Texas Weddings

This sweet as can be Texas affair captured by Lucille Photo + a film by The Crakes is the true definition of classic. Elegant, refined details, gorgeous pastel blooms by Evember and a Bride and Groom with a palpable kind of love. From vintage getaway car to portraits in the rolling fields, this is a celebration not to be missed.

When it comes to planning weddings, there are couples that define the details of how their day should look and feel as they progress, making various decisions along the way. And then, there are couples who know from day one, without a shadow of a doubt, exactly what they envision.

For Delaney and David, there was no doubt…. Their wedding day would be one that reflected a classic and refined beauty; it would be elegant and intentional. At the same time, it would be a day filled with laughter and joy and most importantly, celebration! It would be beautiful, and it would most definitely be a fantastic party!

The classically timeless Kendall Plantation set the stage, as details came in piece by piece to pop against it’s clean and elegant, Southern-style backdrop. Delaney selected soft blush gowns for her bridesmaids and Evember created beautifully lush centerpieces, bouquets and accent florals in complimentary shades of blush and ivory.

Crisp and classy accents were incorporated into the day through sleek black and white invitations and paper goods and a vintage black getaway car. And finally, special touches and details were incorporated throughout: Wooden calligraphed signage and accent pieces; a borrowed alter table from their church; and a Groom’s Cupcake Stadium that paid tribute to their alma mater of Texas A&M.

 The day was filled with so much charm and joy and an incredible amount of love. It was my true honor to have been a part of their day and to have worked alongside this team of talented artists and vendors.

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Photography: Lucille Photo | Videography: The Crakes | Floral Design: Evember, Inc. | Wedding Dress: Bridal Connection | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Cathy Young | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hebeos | Catering: Got It Covered Events | Hair and Makeup: Chairish The Day | DJ: San Antonio's Best DJ | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Kendall Plantation | Cocktail Hour Food: Chuy's | Film Scans: PhotoVision Prints | Paper Goods: Shutterfly

When your bestie slash bridesmaid just so happens to be photographer Kayla Barker, your wedding day is bound to have some serious pretty involved. That was exactly the case for Leah and Taylor’s Spring wedding outside San Antonio that gave “southern elegance” a fresh, new look. Infused with neutral tones, natural greens, and a candle-covered staircase worth gushing over, consider this gallery your new happy place.

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From the photographer, Kayla Barker… It’s not every day that one of your childhood best friends gets married. When my long time friend, Leah got engaged to the love of her life, Taylor, I couldn’t have been more excited for her! Leah had always envisioned a plantation style wedding with her love of the south and it’s southern traditions and romance, so Kendall Plantation outside of San Antonio, Texas was the perfect setting for all their Texas family and friends to gather together. She brought on Mayhar Design to help with the creative direction, design and styling and Sweet August Events to coordinate the day.

Mayhar Design wanted to help design a space that welcomed dear friends and wedding guests with charm, classical elegance and thoughtfully curated details. Her goal in the design process was to honor and embrace the ideals, traditions and romance of the south. Linens, florals, finishes and details were all selected specifically in complement to the striking white panels and porches and crisp black shutters of Kendall Plantation. The softest shades of ivory and blush were introduced through cocktail linens and blooming florals by Sprout as a nod to Southern grace and style. Custom wedding cake cookies were made special by Leah’s mom, Robin and packaged as a favor for guests. Guests could also enjoy a southern signature cocktail and pick from one of the five different cakes by Bird Bakery that were displayed with beautiful calligraphy signage by Whitney Farnsworth.

Leah had always wanted me to be a bridesmaid and enjoy her wedding day and for me to not feel like I was working. But for me, photographing a wedding is one of my greatest joys and I couldn’t have imagined not photographing her special wedding day. So after some discussion, we formed a plan that would still allow me to photograph the wedding and stand by her side as a friend. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my biggest supporter and favorite second shooter, my husband, Clint and our friend and fellow film photographer, Erica Schneider who both helped shoot parts of the wedding I couldn’t. I also had lots of help from Mayhar Design who was styling details and making sure everything was ready to photograph with extra time for me to also be by Leah’s side as a bridesmaid. Leah and Taylor’s wedding was a special one that I will always cherish being a part of and capturing!

