Trends We Love: School Spirit

Sooooo, you might have heard...there is a little football game at the Cotton Bowl Stadium this weekend that some people think is kind of a big deal. As Big D gears up for Saturday's Red River Showdown (the rivalry game between Texas and OU, just in case you're not from around these here parts), we can't help but get caught up in the fondness many folks have for their alma mater. With so many couples meeting while in college, it's no wonder that they would want to include in their wedding day plans a nod to the place where they fell in love. At Weddings by StarDust, we have many wedding planning clients that want to somehow incorporate that college pride in their wedding day, so we thought we'd share a few fun ways we've woven school spirit into their design.

Both TCU alums, Drew wrote for the school paper while Sawyer was a TCU baton twirler, so they each had a deep love for the university. So much so that Super Frog was a featured guest at their beautiful Fort Worth Club celebration.

 

 

 

Caryn and Colt married in a destination wedding in Oklahoma City. As OSU grads, they had plenty of school pride in their Cowboys. Caryn even had an OSU orange-accented garter!

 

 

Lauren and Troy wanted to include subtle elements highlighting their beloved Auburn in their understated, elegant Ashton Gardens wedding. We accomplished that with their groom's cake, table signs and Auburn-inspired pompoms for their send-off.

 

 

 

While another TCU couple, Claire and James, did not include a visit from Super Frog in their festivities, their Four Seasons reception would not have been complete without the TCU fight song.

And in what is undoubtedly one of our favorite inclusions of college pride, UT alum Glenn and Texas Tech grad/cheerleader had a lot of fun with a "house divided" element at their gorgeous Crescent Hotel celebration. This included Andrea interrupting the Texas Fight Song by cheering with her former squadmates and stunting in her wedding gown! Glenn was a great sport about it, taking the "happy wife, happy life" approach to this good-natured ribbing!

 

 

We hope these have put a smile on your face this morning and that your team wins this weekend! Any of you lovely brides planning to weave some school spirit into your wedding day design?

Inspiration: Golf-themed Wedding Details

So. You might have heard there's a little golf tournament going on next week. It's called the Byron (the HP Byron Nelson Championship, to be exact), held at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. And the week after that, there's another one: the Colonial (aka the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial), played, naturally, at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

We adore golf. Many of our planning clients ask us to schedule golf outings for the groom and his groomsmen on their wedding weekend. We started daydreaming about these lovely North Texas wedding venues and this magnificent game and were inspired to put together some fun golf-inspired boards. "A golf-inspired wedding?!" you might ask. Yes! It can be elegant, not cheesy or over-the-top; you can work in subtle details incorporating this theme, and it can be sophisticated and fun!

These fun golf-inspired wedding invitations will set the tone for your event and let your guests know there in for a treat!

We love these tee-time-inspired boutonnieres, perfect for the golfing groom! And how 'bout those playful socks?!

Some clubs will actually allow you to marry on the course, or you can style your outdoor ceremony space to resemble the green. We love these little boy flag bearers and how fun are those ball baskets for ceremony programs?!

Escort cards are a great way to bring in whimsical touches expressing your theme. Consider golf ball votive holders, bundles of golf tees or flags.

Your reception table centerpieces are another great way to bring in the golf! Maybe reserve the more playful arrangements for cocktail tables!

Don't forget dessert! Let your guy get creative with his groom's cake - a golf bag or giant golf ball is perfect! We love these golf ball cake pops and themed cookies. Or consider a dessert buffet featuring several golf-theme treats.

Favors are another simple way to ease a golf theme into your wedding design. Cake balls, chocolates, golf tees or monogrammed golf balls are all great options!

Last, but not least, a golf cart send-off is the perfect exit from your golf-themed wedding!

Seriously, don’t you find these details darling?! Any golf lovers out there who plan on working some golf inspiration into your wedding day?

image sources: Joseph Mark, The Knot, Oh So Beautiful Paper, Style Me Pretty, Table 4 Weddings and The Thompson Photography Group and Whitney Lee

Year in Review: 2013 Real Weddings

Before we get too much further into 2014, we wanted to take a quick look back at some of the dazzling weddings our incredible team designed, planned and executed during 2013!

MOST ROMANTIC

This couple chose a sweet color palette of navy blue and pink accented with lots of romantic candlelight, lush flowers and chandeliers. It was the perfect mix for their intimate outdoor ceremony and charming reception.

MOST GLAM HEAD TABLE

This head table was nothing short of fabulous! Those bold colors, that glitzy gold and all that bling - oh-so-glamorous!

MOST PLAYFUL COLOR PALETTE & MOTIF

We adored this whimsical yet elegant color combo of yellow and grey, as well as the darling honeybee motif! This wedding was happy and fun!

MOST BEAUTIFUL RECEPTION DECOR

This stunning wedding was just over-the-top, with lush florals and gorgeous blue lighting that saturated the space.

BEST INCORPORATION OF SCHOOL SPIRIT
This fun wedding was OSU-crazy all the way! The Oklahoma City destination event was full of OSU orange details and nods to the couple's beloved Cowboys throughout.

MOST STRIKING CAKE DISPLAY
Okay, it was too hard to choose only one. 2013 was a great year for gorgeous cakes, and we had fun with our brides devising the most beautiful ways to show them off. Here are just two stunning displays.

MOST PATRIOTIC WEDDING
Seriously, who doesn't love a man in uniform? Give us several of them at a wedding where the bride and groom want to bring in the fun traditions that go with a military wedding (saber arch? cut the cake with the saber? yes please!) and we're sold!

BEST 'MAID "MIX-UP"

Mismatched bridesmaid dresses are still H-O-T and we love when brides think even more outside the box, not only mixing up shades, but also bringing in different but complementary hues. This bridal party was gorgeous and each 'maid had a lovely gown perfectly suited to her own personality and style!

BEST TRANSFORMATION OF RECEPTION SPACE

Sometimes, we have clients who have booked a reception site that doesn't exactly fulfill their design vision. That's when we get to partner with amazing vendors to completely reinvent the space! Such was the case as we transformed this turn-of-the-century basement ballroom into a glamorous and romantic reception room.

BEST FAVORS/FAVOR TABLE

Favors are an easy and sweet way to thank your guests for joining you in celebration. Edible favors are always a favorite, and they're especially fun when they tie into the season. We loved these hot cocoa favors, and the presentation of them was just beautiful!

If you would like to learn more about our wedding planning services and what StarDust's wedding planners can do for you, contact us for an appointment!

 

 

photo credits: Amy Herfurth, Sarah Kate, f8 studio, Helmutwalker, Graham Hobart
floral design credits: Bella Flora, Dr. Delphinium, The Garden Gate, Liland's