Didi Russell: Wedding Venue Expert

Didi Russell: Wedding Venue Expert

 

Today we are calling all lovebirds AND venue owners!

 

We are really excited to introduce you to an amazing woman who is here to help wedding couples and wedding professionals in all kinds of ways.

 

Let us introduce you to the amazing Didi Russell: Wedding Venue Expert —  of Wedding Nerd and weddingvenueowners.com.

 

This gal is one of a kind and knows about all things weddings.

We are currently working with her and learning all about wedding venues around the country so we can help our lovebirds find and book the best wedding venues in the country!


However, she can do so much more!

Here is a little bit of information about Didi:

 

Didi Russell is a self proclaimed #wedding nerd. She helps wedding venue owners connect with each other for support, information and a sense of community. She also loves helping engaged couples find wedding venues through her website’s wedding venue search map and wedding venue gallery.

 

Learn more about Didi and all her amazing offerings here:

 

Engaged Couples:

If you would like help finding a wedding venue just send Didi a request for help! She will send you a list of venues within 24 hours of your initial inquiry and will help you with any of your questions. Everything she does for couples is FREE! While she is not a planner, her knowledge is invaluable.

 

Wedding Venue Owners & Managers:

Think about joining her amazing Facebook group for wedding venue owners and managers. This is a private group where you can find incredible information on everything you need to know about contracts, daily operations, venue management, advertising – anything you can think of, is talked about in this group. Our sister company, Ma Maison is in the group and has enjoyed the experience and the people immensely! 

 

Are you starting to see why we adore working with her?

 

This woman is so passionate about weddings and can really teach you so very much whether you are a lovebird looking for a wedding venue or a venue manager looking to connect with others and learn more.

 

If you want to learn more, please visit her site here.

 

Have fun with Didi, lovebirds and friends!

 

Until next time, cheers to you and cheers to love!

C+K

 

Venue Showcase: Springdale Station

Venue Showcase: Springdale Station

 

Well hello lovebirds!

 

It is that time again! Time to introduce you to another amazing Central Texas wedding venue!

 

Springdale Station is located in the downtown heart of Austin, Texas. It is an amazing option for all kinds of events and is splendidly unique.

 

Venue Showcase: Springdale Station

First we want to take a little look at its historical roots. 

 

“Springdale Station is a historic train station built by Arthur Upshaw Boone. Arthur Boone, a descendent of Daniel Boone, was born in 1921 in Kentucky and passed away in 2008. After fighting in World War II, he moved to Austin to begin a food manufacturing company, Frostex Foods. As his business thrived for nearly four decades, he invested his resources into his passion for trains and built what is now known as Springdale Station in the field next door to his warehouse.

Boone sold his business in 1987 and his family later sold the property to a local developer in 2003. Springdale Station is nestled alongside the warehouse, sitting in a beautiful field as if it were a time capsule. Owner Moya McIntyre conceived the idea to breathe life back into the old relic. She joined forces with the developer to convert the unique train station into a public event venue to be shared with all of Austin. 

In the summer of 2016, Springdale Station opened to the public, as an event venue, a one of a kind space to host parties, receptions, fundraisers, weddings, and community events.”

Now, on to the interesting booking points!

 

Booking Options:

There are two booking options, so you can pick what works best for you!

  1. “Do it Yourself (DIY)” 
  2. “Turnkey”.

 DIY means that you rent the venue from Springdale Station and then you hire your own caterer, bartender, florist, etc. 

Turnkey is when we organize everything for you using our in-house vendors. This can be a great option if you would like the venue to handle all of the details.

 

Their Rental Rates:

They fluctuate depending on the day of the week and the month of the year. The nightly rate ranges from $3,000 to $7,300 depending on the season.

 

Amenities included with the rental price:

A comprehensive furniture package, which includes (300) fruitwood chairs, (125) white ceremony chairs, (20) 60” round tables, (18) 8′ banquet tables, (10) 30” cocktail tables, (9) 36″ natural wood cocktail tables, (2) sweetheart tables, (2) 6′ tables, (16) copper barstools, (10) gold barstools, (4) custom hardwood farm tables, and (3) two mobile wooden bars  + all of the setup and break down labor (Please note that linens and all dining items including cups, flatware, plates, napkins must be rented from an outside vendor or bought and brought in.)

