Texas Weddings

The last Friday in June. I can’t even believe that last sentence is true. We are so busy cranking out the pretty I often lose track of time. But here we are at Friday sending you off into the weekend with a fabulous e-session from the lovely Sara Donaldson. It’s so super sweet and full of a few of my favorite things – all things nautical and pretty party dresses. So let’s keep this pretty party rockin’ long into the weekend! See you on Monday!

click here for the full gallery of images!

From Sara Donaldson…I felt like I was driving around aimlessly (for over an hour) on my quest to find the perfect road for the car… It was pure magic that we came upon the perfect place! This couple couldn’t be more adorable together. I felt myself smiling behind the camera at them with every click of the shutter. It always makes me happy to see when a couple takes their engagement session to new heights and incorporates meaningful scenery. His love for vintage cars, her love for fantastic wardrobe finds, their love for sailing… a match made in photography heaven.

Photography: Sara Donaldson / Location: Grapevine, Texas (DFW) / Lake: Lake Grapevine / Car: 1966 Plymouth Sport Fury convertible

In case you missed them, here are the pretty posts from SMP Texas this week:

a downright dreamy Red River wedding
a travel-inspired photo shoot that had us all swooning
a darling DIY wedding at Sam Houston Park
an oh-so-lovely Lago Vista wedding

A few pretty things we found around the web…

Hey Gorg’s gorgeous girl cave via Made by Girl
I do believe I’ll be making this fab appetizer over the weekend via The Kitchn
a pretty ribbon round up via Erin Ever After

Have pretty weekend everyone! Meet you back here bright eyed and bushy tailed on Monday! xoxo, A.Blaire

After an embarrassing amount of time spent fawning over the images from Jennifer Lindberg Weddings of this fab fête, I have come to terms with the fact that I am completely in love with this couple. Yes they both look like they stepped right out of a magazine, and yes she may actually be snow white, but the real reason I now have a serious crush on this duo is they just look SO in love with each other. True partners in crime. Their story is worth the read and will make you love them even more. So settle in, and move gazing at the gallery of images from this gorgeous affair to the top of your to-do list today. You’ll thank me.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Paul and I met, fell in love and were engaged in a little over six months.  Our whirlwind romance was eventually slowed down by life; four months after our engagement, my mom had a near-fatal operation that left her in a coma for two months.  She survived, thankfully, and was able to make a full recovery over the next year.  Around the time we were thinking of revisiting our wedding plans, life gave us a happy surprise: I was pregnant.  We put our wedding on the back burner {again} and later that year I had our son, Dylan.

About a year and a half later, our dormant wedding plans finally found new life.  A spring wedding at my Aunt & Uncle’s home in Lago Vista, Texas, just outside of Austin, was set and, lucky for us; the third time truly was a charm! With its lush gardens, impressive cypress trees and intricate stonework, my Aunt & Uncle’s home, named Mariposa, is almost reminiscent of an Italian villa.  We wanted our wedding to be an intimate celebration of love and family and Mariposa was a perfect fit to the relaxed and sophisticated wedding we had always dreamed of. Looking back, we couldn’t be happier that it took five years (!) for our wedding to finally happen.  Because, when it did, it was amazingly wonderful and everything we could have asked for.  Thanks to husband and wife team Jenn and Jim for capturing the sweetest, funniest, dearest and loveliest moments of the day for us to remember.

My Advice: We planned our wedding ourselves and relied on help from our amazing friends and family.  But, if I could go back, I would hire a wedding coordinator for our wedding day.  I think I would have saved myself some moments of stress and the basket of 115 hand-stamped muslin bags with chocolate covered almond favors that my mother-in-law assembled may have actually been put out for our guests!

Caterer: Hill Country Pasta House / Gelato: The Chocolate Cup / Cakes, Pies + Flower Cupcakes: Russell’s Bakery / Reception Music: Airoldi South Austin Gypsy Jazz / Linen Overlays + Chair Rentals: Elegant Beginnings / Make-up: Jeni Hoover / Wedding Gown + Sash: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon / Veil: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon / Earrings: Anthropologie / Groom’s Suit: J. Crew / Ring Bearer’s Suit: Crewcuts / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Crewcuts / Invitation + Program: Stephanie Meyer / Stationery: Paper Source / Calligraphy: love*jenna / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings

I have nothing but love for Q Weddings Photography. Suzi Q photographed the first wedding I ever gushed about on SMP and it has been a love affair with her pretty images ever since. Now enter the likes of this eclectic ranch soiree. Is that a category? It is now! This shindig was crafted by The Wedding Warriors with a fantabulous cake to boot courtesy of Simon Lee Bakery. Wrap all of it up in a festive Texas bow and what do you have? A delicious way to start your Friday. See more of the day here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We has an eclectically chic wedding. Definitely dressy, but with a ranch vibe because of the surroundings. Fun and festive were the key words. My parents are more old school deep South and Patrick’s parents are more progressive. Our friends are just fun. Our style as a couple is both formal because of our jobs and fun and festive because we love live music (as evidenced by having Bob play our wedding). We were super excited about the wedding and think the whole atmosphere was elegant and comfortable at the same time.

