Texas Weddings

My obsession with floral headbands has officially reached a new high after feasting my eyes on this amazing inspiration shoot from Dallas photographer Stephanie Brazzle. Adding just the perfect touch of whimsy to an otherwise classically elegant feel, these crazy-gorgeous florals by Stanford Designs are pure perfection. See the entire inspiration session in the full gallery! 

From Stephanie Brazzle… Some people are  just stunning in front of the camera. That would be Jordan in this case. We had a bride and groom session left in our wedding agreement and we really wanted to go all out. So we called some of our favorite vendors to be a part of it.  Her wedding was during the summer and we really wanted to go in the opposite direction with something a lot colder and bare but still with the beautiful lush spring flowers.  Arbor Hills in Dallas would be the perfect outdoor location we paired colder flowers like dusty miller, brunia, and seeded eucalyptus with some more lush flowers: Succulents, peach roses and peonies. 

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Stephanie Brazzle | Location: Arbor Hills in Dallas, Texas | Floral Design: Joy from Stanford Designs | Caterer: Food Glorious Food | Rentals: Ducky Bobs | Stationery: Papier Sanctum | Makeup: Amy (Amytjp@gmail.com or 214.707.7849)

Bursting at the seams with charm + sweet rustic details, this Thistle Springs Ranch wedding from f8 Studios has this Midwestern girl wishing she hailed from the south! The bride and her mom crafted many details for the big day, from the burlap table runners and chair bows to the amazing RSVP wedding quilt! Top it all off with some of the prettiest blooms I ever did see by Haute Floral and I know you’ll be spending your afternoon swooning in the full gallery!

From the Bride… We live and work in the Dallas area, however, he’s from Arkansas and I’m from California, both from small towns so we wanted to find something quaint to share that small town feel with our family and friends. I found a brand new venue we fell in love with even before it had opened, Thistle Springs Ranch in Cleburne, Texas! Our first visit to the venue, we met with the sweet owners and knew the venue was perfect!

My mom and I planned everything for 6 months with Thomas’ input; she flew out from California a couple of times to go dress shopping and help with some of the big decisions, it was so fun to have her help since we don’t get to see each other that often. She decided to make a lot of the decorations herself including the burlap table runners, the burlap bows for the chairs, the wood rounds for the centerpieces and the food/drink card holders, such very sweet personal touches that made the day that much more special! As soon as I saw the LOVE cake topper on Etsy, I knew that was going to be the “inside” detail between me and Thomas that would remind us of the first “I love you”.

With the help of Kristen, our florist with Haute Floral, the venue was transformed into the sweet, Southern, charming wedding we had dreamed of. I couldn’t have imagined Kristen would take my vision and go above and beyond as beautifully as she did! Another special touch that included all of our guests was a wedding quilt. My mom and Aunt own a quilting business and we had seen a Pinterest idea about asking each guest to send a swatch of fabric with their reply to the RSVP to make the quilt, it took a little work, but it turned out amazing and we will treasure it forever!

Our caterer was Reata out of Ft. Worth, one of our favorite restaurants! Our favorite item on the menu is their beef tenderloin tamales with pecan mash; we hired them based on the tamales alone! Everyone loved them as much as we do! We had food stations to create a simple family style gathering with sweet tea to drink and a s’mores bar along with the dessert bar.

We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing day! It was December 8th and the weather was 75 degrees, we had two plans with the venue, outside if the weather was good and inside if not, I’m so thankful it was a beautiful day! Our amazing photographer, Carter Rose, was able to capture the sweetest moments of the day with family and friends and with the beautiful venue as the backdrop, it was all more than we could have dreamed of for our wedding day!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Carter Rose from f8 Studios | Wedding Venue: Thistle Springs Ranch in Cleburne, Texas | Floral Design: Kristen Wolchik from Haute Floral | Event Design: the Bride +  her Mother | Wedding Coordinator: Mika Shreeve | Caterer: Reata Restaurant | Desserts: Tart Bakery | DJ: Complete Music | Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee via Circle Park Bridal | Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Falling in love with these two sweeties and their breathtaking Dallas affair wasn’t hard to do.  All it took was one look at their seriously beaming faces, one read of their super cute description and one browse through the gallery of brilliant images captured by f8 Studio and I was head over heels.  Even better?  You’ll be feeling the exact same way once you jump into all of the loveliness planned to perfection by Rebecca Hackl, because, well.  It’s just that good.  See it all right here.

