Our Lovely Lavender editorial pulls inspiration fresh from the French countryside and with the design and styling help of Laurel & Co. Events, this modern shoot is taken to new heights! Take a peek behind the scenes of this lavender editorial filmed By The Millers above and find the full photo gallery here. Cheers!

Add whimsical touches to an otherwise glamorous white wedding editorial for a playful take on the Texas standard, seen in a dreamy behind-the-scenes video captured by Bess Ophelia Films here. We’re all about the classic white wedding but let Blissful Weddings & Events design and flower the soirée and whimsical wedding elements will come together in a perfect symphony of style! Find the full photo gallery here. Cheers!

Move over, Carrie Bradshaw! Our newest style editorial, Manhattan Matrimony showcases modern and chic details styled by MK Event Boutique for the most timeless cityside wedding! Sneak a BTS look at the film above by Alex Adkins Creative and find the full photo gallery here. Cheers!

Big news, ladies! One of our very favorite wedding fashion designers, Grace Loves Lace, is hosting a global sample sale at their brick and mortar locations. Lucky for us, one of the four boutiques is located right here in Dallas! Not only is this the first physical sample sale the designer has hosted in three years, but customers will have access to sample gowns, discontinued icons and sold out styles, as well as pieces from the bridesmaids and accessories collections including veils and heels, at up to 60% off! From near-new condition gowns only lightly worn for indoor e-commerce photoshoots to more pre-loved showroom samples, treat yourself to the dress of your dreams at a fraction of the cost.

The Grace Loves Lace Dallas Sample Sale will take place the weekend of November 6 & 7. You can nab your free ticket to the event, good for you and one guest, and read all the event information here! We’re sharing some of our favorite wedding gowns and veils that are up for grabs at the event below – get ready to swoon – but be on the lookout for even more designs in the Grace Loves Lace showroom. Sizes XS – XL will be available in a variety of different styles. Visit Grace Loves Lace at 1411 Dragon Street in Dallas, Texas.

CLAIM YOUR TICKET HERE

**Please note: Guests should secure one free ticket for themselves which includes one guest. So if you are bringing along a loved one or friend, just book ONE ticket for yourself to show upon entry to the event and you will both be given access.  Please note only 1 email address can book a ticket.

GLL will continue to re-stock popular styles where they have multiple gowns available throughout the day and also ensure new samples are allocated to Sunday’s session to ensure no-one misses out.

 Grace Loves Lace will have a wide range of styles and sizes available, however the boutiques cannot confirm exact samples prior to the event. Keep in mind the sample sale is not the one-on-one experience offered at standard showroom appointments. Stylists will be on hand to assist you, however if you would like a more personal experience, we do recommend booking an appointment at the showroom outside of the sample sale event.

Prices displayed on gowns will be final and are not negotiable. Before purchasing please consider that all sales are final – GLL does not accept returns or offer refunds on sample sale items. Any alterations, cleaning or repairs are to be made at your own expense.

This is a CASH FREE event. Payment Methods Accepted: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, GooglePay, ApplePay. 

After stalking all the Pinterest boards and dropping *enough* hints to your partner, you’ve finally decided on the perfect design for your ideal engagement ring. Or, maybe, you’re looking into finally taking the jump into buying the sparkly beauty, but you have no idea where to start, let alone even begin looking for. Either way, or wherever you may be in between, one of the first steps when it comes to ring shopping is understanding the 4 Cs of a diamond – cut, carat, clarity and color – and navigating how you’ll piece them all together to create a one-of-a-kind, budget friendly ring to have forever. Scroll through our handy guide below to get all the info you need to know about the 4 Cs before you get into buying that dream ring – cheers!

Diamond Cut

Round cut: A classic circle shape also known as “standard round,” this cut flatters all fingers and because of the cuts made to the diamond and the way light reflects off those facets, is also the most sparkly!

Oval cut: A universally flattering cut for any hands, ovals have great brilliance and uniqueness.

Cushion cut: Somewhere between a circle and a rectangle, the cushion cut has rounded edges and corners and offers exceptional brilliance with a vintage aesthetic. This style is flattering on wider fingers.

Princess cut: The square shape that looks great on any hands, the princess cut can be both classic or contemporary, depending on how it’s set.

Emerald cut: With its mirror-like, elongated rectangular cuts, the linear facets on emerald-cut diamonds create eye-catching flashes of light rather than a typical dazzling sparkle. This cut is totally vintage in nature and has a finger-elongating effect.

Asscher cut: Known for its exclusive X shape, the Asscher cut is similar to the emerald cut because of its mirror-like, step-down facets and overall brightness, rather than sparkly brilliance. This cut is perfect for the bride who appreciates Gothic or Art Deco style.