Wedding Photography: Q Weddings / Wedding Coordinator:  The Wedding Warriors / Catering: Suzanne Court Catering and Events / Floral Design: Fabian / Wedding Cake:  Simon Lee Bakery / Reception Music: Bob Schneider / Wedding Gown: Marisa Bridals / Venue: Three Points Ranch / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate purchased at Bella Bridesmaids

Oh wow.  This wedding is spectacular.  I have been in a constant state of awe since the moment I laid my eyes on these glorious, seriously tear-inducing images by Alyse French Photography.  I don’t know what I am more in love with… the breathtaking 120-year-old church in downtown Houston, that gorgeous, gorgeous gown or the whoopie pie and champagne reception.  Oh, and then there’s all of the fabulous DIY details, including the flowers.  All together it’s one part vintage chic and one part awesome.  Prepare to be amazed and join me for even more in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Curtis and I met while working in the same research lab. We were also both students, so when we decided to get married, budget was our first priority. We wanted a practical wedding that would reflect our love as well as who we are without breaking the bank.

We planned an intimate vintage-inspired wedding with 35 guests. I was able to create our invitations, RSVP cards, reception cards, thank you cards, etc. all from just two templates! I made paper and ribbon cones that were filled with flowers and lined the aisles of the church. They provided the perfect simple elegance to accent the historic feel of our location. I also combed Etsy looking for other perfect details including hand made feather boutonnieres, jewelry made from mismatched vintage pendants, and matching vintage compasses to symbolize our love, forever guiding us toward one another. We made sure to add in plenty of other personal and unique details too, like an engraving on my engagement ring that inspired subtle fleur de lis decorations throughout our day including our use of lilies and irises in the flowers.

The ceremony was held in the historic St. John Church in downtown Houston. The cute antique country church is set against the Houston skyline and provided the perfect backdrop – a blend of the modern world with the historic, hometown feel. We had a short “cake and champagne” reception but instead of cake we served whoopie pies, a New England favorite straight from my family’s Maine heritage. Instead of a traditional guest book, we selected individual postcards with vintage love-related images and a vintage birdcage to hold the cards. It was such a treat to read the comments, advice and fun answers that our family and friends left for us! I definitely feel like it was the personal touches that made our day so special, from my little sister’s ring pouch, to the inspiration from my engagement ring and the whoopie pies from my childhood summers in Maine and so many other small details that made our wedding day truly unique.

Wedding Photography: Alyse French Photography / Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Empire Faces / Wedding Gown: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: MAXSTUDIO / Flowers: DIY / Whoopie Pies: DIY / Ceremony Music: Marion Haase / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. John Church of Sam Houston Park / Wedding Reception Location: Heritage Society Tea Room / Feather Boutonnieres, Vintage Jewelry & Vintage Compasses: Etsy

We like to serve up serious inspiration with a heaping side of style over here at SMP, and this travel-inspired photo shoot brought to us by the Texas talents of Catie Ronquillo Photography, Kate Foley Designs, Southern Fried Paper and Sugar Bee Sweets is just that and then some. The cakes couldn’t be prettier, the bouquet couldn’t be more breathtaking and the travel-inspired stationery couldn’t be more perfect. Heaping serving of style and inspiration – coming right up! Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Catie Ronquillo Photography…I love to travel, especially if it involves France! After seeing a travel inspired invitation on Southern Fried Paper’s website, I approached Chelsea about doing a travel inspired shoot. I knew that I wanted some French accents and travel elements, and use the classic airmail stripe colors of red, white, and blue as inspiration. So we merged the two together and created a French Travel Inspiration shoot with a hint of vintage.

For the cakes, Heidi of Sugar Bee Sweets created five coordinating cakes each with its own special element. We displayed the cakes separately, paired with suitcases and cake stands at different heights, to create something different from a traditional tiered cake. For flowers, Kate of Kate Foley Designs created a beautiful bouquet and centerpiece with assorted red flowers and greenery to perfectly complement our color scheme. We used vintage books as part of the centerpieces and used suitcases to accent our design. A few French inspired accessories topped it off.

For the couple’s attire, we thought that the bride would look perfect in a short dress, perfect for a small ceremony or elopement, or for leaving straight away for the honeymoon. She wore the Pins & Needles 3/4 Sleeve dress from Urban Outfitters. The groom wore a seersucker coat from his personal collection with a red striped bow tie – perfect to infuse a bit of Southern into this shoot!

From Southern Fried Paper…Guests received a “wedding passport” save the date tucked inside a hand-lined snap close envelope and a boarding pass wedding invitation with a red airmail envelope. The travel inspired wedding showcased individual menus wrapped around each napkin, airmail escort cards pinned to a vintage map, and kraft travel journal favors accented with custom “Bon Voyage” stickers.

Photography: Catie Ronquillo Photography / Floral Design: Kate Foley Designs / Event Design: Catie Ronquillo Photography + Southern Fried Paper / Wedding Cakes: Sugar Bee Sweets / Stationery: Southern Fried Paper / Makeup: Kay Castro / Location: White Rock Lake, Dallas / Dress: Urban Outfitters

Dust off those cowboy boots ladies and gents because we have a Hill Country wedding shot by the fab duo behind Aric + Casey Photography filled with oodles of rustic details and I’m guessing you’ll want to be dressed for the occasion. This Texas couple even included their adorable dog, Vinnie, in the mix. How cute is he? I’m guessing he might be one of the dapperest little pups to grace our pages. See it all here!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

We also have a lovely little film shot by Joe Simon Wedding Films to go along with this Texas beauty. Take a gander…

From Aric + Casey Photography… I’ve never seen a couple look at each other the way these two do. Adoration, love pride… it exudes from their eyes and their smiles when they look or talk about each other. Apart from one another each one is strong, independent, and successful and together they seem pretty much unstoppable.

