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

Oak Cliff Wedding Market Vendor Interview: Hey Suga!

On September 19th, we got the privilege to attend the first annual Oak Cliff Wedding Market, held at Jefferson Tower Events. It showcased 15 incredible, local vendors and we got the pleasure of interviewing a few of them to introduce to you!

First up! Meet Kenny Hibbler, the super-talented owner and friendly face behind Hey Suga! a company from Irving, Texas that aims to provide high quality cuisine and desserts that match your whimsy or grandest of ideas. His desserts taste just as incredible and decadent as they look. Hey Suga! is the perfect company to create the wedding cake of your dreams. We got a chance to chat with him and showcase some of his work, see what he has to say!

Picture by: Hey Suga! at The Oak Cliff Wedding Market

 1. With 5 words (or a 5 word sentence) describe your company. 

Hey Suga! Delectable desserts for ANY occasion! 

 2. What are some non-traditional ideas for a wedding cake?

One of the most popular non traditional ideas is having a duo cake, a multi-tiered cake with half being designed for the bride and half being designed for the groom.  Also, multiple smaller cakes and an array of treats for a dessert buffet has become increasingly more popular. As cake artists pioneer new and unique design elements the cakes continue to awe. No longer are the off-white buttercream cakes adorned in piping and supported by plastic dowels/plates the standard. 

Photo By: Hey Suga! at The Oak Cliff Wedding Market

3. Any tips for a creative couple on figuring out what kind of cake to get for their wedding? 

My advice to both the bride and groom (esp. the bride) is to have EXACTLY what they want.  A great cake artist will do his/her best to provide what the bride wishes, as it is HER special day.  The grooms also don't have to settle for a plain old cake. He can feel free to express his own personality and character in cake form! 

Photo By: Hey Suga! at The Oak Cliff Wedding Market

4. What is your favorite Dallas hangout?

My favorite Dallas hangout happens to be my own home or the home of my great friends, who are all amazing cooks and hosts. As I'm usually incredibly busy with cakes and other work obligations, my free time is reserved for actual comfort and relaxation with my favorite persons. 

Photo By: Hey Suga! 

We had a blast interviewing this local dessert artist, Kenny Hibbler. His desserts are absolutely brilliant and we know that he would be an awesome vendor to work with. We look forward to seeing what creations he comes up with next at your wedding!

For any inquiries, contact Hey Suga! at:

Email: kenny@heysuga.com

Instagram: Heysugaphotos

Facebook: Hey Suga!

Why You'll Want a Day-Of Coordinator

Photography // Matt McElligot

Most people believe that there are only two options when it comes to planning a wedding; do-it-yourself or hire a full time planner. All you really need to pull off a flawless wedding is a Day-of Coordinator! The common misconception about Day-of Coordinators is that we're only there for the big day, but most packages include in-person meetings, a venue walk-through, a day-of timeline, vendor confirmations, and rehearsal coordination. Here are a few perks of having a coordinator...

- Smooth Planning Process: We usually have more knowledge when it comes to local vendors and how to get the best price. If you're struggling to find a photographer or DJ, your coordinator is happy to give you suggestions or even help you book one.

- Point of Contact: On your big day the last thing you want is every vendor popping their head into the bridal suite to ask you questions. Wouldn't you rather be spending your time sipping champagne and laughing with your girls than rushing around the venue making sure everything is how you envisioned? A coordinator has spent time getting to know you and your tastes and can make judgment calls without constantly interrupting your celebration. 

- Doubles as a Decorator: Day-of coordination is not limited to the party; we'll arrive as early as the venue allows and begin the set up process. This comes in very handy for DIY brides who have personal touches that need to be set up and no time to decorate. From picture frames and photo backdrops to napkin folds and party favors, your coordinator will handle it all.

- End of the Night: Along with not wishing to spend your whole day decorating, you probably don't want to stick around afterwards to clean up. You'd hate to ask family or friends so why not have a coordinator do it! We've already been in contact with your vendors so we know which vases are yours and which ones belong to the florist. We're always the last ones out the door.

If anything, a day-of coordinator will bring you peace of mind during a busy time. You've spent months and thousands of dollars preparing for this day; let us handle the nitty-gritty.

Check out our weddings tab to see how Celebrate Colorfully can help make your dream wedding a reality!

