6 minute read

dream team

You have a shiny new ring. You have your Pinterest board. Now what? It’s time to build your wedding dream team!

We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled all of the BEST pros in Central Texas, now it’s up to you to select the vendors that fit your vision.

Inside you will find planning tips, guidelines, questions to ask, information on each wedding vendor and more. This planner is meant to be used and referenced often. Whether you are planning a small intimate gathering, or an over-the-top affair, get your notebook ready, grab a glass of wine and start envisioning how these wedding pros can help make your day happen just the way you envisioned!

Vendors By Categories

16 ATTIRE

Georgio's Bridal

Joann's Bridal

Liagnappe Bridal

Main Street Bridal

22 PLANNERS

Weddings By Shauna

Wild Heart Coordination

30 VENUES

Anthem Stories

Baylor Club

Carleen Bright Arboretum

Castle Heights Bijoux Event Center

Cathedral Oaks Event Center

Deerfield Estates

Dove Nest Estate

HighPoint Estate

La Rio Mansion

Magnolia House

Old Bethany

One Eleven East

Republic Gun Club

Rustic Acres Event Center

Shady Villa Hotel

Snyder River Ranch

The Exchange Event Center

The Vineyard at Florence

Vintage Villas

Wedding Pros You Need To Know

The curated collection below is a list of vendors that we recommend based on reviews from real brides, other vendor recommendations and our own experiences! You can trust that these vendors are nothing short of the VERY best in Central Texas!

48 PHOTO + VIDEO

Carmen J. Photography

Firefly Photography

Gaby Caskey Photography

Kyrsten Ashlay Photography

Neva Michelle Photography

Reminisce Films

Steph Cano Photography

Taylor Nicole Photography

Wild & Untamed Photography

58 FLORIST Branch & Bloom

Laurel & Finch

Precious Memories Florist & Gift Shop

Wolfe Wholesale Floral

Woods Flowers

66 RENTALS

Celebrations Event Rentals

Confetti Rentals

Epic Party Productions

Luxe Furniture Rentals

Pendley Party Productions

RSVP Events

76 CAKES + CONFECTIONS

Baked By Bri

Cuppiecakes

Lily’s Cakes

Lottie's Cookies & Cakery

Simply Delicious Bakery

Sweetness Desserts

83 CATERING

Bridgett's Best Boards

Hecho En Queso

La Luncheonette

Let Us Do The Cooking

Tangled Foot Catering

TCP Catering

Texas Porch & Table

91 MUSIC

Arthur Murray Dance Studio

Good Times Productions

Gretchen Williams

Wall Of Sound Productions

94 STATIONERY + SIGNAGE

Paperdoodles

Prism Laser Engraving

96 BEAUTY

Be.You.Tiful Salon

Beauty By Kara Beth

Dapper & Dashin’ Salon & Shop

Glamour Beauty & Co.

CY Artistry

On The Avenue Salon

73 REAL ESTATE

White Label Realty

138 VENDOR D IRECTORY

Texas Wedding Ministers

Dress Tips

At some point as a little girl, you dreamed of what your wedding dress would look like. You pictured yourself walking down the aisle wearing a big white gown like you’ve seen in the movies, marrying your prince charming. But picking “The Dress” is much more than that. Sometimes you just know it when you see it, or you might be completly overwhelmed. This is pretty much the one time you can be certain all eyes will be on you. You’ll probably spend more on whatever it is you decide to wear than you have on any outfit you will ever own. Making sure your dream dress compliments your body shape, fits the style of your wedding as well as your budget isn’t as simple as those movies made it seem. Wedding-dress shopping comes with its own language, and the more you know about what types of silhouettes, neckline, and shades of white might flatter you, the easier finding your dream dress will be.

Overwhelmed already? Don't worry girl! We got you! In this guide, we're sharing our knowledge on everything from choosing the perfect style of gown based on season, location, and budget, choosing the best silhouette for your body type, how to prepare for your appointments and what to expect. Consider us your wedding dress shopping guide. The best part? We already have selected the best wedding dress pros in the industry to help you on your big day so that you can focus on finding that perfect dress!

Wedding Date: Are you getting married in the hot Texas summer months or are you planning a winter soiree? One of the first steps of wedding dress shopping is setting a date so you can find a gown that’s fit for the season. For example, you’ll likely want a light and airy gown, one made with chiffon, if you’re marrying in warmer weather. On the other hand you’ll want a heavier fabric, such as satin, for colder temps. As a rule of thumb, consider the temperature on your wedding day when selecting material.

