fabrics on the ceilings. This is a perfect way to add pops of color and create a more finished look.

Here are some more tent weddings that are to DIE for!

I believe that every outdoor wedding needs a tent. Texas weather is unpredictable, so it is nice to have a tent large enough to hold the ceremony or reception if Mother Nature gives you an unexpected wedding gift. Plus, a tent gives you a BLANK canvas! As a couple, you had complete control over the decor and theme of the tent because here are no limits when it comes to decorating a tent.

Mar

Mondays with Madi…Said YES to the Dress!

Happy happy Monday y’all!

The most common question I have been asked throughout this planning process (mostly by girls…fancy that!) is about if I have found “The Dress” yet. And I have to say, for me this has been one of the most fun parts of the planning so far…maybe because it was such a girly task!

There are so many different fabrics, colors, designs, details, and styles to choose from. Going into the process I knew some characteristics I was looking for but I did my best to keep an open mind. To me, less is more, so I knew I wanted simplicity.

Here are some inspiration photos I gathered prior to shopping and took along with me to show my consultants. (For more of my wedding dress inspiration photos, see my Pinterest board titled, “The Dress”)

Ethel by Vera Wang

Faille by Amsale

Lazarro Style 3018

{Gown designer unknown}

Over Christmas break I set up an appointment for my mom, aunt and I to visit The Gown Gallery in downtown Kansas City. (My aunt has two sons so this was her only opportunity to participate in this kind of outing.) Before we headed to The Gown Gallery’s cute urban loft and a couple days prior to my appointment, I went out with one of my bridesmaids to David’s Bridal.

I did not expect to find my gown here, but I wanted an opportunity to go to a place where I could see the dresses on the racks and try on a lot of different things to narrow down which styles worked best on my figure, whether ivory or a true white was best with my skin tone, etc. I didn’t want to waste time trying on things that wouldn’t work in my actual appointment! (Checking out a shop with gowns on the rack was a great piece of “bridal advice” I received from my future sister-in-law!)

Here is one gown, though, that I LOVED from Vera Wang’s White Collection at David’s Bridal:

Look at all of the beautiful organza! (Was also shocked by the great price of $1248!)

Taking a trip like this just to narrow down the style I was looking for was the best advice! (Thanks goes to my future sister-in-law, BRS’ sister, for that tip!) It made my appointment at The Gown Gallery much more enjoyable not having to put gowns in the “Absolutely-Not” category!

On the morning of our appointment downtown, my poor sweet mama woke up with the flu! We both shed some tears and contemplated changing our appointment date but she insisted that my aunt still take me. We made sure we snatched several pictures to take home to show our finds and upon leaving my appointment I set up another one for a few days later when my mom could then join me.

Here are some of my favorites from this trip:

Lazaro 3110

Lazaro 3110 Back

{Forgot to get info on this strapless ballgown!}

So fun! The best part of the day? Trying on and finding THE Dress! Believe it or not, y’all, your heart really does race and you know when it’s the one! (Silly as it sounds, almost like when you know your beau is THE One!)

Hate to disappoint y’all but I will not be posting any pictures of my dress on the internet anywhere…1. It’s still in Barcelona being made-I’ll get it in July! and 2. I’m a sucker for tradition and can’t let BRS get a glimpse before our wedding day! Let’s just say I’m pullin’ a Kate Middleton and keepin’ this detail a secret!

-M.T.R.

Mar

Mondays with Madi…Where’s the party?

“I now pronounce you husband and wife!”… Cheers, smiles, applause…Now everyone’s ready for the reception!

Before we could go too crazy with the color and design elements of our special day (correction: before I could go crazy with it… believe it or not, color and design is not one of BRS’s primary concerns!) we had to establish the venues for our ceremony and reception.

The potential January snowfall + back roads did not sound appealing with our original idea of an old rustic barn. Moving on to more winter-appropriate venues sent us to downtown Kansas City where the winter season is celebrated and the nightlife is spirited! We will be having a lot of out of town guests and we thought it would be a great opportunity to show our loved ones a good time in Kansas City!

