The adorable wedding of Lauren + Philip centered around their love for baseball was definitely a grand slam wedding captured by a winning team; Maryanne of Memories by Maryanne Photography hit this one out of the park. The details of their colorful, offbeat reception, held at Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston, captured the spirit of America's favorite pastime - from the popcorn tossed at the couple as they exited to the baseball diamond used as a guestbook. Grab a bag of peanuts and continue scrolling. The baseball field gave the couple an opportunity for super fun post-ceremony pictures. The beautiful historic lobby (old train station for downtown Houston) provided an elegant, columned backdrop for the rest of the evening. How stunning! The details make this wedding so sweet and the memories special. This one is definitely pin-worthy and makes us ready for baseball season! Photographer: Memories by Maryanne / Location: Minute Maid Park / Floral Designer: The Senterpiece / Dress: Brickhouse Bridal / Submitted via Two Bright Lights
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Happy Wednesday! Today, we are adding the big, luscious sunflower to our guide to wedding flowers. These large, sturdy flowers pack a huge visual punch when added to your wedding decor. They are a must have for a summer, rustic, or country-themed wedding. Lara Zolton of LZ Floral Design loves making wedding days beautiful with flowers. She creates her amazing designs in her studio located in Old Town Spring. Visit her website or follow her on Facebook for even more loveliness! We were honored to have been a part of the Dream Weddings Bridal Show and enjoyed meeting new brides and vendors alike. What a turnout! We always feel inspired after a big event like yesterday's bridal show and we would like to welcome new fans to Woodlands Bride! Our goal is to inspire you. Where to start? The bridal show was filled - we mean filled - with every wedding vendor under the sun. There were amazingly talented photographers and fun photo booths, every kind of caterer, venues galore, chic gift shops + event designers and the best cake you've ever tasted! We were in wedding heaven as we perused all the floral design booths from College Park Flowers to Rainforest Flowers. We had a little floral perfection in our own booth: Carter's Florist graciously designed a centerpiece for us which brides simply adored. Thanks, Jessica! We grabbed a meatball (ok, 2 or 3!) from the Buca di Beppo booth perfectly decorated in Italian vintage. Rico's Grill, our favorite Mexican restaurant, was serving up some samples of their catering for brides. We also chatted it up with SpringHill Suites and learned a fun fact: Did you know the hotel chain in The Woodlands is their number one location for the U.S.? We love this hotel and its modern decor! Cake. Always a hit. Edit of Dream Cakes spoiled us with some yummy samples! They are in our Vendor Guide and on our speed dial. Brides enjoyed sweet samples from Bavarian Cakery, Huddell and Hudson, and Kiss the Cook Cakes. Guests also sampled cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes (you couldn't miss their awesome hot pink van!) Signature EvenTx production gave brides and guests a chance to let loose and enjoy themselves. These guys are totally entertaining and there's no doubt the receptions they host are a ton of fun! ShutterBooth and The Traveling Photo Booth, among many other photo booths, gave brides a chance to act silly with poses and props. We indulged in the fun, too... We couldn't resist! The selection of venues at the show is exactly why we love promoting this area. Brides could choose from the beautiful oak tree at Oak Tree Manor in Spring, the country-style venue of Amber Springs in Montgomery, resort-style venues like The Woodlands Resort, one of our featured vendors, as well as venues on the water like Bentwater on Lake Conroe and Waterpoint - a venue brides will be able to tour at our very first Venue Toast and Tour on March 28. We were so inspired by the event design talent of the ladies at A Memorable Event. This vendor had a few tables set up with different styles for different brides. We are also inspired by vendors that do it all like A Posh Affair - your one-stop shop for wedding planning! Specialty shops like Zulee's gift shop + invitation design and Sugar Bunch Creations - a candy buffet and fun food catering company - were unique finds at the bridal show. At last, the photographers. There are so many talented ones in this area, it is hard to choose just one. We could not stop looking at the beautiful work of Maryanne from Memories by Maryanne, one of the vendors in our Vendor Guide. We fell in love with the work of Civic Photos and Fleurish Imagery, and we adored the look of the Singing Hearts Photography booth. We had some beautiful art in our own booth that totally stole the