A coffee and hot chocolate bar is a warm and cozy addition to your winter wedding reception! Here is what you will need.. 

1. A coffee maker. One option is a brewer that makes a full pot of coffee or serving  regular coffee. You might need two if you want options of hot chocolate and hot tea so you can fill one with just water. This is probably the most inexpensive route to take. However, if you want more custom options, you can use a single serve brewer with a wide variety of  options including flavored and regular coffee, tea, and hot chocolate pods.
2.  Coffee. Purchase a coffee you love if you are using a single serve brewer, and consider purchasing flavored syrups to spice it up! You can also buy tea bags and hot chocolate packages as options. You can also consider using an insulated carafe to make more coffee ahead. If you are using a single serve brewer, select a variety of pods, from different types of regular coffee, decaf coffee, tea and hot chocolate.  Find a cute way to display your coffee in a basket or cute containers
3.  Creamer. You may choose to use half and half, milk, or single serve creamers.
4.  Sugar and no-calorie sweetener. 
5. Spoons or stir sticks. Have enough available for each guest to have their own.
6.  Mugs, coffee cups, paper cups with sleeve, or Styrofoam cups. Figure out what fits your style and budget.
7.  A coffee bar sign. Here are some cute wedding coffee bar and hot chocolate bar sign ideas…https://www.pinterest.com/pin/710794753671466703/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/105342078771671697/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/516225176017649865/
8.  A fun display. A coffee bar is wonderful, and a delightful display makes it so much more special. Your guests will love the hot drinks…so now make it festive! Here are some ideas to get you started customizing your coffee/hot chocolate bar. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/160300067972745062/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436427020139190768/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/316026098854883471/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/18155204734061566/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/431360470559261774/
9.  Extra custom options….if you want to add them! There are so many options to customize your reception coffee bar, including adding printed cups, mugs or stainless steel coffee cups (which double as wedding favors), bags of coffee beans for wedding favors, imprinted napkins, and more! None are necessary, but if you are looking for places to customize, your coffee bar is a perfect choice!

Have you ever been to Round Top, Texas, during Antiques Week? I don’t go every season to the Round Top Flea Market, but a few days ago my sweet hubby and I took a day to go check it out…right as it was starting. It was a beautiful day that day; as my daughter likes to say on beautiful mild Texas days, “Texas was showing off!” I have been to Round Top in September, and it was fun; but it was HOT! Not this time. April might just be the better time to go, because the  temperature this day started at 68 and ended at 74. It doesn’t get much better than that.  I didn’t have anything particular in mind, but with three vintage buildings as part of the venue, and brides who love to use our vintage furniture and décor, I always keep my eyes open for great vintage items. I started out by finding a field full of vendors. I first walked one way, up and down through each tent, looking for items I liked, then I walked back. I usually have to think before I buy!  It gives me a chance to consider if I will regret not buying an item if I don’t, or if I will not know what to do with an item if I do! Also, when you walk a different direction, you notice different things. At my last stop in this field, I found gorgeous turquoise china, 30 pieces, in a salad or large dessert plate size. Now, the last time I saw gorgeous rich colored dishes displayed, I made a promise to myself that I would BUY some if I ever FOUND some. So, these obviously jumped to the top of my list. I knew they would be perfect for my intimate wedding brides to use to serve cake at their reception! Since our intimate weddings have a maximum of 24 guests, 30 was a perfect amount. The only problem was, it was the FURTHEST booth from my car, and my husband might have slipped back to the car to (possibly) take a quick nap. Let’s just say I shop a little harder than he does. So, I made my way back to the car and brought him a snack to see if I could beg for some help with the dishes. Once I fed him, he was more than willing. As you can guess, I ended up with those dishes (photo to come in the future, because you HAVE to see them)! In this section I also found two gorgeous vintage books (very popular for wedding displays). I tried to get an amazing rolling cart, but it was about 3 inches too wide and wouldn’t fit in the back of our SUV. #next time bring the pickup! I got a couple of other small items, and I found a gorgeous handmade shabby chic ruffled bedspread I may get in the future. I took the vendor’s card and I love the idea that it is literally wash and put back on the bed! No ironing. Also, she makes it to fit your bed exactly, so that it hangs to the floor. We made our way to another area, and I immediately found a wonderful vintage side table (see photo)! The top is a simple flower shape, but the bottom is very elegant. My favorite thing about this item was when I got it set up back at the Bride’s House at Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel. My husband, who had helped me get it to and in the car and hadn’t really noticed it much, now LOVED it! He said it didn’t seem that elegant in the booth. 🙂 Cute tables like this make a great addition to wedding or reception décor!  In the same booth, I found a vintage quilt stand that I had to have. Not sure if I will use it for a quilt rack or exactly what…the possibilities are endless! The vendor said she is in the same spot each time and since we use a lot of vintage furniture at the venue, so I will definitely visit this booth again.Round Top has gotten a lot of permanent buildings in the last few years, and I visited one but didn’t find anything I couldn’t live without. We spent the whole day in Round Top and never made it to the other nearby towns, but maybe next time! Thanks for the memories and the cute stuff, Round Top! Did you go to Round Top Antiques Week this year?