Photography: Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography | Floral Design: Sprout | Cakes: Bird Bakery | Invitations: Minted | Catering: Absolutely Delicious | Hair + Makeup: Blush Make-up and Hair | Calligraphy: Whitney Farnsworth | DJ: 5150 Productions | Ceremony Music: Lane Oliver | Transportation: Shark Limo | Venue: Kendall Plantation | Beverage Service: Bartenders 4 You | Creative Direction, Design and Styling: Mayhar Design | Custom Iced Cookies: Robin Wilson, Mother of the Bride | Draping: DPC Media | Event Planning and Coordination: Sweet August Events | Linens: Marquee Event Group

Soft Flower Shack Blooms arrangements set against the lush backdrop of Hill Country, these are a few of my favorite things. Complete with antique chapel doors, sweet southern sunshine, and some seriously glam accents, Breanna McKendrick has captured the ultimate inspiration. For the Bride with style, sophistication and grace, you’ll want to see it all in THE VAULT!

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From Flower Shack Blooms…Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a styled shoot in the wonderful Texas hill country city of Boerne , Tx. Surrounded by great parks, eateries and bed and breakfasts it is a great location for any wedding and your guests. This is vintage meets glam with a romantic twist!

The 100 year old antique chapel doors are from a local chapel in the area, which many couples have walked through to start the beginning to their happily ever after. The crystal knobs give such a unique feel with true southern charm. Antique rentals paired with a historic little city create something magical on this beautiful sunny day!

Some decorate vessels with gold accents sure set this romantic setting. Floral was featuring the ever so trendy marsala, burgundy and berry tones we love! Some gorgeous floral pieces used to name a few are peonies grown in the USA, garden roses, poppy pods, ranunculus, jasmine, and many more textured foliage to really capture a fall look. This brides edgy look paired with some dreamy Texas light creates a flawless romantic softness for this session!

Photography: Breanna McKendrick | Floral Design: Flower Shack Blooms | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Cakes And More | Hair And Makeup: Madame Makeup | Venue: City Lake Park | Bridal Boutique: Beatitude Bridal | Model: Chloe James | Pasteries: La Patisserie By Luxe Sweets | Rentals: Revive Vintage Rentals

It never surprises me when a Hill Country wedding leaves me at a loss for words.  But give me aHill Country wedding awash in pretty pink hues and romantic meets classic stylings and that’s an entirely new level of speechlessness.  Think a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown, a fab Kendall Plantation locale and an entire gallery of pretty captured by Mint Photography.  Head to The Vault for more.

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From Mint Photography… This gorgeous wedding took place at the beautiful Kendall Plantation nestled in the Texas Hill Country. The bride wanted a setting that had southern comfort charm but would still allow her to incorporate timeless and romantic details. The end result was a very polish, yet warm atmosphere.

Soft hues of pinks and lavender were found throughout their wedding decor and the bride and groom grinned from ear to ear all day long, you could easily see how happy and in love they were to be finally tying the knot! It was such a treat to capture it all for them!

Photography: Mint Photography | Coordination: Haute Weddings | Florist: DeVinnie's Paradise | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Cakes And More | Catering: Anne Marie's Catering | Band: Royal Dukes Band | Transportation: Elegant | Venue: Kendall Plantation | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Rentals: DPC Media

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Royal Dukes Band

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You know you’re in a country wedding when the Bride has got her cowgirl boots on! This couple chose to wed in a real working longhorn ranch for its rustic charm, yet they kept it elegant with a open-air barn reception decorated with the prettiest floral arrangements and candle-lit lanterns! Joshua Aull photographed all the lovely details in the full gallery right here.

