Texas Weddings

If you thought Kara and Bill planned just another country club wedding, think again. Because their sweet summer soiree? Well, it’s a total stunner. From the Bride’s backless ballgown, to the monogrammed cake, every detail Mint Photography captured is crazy chic and we’ve got it all in The Vault!

From Mint Photography…Kara and Bill’s gorgeous black tie wedding was a stunner in so many ways! Kara looked like a modern day princess in her Lazaro gown. The detailing on the bodice and the full skirt was breathtaking and we love how she paired the gown with a soft classic look for her hair, so chic! The floral was amazing and the perfect color scheme to keep things elegant and blend with the country club beauty. From the overall style and perfectly soft color palette of the wedding, to the gorgeous setting and sunset on the golf course, it was a magical day. They finished out the evening with one of our favorite bands performing for the reception and as you’ll see it was one heck of a party!

Photography: Mint Photography | Cinematography: Moonlit Weddings | Coordination: Life Styled Events | Floral Design: Stems Floral Design + Event Styling | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Invitations: The Inviting Pear | Ceremony Venue: Westminster Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue: Austin Country Club | Hair + Makeup: Flair Style Lounge | Band: Matchmaker Band | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

Whether or not you believe in fate, this love story is proof that meeting “the one” often happens just when you least expect it. Take the bride Molli who had just moved to a new city and, prompted by her dad’s advice, struck up a conversation with strangers at a local burger bar. One of those strangers later turned out to be her husband, Zach. They planned a wedding at the Allan House and you can dive into the pictures from JP Pratt Photography.

Their love story.. Newly graduated, Molli moved to Orlando, Florida for a new job. It was a new city and she didn’t know anyone in town. Lonely, and seeking community, she called her dad asking for advice. In all his fatherly wisdom, he told her to find the best “hangout” spot in town and wait to meet someone. She took his advice and ended up at a local burger bar! After sheepishly sharing her dad’s advice with the bartender, he pointed out a group of locals who shared a career in the same industry as Molli – sports. She got up the courage and walked over, introduced herself, and became friends with the group. Little did she know, she had just met her husband, Zach, and all of his closest friends!

Zach went to school in Austin and took Molli to visit his alma mater while they were dating. She quickly fell in love with the city and they even adopted a dog and named him Austin! Zach’s work took them to Utah and he proposed on the Snake River Overlook at the base of the Grand Teton Mountains. As they began to plan their wedding, their choice on location was obvious… It had to be in Austin, Texas! It was so clear how in love Molli and Zach were on their wedding day but it was also so incredible to see how loved they are by their friends and family.

Guests traveled from 18 different states and even Italy to celebrate these two! They had a beautifully intimate ceremony under a canopy of trees at The Allan House just outside of Downtown Austin. Following the ceremony was the outdoor reception which was accompanied by an incredible live band and loads of dancing. Everything from the greenery, peonies and ranunculus floral arrangements to the basketball shaped peanut butter cake pops, and the fresh lemon curd and raspberry filled cake screamed Molli and Zach. My favorite detail about their day was their grand exit. As they left for their honeymoon in Italy, their guests waved Italian flags as they ran to their getaway vehicle – a pedicab!

Photography: JP Pratt Photography | Coordination: In Her Shoes Coordination | Floral Design: Clementine Botanical Art | Wedding Dress: Alta MODA | Cake: Green Lily Bakery | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: The Peached Tortilla | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Band: The Grooves | Officiant: Spoken Heart Ceremonies | Venue: Allan House

It’s weddings like this one captured by Nicole Berrett Photography and Candlelight Films that truly make my heart happy. Filled with beautiful blush accents and a stunning outdoor ceremony, this is one celebration that redefines Southern romance and we’ve got every bit of the beauty waiting for you in The Vault!

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From Nicole Berrett Photography… The bride Jessica is one of my dear friends. She herself is a very talented photographer, and it was such an honor to be there to document her special day!! She hired a wonderful team of vendors, and then put so much trust in each vendor to use their own creative voice, and it just came together like a dream!!

From the Bride… JJ and I met in college, and he asked me on a date our sophomore year! I wasn’t too smitten after the first date though, and I still feel horrible to this day! I don’t know what was wrong with me, I know now that was the man of my dreams! He was so patient to wait for me, and when we started dating a year later, we fell in love very quickly. After college we spent three years as a long distance couple, so getting married meant the world to us. We were so excited to finally start our lives together, and love getting to walk through life with each other.

Picking a favorite moment from the entire day is impossible. There are too many moments from the entire weekend that mean too much to me. If I was forced to pick one, exchanging gifts with each other was so special. That was one moment that wasn’t photographed, and we’ll always have just for us. The words and gifts we shared with each other were so meaningful, and I can’t imagine that moment being any sweeter. But there are so many favorite moments in general. The first look was incredible, and I will never forget that. I also loved saying our vows, walking down the aisle, just being pronounced husband and wife, eating dinner just the two of us, and getting up on stage and singing like an idiot at the reception!

My biggest advice to all brides is to do your wedding for yourself, not for others. With resources like Pinterest and social media, it’s easy to want things for your wedding that feel pretty, but may not represent yourselves. Don’t forget that your wedding is a celebration of your relationship and future, don’t get too caught up in the “looks” of your wedding. Trust me, I completely understand wanting a beautiful wedding, and I am so blessed to have had vendors that delivered my dream. But the dresses and flowers and colors don’t mean anything if your heart doesn’t remember what really matters. Some days you just need to put down the magazine or close your laptop, and tell your fiancé how much you love him.

