Ohhh the Options when you Plan It With Me ! A colorful and texture filled, interactive event in Dallas. A Night Beaming with Color, Texture & Light! While the event might be over, we're still swooning! The Mason Dallas was the perfect venue for our colorful and texture filled, interactive event in Dallas. Under the direction of Plan It With Me Owner & Lead Planner, Kathy Bull, the Mason's historic architecture and versatile space allowed our planning team us to showcase a unique twist on the traditional open house. Through our vision, we created an inviting and enchanting atmosphere for all guests. More than 30 sponsor vendors dedicated their time, resources and staff to executing what many have said was, "the best open house" they'd ever been too. One of our favorite comments comes from @thedreyson who posted, "100% agree that it was the best one we've been to. We do planning as part of our services and I was so wowed by what you put together for an open house. We're normally in and out of those, but there were so many experiences, we stayed the whole time, and we were able to get fantastic ideas for future events!" Seeing the entire night beam with color, texture, and light, and watching everyone have so much fun, is what it was all about. So how did we do it? Or better yet, how did we do it in a mere 47 days? Well, that's easy...33 businesses that pulled together as a team. It's not every day that you get a mass group of vendors to pull together in such a short amount of time, at their own cost, and bring together someone's vision. But this group did it like rockstars. This is why you work with professionals! Planning a Colorful Event in Dallas When we reached out about planning The Mason Dallas ' July open house, we honestly didn't know that we were signing in to plan the entire event, AND a styled shoot. But after we got all the details, we knew we were in! The Mason didn't want a traditional open house, they wanted something with a "wow" factor. A type of open house that hadn't been done to death. We've all been to open houses and trade shows where the vendors stand behind their 6' tables and handout business cards and brochures, and welp, that wasn't going to happen under our watchful eye. Plan It With Me thrives on communication, deadlines, creating memorable events, and when we get to play with bold color, we can't get started fast enough. Our Plan It With Me team quickly went to work laying out the overarching theme for the event, the color palette, mood board, marketing and branding, and curating a hand-picked group of vendors to participate. Almost immediately, we were clocking in 12-14 hour days on the phone with some of our favorite sponsor vendors to pitch the event, and see who was in. Overwhelmingly almost everyone signed in and before we knew it, we were out of space. We actually even turned away a few because there wasn't any room left for additional interactions or set-up. This was a fantastic problem to have, so that meant game on. Time to ensure the guests had a unique experience, and that the vendors had an opportunity to really showcase their services and products. What better way to sell a service than to interactively show a potential client what their experience will feel like. After all, we all remember how we "feel" after an event. And that was the goal, to create a unique experience that left guests energized, happy and with those creative juices flowing. Ohhh the options.... Our Texas Event Sponsors: The full team that brought it all together! Before we get too far, let's give credit where credit is due. From live art, to silk and real florals, a lighted LED dance floor, to cocktails and culinary delights, and more, each vendor played a crucial role in making our open house a resounding success! Planners Extraordinaire:  @planitwithme Venue:  @themasondallas Audio Payphone Booth & Custom Event Newspapers:  @theoccasionsociety Bartending:  @hdliquidcater Bridal and Ball Gowns:  @terrycostabridal  and  @terrycostaprom Cake:  @poshcakesbyshanemorgan Catering:  @naborlyprovisionscatering Charcuterie Cart:  @thatsamorecoffee Cigar Roller:  @dfwcigarroller Coffee Cart:  @magnifycoffeecatering Content Creation:  @gatherandvow Cotton Candy Cart:  @thecloudcartetx Cowboy Hat, Glam & Airbrush Tattoo Bars:  @amysalist Decor (place settings) :  @poshcouturerentals Decor & Silk Floral:  @raofactor Decor-Balloon Art:  @vasheventdesign DJ:  @itsrichysmart Drone Light Show:  @droneshowmom Electric Violinist:  @emilyburak Engravable Champagne Bottles & Prosecco Samples:  @jenandjacbrut Fresh Florals, Floral Arm Band & Floral Lapel:  @gratefulfloraleventdesign Hair and Make-Up:  @eblairmakeuphair Invitations:  @simplymox LED Lighted Dance Floor:  @centerstage_floors Lighting:  @absolutelighting Live Artist (watercolors) :  @katietoddgunnstudio Live Artist (charcoal sketching) :  @theoriginalbuttsketch Non-Alcohol Mix Drink Masters:  @sipndrinks_ Permanent 14K Gold Jewelry:  @sparkhousedallas Photobooth Camper:  @revivalphotocamper Photobooth:  @momentsforeverphotobooth Photographer:  @themacmeekens Suit/Tuxes:  @zenalli_menswear Videography:  @ memoir.film Models:  @kenzieennis12  and  @soo_rayy_j Reading the Description is Great, but Let's See Some Pics! Our bright and vibrant color scheme created a lively and joyful atmosphere. Each detail was meticulously and collaboratively designed by Plan It With Me , RAOFactor , Grateful Floral and Event Design , and Vash Event Design . It takes a team, and this team created a feast for the eyes. Scroll down to view ohhh so many photos below! And don't stop there...keep reading for our little sign off message and special offer! ++ Eternally Grateful ++ Finally, a most sincere thank you to all of the sponsor vendors, staff and team members that made the event such a huge success. We continue to be thankful for the support of our wonderful partners, guests and online followers. And if you missed our open house, don't worry, we're not going anywhere and any time you want to Plan It With Me, we're right here. If this blog inspired you to play with color, texture and live boldly, drop us a note or click "start planning" below to schedule a free consultation for your own event. ++ As a special "thank-you" through 12.31.24, we'd like to offer a discount off of your planning services when you type "Ohhh2024" in the comment section of your booking form. Just click the button below to start planning. Not sure you want to book a call yet, but you'd like more info, give us a call or shoot us a text at 972.567.5898 and we'll answer any question you have. In the meantime, be sure to follow us online or tune into @liftingtheveil.podcast to learn more about all things event related! No time to read but still interested in this topic? Click to enjoy Episode 17  of Lifting the Veil where we talk about "The One With the Styled Shoot".

