MOST LOVED | STYLING BY MACEY

Happy Wednesday friends!! We're back this week with another from our MOST LOVED series because we seriously can't stop bragging about our friends!! Have you been swooning over those stunning Pinterest images of perfect beach waves and intricate braid work? STOP LOOKING! I have found your girl!

Macey Burns, owner of Styling by Macey, is a hair artist and braid magician. She specializes in natural, undone, textured styles - "the messier and more greenery the better!" And you know the girls at Celebrate Dallas are all about that! Get to know her and her jaw dropping style in our MOST LOVED vendor highlight this week! 

We're so excited to welcome Macey as the newest member of The Coterie!

1. What are five words (or a 5 word sentence) that would describe you and/or your company the best?
Romantic. Undone. Effortless. Braids. Natural.

2. How’d you get into the hair styling game?
I actually started hair school when I was 16 years old. After working in a full-service salon for many years I realized I loved the styling part the most.  I’ve always been fascinated by how much someone can change their appearance just from their hair.

3. How should a bride decide what look she wants?
Choose something you know you will feel comfortable in. If you do not like your hair up and away from your face in everyday life, chances are you will probably not like it on your wedding day.

4. Have any tips for keeping the “getting ready” process stress-free on the wedding day?
Have your bridesmaids look at styles ahead of time instead of the morning of, and make a timeline for their hair/makeup services.

5. What is your favorite local hangout?
People’s Last Stand in Dallas! I love the atmosphere, as well as their Devil’s Advocate.

MORE INFO
STYLING BY MACEY
INSTAGRAM | EMAIL

PHOTOS | provided by Styling by Macey

MOST LOVED | SHAY & OLIVE

Happy Wednesday babes!! We're so frickin' excited to introduce you to one of our MOST LOVED photography teams and long time friends, Shay & Olive!! Today we're talking to Hilary, one of the three creative minds behind this Dallas based company!

We met Hillary over 2 years ago at Common Desk back when Celebrate Dallas was just starting out in the wedding world.  She was one of our very first friendors, even photographing our first ever styled shoot in Bishop Arts. Both of our companies have come along way since we first met, adding team members, changing names, and even opening our own studios. We've got a serious love affair with the Shay & Olive team and we know you will too soon :D 

What are five words (or a 5 word sentence) that would describe yourselves and/or your company the best?
Joyful, Collaborative, Philanthropic, Creative, Spontaneous.

How did Shay and Olive start? Who are Shay and Olive?
I studied Fine Art at SMU and during my senior year I started doing wedding and portrait photography. I continued building the business after I graduated and by 2015 I was starting to get overwhelmed-- Working alone was exhausting and lonely! Erica was living in Madrid and Xavier and I took a trip to visit her shortly before she moved back to Dallas. During our visit Erica and I decided that when she moved back to Dallas we would team up!  Xavier had been doing a lot of behind the scenes work from the beginning but in 2016 he joined S&O full time and we became a trio!

When I started the company it was called Hilary Grace Photography-- I was the sole photographer and never imagined growing a team! Once Erica joined we decided to name the company after our dogs. Shay (short for Seamus) is Xavier's and my mutt. Olive is Erica's Old English Sheepdog. 

How would you describe your wedding photography styles?
Our style is photojournalistic. We gravitate towards vibrant color and we look to capture authentic emotion.

What are your favorite local hangouts?
Anywhere on Lower Greenville! 

Besides wedding photography, tell us about a few of your other creative endeavors.
Xavier loves to host! He runs our community natural light studio called The Lumen Room. The Lumen Room is a bright, white, naturally lit loft that serves as a blank slate for the visions of other photographers, videographers, stylists, etc. We are constantly inspired by what others create in the space!

Erica travels and takes gorgeous photographs of architecture and landscapes. She sells her prints at local markets and on her Etsy shop.

I have a soft spot for animals! I photograph dogs and all of their goofy quirks at Grace and Goose Dog Photography Studio.

CONTACT | SHAY & OLIVE 
INSTAGRAM | @shayandolive

PHOTOS | SHAY & OLIVE

MOST LOVED | WHISK UNTIL SWEET

Happy hump day! It’s time to show some appreciation to one of our most loved vendors. Meet the #GirlBoss behind Whisk Until Sweet, Heather! She's a native Texan with a major sweet tooth! Heather's style is modern, simple, and elegant. All of her beautiful cakes feature fresh and tasty flavors. The intricacies in the flavors are so delightful they forever leave a remembered taste in your mouth! 

1. Five words or a five word sentence that would describe you or your company best? 

Edgy, Refined, Creative, Whimsical, Rustic. 