Pear cut: Another elongating style, the pear cut resembles a teardrop and offers a dainty, timeless look.

Marquise cut: Similar to a football shape, the marquise cut is less popular and a great choice for the bold, one-of-a-kind bride!

PRO TIP: Keep in mind that elongated cuts like oval, pear and marquis will offer more bang for your buck, as the surface area is large compared to the actual carat size. You’ll be able to get a larger-looking diamond for a lower price.

Diamond Carat

A carat refers to the unique unit of weight measurement used exclusively to weigh gems and diamonds. One metric carat is equal to 200 milligrams in weight (or 0.2 grams) and is the most influential factor when it comes to the price of your diamond. Carat weight is not at all related to sparkle, so don’t let that factor into picking your perfect diamond! Diamond carat weight is based off of a point system. If you think of a carat weight as equal to 100, each point is 0.01 of a carat. For example, a “90 pointer” is another way of referring to a 0.9o carat diamond.

When looking at diamonds, it is crucial to note that the cut of your diamond influences the size more than the carat – the carat is just the weight! Two stones with the same shape and carat weight can look very different depending on the cut of the diamond you choose. Also, the setting you choose can make a diamond appear larger, with the most popular being a halo setting which features a ring of smaller diamonds around the center stone.

PRO TIP: Look for diamonds that fall just under popular carat weights (such as a 0.90 carat diamond). Diamonds of these weights fall just shy of popular weights and are often sold at a slightly discounted price.

Diamond Clarity

Diamond clarity refers to the assessment of small imperfections that are found on the surface and within each diamond – like birthmarks! A “blemish” is a flaw that can be found on the surface of a diamond, while “inclusions” (sometimes called “internal characteristics”) are internal defects that are usually not seen to the naked eye.

Diamonds are graded on a 6 category, 11 clarity grade scale:

• I1, I2, I3 (included diamonds): I clarity diamonds have obvious inclusions that are likely to be visible to the naked eye and impact the beauty of the diamond.
• SI1, SI2 (slightly included diamonds): If the diamond is eye clean, it will usually be the best value. SI2 inclusions may be detectable to a keen unaided eye, especially when viewed from the side.
• VS1, VS2, (very slightly included diamonds): These diamonds have minor inclusions ranging from difficult (VS1) to somewhat easy (VS2) to see at 10x magnification.
• VVS1, VVS2 (very very slightly included diamonds): There are minuscule inclusions that are difficult even for trained eyes to see.
• IF (internally flawless diamonds): Some small surface blemishes may be visible under microscope. There are no inclusions within these diamonds, only surface characteristics.
• FL (flawless diamonds): Flawless diamonds have no internal or external characteristics but are very rare and are the most expensive.

5 factors that influence the clarity of diamonds:

• Size: The larger or more noticeable the blemish or inclusion, the lower the clarity grade.
• Number: The amount of easily seen characteristics – fewer characteristics means higher clarity grade.
• Position: Placement of each of the characteristics on the diamond.
• Nature: What type of inclusion it is and the impact it has on the durability of the diamond.
• Color and Relief: A measure of how easily a characteristic is seen or how much contrast there is between the characteristic and the surrounding diamond.

Diamond Color

Diamond color is the natural color or lack of visibility found within a diamond and is a measure of rarity, not the quality of the diamond.

Color in gems is the result of 3 different components:

• Hue: Basic impression of color
• Tone: Relative lightness or darkness
• Saturation: Strength, purity and intensity of the hue

Diamond color is measured on a D-Z scale, with the D grade appearing icy white and Z featuring a pale yellow hue. Most diamond jewelers only offer diamond grades D-J:

• D (colorless): Absolutely colorless or icy white. The highest color grade of diamonds. D diamonds are extremely rare and the most expensive.
• E (colorless): Only minuscule traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. E diamonds are a rare, high quality diamond.
• F (colorless): Slight color can be detected by an expert, but they are still considered a “colorless” grade.
• G-H (near colorless): Color is noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades.
• I-J (near colorless): There is slightly detected color in these diamond grades.

PRO TIP: Diamond grades G-J will be the best value diamond to the naked eye as colorless. G-H diamond grades are best for diamonds that are going to be over 1 carat in weight and I-J diamonds will be the best grade for diamonds under 1 carat weight.

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn the 4 Cs of diamond quality – you’re ready to shop! Head to one of our favorite local jewelers to find or custom design your dream engagement ring!

Just engaged? You came to the right place! Wedding planning is SO exciting, but can also be overwhelming when just starting out. Lucky for you, The Big Fake Wedding Dallas is hitting town at just the right time! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7 – doors at Springdale Station open at 7pm. This year’s theme is French Riviera (shown below), and we cannot wait to see this event come to life!

