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

Vendor Highlight | Wiler Photography

Happy hump day! We hope all of your summers are going well, ours is about to get busy busy busy with exciting new adventures and we sure can’t wait!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Nadia from Wiler Photography! This girl and her husband, Luke, are truly so caring and always go full out to make sure the bride and grooms have the best photos and videos to remember such a special day.

We met Nadia through a friend and can’t believe how far her and Luke have come, from starting as a self-taught photographer and videographer to becoming an outstanding duo in the industry! Get to know them a little bit more below!

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

Always Doing More Than Expected!

2. How did Wiler Photography come to be? Who is Wiler Photography?

We are a husband (Luke) and wife (Nadia) team known as The Wiler’s. We fell into the stress of planning our own wedding and along the way we had to meet with vendors of all types. It was the time for us to meet with wedding photographers and the process was one of the most challenging for us. We had champagne taste on a beer budget. We noticed that the photographers we liked and styles we loved were out of our price range and some of the people we were left with didn’t seem to care as much about our wedding as we did. It was stressful to say the least. After countless days of searching we found a photographer who was affordable but also had great photos to go with the price. We met with her and she was so easy going and it felt like we were talking to a friend and not just a stranger wanting our money. We walked away from that meeting saying how nice it would have been if others were more like that.

I was so involved with what I liked and didn’t like in photography and inspired by the photographer we just met. Luke said he could see me being a great photographer because I had such strong opinions and passion for great photos. When Luke gets his mind on an idea he runs wild with it. He spent the next month researching cameras, lenses and other equipment to give me everything I needed to get started. Meanwhile, I was becoming self-taught through “YouTube University” studying and learning everything I needed to know about cameras and photography.

Before we knew it, we had purchased our first camera and I started shooting and practicing every day. We could tell I was getting really good at this. I was so in love with it. My first wedding was a friend who invited us to be guests. I asked her if she would mind if I photographed her wedding just to practice. She was more than obliged to have me. At the end of the day, I had so much fun taking pictures at her wedding that I wanted to do more. I knew I wasn’t ready to tackle a whole wedding on my own yet. I needed more experience. As fate would have it, the photographer from my own wedding had recently posted online that she was looking for someone to 2nd shoot with her. I could not have called her any faster. Somewhere between July-October I had shadowed her and worked with her almost every weekend on a wedding. I asked for more experience and I got it!

My portfolio grew so quickly and I was having so much fun that my husband decided he wanted to get in on it with me. His interest however was in video. Of course his mind was set, and for the next month he was online, vigorously researching everything he needed to know about videography. Just as myself, he needed experience. At this time, I was booking entire weddings on my own for myself. Our first bride that Luke was able to shoot video for had no idea what she was actually getting. Luke was so excited and put everything he had into making his first video. The bride was blown away! It was more than what she imagined.

Between my photography, and his now video, we knew we had a winning combination. We were hooked! We have completely devoted ourselves to our work and we let the passion and excitement drive us. Our goal since having dealt with wedding planning on our own, was to remain ourselves. We wanted to come off as a friend and be honest about everything involved with our client’s weddings. We always do more than expected, because we love what we do and we want our clients to love us too.

3. How would you describe your wedding photography styles?

I like my style to reflect my clients. It’s not about me when I am photographing a bride or groom, it’s about them. I let my clients be themselves and in the process we get some great documentary, or lifestyle, type photos. My photos tend to be brighter and crisp, and in the industry my style is considered light and airy. I love the natural beauty of the daytime and I try to draw in as much light and happiness into my work. 

4. What are your favorite local hangouts?

I don’t have a lot of favorite local hangouts, for me it’s more like local eatery’s. Nothing beats sipping a grapefruit mimosa, on the patio of East Hampton at the Shops of Legacy. Any place with a great patio, drink specials and delicious food is where you will likely find me.

5.     What’s your advice for the couple whose number one priority is having a fun wedding?  

My advice to a couple planning their wedding is one I was given before my wedding day. Don’t get carried away by what others would like or how others would feel. If you can find a way to remember that the day is about you and your fiancé, ignore everyone else and plan for yourself. Keep what’s important to you, and don’t worry about what other people may think or feel. In the long run, you will be thankful that you pleased yourself because your day only happens one time. Nobody will cherish those memories like you will so they are yours to make.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Nadia and Luke and a peek at their amazing work! We look forward to see all their new photos and videos from this busy summer season! 

Info + Inquires

Email | nadiawiler@gmail.com

Instagram | @wilerphotos

All photos from Wiler Photography & Films

Venue Highlight | The Room on Main

Happy Wednesday friends!! Today's venue highlight features The Room on Main, voted one of The Knot's Best of Weddings picks for the last four years. Offering beautiful views of Dallas from the 6th floor of the Dallas Arts Center, The Room on Main is truly a one of a kind wedding venue. 

The Room on Main has a timeless classic feel that allows for an intimate event in the middle of downtown Dallas. We had the pleasure of coordinating Bethany + Matt's elegant wedding here last November and couldn't wait to share this space with you. The Room boasts a soft neutral color palette, dramatic ceilings accented by antique chandeliers, and hardwood floors. A magnificent bar,  modern bridal suite, and swank grooms lounge are also on site. Excellent service and catering are provided by their exclusive team from CN Catering.

