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As seen in Brides of Austin Fall 2022 Edition Photography: @brooketaelorphoto⁠ | Planning: @ashleynicoleaffair⁠ | Venue: @maesridge⁠ | Florals: @goodseedfloral⁠ | Makeup: @jaybrans⁠ | Hair: @Sarah.lovekm⁠ | Hair/MU: @luxbeautyandbridal⁠ | Catering/Bar: @royalfigcatering⁠ | DJ: @premieraustindjs⁠ | Rentals: @luxeeventdecor ; @thestyledaffair⁠ | Baker/Cake: @crumblcookies⁠ | Alpacas: @texaspartyanimals | Photo booth: @mirmirphotoaustin (@mirmirphoto)⁠ | Quartet: @terravistastrings⁠ | Videography: @littlegrayfilms_co⁠

Photography: Sarah KJ Photography | Venue: Pecan Springs Ranch | Planning: Ashley Nicole Affair | Hair/MUA: Lux Beauty and Bridal | Florals: Reiley & Rose | Baker/Cake: Sugar Mama's Bake Shop | Videography: Waterloo Films | Catering: The Root Cellar | Officiant: Scott Payne: The Knot Tyer

Full Service Wedding Planning + Design by Ashley Nicole Affair featuring Our Decor Rentals - The Addison Grove; Austin, TX