2. What was the inspiration behind the name "Whisk until Sweet"? So catchy!  

The name "Whisk until Sweet" was inspired by a simple line in a cookbook. I knew I wanted my company name to be simple but to the effect of whisk, stir, mix, etc. So when I saw it, it was perfect!

3. What fueled your passion towards entrepreneurship?

I was working in the marking industry prior to Whisk until Sweet. That environment didn't allow me to be creative and I felt that I was always stepping on others toes. It was a very dictated industry. That's when I saved my money, attended culinary school in Canada, and started Whisk until Sweet in 2011 by myself. Fast forward 5 years... I enjoy being my own boss! It's very fulfilling and flexible. Being my own boss is also pretty cool. I can be creative without stepping on others toes and enjoy what I do, I love it!

4. What was or has been your favorite project thus far?

I did a photo shoot with Grit + Gold at Brik in Fort Wort. I love it because it was rustic, free reign, and actually focused on the cake; which is a rare occasion. Being creative and given free reign of what I wanted to do as a #CakeBoss really paid off, allowing me to really show who I am. Hard work pays off!

Styled shoot at Brik with Grit + Gold

5. What would be your dream project or client, if you had the choice? 

Wow! That's a hard one... I would definitely choose my Grandma. She instilled the love of baking in me! She passed when I was 10 years old. She was a cookie girl! I would bake her either snicker doodle or chocolate chip cookies. Not only was my Grandma amazing but so was her baking.

Photo | A Sea of Love

6. What is the next big step for Whisk until Sweet? 

First and foremost, I am so thankful for my 1st year being completely booked! I'm just going with the flow for now. One long term goal would be to have a shop in Dallas, but maybe not until the next five years. 

7. What would be your advice for anyone interested in becoming their own boss? 

My best advice would be to stick to a routine. It sounds simple but it really isn't. When it's only you, it's much harder making a living. Five business goals and two personal goals a day helps keep me focused. Goals in which of what needs to happen. I also would suggest finding a community or professional group of friends. My profession and working for myself can sometimes be isolating. Any outlet is refreshing!

Thanks so much for telling us your story Heather! We're so incredibly excited to be working with Heather again for our wedding this weekend! 

Most Photos Courtesy of Whisk until Sweet

CONTACT | WHISK UNTIL SWEET

website | www.whiskuntilsweet.com
instagram | @whiskunitlsweet
phone | 469.626.8488
order | cause we all need cake!

MOST LOVED | ELLIE AND ACE

HELLO LOVELY PEOPLE! We're in full spring swing over here at Celebrate Colorfully. With the expansion of our team and our full line-up of weddings over the next few weeks, we've been busier than ever! 

Today I'd like to introduce you to Stephanie from Ellie and Ace Calligraphy! This girl has a heart of gold and is truly one of the sweetest people I've met in Dallas. Like most creatives, Stephanie wears many hats in life but her true passion is calligraphy. She's even sharing her love with others through her new workshops and classes.

We met Stephanie through a friend and can't stop gushing about how wonderful her work is. Just see for yourself! 

1. What are five words (or a 5 word sentence) that would describe yourselves and/or your company the best?

Calligrapher | Maker | Versatile | Unexpected | Creative Passion

2. How did Ellie and Ace come to be? What got you into hand lettering?

I’ve always loved handwriting and different styles of lettering. Growing up, I would change the style of my handwriting, often emulating another style that I loved and making it my own.  My class projects always involved an element of hand lettering – even in grad school!

It wasn’t until a dear friend recommended that I check out a calligraphy class that I realized this was a skill set I possessed that was somewhat unique and extremely versatile and useful. I started taking classes locally, and was instantly hooked, doing projects mostly for friends and family in the beginning. I’m so thankful for how this unexpected creative venture of mine has evolved!

My favorite part of the calligraphy industry is working directly with clients and other vendors (like Celebrate Colorfully) to bring a creative vision to life for a vast array of life events. I am humbled by the opportunity to meet such neat people and learn about a small part of their lives through my work.

3. Any tips for a DIY bride?

Go for it | There’s so much room for creativity – let your invitation and envelopes really say something about you and your special day!

Have a plan | Practice your lettering style, size & envelope layouts on scrap paper cut to size. Play around with different sizes and styles of lettering, such as script + print or various sizes and spacing of letters to create your unique envelope. Once you’ve decided on the final “look” then use handy tools like grids, templates, or a light pad to make lettering your actual envelopes easier and quicker. 

