We love, love, love The Nichols around these parts, and it’s easy to see why after you take a peek at all the pretty below. They have this amazing way of capturing weddings that make you feel like you were right there, celebrating the stylish couple with champagne in hand. And oh what a wedding this one would have been to attend, because not only is is packed with pretty from amazing vendors like Wayfarers’s Creative, The Left Handed Calligrapher and Sprout, but it’s also just about as sweet as they come. See why we can’t stop gushing here.
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From the Bride…Eli and I selected Mansefeldt Ranch in Cherry Spring for our ceremony and reception. The private estate holds special meaning for us, as we reconnected at a friend’s wedding there six years ago almost to the day. We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of our Texas Hill Country roots and both of our personalities. Eli loves boots, beer, and barbeque, while I lean toward champagne, chandeliers, and fine china. Even though our tastes could be considered opposite, they somehow compliment each other perfectly. I’ve always been drawn to the combination of pairing something very rustic with something equally elegant, from home decor to fashion. Our wedding style evolved quite effortlessly, simply by choosing items we liked, and embracing the juxtaposition of these two themes.
Eli and I share a love of hunting – we used deer antlers from my family’s ranch for decor throughout the venue. Rugged shed horns and burlap table runners were paired with mismatched vintage china, mercury glass votives, and lush, ruffly floral arrangements on the guest tables. My mother and I love all things vintage and enjoy collecting antiques. Many of the treasures we have gathered over the years found their way into our decor – metal arrows used for outdoor signage, shabby chic wooden frames for calligraphy chalkboards, a rusty bed spring for escort cards, a sewing machine drawer for wedding programs, silver trays and glass cake pedestals for tiny pies, etc. Hay bales from my family’s ranch were covered with my mother’s heirloom quilts for additional outdoor seating. We rented vintage church pews and a large crystal chandelier for the outdoor ceremony held beneath two large live oak trees, and vintage furniture for the cocktail hour in the old rock sheep barn. My mom and I bonded over the 16 months of planning, and thoroughly enjoyed weaving the details of our antique chic vision into reality. We were able to relax the day of the wedding, knowing every design element would be perfectly executed by our fabulous weekend-of coordinator and wonderful florist.
Eli and I had many favorite moments on our wedding day. Among my favorites was immediately following the ceremony, the first few minutes we shared as a married couple. I remember my heart being filled with pure joy and wedded bliss as we were surrounded by our closest family and friends congratulating us. Eli says his favorite moment was seeing me for the first time on that day, walking down the aisle toward him, that he could not wait for me to get to him, to hold my hand and begin the ceremony.
From The Nichols …Just wanted to mention another thoughtful detail–Hilary and Eli incorporated crowns into their decor as the cake topper, etc. since Eli’s last name (and now Hilary’s) is King.
Also, how adorable is the giant bow that Hilary added to her dress for the reception? Too cute.
Photography: Nichols Photographers | Videography: 31FILMS | Coordinator: Jasper Eisenberg | Floral Design: Sprout | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Sophie's Bakery | Reception Venue: Mansefeldt Ranch | Catering: August E's | Make-Up: Rae Cosmetics | Hair: Lucy Skyrocket | Calligrapher: Wayfarer's Creative | Band: Mike and the Moonpies | Venue: Mansefeldt Ranch | Calligrapher (Invitations): The Left Handed Calligrapher | Ceremony Musicians: Hill Country Strings | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Vintage Rentals: Sisters Vintage Party