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Forever loving this summer in Charleston wedding shoot captured by videographer Alex Adkins Creative! See the full gallery of this editorial planned by MK Event Boutique at the stately mansion wedding venue, Bingham House, in downtown McKinney here.
It’s no surprise that coffee carts are one of our team’s favorite new wedding trends to pop up as of late – half of us are coffee addicts as is! So when Nightowl Coffee Cart showed up on the wedding and event scene in Dallas, it was a game changer for brunch and evening events alike. There’s nothing like kicking off a morning brunch wedding with a honey lavender latte before heading to the mimosa bar. And for the evening events, a cuppa chai is the perfect late night send off! Since the coffee shop obsession runs deep with our team (we’re looking at you Katie Cohen!), we made it a priority to connect with Nightowl Coffee Cart owner, Corbin Bahcall, to ask all the coffee bar questions. Spoiler: we were surprised to hear just how customizable his coffee services are, from the beverages menu to the cups and napkins, and even the design of the cart! As if we weren’t ready to book this fun station for just about every event we have coming up, we’re 100% sold now! Read on!
Photo // Nate & Grace Photography
Nightowl Coffee is the cherry on top to your big day! Our wedding package includes unlimited espresso beverages from the moment you say “I do” all the way to send-off, where we cap off the best day of your life with “lattes in the limo.” With Nightowl Coffee, you’ll experience a coffee brand that doesn’t just serve pretty latte art and fancy schmancy custom drinks, but celebrates YOU by making you feel even more beautiful than you already are.
What awesome couple doesn’t love coffee? Am I right? For both boozy and non-alcoholic weddings, Nightowl elevates the reception experience through great coffee and an energetic passion to celebrate our brides. As the drinking festivities come to a close, provide your guests with the perfect night cap. No alcohol? Even better…elevate your PTA luncheon beverage program (tea, lemonade and water) to a craft coffee bar with drinks like maple bourbon, honey lavender and cinnamon pecan lattes that will keep the party caffeinated and the dance floor rockin’.
A sample menu would include espressos, cappuccinos, vanilla lattes, maple bourbon lattes, honey lavender lattes, chais and americanos. We serve all drinks hot and iced and offer our brides the choice of three of our house-made syrups to build their own personalize latte menu. Other popular syrups include cinnamon pecan, mint mocha, pumpkin spice, gingerbread and many more.
If you can drink it, we can serve it. Common drink customizations or upgrades include drip coffee, cold brew, decaf, hot chocolate or teas.
If you can imagine it, we can create it. From custom cups and bar fronts (with monogram design or wedding branding) to floral installations and custom designed menus, our coffee bars are your canvas for perfect design.
We don’t “allow” it, we ENCOURAGE it! We strongly recommend connecting us with your florist for cohesive blooms and florals to be dedicated to the bar. In addition, we love when calligraphers or event designers add custom menus to to make the coffee bar pop even more than it already does.
The coffee party doesn’t stop at your big day! What’s better than your employer covering the cost this go around and hosting a morning of free coffee in the office? In addition to corporate and office events, we love caffeinating wedding showers, baby showers, bachelorette parties, galas, Christmas parties, and pretty much any where else where people celebrate.
We are all about that maple bourbon latte… hold the maple and latte. 😉
Connect with Nightowl Coffee Cart and others for your upcoming wedding or event! Happy planning!
Sarah and Sam were wed in the most sophisticated black tie wedding in Downtown Dallas. Bride Sarah got dressed in her minimalist strapless ball gown from StarDust Celebrations and cathedral-length veil at The Adolphus before making her way with the bridal party to their reception hall at Dallas’ Union Station. TR Floral created the most exquisite bouquet for Sarah with white anemones, pale pink roses and baby blue thistles and finished the ballroom with white and blue centerpieces atop table linens and rentals from Lawson Event Rentals. Read on below for why the couple loved their florist so well. Cheers to the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Johnston!
From the bride on her dream wedding maker: “Ashley, with TR Floral, completely brought my vision to life, and all I did was show her a handful of bouquets and centerpieces I liked. She went above and beyond trying to help me find the best vendors when I was still searching, reached out to people for me and offered to do things way beyond what she was asked to. She was the best!”