Venue coordinator versus wedding planner... they sound like they must be the same job and they must do the same things, right? Truth be told, no, there's actually a big difference between the two jobs. Of course, you might assume or have been told that your venue comes with a coordinator, but it is always important to find out what they do/won't do. Before your wedding planning journey begins, we will showcase the differences between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner because it's not an uncommon question for newly engaged couples during the venue shopping experience. VENUE COORDINATOR/MANAGER; THEIR FOCUS IS ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CLIENT FROM THE VENUE'S PERSPECTIVE. We will be the first ones to tell you that we love venue coordinators! They are experts of their venue and have helped educate us on countless tips, tricks, do's and don'ts, cant's and wont's. Since they work for the venue, their job is to look out for the venue's best interest and ensure the venue's needs and responsibilities are taken care of. They may be responsible for everything at the venue, from renting out the event space to selling and serving food and beverages, managing rentals, designing, setting up, dimming the lights, adjusting the air conditioner, cleaning up, and locking the doors. Venue coordinators are some of the hardest-working people in the wedding industry, and their knowledge about their event space is remarkable. They are constantly answering questions from vendors about load-in/load-out, having back-up plans for inclement weather, overseeing alcohol being served to protect their TABC licenses, how to cut the power, where the fire exits are, and everything in between! Seriously, their role is crucial to the operation. ​WEDDING PLANNER/DAY OF COORDINATOR; THEIR FOCUS IS ON THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CLIENT, THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND GUESTS. Wedding planners can fix a stain on your wedding gown, give orders to their three assistants, calm down the overly stressed Mother of the Bride, line up five intoxicated groomsmen, and cue the ceremony music - all at the same time each person walks down the aisle. It sounds like a chaotic mess, AND IT IS, but it's what planners are hired to do! A wedding planner works for YOU, yes YOU! They aren't vastly experienced with MULTIPLE venues; they can work anywhere and everywhere. Has your planner never been to your venue before? HAVE NO FEAR! By the time your wedding rolls around, they will have likely met with the venue manager, had a consultation with your done a final walkthrough, conducted the rehearsal and showed up early on wedding day probably putting them there more hours than you have spent at the venue. They already can locate the bathrooms, the catering kitchen, and where vendors can load in/out. They know exactly where to tuck the bride away so the groom won't see her before the ceremony begins. Most importantly, their client's needs, desires, goals, and vision are their top priority. A wedding planner is responsible for managing all of the details of your wedding and is looking out for your best interests, while advocating for your happiness and aiming to please the venue, your families, and your guests. Wedding planners are with you throughout the planning process and the entire day of your wedding, executing all of your greatest wishes. The most significant difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner is up to YOU, because YOU hand-picked, interviewed, and vetted them whereas the venue made the decision to hire their on site venue coordinator/manager. BUT BACK TO THE VENUE COORDINATOR... They know ALL of the ins and outs of their venue, but there are a stark differences between a venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator. For example, if you plan on having your rehearsal the day before, keep in mind that there is a chance your venue might be booked and you can't have it on site. On top of that, they traditionally do not run your rehearsal, but they may be there to unlock the doors for it. Some venues have multiple buildings on site, therefore you might not be the only client hosting an event that day, which means you may have trouble locating your venue coordinator throughout the day - another responsibility that your day of coordinator can take on. Also, with such a competitive industry, you may notice that the person you toured the venue may not be the person who is present on the day of your wedding. Although they're just as qualified, if you are wanting to establish a solid relationship throughout the process, they aren't guaranteed to be there on the day of your wedding. Light bulb go out? Air conditioner won't turn on? Both bathrooms are out of paper towels? Making sure your vendors don't put tape on the floor that could cost you your deposit? You can bet your venue coordinator will be able to handle all of these things for everyone's best interest. BUT BACK TO THE WEDDING DAY OF COORDINATOR... Headache? Dress needs to be bustled? Cold glass of water? Change of shoes? Passing the microphone for toasts? Now THAT is what your day of coordinator is signed up to do. There are a few different tiers of planning packages, ranging from full service to partial planning to month (or day) of. You may or may not need a full service planner depending how much time you have to devote to the planning process, Let's face it, most of us work full time, so we don't have as much time as we would like to plan a wedding so make sure that the package you choose is what makes sense for you and your significant other. Wedding planners dedicate their passion and time to your wedding; they are there to take the stress out of your wedding planning process from your first conversation, regardless of the level of service you select. In addition, your wedding planner is the main point of contact for ALL of your vendors, family members, and friends throughout the process; and trust me, they usually become your best friend throughout the process! ​ Wedding planners wear many hats. They coordinate all of the tiny details.. Who's bringing ice? Where the cake is being cut? Who is going to cue the photographer, videographer, officiant, and DJ right before you walk down the aisle? Who can hand out my gratuity? Also they think quick on their feet during every second of your wedding and behind the scenes, they create your floor plan, your timeline, your vendor arrival times, and all of the small things in between. In addition, they will be responsible for making sure your vision is brought to life. They will make sure you eat lunch when your nerves kick in, while lining up everyone for the ceremony, to securing the centerpieces and table settings on a windy day, and making sure your grandma is not sitting next to the loudest speaker. They want to hand you your favorite drink after the I do, cue the grand entrance and thumbs up the DJ to begin the first dance, while teaching you how to cut the cake. They pack up all of your gifts, line up 100 intoxicated guests for a sparkler exit and make sure everyone gets on the shuttle with all of their belongings. OUR LOVE LANGUAGE IS PASSION... AND CHAOS. When you see us crying while you walk down the aisle, it's not because we are stressed, but it's because we've spent the past six months to two years by your side, waiting for this exact moment. You've become more than a client to us - you've become our friend and we have spent the time getting to know your families. That's a wedding planner's dream. A talented wedding planner is a gift to yourself, for the one time in your life you live the role of bride and groom, and then afterwards you get to wonder how people could EVER live without one! That's the difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner. At the end of the day, the venue coordinator's priorities are to have a happy client, a raving review, and photos to showcase their venue. A wedding planner also strives for a happy client and raving review, but they spend their time focusing on the client experience. They are the ones available at your beck and call all day and night. They will unjam your zipper, bustle your dress, facilitate the timeline, and coordinate your sparkler exit while loading up all of your gifts/decor at the end of the night. The venue coordinator will stay close by their side to turn off the lights, ensure that the vendors cleaned up properly, and lock the doors. It's important that the two don't get confused because they have completely different roles on your wedding day. At the end of the day, they both rely on each other for a successful wedding and a raving review on both ends is always appreciated.

