Southern Chic Weddings North Texas

HAWTHORN HILLS NAMED TO THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME 2021

1/31/2021

9th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Honor the Top Wedding Vendors Across America

Denton Texas, 2021—Hawthorn Hills is pleased to announce that they have been inducted into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame from The Knot, a leading wedding planning and registry brand and app. Exceptional wedding professionals who have earned four or more of The Knot Best of Weddings awards are inducted into the prestigious The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame.

Despite COVID-19 interrupting many 2020 weddings and social events, wedding professionals around the nation continued to support to-be-weds throughout their wedding planning journeys. From adjusting future schedules to make way for postponed weddings, to helping couples host socially distanced weddings following state and local guidelines and restrictions with an increased focus on health and safety, wedding pros—and the industry as a whole—rallied together in 2020, ultimately helping couples continue to celebrate life and love. The Knot 2021 Best of Weddings recognition honors the vendors who went above and beyond to help to-be-weds navigate the global pandemic.

In its fifteenth annual year, The Knot continues its long-standing tradition of supporting local wedding vendors with The Knot Best of Weddings 2021, an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed its millions of user reviews across various vendor categories—including venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more—to find the highest rated vendors of the year. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that engaged couples should consider booking for their own unique weddings.

This year, The Knot Best of Weddings winners represent the top five percent of local wedding vendors listed on The Knot. There were 1,422 new inductees into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame for 2021, out of hundreds of thousands of local vendors featured on The Knot.

The Knot has inspired 25 million couples (and counting!) to plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs. With a rich history of providing high-quality content and inspiration, The Knot makes it easy for couples to connect with and book just the right wedding professionals to create their perfect wedding day. On The Knot Marketplace, couples can connect with any of the hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals across the country. The Knot Best of Weddings gives couples the confidence to find and book the best local vendors to bring their wedding visions to life. In combination with years of trusted content, The Knot’s innovative technology simplifies wedding planning, inspiring couples to plan a wedding unique to their love story and personalities.

Wedding professionals who win The Knot Best of Weddings are members of WeddingPro, the leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.

For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, please visit https://www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings.

About The Knot
The Knot is one of the nation’s leading multiplatform wedding resources offering a seamless, all-in-one planning experience—from finding inspiration and local vendors to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries and more. The trusted brand reaches a majority of engaged couples in the US through the #1 iOS and Android mobile app The Knot Wedding Planner, the #1 wedding planning website TheKnot.com, The Knot national and local wedding magazines, and The Knot book series. Since its inception, The Knot has inspired approximately 25 million couples to plan a wedding that’s uniquely them. Visit The Knot online at Facebook.com/TheKnot and @TheKnot on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

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2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

1/13/2021

Hawthorn Hills Ranch Named Winner in 2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

Krum, January 13, 2021. -- Hawthorn Hills Ranch was announced as a winner of the 2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®, an accolade representing the top wedding professionals across the board in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism reviewed by couples on WeddingWire, a leader in the $200 billion global wedding planning industry.

In 2020, the rise and spread of COVID-19 unfortunately impacted the wedding industry and the hundreds of thousands of small businesses who bring weddings to life every day. However, wedding vendors worldwide continued to guide their couples through wedding planning and the challenges of the global pandemic. In celebration of local wedding vendors nationwide and overseas, the 2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® recognizes the wedding professionals who excelled in supporting to-be-weds despite unprecedented challenges resulting from COVID-19.

To determine these distinguished wedding professionals, WeddingWire analyzed reviews across more than 20 service categories—from venues and caterers to florists and photographers—to find the most- and highest-rated vendors of the year. The winners exhibit superior professionalism, responsiveness, service and quality when interacting with the millions of couples who turn to WeddingWire to help with their wedding planning process each month.

Wedding professionals who win WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Awards® are members of WeddingPro, the leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on WeddingWire and The Knot, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.

Hawthorn Hills Ranch is honored to be one of the top Venue in Krum on WeddingWire.

For more information about Hawthorn Hills Ranch, please visit us on WeddingWire. To learn more about the Couples' Choice Awards®, visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.

