What’s a Bride to Do?

As we near the one-year anniversary of state-wide shutdowns and quarantines, brides in Texas find themselves once again facing the difficult question of how to move forward with their wedding plans. 

Should I even move forward? Is it safe for my grandparents to come? Planning a wedding in 2021 presents newly added levels to the stress that brides and grooms already go through when planning their wedding. 

 So, what’s a bride to do? 

 As of March 10th, 2021, masks will no longer by mandated by the State of Texas and occupancy levels are not required to be reduced. But COVID doesn’t exist in a vacuum of government regulations. Everyone knows that it’s still a “thing.” And remember, even though Texans are starting to get back to a semblance of normal life as vaccines roll out and we develop herd immunity, family and friends that may be attending your wedding from out of state may not feel the same level of comfort as you.  How do we cater to their needs? 

 1.     Give people an option on your R.S.V.P. cards. 

Many venues in Texas give couples the option to host an outdoor ceremony followed by an outdoor cocktail hour. I have worked multiple weddings during COVID where some of the guests came for the outdoor festivities and left before moving indoors for the dinner reception. But when a guest receives a R.S.V.P. card, their choices are typically black and white: are you “happily accepting” or “regretfully declining?”  These binary options stick brides and grooms with steep catering costs for guests that don’t stay for dinner. In order to counteract this new-found wedding quandary, we’ve started designing R.S.V.P. cards that give guests the option to choose which events they will be attending. I’ve found that oftentimes, guests appreciate knowing that there are parts of the festivities that are outdoors so they can be comfortable while still attending parts of your big day.

We would love to design something personalized and special for you. Get in touch with us here

2.     Sanitation stations, but make it cute 

I think by this point, we’ve all seen the cute Bath and Bodyworks hand sanitizer favors that people are giving out to guests. They have festive options for scents too. My favorite is and will always be “Champagne Toast,” but, as we all know, I’m the queen of wedding branding. There are so many great options for monogrammed disposable masks and custom labels for mini sanitizers. SPREAD LOVE, NOT GERMS! 

3.     VIP seating areas 

If you have certain guests coming to your wedding that are more at-risk for COVID (or any illness, really), consider including a VIP section at your reception. Give your special guests the social distance they require by placing their tables at a safe distance away from the rest of the guests. Depending on your budget, you could add in rope and stanchions or even a small pipe and drape on 3 sides of the table. Think VIP booths at a nightclub! My one piece of advice for brides and grooms that are considering this would be to ask your VIP guests if this is something they are comfortable with. No one wants to be sat away from the group unless they are ok with it first! 

4.     Take a deep breath and enjoy the planning process 

Planning your wedding is such a joyous time in your life. Unfortunately, when things start to feel out of control, the process can become quite cumbersome. Take a deep breath and remember to have fun with your partner while you plan out all the details of your big day. There are many steps that a couple can take to keep their guests as safe as possible! I promise that by making the extra effort to give your guests some safe options, they will be very appreciative, your love and commitment have gotten you this far. Trust in the undenied fact that love always prevails and wins. 

Floral Tips and Tricks

Flowers are my favorite part of wedding decor! The smell of lush and romantic garden roses floating through the reception hall…. SWOON. 

Unfortunately, many brides these days find themselves making tough decisions about what to cut from their wedding budgets, and sometimes, the floral budget can be one of the first things to decrease! 

I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to give up your wonderland of florals! There are so many tricks and fun ideas that can help stretch your budget and allow you to throw the soirée you’ve always dreamed of! 

Repurpose Repurpose Repurpose! 

There is no need to pay double for a set of ceremony flowers and a set of reception flowers. Consider ways to use the same florals for both. 

If you’re hosting a rustic, outdoor wedding, find a local rental company that rents out wine barrels. Most will cost you around $50 per barrel. Have your rental company place the wine barrels at the head of the aisle, and set your centerpiece on top for a pop of color and elegance as your guests enter the ceremony space. 

After the ceremony is over, have your coordinator or someone you trust move the florals from the wine barrels to a reception table.

If you’re getting married in a church, reach out to their wedding administrator to find out the rules for alter arrangements. Many times, churches will already have a couple of pedestals for you to place your floral arrangements on.  Designate a trusted family member or your coordinator to transport the arrangements from the church to the reception space where they can be reused as a table centerpiece. 

Designer Note: Don’t forget about bridesmaid bouquets! These too can be repurposed as a petite centerpiece. Try pairing it with a set of 3 floating candles in 5,7, and 9 inch glass vases to add some dimension. (Glass vases are available from The Dollar Tree!) 

