Just because you have a marriage license with your new last name, doesn't mean you've officially changed your name. (If you thought the wedding was the hard part, wait until you see the lines at the social security office and DMV.) 

Rather do it the old-school way? Follow these steps:
1. Get your marriage license.
Before you can change your name, you'll need the original (or certified) marriage license with the raised seal and your new last name on it. Call the clerk's office where your license was filed to get copies if one wasn't automatically sent to you.
 
2. Change your Social Security card.
Visit the Social Security Administration's website and fill out the application for a new Social Security card. You'll keep the same number—just your name will be different. Mail in your application to the local Social Security Administration office.  You should get your new card within 10 business days.
 
3. Change your license at the DMV.
Take a trip to the local Department of Motor Vehicles office to get a new license with your new last name. Bring every form of identification you can get your hands on—your old license, your certified marriage license and, most importantly, your new Social Security card.
 
4. Change your bank accounts.
This one's a biggie, especially if you're setting up a joint bank account, or if you have one already set up. The fastest way to change your name at your bank is to go into a branch location, bringing your new driver's license and your marriage license. You should request new checks and debit and credit cards on top of changing the name attached to your accounts. Something to note: You might get hit with fees for requesting a new debit card.
 
5. Fill in the blanks
Once you have a social security card and driver's license in your married name, other changes should be easy. Some places only require a phone call; others may ask for a copy of your marriage certificate or social security card. Be sure to notify:

• Employers/payroll
• Post office
• Electric and other utility companies
• Credit card companies
• Schools and alumni associations
• Landlord or mortgage company
• Insurance companies (auto, home, life)
• Doctors' offices
• Voter registration office
• Investment account providers
• Your attorney (to update legal documents, including your will)
• Passport office
• Airlines (to transfer over your miles)

 

The registries used for weddings used to include fine china, toasters and mixers but now most couples have those items already. Home goods that include tools, electronics and ? are always a good idea but let’s not forget those gifts that the couple will never forget.
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Some unique ideas:
Changing the name after wedding day can be a pain however they now have companies such as HitchSwitch that can make it a lot smoother so a gift card for the couple could save them time and energy to start that process.
You can’t go wrong with Netflix gift card. Every couple needs a date night or even a night even every now and then so the Netflix card can help with a monthly plan they may be interested in or a binge-watching weekend they decide to spend at home.
We live in a world of convenience these days so why not send them a food, flower or drink subscription? Meal delivery such as Hello Fresh could provide them a great way to cook together and enjoy some new recipes they don’t normally cook. Or who can say no to a wine of the month that they can save for a special dinner or date night? Let’s not forget there are also some great monthly flower delivery services as well that would be nice to get fresh flowers once a month and it’s the gift, they will remember every month.
Think of what kind of couple they are. Do they love to tailgate or hit up the beach or maybe need some fun camping gear? Do they like to spend their time fishing or hunting and would enjoy a weekend trip later down the line? Find out their hobbies and what they enjoy and how you could help them to spend a memorable time after the wedding day stress.
Do couples still use a registry? Yes about half your guests will still pick the gifts you actually want or need that you put together as options however the other half want to get a gift that feels more personal than just a toaster or coffee pot. They want that keepsake feel so that you can remember them for months or years to come.
Wedding gift etiquette says a guest should spend from $70 to $250 depending on if you are going solo or with a significant other. The closer you are with the couple you may choose to spend more. Let’s not forget they are providing you with dinner, drinks and entertainment for the night as well how much does it cost these days to go have a night out?
One last note is spend what you can afford because they are not inviting you for a gift they are inviting you because they want you there and for you to be with them on this special day and you mean more to them that your gift.

Who is getting married in 2020? Now is the time for all those 90’s babies to get married. The average age of a person getting married in 2020 is 33, meaning this year most of the couples were born in the 90’s. Who didn’t love the 90’s?
Are you ready to find out what the trends are for this new year? Here is a shocker: the biggest trend is being laid back doing what you want. More and more couples are doing what is important to them as a couple and what they like - rather than following what everyone else is doing. We love seeing that as a top priority because remember, it is your day.
And while couples are doing what they want for their wedding. It’s important to note that many are embracing the look of vintage and 1920’s décor. We are talking the modern look that incorporates everything your grandparents loved with a current-day twist.
Velvet is on the rise in both décor and wedding attire this year. Let us not also forget about the mismatched patterns of the buffalo check and bold florals. Instagram-worthy wedding details are trending big this year too.
The goal is to create a wedding that feels personal but has the “I need a picture of this for social media” look. One of the best ways for this is through the food. Charcuterie boards as centerpieces, dessert tables instead of the traditional cake or grooms’ cake. And unique escort cards (Champagne walls, shots or liquor or a small plant or memorabilia) to name a few.
Wedding Décor:
The bolder the better! There is not a “too much” this year. So, go big or go home when it comes to 2020 trends in the décor department. Do you