Photography: Nicole Berrett Photography | Cinematography: Candlelight Films | Floral Design: Everly Alaine Florals | Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Makeup: Lola Beauty | Calligraphy: Wondrous Whimsy | Wedding Venue: Barr Mansion | Event Planner + Event Stylist: Lindsey Brunk | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals

It’s pretty darn tough to top a proposal in the French Alps, but sure enough, Rodan and Billy did just that. Their guests were treated to a black-tie garden party including one epic family-style table designed in the hands of 36th Street Events. Intention and heart were behind every detail of the day and Michelle Boyd and Gentry Railsback captured the pretty you won’t want to miss.

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From Michelle Boyd Photography… How to describe Rodan and Billy’s day? … Intentional. From start to finish, this wedding day was full of sweet and intimate details. Our sweet bride and groom thought of so many ways to give their guests and families a beautiful, welcoming, and FUN experience, which only highlighted the sincerity and kindness in both of their hearts. Usually when I arrive to photograph the bride getting ready, things can be a bit hectic. But not on this day! I entered into the hotel to see a room full of Rodan’s closest friends simply sitting with their bride, encouraging her, telling stories, and laughing with each other. But it was when Rodan, in preparation for the day, read her vows aloud to her ladies, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room that I realized we were in for a very special day. When we arrived at Laguna Gloria, it felt like we had been transported to a little oasis. Clementine’s floral design embraced the natural greenery of our venue, and enhanced the feeling that we were in someone’s elegant backyard garden. 36th Street pulled off a flawless affair, from the moment guests arrived, until Rodan and Billy departed under the sparklers. From cold custom cocktails to greet guests on our toasty April day, to music throughout every moment of the day, and dinner under twinkle lights and stars – every part of Rodan and Billy’s day was magical!!

From the Bride…

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

My fiancé and I got engaged on an epic hike through the French Alps and that was where we really fell in love with the immersive consuming beauty of nature. Afterwards, I knew I wanted to be married somewhere lush and outdoorsy to try and recapture some of the visual beauty of where we got engaged. Simultaneously, I wanted a really elegant wedding. I knew I wanted tuxes and gold details in my tablescape. I wanted to keep a lot of those amazing traditional details, so a lot of my vision for our wedding was about balancing the two themes. In the end, I ended up creating a visual mood board that helped me narrow and really bring to life my vision.

What was your color palette and your style vision? 

Wanting something lush and yet elegant naturally created some boundaries for what colors I wanted in the wedding. Once I knew I was getting married in Austin, as opposed to some of the other locations I was looking at, I knew I wanted a lot of green. Eucalyptus is also one of our favorite trees so green as base color made a lot of sense. From there white, rose and a deeper dusty blue made sense to give it a romantic and elegant feel. At the very last moment, I decided to include some details of red because in the Chinese culture, red is the symbol of good luck and celebration. 

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We sprinkled bits of DIY details throughout the wedding process. For our website, we created a Pinterest map of all the fun places to go to in Austin bucked into things like shopping, eating and fun local activities. For our welcome bags handed out to guests at the Welcome Drinks, my mother-in-law made small batch pecan bourbon for a special Texas touch. As for our invitations, I worked for weeks with a talented illustrator / designer to create the perfect crest and designed our invitation to exactly match the tone I was trying to achieve for our wedding.

What was your favorite moment?

Every moment was awesome, it’s so hard to pick one. Obviously the vows and ceremony itself stand out as the most special moment, but after we said “I Do”, our photographer walked us around the venue to the back of the museum where we would take photos and seeing everything come to life – things I had spent months dreaming of and putting together – it was really special and magical. All of my favorite details were there – the beautiful array of candles, plates and eucalyptus, our personalized crests on the programs, the incredibly inventive and delicious catering.

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

It took me a long time to find my dress and even when I found it, I was kind of unsure right up until the final fitting. It was a beautiful gown by Reem Acra from a few seasons back and really perfect and elegant. The reason I had hesitancy was because I always kind of wanted a ball gown and the Reem Acra dress was so far from that. Looking back though, it really was the perfect dress. I kept the other accessories quite simple but ended up doing my hair and makeup in an old Hollywood way which I felt like was just the right amount of glamour to make me feel special on my wedding day but also kept me feeling like me. My fiancé wore a custom blue tux that he took a lot of pride in designing and it was the perfect compliment!

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

I would give three pieces of advice. First (and this is from my husband), whenever the festivities start, give your phone to someone else and just enjoy everything. From what was planned to what wasn’t – live the ride. We certainly did. We partied harder and cried harder than I think we could have imagined. Second, brides – don’t ever feel pressured to make a decision. Especially when you’re just getting your feet wet when venue picking. People will pressure you saying 10 other couples are looking at the exact wedding but don’t let them. Make the decision that feels best to you. Lastly, it’s worth it. No matter the stress – this was the very happiest and best day of our life. It all came together insanely better than we could have imagined and I wish I could do it all over again.

Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography | Videographer: Gentry Railsback | Wedding Coordination: 36th Street Events | Floral Design: Clementine Botanical Art | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Polkadots | Stationery : The Wells Makery | Catering: Contigo Austin | Hair & Makeup: Leah Moon | Calligraphy & Signage: J.RoCro Arts + Letters | Ceremony & Reception: Laguna Gloria | Ceremony Musicians: Live Oak Trio | Cocktail Musicians: Taylor & The Wild Now | Reception Musicians: TX Pro DJ | Wedding Design: 36th Street Events

Lindsey Brunk and Taylor Lord are here to show us all that wedding workshops? Well they’re the www.bomb.com. Because this photography + stylist shoot is any proof, we guarantee that we’ll all be vying for a spot next season. See it all in The Vault!

From Lindsey Brunk…It was such a joy to teach this workshop for photographers and stylists alongside Taylor Lord earlier this year! For this editorial, we were inspired by the gorgeous hues of the agave plants on Travaasa’s property and chose a simple color palette of white, cream and dusty green. We absolutely loved seeing our vision come together with this wonderful team of vendors!

