Tracy French ~ The French Connection

Wedding Shower - this time it's for me!!!!

2012-01-28T06:51:00.001-06:00

Our wedding shower is today...I am so excited!! I have to force myself to not get up do a million things to prepare. I keep saying today is for you and Scott!! Difficult when you are the one used to organizing, planning and being in control of EVERYTHING!!!

6 of my friends and family have come together to spoil us with this shower and I have no idea what they have in store for us. The only detail I know is that it is New Orleans themed as it is a Honeymoon shower. Yep, we are headed to New Orleans for our honeymoon! But other than that I am clueless.

We decided to have the shower at our house because we feared we have too many people wanting to bring kiddos etc and didn't want them to feel unwelcome. Ha! It turns out no one is bring children!! The good thing about that decision was it forced us to push hard and get our back yard finished!! Our yard has been under construction since March 2010!! I need to post before and after pics...we went from a yard with lots of lawn area to one that has almost every inch of it covered or utilized. We added a pool, a pool house and a new basketball court/pad. Now when the grass turns green it is going to look amazing!! I can't wait. Scott put in a lot of hard work to get everything done for today. I love him!!

My dad passed away a little over two weeks ago. It has been a difficult time pushing through the flood of emotions but my wonderful friends and Scott have really helped me so much that I am feeling a lot better. Of course there are moments when I feel a bit sad but they are brief as I am forcing myself to focus on all the wonderful things that are going on in my life.

I have had so much fun planning weddings for 100's of brides over the years and now I am relishing in the process for myself!!

I will post pics soon and let you know how it all turns out! And hope the girls like the shower gifts I made them. They turned out super cute!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

San Antonio Weddings Fair

2012-01-20T12:12:00.006-06:00

On January 8, we particiapated in the San Antonio Weddings Fair at the JW Marriot. It was a wonderful event for everyone involved. We had the opportunity to meet brides from all over Texas!

Half the fun was designing and putting up our wonderful booth!

We created beautiful paper flowers to decorate the space. There were these large flowers decorating our main table, interspersed with glowing candles. We also had small flowers in moss that gave off a wonderful, organic feeling.

We put together and designed these beautiful frames with pictures of our weddings. The individual pictures were framed with creative chalk designs!

How to Juggle Wedding Planning with Your Career - eleGALA.com

2012-01-04T13:28:00.002-06:00

How to Juggle Wedding Planning with Your Career

by eleGALA.com Photograph by: The French Connection
Ensure your professional life doesn’t suffer while you’re in wedding-planning mode…
Planning a wedding is essentially a full-time job, and if you’re already a busy professional, guess what? Your workweek doubled the moment you said “yes,” and the delicate balance between your professional and personal lives is in danger of collapsing. So how can you juggle your career and your wedding without losing your sanity?
Your Daily Planner is Your Best Friend
Getting organized is the best way to avoid missteps and their accompanying headaches. Appointment books or electronic planners are literally the bottom line when it comes to organizing your work and personal life. There it is, right in front of you, a complete visualization of your day, week, or month. Use iCloud or your Google account to sync all your calendars so when you enter an appointment in your phone, it automatically shows up on your computer and tablet. You can also color code all of your entries so you can easily differentiate between work and wedding.
Stay Organized
If you have a method of organization that works at work, use it for your wedding. Take control of your all checklists with an organizational system you can stick to. Google Docs is great because you can access it from any computer, Smart Phone, of tablet, but if you aren’t a tablet toting, spreadsheet-loving bride then an old-fashioned three-ring binder will definitely work.
Divide and Conquer
Surfing the ’net for bouquet ideas while on the phone with an important client is generally a bad idea. Instead, segment your day into times when you are solely focused on work and solely focused on the wedding; letting one intrude on the other can slow you down. Designate your lunch hour for calling vendors or 30 minutes in the afternoon to look for dress ideas. If you’re taking time out of your workday, plan ahead to arrive early or stay late to make up for any lost time.
Maximize Free Time
You’ve got a lot on your plate, so what was once “free time” may now have to be used more productively. Try to swipe some items from your to-do list after hours. Instead of vegging on the couch during Grey’s Anatomy, use this time to multitask. An easy chore like addressing save-the-dates or organizing your Pinterest boards can be done in your pjs without missing any of the action on TV.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
Your fiancé is your greatest untapped resource; divide wedding-planning tasks evenly between the two of you. (It’s his wedding, too, you know.) Then delegate even further. Accept help from anyone who offers, especially bridesmaids. Give small tasks to immediate family members or bridal attendants (key word is small – don’t turn former friends into resentful full-time wedding planners).
Hire a Wedding Planner
Sure, we know you can do it all on your own, but do you really want to? Lower your stress level by hiring a professional wedding planner. If you don’t want to give it all up, consider talking to a professional about how they can help with the parts that feel overwhelming. Most wedding planners offer a whole slue of services from décor design to simple day-of coordination, so you can pick and choose what services suit your needs.

Take a Break
Kicking up your heels as your task list exponentially expands may sound a tad indulgent, but allowing yourself some time to rejuvenate is essential to avoid burnout. Some downtime will even make you more efficient. Have you ever tried going for a morning run without a good night’s sleep the night before? The same applies here. What activities comprised your free time before the career versus wedding juggling act seized your soul? Reading? Hiking? Painting? Don’t let those activities slip; take that time to yourself and enjoy the relaxation that comes with doing something that you enjoy.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask
So you’ve organized, compartmentalized, multitasked, delegated, and rejuvenated, but you still find that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, and your work is suffering. Don’t ignore the problem and hope it goes unnoticed. Schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss your situation. Avoid blanket complaints about being too busy and unfounded requests for time off. Instead, present the problem and possible solutions. Explain the job duties that are suffering, and share with your boss ideas for how you can accomplish them more efficiently.

Erin and Kolby- Crystal Elegance

2011-12-09T14:09:00.014-06:00

After dating for two years, Erin and Kolby tied the knot on a beautiful summer day. The event was held at The Marquardt Ranch in Boerne, Texas. The ceremony was held outside, under a clear, blue Texas sky.
The French Connection designed the event, including the beautiful flowers. The aisle of the ceremony was decorated with shepherds hooks with a balls of roses and crystal. As well, there were ivory and champagne rose petals lining the sides.
Custom-made signs led the guests around the grounds.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the impressive, mature trees that flourish on the grounds. They added an elegant detail to an outdoor event.
While the guests waited for the ceremony to begin, they were treated to a delicious beverage station to help keep them cool!
The French Connection designed the custom menus and reserved signs for the reception tables.
The centerpieces for the dining tables were created with ivory, champagne, and pink roses in clear vases. The tall vases included hanging crystals, recalling the outdoor chandeliers. A dynamic look was created in the diningroom by alternating between tall and short centerpieces.

A special thanks to Bend the Light Photography for such beautiful photos of this very special event.

"The Knot" Best of Weddings 2012

2011-12-06T14:51:00.003-06:00

We are so grateful and excited to be picked as a "Best of Weddings" vendor by "The Knot" magazine, yet again!
Thank you to all of our brides for helping make this possible!

2011-11-09T10:19:00.004-06:00

Monday and Tuesday of this week we joined in with the 15th Annual Kappa Kappa Gamma Tablescapes at the San Antonio Country Club. It was so much fun and really exciting to see some of the creative designs from some of our peers in the industry. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit Seton Home, a residential faciality that provides shelter and support services for homeless pregnant or parenting teens and their children.

We called our table Simple Abundance. The design was unique but still attainable... Let us know what you think of our table!
Pictures below

Ropin Dreams!

2011-11-08T13:22:00.025-06:00

We are thrilled to have participated with last weekends event for Ropin Dreams. For those of you who have not heard of this organization please check out their website. www.RopinDreams.com

For their silent auction we donated a basket full of items we contributed along with items donated by some our generous vendors.

Our basket raised $210 for this organization that is dedicated to bringing a day of smiles to the child who faces daily challenges due to serious illness or injury.

We want to give a special THANK YOU to the following vendors who contributed to the basket:
-Don Strange Catering
-You've Got Paper
-Alamo City Liquor
-Page Barteau Catering

Ashley and Bryan: A True San Antonio Wedding

2011-11-01T15:05:00.019-05:00

Ashley House and Bryan Jones were married September 24, 2011 at the beautiful Margarite B. Parker Chapel at Trinity University.

For their reception they chose Pearl Stable. This was the perfect location because guests were able to go upstairs to the lounge area and also outside on the balcony. The weather was so perfect that day that many guests chose to spend time outside.

The best part of the wedding was all the creative freedom we had. The bride gave us some ideas and let us design everything! And with the help of Pizzini Design's colorful floral, we were able to bring the event to life!

In honor of the bride's new last name, the guests were given Jones Soda as wedding favors. They were able to choose from 3 different flavors, with 3 different pictures on them. This was a hit with party guests because of how unique it was!

The guests were so pleased! Everyone kept saying how the wedding was so "them".

Nancy and Andrew Taft

2011-10-20T14:48:00.019-05:00

Nancy Bustamante and Andrew Taft were married August 6, 2011 in the stunning Chapel of the Incarnate Word. Their reception was held at JW Marriott.
They had a string quartet for the ceremony and the Groove City Band for the recption, all provided by Allegretto Music.
The bride and groom, along with family and bridal party, arrived in style thanks to Star Shuttle and Charter, and Rolls Royce Limo.

The elegant floral was provided by Castle Hills Floral

This life-like Barcelona Jersey groom's cake was done by Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery

The couple and their guests ended the night being serenaded by mariachis.

All photos by: Gary Gibson

Who Pays For What - Tips from eleGALA.com

2011-10-05T09:54:00.013-05:00

Wedding Budget Etiquette - Who Pays for What?

tips from eleGALA.com
photos by: Perez Photography

Learn which side of the family is typically responsible for which wedding costs and the tradtional wedding budget etiquette.
Tradition states that the bride’s parents are responsible for fronting the bill for the wedding reception; these days, the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, and the couple themselves all contribute to the wedding pool.

That said, it helps to come to the budgeting table prepped with the traditional list of which side pays for what. These conventional “rules” can then be adjusted according to your financial situations:

Wedding Costs Paid by the Bride and/or Bride’s Parents:
Ceremony rental fee
Bride’s dress and accessories
Ceremony flowers and décor
Bouquets for bridesmaids and flower girl

Photography and videography
Engagement party
Bridesmaids’ luncheon
All vendor services for reception, including food, beverages, décor, and entertainment
Groom’s ring
Invitations and stationery
Transportation for bridal party to and from ceremony and reception

Wedding Costs Paid by the Groom and/or Groom’s Parents:
Marriage license and officiant’s fee
Groom’s attire
Bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for ushers, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers
Honeymoon travel
Rehearsal dinner
Bachelors’ dinner
Both of the bride’s rings

Costs Incurred by the Wedding Attendants:
Their own attire, including shoes and accessories
Bridal party hosts bridal shower and bachelorette party
Groom’s party hosts the bachelor party

Wedding Planning

2011-09-17T07:51:00.001-05:00

I have been planning weddings for over 10 years now. Helping couples and their families through the maze of checklists, vendors, budgets, etiquette guidance, to have a theme or not to, designing the day, flowers, linens, photography tips, I have fired a maid of honor for a bride, played mediator between many mothers and daughters and fought countless battles with on behalf my dear clients. And now I am a bride to be!

Nope I have never been married!

I will be marrying the sweetest man next April.

Planning my own wedding has really made me be able to see what my brides feel and expect of their planner. Sitting on the other side of my desk as my assistant/planner goes through my checklist and reminds me of all the things I need to work on and the things we have left makes me think THIS IS SO WORTH IT!