A contemporary triangular maple wedding arch with a brass inlay

A hand crafted steal diamond arch with a brass patina 

Privacy curtain for outdoor wedding ceremonies

In-house styled lounge sets with two indoor lounges and one outdoor lounge

In-house floral options

Yard games

 

Is it just us or does this venue sound like a dream?

We love their team, we love the location, we love the building…there is so much to love!

Be sure to check out Springdale Station if you are looking for a one of a kind venue for your special day. We cannot recommend it enough!

 

Have questions or want us to connect you?

Let us know!


Until next time lovebirds, cheers to amazing wedding venues!

C+K

 

 

 

*all information taken from Springdale Station website*

*all photos taken from Springdale Station Instagram*

 

LGBTQ+ Wedding Vendors

LGBTQ+ Wedding Vendors

 

Well hello there lovebirds!

 

Happy June and Happy PRIDE month! 

 

Here are We Do Weddings, we are suckers for all types of love and all types of love stories!
We hope you know that We Do is a safe and loving spot and if you need anything, Kaitlyn and I are always here to help!

 

SO! Today we wanted to share an amazing list of creatives who are LGBTQ+ friendly here in the Austin area. 

 

This amazing list is originally from Creatrix Photography and we added even more people to it!

 

If you need any help making any connections, let us know. We would be happy to reach out to any vendors for you!

 

Otherwise, enjoy this list and pick some amazing people to work with!

 

Cheers to LOVE, lovebirds!

 

LGBTQ+ Wedding Vendors

 

Makeup Artist

DJ:

 

Caterer:

 

Wedding Planners & Designers:

 

Venues:

 

Florists:

 

Invitations 

 

Bartenders:

 

Videographer:

Lighting:

Rentals:

 

Cakes:

 

Officiants:

 

Photobooth:

 

Outfits:

 

Tips for Summer Weddings

Tips for Summer Weddings

 

Happy Summer, lovebirds!

Are you so happy that Texas Summer is here or are you yearning for the days of cooler weather?

 

We are total suckers for summer time. Warmer weather, pool time, yummy cocktails…what’s not to love. That’s why we were inspired to write about some tips that may help those of you who want to do a Summer wedding in Texas!

 

We are so ready to help you tackle the heat and keep all your loved ones cool on your big day!

SO…how can you help tackle the heat and make your warmer wedding a smashing success?

 

Here are our Tips for Summer Weddings

 

H20

 

Hydrating is important for so many reasons!

When it comes to you, drink lots of water before you head down the aisle. You don’t want to get to the ceremony and be dying from thirst or feeling woozy from being dehydrated1

 

For your guests…hydrate them too. Provide your guests with cooling beverages BEFORE and AFTER the ceremony. If you are planning on having an outdoor ceremony, think about providing a beverage station with at least water to your guests so they can grab a sip ahead of sitting in the sun waiting for the ceremony to begin. Trust us when we say your guests are going to be SO happy they had something to quench their thirst.

 

Pop Up

 

Summer weddings mean summer treats! 

 

If it is going to be especially warm during your wedding, think about treating your guests to some popsicles or ice cream! You can even get creative and get boozy pops made or incorporate ice cream into your signature cocktail. Plus, this will make for such great photos! Talk about a win-win for you and your guests!

 

Sunnies

 

Love the sun, but hate to squint? Us too! Sunglasses are summer’s best friend!

 

How about some sunglasses to help guests get a better view during a sunny ceremony? Sunglasses are a great thing because, 1. They provide shade and sun relief to guests 2. They are a great prop for photo booths or reception fun 3. They can be your guest favors! Plus, you can get creative and customize them with your names or wedding date! These items are not only fun but oh so useful!

 

Fan Please!

 

Whether we are talking electric or hand held, this is a great idea!

 

Fans can be an absolute lifesaver when it comes to a warmer event. Whether you make the fan out of our ceremony card or have hand held options available, these will make any guest feel cooler and breezier while outside. This is another great way to personalize a detail for your wedding day! 

 

Calm, Cool and Delicious

 

Who doesn’t love yummy eats come summer time?

 

Summer food is delicious food. One way to keep guests cool and not bogged down during the party is offering some cooler options to eat. Think salads, fruits, cold soups, etc. Cooler food can be just as delicious, we promise!

 

These are just a few of our ideas lovebirds. If you are loving the thought of a Summer event and need more ideas, let us know!

We are big summer lovers around here and would love to help!