Our bride wore a stunning Pronovias Atelier gown that is truly a piece of art. With incredible movement and delicate embellishment, this gown brought an elevated sense of elegance to our shoot while keeping things effortlessly beautiful.

One of my favorite elements of the day was the stunning raised dogwood garland Andi from Pollen Events made for our tabletop. By far one of the most innovative centerpieces I’ve ever seen, the colors and textures of her blooms and greenery absolutely blew me away.

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Event Planning: Lindsey Brunk | Styling: Lindsey Brunk | Floral Design: Pollen Events | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Stationery + Calligraphy: Fig & Flourish | Bride Model: Alyssa with The Brown Agency | Furniture Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Groom Model: The Campbell Agency | Location: Travaasa Austin | Ribbon: Adorn Company | Tabletop Rentals: The Ark Event Rentals

Call me crazy, but I’m already counting down the days until winter. Reason being? This totally elegant wedding celebration at The Contemporary Austin. A garden setting complimented by a super chic ceremony, it’s a day overflowing with design details that’ll have you dreaming about a cooler season. A celebration bursting with sentimental moments and a focus on family, Ashley Bosnick Photography has captured it all to share and it’s waiting for you in The Vault!

From The Bride…I look back on our wedding and can genuinely say that it was my dream wedding- it feels like a fairy tale, and I am so thankful for how everything came together. From the start, Jonathan and I most importantly wanted our wedding to glorify God and give thanks to Him, showing how it was He who brought us together and is the center of our relationship. And I had a clear vision for our wedding early on. I knew I wanted it to be very natural and elegant- neutral tones as a theme throughout the wedding (I’ve always said that my favorite color is beige!), combined with the natural beauty of the outdoors. I wanted an elegant and natural aesthetic, stylish yet timeless and with touches of our personal story.

Living in Austin, we wanted to make sure we utilized the beauty of the greenery and water that surrounds us here on a daily basis, and Laguna Gloria proved to be the perfect venue for the look we were desiring. As an interior designer I love every aspect of design, so I truly enjoyed the entire planning process. In all of the selections for our wedding, from my dress to the flowers to the long table and music and chandeliers, I loved the process and felt so fortunate to plan such a gorgeous wedding.

My wedding planner Ellen Westcott was also an extraordinary help in the process, as she continually pointed me in the right direction, was incredibly organized, and was a calm and supportive presence throughout the entire process.

A key piece of our wedding and story was our son Levi. I adopted Levi as a single mom from the Congo when he was 2 years old, and he and Jonathan fell instantly in love with each other when they met and instantly had the bond of father and son. Jonathan’s and my first date was a day at Disneyland with Levi, and we had a whirlwind romance from that moment on. We knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together within our first month of dating, and we were engaged within 3 months. Our dreams really did come true at Disneyland! One of our favorite details in the wedding was our Groom’s Cake by Sweet Treets Bakery, which had a Disneyland theme. Levi was the ring bearer in our wedding, and he stood up with the groomsmen during the ceremony. Jonathan and I wrote our own vows for the wedding, and in his vows Jonathan stated that he loved Levi with all his heart and “from this day forth, we will be a family and he will be my son.” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house at that moment (including my own)!

Three Branches Floral helped to create the gorgeous natural beauty and greenery that I was looking for in our wedding, and the venue itself created the most gorgeous backdrop that we could have hoped for. Ashley Bosnick was our photographer, and she captured the beauty of the night in the most spectacular and breathtaking way.

Another favorite detail of ours was that we ended the night by riding off in a boat on Lake Austin,
with Andrea Bocelli’s Say Goodbye playing from the speakers. We got to ride across the lake just the two of us after that, having the lake completely to ourselves at that hour, still playing Andrea Bocelli. I think it was the most romantic moment of my life!

We are so thankful to God for bringing us together, and to think that we were able to celebrate our marriage with so many of our closest family and friends in our dream wedding is almost too good to be true. Every detail came together so perfectly to make our wedding the culmination of my hopes and dreams since childhood. The only thing I wish I could have changed was that I wish it wasn’t all over so quickly! But now the best part of it all is that I get to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.

Photography: Ashley Bosnick Photography | Cinematography: Spinning Leaf Films | Event Planning: Westcott Weddings | Floral Design: Three Branches Floral Design | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Invitations + Calligraphy: Wondrous Whimsy | Lighting: Ilios | DJ: Greenbelt DJ | Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings | Venue: The Contemporary Austin | Boat Departure: Keep Austin Wet | Photo Booth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. | Rentals: Marquee Event Group | Vintage Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals

It takes a special kind of couple to roll with the punches, especially when that means finding a new venue just months before the big day. Their backup location, Garden Grove proved to be a pretty incredible “plan B” and Jenna McElroy told the story behind her camera lens. Go see the celebration unfold in The Vault!

From Jenna McElroy…Callie and Ian have an inspirational, contagious kind of love. When they were told mere months before their wedding date, that their original wedding venue would not be finished being built in time for their April 9 nuptials, the couple took everything in stride. They knew that everything happened for a reason, and that no matter what happened with the wedding details- that becoming husband and wife was the most important part, and that would happen venue or not.

They found a new venue- Garden Grove- and this was the very first wedding that the venue hosted. All of the vendors came together and helped to create a special, wonderful, and memorable day for this couple to remember and cherish forever.

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Cinematography: Adam Grumbo | Coordination: Blue Lotus | Event Design: Hello Lovely Wed | Cake: Bride's Table | Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations | Bride's Shoes: Dune | Catering: Pappa's | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Calligraphy: Whitney Farnsworth | Band: All Hat No Cadillac | Venue: Garden Grove | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Lounge | Earrings: BHLDN | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

This ethereal outdoor ceremony surrounded by nature and captured by the talented Jen Dillender Photography is what dreams are made of. With sweet personal touches such as a backdrop of calligraphy love poems created by the maid of honor to the most adorable crew of flower girls, you’ll want clear your morning to pour through all the prettiness here in The Vault!