After you get engaged, and you've take some time to truly enjoy the love-filled blissful haze that surrounds you both, it’s time to start thinking about how to tackle planning for your big day. Now of course, the very first thing we are going to tell you to do is hire a planner BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING…but we realize that many, actually most, will say, “I can do this….I don’t need a planner”. And while we believe, you truly believe that, we’re going to tell you that it’s a heck of a lot easier if you hire someone that knows what they are doing, will be your advocate along the way, work to save you money, and help you get the biggest bang for your buck. There are thousands of sites to help you create a budget or allocate your financial resources for your wedding or event, but we promise none will hold your hand and walk you through the budget process like a seasoned planner. When our clients get budget management with their service, they can typically plan on a roughly 3-hour detailed call that will give them a highly customized and personalized event budget overview specific to their exact budget and needs. It is an exhaustive review of likes, needs (vs. wants), options, Q&A, and so on. But I bet you are still thinking, "I got this...." or "how hard could it be?", well let's get into it and see if we can provide some insight. 10 Steps to Creating a Custom Event Budget! 1. How Much Money Do You Have to Spend on this Event? When creating a budget, the first thing we need to know is “How much do you want to spend?” You may tell us $25,000 or $80,000 or $300,0000. You’d be surprised to know that we (us specifically at Plan It With Me) don’t really care how much you want to spend, we just want to know where you are comfortable, and we work diligently from there to help you plan practically and realistically, and within your means. The worse thing you can do, when planning an event, is to do so without a budget. Unless of course money is no object, and then we’d still tell you it’s not a good idea. 2. Where is Your Money Coming From? Are you paying for it yourself? Are you and your partner splitting costs? Are any family members pitching in? It’s important to know what your starting number is, where it’s all coming from and what you plan to do if you happen to go over. Even when you’ve created a budget, keep in mind that most couples tend to go about 10-15% over their original allocations. It’s VERY easy to say in the moment, “Oh, it’s just an extra $100.”, but in event planning, that can add up quickly. If you’re not diligent, you can easily end up hundred-dollaring (is that a word??) yourself to death. 3. Who is the decision-maker? While you may have several people involved, there needs to be a main point-of-contact for who will be the tie-breaker (aka: decision-maker) in an instance where there might be a standoff. Again, you might think this is unnecessary but you will lock horns with someone during the planning (and spending) process and it’s important to know who is ultimately responsible for making a final decision. 4. Create or Download a Budget Template Online. We start with a good old-fashioned Excel spreadsheet with industry average allocations for the DFW metroplex. Costs can vary from city to city, region to region, and state to state, so it’s a good idea to get a grip on what industry averages are for where you are planning your event, and work from there. Our averages can’t be found online because they have been cultivated over the years and then customized for each client we work with. Truly, no two budgets have EVER been the same. Tip: This is where an industry pro comes in helpful! They have insight you simply won’t find online, tailored to your needs. 5. Prioritize Your Expenses. What are the top 3-5 most important things about your wedding day? Are you big into flowers? Does the dance floor need to be full all night? Do you need a band, or will a DJ do? Are you dreaming of a custom stationary suite? Are you a foodie? Do you dream of butler passed specialty cocktails with edible flowers? Or are you happy sitting around a fire and drinking beer with your closest family and friends? What makes you tick, swoon, or excited, when thinking about your wedding day? Whatever the answer is, THAT’S where we are going to focus your money. 6. Let’s Break It Down & Allocate Average Percentages. As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to start with average percentages and work from there based on which items are most important. We’re going to give it to you straight, and share our starting percentages to help you get started. Again, you’ll need to deeply discuss each of these and adjust allocations as you go. Everyone is different so like it or not, you have to go through each allocation line by line and spell it out. And while we are giving you the general buckets, know that each of these contains sub-categories to dive even deeper into the process. 7. Solicit Quotes: Quotes are free. Say it with me, “Quotes are Free!!!”. Reach out to as many vendors per category as you like, to ensure you are getting the best price for the best service, to stay within budget. 8. Track Your Spending: Update Your Budget Often! As you start booking vendors and making purchases, keep your spreadsheet up to date. Record every expense, even the small ones, as they can add up. Monitor Payment Schedules: Many vendors require deposits and staggered payments. Keep track of when payments are due to avoid any last-minute surprises. 9. Be Flexible and Ready to Adjust. Anticipate Changes: Sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Maybe a vendor is more expensive than anticipated, or an unexpected expense comes up. Be flexible and adjust your budget as needed. Keep a Contingency Fund: It’s wise to set aside at least 10% of your total budget for unexpected costs. This buffer can save you from stress down the road. 10. Consider Ways to Save. DIY Elements: If you’re crafty, consider DIY'ing certain aspects of your wedding, such as decorations, favors, or even invitations. This can be a fun way to personalize your wedding and save money. Opt for Off-Peak Seasons: If your schedule allows, consider having your wedding during an off-peak time of the year or on a weekday. Many venues and vendors offer discounts during these times. Limit the Guest List: One of the best, but not always the easiest ways to reduce costs is by trimming the guest list. Fewer guests mean lower costs for food, drinks, table settings, and seating.   Okay, that was a LOT, but if you follow these steps you will be off to a really good start. Want a GREAT start? Reach out and let us help you create a custom budget. If you aren’t sure you can afford planning services, call us anyway. You’d be surprised how much we can help in a 1-hour consultation, or buy a budget only session, or sign on for a planning package. Regardless, we are committed to helping and promise not to send you away scared, frustrated or feeling alone during this process. We got you, so let’s enjoy the process! No time to read but still interested in this topic? Click to enjoy Episode 23  of Lifting the Veil where we learn "How to Create an Event Budget".