​You’ve said yes and now the planning begins. Getting married is a life-changing experience and we want your wedding to bring you decades of memories and happiness. Planning your big day at a time like this is ever changing, however we have so many vendors making the necessary adjustments in the meantime. We’re completely in awe and inspired by the local businesses that are coming together and supporting each other through this. I believe that we will all come out stronger, more connected and ready to serve on a whole new level.
Rather than cancelling your wedding, we highly suggest re-scheduling. Nixing your hard work up to this date is not a wise idea. We can’t stress this enough: don’t stop planning!
Wedding planning is not quick and easy. It requires months of researching, exploring options and making decisions. We never want to put things off and right now is actually a great time to begin mood boarding and researching ideas, as you likely have a lot of free time on your hands if you’re stuck at home.
While we know pictures aren’t enough when you’re making such big decisions for your venue, dress, etc., consider doing a virtual, Zoom or Facetime call/tour for the initial narrowing down of ideas and options. You can stay in the comfort (and safety!) of your own home while having others join in on the tour as well and get a head start on what is available.
In times like this, when nobody has answers or knows when this will be over, we also recommend looking into wedding insurance policies to CYA. We never know if we’ll run into another issue like this again in the future.
We’re here for you and we will get through this. Don’t lose hope, brides! 

​Planning anyone’s wedding, especially your own is no small task. It is not simple and usually takes much more time than expected or that you have to devote. The excitement from the moment of the proposal to the moment you say “I DO” could not be greater. By hiring a wedding planner who will follow your directions and knows the common pitfalls will alleviate much of the stress and allow you to enjoy your wedding.

Organizing
Planning a wedding is serious business! If you know what you want, it is best to book it - it’s never too early. The more organized you are from the start will mean less you have to do before the big day. A wedding planner will help guide you through the steps and see that advance bookings and reservations are made in a timely manner. A good wedding planner will also help provide you with alternatives when something is simply not available on your wedding day. 

Obligations  
When it comes to your wedding, you can hire a professional who will help relieve much of the craziness that surrounds the planning, organizing and scheduling. They are the wedding planners. With their help, you will have time to enjoy the journey to your wedding day and not become stressed over it. Your wedding planner will help see that details from the grand to the mundane are handled in an appropriate and timely manner. Save your energy, you will need it.

 Decorating Tip
Although you would like the invitations, chairs, door wreath, flowers and other details you’ve made or choose for yourself, it requires a lot of time, energy and effort to carry those details to fruition. You don`t have to do it yourself, despite your knowledge that you are the best. You can achieve it by hiring a professional to drop off, set up and take down for you. Don’t spend your wedding day delegating and putting family and friends to work when it’s so much easier and efficient to let the professionals handle it. 

Wedding Day
On the day of your wedding you need to relax and enjoy the moment, enjoy your family, close friends, bridal party and certainly, the groom. Assign someone to take care of the scheduling and seeing that guests are properly greeted and pampered because your job for the day is to smile, be radiant, and enjoy the day.
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Photographer
The wedding lasts just one day, but the photos remain forever. Hire a photographer whose photographs will make you feel those same emotions and trigger memories years later when you view the pictures as when those events happened on your wedding day. This is not the area to cut from the budget as these photos will last a life time.

Wouldn't it be fabulous to plan your wedding during a lunch break? Well, with the right planner that can be done. All you need to do is schedule a 20 to 30-minute phone call during lunch to talk with your planner and let them know what vendors are still pending, what still needs to be done and then let them get to work. 

You get to check out vendor proposals and information with your family and fiancé as the proposals come in over the week. You will be able to figure out when everyone is available for the food or cake tasting and organize sit-down meetings with vendors as needed. You will have time to schedule a follow-up call and inform a vendor what times or days you may be available and when they can start scheduling and planning.