We started with a LONG list of venues to check out but naturally we eliminated many due to capacity, catering options, comfort level, etc. Here are some of the fun places we explored:

Drexel Hall, Kansas City, MO

Terrace on Grand, Kansas City, MO

One 8 Oak, Kansas City, MO

As you can see, we had several great options! Lord knows I’m not the most patient girl so thankfully after seeing the venues on our list, the decision was a quick one!

Drum roll please…

Californos in Westport, Kansas City, MO

The final decision was Californos in Westport! This venue was the first of many that I drug poor BRS to. It was a perfect match for us and we felt so comfortable with the coordinators they have on site. It gave us the rustic-meets-elegance-feel we were going for with red brick walls in the ballroom, wood flooring and beautiful glass windows throughout. This venue is actually an old trolley barn transformed into a restaurant and event space!

Californos was not only a great place to hold our party but it had an incredible menu to offer as a part of its package. (BRS is already drooling as he thinks about selecting our menu…We’ll keep you posted on that selection come November!)

We can’t wait for an exciting party with friends and family to celebrate our marriage!

What is your favorite part of a wedding reception? The toasts? Food? Dancing? Leave a comment below!

-M.T.R.

Mar

Mondays with Madi: We’re goin’ to the Chapel…

Happy Monday y’all!

I couldn’t help but pulling up the Dixie Cup’s “Goin’ the the Chapel” as I wrote this post! Watch out…it’ll get stuck in your head quick!

It’s so funny how when you begin the planning process, the ideas you once had change considerably. When I first envisioned my wedding I pictured a summers eve, an old wooden barn and bright florals, boots and bowties, fireflies and moonlight.

Summer brings about rich memories for my fiancé and I. We spend a lot of time out on the lake, eating barbeque and spending time with one another. (During the school year we are split so we savor the summer season!) BRS also comes from a long line of cattle farming and contrary to popular belief (and my love for a full night’s sleep), some of my fondest memories have been on those quiet summer mornings on the outskirts of town, riding by his side to feed before the world even wakes. When thinking of when and where we would wed…it seemed like a celebration outdoors was the only option! Even as a church-goin’ girl I just never considered exchanging vows in a church…weird, right?

When BRS proposed in October, with my graduation date set for December of the next year… I knew our dream of a summer wedding just was not in the cards. No way did we want to embark on a 20 MONTH engagement! Not a chance! Summer of 2013 quickly turned into January 2013. Kansas City winters bring quite the chill and snow fall is no surprise ‘round those parts…No summer wedding date meant no outdoor venue.

So the search began…and we didn’t have to search long before we found our perfect location. When BRS and I first met we were knee-deep in those awkward years of junior high school. Our families attended Liberty Christian Church in Liberty, MO and it was in the youth group that we first met. Both BRS and I were baptized this church and it was here that we began to take our first steps toward a relationship with Christ.

Booking the church was a decision that surprised me at first, but now I can’t imagine having any other walls (or space of open air) surrounding us on that day as we make a commitment to one another. Just look at those stained glass windows! Breathtaking!

-M.T.R.

Images of Liberty Christian Church from a ceremony photographed by Luke Davis of Main Street Studios.

Mar

My Four Favorite Bridesmaids Photos This Week

Happy Friday! Does anyone else feel like this week went by incredibly slow? Especially after being hit with a freak cold front, I am so ready to lay in bed and catch up on some of my favorite blogs this weekend. This week I was enamored with great bridesmaid photos. Here are my 4 favorites!

Christian Oth Studio, Style Me Pretty

Erin Wallis Photography, Style Me Pretty

Event Imaging, Style Me Pretty

Lauren Ross Photography, Style Me Pretty

Which one is your favorite? I am absolutely loving the neon colors in the first photo. Paired with neutrals and light pinks, it is a beautiful pop!

1, 2, 3, 4