The year has flown by and that means it’s time for a recap packed full of helpful tips. Whether you are looking for quick tips or to explore on a deeper level, in this month’s blog we’re talking about things you might have thought about, things we're pretty sure you never thought you'd care about, and more!   We think you'll find that these 24 Wedding Day Tips for 2024 are timeless, helpful and insightful. And if you prefer to listen instead CLICK HERE to tune into episode 29 of our Lifting the Veil podcast where this was our topic of conversation. Okay, let's get into it:   Establish a main point of contact for your wedding day. You do NOT want to be the person everyone calls the week of the wedding, much less on wedding day, so if you have a planner, that will be the person. If not, designate one of the bridesmaids to answer all wedding-related questions. Make a wedding email. This will help keep your personal or work email inbox from getting jammed, keep everything in one place, and be the catch-all for post-wedding day communication as well. Just don’t forget to check it! Make a wedding website (and let your guests RSVP there). Wedding websites are ALWAYS a good idea. Yes, it’s another task that you have to complete but it’s a necessary one-stop-shop for all things wedding communication for your guests. And communication is key! Also, unless you are super traditional and formal, let guests RSVP through your wedding website. This will make things way easier on you as guests can enter their RSVP, make meal selections, update their contact info (in case you need to send a “week-of” reminder) and when it’s time to do table assignments, you simply export an Excel list of all responses. Can you say “done and done baby?”! Oh, and hint ….you’ll see this as a big trend for 2025. So be sure to check back in January for “ 25 Trends to Incorporate into Your Planning for 2025 ” Break in your shoes. This goes for guys too…pretty much anyone that will be walking or standing for more than an hour (uh, that’s all of us) on wedding day. Back-up tip, we recommend bringing an extra pair or two to get you through the night. As a planner, we change shoes a minimum of three, sometimes four times a night. Sneakers for set-up, heels for the ceremony and the first hour of the reception, cute flats for the remainder of the reception and then back to sneakers. It won’t make the day pain-free but it’s a game-changer for sure! Try on all your clothes before wedding day, this goes for everyone! Try on the ENTIRE outfit to ensure you have all the necessary pieces and that everything fits. This also means trying on anything that you’ve had altered. A lot of people make the mistake of having something altered and then not trying it on at pick-up. You’ve got to make sure that the alterations came out the way you wanted. Bonus Tip: Most alterations require two visits. Plan accordingly. Practice tying your tie. This is especially important for those who are wearing bow ties. Regular suit ties are fairly easy but bow ties require a bit more effort. Don’t wait until the wedding day to practice. Start now. After all, practice makes perfect. Write wedding thank-you cards as gifts come in, don’t wait until after the honeymoon. This is the easiest way not to get overloaded and buried in “thank-you” card to-dos. Doing a little along the way will ultimately save you time and help give your wrist a break. Bonus Tip: Don’t leave it to one person in the couple. You both got married, you both received a gift, and you can both split the task. Schedule an engagement shoot whether you think you need it or not. You may think you don’t need to do an engagement shoot but it’s about more than getting photos. Often times this is how you get to know your photographer and they get to know you. It will help ease photography stress on the “day-of” so you know what to expect and understand how timing will play into the events of the day from a photography standpoint. Plus, you’ll have precious pictures with your partner. It’s a win-win! Request a site tour with your planner and/or photographer. The logistics of planning a wedding are endless but as a quick snapshot, you’ll want to understand the venue logistics, load-in/load-out, access into the building – and related challenges – lighting, sound, etc. Touring with these two vendors can save you a world of headaches on wedding day! Consider custom printed menus. The price is minimal with maximum impact! This simple detail will elevate your place setting and is an easy way to help avoid issues with guests who have food allergies. Make a decor list. This should include literally everything you want your planner to touch, transport and set up for you on your wedding day. Planners rely on this to ensure that all of your personal décor is accounted for during set-up and tear-down. Make a shot list. This isn’t a tip, it’s a “must-have”. Create a list of all of the group family/friend/wedding party shots you want throughout the day. Organize first by time of day: getting ready; pre-ceremony; post-ceremony, and reception. Organize second from largest group to smallest. This will maximize your timing and keep things moving smoothly. Bonus Tip: Be sure to include real names. Don’t say “Gam-Gam”, “Pops”, “Uncle TeeTee” or “Aunt BooBoo”, we need real names to know who everyone is and get them into place at the correct time. Determine the sunset time. Visit https://www.timeanddate.com to look up the anticipated time for sunset, and back-up by a minimum of 45 minutes for optimal “golden hour” lighting. Bonus Tip: Tune into Lifting the Veil episode 27 for deeper insight into how this works. Create a song list. This is one of those things that trips up a lot of couples. Needing to identify songs for the events of the night can creep up on you. We recommend making a playlist on your phone and every time either of you are dancing, enjoying or getting emotional at a particular song, save it, tag it, write it down, and go back to it later when you need to make those designations. It’ll be a lifesaver for you! Don’t forget parent gifts. There’s a high likelihood that your parents were involved in getting you to your wedding day, so let’s not forget a thank you. It can be as simple as writing them a thank-you letter, not a note, but a letter to tell them what they mean to you and of course, thank them for all they have done to support you. Or, this is a perfect time to get with your photographer and gift them a special album post-wedding. Not all gifts have to take place beforehand. And it must be noted that this tip applies to anyone who helped you along the way…it doesn’t have to just be for parents. Bonus tip: If you do wait until post-wedding for a gift, be sure you thank them and/or give them a shout-out at some point during the night. That little word of appreciation will go a long way. Pack Tupperware. We need this for your cake at the end of the night. Quick and easy, the bakery box isn’t cutting it (all puns intended). Large Tupperware is the way to go to ensure that cake makes it home for that post-wedding sugar rush! Make a slush fund for tipping. This topic is a bit controversial but ultimately we tell our couples to tip only those vendors that go above and beyond. We say this because most vendors have built their pricing to support their service. Hair and make-up artists used to be the exception to this but more and more are now adding gratuity to their contracts, which alleviates the need for tipping “day-of”. Catering also typically builds this into their quote, so again they’re often covered. Having said that, be sure to check with both of these vendors to ensure staff is covered, if not, then yes, we recommend tipping them, but we pretty much agree it stops there unless someone goes above and beyond. In that case, yes, you’ll want to have some cash on hand for an extended “thank you”. Bonus tip : Where bartending companies are concerned, make sure gratuity is included upfront and watch out for hidden fees like those who add gratuity to the final invoice in instances where you designate that you don’t want the bartenders to put out a tip jar. This will be in your contract but is often buried or overlooked unless you know what you are looking for. Bonus, bonus tip ….we don’t recommend any bartending services that do this. Room reveal with a practice dance run. This is a great time to shave off some of those nerves. We like to bring our couples in and do a room reveal, and