Drink All the Wine (and Ginger Beer!) 

How much glass do we go thru on a weekly basis? What do you do with those bottles after you and your girlfriends “Rosé All Day?” Consider saving them and using them as bud vase centerpieces. 

Available online and in-store at Target and Total Wine, Gerard Bertrand’s “Coté des Roses” is a beautiful rosé from the South of France that comes in an even more beautiful bottle. A rose is etched into the bottom of the bottle which makes for a sparkly and fun vase that’s a little more ritzy that your average run of the mill wine bottle. 

Availability: Year Round     Price: $12.99 

During the holiday season, Trader Joes puts out a ginger beer that comes in the cutest emerald green glass bottle. Treat yourself after a long day of wedding planning with a spicy Moscow mule or this non-alcoholic twist on a mimosa. 

Lindsey at Yellow Rose Calligraphy based in Houston, Texas not only used these bottles as bud vases, but also used her skills to turn them into her table numbers as well! 

IG: @yellowrosecalligraphy

Availability: Seasonal     Price: $2.99 

Designer Note: In my opinion, the best flowers to use in a bud vase are ones with lots of light and airy petals. I recommend Lisianthus, Alstomeria, or Gerbera Daisies. Avoid varietals that are more ridged and stiff like a rose. 

Ask Your Venue For Centerpieces 

Throughout my years of wedding planning, I’ve found that many venues will oftentimes have a set of lanterns that you may use on the day of your wedding for free. 

There are so many great options for lantern/floral hybrid centerpieces all over Pinterest these days. 

I would advise you to take a small measuring tape with you up to the venue and measure the inside dimensions of their lanterns to know beforehand what you’re working with. 

Check your local craft stores for WET floral foam blocks (they can be cut down to size easily) and fill them with fresh cut blooms the night before the wedding. Once you arrive at the venue, all you have to do is pop them into the venue’s lanterns and you’re good to go! 

We love to be creative and find ways to save our brides money on their floral budgets. Send us a message and lets start planning your dream wedding! 

Aubrei + Johnny

Where to begin with this couple…. THEY ARE AMAZING!

I guess I’ll start at the very beginning. I’ve heard “Its a very good place to start” :)

I’ve planned a few weddings for people who work at a large tax accounting firm here in Houston. Word started to spread and soon I get an email from Aubrei about potentially planning her February 2020 wedding. We picked an intimate wine bar to meet and I sat at the door nervously waiting to see who would walk thru the door. Aubrei and Johnny come in with the biggest smiles and she automatically hands me a bottle of Rosé and Sour Patch Kids.

Aubrei and Johnny told me they weren’t looking to host a super traditional night for their guests. Aubrei said, “I just want there to be a lot of Lil Wayne and I expect to be twerking by the time the night is over!” As a fellow Lil Wayne lover, I knew we had to work together! I was off to search for a venue that was fun and not too stuffy.

We ended up finding the PERFECT place just down the road in Midtown. Nouveau Antique Art Bar has this amazing industrial chic feel. The ceiling is covered in multicolored Tiffany Lamps and there are a ton of cool antique furniture pieces all around the bar. They offer brides an amazing 6-hour wedding package with all-inclusive open bar packages that really can’t be beat. They were available on Leap Day 2020, which was Aubrei’s preferred date. We knew pretty much immediately that this was the place we needed to move forward with.

Pappa’s BBQ handled all the catering for the evening and they did such an amazing job. Their set up was so elegant. The food was super delicious as well! They handled a great appetizer set up of light bites and served the guests brisket and chicken from live carving stations. A great addition to “wow” your guests! Also - a moment of reverence for their Mac and Cheese, please. It was the best I’ve ever had. YUMMY!

DJ Kyle with DJU Entertainment handled all the music from the start of the ceremony to the grand exit. Some of the highlights definitely were an acoustic version of Lil Wayne’s Lollipop as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and Twerk by City Girls for the bouquet toss. If I never have to hear Single Ladies by Beyonce again, it will still be too soon.

Aubrei’s bouquets were designed by a family friend. The delicate babies breath and aromatic garden roses were so dreamy! She even made me a boutonniere and arrangement to take home to my apartment. I stopped to smell those roses for days after the wedding.