Going through this process is exciting. I can't wait to marry this man! We decided to give ourselves a year to plan our wedding. I am thankful for every second of time we have. Not only does it give us more time to save, it also allows me more time to plan and personalize my day.

I always said I wanted to get married on a beach but once I became engaged having a beach wedding no longer felt like us. It was definitely me but not US. We decided we would have a day that is rich with family and friends. Relaxed and not overly fussy. Let's see if I can manage not to go overboard by the time the wedding gets here!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Plaza Lecea- Dancing the Night Away

2011-08-17T13:53:00.006-05:00

Natalie and Kenton were married on a sunny day in June. After beautiful ceremony was held at University United Methodist Church, the guests headed to Plaza Lecea for a fun reception. Everyone had a blast with the dress-up photobooth and danced the night away. They even had a limbo competition to top off the night! Check out some of the pictures by The French Connection:

8 Complaints that Irk guests by eleGALA.com

2011-07-14T11:56:00.005-05:00

Check out this insightful article from eleGALA.com
Mind your guests and avoid these major oversights so your wedding celebration is one that everyone can enjoy.
Chances are, you’ll be the only one to notice if a flower is out of place or the best man dons the wrong shoes, but wedding guests everywhere agree that the following blunders make for a painful wedding experience…
8 Wedding Guest Complaints

1) Bad Timing – Long pauses between the ceremony and reception are generally a bummer. If you cannot book the ballroom immediately following the ceremony, arrange for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at an adjacent space.

2) Cash Bars – Sorry, a cash bar is never an acceptable money-saving solution. Swallow that expensive pill by thinking about this: You would never ask guests to pay for a cocktail in your own home; your wedding should be the same. Consider simply serving wine, beer, and a signature cocktail to cut costs. If you’re on a budget, a full bar isn’t necessary.

3) Stranded Dates – Don’t create a painful experience for your attendants’ dates. Speed up the marathon photo sessions and seat dates together with the wedding party at the reception.

4) Stranded Guests – If your wedding reception and ceremony locations are far apart or far from accommodations, you should provide guest transportation. Besides the obvious safety concerns of drinking and driving, your guests should remember what a lovely time they had at your wedding – not what a pain it was to get there.

5) Unaccommodating Accommodations – Failing to provide information for convenient and affordable accommodations for long distance guests never goes over well. Don’t force guests to be their own travel agents, and don’t secure the only room block at a five-star hotel unless all of your guests have five-star budgets.

6) Silent or Tardy Dinner Bell – If your four hour reception falls during meal time, understand that your guests will be expecting just that – a meal. And they’ll expect that meal during normal lunch or dinner hours, so don’t wait until 10 pm to serve dinner.

7) Ungracious Hosts – Failing to acknowledge any gift or thoughtful gesture with handwritten, personalized thank-you notes is always an etiquette faux pas and never a breech that goes unnoticed. Suffering from writer’s block? These useful thank-you note examples will help you get started.

8) Just Plain Tacky – Ok, let’s get it out: When it comes to money dances, novelty songs (hokey pokey comes to mind), or singles dances, most guests are in agreement that it’s a little out of date. Of course, there will always be those who find these acts acceptable and those who don’t – but as host/hostess, your job is to make guests feel at ease and comfortable, so consider your audience as you decide on the evening’s events.

McNay Art Museum - All in Pink

2011-07-08T13:17:00.010-05:00

Raquel Linares and Robert Orozco were married at the beautiful historic San Fernando Cathedral, here in San Antonio. Their reception was held at the McNay Art Museum. Mariachis played during dinner and for the reception The Latin Connection took the stage. The guests had a great time dancing the night away in the custom-lit room. Take a look at some of the photography by Anahi Navarro.

This gorgeous cake actually has the words from 1 Corinthians 13 written around the different layers. This verse, which speaks of the true meaning of love, was also read during their ceremony.
The adorable lifelike grooms cake ws custom made to look just like the couple's dog. TOO CUTE!!!!
We just loved designing her invites for her. The image of the cathedral was a touch that finished off her invite and I think is what she really fell in love with about our design.

I adored Raquel's color choices. The bridesmaids dresses really set the tone of our design. The French Connection designed the flowers to help turn the bride's vision into reality.

Boulder Springs, New Braunfels- June 2011

2011-07-01T10:51:00.023-05:00

Lauren and Carl were united in Holy Matrimony at St.Peter/St.Paul Church in New Braunfels Texas. The bride looked regal as she walked down the isle to her First Lieutenant.

The couple had a Silver Shadow Rolls Royce, from Rolls Royce limos, transport them from the ceremony to the reception. At the end of the night they had a beautiful Corniche Convertible Rolls Royce take them away after the reception.

The reception was held at Boulder Springs. The bride and groom along with their guests enjoyed hors d' oeuvres and the couple's signature drink - a fruity sangria. A delicious, cold choice for a bright summer day! The French Connection designed the tables and flowers. A dynamic look was created throughout the room by using both short and tall centerpieces.

Since Carl and Lauren have such a special connection to the Marine Corps, they incorporated many special Marine personal touches to their wedding.

One of which was a "Missing Man Table". A Missing Man Table is a table specifically for those who couldn't make it to the wedding; whether it was because they were deployed to another country, or no longer with us. We set a table with simple dish setting, and added a beer and shot glass. It was such a great way to remember all their loved ones.
Secondly, Marine sword bearers created a sword arch for the bride and groom to enter the reception area. There were six uniformed sword bearers. Before being allowed to pass under each arch, the happy couple had to kiss. It was such a unique entrance!

The delicious groom's cake was in the shape of the Marine Corps seal. It was a wonderful way to commemorate both the groom and the father of the bride.

It was such a magical event, I'm glad we could be apart of it!

Witte Museum, San Antonio- April 2011

2011-06-28T11:02:00.013-05:00

Krisse and Joshua were married on April 2011 at the beautiful Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas. It was a gorgeous day as the couple said their vows in the Prassel Backyard, underneath a Bizan Huppah with pink floral, designed by The French Connection.

The day started with hair and make-up for the bride and her bridesmaids at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, done by The French Connection. The bride gave her bridesmaids the option to wear mismatching dresses to suit everyone. The only rule was to us the same fabric. The result was a picture perfect bridal party.

The bride and groom shared their first dance to "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos. After that the guests enjoyed dancing the night away to a mixture of 90's R&B, rock, and Texas swing; all supplied by The French Connection's popular DJ.

At the end of the night, the bride and groom made their departed to the song "Rockin' the Suburbs" by Ben Golds Five as they left in a 1975 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

Check out a few of the amazing pictures below, taken by our very own photographers at The French Connection!

These beautiful programs were designed to match the invitations and menus! All of which were designed and printed by The French Connection.

These shepherds hooks with laterns and flowers were the perfect choice for pew decorations to accent the setting and feel of the entire event.

This cake was baked by The Elm's Bake Shoppe. The fresh flowers were provided by The French Connection.

Marcie and Armando

2011-06-24T11:38:00.004-05:00

On May 14, 2011, Marcie and Armando were married at the picturesque Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. The hilarious and fun reception that followed was held at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown San Antonio. The guests enjoyed dancing the night away. The groom's cake was the classic UT symbol, while the wedding cake was decorated with modern lines and fresh flowers. Everyone was able to top-off their sweet tooth at the very popular candy bar. Check out some of the pictures below, by The French Connection.

Rio Plaza, Downtown San Antonio- May 2011

2011-05-28T12:45:00.003-05:00

Kathryn and Brant were married on May 2011 at the Rio Plaza in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It was a beautiful wedding as the couple said their I-dos on the rooftop, overlooking the city. Check out some of the photography that was provided by The French Connection!

Witte Museum, San Antonio- March 2011

2011-05-11T12:24:00.012-05:00

On March 2011, Holly Keyt and Colin Son were married at the Witte Museum, here in San Antonio. Their reception was held in one of the ballrooms at the Witte, while the ceremony was held in the beautiful courtyard. The bride and groom had their first dance to "Make You Feel My Love", the same song Colin proposed to.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple had different cakes on antique stands at every table. In place of table numbers, guests were guided to their seat by the name of the cake that sat on that table.

The wedding is featured on Style Me Pretty! Go check it out and leave a comment. They love to hear what you think over at Style Me Pretty.

Below are a few photos from the wedding. Thank you to Perez Photography!

These adorable postcards were attached to welcome bags that the bride and groom put together for their out of town guests.

These beautiful paper flowers were handmade by the mother of the bride! The rustic sign was custom made to guide the guests to the ceremony location on the museum grounds.

Succulants were used as both placecard holders and gifts for the guests to take home at the end of the night.

Vendors:
Venue: Witte Museum
Wedding Planner: Tracy French – The French Connection
Caterer: Page Barteau
Floral: The French Connection
Menus, Programs and other print work: The French Connection
Photo Booth: Boothography
DJ: The French Connection
Ceremony and Cocktail hour Music: The French Connection
Dinner Music: Monte Vista Strings
Linens: BBJ

The Argyle Club, San Antonio- March 2011

2011-04-26T11:12:00.017-05:00

On March 2011 Megan Maund and Corby Houser were married at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. Their reception was held at the gorgeous Argyle club.

It was truly a big, Texas wedding. The bride and groom's recessional song for the ceremony was The Eyes of Texas. They hosted 700 guests from all over Texas. They even hosted UT's Bevo, who was there to take pictures with everyone!

Check out the link below to see a video of the event. Our Wedding Video did a great job:
Maund-Houser Video
Here are a few pictures of the wedding. Thank you to David Sixt Photography.

Box Invitations

2011-04-19T14:55:00.014-05:00

Check out these super cute boxed invitations that we put together for our client whose wedding is coming up in June!

They were able to be shipped just like this.

These invitations are for a destination wedding, so the bride wanted to bring the feeling of the beach to her guests before they have even arrived.

This is a map of the island that was printed on the back of the schedule of events. It is vintage inspired and adorable.

The response card is a postcard. We sent it with the postage already on it, so the guests just needed to fill it out and send it back. So easy!

We cannot wait for the other exciting things we get to do for this truly original wedding!

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine

2011-04-14T16:14:00.002-05:00

I am thrilled to announce that I was selected as one of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons A-List planners on newsstands now.

La Orilla Del Rio Ballroom, San Antonio- April 2011

2011-04-06T11:06:00.015-05:00

We had a beautiful wedding this past weekend at the La Orilla Del Rio Ballroom downtown. The bride and groom, Amber and Rob, chose some truly unique and personal touches for their big day.

The couple had a truly unique unity ceremony during the wedding. They exchanged the traditional candle lighting or sand ceremony with a Wine Box. The wooden box was handmade as a gift from the father. The wood was from the oak tree that stood in the backyard of the house Amber grew up in. It was accompanied by two glasses and a bottle of wine, which they placed inside during the ceremony. The bride, groom, and pastor each hammered one golden nail to seal the box. They will open the box in 5 years to celebrate the aging of their marriage together. This tradition is inspired by the first miracle Jesus performs in the Bible, which was turning water into wine at a wedding.

Instead of a traditional cake, they went with a tower of red velvet and cream cheese cupcakes, with a small round cake on the top. The guests enjoyed dancing the night away. They also had a lot of fun playing with the props at the photobooth.

One very special touch the bride and groom added was the gift they gave their guests. Amber and Robert sat down and picked out all of the songs that were meaningful to them and had a CD made. The songs picked were those that played at special moments in their relationship. They even had the song that was playing when they first met!

All-in-all it was a high energy event and we are so happy that we got to be a part of it.

San Antonio Fiesta 2011!!!!!

2011-04-05T12:12:00.012-05:00

Weddings are not the only events we love planning here at The French Connection. We love planning every year for Fiesta, too! We have planned some fun parties for this great tradition.