 

Until then, enjoy the pool and plan plan plan!

C+K

 

WDW: How To Search For Your Venue

WDW: How To Search For Your Venue

 

Hello lovebirds,

 

Here at We Do Weddings, we specialize in helping you search for your ideal wedding venue!

 

When it comes to finding that perfect match of a venue, a lot of details can come into play!

 

Today we wanted to run through our search parameter options so you can know exactly what they mean and how to use them!

 

Let’s jump in!

 

Location:

Where do you want to get married, put the city name in there!

 

Time Frame:

When do you want to get married? The system can be as specific as you want it to be…

  1. Specific Date — example: if you want to get married 10/7/22
  2. Specific Date Range — example: if you want to get married sometime in the month of November 2022
  3. Period of Time — example: if you are looking to get married sometime in the next 6-9 months

 

Price Range:

What is your budget? How much do you want to spend?

 

Guest Count:

How many people do you want to have at your wedding? What can venues accommodate?

 

Ceremony Site– Indoor/Outdoor:

Where do you want to get married? Are you a fan of indoors or out?

 

Alcohol Availability:

Does the venue allow alcohol? Does the venue provide alcohol? Do you have to provide your own alcohol?

 

Catering Availability:

Does the venue provide catering? Do you have to provide your own catering?

 

In House Florist Availability:

Does the venue provide a florist? Do you have to provide your own florist?

 

In House Planner Availability:

Does the venue provide a planner? Do you have to provide your own planner?

 

Lodging Capabilities:

Does the venue provide any lodging options for overnight guests?

 

 

See lovebirds, so easy right?

We hope this little refresher on how to use the site was helpful!

If you need any additional help, let us know. That is what we are here for!

 

Until then, sending lots wedding vibes you way!

Cheers to your searching fun,

C+K

 

Top 5 Things To Look For When Choosing A Venue

Top 5 Things To Look For When Choosing A Venue

Hello again lovebirds,

As you know, we love all things wedding venues! So, today we thought we could talk about the Top 5 things we think you should look into when choosing a venue!

While there are so many details to think about when deciding on what venue you want for your wedding day, we think these five things are crucial and can really help you when it comes to decision time.

Let’s take a look!


Here are the Top 5 Things To Look For When Choosing A Venue

  1. Privacy
  2. Space
  3. Features You Like
  4. Available Backup Plans
  5. Good Customer Service

Now, let’s break them down!

Privacy:

When getting married it may be important to you that the venue belongs to just you and your event the day of. When talking to venues, see if you have to share the space! Privacy also comes into play when getting ready and preparing for the day. Especially if you aren’t sure that you want to do a first look, think about asking about a specific and private space where you and your spouse-to-be can get dressed and prepped ahead of the ceremony!

Space:

Having enough space to do everything you want during your wedding is a big deal. The most beautiful venue in the world may exist but if it cannot fit the needs of your guest count, then you may want to think about looking elsewhere (or resizing your guest list). Make sure the space can accommodate your guest count and that it has enough space to do things you want to do like have a cocktail hour, dance, photo booth, etc.!

Features You Like:

this one always has us thinking of that sentiment, “you only get married once”…well if you only do this once, it is important that you love the space you marry in. If there is something specific your heart desires in a wedding venue, like an outdoor ceremony space, lodging, or a built in bar, seek out venues that have those special details. The more you love about the space, the more you will love your wedding day. Don’t compromise on details, they will be what make you smile come the day of and when looking back at pictures.

Available Backup Plans:

Texas is known for its crazy weather. One minute it is sunny and beautiful, the next it is pouring down rain. If you really love a venue, make sure they have provisions in place come yucky weather days. THEN, make sure that rain plan is okay with you. Bad weather plans usually involve tenting (which can be more money) or doing an indoor ceremony. Do your homework here!

Good Customer Service:

Working with a great team is so important when it comes to wedding planning. See if you like the vibe your venue gives off during the tour, through email, via phone, etc. If you don’t love the staff, communication may be difficult and you do not want to deal with the additional stress during wedding planning! Make sure your personalities mesh!!

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when it comes to choosing a venue, lovebirds! 

There are even more things to consider than just what is on this list.

If you have questions or concerns about your venue prospects, let us know! We are always happy to help!

Until then, do your homework and FALL IN LOVE with a venue!

Sending you all the food luck vibes! Cheers!

Xo,

C+K