Real Wedding Sneak Peek: Jennifer and Ben's Horseshoe Bay Desintation Wedding

Last month our fab wedding planning team had the privilege of executing a beautiful destination wedding they planned for Jennifer and Ben in Horsehoe Bay. We cannot wait to see the official photos, but we've got a few sneak peek pics and a lovely video trailer from the talented Clayton Stringer to share with you to whet your appetite. Rest assured, we will share all of the gorgeous greatness when we get the goods! Enjoy! And congrats Jennifer and Ben!!!

Romantic ceremony space overlooking the water.

Horeshoe Bay is a lovely setting for a beautiful event.

Gorgeous reception space.

Linens, flowers and details, oh my!

These stunning flowers are by Fete des Fleurs.

More beautiful reception gorgeousness - the head table.

Isn't this cake table stunning?! Cake by Simon Lee Bakery.

Lighting makes all the different - inside or out!

And, here are some highlights in action!

Ben + Jennifer [Trailer] from Stringer Productions on Vimeo.

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

Trend Alert: All-over Embellished Gowns

We love pretty things. We are surrounded by them all day, every day, and it seriously never gets old. We are so in love with the gorgeous bridal gowns filling our salons this season and are particularly fond of the trend of gowns covered with embellishments. Think intricate lace, delicate beading and metallic thread embroidery...oh so fabulous! Here are some of our current faves:

Eve of Milady

Eve of Milady

Eve of Milady

Jim Hjelm

Jim Hjelm

Lazaro



Matthew Christopher

Matthew Christopher



Robert Bullock



Victor Harper

Victor Harper

Watters

YSA Makino

YSA Makino

YSA Makino

Sequins, lace and beading - oh my! What do you say, brides?  All-over beading? Lace from top to bottom? Metallic accents? What is your favorite embellished look?

Fun and Flirty Bridesmaid Dresses

Oh my stars, can this weather be any more glorious?! Not likely! We are positively giddy with this beautiful spring weather, and it gets us super-excited about all the fabulous spring-like bridesmaid dresses! Here are a few of our styles at StarDust that we just adore right now!

Jim Hjelm Occasions 5325 is a fantastically flirty short bridesmaid dress! A crinkle chiffon, strapless A-line style with a crisscross, pleated sweetheart neckline and natural waist with gathered skirt, this dress is becoming on many different body types.



This Occasions gown, style 3403, features a chiffon A-line silhouette, draped one-shoulder neckline and

a natural waist with gathered skirt.

 

Sisley by Watters is simply the sweetest little dress there ever was! Shown in beautiful blush Bella Lace/Lining with a Queen Ann neckline, key-hole back and lace covered button. It has a shirred A-line above the knee-length skirt, perfect for a sunny springtime wedding.

Come in to our salon to check out these and our numerous other bridesmaids styles.

Inspiration: Kentucky Derby Themed Weddings



Encourage your guests to wear hats!

Giddy up, Derby Days are here! The Kentucky Derby is celebrating 140 years so we are going southern, romantic and equestrian for some fun wedding inspiration! We love the idea of a Kentucky Derby themed wedding, with all the amazing elements that make a great Derby party lending themselves perfectly to a fabulous wedding! The incredible flowers, the gorgeous hats, the luscious food, the delicious cocktails, the horse-inspired details…we love it all! See if you don’t find something to adore.

Stationery helps set the tone for your wedding and gives  your guests something to anticipate. You can hint at fun to come by incorporating equestrian elements into your invitations and carry it through your wedding day with escort cards, programs and menu.

This has to be one of the most unique and darling escort card displays ever!

Nicknamed the Run for the Roses in an allusion to the lush red rose blanket draped over the winning horse, the Derby evokes images of red roses (or other crimson flowers), which can be beautiful for a wedding.

You can incorporate red without having to go the red rose route. This red, black and white color palette is both elegant and whimsical. LOVE the topiaries!

But you can easily infuse Derby elements into your wedding design with other colors. We love this fabulous navy and hot pink duo punctuated with bright yellow and orange accents!

Or this lovely muted pastel color palette:

Or soft yellow and blue:

Forgo a more traditional cake topper for a fun horse-inspired piece. p.s. that rickrack is darling!



This sweet fan is a nice touch for an outdoor event.

Don't forget about the delectable traditional southern cuisine that is a must for any Derby-inspired wedding menu. Benedictine Sandwiches, Mint Juleps, Kentucky Hot Browns, Bourbon Pork Tenderloin, Derby Pie, Fried Chicken, Beef Tenderloin with Henry Bain Sauce (on the side, of course!) and Roasted Pecans are ubiquitous foods to any Kentucky Derby-themed celebration.

And then there's the cocktails! Again, no Derby event is complete without Mint Juleps, but an assortment of whiskeys and bourbons is a nice touch, too!

 

And Derby-goers partying in the infield are often seen playing lawn games. Why not bring some of that fun to your wedding reception?

Croquet, horseshoes and cornhole give your guests a chance to bring out their inner kiddo!

Whatever Kentucky Derby elements appeal to you for your wedding day, you're sure to find some fun inspiration in the celebrations that surround the "most exciting two minutes in sports!"

 

image sources: 100 Layer Cake, Green Wedding Shoes, Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks.

Carrie Underwood Wows in Claire Pettibone

Country superstar Carrie Underwood is known for her fabulous sense of style. The beautiful blonde singer knows what works for her body and how to wear it. She proved it yet again when she was the epitome of grace and elegance wearing the stunning Raven gown from the incredible Claire Pettibone.

You may recall that Claire Pettibone is a favorite designer among our brides here at StarDust, and her romantic, elegant gowns are timeless. Carrie chose this gorgeous gown for the Time 100 Gala on Tuesday, where she was honored as of this year's 100 most influential people in the world as named by the magazine. We can't help but hope that her positive influence in the world will continue to extend to fashion as well as the causes near and dear to her heart!

From runway to red carpet; Carrie Underwood wears Raven as well as the runway model in NY!

To shop amazing Claire Pettibone gowns, be sure to call StarDust for an appointment: 972.781.1619.