Today more than ever a bridesmaid has a lot of responsibility to help make your big day perfect.

Embellished in themed hues, a bridesmaid is not only expected to hike down the altar in their heels and a bouquet, but also expected to acknowlede the stress on the bride’s shoulders before the wedding. Typically, bridesmaids are expected to help with various items throughout the planning process, ranging from vendor meetings and appointments to cake-tasting appointments, dance rehearsals and dress fittings.

In most cases, a bridesmaid is also expected to pay for her hotel stay, wedding ensemble, gift(s), and parties for the bridal shower and bachelorette. Whoa! While those numbers can add up quick, the bride (or couple) and their families will likely be covering a lot of costs for the wedding party as well. Here are a few items that aren’t typically on the bridemaid’s tab.

Flower Bouquets And Accessories

In most cases the couple will provide whatever they would like you to carry as you make your way down the aisle to stand beside them.

Transportation To The Wedding Venue

Whether it’s a fancy limo or a personality filled mode of transportation, it is expected of the bride and her family to coordinate with the wedding party and cover their transportation to the wedding venue on the big day.

Hair And Make-Up

Generally – if the bride has a preference on what the bridesmaid’s hair and/or make-up should look like on the big day, it should be something that is covered by the couple or their families.

As the year quickly comes to a close, we can’t wait to usher in an incredible 2017! But before we do, we’re looking back on the highlights of 2016. We hosted countless weddings and events, participated in bespoke styled shoots, connected with industry peers, and (most importantly!) witnessed the unique love stories of our special couples.

What a year! Looking back, a few press features stand out with particular significance:

• Hey Wedding Lady: our Luminous Illusion Styled Shoot was featured by one of our favorite wedding bloggers, Hey Wedding Lady. What an honor! But it gets even better…

• Aisle Society: Hey Wedding Lady’s post was then picked up by Aisle Society, a go-to vendor resource for engaged couples. We’re proud to see the Luminous Illusion Styled Shoot making waves!

• Brides of North Texas: in the meantime, our outstanding catering partner Gil’s Elegant Catering joined a Brides of North Texas editorial feature highlighting a bridesmaid brunch.

Thank you to all these publications for making us known as the best DFW venue for weddings and events. We are humbled and honored by your words of praise, and looking forward to making 2017 even better.

In the coming year, our goal is to surpass the high expectations of our couples and vendors. We hope to meet unique, distinctive modern couples with dreams of an unforgettable wedding celebration… and we’re committed to making those ideas a reality within our venue walls. Our 2017 calendar is going to be one for the books!

Happy New Year from all of us here at The Empire Room! Thank you for a fantastic year as the best DFW venue for weddings and events. We wish you a 2017 filled with joy and celebration. Enjoy a fun New Year’s Eve with friends and family… we’ll see you in 2017! Cheers!

It’s been awhile since we rounded up top Dallas attractions for our brides and grooms… but Dallas is always brimming with new restaurants to try, bars to check out, and interesting attractions that can’t be found anywhere else. There’s something for everyone around here! When you book a downtown Dallas wedding venue, be sure to fill your guests in on the city’s latest attractions. They’re guaranteed to have a phenomenal time—at your wedding, and all weekend long. Take a look at a few of our favorite spots.

Things to do near your downtown Dallas wedding:

• Trinity Groves: located in convenient proximity to our downtown Dallas wedding venue, Trinity Groves is packed with fun things to do. Drive across the river to check out Four Corners Brewing Co‘s local beers and Off-Site Kitchen‘s gourmet burgers. Or, pick up a sweet treat with Kate Weiser’s designer chocolate or Cake Bar’s delectable confections. You can’t go wrong exploring this trendy Dallas neighborhood.

• Perot Museum: also located near our downtown Dallas wedding venue, the world-famous Perot Museum of Nature and Science opens a world of adventure for kids and adults alike. Plus, it’s a fun way to keep cool during the hot summer months.

• DMA: while you’re near the Arts District, hop on over to the Dallas Museum of Art for a free (yep, totally free!) afternoon of art and culture. With an expansive permanent collection and stellar seasonal exhibits, the DMA is an excellent way to spend the day.

• Bowlounge: looking for something a little more interactive? Visit the nearby Design District to play a few lanes in a laid back bar atmosphere at Bowlounge. We’d have to recommend a classic White Russian in this Big Lebowski-inspired venue.

• Community Beer: just a few streets over from our downtown Dallas wedding venue, Community Beer is an award-winning local brewery with weekly Saturday tours. Grab a keepsake pint glass and taste some of Dallas’s seasonal brews.

This is only the tip of the iceberg; however, it’s easy to find more attractions! Our city is packed with fun things to do, whether you’re new to town or a born-and-raised Dallasite. If you’re getting married in Dallas, we hope you’ll tour our venue and see what it has to offer. Its proximity to on-trend Dallas attractions is just one benefit. We’d love to give you a tour so you can see why our space is a top Dallas wedding venue.

Last, don’t forget to read our post on making the most of your downtown Dallas wedding venue. These tips and tricks ensure guests have a great time at your wedding, and in our favorite city!

Since this year’s Big Fake Wedding has come and gone, we’re reminiscing on last year’s amazing event hosted right here at our downtown Dallas event venue, The Empire Room. The Big Fake Wedding is a fun opportunity to check out the best wedding vendors in Dallas… and an excuse to throw a party! Last year, we had the privilege of hosting the event and connecting with all kinds of incredible wedding industry professionals and brides in attendance.

Our Big Fake Wedding couple “re-tied” the knot in a beautifully heartfelt vow renewal. We love how they made use of our outdoor space as their personalized altar. These pastel doors strike the perfect balance between elegant and casual, introducing a pop of color and a punch of personality into the event. This outdoor ceremony was one for the books.

Inside, we hosted a party to remember! Vendors from every category of the industry showcased their best work in stunning tablescapes, floral arrangements, calligraphy samples, vintage rentals, cake designs, and more. While enjoying the delectable food provided by Gil’s Elegant Catering, guests mingled and soaked up the unending wedding inspiration. Our versatile space was truly transformed by all the incredible work our vendors put into making the event a swoon-worthy success. The night wrapped up with a picture-perfect bubble send-off… and an incredible kiss.

Thank you GoMan Productions for capturing the 2015 highlights on film! Take a peek, and take notes for your own big day—there is plenty of inspiration packed into this reel. If you want to chat about executing some of these unforgettable details at our downtown Dallas event venue, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Don’t forget to check out this year’s reel and keep an eye on The Big Fake Wedding’s website so you can attend the next event.

Photo by Steve Rainwater

2.  McKinney Avenue

With a trolley system that takes you into the luxury shops of Uptown, this Dallas avenue is bustling with businesses and good eats such as Jake’s Hamburgers, Trulucks, Urban Taco, and Bread Winners Cafe.

Photo by David Kozlowski

3. NorthPark Center

NorthPark was created to better support marketing and the fashion industry in Texas and suit the needs of the elite, art- and fashion-savvy Dallas citizens. Throughout the entire center there is great magnitude of refined style and class as it relates closely to a museum. For the ultimate shopping experience, this is the spot.

Photo by Toni Tatarevich

4. Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Historical, informative, and a tad bit eerie is the Sixth Floor Museum located right on the corner of Houston and Elm Street. Remember the life and death of JFK through photographs, real artifacts, and documentaries. With a free audio guide included with your admission, step inside history and experience first hand where the notorious Lee Harvey Oswald stood in 1963.