Planning Michelle's Wedding -Chapter 3-Color & Decor Ideas

Persimmon is the primary color for Michelle's October Country-Chic wedding coupled with accents of browns and greens for a warm Fall glow. Candles, rich linens and hanging lanterns will set the theme for her big day. The definition of a beautiful wedding, to Shenanigans Weddings and Events, is finding those unique touches that show the personalities of the Bride and Groom - accents that will set their day apart and create a fun celebration the guests will remember!


A sneak peak at one of Michelle's unique touches. We found this custom made "W" to symbolize the Bride & Grooms new married last name. The "W" will be one of the first decor items guests will see as they enter the ceremony site - the perfect way to honor the celebration of the marriage they are about to enter. The style of this letter is the perfect combination of rustic chic that fits in perfectly with the venue and decor - and will set the stage for the rest of the decor.

For more information on where you can find a letter such as this, or further decor and design ideas, contact kristen@shenanigansweddingsandevents.com.

Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 2 - The Wedding Budget

Even though deciding on the date and place really gets the wedding planning process off and running, the Wedding Budget should be the governing factor when a bride begins the planning process. Having a realistic goal in mind will help in every aspect of planning, and will help you focus your money on the things that are most important to you.

Michelle, a prepared girl by nature, came to our first meeting armed with a basic budget goal - a nice wedding for 75-100 people with great food, decor, drinks and entertainment for $10,000 or less, which means we will need to keep a close eye on every expenditure, and weigh each purchase carefully. I like to take the estimated goal and work backwards, subtracting along the way, so that we can see how much is left after the "want" list is plugged in, and determine ways to cut or eliminate as necessary. Helping massage the budget and negotiate the most for the money is a major benefit of hiring a professional wedding planner such as Shenanigans Weddings and Events.

A major piece of advice, other than knowing your budget, is being prepared with an amount you can spend on each item (such as flowers or photography) before you meet with the vendor. A quality vendor will steer you towards what will fit in your budget rather than trying to consume all your budget!

Next topic: Color & Decor Ideas

Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 1 - Date & Venue

After the ring, the two most common questions are "When do we get married?", and "Where do we get married?". Now of course, the wedding planner in me says, "Let's pick the date after we find the place", because I am saddened when one of my brides can't have the venue she has her heart set on. However, as a bride myself (a few moons ago), I started with the date because that's what I wanted, and when you are the bride what you want is what you get....or at least that is what we strive for!

When Michelle called and asked to meet with me, she actually already had both of these questions answered. Michelle is getting married in October, which just happens to be one of THE MOST POPULAR months for a wedding in the DFW area (note to future or the newly engaged... plan ahead if October is the month of your dreams). Michelle also had the venue, Austin Ranch in The Colony. A great find, and easy on the budget as well. The grounds are lovely and the space will beautifully accommodate an outside ceremony and an inside-outside reception.

A great start to the wedding vision - the perfect month, and the perfect setting for a rustic yet chic setting for City girl meets Country boy.

Stay tuned for our next topic: Chapter 2- The Wedding Budget

Plan a Wedding with Us!

Curious about the steps involved in planning a wedding? Do you need decor or venue ideas? Are you trying to stay within a budget? These are just a few of the many questions that arise when planning a wedding. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, we work with clients in every budget range. No matter what your budget is, each bride deserves the wedding of their dreams, and while not all of them can be "Platinum", all can be uniquely yours.

Meet one of my newest brides, Michelle. Michelle is a self-professed "laid back" kind of girl. The vision and inspiration for her wedding is the Town Mouse meets the Country Mouse - or, in this case, the City Girl and the Country Boy. Follow along as we go step by step through the wedding planning process. Michelle has a limited budget, so our goal will be to maximize her dollars spent toward the elements that are the most important to her!

Next topic: Date and Venue Selection

Mark your Calendars! Bridal Open House-May 16th , 12pm-5pm

Join Shenanigans Weddings and Events for a Bridal Open House to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Wedding Party Studio at their newest location in De Ma Fille Bridal Salon, 2964 Park Hill Drive, Ft Worth, TX.

There will be a feast of luxuries from your head to your toe(s)! Decor and design ideas, champagne, cake, spa treatments, exquisite bridal gowns and accessories, artistic renderings of your engagement rings and a chance to win a free honeymoon, just to name a few!

Best of all, meet the professionals that can take your dreams and turn them into your reality.

Top 5 reasons to use a Wedding Planner

Why use a wedding planner? Most Brides and Mothers of the Bride will begin the planning process without even considering using a planner. "I can plan this myself without incurring the planner's fee" is a common initial thought and comment we hear. What they don’t realize is that the
Average wedding takes over 300 hours to plan, and costs $30,000 (in the Dallas area). Even though these are averages, those numbers are staggering. A trained and reputable planner will most often:
-Receive preferred vendor discounts
-Negotiate better package/pricing rates
-Provide creative suggestions to make the most of your budget
-Suggest and provide proven quality wedding vendors
Wedding vendors are motivated to make sure they go the extra mile and provide quality service when a wedding planner is involved because they realize repeat business is what is at stake. In addition, you must remember that not all vendors are reputable - despite their claims. Experience and proven results are your best defense - and a wedding planner brings that to the table. When you consider what a planner can save you, its minor in comparison to spending thousands on a one time event and "hoping for the best". Shenanigans brings not only confidence and organization to your plans, but also a genuine concern and desire to help you achieve the day of your dreams!

What does a wedding cost?

We meet with so many brides that aren’t sure about their budget – and ask “What does a wedding cost?” Well, that question has more answers than there are days in a year! How much a wedding costs depends on the bride's vision for the wedding. Is décor most important, or is great food your passion? Will you have a large social event or an intimate gathering? One thing holds constant - the reception is where most of your wedding dollars will go – taking an average of 56% of your wedding budget. Deciding what you want to spend is the best way to stay on track and really keep your pocketbook in line with your "dreams". Don’t be afraid to share your budget with your vendors. If your vision is drastically out of line with your budget, they will bring you back to reality while helping you figure out what you can afford. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, we strive to maximize each dollar spent in order to achieve the fairy tale each bride deserves.

"Ringing" in Shenanigans Weddings and Events Blog

Welcome to the first edition of the Shenanigans Weddings and Events Blog! We invite you to join us each week as we share amazing pictures from our weddings and events, fun ideas that you can incorporate into your special day as well as wedding planning tips and creative ways to stretch your wedding budget! Some ideas you may love, others you may not, but either way we hope to inspire and encourage you as you prepare for your big day! Look for décor ideas, budget do’s and don’ts, and what to look for in a wedding coordinator. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, our goal is to make your day as special as you have dreamt it to be!