Cathryn and William’s Covid wedding planned by Weddings by Stardust was inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and needless to say, we are smitten with the couple’s colorful and exciting decor! Hues of ruby, berry pink, dusty blue and champagne covered the ballroom where their nuptials were held, and the candlelight from acrylic candelabras and hanging tea light globes totally set the mood for this garden theme. The couple’s ice blue cake by Butterfly Cakery was draped in punchy pink roses under spot light by LeForce Entertainment who provided lighting, entertainment and the photo booth for the evening. Bride Cathryn looks as though she walked off Shakespeare’s stage herself dressed in a bejeweled ball gown from StarDust Celebrations worthy of a fairytale with feminine hair and makeup by Tease to Please Hair and Makeup. Keep scrolling to see the couple’s wedding gallery along with their wedding highlight video captured by Silver Bear Creative at the bottom. Enjoy!
Video // Silver Bear Creative
From the bride on her dream wedding maker: “I don’t know what I would do without Marsha and her team at Weddings by StarDust. Planning for a year and a half and then having everything shifted due to COVID-19, their experience and professionalism was truly the aces in the hole. Between putting together the last-minute living room wedding to replanning the large ceremony to be as safe as possible for our guests, I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
For a setting as light and airy as The French Farmhouse Venue, we’ve never seen it look moodier than in this intimate garden wedding inspiration, filled with lush and artful florals that look meant to be alongside the organic elegance of each styled scene. It’s all in the details, and intricate tabletop décor and more from POSH Couture Rentals prepare this indoor reception setting for royalty, all the way down to the dramatic throne seating. Keeping with this theme, our bride modeled a look that totally says elevated drama styled by artists at The Styling Stewardess with a bronzey eye, romantic low updo, and the perfect bridal lip shade. Modern accents are scattered throughout yet there’s something so timeless still about this intimate garden wedding inspiration. Read on for a note from the photographer about this lush styled shoot and the vision behind its design. Cheers!
From the photographer: “Some wedding friends and I wanted to get a little crazy with florals at a new venue, and we created this small styled shoot to showcase it as well as some reception details! This small shoot features a floral throne, elegant and charming reception display, plus a few bridal details.”
We have been dying to share Emily and Andrew’s formal mansion wedding with you all! The couple tied the knot at The Olana in Hickory Creek, Texas, and we have to say, we are smitten with just about every detail from the luxe affair! Bride Emily donned the most exquisite ball gown from StarDust Celebrations with an illusion lace neckline that was perfectly complemented by her half-up curls and brown smoky eye, both by Etoilly Artistry. She stood next to her husband-to-be in front of the altar backdrop of our dreams to exchange vows – a blush and white floral installation crawling the hearth of the venue’s stone ballroom. This floral masterpiece was later the backdrop for the equally as stunning wedding cake, hand-crafted by Butterfly Cakery, during the reception. Keep scrolling to see the incredible photos captured by Kati Hewitt Photography along with the couple’s wedding teaser from Reverent Wedding Films. Enjoy perusing this formal mansion wedding!
Video // Reverent Wedding Films
From the bride on her favorite wedding memory: “My favorite memory of my wedding day was standing hand-in-hand with Andrew as we said, ‘I do.’ I know it sounds corny, but both of us agreed that we didn’t even know who was in the room while we were up at the altar saying our vows. We were so excited to start our lives together and that was the moment that we would, so it was simply magical to say in the least.”
There’s nothing like the pressure of an upcoming event to put our image at front of mind – especially one where you are front and center in front of all your friends and fam… Eee! While the high of being the main attraction on the wedding day can feel pretty darn good on the ego, we’re prone to getting a bit jittery when all eyes are on us. As if the mental stress of wedding planning wasn’t enough to get me in the gym for some serious self care, knowing that I’m working toward looking, and ultimately feeling, my best will! Not sure what workout is best for your fitness goals? Whether you’re looking for a quick tone-up, total transformation or a stress reliever, we’re sharing our guide to finding the perfect wedding workout for you – follow the flow chart below!
Yoga is a fantastic workout to not only help you tone up (seriously, it’s amazing!), but can truly alleviate additional stress. Staying sane during the wedding process is crucial, and we’re big fans of getting our “zen” time in to truly focus on our internal selves. Not as into pose-holding and spiritual connection? Opt for a fast paced yoga cardio class instead!
If you chat with just about any Brides of North Texas team member, they’ll rave about their love of barre class. This fun studio class is a pilates-ballet combo that focuses on small movements to tone, and the group setting gives the peer pressure we need to finish each rep.
