Ruthe Tuesdays

First things first, FOOD!

Going for more casual?

• Katy Trail Ice House – 3127 Routh St, Dallas, TX 75201
  The Ice House is an Austin style beer garden and restaurant, located in the heart of uptown Dallas on the Katy Trail. (Their “Summer Beer” alone is worth the trip!)
• HG Sply Co – locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Trophy Club
  Simple, clean food, classic drinks and humble hospitality
• Truck Yard – locations in Dallas and The Colony
  Come-as-you-are beer garden and adult playground
• Joe T. Garcia’s – 2201 N Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
  Tex-Mex icon serving fajitas, margaritas & more in a casual atmosphere with a gorgeous patio for outdoor dining

Looking for something romantic?

• The French Room – 1321 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75202
  Destination French fine dining amid rococo decor in the historic, luxe Hotel Adolphus
• Waters Restaurant – 301 Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
  Owned by acclaimed Chef Jon Bonnell, offers signature menu of fine, fresh seafood
• Pappas Bros. Steakhouse – 10477 Lombardy Ln, Dallas, TX 75220
  Carefully crafted, flavorful steaks using only dry-aged, prime beef
• Reata Restaurant – 310 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
  This ranch-themed upscale hot spot has Southwestern fare & a rooftop bar with views of Fort Worth.

Don’t want a full on meal? Want to keep the night going after dinner? How about DRINKS!

For the wine connoisseurs…

• Messina Hof Winery – 201 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051
  Immense selection of award-winning, Texas wines suitable for any palate
• Times Ten Cellars – 6324 Prospect Ave, Dallas, TX 75214
  Stylish winery & wine bar offering tastings of local vintages paired with global small plates
• Larue Winery – 1491 N Kealy Ave Suite 1, Lewisville, TX 75057
  Home of natural wines, no sugars and unnecessary additives

For the beer lovers…

• Deep Ellum Brewing Co. – 2823 St Louis St, Dallas, TX 75226
  Quirky craft brewery, home of the famous Dallas Blonde and Deep Ellum IPA
• Martin House Brewing Co. – 220 S Sylvania Ave #209, Fort Worth, TX 76111
  Craft brewery known for their wide variety and unique selection (if you haven’t tried the pickle beer, you’re missing out!)
• Hop and Sting Brewing Co. – 906 Jean St, Grapevine, TX 76051
  Small-batch brewery known for its clean, crisp, approachable atmosphere

Dinner and drinks sound boring? Try something a little more FUN!

Music and dancing is sure to keep the night lively!

• Billy Bob’s Texas – 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164
  Iconic country music honky-tonk with mechanical bulls, dozens of bars, and live music
• Lava Cantina – 5805 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX 75056
  A rock n’ roll themed Creole-Mexican fusion restaurant and premier concert venue
• House of Blues Dallas – 2200 N Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75202
  Rock- & blues-themed live music venue

Need something a little more thrilling?

• Six Flags Over Texas – 2201 E Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX 76011
  Dallas/Fort Worth’s largest, most exciting theme park
• iFly – 8380 TX-121, Frisco, TX 75034
  Indoor skydiving experience
• Andretti Indoor Karting – 5752 Grandscape Blvd Suite 100, The Colony, TX 75056
  Amusement center featuring indoor Go-Karting, bowling, laser tag, and more

If you’re wanting more chill than thrill…

• Top Golf – locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Allen, and The Colony
  Entertainment venue with a high-tech driving range & swanky lounge with drinks & games
• Painting with a Twist – locations all over the metroplex!
  Live painting events accompanied by BYOB wine or cocktails
• Texas Tulips –  10656 FM2931, Pilot Point, TX 76258
  Over 6 acre tulip field where you can pick your own tulips to create your own tulip bouquet
  (Only open February-April)

It’s no secret that one of the biggest frustrations when to comes to planning your wedding is nailing down your guest count. You have to rely on your guests to RSVP in a timely manner and let’s be honest, they aren’t always the most reliable. While we can’t guarantee a 100% success rate, we can give you a few tips and tricks to help make sure your guests RSVP.

• Timing is everything.

