What a beautiful bride Allison was for her summer wedding. I love the photos that
Shannon Cunningham captured for them. We hired many of our preferred vendors that
truly delivered great results. 

                


                                                    






What a fun group of girls. Love the color.

Thanks to the following vendors:
Austin Country Club
www.lastpetal.com
www.michellespatisserie.com
www.shannoncunninghamphoto.com
www.wildparrot.com
www.arundelensemble.com
www.janamorris.com
www.marqueeeventgroup.com
www.premierepartyrental.com

Kristi and Rachel did a great job as "day of" planners.
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

 

            

In the spirit of the Olympic games our Austin branch of ISES had a great pool and game party
tonight. Several members of www.awec.org  (Austin Wedding & Event Coordinators) thought
it would be fun to get matching shirts and go as a team to compete in the games. I normally
do not make it to evening events, but I am glad I was able to participate tonight.

My team mates consisted of Amy Mader, Denise Silverman, Gina Whittington, Tammy Goral,
Rachel Garrett and me.  We definitely pulled together for some excellent team effort. You
ladies are a hoot and can be my team mates any day.

Now for the end results, we didn't do too bad and certainly represented AWEC well in the
competitions.

We took home the following awards:
3rd place for the Dress Switch
3rd place for the best "Get Flipped" photo www.getflippedaustin.com
2nd place for the buffet table race

And yours truly won 2nd place for the waiter tray race and 1st place for the Egg Toss!
Now I have a cute set of lucite book ends.     

It's good for the soul to laugh and play silly games again like we did as kids.

Hope you are enjoying the summer,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

I HEART New York brides.

Austin is definitely a destination location for weddings. I am currently working with 3
brides from New York. It's been great helping them long distance and alleviating the
extra stress from planning long distance. If you really want an Austin wedding and
need help pulling it together, we'd love to help.

Happy planning,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

Planning a wedding can cause stress, even when everything is completed. If you find
you need to de-compress and have a fantastic massage, visit www.salon505.com

I received a gift certificate from one of my wonderful couples and finally indulged
last Friday. Virginia Pratt did my massage and it was fantastic. 

I am a big spa fan and try to go at least quarterly. I normally visit Lake Austin Spa,
but if you need a convenient location and way to rid your neck or shoulders of the
building tension, call and book an appointment with Virginia.

Happy planning,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

                        I hope you and your families enjoy a blessed day.

 

                                                           

I met Emily and Mark at Shannon and Alan's wonderful December wedding also at
the Salt Lick. It was great being able to work with them on their spring wedding.
The weather definitely decided to hike up a bit too much, it was the hottest day so
far that year. Both sides of the bridal party were real troopers with the heat and
grateful for the air conditioning inside the Pavilion. 

Tip: If at all possible, try to hire your planner first before your vendors so they can
offer quality recommendations for vendors they have worked with before. Even if
your planner is only for "day of" they will know who to avoid. It's better to have an
experienced planner's perspective than to move forward and hire a vendor we know
does not deliver the best quality product or who has disappointed brides in the past.
The last thing we want is for you to have any extra stress on your wedding day with
less than stellar vendor results


                              I just love flower girls, too cute and so excited!
            

                                        The setting was picture perfect
            

        
                  

         I love special touches and engraved items are a simple addition

                  


               Very cool lighting and a unique way to display the rings
                  




Thank you to the great vendors who helped make this event special:
www.rebelwithacamera.com
www.saltlick.com
www.austinpartycentral.com
www.austinweddingsunlimited.com
Bartending by Kathy Alston
Band: Rick Hornyak

The bride also had very talented family members who assisted in many areas.

Best wishes on your life together,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

I found this dessert website and for those that know me, I absolutely love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I took the survey and what do you know?

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

 

I thought it was pretty insightful, but then again I love taking polls. What type of dessert are you? Visit this site to see: www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcakeareyouquiz

Let me know,

Barbara

www.barbarasbrides.com

My best friend came across these great tips for wedding guest etiquette

By N. Bhatta - AOL Shopping

Everyone knows to not wear white as a guest at a wedding, but what about other nuptial no-nos? Use these helpful dos and don'ts as you navigate your wardrobe through this year's busy wedding season.

For a Garden Wedding
Tacky: Leave the heels at home (you'll leave holes in the grass) and the sunbonnets for the bees (you'll block the view of the bride).
Rule of thumb: Never wear a larger headpiece than the bride, so avoid wide-brimmed hats.
Toast-worthy: Stay cool and block out the sun with this Tasha Head Wrap paired with some Ed Hardy 'Crystal Dragon' Oversized Sunglasses. Flat shoes can still be cute, and these Linea Paolo 'Dina' Thong Sandals would be a perfect fit for comfort and style. Top the outfit off with this Botkier 'Lita' Pleated Soft Hobo which is perfect for a garden celebration.