If you're nearing your wedding day, you're probably at the point in the planning process where you've pinned and saved all of the pretty detail photos that catch your eye. Some of the most eye-catching detail shots are those of flat-lays - which are staged photos, typically set up by the photographer, that can include all sorts of small wedding day details from your invitations to florals to jewelry, and more. Not sure what all you need to make sure you have the perfect flat-lay ready to be photographed on your big day? Don't worry - we've got you covered with some wedding day-detail advice from our very own ANA gal, Liz, our go-to girl for all things stationery, calligraphy, and *of course*, flat-lays. Liz is the owner & designer of Green Girl Design Co., and she's ready to give you her favorite flat-lay tips. SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE POINT OF A FLAT-LAY? ​When you picture your wedding day, you probably picture it flowing in the order of events and being the perfect day from start to finish. When you think about your finished wedding gallery you'll get back from your photographer, you should picture it in the same way: a complete picture of the perfect day, flowing in order and encompassing every beautiful aspect of your wedding. Well, even before the day of, you started to set the tone for your wedding when you sent out your wedding invitations. These invitations probably encompassed your wedding colors, a bit of your personalities, and are consistent with the overall style of your wedding. Now that the big day is finally here, your wedding photographer will take several detail shots that don't actually have "you" in them, in order to ensure that the whole day (decor, dress, cake, etc.) is captured. Your flat-lay photos will be some of the first photos you - and others - see when you look through your wedding album - and they'll be the first hint of the colors, flowers, and overall vibe that the rest of the gallery will hold. Your flat-lay can, and should, be unique and personal to you as a couple. As a stationer who designs wedding stationery with your personality and wedding style in mind, AND sets up flat-lays on an almost daily basis, I'm going to help you make sure you have everything you need for your perfect flat-lays: from the must haves to the extra details to the fun and special "personality" details. THE MUST HAVES FOR YOUR FLAT-LAY DETAIL SHOTS. The focal point of your flat-lay is your wedding stationery. You might not have opted in for all custom wedding stationery, and you may have even sent some things virtually, but if you have any extras of the following, these should be brought to your venue on the day of for detail shots: Save the Dates Wedding Invitations Envelopes - preferably addressed with hand-calligraphy if you had someone do this for your invitations. RSVP Cards & any other inserts you sent out (detail cards, accommodation cards, etc.) Day-Of Stationery (Programs, Menus, Table Numbers, etc.) Your flat-lay isn't *just* going to be stationery, though. The stationery can be styled in all sorts of ways with other small details that encompass your wedding style, but the most important to include are: Florals - your florist should have a few extra flowers for detail shots, or at least petals to use. Jewelry - DEFINITELY all rings (engagement and wedding bands). Earrings are also common in flat-lay shots. SOMETHING ELSE TO "FILL THE SPACE". While not quite as necessary for a flat-lay, I always like to include some "filler details" to help bring the whole picture to life. My favorite "fillers" that look beautiful no matter your style are: Vintage Stamps (my favorite shop to purchase these from is Little Postage House) Ribbon in a color that ties your stationery & flowers together Wax Seals + Envelope Liners - you may not have included these details in every invitation suite you sent out, but you can have them for your *one* invitation suite that you bring for photos. Deck out your envelopes with a beautiful envelope liner, a custom wax seal, and some calligraphy/envelope art for gorgeous photos. A ring box/dish. Velvet ring boxes are my favorite, lately! A pretty perfume bottle - if you're planning on having a "wedding-day perfume", definitely include this! Shoes, Tie, other accessories - these are usually photographed in detail photos no matter what, but can also be included in a big flat-lay. Your photographer will definitely ask for these accessories for photos by your bouquet and dress, so let them know they can play around and set it all up together if you'd like! Notes to one another/custom vow booklets For my wedding flat-lay, we included some of our wedding favors, which were koozies with a sketch of our faces on them. Grab one of these or any custom favors, cocktail napkins, etc. ​"PERSONALITY" DETAILS YOU CAN INCLUDE. My favorite personal detail I've seen in flat-lays is a few polaroids from throughout the relationship. This is a cute way to include memories from your time dating/engaged, and show your style a little bit if this feels *you*. Other fun or special things you can include are: Keepsakes from relationship milestones (something from your first date, first kiss, anniversary, etc.) Concert or travel ticket stubs Family jewelry or keepsakes ("something borrowed") Extra fun wedding accessories - sunglasses, tennis shoes for the dance floor, a grand-exit cowboy hat, etc. "Something *you*" - something that represents your favorite thing to do together, your favorite movie, your favorite place you've travelled, etc. SO - HOW DO I MAKE SURE I HAVE WHAT I NEED FOR MY FLAT-LAY?! If you chose the route of designing your own stationery and printing invitations through an online wholesaler, then make sure to print a few extras. You'll want to have some to hold onto for years to come, and you'll want to give a couple to your planner/photographer on the day of your wedding. If you hired a stationer to custom design invitations, address your envelopes, and print day-of stationery, then make sure you request a few extras of each piece from them. Personally, I have so much fun supplying my couples with extra envelopes that are all decked out in calligraphy, vintage stamps, wax seals, etc. for styling of detail photos. Not only does it add to their wedding day photo gallery, but it also helps me as a wedding vendor to have beautiful photos of my work to share on social media. Whoever is creating your stationery will love the opportunity to have their artwork styled and photographed by a talented professional. Talk to your wedding planner, day-of coordinator, photographer, maid of honor, etc. to make sure they know this is an important aspect of your wedding day-vision and trust them to bring it to life. Your planner & photographer may already have some ideas in mind for details to include in your flat-lay photos, and in my opinion, more details are always better! I am allll about the details, and if I'm your wedding-stationery designer, I'll make sure you have all you need and more for your dream flat lays! A LITTLE ABOUT LIZ + GREEN GIRL DESIGN CO. Hi y’all! I’m Liz & I created Green Girl Design Co. in 2019 after a lot of encouragement from some incredible women. My business came to fruition out of my passion for weddings & events, and creating beautiful things. Beyond making environmentally conscious stationery, I love to travel, explore different cities for the best food, and go on long walks with friends. Green Girl Design Co. is a stationery design company on a mission to make events more about the memories and less about the waste. I try to be eco-conscious in all of my decision making when it comes to my business, and I’m constantly learning new ways to make a smaller footprint. I use 100% recycled or cotton paper for all printed stationery & encourage reusable signage in order to strive for more eco-friendly events. So let’s work together to make your stationery personal, creative, and considerate to the earth. I love to create fun, inspired, colorful, and personal stationery to help make wedding days special & full of joy! I believe that your wedding day begins with your invitations, and they play a vital part in setting the tone and theme of your big day. Come visit me at greengirlatx.com or on my instagram page! Photography: Green Girl Design Co. | Amy Odom Photography | Elle Reaux Photography | Bailee Starr Photography | Carhart Photography | Alison Heffington Photography | Riley Glenn Photography