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From the beautiful Bride… My husband and I met in October, got engaged in March and were married one day after our first date, a year later in October. We had quite the accelerated wedding planning process, but thanks to our amazing vendors and our families help, it all came together just as we both had envisioned. We knew we wanted a rustic but elegant and romantic wedding and we both fell absolutely in love with the Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, TX- it being the first and only venue that we looked at. We felt it offered us this rustic elegance we were looking for.

I absolutely love all of the pastel colors, so my bridesmaids wore long Amsale blush colored chiffon dresses in three different styles. The dresses were purchased at Bella Bridesmaid. The groomsmen wore light gray pants and vests, white shirts and light brown shoes, with the Groom in a full suit. The colors were perfect against the pale green background of the ranch.

We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony under a gorgeous grapevine laced with beautiful flowers draping down either side. We then transitioned into a relaxed cocktail hour outside of the barn where traditional San Antonio foods such as gorditas and chicken white wings were served. There were live longhorns that the kids and adults could feed in the pens right outside of the barn, giving it that true ranch feel we were looking for. After the cocktail hour, the double doors opened into the back of the barn and the guests were seated in the reception area. I can’t even put into words how beautiful this area looked. Our florist designed a gorgeous hanging wood plank that hung over the head table. It had beautiful flowing flowers and greens dangling down with big plush garden roses mixed in, as well as lanterns with lit candles spaced across the plank. It gave it a very romantic and garden feel. It was perfect! The tables were dressed with silk, blush colored napkins with clear glass chargers to add a touch of elegance. Beautiful lanterns with floral arrangements in colors of blush, coral, green and hints of dark purple sat in the center of the table.

Our day was nothing short of a fairy tale. The ranch was absolutely gorgeous on its own, but with the help of our incredibly talented florist, Patti Beebe of the Elegant Bee in Bourne, TX; our wonderful wedding planner, Tracy French of The French Connection Events in San Antonio, TX; our wonderful parents and one handsome Groom- we pulled off our dream wedding. Our amazing photographer, Joshua Aull, captured our day beautifully! It is truly a day that we will never forget!

Photography: Joshua Aull Photography | Coordination: Tracy French - Destination Wedding Specialist | Floral Design: Elegant Bee | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander | Ceremony Venue: Don Strange Ranch | Reception Venue: Don Strange Ranch | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Print Work & Signage: Tracy French - Destination Wedding Specialist

I can admit it, I’m supremely jealous of this Bride and her amazingly chic short hair. As someone who plans to chop off inches post-wedding, I love when I stumble upon a beautiful bride with short locks and this one is not only stylish, but absolutely glowing. And who wouldn’t be, with such a colorful, festive fall celebration, captured by Mint Photography. Kickstart your day the right way, right here.

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From Mint Photography… This stunning wedding took place in the heart of the Hill Country at Paniolo Ranch. The views are like none other and the grounds of the property offer charm and an upscale vibe. I love how the bride went with tons bright pastel color flowers to contrast against the neutral cream colors of the building. One of my favorite aspects of their wedding was the custom ceremony arch. It was covered in flowers with backdrop against the Hill Country views. The light was soft and warm this day and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Definitely one of our favorites wedding!

From the Bride… Almost all of my family is from out of state, and though Lyon and I love our home town of Houston, it is not the most scenic place. We wanted to take the opportunity to show my family how beautiful Texas can be. Lyon’s family has a ranch in the Hill Country, and visiting it over the last six years, I have really fallen in love with the area. We looked at a lot of venues spanning from Austin to San Antonio, but the second we drove up to Paniolo Ranch, we canceled our other appointments. We both knew it was the place we wanted to get married.