show. Compliments to Joshua Tyi Photography and Kasey Lynn Photography for the portraits! Then came the bridal fashion show featuring wedding gowns by David Tutera. Check out the photo gallery below for a preview of the fashion show + booths at the Dream Weddings Bridal Show. Thank you Gail McGroder for letting us be a part of such a successful event! A special thanks to Nikki Lee and Jessica Coleman for their crafty skills and all the time they put into making sure we had the cutest giveaways at the bridal show! Happy Friday! Woodlands Bride has been very busy this week getting ready for the Dream Weddings Bridal Show on Sunday. But, we're never too busy to put together some Friday Favorites to jump start your wedding planning weekend. I love everything about living in The Woodlands and one thing I never tire of seeing is the beautiful landscape. If I could do my wedding over again, which I dream about doing almost every day, I would most definitely take my engagement photos outside, in the middle of nature, maybe under a big tree or surrounded by natural elements. So naturally, I fell in love with the local engagement session of Chelsea + Kevin, taken by Katie Lamb Photography and captured in a mossy, wooded area just outside of Houston. And that gorgeous sunlight streaming through the trees... Wooded Bliss. Props to the photog for these beautiful pieces of art! Photographer: Katie Lamb Photography If this nature-inspired shoot makes you smile like it does us, here's some more wedding inspiration to smile about. You can create your whole wedding around the "Natural Elements" theme. Here's an inspiration board of our favorite finds to get you started + where to find each one. 1. Burnished Organza Gown by Fleur Wood for BHLDN, $1,400 2. Escort Cards on Clothes Line Idea from Etsy Wedding Team 3. Freebie: Printable Table Numbers with Hand-Drawn Foliage Illustrations via Hey Look 4. Freebie: Printable Watercolor Save the Date via Elizabeth Anne Designs 5. Tree Slab Cake Stand via Etsy, $25 6. Outdoor Firefly Lantern via Etsy, $25 7. Nature-inspired bouquet via Elizabeth Anne Designs Save The Date Our very first Venue Toast and Tour will be here soon. Mark your calendar for March 28 and get your tickets now to enjoy this fun evening. Tickets are $25; register now and get a swag bag full of freebies! About the event: In luxurious accommodations from Lone Star Limo, you + one guest will tour four very different wedding venues in Montgomery County: Hodge Podge Lodge, Waterpoint, Heather's Glen and Walden on Lake Conroe. Enjoy cocktails + tasty treats at each stop and mingle with industry professionals - including photographers, caterers, florists, dessert specialists, décor and rental suppliers - in a party-like, laid-back environment. Get all the details here. The Dream Weddings Bridal Show is only 4 days away. We know how you last-minute brides work so no sweat; we have all the information you need to decide if you want to go. (We think you should!) Read on and pre-purchase your tickets now. The Dream Weddings Bridal Show is put together by Gail McGroder, president of Perfect Wedding Guide. The 2013 show is this Sunday, February 24 from 12 to 5pm at the Marriott Hotel + Convention Center in The Woodlands (1601 Lake Robbins Dr.) Note: Free covered parking located in garage off of Six Pines. Marriott Parking Garage is not free. Fashion. See the newest bridal fashions in the exciting fashion show to be held during the bridal show. This part is always our favorite! Fabulous Vendors (like us!) Some of the fabulous vendors featured in our Vendor Guide will be at the show, including: Memories by Maryanne photography, The Woodlands Resort, Dream Cakes as well as a new venue that is also apart of our first Venue Toast and Tour - Waterpoint. Freebies. Besides the tasty samples you'll find at the show and the free promotional items you'll get from vendors, Woodlands Bride also has a little something for you. Swing by our booth at the show and pick up your free gift! Not just any gift, something useful you can use for your wedding planning. One of our featured vendors, Memories by Maryanne, is offering this special: Book your wedding date with them at the show and receive TWO companion albums. Bridal Show Tips: It is a good idea to make your own labels ahead of time, with all your information on them, to stick on sign-up sheets at the show. You'll spend less time writing and leave with less hand cramps (ouch!) Give all vendors a chance. Take their information and bring it home with you to sort out, compare and make a decision. It's easy to get caught up in the moment of finding a "good deal" but make sure to do your own research once the show is over. For more information, watch this video of the 2012 Dream Weddings Bridal Show. Now are you ready to get your tickets? Tickets are only $10 if you purchase them early - and $15 at the door. Register