I also need to give a huge shout out to the wedding chapel at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center on the University of Houston’s campus. Finding a ceremony space can be hard. Johnny’s church was all the way out in Katy and the couple didn’t want to ask their guests to have to travel so far from one place to the other. U of H provides an amazing space available for public rent. There is so much natural lighting in the chapel and with the right photographer, you can really get some amazing pictures.

My BAE’s over at EVOKE Photography again pulled out all the stops and captured every moment of the event so well. The picture in the gallery below of Johnny the first time he sees Aubrie as she walks down the aisle is so beautiful. He’s full of emotion and it’s so palpable in the picture.

Leap day only comes but once every 4 years. I know in 2024 when we hit the 29th of February, I’m going to be have fun remembering this day. I even got to show off my rapping skills during 6 Foot 7 Foot…. BEST DAY EVER!

Congratulations Aubrei and Johnny! I’m so glad you both came into my life. Cheers to the rest of your lives and your first anniversary in 4 years! LOL

Victoria + Chayson

Almost 7 years ago, the first gala I ever planned from start to finish was a holiday party at The Bell T ower on 34th. Actually,  for 3 years in a row,  I had the pleasure of transforming the venue into many of my crazy and kooky visions.  The Bell Tower on 34th has been the backdrop for my 2013 Winter Wonderland, 2014 “Fire and Ice Gala” (LOL) and my 2016 Enchanted Garden Party.

In 2017, when I first started planning weddings on my own, my first wedding was at The Bell Tower. 

It’s a very special place to me for many reasons. I feel as though I’ve matured as an event planner here. I still laugh thinking about the DIY Centerpieces I had the audacity to bring into the venue for my Winter Wonderland party.  They were just wrapped boxes with sparkly Christmas bows. CRINGE! 

So when I first met Victoria, Chayson, and their amazing family I was so excited to hear that their wedding was going to be at the The Bell Tower. My favorite venue!

Victoria and Chayson are both so classically beautiful.  Seriously, every single snapshot of their day captured by EVOKE Photography, looked like a shot out of a bridal magazine. Their wedding was no exception. From start to finish it was so beautiful and the most perfect expression of the love shared between the two of them. 

I’ve been so blessed that about 80% of my brides book their all their floral designs through my team alongside their planning package. And Victoria and Chayson were no exception.  We adorned Saint Michael’s Catholic Church and the Bell Tower with the most gorgeous white Playa Blanca roses along with soft, pink Secret Garden roses accented with subtle sage silver dollar eucalyptus and green and white variegated pittosporum. Victoria carried big and bold white O’hara garden roses and delicate Majolika spray roses with pops of million star gypsum babies breath and eucalyptus. 

I love a live band at my weddings and The Royal Dukes did not disappoint. They provided the jazz trio for cocktail hour, the DJ music ambiance for dinner, and the 7-piece live band that rocked out anything from The Rolling Stones to Lizzo (!!!) 

I send as many brides as I can to Cakes by Gina. Not only do they always do a good job, but they’re YUMMY as well. One of my favorite appointments with a bride and groom is the cake tasting. For Victoria and Chayson, they provided the 5-tier wedding cake and also the Texas-sized grooms cake! Gig Em! 

Thank you to Victoria and Chayson and their entire family for allowing me to be a part of this spacial day. It was so wonderful to come back to the venue where it all started and really flex my wedding planning muscles a bit.  It’s been a long three and a half year journey…. And I’m so proud of what my team and I have accomplished. 

Vendor Love: Dee Rock TV

For my brides, videography has always been 50/50.

At the end of the day, I know that budget reigns supreme…. but videography and photography are something tangible you walk away with from your wedding. If you’re going to spend money, I suggest you allocate it here.

Coleen and Cruz chose the BEST videographer I’ve had the chance to work with… Chris de la Rosa… Dee Rock TV.

He caught all the beautiful moments of the day and edited them together in the most perfect package.

Enjoy the love and commitment that Chris edited together in a way to makes it all so palpable.

Coleen + Cruz

I have so many great stories throughout the years of how I have met all my beautiful, happy couples. I met Aurie 2 days post-Harvey cleaning out a flooded house. Erin Elizabeth found me…. well, I’ll let you guess how. LOL 

 

With Coleen, it goes back years. In another life I was a recruiter for an energy company here in Houston. Coleen walked into my office and told me about how she just moved to Houston from New Jersey to wait tables, but she was looking for more career advancement. Her infectious energy got me right away! I had to hire her. 

 

FAST FORWARD….