when time permits…which we work hard to incorporate, we allow them to do a quick practice run of their first dance. Another game changer if you can sneak it in. Practice your dip. There are a lot of online tutorial tips but we love @ weddingdance.school for this task. Dips are hard when you haven’t practiced and since you’ll likely dip as you recess down the aisle for that fab photo snapshot, you’ll also likely be dipping in your first dance. So, like the song says, “When I dip, you dip, we dip”, so start practicing. Practice the kiss that lingers. If you’ve ever been around our planning team, you’ve likely heard the “kiss, kiss, kiss” rule. That means when you kiss your partner, hold it for 3 seconds to give the photographer a chance to grab the shot. Bonus tip from our podcast colleague and photographer @themacmeekens , close your eyes, don't over pucker, have a soft mouth kiss, and imagine kissing with your teeth. Yep, sounds super weird and awkward but we tried it recently and our vacation photos turned out SO much better. Repurpose your florals. Our favorite non-profit organization @texasflourishproject does this for you if you are within the D/FW metroplex. They will come at the end of your event and help break down the flowers, pull as much as they can take and repurpose them into new arrangements for guests at local nursing homes and hospitals. If you aren’t in an area that they service, you can always send arrangements home with guests or vendors at the end of the night. @themacmeekens says she often takes them after a wedding and then gifts the arrangement to the cashier when she stops on the way home for a late-night snack. We love that idea! We know you spent a lot of money to have flowers at your wedding and we don’t want to see them go in the trash, so think through how you want to handle this and get with your planner to make it happen. Build in buffer time into your timeline. We do this with every single timeline we make. Not by much but 5, 10, 15 minutes here and there. It makes the day less chaotic and stressful when you’re not trying to function to the exact minute of the day. Follow your planner’s instructions on sharing out the wedding day timeline . If you don’t have a planner make one yourself so people know what to do, where to be and when. It doesn’t have to be 19 pages long like most of ours…yes, they are really that comprehensive, but having even a general timeline in place will help keep the day running smoothly. But you know the drill, hire us and we’ll do all of this for you, then all you have to do is follow our instructions on sharing out the wedding day timeline. If it’s not done 2 weeks before the wedding….it doesn’t matter. Enough said. Weddings can be very stressful, so don’t add to it by coming up with a new idea in the final days. If that task or appointment isn’t done, or scheduled to be done at least 2 weeks out, then it doesn’t matter. Scrap the idea and move on. You’ll thank us for this one for sure!   And there you have it, Our Top 24 in ’24 . While this isn’t a fully exhaustive list, these are our collective top favs. Follow these and you’ll be off to a good start. Want to be off to a great start? Click here to schedule your free consultation so we can get you booked and take all of this off your plate! Photography by: Reigh Walker; Harper Blankenship; Outland Weddings; Jen Symes Photography, Austin Daniels , Tyler Freer Photography, and The Macmeekens. No time to read but still interested in this topic? Click to enjoy Episode 29  of Lifting the Veil where we revisit our "Top 24 Wedding Day Tips from 2024".

Every year vendors and leaders throughout the industry come forward with their projections on upcoming wedding trends. This year, we’ve created a comprehensive list of those trends and narrowed down to our top 25. These top 25 trends to note for 2025 include the most common and easy to utilize trends for couples. In no particular order, here we go!   Serpentine or Caterpillar Tables – If you subscribe to any online wedding source or are ever on Instagram to inspire your wedding day, you’ve likely seen this trend. Emerging in 2024 and they are definitely having a moment. However, before you jump on the bandwagon, keep in mind caterpillar tables are best suited for those with a smaller guest list and/or a larger event space. Doing this set-up can take up a lot of room and cut your seats per table down by half. We think these are best reserved for micro-weddings, rehearsal dinners, private parties, etc. If you like this look but don't want to lose space, then opt for a serpentine table. It'll give you a similar feel, more clean lines and help maintain your guest seating options. Not sure which is right for you, it's best to talk your options through with your designer or planner to properly execute either set-up. Vibrant Colors – The 2025 wedding color of the year is Verona Sunset. A bright and happy shade of orange. Couple that with Pantone’s color of the year, Mocha Mousse, a warm and earthy brown tone. Put these together and you’ve got a modernized version of the 70’s décor….and we’re here for it all day long! Dramatic Draping – This one is pretty self-explanatory, we use draping to create texture, dimension and put some extra design in your event space. The options are literally endless. Layered Textures & Fabrics – Add this to your dramatic draping or let it be its own stand-alone detail, layering textures and mixing fabrics is as easy as 1-2-3. You’re already going to have linen napkins, so let’s layer that within your place setting by adding a charger or menu card on top of a textured linen. An easy way to layer fabric is to add color or monochromatic color to your draping or maybe an overlay on top of your base table linen. And fun tip here, this doesn’t have to incorporate, just get creative and start exploring DIY options or visit with your planner for ideas! Creating Your Own Personal Brand – Use your couple story to create your own personal brand for your wedding day. Tell stories about yourselves throughout the space. Handwritten letters to your guests, custom table numbers, centerpieces, menus, welcome signage, cocktail napkins and more. There are endless options for customizing the day’s details to tell your story. Fruits & Vegetable Infused Centerpieces – You’ll for sure be seeing this if you haven’t already. You’ve probably seen limes or lemons in centerpieces before but what about pumpkins, pomegranates, blood oranges, pineapples, grapes or even carrots and more. If you can think it, it can be incorporated and these make for easy, reusable (even edible) options for any occasion. Maximalist Florals – For this category, think big budget! While most couples want to keep costs down, there are plenty of folks who love the maximalist approach to their wedding florals. Here you will see lush arrangements full of blooms, hanging installations, higher end flower selections everywhere you look. Having said that, if you don’t have that lux budget to go with your lux taste, you can easily pick one element and target your focus there. Maybe an arch at the altar, head table centerpiece, or cake table for example. You can achieve that feel by targeting your design and focusing on one main element and building out from there. It doesn’t just have to be all or nothing. Topiaries – Yep, you read that right. Topiaries are popping up everywhere and are super easy to bring into your design. Topiaries offer a creative way to bring a garden feel to your event, even on a budget. Want more of a luxury feel, use topiaries as a base and build off of them from there. Everything from entrances, to altars, to centerpieces, there’s not a wrong way to utilize this often option. Cakes – In 2024 we saw the resurgence of the vintage cake, and we’re here for it. We continue to love this detail. We also saw couples opting for a single-tier small cake for cutting and a sheet cake served from the back-of-house to help curb costs. Got a bit more to spend, then you’ll want to make it multi-tier, go with an artistic fondant cake, or add a cake meadow. As mentioned earlier, give your cake the spotlight and let that take the focal point of the room if you want to lend a lush design to a single element…or even if you want it to be part of a larger design. One is not better than the other, you’re just letting the cake become part of the décor, rather than just another “task” (aka: cake cutting) of the night. Sliver as a Metal Accent – For years it’s been gold, then rose gold, and even mixed metals…which is always in, but this year, it’s silver. No major description here, silver is always in style with its timeless sparkle and elegance. photo by: Reigh Walker Intentional Photography –  Photography styles are trending as we are seeing a big trend toward shooting with film, paparazzi photography, and more candid behind the scene shots rather than the position and posed pics of yesteryear. We are also seeing photography that is true to the color it's shot in as opposed to the more white and bright trends that were popular in the past. Content Creators –  2024 brought us an explosion of content creators. Now you can hire someone to take all the behind-the-scene footage so you and your family/friends can truly put your phones away and relax. Assigning this to a paid content creator will ensure you snag all those cool shots, behind the scenes, allowing you to be in the moment and unplug for the entire day. And the best part, you can have everything delivered right to your inbox. So while you’re waiting 2-3 months for your photographer’s gallery, you can enjoy the BTS content starting the next day. Focus on Guest Experiences  – Here it’s easy to think about photobooths, late night snacks, or custom requested party songs to name a few but what about the other things that can get overlooked? This might be a welcome drink or water stations upon arrival, transportation to/from the venue, fans, interactive entertainment, custom thank you letters or coffee bars. There are so many ideas to choose from but what we’re focused on here is the guest experience. We want the guests happy, comfortable and excited to share the day from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. Think about the last event you attended, did the host think through your experience? If so, how? Now think about how you want your guests to feel and let’s get started planning. Interactive Entertainment – As mentioned above, this nugget gets its’ own category. Beer burrows, virtual games, permanent jewelry, cowboy hat bars, scotch tastings, cigar bars, etc., interactive activities keep guests engaged, entertained and telling others about your amazing event. Eco-Friendly Celebrations  – A topic near and dear to our hearts, we’re particularly excited to see this trend increasing. Couples are starting to take notice of the abundance of waste in the wedding industry and the interest in digital invitations, RSVPing online, biodegradable confetti, minimizing plastic use and overall waste, is increasing. Another idea, hire a compost vendor to collect all the scraps at the end of the night. It’s a common misconception that leftover food can be taken home or donated to someone nearby; however, most of the time the caterer has to throw the food out. Hire a composter to come in and give your leftovers a new purpose. Epic Food Stations – We all know that food trucks, late night bites and coffee bars can leave guests wowed but now we’re seeing food stations as part of the décor, fully adorned with flowers, greenery and more. 2024 introduced us to the charcuterie cart – a new vendor item we love. Reintroduced the industry to dessert stations and tables – rather than just cake, and now we’re seeing cotton candy bars, non-alcohol bar stations and even whisky stations. We love this trend and since you’re going to have food at your event anyway, this is a perfect way to make the stations part of the décor. Going Non-Traditional – By eliminating bouquet tosses, garter tosses, guest favors, wedding party entrances, and even in some cases getting rid of the cake cutting altogether. Weddings aren’t what they used to be so there’s no reason to stick with old traditions if it doesn’t suit you as a couple and your wedding day priorities. Nowadays you can truly do anything you want and there are no rules. You do you boo, and we’ll help! Full Wedding Weekends – Wedding days move fast; therefore, we’re seeing more and more couples opt for a full wedding weekend to make the most of the time they have with family and friends. This can include a welcome party in addition to or as a stand-alone with the rehearsal dinner, after-party or a goodbye breakfast the day after the wedding. It’s your party and we want you to celebrate it as long as you want! Wellness Activities –  We now know that interactive entertainment is trending up and if you are hosting a wedding weekend, some of the hottest trends for the weekend include goat yoga, puppy yoga, group hikes, cooking experiences, barbershop treatment for the guys, golf outing or full spa day outings for the ladies. Whatever you choose, you can be sure these are great ways to unwind with your friends and family in preparation for a busy day to come. Couple Focused Moments – These are our favorites! Just as we mentioned earlier, non-traditional is the new norm. Don’t want to go all day without seeing your partner? Don’t! Spend the morning together, have breakfast or coffee, and then get your day started. We also like you to have a few quiet minutes at the end of the ceremony or even before, with a private vow exchange, love letter reading or just a moment to hold hands and soak it all in. Cap that off at the end of the night with a private last dance and you are set to have memories that last a lifetime. Destination Weddings – Don’t necessarily jump to out of the country destination, while those are always popular, destinations can be anywhere you don’t “live” in your regular life. Go to another state or even another part of your state, and explore the options for your day. You’d be surprised how far your budget can go if you are flexible on date and location. Flexibility = infinite possibilities! Statement Fashion –  Fashion is always in and 2025 is bringing us Drop and Basque waist gowns, bubble hems, statement accessories, bold colors and patterns, unique customized veils, individual stylings for the wedding party and outfit changes during the reception are for sure trending. We just met a bride yesterday who has four changes coming for her wedding day. If you want it and can afford it, we’re here to make it happen. Minimalistic Hairstyles –  Today’s brides are opting for hairstyles that more closely reflect their daily look, just slightly enhanced. You might see loose curls with a simple hair clip, a slicked back bun or a short choppy bob. Whatever the choice, the trend is to stay true to yourself and make sure you look like you on wedding day. The over-the-top glam is fading back this year. Nostalgia Is In! –  Just as we mentioned earlier, nostalgia is in and we’re seeing that with color, attire and attention to detail. While the colors of 2025 speak to the 70’s we’re also seeing the 80’s bubble hem making a comeback, the 90’s disposable camera, the aforementioned “minimalistic hairstyle” look from 2000, a reduction in bridal party size that has been on trend since 2010. Whatever the detail or decade, nostalgic details are always in and can be the perfect way to put your own special spin on your day. Vintage Décor –  Okay, we could’ve probably put this with # 22 but we thought it deserved its’ own category. From LED mini-lamps on cocktail tables, to old guitar cases, small credenzas, vinyl records and record players, to apothecary tables, colored glass and more, vintage items produce nostalgic thoughts and feelings. Couple that with enhancing the guest experience (#11) and creating your own brand (#5), this is how you can create a truly unique wedding. Vintage matchbooks collected by our couple's family over the years and shared with their guests upon arrival. Kennedy & Dalton's welcome table included a variety of nostalgic elements such as vinyl records, a postcard seating chart, family photos and more!  So there you have it, our top 25 in ’25. While all these topics are noted as “trends” for the upcoming wedding year, know that the most perfect trend is the one that suits you best. There is no right or wrong way to get married and have a wedding. Whether you choose to go to the justice of the peace and have a smaller intimate reception, a big lush elaborate affair, or simple elope, whatever suits you is truly the right way to go. And don’t let anyone tell you differently.   If you are looking for someone to help with your big day, don’t forget to Plan It With Me! No time to read but still interested in this topic? Tune in to Episode 36  of Lifting the Veil where we chat about our "Top 25 Trends for '25"!