Every detail of their wedding was beautifully thought out and perfectly executed. Instead of using ordinary sand from a craft store, Jenna and Travis collected sand from their parent’s homes where they grew up, and then the unifying sand was from the ground where they are building their first home together. They even included their sweet dog, Vinnie, in the ceremony as the official ring bearer. Jenna did a fabulous job of making sure that even the details had fabulous details! She and a friend (also a “Jenna”) designed the invitations to coordinate perfectly with her Hill Country rustic “look” of the wedding. For the centerpieces they custom branded the wood chips with Travis’s own brand from his ranch. Jenna’s team of vendors were incredible and great to work with as well! This wedding is the perfect combination of a few DIY details and the awesome work of very talented vendors!

Wedding Photography: Aric + Casey Photography / Cinematography: Joe Simon Wedding Films / Floral Design: Eden’s Echo / Wedding Cake: Sophie’s Choice Bakery / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Marquardt Ranch / Wedding Invitations: DIY, Jenna Decker & Jenna Hillman (the bride) / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Flower Girl Pettiskirts: Ju Ju Beane Boutique / Wedding Dress: Pronovias (“Gaudi”) / Bride’s Boots: Old Gringo (“Lucky Stud”) / Brooch: Vintage, Great Great Grandmother of the Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ryu, purchased at Wild Oats/ Cotton bolls: The Cotton Man and donated by farmers from West Texas

Get ready to fall in love with every little thing about this darling, gorgeous, sweet, vintage meets country elegance wedding captured by Lauren Larsen Photographs. I have a feeling the sweet little flower girl will be the first to grab your heart, but then you’ll be swept up again by all of the lovely flowers from Bows and Arrows, and then yet again by the amazingly adorable 16 foot high chapel facade that was lovingly built by the groom. By the time you scroll to the bottom you will be in a full on love fest with the sweet soirée, and I think that is a pretty darn good way to start your Monday. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Bows and Arrows… Natalie and Lindsay were married on a high embankment that overlooks the Red River in Telephone, Texas. The ceremony took place on lush burmuda grass, under old oak trees in an outdoor sanctuary. The 16 foot high chapel facade, with rescued stain glass windows, was built by the groom. The ceremony ended with a surprise fly over and a ten minute aerobatic show over the river.

The bride wore Hallie by Priscilla of Boston with an added cap sleeve to complete the vintage-fall look. Her birdcage veil was marked by a stunning 1920’s broach of the brides late grandmother.

The wedding theme was vintage meets country elegance. The colors were deep coral, and shades of mustard-yellow and grey. The flowers were an assortment of garden roses, yarrow, brunia, rice flower, mimosa, ranunculas, football mums, and billy balls. The bride’s bouquet was stacked with plush white peonies and laced with dusty miller. The vintage styled guest sign-in table backed up to a framed collage of the family tree of weddings and brides. The table centers were scattered with clear glass, milk glass, and mason jars, lightly dusted with a bundle of stems in each. Cake Affairs Dallas styled three custom round tiered cakes that sat atop vintage pedestals. Each had a vertical texture on the white frosting and yellow velvet ribbon along the base. The groom’s cake was a giant graphic of Ron Paul’s face!

The reception took place in the groom’s airplane hanger adjacent to the ceremony, in a vast field, surrounded by hay bails. After a country dinner of brisket and chicken fried steak the guest danced the night away to the ultimate 80’s band -Live 80. The couple made the their exit to Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” while guest showered them with vintage themed paper airplanes.  And then they were off to honeymoon on St. John Island and a beautiful life together!

Wedding Photography: Lauren Larsen of Lauren Larsen Photographs / Floral Design: Alicia & Adam Rico of Bows and Arrows / Linens: Alexandra Mitchell 0f BBJ Linen / Lighting: Ryan Kelley & Jennifer Burns of Beyond Lighting / Rentals: Teresa Wall of LiveWire Special Events / Band: Chad Allen of Live 80 Band / Strings: Barbara Allen of Classic Strings / Catering: Kathy Wiliams of A Gourmet Catering / Wedding Cake: Margaret of Dallas Affaires Cake Company

So ladies and gents, how was your week? Hopefully you spent some (or a lot) of it ogling over all the prettiness that graced our computer screens here on SMP Texas Weddings. It’s a Monday – Friday pretty rodeo for sure. To keep the pretty kicking over the weekend, I just had to share a super fun image by Lauren Larsen Photography that will be showing it’s pretty face along with its other image friends on Monday. Adorable, right? Well make sure you are right back here with me on Monday morning to see it all!

