Wedding Planning: DIY OR Getting Help

Wedding Planning: DIY OR Getting Help

Hello lovebirds, welcome back to the We Do Weddings Blog!

Today we want to talk about Wedding Planning: DIY or Getting Help…the two roads of wedding planning: DIY versus hiring a planner/coordinator.

Let’s get started with a little education about DIY! For some couples this is the best option as they really want to personalize and touch every single element of their big day.

Here are some good things to know about the DIY Road if you are looking into handling all the planning and details of your wedding day.

 

1.Get Organized

Believe it or not, there are so many LITTLE details that go into a wedding day like what kinds of petals the flower girls will throw, what time do the men show up to the venue, where should the cake be placed, etc.

We highly recommend keeping a binder filled with all your wedding planning journey notes. This way you can have everything located in the same spot to review and remember whenever you need!

2.Have A Planning Timeline

When you hear, timing is everything…it really is everything. You have to have your dress ordered
by a certain time, you have to have your venue booked and matched with your other vendor’s availability, you have to send out invitations in a timely manner…everything in the wedding world is on a clock!

Make it easier on yourself at the very beginning! Have a starting point of planning and an ending point of planning and make sure you put in all the crucial dates and timelines that happen in between!

3.Play to Your Strengths and Likes

If you focus on things you love and are good at, the DIY process is going to go so much more smoothly. If you are not a cake baker, don’t try and make your wedding cake…give that job to someone else. Focus on what you CAN DO and LIKE to do! By doing this, you will feel more accomplished because you will be able to check off your to do list instead of fretting over what cannot be done.

4. Ask For Help!

Never be afraid to ask for help! You can certainly ask for help from a planner but friends and family members are there too! Make sure to ask help from people you trust and that you know will get the job done. The sentiment, “it takes a village” is a good one. Trust in that system and let people help you. Plus it will be something so special to bond over!

Now, let’s focus on the other road! Here is a bit of education about who and what Wedding PLANNERS and Wedding COORDINATORS do. Some people think planning help is an unnecessary wedding expense, but we are big believers that they can make your wedding day dreams come true and then some!

 

1.Wedding Planner:

Wedding planners are all about the logistics, from vendor referrals and contract negotiation to day-of execution of your vision. “Planners take the guesswork out of the process, making planning a wedding as seamless and smooth as possible,” says Renny Pedersen, owner and creative director of Bliss Weddings & Events. “A planner will keep track of your budget and handle the logistics. This is a skill that many can learn, but only the best planners have the years of experience and credentials that set them above the rest.”

2. Wedding Coordinator:

Coordinators make sure everything you’ve done up until they take over is in good shape. According to Brides “Hiring a coordinator to take over the month before your wedding gives them time to tweak any details and follow up on loose ends,” says event planner Andie Cuttiford. Everything is in order, nothing is forgotten, and you’re free to enjoy your wedding day.

Depending on what you need or want help with, these specific people may be a great thing to allocate your wedding budget to!

If you are someone who would like help or just needs some assistance throughout the planning journey, a planner or coordinator may be the right fit for you. From helping you secure a wedding date to helping clean up after the reception, planners will hold your hand and help you with every detail along the way.

 

We always love to know what brides and grooms end up choosing. Are you a DIYer or do you believe in the power of a planner?

Let us know!

We can’t wait to hear!

 

Until then, sending all the love and wedding vibes your ways lovebirds!
C+K

Texas Wedding Budgets: All You Need To Know

Texas Wedding Budgets: All You Need To Know

 

Hello Lovebirds,

 

Today we wanted to talk about hands down, the most important part of wedding planning: YOUR Wedding Budget!

When you get engaged, it is such an exciting time and you want to dive right into planning your big day, are we right?

 

BUT…so many people forget the key ingredient to a successful day: staying within their wedding budget!

 

According to The Knot, the average overall cost of a Texas wedding is $30,200

To put that into perspective, it is the same investment as buying a 2021 Camaro…

 

However, something we really want to focus on is that your wedding budget is YOUR wedding budget and you can have a beautiful wedding no matter the price tag!

 

That is why we wanted to dive a little deeper today and showcase some general estimates of what all can go into a wedding budget.

 

Here is a breakdown of costs for the average price tag per vendor here in Central Texas. Keep in mind all these prices are an ESTIMATE and are subject to be lower or higher depending on the vendors you choose.