About WeddingWire
WeddingWire is a trusted online marketplace, connecting couples with local wedding professionals and a suite of comprehensive tools that make wedding planning easier. Operating within a $250 billion global industry, WeddingWire helps millions of couples every month find the right team of wedding professionals to personalize PRESS RELEASE and pull off their special day. Couples around the world can read millions of vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a directory of hundreds of thousands of vendors local to them. Visit WeddingWire online at WeddingWire.com and follow on social media: Facebook.com/WeddingWire and @WeddingWire on Instagram,

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4 Most Common Questions About Rehearsals

10/6/2020

It’s getting close to your day and now you’ve got all the decorations and fun stuff set it’s time to focus on rehearsing your ceremony. By now you should have the ceremony specifics set with your officiant to know the ins and outs of what will happen so that you can do a run-through and share that with your wedding party and immediate family members. If you haven’t figured out all those details yet you will want to so that your rehearsal runs smoothly and is effective.

Here are 4 of the big questions when it comes to rehearsals and the answers/tips our team has for you when planning for your rehearsal.

Groom's suit modern and stylish by April Sapp Photography

Oh man, if only we could express the importance of rehearsing enough. Your ceremony is the why to the who day - all the planning you’ve put in, the goal and focus of your day. It’s the moment and memory that you will carry with you for the rest of your lives as you start your journey together. Your ceremony comes with a lot of heartfelt emotions, and rehearsing the steps will only allow you to live in the moment more while you worry about what’s next less.
The rehearsal also ensures that your family and wedding party are prepared, comfortable, and ready for the day. Your wedding party wants nothing more than to do their part and fulfill their role - giving them a rehearsal will give them the tools and knowledge to do just that. Don’t skip your rehearsal - not matter when/where you do it or with whom, it will keep everyone on the same page and make for a smooth ceremony.

rehearsal tips when and where to have it

April Sapp Photography Wedding Ceremony summer at hawthorn hills ranch dfw texas

Can’t really tell everyone to attend if you don’t have the when and where of your rehearsal worked out. Back in the day rehearsals were always held the evening before, but what we’ve come to learn over the past 10 year is that people work, travel for weddings, couples don’t always want to spend a big amount on a rehearsal dinner and accommodations and that even our couples don’t necessarily have the time. In addition to that weddings are no longer primarily held on Saturdays alone which means that your venue may not have availability the evening before for you to rehearse.

All this to say that morning rehearsals have become the most popular answer for couples - it allows everyone to attend without extending your schedule too much. It also opens your evening before to do whichever activities you want - dinner with the wedding party, your family or a private date night running final errands. Morning rehearsals can also mean celebrating with a brunch for fun saving money compared to a rehearsal dinner, and also typically means that everyone can make the rehearsal.
What if you don’t want to see each other that day? No problem! Run through the ceremony 2 - 3 times with one of you (whoever needs more time to get ready) and then another 2 times with the other partner (typically the groom).
Some couples prefer to rehearse in advance - sometimes a week before, other times mid week just days before, and some the old school night before. It’s really a personal choice outlined and crafted based on you and your wedding party’s schedules.
If your venue is one of the few that includes a rehearsal time onsite you will want to coordinate with them based on their availability as well. Otherwise, your next detail is determining where.

Here are some popular ideas for locations that couples like to do their rehearsals:

Air BnB
Hotel Lobby (both for convenience)
Restaurant (the same location where you’re planning a meal makes things easy)
Local park or open space (for example the courthouse lawn in downtown Denton is a great spot - beautiful for photos and surrounded by places to eat, celebrate and unwind before the wedding day)