The timing is very important when it comes to sending out wedding invitations. Save the Dates, which can be sent out about 6 months before your date, are a helpful tool to make sure your wedding is on your guests’ calendar. Whether you decide on Save the Dates or not, your actual wedding invitation should be sent out about 8 weeks before the big day. This gives guests plenty of time to make arrangements and check their schedule to determine if they will be able to make it. Too short of notice makes it harder on everyone, but sending invites out too early poses the risk of your guests putting off their RSVP until later and then completely forgetting altogether. About 8 weeks is the sweet spot.

• Go digital.

It’s 2021, does anyone even keep stamps laying around anymore? Make your RSVPs digital. This doesn’t mean you have to send out digital invitations (though, that is an eco-friendly option). It just means you can add a link or QR code to your wedding website on the invitation so guests can RSVP online. Guests are more likely to RSVP in a timely manner if it is easy and convenient for them. In fact, most of them will probably pull it up as soon as they open the invitation. Most wedding website services like Zola and The Knot have this option readily available.

• Be flexible.

While digital RSVPs are convenient for you and most of your guests, that shouldn’t be the only way to allow RSVPs. After all, Great Aunt Martha still has a flip phone and a collection of stamps she’s dying to use. Providing alternate ways to RSVP will ensure that all your guests, technologically challenged or not, will be able to respond.

• Have clear expectations.

Make sure the RSVP date is clear and prominent. You want your guests to know how important it is that they RSVP in a timely manner. If you decide on digital RSVPs, you can send out automated reminders as your RSVP date approaches. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your guests that haven’t responded.

No matter what stage you are in, RSVPs will inevitably be a huge part of the planning process. Hopefully these tips and tricks will help make your life a little easier. If you’re stressed about other aspects of the planning process, don’t sweat it, we got you covered.

If you are a DFW bride in the market for a phenomenal florist, we have got you covered! The Blooming Bride will provide you with the flowers of your dreams, stress free, regardless of your budget.

We had the honor of speaking with Tami, the owner of The Blooming Bride and she gave us some great information and advice. Whether you’re still searching for the perfect florist, already have someone you love, or you’re newly engaged and haven’t even thought about flowers yet, you’ll love hearing what Tami had to say!

First, a little about yourself…

Tell us about your business and what you have to offer

We do flowers for all kinds of special events and parties, but we primarily focus on weddings. We are located in Fort Worth, so our concentration is the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but we do travel all over Texas. Our main goal is to make our clients happy!

How long have you been in the business?

I am a second generation florist so I have been doing this for 25+ years, but I have been focused on wedding florals for about 12-15 years. So, a long time!

How did you get into the business?

Growing up, my mom was a delivery driver for a local florist and after school I would go help her with the deliveries. Eventually, she opened up her own floral business in the 90s. That’s when I really started to learn the craft. I didn’t see myself doing this as a career, I actually had my sights set on photography. I mean, it took me a year to learn how to tie a bow. But I fell in love with it and here I am, over 25 years later!

My mother pushed me to invent my own ways of doing things and I have always really appreciated that. It instilled so much creativity in my work.

What is your favorite part about the job?

Wedding day – no doubt. Particularly, handing the bride her bouquet on her wedding day. I always say that brides are in their “wedding bubble” on the day of, and when we hand them that bouquet, we get to step into that bubble for a minute. You can see their faces light up and it makes it all seem real when they have the bouquet in their hands. It is just a really beautiful moment.

A little about your business…

What is the average size of weddings you do?

We don’t typically focus on huge weddings, but we can if that is what our client wants. Our weddings usually average around 20-30 tables, but we can do more and we can do less. We always want to work within our client’s budget. I think the largest wedding we’ve done so far was 42 tables.

How far in advance do you generally like couples to book you?

The further the better! We usually like to book at least 6 months out, but we average around 6-9 months out. The further out you book, the more likely your date will be available and you will have more freedom to order specialty items. We have, however, done some decent sized weddings in as little as 2-3 weeks. We strongly advise against that, though.

Do you require a minimum floral budget?

No, we do not require a minimum budget. However, we can’t always work with an extremely small budget. For instance, it is really hard to do just a single bouquet. The cost involved might be double what you would pay for a bouquet if you also did more bouquets plus centerpieces. Typically, we have to order flowers in bulk so it will be cheaper per item if you have more items. It all depends on scheduling and inventory, but my philosophy is “If I can, I will.” I never want to exclude people who don’t want to or can’t spend that much.