 

Texas Wedding Budgets: All You Need To Know

DAY OF EXPENSES:

Wedding Venue: $10,500

Wedding Planner: $3,000 (usually will be lower if you are just looking at month/day of)

Catering: (price per person): $100 – min

Alcohol: $2500 (wine and beer, cocktails will be higher)

Wedding Photographer: $2,400 (depends on photographer and hours of coverage)

Wedding Florist: $5,000

Wedding Rentals: $3,000 (can vary greatly here depending on details)

Wedding Lighting + Decor: $3,000 (ex: uplighting, draping)

Wedding cake: $500

Band: $4,500

DJ: $1,200

Transportation: $1,000

Videographer: $1,800

 

Texas Wedding Budgets: All You Need To Know

Other Important Factors:

A wedding dress: $2,000

Invitations: $600

Wedding Hair: $100/person

Wedding Makeup: $100/person

Rehearsal dinner: $1,900

Photobooth: $600

 

Total of all the above:

$52,700

 

Now, that number right there might be a scary one! Not to worry! This is again, just an estimate and can absolutely be tailored to your budget and dream needs.

 

Not everyone wants a 100+ person wedding, you do not have to have everyone get their hair and makeup done, you don’t have to spend on lighting and decor if you don’t want to.


The most important thing to keep in mind is that your wedding is going to be beautiful no matter what!


We always recommend to our brides to list out the five most important things they want to have on their wedding day. List those five important things out and allow your budget to really lend itself to those important things. This is a sure way to make sure you are happy with your wedding and that it is a moment you will cherish forever.

 

Texas Wedding Budgets: All You Need To Know

Example of a Top 5 list:

  1. Wedding Photography — so you can have beautiful images to hold on to always
  2. Catering — so your guest LOVE the food
  3. Venue – you want a venue that you LOVE
  4. Wedding Planning — you need help and WANT help
  5. Music – you want to make sure the party is a great one!

 

We hope this budget breakdown helps you to know about all the possible costs that are connected with a wedding day!

 

If you need any help with staying in budget or have questions about how to stay in budget, let us know! We are here to chat and help always! We also are big believers in wedding planners and can connect you with some fabulous ones in the Central Texas area!

 

Until next time lovebirds, all our love!

C+K

 

Texas Weather Wedding Tips

WDW Blog: Texas Weather Wedding Tips

 

Welcome back lovebirds, and dare we say Happy Spring??

 

Hopefully Jack Frost is gone for good and our beautiful Texas foliage can start to come back a little! Bring on the Bluebonnets!

 

Which brings us to the thought of preparing for Texas weather no matter what time of year you get married here!

 

Today we thought we would chat about Texas Weather Wedding Tips for your wedding day!

Just some fun little tidbits to think about when considering the perfect time of year for you.

 

Let’s break it down by the fours seasons:

 

Fall: Maybe one of our most favorite seasons of all, Fall is beautiful with the changing scenery and little cold snap in the air. It offers a reprieve from the Summer heat and can be festively decorated thanks to pumpkins and fall foliage!

  1. Be Ready for a cold snap — the weather tends to stay warm until November, but don’t discount those little October cold snaps! Be ready to bundle up and help your guests stay warm too!
  2. If you are set on an outdoor ceremony or reception, consider having an indoor option too for those who want to get out of any fall elements.
  3. Beautiful skies — before the time changes, you can have plenty of time to have a “later” ceremony and still have time for additional pictures between ceremony and reception! Golden hour lasts a long time in fall.
  4. Embrace the season — think pumpkin soup, apple pies, turkey dishes, etc.!
  5. Get festive! So many fun celebrations happen whether it be Halloween or Thanksgiving, think about making your party fun by having signs of the holidays around! Everyone loves a good festive party.

Winter: Winter is such a fun time to get married with the crisp air and the beautiful night skies! We are also suckers for the warm drinks, candle light and cigar bars that pair perfectly to the season!

  1. Consider attire! If you are naturally chilly, think about pairing a beautiful coat or covering with your dress
  2. Think about holidays! With Christmas and New Years and Valentine’s Day happening all in this peak season, sometimes people aren’t always able to make it to weddings (unless they know early!).
  3. Sunset– with the sun going down earlier, you want to think about sunset time and when it will be best to do ceremony — which also affects the timing of pictures and when you need to be ready
  4. Snuggling Up options for your guests — maybe think about providing blankets or filling up a fireplace if your venue provides it to help guests stay nice and warm
  5. Toasty Beverages — hot cocoa or hotty toddy’s?? Yes please!

 

Spring: Here is the biggest rain watch for Texas. The weather can turn on a dime but this may be our favorite Texas season of all! From the wild flowers to the comfortable temperatures (usually), this is a great time of year to say I do!

 

  1. Make sure you have a rain plan
  2. Consider timing of ceremony — the time change typically happens in March
  3. Have cute items like umbrellas or blankets available to guests in case pesky weather strikes
  4. Think about fun options like a fire pit if you want to have a fun evening outdoor option for guests
  5. Think about attire! From mud spots to bugs, spring has all the elements to offer, so if you are a lover of a huge train on your dress, maybe think about another season that won’t dirty your dress so much.

 

Summer: One word comes to mind: HOT HOT HOT. However, despite the Texas heat, the Texas Hill country is still lovely in the summer and it can still be used as a beautiful backdrop for your wedding day.