For a Beach Wedding
Tacky: Trying to look sexier than the bride is a bad idea, so steer clear from super-short dresses and stiletto heels.
Rule of thumb: Never show more cleavage than the bride, so nix a too-tight halter dress and make sure you're not busting out of yours.
Toast-worthy: Look like a beautiful, bronzed goddess in this flowing Adrianna Papell Grecian Halter Gown with these golden Reef 'Costa Rica' Thongs. Keep the classy theme going with gorgeous beach-inspired Coral Linear Drop Earrings and this waterproof MICHAEL Michael Kors Tote.

For a Destination Wedding
Tacky: Taking the 'tropical' theme too far and making a mockery of the couple's moment is a very bad idea.
Rule of thumb: Wearing very bold designs at a wedding takes attention away from the bride, especially if you're slated to be in professional pictures. Avoid huge or colorful prints and graphics.
Toast-worthy: Draw inspiration from the crystal-clear sea and wear this ABS by Allen Schwartz Ombré Silk Dress paired with these gorgeous Stuart Weitzman 'Icepack' Sandals. Accessorize with this Cara Mod Flower Headband and these bangle bracelets to complete the look.

For a Black Tie Wedding
Tacky: Breaking out your outdated prom dress when there are plenty of new gowns that won't break the bank isn't the best way to attract attention at a wedding.
Rule of thumb: Lace only belongs on the bride's dress and garter, so leave it just on your lingerie.
Toast-worthy: Invest in a chic and classic style like this Mary L Couture Shirred Charmeuse Gown which will get you noticed in a good way. Paired with these kate spade 'loupe' sandals, this Steven by Steve Madden Clutch and any of these dazzling chandelier earrings, you'll look fabulous at evening events for years to come.

For a Church Wedding
Tacky: Ultra-conservative suits aren't any fun and are hard to dance in, and things that are shiny and sparkly are probably too much for a church wedding, so leave the lamé and the tweed at home.
Rule of thumb: A wedding guest should never outshine (or outsparkle) the bride. Sequins are never appropriate for any marriage ceremony, especially a church wedding.
Toast-worthy: A conservativ! e but st ylish dress like this eyelet dress is the perfect choice for a church wedding, especially when paired with classic accessories like this Tasha Soft Circle Headband, these Linea Paolo 'Brooklyn' Peep Toe Pumps and an adorable pair of Majorica Organic Pearl Clip-On Earrings.

For An Unconventional Wedding
Tacky: If you know the couple's wish is for you to dress in a snazzy style, it's rude to just show up in your regular wedding wear.
Rule of thumb: Do what the bride requests – it's her day. Rules are sometimes meant to be broken, especially by request!
Toast-worthy: Taking the theme (whatever it may be) to its limit, or just creating an outré outfit that you can wear again, like this Meghan 'Janine' Tunic Dress paired with these Steve Madden 'Tumbled' Platform Sandals.

Just for Men
Tacky: Guys don't look good in dated dress clothes, so if he hasn't been to an event in a year or two, spruce up his attire beforehand.
Rule of thumb: Men should always show respect for the occasion by wearing a tie, no matter how casual the ceremony may appear.
Toast-worthy: This Robert Graham 'Cafe' Long Sleeve Shirt blows away boring shirts, and when paired with this two a.m. Skinny Silk Tie and these Kenneth Cole Reaction 'Simple Comfort' Loafer he'll be the hottest guy trying to catch the garter. Even if he doesn't need new dress clothes, a new belt like this BOSS Black '9005' Leather Belt probably could give his look a lift for the event

Start shopping for your clothes and accessories now. Don't forget the gift! Check out the top 10 Worst Wedding Gifts (and What to Give Instead). Click here to keep planning the big day.

Very interesting tips. I am constantly amazed at how many young women chose a white dress or suit to wear to a wedding. I wonder if it's ignorance or do they really not care how poorly it reflects on them?

We are so excited to announce one of our favorite weddings has made it
into The Knot Texas. Eleanor and Adam had an amazing wedding in
Fredericksburg that we were so pleased to be a part of. Lacy will always
be the best ring dog in my book, but they didn't showcase her enough
in the magazine. Be sure to pick up your copy to read all the details. 



          

Thanks to David Hill for capturing such gorgeous photos.
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com

I had a great opportunity today to do an audio interview with DJ RJ of
www.austinbridalsecrets.com and I was able to share my thoughts and
ideas on wedding coordination in general.  We were setting up for our
Austin Wedding Pros Open House so we were a little pressed for time, but
it still worked out well.

RJ is definitely a pro and of course I was talking a mile a minute, but
those who know me realize that is nothing new and I can't blame it
on being nervous. I love talking about weddings and it's nice to be
able to be discuss how I can be of service to Austin area brides.

Thanks to RJ for his time and helping Austin brides hear about the many
different wedding vendor choices they have to choose from.

Now for my random rant: I think it is so weird that I sound nothing like I
think I do and that my voice and my sister's voice are identical even though
we are absolute opposites in every other way. Too strange!

I need no comments from the peanut gallery after hearing me...
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com