If you are still considering a venue for your wedding then you are going to love today’s post.  Here are some of my favorite venues in the area.  They are all slightly unique.  Some have things that others don’t and I’m pretty sure that if you take a look at each of these you’ll end up having a hard time deciding on just one. :)  Anyway, here are a few photos with links to recent weddings as well as contact info for each of them.  Happy Friday.

Villa di Felicita | (903) 597-0002 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)

Castle on the Lake | 903-721-3593 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)

The Legacy Venue | 903.571.9644 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)
The Belgium House | (903) 660-0125 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)
Elmwood Gardens | (903) 724-5619 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)
Roseland Plantation | (903) 849-5553 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)

Hunt Villa | (903) 597-0002 | (Click here for a recent wedding there.)

I’m so excited to introduce you guys to today’s wedding vendor.  The Boxwood Barn has been a florist on my radar for just over a year now and I LOVE seeing their work.  Elizabeth & her family are super sweet people.  I know I say this over and over, but when booking your vendors not only should you like their work, but you really want to like them as people as well.  The last thing you want is to “dread” having to call a vendor because they get on your nerves.  Liz is just the opposite.  You’ll actually be looking for reasons to call her and chat about your wedding.  They do a great job putting all kinds of arrangements together and I stopped by their place in Palestine a few days ago to get some shots.

Here are a few from a wedding we worked together at Elmwood Gardens.

And finally, here is their interview.  Enjoy.

How did you get started, how long have you been doing this?
The Boxwood Barn was started in 2004.  I majored in Horticulture at Texas A&M University with a specialization in floral design through the “Benz School of Floral Design“.  We both got our certification in Wilton Cake Decorating for when we work with flowers on cakes. From there my mom and I joined forces to start The Boxwood Barn. And yes, we do work in a converted barn that has boxwoods around the outside. I am the artsy one, and she is the organizational one.

What is your favorite part about your job?
I love experimenting with designs and working with my hands.  This is a family business so that is a plus!

What are some things brides should look for when looking for a florist?
Brides should notice if a florist seems knowledgeable of flowers.  Also, a florist should take thorough notes during a consultation, and really listen to the bride’s desires for her wedding.  Always ask to see photos!  Also, does the florist have solutions and answers to a bride’s problems and questions?

What are some arrangements that you don’t get requested often but you think look great for a wedding?
Topiaries!!!  We love topiaries!  They can be greens only or constructed of flowers in a bride’s color palette.

What is something unique to your service that you are extra proud of?
We try to add extra touches to our designs and not be cookie-cutter.  We love embellishments!

Anything else you wanna say?
Flowers are happy!  Our favorites are tulips and sweet peas, go figure.  They are not the easiest to work with.
You can’t beat working with a hardy stem like carnations or hydrangeas.

The Boxwood Barn
http://www.boxwoodbarnflorist.com/
(903)922-1832

Guess who made a fancy schmancy Austin wedding publication?

Give up?

Lots of people.

But, I was among one of those people. :)

You  may remember Davi & Jonathan’s super fun Elmwood Gardens wedding from last July.  Well, Elmwood Gardens is using it as the featured wedding in a brochure they are putting together and the brochure company asked if they could run it in the Austin magazine as well.  Fun times right?

Here is a link to the Elmwood Gardens brochure.

Here is a link to the Austin Magazine. (Page 70)

Take a minute and read the little wedding story they put together.

Hey just a quick heads up for all you bride-ly brides out there. There is going to be a bridal show at the Cain Center in Athens, TX this coming Saturday.

The show is running from 11:00AM – 3:00PM. I hear a really really talented photographer is going to be there. :)

I’m not sure who all the vendors will be, but I do know that CMB Music & Elmwood Gardens will be there. Weddings A to Z will also be doing a fashion show.

So, roll out of bed, head up to the show and say hello. Admission is $2.00 per person so you really have no excuse for not going. I mean really, this is East Texas, what else is there to do. :)

For more info call 903.677.2001.

See you there.

AlexM

OK, so even though we are halfway done with January, is it still ok for me to do a quick look back on 2009?

Great. Here we go.

Last year I shot 162,668 images. That’s insane. That’s 445 photos per day.
Now granted, some of those were of my family, but seriously, I don’t have THAT many kids. :)

A big shout out to all my 2009 brides.

You were amazing.

Thank you for trusting me with your day.

Thank you for giving me the freedom to document and capture your day through my lens.

Thank you for helping me feed those kids I mentioned. :)

Thank you for helping me push my work to where it is today.

In case you missed any of them, here they are:
Ruth & Daniel | Emily & Heath | Britni & Chance | Josey & Sam | Polly & Nelson | J’Vonne & Lee | Linsey & Cade | Sara & Yan | Amanda & Royce | Jayme & Jake | Stefanie & Jeremy | Stephanie & Michael | Mandy & Derek | Chelsea & Tyson | Kim & Josh | Megan & Jacob | Neili & Steven | Rachel & Andrew | Lindsey & Justin | Mindy & Dustin | Davi & Jonathan | Erika & Phil | Kaylie & Matt | Mollie & Cliff | Laura & Chad | Jade & Justin | Salem & Chris | Sandra & Robert | Kourtney & Travis | Randall & Danny | Laura & Neil | Lilli & Cameron | Kristina & Nick | Jessica & Charlie | Norma & Jesus | Ellen & Jeromy | Melissa & Alex

Now…. as far are you 2010 brides go…. Erin, Jamie, Monica, Heather, Angela, Miranda, Christina (Come on… you know you wanna book. ;) Jean, Kristen, Brynne, Ashley, Brandy, Amanda, Adrienne, Megan, Heather, Jennifer, Julia, Jamie, & Kiffany, I can’t wait to work with you more and know that once you’ve been married for 40 something years and have grandkids running all around you, you’ll have some super fun photos to show them of back when “grandma” was young and cool. :)

Happy New Year! AlexM

P.S. Don’t worry, Britni, I still have you booked for 2011. :)