Photography: Lauren Larsen Photography

In case you missed them, here are the pretty posts from SMP Texas this week:

an Austin wedding with the perfect pops of orange
a Magnolia wedding with a serious pair of shoes
a fabulous, fun-filled fête at The Wild Onion Ranch
a vintage rental shop that seems too good to be true! 
a ballroom beauty of a wedding in Austin

A few pretty things we found around the web…

a could not be more adorable wedding complete with pigs via Snippet & Ink
the typography-lover in me is crushing on this wallpaper via poppytalk 
take me back to Capri pretty please via Mrs. Lilien

Have pretty weekend everyone! Meet you back here bright eyed and bushy tailed on Monday! xoxo, A.Blaire

We love a good ballroom wedding over here at SMP, and this wedding by Ashley Garmon Photographers provides the perfect dose of indoor goodness for your Friday morning. Dripping with orchids and oozing elegance, Caplan Miller Events made sure everything was decked to the nines for this sophisticated family affair. It doesn’t hurt that the couple happens to be as gorgeous as the event itself, and it all makes for a very lovely full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Ashley Garmon Photographers…This caberet-style wedding was all about family.  The mother of the bride had her vision of the chuppah from the start.  She designed a family tree with photos of all of the bride and groom’s family members. She had this screen printed onto fabric and used as the chuppah.  It was outlined with florals and then suspended over the dance floor.  Guests entered our ballroom and were ushered to their dinner tables. The tables were set for dinner and a program/menu card combination was displayed at each place setting.  Guests sipped champagne and nibbled on candied nuts during the ceremony.

Once the wedding ended… the ballroom went dark…. and a spotlight hit the service doors as the servers paraded in with the first course. The dance floor was cleared of the ceremony stage and screens were removed to reveal the band for dinner and dancing.  The suspended chuppah was now the dance floor decor and hung overhead all night.  After the served first course, guests were invited to the themed food stations that were each paired with a cocktail from that region — tex-mex cuisine and margaritas, greek food and ouzo, sushi and sake, italian and chianti, texas cuisine and Shiner Bock and more.

Photography: Ashley Garmon Photographers / Cinematography: Crescent Video / Floral Design: David Kurio Designs / Event Design & Production: Caplan Miller Events / Event Planning: Caplan Miller Events / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Four Seasons Hotel / Lighting: Filo Production Services / Rentals: Premiere Party Central + Marquee Rents / Linens: La Tavola / Hair & Makeup: Brooke Michie / Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Ceremony Music: Barton Strings / Band: TOP / DJ: DJ Rich / Chuppah: Legacy Chuppah

Grab a fork and spoon because y’all are going to eat.this.up. Seriously, every last bite of it. Just imagine a magical place where all of your favorite wedding props from all of your favorite weddings came together under one pretty roof. All of those “where did you get that?” questions answered at a one stop shop. Sounds too good to be true? Well for once – it isn’t! This magical place is also know as Recollection Vintage, and I am ready to jump on a plane to pay these pretty ladies in Houston a visit thanks to all of these delicious images from Christa Elyce Photography. I asked them a few questions below the images so you can get to know them/ fall in love with them even more, so read up and remember the full gallery has even more yummy images for you to devour.

Who are the owners?
Recollection is a team of three ladies…Patty DePierri and Ashley Dernick, a mother & daughter creative team, are owners of Houston party favor company – Something Old, Something New Wedding Designs.Natalie Dawley is owner of Two Be Wed, a Wedding Consulting and Event Design Firm, and co-owner of Houston’s Patio-Chic Event Venue, The Patio on Mercer. Patty DePierri has always had a passion for collecting vintage items and her home is filled with beautiful, eclectic finds.  She never cared about trends, but instead, designed according to what she loved and it always paid off.  Ashley had the privilege of learning about antique and vintage décor at a young age, and has a unique design style of her own that could turn a discarded and chipped fireplace mantle into a charming, romantic backdrop for a ceremony.Natalie Dawley shares the same love for this design style and has designed two wedding planning studios filled with eclectic mid-century and earlier finds. She is collector of anything that catches her eye and is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional for daily life and entertaining. After sharing ideas and concepts with each other they knew it was a perfect match to collaborate on this niche’ design service, the first of its kind in Houston. Pairing their passion for old things, interior design, and party planning, these ladies gladly introduce Recollection Vintage Rentals. Recollection offers vintage furniture, fixtures, vessels, vases, props, and accessories for weddings, events, photo shoots, photo booth backgrounds, and any other creative opportunity to turn old things into treasures.

What makes Recollection unique?
Recollection Vintage Rentals is the first rental company in Houston offering vintage styling using one-of-a-kind, authentic pieces from the mid century and older. They also offer all modern rental needs like tables,garden and chivari chairs, ghost chairs, and a variety of linens. Recollection can design and customize linens, tablecloths, and runners as well as offering their vintage collections for rent. Recollection provides floral and décor services and has an abundance of unique containers including a full collection of white and black milk glass as well as a mason jars, urns, buckets, and other interesting pieces.

How do you rent from Recollection?
Anything on the website is for rent, but the rental inventory goes beyond what is seen on the website. Call and schedule a consultation with the designers. They thrive on the face to face interaction and collaboration with clients to customize the perfect look for their event or photo shoot.

What sets Texas weddings apart from weddings anywhere else?
There’s no place like Texas!! The “Don’t Mess With Texas” and “Everything in Texas is bigger” mottos stand true for weddings in the Lone Star State! Even if it isn’t a 300 guests plus wedding they are bigger and better in terms of style and design. The brides in Texas love to collaborate and push the envelope regardless if their style is classic or contemporary, traditional or modern.

What kind of weddings do you love the most and what is your favorite trend right now?
We have a crush on pre-ceremony cocktail hours- usually guests are in a rush and running behind and so this gives them an opportunity to sit back, relax, and get in the wedding mood. A simple beverage station of lemonade and iced tea or serving a signature drink adds a lovely touch. This is also a great way for guests to mingle with friends and find the people they want to sit with.