Now! When Pantone released their color forecast for Spring 2013, we were completely inspired by the bright, refreshing color choices and couldn't wait to put the colors together and create unexpected combinations. Which is exactly what we did - and we want to share with you our new color crush for weddings in 2013: Grayed Jade + African Violet. The wedding color combo of jade + violet is soft and feminine. Add some Emerald green, Pantone's Color of the Year 2013, mint green or shades of lime green which is also in the Spring 2013 color forecast. Incorporating purple hues into garden green floral creates a breathtaking arrangement. Add the dusty miller in your wedding floral for extra loveliness. Could you imagine how gorgeous a garden wedding with these colors would be? Check out the color inspiration board we created, print it out (double-click on the photo) and take it with you to plan your violet + jade wedding. Then, share your pretty wedding with Woodlands Bride! Leave it to Vera to create a breathtaking Grayed Jade wedding gown! What do you think of this color combo? What other Pantone 2013 color combinations are you loving? Let us know in the comment section! Since today is President's Day, we just had to post a little something patriotic. This 1940's inspired red, white + blue shoot by the lovely Kasey Lynn Photography adds the perfect old-time twist to Cayley + Kevin's engagement photos. We love that Kevin chose to wear his Navy uniform and Cayley's vintage hairdo by Kat's Meow Salon in Houston is so glam! This local couple chose Historic Downtown Galveston as their backdrop. A perfect fit for the look they were going for! Which of these gorgeous photos inspires you most? We'd love to know in the comment section! Photographer: Kasey Lynn Photography / Hair Stylist: Kat's Meow Salon / Submitted via Two Bright Lights Hello there. Hope today has been filled with Friday fun and discount Valentine's day candy (yay for 50% off chocolate!) As always, here are a few of our favorite things from this past week. We want to give a little vendor love to Brickhouse Bridal and share this gorgeous gown from Paige + Brian's perfectly pink wedding that was featured in Southern Weddings Magazine! We love Brickhouse Bridal and recommend them from personal experience: our Assistant Editor, Candice, bought her wedding gown from there. Have you had a chance to meet our featured vendor, Buca di Beppo, and enter our fabulous giveaway? If not, you are missing out! Did you know this vintage Italian restaurant offers free room rental for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and engagement parties held in one of their seven banquet rooms? Not to mention, they have the most amazing menu of family-style, authentic Italian favorites! Check them out here and enter to win a $100 gift certificate. Deadline is Monday, Feb. 18 so hurry! Meet Candice, our new Assistant Editor. Candice has wedding writing and marketing experience, and will be helping to expand Woodlands Bride's presence on the web. Which means, more wedding inspiration + ideas for our brides! Head on over to the About page to check out her bio. Venue Toast and Tour - Register TodayOur very first Venue Toast and Tour will be here soon. Mark your calendar for March 28 and get your tickets now to enjoy this fun evening. Tickets are $25; register now and get a swag bag full of freebies! About the event: In luxurious accommodations from Lone Star Limo, you + one guest will tour four very different wedding venues in Montgomery County: Hodge Podge Lodge, Waterpoint, Heather's Glen and Walden on Lake Conroe. Enjoy cocktails + tasty treats at each stop and mingle with industry professionals - including photographers, caterers, florists, dessert specialists, décor and rental suppliers - in a party-like, laid-back environment. Get all the details here. Photo by Wedding Chicks We came across this oh-so-cute freebie from one of our fellow bloggers, Wedding Chicks. Since this is the time of year for engagements, we thought our new brides could use this free printable to ask the groomsmen to be apart of their wedding. Plus, we just adore the mustache trend right now. Other EventsDream Weddings Bridal Show February 24 2013 12 to 5 pm Marriott Hotel & Convention Center - 1601 Lake Robbins Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380 Tickets are available at the door for $15 each. If you pre-purchase tickets, an email confirmation will be sent to you with a printable receipt. Bring that to the door to collect your tickets. Click the link above to pre-order & receive a $5 discount per ticket. Tickets are non-refundable. Don't forget to stop by our booth and pick up your free gift! Happy Valentine's Day! Here at Woodlands Bride, we hope your day is filled with sweet surprises and all things lovely. To show you some love and make your day extra special, we have a fabulous giveaway! Of