From the Bride… I like to think of myself as a New Yorker (although not a native, I had been there almost long enough to call myself one). I had just finished a softball game in Central Park and headed for a post game beer on one of the hottest days Manhattan had seen in a decade. We landed at a bar in a neighborhood nowhere near what should have been the route to my East Village apartment. At the bar, eating a burger by himself was Tres. I didn’t mean to chat him up, and technically, I didn’t. I just needed a place to squeeze in to grab the first round and my two girlfriends invited him to sit with us. The rest, as they say, is history… kind of. Six months later Tres got a job offer in Northern California and I did the unthinkable: I left New York.

Being that I am a New Yorker via Pennsylvania, Tres is a through and through Texan, and we are living in California, we decided to meet in the middle for a wedding location: Dallas, Texas. We found the M Mansion through a friend of a friend of the family. As soon as we pulled up the very first time, I knew this was THE place. We wanted our guests to feel they were each an important guest at an amazing dinner party under the stars. The inspiration for the night was an elegant southern dinner to dance and celebrate our love.

The day was perfect weather, so we were able to have the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all outside, sans tent.

Our favorite details of the evening were our cake toppers and the fact that a friend married us. Since we are not overly religious, Tres’ fraternity brother got his Special Minister’s license and married us, which made for a very personal and special touch. Our reading was from my favorite childhood book, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” and guests were served Pimm’s cups while they mingled pre-ceremony. We utilized candles rather than artificial light wherever possible so people felt like they were spending the night inside our very own romance novel from the moment they entered. The pool made a perfect spot with a nice breeze to linger over cocktails before heading across the lawn to the reception. For dinner we wanted to embrace our Southern host state, so we had Chicken Fried Steak and Lobster Macaroni and Cheese.

The dinner and dancing was on an enclosed soccer field. We had large string lights set up to mirror the outline of a tent and soft candlelight surrounding the edges of the grass. We opted for three large rectangular tables and only a few smaller tables to enhance the effect of a dinner party. We wanted the flowers feeling effortless to take advantage of the lovely greenery on the property, so we utilize large mason jars and natural wood garden boxes with roses, ranunculus, dahlia and touches of kale. It was important to me that the emphasis of the night was the people, not all the decorations. I wanted all the details to seem graceful and natural.

I absolutely loved the contrast of the white dance floor with the green grass. Thanks to the glass panels in the field and the large tables, the field felt indoor and intimate, but then they would look out or up and realize they were outside. It was enchanting.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Gary Donihoo from f8 Studio | Venue: M Mansion in Dallas, Texas | Wedding Planner: Rebecca Hackl |  Floral + Event Design: Cocktails & Caviar | Invitations + Wedding Stationery: By Invitation Only | Catering: CN Catering | Ceremony Music: Justin Cash | Reception Music: William Ryan from It’s Your Night Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Thread |Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Hair + Makeup: Anita Haar from Elan Makeup

Texas weddings rock. They have such a fun, free spirit that we just can’t seem to get enough of. The brides are always amazing, the decor is totally spot on, and everyone just seems to be having the time of their lives. Helmutwalker Photography captured this local, organic wedding perfectly and it’s everything a Texas wedding should be and then some. Click here for the full gallery!

