I knew I was going to love this wedding the moment I read the gorgeous bride’s description. I mean, a moody, glam, ranch look? She’s speaking my language. From the golden glitter dotting every table to the cowhide accents to the ghost chairs in a decidedly sweet garden setting, every last moment planned + designed by Bird Dog Wedding is absolute perfection. Head to THE VAULT for a full day of beautiful images captured by Shaun Menary and prepare to be amazed, my friends.
From the Bride… For me, I needed three things on our wedding day: the perfect planners, the perfect photographer to capture it all, and originality. I knew that I had to have our wedding ceremony at Hotel Saint Cecilia long before I was ever engaged. I’m a lover of design, architecture, and original styles, and this place is filled to the brim. You add to that the most fabulous planners and people in Emily at Bird Dog Wedding and Shaun and Shannon Menary of Shaun Menary photography, and I was set from the beginning. I wanted all my bridesmaids in emerald green, gold, white or black, and I didn’t care which combination. I loved giving them the freedom to show their personalities in the dress they chose. I decided on no bouquets (except for mine of course!) and replaced them with flowers in their hair or flowers tied around their wrists. This way whoever was not at the ceremony would know who my people are the rest of the evening!
We chose to have our reception at the fabulous Hotel Ella featuring Goodall’s restaurant and my favorite hotel bar in Austin, the Parlor Bar. Talk about another design dream of mine. Kat Kinney and her team helped create and plan the best dining and reception experience ever. If you haven’t been, go. Now!
I chose black and white, emerald green, gold, cowhide, deer antlers, lucite, and shearlings to be the main staples of our day. Kind of this moody, glam, ranch look. Is that a thing? (Pinterest helped a lot.) I wanted every thing that we created to speak to the next from the details on our invitation to the place settings and decor. And what better way to make everything pop than with Carly of Margot Blair Florals! Also one of the coolest people I’ve ever had the chance to work with. It was so important to me to have this wedding reflect Brian and me, find ways to be truly original, and have everyone that comes relax and enjoy themselves. Emily and Celeste of Bird Dog Wedding made that a reality!
Looking back I have two favorite things about that day. One was getting ready with my bridesmaids in the suite (as cliché as it is, it’s the truth). Not a worry in the world, listening to records, sipping on chardonnay, taking photos on polaroids I gave them all the night before and just enjoying each other. The other was my bouquet. The floral combination and black ribbon to the floor, I died. Bravo, Carly! Oh also, marrying my husband, obviously.
For planning brides – have people you genuinely like help you plan, photograph, do makeup, do florals, etc. Spend the time to find the RIGHT people that understand you and what you want. There was truly nothing better than having a team of people around me that I trusted completely and that got me. I loved going to every meeting because it meant I got to catch up with each of them and hear about their days! I had a new group of friends after, and that’s pretty special.
Photography: Shaun Menary Photography | Floral Design: Margot Blair Floral | Wedding Dress: Second Summer Bride | Cake: La Victoria Bakery | Invitations: Gold Fox Paper | Reception Venue: Hotel Ella | Bride's Shoes: Arte Latica | Makeup: Donna Bruns | Hair: Salon Hush | DJ: Johnny Bravvo | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Event Design + Coordination: Bird Dog Wedding | Furniture Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Getting Ready Venue: Hotel Saint Cecilia | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Photo Booth: Annie Ray | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Transportation + Getaway Car: Transportation Consultants