Get the right tools | Are you really into brush lettering, traditional pen and ink, or maybe even watercolor? Make sure that you’re getting the right tools to set you up for success in your lettering. I have a list of my favorite supplies on my blog and would be happy to consult with any DIY bride wanting to get started doing her own envelopes.

Embrace imperfection | Remember that each envelope you do is a unique work of art! Each of us is our own worst critic, so if you feel frustrated (which I often do!) just know that practice makes progress – not perfection. In an age of everything digital, people truly appreciate the time and heart invested in something that’s done by hand. Your guests will love your work!

4. What are your favorite local hangouts?

Matt’s Rancho Martinez – give me Bob Dip + happy hour everyday

 The Village Country Club walking trail

Half Price Books – it’s dog friendly!

Fuel City – tacos + corn in a cup

Home – I’m an introvert, so I get a lot of my energy and creativity from being at home, reading books and blogs, and organizing and decorating (when I’m not working on projects for clients!)

I probably need to get out more – ha!  This list makes me realize that my life centers around my dog and Tex Mex food!

5. Tell us more about your classes!

I just recently started offering beginner’s calligraphy classes after getting quite a few requests. This was an unexpected direction, but one that has been so much fun! I’ve hosted group classes in Dallas and Sherman, and have also done a few private lessons.

My classes are essentially hands-on workshops where students can learn the basics of modern calligraphy. The classes are designed for beginner level letterers with little or no experience. You don’t even have to have pretty handwriting to give it a try.

Students get my script calligraphy “starter kit” that includes my favorite beginner tools: an oblique holder, a straight holder, pot of black ink, nibs, washi tape, a pencil, practice grids, a tracing pad, and an alphabet exemplar.

I will be booking a couple more group classes later in the summer (July), but in the meantime, I’m open to scheduling private individual and private group classes. I think it would be such a fun bachelorette party for a group of friends wanting to do something a little different than the “typical” bachelorette events.

Sign up for the Ellie and Ace Class mailing list to be the first to know when new classes are added to the calendar!

FOR MORE INFO + INQUIRIES

ELLIE AND ACE

EMAIL | ellieandace@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM | @ellieandace

All photos from Ellie and Ace

MOST LOVED | MAKEUP ARTIST ERIKA CURRY

Happy Wednesday! We have a special treat on the blog today- an interview with Erika Curry, a fabulous make-up artist that we have worked with throughout the past year!

This girl is an incredible talent and an immensely kind person. We love recommending her to our brides because we know she knocks it out of the park every single time!

Roll the questions!

Photo | Shay & Olive from Our Modern + Colorful Elopement

1. What are five words (or a 5 word sentence) that would describe you and/or your company the best?

 Personable, agreeable, open minded, relaxed and HAPPY (that was harder than I thought and my 12 year old helped me!)

Photo | Shay & Olive from Our Modern + Colorful Elopement

2. How’d you get into makeup artistry?

I have always, always loved makeup. As a kid (maybe 9 or 10) I would take pictures from magazines if they had a closeup of a woman's face, cut the picture in half, glue it on a piece of paper and to try to replicate her makeup on my own using my moms makeup or colored pencils. I was always the girl who did friends makeup throughout high school and college. I just never realized it could be a career until I met a sweet friend who worked for MAC. He encouraged me and told me I was actually good. I took any "work" I could get for free and practiced a lot on anyone who would let me. 

Photo | Matt McElligott from Meagan + Justin (Our first wedding ever!)

3. How should a bride decide what look she wants? 

For my brides, I suggest looking at pictures of other brides. Real girls, not models or Pinterest pictures. So many times I think women think a model is pretty but don't always consider how the makeup would look on them. I encourage brides to stay within their comfort zone. If you never wear makeup, your wedding isn't the day to rock a smokey eye. I say, look like YOU on your best day ever! 

Photo | A Sea of Love from Our Paul Bunyon Inspired Styled Shoot

4. Have any tips for keeping the “getting ready” process stress-free on the wedding day?

 On the day of your wedding, give yourself plenty of time! Assume everything will take longer than you think. There is nothing worse than being rushed. And if you get done early, bonus! Also, for hair and makeup, have a trial. Maybe two. So you and your makeup artist and hair dresser are on the same page. I love walking in and knowing exactly what my bride wants! 

Photo | Shay & Olive from Our Modern + Colorful Elopement

5. What's your favorite local hangout?

 My husband has been going to a dive bar called the "Dallasite" forever. We know everyone there and it's just easy. It's inevitable when we go out that we will end up there!

For more info + inquiries

Erika Curry
erika1077@aol.com
Instagram - @erikacurry