2 Weddings: December 4 & December 5 beauties

Congratulations to Raj'ae and Travis & Angela and Jodie!

These couples recently got married at Texas Old Town. One on December 4 and the other on December 5.
Both were photographed by Margaret of Old World Studios. (Just a reminder...if you have any photos from an event at TOT, pass them on so we can feature your event on our blog!)

Now...on to the photos!

Let's start off with Raj'ae and Travis.

Now it's time for Angela and Jodie!

Stay tuned...because tomorrow we will be featuring a few more weddings photographed by Margaret at Old World Studios!

The Holiday's are Coming to Town!

It's never too early to get in to the Christmas spirit. Growing up every year on the day after Thanksgiving we would pull out all our Christmas decorations, including a great 7.5 foot tree, and start setting them up while listening to Christmas music and eating leftovers.

I loved it and those are memories I will never forget. This year it's just my husband and I in our little apartment. We plan on a few decorations, but we really don't have the room or storage! Even though we don't have a big 7.5 foot tree or any of those decorations and things we enjoyed growing up, that's not going to stop us from having a great little Christmas party with our friends!

Whether you are like my parents or like me and my husband, anyone can throw a great looking and easy Christmas party. I love to cook, so one of the first things I do when planning any type of party is figure out what I would like to serve. Many times I do a pot luck type of party and have everyone bring something. That way everyone has something they like.

Edible Ornaments

Fun desserts and different drinks rather than just the regular sodas and water are also something fun to have. Try making a Christmas tree out of cupcakes or even cute little edible ornaments. If you don't feel like baking and decorating try The Cupcake Bar. They are exactly what their name says, a full service bar for cupcakes. They have 75 toppings, 20 flavors, and a spread of different fillings. You just walk up to the bar and tell them what type of cupcake you want, what you want on it and what you want in it. Sounds fun and delicious to me!

There are tons of drinks you can make for the holiday's that aren't just your regular eggnog. Try a few non-alcoholic drinks such as a S'more Mocktail with marshmallow cream topping and graham crackers or a Cranberry-Mint cooler with a frozen holiday wreath made from a shot glass mold with mint and cranberries . If you can't do with out the eggnog, try this new version with a cookie ornament garnish.

Ornament wreath

Decorations are next on the list of party planning, but are pretty easy around the holidays with the abundance of Christmas trees, snowmen, nutcrackers, and lights. If you want something easy, fun and inexpensive, you can make an ornament wreath. It's as easy as taking an old wire hanger and forming it info a wreath shape and adding ornaments of your choosing.

There are tons of other ideas and inspiration you can find, so these are just a few of my favorite things. At this time of year don't forget all the special people in your life and everything you have to be thankful for, including all the little things most people take for granted, such as their health, mobility, job, family, money, friends, and whether you are married, getting married our just engaged this holiday season, you are blessed to have found someone to love you and take care of you for the rest of your life.

What type of wedding are you having?

Gone are the days, it seems, where people are content with something simple.

The definition of simple has stayed the same (free from vanity, ostentation or display; innocent or modest) and does not mean ugly or cheap.

So, why do many brides, venues and event planners continue to go for a "Platinum Wedding" or try to do a David Tutera style wedding, all the while turning into a "Bridezilla"? I understand there is tradition and many girls dream of the day where they get to be a princess and walk down the aisle to their very own prince charming. That's understandable and love is in the air, but the majority of the population is not royalty so why should we spend money like we are.

It is very possible to have a beautiful wedding with all your family and friends for under a years salary. Heck, it's possible to have an amazing party-of-the-year type of wedding for under $10,000.

Sometimes it is the simple beauty of a place that is enough. Why cover up walls with drapes and lights just because the wall paper of color doesn't match with your wedding colors? Let the walls stand for themselves and tell the story of your venue!

On top of that, nobody, not even royalty, need 5' tall centerpieces. I would go for something where your guests can actually see and talk to each other across the table over dinner.

Enough of the rant, I just see it as a little insane to spend so much money on a wedding. Yes, it is a very special once in a lifetime event, and I hope that many happily married couples can look back on their wedding after 10 years and say, "Man, we had a great time and I love you even more than I did then."

But, I think that even if I had been married outside a trash dump in freezing rain and no one showed up, I would still look back on that day and at my wonderful husband and say how much I love him and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Besides, even if you do want that super fancy dance hall, why not be adventurous and take a Friday wedding with a discounted price! :)

I hope you all are well and have a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving.

How to choose your vendors.

There is a large quantity of wedding professionals in the Texas Hill Country. When you factor in Austin and San Antonio as the largest cities around us, you have one huge list of people to choose from for your catering, photography, wedding cakes, dresses and tuxedos, ceremony site, reception site, and the list goes on and on of options.