From the Bride…  Every girl probably says this, but our wedding day was truly the best and most perfect day ever. From the amazing weather (which you never get in Texas) to a sparkly sendoff, our day was truly ours in every sense of the word. Erik and I are committed to buying and supporting our local farmers and ranchers and wanted that organic, local, and minimalist feel when it came to our big day. Everyone we worked with understood that vision and helped it come to fruition.

Our flower arrangements and bouquets were composed of lots of fresh herbs and lovely wildflowers as well. Our center pieces incorporated our colors by using fresh fruits and veggies. And our caterer brought in the best BBQ in town. Erik’s brother’s custom homemade ice cream was one of our guests, and our, favorite touches!

There are so many amazing memories from our wedding day, but the two that stand out the most both involve the dance floor, my favorite part of any wedding! My dad and I danced to “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. It’s been “our” song since I was three years old and could sing the words with my dad in the front seat of his truck. I will always remember that. It’s a pretty untraditional song for a father-daughter dance and it’s exceptionally long, so our DJ shortened it for us (bummer). As we got to the “Nah, nah, nah, nah” refrain the entire reception started chiming in….and it was awesome. If we had known it was gonna be that popular we may have let the whole thing play out! My other best memory involves my husband, who doesn’t like to dance, and his daughter (our flower girl). We didn’t include any other children in or at our wedding except Emma. Emma had never been at a traditional wedding, let alone been in one, but as we were on the dance floor, after dinner, after cake, she looks at Erik and me and with a huge happy grin, shouts “This is the best wedding ever.” I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment!

Being married is the best thing that ever happened to us, and we couldn’t of had that day without amazing vendors and the love and support of our family and friends! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this day one of a kind!

Wedding Photography: Helmutwalker Photography / Wedding Venue: The Filter Building in Dallas, Texas / Wedding Planning + Design: Kim Kenney from Timeless Elegance Weddings / Floral Design: The Wooly Thistle / Catering: Pecan Lodge / Wedding Cake: Fancy Cakes by Lauren / DJ: David Allen / Car: Bowtie Vintage Classics

I’ve never been to Dallas, but by the looks of this pretty little number from Gibson Events, it would be my new favorite spot. And this sweet-as-can-be couple? My new best friends. It’s pure perfection from the Crescent Club locale to the lovely florals from Poppy Lane Design right on down to the bride’s (amazing!) nude Louboutins. Click here to see even more from Aaron Snow Photography.

And be sure to check out the beautiful film from PenWeddings:

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/43474364 600 337]

From the Bride… The location of the venue was one of our favorite details in choosing the Rosewood Crescent.  The ambiance that the Crescent Hotel created coupled with the bright lights of Dallas made for an experience we could never forget.  There is a sentimental factor with the venue and location in the fact that I spent my younger years in Dallas and visited the hotel for brunch and other events.  Arriving at the hotel to do our first visit took our breath away and confirmed this was the right venue for us.  The classic hues of dark woods and merlot colors created a modern, sophisticated elegance set against the old world tradition of Dallas.

Wedding Photography: Aaron Snow Photography / Wedding Venue:  The Crescent Club in Dallas, Texas / Wedding Planning + Design: Gibson Events / Floral Design: Poppy Lane Design / Wedding Cinematography: PenWeddings / Wedding Invitations: Chirps and Cheers / Wedding Dress: JJ Kelly Bridal Salon / Shoes: Christian Louboutin

A classic Dallas wedding is a classic wedding like no other. There is a little bit extra flair in the Big D, giving tradition the perfect twist, if you ask me. And when you get a Bride like this lovely lady planning the day? There is the perfect amount of sweet too. It’s her dream day to her dream man (in a dreamy gown) and thanks to Aaron Snow Photography we have one gorgeous gallery to peruse. Take a little look here.