Location: Your venue plays a big role in how to shop for a wedding dress because your overall bridal look should be cohesive with your venue style. For example, a ballroom calls for a different dress code than, say, a rustic ranch or even an urban loft. If you’re getting married at a house of worship, check with your ceremony officiant to find out whether there are any attire guidelines, such as covering your shoulders.

Budget: The last thing you’ll want to do is fall in love with a wedding dress that is way over budget. Come up with a number that you’re willing to spend and stick to it. That way you can tell the bridal salon right away how much you’re able to spend on that dream wedding dress. Trust us- you’re better off not trying on gowns outside your price range. You’ll either end up falling in love and being disappointed by every other dress you see (even if they’re just as beautiful) or you’ll blow your budget and have to cut somewhere else down the line.

Silhouette: Decide which wedding dress silhouette you’re looking for before you step into any bridal salons. Think about what styles look best on you, and which ones you prefer—formfitting trumpet gowns, or more forgiving A-lines? Remember, not all silhouettes look best on all body types. No matter how beautiful a gown, it won’t look good if it doesn’t suit your body shape. Your bridal gown and your bridesmaids’ dresses need to highlight your best features while camouflaging any less than perfect areas. Having your preferred silhouettes and shapes in mind before your appointments will really allow you to shop for a wedding dress like an expert.

Shopping Partner: You’ll notice we said partner - not your entire bridal party. Taking someone with you when you shop for your wedding gown is crucial but limit the amount of people as too many opinions can become more stressful than helpful. Most brides shop with their mother and/or maid of honor. It’s also a good idea to take someone with a similar sense of style so you won’t constantly be disagreeing.

Now that you’re so well-versed in bridal speak, you’re ready to go out and use it. Be prepared to shop early- nine to twelve months before the wedding. Some wedding dresses are custom-made, which means they need to be ordered well in advance so the manufacturer or designer has time to create the dress (it can take six to eight months, though some designers can do it in less) and you have time for multiple fittings.

BEHIND THE APPOINTMENT: SHOPPING FOR YOUR DREAM DRESS QUESTIONS TO ASK

• Are you allowed to take photos in your selected gown? Some salons do not allow photography, so be sure to ask!

• How long will the dress take to come in and can it be rushed if needed?

• Can I see fabric samples so I’ll know the exact color I’m ordering?

• Designer name, and style number

• Exact color ordered (white, ivory, champagne)

• What is the full price plus any additional fees?

• What is the size ordered and/or detailed measurements?

• What is the actual date the dress will be in?

• What is the deposit amount required?

• Special order requests and costs (tape sleeves, chance bodice, etc.)

• Other costs (pressing/steaming, delivery, cleaning)

• Alterations estimate, specifying what type of alterations it covers.

• How long will alterations take?

• What is the future payment schedule?

• When is the balance due?

• What are the cancellation and refund policies?

Wedding gown salons like Georgio’s Bridal and Main Street Bridal sell made-to-order, designer wedding dresses and are the most traditional places to shop. They’ll carry collections from a wide variety of designers with a large variety of styles and options to choose from. You can expect full service (a salesperson well versed in the world of wedding gowns helping you), and your dress is going to be customordered and altered to fit you. You can also buy bridal accessories such as veils and headpieces, shoes, earrings, necklaces and more!

Scheduling an appointment is not just a recommendation, but is necessary to make sure you get the attention and help you will need scouring through hundreds of gown that at some point may start all lookin the same on the hanger. While most boutiques accept walk-ins, you are likely to receive more dedicated service and an overall better experience if they are expecting you.

At a salon, a specific salesperson (sometimes called a “bridal consultant”) will be assigned to help you. You will work with this person every time you come into the store and after you buy the dress (for alterations, etc.). A bridal consultant will ask you questions about the type of wedding you’re having such as style, formality and how you envision yourself looking. They will discuss what kind of dresses will flatter your body type, height, and weight. Then she’ll bring you dresses to try on.

“Finding “THE” gown starts with finding the right silhouette. Silhouettes dictate how gowns fit and flatter a body, so you will want to start by knowing which shape will look best on you. ”

- Belva Harvey, Georgio’s Bridal