Featured wedding venue: Kindred Oaks

ne of my favorite wedding venues is Kindred Oaks located in Georgetown, TX. We've had the pleasure of participating in many of their open houses and have met some amazing brides and wedding vendors through them!

This wedding venue has the perfect balance of romantic ambiance and Texas country charm! With the strung lights and candle lit accents, you can't go wrong saying "I DO" at Kindred Oaks.

I had the opportunity to speak with Elaine Lincoln, co-owner with her husband Steve, and asked her some questions to help brides in their search for the perfect venue.

(Learn more about Steve and Elaine here).

1) What is the most special thing about Kindred Oaks?

"We just celebrated 15 years creating all these wedding dreams and I must say the most special thing about Kindred Oaks are in fact, all those hundreds of couples who've celebrated here and that have gone on to build families and lives of their own. We had so many couples reach out and send us "before" and "now" pictures of their wedding day and then where they are now; with children, jobs, puppies, you name it. We published them on our website this past week and it's truly like I have a thousand grand kids out there, lol! So, so many of them are still friends, or Facebook friends and I get to catch up with them and it gives us great joy."

2) What is a piece of advice you would give brides searching for their perfect venue?

"Oh gosh, I suppose that I routinely tell them to think ahead 5 years and then try to look back and wonder what it was that made that day special. What is the feeling that you'd like to remember and then try to find the place that reflects that. And have fun while you're at it! If it stops being fun, step away!"

3) What is your most popular wedding package and why?

"We feature one basic package with lots of customization but it's hugely popular because we make it super simple, very affordable and we end up doing all the work, while they end up creating a lifetime of memories; all as it should be!"

4) Finally, what is something you wish brides knew ahead of booking a venue?

"I wish they knew that it really does take a level of experience to pull off a grand day like a wedding. You wouldn't trust your car to a DIY mechanic who just liked to look at cars but had never worked on them, and you should think of this the same way. There are a million things that can go wrong and you want someone who can preempt a lot of that pain or mitigate it with calm and reason. It's a big deal and we make it look super easy but it's because we're just really good at what we do and we're super blessed to have that honor."

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures of Kindred Oaks!

Kindred Oaks is located at 2100 COUNTY ROAD 176 · GEORGETOWN, TX 78628

Contact: 512.260.9690

Email: Elaine@kindredoaks.com

Kindred Oaks usually has monthly open houses so be sure to follow them on Facebook or give them a call to find out when the next one will take place!

Wedding trends for 2018 we love!!

Wedding Wire came out with a list of wedding trends in 2018 and here are just a few that we love!

New Age Bohemian Style – Although rustic will always be on trend here in Texas 😊, we also love the refreshing, casual feel of boho style. This is ideal for that bride that wants a laid-back vibe but doesn’t want such a country feel. A Lilian West gown would be the perfect centerpiece to a boho-inspired wedding!

Darker, richer hues – Chiffon and blush tones have had their moment and will always be a beautiful option but 2018 is all about richness! Think bolder tones with richer fabrics! And keep in mind that you can pull off these deeper hues year-round! Try bringing in accent colors that are bolder…If you want blush bridesmaids' dresses, try accenting them with some roses in a deep wine tone.

Velvet – Velvet is BACK! And it is not just for the winter anymore. Think about bringing in this richer fabric on a cocktail table in a seasonal color. Need something blue? Try some soft blue velvet heels for a stunning detail that is right on trend. The velvet is an unexpected choice that will really set your wedding apart.

Check out the entire list here!! --> https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/2018-wedding-trends

Wedding Gown Alterations - What you need to know

When it comes to wedding gowns, every bride dreams of that perfect dress with the perfect fit. What brides may not realize going into the shopping experience is that a dress most likely will not fit perfectly when it arrives. A majority of wedding gowns will need at least some alterations.

Before ordering a special order gown for any customer we take bust, waist, and hip measurements. We then look at the specific designer size chart (because each designer has their own size chart - of course they don't make it easy for us retailers!). This will also help us know what may be needed in terms of alterations. For example - a customer may be a size 8 in the bust but a size 12 based on their waist measurement. We always recommend ordering off the largest measurements. Why? Because gowns can be taken in but they can not necessarily be taken out. We want to make sure the dress will be able to achieve that perfect fit, even if it means having the seamstress take it in!

Since we do not offer in house alterations, this can be a bit of a challenge as brides want to know how much alterations will cost them. This is tricky because there are several things that will factor into the price. It depends on the material, what exactly needs to be done, if there is a lot of intricate bead work (beading will certainly be more expensive), how many layers need to be hemmed, and if there is lace lining hemline. Although we can't give an exact number, we can usually tell if the dress will be on the higher end to alter or on the lower end. It is important to factor the cost of alterations into your wedding gown budget (we'll talk a little more about average costs below).

To help guide you, we turned an expert in the field, Sabrina Garcia, with Divine Alterations in Round Rock. She is our preferred seamstress and have worked closely with her since the day we opened.

1. When should a bride bring her dress in for alterations and how many fittings can she expect to have?

Two to three month before the wedding (or bridal portraits if any) is best to start alterations. 2-4 fitting are usually required for a wedding dress.

2. What is the average cost of alterations? This is certainly a broad question as it can vary so much but is there a high/low average?

On the low side alteration can be as low as $180-280 if not much alterations are needed and/or it's a fairly simple dress. On the high side alterations can be as much as $800-1000 if the dress has lots of beading or lace, or if it needs extensive alterations and/or needs to be modified from its original design. Usually hemlines are the most expensive part on a wedding dress alteration. If the dress has a lace hem line alterations just for the hem can cost $300-400.

3. What is one thing you wish brides new before coming in for alterations?

- That they bring their shoes and undergarments to each fitting.

- That they mention all the alterations they need on their first fitting that way we can lock in a price. For example if they want the belt sewn in or to add buttons or straps, it's best that they mention all these details on the first fitting rather than on the second or third fitting in order to avoid price changes.

- That they mention to me if they are in the process of loosing weight that way we can start first fitting closer to the date rather than too soon.

- That they mention to me if they are pregnant that way we can coordinate fittings accordently.

4. We always order dresses the appropriate size for each bride but often times they are in between sizes. Is it best to order too big or too small, and why?

Ordering bigger is always best as sometimes dresses don't have that much fabric to be let out.

I really hope this helps all you brides out there shopping for a wedding dress. Always remember to set a budget for your dress and keep in mind you'll need to also pay for alterations. Although we can't give quotes on alteration costs, we will always do our best to help guide you and help you find that perfect dress with (hopefully) minimal alterations!

We always love hearing from brides or newly weds...Is there something we missed or you wish you had known before your alterations appointment? Send us an email to amourbridaltexas@gmail.com

For all your formal wear alteration needs be sure to check out Sabrina and her team of awesome seamstresses at:

http://www.thedivineco.com/

(512) 272-8963

1100 Round Rock Ave,

Round Rock, TX 7868