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From Jen Dillender Photography…Under a tree adorned with beautiful flowers, Alexis and Cason tied the knot this past April. With a heavy emphasis on hospitality, they welcomed their loved ones with lush greenery, delicious food, and entertainment. The bride’s style was simple and elegant with the perfect details to complete the day.

From The Bride…We envisioned a very personal and heartfelt wedding. We wanted it to be a community event where people felt involved and included. We hoped that people would walk away feeling that our wedding was not solely about us but rather something bigger than us. We wanted people to know that our love for each other starts with and is animated by God’s love for us. We also wanted to create a joyous and memorable experience for all of our family and friends.

The style we envisioned was whimsical, soft, and ethereal. We wanted the colors to be soft and muted with lots of organic elements. We chose the flowers, the gown, the signage, the cake and all the decor touches to flow with the overall style of the wedding and venue. The Barr Mansion is already a gorgeous wedding venue, dressed with beautiful trees and flowers so we wanted the details to compliment it’s natural beauty rather than overshadow them. One of our most favorite details was the banner behind the cake. My talented maid of honor created a calligraphy back drop for the cake table with one of our favorite love poems on it. It added such an elegant touch!

Our favorite moment during our wedding was the surprise gospel choir that sang at the recession. Being an April fools wedding, we wanted the wedding to be full of entertaining surprises for the guest! Another surprise we had during the reception was a choreographed flash mob and dance off between the bridesmaids and groomsmen. We also had Gourdough’s, a local Austin gourmet doughnut truck, bring their signature airstream trailer at the end of the night for a late night treat!

One piece of advice I would give to brides to be is to enjoy each step of the wedding journey. It’s easy to get into the mindset of “once this is done, then I’ll be happy.” Each stage of the wedding planning process has it’s joys and challenges. Don’t dwell so much on the challenges that you fail to experience the joys!

Photography: Jen Dillender Photography | Cinematography: Heart Visuals | Floral Design: Rosehip Flora | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Lighting: Ilios | Band: Matchmaker Band | Venue: Barr Mansion | Cake + Catering: Barr Mansion | Donut Truck: Gourdough's | Event Planning + Styling: Leeves + Berries | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Photography - Assistance: Shalyn Nelson | Rentals: Barr Mansion | Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Signage, Banner + Table Numbers: Leeves + Berries

If you need a little reminding just how fun a pink, gold, confetti, and sparkles can be, let me introduce you to Megan and Louis. This Austin couple fully embraced all of the above for a whimsical garden party wedding with the help of Westcott Weddings, Bristol Lane Florals, and Jessica R. Crowell just to name a few. The incredible Sophie Epton photographed, and in our opinion, this is a gallery best viewed with champagne in hand. Cheers, Megan and Louis!

From The Bride…I didn’t know when Louis proposed it was going to open up a world to me, a world where we were not only planning a wedding but also meeting life long friends and securing my roots in Austin, Texas. I’m fairly new to this city and didn’t have a circle yet, and little did I know the journey of planning my wedding would lead me to all of these places! I fell into the wedding planning not really knowing what I was doing but fortunate enough to have crossed paths with the most incredibly talented people who quickly became my dream team.

My first meeting was with Sophie Epton Photography, and from the moment we met I knew she was going to be our photographer. I had done a little research on Sophie and was blown away with her work, and when we started chatting I was as impressed with her down to earth, inviting personality! It felt like we had already been lifelong friends, we had similar visions of what weddings are and what they should look like. I remember her asking me if I was looking into a wedding planner, which I had been. She suggested Ellen from Westcott Weddings, which ironically enough I had a meeting scheduled with the next day! Meeting with Ellen had a similar feeling…she was warm, gracious, and sweet. It felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend about my vision for our wedding. We bonded over our love of sprinkles, glitter and confetti, which to me are the three things that make this world go round! I knew Ellen was going to take my inspiration of a whimsical garden party and make it a reality.

From there, Ellen put me into contact with the rest of the ladies who would become my dream team! Meredith from Bristol Lane did our florals, and her visions and creations are incredible; Meredith’s love for cultivating relationships is what makes her so special, and I knew what she created for me would be extraordinary and perfect for our day. Jessica from J.Ro Cro Arts & Lettering designed the most whimsical invitations and signage. I had spoken with Jessica over the phone for our initial consultation, and a few days later while I was out running errands, I was checking out and handed over my credit card. The cute girl behind the counter looked at the card, looked back up and me and said “Megan? I’m Jessica, I’m doing your invitations. We spoke on the phone!” Basically, what’s behind all of this is each of these women were meant to come into my life, it was meant to be that these were the people I would go on the journey with and I couldn’t have asked for anything or anyone better. When looking for your perfect team of vendors to make your vision a reality, make sure to choose people who you trust. I conveyed my vision to all of them of what I was wanting and then said “do your thing!” That was the best decision I made, and the result was a day that was completely us and completely perfect!

We had a fairly small and intimate wedding celebration…we wanted to be able to look at each guest and give them a specific reason why they were there. We wanted our friends and family to feel as special and as loved as we did! Our wedding was a celebration of them, and we wanted to thank them for the love and support that has built a foundation that Louis and I are able to stand on and start our life together! Louis and I did a first look, which gave us the unique opportunity to see the vision come together! It’s pretty incredible to look over and see the set up of the tables, florals and just see how hard everyone was working to make it special for us.

It’s hard to choose just one favorite moment, because the day came together with so much love and joy that it was impossible not to smile! We were surrounded by people who love and support us, friends who have become family, family who are our friends and feel so honored to have them share in our special day. We are incredibly thankful for a wonderful wedding team who made our dream into a reality and who have become cherished friends.