 

  1. Consider indoor spaces for ceremony and reception
  2. See if your venue has fans/air conditioning options outside
  3. Have a beverage station available outside (especially if you are considering an outdoor ceremony)
  4. Provide guests with cute party favors like fans and sunglasses
  5. Consider summer friendly menus…citrus, salads, cold soups, ice creams, etc.!

 


Loved these tips and need some more? Take a look at what 7 Centerpieces has to say!
Just send us a note and we will be happy to talk about some Texas Weather Wedding Tips!

 

Excited to hear which seasons you all love the most!

 

Until next week lovebirds,

C+K

Texas Venue Types

WDWEducation: Texas Venue Types

 

Welcome back lovebirds!

 

Today we are rolling out, our new type of blog, WDWEducation!

Our hope is that these few blogs will help you learn about the Central Texas Wedding industry and your options while planning your big day.

 

WDWEducation: Texas Venue Types

 

Who is ready to learn about all the different types of Texas Venues?

 

In case you didn’t know, We Do Weddings is located in Austin, Texas, the heart of the bigland and both of us are native Texans, so we feel quite confident when it comes to discussing anything Texas related.

 

The great thing about Texas, particularly Central Texas is that there are a plethora venues that will appeal to all kinds of brides and couples. Whether you love that rustic country feel or are a classic bride looking for a historical hotel, Texas has it all!

 

So, let’s get started! We are going to go over a sampling of some venue types so you can familiarize yourself with the options and figure out what venue style appeals to you most!

 

Ranch

  • Ranches are all over the Texas countryside. They usually include wooden features, sprawling countryscapes, animals (like longhorns) and lucious older trees to say ‘I do under’. Take a look at Pecan Springs Ranch for some gorgeous ranch inspo.

 

Farmhouse/Barn

  • Different than a ranch, the farmhouse/barn venue typically has a statement building that is used as their spotlight feature for wedding ceremonies. Certainly more rustic looks with sunset backdrops that dreams are made of. Check out Lone Oak Barn if barns are your thing.

 

Classic Hotel

  • Classic or historical hotels are always appealing to the couple who dreams of classic details mixed with top notch hospitality. Hotels tend to offer spacious ballrooms and lodging for guests. You may be interested in The Driskill Hotel if you are a sucker for gorgeous older hotels.

 

Modern Hotel

  • Modern hotels typically appeal to the more hipster/urban loving couple. Typically located in up and coming areas of towns, modern hotels are filled with unique features, bold colors, and amazing textures. Take a peek at Hotel Van Zandt if this sounds like your kind of mood.

 

Modern Buildings

  • Modern buildings like museums or refurbished school houses come to mind for this category. Usually filled with amazing artwork or statement pieces, this type of venue is for the couple who wants to get married in a unique space filled with modern touches and elements. If this seems like a good fit for you, take a look at The Contemporary Austin, they have lots of spaces to offer!

 

Hill Country Chic

  • When we say Hill Country chic, what we mean is a beautiful space located in the hill country that is not necessarily “rustic”. The spaces have refined elements and different themes behind their designs. They offer the best of both worlds, mixing hill country landscapes with beautiful buildings to house your event. Ma Maison is a great example of hill country chic.

 

Churches/Chapels

  • Churches and chapels can hold all kinds of ceremonies. Not only do they offer great spaces for religious gatherings, they also make for great rain plan spaces too! Many churches and chapels are scattered throughout the Central Texas area and all are so unique in design and execution. If you are looking for a church or chapel, take a look at Old Glory Ranch.

 

Wineries/Breweries

  • This is a new niche venue grouping that we are loving right now! Wineries and breweries have started opening up for special events and weddings. In Fredericksburg and throughout the hill country you can find one about every 10 steps, so there are plenty to choose from! One of our favorites is Jester King Brewery. Look them up!

 

Mansions

  • Recently mansions have been making a big splash in the Texas wedding venue arena. Many people are going into older mansions and refurbishing them with beautiful and up-to-date details. One that we can’t stop swooning over is Woodbine Mansion. Take a look!

 

Restaurants/Trendy Hot Spots

  • Austin is filled with these hidden gems waiting to host your wedding. If you have a favorite food or restaurant, maybe think about inquiring with them if you would like to have your wedding there. Typically these venues offer smaller ceremony spaces, but certainly bring a fun and quirky element to the wedding scene. Jacoby’s in East Austin has held beautiful weddings there, take a look!

 

As you can see the Texas Venue Types are truly endless. If you are looking for a venue, that perfect one for you is out there!

 

We Do Weddings venue family includes all types of wedding venues from Austin to Houston that can cater to all types of budgets, wedding sizes, wedding themes and more! Register today and match with your perfect venue!

 

Until next time lovebirds!

 

Xo,

C+K