What is your biggest piece of advice for people planning a wedding?
Hire a wedding planner!! They make life so much easier for the bride and groom, bridal party, their families, and the vendors. It may not be in the budget to hire a consultant to plan the entire wedding, but a couple cannot afford not to have a coordinator on the day of. It’s like having liability insurance and the confidence that even though there may be hiccups on the day of, the bride and groom can go on in marital bliss without stress or grief.

Who are your favorite vendor friends in Texas that keep your inspiration flowing?
We are so fortunate to be working with talented industry professionals,specifically photographers. They are the ones capturing the essence of our design style and bringing life to our vintage inventory and to our vignettes. Some of our favorites are Rachel Robinson Photography, Lovelee Photography, and Christa Elyce Photography

Photography: Christa Elyce Photography / Rentals: Recollection Vintage

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Indian weddings have got to be so. much. fun. Consider, if you will, this Dallas fusion wedding. Greg Blomberg Photography‘s photos are so full of life, emotion, fun, and color, you almost can hear the music and feel the dancing. It’s amazing! The couple is so adorable together. And, did I mention, the bride has at least three dresses? Any wedding that affords the bride three costume changes is okay in our book! When you’re ready to get your fusion on, check out Greg’s blog for more of this Indian/American couple!

Click here for the full image gallery.

It’s not often that a couple has two weddings and two receptions. Roxy and her family are of Indian descent and Mark is American. So naturally they had a full blown Indian wedding and reception with all of its traditions and ceremonies and the very next day continued with round two – an American wedding and reception.

Roxy and Mark have been together for over five years and are clearly best friends whose infectious laughter spreads to anyone around them. If you are anywhere near Roxy and Mark, you are guaranteed to have a blast.

Richa Johari and Hala Snyder of Events by Hala did an incredible job coordinating this momentous series of events. Suman Pai of Elegant Affairs designed a full range of amazing decor for both wedding days. She was able to capture the essence of the Indian culture with colorful flower arrangements complimented with extravagant gold details and a mandap (the four column marriage altar)  that was to die for. Not only did she do a beautiful job for the Indian wedding and reception but also for the American wedding and reception, which visually tied together in a subtle manner in keeping with the same color scheme while creating a completely different decorative presentation.

This wedding was as fun as it was gorgeous and visually impressive. Roxy’s Indian heritage was beautifully honored with all of the traditions, customs, attire, and decor. All of the guests loved dressing in traditional Indian outfits and enjoyed the many special events throughout the wedding. We were so honored to photograph this wedding!

Photography: Greg Blomberg Photography / Wedding Coordination: Events by Hala / Event Decor & Floral: Elegant Affairs / Venue: The Fairmont Hotel / DJ: DJ Happy Singh / Hair & Makeup: Mo Bowers of Fairy Godmothers Bridal / Entertainment: Mars Hill Band & Dallas Gigs

When the bride walks down the aisle to Pretty Woman, you know you are in for a festive little fête! If you are anything like little ol’ me, that song will now be on repeat in your pretty little head for the rest of the day – thankfully it provides great back ground music for this colorful and deliciously fun party by Caplan Miller Events, complete with a darling donut bar! In my book, donuts are completely calorie-free at weddings so that makes them that much more darling, don’t you say? There is oh so much more to be seen, so saunter your Pretty Woman singing self on over to the full gallery of images for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Caplan Miller Events… Martha Lynn and Trevor wanted a wedding that felt as if it was held in their backyard.  They love lots of “southern” touches — mason jars, sweet tea, lace, milk glass.  We combined it all for an incredible Texas evening under the stars.

Guests were greeted with Texas beer and sweet tea as they made their way to the ceremony site. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s uncle. Our guitarist learned Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive” for the groom’s processional.  The girls came down to “Pretty Woman.” Afterwards, the guests enjoyed a poolside cocktail hour and a Texas-style buffet dinner. The bride created a donut table in honor of her grandmother who she loved having Krispy Kreme donuts with as a young girl. Guests enjoyed mini cupcakes, wedding cake, donuts and a custom groom’s cake – a 2-side beer can.  One side Lone Star and the other side Rainer.  Both represented his Seattle roots and his current home in Texas.  They were sent off with sparklers and departed in an antique limo.

Event Design & Production: Caplan Miller Events / Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch / DJ: DJ Rich / Wedding Ceremony Music: Andrew Nafziger / Event Styling: The Inglenook Decor / Wedding Cake & Cupcakes: Nom Nom Global / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Lanterns: FILO Production Services / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Antique Limo: Antique Limousines of Austin

The sweet meter is off the charts for this wedding by Sharon Nicole Photography. From the angel face bride to all of the darling details, it has love written all over it. I have to say though, the shoe envy I am currently experiencing is seriously off the charts as well. Apparently when you combine green and Christian Louboutin you get greatness. Those are some incredibly pretty peep toes, particularly when placed on such a pretty bride. Oh there so much more sweetness to devour, so be sure to pop on over to the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Sharon Nicole Photography… Lindsey and Ernie’s wedding was absolutely beautiful. I could feel the anticipation as Ernie waited patiently for Lindsey for their first look. These two are so sweet with each other and very much in love. Lindsey did a great job with all of the details and using the green, black, and white color palette. She told me that many of the items she used in her wedding were found on Etsy. I also loved that Lindsey decided to have one of her male best friends be a part of her side of the wedding party, and he was given a green bow tie instead of black to help him stand out. I later found out that he is one of the reasons why Lindsey and Ernie met, so it was obvious why Lindsey wanted him to be part of their wedding! The bridesmaids all bought black dresses from The Limited and the green sashes were bought separately. The groomsmen looked so classy in black bow ties and vests, and Ernie looked very handsome in his suspenders and black bow tie.

