Wedding Venue: Milltown Historic District

Good morning friends! I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend and are raring and ready to go today. As many of you know I have a side gig where I work in a rental agency three afternoons a week. Each winter we have older couples that come and stay for a few months and enjoy the warmer weather (compared to their winters: Illinois, Minnesota, Canada). We recently threw a nice get together for the winter visitors at Milltown Historic District in New Braunfels. This was the first time that I got to see the finished product. It is a bride's dream come true!

Not only does the property boast a gorgeous pavilion but also cottages to rent. Just think you can have you entire wedding party and family all stay in the same location. The pavilion has a kitchen, stone fireplace and plenty of seating and tables. You can also forgo the pavilion all together and host your ceremony plus reception on the water front. Oh did I mention the stunning views and private river access? No? Well you can get married with the pretty river right behind you. The folks at Milltown knew exactly what they were doing when they fixed up this property. I could go on and on about this amazing space but instead I have picture overload. I loved getting to photograph this space. It is charming, provides activities for your friends and family, has sleeping space and is in great location to downtown New Braunfels. The Milltown Historic District has something to offer each and every bride.

And now for the inside:

What do you think? If you are interested in renting the pavilion for any type of function contact Diana and the staff at Milltown. They will take care of you! You can visit their website by clicking here or check out their Facebook page here. If you would like to make a booking for the rental cottages on the property, River City Resorts can help. Contact the sweet ladies at RCR here. I hope this space brings a smile to your face. Wow, rhyming on a Monday!

I was not paid to say all these nice things about Milltown Historic District. I just think these folks are too kind!

Kendall Plantation: Southern Charm and Then Some

A few months ago I introduced you all to a new venue being built in the hills of wine country in this post. Kendall Plantation was still being constructed but was projecting completion and their first wedding for this past October. Talk about pressure and a brave bride but one look at the concept of this place and you can understand why she snatched up this venue. It went from this:

To this:

And this:

To this:

And just in case you can't get enough of this sweet southern plantation home:

Photo Source: Kendall Plantation via Facebook

I know. I know. I can't get enough of it either! The photos above were taken at a recent wedding they hosted. I am amazed at the transformation. This venue has stunning views and has plenty of southern charm to go around. They are booking quick so any bride interested better check them out. This weekend alone they have two weddings and a shower! I also got the privilege of meeting the crew of Kendall Plantation at the San Antonio Bridal Extravaganza and they were so kind. For more on Kendall Plantation visit them on Facebook here or check out their website here. Hopefully one day I can film a wedding here! Who knows? I may just go check it out anyway.

What do you think of the finished look of the venue? Would you get married at a southern plantation home? I would love to hear your feedback!

Picking the Perfect Honeymoon

 Photo Source: Fairy Tales Are True

Every day I am constantly brainstorming ideas for this blog when I realized that I have never talked about picking your honeymoon destination (one of top three favorite things involving planning our wedding.) I have discussed picking the perfect dress, selecting your first dance jam (yes jam) and finding your venue but never honeymoon locations. Can you guess how I am going to tell you tips on picking the perfect honeymoon destination? If you guessed a list, well then you get 1,000 points. What do points earn you? Uh a lot of love from me? Candy bars? Well, the points are like Whose Line is it Anyway where the points don't really matter. You are still special in my eyes and really talented at ad-libbing Irish drinking songs.

Onto the list.

1. What is your style? When you think about a vacation what do you envision? Skiing the slopes and hiding in a rustic cabin, traveling scenic streets and visiting historical landmarks or lounging on the beach with a fruity cocktail in hand? Finding your vacation style is important. When you picture a week together what are you going to do? That helps determine the style of vacation that will make your honeymoon unforgettable.

2. Scout out a budget. Yes, most family members will pay for the honeymoon but for most that still requires a budget. Make sure that the vacation and your style correspond with your budget. A two week trip along the California coast may not be realistic. Also remember that for some trips you will need money once you arrive to your destination. Who will cover these expenses? Talk over the budget with your spouse and whomever is helping pay for the trip whether it is you both as a couple or the groom's parents. No matter the size of the budget you can have the perfect trip especially when you follow step #3.

3. Research. I cannot stress this enough. Do not just choose a location because everyone tells you it is great. Look it up! A week's stay at a private resort may not be the trip for you even though cousin Susan loved it. Once you have agreed upon a style, look into what suits you and stays within budget. This trip is all about you. You have the right to have the perfect trip. Hey, you just got married!