 

7 Years later, she’s now a top sales manager within the company. She’s kicking ass and taking names! She even met the love of her life at this company. *Enter Cruz* 

 

So, when Cruz and Coleen were finally engaged, she came to me in the most casual of ways,

 

 “Oh yeah… I meant to get with you about my wedding. Can you plan it?” 

 

This wedding was SO. MUCH. FUN. 

 

October 18th, 2019, one hundred guests descended upon The Farmhouse in Montgomery, Texas. To say this is my favorite venue in Houston is an understatement. The white, rustic shiplap is something straight out of a Joanna Gaines fever-dream. So beautiful. 

 

Erin Elizabeth Custom Events designed all her bouquets and centerpieces. On top of lush, ivory linens sat gold compote dishes of white Playa Blanca Roses and the fluffiest hydrangeas with pops of muted, sage greenery. We designed custom table numbers to match her seating chart and menu cards and adorned the tables with a curated mix of large and small mercury glass votives.

Goode Company catered beef and chicken fajitas much to the delight of Cruz’s South Texas family and Coleen’s clan from Philadelphia and South Jersey. 

 

Photographer Rachel Driskell captured the most amazing (seriously) photographs of the day while Chris de la Rosa of Dee Rock TV videoed all the exciting moments. 

 

Now, excuse me while I fangirl out over this vendor. Joe Figueroa of JA Entertainment was the most amazing DJ. His presence behind the microphone and DJ booth is second to none. He always knew the next song to play to keep the dance floor packed whether it was Selena’s Como La Flor or Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You.  Still scratching my head at the last one…. But hey, it’s the bride’s favorite song, and people got LIT! 

 

Well, we all know I’m a sucker for animals and luckily, so are Coleen and Cruz! But unfortunately, we weren’t able to get Chunky, Monkey, and Springer to the venue. BOO! But fear not, they were there in spirit behind the bar. We had their portraits made, and I printed them onto posters to be presented in The Farmhouse’s custom frames behind the bar. FUN FACT! A lot of past Farmhouse brides have paid hundreds of dollars to have an artist come on site the day of their wedding and paint their pets onto the chalk boards that usually sit in the frames. With the help of amazing vendors on Etsy and my printer, we did the whole project for less than $100 – and the bride and groom get to keep their portraits forever. 

 

This wedding was so much fun for me. Y’all know I’m a sucker for the décor – but the true magic of the day was the love between Cruz and Coleen. This wedding was years in the making, and I was so fortunate to have a front row seat to see it all play out. THIS is truly why I do what I do. All y’all lovebirds give me all the heart eye emoji feels. 

Marie + Michael

Every day I try to remember to count my blessings. I constantly have to pinch myself when I sit back and realize how lucky I am to be able to come to work every day doing something that I truly love and have a genuine passion for.

One of my favorite parts of the planning process is working with the bride and groom to pick out their venue. In my opinion, once you pick the backdrop for your day, everything else falls into place. Your venue sets the mood.

We are so lucky in Houston to have so many different types of venues so close to us. Whether you’re wanting a rustic, Joanna Gaines inspired oasis, or a beautiful, classic Gatsby-style soiree you’re sure to find something in the Houston area that fits your needs flawlessly.

Nestled next to downtown Houston in the once-forgotten warehouse district of First Ward sits The Astorian.

This chic paradise marries old and new, masculine and feminine, and hard and soft textures. Entertain your guests under marquee lighting and dance the night away with unparalleled views of the downtown skyline thru the antique paned glass that surrounds you.

On May 11, 2019 Erin Elizabeth Custom Events had the pleasure of helping Mike and Marie celebrate the first day of the rest of their lives at The Astorian.

Marie chose a classic color pallet of white, black, and gold. The tables were adorned with a mix of pure white Playa Blanca Roses and emerald greenery designed for the couple by our in-house floral designer.

EVOKE Photography was on hand to capture all the special moments between the couple and provide an heirloom album keepsake (included in their wedding package) for the couple to treasure for years to come.

Guests enjoyed a gourmet seated dinner that was flawlessly executed by the team at Cordua Catering and noshed on wedding cake from Houston legend Cakes by Gina.

Guy Branche, owner of DJU Entertainment, kept the beats flowing on the dance floor late into the night.

The Erin Elizabeth Custom Events Team had a blast at this wedding! The Astorian provided the most perfect backdrop, but the real magic was the love shared between Mike and Marie. Cheers to this sweet couple and thank you for allowing us to be a part of it all!

Kyle + Andrew