April Sapp Photography bride and mother of the bride wedding ceremony texas

Knowing who to have at rehearsal will help you know what parts/things to think through and have ready for that day and also help answer any questions your family and friends may through your way. The big ones obvious - “Do I need to be there?”
So, who does need to be there? Well here’s a quick run down…

multicultural wedding ceremony with April Sapp Photography

Officiant: this usually surprises most couples, but the officiant is typically not at the rehearsal. If you’re working with an experienced professional this is okay and not something to stress about. What you want to make sure is that the two of you feel comfortable with your ceremony script and that you go over it with your officiant well in advance and touch base 2 weeks prior. Ask them for a copy, and when you are going over it with them take notes. When do they need the rings handed to them? When will they have you join hands? The more details the better you will feel and you can paint the picture for your wedding party at rehearsal. If you are having an inexperienced officiant - say you’ve asked a friend or family member to become ordained for your day. We highly suggest that they do not miss the rehearsal as they will feel much more comfortable with a few dry runs out of the way as well! You still want to make sure you go over everything in depth - the rehearsal is not the time to pick and choose specifics and would only delay the practice, cause confusion and give you both more stress than you need. Skip that stress and go over everything in advance, bonus is that you don’t have to worry about everyone else chiming in on your decisions either.

Wedding party: that’s an obvious one we know. Here’s the thing, today rehearsals are usually held during the week so some of your wedding party members may be flying in, getting off work late, or just plain hit traffic and miss it unexpectedly. That’s okay! You can ask someone to be a stand-in - like one of your ushers, and make sure that the rest of the party feel confident to fill them in on everything they missed. You can even do a mock line up at dinner if they’re able to join then, and of course, have the wedding party members go through things with those members the morning of so they know where to stand, what to do, and feel ready.
Parents: especially if they will be walking into music. If they will be seated prior to the ceremony beginning they do not need to attend the rehearsal and you can just let them know where their seat is (if they have a reserved seat). If they have the rehearsal dinner to prep and can’t make it just make sure that their escort down the aisle is present so they know where to line up, when to walk and where to escort the parent.
Grandparents: typically grandparents aren’t able to attend and that is okay! Just make sure if they are walking into the ceremony with music (aka part of the ceremony and not seated prior) that whoever is escorting them down the aisle knows when, where and what to do.
Flower Girl(s) / Ring Bearer(s): Definitely need to attend! They get more out of the rehearsal than most - a sense of understanding and chance to work out a bunch of nerves. We cannot express enough how helpful it is to have any kiddos attend the rehearsal.
Greeters and Ushers: Typically they do not attend the rehearsal, but as mentioned above if they will be escorting a grandparent we recommend they do attend so the grandparent does not have to. We do also recommend that if they are escorting a parent that cannot attend that the usher does attend.
YOUR escort - whoever is walking with you (or your partner) down the aisle absolutely should be at the rehearsal!

Covid wedding mrs mask military couple April Sapp Photography

So you’ve told the key players they need to come to the rehearsal… now what do you need to do at rehearsal? If you have the rehearsal workbook and guide follow the checklist and worksheets you completed to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. For those of you doing this thing solo and without a professional or the help of a workbook here’s a quick list we recommend on what to cover during rehearsal:

Order of the ceremony and wedding party line up
Quick ceremony run through including which songs will be playing
Ceremony details (rings, vows, unity ceremony, lines to say, etc)
- That includes petals and ring boxes for the kids!
Where to go after the ceremony
Timing of the day (when to be and where, as well as what they need to have)

Love these photos? Us too! Check out more of April Sapp's Photography Work
https://aprilsappphotography.com/

Ceremony 101: Getting Started

10/2/2020

Planning for your ceremony is a big deal - it is after all the whole reason for planning a wedding right? Most couples tell us that like most of the planning, they aren’t even sure where to even get started and just sort of “end up” planning the ceremony. So we decided to pull together 4 tips to get started on planning what is sure to be the BEST thing about your day - your ceremony!

One thing we cannot stress enough when it comes to your ceremony is to choose your officiant wisely. We dive into this a little more in our blog that talks about whether or not to have a family or friend officiate but at the end of the day you want to make sure you talk through your ceremony in-depth with your officiant. It will get you all on the same page, make sure you are both prepared and ready for a smooth ceremony. Okay so on to the tips!

ceremony planning for wedding who is in your wedding

1 - Know your peeps!

