Beat the Summer Heat on Your Wedding Day

Beat the Summer Heat on Your Wedding Day

It’s the heart of summer in Texas, and we all know what that means… IT’S HOT, HOT, HOT! With the next few weeks (and maybe longer) projected in the 100-degree plus temperatures, it’s essential that you consider the protection and comfort of your guests and wedding party for your summer wedding.

Here are a few of our top hot wedding day tips:

Time of Day: For starters, you should plan to pay close attention to the time of day. Whether you are having a portion of your ceremony, cocktail hour, or even reception outside, the last thing you want is to worry about heat complications or even heat stroke with any of your guests, which can happen quickly when temperatures are as high as they are in the Texas summer.

Remember, while the sun and shade are important to consider for your event, this can also be a great idea to consider the beauty of a sun setting in your photographs. Talk to your photographer about suggested ideal times, or what they consider to be the “golden hour” for your photographs.

Wedding Party Attire and Looks: Generally bridesmaids have it a little easier in this department if the traditional bridesmaids’ dresses are selected. In contrast, finding attire for men can be challenging. From tuxedos to suits, men’s attire can be excessively hot in the summer sun. Although Texas may not be considered a typical “destination” event location, consider similar attire styles as a destination would typically require if you plan to have an outdoor ceremony in the Texas summer heat.

Beyond clothing, consider how the heat will affect hair and makeup. It’s hard enough for most brides and bridesmaids to tame their hair into a perfect, flowing ‘do. Add in heat and humidity, and long curls or waves will be disastrous. To fight frizz and humidity, ladies should try pulling part or all of their hair off their face and neck to stay cool and picture perfect.

According to Wedding Wire, here are a few tips for your wedding day makeup.

Cleanse, prime, choose products, and set.

“These four steps are key to making your summer wedding makeup last,” says Jennifer Adams of Formal Faces in Atlanta, Georgia. “For makeup, wash your face, apply a primer, use a high-quality foundation, and finish it off with a setting spray.”

Stay inside as long as possible.

“If it’s incredibly humid outside, the best thing you can do is wait inside until the very last minute,” says Jennifer. “This is especially important for your hair. Waterproof makeup really works (you can waterski in waterproof mascara!), but there is no hairstyle or hair product that will stand up to rain or humidity.” So once you’re ready to go, wait it out until it’s time to head down the aisle.

Rinse your face with cold water.

After washing your face with a cleanser, rinse with very cold water. “This will cause your pores to close up nice and tight, which will prevent them from releasing as much oil throughout the day,” says Jennifer. “Then add a light moisturizer – if you don’t moisturize at all, your face will over-produce oil!” Wait 10 minutes for the moisturizer to sink in, apply your primer, and then apply makeup on top.

Additional Refreshments: Typically refreshments aren’t served until after the ceremony, at the cocktail hour, or even reception, but if you plan to have an outdoor ceremony in the heart of the Texas summer, consider offering water bottles or other refreshments during the ceremony.

“A water station positioned near the entrance of your ceremony is a great way to welcome guests and keep them cool and comfortable. Regardless, it’s a great idea, in general, to hydrate your loved ones before the long night ahead and the cocktails to come.” – Mindy Weiss

Accessorize Your Wedding Day Look: “Parasols are picture-perfect. Capes, boleros, and wraps make great accessories for colder nights so you can dress for the heat by day. And royal wedding-style hats can keep you cool in an outdoor ceremony while looking more fashionable than functional.” – Mindy Weiss

Create Shade with Décor: Tenting and other canopy decorations can contribute to your beautiful design ambiance while also creating functionally appropriate shade for your guests for all instances that may be outside during your event.

Here are a few ideas from the team at Martha Stewart about creating additional shade at your outdoor summer wedding:

Umbrellas

Umbrellas are an affordable way to provide cover for guests who need it-plus, they can double as favors. Dark colors will always attract the sun and make it even hotter, so choose a brightly-colored umbrellas if your goal is to help guests cool down. Clear umbrellas should also be avoided, as these create a greenhouse effect. Pick one style and stick to it: You don’t want to see a bunch of random colored umbrellas in the background of your photos! Paper parasols are pretty, popular options, too. You could also set up patio umbrellas instead of individual ones that move with guests.

Tented Lounge

If you’re hoping to avoid tenting your entire wedding, consider renting a tent for just one section of the celebration, like cocktail hour or your lounge. This will ensure that there’s a spot for guests who are too warm to escape to during the party.

Leafy Greens

If you can, choose to have your ceremony and reception in spaces with a lot of greenery or trees that can offer natural shade. You’ll love how it looks in your photos, and your guests will appreciate the break from the sun if it’s unbearably hot outside.

