My Absolute FAVORITE Wedding Planning Tool For Brides

I AM SO PUMPED FOR TODAY'S BLOG POST, Y'ALL! 

So pumped that I had to use all caps. You know I mean business when I use all caps. Soon after getting engaged, I was contacted by a wedding planning company about a potential collaboration. Now, we all do collaborations all the time, but this is EASILY the most excited I've ever been to tell you guys about a product. I just really want you to know, before I dive in to today's post, how much I adored working with Michelle and Carrie who own a company called, The White Box. These two wedding angels literally planned our entire wedding. I'm not exaggerating. 

Ok let me take a step back, I want to make sure I do this blog post justice because I honestly just loved this concept so much. 

What is The White Box? 

The White Box is so much more than the physical WHITE box that arrives on your doorstep. It contains all of the color palette, decor ideas, drink ideas, food menus, swatches for dresses, flower arrangement inspo - THE BOX IS YOUR ENTIRE WEDDING PLAN, LITERALLY WRAPPED UP IN A BOW. 

Here's How the Process Works:

I'll do my best to keep this simple 

1. You get engaged

2. You buy The White Box from Carrie and Michelle (two wedding planners with 15+ years of experience) 

3. You'll fill out an in-depth questionnaire on your hopes and dreams for the big day

4. You then have a conference call with Carrie and Michelle. I personally had CB join the call, because I knew he wanted to be part of the wedding planning process. On that call, you'll discuss further what you're hoping for on your big day. CB gave his input and vision, as did I. 

5. They take a fusion of your ideas and your fiancé's ideas and come up with a plan. That plan includes the following: 

A Color Palette

A Wedding Theme 

Detailed Timetable for the Wedding Day

A Rental List, featuring LOCAL companies you can rent chairs/tables/etc. from  

Bridesmaid Dress Ideas

Wedding Dress Ideas

Decor Ideas - PLUS - Direct Links to Buy Said Decor

Flower Arrangement Ideas

Suit/Dress Options for Your Man

A Sample Venue Layout

Signature Cocktail Recipe

Sample Menu

Invitation Options Plus Links To Buy 

Color Swatches for Bridesmaids Gowns

A Tasty Treat (mine had Sugarfina Gummies) 

The Little White Book for Notes on All Wedding Planning Questions and Details

A Full Timeline Online With Action Items Leading Up to the Wedding Day

PLUS- all of these above ideas/links/resources are chosen because THEY FIT IN YOUR BUDGET. ERR MERR GERRD!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN NOW? While, yes, it is a PHYSICAL BOX that arrives at your door, it's SO much more than just that. It's your whole wedding. 

If I sound like I'm being over the top right now, it's because I am. 

Our WEDDING was in that box.  

The wedding that you will see on March 3rd at the Adolphus Hotel in Downtown Dallas is contained in a single box that arrived on our doorstep. Just go ahead and try and tell me that isn't the coolest ever. 

I want to give you an example of an idea they gave us for our wedding day, but I obviously don't want to spoil the surprise or give ALL of the details you'll see on March 3, 2018. Here's a tiny example, thanks to Carrie and Michelle's genius idea, we are going to have our guest book be a swan float. When our guests arrive, they'll sign the float, then we'll toss it in the pool. 

SO CUTE RIGHT? GAHH

So you're probably all - well what on earth does this all cost. The number is going to blow your mind. It's only $179 for two creative, professional wedding planners to send you your very own White Box.

You can even GIFT IT! Talk about the perfect, and super unique wedding present. 

They give you the ideas, you bring the ideas to life. 

I really hope you can feel the excitement I'm trying to convey in today's post. This has been one of my favorite collaborations to date, and I'm so pleased to have the chance to promote such a creative, one-of-a-kind tool for brides to be. If it were up to me, I'd probably have thrown up a piñata and called it a day. We owe our whole wedding plan to Carrie and Michelle, I never would have come up with the vision they gave us. We are both totally pumped for March 3rd!

Want to win one?

Whether you're engaged or want to gift it to a girlfriend who's getting married, I'm giving away a White Box on Instagram @iamsarahwebb + you can also earn a second entry on @dallaslovelist! Be on the lookout on each of my accounts for the giveaway later today! 

OK FINE - I'LL TELL YOU OUR THEME
PASTEL POOL PARTY
but you're not getting any more info out of me....


*whispers*
there *might be flamingo and palm leaf decor involved.

I bought a car and it was mostly awful

WHAT DAY IS IT???

I have no freaking clue. The calendar says Wednesday but the number of coffee cup refills screams Monday. I, unlike the rest of DFW, did not have Monday off so that is leaving me extra confused.

I'll just get straight to today's post:
I bought a car and it was mostly awful

My Dad sold Ford cars for 35 years so I like to think car buying and haggling is in my blood. My lease was up on my car, and I had to make a decision quickly on what I wanted. I was at an event called Taste of Dallas a few weeks ago and saw the "Sport" edition of the Escape and fell in love. This car is sharp, and dare I even say - sexy - I was in love. I was on the lookout for a black on black Ford Escape, black car, black rims. This car was like a unicorn, only two in the entire metroplex.

The first dealership didn't have the right engine in the car. I didn't want to have to floor the gas in order to merge onto the highway, so I had to scratch that one off the list. Good thing, because that dealership was supposed to be looking for the exact car I wanted, and offered to ship it when they found it. Well, they never called me back. Even though I called repeatedly, they couldn't be bothered to call me back.

KEWL.
Car buying is fun.

So I found the right car with the right power all the way over in Garland.  Garland is far, and a total nightmare to get to in Dallas rush hour traffic. After an hour drive, I get out of the car and am immediately greeted by a salesman.

I told him I wanted the black on black sport escape on the lot. He goes, "I don't know that we have a car like that, but we can certainly go look." I of course know they have the car - because, internet.

I then explain that my car lease is up, so there will not be a trade in. He says, ok let's go inside and find this car.

HE THEN REACHES AROUND ME - LITERALLY, REACHES HIS ARM AROUND MY BODY - TO SHAKE CB'S HAND FIRST.

OH MY GOD.

I literally gasp, "oh!"

I had done all of the talking, CB hadn't said a word. Yet, this man felt it necessary to acknowledge the man first. CB gave me a look like, is this dude serious? I was blown away.

The rest of the car buying process went EXACTLY like this handshake. I was treated like a dumb girl who needs an apron and a baking sheet. I was repeatedly called ma'am in a condescending, you don't know what you're talking about, kind of way.

It was insanely frustrating, and although I am a confident haggler, this particular guy made the whole process miserable.

It's 2017, why are women not treated equally at a car dealership?
Why are we made to feel like morons?

I was doing my best to work this guy, and get the deal I wanted. After giving him my non-negotiable, stern, I'm not playing around price, he turns to CB and goes...
"We should call her Jesse James!" 

First of all, I have no idea what that means, but I assume he was trying to say to CB, "aww how sweet, she's trying to haggle. That's so cute you let her out of the kitchen to play for the evening. Those women of ours, they need adventure too."

If CB were telling this guy his price, would he be given cutsie nicknames? What if CB gave him a low ball price offer (because we are HAGGLING HERE), would that guy turn to me and go, "We should call him Jesse James!"

Not a chance.

The whole thing was insanely frustrating and now I want to open an all female car dealership. I've seen all female mechanic shops, and it was AWESOME. We need a female car dealership where we are treated with respect... because I dunno, it's 20 damn 17!!!!!

end rant.