What kind of arrangements do you offer? (bouquets, arches, crowns, etc.)

You name it, we can do it! We’ve done anything from bouquets and centerpieces to flower crowns and huge floral arches.

How long do you generally need to set up? 

It varies, depending on the size and complexity of the arrangements. On average, it only takes us about an hour but with larger, more intricate arrangements it can take anywhere from 2-5 hours. We do not design on site, though.

What sets your business apart from other vendors in the industry?

I think there are 2 things that set our business apart and that’s our ability to work within a budget and our flexibility. We do not require a minimum budget and we do everything we can to bring our clients’ vision to reality, regardless of their financial situation. I also go out of my way to make sure I am available to clients whenever they need. I offer a lot of evening appointments because not everyone can take the whole day off for wedding planning.

Advice and opinions from a seasoned professional…

What is the biggest wedding day challenge as a florist?

Right now, COVID. With social distancing and masks, it adds a new layer of complexity to everything we do. Other than that, the only thing I can think of is hunger… sometimes I forget to bring a snack and it makes for a very long day. Oh, and tracking down the groomsmen!

What is your favorite trend in the industry right now?

I really love the looser trend right now. I am personally fond of the vintage look with a boho feel. The greenery and dried products add some texture but are still soft overall. It’s so beautiful and adds a nice element. We’re also starting to see more colorful palettes again, which I love. (Check out our Old Wedding Trends that are Making a Comeback in 2021 blog post to see what other trends we might see returning this year.)

Do you have any advice for couples when picking out flowers?

Don’t stress and don’t overthink! Trust your vendors – the good ones will do the work for you. Most importantly, PIN PIN PIN! Pinterest is your best friend when it comes to your wedding flowers. Pin things you like, and make specific notes about what you like about it. Also pin things you don’t like, even if you aren’t sure why you don’t like it. A good florist will be able to look at your Pinterest board and figure out your style based on your likes and dislikes you’ve pinned.

Tami at the Blooming Bride is AWESOME at what she does. We are so lucky that she shared some of her wisdom with us. If you’re a bride in Texas and you’re looking for a florist, we cannot recommend The Blooming Bride enough!

If you’ve looked at a lot of DFW wedding venues lately, you’ll realize that the bridal suite trend is everywhere! Brides no longer get ready in their house or hotel. Now they are looking for a dream bridal room to spend hours in leading up to their ceremony. But before you go falling in love with that venue, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting with that bridal hangout…

• Does the Bridal Suite Have Enough Space?

This is probably the biggest concern when it comes to bridal suites. Is the room actually going to fit all of your bridal party? What about your mom, mother-in-law or flower girls? Consider just how many people need to fit comfortably. You and your girls might get a little frustrated getting dressed in tight quarters. Luckily, the Ruthe Jackson Center checks off this box! We’ve hosted bridal parties as big as 15-20 people!

• How Much Time Do You Get in the Bridal Suite?

No one likes to be rushed, especially not on your wedding day. Make sure to ask how long the bridal suite can be used for. What is your access time? If you only have two hours of bridal suite time included in your rental rate, you might need to find other options. This short window might not be practical for you or your makeup artist…especially if you have a large bridal party.

• Can You Bring in Outside Food and Drinks?

Everyone says you need to eat before the ceremony. And it’s definitely true! You don’t want to have an empty stomach standing at the alter. So make sure you and your bridesmaids have lunch in the bridal suite. Ask your venue if outside food and drinks are allowed. This is also important as your girls will likely want to celebrate with you that morning. Champagne or mimosas are probably going to happen! Connect with the Ruthe Jackson Center staff to see what drinks we can take care of for your morning in the bridal suite!

• Does the Bridal Suite Have Mirrors?

While this might sound like a silly question, don’t look it over! Make sure your bridal suite has mirrors! You’ll need several mirrors or makeup stations as hair and makeup is being done. Make sure there’s at least a few. Most importantly, does your bridal suite have a grand mirror for you and your dress? We’re talking full size, multi-sided, grand mirror…not the kind you have in your closet! This kind of mirror is fabulous for final touches and last look before walking down the aisle. Photographers also love using these mirrors to capture sweet bridal suite moments.