photo by: Mackenzie Reiter Photography We are officially in the middle of engagement season and if you’re reading this, you likely know someone who – or maybe you – got engaged over the holidays. If so, you’re in good company. Did you know that The Knot “Real Weddings” Survey  shows that 45% of couples get engaged during engagement season? That sweet spot of the year between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day. If you got engaged, or proposed to over the holidays, what should you do next?   1.      First and foremost, take time to enjoy what just happened . This is the first of two “honeymoon” phases, and frankly, we think it’s the MOST fun. You’re in that perfect euphoric space of love, happiness, celebration and the butterflies are fluttering everywhere. So take all the time you need and enjoy sharing this special time with your new partner for life. The second phase comes during the actual honeymoon...we'll focus on that one later.   2.      Get with your partner and narrow down top priorities  for your wedding day. We recommend no less than 3 and no more than 5. This will help you keep what matters, front of mind. And it will help you decide where to focus your budget. If your planner doesn’t ask for this information upfront, that’s a red flag. If you call us first, you won't have to worry about this part...we'll hold your hand through the whole process.   3 .     After you’ve nailed down your priorities, it’s going to be time to think through the beginning stages of budget planning . Don’t get too deep yet (you'll want your planner to guide you through this process for sure) but let’s decide your “fall of the chair” number. That’s the number that you are comfortable spending on your wedding day. It may be $20K, $50K or $200K. Whatever it is, you’ll need to know the total to start breaking down the appropriate amounts for each category to properly manage spending and not let the wedding take over.   4 .     Without question, the next step is to hire your planner . Do this sooner than later to maximize your planner fee. Hiring the right planner will save you time, money, stress, arguments, headache, sleepless nights, etc. Obviously we know why and we’ve got 100 reasons to share, just ask, and the right planner (uh, us) will set you on the right planning path for a smooth process. And as mentioned above, the right planner should ask lots of questions about you and your fiancé and what is important to you. They should not focus on themselves or what they can do for you. The right planner will do what’s needed to flawlessly execute your event and the vision you have in your head.   5.      Begin reviewing and touring venues . This will help you figure out your date, if you don’t already have one and/or are open to flexibility and determine exactly what type, style and location fits within your budget. Another tip we love to share is do NOT book a venue or any vendors until you’ve created a budget. This is rookie mistake #1, and we don’t want you to make it. When you select a venue prior to resolving your budget, you often end up “venue poor” and we want to avoid that at all costs…pun intended!   6.      Now that you’ve narrowed your priorities, hired a planner, set your budget, and narrowed down your venue selection(s), you can officially settle on a date . We put this toward the end because if you can be somewhat flexible on your date, it will open a lot of opportunities for cost savings and maximized use of the space.   7.      Lastly, start working through the rest of your vendors . Most couples like to start with the photographer and go from there. Often times your favorite photographer will book up faster than other vendors, so lock them in and then tackle the rest. You're engaged, it's time to Plan It With Me!   Wedding planning can be overwhelming but not if you have the right team in your corner. So whether you are getting married in a month, or a year, reach out and let us help get you squared away. And if you didn’t follow these steps during your process, that’s okay. We can still help way more than you know. All you need now to enjoy the process is to Plan It With Me! No time to read but still interested in this topic? Click to enjoy Episode 35 of Lifting the Veil where Kathy & Christina take a deeper dive and weigh in with their opinions.

Let’s get right to it, being “venue poor” means you’ve spent too much money on your venue based on your overall allocated wedding budget. What does that mean specifically? Well, let’s do some basic math and break it down.   Before we officially break it down, lets insert the disclaimer that you don’t “need” more than about $80 to get married in the state of Texas, depending on the county you’re getting married in. And we can even go a step further and say that in some states, once you’ve proclaimed your relationship status and/or lived together for a certain amount of time, you don’t technically even need a license; thus making the act of being “married” free. Having said all of that, if you want a wedding, this is where things take a turn. Depending on your overall wants, wishes, desires and needs, that number is going to vary widely.   So, let’s say you’ve got a $30K budget and you just found a venue that you LOVE and can’t imagine getting married anywhere else. That’s great! But the venue is $10,000 to rent for a 12-hour period, and your immediate thought is woo-hoo, I’m under budget….but are you? That bad news is you just spent 1/3 of your budget and you haven’t hired any other vendors yet. The good news is, not all is lost but we have to be strategic and take a realistic approach to the remaining vendors left to hire. Let’s go a bit deeper and think through additional expenses based on an average 150 person wedding. ·      Budget: $30,000 ·      Venue: -$10,000 ·      Photography: -$5,000 ·      Catering, Tea/Water @ $50pp: -$8,000 (Not including bar service.) ·      Cake: -$500 ·      Attire (dress & tux) : -$3,000 ·      Officiant: -$500 ·      DJ: -$3,000 ·      TOTAL REMAINING = $0.00 And we still need to add in the following considerations: ·      Stationary: $250++ ( Purchasing online will minimize costs .) ·      Church: $1,500 - $3,000 ( Assuming you’re not getting married at the venue. ) ·      Ceremony Music: $500 - $1,500 ( If you’re at a church, you’ll likely need to pay the church musicians. ) ·      Beverages/Bar: Averages $6,750 ( Assuming $45pp ) ·      Flowers: $3,000++ ( This category will vary widely but if you're extra conservative, you can get it down. ) ·      Hair and Makeup: $750++ ( This is just for the bride day-of and trial service. The cost will increase greatly depending on number of services and artists. ) ·      Transportation: $900 ( 3% starting allocation. ) ·      Gifts: $600-$900 ( Typically 2-3% of the budget for wedding party gifts. ) ·      Newlywed Suite: $300++ ( Again, can vary widely. ) ·      Planner (day-of): $2,500 ( Average starting rate for a seasoned planner. ) Additional CONSERVATIVE costs: $17,050 Did you know most churches charge to you to get married in their space...even if you are a member? Before you decide where to say "I do", let's think through your budget. If you haven’t figured it out yet, your $30,000 budget is now close to $47,000 and you haven’t done anything over the top. You’ve simply executed a standard wedding in 2025. Again, you can always do things cheaper but this is a good overview of what you will run into on average. Factors that will contribute to these numbers being higher or lower are things like, geographical location, time of year, specific selections for food items or specific types of flowers, vendor type, and ultimately your own personal expectations vs. reality.   When starting your planning process, it's important to know what’s most important to you and your partner. If the venue isn’t a top priority, then don't allocate 30% of your budget there. Instead, take a breath, hang back and hire a professional to help you navigate this process. You may think you can’t afford a planner to help you but our take on this is you can’t afford NOT to hire a planner. The right planner can help you save in other areas, and steer you toward the perfect venue to suit your budget.   