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Love Boat Styled Shoot Planned by Nicole Allen Events

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Jump on the love boat with us in this romantic styled shoot at Spain Ranch, designed and styled by Nicole Allen Events! Party Pro Rents provided cozy furniture rentals and props for this al fresco love affair. The light pink color palette mixed with grey velvet linens and candlelit tablescape provide the perfect dreamy atmosphere. Make sure and take a peek at the couple’s sweet rowboat that’s totally stealing the show in this shoot! All captured by Picturesque Photos by Amanda, this day is as lovely as ever!

Photos // Picturesque Photos by Amanda

From Nicole Allen Events: “The inspiration for this shoot started with the adorable rowboat. We knew that we wanted to keep things soft and romantic with a touch of boho, so we stuck with blush pink and grey. Velvet is one of our favorite trends right now, so we chose grey velvet linen, paired with the Grey Dust Rattan Back Louis chair. To make a statement on the grey velvet, we paired the gold and blush heirloom charger with blush napkins and gold flatware. For flowers, we stayed consistent with the romantic vibe and chose white and blush blooms with a thick greenery runner. We had the greenery running off the ends of the table with petals and candles trailing, and inside of the light tunnel it was truly magical!”

7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Wedding Budget – Advice from Planner Back Meadow Events

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So now you’re engaged and it’s time to begin setting a wedding budget for the big day… it can be a daunting task! We chatted with wedding planner Abby Walker of Back Meadow Events, and she is here to assure you that you can do this! She covers everything from why setting a budget is so important, how to have flexibility in your budget, and even how to compromise with the ‘rents! You won’t want to miss out on all this must-know advice before you start planning your wedding budget!

7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Wedding Budget – Advice from Planner Back Meadow Events

Photo // Sarah Libby Photography

1. Why is setting the wedding budget first, the most important thing?

Setting the wedding budget determines every aspect of wedding planning. It allows you to set proper boundaries for yourself so that you can move forward in freedom during the planning process. You can communicate with vendors and not waste your time with those that are outside of your budget. Setting your budget helps you pick vendors with much more ease. The last thing you want to do is get to your wedding, and although you enjoyed the day, wake up with a budget hangover the next day.

2. What is one cost that couples tend to forget about when planning the wedding?

I have two answers to this question. The first and most obvious answer, would be all the little things: signage, cocktail napkins, programs, all the details that really make a wedding come together and feel cohesive. The second part of my answer isn’t as much of a “forgetting” as it is not understanding how much things cost. The top three vendors I see this play out with is florists, photographers and wedding planners. Couples just don’t understand how many hours it takes to arrange floral, edit photos and plan a wedding – but I promise that you get what you pay for.

3. Negotiating price – yay or nay?

Nay. Vendors set their prices for a reason, and you should respect that! If a vendor that you really like is outside of your budget, I think it’s totally appropriate to ask for a referral to another vendor who might be inside of your budget. Asking for a vendor to compromise their pricing for you is very unprofessional.

4. How do you help a bride achieve her dream wedding while keeping her within her budget?

I am so passionate about this! As a wedding planner, helping a bride stay within budget while achieving her dream wedding is my ultimate goal. The primary way that I achieve this with my brides is to sit down at the very first meeting and determine priorities. Maybe you’re a bride who loves flowers but doesn’t care very much about food or cake. In that case, we’re going to dedicate more of your total wedding budget to floral and less to food. I also like to help set a bride up for appropriate expectations! The idea of a “dream wedding” can oftentimes be pushed by the media/TV/movies. I’ve never met a bride who didn’t have a bit of disappointment when it came to her wedding – even brides that have un-ending budgets! No wedding is perfect, so I take it upon myself to help brides have proper expectations. That being said,  you should set the bar low. I believe you can have a wedding that is absolutely incredible and fits you and your fiancé perfectly, well within whatever budget have set.