Make the Menu Summer Fun: Get creative with your refreshments and focus on the heat instead of trying to hide it. Think about incorporating popsicles, ice cream, snow cones, or other cool treats to embrace the summer season while keeping everyone cool at the same time.

According to Food and Wine – here are a few recommended cool food items:

Wine-Chilling Cheat Sheet

Beat-the-Heat Wines

Delicious Raw-Food Recipes

Frozen Drink Basics

Ice Cream Dessert Shortcuts

The Best Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

How to Make Ice Cream

Lessons from Ice Cream Maven Jeni Britton Bauer

The Best Pasta Salad Recipes

Tips on Making Perfect, Cool Gazpacho

 

Ceremony Programs with Dual Purpose:

You can never go wrong with a fan to cool down with. Give your guests gifts for the outdoors in the form of programs shaped like fans, parasols, or even favors designed to keep them cool throughout the day and night.

No matter what time of year you decide to get married, there are considerations to take into account. From the potential of unpredictable ice in the winter to unimaginable heat – Texas has it all. At The Cinnamon Barn, our experienced team will help provide guidance throughout the planning process. In addition, our outdoor and indoor spaces provide versatility for your wedding day. To schedule a tour while our new venue is in the construction process, or to secure your wedding date, contact us today.

Top Wedding Trends for 2022

 

Every year brings new and exciting wedding trends to life. 2022 is no exception. After nearly 2 years of canceled, postponed, and redesigned events to accommodate the new lifestyles during and post-pandemic, there are some surprising and down-right wild trends on the rise.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Bridgerton-Inspired Weddings.

Bridgerton is all the rage and is not only impacting design trends in the wedding world but is even being taken a step further for some, impacting interiors and more. Ever since the wildly popular series hit TV screens, people have been obsessed with the sets, drama, and costumes that make the show what it is. The vintage-style color palettes, romantic exaggerated floral, ruffles, lace, and wax seals make this trend feel like unmatched romance. Whether you’re planning an afternoon tea wedding shower, or evening ceremony and reception, a Bridgerton-inspired wedding is a gorgeous choice.

2022 wedding trends

Bridal Subscription Boxes. 

2022 wedding trends

Bridal boxes are a fun new way to celebrate your engagement throughout the whole planning process. With their increasing popularity, there are a number of really great options that range from two boxes to ongoing monthly boxes throughout the average one-year engagement. One of the most popular that we saw on the market was called the Miss to Mrs. Bridal Subscription Box. This subscription service offers optional monthly or every 2 or 3-month delivery options, all based on your personal wedding date. In addition to the goodies that you find in the mail with each box, you also receive free access to their Planning Bundle, to help you along the way. Each box is packed with full-size products (not just samples). This concept is a great idea for yourself (you can also cancel anytime) or as a gift to your newly engaged friend or family member.

Take a look here to learn more.

“Couples are leaving behind super formal, black-tie celebrations and exploring cocktail style parties, food truck parties, dance parties, everything outside of the typical wedding box,” says Jove Meyer (Jove Meyer Events).

Unusual Wedding Attire. 

When we said there were some wild trends on the horizon, we weren’t kidding. Corset bodices, voluminous skirts, and bridal hoods are all expected to be big in 2022. Many brides will be mixing old and new with accessories like birdcage veils and elbow-length gloves. According to trend experts at Insider.com

We stopped by Shutterstock.com and reviewed their most frequently clicked on photos to get some to what the trending wedding stock/photography was focused on. In short, here’s what we found:

  1. Silver was trending up and gold was trending down. Silver was clicked on 140% more than gold.
  2. Pearls over diamonds! This is a new one, but pearls were clicked on 41% more than diamonds.
  3. It’s not just about the wedding dress anymore. Non-gender specific, wedding suits were trending up while gowns were trending down.
  4. Veils, veils and more veils! The veils are back and with a big punch. They were clicked on 150% more than in 2020/2021!

Rust Wedding Color Palette.

For the last couple of years, we’ve seen rust, neutral and nude color palettes making their appearance, but we’re seeing it more than ever in 2022 and we couldn’t love it more. Wondering what to pair with the rust tones to create the perfect wedding day color palette? Deer Pearl Flowers says, “A rust-hued palette adds natural richness to a wedding with shades of copper, terra cotta and orange.”

2022 wedding trends

We love the contrast with the cool sage green, fern green and cream!

2022 wedding trends

The pop of yellow and warmth creates a beautiful Sedona-like palette.

 

Weekday Weddings.