Look at you! You're planning an unforgettable wedding for your closest friends and family members to enjoy. Your guests have traveled near and far and taken time out of their busy lives to witness the love you and your fiancé share. Sending your guests home with a memorable keepsake is a special and unique way to show your gratitude - but the key to handing out a favor they'll remember to take home is to offer something your guests want and actually will use and enjoy. Favors are an inexpensive way to thank your guests and a great way to showcase an element of your wedding by incorporating something meaningful that you and your fiancé enjoy. The average cost of wedding favors varies from $3 to $10, depending on how elaborate or personalized you want to go. The cost depends on the amount being ordering and, if you're going the DIY route, the price of the materials needed. Having guest favors provides an opportunity for creativity with the gift itself and the options for arrangement. Whether you choose to have them at each person's place setting at the dinner table or have an area displayed as guests walk into the reception. There's a pretty extensive range of wedding favors to choose from - they can be food-focused, drink-focused, specific for the home, perfect for play, or even considerate of a pandemic wedding. There are a few things to consider before making your favor selection. For example, if you have opted for an outdoor venue in the middle of the summer, you may want to stay away from candy, chocolates, or anything that may melt. If most of your guests had to fly to attend your wedding, you might want to avoid glass items that won't travel well. But after all, it is your wedding, so we do recommend selecting a wedding favor that says something about you and your significant other. Opt to go with personalization, monograms, favorite items, favorite smells, things you enjoy together, etc. Your friends and family love you, so give them a little piece of you to take home. Here are some wedding favor ideas that your guests will be excited to take home with them! ​ TO EAT Desserts - Cookies, Cupcakes, Macaroons, Oreo's Favor Bags to Go - Popcorn, Donut Holes, Candy Bar, Trail Mix Bottled BBQ Sauce Homemade Salsa Honey Jars Bottles of Olive Oil TO DRINK Koozies for Cans or Bottles Labeled Mini Champagne Bottles Bottle Openers Shot Glasses To-Go Cups Individual Tea Bags or Tea Boxes K-Cup Coffee Flavors Hot Chocolate in a Tube FOR THE HOME Candles & Matches Measuring Spoons Seeds to Plant & Grow Individual Succulents or Cactus Photo Booth Pictures of your guests from the wedding Custom Illustrations of your guests from the wedding TO PLAY Playing Cards Golf Balls & Tee's Sunglasses Flip Flops Sunscreen Cigars with Custom Labels Hangover Kit (in case you played too hard!) ​PURPOSELY PANDEMIC Masks Sanitizers Tissue Packets​ All of the options above can be personalized any way you'd like! So before that perfect last song plays and you have to say goodbye to your guests, send them home with a memento to commemorate your wedding for weeks, maybe years to come! Photography: ​A Sea of Love | Alexandra White Photography | Hannah Ruth Photo | Feather & Twine | A Sea of Love | Two Pair Photography | Brooke Taelor Photo | Sarah KJ Photography | Moodyography

Vendor Contributions: Planning: Ashley Nicole Affair | Photography: Yona Shaw | Venue + Bar: The Preserve at Canyon Lake | Florals: Good Seed Floral | Hair/MUA: Keziah Bevans | Catering: A Spice of Life | Baker/Cake: The JW Bakery | DJ: Premier Entertainment Group | Videography: PhotoHouse Films | Guest Book: After The Tone | Marquee Letters: Alpha-Lit Austin | Transportation: Baby Blue Drives For You | Paper Goods: Peach Paper & Design | Photo Booth: Ashley Nicole Affair Glam Booth

Ceremony: Laguna Gloria | Dinner: Eberly | Reception: Hotel Ella | Wedding Planner: Ashley Nicole Affair | Photography: Kirsten Holliday Photography | Hair/MUA: Bonita Brides | Florist: Central Market | Jazz Band: Waller Creek Vipers | Strings: Terra Vista Strings

Chris + Christine had one of the most fun disco chic, bright, and retro wedding at Camino Real Ranch. There were taco trucks + beer burros!