We are loving this bridal suite trend and we really don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon. So make sure to do your research. Find a place that speaks to you and makes your wedding morning perfect. And as always, feel free to shoot RJC a message and see how you can tour our very own bridal suite today!

Like a lot of DFW brides, you might be dreaming of a beautiful garden wedding. Something that embraces the outdoors and southern style. Maybe you’ve already found your outside wedding venue. But what can you do to make sure it’s the perfect outdoor garden ceremony you’ve been envisioning?

• Do Your Research

Before you decide on your wedding date, it’s important to do your research on the best time of the year to get married in DFW…especially when it comes to outdoor events. Consider what months typically have safer weather. If you’ve already booked your date, consider what you can do just in case sunshine isn’t in the forecast. Which brings me to my next point…

• Prepare an Outdoor Wedding Backup Plan

Whether you’re getting married in April or August, you always need a plan B for your outdoor Texas wedding. Typically, your wedding venue should be able to help you with this. They have probably seen everything and they’ll know just what to do in case of rain or inclement weather. Some DFW wedding venues will even have indoor spaces or tents as backup.

• Consider Your Wedding Vendors

Not only do you need to think about the possibility of rain, but you also need to consider how your other wedding vendors will pull off an outdoor wedding. For example, will your DJ have access to speakers outside? What about a power source? Does your vendor have their own protocol for rainy weddings? The most important thing here is to hire vendors that you can trust to get the job done no matter the circumstances!

• Consider Your Guests

While your loved ones might weather through anything to see you and your fiancé get married, their outdoor experience matters too! If your wedding is in August, consider providing paper fans for your guests. You could even get creative and have the fan double as a ceremony program as well! On the other hand, if you are a December bride, you might want to use scarves or wraps as your wedding favor. It’s the little things that make the outdoor garden ceremony experience really shine!

Maybe you aren’t the bride I described earlier. Maybe you’re reading this and still searching through the dozens of beautiful wedding venues in Texas. If so, consider letting the Ruthe Jackson Center be that garden wedding venue that you say “I do” to. Rain or shine, we know how to create the perfect outdoor garden ceremony!

When it comes to desserts and cake flavors, we all have our favorites. So for a lot of us, choosing a wedding dessert can be pretty easy. Just choose your favorite, right? Well yes…and no. While I wholeheartedly believe you should choose the flavor you love the most, there’s a little more that goes into planning your reception dessert than your love for pie or chocolate cake.

• Find Your Baker

Finding the right vendor for your cake or desserts is very important. Like all other vendors, do your research and find someone that you can trust. Get their advice on designs, flavors and cost saving tips. If they’re an experienced baker like Cake-Aholics Bakery in Arlington (our local favorite), they’ll know what is best and what works!

• Don’t Overload

At this point in your planning you probably already have a more accurate guest count. Take that into consideration as you plan your desserts. This is really important if you’re planning on having more than one dessert. You don’t want to have a wedding cake to feed 150 and 150 slices of pie as well. Not everyone will eat both choices and you’ll end up with a ton of leftovers!

• Consider Your Guests

While you might be obsessed with lemon lavender cake, that flavor might not be a total crowd pleaser. Not everyone will take a piece. That’s why it’s also important to consider what flavors most people will enjoy. Make sure to still order your favorite flavor, but make sure to have a larger amount of something more common. This is where your baker can help as well. They will typically have a list of their most popular choices that never disappoint!

• Be Creative

If you’re a bride on a budget, you might need to get creative with your reception dessert. A huge seven-tiered, fondant covered, gold cake might not be feasible. Consider opting for a smaller, buttercream cake paired with other, more affordable desserts. Dessert tables filled with cookies, macaroons, pies, brownies, etc. are very trendy right now too!

While choosing your cake might not be the hardest wedding decision you’ll face, it is still important. Make sure to get advice from your local cake experts and have fun with it. After all, cake tasting appointments are really sweet!