Pilates is basically the GOAT of wedding workouts. You engage nearly every muscle in your body during a class, and flexibility is just as much a focus as strength, making for crazy well-rounded workouts. BEYOND Pilates Frisco has six different classes to choose from PLUS offers a 3-month “whip-up” or 9-month total body “transformation” specifically for brides.
Personal training may be for you if 1) you are looking to tone specific areas on your body, 2) you have no idea where to start, or 3) you like more one-on-one direction. Bells and Barbells Wedding Fitness specifically works with bride and grooms who are sweating for the wedding, and are experts at creating a customized plan with your wedding day as the goal.
Free. Can be done anywhere. You can bring your dog. Need we say more?
You’ve been dreaming of your wedding day for a while. But have you pictured how the day will look — or what you want it to feel like? We’re not talking about the design (which is going to be beautiful!). Instead, we’re talking about the things that don’t always get on the traditional wedding planning timeline.
Don’t worry if you haven’t thought about it! We’ve got you covered with some helpful tips on how to plan a wedding day with no regrets.
Photo // Rachel Elaine Photography
So many couples get to the big day focused on the result, and they miss out on some of the little, important things that make their day more enjoyable. Spoiler: That’s not going to happen to you now!
When we say picture your wedding day, that’s what we mean. Think about how it looks when you wake up. What are you eating, who are you with, what is the pace of the day?
In wedding planning, the important things can be cut to accommodate the urgent things. However, when it comes to your bridal party, it’s important to feel connected and comfortable as a group. With that in mind, think through how you would like your (and their) experience to be on the wedding weekend.
The day itself — and even an entire weekend can pass so quickly and be filled with lots of busyness. So take time to think through what you would like to do with your family (or close friends) before your wedding day.
This is a weekend for your both. While you may be planning a wedding together, it’s important to check in with each other about expectations of how the actual wedding weekend is going to go. Doing this helps avoid needless frustrations brought on by unmet expectations and allows you to enjoy and make the most of those precious moments before the big day!
Once you have determined what is most important to you that may not appear on the wedding timeline, you should talk through these with your planner to see if they need to be added to the timeline — or factored into the logistics planning.
Your wedding planner or coordinator is there to help you and make sure your wedding day is a truly special experience for you and your spouse. Be sure to communicate these items and see where he or she can help.
Remember, your wedding day is too important to be all about efficiency only. While logistics are essential, let your planner help you champion that. It’s up to you to schedule the other important details that don’t show up on the timeline.
Now that you have thought through your wedding weekend experience, there’s one more piece of advice. That advice is to be willing to compromise (the best-laid plans of mice and men — as the saying goes). You may have ten things on your list, and you have to cut to five because schedules change and priorities shift. That’s okay.
Be mindful of what is truly important to you on the day. Write it down on a piece of paper — or your notes app and use that to remind yourself during the process — and on the day, if needed, so you can prioritize what is important. It doesn’t matter if some logistic snags happen or if everything isn’t perfect. Hold on to the things that matter most —your fiancé, your family and the little moments.
Happy Pride babes! We’ve been thrilled to celebrate all types of love this month, and are wrapping up the party with a seriously inspiring Q&A from local Dallas videographer (and LGBTQ+ advocate) Alex Adkins Creative on how he authentically captures every kind of couple on film. Be prepared to get a little emotional, because Alex so beautifully illustrates the importance of inclusion, acceptance, respect and kindness in such a powerful and meaningful way (I certainly got a little choked up hearing him share his experience!). Read on for Alex’s tips on HOW to find LGBTQ+ friendly wedding vendors (plus tips for how vendors can convey inclusivity) and get to know his wedding video style – one of our faves is right below. Cheers to all forms of LOVE!
Video // Alex Adkins Creative
I would describe my process as fun and organic, but also high energy. I want my couples to feel like they’re hanging out with their friend in a way that is natural for them, and my approach is to capture my couples in a way that feels authentic for them – getting the couple comfortable in the situation and just being a bystander to capture and magnify the dynamic that’s already there is key for me.
