There are about a million and one reasons that I happen to adore this darling Fredericksburg wedding (I’m looking at you, beautiful blooms from Visual Lyrics and fab paper goods from The Occasional Hello), but I have to say my favorite detail of all is the obvious love these two sweeties have for each other; the kind of love that jumps straight from the computer screen and fills your entire heart. It’s a love that’s making every moment captured by James Dvorscak Photography pure bliss… and every last gorgeous second planned by Your Wedding, Your Way downright awesome. Join me in the gallery for so much more.
From the Bride… Jaime and I love old, European style churches and had toured a few of the Texas Painted Churches in Fredericksburg. Once we got engaged, we decided to try to get married in one of them. Most of the painted churches are in very small towns except for St. Mary’s in Fredericksburg. When we called the church a few days after our engagement, we were told that only members could get married there. A few weeks later, in casual conversation with one of my grad school professors, he mentioned that he was a member of that very church. He very generously offered to “sponsor” us so that we could get married there! We were very lucky and happy to be given such an amazing gift. A few days later, I left for a trip to Asia for a month. Jaime went to Fredericksburg over the Christmas holiday with his Uncle and the two of them picked out the reception and rehearsal dinner venues. I think I may be the only bride in history to have handed over these duties to the groom!
The Tin Star Ranch in Fredericksburg was the ultimate Texas venue for our reception. We had family coming from all over the United States and Mexico and for many this was their first time in the great state of Texas. Our reception was in the Longhorn Palace Saloon, a replica saloon complete with brothel rooms on the second story where many of our guests stayed. There is a Western town in front of the saloon including a replica Alamo. It was quite a treat for our guests!
It was important to Jaime and I to bring aspects of both of our cultures into our wedding day. Fredericksburg is a historic town settled by Germans and being that my family is mostly German, it was the perfect location! We served German fare at the rehearsal dinner, which was in a bier garten at The Fredericksburg Brewing Company. Jaime’s family is of Mexican descent, so we infused many touches of his culture as well. During our ceremony, Jaime’s cousins, Fabiola and Lalo, presented us with the “lasso”, a traditional part of Mexican wedding ceremonies. It resembles a large rosary and is placed around the bride and groom to symbolize unity.
The night we got engaged, Jaime surprised me by gathering our families together at a restaurant near where he proposed. That night, Jaime’s mom gave me a beautiful pair of heirloom earrings. Her father was a jeweler and these earrings have been in the family for many, many years. It was amazing because I absolutely love them and knew that I wanted to wear them on the wedding day as soon as she gave them to me. I wore my mom’s pearls as my “something borrowed” during the ceremony and then changed to these earrings and the monogram necklace Jaime had made for me as my wedding gift during the reception.
I found a shop on Etsy to create a papel picado, a traditional Mexican party decoration, with our names that we hung at the venue. I have always loved the intricacy of this decor and would often make it with my students during my days as a Spanish teacher. I also spent a summer studying in Guanajuato, Mexico, which is near the birthplace of Jose Guadalupe Posada, a famous Mexican artist whose most famous images are associated with the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. I have since collected Day of the Dead figurines and Jaime and I have some of Posada’s art in our house. The bride and groom dolls were given to me at the fiesta-themed bridal shower my bridesmaids’ threw for me a few days before the Day of the Dead. They decorated the shower with papel picado, paper flowers, and sugar skulls. It was absolutely perfect and fit us to a tee!
A mariachi band, a staple at many family parties, played during the cocktail hour, going table by table and taking requests from the crowd. It wouldn’t be an Ortegon party without Mariachi! The Mexican wedding cookies were brought by some of Jaime’s family that came from Mexico just for our day. They even used our wedding logo to decorate the bags. Jaime and I love macarons…they are our favorite dessert. We often bring them home to each other and try out new flavors and varieties in different places when we travel. Having these sweets on the dessert table was a no-brainer. The little details were so special to us. Inspired by my wedding gown, we incorporated lace throughout elements of our day, most prominently in our wedding invitations. I had one guest tell me that she carried the invitation around in her purse for a couple of weeks just to show people how pretty it was. We were thrilled with how our story was told throughout our wedding day and wouldn’t have changed a thing!
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Photography: James Dvorscak Photography | Wedding Planning: Stefanie Yandell of Your Wedding, Your Way | Floral Design: Visual Lyrics | Reception Venue: Tin Star Ranch | Rehearsal Dinner: The Fredericksburg Brewing Company | Invitations: The Occasional Hello | Calligraphy: Blue Eye, Brown Eye | Ribbon Wands: Handmade by Heather 4U | Cinematography: Brian Dooley | Cake + Macarons: Krissy’s Cakes | Guest Tree Poster: Peachwik | Papel Picado: Ay Mujer | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Shoes: Something Bleu | Veil: Alisa Brides | Earrings: Ortegon family heirloom | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung by Dessy Group | Tuxes: JcPenney | Groom’s Boots: Ariat |