Come out and visit us. We will be a few of the many with a plate full of great food in one hand and a margarita in the other!!

Bright Shawl Ballroom, San Antonio- February 2011

2011-03-29T11:13:00.009-05:00

Tiffany and Raymond were married on February 2011. The ceremony was held at the beautiful Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, and the reception took place at the Bright Shawl Ballroom. Tiffany was one of many brides who takes advantage of the individual services that we offer. The French Connection provided the photography for Tiffany's wedding. Just look at that picture of the wedding bands in her flowers! The church provided great lighting for wonderful pictures.

Our photographer was able to capture their special day perfectly. Just look at how happy they were! Now that the special day is over, Tiffany and Raymond will always have gorgeous pictures to remind them of all the fun that they had and the people who were there to celebrate with them.

Texas Wine Country

2011-03-25T11:47:00.002-05:00

Whether or not you’re a wine lover, there are some new great ideas for weddings and engagement parties!

The Texas wine country is quickly growing and becoming more popular. A great place to host a wedding is at a vineyard in the Hill Country. There are a lot of fun options available when you do this. You can get a vineyard that is close to town and just rent out the space for the wedding, or you can even stay at the location overnight. There are many vineyards in Texas that now provide accommodations for you and your guests to stay there. Let your guests take a mini-vacation where they can enjoy beautiful grounds and fresh air. The scenery for your wedding photography is gorgeous. This can also be a great spin on having a wedding where you want to showcase your love for the Lone Star State.

You do not have to go to a vineyard to enjoy wine; you can do it in your own home or local restaurant! Why not have a wine-tasting for your engagement party? If you are a wine lover, this is a great activity to share with your family and friends. If you are not a wine lover, your wine-loving friends and family can help you pick out the wine for your wedding by giving you their opinions in a fun atmosphere. When you do the party at your home, you can hire a professional to come in and guide you through the tasting. Here is a good site that provides some great tips for the wine-tasting beginner: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/wine-tasting-party-101. Shhhhh, do not tell your friends about this, you can just surprise them with your impressive knowledge of wines! Here is a great website to start looking at the different vineyards to see which ones fit you and your vision for your big day: http://texaswine.com/.

Save The Date Passport

2011-02-03T12:01:00.005-06:00

Check out these gorgeous SAVE THE DATE passports we did for our clients Janet and Grant. We will be traveling back to Grand Cayman with them for their wedding in June.

Bite-Sized Desserts and Other Ideas

2011-01-19T09:09:00.005-06:00

Desserts…yum. Several apologies in advance for all the rumbling stomachs after reading this blog! Desserts are taking a turn for the playful lately, which makes planning and designing even more exciting. People are starting to have more fun with their desserts, and instead of tiered cakes, a lot of people are using different kinds of bite-sized desserts. The obvious would be cupcakes and mini-cupcakes, but there’s also cake pops, dessert tables for fill-your-own candy, mini-cakes for each guest, and the list goes on and on. Here’s a really great example of a dessert table with several different kinds of bite-sized desserts. This table was designed by Brandi Dunagan and photography by Kristin Radicke Light of Urth Studio Photography.

In case you were wondering what cake pops are, look at the top picture on the far right in the picture above. They are simply cake mixed in with icing, rolled into a ball, dipped in chocolate, and placed on a stick!

Cupcakes have definitely been a crowd pleaser too. They are a good way to get several different flavors of cake into your wedding if you are indecisive. So many choices! There are so many possibilities for bite-sized desserts, especially cupcakes, when it comes to décor. Each flavor can be a different design to incorporate several elements of the wedding. Another fun idea would be for the cupcake stand to actually serve as part of the centerpieces for the guest tables. Martha Stewart has a whole section dedicated to cupcakes on her site filled with lots of flavor ideas, cupcake designs, and much more. Here’s an example found from her site that sounded absolutely delicious! It’s lemon meringue, and would make a really great display at a wedding with the toasted meringue on top.

Another idea used for dessert tables is a “candy bar,” which is fun for guests and can also serve as their wedding favors. Several different types of candy in the wedding colors can be available in jars or vases with a scoop in them to fill the guests’ bags or boxes with. They can eat them at the wedding or take them home for a treat later on! Once again, Martha Stewart to the rescue… here is an example from her website of a candy/chocolate bar where guests can fill up their boxes with goodies.

St. George Maronite, San Antonio- July 31, 2010

2011-01-12T08:57:00.006-06:00

Sabella and Bryan were married on July 31, 2010 in front of their guests at the University United Methodist Church. The reception followed at the picturesque St. George Maronite in San Antonio. The peach and champagne floral centerpieces included hydrangeas, roses and lilies and complimented the room perfectly. The buffet style dinner was a huge hit among the guests. There was a vast variety of food, including a Spanish station and a Pasta station. The country band kept everyone dancing late into the night. The cheering guests said their goodbyes to Sabella and Bryan after a fun filled night of cake, dinner and dancing.

La Orilla Del Rio Ballroom, San Antonio- July 17, 2010

2011-01-11T14:28:00.007-06:00

Stephanie and Ricky were married on July 17th, 2010 at the Coliseum Baptist Church in front of family and friends. Stephanie and Ricky exchanged traditional vows, followed by a romantic unity sand ceremony. The reception, held at La Orilla Del Rio Ballroom in downtown San Antonio, started off with a grand entrance of the wedding party. Ricky and Stephanie then followed dancing down the center. After being serenaded by the groomsmen, the party soon began. Guests enjoyed a family style dinner and a candy bar. The lighting was beautiful as the day turned to night over the Riverwalk. We loved working with Stephanie and Ricky in making their big day as wonderful as possible.

Marriage Island, San Antonio- July 2010

2011-01-07T09:31:00.007-06:00

Kristy and Tim were married on July 2010 on beautiful Marriage Island in downtown San Antonio. The color scheme was hot pink and was carried throughout the ceremony and reception. The bridesmaids wore eye-catching hot pink dresses, and the bride walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of hot pink peonies. She was escorted down the aisle by her grandfather with a string duo playing in the background. During cocktail hour, guests were entertained by Mariachis as they enjoyed mojitos and hors d’oeuvres. For the reception, the room was lit with pink lighting and the tables were adorned with stunning hot pink hydrangeas offset by peonies, flowered branches, and candles. The wedding party entered the reception to the high energy song “Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. This set the mood for the rest of the night where Kristy and Tim danced the night away with their guests. The party continued well into the night!

Witte Museum, San Antonio- June 19, 2010

2011-01-06T12:17:00.007-06:00

Jacqueline and Tom were married on June 19, 2010 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The reception that followed was at the Witte Museum. For their wedding, the bride selected shades of silver and white, with accents of an icy blue to create a very elegant look. We carried these colors throughout the entire wedding- from their programs and menus to signage. The guests enjoyed music by our favorite Mariachi group during their cocktail hour outside of the reception. Jacqueline and Tom’s guests then enjoyed dinner inside an amber lit room. After dinner, the band lured everyone onto the dance floor for a night filled with fun and laughter!

Randolph Brook Air Force Base, San Antonio- June 19, 2010

2011-01-05T11:11:00.020-06:00

Sarah and Jordan were such a great couple to work with. They were married on June 19th, 2010 at the Randolph Brook Air Force Base Chapel. The groom, Jordan, is a Captain in the United States Air Force and was deployed for most of the planning process, so it was really great to see this couple joined together after their time apart.

The bride loved hanging out with her girlfriends at Sunday brunches and she wanted to recreate and incorporate that special time into her wedding. The reception was held in the Officer’s Club Sky Room. It was decorated in yellows, creams and golds. Guest enjoyed a Champagne Fountain and a Bloody Mary Bar. It was a great event full of family and friends.

Adriana & Randy

2011-01-04T09:52:00.012-06:00

Adriana and Randy were married on May 1st, 2010 at The University of the Incarnate Word Chapel with a reception at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel to follow. We worked with this client for over a year planning her special day. The venue was stunning in the colors of chocolates and pinks with crystal accents. The bride surprised the groom by changing into her cowboy boots for the bouquet and garter toss. It was so much fun. Everything came together beautifully!

Using Themes for Weddings

2010-12-22T13:09:00.030-06:00

Several new trends have been emerging recently for themed weddings, rather than weddings based around a color scheme alone. Some of these themes include Alice in Wonderland (and other movie themes), carnival, antique-inspired (muted colors, lace, etc), holiday inspired, maps/travel inspired… and much, much more! Using a theme can be beneficial for a couple if they choose one that showcases their personalities and interests because it makes their event even more personal. Check out this adorable Alice in Wonderland themed cake by Cake Nouveau.

Some helpful tips when choosing to use a theme:

1. Start with something simple: What is different about you two as a couple that stands out from most others? Some examples:

If the couple met on a plane, works for an airline, or enjoy flying… an airplane-inspired wedding would make sense!
If the groom or bride (or both) have musical talent, a wedding centered on the musical aspects would be a great theme for that couple.

2. Make sure the theme matches the couple.

This is very important! Your wedding should center on the marriage of the two of you, so make sure the theme you pick represents the two of you and your interests.
It wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense to have a map/travel themed wedding if the couple hates traveling!

3. Try to keep a theme that can be transferred over to several different elements in the wedding. Ask yourselves questions like:

Can this be transferred into the cake/ floral arrangement/ photographs?

When a couple chooses to use a theme inspired by their own personalities and interests, there is less risk of falling into an overused or cliché theme. They can look back on their wedding and be excited that their special day represented them well and was so personalized to them. Here's a really cute example of a travel-themed wedding found off of Green Wedding Shoes. The couple featured was actually going to travel the world right after their wedding, so this is a great example of how to use a theme to your advantage!

For other ideas, check out our post on our Wizard of Oz themed wedding. Very cute!

Ashley & Bryan Photos

2010-11-18T15:35:00.003-06:00

Having so much fun working with Ashley and her mom to plan her wedding!

Ashley and Bryan just had their engagement photos taken with Bend The Light Photography.

I think the photos are super cute!

Grenada - West Indies

2010-11-10T17:47:00.005-06:00

I had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful island of Grenada this week.

I found the island to be rich with culture and unspoiled by big chain resorts. The island is laid back and peaceful.

Couples planning a destination wedding or honeymoon will find this island fulfilling whether they prefer a remote quiet boutique style resort or larger full service spa style resort.

English is the primary language of Grenada. This makes a very appeal island to visit. Getting to Grenada was relatively easy but after a full day of travel you must have a nice frosty beverage at your hotel bar to celebrate your arrival to this charming location. My choice drink on the trip was a Blue Horizon....much like a Blue Hawaiian...very yummy!

I wouldn't really recommend driving in Grenada unless you have first taken a tour. They drive on the left side of the road which can be overcome but they do not have very many street signs so this makes driving very difficult. Many of their roads are one lane and on the edges of cliffs. So when traveling into the rain-forest it is best to take a tour. Taxi's are available on the island.

I had a wonderful time and I know you will too when visiting Grenada!

Check out this slideshow of pictures from some of the amazing properties in Grenada. Click here to view.

Kristina & Dave

2010-10-22T14:36:00.006-05:00

Kristina and Dave were married at the groom’s family ranch in Medina, Texas. The couple felt the ranch would be a perfect location for the site of their wedding so once they were engaged the groom’s family immediately begun a huge renovation project at the ranch. A barn was constructed and the grounds around the 100 year old home were completely transformed. The ceremony took place in front of a lake that exists on the property. The family had a dock built specifically for the occasion. This wedding was a destination wedding for everyone involved. The couple wanted to treat their guests to a bit of Fiesta so we arranged for everyone attending to stay at the Marriott Plaza Hotel downtown. On wedding day we used motor coach buses to pick all of the guests and transport them the 90 miles to the ranch. The guests were greeted to gentlemen holding cowboy hats with the wedding programs.