My filming style tends to be a lot more candid, and I’m starting to move away from “elegant” films because that’s just not reflective of me as a person and business owner or the authentic, genuine, stories I’m trying to tell. Don’t get me wrong, I love a dramatic moment, but I’ve found that for my films, the moments that I’m starting to love are more “real-time” moments vs. overusing slow motion. There are subtle nuances with gesture, expression and sound that really only work when played back at full-speed, and even though it might not be “cinematic” to have a somewhat shaky shot, or a shot that’s out of focus, I think it’s a great representation of my style that highlights the beauty of the imperfect. Obviously I want to do my best to capture shots that are gorgeous and cinematic, but I’ve started embracing the “film” element in my films, which makes me less afraid to show off clips that maybe wouldn’t be the conventional choice!
When I’m editing, again I’ve really started to find something special with a “film” look that feels really authentic for my couples and myself as a creative. I think it’s so cool that the last few Star Wars movies were actually shot on film, and while I can’t shoot a full day on actual film, I love being able to add the analog vibe to the day that really enhances the feelings of nostalgia , romance and fun! For my sound design, I love sound-scaping as much as I can, and it’s something I’m really hoping to push the envelope on this year. Good audio is 50% of a great film, so I want to make sure that the audio really enhances the film and immerses the viewer in the day. Especially for my couples, when they get to hear things like wind and trees and birds and other elements that were really there on their day, the sound effects do a great job of transporting you right back into the moment.
For my color grading, I feel like it’s just…me — I know that’s like the least descriptive thing ever! I wouldn’t say I’m “dark and moody” but I also definitely wouldn’t say my style is “light and airy,” so if I had to pin it down, I’d say my look is earthy, warm and romantic. I know that my presets and LUTs (this stands for Look Up Table — think of it as the video version of a Lightroom Preset or a “filter” on steroids!) used for a traditional church wedding aren’t going to work for an outdoor canyon elopement, so it’s all about finding the best way to enhance the look of that specific day. But because it’s always me doing the edit, it’s going to have a cohesive look with my other films anyway, because it’s me! Separately, I feel like the industry has pigeon-holed so many videographers and photographers into either the “dark and moody” category or the “light and airy” category, and that once you’re there, you can’t change. There are so many people I know that do those styles so well, but there are also SO many photographers and filmmakers whose styles aren’t either of those things (like myself), and that’s great too! There are so many couples who are the same — some want “dark and moody” some want “light and airy,” and many that want a style that’s in-between, a mix or none of the above! When we lead with creativity, it opens so many doors and shows couples that they don’t have to pick one of two styles, and that there is an aesthetic out there for them! And the more we can celebrate other professionals’ unique styles, the less people will feel pressured or scared that their look won’t book clients, because it WILL!
No matter the couple, I want to go in with a ton of trust, because when your couples trust you, they trust they’re going to do the best job you can with their day! However, that trust has to be earned, and I feel like just because someone books you doesn’t mean they’re going to be 100% comfortable with a camera in their face. If I’m within driving distance, I love to take my couples out for dinner, drinks, coffee or whatever! I want to treat them to a fun time where we can get to know each other, and I have the opportunity to show off my personality so that they can feel confident that they’re working with someone that is going to take care of them. On the back end of things, I’ll have them fill out a questionnaire so I can get to know their personalities a little better, especially if we can’t meet face-to-face. I think it’s important to understand their dynamic as a couple, and as individuals, so I know how to celebrate them in their best light. Then I usually just go into the shoot like they’re my friends, because they usually are, and make my number one priority making them comfortable! For me, it’s all about understanding the couple’s dynamic together, regardless of their orientation, and I actually think it’s really simple. I feel like some people think they have to have a specific “approach” when working with LGBTQ+ couples, and really it’s just as easy as treating them like any other human being. Everyone has a different dynamic, no matter what that couple might look like, and I think the more we look at our couples as two amazing people in love, the more simple it gets.
Fellow wedding pros, if you’re unsure about how to approach something, just ask! Planners and florists specifically may sometimes struggle with elements that are traditionally gendered, and don’t want to offend someone — which I totally get — but if I were working with someone for my wedding and they didn’t know, I would absolutely be happy to share how we are changing it up.
Honestly, I try to be as loud as hell about it. I have LGBTQ+ affirming things all over my Instagram (literally in my bio!) and website, and I even talk about my own personal experience being gay wherever I can. It’s so important for me to shout it from the rooftops, because there are still so many LGBTQ+ couples that face discrimination, or are afraid of experiencing discrimination, during their wedding planning journey. I want to be as loud as I can about my business being a safe place for all couples to feel loved and celebrated, because treating people with respect and kindness is a non-negotiable.