4. Remember the seasons. When planning your honeymoon keep in mind the time of year you are getting married. If you want to visit Europe in the warmer/summer months getting married in December does not coordinate. Time and location do matter!

5. To sight see or not to sight see? That is the question. I think this is important when picking a honeymoon. Are you truly wanting to spend your days sight seeing or do you want to spend your days lounging around? If you want a little of both, make it happen. A weeks stay at Disney World may not be for you if you are not wanting to be out and about. Make arrangements for things that you can do as a couple whether touring the streets of Italy or cuddled up in a hammock by the ocean.

6. Travel agent or online booking? Booking online has become the norm. The advantages are that you get to do it from home and it is free (the booking). Make sure that you are selecting the right options. Also call and verify all details once your trip has been booked. The benefits of a travel agent is they take care of everything and I mean everything! They make sure reservations are completed correctly and often times have stayed at a lot of the places they are recommending. The only disadvantage is that you do have to pay for their services. Whichever one you prefer both are great options for making sure your vacay is a-okay. (You are welcome for that little rhyme.)

7. How much luxury are we talking? This may sound silly but it is a good point! If you are wanting to spend time alone in your room make sure you book a hotel that has excellent rooms, room service and plenty of space. If you are wanting to lounge by a pool or beach, how nice are those accommodations? If you are wanting to ski every day, how is the transportation to the slopes? These things do matter. Make sure you pick a hotel or lodging with great reviews and excellent customer care. Do not feel guilty about being pampered! Also look into couple packages. Some destinations offer romantic dinners, spa treatments or private tours. Keep luxury in mind while traveling!

8. Make sure you have enough time. This one is self explanatory. Waiting until the last minute to plan your honeymoon make result in disappointment. Leave enough time to follow the steps above. Like I have mentioned the honeymoon is about you returning to sanity and leaving the taffeta nightmares behind. You are celebrating your first week or weeks as a couple, just you and your husband. Planning your honeymoon is a top priority!

All these things can guarantee that you will have a splendid honeymoon, one for the books actually! Have you started looking for honeymoon destinations? What type of honeymoon are you looking for? Will you be vacationing beach side or touring wine county? I would love to hear from you!

Tuesday Ramblings!

Happy day everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their fabulous holiday weekend. It was so nice to relax and veg out on football. How about the cooler temps the past few days? Sweet bliss. It is so nice to be able to breathe and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

Photo Source: Here

Well the time is upon us. In just a month and a few days I will have been married for one year. Can you believe it? A whole year. A whole year that my husband has had enough patience and love to put up with me. In the past year we have celebrated our first Christmas and Thanksgiving as a married couple. We adopted a sweet little puppy name Jane. We purchased our first car. We moved to a new state. We became country folk in the good ol' Texas hill country. We have done so much. We sat down to talk about what we wanted to do to celebrate our one year anniversary and decided on a weekend stay in Austin. We actually live about 40 minutes from Austin. Everyone talks about how great Austin is and the fabulous music, shops and restaurants.

I would love to know any suggestions that you have for our getaway. We are going to be there for an entire weekend so we need to know what to do, where to go and what yummy foods to try! Leave me a comment or email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com . I would greatly appreciate it!

I also wanted to show you the finished product with my DVD's for clients. Here is the cover and disc for Sarah and Brady's wedding DVD.

Aren't they a gorgeous couple? Lucky to call them my friends. I hope that you all have a fantastic day!

Surprise Rooftop Engagement

Happy Tuesday! Today's post comes from one of my favorite photographers: Meshali Mitchell. She is so talented, a southern gem and sweet as pie. Meshali was contacted by Lonnie who asked if she would captured this sweet and stunning rooftop surprise engagement. Isn't the newbie bride Taylor just gorgeous?

This couple is so cute! For more on Meshali (located in Dallas) visit her by clicking here.

Photo Source: Here

Kendall Plantation

Happy Monday! When planning my wedding, I looked at a lot of venues. A LOT. I don't know if this is true for most brides but I can see a place and know whether I like it or not. I don't need a tour or price list. I can make my decision rather quickly. Picking your venue is really important because with your venue comes your date of the wedding, decor, theme, guest size and more.