Once the guests were seated the wedding began with the maid of honor playing the fiddle as she walked down the aisle.

It was amazing! The wedding party including the bride and groom all wore cowboy boots and we encouraged the guests to do so too!

We designed gorgeous invites that were perfect for this ranch wedding and added our suggestion on the invite so all guests would be prepared.

Following the ceremony the guests enjoyed cocktails around the home and then they all walked down to the barn for dinner.

The guests dined on some Texas flavors served from food stations. For dessert they were treated to Peach cobbler. The wedding cake was really a homemade pie made especially for the newlyweds by the bride’s mom.

The doors to the barn remained open and a large bonfire was set up outside.

The guests meandered in and out listening to the live music inside and enjoying the bonfire outside. Inside the barn we decorated with a combination of round and long family style tables.

We covered the tables with simple burlap runners, galvanized pails filled with wildflowers and tree trunks with candles on them.

It was truly a Texas Wedding.

Photography: Peacock Photography

Floral: The French Connection

Hair/Makeup: The French Connection

Invitations and print work: The French Connection

Elva & Anthony

2010-10-22T10:49:00.001-05:00

Elva and Anthony were married at Incarnate Word Chapel with their reception following at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel. This wedding was amazing. I had a blast working with this couple. It was so much fun combining their personal design styles. His style was modern and hers romantic. I think we achieved a perfect balance of both.

She wanted pink throughout her day. I loved the bridesmaid's dresses. Elva allowed each of her gals to choose their own dresses each in a different shade of PINK.

We had pink cocktails that greeted the guests as they arrived to the reception and the ballroom was beautifully lit in a wash of pink. The standard round tables were swapped out for wide and long tables. This created a more intimate atmosphere.
And the Spurs coyote made a special appearance as a surprise to the bride.
This was a wonderful event that turned out beautifully.

Check out this video clip . Click the bride and groom's names below to view the video clip of this wedding Thank you to Elite Video for sharing the below clip.

Elva& Anthony from elitevp.com on Vimeo.

Anne Marie & Dave April 10, 2010

2010-10-21T14:31:00.005-05:00

Anne Marie and Dave are well traveled and their journey to meet each other took them literally around the world. That being said, we made this the theme for their save the date postcard. On the cards we designed a map that showed the journeys of each Anne Marie and Dave and then where they met.
The guests came from all over the world. This was was basically a destination wedding for most attending. For the invitation we incorporated the bride and groom's color scheme along with their current home town's skyline. The invites turned out really cute. They are fun and festive and I love seeing San Antonio's skyline incorporated.

The entire event took place at the beautiful Southwest School of Art and Craft. Having done many events at this venue we handled this one much the same as we have in the past. We love make use of all the gardens here and using the inside too. This wasn't a huge guest list so moving the guests around wasn't a problem at all. The ceremony was held at the gazebo, with dinner in the convent garden. Since the groom is originally from Australia we incorporated native Australian animals as table names and used them on the escort cards as well. The groom also treated the guests to sweets from Australia which served as favors.

After dinner guests were led in to the chapel by mariachis. Guest had a great time dancing the night away in the beautiful amber lit chapel. At the end of the evening the couple departed in a horse drawn carriage.

Erynn & Tim March 27, 2010

2010-10-21T13:41:00.006-05:00

The theme… Wizard of Oz!!!! How cool is that?!

The bride wore ruby slippers and carried a bouquet of red poppies. The ceremony aisle was lined with yellow rose to mimic the yellow brick road. The ring bearer carried a large lollipop. The bride walked down the aisle to “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. At the end of the ceremony the wedding party exited to “We are Off to See the Wizard” from the soundtrack. Some of them even skipped! It was very cute.

Greeting the guests as they entered the reception room was a large tree with apples scattered around. We found this prop just days before the event at one of our vendors we work with and it looked exactly like the talking trees from the movie. A family member of the bride made the cake which was decorated with red poppies. We really loved the linens, they were blue and white gingham linens and the centerpieces piece were beautiful green candle scapes to emulate the Emerald City. Each guest received a lollipop or a tin of Wizard of Oz themed magnets to take home. The highlight of the evening was when the bride’s dad came out dressed like one of the flying monkeys and danced with his daughter. It was truly a magical evening.

Photography: The French Connection

Linens: BBJ

Floral: The French Connection

Invitations: The French Connection

Hair and Makeup: Folawns

Lauren & Joey March 13, 2010

2010-10-21T12:08:00.006-05:00

Lauren and Joey were married on March 13, 2010 at the historic St. Anthony Hotel in downtown San Antonio. This site is where Joey proposed to Lauren over Valentine’s Day in 2009 so of course the St. Anthony has special meaning to them.

Lauren was a very busy bride who had very little time to plan her wedding, so she enlisted the help of her mom Judy. Judy then turned to us to help bring the event together. We worked with Judy to plan Lauren's wedding with the guidelines and inspiration Lauren provided us in her absence. Lauren wanted purples, blacks and ivory with hints of green. We brought in stunning eggplant linens and black Chiavari chairs to create an elegant classic look to the room.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and scrumptious hors’d oeuvres in the St. Anthony’s famous Peacock Alley while listening to a classical guitar duo provided by The French Connection.

The guests were then invited into the ballroom for dinner. There was an array of food stations for the guest to enjoy. After cake and the toasts came the first dances. The bride surprised her mom and dad by selecting the same song her parents first danced to at their wedding as her dance with her dad. Halfway through the song her mom Judy was invited on to the dance floor to dance with her husband. It was a beautiful moment of the evening. We brought in a photo booth for all of the guests to enjoy during the evening. Everyone had so much fun. This was a wonderful event and we truly enjoyed working with this family to create the perfect event for them.

Photography: The French Connection

Hair and Makeup: The French Connection

DJ: The French Connection

Floral: The French Connection

Cake: Cathy Young

Kristin and Clay Feature Wedding Magazine Article

2010-06-24T17:16:00.005-05:00

Check out the feature that was done on our wedding at the Witte Museum. This was featured in San Antonio Wedding's Magazine

Eight Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

2010-06-23T09:46:00.003-05:00

This is an awesome article from Elegala.com! I couldn't have said it better myself! Eight Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner An etiquette and protocol expert explains why hiring a wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps… Article contributed by Luxurious Wedding Etiquette & Protocol Expert, Claudia Lutman Congratulations! You are engaged and you are elated. Your wedding day is going to be the most important day of your life and you envision everything is going to be perfect. You want to be involved. You have planned parties that have wowed your friends. You want to take a hands-on approach to the planning of your wedding and the prospect excites you.Yes, the thought of planning a wedding is very exhilarating. But in reality, it is like solving a Rubik’s Cube. Getting all the pieces to work together and fit together precisely to complete the design is the objective. It may look like a seamless process but it is not easy. A wedding requires Synergy – the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Much like a movie, a wedding has to be produced, scripted, edited, and directed. As a visual feast for the eyes, a wedding has to have a flow and a tempo. It needs to be as pleasing for your guests as it is for you. As the star of your movie, can you envision yourself being the central character, producer, editor, director, and run interference for all minor details on your wedding day? If you are having more than 25 guests, the idea of working with a wedding planner should appeal to you. As the creative director for the most important day of your life, your wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps that could ruin your day. Reason # 1: A Theme Is More Than A Hodgepodge of Great IdeasYour ideas are fabulous. But they are only the foundation of your theme. Remember: They are only ideas and pictures ripped out of magazines. Brides have ended up blowing their budget on one item to the detriment of the whole wedding. This is where your wedding planner becomes your magician. Knowing all the tricks and resources, your wedding planner can create a theme that runs through the whole event. They see the whole picture. If budget is a constraint, they will advise you how to economize and still achieve a similar look. Reason #2: Is Your Budget A Guideline Or A Blueprint For Bankruptcy? A budget is an essential part of your wedding planning. Even a million-dollar wedding has a budget. A budget will give you perspective and it will center you. It will be a great comfort to you when you want to know where you stand financially. Expenses tend to mount up quickly, and your budget will always give your a realistic assessment. I have witnessed brides being so out of control that they end up randomly buying items that have no rhyme or reason. That money could have been spent elsewhere to make the wedding a better experience for the guests. Being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t fool yourself with a figure knowing you can go over it. You will only be hurting your chances of selecting the best possible vendors. Your wedding planner is your accountant and will believe the budget you give them. They honestly try to work within your parameters. Therefore, decide on a realistic figure so your wedding planner can recommend the vendors who will deliver the best work within your budget. Reason #3: The Venue Event Manager When the event manager from your venue tells you they can do your wedding planning, they are not lying. They will do everything under the sun to oversee everything they are responsible for; however, they are not responsible for 90 percent of the details that go into your wedding. Some brides are shocked when things go wrong. They thought their venue person would be on top of things. Not necessarily. If they have several events that day, they can’t be held responsible for letting you know your flowers haven’t arrived or your best man is held up in traffic. Imagine walking into a bald room instead of the floral intensive ballroom you paid for. Your wedding planner is your overseer. Their job is to make sure everything arrives on time and complete. If you have 15 tables, 13 centerpieces just won’t do. They will get the florist to fix it. If the videographer does not show up, they should be able to find a replacement for you. Things happen, but it is your wedding planner’s job to see that things are fixed and end up perfect. Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother. Reason #4 Timelines And Other Annoying DetailsChecklists. Do we know anyone who likes them? And timelines. “Who has time to think of these boring things? I’m getting married!” I recall one bride saying. Actually, you might not be getting married after all if the minister does not show up. Timelines are critical. Timelines are necessary. And timelines keep your wedding planner sane. They thrive on them. You, however, should never be subjected to them. These are the things a bubbling bride should be kept far away from. They will certainly kill the excitement. Reason #5 Synergy Applies To Vendors TooThere are vendors who work so well together you almost get double your monies worth. Having a vendor with an attitude can affect everyone. Your wedding planner knows these things and will steer you in the right direction. By involving your wedding planner in the selection of vendors from the invitations on, you will be guided down the path of success. After all, synergy is what we are striving for! Reason #6 What Are The Rules?Brides need a go-to person for etiquette, wedding-related questions, and to keep the planning timeline moving forward. All brides need a liaison to help keep emotions and relationships from straining during planning. Your wedding planner is a combination of Martha Stewart and Emily Post. Do you really have the time and inclination to research, answer, and solve the problem yourself? Reason #7 Overtime Charges Accrue Faster Than Champagne PoursOne hour of overtime with a location site or photographer can cost you plenty! Everyone is on the clock and so is your wedding planner. The difference is your wedding planner is on your clock. They keep everything in motion so extra costs are avoided. In the end, your wedding planner is the most cost effective choice you can make. Reason #8 Frazzled Is Not FabulousWedding planning and the events that lead up to your day will be stressful. You should have one job only. Keeping yourself relaxed and living in the moment. You need time to take in and enjoy this special day. Be with your loved ones. Be happy. Be kind. And mostly, be assured that your wedding is going to be the most fabulous day of your life.Yes, all weddings have glitches. And yours will, too. But your wedding planner will make sure you never have to deal with or see them. You may never even know anything out of the ordinary happened. And that is the sign that you are a genius at wedding planning. You started out with great ideas, hired a wedding planner to bring them to life, and sat back like a pampered princess on your wedding day accepting all the accolades that you deserve.

Texas Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-13T10:17:00.012-05:00

When some think of a Texas wedding they envision....Bails of hay, barbed wire, cactus centerpieces, and bandanna inspired linens....
Not with this wedding! When my bride came to us and said she wanted a Texas themed wedding we though Texas chic! The bride is originally from Minnesota and wanted to treat her friends and family who traveled to our beautiful city to a classy Texas themed event.