course, this contest wouldn't be possible without a willing participant who graciously donated this prize. Get to know our featured vendor, Buca di Beppo. We promise you'll feel like family in their company. We like to think of Buca di Beppo as a hidden gem. Not just because the Italian restaurant is nestled in the trees of The Woodlands, in the Portofino Shopping Center, but because of the variety of things they offer - from delicious authentic Italian cuisine to enjoy, as a party of two or a wedding party of two hundred, to the festive, family-style atmosphere and vintage setting they offer as part of their banquet services. Another thing that makes them a unique find? Free, yes free, banquet room rental! (You'll have to read on to find out more.) We chatted with Yvette Openshaw, Houston Sales Manager, to find out more about Buca di Beppo and how they can help you host the perfect rehearsal dinner, engagement party, bridal shower or event of your choice. WB: What services does Buca di Beppo in The Woodlands area offer brides? YO: We are a fabulous Italian restaurant with excellent group menus served family style; we offer private dining options with no room charges. We have seven different banquet options to accommodate parties plus the patio which holds up to 48 people. Buca is a great place for brides/grooms to celebrate their engagement parties, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners! WB: What advice do you have for brides looking for a place to host their wedding-related events? YO: Brides should look at venues that are experienced in hosting group events and that have an excellent track record. They should make sure they are choosing a venue that cares about tailoring the event to their needs; they should expect courteous and timely service from their first meeting through the celebration of their event. And let’s not forget about the food…the food should be as great at their event as it was at the tasting. WB: Speaking of great tasting food, what catering options do brides, and others, have at Buca? YO: For off-site catering, we have simply amazing price points for the bride that is looking for casual, buffet service and desires the same great menu items found at our restaurant. WB: We must ask. What is your personal favorite thing on the menu? YO: That is a tough question because I don’t have just one and neither do our truly dedicated staff and management team. I love our Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Chicken Limone, Shrimp Florentine and Spicy Chicken Rigatoni! WB: So besides the delicious food, what makes for a successful wedding event, in your opinion? YO: Great atmosphere, great service and the love of family and friends that are there to celebrate the bride and groom-to-be! WB: We can't agree more! What other events, not wedding related, can/does Buca di Beppo host? YO: Everything imaginable, from birthdays to graduations, baptisms and communions, corporate meetings to sports banquets, baby showers to retirements to celebrations of life. WB: What specifically do you want brides to know about Buca di Beppo? YO: We know what a special time this is in your life so we want to go that extra mile to both please and celebrate you. Contact Yvette today to book your next event, schedule a tasting or to tour their private rooms. Don't forget to tell her Woodlands Bride sent you! 936-321-6262 / [email protected] Buca di Beppo is located at 19075 I-45 South in the Portofino Shopping Center in Shenandoah. Buca di Beppo Valentine's Day Giveaway ($100 gift certificate!) - Here's how to enter: In order to gain one entry, please complete the following: 1. LIKE Woodlands Bride on Facebook. 2. LIKE Buca di Beppo on Facebook. 3. Sign up for Woodlands Bride mailing list if you haven't already (enter your name/e-mail address on the right sidebar at the top of the blog.) 4. Take a look at Buca di Beppo's tasty menu and let us know what your favorite dish is, in the comment section below. Gain up to three extra entries (for a total of four entries) by doing the following: 1. Follow Woodlands Bride + Buca di Beppo on Twitter. 2. Follow Woodlands Bride + Buca di Beppo on Pinterest. 3. Share this post on Facebook or Twitter. If you gained extra entries, comment below letting us know which of the three extra entries you completed. Then, wait until the deadline on Monday, February 18 at noon for us to announce a winner. We will randomly select a winner and send that person an e-mail letting them know they've won. The winner has 2 days to response to our e-mail or we will select another. Good Luck & Ciao! Get excited because we have a treat for you this Tuesday: another fabulous video by Wedding Fanatics. It's Morgan + Ben's beautiful wedding at The Woodlands Resort + Conference Center. So grab a cup of coffee and push play. You will be oh so glad you did!
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