#RoundTopTexas, #HeartofTexasWeddingChapel, #LittleWhite Church, #fleamarketfun, #vintagefurniture, #vintagewedding,#Vintage, RoundTopAntiquesWeek, #RoundTopTexas2019, #RoundTopTexasFleaMarket, #Vintagebooks, #Vintagetable

 

 

 

Congratulations, you’re engaged! What next?

Here are 7 things you should do first to make sure your wedding planning gets a successful start.

1) If you have thought about your wedding a lot, you may already have a vision. If not, take a few hours or days and just think about the things that are important to you, and the things that differentiate you and your fiancé from other couples. You may want to highlight these things in your planning to personalize your wedding. www.Pinterest.com , Bridal Magazines, and wedding blogs are a great place to start if you know what you like but need inspiration, or even if you are not yet sure yet what you like! Brides, be sure to consult the groom about his wishes. Some grooms want to be really involved with planning; others don’t; but almost every groom has at least one thing that is important to him. Be sure to make that happen!

2) The period right after engagement is usually the busiest planning time for most couples because so many vendors must be scheduled and the sooner you do that the more likely you are to book with your vendors of choice. The first vendor you should book is your venue. Some couples have a set date that is sentimental and they want to get married only on that day. If that is you, then dashing to reserve a venue right away is the first order of business. With a set date in mind, you may get your first choice venue, or it may be booked. During peak times, a wedding venue may get multiple calls for the same date and the bride who puts down money first to hold the venue will be the lucky one to host her wedding there. If a specific date is not absolute for you, booking a venue may be a little easier, but is still one of the first things to do. Most venues require an appointment, so select the venues that interest you and schedule appointments by phone, or social media contact. In person visits often help make this important decision easier.

3) Once you have your venue and date, you can begin to schedule other vendors. Remember, all vendors have a limited amount of time and can usually only book one or two weddings per weekend so it is important to continue pressing forward. When booking vendors, you must get a contract and you need to make sure EVERYTHING is in writing. While most people today are still true to their spoken word, a contract ensures that there are no misunderstandings. If you have asked for something to be included that is not in the contract, have the vendor add it in BEFORE you sign. It is such a happy time that sometimes couples don’t want to destroy the moment with details, but details are so important! As you book your vendors, keep you overall vision in mind. Spend money on the things you have decided are most important to you, and save on things that are not as important to you. If you decide to hire a full service wedding planner, do that as early in the process as you can. Many planners will help and advise you as you create contracts with other vendors.

4) Sometime during all this early planning and scheduling, take time out find that perfect dress. If you want to have the most options, you will need at least 4-6 months because many dresses must be ordered in your size and that takes time. If you don’t have that much time, you will probably need to find a dress you love near your size and have it altered. Wedding dress alterations are expensive, so be sure to take that cost into account when purchasing.