The bride selected the Buckhorn Museum as the venue for her reception with the ceremony at the Spire at St. Paul's Square.

Since both of these spaces are in the downtown area we arranged for the guests to stay at hotels along the Riverwalk.

The guests walked to the Buckhorn and then were transported via motor coach to the ceremony.

The bride was dressed in a GORGEOUS Vera Wang gown. Her bridesmaids were all in yellow and we kept the color palette simple by carrying the same color into her floral. Texas Yellow Rose were used throughout.

After the ceremony the guests were transported back to the Buckhorn where they entered to the sound of the old piano playing and were served passed Corona Beer and margaritas

To keep with our Texas theme we had the bartenders wear cowboy hats.

After the bride and groom arrived and mingled with their guests for awhile the bride rang the dinner bell and the guests were lead upstairs for good old Texas BBQ. Not cheap and tasteless...this meal was perfectly prepared by Don Strange Catering. Their presentation was amazing and so was the flavor.

I just loved our earthy decor! We had a heck of a time cutting these logs for the centerpieces but the results made it worth all the sweat equity. The bride was thrilled of how they turned out.

During the planning the bride struggled with coming up with a complimentary color to accent the yellow she loved. Finally we decided, who needs another color! We will go with all yellow and I think it turned out stunning!!!

Following dinner we got the guests up and dancing!!!! I hired a professional dance instructor to teach everyone some country dancing. It was loads of fun watching everyone participate.

The music was performed by the Chilton Vance Band. They were perfect! I felt like we were at concert. Not a typical wedding band at all! This band played country tunes all night long which was fitting for our themed day.

When it was all said and done the couple departed to their hotel in a horse and carriage.

I received the sweetest thank you card from Kathryn following her wedding. She was so thankful and it made me smile to read her thoughtful words. It really makes me love what I do knowing how happy my clients are when remembering their special day. I love being apart of it!

Photography by: The French Connection in house photographers

Floral design: Design by Tracy French and floral fulfilled by The French Connection floral designer

Hair and Makeup by: The French Connection in house stylists

Invitations and menus: The French Connection in house invitation design

Linens: BBJ Linens

A True Production

2010-05-13T09:39:00.006-05:00

Avery and David were married at the historical Majestic Theatre. This wedding was truly a production worthy of such a grandiose venue. The bride chose this location as she grew up attending many plays at this very theatre. It was always a special place to her. The guests were treated to a true performance as they were escorted upstairs to the mezzanine level where the bride and groom were married on specially built platform. Like any other production at the Majestic, this wedding was complete with Playbills as wedding programs. (Such a cute idea!) During cocktail hour, and all throughout the evening, guests could visit the photo booth and have three pictures of themselves taken. Unlike a traditional photo booth however, the first of four pictures was pre-printed on the card made up in the design of a playbill. The pre-printed picture was a beautiful picture of the bride and groom laughing and having a great time. These photo cards acted as favors, so that guests can always remember what a magnificent wedding they attended and how much fun they had. For dinner and dancing the stage was extended out over the orchestra level seating to in order to accommodate seating for all of the guests. The flowers that graced the tables were beautiful hues of rich jewel tones. Once the curtain was lifted, the entire stage was visible, revealing where the band was set up. The Peter Monroy Band was flown in from Las Vegas just for the wedding. After dinner, in addition to individual cakes for all the guests, there were chocolate fountains set up at the back of the theater for guests to enjoy. And once guests thought the food portion of the evening was over, they were presently surprised by breakfast tacos as a late night snack. (And with all the dancing they were doing, they needed the energy!) We were honored to be able to produce one of the very few weddings that have ever occurred at this historical venue. We were even allowed to sign the backstage wall just like any other production done at this theatre. The backstage walls are covered with actors signatures and hand painted play posters from the many productions done over the years. I am so proud!!!

Taos Weddings

2010-02-11T11:19:00.004-06:00

Article done for The Taos News

Weddings in Taos, New Mexico

http://taosnews.nm.ussrv17.newsmemory.com/default.php?pSetup=taosnews_special_wed

Juicy Couture Theme Sweet Sixteen!

2009-12-09T11:36:00.004-06:00

We planned an amazing Juicy Couture themed birthday party in just 3 months for our adorable client Alyssa. The venue that was selected was perfect to hold all of our more than 350 guests but as far as being an attractive location it was anything but!! Here are some BEFORE SHOTS of the space. We had to completely transform this dull and rather boring space to create the hip and stylish nightclub atmosphere our client wanted. We brought in drapery to completely cover all of the walls and ceiling and up lit the room with variations of pink to help create our theme. We had gobos spinning on the dance floor with Juicy Couture tag lines. The table centerpieces were of luscious pink roses in candy filled vases. The birthday cake was in the shape of a Juicy Couture tote bag! It was amazing! The guest of honor was escorted in to a choreographed dance routine by an amazing group of hip hop dancers that we brought in. The DJ did a great job of keeping everyone both young and old on the dance floor throughout the night. I loved the music videos that he projected on a big screen. I really felt like we were at a club! We created a private "VIP" area for Alyssa and only her select friends were granted entrance. These lucky friends were invited to the party with a custom designed boxed invitation which included a key that had to presented in order to gain access to the VIP area. It was an amazing party! Alyssa and her friends had a blast. She even received a wonderful gift from her parents in addition to the party. A new Infiniti! Wow!!! I think she will remember the party for a lifetime.

Nikki & Clay June 27th

2009-10-20T13:58:00.006-05:00

Nikki and Clay were married on June 27, 2009 at Alamo Heights Presbyterian Church followed by a beautiful reception at The Bushnell. The penthouse was decorated with sage green linens and hydrangea centerpieces and the tables on the roof were decorated with cream linens and pictures of the bride and groom growing up. The evening started out extremely hot, so most of the party stayed in the penthouse up until dinner. By then it had cooled off enough that guests were taking their delicious food up to the roof to eat and enjoy the breeze. The food was absolutely delicious! Our staff agrees that their favorite parts were the salad and the great idea of a mashed potato bar. (Even the presentation for those was great! They were served in martini glasses!) After dinner, everyone moved up to the roof for toasts, cake, and dancing. The best man’s toast was one of the best we’ve ever heard! Once the music got going, everyone was dancing and having a great time. (It was really the grandparents who got the dancing started!) The guests sent the newlyweds off in style by waving sparklers to illuminate the path to their get away car.

Ashley & Reagan Engagement Photos

2009-10-20T13:52:00.004-05:00

We just love how these pictures of my adorable couple came out. Thank you Edward with Blu Door Studios of Dallas!

Adriana & Randy Engagement photos!

2009-09-17T15:01:00.003-05:00

We are working with Adriana and Randy in planning their wedding for next year. It will be in early May 2010. We thought we'd share some photos they selected from their engagement shoot.

Kathryn & Travis

2009-08-18T13:09:00.005-05:00

We recently had a wedding with Kathryn and Travis who were married on June 13 at Christ Lutheran Church with a reception following at the Argyle.

The wedding programs were a perfect match to the invitations. The French Connection did all the printing for this event. I am very proud of how everything turned out!

The usher for this wedding were a blast to work with. These guys did not miss a beat. It was so nice to see them welcome guests and quickly get them seated and come back for the next set. They definitely could have a future with us :-) .

After the ceremony the guests headed to the Argyle. This historic mansion set in the middle of Alamo Heights is a gorgeous spot for a reception!! The guests arrived to passed champagne and a surprise of Bevo, the University of Texas mascot! Guests loved taking pictures with Bevo while enjoying cocktails on the front lawn.

With an outdoor reception in June it is an absolute must to provide guests something to help them cool off! So in addition to the cocktails, we passed out brown paper fans that matched our event.

The guest seating and band were set under a tent on the side lawn. We had special up lighting that created a warm glow and the candle centerpieces were a unique addition to the setting.

Midway through the reception the bride changed into something more comfortable. This was a great idea especially since the event was outside. She was able to get into something cooler and still look like a beauitful bride.

This formal wedding was a huge hit to all that attended.

Photography by: David Sixt

Kristin & Clay Featured wedding San Antonio Weddings Magazine!

2009-07-23T13:47:00.006-05:00

Hey everyone!
Check out the new edition of San Antonio Weddings Magazine where our wedding is featured! Page number 120.

Also see the pictures we added below from this same wedding.
It was a stunning day!

Beautiful Bride!

2009-07-07T11:06:00.007-05:00

Our gorgeous bride Lauren had her bridal portraits done recently in Houston. She will be getting married later in the year outside of Austin. Her photographer for her portraits was Kevin Patrick.

2009 The Knot BEST OF Pick!!!

2009-06-16T16:41:00.003-05:00

Check us out in The Knot's Best Of Weddings 2009 magazine on newsstands now. We are thrilled to have been chosen by our brides as one the the best vendors for 2009!

Melissa & Jose May 30, 2009

2009-06-04T14:30:00.001-05:00

Melissa and Jose were married at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word and had an evening reception at the AT&T Community Center. The reception venue was beautiful. The flowers for this event, tall branch arrangements with Gerber daisy balls hanging, were unique and really made the room pop. Turquoise, fuchsia, and green linens made for a bold and bright event. One theme throughout this special day was polka dots. They were on favors, cupcakes, programs, and menu signs. They also even appeared in the DJ’s lights that were used! The bride made a stunning (and more comfortable) wardrobe change and looked beautiful for her special day! One nice touch for the end of the reception was a late night pizza snack. Oh my gosh! Guests loved that. The servers couldn't make it all the way from the kitchen to the pizza table because guests stopped them along the way to grab a slice and then get back to dancing! When the night was over, all we could hear were complements about how perfect everything was. We love hearing that from brides.

Great New Restaurant - Ciel/Ciao 2

2009-06-04T14:25:00.002-05:00

We had a great site visit and lunch today at Ciel/Ciao 2. Ciel offers classic French dining and Ciao 2 offers contemporary Italian cuisine. They have a banquet room well as a beautiful patio that would be great for a rehearsal dinner or an initiate wedding reception. Both restaurants are right next to each other and you can order from either menu at both locations. They are located at 20626 Stone Oak Parkway, San Antonio TX. 78258. http://www.plazaciel.com/

Paula and John May 24, 2009

2009-06-04T13:53:00.003-05:00

Paula and John are from Houston and recently got married here at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. The reception followed at the beautiful Witte Museum. Paula wanted to incorporate her love of the gorgeous Oak trees at the museum throughout her event. We added a tree design to her wedding invitations, menus and wedding favors. We had planned on an outdoor reception, but Mother Nature had different plans. Because of the rain we had to move inside, but still had a lovely cocktail hour outside. The bride and groom love Mojitos so of course we had them as their specialty drink perfectly named a "Marry Me Mojito" This was my first Greek wedding and I just loved watching all the dancing!! It was so much fun to watch. I do not know where my bride got all her energy! The guest favors were adorable. The bride and groom used their initials, PB&J to inspire the creative idea of giving the guests small jars of peanut butter and jelly. It was a wonderful day! I hope to post pictures soon!

Cassie and Brian

2009-06-04T12:32:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures of Cassie and Brian's wedding taken by their photographer Gary Gibson. I just thought I would share! This was a fun event at the Westin Riverwalk.

Kristin & David

2009-05-22T10:17:00.002-05:00

We used a great videographer for this wedding! Check out this clip. http://vimeo.com/3220322 Video by: Mason Jar Productions http://www.masonjarproductions.com/

Seeking Interns!

2009-05-17T10:52:00.000-05:00

We have a great intern program.

