Dallas' Finest

Since I am a Dallas girl,I wanted to give you a little inside on my favorite Dallas venues! When it comes time to plan your platinum wedding, one of these locations will be sure to make you say "I DO"!


1. The Ritz Carlton.

Of course this is my #1 choice because I am getting married here! The gorgeous grand ballroom, city skyline pool, five star restaurant and walking distance to uptown's hot spots... You cannot go wrong with this platinum venue! When you think of the Ritz Carlton you think opulence, impeccable service, first class experience, and honestly it provides all that and more!


2. Arlington Hall at Lee Park.


This beautiful venue with a Turtle Creek address is southern elegance at its finest! The venue is a multiple room estate located in Lee Park. WIth beautiful views and an indoor outdoor setting. I must say it is one of the most popular venues for Dallas elite.


3. Union Station.


This train station truly stands apart from the rest! The ballroom has gorgeous grand ceilings that makes you feel like you are taken back in time. Wolfgang Puck caters the food for this fabulous venue; with that alone you can't go wrong! Located in Downtown Dallas.


4. The Four Seasons Hotel.



The great thing about the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Colinas is that it is a full on resort. You can play a round of golf, lay by the pool, or enjoy the amazing spa. Your guests local and out of town will feel as if they are on vacation!


5. Dallas Arboretum


The Dallas Arboretum is the perfect venue for a mid summer nights dream affair. It is also a perfect location for bridal or engagement portraits. The lush gardens and blooming flowers makes this a Dallas favorite!


6. Winspear Opera House



This Winspear Opera House is the newest addition to the Dallas wedding venues. Located in the Arts District, Winspear will be a location to wow your guests! Wolfgang Puck caters this venue as well. Lit up in red at night, Winspear is truly a sight to see!

7. Rough Creek Lodge



Want a true Texas wedding? Travel an hour outside Dallas to Rough Creek Lodge. Rated "One of the top 5 locations to get married in the world" by the Today Show and rated "One of the best meals I've ever eaten" by Southern Living Magazine! Take an escape outside the city and truly vacate with your friends and family for a one of a kind wedding!

The Prepared Bride

I am going to give you bridal beauties a list of must haves come wedding weekend!

A girlfriend of mine got married last week and asked me to give her a list of things not to forget on her wedding day. Can you believe she forgot to buy her garter? Good thing she was able to take a deep breath, step back and check off one by one wedding day essentials.




For the Prepared Bride....

1. Don't forget your Wedding Dress when traveling to the venue.( An obvious)

2. Wedding Shoes and a back up comfy pair for pictures. You will be standing on your feet ALL DAY. You will thank me for this.

3. Proper under garments.....Panties, Bustier, and Garter. La Perla makes beautiful bridal undergarments!

4. Outfits for Bridal luncheon, Rehearsal dinner, Morning of wedding robe/sweat suit, and Wedding night lingerie.

5. Passport and packed suitcase for the honeymoon. This is a big one! You get so wrapped up in wedding day essentials....don't forget about the honeymoon!

6. Survival kit.....Sewing kit,Hair Spray, Bobby Pins, Earring Backs,Double-Sided Tape, Stain Remover,Breath Freshener, Deodorant Wipe, Tampon, Adhesive Bandages

7. Insoles for your shoes. Dr. Scholls for her gel insoles provide great padding for those countless hours you will be on the dance floor.

8. Food. Do not forget to eat the morning of your wedding! A fainting bride is never an attractive look. Avoid coffee...it has a tendency to make you look bloated.

9. All day lasting lipstick. Your lips need to be puckered up to perfection! Cover girl Outlast is only $9.99 and comes in 42 different shades. It was rated the best long lasting lipstick in Good Housekeeping Magazine!

10. Your Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue. This tradition is a way to use family heirlooms or show off that sparkly new jewelery!

Bridesmaid Dresses

My bridesmaid dresses have arrived! The color is beautiful, but I need to make the dresses more of a wow look. Do not be afraid to add on or jazz up the dresses with a sash or jewelery.