The garden and ceremony area were so naturally gorgeous that we hardly had to add anything. The reception hall, however, though it had beautiful views, was pretty bare. To dress it up, we rented 12 ficus trees from a local nursery, wrapped their pots in burlap, and draped their leaves in twinkle lights. Erin from Eden’s Echo created a diverse range of stunning floral arrangements, to bring a little more of the outdoor beauty in. My mom and I created some additional cocktail table centerpieces by collecting old books from stores and relatives, stacking them, and planting succulents in the top. The book decor and guest book (an embossed, leather-bound dictionary) were homages to Lyon’s love of words. To warm up the entrance, we brought lamps from our apartment and an oriental rug from my parents house. We also used command strips to hang pictures of Lyon and me on the walls, and collected and framed pictures of our parents’ and grandparents’ weddings to display on a side table. We even created rustic signage by using a soldering pen to burn the information into tree slices. All of these things really helped to give the space a more warm, organic feeling.

From there we tweaked the standard wedding format a bit: Having five brothers between the two of us and no sisters, we didn’t have a wedding party, so the color scheme came almost entirely from the flowers. Additionally, we opted for a cocktail style dinner with eight rounds of passed appetizers, a cheese table, and a bruschetta table, instead of the standard seated dinner or buffet. We did this so that everyone could start dancing immediately after the cocktail hour and so that, rather than being stuck at a table with the same 6 or 7 people most of the night, all of our out-of-town guests could catch up with or meet as many different people as possible. Instead of one wedding cake, we served 11 different flavors of cheesecake. We also hosted a karaoke after-party at the venue after a “faux exit” signaled the end of the reception. We served Whataburger and kept the bar open and the party going until 1am. It was so much fun to spend the entire night dancing and singing with our closest friends and family.

Photography : Mint Photography | Videography : Infinity Event Productions | Event Design : All In The Details Events | Floral Design: Eden's Echo Floral Design | Cake: The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery | Catering: CarteWheels Caterers, Inc | Officiant : Olive Tree Officiating | Venue: Paniolo Ranch | Guitarists : Hot Sauce | Make Up Artist : Prim & Powder | Photo Booth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Tree Rental: Burns Garden Center

If this is the result of a well timed downpour, I hope that every wedding in 2014 is preceded by a great, big rain storm because the light, captured by Mint Photography, is quite possibly the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. And it shines perfectly on this stunning, stunning wedding!

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From the phtographer… The romantic affair took place at the beautiful Kendall Plantation. A gem of a venue that sits in the bill country of Boerne Tx. Their details were adorned with soft shades of pastels, timeless details, and a backdrop that will make you ohh and ahh. What was so magical about this day was it poured all day long and minutes before the ceremony the rain cleared and we were left this beautiful perfect and even light. Enjoy!!

Photography: Mint Photography | Event Planning: A Grand Occasion | Wedding Dress: KENNETH POOL | Cake: Cupcake Chateau | Catering: Absolutely Delicious | Venue: Kendall Plantation | Groom\'s Attire: Vera Wang

We’ve been chomping at the bit over the long weekend go get this week started on SMP, particularly because this pretty little number by Ryan Ray was first on the lineup of lovely. Thankfully the time has come to share the pretty, so we don’t have to wait a moment longer to soak up all the sweetness of this Texas fête. One little scroll through all the gorgeous images and you’ll see why we had ants in our pants to get it on your screen – and believe it or not, there is so much more to swoon over right here!

From the Bride… The most important aspect of our wedding was being wed before God with all of our friends and family there in support. As long as that was our focus, we knew the wedding itself would be beautiful. We had many more guests than we originally anticipated, so we tried to keep the ceremony and reception intimate with as many personal details as possible. These included all of the groom’s favorite deserts at his cake table, honey from the county his parents grew up in for favors, a picture of the bride’s grandfather sewn to her bouquet, a family Bible as the ring pillow and a stone altar that was transported to the family ranch for generations to come to enjoy. Our ceremony was held outdoors in the Texas Hill Country and we could not have been more lucky with the weather in May! The creek was running, the clouds rolled over right before the bridal processional, and the breeze was perfect. While most people look forward to the reception, we will never forget our wedding ceremony!