Boerne a city just north of San Antonio is in the process of building every brides dream location, an old plantation home. Kendall plantation is being built and filled to the brim with southern charm and goodness. Located in the hill country, the plantation was breed from the Louisiana style plantation homes. Inside you can find a grand staircase, wood floors and detailed crown molding while outside debuts a 13 foot wrap around porch, cool breezes and stunning views. It also features neutral color palettes to accompany any brides color scheme plus a grand ballroom that allows up to 300 guests.

Just check out these images of the building process and features:

Featured in the brides dressing quarters!

Kendall plantation is sure to be a crowd winner. The completion of this beautiful home is set for September and with the finishing of the home, you can register for an event to tour the new facility. To register just click here. For more on Kendall plantation check out their website here or visit them on Facebook here. I can't wait to check out this beauty and hopefully film here!

All photos found here.

Picking the Venue

Where are you getting married? The million dollar question. After asking when the date is where you are getting married is the most asked question. I can remember the pressure of finding the perfect venue. It can be a nail bitter but you can do it!

I thought I would give a few tips that others gave me or I realized myself. These tips are here to help!

1. Write down what you want most. I knew that when I got married that I wanted to be married by a lake or body of water and wanted the reception under the stars. Knowing these things helped me cancel out other venues that didn't meet the criteria.

2. Consult your groom. I know. Most grooms don't care about the details of planning your wedding but still ask him his expectations. Most brides think this day is just about them but the grooms ideas are important too. When I talked to Rusty about what he wanted for our wedding day he told me he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time. Simple enough! Together we decided that our reception should entertain everyone while being comfortable and laid back.

3. Go visit them all. You never want to disregard a place until you visit it. Give each place a fair chance when it comes to picking your location. Trust me when I say you will pick the perfect place. If you are busy working, try having a bridesmaid or your mom visit the place and take photos. Make sure they know exactly what you are wanting. Make sure they have a list of expectations and are not afraid to ask questions. You do not want to cross a venue off your list without giving it a fair shot. No what ifs!

4. Remember your budget. This part is important. You can argue that you found a great place but once everything was said and done you would be over budget. How is that fair when finding the right venue? My words of advice: Do you really think picking a place that will put you way over budget is the right place? On your wedding day do you want to think about how much money you could have saved going somewhere else? Having a budget is crucial to your wedding day and your sanity.

5. Ask questions. Ask them! I have a hard time with this. Throughout wedding planning, my mom taught me how important asking questions can be. For example, she asked one potential venue (it was a resort) if we could get a discount if a certain number of guests stayed at the lodge. They told us they would cut our costs in half if we had 25+ people reserve a room. 25 people covered just my family! What a steal! Our venue went from $1,200 to $600. Holy cow! $600 is a lot when planning a wedding. Asking the right questions help!

6. Enjoy the process! This one is important! I stressed when it came to finding my venue. I mean was a worry wart. This never helps. I had narrowed my choices down to two amazing places. I really thought about the advantages of both and it clicked with me which one I wanted. Once we called to book the place, we got our date and started looking at the menu. Things just started falling in place. Picking the venue turned out to be the hardest thing for me. Remember to relax! As long as you know what you are looking for, everything will work out. I guarantee it!

If you have any tips or advice for brides on picking their location, email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com or comment below! I would love to hear from you!

The NotWedding

Photo Source: Here

Time to introduce the NotWedding! Hold the phone? NotWedding? Yes! This idea is genius. The NotWedding is a fake wedding ceremony + reception that showcases various vendors in their element (the day of a wedding). As a guest you attend the heart felt ceremony, dancing reception, have a formal dinner and more! Brilliant right?

This is an alternative to a bridal show. This helps brides to be say, "Ooo I love that vendor." or "No way will a taco bar work at my reception." This event is so helpful for new brides! Interested in attending? It takes place on July 21st in Atlanta. You can order tickets by clicking here. Tickets run about $40 and are available for upcoming brides, guests of brides and vendors. For any questions you may have or for more information you can check out their website here. It is nuts to me that you get to experience the best of the best just by attending a mock wedding!

Brides can also score awesome deals and savings on things like scarves, etsy purchases, wedding day coordination, custom invitations and more! Check out how to snag the swag here!

I hope that you all are having a great Tuesday! Check back later for a peek at my shadow box of our engagement, wedding and honeymoon!