From Westcott Weddings…From the moment I met Megan, I knew I was going to love working with her. She is so kind, genuine, and full of joy. And I think that’s the biggest takeaway I have from both the months we spent planning and her + Louis’s big day–so much joy! Throughout the planning process, I affectionately referred to Megan as my “pink, confetti, and sparkles bride,” and I think we were able to deliver on all three counts for her wedding. Working together, we used a color palette of “elevated pinks and golds” to create a happy, garden atmosphere, perfect for a spring wedding.

She and Louis were married in front of 65 of their closest friends and families, beneath strands of bright floral garlands. From there, guests gathered in the courtyard for drinks and appetizers. We served dinner from the P. Terry’s food truck–a perfect piece of Austin to share with their out-of-town guests! Once guests had grabbed their burgers, they dined together at family style tables outfitted with vintage china, sequin runners, and bright, beautiful blooms under strands of twinkling lights. After dinner we moved inside for dessert (all beautiful, delicious, and dusted with gold glitter!) and dancing.

I’m so thankful to the incredibly talented team who pulled together to make Megan and Louis’s day come together so beautifully! So many congratulations to the happy couple!

Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Floral Design: Bristol Lane Florals | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Rings: Rosados Box | Catering: P. Terry's | Catering: DNA Events | Hair + Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Mercury Hall | Bride's Sandals: Bella Belle | Chair Rentals: Sweet Sunday Events | Cocktail Hour Catering: Tiny Pies | Desserts: Green Lily Bakery | Earrings: ILioniti | Event Planning + Styling: Westcott Weddings | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan | Invitations + Signage: J.RoCro Arts + Letters | Lighting Design: Intelligent Lighting Design | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Ribbon: Silk and Willow

Hello fellow Brides-to-be! In my numerous months of wedding planning leading up to our Big Day, one of the items on my checklist I’ve had the most fun with is picking out a reception dress. I should also mention that we’re having an outdoor ceremony in Texas which means it will be very hot, so slipping into something breezier will provide quite a relief to me towards the end of the night!

I love the combination of nude and ivory, so this plunging neckline lace dress was a no brainer to add to this list! Not to mention the lace overlay against the nude slip is a beautiful combination worthy of a double-take (…which I assure you’ll receive plenty in this dress!). This particular dress comes in a few other combinations, so if you’re looking for white on white for your big day, that’s available, too.

This high neck lace number is pure magic! The combination of it being a form fitting dress with a high neckline and modest hem make the dress sexy yet classy – it’s a timeless pick and absolutely beautiful in photos. Though there are a ton of little white lace dresses to choose from, this one shines above the rest with the numerous details (did you catch the high-low lace back?) and overall knockout fit. Trust me, you’ll feel absolutely amazing in this dress – and it won’t break the bank!

For the fashion forward bride, I am in LOVE with the idea of wearing a gorgeous jumpsuit in place of a reception dress. Depending on how formal your wedding is, it would even be fun to wear a fabulous white or ivory silk romper and show some leg – definitely a good idea for a summer wedding! Keep you wedding shoes and jewelry as is, and swap your gown for something that allows you to command the dance floor (…can you tell we’ll be a dancing pair at our wedding? Ha!). A jumpsuit is classy, chic and elegant – and this one by Trina Turk gives off that old Hollywood glamour vibe that I adore so much.

If you’ve always envisioned yourself running to the car in your wedding gown, then by all means make that your wedding day reality! That’s the beauty of a wedding – you can make your vision come to life, whether than involves a quick outfit change or not. Given the amount of times we’ll wear white throughout the wedding planning process (think showers, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid luncheons), you can do no wrong investing in a timeless little white dress!

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Shop a few of my favorite reception dresses and jumpsuits below!

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Follow Olivia’s Journey:

Meet the Bride | Bridesmaids’ Gifts | Mistletoe Moment | Save the Date | Toned Arm Workout | Bridal Accessories

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Photography: Kathryn Frazer Photography | Wedding Venue: The Contemporary Austin | Blogger Bride:Olivia Watson | High Neck Lace Dress: ASTR | Jumpsuit: Trina Turk | Nude + Ivory Lace Dress: Dress The Population

This inspiration is what I’d like my life to look like – can someone arrange that? If not, I’ll be taking up residence in The Vault until my dreams become reality. Because with the talented Sophie Epton Photography behind the lens snapping up the beauty that is The Contemporary Art Museum At Laguna Gloria, well let’s just say that it’s a gallery fit for daydreams. See it all in The Vault!

From Sophie Epton Photography…Meghan is a natural beauty inside and out, and when I saw her wedding dress, I was so inspired by the intricate beading and sweeping shapes; I felt like I had stepped into an Art Nouveau film, and immediately knew the art movement would be the inspiration for her bridal! For our backdrop we chose Laguna Gloria, an incredible wedding venue in Austin, Texas built in 1916 to depict an Italian villa. The gorgeous sweeping greenery combined with the architectural stone railings paired perfectly with the ethereal feel of the shoot. Rosehip Flora provided the ideal bouquet of loose, whimsical blooms that worked so well with the color and shape of the dress, and Meghan’s look was finished off with soft but dramatic hair and makeup by Makenzi Laine. Although it was a windy day, the light coming through the greenery and movement created by the wind made for a stunning shoot that depicts a modern-day wedding interpretation of such a great art movement in history.

Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Event Design: Sophie Epton Photography | Floral Design: Rosehip Flora | Wedding Dress: Alon Livne | Engagement Ring: Glenn Gottlich | Hair + Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Venue: The Contemporary Austin | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

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

Nine times out of ten, losing your purse at a concert doesn’t end in a happily ever after, but for this lovely bride, it was a moment that led directly to her Prince Charming. What followed their movie-like meeting was an amazing romance, awesome proposal and a seriously romantic wedding from talented vendors like Pearl Events Austin, Belle Mariee and SMS Photography.  Head to THE VAULT for every moment, then stay tuned for a sweet film from ILC Films below.