All rules changed after the pandemic. More people currently work from home than ever before. During 2020 and 2021 a lot of couples turned to smaller backyard ceremonies for safety purposes, which seemed to open the door to weddings any day of the week, of any shape, theme or size. Luckily, The Cinnamon Barn does offer venue booking 7 days a week, along with discounted rates for weeknight events. Learn more about our pricing options here.

 

Non-Traditional Floral.

From flower walls to flower arches, the unique floral trends are making a comeback in 2022. Expect to see reception areas full of gorgeous florals, from floral walls as photo backdrops to floral arches in doorways. They are a great way to sprinkle in your wedding flowers as well as a touch of color throughout your wedding reception area.

In addition to the new large floral pieces, expect to see more dried flowers incorporated into the mix. Mixing dried flowers into bouquets can create a decorative bouquet that is earthy, unique, and of course, beautiful. Adding in greenery with the dried flowers allows the florals in the arrangements to become more visible. It creates lovely contrast as centerpiece arrangements, on walls around the reception space, or even attached to outdoor gazebos.

 

Specialty Vendors.

Your wedding should be all about you and your soon-to-be-spouse, so go nuts! Whether you are looking for a live painter to capture your special day as it’s happening, a unique mobile bartending service, an interactive photo booth station, a coffee cart, balloon arches, or even live animals for hire (think donkey drink delivery service), the options are truly endless.

 

Intimate Weddings.

While the wedding boom is certainly here, and some have been waiting patiently and now ready to throw blowout events, others have opted for the intimacy that a micro-wedding creates. In most cases, an intimate wedding goes hand-in-hand with a small, private, guestlist consistency of mostly family and a few key friends, but that’s not always the case. Creating an intimate wedding isn’t always about the guestlist. The intimate feeling can also come from creating and designing key cozy spaces throughout the event that encourage connection and a feeling of closeness. Whether your guest list is 50 or 150, think about the environment and experience you’d like your guests to have. If you want to create these special moments, consider working with a rental company to create small furniture “vignettes” that guests can gather around. Think about the small details, beyond the large furniture pieces, consider adding layers of texture with rugs, additional lighting, and textiles.

Now that you know what to expect in 2022, there are also a few trends that seem to be taking a backseat from years past:

  • The bouquet and garter toss
  • Traditional wedding favors
  • Typical wedding registries filled with tangible items

Are you interested in touring The Cinnamon Barn property and bringing your dream wedding plans to life? Take a look at our latest renderings to see the beauty that is in the works during the construction phase, and contact us today to start planning!

 

Dallas Wedding Venue, The Cinnamon Barn Featured On Voyage Dallas

 

Prianna, the co-founder of The Cinnamon Barn, was honored to be featured with Voyage Dallas. During the interview, she was able to provide readers with a bit of background about the decision to open a wedding venue and the inspiration behind the name. Take a look at the preview below and click on the link at the bottom of this post to read the full article on Voyage!

We’ve been in the hospitality business for 17 years, actually. When my husband and I got married, we were looking for a place to have friends and family gather around for a few days and enjoy that time without being rushed.

That’s where this dream started. I thought-  why don’t we start a wedding venue in a serene setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still be close to home, right here in North Texas?

And so, we searched and searched. Then, in 2019, on a much-anticipated family vacation with our parents to Jamaica, we were golfing at the Cinnamon Hill (home of Johnny Cash-hey!), and fell in love with the lush greenery, surrounded by water. We took that as a sign, and around the same time, we found this beautiful 9-acre property with 2 natural ponds minutes away from Lake Lavon, and like they say…. the rest is history.

The Cinnamon Barn was born, and we will be officially opening our doors in January 2023 for weddings, corporate events, and family events!

Dallas Wedding Venue

Read the full story here!

How to Pick DFW a Wedding Venue

So, you’re engaged! Congratulations, now it’s time to pick your DFW Wedding Venue!

Now, are you wondering where to start? How to start planning and what to look for? We can help. For most couples, picking a DFW wedding venue is the first place to start. It will likely set the tone (or fit what you’ve been dreaming about) for the style of your big day, and allow you to start to research additional vendors based on what you’ll need in the space.

Searching for a DFW Wedding Venue can be challenging! There are so many wonderful locations to select from within the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, all created with different styles and budgets in mind. When narrowing down your list, here are a few things you should look for.

