Moving to Dallas

solr111 · March 2010

My fiance got a job in Dallas, and it looks like we'll be moving there (from Los Angeles). Our wedding is in Los Angeles in November, so on top of all the other stuff I'm really worried about (not knowing anyone in Dallas, adjusting to a new place, etc...) I also have to figure out how to plan a wedding long distance! Have any of you guys done something like this before?

Thanks so much!

mralpha · March 2010

Congratulations. I originally was having my wedding in Boston but just didn't have any luck researching things up there without actually seeing it. So we decided her in Dallas where we live. If you have already planned a lot already there then I bet it won't be a problem. I was starting from scratch viewing thing over the interenet trying to make a small list so I could fly up there to visit. Then I realized that it was out of my budget to make all those trips to Boston to plan a wedding.

Do you have family there to help? That also would be great for you. I say you can do it just get all your ducks in a row if you can before you leave.

solr111 · March 2010

Yeah, we're going to try to do as much as possible before the move. (Photographers, videographers, DJs), and the invitations and things like that I can do once we move. I'm not sure what to do about the dress though. I've already seen options here in LA that I like, and it would be great not to have to ship the dress over, but then I also think it would be convenient to be able to do all the alterations in the place I live. (Although I have to confess I"m not even sure how many alterations are "normal!")

madiandcindy · March 2010

Yes! I am originally from LA also and l live in DFW. Let me know if you need any help, I will be glad to help you out any way I can! Where in LA are you having your wedding?

tc1016 · March 2010

I just moved to Dallas from Boston, and my wedding is in Rhode Island, where I'm from originally. Planning long distance is definitely harder! The only thing you really NEED to do face to face (in my opinion) is meet your vendors. I don't know if this helps, but here are the things I'm doing on the 2 trips to RI between now and October --

June - visit venue to see table set ups, flowers, talk logistics (this is something that we could have skipped), make up trial, hair trial, visit tux shop to preliminarily pick out FI and groomsmen's tuxes, visit hotel to see the suite I'll get ready in and our room for wedding night (could have skipped this too)

September - FI is coming with me this time, and we'll do our tasting and confirm the tux decisions.

If you can get your vendors set before your move, you could probably make due with just one more trip back to LA for your tasting and last minute details. Good Luck!

t

solr111 · March 2010

We're trying to do as much as possible before we go, but there's really not a lot of time left. But those are great suggestions. Thanks! My FI is actually originally from Boston too!

If you don't mind my asking, how have you found the transition to Dallas? I'm a bit worried about the culture shock....

doubleH2010 · March 2010

Ha, ha....there will definitely be a culture shock! I am from Dallas, but moved to Orange County for a couple of years. It was certainly a culture shock going that way as well. We are friendly in Texas so you have that at least! I hope you like it when you get here.

My co-worker is planning a wedding in Florida from Dallas. She has a wedding planner in Florida and that has made things much easier. If it is in the budget it could help a lot.

Jay+Marissa · March 2010

I'm from Dallas, but I've pretty much been planning this wedding for the past two years from Oklahoma. It's not so bad--utilize this board!

By the way...you are going to LOVE the cost of living here

solr111 · March 2010

Hi madiandcindy,

Just in case you didn't get my message, I definitely wanted to thank you for your suggestions and help offer, that would be great! (Plus it would be so nice to make a friend!)

We live in the Valley, but we're getting married in Simi Valley. Where in LA are you guys from originally?

solr111 · March 2010

doubleH2010,

How was Orange County? I'm definitely excited about meeting new people, I keep hearing about how friendly everyone is! And if you guys are any indication, that's true!

We have a "Day Of" coordinator that's provided by our venue, but I don't think that will help much in the way of all the other organizing. I guess I'll have an excuse to come back here to visit!

solr111 · March 2010

Jay+Marissa,

So you're planning a Dallas wedding from Oklahoma? Are you able to go often to Dallas to plan things? Also, when are all your weddings? Our is in November, and I'm hoping that's enough time!