One of the coolest elements of Lindsey and Ernie’s wedding was Lindsey’s wedding dress. The skirt (Which also had pockets!) attaches separately to her dress, so at the reception she was able to take it off and reveal the lace cocktail dress underneath! Lindsey’s green Christian Louboutin shoes were the perfect shade of green to go along with everything else in the wedding!

Ashelynn Manor is a beautiful venue and I loved shooting there! There are so many different spots for photos around the white picket fences, cute white chapel, a mansion to get ready in, and a barn to party in. Everything was decorated and nothing was left unnoticed! The Senterpiece did a great job with their flowers and their “L” and “E” letters were visible to greet guests at the chapel doors and later transferred to the barn doors at the reception. It was a great way to re-use the same elements at the wedding! The black branches with white flower bases and hanging crystals tied the color scheme and elegance of the wedding together. I just really fell in love with how well everything matched! I really loved their exit shot because of the color the green ribbon streamers. I’ve seen lots of exits and it was refreshing to see something different than rose petals, bubbles, and sparklers. Truly inspiring!

Wedding Photography: Sharon Nicole Photography / Wedding Venue: Ashelynn Manor / Wedding Dress: Martina / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Event Coordination: Egna Olmos of A Particular Event / Hair & Makeup: Your Beautiful Face / DJ: All Time DJ / Floral Design: The Senterpiece / Wedding Cake: Lisa Barcelona / Rentals: Any Occasion Party Rental / Beverage Catering: Capitol Beverage / Videography: Grasshopper Productions

Okay everyone, by now I’m sure you’ve checked out our fabulous local blogs and know all about the gorgeousness that is happening over there on the daily. And just in case you haven’t been in a while, we figured we’d give you a glimpse into each one. Right here, right now. So get ready for a cross country trip, no $4.00 a gallon gas required!

First up is this beyond beautiful Cooperstown wedding on SMP New York Weddings by Orchard Cove Photography.

Check out this adorable week long island party on SMP Florida Weddings by Robert Rios Photography!

Totally dying over this gorgeous Italian wedding by Jacqueline Schmitz Campbell on SMP Destination Weddings.

Who doesn’t just love this happy, vibrant wedding by Sweet Caroline Photo on SMP Texas Weddings?

A good ol’ fashioned ranch wedding on SMP California Weddings by Melisa Munding Photography.

So there you have it! A glimpse into the wonderful wedding world that is our local blogs! I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip!

I am a BIG fan of the color orange, it is just an all around happy color. I mean really, when was the last time you looked at an orange-filled affair and didn’t feel giddy? Well get ready for the giddiness because this lovely wedding by Sweet Caroline Photo at the Allan House is just full of images to fill your day full of happy. Lovely florals, gorgeous stationery, a to die for cake – Monday isn’t looking so bad after all, wouldn’t you say? Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… We wanted our wedding to feel like a party we would throw – not a production…and it was so great to hear that our friends did pick up on the details! From the brand of gin to the pork tacos at the end of the evening, we kept it personal. Laid-back, but classy.

My dress was a combo of two Alvina Valenta Dresses. I was going for romantic/preppy — the pleated hem was an addition. My shoes were orange ballet flats with satin bows from Sundance Catalog.  My earrings were costume jewelry I bought to wear on our first date and the bracelet my sister wore for her wedding.

A special addition to our ceremony that made it unique was the minister, who was Jacob’s teacher in Jr. High and has remained a mentor over the years.  For a DIY project, we collected family wedding photos to place on the fireplace mantle in coordinating silver frames.

The best moment of our wedding day was dancing towards the end of the night under the twinkle lights…we were having an incredible time and it was clear that our friends and family were, too. “We totally nailed this wedding,” as Jacob put it.

My biggest piece of advice for brides and grooms planning their wedding today is don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the decision-making process. Go with your gut and move on…enjoy your engagment, don’t stress or second guess yourself!

Wedding Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo / Wedding Venue: Allan House / Event Coordination: Kerry Duggan of BZ events / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Hair: Kristen of Lather Salon / Makeup: Christy Edlin Makeup / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Ties: LulaKate / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Hair Piece: Lo Boheme / Bride’s Shoes: Sundance / Wedding Invitations: Rhonda Warren of Color Box Design & Letterpress / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Linens: Marquee / Lighting: Ilios Lighting

Happy Friday Texas! We are knee deep in summer and hopefully y’all have weekend plans that involve cooling off in some way shape or form. Margaritas totally count by the way, and I fully intend on indulging in one or two over the little SMP hiatus which other people call the weekend. Whether you are sipping on ritas or lemonade this lovely weekend here is a little sneak peak of a wedding from Sweet Caroline Photo coming your way on Monday that is cool as can be.

Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo

In case you missed them, here are the pretty posts from SMP Texas this week:

a perfectly purple Arlington wedding
a fiesta-inspired Austin wedding
a fabulous, floral-filled Austin fête
a beautiful Brownsville engagement party
a ranch wedding that will send your heart a flutter

A few pretty things we found around the web…

a bookmarkable post on how to get your wedding published via Backstage SMP
Summer meals are my fave via You are My Fave
three ways to wear a romper via Paper Garland

Have pretty weekend everyone! Meet you back here bright eyed and bushy tailed on Monday! xoxo, A.Blaire

It’s darling, it’s southern and it’s ranch-wedding style at its finest – this wedding by Ryan Price Photography is just as sweet as the pie they served! It’s 100% full-on adorable with it’s purple hues and vintage southern style, and there is just something about a wedding where the trees twinkle at night that makes my heart all a flutter. There is a lot of heart fluttering going on, and there is even more to be had in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I have always wanted to get married on our family’s land in the tiny community of Weches, TX. I wanted it to be in a place where I had a strong emotional and sentimental connection. Our family has had the ranch for five generations, and no matter where I lived, my heart has always been there. Growing up through elementary school, I spent most of my weekends and summers there, and my family moved there full-time when I was in seventh grade. When my fiance, Randy, and I got together, he came to visit the ranch and immediately fell in love with it, so that just sealed the deal for me when it came time to pick a venue for our wedding.

Once I committed to having the wedding on the ranch, I knew it would be a big event as far as the guest list was concerned, so I liked the idea of a progressive event. I have always liked giving the guests something to do instead of just standing around waiting on pictures to be taken. So I decided I would have a social hour in the front of my parents’ house between the time of the ceremony and reception. Once I laid out the general schedule, the search for decorations began. I knew with the given location, Randy and I’s personalities, and the size of the guest list, I wanted the wedding to be Southern Vintage themed.

For the ceremony, I envisioned a big oak tree in a field of green grass, old vintage church pews underneath the tree, and white rose petals strewn down the aisle. The pews at the ceremony were collected from our church and others, and the flowers and rose petals turned out exactly as I had hoped.

When considering how to decorate the social hour, I wanted lots of vintage furniture strategically scattered around the yard with groupings of seating areas comprised of vintage chairs, rocking chairs, tables, trunks, etc. My favorite piece was my great-great Aunt Myrtle’s berry-colored velvet couch with wood detailing on the front. Most of the decorations at the social hour were comprised of antique store finds and friends and family donating or loaning decor and furniture.

For the reception, I wanted mismatched china patterns on gold chargers, delicious comfort food, sunset, candlelight, and enjoying the beauty of the natural decoration with which God has so richly blessed East Texas. The mismatched china we used was all borrowed from family and friends, and the pies and pecan tassies around each cake table were homemade by family and friends. I used the gold chargers to tie all the mismatched china together. Dinner, made up of BBQ-glazed chicken breast, roast beef, homemade mashed potatoes, bacon-braised green beans, and corn casserole, was served as the sun was going down.

Our biggest challenge with the reception was trying to find lighting without having any trees in the back yard from which to hang lights. We ended up bringing in a lighting company to set lights on stands at each corner of the yard, and we cut down a few sapling trees and “planted” them at each corner of the yard to hide the lighting stands. From the sapling limbs, we hung mason jars with candles in them. We also rented five pre-lit trees in decorative wooden boxes that were set throughout the yard to provide additional lighting. In addition, there were candle-lit lanterns on every table.

I am one of the blessed brides whose day turned out exactly like I hoped it would be. All the decorations, food, apparel, and weather were perfect. We were married at my favorite time of day, surrounded by all our friends and family in the place I love the most.

Wedding Photography: Ryan Price Photography / Flowers & Decor: Edie Jones of Alto Florist / Wedding Coordination: Rosemary Spring and JoBeth Perkins / Bride & Groom Cakes: Katelyn Lenderman of Kate’s Cakes / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Haute Couture / Bride’s Veil: Bel-Aire Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Bride’s Earrings: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Steve Madden / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm Occasions / Tuxes: Calvin Klein / Catering: Pie in the Sky Catering / Rentals: A-1 Party Rentals / Lighting: Pro Sound / Band: Sam Moore / Wedding Invitations & Programs: Story-Wright Printing / Thumbprint Tree: Dawn Carney, Cousin of the Bride

There is something oh-so-sweet about this Houston wedding. I can’t quite put my finger on it. It could be the adorable, little flower girl, peeking at the bride. Or maybe the bride herself, stunning in her Melissa Sweet gown. Perhaps it is the warm and romantic ambiance, courtesy of all the candles. Or the green palette, so fresh and floral. You know what? The more I think about it, the more I realize it is ALL of these things – and so much more. It’s the whole wedding, seen through the lens of cameron + kelly studios. You can just see the love and the affection, and that makes the whole affair glow. It’s a little magical. Cameron and Kelly have even more of the magic on their blog, so click here to jump over there!

Don’t forget about the gallery for more!

Ben and I met March of 2009.  I will never forget that day; we were at a crawfish boil in Houston.He proposed a year and half later.  We were going out to dinner for date night so I thought nothing about it.  I went over to his house before because Ben, as usual, wanted to have a cocktail.  We were sitting in his “man” chairs sipping on mint julips (our favorite), when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  We went to Ouisie’s Table that night, which is where we had our rehearsal dinner later – so special.  After dinner, we went over to my parent’s house and surprised them with the great news.  The rest of the night was spent drinking champagne and looking forward to marrying my Ben.

Planning my wedding was such a fun experience.  I have always known I would get married at my church, Second Baptist and have the reception at the Houston Country Club.  Being from Houston, many other brides have done the same thing.  With that said, I wanted the feel of mine to be different! And that is where my awesome and very talented wedding coordinator, Mary Beth Events, came in. She helped turn my wedding into something so unique and beautiful and what I would call a magical night!