From the Bride… I have dreamed of my wedding day — of the dress and all the details — since I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until college I started really dreaming of the man who would stand beside me through life. So in 2006, I started writing this man letters, not knowing who it would be. It was a start of sorts to sharing my life with him. I wrote to him about family events such as my brother’s wedding, my semester exchange in Hawaii, my summer internships and working at the hospital. I told him I thought I’d meet him there someday. We met two years later at a leadership retreat. He scheduled a meeting with me the following week, and by Sunday, we were sharing brunch at Cheevers Café. We took a trip to Seattle 10 months later, and he popped the question right there in the Public Market. Brian is the man I prayed for, and he is my very best friend.

When it came time to plan, we discussed our top four priorities of the day (this was advice from friend). We decided our most important details would be in the venue, our photographer, the food and my dress. We are both “Type A” and have very similar taste, so we planned everything together and with quite a few spreadsheets. We loved working with Emily at the Rosewood Mansion. Her customer service and attention to detail allowed us to really enjoy each moment of our wedding weekend. Emily was such a blessing in the planning process. The Rosewood offered us a beautiful rooftop terrace for our ceremony, a lovely suite and balcony for our cocktail hour, and an elegant reception space. We loved the menu we chose and were so glad our guests were so pleased as well. We’re looking forward to celebrating many anniversaries to come at the Rosewood. Our photographer Aaron Snow is as cool as his photos are beautiful. We loved working with Aaron and are looking for an excuse to have him snap a few more photos very soon! Aaron captured all the details Brian and I spent time creating, and I’m so thankful those memories will forever be represented in his remarkable talent. Junior, of Garden Gate Floral Designs, is the “Franck” of Dallas Events. He is well-known for beautiful designs and for truly executing a bride’s vision. I wanted nothing more than peonies for my fall wedding. Not an easy request, but Junior made it happen, and I was so surprised and delighted as I sneaked a quick peek of the reception and bouquets – and found my blush pink peonies! 

There are so many details about the weekend and the wedding day that I love. My wedding band has a few diamonds from a sentimental ring my parents gave me when I was just a teenager. All my girls and I shared the most lovely bridal tea at the Rosewood the morning of the wedding. My parents built the arch we stood under during the ceremony. My new sister-in-law Stacy found the sign for our nephew Bennett to walk down the aisle holding – a fun surprise we planned together for Brian. My dear friends, Derek and Christy, and their sweet daughters came all the way from Wisconsin to be our flower girls. We loved that all our family kiddos got to play together at the brunch the day before the wedding. Brian and his mother danced to a beautiful Korean song in honor of their culture during the reception. Sugar Bee Sweets made our gorgeous and delicious, silver-sparkled ombre cake. One of our favorite details was the coffee-themed favors for our guests. Three local roasts, including Texas Pecan, filled the space with a delightful fragrance and Brian and I personally stamped all the muslin bags – “Let Love Brew.” Our sparkler send off was the perfect way to end such a beautiful day. And on our wedding day, I gave Brian those letters I started writing six years ago. We’ve been reading them each night before we go to bed. It’s been fun to talk about where each of us was at a particular time, but he certainly likes the ones where he finally comes into the picture and becomes my happily ever after.

Wedding Photography: Aaron Snow Photography / Wedding Venue: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas / Floral Design: The Garden Gate / Wedding Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets / Ceremony String Trio: European Ensemble Strings / DJ + Lighting: Specialty Sound / Chairs: Chivari Chair Rentals of Dallas / Linens: BBJ Linen / Cake Table Linens: Marianne’s Rentals for Special Events / Ring Dish: Paloma’s Nest / Coffee: Central Market / Favor Stamp: Expressionery / Muslin Bags: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Stardust Celebrations / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Jewelry: Designs by Flora / Hair + Makeup for the Bride + Mothers of the Bride & Groom: Elan Makep Studio / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Bridesmaids’ Hair: Drybar / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Mother of the Bride’s Dress: Sue Wong via Neiman Marcus / Men’s + Ring Bearers’ Tuxedos: Stardust Celebrations / Groom’s Ring: Spexton

Remember what your mom always told you about absence making the heart grow fonder? Well, in this adorable couple’s case, it’s totally true. After meeting and falling in love in high school, they went their separate ways for college and after five years of a long distance relationship, their thrilled to be tying the knot in May. Stacy Reeves captured their newly engaged bliss and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Aaron and I met while we were in high school in 2005. I was a sophomore, and Aaron was tall and handsome junior. After meeting at a Chick-Fil-A in town, Aaron asked me on a date, and the rest is history!

