Sam Houston Park Wedding by Alyse French Photography

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.

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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