Venue/Bar/Catering/Desserts: Inn & Spa Loretto | @innandspaatloretto Full Service Planning: Ashley Nicole Affair  | @ashleynicoleaffair Florist: Fleur Affair | @fleuraffairco Cake: ABC Bake Shop  | @abccakeshop Hair/MUA: Jackie Sue MUA  | @jackiesueartistry DJ: Too Hott to Stop Photographer: Molly Morgan Photography  |  @mollymorganphotography Rentals: Colorado Party Rentals |  @copartyrentals + Beloved Rentals NM | @belovedrentalsnm

Planning: @ashleynicoleaffair⁠ Photography + Videography: @frankiegomezphotography⁠ Venue, Catering + Bar: @elmontesagrado.taos⁠ Florist: @fleuraffairco⁠ Cake: @taoscakes⁠ DJ: @dreamfactoryproductionsabq⁠

Wedding cakes are a traditional way to approach dessert at a wedding. There are so many styles & flavor options and they can do some pretty awesome things with cakes these days. However, cake is definitely not your only option. Not a cake fan? Take a look at some cake alternatives below. MINI CAKES Bundt Cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops are all other fun alternatives to traditional wedding cake. You can get them made into custom shapes and colors just like regular cake and your guests will be sure to enjoy these fun desserts! DONUTS Donuts are such a fun cake alternative. You will still be getting a delicious dessert but with a fun and casual vibe. You can order multiple flavors and styles, such as traditional donuts, cream filled, or donut holes. You can stack them, serve them on platters, or even try a unique donut display. You can’t go wrong with donuts! COOKIES A cookie bar is a super fun dessert for a wedding and there are so many options. Cookies and milk or decorate your own sugar cookies would be fun for a holiday or winter wedding. You could have a cute spread of all of your favorite cookies you enjoy at home together. You can get custom made sugar cookies or even get a little fancy with macarons, the list goes on! PIES Who doesn’t love pie?! You could have seasonal full size pies such as pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies for a fall/winter wedding. Or you could even have mini pies from a company like Tiny Pies! We have seen other unique options like pie pops and hand pies as well! CANDY Imagine different sized jars and bowls filled to the top with your favorite candies. Your guests will feel like they are kids again filling up their treat bags with sweets! OTHER FUN DESSERTS There are even more fun and delicious options to choose from! Cheesecake/cheesecake bites, a s’mores bar, crème brule, chocolate mousse, lemon bars, tiramisu and banana pudding with vanilla wafers are just a few more options, If you can think of it, most likely there is a company who does it. We have seen everything from gelato carts to custom ice cream sandwiches! Be sure to choose what YOU want, and don’t feel like you have to go with a traditional cake. Remember, you can even do a combination of a few things you love! The options are endless, so get creative and have fun with it! *Pro Tip: Be sure to provide little bags or to-go boxes so your guests can take any left overs with them at the end of the night! Photography: @mainsqueezephotography | @featherandtwine | @gloriagoodephoto | @pglphotography | @rileysheaglenn | @brooketaelorphoto | @yonashaw | @andyandcarrie

Vendor Contributions: Photographer: @matlai_photography Planning: @ashleynicoleaffair Venue: @deercreekvalleyranch Catering & Cake: @biscuitsandberries Bartenders: @peakbev DJ/Musician: @completewedo Florist: Mother-in-law of bride; Sandi Balmer Officiant: Pastor Krause Transportation: CharterUp, Lawson Limo Service

Planning: @ashleynicoleaffair⁠ Photography: @mikeloandlindsey⁠ Venue: @vintagevillas⁠ Florist: @whitesfloral⁠ Hair/MUA: @love.lipstick.andlashes⁠ Catering + Bar: @vintagevillas⁠ Baker/Cake: @cakesrocktx⁠ DJ: @thepremieraustindjs⁠ Transportation: @austincharterservices⁠

Dietary restrictions and food allergies seem to be more common these days. Keeping this in mind is a thoughtful way to show your guests you care! After all, who wants to show up to a wedding with delicious food but not be able to eat it!? Here are some simple tips to help accommodate your guest’s food needs. 1. Include a spot on your invitations where guests can write down their food allergy (allergic to shellfish, lactose intolerant) or dietary restriction (vegetarian or vegan). 2. Talk to your caterer about a special option for people with any restrictions. Often times you can come up with one dish that will accommodate most guests with a restriction or allergy. 3. If you are having a buffet, please be sure to let these guests know that you have a special meal for them. This way they won’t go through the buffet realizing they can only have carrots and green beans. If you are having a plated meal, be sure to indicate to the staff where those guests are seated. For example, you can have a special marking on their place card. 4. Don’t forget dessert! Be sure to include some kind of dessert option for them too! Most likely, you won’t have a ton of people with food allergies or restrictions, so it usually isn’t too difficult to accommodate these guests. They will be able to enjoy your amazing wedding food just like everyone else and I promise they will be extra grateful! Photography: @gloriagoodephoto | @featherandtwine | @twopairphoto