So, how do you choose between all these vendors when they are all trying to get your attention?

Many people rely on word of mouth and reviews. Others may have a few of the same type of vendor they are interested in have a short interview with each to narrow it down. Some may even just pick several they like and then just pick from a hat!

Below are some of our favorite vendors that have worked with us time and time again in many events. (In no significant order.)

PoK-e-Jo's Smokehouse has great food and many different options of catering. They have been out to Texas Old Town too many times to count and it always smells great.

Dagar's Catering is another great company to go with. Also, if it's not on their menu, just ask about any type of food and they will most likely try to accommodate you.

Hill Country Cupcake has ahhhh-mazing cupcakes. If you want something creative, beautiful and tasty definitely check these ladies out! And, check out this cupcake tower!

Wow Factor Floral and Event Design puts together amazing floral displays and can also help coordinate your event. Check out a little something they put together at one of our ceremony sites.

Premiere Party Central is a great place to rent linens and decorations from. They have an awesome selection and really know their stuff. If you need help and ideas definitely check out this place. Plus, they offer a discount if you book with us! ;)

Thanks for the Memories does great photography. Norman is a great creative photographer who also was a photojournalist. Be sure to take the time to look through his gallery.

If you need any other ideas for vendors, take a look at our website and browse through our list of vendors!

Ashley & Jordan on 5/22/10

Ashley and Jordan Beeman were married on May 22, 2010. They had a beautiful wedding and reception in Sage Hall with amazing pictures by Rebel with a Camera photographers, Travis and Christina Gagnon.

Check out their wedding pictures:

What do you think? Looks like a fun party to me!

Making a Wedding Budget: Where do you start?

If you are like most people, you don't really have an idea of where to start when making a wedding budget or even how much things costs. No one wants to begin married life in debt, so don't let money matters give you a sour face.

Jean Chatzky, Today financial editor and author of Money 911 joined up with Brides magazine to create  "sweet" money fixes for the majority of wedding planning/marriage issues.






The Problem: You're starting marriage in major debt (you had to invite everyone on your 300-person guest list). How do you get back on track?

The Solution:  Imagine your debt is an all-day sucker, which you can whittle away if you keep at it. Add up all that you owe, then find ways to cut back while you pay things off. Little sums add up quickly-so start by skipping your coffee run every morning. Bonus! Licking that debt together is a surefire way to strengthen your bond.

The Problem: While he's still in school, you'll be the only one working.

The Solution: Consider this time an investment, and his graduation a PayDay. "Figure out how much money will be coming in each month, and attempt to live on that rather than going into debt," says Chatzky. "If he's taking out student loans, be sure you both understand how much the monthly payments will be once he graduates."

The Problem: You're a saver; he's a spender...or vis versa. ;)

The Solution: Try the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup method: Combine your two money styles to create a new kind of satisfaction. Designate, say, $50 each week to spend freely and at least 10 percent of both incomes for savings. Set a goal for the savings sum; a trip to your favorite destination, a new big screen?

Making memories with Mom

Now that you're all grown up, planning your wedding, and about to start a family of your own take a long moment to just look around you and remember your past. Who was next to you? Who did you go school clothes shopping with? Who packed your lunches every night before school? Who gave you advice on boys?

Was it your mom? I know that's my answer.

Now, back to the wedding... Sure you are planning the wedding of your dreams and it should be all about you and your fiance, but don't forget those who helped you get to this point in your life. As you go through all the different planning stages of a wedding, invite mom along and even your groom's mom. Planning is fun and everyone wants to help.

Just remember, even  mothers and daughter who don't typically argue may find themselves squaring off about certain details or having heated "the way I always pictured it" conversations. Here are a few tips to keep the peace:

MOM: Remember this is NOT your wedding and the brides choice should trump all. Even if you're paying for part of the wedding choose to pick your battles. Maybe you have always wanted to invite your great aunts and those long lost relatives from Germany... if this is something you feel strongly about then make your case! Otherwise keep your mouth shut when the bride wants to give her guests what you call "a tacky wedding favor." The key words here are "the bride wants."

BRIDE: Remember that your mom has dreamed about this day for as long as you have been born! Give in a little to that wonderful mother who spent 8 hours in labor and drove you to every sports practice, game, dance class, birthday party, and put up with you breaking curfew more than once.

If things do end up heating up why don't you call a time out. Mend your hurt feelings and forgive each other over pedicures at the local nail salon. You can even hold a girls night at your place and watch a movie you have both been wanting to see.

Just take a deep breath and remember this is day for you, your fiance and friends and family to celebrate your new marriage...if something goes wrong no one will notice. Just smile, because you paid a lot for that photographer! :)