Wedding Photography: Ryan Ray Photography / Wedding Venue: Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas / Floral + Event Design: Razzle Dazzle Event Decorating / Wedding Coordination: Melody Agee of One Fine Day / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Cathy Young / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Bess Zowarka / Makeup: The Makeup Maven and Company / Groom’s Attire: Wilke Rodriguez

There is something so sweet about a soiree filled to the brim with southern elegance. It’s one of the reasons we can’t get enough of SMP Texas – y’all do southern elegance like no other! This pretty party captured by Archetype Studio Inc. is the perfect example of classic style meets southern charm, and we couldn’t love it more. With a pretty as can be color palette, florals galore and homemade margaritas as the signature cocktail (which the Groom made the night before!), this is one full gallery of images that can’t be missed!

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And before we send you off into the weekend, here’s this adorable duo’s fabulous wedding film by Weiss Eubanks Films…

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From the Bride… Brian and I knew instantly that we wanted to get married in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, and at the same time, we wanted to bring a sense of elegance to the countryside. We found our venue Kendall Plantation before they even started building it, but we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. Southern elegance mixed with Texas Hill Country charm — what could be better? We chose navy and pink as our color scheme because, naturally, I love pink, and navy is such a classic color. I just loved the combo especially the way pink can just pop next to the navy (hence the hot pink bridesmaid shoes!). Shopping for my dress was easy. I knew within a week of getting engaged it was the one — when you know you know! I loved the way it was very form fitting and simple with just some beading on the belt and on the side where it gathers.

After a year and a half of planning, there was still lots of stress all the way to the very end, but there were also many great friendships formed and tons of memories made in the process. Our wedding to us was — charming, upbeat and unforgettable. It was everything we could have imagined it would be and more. One of the most meaningful things to me at the wedding was getting to walk down the aisle with my dad, who nearly lost his life this last year. He spent five months trying to learn how to walk again. Getting down those steps was his biggest goal and well accomplished! Another really meaningful thing to us was getting married by our pastor, who also married my parents many years ago.

I loved that there was such a large abundance of flowers everywhere, from the ceremony outside to the tabletops of the reception inside. My bouquet was everything I had dreamed about since I was a little girl — a tight collection of white roses and peonies (my favorite). Our guests were greeted after the ceremony with our signature cocktail drink of strawberry margaritas  — which Brian made himself the day before — served in mason jars with navy and pink striped straws. My maids of honor and bridesmaids surprised us with a hilarious Ice Ice Baby rap/dance instead of the traditional speech, which totally caught me off guard but was beyond hilarious and perfectly matched my personality. The band then kicked off the night with a bunch of oldies dance music, and the photo booth with its hilarious props was a continuous hit all night! My favorite memory of the evening was looking into my future husband’s eyes during the ceremony and not being nervous at all about taking that step but just getting lost in his stare and thinking about how happy we are.

Wedding Photography: Koby + Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc. / Wedding Venue: Kendall Plantation in Boerne, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Katherine Lopez of Sweet August Events / Floral Design: Fresh Urban Flowers / Wedding Cinematography: Weiss Eubanks Films / Wedding Cake: Cathy Young / Ceremony Music: Ivette of Allegretto (210-497-8831) / Wedding Dress: Sottero & Midgley / Shoes: luichiny / Makeup: Mistique Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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This gorgeous San Antonio wedding by Anne Marie Photography has fully and completely converted me into a purple lover.  The flowing, ruffled bridesmaids dresses are the most delicious lilac hue and perfectly compliment the rustic, barn setting.  If you are a super fan of rustic elegance like I am then you are going to be swooning over all the delightful details.  See them all in the full gallery!

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From the bride… It was difficult for some of our friends and family from across the country and around the world to understand why we — a couple who met in Southern California — decided to marry nine years later on a ranch in San Antonio, Texas. As we explained in our wedding programs, “In every chapter, Texas has held a special place in our hearts. It is where the bride has her roots and where the groom earned his wings.”

