The We Do Weddings Experience

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The We Do Weddings Experience!

 

Welcome back, lovebirds!

 

Today we thought we would do a little refresher on all things We Do Weddings! Welcome to the We Do Weddings Experience! 

 

We wanted to tell you all about us, the website, and what we hope your experience will be when using WDW.

 

Now, if you are reading this, you most likely know what We Do Weddings is all about. But it never hurts to read and maybe learning something new… are we right??


WHAT is We Do Weddings?

Well, we are a brand new wedding website (we launched in November 2020). We noticed that couples were looking for venues specifically based on date availability and while there are other websites out there that can give you venue ideas, nobody can help you connect with a venue who is actually available on the date you want! Thus, WDW was born!

 

WHO is We Do Weddings?

We Do Weddings was actually created by people who know the business well, wedding venue owners! Karen and Ken Moise own Dripping Springs wedding venue, Ma Maison! They have been in the wedding business for over 30 years and are passionate about helping couples in any way they can.

 

The gals behind the day-to-day, us, are Conor and Kaitlyn! Kaitlyn is daughter to Karen and Ken and Conor is an extended part of the family too. From doing social posts, meeting with venues, connecting with couples and so much more, we love doing this! Weddings are such a wonderful part of this world and we love being able to help couples navigate the tricky waters of wedding planning.

 

The We Do Weddings Experience…

Our hope for all our couples is that We Do Weddings will help ease any stress of the burden of finding a wedding venue. While building our site (and as it continually evolves with the help of YOU), it was most important to us that the website be user friendly and helpful! 

 

When you register or login, our hope is that you can put in your preferred date and details and easily find venues that you will fall in love with and instantly connect.

 

Our site offers an easy instant email option to venues or you can go to their website and connect organically that way too. Options and ease are the name of the game and we hope to succeed in both for all of you!

 

Have any questions or need additional help connecting with your venue?

Please let us know! That’s what we are here for!

 

Also, if you ever need wedding inspo, look at our social hubs! We constantly are posting about our partnered venues and showcasing the different styles and designs that can inspire your very own wedding!

 

Thanks for reading our refresher lovebirds! We love working with you!


Until next time, cheers to love!

C+K

 

The Guest List: What You Need To Think About

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The Guest List: What You Need To Think About

 

Well hello there, lovebirds!

 

How is the wedding planning journey going? We certainly hope very well!

 

Today we are going to talk about a very specific piece of the wedding planning puzzle: The Guest List.

 

Believe it or not the guest list may be the most important part of your wedding planning process. Guest lists determine quite a few things.

 

  1. Guest lists will give you an idea of what overall pricing for the big day may be

  2. They will help determine the venue you book

  3. It will help determine whether you want to do a buffet or seated dinner

  4. They will help determine whether you want to do a full bark or just beer and wine

  5. Guest lists will help you know how many save the dates/invitations/thank you notes you need to send

 

These are only a couple of things the guest count can affect…but do you see how many details it really touches come wedding day?

 

It can also be a point of major stress for couples. A lot of brides and grooms think they need to invite everyone in the world…we are big believers in inviting WHO YOU WANT to your wedding.

 

We have some tips on how to conquer the guest list so it is an enjoyable process rather than a stressful task to check off your wedding planning to-do list.

 

Keep budget in mind

If you have a final wedding budget in place when it comes to spending for the big day, this will help you in a multitude of ways! Depending on what your budget is, this will help you to know how many people you can easily afford to invite to your wedding. Take into account the price per head for feeding and serving alcohol to your guests as one of the first priorities when planning your wedding. By knowing what this price will be, it will help you determine if you can afford 100 people or 500 people.

 

Saying No is OKAY

A lot of couples get plagued with ideas and requests from their friends and families when it comes to the guest list. Peer pressure is a very real thing when you have people begging you to invite their significant other or their friend of their friend…the list goes on. If there are people you do not want at your wedding, it is simple, don’t invite them! Stay true to who you and your partner want at the wedding. If you are surrounded by people you want to have at the wedding, your heart will be full come wedding day. Follow your gut, invite the important and meaningful people!

 

Divide and conquer

This may seem a bit harsh, but we really think it helps! Guest lists can seem huge and daunting, so why not break it up? By having a list A: All the people you want at the wedding and then a list B: All the people you need at the wedding and then a list C: the ideal list that makes up your dream wedding guest list, this will help you prioritize and cut down should you need to!

 

Lastly, if you take anything from this read, it would be that we hope you enjoy making your guest list. It is one of the fun and “easy” parts of the process where you can snuggle up with your love, have a date night and brainstorm! 

 

Make it a sweet moment the two of your will cherish always!

 

If you need help or have any questions, we are always here! Also, take a look at this awesome selection of Guest List forms from Zola.com

 

Until next time, lovebirds…

Cheers to guest lists and love!