Contact our office if you are interested!
(210) 349-8301

Leslie and Matthew April 11, 2009

2009-05-06T20:17:00.010-05:00

Will this rain ever stop?! Ok I am beginning to worry about these outdoor events I am planning!! I planned Leslie and Matt's wedding in 2 months. I love when a bride truly utilizes my services to the fullest. They completely trusted me and took my advice and made the planning process go so smoothly. Planning a wedding in 2 months requires a very decisive couple. They let me offer suggestions and they would provide their input and if they wanted to make modifications I was able to offer alternate suggestions but then they would make a decision. It was refreshing!!!!! On the wedding day....yep! we had rain but all turned out very nicely. We had the wedding and reception at the gorgeous Marquardt Ranch in Boerne, Texas.

Crystal & Matthew March 20, 2009

2009-03-25T20:09:00.001-05:00

Crystal and Matthew had a very nice ceremony in LaCoste, Texas and their wedding reception at the historical St. Anthony Hotel.

At first we had a hard time find just the right location for Crystal's special day. She really wanted a romantic setting. Finally we sent her to the St. Anthony and she fell in love with it.

It was the perfect backdrop for her special day.

The wedding was done in shades of pale pink with touches of black. It was a very elegant day.

Kristin & Clay March 14, 2009

2009-03-20T20:00:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh! I never thought this wedding would come together!!!

I worked with Kristin for months planning a gorgeous outdoor wedding and reception. We planned the entire event to take place at the Witte Museum. Kristin wanted her event to be entirely outside. We planned on creating different spaces throughout the Witte property.

The week of the wedding a terrible cold front and rain was predicted to ruin the event we had worked so hard to plan.

On Wednesday before the wedding it was decided that we were going to be forced to move the entire event inside. This meant accommodating 320 guests inside. It was a very tight squeeze and a VERY limited set up time but with all of my lists and planning it came together without a hitch!

I transformed the Witte's main ballroom and hung paper lanterns from the ceiling for a dramatic affect.

The band we hired was AMAZING! We had a photo booth for guests to take snapshots in. This acted as on of the favors. For the kiddos I had a balloon artist come in.

We had Izze cocktails for the specialty drink. Yum!!! I am craving one right now! Look for this wedding to be featured in the next issue of San Antonio Weddings Magazine!

Philip Thomas took these gorgeous pictures of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jennifer & Matthew February 28, 2009

2009-03-06T19:52:00.001-06:00

Jennifer and Matthew were married recently at the gorgeous Westin Riverwalk Hotel.

I had a great time working with Jennifer and her mom to plan this wedding. We planned things rather quickly as Jennifer wanted to be able to enjoy her honeymoon over her Spring Break from school.

The best part of my day was when I took Jennifer in the ballroom to have a sneak peek of the finished room and she was speechless. I have never had a bride moved to tears before but Jennifer was so moved by the way the room came together she had to hold back the tears.

This is why I work so hard to make my bride's day perfect! To see a HAPPY BRIDE on her wedding day makes all the hard work worth it!

I hope to be able to post pictures soon.

Part-Time Position Available

2009-02-15T08:25:00.002-06:00

We have a great opportunity for the right individual!

We are in the need for someone to work 20 hours a week. This person would work in our office and helping with events.

This is an entry level position. It is perfect for someone who wants to explore the field of event planning.

If you feel you are the right person for this please email me at: info@thefrenchconnectionevents.com

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway Give Away!

2009-01-29T20:30:00.001-06:00

WEDDING GIVEAWAY FROM THE STYLE NETWORK!!!

Are you an engaged couple who truly wants a one-of-a-kind wedding, but you're finding it next to impossible in the face of an economic crisis? Then this is your opportunity to have the wedding of your dreams!

The Style Network is celebrating the 100th episode of "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" We are searching for ONE LUCKY COUPLE who is ready to scrap their plans and go on a wild ride with one of our featured "Whose Wedding" planners, as we GIVE them the most unforgettable wedding adventure!

Please send your contact info, love story and photos to: tracy@thefrenchconnectionevents.com

New Year New Ideas!

2009-01-25T15:41:00.002-06:00

2009 is all about color!

Bold Colors!!

I am finding that my clients for 2009 want vibrant linens and pops of color throughout their weddings. I am having so much fun helping my brides achieve their wedding looks.

Puerto Rico

2009-01-17T11:32:00.005-06:00

Puerto Rico here we come!

I love doing destination weddings and I am very excited to be planning a wedding in Puerto Rico.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T15:33:00.001-06:00

2009 is off to a busy start!

The wedding fair on January 4th kicked off the new year and bride's came out by the hundreds to begin their wedding planning. I love being at the wedding fairs. It is a great opportunity to meet so many of you!!

Wedding fairs off brides the opportunity of meeting potential vendors and take advantage of special discounts.

I look forward to the next wedding fair scheduled for February 8, 2009. See you there!

Sandra and Donald November 22, 2008

2008-11-25T11:14:00.003-06:00

Sandra and Donald had their fall wedding at Texas Old Town.
This was my first event at this location and I loved it. It was a charming day.
The couple originally wanted to have their wedding and reception at The Dominion Country Club but decided they wanted to invite ALL of their friends and family which meant they needed more space!

We then considered the couple's home as the setting for the wedding and reception. They have a wonderful home with plenty of room but with the weather being so unpredictable in November it would have meant spending much more money just to insure we had a back up plan if the weather was poor. So 2 months before their wedding it was decide the wedding would be moved to Texas Old Town.

I think it was a perfect choice!
Danny is the person that manages the venue and he is wonderful! So helpful and accommodating. I highly recommend this location.
Because the guest count grew we cut back on some decor but I think the look that was achieved was still very nice. Simple and elegant. Just want the bride wanted.
The bride made the wedding favors and her sister helped her with the ceremony programs.
I always say that if you need to cut back on your budget enlisting the help of family and friends is a great way to save $.

The groom's cake was a surprise. I think Donald loved it.
As always, my wonderful DJ kept the crowd dancing until the very end!

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? - Casting Again!

2008-11-13T22:05:00.004-06:00

If you think your wedding is perfect for TV contact me!

Amanda and Steven September 13, 2008

2008-09-16T14:10:00.002-05:00

Not even a hurricane could stop this wedding!
Amanda and Steven were married on top of the Bushnell.
Beautiful location but not were you want to be in a hurricane!!

Many guests were not able to make the wedding because of the evacuations of Galveston and Houston. We weren't even sure if we were going to be able to have the wedding at all.

Luckily on Friday before the wedding the forecast indicated the storm would stay East of us. So we hoped for dry skies!
The wedding was an intimate gathering of the couple's closest friends and family. The sky held but the rain until just after the cocktail hour.
Following the wedding and cocktails we moved the guests downstairs for dinner.
As usual we had one of my favorite caterers handle this event. The food was delicious.
We had a simply black and white theme with a pop of color with the flowers.
Very pretty look.
This worked nicely in this space.
Following dinner and a few showers the guests were able to move back upstairs for dancing.
We hired the Chris Story band and they were a HIT!
At the end of the evening the guests were sent home with sweets. The couple selected several of their favorite candy to share on a candy bar.

San Antonio Business Journal

2008-09-13T12:12:00.004-05:00

Check out my article in the San Antonio Business Journal:

Click here to view article:

Bride's Television Interview

2008-08-30T21:41:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone!

Check out my interview with Bride's Television. http://www.bridestelevision.com/

It was so much fun speaking to them.

Let me know if you can't find it. I had a problem logging on the other day but I think it is fixed now.

Have fun!!!

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? Filming Again!

2008-08-09T13:47:00.006-05:00

We are in our 8th season!

We featured my adorable couple Erin and Sam.

Note from the couple:

From: Erin
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 7:31 PM
To: Tracy French
Subject: Fwd: Erin's Proofs

Sorry for the lateness of my thank you.... I was hoping it wouldn't take so long for these proof because I'd wanted to send the note with a photo. Here they are just the same - please let me know if you want any I'd love to make a present of them to you.Seriously, thank you so much for all the hard work put in by you and your team. I (and Sam) appreciate it more than you will ever know -- we're STILL getting compliments from both sides of the family. The flowers look absolutely gorgeous in these photos - like a magazine. I love my hair and makeup too - could you pass this link along to Misha too? I'd love to share this with him.I'm afraid in my sudden camera-shyness I didn't tell you how much you blessed me, and I'm sorry for that. I don't have enough words to tell you what you and your team mean to me so but I can say that will certainly recommend you to everybody!!! Thanks again, all our best wishes for more beautiful weddings!Love,The Garcias

Jenia & Arnold July 12, 2008

2008-08-04T17:16:00.027-05:00

Two events in one day. No problem!

Jenia and Arnold are a couple with modern taste. They wanted a non-traditional wedding. So when I referred them to The Hotel Valencia they felt is was the perfect site for their special day.

The French Connection offers unique line of stationary and Jenia was able to find a Save The Date announcement along with an invitation that fit perfectly with the wedding she and Arne were to have at Hotel Valencia.

Jenia and Arne were great. They entrusted me to create the day they had envisioned. When it came time to pick her floral and design she picked out one picture of flowers that she liked. She told me to create the rest. It was very nice to have her trust and the freedom to pull together the wedding for her.

We made their escort cards, menus and table numbers to match her invitations. The Citrus restaurant was a glow of candles and punches of color from her floral choice were splashed around. It was fun to use to strong colors in this space.

On the wedding day the bride, her daughters along with both mothers of the bride and groom had their hair and makeup done by The French Connection team of artists. After slipping into her gown Jenia was able to sneak downstairs so our photographer could get a few shots of her. She looked so gorgeous in this gown! I had so much fun shopping with her to pick it out. I think it fit her perfectly.

The ceremony was held on the 3rd floor courtyard at the hotel. Since it is pretty warm in July we placed paper fans on each of the guests chairs.

The bridal party consisted of the bride and groom's children. It was a very nice intimate ceremony.

Following the ceremony the guest were directed to the 2nd floor outside of the Citrus Restaurant where they enjoyed passed hor'd and cocktails. The bride and groom quickly finished their pictures and joined their guests. After cocktails the guests were allowed to enter the restaurant to find their seats.

The wedding favors were Truffles for a Cause. A portion of the cost for each truffle went to Samm Ministries. This such a great service. The boxed chocolates were not only good it was nice to know that a portion of the money spent was given to charity.

Dinner then cake and then it was back out to the dance floor for the toast and dancing. The French Connection DJ kept every one going until the end.

We finished off the evening with coffee and assorted biscotti.

The next day the couple left for a family cruise. I went back to the hotel and retrieved their tuxedo and wedding gown. The couple did not have to worry about a thing. I even wrapped and placed the top tier of their cake in their freezer.

Renee & Keith July 12, 2008

2008-07-13T16:51:00.002-05:00

We plan party's too!

Renee and Keith wanted to throw an all out PARTY to celebrate their 40th birthdays. They wanted to use their lake house overlooking Canyon Lake as the site for this 120 guest celebration. We were more than happy to help them pull it off.

Live music, fajitas, margaritas, and fire works!!

Most of the guests were treated to motor coach transportation to the party. The guests met in San Antonio to board the bus. The party began as they board the bus, ice cold beer and wine was served to them as they got on.

When they guests arrived at the lake we had mariachis playing to greet them. Pappas did the catering for us. Following the tres leches birthday cake the band began playing. It was like a rock concert as they played from the top deck over looking the party.

This couple just wanted to relax and have a great time for their party. They did not want to have to worry about the usual host duties. The French Connection team was able to let them do just that! The party was a huge success.

Note from Renee:

I thought the party was a complete hit. It truly was all we had hoped it would be. There were a few people that couldn't make it that I wish had been there but other than that, it was a wonderful event and I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thanks so much for all you did to make it a success.

Canada here we come!!!

2008-06-03T14:52:00.002-05:00

I am so excited to be flying off to Canada!!! to plan a wedding.