With the right planner’s help, you can eliminate much of the running around and stress involved in the planning process …..and not to mention it’ll save you time and money. Fewer days you must ask off work, less stress of trying to organize it all around your schedule and no worries on picking the right vendors.

Leave it to the professionals so you still get to enjoy the pre-wedding bliss, you just show up for some food, cocktail or cake tastings and you can still enjoy the process.

Yay! It is time to go find that wedding dress that you’ve been dreaming about since you were little! It really is a magical time, but it’s also one that can turn overwhelming if you go in blindly. However, we are here today with some tips that will help ease the process and help keep it a happy time for you and everyone involved! Here are some tips you should keep in mind when shopping for your wedding dress!



Stick to a Budget
We can’t stress this one enough, it’s why it’s first on our list! Make sure you plan out these details before you go in to shop for a dress because that can be dangerous territory! Pick a budget and once you start shopping, make sure whoever is helping you is well aware of that number and nothing more. Remember, there is still a whole wedding to plan and things can get pricey!   

Plan in Advance
Our first tip leads us to this one… plan in advance! From the style of dress to the shade you want, make sure you have a vision in mind before entering a bridal store. Not only can it be extremely overwhelming if you go in blindly, but it may force you to choose a dress that you actually didn’t want. Sit down and talk with family and friends, mark up bridal magazines, or head to Pinterest for some inspiration to find your vision for your dress!


Remain Open Minded
The next thing you should do is remain open-minded. Not every bridal store has every style of dress or they don’t have certain styles in certain shades. Maybe you have your heart set on a certain detail, but they don’t have any dresses with that detail… anything can happen. Don’t get stuck on one particular style, but instead be open to various details and elements of a dress. It is great to go in with a vision, but also make sure you’re ready to have some alternate versions of that style. You’ll have a much happier experience because of it! 



Shop Sooner Than Later
Searching for that perfect dress can take some time! It is best to put “wedding dress shopping” at the top of your to-do list when it comes to wedding planning. Also, finding your dress sooner allows room for there to be plenty of time for alterations if needed! 


Check Different Locations
Not every bridal store will have every style. We suggest checking out other stores to make sure you have all of your options in front of you. Of course, it will take more time when scheduling appointments at various locations, so make sure you plan ahead. However, this will help you see what’s out there and find more options that will make a great fit for your special day!

Don’t Skip Out on Eating
Wedding dress shopping can actually be daunting for some women. Having to squeeze into a dress and look like a queen has been embedded into the wedding world by society for a long time. However, we are here today to shut that all down! YOU are beautiful and it’s best to remember that the dress is made to fit you, not the other way around. A lot of brides like to go early in the day or skip eating before they try on dresses, but the truth is that at your wedding you’ll need to eat and you should be comfortable. Let me repeat that again… you should be comfortable! You are going to be in the dress all night, so this is key! Find a dress that fits YOUR body and know that you are already a queen!


Finding that special dress is such a fun and memorable experience, but without the right tips it can become an overwhelming fast! Make sure to remember these tips and everything should go a lot smoother! Happy shopping!

Photo by Allison Jeffers Photography

 
4.    Try New Skincare
Sparkle and glam are definitely a feature of most brides, but we always advise our brides to skip out on trying any new products before their big day. If you have never tried a certain product before, you may not know how your skin is going to react (breakouts, redness, etc.). Stick to what works for you and what you know!
 
5.    Worry About Weather
This is a BIG worry for so many couples about to tie the knot. Although, our best advice is to let that worry go! Since we can’t control the weather, it is unnecessary stress added to your shoulders. If weather is a big concern, make sure to talk to your wedding venue about a plan B and let the rest occur as it is meant to!

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Each couple’s wedding day is different, but making sure you aware of these things listed above will help you enjoy the experience a lot better! Remember, this is YOUR day, so enjoy it to the fullest! 


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Vendors:
Photo: Allison Jeffers Photography
Venue: Park 31
Planning: Hill Country Planning
Invitations/Menu: The Girl General
Calligraphy: Selah Creative Studio
Dress: Beatitude Bridal
Rentals: Cru Rentals
Flowers: Couture Dezigns
Cake: Creations Cake Shop
Officiant: Texas Wedding Minister
Hair and Makeup: Simply Serene Boerne
Bar: Bartenders 4 You
Catering: Heavenly Gourmet Catering

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