Dallas Arboretum Wedding

There’s something about coral that just brings a smile to my face — and all the better when it’s paired with gold! Erin and Alex‘s wedding was the perfect blend of glitz and laid-back, keeping an elegant aesthetic while still making guests feel at home and welcome to let loose. Naturally, it couldn’t have been done without the talented team of Amy Zumwalt Photographers, Sweet Pea Events, and We + You Studios!

From the bride, Erin: Our wedding was held at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens… at first I couldn’t quite put a name on the style I was envisioning but after perusing a few wedding blogs (and Pinterest of course), Rustic Glam seemed to strike a chord with me! I wanted something romantic without going overboard on ruffle, and something very down to earth. Alex is from England (just west of London) and I’m from the Midwest (small town Illinois). We are truly a very laid back couple that enjoys having a really fabulous time no matter where we go… usually involving great food, great drinks and great friends… Therefore, in terms of atmosphere, we truly just wanted everyone to have a freakin’ blast! Our guests came from as far away as Australia, Thailand, London, Mexico, Canada, and all over the US… and we wanted to throw an absolutely amazing party! We wanted everything to flow seamlessly without anyone else having to lift a finger!

We knew the Arboretum itself would provide a gorgeous natural backdrop and we wanted something that would not only flow with all of the greenery, but also give a bit of edge… a bit of POP and glam. Ivory, Coral and Gold became our colors and I instantly fell in love with everything that entailed! The boys wore charcoal grey, plaid suits with coral accents as this seemed to flow perfectly! In terms of DIY, I may have gone slightly overboard… the following things were put together by the bride (and in some cases, a few helpful crafty hands): gold dipped jars of all sized for the centerpieces/ floral displays, gold sequined LOVE sign by the coffee table, ribbon wands with gold, coral and lace ribbon (for the send-off), gold painted frames with (non-cliche) quotes about love to adorn the reception tables, The Menu Chalkboard as well as Bar Menu (“Wet Your Whistle”) Chalkboard and smaller board for the Polaroid Guest Book Instructions, the coral & gold table numbers, the wine cork place card holders, and the gold flecked seating arrangement board/ chart. We also utilized Etsy for the following personalized additions: “Deep in the heart of Texas” Koozies as favors (in coral and charcoal), our fabulous “infographic” programs, ivory napkins with “Best. Day. Ever.” gold foiling, “Just Married” sign for the getaway town car, personalized handkerchiefs as thank-you gifts for our parents, gold/peach teardrop earrings for the bridesmaids, and engraved wine box for our “wine box” unity ceremony.

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Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? While I planned a good deal of the wedding, I did give Alex his respective duties (DJ, Transportation, Lighting, etc). Even though we had our own “jobs”, we would still sit down together very often and go over what the other person was thinking and the progress we were making. I was very impressed with how much help Alex was and his ability to help me through a tough decision when I got stuck… so I guess the moral of the story is don’t think your groom doesn’t want to be involved – he may even be really proud of the help he provides! Also, when dealing with vendors you have to realize that they are most likely involved in many many many weddings over the course of the year or over the course of their existence as a company but that does not mean that they do not have to provide you with 100% personal service. This is your ONE wedding – I’m not saying “try to be as difficult as possible” but if there’s something you want, ask for it. You are paying for their services and they should be happy to oblige if your request within reason. For brides who aren’t so DIY themselves: Did you know that most stores in the mall are willing to donate or sell you their displays when they are finished with them? If you catch a display you absolutely love (think Free People, Anthropologie, etc), it doesn’t hurt to ask when they will be taking the displays down and how you can go about getting your hands on those little beauties! It could give you the perfect touch you always wanted!

Wedding Music:
Processional: “A Thousand Years,” Christina Perri
Recessional: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” Stevie Wonder
Bridal Party Entrance: “Higher & Higher,” Jackie Wilson
First Dance: “Have I Told You Lately,” Van Morrison
Bouquet Toss: “I Was Made For You,” She & Him
Last Dance: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” Whitney Houston

Wedding Location: Dallas, TX / Photographer: Amy Zumwalt Photographers / Event Planner: Sweet Pea Events / Floral Design: We + You Studios / Venue: Dallas Arboretum / Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige “Carrie” via Stardust Celebrations / Alterations: Lulu’s Bridal Boutique / Wedding Veil: ParisienneLuxe / Wedding Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Earrings and Bracelet: Nordstrom / Wedding Rings: Shapiro Diamonds / Makeup: Emily Ward / Caterer: Gil’s Elegant Catering / Wedding Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes / DJ and Marquee Lights: Nate Nelson of LeForce Entertainment / Lighting: A Very Special Day / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Programs: BisforBrown / Videographer: Memories Films