Aaron went to Texas A&M University in 2007 and received a bachelor’s in accounting and master’s in finance, while I stayed local at Texas Woman’s University and majored in speech-language pathology. We both stayed very busy, so the time apart would go by quickly. After five years of long distance, Aaron moved back to Dallas and is currently an accountant there, and I am still at TWU, now in graduate school for speech-language pathology. After being together for almost eight years, we are THRILLED we are finally getting married in May!

Our amazing photographer, Stacy Reeves, is wonderful. Aaron loved the fact that she’s an Aggie herself! We brought our 8-month-old puppy, Gus to the shoot. He absolutely loved it! With the help of Stacy, our pictures are more than we could have ever asked for. We can’t wait for our wedding!

Photography: Stacy Reeves / Location: Dallas, Texas

You know this couple is bound for a lifetime of happiness because they started their day surrounded by all the ones who love them most. And all these lovely people pitched in to throw this adorable couple a day they will never forget. It’s just about the sweetest DIY we ever did see. It’s brimming with pretty details captured by Leah McEachern Photography and you can see all the rest right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Steven and I wanted to have a wedding that included all the wonderful talented friends and family we have. Photography, singing, flowers, catering, all the decor — the day was only made possible by the ones we love most! We couldn’t have imagined it any better!

Wedding Photography: Leah McEachern Photography / Ceremony: City Church International in Dallas, Texas / Reception: Lofty Spaces in Dallas, Texas / Floral Design: Stems of Dallas / Catering: Chef Michael Cate / Wedding Cake: Dennette Cate / Groom’s Cake: Delicious Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Meagan Adair Designs / Ceremony Music: Jillian Edwards / Wedding Dress: Watters via Lasting Bridal Couture / Hair + Makeup: Courtni Degener Hair Stylist

Okay, I know I may have too many girl crushes in my current list, but I just have to add this Bride to my favorite ladies of all time. How can I resist? She is breathtakingly beautiful in her Lazaro gown and exuding the most timeless kind of elegance, she is radiant in each image from Sara Donaldson. Oh, and the rest of the gallery? Gorgeous flowers at every turn from Bella Flora of Dallas with classic details of pearls, mercury glass, and silver aplenty by Shannon Schultz Events. Give your eyes all the glittery, shimmery lovely they could ask for right here.

From Shannon Schultz Events… An utterly romantic couple, Rachel and Dominic met at Pepperdine University in Malibu and were married at Piazza in the Village in Colleyville, Texas. Every design and planning meeting with this idyllically sweet couple was a breeze. Rachel asked for a natural and sophisticated wedding design: ivory, silver, pearls and overflowing branches. We framed the dance floor with birch trees, from which hung outdoor-inspired antique metal votive cups and strands of precious orchids. The centerpieces were a composite of tall birch trees with branches accented with white dendrobium orchids and surrounded with lush hydrangea, garden roses and to-die-for pastel dahlias.

Tradition and remembrance was an ongoing thread throughout the wedding details. The couple used items passed down from past generations, including the Scottish tartan remnant pinned inside the groom’s jacket and the vintage brooch displayed upon the delicately ruffled wedding cake. They also created their own “something old” details, such as the bride’s silver and pearl bouquet pins, which will remain in the family for years to come. Naturally, this adorable couple had to have a “Let Them Eat Cake” dessert bar, including dainty swan puffs, heavenly chocolate eclairs and mini fruit tarts. All were set on silver platters which glittered amongst mercury glass votives. We played “I Like Candy” by Bow Wow as they cut their cakes. The wedding favors were Italian wedding cookies made by the groom’s aunt. We wrapped each cookie with a tag stamped with the word “love.”