Jay+Marissa · March 2010

Yeah, but I'm only in school in Oklahoma, and it's only a 3 hour drive, so it isn't that bad. I got most of the vendors booked last summer when I was in Dallas for an internship and during Christmas break.

My wedding is June 12, and I've been planning it for 2 years, so really, I guess I've had it easy!

solr111 · March 2010

That's great. Hope it all works out for you!

doubleH2010 · March 2010

solr,

Orange County was nice, but expensive. The cost of living is MUCH cheaper in Texas.

Hopefully your day-of coordinator can help out more than expected. We have one provided by our venue as well and she has been really helpful. Definitely looks like you will get a couple of trips back to CA though!!

When are you moving to Dallas?

Terriniski · March 2010

Sorry for the belated reply - I don't get to check in often.

I planned my Orange County wedding from Dallas. We made one trip out to CA in which we tried two caterers and two cake places (and we were lucky that in each case we liked one very much). Apart from that, I did everything remotely with a little bit of help from some family and friends.

A couple of thoughts:
- In trying to get as much done as you can before you leave, focus either on items that are high priority or that you really have to be there to get a feel for the product. For us, food was a high priority and I wanted to know what the food tasted like. Flowers were not a high priority, so I wasn't very particular and I was able to settle things with a florist via email and sending pictures back and forth. I didn't meet my florists until a few days before the wedding, and they ended up being one of my favorite vendors - so don't fret too much.

- With the dress, you could contact some bridal shops here and ask if they carry the dresses you are interested in getting. I bought my dress here and did my alterations here, which worked well. And then on the trip out to CA the flight attendants let me store the dress up at the front of the plane and I had it steamed in CA. I worried a lot about traveling with the dress, but it worked out very easily.

- If multiple trips back to CA aren't possible for you (as they weren't for me), consider adding additional days to your trip before the wedding to get kinks worked out. I met with each of my vendors the week before the wedding, even if there wasn't much that needed to be settled by that point. It just made me feel more comfortable that everything was organized.

Good luck!

solr111 · March 2010

doubleH2010,

Moving to Dallas next month, so let me know if you want to grab a coffee and chat weddings anytime after that!

When is your wedding?

Terriniski,

Thanks for the info. It definitely helps to know that things can be done long distance without too much of a hassle. We're meeting with photographers and videographers this week, trying to get at least that part done. We'd like to do DJs too, but I don't know how much more time we'll have. The rest, like you said (flowers, invitations, etc..) I think I can manage from Dallas. And it's so good to know that you were able to transport the dress so easily. That was one of my biggest concerns.

How did you do music? Did you hire them from Dallas? Or during one of your trips to California?

Thanks again!

Terriniski · March 2010

When it comes time to fly back to CA with your dress, get to the airport early and check in at the gate to let the gate attendant know you're traveling with your wedding dress and would like to put it up front. Once first class checked in, they let me on the plane to store my dress before anyone else got on. No problems whatsoever!

We had to use the musicians at our church, but DH went back and forth with the choir director quite a bit over the selection for the ceremony (all over email). He picked some complicated music, and he intended to ask for a demo tape (not sure he ever did) - that would be one way to make sure you get what you want.

We had an early afternoon reception that didn't have much structure, so we didn't hire a DJ. We rented audio equipment from the same place that did our tables and chairs, and we set that up so that we could play music from a laptop and use microphones for the toasts. It worked ok, but if you're looking to get people dancing I definitely recommend getting a DJ.

In terms of finding a DJ (or other vendors) - never underestimate the power of a good referal. I expect that most women want other women to have the best experience for their weddings, so if you come up with good questions to ask other brides you can get a good feel for vendors. Personally, I would give endless praise to the vendors I loved, and I would be honest about the "just ok" nature of some of my other vendors. So strive to find people whose references are excited about sharing their positive experiences.

Good luck!

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