Gift Ideas for Your Squad

image via Style Me Pretty

From the ‘he proposed and I said yes’ text, the engagement party, several trips to different bridal stores to the awesome bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner and finally your wedding day, your bridesmaids are the ones, along with your groom, by your side during this special time. There are so much that they do, and you can’t imagine getting through the whole wedding planning journey without them. You are so grateful to have such amazing friends not only in your wedding day, but also in your life. To say “thank you” to your best girls, picking out thoughtful bridesmaid gifts is the perfect way.

Picking the perfect gift is no easy feat! Although they will appreciate any gesture, different bridesmaids want different thing because of their unique personality. And you want them to absolutely love their gift. To make your planning process a little easier, we have come up with some cool bridesmaid gift ideas for you.

1. Jewelry – Elegant necklaces, bracelets or earrings with a personal touch (i.e. her initials, an engraved message) will be a great token of your friendship.
2. Robe – Dress her up in a pretty Moroccan-inspired robe as she gets ready with you for your wedding day.
3. Shoes – A pair of shoes that matches her bridesmaid dress and will help her shine at the dance floor at your reception.
4. Monogrammed tote bag – Who would say no to a personalized bag filled with amazing skin care products? Some guys maybe, but definitely no girl!
5. Her favorite drink and personalized drinkware – If your girl can not get through a day without (at least) a cup of coffee, you know her favorite coffee and a mug with her initial will definitely put a smile to her lovely face. If she’s more into wine, her favorite wine paired with wine glasses is perfect for a sleepover party, sipping and talking about life.
6. A makeup bag filled with her must-have beauty products – Lip sticks, blushes, eye shadows, nail polishes and so on, all things that make her feel the prettiest.
7. A handmade gift – Soaps, candles, or a scrapbook, a picture frame with a photo of you and her, anything handmade by you will touch her heart.
8. A class – Cooking class, dance class, photography lesson, calligraphy lesson, or any cool skills she has always wanted to learn.
9. An experience – Skydiving, camping, skiing, or rock climbing, an adventure that will excite your active best friend and strengthen your bond.
10. A mini vacation – After a cheerful but also stressful months of planning your wedding, you and your lady deserve some relaxation. A trip to a spa or a nearby resort will surely treat you well.

If you are still unsure of what gifts to get, take a moment and think about your bridesmaids. Who are they? What do they like? What do they usually do in their spare time? Do they need anything specific at the moment? Once you find the answers for these questions, you’ll know what you’re looking for. Finding the perfect gift isn’t just about the gift itself, it's also the thought that counts.

Updated Colors for an Autumn Wedding

Deciding on color combinations can be one of the most challenging parts of planning a wedding.

We love bright and cheerful, spring or summer colors accented throughout a wedding because it takes this already joy-filled event up a notch. However, as we enter into the fall season, color schemes change to jewel tones which tend to make the wedding a bit darker. If you want a crisp, fall wedding but still want some of those cheery pops of color, fear not! We have some new ways to extend those fun colors that we love so much, into this new season with some unique combinations of color schemes! 

image via Artfully Wed

First up, is a combination that allows you to bring in that bright pop of fuchsia! It is a surprisingly flexible color that transitions well into just about every season. If you are totally set on having those bright pink bridesmaid dresses or floral centerpieces but are worried about bringing it into a fall wedding, all you have to do is just add some wine and chocolate-colored accents. This palette does not let you escape the jewel tones but it does brighten them up a lot with that gorgeous shade of pink! This pairing makes for a perfect and unique color scheme to use in your fall wedding!

image via 100 Layer Cake

The key to this color combo is choosing bright colors but opting for slightly darker shades. Anchoring this palette is a perfect, crisp, Autumn red and a darker shade of yellow. Yellow is a perfect transition color for fall since it is such a happy color and still radiates that feeling from its darker shades. We love a good pop of coral but in this scheme, the coral charm is a shade darker than its usual bubble-gum brightness. The poppy orange is actually the perfect mixture of red and orange to mesh well with its surrounding colors. This pallete is super pleasing to the eye and will be sure to bring some extra brightness into your fall wedding. 

image via The Perfect Palette

Pastels in Fall? That's right! We totally love this combination because it brings beautiful, Spring colors perfectly into the Autumn season. Like the previous color scheme, we are again, anchoring this one with a cranberry color. However, this time, we are adding in elements of purple and cream. The darker shades of cranberry and lavender tone down the light, lilac color and the cream shade helps balance all three of them out.  I know what you are thinking... This is a completely surprising mixture of colors! It is definitely the most unique out of the three but it would look absolutely beautiful for your outdoor Texas wedding!

We are totally inspired by these unique color combos and hope you are too!