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From the Bride… Let’s start with The College Chapter. Jason and I met in college at the University of Georgia. We were both at a concert at the Georgia Theatre and I lost my purse. This was not the first time (or the second or the third…) I had lost my purse and my concerns to my friends were met with little more than an eye roll. Jason was chatting with one of my friends he knew and stepped in and offered his services (Prince Charming). We found the purse in no time (spoiler alert: the bartender had it all along). That summer I studied abroad in Spain. I can now admit that I spent the entire summer thinking about that sweet boy I met in Athens. At the beginning of the next semester, we kept running into each other downtown. After quite a few times hanging out (read: dragging my friends to whichever bar I thought he might be frequenting), he asked me on a date to my favorite restaurant, The Last Resort Grill. That was almost 7 years ago.

We dated the rest of college. Jason was a year older than me and had a job already lined up in Atlanta, GA. I told him that I knew I wanted to move to NYC after college, no question. Jason was able to put in for a transfer and soon we were both working in New York City. Those were some of our favorite years together. After many adventures and lots of exploring, we both came to realize this was more than a college fling. I will never downplay how grateful I am that we had the chance to grow up together at the same time in a place like New York. After much deliberation (and more pro/con lists than you might think possible), Jason decided to move back to Atlanta, GA to join his family business. We spent about a year going back and forth between Atlanta and New York. Jason knew it was going to take a while to get New York out of my system and he never tried to pull me away. Long distance brought a whole new set of challenges and a whole love of travel and skype and we continued to grow together.

After almost three years in New York, I moved into my third apartment. The day after we moved in, amidst the hurricane of boxes everywhere, my roommate woke me up bright and early by handing me an ice coffee and an envelope that read: “Letter #1.” Inside, I found a letter in Jason’s handwriting and I embarked on the most fun game I have ever played–and I had a sneaky suspicion I knew how this was going to end. Very long story, short, I was given 10 envelopes and precise times I was allowed to open them. Letter #1 had the packing list, Letter #2 had a plane ticket, and so on. Eventually I found myself in a car with a driver on the way to a city that looked a little too familiar. Remember where we met, Athens? I was on my way back to our college town. The last letter, #7 ended with “I’m taking you back to where it all began.” As we pulled into Athens, I was about to burst. The driver drove me around all through downtown until we were in front of the Georgia Theater (where the famous lost purse brought us together 6 years before). The marquee above the theatre read, “Where It All Began.” My heart lept out of my skin. I slowly got out of the car and opened the theater doors to find Jason sitting alone on the stage. I remember very little after that. I saw a ring, Jason on his knee, and a lot of tears. Later that night we went to dinner at The Last Resort Grill, where we had our first date. To say I was impressed is an understatement. It still feels like a dream.

Looking back, the night of our wedding seems equally dream like. We always knew we wanted to get married in my hometown, Austin, TX. I am one of the lucky few who actually grew up in the center of Austin and really wanted it to be downtown. We wanted it to be a magical night outside, right in the center of Austin, by the water, under the stars, with lots of dancing and that’s exactly what it was. It was the most fun night and the most perfect way to start our lives together. The days leading up to the wedding night had some of the worst weather Austin has ever seen: tornados and monsooning and it all cleared up just in time to have our perfect wedding. Our families were so supportive and my parents really made our dreams a reality.

Photography: SMS Photography | Cinematography: ILC Films | Coordination: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Westbank Flower Market | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Makeup: Belle Mariee | Lighting: FILO | Band: Flash Entertainment Services | String Quartet: Terra Vista Strings | Venue: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Photography - Assistance: Diana M. Lott Photography | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals

From now on, when I think of a classic and elegant wedding with a timeless feel this wedding captured by Heather Rowland Photography will undoubtably pop up in my head. Every gorgeous moment sitting pretty in this gallery planned by Pearl Events Austin couldn’t be more lovely if it tried, and you can see them all here.

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From Heather Rowland Photography…This stunning lakeside wedding was the perfect mixture of intimate and elegant. The bride Khaki and her groom Grant made for a beautiful couple and truly set their wedding apart from so many others by emphasizing elements that represented their love, style, and taste. By remaining true to themselves the wedding was simply exquisite yet laid back and extremely personal to this precious couple.

The bride and her bridesmaids spent the morning drinking mimosas and getting dressed overlooking the beautiful Barton Creek resort. Her custom Anne Barge gown was on display and her mom’s vintage veil complimented it perfectly adding a sweet family touch to her bridal couture. Khaki’s invitation suite is by far a favorite of mine and I’d give anything to turn that gorgeous envelope liner into custom wallpaper in my home! It was a unique look that represented Khaki and her ethereal taste so well.

Later that evening the string quartet and chiavari chairs were set for the ceremony overlooking beautiful Lake Travis. As the sun was setting Khaki and Grant tied the knot surrounded by their loved ones on the most perfect September evening. The ceremony was followed by a chic cocktail hour where guests were greeted with a signature cocktails garnished with jalapeños, which made for a nice (and subliminal) Texas touch. Guests mingled on the lawn while the men gravitated towards the cigar bar where cigars were being hand-rolled by professionals on site. Custom matchboxes adorned with the couples name made for a perfect signature touch and take-home favor for guests to enjoy. Beautiful hors d’oeuvres were passed on custom monogrammed cocktail napkins until dinner was announced. Guests then ate family style along the Villa del Lago pavilion lawn and enjoyed southern comfort cuisine under the Texas stars and intimate string lighting.