But the sweetest part of the evening may have been the surprise song that the groom sang to his bride right there on the dance floor, surrounded by all of their loved ones. It’s touching moments like those that make my job as a wedding planner incredibly rewarding.

Wedding Photography: Sara Donaldson / Wedding Venue: Piazza in the Village in Colleyville, Texas / Wedding Planning: Shannon Schultz Events / Floral Design: Bella Flora of Dallas / Officiant: Dr. Richard White / Wedding Cake: Creme de la Creme Cake Company / Wedding Stationery: Kate Reed Designs / Calligraphy: Blue Eye Brown Eye / String Trio: Serenata Strings / DJ: Groovin DJ / Transportation: From the Personal Collection of Chandler Smith / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Stardust Celebrations / Hair + Makeup: Maelen Richie + Elan Makeup Studio / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier via Nordstrom / Bride’s Ring: Her Grandmother’s Wedding Band / Men’s Suits: Pronto Uomo via Men’s Wearhouse

Elopements might just be my favorite thing ever. And elopements that result in a glitter-filled penthouse reception with a new Mrs. in a black gown that surpasses stunning – well, that most certainly is my favorite thing ever. Enter this amazing day and images from Apryl Ann Photography so fabulous you feel like you are there, sipping champagne amongst the gorgeous florals from Bows + Arrows offering to hold that darling little one in the leopard coat. It’s a styled-filled fête if I ever did see one, which I suppose is to be expected from a couple this talented, but it sure leaves us with one to die for set of images. See them all here.

From Apryl Ann Photography… Nicholas and Natalie Mathis had a small ceremony by themselves at the courthouse, then celebrated with this beautiful penthouse reception. Natalie looks absolutely stunning in her black wedding gown and Nic has a style to die for. Natalie is a personal chef and won the show Chopped on Food Network this year. Nic is an artist and hand drew the thank you artwork that was given to guests.

From the Bride… It’s a little funny, because I was so overwhelmed with inviting so many friends and family we decided to elope. We stayed at The Joule that weekend to celebrate and I was bored reading their in-house binder and saw the penthouse. It really got me thinking how that would be perfect…just have an elaborate reception! When I started the planning it started to evolve into doing nothing traditional, I wanted to wear an amazing dress that I would love to wear again and when picking out the food it made me think about the state fair. We love the fair and asked them to help us create menu that would reflect that. It was a way to also incorporate lots of gold glitter. Plus, I wanted it to be really personal so Nic drew the invitation and our thank yous.

Wedding Photography: Apryl Ann Photography / Reception Venue: The Joule in Dallas, Texas / Floral Design: Bows + Arrows / Wedding Catering: Charlie Palmer / Desserts: Cakewalk Bake Shop / Wedding Stationery: Southern Fried Paper (invitations) / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier at Neiman Marcus / Hair + Makeup: La Bichette

This is one of those weddings where the details are absolutely gorgeous (the DIY florals! the dress! the gold mason jars!), but what really stands out is that the bride and groom truly seem to be soulmates. The way they look at each other and smile is magical, and the images by Anna Routh Photography and video by Copper Penny Films perfectly capture their special bond. Be sure to check out all of the special glances and touching moments in the full gallery!

