Non-Traditional Ways to Put Your Own Flair on Your Wedding

Sometimes, brides and grooms want to shift away ever-so-slightly from the traditional layout of a wedding. They want to put their own spin on the occasion and make in memorable in their own way. That is perfectly fine by us, we are always up for a new and interesting challenge to make this day as unforgettable as possible!

Over the years, we have encountered many ways to do this. Here are some of our favorites that stood out.

Include the family dog!

Dogs make terrific ring bearers when properly trained, though there is always the risk of them being distracted by all the excitement when their time to shine finally arrives. A cake could even be designed after them!

Create a unique guestbook.

Have your guests sign something other than a book to have as a keepsake. Acrylic letters that can be displayed on your wall later are one way to expand on the tradition.

Carry something other than a traditional bouquet of flowers.

A paper bouquet can be kept and displayed forever or a bohemian style bouquet made out of pampas grass are just some of the fun alternatives as well as wreaths, feathers, or brooch bouquets.

Personalized favors that tell a story about you.

Instead of traditional gifts for your guests, give them something unique that could only come from the newlyweds. Try something that is personal to you that they may enjoy. For instance, if your first date was at the movies, the favor could be a personalized popcorn kit with references to the movie you saw.

The main idea is to make it your own. This is your day and it should feel like it. Don’t be afraid to skip the norms and try something new and different that will make your wedding extra special!

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more ideas!

Top Expected Wedding Trends of 2021

Out with the old and in with the new! The year 2020 brought new wedding planning challenges for everyone, but 2021 conveys a positive and different tone for planning. Spending time with loved ones and cherishing the small moments are more important than ever. Creating an intimate and personalized experience for your guests is this year’s theme. See below for new ideas, new experiences, and new designs to start off a new journey for the lovely couple.

Twinkle Lighting and Tents

Outdoor weddings are more popular than ever since dealing with the pandemic. Moving the party from indoor to outdoor is just another way of developing and mixing ideas. Make a lovely, fun space by including a huge tent. Now, change the overall aesthetic by adding twinkly lights or Edison lights throughout. Twinkly lights exude a romantic, whimsical atmosphere and will make everyone happy.

Photo: Scott Aleman

Virtual Wedding Invites

Digital invitations have grown over the years. These are great for rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons, showers, but try to be more traditional with your wedding invitations. Your catering staff will want exact numbers to count who is coming and if there is a meal selection. Most digital applications fall short of being able to tract the details needed. As well, if the guest emails are not correct, your intended guest may never receive the invitations. Lastly, beware, many young adults do not read email – they text!

An example of a digital invitation

Covid-19 Wedding Guest Favors

If you are going to have a wedding during a pandemic, might as well have some fun and add some personal touches to it! Covid-19 wedding favors have gained a following and it is a clever way to enforce safety procedures during this tough time. You will see monogrammed masks, personalized hand sanitizers, and custom guest kits.

An example of a custom face mask

Rafael Serrano Photography

Grab N Go Bar

Living in a world of instant gratification and not having to wait in line makes this perfect for your guests. Place grab-n-go stations providing pre-made cocktails and pre-packaged drinks around your venue. This will leave everyone satisfied and keep the party alive! Be sure to make your beverages unique with a custom cocktail napkin or a special ingredient inside to add a level of excitement.

Photos, clockwise: Laning Photography, Courtney Hanson Photography, Amy Karp Photography, Courtney Hanson Photography

Dallas Ballroom Reception

A Classic Ceremony & Ballroom Reception

From the very beginning, Mackenzie and Reid wanted a traditional wedding with lots of friends, family and a big BAND.  Their top three priorities: Yummy food, beautiful classic flowers, and a great band!

A few factors played into their venue selections, but ensuring a timeless ceremony and ballroom reception were key factors.

 

 

The Ceremony

They selected Perkins Chapel  because it’s a beautiful traditional Chapel that accommodates all faiths.

 

 

The Perfect Fit

Mackenzie is Catholic, Reid is Baptist – so they had a priest and a minister. Because Perkins Chapel accommodates all faiths, this was the perfect ceremony venue!