5. What about budget flexibility? When is it okay to “push the budget”?

Budget flexibility is a real thing. I think when you’re setting your total budget, you should do a range. Instead of saying, “my wedding budget is $25k,” you should say “My wedding budget is “$20k – $25k.” Then when you’re choosing vendors, you shoot for the $20k mark. Most of the time you end up saving in some areas and over-spending in others. What I don’t do with my clients and never recommend to other brides, is to say “My budget is $25k,” and then you end up spending $35k. That is way over budget.

6. What role do the parents of the couple play in budgeting?

It depends! I’ve never had two clients who were alike when it came to parents and budgeting. Some parents like to be very involved in every aspect of the decision making, and others aren’t involved at all! Some parents pay for 100% of the wedding, and some only pay for portions of it. I believe that if the parents are paying for the wedding, it is very important that they are kept in the loop. Though I’ve had many situations where a couple disagreed with their parents on some aspect of the wedding budget, I’ve never been in a situation where a compromise wasn’t able to be reached. This is one of the most important reasons to hire a wedding planner! They can act as mediator in many situations, including with parents.

7. What are the most important vendors and details to budget for?

I mentioned this previously, the top three areas that you usually don’t expect to spend the most money are florist, photographer and wedding planner. If you dedicate a large portion of your budget to those three areas, I promise you will end up loving your wedding – both on the actual day, and looking back for years to come.

A huge thanks to Abby Walker of Back Meadow Events and all of her stellar tips for setting that wedding budget! Interested in hiring Back Meadow Events for your wedding? Visit Abby’s vendor profile on thebridesofoklahoma.com! Don’t forget to stay inspired with all the Oklahoma wedding inspiration over on our site, too!

How to Budget for your Honeymoon Without Breaking the Bank – Tips from Honeyfund

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After having a mind-blowing wedding, what else rather than a once-a-lifetime honeymoon? With the honeymoon inevitable but money scarce, proper planning is mandatory. Planning for your honeymoon can be tricky given the enormous expenses that come with the wedding occasion. All in all, you need to have your dream honeymoon, and nothing should compromise that. You don’t need to have Wall Street financial skills to achieve this. Below the team at Honeyfund, the honeymoon registry, is sharing how to budget for your honeymoon without breaking the bank.

honeyfund budget honeymoon

1. Set Up a Realistic Budget

How much do you anticipate to spend during your honeymoon vacation? Before anything else, you have to come up with an exclusive financial plan. It is this plan that directs you on how much to spend for what purpose. Don’t just rush onto that plane to get to your dream destination. Take time to research on prices and all costs that you are about to incur. If it doesn’t fit your budget, look for other options. There is no point of getting stranded or getting broke immediately after your vacation.

2. Shop for the Best Deals Cautiously

Is there a better plan for your honeymoon than bargaining for a deal? Comparison shopping enables you to save money for your honeymoon. The cheaper the deal, the better for you provided there isn’t any compromise. All-inclusive package deals are the best when planning for your honeymoon. Look for deals that include flights, hotels and other miscellaneous. Keep an eye on flash sales, discounts and promotions. Your primary target when shopping for deals should be cutting down the cost. Aim to get what is best and affordable to avoid overspending. 

3. Book Early

Another perfect way of cutting down your budget is booking early. Whether it’s the flight or hotel room, book early in advance. You can spend less with your loved one by booking when there isn’t a flux of activities. The price of these amenities depends on the number of bookings. As the demand gets higher, so does the price. Many weddings happen during the summer and spring seasons. Booking early enough during the winter or fall will get you better deals. Booking at the last minute is very costly, and you might end up paying more than usual. 

4. Travel During the Off-season

Do you have a specific destination in mind? Traveling during the offseason makes it cheaper, and you won’t have to cough out all your savings. Know the distinct off-seasons for your destinations. A good example is a mid-April to December for the Caribbean. During this season, it’s usually very cheap with low hotel rates and food prices. 