Brianne and Josh met while ice dancing for the US and Canada. Bri for the US and Josh for Canada.

They will be married at Josh's family farm just outside of Ottawa, Canada.

The wedding will be next June but we are heading there to take care of many details. We will be meeting with vendors and doing site reviews. It should be a busy week ahead of us.

Amber & David May 17, 2008

2008-05-18T14:13:00.004-05:00

The wedding and reception were held at the Southwest School of Art and Craft. On the day of the wedding the bride called me several times asking if it were raining. I have to admit I lied. I told her there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The truth was I was really frantically pulling the linens off of the tables because huge drops of rain had begun to fall. I knew it would pass and I did not want her to worry about the behind the scene details. She just needed to get beautiful and show up. Leaving the worrying to us!
The guests arrived to a passed beverage and allowed to mingle while taking photographs for the couples guest book.

When it came time for the ceremony the guests were led into the chapel. The bride looked stunning as she waited outside to go down the aisle. Her bouquet was all white and her bridesmaids who wore green satin gowns had bouquets in plums and purple.

The contrast was really beautiful.

Following the ceremony the guests were led to the river garden where they were greeted by a mariachi trio who serenaded them for cocktails and dinner. The bride and groom joined their guests for cocktails and then they all moved over to the dinner area. They were served salads at their places and then allowed to have access to several food stations placed around the garden. The menu was a perfect mix of traditional wedding flavors and few unexpected items such as hand patted gorditas made on the spot. When it came time for cake, the Trio led the couple along with their guests back into the chapel that had been transformed by our staff. We had the walls dramatically up lit. The cake was placed in the center of the room. There were intimate conversation areas along with plenty of room to get out and dance. The DJ turned up the music and the dancing began. The guests had a great time mingling both inside and out while dancing in between.

We designed the event to flow from one space to another and the colors to flow each transition. Bronze taffeta linens draped the cocktail tables for the pre-ceremony cocktails and the cocktail hour following the ceremony. The dinner tables were covered in Olive green taffeta linens. The floral throughout was a mixture of purples and plums. When we moved the guests back inside the chapel we had taken the color scheme a bit darker but still in keeping with the rest of the look of the event. We had deep plum linens covering all of the tables and some of them we added a sheer green/blue/plum overlay. We wanted the feeling that they had entered an upscale lounge.

Photography by Philip Thomas
DJ by The French Connection
Hair and Makeup by The French Connection
Floral by The French Connection with William Garza

Angela & Todd April 19, 2008

2008-04-20T14:01:00.002-05:00

I know I say that all my clients are wonderful but I really mean it!! Angela and Todd along with Angela's mom were so much fun to work with! We would end up laughing throughout most of our meetings. Angela and Todd live outside of Dallas so when they would come to town we would have long power meetings. As with all of our clients we tackle the planning process step by step with meetings covering each detail that needs to be accomplished. Angela and her family followed my every recommendation.

They pretty much used all of our services and we heard many compliments on the wedding day. I am sorry in a way that we are all done planning. I will miss our power meetings!!!

The wedding was at T he Chapel of the Incarnate Word. The reception at Holy Spirit.

The Fren ch Connection provided the floral, guitar for cocktails and dinner, DJ and photography.

Sandra & Peter April 5th

2008-04-06T14:18:00.003-05:00

This was a blow out wedding that just kept going and going!! The couple and the guests did not want the evening to end.

The ceremony was held at the gorgeous Chapel of the Incarnate Word.

We sent the bride out with our signature bubbles on the steps of the chapel. I always love this shot.

It reminds me of the traditional wedding photographs.

Following the ceremony the guests had a break and then joined the reception for Dinner, Dancing and FUN! The reception was held in the ballroom at Holy Trinity.

The couple really wanted a venue that would give us lots of flexibility and accommodate all of their guests. Holy Trinity was perfect and so easy to work with.

We added up lighting to give the room a POP of color. The couple really wanted to have both a traditional Tejano band and to be able to enjoy some good old dance music so we had a DJ too.

We divided up the timeline so the guests and the couple were able to have a full evening of both. It really kept the event interesting.

After dinner we set up our candy bar and the guests just went crazy. They really loved being able to pick out exactly the candy they loved. I have to say few weddings ever go past midnight but this one really did. We ended the event at 1:00 AM with a late night snack of Bean and Cheese tacos from my FAVORITE taco place, Taco House on San Pedro. Yummmmmm!!!

This wedding was so much fun.

Talina & J March 29, 2008

2008-03-30T13:41:00.004-05:00

This busy couple came to me to plan their wedding and reception with plans on having it at their home but they had no idea how to pull it off. With only a few months to plan we dove in and pulled it all together.

Talina was a great bride allowing me to be creative and design her day without constraint. She shared with me her desire to have a private ceremony and a larger reception for the rest of the guests.

Their backyard was the perfect backdrop! The home has many mature oak trees that made a great canopy for hanging paper lanterns. There is a tree house that gave the DJ a Birdseye view of the party.

But the DJ was not the only music. We had our fabulous guitar duo play during the cocktail hour and then we moved in to dancing with the Oh So Good band.

The food was delicious as always! We placed the food stations strategically around the lawn that kept the guests mingling around.

Lounge furniture with bright pillows matched the overall look the bride was going for.
Weddings at a home are not always easy to pull off as you do not have many of the built in amenities but with the proper planning it can be a more intimate and memorable day. I think we achieved a perfect day from beginning to end.

Jamie & Manuel March 8, 2008

2008-03-09T13:31:00.002-05:00

Jamie and Manuel planned there small intimate destination wedding in San Antonio at the beautiful Westin La Cantera Resort.

The view from the ceremony location was one reason so many fall in love with this venue. The French Connection photographer captured the day while our guitarist played the music as the bride walked down the aisle. The floral design we did for her was simplistic with a touch of color she requested. We were pleased to be apart of this day.

Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Krystal & Kevin February 23, 2008

2008-03-05T15:26:00.008-06:00

We just flew back in from Dallas where I was filming for the seventh season of Whose Wedding is it Anyway?

The wedding was a huge success. I could not have been more pleased with the way their special day turned out. The couple Krystal and Kevin were such a pleasure to work with. Their unique day was filled with support from all of their close family and friends. Having their involvement made the day all that more memorable.

The new season of Whose Wedding is it Anyway? will be kicking off on Tuesday March 4, 2008. The premiere of my episode will be airing at some point in April. I will post again with the exact date!

Meghan & Robert March 1, 2008

2008-03-03T10:42:00.003-06:00

Meghan and Robert planned their wedding from North Carolina. This busy couple chose to take advantage of our many services to help pull off their special day. The couple and several of their guests stayed downtown at the historic Fairmount Hotel.

This made getting to the ceremony very convenient. Meghan and her bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done by our team of artists that came to them at the hotel. The quaint ceremony was at the Little Church of La Villita with the reception following at the Fort Sam Golf Club.

We surprised the guests and transported them all to the reception using San Antonio Trolleys.

We think everyone really enjoyed themselves! The French Connection photographers were on hand to capture all of the moments of their day.

The couple also used The French Connectio n's DJ who got everyone out on the dance floor following dinner and cake. Meghan and Robert rode off into the night in a Rolls Royce while

The French Connection team finished off their day by handling all of the little details.

Ali & Grady February 29, 2008

2008-03-01T07:46:00.000-06:00

We had such a fun time working with Ali, Grady and their family. Both Ali and Grady love to be different and when they learned this was a leap year they decided it was the perfect day for their wedding. The wedding was a big success. Getting emails such as these from our bride's make us love our work even more!

From: Alison
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:16 PM
To: Tracy French
Subject: Post Wedding

Tracy -
I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did for our wedding! It was great! We cant thank you enough for all of your help.
What you do deserve is a huge hug! Thank you so very much! You made my day run so smooth and we were able to relax and enjoy the day!
With thanks, Ali

Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Krystal & Kevin February 23, 2008

2008-02-26T14:56:00.000-06:00

We just flew back in from Dallas where I was filming for the seventh season of Whose Wedding is it Anyway?

The wedding was a huge success. I could not have been more pleased with the way their special day turned out. The couple Krystal and Kevin were such a pleasure to work with. Their unique day was filled with support from all of their close family and friends. Having thier involvment made the day all that more memorable.

The new season of Whose Wedding is it Anyway? will be kicking off on Tuesday March 4, 2008. The premeire of my episode will be airing at some point in April. I will post again with the exact date.

Nebraska Wedding - Kim and Ryan

2008-02-11T15:55:00.002-06:00

I am planning an upcoming wedding in Nebraska that I am so excited about. I just arrived back from our first trip to see the area. It was beautiful and very COLD!

The wedding is going to be held in Lincoln at The Lodge at Wilderness Ridge. Kim and Ryan have been such a great couple to work with.

They are both attending school out of state and are planning this wedding through me in Texas. Surprisingly, with no one in Lincoln but her parents we have come across very few challenges with this wedding. We have found all of the people in Lincoln to be very helpful and a joy to work with.

We will be back in Nebraska in August for the big day. I can't wait to see how it all comes together!

Look for me in Spice Magazine!

2007-12-26T09:36:00.001-06:00

I am thrilled to announce that myself as well as my beautiful home have been chosen to be featured in Spice Magazine's Bridal Issue! I feel so honored to have been selected and am extremely excited to have this opportunity.

The issue is due to be released on January 27, 2008.

*Don't forget to pick up a copy in the Sunday issue of the San Antonio Express-News

Meredith & Nicholas November 24, 2007

2007-11-25T13:33:00.001-06:00

Meredith and Nicholas were absolutely GLOWING yesterday! We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. The ceremony was held at the Chapel at Trinity University. The ceremony was filled with candle light and love. The bridesmaids looked wonderful in their mixture of dark to light Brown gowns. For the bouquets we chose ivory and chocolate brown peonies with rhinestone accents. These flowers done by our very talented florist William Garza were the perfect accents.

The reception site was Pearl Stable and it was perfect for the big plans this couple had. They really wanted to incorporate unique details that represented them as a couple throughout their wedding and reception. These details included a candy bar stocked full of sweet delectable delights as well as a variety of pizza for all to enjoy!

The center pieces for the reception were tons of candles, small arrangements of ivory peonies and beautiful LARGE trees with elegant crystals cascading down from the branches that together my florist and I were able to create. The overall feel was romantic and fun, fun, fun!

The cake that the couple chose was stunning. It was five tiers with chocolate brown swirl details all over the ivory icing.

The family and friends of both the bride and groom had a blast dancing to the fantastic live band!

This celebration of love was definitely not one to be soon forgotten!

Ashley & Martin November 17, 2007

2007-11-19T15:36:00.000-06:00

Ashley and Martin were radiant and oh so in love! This couple had an abundance of fantastic ideas for their wedding and I truly enjoyed my time spent planning their union.

The ceremony and reception were both held at the International Center in downtown San Antonio. The city scape and dozens of candles lining the windows and tables made for an exquisite and unique evening!

The bridesmaids dress was black and she carried a small bouquet of flowers mimicking that of Ashley's she also wore a beautiful burnt orange chrysanthemum in her hair to tie the entire outfit together.

The French Connections wonderful guitarists played music requested by the couple to set the mood for cocktail hour.

It was really the little details that made this wedding so memorable. Ashley and Martin were filled with ideas about how they wanted to keep their day personal to them as a couple. These details included black and white photographs of them and family and friends strung around the room.

Ashley and Martin did not want just any wedding cake they wanted cupcakes! The cupcakes they chose were absolutly dazzling! The couple cut slices out of the cupcake to feed to one another at the traditional cutting of the cake.

