This is my kind of wedding. Mainly because they served biscuits and mimosas. But also because one look through Jenna McElroy’s pretty pics and you can just feel the sense of quiet joy that made this brunch inspired celebration so very special. Color Theory Collective infused just the right amount of floral loveliness so that the beauty of the venue shone through and the focus was on the spectacular bride and her handsome groom. See it all right this way!
From the Bride… Richard and I lived in Austin for several years, and spent a few years prior to that in Houston. It was fitting that our wedding take place where we were currently living, minimizing pragmatic planning details and giving us the chance to share our love for Austin with our out of state family and friends.
I have always envisioned a morning wedding, so a Sunday brunch setting fell quickly into place. A Sunday wedding also gave us the chance to spend the prior few days with loved ones, allowing guests to trickle in and spend the weekend exploring Austin. One of our favorite dates is grabbing brunch. I opt for something sweet and he orders something savory. We wanted our wedding to have the same low key, lazy Sunday morning vibe of those memories. I loved the idea of film photography, especially to capture soft morning light. Jenna McElroy was available and very sweet to work with. Our images truly capture the joy of our special day.
Our venue search was fairly painless – Richard found Canyonwood Ridge online and we visited and booked that same day. The chapel is actually their Plan B, but the minute we stood at the alter, surrounded by the soft fall light, we knew it was where we would say our “I do’s”. Dagar’s Catering did an immaculate job of organizing my thoughts on the menu, building a cohesive proposal that fit our budget and the casual Sunday brunch vibe. Plates were piled high with brioche French toast, Texas field greens salad, quiche Florentine, rosemary roasted potatoes, honey baked ham, fruit and fresh buttermilk biscuits. My Dad is a master at the grill and our day couldn’t be complete without his slow cooked, pulled pork BBQ. We served assorted Shiner beers, Tito’s hard lemonade with crushed strawberries, bottomless mimosas, rose, and champagne. Prior to the reception, my Mom put together a beautiful spread of cheeseboards on the patio. The September weather was a dream – balmy and bright, with thankfully low humidity.
Each of our vendors did a wonderful job. Our wedding colors were cabernet and blush, and the organic beauty in Color Theory Collective’s florals was certainly a highlight. They were consistent to work with and delivered phenomenal florals, aligned with the vision I described and right on target in my budget – even including orchids in my bouquet, just like my Mom and Grandma had carried. Innumerable details were left up to one of my best friends, Megan Alexander, who selflessly gave up her every free minute to help me orchestrate our special Sunday.
We did a few things to maximize our budget: I found my dress through a lady who buys wedding dresses via sample sales and EBay, and I only paid $100 for it upfront. Our paper suite (invites, programs) I found on as an Etsy download, which I then customized, printed and cut myself. Our wedding cake was lovingly made by my Grandma and Aunt. I also ordered a Chantilly Berry cake from Whole Foods the week of – because when is there ever enough cake! My sisters stepped up and helped too: one shrewdly made 150 napkins out of IKEA dish towels, another picked up flowers locally and made the flower crowns. My bridesmaid found our yummy biscotti favors via a fantastic vendor on Etsy (Berkshire Biscotti) and then personalized the packaging by hand (they even offered gluten free and dairy free options too!) A friend from college does fantastic lettering (Rachel Chen) and offered to do all my signage for cost and materials as a gift. The alcohol was bought wholesale through my parent’s friends, and my Mom bought all the champagne glasses on sale, keeping them after the wedding for my other sister’s weddings (four little sisters!)
Planning your wedding can feel overwhelming but driving away with my husband into the dusk, off to Santorini on our honeymoon, the world couldn’t have felt more perfect and I would plan it all over to replicate that feeling of pure joy!
Photography: Jenna McElroy | Floral Design: Color Theory Collective | Wedding Dress: Heidi Elnora Atelier | Shoes: Gianni Bini | Rings: Calvin's Fine Jewelry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lulu's | Catering: Dagar’s Catering of Austin | Makeup + Hair: Vivavoce | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Canyonwood Ridge | Film Scans: PhotoVision Prints | Paper Design: San Fransisco Crafts