 

 

 

Their Ballroom Reception

They selected the Adolphus Hotel because they wanted a timeless ballroom reception with large exterior windows- The Adolphus has both!

 

Traditional, but Fun!

They wanted traditional, but nothing boring. So, they opted to cut the speeches, except for the Father of the Bride, &  cut introductions, except for the couple! Because they had to cancel their honeymoon to Jamaica ( due to Covid), they chose Jamaica Coffee and chocolate fudge brownies as their send home favor.

 

Jamaican Coffee & Fudge Facvors

The Party!

After dancing the night away with family and friends, they were sent off with rose petals, and a horse drawn carriage. Congrats Mackenzie and Reid!

 

 

 

Ready to plan your dream wedding? Reach out here!

Photographer: Amy Herfurth Photography

Ceremony: Perkins Chapel

Reception: The Adolphus Hotel

Wedding Planning Podcast: Notes for Your Nupts

Our wedding planning podcast- Notes for your Nupts, has been released! Our team has had such a wonderful time working on this project!

What to expect from our podcast?

You can expect to learn a lot about planning your perfect wedding day! We wanted to create a wedding planning podcast couples to learn more about the process. Of course, a  podcast doesn’t replace an actually wedding planning team, but it can help you pick your perfect planner-It’s also a fabulous way to introduce yourself to our team!

Why a wedding planning podcast?

Well, it’s what we do best. Weddings by StarDust has existed as a wedding planning firm for over 20 years, so we have tons of knowledge regarding the industry. Wedding planning is a unique experience as it’s hard to know what to expect until you’re already in the thick of it. We love that we can use a new platform to educate and guide couples going through this unique and fun process.

Who will be on the podcast? 

We will feature our team on the podcast and cannot wait for you to meet everyone! We also have some exciting guests up our sleeves. From fun vendors to real brides. Notes for Your Nupts will dive into many aspects of the wedding planning experience!

Stardust Wedding Planners - Dallas, Plano, and the DFW Metroplex

What will the podcast focus on?

If it wasn’t already made clear- wedding planning! We are so passionate about weddings and celebrations of love, and want to share some of our knowledge with the world. There will be a variety of topics covered. From navigating our “new normal” with COVID-19 to things you didn’t realize you may need for your big day!

You can find Notes for Your Nupts on every major podcast provider! Don’t forget to rate & subscribe to us for new content every other Wednesday!

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Stitcher

And many more!

Home Wedding Brought on by The Pandemic

When Cathryn and William began planning their wedding with us in 2018, they had no idea what 2020 would bring. No one did. The world began slowly shutting down a week before their big wedding, and it was upsetting for everyone involved. Instead of wallowing  in their disappointment, they turned lemons into lemonade! Their beautiful home wedding happened on their planned wedding day with their loved ones, and the planning for their large celebration is underway for the summer!

 

The Dream Team

As the world rapidly changed daily, their team of vendors was able to quickly change plans, and create a beautiful home wedding. From floral, to cake, to hand santizer- no detail was overlooked.

Pure Joy

While this wasn’t the wedding day they had planned, Cathryn and Williams were all smiles throughout their home wedding. Their love for each other was not hindered by the pandemic. It may have even been strengthened.

Traditions Abound

With their new plan in place, Cathryn and William chose to maintain some traditions- including cutting the cake, and a first dance that still makes us swoon. Their friends and family surrounded them with their phones to create the perfect spotlight.

Although this day wasn’t exactly what they had planned, it was a day full of love, laughter, and commitment. We are so thankful to have been apart of this couple’s journey to the altar! We can’t wait to share photos from their huge celebration this summer! In the meantime, you can find more photos of this beautiful day HERE. 

 

Photographer: Kathy Tran

Florist: Haute Floral

Bakery: Butterfly Bakery

Makeup: Cheek by Rhonda

Outfit: Silk Threads

 

Are you ready to start planning your dream wedding day? You can contact us HERE.

Rooftop Wedding in Dallas

Rooftop Wedding

Ashley and Avais came to us with a beautiful vision, and we were thrilled to help them execute their dream rooftop wedding!