My first recommendation is to look for the obvious. Chances are, when they’re LGBTQ+ friendly, they’re going to be very obvious about it. At least for me, anyway, I want to be obvious about it because I don’t want there to be any doubt, obviously! If you’re still unsure, check out their social accounts and website. Are they using inclusive language? Are their feeds only straight white couples? Do they make posts or statements about LGBTQ+ couples during pride month? Do they make posts or statements about LGBTQ+ couples outside of pride month? If you’re still unsure, just ask! Hopefully that vendor or professional just wasn’t aware, and then we can help educate our fellow professionals on how to ensure potential clients know that our businesses are inclusive of all couples.
I got the opportunity to capture two of my friends who are gay and married recently, and that really was an emotional experience for me. I have never really experienced a gay couple around my age that’s married, and it was so beautiful to watch and be a part of, and know that something like that is out there for me. Like, yes, same-sex marriage is legal and happening, but it has always just seemed like something I’ve seen on Instagram during pride month, and didn’t actually seem real to me. Seeing these guys who are so in love with each other and being able to capture that and give them something to celebrate their love story with was so special to me, and it reaffirms that I’m on the right path and helping to elevate and celebrate LGBTQ+ voices and stories in my own unique way!
Thank you so much to Alex on answering our questions on inclusivity in weddings so candidly! Connect directly with Alex Adkins Creative to set up your coffee date and learn about his video services via his vendor profile here!
Here at Brides of North Texas, we celebrate all love in all ways. When two people join together and vow to a lifetime of unmatched commitment, belly laughter, mutual respect and arguing over which sitcom is better, The Office or Friends, there is just nothing that can stand in their way! June has always been a warm, fuzzy month for us, and not just because of the Texas heat – but because we get to celebrate PRIDE in all of its forms.
Indigo and Adrian Oliver tied the knot almost a year ago and continue being a light to other lovebirds navigating planning an LGBTQ+ wedding. Watch their video (or read the Q&A below) to hear their expert advice on ways to make your love stand in the spotlight it deserves.
Tell us your story!
Adrian: Indigo and I both grew in Oklahoma, I grew up in Mustang and she grew up in Norman. We met on a dating app for women and we’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since. We got married in September of 2020. We have four dogs and four chickens. We love to be outside, we love to make cocktails, cook dinner and hang out with our friends.
How important was it that you find wedding vendors to reflect LGBTQ+ values?
Adrian: As someone who loves to plan a party, loves to have a good time, and entertain friends and family, the wedding planning part was something I was extremely excited about and looking forward to from the minute Indigo proposed.
Indigo: I think we were both excited to see what our vision of the day combined would look like. There was also a lot of nervousness though in terms of reaching out and finding vendors. I think what was intimidating was trying to gauge whether or not the vendors would be accepting and trying to be clear that we are two women that are getting married and it’s very important to us that the people involved in that day are 100 percent supportive and wanting that day to be the best day ever. In the end, we found the best vendors that are all so loving and so accepting. I think a big action step I would have for all vendors who are accepting would be to have inclusive language on their websites and contracts, because that’s something we were trying to look at. Most people still had “bride” and “groom” on their wording on everything, so it was hard to tell if they would be inclusive. That would be a small change that I think would make any same-sex couple or just member of the LGBT community that was looking for wedding vendors feel more accepting and open to reaching out.
Q: What message would you give to same-sex couples planning a wedding?
Indigo: First off, congratulations! That’s so exciting! Our number one tip would just be to do what makes you comfortable. At the end of the day, your enjoyment and comfort is the most important thing. So figuring out what traditions fit you and maybe what you want to let go of. For example, we both proposed to one another, that was something that was important to us and obviously not traditional. Find the things that make you happy and incorporate those where you can.
Adrian: That was something that was hard in the early days of planning, because you have all of these ideas of what’s supposed to happen at a wedding and a lot of those traditions don’t serve same-sex or nontraditional couples. I think once we wrapped our head around that, everything started to come come into place. We got the schedule we wanted, and anything that didn’t spark joy we threw out. We filled it in with the things that worked for us. Invite who you’re going to feel love and support from. Choose the vendors that you’re going to feel that love and support from, and just have the best day – it will be the best day of your life.
Photos // Magnolia Adam’s Photography
Thank you to Indigo and Adrian for sharing their planning insights with us! HAPPY PRIDE!
