If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you cross backyard elegance with a little cultural flair, this wedding holds the answer. Designed by LUXE Event Decor and covered in blooms by Uptown Flowers, it’s black tie glam with an Arabian fusion, and the result is something truly special. Prepare for jaw-dropping goodness captured by J Wilkinson Co, and you can click here for so much more.
From the Bride…. Having Arab blood in me I have always been drawn to Arabian style. There is a mystery and a beauty that is deep in the culture. I arrived at my style by looking at a lot of pictures on Pinterest, online and going with what felt good in my spirit. I just had a lot of fun, I added ideas my friends and vendors had. The raj tents took my breath away. When it came to making decisions about the decor I asked myself, does it fit within the context of what I want to experience on my wedding day?
Before I met Chris, I was learning about the power of intention, setting the intention and then believing and trusting God for the mechanisms and the results. I wrote…”I want to be in a healthy, wildly romantic, passionate, and long lasting relationship with a wonderful man on or before 90 days.” Signed up for Match.com. Within a month I was already chatting with Chris. While at first I did not think we were a match – city girl meets real ranching cowboy if you know what I mean – the sparks between us were undeniable. It was my daughter who insisted I give him a chance. I’m really glad I did.
Chris proposed on a night that was storming in San Antonio. We had gone out to dinner with his friend Brian and had planned on going dancing yet because of the weather decided to take his friend who was staying at Chris house home. The storm got worse and lights went out at Chris’s house. Chris and I were embracing and kissing when all of a sudden he tells me he has a ring. It was a romantic night. I felt silly thinking surly he is kidding. Sure enough it was happening. He was proposing.
His home has impressive, top to bottom main room windows and some wall to wall windows in other rooms. I felt shock when he asked and was not expecting it. As soon as he placed the ring on my finger lightning hit the transformer in his back yard. Sparks went everywhere as if you were in a fireworks show. He’s proposal was heart felt and timing could not have been more perfect as scared as i felt and unprepared. It was also his grandmother Mary’s ring, who was very special in his life. That made it super special for me.
I feel there were so many special touches starting with our guest list. We were surrounded by people we had real connection with. To make it super special for the guest, I printed images of all our guests. Images of special times in our lives with them or just great images of them. We ask them to sigh in on the back or front of the image that was mounted on art board. Many left some crazy amazing love notes that had me crying on the couch as I read them after our wedding.
As a photographer in the industry I was blessed to have my best friend who was a wedding planner plan my wedding. I was supported by many great friends in the industry, who with great joy and excitement showed up to play, give and work the event. We released Chinese lanterns as the sun set as a tribute to both our grandmothers and Chris’s mom who had past away before I met him. Our vows were beautiful and vulnerable. For someone who does not cry especially in public I was a mess.
One of the most special moments was when it started raining and sheet lighting covered the sky as we were photographed by Jeanann Wilkinson. In the rain and I felt the presence of God blessing our day.
Photography: J Wilkinson Co Fine Art Photography | Wedding Planning + Design: Tracy Reeder - Ooh La-La Couture Events | Floral Design: Uptown Flowers | Wedding Cake: Cathy Young | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Signature Catering | Food: Taco Truck | Band: China Town Band | Band: Nick Laurence Country Band | Tuxedos: Heights Tuxedo | Venue: Denman Estate | Raj Tents: Luxe Event Decor | Rentals: Luxe Event Decor | Rentals: Touch Of Elegance | Wedding Cards: Sonny Danny Graves | Wedding Dress Designer: The Bridal Salon of San Antonio