5) Once you have secured all your venue, vendors, date, and dress, things will settle down a little but there is still more to do…one of the next things to do is registering at stores for wedding gifts will help ensure you get items you need to start out. Brides.com suggests these places as the best 27 stores to register for your wedding http://www.brides.com/home-wedding-registry/registry-ideas-answers/2011/02/wedding-gift-registries-the-best-places-to-register. If you are lucky enough to have a local store that has amazing things and takes bridal registry, be sure to consider that as well.

6) DIY strategically and early! Many brides plan to create their own décor, invitations, or even florals and cake. Consider this carefully. Be sure your cost savings justify the time you will be investing. If so, DIY EARLY. Anything that can be done months ahead, do it. You do not want to create more stress for yourself at the last minute. A couple of sites to help you find great items for your DIY wedding are www.saveoncrafts.com and www.amazon.com .

7) Weddings have many details that could get forgotten until the last minute, so don’t let that happen to you! Find a good wedding planning schedule, and follow it as it suits your needs. This Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist from RealSimple.com actually is pretty simple and helps make things manageable. http://www.realsimple.com/weddings/weddings-planning/wedding-planning-checklist As long as you stay on top of things gradually, instead of making yourself crazy at the end, your wedding day will likely be a smooth and happy event! Enjoy the process.

#wedding planning, #7 tips for wedding planning, #engaged, #wedding, #littlewhitechurch, #heartoftexasweddingchapel

Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel Reception House, May 7, 2016

Are you a fan of fixer upper, Joanna and Chip Gaines’ show on HGTV? We are too! We actually contacted the show after the first season to see if they would consider “fixing up” our Reception House. A nice note back from the producers let us know that their next season was already booked up! So we tackled the Reception House ourselves. It might have taken us a bit longer…but we were and are thrilled with the result! Call us to schedule an appointment to come see it…and the 1895 historic Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel. Thank you to Chip and JoAnna Gaines for inspiring us and lots of other people to save and preserve homes from the past!
#fixerupper, #WacoTexas, #historicpreservation, #heartoftexasweddingchapel, #littlewhitechurch

Are you a Pinterest fan? No matter your style, Pinterest has ideas for you and your wedding. Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel lends itself to so many types of weddings. Since it is a church, it certainly has the feeling of a traditional timeless wedding. Just add pearls, a bit of Hollywood glam, and find an early vintage car to sit in front, and you have an elegant Great Gatsby era vintage venue or add a bit of burlap and lace for the popular rustic décor. In a small town setting like we have, it would be easy to transform the Chapel and yard into a French Country feel. So many options! Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel has lots of items of décor –furniture, signs, and other vintage props–that brides can choose from when decorating their wedding. That helps you keep your costs down while still having some fun decorating options to choose from. For some fun rustic wedding ideas, check out our rustic pinterest board https://www.pinterest.com/texaschapel/fun-rustic-and-country-wedding-ideas/. Have fun planning your wedding decor!!#pinterestwedding#rusticwedding#heartoftexasweddingchapel#littlewhitechurch
April 29, 2016 …It has been an exciting year at Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel, as we have moved our bride’s house from a small bridal bungalow a block away to larger Queen Anne Victorian home right beside the Reception House. The new Bride and Groom house has space for the bride and her bridesmaids and the groom and his groomsmen. This beautiful home, built just a couple of years after the 1895 chapel, still has is original stained glass windows, tall ceilings, and beautiful front porch, all beautifully restored. We are so excited for you to see it in person!

Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel is perfect for your vintage elegance wedding, your traditional wedding, or your rustic wedding. It would also be a great location for an anniversary or other event. Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel is located about 20 minutes from Waco and 20 minutes from Temple in Lott, Texas. We would love to have the chance to show it to you!

At Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel, we know how important your wedding day is. It symbolizes the beginning of your new life together. We want to help make your wedding day a wonderful, memorable day.