You need to decide who will be a part of your ceremony. This can range a bit but in general, you will want to think about the following key players:

blackall photography wedding at hawthorn hills denton texas

Officiant (of course) - make sure they are legally ordained in your area so that it counts!
Wedding Party - who will be standing by you? Whether it’s just 1 person for each of you or 8 on each side choose wisely. Those photos are going to be hanging on the living room wall for the rest of your lives! All kidding aside, your wedding parties do not have to be even in number so don’t stress that too much. Of course, you’ll also want to know who your maid of honor / best man is as well [or man of honor / best maid].
Family - parents, grandparents, siblings, and aunts/uncles. They will all want to know if they have a role, what it will be, what to wear, and where to be. Traditionally parents are a part of the procession. Grandparents really depend on how comfortable they are walking, and your overall vision. Commonly we have siblings or an aunt or uncle that take the place in these roles as well - so if your family structure is unique let it shine! You should be surrounded by your family, no matter what their label is.
Flower girl and ring bearers - when choosing these roles most couples are still sticking to the traditional route and choosing young ones. You will want to think through their ages - under 3 will need to be accompanied down the aisle. If there are no children in your life then don’t sweat it! Half of our weddings do not have either of these and the others sometimes just have one or the other. Again - it is your day so do it your way!
A new trend we’re seeing includes adults in these roles and simply giving their title a small change. Put your brother on petal patrol complete with a server's half apron that has pockets full of petals - or ask your grandparents to carry a single stem flower and your rings down the aisle instead.

Ushers and greeters - this is an area we’ve seen change over the past couple of years as well. Ushers are not a typical role now that “choose a seat not a side” has become so popular. However, you should think back to those grandparents and parents you decided to include in your ceremony. Traditionally, the women will need an escort down the aisle and their significant other will follow behind. Especially if their significant other is walking, say, the bride down the aisle.
Greeters, or the welcome party as we call them are a great way to welcome your guests. Have them staged at the entrance to your ceremony area, perhaps by your guest book handing out programs or waters to your guests as they arrive.

2. Add your own touch!

So what exactly goes into a ceremony? Well, so glad you asked. A ceremony [legally] is made up of very specific sections. Your officiant will know all the details but what you will need to focus on is adding your own spin on things to make it mirror your personality as a couple. That includes:

Choosing your script [for the officiant]: some like a little back story, or jokes given while others prefer very professional. Make sure you discuss this with your officiant!
Unity ceremony: do you two want to include a sand or candle ceremony? What about the rope braiding or wine bottle? So many more options to choose from if you’re leaning that way. Keep in mind your venue’s policies and also where your ceremony is. Outdoors can be tricky for candles so we don’t suggest them for our couples.
Songs and readings: will you have someone sing or play a song during your ceremony? What about a reading or scripture to read?
Traditions: easily our favorite! Your family may have traditions based on your culture, heritage or religion that you want to incorporate. These are things you want to keep in mind when choosing an officiant and while planning. Be sure to fill your wedding party in on the specifics as well - not everyone knows what jumping the broom is!

Blackall photography at hawthorn hills krum wedding ceremony

elopement ceremony hhr north texas blackall photography

3. Nail down the when

If you haven’t already, you really should think through when you want to have your ceremony. In the US most couples have the ceremony the same day as their reception and immediately go from saying I Do to the celebration.

Some cultures extend this by having the ceremony (or one of them) on a separate day. You also want to decide what time of day fits your vision the best.

Morning: This makes a perfect brunch style reception! We love seeing the mimosa bars, and guests almost always stay until the grand exit since they aren’t worried about getting home late or the next morning.
Midday: These are very popular on Sundays and for cocktail style receptions. A great way if you’re trying to celebrate and save money as guests do not expect to be fed a full meal.
Evening: The most traditional time, the ceremony is typically followed by a full dinner and dessert as well as an evening filled with dancing! Be careful to check the sunset time and daylight savings before setting your time.

4. Figure out placement

So you figured out the who, now it’s time to decide where. Typically the couple is front and center (of course) so all your guests can see you. The officiant will stand behind you so they won’t be blocking anyone’s view, and your wedding parties streaming off to the sides.

