Real Bride: Ashlyn Hanna
Your name: Ashlyn Hanna
Groom's name: Drew Hanna
Wedding date: July 1st 2017
City, State: Dallas, Texas
Tell us more about you!
How long have you been together?
We met in college about five years ago, and have been together for four years.
How did he propose? (Or how did you propose!)
His proposal was a huge surprise to me! I was leaving for a trip the next day, so he wanted to have a date at the Dallas Arboretum before I left. He suggested we go to a particular part of the gardens. Little did I know he had hired a photographer who was waiting for us there. Once we got there, he took me over to a gorgeous part overlooking the lake, he got down on one knee, and the rest is history! We ended up having our wedding in the exact same spot where we got engaged.
What was your favorite part of the wedding?
My favorite part, without a doubt, was seeing his face as I walked down the aisle. It’s such a cliché moment to pick, but that look is one I will always remember. It’s my favorite memory from the day, plus it made for some adorable pictures, too!
What went wrong with your wedding?
We almost ran out of time setting up for the wedding! We only had about an hour and a half to set up and decorate, which anyone who’s had a wedding knows that’s almost an impossible time frame to work with. We hired help, and everyone on my side of the family came early to help set up. It came down to the wire, but everything got done and it looked flawless!
Did you find any tricks to save you money?
I realized it would save us money to buy everything rather than doing any DIY. In the end I am so glad we bought everything because we ended up with so many special little things from the wedding to keep. Now our all our family has something as a keepsake!
If you could go back and redo it, would you change anything and what?
I honestly wouldn’t change a single thing from the wedding. I am so happy with everything, from the décor to the music to the menu. All our decisions came together perfectly, making it the best day ever. We wanted a very glamorous, yet relaxing day for us and our loved ones to enjoy, and I think we did just that!
Do you have any advice for new brides?
I would say that there is no such thing as being over-prepared. It’s never too early to start planning and booking your vendors. The more work you do now, the less you will have to do later. This will help you relax and enjoy everything!
Did you over-plan or under-plan or was it just right?
In some respects, I think I did both. This was my family’s first wedding in an extremely long time, so we didn’t really know what to expect. There were a few aspects where I should have put in a little more time, and some I probably didn’t need to plan as much. But it all came together great in the end!
Did any of your vendors knock your socks off?
Our wedding cake was amazing! It’s no secret that wedding cakes generally look better than they taste, but that wasn’t the case for us. We booked our cake vendor after sampling them at a bridal show, and their cake didn’t come close to any of the others we had tried. We chose a French vanilla cake with tiers of lemon and strawberry filling topped with a whipped buttercream frosting. Our guests couldn’t stop telling us how good it was!
Did any of your vendors disappoint?
We had a few challenges with some of our vendors at times, as most engaged couples do. However, they all did a great job on our big day.
What was one (or more!) special element in your wedding that isn’t in most?
Before the wedding, we did a gift exchange. We didn’t see each other, but stood on different sides of a door so we could still talk and hold hands while exchanging our gifts. It was just the two of us and our two photographers, which made for a really intimate and sweet moment. Neither of us wanted to see each other before the ceremony, so this was a nice alternative. It was great having a chance to connect with each other before the ceremony, even though we both got a bit emotional! Those pictures ended up as some of my favorites from the day.
What do you wish you’d spent more on (whether you were able to or not)?
Looking back, I probably would have hired more help for set up. While we did hire vendors to set up, and my side of the family was great with helping, we still could have used a few extra sets of hands. In the end it all turned out flawless, and I am so grateful to those who helped!
Where do you feel like you could have saved money or overspent?
We did overspend on flowers, but looking on it back now I’m glad that we did. We had over 20,000 rose petals at the wedding, which made for a beautiful ambiance and stunning photos. My bridal bouquet had over 6 dozen flowers in it, and our florist said it was the biggest bouquet she had ever made for a bride.
How many guests did you invite vs how many RSVP’d vs how many actually came?
From the very beginning we knew we wanted a very small, intimate wedding. Although that was hard to stick to at times, I am glad we did, as it made for such a more private and memorable experience. We invited 55 people, 51 RSVP’d, and 53 guests came.
Wedding venue: The Dallas Arboretum
Caterer: C&N Catering
Photographer: Tru Identity Photography and Designs
Planner: The Dallas Arboretum
DJ: Rue 3 Entertainment
Band: Serenata Strings
Lighting: Callisto Sound and Lighting
Dress Designer: Enzoani
Bridal Salon: Patricia South Bridal
Bridesmaids designer: Camille La Vie
Bridesmaids Salon: Camille La Vie
Menswear: Michael Kors
Officiant: Jim Mustain
Florist: Sylakeo
Jeweler: Zales
Hair stylist: Millionaire Brides Club
Makeup Artist: Millionaire Brides Club
Cake: Market Street
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Rentals: Dallas Party and Event Rentals
Bartender: C&N Catering
Transportation: Bryan Limousines of Dallas