Every wedding dress has its story. Hearing how that oh so important gown was chosen always has my full attention, and this lovely gown has a darling story indeed. Custom made and inspired by the bride’s grandmother’s dress, it just proves that timeless elegance is just that – timeless. Not to mention that bow just tied itself around my dress-loving heart! Swoon! The entire affair is just as perfect and captured in a way that only The Nichols can. I am in love, and I am pretty sure you will be too after spending some time in the full gallery of images!
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From the Bride…Chad and I are both proud TCU Horned Frogs and met in Fort Worth. We love all things Texas, and decided we wanted to get married in the heart of the Lone Star State, Austin. When we first saw Laguna Gloria, we knew right then it was the place. We loved the history of Laguna and its past owners, and the Italianate house on the ground reminded me of my time studying abroad in Florence.
After a long day of wedding dress shopping with my mom and grandmother, we had still not found “the one,” and we started discussing my grandmother’s dress. My late great-grandmother, Dan Mommie, made the dress in 1948. They bought the French cotton eyelet-type fabric, and created the dress from a Vogue pattern. The dress had not been out of its box in decades and, much to our excitement, it was in fabulous condition. I contacted Patti Flowers Design Studio, and after almost a year of work, she was able to create exactly what I had envisioned in my head. My Aunt Lu gave me a diamond necklace she had made for me from my late paternal grandmother’s wedding ring. She also gave me a handkerchief to wear pinned inside my dress that belonged to my paternal great-grandmother (dad’s mom’s side) that has her monogram in navy blue–my something blue. My paternal great-grandmother’s cameo (dad’s dad’s side) was given to me weeks before the wedding and worn around the stem of my bouquet for the ceremony.
We incorporated a lot of DIY projects and were all about using vintage and recycled finds. All of the milk glass used on the tables was collected by family members over the last year at flea markets and antique shops all over Texas (and some from Virginia). The milk glass cake plate that was used as the centerpiece of our table belonged to my maternal great-grandmother. I have many fond memories of her coconut cake resting on it. We found antique glass dishes with a gold “P” on them that held the gold leaf- and chocolate-covered almonds that were on each table, along with various other sweet treats for our guests to enjoy during the evening. My uncle and I spent countless hours making the garland for all of the handrails. We used rope and twine, and created flower cutouts from antique Collier Dictionary pages (Collier also being my middle name, my mother’s maiden name) and recycled paper. My Uncle Greg used many yards of DanMommie’s hemming tape to wrap the stems of all the bouquets and boutonnieres.We used crepe myrtle branches collected from all over our neighborhood to make the altar. My mom and I spent late nights stenciling and, along with the help of my Aunt Susu, made the linen runners for all of the concrete benches. The large antique iron chandelier above our table belongs to family, and we stenciled the “P” on the sides for a personal touch. Chad and I made our programs from recycled paper and printed them at home. I hand painted the menu on a large canvas, and although it wasn’t very easy to read.
Chad and I did a “first look,” and loved having a private moment together before the ceremony. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Nancy McCranie, who was fabulous. One of our favorite moments was exchanging our vows that we wrote together. Our first dance was the Wilson Pickett’s “Something You Got,” and started the reception off with a bang. We ended the reception with a sparkler send off surrounded by our close friends and family. Despite the record-setting Texas heat, we had a breezy getaway ride in a ’61 Buick Electra while being serenaded by the Swingers soundtrack, and headed for the Driskill Hotel Bar for our after party. On the drive away we had a great view of downtown Austin and the Texas Capitol. The stars at night truly are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.
Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Venue: Laguna Gloria / Catering + Wedding Cake: Word of Mouth Catering / Floral + Event Design: Greg O’Neil / DJ: Byrne Rock / Hair + Make-Up: Laura Wyrtzen / Exit Car: Frank Frericks / Wedding Dress: Bride’s Grandmother’s redesigned by Patti Flowers Design Studio / Wedding Videography: SilverTree Austin / Minister: Nancy McCranie / Water Bottle Labels: Oh Louise! / String Quartet: Quartetto Lirico, String Quartet / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Letterpress Invitations: William Arthur