At this point in the wedding planning process, you might have already picked out your venue, style, colors and your own wedding dress. Now it’s time to nail down the dresses your best friends will be wearing as they stand beside you on your big day! But this decision might not be as smooth as picking your color scheme. When considering bridesmaid dresses, you now have to take others opinions into consideration…even more so than with other wedding aspects. So how do you navigate this decision to both make your girls happy but also sticking to your vision?

• Step 1: Talk About Budget

As with anything else, you’ve got to have the budget conversation. Get honest feedback from your bridesmaids. If everyone is responsible for paying for their own dress, know what they are comfortable spending. Get a group consensus on what the max budget is that they are willing to spend. This will help narrow down your options and keep you from wasting time on dresses or boutiques that simply aren’t practical.

• Step 2: Rule Out the No’s

What makes bridesmaid dress shopping long and tedious is everyone having their own opinion on style or taste. Each girl has their own list of what they want and what they look good in. To help make this process a little easier, start from a different angle. Don’t ask what everyone likes. Instead, ask each girl what is the one thing they absolutely can’t say yes to. For example, your maid of honor might draw the line when it comes to the color orange. Or your sister might say she can do anything but a strapless dress. Take these “no’s” into consideration and rule out the dresses that include these things.

• Step 3: Consider Everyone

Another big part of picking out the perfect dress for your girls is considering everyone’s body type. Not everyone looks good in that off-the-shoulder gown you’ve been eyeing. If you’re open to different dresses for each bridesmaid instead of one uniform look, it makes this step a whole lot easier! Each girl can then buy a dress that fits their shape.

• Step 4: Make the Decision

After taking all of these steps into consideration, it’s time to make a decision. If you’ve opted for every girl to wear a slightly different dress, you might want to give them a few different ones to choose from and let them make the final decision on what they want to buy. This might mean giving them three neckline options. Or maybe you might give them a color family to stick to. Or, if you’ve decided everyone looks best in the same style and color dress, it’s time for you to make that final selection.

At the end of the day, remember that this is your decision and your wedding. Don’t lose sight of what you want! Take time to consider your bridesmaids and their wants and needs, but be confident in your decision. Your bridesmaids will thank you as you take the time to make a dress selection that’s best for everyone. Have fun shopping!

Stressed about wedding planning? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Anyone who’s had to plan a wedding can agree that at some point, things got a little stressful. Maybe planning events just isn’t your thing. Or maybe you adore the idea of planning, but just find yourself getting too overwhelmed. Either way, we have a few tricks to share with you to make things a little better!

• Start with the Basics

One reason the wedding planning might be getting to you is that you forgot to start with the basics. Make sure before you spend hours searching for the perfect vendors you create a detailed budget for yourself. Find out how much you can spend on the event total. Then start creating a list of what is important to you and your fiancé. If the DJ or live band is a top priority, you might find yourself giving more of your budget to that category. On the other hand, reduce your spending on things that you could do without…or totally eliminate things that simply don’t matter to you. If you don’t take the time to really think about your budget and the things you want in your wedding day, you might be spending too much time with vendors that don’t even align with your budget.

• Be Prepared

Another thing that causes wedding stress is the thought of the unknown. Just thinking about what could go wrong on your big day is enough to drive any bride crazy. That’s why it’s important to create a backup plan for yourself. For instance, connect with your venue and decide on what you would do in case of inclement weather. Being confident in that plan B can do a lot of good!

• Enlist Some Help

Maybe you have a lot on your plate during this season of life. With work, family, friends and wedding planning, your calendar can get out of hand. Consider hiring help like a wedding planner to take some of the load off. You could also see if your maid of honor, other bridesmaids or family members are willing to pitch in.

• Relax

After spending hours a week on planning, make sure to take a break! There is no harm in stepping back to give yourself some relaxation time. This might mean going out with friends, a spa day, or just a night in watching your favorite show. You could also use this time to go on a date with your fiancé…and talk about things other than catering menus and flowers!

While a lot of brides find planning a huge event like a wedding very stressful, we also know it can be a lot of fun! Remember that this is about you and your fiancé…and that at the end of it all, you’ll get to be with your best friend forever!