“The Pictures” a local Austin favorite, set the pace for the evening by playing a wide variety of hit songs both past and present. Guests visited the dance floor all night long while Khaki and Grant relished in the moment in the midst of it all. The bride’s cake was understated and elegant with a bit of an art-deco theme coupled with vintage green crystal toasting glasses, which have been used by Khaki’s family in weddings past. The couple had a classic sparkler exit where they were whisked away by a unique vintage car. This wedding was truly one of my favorite events I’ve photographed to date. It felt so extremely personal and heartfelt while still remaining stylish and upscale.

Photography: Heather Rowland Photography | Cinematography: When It Clicks | Coordination: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Jessica Crisco | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Cake: Simon Lee Bakery | Invitations: Invitations Etc. | Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Band: The Pictures | Venue: Villa Del Lago

We’re pretty sure that this gallery is the what every engaged couple dreams about. A romantic stroll in the woods with the one you love complete with Winsome and Wright behind the lens? Done, and done. See, I told you it’s what dreams are made of, but not only that it’s the perfect blend of pretty meets perfect. The best part? We’ve got it all waiting for you to pin and peruse in The Vault!

From the Bride-to-be… Mike and I both went to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder. We had only been dating for three months before we decided to move to Austin together. Some people might say that it was fast, but for us we knew it was the right decision for us and of course our dog, Libby too. After looking for our first jobs, we ended up working together on a Senate campaign for a year and a half. Our boss tricked me into going to the Texas State Capitol for a work event, but when we got to the front stairs, Mike got down on one knee and proposed! We had the whole place to ourselves and it’s the most memorable moment of my life. We have been engaged for a year and a half so we are really excited to be getting married in July. Since we met in Colorado, it has a special place in our hearts and we feel so lucky to be getting married in Vail.

Photography: Winsome And Wright | Dress: Rent The Runway | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Film Lab: The Find Lab

If there were an award for biggest (and most stylish!) bridal party, it’d go to this crew right here. The Bride brought on 17 – yes, 17! – dear friends to stand by her side in her stunning Miles David gown, as they pulled off mismatched ‘maids gowns to a T. No surprise, the wedding is equally as chic thanks to a vendor crew like Stefanie Miles, Bows + Arrows, Belle Mariee, Marquee Event Group, and the ridiculously amazing Ryan Ray behind the camera. An entire afternoon spent browsing in The Vault? Count us in.

From Stefanie Miles… Kim and Sam were truly one of our most laid back couples in 2015 with a huge love for the dance floor! We translated Kim’s soft and organic style into a modern downtown event space for a fun and fabulous party that could be heard throughout downtown Austin.

The day began with all 17 bridesmaids and 15 groomsmen getting ready for the ceremony – a morning full of laughter and celebration. The entire wedding party was transported to Laguna Gloria for the couple’s intimate first look and then wedding party portraits. Brazos Hall provided a beautiful modern backdrop for the ceremony – lush floral from Bows & Arrows and the fantastic gospel choir set an incredible tone for the fun celebration, beginning in the ceremony!

One of our favorite highlights was the gospel choir singing “Joyful, Joyful” as beautiful Kim was escorted in by her father, and then sending the new Mr. and Mrs. out to “Oh Happy Day”! It was truly a meaningful celebration of love and joy. The reception downstairs kicked off with a laid back cocktail hour before dinner, and In10city kept the entire crowd on the dance floor the rest of the night!

Editor Tip: How to Achieve Mismatched ‘Maids

Photography: Ryan Ray Photography | Event Planning + Design: Stefanie Miles Events | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress: David Peck | Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Catering: Catering with a Twist | Makeup: Belle Mariee | Hair: Pearl Austin | Hair + Makeup | Lighting: Ilios | Band: In10City | Venue: Brazos Hall | Custom Hat Box: Trousseau & Co | Dance Floor: Mikes Dance Floors | Gospel Choir: Texas Mass Choir | Invitations + Stationery: Méldeen | Photo Booth: Sum Booth | Robe: Oh Fox Creative | Shuttles: Around Austin | Stage: Marquee Event Rentals

They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, and I think this rainy Austin wedding proves it because this couple lucked out with one truly gorgeous day. Planned by the lovely Pearl Events, every detail about this day is special thanks to incredible vendors like Austin Catering, Marquee Rents, and Polkadots Cupcake Factory. See all the beauty captured by Tracy Enoch Photography in THE VAULT!

From Tracy Enoch Photography…Taking place at the beautiful Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas, Sasha and Shea’s wedding weekend began with a historic rain and flood event. Their initial plans called for an outdoor sunset ceremony overlooking breathtaking Lake Travis, with an outdoor dinner reception underneath cafe lights followed by dancing in the covered pavilion. Sasha and Shea didn’t miss a beat as plans changed and they embraced the weather, and the end result was a beautiful, cozy wedding set in the picturesque Texas hill country. As the rain finally cleared, the night concluded with a fireworks show that the groom orchestrated to surprise his new bride.

Photography: Tracy Enoch Photography | Photography: Tracy Enoch Photography | Event Planning: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Westbank Flower Market | Cake: Polkadots | Catering: Austin Catering | String Quartet: Terra Vista Strings | Venue: Villa Del Lago | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Rentals: Premiere Events

As a bride-to-be this is THE year I want to feel my absolute best, and since I may (or may not) be wearing a sleeveless wedding gown, toned arms are an absolute must on my daily to-do list. That said, if there was ever a time to go full force into my exercise routine, it’s right now during this bride-to-be, pre-wedding dress stage. To get started, I’m sharing a few of my favorite arm exercises below!

The best part? You can do these exercises while catching up on your favorite television shows, or while your pasta water comes to a boil (basically how I spend most evenings). That said, enjoy carrying on with your post-work routine while also getting some killer toned arms in the process!

For me, motivation comes in many forms and I fully believe in the power of a colorful sports bra. I’m constantly on the hunt for high quality, comfortable and trendy pieces and Outdoor Voices encompasses all of the above. Whether you’re running errands around town or hitting a high intensity spin class, you can’t go wrong with their leggings, crop top and hoodie combo!