 

Conor and Kaitlyn

Venue Showcase: Woodbine Mansion

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Venue Showcase: Woodbine Mansion

 

Hello Lovebirds,

 

Welcome back to the We Do Weddings Blog! Are you ready for the newest Venue Showcase: Woodbine Mansion? Today we want to share some love with the incomparable Woodbine Mansion located in Round Rock Wedding.

 

The Mansion has a great history. It has been a fixture of the Pflugerville community for over 100 years! Recently bought and refurbished and beautified by Becky Navarro of Pearl Events here in Austin, Texas, the venue is truly incredible. 

 

The inside is as beautiful as the out. We personally cannot get enough of all the details and rooms. From a stunning bridal suite to an impeccable groom’s den, this venue is truly one of a kind. No matter where you go in the entire mansion, every detail and nook is picture worthy.

 

Here are some fabulous features of the venue:

  • Over 1.5 acres
  • Served as a Texas Historic Landmark since 1973
  • Private gardens for outdoor entertaining
  • Two spacious courtyards for outdoor entertaining
  • Elegant gazebo and garden trellis
  • First and second floor mansion access
  • 5 private changing rooms
  • Vendor green rooms
  • Wireless Internet throughout the property
  • Parking onsite
  • Handicap accessible

Woodbine Mansion offers tours and we highly recommend going! If you think the pictures of it are beautiful, just imagine how gorgeous it is in person.

 

Want to take a look at their website? Click here!

 

Make sure to ask for Maddie, she is wonderful to work with and will give you all the Woodbine information you need!

 

Need help connecting? Let us know! We are happy to do an introduction!

Until then, fall in love with Woodbine as much as we have!

 

Cheers to you all, lovebirds!

C+K

 

Photos taken from Woodbine Mansion Website

Venue Showcase: Pecan Springs Ranch

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Venue Showcase: Pecan Springs Ranch

 

Hello lovebirds,

 

We hope wedding planning is finding you well and that you are so excited to find the venue of your dreams. Today we wanted to start a new sub-series of our blog spotlighting all our partners so you can learn more about their spaces and teams. Welcome to Venue Showcase: Pecan Springs Ranch

 

First up is Pecan Springs Ranch.


A little fun fact. Pecan Springs Ranch owner Judy actually helped us while building the site and was our first official venue partner! Judy is perhaps the sweetest person you will ever meet and is a dream to work with (which is always a good thing when it comes to venues).


We were lucky enough to do a shoot out there this past winter and even in the cold, this venue is STUNNING. Take a look at the pictures!

 

Venue Showcase: Pecan Springs Ranch

Pecan Springs Ranch has so many sites that you can marry at, but here are our Top 3:

 

  1. Fireplace Ceremony Site

    The fireplace gives you an element of coziness and home. It is gorgeous dressed up or down and makes for a warm (littleraly if you want!) place to say I do.

  2. Pergola Ceremony Site

    This is a gorgeous ceremony site, particularly in the springtime with gorgeous floral elements. It offers a wonderful arch to marry under and is utterly romantic.

  3. Treeline Ceremony Site

    The land is the real show stopper here. The scenery makes for a perfect picturesque site to wed.

 

Here are the amenities they offer with rental of their venue:

 

  • 6,000 sq ft climate-controlled building
  • 12-hour rental period
  • Prep kitchen with a walk in cooler
  • Option to use a built-in Bar
  • Multiple beautifully landscaped outdoor ceremony locations for your wedding
  • 4500 square foot Creek Side multi-purpose pavilion
  • Separate Groom’s area
  • Bridal House
  • Handicap accessibility
  • Ample and clean restrooms
  • Included in rental is 400 fruitwood chairs, twenty-five 60″ round tables, 3 farm wood tables, 4 beer garden tables,4 six foot tables, 4 eight foot tables and 5 cocktail tables, lawn games, vintage buffets, LOVE letters, hand carved stone cross, all outdoor lighting and outdoor furniture.
  • Complimentary use of facility for one hour rehearsal (by appointment only)
  • Complimentary use for engagement or bridal photos (by appointment only)
  • On-site property manager
  • Outside vendors welcome caterers must have insurance and be approved by PSR (we also have a preferred vendor list)
  • On site decor rental items (available for additional fee)
  • On site “drink” donkeys (available for additional fee)

 

Pricing Idea: $4000-$7000

 

FAQ:

 