The ceremony and reception took place at the Don Strange Ranch, beginning in the rustic Kendall Creek barn past dirt roads, longhorns, and wooden signs with hearts and arrows leading the way. The contrast of delicate ivory rose petals lining cement floors, musicians playing string instruments from wooden folding chairs, and glass votive jars hanging from wooden rafters made for a magical setting. Standing before a wooden cross decorated with flowers and barn door panels with light casting shadows through the cracks, the bridesmaids wore flowing, wisteria-colored, floor-length dresses, and the groomsmen wore traditional tuxes and bow-ties. The candles by the altar were votives placed in an antique sugar mold my mom found at my grandparents’ house. After the ceremony, which had most of the bridesmaids drying their eyes with the handmade handkerchiefs they held behind their bouquets, guests made their way just down the road past the creek and the windmill to the open air pavilion where the reception was held.

With every detail, from the cowboy boots beneath my lace wedding dress to the candles, gold chargers, and mason jars with flowers on every table, to the waffle cones and Blue Bell ice cream enjoyed toward the end of the evening, the wedding was both rustic and elegant with a reception that was both formal and fun. Our cake knife was the same one my parents used when they were married 30+ years ago, at ages 20 and 21. It’s engraved with their names and wedding date on one side and our names and wedding date on the other. We are so grateful to, and would highly recommend, everyone who worked so hard on the event, from our wedding planner who made the vision a reality, to our band that had couples slow dancing beneath the twinkle lights and later got the whole group dancing to “Thriller” in front of the stage, to the photographers who captured every moment beautifully.

Wedding Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Flowers: Tom Cardenas of RTC Floristry / Wedding Venue: Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas / Wedding Band: Blind Date / Wedding Planning + Design: Chris Wells, Wedding Planning Worldwide (Based in Washington, D.C., cwells@weddingplanningworldwide.com) / Wedding Gown: Romona Keveza / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Wooden Sign on Chair at Reception: RumpelstreetBoutique / All Other Wooden Signs: DIY / Bride’s Boots: Frye / Handkerchiefs: Vintage via The Flea Market at Eastern Market

Dust off those cowboy boots ladies and gents because we have a Hill Country wedding shot by the fab duo behind Aric + Casey Photography filled with oodles of rustic details and I’m guessing you’ll want to be dressed for the occasion. This Texas couple even included their adorable dog, Vinnie, in the mix. How cute is he? I’m guessing he might be one of the dapperest little pups to grace our pages. See it all here!

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We also have a lovely little film shot by Joe Simon Wedding Films to go along with this Texas beauty. Take a gander…

From Aric + Casey Photography… I’ve never seen a couple look at each other the way these two do. Adoration, love pride… it exudes from their eyes and their smiles when they look or talk about each other. Apart from one another each one is strong, independent, and successful and together they seem pretty much unstoppable.

Every detail of their wedding was beautifully thought out and perfectly executed. Instead of using ordinary sand from a craft store, Jenna and Travis collected sand from their parent’s homes where they grew up, and then the unifying sand was from the ground where they are building their first home together. They even included their sweet dog, Vinnie, in the ceremony as the official ring bearer. Jenna did a fabulous job of making sure that even the details had fabulous details! She and a friend (also a “Jenna”) designed the invitations to coordinate perfectly with her Hill Country rustic “look” of the wedding. For the centerpieces they custom branded the wood chips with Travis’s own brand from his ranch. Jenna’s team of vendors were incredible and great to work with as well! This wedding is the perfect combination of a few DIY details and the awesome work of very talented vendors!

Wedding Photography: Aric + Casey Photography / Cinematography: Joe Simon Wedding Films / Floral Design: Eden’s Echo / Wedding Cake: Sophie’s Choice Bakery / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Marquardt Ranch / Wedding Invitations: DIY, Jenna Decker & Jenna Hillman (the bride) / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Flower Girl Pettiskirts: Ju Ju Beane Boutique / Wedding Dress: Pronovias (“Gaudi”) / Bride’s Boots: Old Gringo (“Lucky Stud”) / Brooch: Vintage, Great Great Grandmother of the Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ryu, purchased at Wild Oats/ Cotton bolls: The Cotton Man and donated by farmers from West Texas