The over all feel of the wedding was fun and relaxed everyone seemed to have had a blast! One of my favorit moments from this wedding was Ashley and Martin dancing in the center of a circle of their loved ones as bubbles floated around the room. What a truly memorable moment!

Ashley and Martin were such a lovely couple to work with I can hardly believe that their wedding is already over. I could not be happier for them!

Great facility for weddings and rehearsal dinners!

2007-10-09T20:14:00.000-05:00

For anyone planning a hill country wedding then you must check out the YeKendall Inn located in Boerne, Texas. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this property and I think everyone should go have a look for themselves. I would have never guessed that they could accomodate a good sized wedding reception. From the outside you only see the inn. But they have cleverly added a banquet space that nicely fits this historic location. The property not only offers a nice spot for a reception but you can easily have your wedding ceremony there too.

And you must have a look at their sleep accommodations. Very cute. I think it would be so fun to have friends and family stay right on property. It would be so convenient.

Taylor is the catering manager and a joy to work with. Please tell her I said HELLO!

Valero Texas Open

2007-10-01T21:48:00.001-05:00

What an honor! The French Connection and my wonderful florist William Garza were selected to provide the flowers for this year's Valero Texas Open. This is a big order to fill. The executives at Valero loved our presentation. They were all blow away by the design of our arrangements and the finishing touch was the organization of how we will accomplish the fulfillment for this huge event.

San Antonio Weddings Magazine Article

2007-09-26T20:22:00.000-05:00

Style; substance and success make Tracy French the perfect TV personality. Ready for Her Close-Up By Allison Bagley

“Today’s bride is a busy professional or a student--- she doesn’t have time in her day to run around making appointments and phone calls.”

Enter the wedding planner. But, not just any wedding planner. The Style Network’s go-to expert for wedding reality shows “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away”--- Tracy French, a San Antonio-based wedding coordinator who has won the hearts of network executives and viewers alike.

French, owner of The French Connection, has been making bride’s dreams--- no matter how impossible--- come true for six years. And, she seems to have mastered every aspect of the business. Her company has expanded operations to include wedding photography, floral design, hair and make-up, catering and music. She has even found the time to write a blog about wedding planning.

In 2004, French received a call from The Style Network requesting total access to one of her upcoming weddings for “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” When the show aired, she was a hit with viewers. Two series and eight episodes later, the network is still calling.

“Tracy has the perfect disposition for a wedding planner,” says Stephanie Eno Bianco, director of current programming planning for The Style Network. “She's articulate and sensitive, confident and capable and completely adorable. Our audience embraces her sweet Southern charm and likens her to their close friends. What more can you ask for in a wedding planner?”
Described on one episode as a planner “braced for a battle to satisfy her bride,” French says she doesn’t believe in alarm clocks, eats dessert daily and refuses to lead an ordinary life.
She attributes her success on The Style Network to her commitment.

“This is a full-time business and career for me,” French says. “I get really involved and I want to make a bride’s day exactly what she has always dreamed of. And, it doesn’t hurt that I like style and fashion. I think they like seeing that on their shows.”

“Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?,” now in its sixth season, reveals all chaos of wedding planning. From the tears about the tiara to the tight time constraints the day of, it’s a show anyone who has ever been involved in the process can appreciate.

“Weddings are about fulfilling a lifelong dream and the expectations that are put on these planners are amazing,” Bianco says. “We look for wedding consultants who we know can deliver the fantasy and make great television at the same time.”

French has not limited herself to planning weddings in South Texas. As destination weddings have become more popular, she also finds herself in exotic new locales.

“A lot of couples want a party,” French says. “When they envision their day, they see everyone having fun. Getting away means a weekend full of activities. That’s why we’re seeing more and more destination weddings.”

A wedding she planned in Hawaii was featured on the first-ever “Married Away,” The Style Network’s new reality show that follows planners who have the added pressure of pulling off a perfect wedding--- in uncharted territory.

Renay Wright and Joe Herter’s seaside wedding took place at an intimate Oahu resort--- the perfect venue for a couple who wanted to spend as much time as possible with loved ones before Joe’s possible military deployment.

“The network is always looking for a couple that has an interesting story,” French says. “When you start asking couples about their day-to-day lives outside of the wedding, you find out their stories are so compelling.”

French says programs like “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away” fill a need. “Brides are addicted to the planning process. When they become engaged all they want to do is sleep, eat and breathe weddings. They soak it all up. They want to find new and fun ways of doing things on their special day, and what they should and shouldn’t do.”

So what is French’s one piece of advice, for brides both on and off screen?

“Set your budget,” she advises. “You really can’t make another decision until it’s determined.”
She also recommends brides talk numbers over with all the key members who are going to contribute to the day and be realistic about what you can spend in creating your ideal wedding.
One of French’s recent weddings was featured on the season premiere of “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” Heather Whitney and Philip Atkins, the featured couple, watched their wedding footage for the first time along with an international audience.
Whitney learned about French while watching The Style Network. “I always thought having a wedding consultant meant you had to have a huge affair,” Whitney says. “But on this episode, Tracy was doing a ‘regular’ wedding. I fell in love with her from our very first meeting.”
There may have been an underlying reason Whitney picked French to plan her wedding. “I always secretly wished she would ask me to be on one of the episodes,” she confesses.
On the day of her bridal shower, Whitney learned that her wish might be granted. French received a call to fill in on an episode, and she recommended Whitney and Atkins’ wedding.
The couple quickly filled out the application, created a homemade audition tape and participated in a conference call with network execs to see if they were a match for the show. It wasn’t until four days before the wedding that they found out they had been chosen.

“They called us one day, and the next morning the crews were in San Antonio,” Whitney recalls.
Being followed by camera crews to all the appointments in the final days leading up to the weekend was exhausting, Whitney says, but exciting. “How much more stress do you need at that time? You already want to look good in your dress, but add to that the pressure of being on camera!”

The bride adds, “I was nervous when all the taping first started, but within five minutes it was really easy. They were very respectful and blended in.”
In the end, the couple says it was worth it. “I think it’s the coolest thing ever--- our wedding will be on TV!” Whitney says.

And how did Atkins feel about the behind-the-scenes taping?
“He knew it would complete my day, so he was very supportive. All he cared about was that the filming wouldn’t get in the way of his golf plans that weekend.”
As long as there’s a need for reality wedding programming, French says she is ready to answer the call. “It’s a chance to showcase my work and get the word out about my services, and I welcome that,” she says. “It has been absolutely wonderful and I’m very thankful.”

“Our programs are geared towards anyone who has ever dreamed of a wedding,” Bianco says. “I think single girls watch to dream, brides-to-be watch to be inspired and married women want to relive their wedding days. We all love to peek into others’ lives.”

Anneliese & Gilead ~ September 2, 2007

2007-09-05T19:15:00.001-05:00

The rain didn't ruin this beauitful day. I began working with Anneliese and Gilead just about 3 months before they tied the knot. We selected the beautiful and historic Marriott Plaza Hotel Conference Center for the site of the wedding and reception. The Marriott Plaza really does a wonderful job. This venue is one of my favorites. The ceremony was held in front of the fountain underneath the gorgeous oak trees. As the guests arrived they were greated to wooden fans and lemonade. The bridesmaids looked wonderful in their blue and chocolate colored dresses. And then men looked very handsome in their brown tuxedos. Anneliese was glowing as she walked down the aisle. I LOVED her flowers. They were so pretty. The French Connection did her flowers and my wonderful florist did a beautiful job at bringing to life our vision. Not many couples choose to write their own vows like this couple did. It was so special!!

Following the ceremony we had just enough time to get a few formal pictures before the rain began. It was not a problem though. We were able to quickly move the cocktail reception and everyone stayed dry.

One of my favorite things this couple chose to do was instead of having a traditional wedding cake they wanted pie! And lots of pie!! We had every single flavor of pie that we could get from Marie Callendars. It was so much fun.

The guests loved it.

Following dinner and pie everyone made their way into the dancing room where they witnessed the toast and the first dances. I could hardly keep from crying during the mother son dance. It was so touching. Once the slow first dances were done this group was ready to turn things up. It seemed like all othe guests enjoyed themselves on the dance floor. I really pride myself in working with wonderful vendors who will make my client's day special. The French Connection provided the DJ services and their guests danced until their shoes came off! Literally.

The gals all had their shoes off.

Everyone had a really great time.

Here is a note from the bride:

From: anneliese r.
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 8:15 AM
To: Tracy French
Subject: Thank you

Good Morning Tracy!

First, I want to say thank you so much! Our wedding truely was perfect. I could not have asked for anything more. Your photographers even went out of their way to teach our guests how to line dance. It was wonderful! I can not wait to get the pictures back.

Well thank you again and if there is anything I can do, please let me know. You and Alex are the best!

Anneliese

Marcela & PJ ~ July 14, 2007

2007-07-26T21:09:00.000-05:00

I can not believe Marcela and PJ are married! I have been working with this family for the past 2 years!

When you plan a wedding for this long you have the time to plan out all of the little details that really make the day memorable.

The couple had a traditional wedding at the Little Flower Basilica.

Because of their love for Hawaii the couple decided on a seaside themed reception. As the guests arrived at the reception they were greeted by hula greeters and presented a lei. When the bride and groom arrived they were escorted in by dancers and the hula show began. Not too many people think about bring a little bit of Hawaii to their San Antonio wedding but we did and it worked. The dancers did a wonderful job of interacting with the guests and keep everyone entertained. Just as the hula show ended and the dancers exited the sound of mariachis began playing from the back of the room. Everyone faces lit up as they turned to see the mariachis enter the room in a seamless transition.

Another special touch we added to the day was a slide show that we played during the first dances. During the father/daughter and the mother/son dances pictures of the couple growing up were shown and then during the couple's first dance we played pictures of the couple together. It was enjoyable to see the entire room entranced by what they were watching.

With the wedding cake snowcones were served to the children and the big kids too!

The wedding was a huge success!

Savannah, Georgia

2007-07-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

Destination Wedding
Well I just returned from working with my New York couple and finishing up the details for their wonderful Savannah, Georgia wedding. It was my first visit to Savannah but hopefully not my last. Savannah is a great location for a destination wedding.
My couple had 95 of their closest friends and family travel to Savannah for a weekend of celebrating. It was truly intimate.
The wedding was held at the Mansion on Forsyth Park. Stunning! And the service is superb!

Lori & Ben ~ June 23, 2007

2007-06-25T21:11:00.000-05:00

This adorable couple came to my office needing photography services. And from there they decided they could greatly simplify their planning process by taking advantage of as many services as they could with our company.

Lori used our hair and makeup services, floral, DJ, photography and wedding cake services.

When it came time for them to finalize the details for their big day they decided they really needed to have us there to help them insure their entire day went as smoothly as possible.

So they hired us to set up their reception and coordinate everything so they could simply relax and enjoy!

Are you planning a destination wedding?

2007-05-30T18:33:00.000-05:00

Are you drowning in details? Are you ready to ditch your wedding plans? Do you only have a small amount of money but still want a great, unique wedding? Would you rather walk down the aisle - off the beaten path? We can make it happen! Say "I do" in Indonesia! Share champagne toasts in Colorado! Cut the cake in Cabo! We'll take you there!!

Yes I am looking for couples who are dreaming of a destination wedding! I want to feature you on the next season of MARRIED AWAY. This destination wedding show is hitting some of the world's most luxurious hot spots, and we want to take fun couples with us. We'll hook you up with an amazing venue and you leaving the planning to us. Even if you have your location set but you're in need of a planner, we'd love to hear from you. This is your opportunity to have the most amazing destination wedding imaginable, without breaking the bank!
All participants must be 21 years of age or older, have a wedding date set in 2007. Please get in touch with me at tracy@thefrenchconnectionevents.com or (210) 349-8301