Here is a small list of my preferred vendors. We have worked together and they are professional, reliable and excellent in all that they do. Call them yourself or I can set up a private appointment for you to meet with these fantastic people. 

 Caterers, Cakes & Tasty Desserts: (YUM!)

Fast Freddie's BBQ     Tatering     Z's Catering     Heavenly Catering     Wendy Krispin Catering     Saucey's Catering     Patriotic Pig BBQ

At Your Service Catering     CN Catering     Daryl's By Design (located at the Dallas World Aquarium)     Succulent Cuisine

Low Country Cuisine     Uncle Willie's Pies      The London Baker      Opulent Cakes     Sugar Bee Sweets     Cakes by Design    

Creme de la Creme Bakery     Stephen's Sweet Sensations     Amuse Bake Shop     Cooper Street Bakery     Frosted Art Bakery    

Delicious Cakes - Southlake & Addison     Nothing Bundt Cakes     Candy Haven     Bee's Sweets and Treats     Sweet Things Bakery  

Arielle Stucliffe Cakes     Yelli Belli Chocolates & Liquid Nitrogen Iced Cream     Haywood Cotton Candy Catering

Photographers & Videographers: (Click, Click, Flash!)

Amy Karp Photography     Ben Q Photography     Evan Godwin Photography     Double You Photography     Washington Films    

Flashbox Photography     Hiram Trillo Art Photography     Jim Byrd Photography     Jim Rode Photographer      Becca Kratcht Photo

Lorena Burns Photography     SanMay Photography     Stephanie Brazzle Photography     Vanja D Wedding & Portrait Photographer

Moving Memories Video & Photo     Monica Salazar Photography     Video One Productions     Sky's The Limit Videography

Blue Scope Photography     Sarah Lanette Photo     Kelly Garsee Photography    Hannah Hays Photography     Jessica Rambo Photography

Amanda Raylee Photographer    Kalyn Shae Photography      Harmland Visions     Brad & Monica Wedding Films     Jeckyl Photo

Rebecca Blume Photography     Alison Paige Photography     Lynn Michelle Photography     Igor Wedding Photography

Justin Yoder Photography     Lyncca Harvey Photography     3 Birds Photography     Tara Arseven Wedding Photography

Reel Simple Studios     4500 Films     Absolute Photography     Izehi Photography     Angela Hackney Photography

Hair & Makeup: (Girl, You Look GOOD!)

Angie Williams - AW Wedding Hair & Makeup     Beauty and the Blush Hair & Makeup     Hair by Jessie B     Makeup Suspense

Pearls of Beauty     Artistry by Katie Anne      Makeup by Krista Ann     Erin Blair Makeup & Hair     Lip Service Makeup

Steel Magnolias Hair Studio      Gorgeous by Destini     Samira's Henna Designs - Dallas

DJs & Live Music: (Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance!)

DJ Jason Esquire     DJ Way Good     Everlasting Sounds DFW     Randal Stout Entertainment     It's Your Night DJ     The Jam Wows

Next Level Entertainment     Party with Pete     The Pictures Band     Margaret Atkinson Harpist     Serenata Strings     Your DJ Online

All Access DJ     DJ XP     LeForce Entertainment     JPC Mobile DJ Services     Forerunner Entertainment      Jay Fox Productions

All Things Elegant Entertainment     DJ Kelly Hooper     DFW Parties Rod Baker     Nick DiGennaro Jazz & Classical Guitarist

Don't Tell Mama Band     A Very Special Day     My DFW DJ     David Allen Events      David Carr Jr. Jazz Saxophonist

Venues: (See also local/state parks, community centers and some hotel chains for brides on a budget)

 The Dallas World Aquarium     Reunion Tower     Old Red Museum     City Place     Ruthe Jackson Center     The Springs - DFW Locations

The Room on Main     809 at Vickery     Tower Club     Stonebridge Wedding & Event Venue     Willow Creek     Classic Oaks Ranch

Magnolias in Downtown Kaufman     McKinney Cotton Mill     Piazza on the Green - McKinney    Piazza in the Village - Colleyville