Get married in our historic 1895 church, and ring the bell in the belltower to celebrate! Have your reception inside…or spill outside under the Pecan Trees and have an outdoor reception. Think traditional….or choose a vintage romance style or a country style wedding. The only limit is your imagination! We would love to be a part of your special day!

 

“Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.”

Here are  advantages to each tasty option.

Cupcakes are a popular option at weddings and can be a really cute option. Cake is a little more traditional option, but may cost a little more and requires that someone is available to cut and serve it. How do you decide what to serve? Here are some things to consider.

Advantages of wedding cakes:

1. Wedding cakes are a more traditional option. Many couples want the fun of actually cutting a cake and serving one another.
2. Wedding cakes are a beautiful addition to the décor. Even simple cakes can add an elegant demeanor to the reception, especially tiered cakes.
3. If you do a cake only, the cake will be larger and have more impact on your décor than a smaller cake with cupcakes.

Advantages of cupcakes:

1. Cupcakes are fun!  They are a little more relaxed and if you are having lots of children at your wedding, they are so easy to manage
2.  The best way to include multiple flavors is cupcakes! You can also stick with one traditional flavor as well, but cupcakes do give you options.
3. Cupcakes are easier to transport than a cake, especially a tiered cake. Sometimes bakers charge to deliver cakes, but you could pick up cupcakes yourself because they are usually boxed where they are safe to transport, with each cupcake next to each other to preventing sliding.
4. Cupcakes are individual servings already…so no cutting required! They can be self serve and no one has to cut the cake for serving, which can be a messy and sometimes difficult job to do well.  However, if you do serve cupcakes, you may want to still give guests a fork in case they don’t want to bite into the cupcake to eat it.

Many people are choosing to get a smaller tiered cake for the bride and groom to cut, and cupcakes for the guests. Here are the advantages of using both:

1. Your cost may be lower. By having a smaller tiered cake with cupcakes, your cost may be lower while still having the beautiful cake and and traditional feel of a wedding cake for the bride and groom.
2. The tiered bride and groom cake looks perfect from the front throughout the wedding. While the bride and groom will cut into the cake to serve each other, they usually cut into the back of the cake and the bottom tier. Since they only cut two slices from the back, you usually can’t even see the missing pieces from the front.
3. You get the advantages of both cakes and cupcakes.

Check out lots of photos on pinterest, talk to a baker and consider your budget, and have fun choosing your cake/cupcakes for your wedding! One final reminder…many bakeries allow you to come and taste test their flavors, so be sure to do this when you can. No matter whether you choose a cake or cupcakes, the thing people will probably remember the most is how delicious it was!

Questions to Ask your Officiant

One important question for every couple is “Who is going to perform our ceremony?”

Here are 6 things to ask your officiant before booking.

1) Are you licensed to perform weddings in our state? In Texas, marriage laws authorize leaders of organized religious groups, including rabbis, priests, ordained ministers and ministers holding a license, to officiate at weddings. The religious leaders must also have authorization from their organization to perform the weddings. Aside from religious leaders, judges are the only other people authorized to perform weddings in Texas.

2) Will you file the paperwork?  Wedding officiants in Texas must review the marriage license to ensure the couple can be wed, that the license is valid and not expired, and the document is correctly completed. The officiant must file the signed marriage license with the county where it was issued within 30 days of the wedding ceremony.

3) What is the expected fee, honorarium or donation, and when is this paid?

4) Are there any travel charges or other costs? Many couple marry at non-traditional venues. These couples need to check with their officiant to clarify these details if there is travel involved for the officiant.

Is any pre-wedding counseling required? Some churches require couples to attend pre-wedding counseling in hopes of helping prepare the couples for a successful marriage.

5) Do you provide the ceremony/vows, or can we write our own?

6) Will you attend the rehearsal? If so, is there an extra charge for this time?

#wedding #questions to ask officiant #Heart of Texas Wedding Chapel #wedding planning