Ready to get those sexy toned arms for your big day?! Okay gals, time to spill the details on my favorite arm workouts! I pulled this routine from my past personal training sessions and of course, the wonderful world of online fitness videos. Do 20 reps of each exercise and complete three rounds. (Note: If you’re beyond the 2lb weight phase, scoop up whatever weight suits your fitness level)

90 degree raise

Bicep curl

Overhead press

There you have it – my favorite workouts to achieve those beautifully toned arms certain to look incredible in a sleeveless gown! Do you have any other foolproof bride-to-be workouts? I would love to hear them, be sure to share below in the comments!

 

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Follow Olivia’s Journey:

Meet the Bride | Bridesmaids’ Gifts | Mistletoe Moment | Save the Date

Photography: Kayla Snell | Shoes : Amazon | Crop Top: Amazon | Hoodie: Amazon | Leggings: Amazon | Workout Outfit: Amazon | Yoga Mat: Lululemon

Let me be clear as I imagine there might be some confusion: this elegant affair took place in TEXAS! Overflowing with European beauty, bright blooms by Without Wax Katy and linens by La Tavola, it’s easy to think you’ve been transported to Spain. The Nichols captured every breathtaking moment, making our VAULT more colorful than ever – see it all right here!

From the Bride… Coming from traditional Spanish roots, both Miguel and I had envisioned a Spain-inspired Catholic wedding. We chose the beautiful hill country of Austin, TX for our reception because it seemed just about the closest we could find (in the US) to the countryside of Spain… plus Austin is just a blast! We felt like Spanish royalty celebrating under the pavilion of Villa Del Lago, outlooking the vast expanse of rolling hills and Lake Travis. The best moment was when Miguel and I looked out over the balcony, my veil gracefully flowing in the wind – we felt like King and Queen of the Hill Country Kingdom! Hah!

From a design perspective, deep autumnal tones brought in a warmth that we were looking for. Wherever possible, traditional laces were used to bring in a textural softness. Miguel’s last name,’Chavez’, means “keys” in Spanish, so, being the graphic designer I am, created a custom ‘key’ monogram for the event. This motif was present on so many elements – napkins, favors, menus, etc. The entire cocktail and dinner menu was a collaboration of autumnal flavors and traditional Spanish dishes.

Miguel could not stop smiling the ENTIRE ceremony and evening. I knew that he finally understood all of the work and stress that went into planning and that my design team and I had hit the nail on the head. Just seeing his big smile made my night. At one point in the evening I sat down quietly in the corner and just watched him from afar – he is so handsome!

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Peruse more Texas weddings here!

Photography: Nichols Photographers | Event Planning: Without Wax Katy | Event Planning + Design: Mayhar Design | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Ceremony Venue: Saint Mary Cathedral Diocese Of Austin | Reception Venue: Villa Del Lago | Bride's Shoes: Chanel | Catering: Kurant Events | Groom's Attire: Tom Ford | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola

Olivia from Livvyland here, and I’m thrilled to share the latest update in our wedding planning process with you – our save the date photo session! Of all the things I’ve checked off on our list of wedding to-do’s thus far, I’d say taking our save the date photos has been my very favorite. In particular, it was that special moment when we received the photos from Kayla Snell that really hit home.

Blake and I were cuddled up on the couch in our pajamas, laptop in hand, scrolling through each photo one by one…it was just such a sweet thing to see these intimate moments between us captured on camera – and experience that together. Aside from announcing our engagement to the world back in May, sending out save the dates is really the first solid step involving friends and family as we inch closer to the big day. In other words, it just means this whole wedding thing is starting to feel more real than ever! (And hey, I’m pretty darn excited as it gets closer!).

I’m a huge fan of using Pinterest for photo shoot inspiration, and I’d been pinning save the date ideas to my wedding board for months leading up to our shoot. The images I kept gravitating towards were always really candid, sweet moments with a lot of blank space above so that the words “Save the Date” could fit onto the image without covering the couple in the photo. With the blank space idea as our priority for the shoot, we tried brainstorming parts of Austin where a big white wall could act as the backdrop, but nothing came to mind that wasn’t in a public place (especially because our preference was somewhere without a ton of people staring at us!). Then I remembered the top floor of our old apartment parking garage (yes, really, ha!) because it was so high up that you’re basically only seeing clouds from a photo perspective. I chatted with my photographer, Kayla Snell Photography, and she agreed that this could definitely work.

After we had the location set, it was time to figure out what to wear! In my wedding dreams, the vibe of our big day will be ultra classy and super romantic, so I wanted to set that same tone with our save the date shoot. One of my best friends used Rent the Runway for her save the date outfit, so I decided to give it a try for ours. After all, if there’s any time to wear a stunning designer gown and feel like a million bucks, it’s absolutely for this occasion! I wore Badgley Mischka and it ended up being just the perfect amount of bold color and sparkle paired with Blake’s handsome all black look. I loved this combination!

Getting married is clearly something to celebrate, so we brought along a bottle of champagne and popped it open for the shoot. Truth be told, having a drink throughout the session really helped calm our nerves and make us more comfortable for the camera! We couldn’t be more enamored with the photos from our shoot. From the incredible photography to the pretty outfits, and (thankfully) the overcast day and vacant parking garage (woo!), I’d say this fun and simple save the date sesh was a major success! Hopefully one day our grandkids will look back at their lovebird grandparents and think we were super glam and fabulous – I certainly hope so!

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Follow Olivia’s Journey:

Meet the Bride | Bridesmaids’ Gifts | Mistletoe Moment

Photography: Kayla Snell | Venue: City of Austin | Blogger Bride: Olivia Watson | Bridal Boutique: Rent The Runway | Red Dress: Amazon