White Chapel Estate & Gardens     Special Moments Chapel     Bella Donna Chapel at Adriatica     Marty Leonard Community Chapel

City Club Dallas     The Orchard     Deer Cove     A&M Gardens     Northeast Wedding Chapel     Frisco Heritage Center     Hall of State

theSPACE     DEC on Dragon    The Milestone     Walters Wedding Estates     The White Sparrow    Chapel Creek Ranch     Red Barn Events

The Grove in Aubrey    Little Chapel in the Woods    Dove Ridge Vineyard    Oak Knoll Ranch    Hollow Hill Event Center     Sanford House

The Ranch at Walnut Creek     Willow Lake Event Center     Ridglea Theater     OW Ranch     Barn on the Brazos     Lost Oak Winery

Modeana Ranch     Villagio Resorts     The Oaks Event Center     Aristide - Mansfield     Walnut Creek Country Club     Bob Duncan Center

The Haven at Highpointe     The Manderley     Skyline Ranch & Event Center     The Filter Building     Winfrey Pointe    Lofty Spaces

Hickory Street Annex     7 for Parties     Aloft Hotel     The Adolphus     The Venue at 400 North Ervay     Magnolia Hotel Dallas

Quixotic World     The Oasis Ballroom     The Grand Finale Banquet Center     La Cima Club     Sheraton Dallas     Fairmount Hotel Dallas

F.I.G.     Brake & Clutch Warehouse     DoubleTree by Hilton     Richardson Women's Club     Noah's Event Venue     Event 1013

Celebration Event Center & Ballroom     Stonebridge Ranch & Country Club     El Dorado Country Club     Stone Crest Venue

La Cour Venue     Avalon Legacy Ranch     Green Gables House     Chandler's Gardens     Hidden Pines Chapel     Ashton Gardens

Bell Tower Chapel     The Rose Chapel     Brik Venue     Renaissance Worthington     City Club of FTW     The Castle at Rockwall

Historic 512     Hidden Creek     The Atrium - Garland     Poetry Place (Event Place on Main)     Fairmount Dallas     Perot Museum

Texas Star Hall - Corsicana     Lockhart Gables B&B     Cross Timbers Winery     Delaney Vineyards     The Reserve Banquet Hall

Extras: (More Fun Stuff)

North Texas Photobooth     Texas Photobooth Company     MiPhotobooth     Get A Honeymoon     Classy Concepts Bridal - Mansfield

Ava's Bridal Couture FTW     Bliss Bridal Salon     Anonymously Yours     LuLu's Bridal Boutique     International Suite Warehouse

Rent My Wedding     The Black Tux     Jos. A. Bank     Blue Diamond Limousines     Premiere Transportation     The Rolling Throne

AM Linen Rentals     Rent My Dust     The Red Chandelier     HD Liquid Catering     Black Tie Babysitting     JC Bartending Service

Quest Drape     Love Notes Officiants     That's My Chuppah     Mobile Petting Zoo     USA Sparklers     Pyrotex Fireworks

I Just Got Engaged, Now What?

Once the ring is on the finger, you've got to start doing your research to see what you like. There's endless variations of styles in the wedding industry.  



To gather ideas, I suggest the following websites to delve into:

The Knot

Wedding Wire

 *As a gentle warning, do not spend too much time on Pinterest.

This addictive place often gives Brides unrealistic expectations about weddings in general. Most of the photos are "staged" and cost a BIG chunk of change to produce.  It can be helpful for keeping track of nifty ideas, but don't invest whole heartedly in these ideas.



Pinterest = Bride's Frienemy 

(You've been warned!)

You've Set the Date, What's Next?

You have the date set, woohoo!

Now you need to book your venue (or find one with your date that's available) and sign that contract.

After booking your venue then you need to meet with potential vendors and see if your personalities click. It's important to hire vendors who are professional, licensed and/or insured and who understand what your looking for in a vendor.

Professional wedding vendors understand the importance of your wedding day where you have one shot to get it right.

Take your time during this process, because there are a lot of good wedding vendors out there, but the great ones take time to find.

You'll know it when you meet them: the connection will be instant and you'll leve with the warm fuzzies after you meet the perfect wedding vendor.