 

“Room with a View”

At the DEC on Dragon, the couple found their perfect ceremony and reception space. It was definitely not the typical ballroom we’re all used to seeing. While we LOVE a ballroom wedding, we also love planning in unique spaces as well. It’s a fun change of pace! And can we talk about these stunning chairs? The gold chairs with navy cushions gave the space a modern pop. So fun, while still being classy.

 

 

Rooftop Reception

The beautiful color palette was incorporated into the reception seamlessly. The ceremony seating also transitioned to the reception tables. Staying true to the fun pops of color in the ceremony space, you could find beautiful bright arrangements throughout the reception and on the cake. The head table featured a stunning garland full of greenery and floral. The gold touches throughout (charger plates, cutlery, candle holders, etc) really pulled everything together, and we’re still swooning over it!

 

Our Favorite Detail

We couldn’t talk about this beautiful day without mentioning the backdrop of this celebration of love: Downtown Dallas. The skyline in the sunlight and glowing at night both made appearances. This made for two very different backdrops in one. The guests were oohing and aahhing all evening long!

 

If you’d like to see more photos from this beautiful celebration of love: click here.

 

And if you’d like to learn more about our services feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation HERE.

We also have a podcast! Learn all about the secrets of wedding planning from DFW’s premier wedding planning team here!

 

Photographer: Jessica Quandra Photography

A Beautiful Christmas Wedding

A Beautiful Christmas Wedding

When Natalie and Ryan came to us for their Christmas wedding, we couldn’t have been more excited! Their plan was to have an intimate ceremony in Natalie’s parent’s home, followed immediately by a larger reception at a separate venue. As you can see by the photos below, we were definitely able to design and create their Christmas wedding dreams! Not without some help from some of the best vendors in DFW!

Reception Venue: Gleneagles Country Club

Floral: 21 Parc

Photo: Braden Harris Photography

Bridal Attire: StarDust Celebrations

The Ceremony

From the moment you stepped up to the families gorgeous home, you were greeted by beautiful decor. No small detail was overlooked. We will never stop loving the precious touch of hanging up Natalie & Ryan’s family Christmas cards from throughout the years! Such a fun personal touch to an already intimate wedding ceremony.

The ceremony space itself was the living area. The mantle became the altar, and John from 21 Parc filled the space with beautiful floral. One of our favorite features was the floral installation that hung above the bride and groom as they wed! This space beautifully captured the Christmas look while still remaining elegant.

The Reception

After their intimate at home ceremony, the newlyweds opted to have a larger reception to celebrate with a larger crowd. In keeping with the theme of their nuptials, Gleneagles Country Club decked the halls with lush greenery and deep red hues.

Special Touches

They even had a coffee bar featuring Christmas cookies!

The Exit

After dancing the night away, Natalie and Ryan walked through a snow exit. (We really do make wedding magic happen!) Their vintage get away car drove through a beautiful display of fountain sparklers. As you can see, their stunning Christmas wedding was a dream come true!

To see more photos of Ryan and Natalie’s big day CLICK HERE!

 

Ringing in 2020 with the Color of the Year- Classic Blue

The Pantone Color of the Year

 

Classic Blue

Pantone Color Institute announced this month the 2020 color of the year- Classic Blue! “It’s a color that anticipates what’s going to happen next,” said Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, which selects the Color of the Year. “What’s the future going to bring as we move into the evening hours?”

Pantone's 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue.

So how can we incorporate this beautiful hue into your big day? The options are endless!

Place Settings

For a subtle pop of blue, you can choose napkins and coordinating menus for your reception place settings. This bride chose to keep the blue to a minimum in a sea of silver and white to ensure they really stood out!

Sprinkled Down the Aisle

Another subtle way to include this beautiful hue is by adding blue petals to line the aisle. It’s a simple touch that packs a powerful punch!

Graham Hobart Photography

 

Linens

An obvious choice to include this shade in your wedding day celebration is by selecting for your linens! It can change the look of your reception. This couple chose blue for their linens and floral arrangements. The result was absolutely breathtaking!

Graham Hobart Photography

 

The Bridal Party

A great way to ensure having it appear throughout your wedding is by selecting bridesmaids dresses in classic blue!

