Good service is generally rewarded with gratuity and the wedding industry is no exception. Tips are typically given at the end of the reception and you might want to consider putting your Best Man in charge of handing them out. Divide tips into sealed envelopes and give them to:
- Banquet Manager: 15-20% of the reception bill
- Wait staff: $20 each
- Bartenders: $25-40 each
- Restroom and coatroom attendants: 50 cents to $1 per guest
- Valets: 50 cents to $1 per car
- Limo drive: 15-20% of the total bill
- Deliver drivers (flowers, cake, etc): $10 each
- DJ/ band: $20-25 each
- Hairstylist and makeup artist: 15-20% of the bill
Before you start handing out cash, check your invoices — some vendors, especially caterers, include gratuity in their fees.
Source: The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner
I love outdoor weddings and home-made details. This inspiration board is dedicated to two upcoming rustic influenced weddings — Holly and Grant and Rachel and Adam. Many of the ideas shown here will be applied to their weddings using each couple’s personal touch and wedding colors. We are so excited to see it all come together!
Wooden signs: Hitched Weddings & Events
Bridesmaids in boots: Steven Myers Photography
Escort cards: Steven Myers Photography
Floral letters: Ashleigh Taylor
Tent: Notaviva Vineyards
Campfire: A Beautiful Day
Table setting: Katherine O’Brien
Barn: Steven Myers Photography
Ceremony under trees: Bradford & Mia Shepherd
Flip flop bucket: Art Of Love By Marie Labbancz
Everyone wants to look their best at a wedding. Whether you are the bride, part of the wedding party, family or a guest, you don’t want to sacrifice comfort for the perfect look. Follow the five steps below to be sure you have style and comfort:
1) Break ‘Em In: You should start wearing your wedding shoes at least two weeks before the big day. Get comfortable in them by walking around the house for several minutes a day and increasing the time you wear them each day. You’ll want to be comfortable in your wedding shoes for 4-5 hours.
2) Scuff ‘Em up: New shoes and dance floors floors don’t mix! Many ceremony locations can have slick floors and/or stairs as well. Save yourself the embarrassment of a fall by scraping the bottoms on a curb or by using a piece of steel wool.
3) Add Comfort: Protect against blisters with inserts from Dr. Scholl’s or Superfeet. Guys — this could be as simple as wearing thicker socks for you. Tuxedo socks are often very thin and rental shoes can be brutal on your feet.
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Your marriage license is the most important piece of paper related to your wedding day and can be a hassle to get if you don’t have all the information. Here is everything you need to know on how to make your marriage official:
When to apply: About 2 weeks before your wedding date
Where to go: Your local County Clerk’s office (you and your fiance must be present)
What to bring: Identification (driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, or military card) and $71 cash (Dallas County)
Note: Couples who go through the State of Texas approved Marriage Education Class will not have to pay the $60 State portion of their marriage license fee. They still pay the smaller county portion, which varies by county. For approved Marriage Education Classes, please visit twogetherintexas.com
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Out-of-town guests make a special effort to attend your wedding — the travel time, distance and expense is not always easy. Here are some items that will make them feel more welcome:
- Information about your wedding and other events planned for the big weekend — Is there a gathering after your Rehearsal Dinner or a brunch the day after? Include contact phone numbers, addresses and directions/maps.
- A local snack — Salsa, pecans or barbeque sauce, to name a few for my fellow Texans. Check out TexasFood.com for more Texas-made treats.
- A bottle of water — Every guest on the go should be properly hydrated. Add more wedding flair by personalizing the label.
- What to do in the area — A museum exhibit, movie theater, your favorite restaurant, etc. Dallas locals look here for a day-by-day event calendar.
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If you saw Monday night’s airing of The Bachelor: Molly & Jason’s Wedding, you know a little rain won’t ruin your big day. Like Chris Harrison said, it’s good luck. He’s not making it up either — good luck from a rainy wedding is one of those timeless wedding superstitions we love to believe in. Rain is also supposed to be a sign of fertility — as rain helps farmers’ crops, it will bring you many children.
If you’re not one for superstitions, it might ease your nerves to know that overcast skies make for great photography. The soft lighting can get you some really dramatic shots. Also, bride and groom under an umbrella — too cute. Photo by Luster Studios.
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Your wedding dress is likely the most expensive piece of clothing you’ll ever buy. It is what you obsess over for months as you hunt for the perfect one. It is what you strive to fit into as you work on losing just 5 more pounds. It is often joked that the dress is harder to commit to than the man. But, once you’ve found “the one” you have your moment and cry as you envision yourself walking down the aisle. You finally feel like a bride. Then you wear it on that special day, say your I do’s and head off on your honey moon. Now what? Is the dress still hanging in your closet? What do you do with it after the wedding? It basically comes down to two options — preserve or sell.
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The week of your wedding is when things start become very real — you are days away from getting married — and brides (and grooms) tend to tense up. You probably have lots of family in town that need entertaining, there are last-minute details to take care of and you just can’t get a minute alone.
So, take the Wednesday before your wedding and dedicate it to yourself — Get a massage. If you’d like more of a bonding experience with your fiance, get a couples massage. You’ll both feel more relaxed and ready for the big day as well as receive these great health benefits*:
• Increased blood flow around your body, getting rid of toxins
• Lower blood pressure
• Healthier skin, better nourished from the inside
• Reduced pain from knotted up muscles or headaches
• Stronger immune system
Best massage in Dallas: Atlas Chiropractic — Ask for Fabi. $80.hr.
After your massage, be sure to drink plenty of water and continue to rest (at least for the rest of the day!).
*Health benefits excerpted from health-deals.com
Wedding Day Tipping Etiquette
Five Ways to Save Your Feet
Out-of-Town Bags
Rain on Your Wedding Day
The Dress: Post-Wedding