And don’t miss the couple’s beautiful vows in the wonderful highlight film from Copper Penny Films:

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/54578940 600 337]

From Anna Routh Photography… JoAnn and Kelly’s Dallas wedding was a perfect evening filled with so much love. This was one of those weddings where if I wasn’t cheesing it a little too hard behind my camera, then I was crying … literally. Especially during the vows, the tears were flowing! It’s such an honor to work in this industry and to work with people like JoAnn and Kelly, whose love and devotion truly inspire me. Also, working with a couple like JoAnn and Kelly make my job so easy. JoAnn’s vision and immaculate organization lent itself to a perfect evening full of DIY details. JoAnn and her mom put together the table arrangements and florals, among other details, and a family member made the amazing arbor. During the ceremony, JoAnn couldn’t have been happier when she saw her groom at the end of the aisle, and the two laughed and cried through their heartfelt vows. The view at The Filter Building, looking out over quiet White Rock Lake, was stunning. The reception that followed was one full of emotional speeches, endless praise for these two, both as individuals and together, and lots of dancing! I’m so happy to be able to share this beautiful evening and a little bit about these two beautiful people! Congratulations, JoAnn and Kelly!

Wedding Photography: Anna Routh Photography / Wedding Venue: The Filter Building in Dallas, Texas / Flowers: Central Market / Wedding Cinematography: Elizabeth Allen of Copper Penny Films / Catering: Jim Lee Events / DJ: Complete Music / Furniture + Vintage Rentals: Rent My Dust Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Mia Solano

Cupid can work in mysterious ways.  Like introducing two meant-to-be sweethearts when the timing isn’t quite right, only to pair them up later as passengers on an airline.  Some may call it coincidence, but I am guessing this adorable duo most definitely calls it fate.  (I agree.)  And their too cute for words engagement session captured by Jessica Garmon?  As charming as their love story.  Click here for all of the pretty.

From Jessica Garmon… Josh and Laura’s story is the stuff of romantic movies. They met at a party. He was alone, and she was with someone else. They hit it off, made impressions on each other, and when the night ended, they went their separate ways. He remembered her, and she remembered him, but they continued living separate lives. Time passed… One day Josh boarded a flight for a work trip, and lo and behold, Laura was the passenger sitting next to him. Sparks flew, glances were exchanged, and Josh learned that she was also single this time around. They’ve been inseparable since. It’s safe to say that it didn’t take long for them to realize they had each met their “penguin.” The chemistry, tenderness and commitment is palpable when you’re around them. One of they’re favorite things to do it act out funny little scenes from movies so you’re always hearing a funny voice and laughter. This love is true and infectious! There was no better way to capture this sweet pair than on film, and after getting the photographs back I couldn’t have been happier. I cannot wait until their vineyard Texas wedding!

Photography: Jessica Garmon / Location: Dallas, Texas

We love a good, old fashioned love story around here. So when we read that this adorable couple met and fell in love even with thousands of miles between them and that they saved the piles of airline tickets they racked up on their frequent visits, we sort of did a collective swoon. Ivy Weddings captured their love perfectly in this pretty, sentimental e-session and yeah, we’re kinda obsessed. See even more right here.

From Matt + Ivy of Ivy Weddings… Brittany and Jonathan are an adorable couple with a great love story. She actually met him while on a trip down to the south, and he quickly realized he couldn’t let her stay away in Chicago. As Christmas approached, Jonathan popped the question while she was in Dallas, and the rest was history! We loved all of the airline tickets they brought to their engagement session — tokens of their story that Brittany had saved in a jar.

Photography: Ivy Weddings / Location: McKinney, Texas / Props: DIY by the Bride

If you don’t already believe in love at first sight, you are about to.  Because this stunning Dallas wedding?  It’s the kind of wedding that you love the very moment you lay your eyes on the soft blush hues, the beautiful blooms from Bella Flora of Dallas and the traditional details planned to perfection by Caroline Events.  The very moment.  And the gallery overflowing with the prettiest of images captured by Jess Barfield Photography?  You’ll love that, too.  Join me there for so much more and stay tuned for a beautiful film from A Very Special Day below.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… From the moment we got engaged, Sam and I knew we wanted a classic, springtime wedding that captured who we are as a couple as well as highlighting the amazing relationships we have with all of our friends and family. Growing up in Southern California and Connecticut, we both ventured to Texas to attend Southern Methodist University, where we met and started dating more than five years ago. Once engaged, we quickly decided our wedding would be held in Dallas, as it is the “middle mark” between our two hometowns and where we met, fell in love and live today.

