The Dude’s Guide to a Brazos Valley Wedding
Article By | Zach Taylor
So, you’ve finally found The One. She’s everything you’ve ever wanted and you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life together. Now what? Well, first you’ve got to get that special ring; easier said than done. Everyone and their mother will tell you what you should spend: three month’s salary? Six month’s? How big should the diamond be? One carat? Two? The right answer lies in only two things: 1) what does SHE want? and, 2) what can you afford?
If you’re like me and blessed with a woman who knows EXACTLY what she wants, then you’ve got it made. My fiancé insisted we go look at rings long before I even planned on popping the question, and through a couple of trips, I was able to nail down exactly what she liked. If your partner is a little less obvious, then you’ll need to do some investigating. Talk with her friends, her mother, her aunt. Poke and prod until you come up with an answer. Once you figure it out, customize it to your budget. I strongly suggest meeting with a jeweler and planning things out. I got together with Chase at the Jewelry Store in Bryan and designed something that was especially unique while also not breaking the bank.
The Proposal
Far be it from me to tell another guy how to pop the question. Some like a showy presentation, while others put together elaborate scavenger hunts. If you’re my dad, you propose marriage over a dinner tray meal while watching “Wheel of Fortune”. For me, it was a little more traditional – just the two of us standing on a hilltop overlooking Lake Travis. I wanted it to be a private moment, but a sightseeing family nearly put the kibosh on that. I waited until they piled into their car and drove off before I pulled out a short story I had written for her began to read. After finishing, I got down on one knee and asked her to be mine. Not something you’re going to see in a cheesy rom-com, but she said “yes”, so I guess it worked.
You’ve got the first step down. Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now what? Well, you tell everyone you know. If you’re like me, you have a father-in-law who is already asking when the big day’s going to be. Let the planning begin!
The Prep
So many questions: Where is the venue? How much should we spend? What do we do for the reception? It can be overwhelming. That’s why I highly suggest attending the Brazos Valley Bridal Expo. Imagine a career fair, but instead of real estate firms and management companies vying for your attention, there are event venues and catering services. It takes place every fall and spring, so you can make it fit into even a short engagement. And don’t worry, if you’re there for “moral support” like I was, you can let your bride-to-be and her mother have fun while you graze at the food and beverage tables. It’s really the best of both worlds!
Hopefully attending the event will get you pointed in the right direction. If not, the internet is always your friend. As a matter of fact, I found our DJ (Joey from JAM Productions) on the web. WARNING: if you go this route, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Read reviews, speak with the DJ in person. Ask for a sample of their work if need be. The internet is a great way to connect, but you’ve got to cross your “T’s” and dot your “I’s”.
Location, Location, Location
A wedding venue is just like real estate: location, location, location. Sure, you want a place you and your bride will enjoy, but it’s really based on your guests. Want an intimate gathering with just a few friends and family? Pick a small venue that gives everyone a good seat. Want everyone and their dog to come? Then bigger is better. It’s a stupidly simple concept, but one that is the most important when deciding where to have your big day.
The Brazos Valley has a ton of great venues, but it also has a ton of weddings (thanks college lovers). For the more popular places, you could be waiting a whole year for an opening, so quickly knocking down a date is important. Since our engagement was a rather short one, we immediately began searching for a venue that fit all our needs. After an exhausting few weeks, we finally stopped at the Stella Hotel in Bryan. Not only did it provide a place for our guests to stay, but the space was included at no charge if we met the food and beverage minimum. Sign us up!
DIY’er
My fiancé and I come from a long line of handymen. Unfortunately, not much of that talent has trickled its way down to me. That being said, there were a few things we were able to DIY for the wedding (with a little help from our fathers).
- Wooden arch: our ceremony is taking place outside, so we decided to build an archway to use as a backdrop for our vows. It’s a pentagon with a wooden base, with boards behind for support. You can also unscrew the base from the top to make for easy transport. A couple of coats of stain and you’re good to go!
- Wooden backdrop: Does everyone have a wooden backdrop for their reception? No? Well, we do. And I have to admit, it’s awesome! The wood is put at an angle for texture and the different shades give it a lot of character. We love it so much that we plan on using it for our headboard after the wedding.
- Chargers: I didn’t even know what a “charger” was until I got engaged. I also didn’t realize these little wooden circles can cost up to $12.50/each. For 20 chargers, that starts to add up. Using a chainsaw and a little redneck ingenuity, my father and I fell a tree and sliced some up. It’s important to pick a tree that will give you the desired bark on the side (ours was a Sweetgum). You should also cut more than is needed in case of warping and cracking.
- Invitation template: Again, I lucked out with this one. My fiancé is great at putting things together, and she insisted on using Vistaprint to create the invitations. There are numerous templates online, and some are even free. Download the file, plug in your info, and take it to a nice print shop. Voila!
- Kids’ boxes: We don’t have many munchkins coming to our nuptials, but there are a few. To keep them entertained, my bride has created some kids’ boxes complete with crayons, coloring books and games. Honestly, I plan on stealing one for myself. Something to keep in mind if you have young ones coming to the wedding.
The Big Day
Well, it’s quickly coming up (August 2020), and everything is planned. Now what? Relax? Naw, we’ve still got a joint couples’ shower, a bridal shower, a bachelorette, and a bachelor party to get through.
Then comes the rehearsal dinner, the pre-game preparation, the ceremony, and the reception. Everyone will hug our necks, slap us on the backs, and tell us how happy they are for us. Then it’s over…well, not quite.
The Honeymoon
One of the few things my fiancé put me in charge of was the honeymoon, and I have to say, it’s without a doubt the most fun part of wedding planning. I’ve never been to Europe (she’s a world traveler), and we both had our hearts set on a Mediterranean cruise. Turns out, the universe and our bank account had other plans. So now we are headed to Napa Valley, California. No, it’s not the Roman Coliseum or the southern beaches of Spain, but it’s still very nice. Plus, wine!
We want to have a good time, but we also want to have a little something left over when it’s all said and done. She travels a lot for work, so through her rewards and mine, we’ve been able to cover flights, a hotel stay in Napa and a $300 gift card for a 2-night stay in San Francisco. Not too shabby. It also allows us to spend more on experiences (hot air balloon ride) and food and drink (bring on the wine). I’m not saying using credit cards for travel rewards is right for everyone, but it’s worked well for us.