Bridesmaid dresses need to be an accent look that helps make the bride herself stand out, but come on ladies do not make them look awful! When you look back on your pictures, you want everything to be classic and timeless... including the dreaded bridesmaid dress.
Here are some dresses that will be sure to style your bridesmaids pretty!





This Chiffon one shoulder dress by Amsale is flattering and could be worn for all types of wedding occasions.Indoor,outdoor, spring or fall!







"This satin sleeveless halter cocktail dress with a gathered neckline, accent bow and metallic mesh ribbon at the waist is both youthful and fashion forward whatever the occasion may be" Vera Wang






This crinkled chiffon bridesmaid dress by BCBG is gorgeous, stylish, and perfect for a formal wedding. BCBG bridesmaid dresses and modern, youthful and fabulous!






This bridesmaid dress by Two Birds is 1 dress that can be wrapped uniquely in over 15 different ways. The great thing about this dress is that each girl can have a look that is flattering to her body.






This two toned silk taffeta dress by Jim Hjelm is whimsical and would be the perfect look for an outdoor wedding!





Designer's these day have modernized the look and style of the bridesmaid dress. If you want a statement look for your girls there is a new trend catching on..mix and match the bridesmaid dresses! Maybe have the same dress, but different styles,or even two different dresses with two different patterns that coordinate to give it a modern twist.
Whether you're having a casual outdoor wedding, or a black tie formal event...there is a bridesmaid dress that will be perfect for your perfect wedding!

Made of Honor

A lot of brides these day are choosing to have a man as their "made" of honor. I am lucky enough to have both a maid and made of honor in my wedding. My best friends are truly the most genuine,amazing and kindhearted people I know. It would not be fair if I left one of them out just because he is a guy. Although I have given him this title, he is going to stand on the grooms side. He let me know that he would be more comfortable standing with the other men. I think it works best that way so it does not throw off the look and balance of my bridesmaids. Call me a modern bride, call me whatever you like, but I would not have it any other way! Hey, if Hollywood is making a movie about it,then you know that it's the hot thing to do!



If your family is like ours and very old world in their traditions, they might not grasp the idea of this concept. If this is the case and you have a wonderful fiancé like I do, then you can always add your best man on as one of the groomsmen. Your wedding day should be celebrated with the people who mean the most to you. If you are like me, just throw the old traditions aside! Brides remember 'Your day, your way!' Michael Koutros this blog is dedicated to you and I am so honored to call you my best man!

Let Them Eat Cake!

Boring white wedding cakes are out! It's all about one of a kind, show stopping creations these days. Your wedding cake should be thought of as part of the decor. It should look as if it is a piece of edible art that matches the theme of the night. I decided to do this blog on seasonal spring/summer cakes! Watching food network last night gave me the inspiration for today's blog. Cake decorating is no easy fete....these cake's truly are works of art.





This delicious design looks more like an art piece than an edible cake! Sugar paste lilies and orchids covered the fondant cake. Photo from The Knot.com







If you want to stick with an all white cake there are ways to make it pop. "Eat your wedding cake and wear it, too." Mimic the look of vintage floral fabrics, or the lace from your wedding gown. This cake by Martha Stewart Weddings is anything but "old fashioned"





This fresh colored cake is modern and a sweet little treat. The design is made up of the couples monogram and love notes from different poems. Such a creative idea! Monograms are a big trend this year and are a perfect way to top off a cake! (Martha Stewart Weddings)






Planning a beach wedding? How adorable is this seashell cake? A theme cake can be fabulous if done right. This cake is detailed to perfection! What a show stopper for an ocean side wedding. (knot.com)






Spring Fling! This colorful, whimsical, poppin cake would be perfect for a spring or summer wedding. The pop of colors are just enough without overbearing the creation. (Photo via Martha Stewart Weddings)



To get the look of these cakes most bakeries will use fondant. Although fondant is the hot thing to do....remember buttercream always tastes better! If you are on a tight budget do not fear that you have to cheapen out on your cake. A lot of bakery's offer styraphone cakes as your show piece and sheet cake in the back to serve your guests. In my opinion cake is one of the key elements of the night! Guests always remember how the cake looks and tastes. Enjoy going to your cake tastings and find a bakery that "takes the cake for you"!