Ashley Nicole Affair is a team of Austin wedding planners that specialize in planning and floral design in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Planning: @ashleynicoleaffair Photography: @moodyography Venue + Bar: @theaddisongrove Florist: @whitesfloral Catering + Cake: @royalfigcatering Hair/MUA: @adoremakeupsalon Rentals: @beelavishvintage; @nativebloomfloral Band: @thelittleweddingband Transportation: @nikkosworldwide

We all dream of the perfect weather for our wedding day. Not too hot, not too cold, and most importantly, no rain, especially for an outdoor wedding. Unfortunately, our weather dreams don’t always come true. Since Mother Nature is out of our hands, the best thing to do is to have a rain plan. TALK TO YOUR VENUE When booking your venue , be sure to ask them what their rain plan options are. Some venues may only have the option of having you rent a tent. Although a tent may not be ideal, it’s definitely better all your guests getting soaked! Keep in mind that if you want to put a tent on hold, you’ll need to do it far in advance and there is usually a non-refundable deposit and specific cancellation rules. Some venues may just be able to set up everything indoors and then “flip” the space for the reception. Either way, knowing you have a rain plan will help ease your mind about the weather on your wedding day. IT'S NOT BAD LUCK! If you’ve heard that rain on your wedding day is bad luck, don’t believe it! According to Zola.com , “Many say that rain on your wedding day brings good luck, with some cultures viewing it as a symbol of fertility. Since rain brings forth crops from the ground, they believe this type of weather means you’ll be blessed with children. In Hindu traditions, rain on the day of a wedding is said to make the unit even stronger and longer-lasting, since a wet knot is very difficult to untie.” You can view the full article here . EMBRACE IT! Fast forward to a few days before your wedding and the forecast is predicting a downpour on your big day. It is absolutely ok to feel bummed or sad. It is definitely not ideal and we get that! After you have accepted the fact that it will probably be raining on your wedding day, embrace it! There are a lot of cute ideas for a rainy wedding day that are easy to put together quickly. 1. Talk to your photographer. Most photographers have had to deal with a rainy wedding day before, so they may have some fun ideas or suggestions for your photos!. 2. Take advantage of the sky. A dark, cloudy sky can add a fun moody vibe to some of your photos. 3. We have seen some amazing rainy photos of couple’s using clear bubble umbrellas! We found some cute ones here ! You can even gather a few extra for your guests and add some fun signage to let them know the rain isn’t stopping the party! 4. Rain boots! Snag a pair of white rain boots to keep it classy or opt for a colorful pair to add a fun element to some of your photos. 5. Is it still raining at the end of the night? Have fun with it and do a last dance in the rain with your guests! Being prepared for rainy weather will help ease your mind and allow you to focus on the west of your wedding planning. You’ve got this! Rest assured that no matter the weather on your big day, it will be an amazing day you’ll never forget! Photography: @theteaguesphoto | @matlai_photography

Featured on Strictly Weddings ⁠Planning & Photo Booth: @ashleynicoleaffair⁠ Photography: @gloriagoodephoto⁠ Venue: @theallanhouse⁠ Florist: @thebloombaratx⁠ Hair/MUA: @makenzilaine⁠ Catering & Bar: @peachedtortillacatering⁠ Baker/Cake: @roundrockdonuts⁠ Band: @royaldukesband⁠ Prosecco Trailer: @silvercloudtrailerevents⁠ Rentals: @monarcheventatx⁠ Sparkler Fountains: @bigdogpyro⁠ Hand-Lettering: @greengirlatx⁠

Planning: Ashley Nicole Affair   @ashleynicoleaffair Photographer: Nathaly Norman Photography   @nathalynorman_ Venue: La Posada Santa Fe   @laposadasf Florist: Fleur Affair   @fleuraffairco Hair/Makeup: Betty Rose by Alanna   @bettyrosebyalanna DJ: Too Hot to Stop