  1. Required Catering Options? No, but they do recommend you pick from their preferred list
  2. Must use from Preferred Vendor list? No, but if you choose another vendor not on the list they do have to be approved by the venue
  3. Bad weather options? Yes
  4. Air conditioned? Yes
  5. LGBTQ Friendly? YES!
  6. Sparklers allowed? Yes
  7. Can you bring in your own decor? Yes, but nothing can harm or damage the venue or it’s staff.
  8. What is included in the rental fee? “Included in the fee is exclusive use for 12-hour rental, an on-site manager to take care of all venue related items, one hour for rehearsal (scheduled 30 days prior to event around other booked events), 17 acres of versatile grounds, indoor/outdoor ceremony and reception space, Bride’s house, Groom’s room, catering prep area, walk in cooler (available during the rental), 3 pine wood farm tables, 4 beer garden tables at pavilion, twenty-five 60″ round tables, five tall boy cocktail tables, four 6ft tables, four 8ft tables and 400 folding fruitwood chairs and outdoor patio furniture and a bride & groom chair.  Vintage buffet, lawn games,  and light up “LOVE” marquee letters. PSR does a one time set up of ceremony and reception per your layout.  Use of buildings and property for engagement or bridal photos (by appointment).”  
  9. Are there any other additional fees you should know about? In addition to the rental fee,  we also require a $1000.00 refundable damage and security deposit for weddings, refunded within 30 days after your event. Day of event liability insurance is also required– it is  approximately $175.00.

 

Availability: Check them out through the search option on the website!

 

We really cannot recommend this venue more. It is beautiful, it is located just a few miles out of downtown Austin and it will make you feel right at home!

 

Need more information on them or want a direct contact to Judy and team?

 

Let us know, lovebirds! We are here to help!

 

Until next time, cheers to love!

C+K

 

*images taken from Pecan Springs Ranch Instagram*

 

Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Venue

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Hello lovebirds,

 

On today’s blog we wanted to talk about the importance of knowing the Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Venue — doing your homework and talking to venues BEFORE YOU BOOK!

Sure, a venue may look great and may visually be the perfect place for you to wed. BUT, do they answer all the below questions correctly for your needs and wants?

Today we are discussing our Top 10 Questions we think you should ask a venue BEFORE booking with them.

 

Let’s dive right in on Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Venue:

 

What’s your availability around my ideal wedding date?

Availability is the key ingredient to your wedding. If the venue doesn’t have your ideal date, you have to consider if your date is flexible OR do you need to move on to another venue that is available?

 

What all is included in your rental cots?

It is SO important to know what all you are paying for when you book with a venue. Is the cost they quote in their initial email/meeting with you ALL INCLUSIVE or will there be additional fees later on? Make sure you get an itemized list of what all is including in the cost for booking with the venue, i.e. tables, chairs, hours, staffing, etc.

 

How many guests can the venue accommodate?

Guest count is a big thing to consider as well. Some venues are very constricted by their size, so if you are looking at having a larger event, make sure that dream venue can accommodate that guest count both INSIDE and OUTSIDE.

 

How many hours are included in the rental?

Timing is a crucial element of your wedding day. You need to figure out exactly when you can come to the venue on your wedding day and when you need to leave the wedding venue. This timeline is helpful when considering where you will get dressed and when the reception needs to end. Typically, wedding venues allow 10hour windows for their rentals, so if you need more time, be sure to check in with them about options.

 

What wedding packages do you have, and what’s included in each of them?

Figuring out if your venue has levels of investment is always a good idea. Perhaps you love the wedding venue but their Saturday rates are way too costly for you. Consider asking if their rates are lower for weekdays or Fridays/Sundays. This way you may be able to get your dream venue but at a more friendly price.

 

Do you host more than one event on the same day? If so, how many other events will be booked for the same day as my wedding?

This is one of our favorite questions. We are big believers that your wedding day should be YOUR wedding day. A great question to have answered is if the wedding venue is all yours for the day or if you will have to share with other events happening at the same time. If you do have to share, also think about asking how they plan to separate and not blend multiple events.

 

How far in advance can we reserve a date?

Again, timing is key in all things wedding planning. If you are looking at getting married only 1 month after getting engaged some venues might not only be booked up but they might have a planning period requirement as well. Make sure to figure out availability for your dream venue!

 

Is there an outdoor AND indoor space?

Especially in Texas, this is a great question thanks to our crazy weather! If you are a fan of outside events it is nice to know if there is an indoor rain plan!

 

Does your venue have a bridal suite/groom’s den?

Getting ready is a big part of the initial part of the wedding day. Make sure to ask your venue if they have designated spaces for you and your spouse-to-be to get ready or hold items during the wedding day.

 

Do you have any vendors we have to use?

Preferred vendors VS. partnered vendors is a big difference. Your venue most likely has lists of people that can work at the venue BUT do they have any requirements on who you must work with for different vendor categories? Be sure to ask!

 

Hopefully, all these questions will help you feel more prepared when looking at venues and booking your dream venue.

For more helpful ideas about connecting with your venue, check out this article from Shutterfly.

 

All of the venues on We Do Weddings will be more than happy to assist you with these questions and will do whatever they can to help you find the right venue fit.

 

Good luck doing your venue homework and remember to HAVE FUN!

Until next time lovebirds, cheers to love!

C+K

 

 

Wedding Planning: DIY OR Getting Help

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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

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