Next, let's decide your “fall off the chair” number (to say it nicely) or to say it like it is, your “vomit point”. What is the financial number that if you exceed it, you will “fall of your chair” or “vomit” if you will. We want to set that number up front so we can maintain spending and keep you in your happy place. When you select and pay for a venue upfront, before you’ve taken time to fully think through your budget, you are setting yourself up for a frustrating planning process. It's super easy to get aggravated early in the process when you realize you may not have the money to do what you want. So let's avoid that frustration because after all, it's a wedding and it's supposed to be fun!   Lastly, when looking for a venue, be careful not to be overly “wooed” by ancillary perk offerings. You’ll want a venue that provides things like, tables, chairs, basic linens, as well as set-up of all those things. Possibly an in-house sound system, kitchen, bridal/groom suites, vendor greenroom, ample (even overnight) parking, venue manager, maximum rental times, etc. You want perks that help cut costs from other vendors to make the venue price worth it. Offerings like “a scenic view”, camp fire pit, soft seating, video screens for the couple’s monogram/slideshow/etc., kids play area, AC/heat, access to a vendor list…those items don’t add real value, they are marketing/selling points, nothing more. You want perks that help cut costs in other areas.   When it’s all said and done, being venue poor is a real thing and a lot of couples unfortunately fall prey to this industry issue. Remember when you start your planning, always start with a comprehensive budget, which will serve as a road map to guide you along your planning path. Once you have that, let’s go select a venue responsibility so you can thoroughly enjoy planning with your partner and your families. Taking a practical and responsible approach to your planning will ensure you don’t end up “venue poor”. After all, we want to help make sure you’ve got money left over for your new future!   Need help thinking through your budget even deeper? Check out HOW TO CREATE A WEDDING OR EVENT BUDGET in our Blog library! Or if you want help and are ready to get started, reach out to Plan It With Me today! No time to read but still interested in this topic? Click to enjoy Episode 40 of Lifting the Veil where we learn "What It Means to be 'Venue Poor".

You're in love, ready to celebrate and throw the party of the year, so it's time to pick a date and start planning. Before you get too far, let's discuss our 5 Tips to Avoiding Unethical Vendors and shady people in the wedding/event industry. If you try to go it alone, you may feel just that...alone. We always recommend finding someone to help guide you along the way. Not just to make things easier but to help you NOT get taken advantage of. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unethical people in the world. And when you think about vendors serving the wedding market, you would assume everyone is on the up-and-up, right? Nope! Over the years, we've learned that there's not just one type of unethical business. It typically involves a person or persons, and not necessarily the business as a whole. But it can be both, so you have to be on the look out. After 16 years in the industry and keeping a watchful eye over our highly coveted preferred vendor list , we consider ourselves "in-the-know" of who to steer clear of and who's the "best of the best" to work with. This is where the right planner, or network of people can be the game changer you've been looking for. So let's jump in and explore the top 5 ways to help avoid problematic vendors in the wedding and event industry. While these tips apply to couples looking for their dream-team, they can also easily apply to your every day life. These are all around good practices to exercise before you give someone your hard-earned money. 5 Tips to Help Avoid Unethical Vendors & Shady Money Grabbers 1. Shop Word-of-Mouth Before you reach out to the random vendor that The Knot or Google recommended to you, ask your network of friends. Word-of-mouth is always the best way to find your vendor source because you are able to talk to someone first-hand that has already used that service prior to you. This way you can ask honestly what someone liked, didn't like, how smooth the process was, was the service worth it, and were they a good overall hire. While online resources will help recommend, truly nothing beats a word-of-mouth recommendation. 96% of our clients are recommended by other couples, family members and vendors in the industry. Now that's something to talk about! 2. Research, Read and Review for Yourself Even though that vendor might have been referred to you, it's a good idea for you to do your own due diligence and research for yourself. We recommend doing all the creeping that you can. Google Reviews, Yelp, The Knot, Wedding Wire, Zola, Party Slate, and the good old-fashioned Better Business Bureau give you lots of vehicles for research. Drop that vendor's name into each one of these platforms and see if they come up and what others have to say. As you find the vendor on these sites, be sure to read the good, the bad and the ugly. If someone has all 5-stars, great...but are they hiding something, did they pay to get the bad reviews taken down (you can't pay for reviews to be removed from most sites but you can on Yelp, so be aware) or are those legit great reviews? That's where it's good to look at mulitple platforms. When bad reviews show, read them for depth. Was the customer mad for a reason or did they not understand what they purchased vs. the service they received. Don't rely on just the "star" ratings at a high level. Dig in a bit and get a full understanding. After you've done that, you can always ask vendors that you do trust, if they know anything about the vendor in question. Most are happy to share their insight and perspective, and if you already trust who you're talking to, chances are you can trust their input. Other points to consider: How long have they been in business? Where is the main office located? Is there team made up of sub-contractors or are they actual employees? Are they licensed to do business in the city? State? Do they have a COI ( Certificate of Insurance )? Hot Tip: If they don't, stop there and avoid at all costs. This is a BASIC business practice and all business should have this regardless. How long did it take them to respond to your initial inquiry? Hot Tip: We believe strongly all inquiries and general outreach should be responded to in an 8-hr business day. Even if it's to say, "We got your email but we're jammed up or out of office, and we'll get right back to you tomorrow.", there's no reason they should respond same day. Communication is always key!! How do they handle the questions you did ask? Did the conversation flow well or did the vendor seem annoyed? 