From glamorous to antique, weddings at this venue are extraordinary. Will yours be their next?

THE BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED HISTORIC BALLROOM HAS NATURAL
WOOD FLOORS, ANTIQUE CHANDELIERS, AND 30-FOOT CEILINGS WITH
15-FOOT WINDOWS ON THREE SIDES FOR GREAT VIEWS.

THIS 6,000 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM WILL ACCOMMODATE UP
TO 320 PEOPLE.

FOR QUESTIONS AND BOOKING INQUIRIES

PLEASE CONTACT THEM AT

214.742.1526 

INFO@THEROOMONMAIN.COM

Photos from A Sea of Love + The Room on Main

MOST LOVED | MASTERS OF CEREMONY ENTERTAINMENT

Happy Wednesday! 

Entertainment for your wedding is a must and a crucial part to making your magic night even more memorable which is why we are introducing you to Sean Lee of Masters of Ceremony Entertainment & Lighting today! Not only does he provide some awesome tunes to get your guests out of their seats and onto their feet but he has more than 25 years of experience in the industry and is based in the DFW area! We recently teamed up with him for our couple, Celina + James, wedding! Check out what he has to say! 

What are 5 words (or a 5 word sentence) that would describe your services the best?

        Interactive, organized, personalized, unique & memorable 

How long have you been DJ/Emcee-ing? What got you into the game?

        27 years I started as a DJ when I was 15 in 1988. I was in the drumline in school which makes me a music lover. Becoming a DJ was a no brainer! 

What’s your advice for the couple who’s number one priority is having a fun wedding?

        Choose wisely! There are tons of DJs out there in the market and it is their job to find the right match for what they want and for their personalities. For a wedding, finding a professional MC that is a good DJ is more important than finding an amazing DJ that knows how to make announcements. A true MC that involves all of the guests in the fun is what will make a wedding fun and not just music. 

Spill your favorite wedding jam!

        My personal favorite (since I'm originally from Southern California) is This I How We Do It by Montel Jordan. The band nerd in me still loves slipping in something from Grease though! 

You haven’t been in Texas long! What’s your favorite Dallas hangout so far?

         Well...this question made me feel old! I don't really "hang out" anywhere. I'm a husband and a father and I serve at church. There really isn't a whole lot of time after all of that and doing weddings and events on the weekends to hang out. I love to eat, so I'll just give you my favorite place to eat since moving to Texas. I love Hutchin's BBQ in McKinney! 

For more inquiries:

Sean Lee

Masters of Ceremony Entertainment & Lighting Website

Email: MastersofCeremony@ymail.com

Los Angeles: 661-476-5658

Dallas/Fort Worth:214-412-2720

Oak Cliff Wedding Market Vendor Interview: Alli K Design

Our second interview was with Alli Koch of Alli K Design. Some lucky people are gifted with beautiful handwriting... and then there is Alli. There is no surface that this woman can't letter on while making it look absolutely etherial and extraordinary. From back-drops to invitations, she is definitely a go-to-girl to make your wedding complete. Check out some of what she has created and see what she has to say! (Note from Megan: Alli is one of my favorite people! She is an incredible spirit and talented artist. We even teamed up together for this Bishop Arts elopement and have more shoots planned for the future! Stay tuned!)

Photo By: Feather and Twine Photography

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

Creative "messes" with pretty outcomes.

2. What got you into hand lettering for weddings?

I have grown up doodling on every piece of paper I could get a hold of and always had good hand lettering. After graduating college and looking for jobs I had all of this free time I never had before so I started working on my things I wanted to paint list. Word got out quickly and it just so happened to be Christmas time so everyone I knew pretty much had a painting under the tree by me. Since then It has grown from gifts for family and friends to creating amazing pieces for brides all over. 

Photo By: Alli Koch

3. What are some creative ways that your hand lettering can be incorporated in a wedding?

I tell people all the time, if there is a solid surface I can write on it! One of my favorite things to hand letter on are vintage globes. I have a long list of things I want to get my pen on, #tomanyideasnotnoughtime but next up on the list are macarons!  I am pretty excited about it! 

Photo By: Alli Koch

4. What is your favorite thing to do in the Dallas area?

Eat chick fila. :) You will find me there every day sometimes twice a day. 

Photo By: Alli Koch

5. Any tips for a DIY bride?

Don't forget to wear gloves! 

I made the horrible mistake of spray painting 2 days before my wedding and spent those entire two days scrubbing my hands to get black spray paint off of them. oops. 

Photo By: Alli Koch

We love working with Alli Koch and love how her hand-lettering can be used in such creative and beautiful ways! We can't see what she comes up with next, especially those written-on  macarons. More than that, we are excited to see her lettering involved in your future wedding!

For inquiries contact Alli K Designs at: 

Email: allikochdesign@gmail.com

Website: AlliKDesign

Instagram: AlliKDesign