Vendor Contributions: Photography: Marisa Vasquez Photography | Planning: Ashley Nicole Affair | Venue: Canyonwood Ridge | Florist: The Flower Girl | Catering/Desserts: Root Cellar Catering Co. | Bartending: Royal Fig | DJ: DJ Brian Weber | Hair/MUA: LoLa Beauty ATX | Rentals: Festoon

Vendor Contributions: Planning, Design + Rentals: Ashley Nicole Affair | Photography: Andy + Carrie | Venue: UMLAUF Sculpture Garden | Florist: White's Floral | Hair/MUA: Bonita Brides | Stationery: Fine Day Press | Catering + Bar: Rosemary's Catering | Videography: Tom Ehrbar | Band: Hard Proof | Baker/Cake: Whole Foods | Face Painting: Lisa's Face Painting

Dedicated to my MamaRita / Just as beautiful in that green bottle as she was here on Earth. Clients would ask me, “Do you recommend a videographer if it’s not in our budget?” and I always said, “I did not have one and I do not regret that decision!” But then January 28th, 2021 happened. And I ate my words. How much did videographers cost back then? Maybe $2-$5K? If I could go back in time and pay $15K, I would have. Sure, there’s a budget. Sure, we put our ENTIRE wedding on credit cards because we had to pay for it ourselves. But once someone is no longer with you, you can’t put a price on the memories you can’t relive over and over again when you’re grieving their loss. We got married August 1st, 2014. It was the last time our ENTIRE family was together under one roof. Since then some of us had kids, there were divorces, there were falling outs, people moved out of the country, cancer, some people weren’t mobile enough to travel, COVID happened. I never stopped on the day of my wedding and thought, “this will be the last time your entire family will be together and everyone will get along and be nothing but happy.” Come 2015, I was pregnant and my mom was diagnosed with cancer. In 2016, I suffered from severe post partum anxiety, thyroid diagnoses, and my mom had to have a kidney removed from her cancer. Two years before this we were all generally healthy and danced at our wedding ALL. NIGHT. LONG. In fact, my biggest regret at the time was that I did not get off the dance floor once and I did not even meet some of my husband’s family! Flash forward to today, it became one of the best decisions and memories I could ever hold space for. My mom danced her ASS off at our wedding. In fact, I didn’t get off of the dance floor because she did not get off of the dance floor. My parents were married for 52 years when she passed and they met in June of 1968 because my dad asked her to dance. It took me a month after my mom passing to realize I did not have ONE video of her, period. ​Long story short, when her kidney was removed they told her there was a chance it would come back and metastasize. Five years later, almost to the day, it did. She hid it from all of us for 10 months. When she was at the “30 days or less mark” she lost her balance and went to the hospital since she hit her head. That’s when they told her (and we found out) that the cancer had spread through her entire body and metastasized to three lesions on her brain. That was December 22, 2020. ​I finally got to see her after a few challenges and the last day I ever saw my mom alive was January 19th, 2021. When I flew into town, she was hospitalized, not able to walk, and about to be discharged for home hospice. I stayed awake for 33 hours straight alone at her besides, due to COVID regulations. I did not want to close my eyes and sleep and miss out on one more chance to be with her. I watched her sleep the entire time, also while recorded voice notes of us talking. We talked about my weddings and how she said it was one of the best nights of her life and she just loved to dance non-stop all night long. I still can’t even listen to that voice note I recorded. Had I hired a videographer, I fully believe that I would be watching it non-stop, on repeat, every day since she passed on January 28, 2021. ​Life is short and tomorrow is not guaranteed. Whether someone’s health is declining or a family member’s health is absolutely perfect, you will still want recorded memories of the happy times; ESPECIALLY to get you through the trenches of grief. I didn’t hire a videographer. If I could go back in time, I would have fit that into my budget or taken out a new credit card. Right now I would pay ten grand to have my mom at my wedding, on video. So book yourselves a videographer, don’t do it because I told you so… Do it for my MamaRita. The sunrise on the morning of January 28th, after her passing at 3:31` AM. ​July 11th, 1944 - January 28th, 2021 Now go hug your mom and tell her you love her, then book your videographer.