3. Have a Live Discussion You've created a list, checked them out online, and now you're ready to have a live discussion. We recommend doing this in person or via Zoom, Google Meets or FaceTime at a bare minimum. Live discussions, not just a phone call, will give you a much better sense of their ability to answer hard questions one-to-one. It'll help you get a sense of how well you will work together, and if they are being "shady", it'll likely come through stronger on a live virtual call rather than a phone call. 4. Ask for a Written Quote and a Contract Next, ask for a written quote and a contract. These are also basics. A good vendor should be able to outline the exact services they are providing to you, along with a contract of what happens when, where, and how, and it should contain information about how they will mitigate issues along the way. This is also a good time to ask about that COI if you didn't ask about it before. Basic business practices should never be overlooked. This is also where we will warn you against hiring friends or family members to do certain things for you at your wedding. Got a friend that wants to perform your ceremony, as long as your religion permits it, fine with us. Got a friend that wants to do your flowers, DJ or Emcee your event, we're going to tell you that's a bad idea. As a matter of fact, we believe so strongly that it's a bad idea that we won't even work with friend and/or family vendors any more. We've seen it go wrong too many times and we've learned the hard way. No matter how you think it will be fine, and whatever bad thing we've experienced in the past won't happen to you...trust us, it will. Always does....so stick with the pros! 5. Listen to Your Gut This may seem somewhat obvious but it's oh, so true. Listen to your gut. If you've gone through all the processes above, done your due diligence, gotten the contract and the perfect price point quote but something still doesn't feel right, then you need to listen and go another route. It may be something as little as you didn't feel like you meshed well, or maybe that vendor said something to raise a flag or give cause for pause. If you can't get passed it, we say let it go and find someone else. Your gut will rarely be wrong, so trust your instincts. Keep in mind there are several factors and gut feelings to pay attention to as you go but with the right guidance and awareness, you can keep yourself protected. And as always, we recommend getting someone on your side, like a planner. Hiring a wedding (or event) planner will ensure you have someone looking out for all of your best interests. If you decide to go it alone, know that we're here if you change your mind but in the meantime, follow the steps above. Lastly, if you're looking for more helpful tips and information, be sure to tune into our Podcast, " Lifting the Veil ", where we touch on a variety of topics on a weekly basis. If you'd like to listen to episodes relating to selecting vendors, unethical practices, how to vet and hire your vendors, and more, click below or tune in to your favorite provider by CLICKING HERE and join us as we "lift the veil" on the wedding world. Episode 021: Unethical Business Practices in the Wedding & Event Industry Episode 006: Hiring Your Planner Episode 006: Timing of Hiring Vendors Episode 002: How To Vet and Hire Vendors Happy Planning!

You've got the dress, now it's time for alterations and getting it prepped for bustling. Here we will discuss the most popular bustle types and tips to know for each. First thing first, does your dress need a bustle? Best way to determine this is, does it drag the ground? If so, then yes; otherwise, you'll be stepping on it and fighting with the train throughout the night. And no one wants that. Even if you intend to change dresses and slip into something more comfortable for the party part of the reception, you'll still need to consider a bustle to get you through the early parts of the reception. This includes being announced into the ballroom, your newlywed first-dance and making your way around the space to visit guests. Most brides tend to be confused by the bustle process. How do I know which type is best? Who will bustle the gown during the night? How much will it cost to add a bustle? Well fret not, there are a couple of tips to help guide the process. What Is a Wedding Bustle? Bustling a dress refers to the process of altering a bridal gown to function as if it had no train. This is done by fastening the train to the back of the dress so that a bride can walk freely without tripping over her ensemble throughout the night. And, contrary to popular belief, this type of alteration isn't solely reserved for wedding gowns. Any dress that is floor length can be bustled to create a shorter hemline to make it easier to move in your gown throughout the designated event. Should I Budget for a Bustle? Absolutely! Good news is this fee is typically lumped in when you schedule to get your dress for alterations. Most dresses, not all but most, require some type of alteration. Whether it's to adjust the hem, bring in the waist, let out the waist, bust, etc., one should always account for adding a bustle to the price point...again, assuming that your dress has a train and you don't want to fuss with it throughout the night. How Much Should I Budget? That depends on a lot of factors? How much alteration is needed? What part of the dress is being altered? How many layers need to be altered. Where bustles are considered, the final price will ultimately depend on how many bustle points, and what type of bustle you need. In general, the cost of adding a bustle to your wedding dress can range from $50 to $300. Then consider the fact that most basic alterations are around $350, you'll need to estimate - on the high end - roughly $650 on top of what you already spent for the dress, to have it altered and bustled for your big day. If no alterations are needed other than to add a bustle, then you are back to the $50-$300 range depending on type and bustle point. What if My Bustle Breaks? Regardless how your seamstress stitches your bustle, almost every single one will break or a stitch will pop at some point during the night. We always recommend reinforced stitching for bustles. If your planner goes with you to your appointment, they should do this for you. If you are going it alone, be sure to ask for a reinforced bustle. This is most important on the American bustle...but we'll get into that in a moment. If your bustle breaks during the night, a small sewing kit or a large safety pin will be your best friend. If you have a planner, again, they should handle this for you...see picture to the right. We've fixed our fairshare of bustles. This repair actually took place during the Best Man and Maid of Honor toasts and not one of the guests knew it. We stitched it up and crawled away. Just remember, whey you Plan It With Me, you plan it the right way ;) If you don't have a planner, make sure to pack a sewing kit and a handfull of large safety pins. For a quick-fix, simple use the safety pin and pin from underneath the dress. This will ensure maximum coverage and minimize the visibility of the pin. Types of Bustles & Ease of Use American Bustle - Easy By far the easiest of the bustles, an American bustle (also known as an over bustle) has 1-5 hook points scatter throughout the waistline of the dress. The most common is 3 and makes this the easiest of all trains to bustle. AustrianBustle - Moderate While not the most common, this style is gaining popularity due to it's unique and eye-catching shape. To achieve this style, your seamstress will softly gather fabric down the back middle of the gown, connected to an internal ribbon or cord and pull to create a vertical ruching appearance. French, Victorian, or Under Bustle - Difficult A French bustle (also known as a Victorian bustle or under bustle) is most popular with gowns that have a more natural waistline. This type of bustle is the reverse of the American bustle. It hooks pick up the train of the gown, and tuck under the silhouette itself. Most commonly, this is done with color-coded or numbered ribbons to secure the fabric and have numerous pick-up points. The French bustle is the most difficult when seamstresses use the number system. If you are looking at this type of bustle, we highly recommend the color-coding process to speed the process during your event. When a bride has this type of bustle, we typically allocate 15 minutes for bustling. At the end of the day, it comes down to communication...like everything else. Speak up and be sure to talk to your seamstress about your dress type and be honest/direct about your budget. Having this conversation before you begin the pinning process of securing your alterations will help you be prepared for what to spend, and help you adjust if you need to, to stay within budget. And remember, if you are looking for an advocate to help make the most of your wedding planning process, reach out today to Plan It With Me ! We'll guide you along the way in all things wedding and event. Happy Planning! Blog Graphic Image by: Marriage Celebrant DJ-MC