Maid of Honor / Best Man will be the closest to you with the rest of the wedding party lined up past them.
The flower girl/ring bearer really depends on their ages. If they are older they can stand with the wedding party - usually between the maid of honor / best man and the next member of the party but slightly closer to the guests (not in line with the wedding party). If they are younger it is definitely a safer route to have them sit with their parents after making it down the aisle.
Parents and grandparents are typically in the first rows.
DJ - don’t forget the pro that will be taking care of your sound! They are typically found (only if you look hard for them) in the back corner of the ceremony area behind the seated guests. This allows them to play the music that you can hear before walking down the aisle as well as run any microphones you may be utilizing before sneaking off to the reception area after your ceremony ends.

This is just the beginning of planning your ceremony but remember - it may not take up much time the day of (at least compared to your reception) but it is the most important part of your day and deserves all the attention it demands during planning! A few other things to think about include:

Songs: how many will you use and who will walk in to which one

Programs and stationery for your guests
Videography - will you hire someone? Will they need to mic the officiant too?
Decor… oh that’s a big one! Check out our “part 2” for ceremony tips where we focus on decor specifically!

See a photo you love? All photos in this post are by Blackall Photography - go see her work!
www.blackallphotography.com

Ready for more ceremony detail fun? Check out this post about Ceremony Decor!

Need to talk to a member of our team? Our venue team is here to help - CONTACT US

Timeline 101: What to Include

10/1/2020

If you've read our Part 1 to starting your timeline then you already have your outline - the big moving pieces listed out and ready to rock. Now it's time to plug in all your specifics and make it your own and make it fit your day. Everyone has a different list, recently we are seeing less and less of some traditions such as the garter toss. So if there is anything you do or don't want to include in your wedding ceremony or reception timeline feel free to make it all you own!
Let's do a quick run down of some of the most common / main items.

- Cake isn't the only dessert being served anymore and it's delicious! Either way, if cake is not your main sweet but you're having a small cake to cut don't forget to make time for it.

- Your entrance and your toasts you will need to decide who you want to be a part of it so that you can make sure both they and your vendor team are prepared. Is the DJ announcing the wedding party? Or are they just announcing the two of you?

If there is an area you just have no clue about - like photos for example, don't sweat it! Just ask your professionals. Odds are your photographer will LOVE you confirming how much time they need and will know exactly what to tell you.

- Bar hours has a few moving pieces you need to think through. The delivery of your drinks, the bartenders arrival, set up, service time (including specifics such as toasts and what drinks to prepare for those toasts), and of course the bar ending time followed up clean up. PHEW what a list!

- Behind the scenes: There are more pieces happening with your vendor teams than you probably realize. All the small details need done - from decor and inventory pick up to room set, candles being lit to even walking the restrooms and sanitizing.

It's pretty clear why so many couples stress over their timeline. With so much happening it isn't an area you want to breeze by and leave half done. Looking back on your day you want to think "Wow that was amazing!" not "I wish we hadn't forgot to....".

If you don't have a professional to work with in drafting your timeline - reach out to our team. We're happy to help and offer this service for couples across Texas and beyond.

Contact Us HERE

Did you miss the first part to our Timeline 101: Prep? Check it out HERE

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Your Day. Your Way.

Wedding & Event Blog

HAWTHORN HILLS NAMED TO THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME 2021

2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

Hawthorn Hills Ranch Named Winner in 2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

4 Most Common Questions About Rehearsals

Ceremony 101: Getting Started

1 - Know your peeps!

2. Add your own touch!

3. Nail down the when

4. Figure out placement

Timeline 101: What to Include

Hawthorn Hills

Archives

Hawthorn Hills

Location

Schedule a Tour

Follow Us

Your Day. Your Way.

Wedding & Event Blog

HAWTHORN HILLS NAMED TO THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME 2021

2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

Hawthorn Hills Ranch Named Winner in 2021 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®

4 Most Common Questions About Rehearsals

Ceremony 101: Getting Started

1 - Know your peeps! ​

2. Add your own touch!

3. Nail down the when

4. Figure out placement

Timeline 101: What to Include

Hawthorn Hills

Archives

Hawthorn Hills

Location

Schedule a Tour

Follow Us

1 - Know your peeps!