Photography: cameron + kelly studios / Event Planning & Decor: Mary Beth Events / Hair: Trey Gillen / Makeup: Paul DePadua / Bridal Gown: Melissa Sweet | Pricilla of Boston / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Kim Couture / Ceremony Venue: Second Baptist Church / Reception Venue & Catering: Houston Country Club / Floral: Susie Miller / Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear

Everything is bigger in Texas for sure and this gorgeous engagement party by Anahi Navarro Photography is as big as it is beautiful. Gorgeous florals seem to be in every nook and cranny, their backyard is what dreams are made of and the trees all seemed to twinkle at night. The Lone Star state doesn’t mess around on anything, including engagement parties apparently! Oh Texas, you get me every time. See even more here!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Anahi Navarro Photography… Lauren and Paul’s engagement party had a casual elegant feel.  The attention to details literally shined through the hundreds of candles draping from the trees lighting the dinner tables.  The colors highlighted by the beautiful floral art pieces completed the look perfectly.  The evening highlight were the parents toast which expressed the nights emotions.  The party was capped off with great cigars out by the backyard lake.

Photography: Anahi Navarro Photography + Marcin from AGAiMAGES / Linens: Susana of All Party Rentals / Caterer: Nena Siller / Mini Cakes: Cynthia’s Cakes / Music: Blue Rio Band / Floral Design: Rene Salinas / Dress: Aidan Mattox

Where to begin, where to begin. Let me start off by saying that the florals in this fabulously festive affair by Bouquets of Austin are just be-yond. It’s bouquet perfection for this Austin soiree if you ask me, and even if you don’t ask me – I think/know you’ll agree. Ku Photography snapped all of the fabulous shots, and each and every one made me completely fall in love with this pretty, pretty party. I am just completely smitten, and you can see all the reasons why in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… The official story is that Stan and I met through friends while he was in med school and I was in business school.  The more interesting story is that we met during one fateful, crazy night on 6th Street in Austin.  Our romance was long-distance for the first couple of years, but we both came to the quick realization that it was truly something special, and Stan proposed almost 3.5 years after that first night on the town.

We planned our wedding over the course of 12 months.  It was important to us that the day be incredibly personal, colorful and natural while drawing upon key elements of our shared Chinese backgrounds.  Most of all, we wanted everyone to have fun!  We have both always been drawn to blue hues, and red is very symbolic in the Chinese culture, so royal blue, turquoise and red became an obvious palette for us.

When we visited the Wild Onion Ranch, we immediately knew that the property, with its sprawling grounds, huge oak trees, outdoor dance floor and eclectic yard art, was perfectly suited to what we hoped would be a largely outdoor celebration.  To seal the deal, they even had longhorn cattle roaming the front pasture!

As guests arrived prior to the ceremony, they were greeted with St. Germain champagne cocktails to help set the mood and kick off the festivities.  The brief ceremony was held at sunset atop a picturesque hill under a semi-circle of giant oak trees.  We walked down the aisle to contemporary string music selections and read our own vows to each other.  Homemade ceremony programs were also provided in the form of scalloped fans, which we hoped would help cool our guests in the unseasonably warm April heat.

It was important to us that the members of our wedding party be able to reflect their own personalities.  The bridesmaids created their own style using royal blue convertible dresses and each held different bouquets of red flowers and succulents, while the groomsmen each wore a turquoise tie with a unique royal blue screen print specially chosen by the groom.

We incorporated a variety of personal touches throughout the evening.  Chinese elements included lanterns adorning both the ceremony and reception areas, illuminated water lilies in the pool and custom-made mandarin duck cake toppers (a symbol of wedded bliss and relationship longevity).  Our florist delivered on our request for bright and natural centerpieces by using different combinations of wheatgrass, wildflowers and citrus fruits.  Stan brewed two types of craft beers for the occasion and we even made our own hand-picked blueberry “sloe” gin to give out as favors!  Stan was also able to share his love of sweets with a blue-themed candy bar that was placed by the exit toward the end of the night.  Finally, to help keep the party going we had a hilarious flip book booth, glow sticks that were distributed on the dance floor during our requested techno song and post-wedding transportation on buses with dance poles!

Perhaps the most memorable part of the evening was at the very end, when guests were invited to light huge white (100% biodegradable) wish lanterns as a send-off.  Unfortunately, high winds prevented many of the lanterns from being lit, but the effect was just as picturesque and serene with the few that flew up into the night.  It was the perfect way to cap off the most amazing day of our lives.

Photography: Ku Photography / Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch / Wedding Coordination: Barbara Hearne & Kristi Treadwell of Barbara’s Brides / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Hair & Makeup: method.hair / Wedding Dress: Stardust Celebrations / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Restoration Threads / Cake Topper: County Squirrels-R-Us / Flower Girl Basket: Fleur Detaillee / Flower Girl Sash & Hair Accessories: Project U / Bride’s Hair Piece: ivoryONwhite / Custom Groom & Groomsmen Ties: Cyberoptix Tie Lab / Flip Books: On The Flipside / Officiant: Michael Boles / Save the Dates: Paperless Post / Wedding Invitations: The Paper Kutt / DJ: Mr. Thrill DJ & Bands / Ceremony Music: String Music / Shuttle Bus: Bongo Bus