5. Set Your Priorities

What do you want for your honeymoon? What do you want to do during your holiday? What has been your dream honeymoon destination? All these are essential things to put into consideration. Choose what excites or that which will create the most fantastic experience of your life. This saves you from buying what you don’t need, thus enabling you to settle for cheaper options.

tropical honeymoon

6. Hire a Travel Agent

Travel agencies are there to cater for your travel and accommodation needs. The best way to have stress-free planning is to work with a travel agent who knows everything. The majority of travel agents are knowledgeable and can help you get what’s best for you. It’s the work of the agent to bargain for deals and organize travels and bookings. With years of event planning experience, travel agents will surely get you a cheaper and more organized holiday.

7. Get a Honeymoon Savings Account

Saving for a big occasion is the best way to create a bigger and better budget. Instead of waiting to spend what you have, you can start saving slowly to achieve a set target. You can come up with an estimated budget and begin saving. Saving is better and more manageable than spending one-off. With a savings account dedicated to a particular objective, it’s easier to raise money. When saving, look for the best interest rates that will you something substantial at the end. In this way, you won’t feel any pain when spending what you had saved. 

8. Cut Your Honeymoon Short

Why not plan for a short honeymoon to avoid overspending? Instead of taking a month for your honeymoon, you can strategize on a somewhat shorter one. Something between three days to a week is rather short and more manageable. You can do a short honeymoon vacation to avoid depleting your accounts. Spending fewer nights out there means you pay less than when on a full holiday.

coffee in bed

The Bottom Line

With this article in mind, you know how to budget for your honeymoon without breaking the bank. It is a crucial yet straightforward process that enables you to do things smoothly. If you want to have an extraordinary honeymoon, put in place these simple tips.

Thanks to Honeyfund for sharing these all-too-important tips on keeping the honeymoon under budget! For more great planning advice, and to have your friends and family give dollars to your honeymoon fund in lieu of a traditional gift, visit Honeyfund’s site. Happy planning!

Oklahoma Capitol Engagement Session from Meg Rose Photography

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We fell in love with this Oklahoma Capitol engagement session the moment we saw it! Meg Rose Photography captured Heather and Tyler in a romantic, adventurous, lighthearted session that truly captures their joyful personalities! We love how this session includes images that feel more serious and romantic, up close against the stately backdrop, as well as a few more carefree-feeling photos with the Capitol deep in the background. Heather looked and felt her best thanks to Kadi Uhack Makeup, while Meg Rose brought along a fun coral settee for the couple to lounge on and they brought tokens of their relationship as props – a camera, a globe and champagne, of course! Cheers to this lovely couple and cheers to a session that captures the essence of Heather and Tyler completely!

Photos // Meg Rose Photography

From the bride on how they met: “You know how they say blind dates never work out… well in our case that isn’t true! Tyler and I have two different versions on what time I actually arrived at the restaurant; he claims I was extremely late, I say barely. What we can agree on from that evening was that we laughed a ton, told stories of our adventures, and ate an undisclosed amount of mac-and-cheese. There was a Thunder game on in the background of the restaurant, but we had no clue who the opposing team was or even the score because we were too caught up in one another’s company.”

Specialty Vendors to Help Before, During & After the Big Day

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Hiring wedding day vendors goes way beyond the venue, photographer, catering and the dress. To bring your event together completely and make your night one guests won’t soon forget, you’ll need a few specialty vendors to provide special touches not just throughout the day, but before and after, too! These Oklahoma vendors provide specialty services for brides and grooms to carry them from planning and pre-wedding festivities to the big day and beyond. Take a look below to learn more about these one-of-a-kind businesses and how they can elevate your wedding experience in the best of ways. Cheers!

oklahoma wedding specialty vendors

Apple Tree Chocolate

Sweeten your event from start to finish with Apple Tree Chocolate. Their award-winning treats will undoubtedly have your guests’ mouths watering – just look at that caramel apple concoction above! Beyond their signature chocolate- and caramel-covered apples, Apple Tree offers chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, fudge, cake balls, chocolate bark and more! Create a full-fledged custom dessert bar with endless options for your guests and they’ll be talking about those desserts for weeks to come. Each of their treats is made by hand locally and is as beautiful as it is delicious!

