A custom wedding map can be used to share all your information for your guests, keeping them on time, engaged, and ready to celebrate. You get to enjoy your day and focus on what’s important.
Read moreBroken Bow Get-a-Way!
Since moving to Texas Carol and I have been hyper focused on raising our family and building an even more successful business, consequently our time for travel has been confined to long weekends and day trips around North Texas and Oklahoma. Surprisingly, there are many beautiful places and interesting towns that have satisfied our hunger for travel. Crepes overlooking the Seine have been replaced by breakfast tacos overlooking Lake Travis, and the latter may be even more enjoyable out of sheer need to get away. Recently, we found another wonderful get-a-way called Broken Bow Lake, just 3 hours away in south-eastern Oklahoma near town of Hochatown. Hochatown/Broken Bow Lake is a charming blue collar area that is quickly gaining a reputation for its beautiful views, fishing, food, and local brewery. Nestled in the arms of the Hochatown and Beavers Bend State Parks, Broken Bow Lake is 14,000 acres with shores that sparkle pink from quartz formed 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian period. It really is a bazaar site to see. There are no homes on the lake and camping is designated in a few areas. The uninhabited shores offers a beauty not found in the normally crowded shores of most lakes, rather the local luxury cabins are located a short drive from the lake, and luckily we had a great connection.
As it turns out, we had some friends that own cabins in a gorgeous area of town hidden among the enormous pine trees that stand guard like soldiers at attention. Roughing it is not an option in these exquisitely finished homes. These fully finished "cabins" have all the modern touches while still paying homage to their surroundings. Rich woods and exposed beams bring the outside in. We had a wonderful time relaxing on the deck, grilling out, and enjoying cold beverages in the hot-tub. The kids had fun rock hunting and splashing in the clear-water stream that twists and turns around the properties.
There are plenty of places to keep the kids busy as well, but because of the remote location a map tends to help (see the one we created after our trip). Our friends liked it so much they are leaving them for their guests. A short drive away, we found a great little spot for mini-golf and paddle boating that the kids did not want to leave. There great spots for fishing, hiking, and bird watching as well. Whether you want a nice peaceful spot to finish that book, or to get out there and get your hands dirty, Broken Bow offers both.
Matching the stunning vistas and fun is the delicious food including wonderful southern fare, a family friendly pizza joint with cold beer, and a spot known for fried chicken that would be worth the drive alone, as well as a grocery store with everything you need. Broken Bow is really just the right balance of nature and convenience. A lovely get-a-way.
Next time your itching to get out of the DFW area, check out our list below of our favorite places to stay, play, and eat while in Broken Bow.
Invitation Inspiration
A custom wedding invitation suite based on the Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom.
Read moreTupps Holiday Art Bazaar
If you are in the DFW metroplex this weekend (December 10, 2016) make sure to stop by and check out CW Designs at the Tupps Brewery Holiday Art Bazaar in McKinney. We'll be enjoying a few beers, selling a few items, and visiting with the community. We'reespecially excited about the release of their new beer Full Grown Man! We helped design the can along with the very talented Jon Fettig, our brother-in-law. Come check us out along with a bunch of other artisans to do some Christmas shopping while enjoying a few beers. Cheers!
Tupps is located at the Old Cotton Mill at 721 Anderson St, McKinney, TX.
A Modern Classic
Over a year a go we started working with a wonderful bride, Natalie, on her upcoming wedding in Los Angeles. She and her fiancé have classic taste, but wanted something a little more unique. We went to work on a design that incorporated the aspects of a traditional wedding invitation suite with a modern twist. The classic script combined with a modern monogram brought together the old and new and the muted colors along with a bold blue only pulled the entire ensemble together. Natalie loved the look so much that she decided to carry the look throughout her entire wedding. From the wedding map, seating chart, menus, and place cards, to party favors and totes, the look was flawless. It was almost as flawless as the couple themselves! This really highlights how a wedding can truly be unique without sacrificing your style. It was a blast designing this set and working with such a sweet couple. Congratulations, Ben and Natalie! Remember, beauty is in the details. LOVE. DESIGN. PAPER.
McKinney Bridal Show 2016
CW Designs has had a wonderful start to 2016 and the good times kept rolling when we attended the 2016 McKinney Bridal Show at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. We set up in our familiar cozy spot with our new video montage of some of our favorite work. The McKinney bridal show is one of the best if not the best show in DFW. Rebecca Heart of the MPAC does an amazing job getting the word out and putting together some of the best wedding professionals around. We had a wonderful day mingling with fellow vendors and friends and enjoying the energy that only newly engaged couples can provide. It was quite a day!
To our amazement bride after bride and couple after couple were familiar with our work and ETSY shop. Others were followers on Pinterest or actually received wedding invitations and wedding maps designed by us from friends and loved ones. Now it's their turn! One bride was casually talking to her friend about a wedding map she saw at a friends wedding, only to realize that the map she was referencing was featured on our video montage! It really is a small world. Bridal shows are great because you can get a sense of what brides are digging these days. We received some valuable feedback from some well prepared visitors and can't wait to implement what we learned. Other couples were a bit overwhelmed by the daunting task of planning a wedding, but we were able to settle some nerves and point them in the right direction. We love doing that!
Some of the best wedding professionals in the DFW area were within arms reach. They are not only talented professionals, but they genuinely care for their clients. Something we take pride in with our business. People like Julie Shields of Phase3 photography, Julie Blakey of Forever Events and Weddings, Scott Thomas of Creative Touch Audio, Christie Connell of Azure Photography, Wendy Kidd of Each and Every Detail, Lindsay Crump of The Stalk Market, Laura Greiner of the McKinney Sheraton Hotel, and on and on and on. When a bride brought up that she was struggling to decide on a spot for her rehearsal dinner we instinctively suggested our good friends Jason Lewis and Carlos Gonzales at Lot 207. It was awesome and we hope these couples took our advice. We are really proud to be associated with such quality people and appreciate the support we've been given since setting up shop in McKinney. This is a very close knit industry and we know that with such wonderful support from clients, colleagues, and friends, 2016 is sure to be a wonderful year.