I think it’s pretty safe to say that most of us have been dreaming of the moment that we get to say yes to that perfect wedding dress. Everyone says that when you find THE dress, you just know. But how do you get to that point? How do you go from looking at a thousand dresses on Pinterest to being confident in that one dress? While we don’t have a full proof formula for finding the winner, we do have some tips to make a difference as you shop for that important gown.

• Do your Research

Before waltzing into a bridal boutique, make sure to do your research! Don’t be a shopper without a vision. Take the time beforehand to make that wedding dress Pinterest board. Find out what you like and what you can’t stand. Note the consistencies in the dresses that you are pinning. Do all of them have the same neckline or train? This can be a very helpful observation and something to definitely share with the sales representative of the bridal shop. It’s always good to give them as much information about your style as possible. It’ll make the appointment much easier for both of you!

• Form a Budget

Before making any appointments with a bridal boutique, please make sure to form a budget for yourself. Consider how much you want, or can afford, to spend on your dress, alterations and accessories. Be realistic. The worst thing you can do is try on a dress you know you can’t afford, fall in love with it, cry tears of joy and have to leave without that dress. Don’t put yourself through that torture!

• Find your Support System

Typically, a bride will want to go dress shopping with a few of her loved ones. It’s always great to have that support system and group of people to help you find your dream dress. Plus, it’s so sweet to share that “say yes to the dress” moment with someone like your mom or best friend. Find out who that support system is for you and invite them to join you. But on the other hand, don’t feel obligated to invite everyone. Don’t overwhelm yourself and the bridal boutique with 10 or 15 extra people. Too many people might equal too many opinions as well.

• Give Yourself Time

Getting the perfect dress takes time. If you know you’re a picky or indecisive shopper, start the process well in advance. Consider the time it might take to find something that makes you happy. How many bridal boutiques will you make appointments with? You must also factor in the time it takes to get your dress altered. On average, it could take up to 6-8 months to get those alterations done. That means you might need to start that Pinterest board and shopping prep a year in advance of your wedding. It’s always better to be safe rather than too late!

Finding that perfect dress to say “I Do” in is one of the most special moments within your engagement season. Taking the time to do a little prep before you jump right in can ensure a smoother process and quicker success. I hope these little tips make the difference in your wedding dress experience!

When you’re planning a wedding, you quickly realize how big this task can be…it can get pretty overwhelming with the amount of things needed to pull this party off! That’s when you realize it might be nice to have some friends to help out. And more often than not, brides on a budget will find friends and family to take on the role of the vendor. It’s definitely not uncommon to see the best friend take on the wedding cake or grandma commit to the responsibility of alterations. So how do you go about navigating the relationship of the “friendor”?

• Know what you’re signing up for

Since the “friendor” relationship can be very casual, it can be hard to know exactly what to expect. After all, it seems silly to write up a vendor contract with your Aunt the florist. But try to get past this and make sure you are communicating! Get things in writing, even if it’s just an email. Both the bride and “friendor” need to be on the same page with what is being provided. Never assume. Ask all of the questions and get details like who is delivering, who is cleaning up and what is included.

• You get what you pay for

While your friend might offer their wedding services for 50% or grandma might just make it a wedding gift, the saying still goes, “you get what you pay for”. Make sure what they can do and the level of skill they provide is what you really want for your big day. Ask yourself if their photography capabilities are something you can be happy with 10 years down the road… or if you’re willing to compromise the quality of your bridesmaid dresses. To some, the savings outweigh the need for a vendor with 10 years of experience. But to others, this might be a sad mistake. Either way, it is super important to take that time to consider the pros and cons.

• Don’t compromise the relationship

Make sure the decision to hire your “friendor” is a decision that doesn’t compromise the relationship. Be open and honest…communicate! And allow them to do the same with you. Depending on who it is, this person might not want to work on your wedding day. Your sister or grandmother might want to just be a guest and be in the moment with you celebrating your marriage. Be open to this possibility.

No matter what “friendor” you decide to commit to, we celebrate those that embrace this way of planning their wedding. It can be a life-saver and a stress-reliever…or just another way for your loved ones to show you how excited they are for your new, married season of life. Just don’t forget to say thank you just as you would to other vendors. Gift cards, thank-you cards or a bottle of wine are all appreciated I’m sure!