Photo: Kailey Watson Photography

oklahoma wedding specialty vendors

BAKED

BAKED Cookie Co. is an Edmond-based cookie company specializing in catering for events both small and large. Each batch of their hefty, scrumptious, 2.5-ounce cookies is made using high-quality ingredients and a passion that goes into every last bite. Owners Kari and Lisa have absolutely perfected the art of cookie baking to make sure each one is dense but soft, chewy and oh-so-delicious. Need a great idea to welcome out-of-town guests or a sweet gift to give your bridesmaids before the big day? BAKED offers beautiful custom gift boxes to share their cookies with anyone you choose!

oklahoma wedding specialty vendors

Bonobos

Bonobos Groomshop takes the shopping experience previously reserved for the bride and her bridesmaids and puts all of the attention on the groom and his groomsmen! Don’t go searching for that perfect suit on your own or settle for renting from the same place you rented a tux for prom. Gather your guys together, head to Bonobos’ OKC location and make an experience out of it! Remember, you won’t just have the wedding to look nice for – consider the brunches, showers and rehearsal dinner, too. You want to look your very best! Each Bonobos Groomshop appointment is a private one-on-one with a style-savvy specialist that can outfit the entire wedding party, even if not all your guys live locally. They’ve got 63 locations nationwide! Step into a Bonobos to experience just how awesome choosing menswear for your wedding events can be.

Photo: Ashley Bosnick Photography

Katie’s Custom Decor

If it blends art, hand lettering and beautiful displays, Katie’s Custom Decor has it covered. Katie specializes in completely custom and unique artwork, signs, backdrops, stationery and tapestries to make your wedding stand out in a truly personalized way! Each piece of Katie’s is hand-made to the clients’ exact specifications, including size, colors, fonts and materials. Want to surprise your bridesmaids in a fun and personalized way? Have Katie make them each a gift reflecting their college, sorority or something they love. The possibilities are endless! Anything you can dream of, Katie will work to make happen. Inspired by something you saw on Pinterest, Etsy, or Brides of Oklahoma? Katie is happy to work from any inspiration photo to create something totally unique for you. 

Photo: Andi Bravo Photography

oklahoma wedding specialty vendors

Sparkling Tulips

An experience to remember and something your guests will be posting about, no doubt: a living champagne wall. Say what?! That’s right: a live, 3D bar service experience with your choice of champagne or beer. Allow your guests to be served a chilled refreshment while experiencing a “bartender” like they’ve never known! Behind a beautiful floral wall, available in your choice of colors, are white-gloved servers handing out endless glasses of champagne without anything but their hands being seen through the wall. Sparkling champagne flutes and personalized coordination with your venue are included with every Sparkling Tulips package. Watch as guests light up, laugh and enjoy the moment – this unique bartending service is truly one-of-a-kind!

specialty vendors for oklahoma weddings

Margaret Collection

Custom-made and hand-sewn in the USA, Margaret Collection offers stand-out bridesmaids’ attire for your whole crew. Forgo the usual matching bridesmaid dresses and go for something that fits each of your girls uniquely, or if you prefer a more uniform look, have them wear a unique style no one will have seen anywhere else! Inspired by high fashion and couture styles but accessible and easygoing for the everyday gal, Margaret Collection has dresses, capes and jumpsuits you’ll swoon for in gorgeous colors and materials, as well as custom options to create a masterpiece all your own.

Photo: Katie Pinson Photography

oklahoma wedding specialty vendors

Michelle’s Destinations

You’ve made it through the hustle and bustle of wedding prep, the big day has come and gone and it’s time to relax with your honey somewhere special. Let Michelle help you get there! This Oklahoma based travel agency is the way to book your honeymoon travel stress-free. Let Michelle know the types of places you love, your must-haves in a honeymoon destination, budget restraints and special requests, and she’ll provide you with options and guidance to help you make an easy decision you won’t regret! There are many benefits to using a travel agency like Michelle’s Destinations, like troubleshooting assistance if needed, one-stop shopping for hotel, flight, car rentals and more; not to mention the wonderful ideas Michelle can give you that you may not have thought of on your own!