This is not your typical bridal show. This is a bridal show alternative complete with a meaningful ceremony, signature drinks and a socially-distanced dance party. The BFW team has hand selected some of the very best wedding vendors in the area and bring them together for a night of wedding planning bliss. Not only will you receive wedding inspiration you can see and taste, but also a swag bag filled with up to $500 in discounts and freebies. Throughout the evening, you will have the opportunity to bond with each vendor and witness them in action before making an investment toward your big day. Need we say more?

Note: In light of the pandemic outbreak, The Big Fake Wedding is now offering guests more ways to join! Interested attendees can register for a free digital swag bag with exclusive discounts and offers from local, small businesses among other wedding planning resources.

*Check out the social distancing guidelines here.*

And… one lucky Brides of North Texas follower and the guest of their choosing will get to attend for FREE! We’re giving away a pair of tickets to The Big Fake Wedding Dallas on our Instagram today. The giveaway is live for only 24 hours, so jump over there ASAP to enter!

Enter to Win a Pair of Tickets Here

Get all the eclectic, boho wedding inspiration you could need from our Texas Wildflower editorial! The behind the scenes video captured by Bess Ophelia Films is seriously romantic while still sharing the seriously unique vignettes Loot Rentals and Lizzie Bee’s Flower Shoppe created in this lounge setting at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. See the full photo gallery here, too!

Our hearts skipped a beat the second we saw the first sneak peek of Lauren and Will’s refined mansion wedding at luxury venue, The Olana, and we were thrilled to receive the full gallery to share with all our planning couples! Alexa Kay Events blew us (and the couple) away with her perfect execution of the couple’s dusty rose and navy wedding scheme, complete with gold accents in dinnerware and seating from Posh Couture Rentals and lush garden-esque blooms arranged by Alba Dahlia Floral. As if the decor wasn’t enough to make our jaws drop, Lauren and Will wowed in the most stylish wedding attire – she in a lovely lace sheath gown from Bridal Boutique and he in a complementing navy suit and blush tie from Generation Tux. Get ready to pin all your favorite images from this refined mansion wedding captured by The Lockharts, plus watch their highlight video at the link below! Cheers to the newlyweds!

See the wedding highlight video from The Lockharts here!

From the bride on her most helpful wedding vendors:  “Our day would not have been possible without The Lockharts and Alexa Kay Events! The Lockharts are absolutely incredible – they captured every moment of our special day so perfectly! Alexa helped us every step of the way and made our wedding dreams come true!”

We know it’s hard to find the perfect spot to travel and relax at – will you be laying by the pool all week or going on the adventure of a lifetime? Wherever your dream honeymoon takes you, we’re here to help with some of our favorite locations! Browse these destination wedding venues and scout locally for other vendors, or bring your favorite DFW wedding vendors with you to make your destination wedding dreams come true! We just know these are all perfect locales to be swept off your feet at and relax away from home! Check them out for yourself. Cheers!

Finley Farms

Located in Ozark, Missouri

If you’re looking for dreamy destination wedding venues, Finley Farms absolutely fits the bill! Retreat to the Finley River in the Ozark mountains for your big day at Finley Farms, a gorgeous locale featuring a variety of vibrant venues, farm-inspired restaurants, an urban farm and more. Both intimate and large-scale spaces allow for weddings and elopements, providing the perfect escape for celebration. Plus, Finley Farms offers a variety of catering options, audio setups for bands and DJs, and a trusted list of preferred vendors to make your event effortless.

Photo 1: Courtesy of Finley Farms // Photo 2: Chenoweth Creative

Aspen Ranch

Located in Edmond, Oklahoma

Having a destination wedding at Aspen Ranch in Edmond, Oklahoma is a wonderful choice for couples who love the outdoors and rustic elegance. The ranch’s picturesque landscape, featuring sprawling green pastures and a tranquil pond, provides the perfect backdrop for a romantic wedding ceremony. With multiple indoor and outdoor venues to choose from, including a spacious event center, charming chapel, and a cozy cabin to accommodate your wedding party on-site, Aspen Ranch offers endless possibilities for customization and personalization. The ranch’s professional event staff are dedicated to ensuring a seamless and stress-free wedding planning process, leaving couples free to relax and enjoy their special day.

Photo 1: Courtesy of Aspen Ranch // Photo 2: Sarah Libby Photography

Watch Lauren and Will’s wedding highlight video captured by The Lockharts. You won’t want to miss seeing this luxe wedding at The Olana. Plus, check out the full wedding gallery here.