  1. Start by selecting a date (or a couple of dates that you’d be happy with). If this is a deal-breaker – this is definitely an important place to start qualifying venues and selecting them as options. To check available dates at The Cinnamon Barn, simply fill out our contact form and let us know what you’re looking for. We will be in touch in no time to tell you if the space is available.
  2. Decide whether you’ll need more than one venue. Are you looking for a venue that has designated separate spaces for the ceremony and reception? A venue only for the reception? A venue with overnight accommodations? What will accommodate all of your needs, your future spouse’s needs, and the needs of your guests? Luckily, at The Cinnamon Barn we have a number of options available to you. From an indoor-only ceremony and reception to an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, we have it all.
  3. Determine the estimated number of guests. This too can simply rule out a number of options and save you from falling in love with a venue that doesn’t meet your needs. At The Cinnamon Barn, our maximum occupancy is 300 guests. Depending on your wants and needs, we’ll advise you to suggest the ideal guest count within these parameters.
  4. Determine your overall budget and your venue budget. Wedding budgets are all over the map, and largely determined by the venue and the number of guests you’d like to include. On average the venue typically ranges between 30-40% of the total wedding budget. To figure out what your wedding venue budget is, take your total wedding budget and multiply it by .35 – once complete, you’ll have a benchmark to know what to start looking for. The Cinnamon Barn ranges from $6000-$8500 on the weekends and varies largely depending on the month of the year. We do also offer weekday/night availability.
  5. Think about your location. Where are the majority of your guests coming from? Do you need lodging accommodations nearby?  If you are planning specific lodging, consider shuttle service to and from to truly offer your guests a stress-free experience.
  6. Determine your theme/style. For most couples, one or both of you have been dreaming about your wedding day, and what it looks like and feels like. Choosing a venue can largely determine the style of your event. When your venue search begins, decide if you’re looking for a blank slate for you to fully customize, something that already reflects your style, or somewhere in between. In most cases, couples are looking for a beautiful space that has some personality but will still allow for customizations that reflect your style and can make your dream event come to life. At The Cinnamon Barn, there is a level of elegant, approachable, sophistication that is versatile with many different color palettes and styles.
  7. Estimate the extras. As you can probably already imagine, the extras can add up quickly. It’s important when you start looking at your venue options, to look at what is included in your rental and what you’ll need to rent and hire for. Some venues include or offer an option for table rentals, partnerships with select vendors, chairs, and more. On your venue tour, be sure to ask about what is included in your rental and about our preferred vendor list. We would be happy to recommend trusted vendors who can help you bring your vision to life.
  8. Ask about the timeline. Most venues have similar rental time periods and offer additional hours upon request. Asking about this upfront will prevent you from running into delivery and clean-up time restrictions leading up to your event. At The Cinnamon Barn, we include 12 hours in your standard rental rate, but offer extended hours upon request.
  9. Look around for the perfect photo opps. No shame, go ahead look around and visualize where you’ll have your first dance photo, the cake-cutting photo, what you’ll see when you’re walking down the aisle, and where your large group shots will take place. Do you have options for indoor and outdoor photos? Keep in mind, that as weather can be unpredictable in Texas, you’ll want to make sure you’re happy with the backup option, just in case.
  10. Ask about the nitty-gritty details. Although not as fun as simply taking in the beautiful space, you’ll need to make a list of the nitty-gritty details that are important to you. Here are a few of the most common to consider:
  • What decor options are there. Are you able to bring in your own?
  • How many tables and chairs are included, if any?
  • What other rental items are recommended or allowed?
  • Is there space for small vignettes of furniture?
  • Are animals allowed on site?
  • What rules are in place concerning music (DJ’s and bands)
  • Are there additional charges for cleanup or is it included in the rental cost?
  • Is there a preferred shuttle or valet service that can be recommended?
  • Is there an option to take bridal portraits at the venue at a different time?
  • Is there a preferred (or required) vendor list for all of the other necessary vendors?
  • What is required of the additional vendors who are brought in (ie. additional insurance requirements, etc.)?
  • Is a planner recommended?
  • What is the inclement weather option if an outdoor ceremony is planned?
  • What are the alcohol and security options and/or requirements?
  • What is the rehearsal schedule/option?

DFW Wedding Venue

In regards to The Cinnamon Barn, you can stop by our Frequently Asked Questions page to find out the answers to the above questions. Of course, we will also be able to answer any additional questions or concerns on your venue tour. To visit the frequently asked questions page, click here. To schedule your Cinnamon Barn tour, click here.

In general, finding your DFW Wedding Venue after your engagement can feel like an overwhelming task, but you should keep in mind that this should be a fun activity with your soon-to-be spouse! Make the most of it, search together and narrow down a list of prospective options that fit your needs. Tour your favorites and have fun doing it. Enjoy the planning process for your big day!