Joseph Mark Photography

 

Uplighting

Wanting to incorporate this color without the full commitment? Select blue uplighting to change the mood of your reception! As you can see, this wedding was full of lush pink floral, but the blue uplighting on the walls changed the look of the reception space entirely!

Joseph Mark Photography

 

There are so many ways to incorporate the color of the year into your big day! If you’re looking to personalize your own wedding day, one of our wedding planners would be happy to help you plan your big day! Click here to get in contact with us and schedule your complimentary consultation!

Trends We Love: Seasonal Cocktails

Ahhh, the holidays! The time of year when we can enjoy delectable food and drinks during many wonderful celebrations guilt-free. Well, at least a little bit guilt-free. Lucky for those of you planning your winter wedding, you can incorporate some of the season’s most adored flavors in your wedding day menu and your guests will be oh-so-grateful! Today, we are focusing on cocktails!

Seasonal cocktails are festive and tasty, and they give you an opportunity to do something fun and different for your signature drink at your reception. There are so many delicious flavors of the holiday season, it’s not hard to find something special for your big day. And we discovered that there are so many fabulous options that we’re going to break this into a two-part series. Let’s take a look at some of your numerous options!

Apples and pears are what’s know as pome fruits, but all we really care about is that they’re crisp, juicy and sweet – a perfect jumping-off point for a luscious cocktail while these lovely fruits are in season.

An Amberjack is a beer-based cocktail mixed with apple vodka.
Isn’t the garnish on this Apple Cidercar just so pretty?
Would you believe this Pear of Desire cocktail features a slash of cream soda?!
The Pear Essence Cosmopolitan features two flavors of the season: pear and cranberry!

Which brings us to our next featured flavor – cranberry! This tart little berry can help balance out sweetness that can overtake a cocktail. Here are some tasty-looking beverages.

The cranberry stirrers are super-cute in these Cranberry Cocktails, but for your wedding, you might want to ditch the Santas.
This Cranberry-Mint Martini features vermouth that’s been infused with the tart berries.
Spice things up with this Cranberry-Spice Cocktail.

Keep things festive with a signature drink made up of wine, champagne or sparkling wine. A little more special than just a glass of wine or champagne, a mixed drink starting with one of these is perfect for your wedding reception cocktail hour.

Bubbly Poinsettia calls for either a Rose Brut Champagne or sparkling wine, so it’s flexible.
As if mojitos could get any better, but they did, when someone decided to add a splash of champagne to these Champagne Mojitos!
Mmmmm…Hot Spiced Wine, guaranteed to warm your wedding guests from the inside out!
This Marasca Fizz is light and bubbly and so pretty!
Mulled Manhattan is a lovely seasonal take on the classic cocktail.
Crispy and woodsy – a surprisingly good combination in this unexpected Sparkling Bourbon Cocktail.

What lineup of seasonal drinks would be complete without mint- or candy cane-inspired beverages? There are a surprising number of options when it comes to these mint-centric drinks, but it seems the mixologists all agree – they should be served in a martini glass!

Super-minty and a pretty shade of red, this Candy Cane Cocktail includes both peppermint schnapps and candy cane-infused vodka.
A richer, creamier version of a Candy Cane Cocktail features peppermint, vanilla and white chocolate.
This pretty little Candy Cane Cocktail is a berry-mint combination, sure to make your guests’ spirits bright!

Trend Alert: The Group Wedding Guest Portrait

Wedding photography is all about capturing the important and unique memories of your special day in a beautiful way. One trend we’re seeing more often is the all-guest wedding portrait. We simply adore this! What a fun and spectacular way to remember your wedding and all of your friends and family members who were there! The panoramic photo can be taken at the church or reception site, outdoors or in and it can be more formal or a little wacky. Just consider your group size when selecting your location and discuss this with your photographer plenty of time before the event so together you can develop a great plan to make this happen. Here are a few sweet examples.

Graham Hobart Photography
www.josephmark.com
www.kimgrubb.com
image source: theknot.com

Have some fun with this and nab you and your fiancé a wonderful keepsake from your wedding day!