The Knot Texas Magazine needs your help!

Knot Justine

Hey, Texas brides!

The Knot Texas Magazine is looking for insider tips from local brides. As you are planning (or planned!) your wedding, what is some of the best advice you have garnered that you can pass on to other brides in your area?

Topics could include:

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.

2. Secret local spots that made for gorgeous photos.

3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.

Leave your tip below and you might see it show up in our fall/winter issue!

TIA!

DFWIndian

Stephanie -- I think you would be the best person to do this!! I'll think of some and get back to it.

bsn1752

1.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - I've never been more excited about a vendor as I am about Melody and Memories DJ Service.  She serves as so much more than a DJ for me and the other lovely ladies on this board.  I can ask her for honest feedback on my ideas, recommendations for other vendors in this area or we can just talk about whatever I need help with.  She always seems to be 2 steps ahead of me and always with a smile on her face!

3.  Something that I am SO THANKFUL for: stumbling upon for wedding planning in this area are The Knot boards - mainly the Dallas Fort Worth one.  I can count on these ladies to be my sounding board for wedding ideas and to be my friend when I need it.  I wouldn't be able to plan a wedding half as great as I have if its wasn't for these boards, and the brides on it.  I just hope that I can be as helpful and polite as they have been for me!

fallbride1109

3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.
I really wish I had known about all the great bridal shops in Dallas, even for those with small dress budgets.  Even though there is nothing wrong with chain stores, don't automatically think that that is your only option!  

But seriously,  the best advice I can give is to check out the DFW board on The Knot!  I could not have planned my wedding without it!

NMac2010

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.The Country Abbey-our venue. They made the whole process leading up to the wedding day very seamless for me. I never stressed about things coming together, because I knew they had everything under control. They're great people, and they treat you like you're the only bride getting married there!
The Cozy Cakery-our cake ladies! They were wonderful as well. They did everything for us. They brought the cake tasting to our home, they came to pick up the deposit, and they made us feel like they were going to go above and beyond to give us the cakes that we wanted. They surpassed our expectations. 

3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.
I wish I had joined The Knot community sooner than I did! These ladies helped me through a lot of things and I couldn't have gotten through the process as sanely as I did without them! It's a great resource, and it's all at your disposal! For free!

DFWIndian

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.

I love my photographer, Monica Salazar. She did my Formal Engagement before we booked her for the wedding and the pictures were amazing.  She has done a great job with everything we've done with her and she completely worked with our budget. I was able to meet her family they are wonderful as well.
2. Secret local spots that made for gorgeous photos.

We are planning to go Lancaster Rd in Fort Worth. They have great rustic views and you can get some great shots.
3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.
I honestly wish I knew about the DFW community before I started planning. I had quite a bit already booked before I joined the group. Since I joined the girls have helped with everything else in my wedding and I couldn't be happier with my choices!!!

TexanTreasure08

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.

I LOVE my photographers, McGowan Images! Chelsea is always helpful and very quick to respond when I have a wedding question, even when it's not related to photography! I would be so lost & overwhelmed without her help. They're also amazing photographers.

danac2010

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.
My Caterer was Nice Guys Catering.  Tarrah was amazing!  We knew we wanted BBQ for our buffet and they made one of the best briskets I've ever had!!!  They made enough food for 200 people and we only had a little over 100 guest and we had no left overs!  She even did our cake cutting for us.  She was so sweet and easy to work with.  On the day of she came to me to make sure I didn't need anything from her and helped set up the finishing touches I had brought with me the day of.  She made our day so much less stressful!

2. Secret local spots that made for gorgeous photos.

Downtown Grapevine has some really neat places for pictures.  They have a gazebo, benches, a vineyard, sidewalk shops, and even a mural painted on the wall.


3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.
That there are so many different bridal stores.  I knew of some but I wish I had done more dress shopping.  I went to one store and I feel in love with my dress.  I don't regret my dress at all but I wish I had gone to a few more stores. 

Also this website is a life saver!  I had choosen some of my bigger vendors by the time I discovered The Knot but I was so glad I found this site and some of my other vendors.  The girls were a very big help throughout the whole planning process!

carmen9311

1. 

I love my florist, Junior, with Garden Gate Floral Design. He's amazing. He doesn't help with just your flowers; he helps with the entire look of your wedding. Every time I meet with Garden Gate, they take so much time to help me with every aspect of my wedding... even helping me pick out tuxes for the guys! It's been so helpful to work with such a great florist who can show me different options I would have never thought of. 

llc2011

1. Amazing vendors that made your planning go much more smoothly.

Our photographer Lynn Michelle has been amazing!!  She didn't look at us like we were crazy booking in 2009 for a 2011 wedding.  She was one of our first vendors booked and was able to give advice for other vendors.  She thought of a wonderful location to showcase our travel theme in our engagement pictures and truly shares in our excitement for the big day!

3. Things you wish you had known about planning a wedding in your area.  

You definitely need to check out the local boards!  If it weren't for the local boards, we would have booked another vendor who we did not click with as much as Lynn Michelle.  The local boards have helped me with so many vendors selections, and it's so great to read vendor reviews from real local brides. 

bobbileighb

1. Our photographer has been the single best decision we have made.  Chelsea and Mack of Mcgowan images are so much more than photographers.  Being new to the DFW area I was clueless so Chelsea found the perfect place for our engagement pictures.  She has been a sounding board for all things wedding not just photography, including time-lines, other vendors and even personal advice.

2. Granbury, TX was suggested by our photographer Mcgowan images and it was the perfect location.  They have a very retro looking downtown area but also have a man made beach and pier that was an amazing combo for our engagement photos.

3.  I definately recommend the local boards more than half of my vendors have come from suggestions on this board that I never would have found on my own.  You can get real feedback from girls who have used the vendors you are looking into and get honest feedback.

bethlovesjim

2. Secret local spots that made for gorgeous photos:
Fair Park in Dallas is a great place to take gorgeous photos.  This landmark in the heart of Dallas invokes many happy memories of the State Fair, visits to all of the museums, gardens and the Cotton Bowl.  My favorite pictures have the iconic Texas Star Ferris wheel in the background, but there are so many spots within the park that make for great photo ops.  For someone who truly loves Texas, this is the place to have your picture taken!

MLandCJ

My hidden place for photography is Downtown Waxahachie. All within a few blocks this hidden gem of a town showcases a vintage train station with tracks, historical homes, old bridges, wide open fields and a charming downtown area.

My favorite part of planning the wedding has been my local boards. I've learned so much from these girls. They've inspired, encouraged and been there for me through everything. They are amazing. It scares me to think what my wedding would have been without these boards.

Hands down and without a doubt the Bridal Blossom has been my favorite vendor. Ironically, I met her at The Knot Bridal Beauty Event. She offers her honest advice and isn't at all pushy. She actually listens to my thoughts and ideas. She is such a creative person and you can really tell LOVES what she is doing.

its apelila

One of the most helpful things I've done is to number my RSVP cards.  I got my first one back the other day that just had an Accept checked, and nothing on the envelope except the postmark.  But because I'd numbered them, I could go back to my list and see exactly who #32 was.