We’re no strangers to gorgeous Hill Country weddings around these parts. In fact, we can’t get enough of them! They’re charming and oh-so-pretty without a fussy detail in sight. That’s why we’re going gaga over this next wedding, sent into us by Claire McCormack Photography. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from a country wedding and then some! We’re loving the bright pops of color and how each bridesmaid got to rock the dress of her choice. Click here for even more!
From Leslie Washburne, the Mother of the Bride… What happens when our daughter and her intended live in Cairo, Egypt, the groom’s family lives in Canada, and my husband and I have never formally met the bridegroom or his family? Add to the mix guests coming in from all over the world and a large extended family. You plan a wedding week! Our daughter Sarah was adamant that her wedding needed to be immediate family only (meaning parents and siblings) and very close friends. She wanted everyone to get to know each other in a relaxed, unhurried setting without all the hubbub generated by that large extended family I just mentioned. But what to do about aunts, uncles, cousins and other friends who want to celebrate with the newly-married couple and join in all the fun. Our solution evolved through many long-distance phone calls and emails. We decided to have a small, intimate garden wedding midweek, just twenty in all, in Fredericksburg Texas, which is where we live. The venue was easy, since I own a small inn, Hoffman Haus. It was a beautiful day, amazingly mild considering it was mid-July in Texas, with blue skies and singing birds. Maggie Gillespie created an incredible bower by the pond in our garden where Sarah and Adam were married, then we moved back inside to the Great Hall, where we enjoyed a delicious four course lunch and toasted the happy couple.
Our next party, for all those who weren’t at the wedding, was a beautiful garden party, held in my mother’s backyard in Dallas the following Saturday. What fun it was planning that! Sarah gave me complete artistic license to do as I pleased, and I was incredibly fortunate to hire Kate and Katey with Stems of Dallas who turned my mother’s home and garden into a riot of flowers. It was stunning! Tim Thobe (of City Café) and I had the best time coming up with a buffet menu that was as old-fashioned as they come. Many of the recipes borrowed from a grandmother or aunt, and they were all southern classics that had guests coming back for second and third helpings. The music was light and jazzy, and the evening was kept cool by huge fans and a small breeze. It was a sweet evening, where all our family and friends could get to know Adam and his charming family. Planning a wedding long-distance and planning two events in two different cities might sound daunting, but with my fabulous assistant (and dear friend) Courtney, it all came together seamlessly. Having Luis of Carmona Weddings help us “day of” was a godsend too, he was amazing. Being the MOB for two parties instead of one was a special treat, and I will always treasure those memories!
Fredericksburg Wedding:
Wedding Photography: Claire McCormack Photography / Wedding Venue: Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas / Floral Design: Maggie Gillespie Designs / Catering: My Own Chef / Wedding Invitations: Fredericksburg Paper Goods / Rentals: Class A Rentals / Wedding Dress: J.Crew
Dallas Garden Party:
Photography: Claire McCormack Photography / Venue: Highland Park, The Home of the Bride’ Grandmother in Dallas, Texas / Floral Design: Stems of Dallas / Day-of Coordination: Carmona Weddings / Catering: City Café / Wedding Cake: Dallas Affaires Cake Company / Music: Stoney / Rentals: Ducky-Bob’s