As we moved forward with planning, I relied heavily on our wedding planner, Caroline Fair, and her recommended vendors. Not only did we fully trust her judgment, we were confident she shared the same vision we had for our wedding day and felt 100% comfortable with her and her suggestions. Because the majority of our guests would be traveling to Dallas from each coast, it was of utmost importance to us that once our guests arrived in the Dallas, everything would be taken care of for them and they could relax and enjoy the weekend. Although we initially didn’t want to get married in a hotel, we eventually selected the Rosewood Crescent Hotel for our venue because we loved that our entire wedding could happen at one place. The welcome boxes we left in our guests rooms were very important to me, as these would keep our guests informed and comfortable during their stay.  We turned to Nico & Lala to create a custom welcome note and schedule of the weekend’s activities, as well as individual tags for the goodies and water bottles in the box. My favorites were “Sam Popped the Question” on a bag of white chocolate popcorn, and “Sam & Heather Are Nuts For Each Other” around a bag of mixed nuts.  One of my favorite details of our whole wedding was the personalized map of Dallas that one of our bridesmaids drew by hand (on blush paper that matched our envelope liners, no less!).  It was such a personal and unique detail that I know we will keep forever.

If I had to chose a favorite part of the day it would be our ceremony, which we asked Sam’s uncle to officiate. I think we both would agree that was one of the most special and significant decisions we made in our planning, as we couldn’t have imagined how thoughtful, reflective and meaningful having him officiate would be. Sam suggested we write our own wedding vows as well as take traditional vows, and although it was nerve-wracking to share something so intimate in front of our guests, I am so happy we made that decision, as I know those words and memories are something we will both hold onto for our lifetime. One of the easiest decisions when planning our wedding was the bridesmaid dresses and color scheme of our wedding.  I picked the blush, chiffon Amsale dresses before I even saw them in person (from a magazine), and couldn’t have been happier with my decision.  I knew we didn’t want to have lots of bright colors in our wedding, so we steered towards blush, white, ivory and silver. One of my favorite details from the reception was the use of mercury glass, which was a suggestion from our florist, Bella Flora, because it would pick up the elements of the gray stone of the exterior of the hotel.

Wedding Photography: Jess Barfield Photography / Wedding Venue: Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas, Texas / Event Planning: Caroline Fair of Caroline Events / Floral Design: Bella Flora of Dallas / Wedding Cinematography: A Very Special Day / Wedding Invitations: Designers’ Fine Press / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Warren Barron / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Angie Williams / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Flora of Dallas / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Linens: La Tavola Linen

This one is for the reader who logged onto Style Me Pretty this morning searching for something pretty to go with that morning coffee. It’s so gorgeous, you won’t even need a second cup. Filled with blooms from Bella Flora of Dallas, captured by Sarah Kate Photography, and with a grand finale from Candlelight Films, it’s the kind of stunning that wakes up every one of your senses and feels a little like a party in your pitter pattering heart. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

You’ll be dancing in your seat from pure, giddy, happiness throughout the film from Candlelight Films!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/43493432 601 338]

On June 6, 2011 Kyle landed his dream job. I made reservations to take him out for a celebratory dinner, took cupcakes over to his apartment along with a car full of balloons. I kissed him goodbye and went home to get ready for the first night of the rest of my life. He picked me up around 6, we started the night at Dee Lincoln’s, a wine and bubbles bar in Dallas. The conversation was beautiful, lots of laughs.

Then it was time to make our way to dinner, a dinner I thought I had planned. Kyle knows I love walking places so I did not hesitate or question when he bypassed the valet and parked alongside the city streets a few blocks away from Al Biernat’s. I got out of the car. He paused then met me at my door. He was on one knee. The universe was spinning. From what we both can remember, he said something then, “…….I’ve loved you since the day I met you. Make me the happiest man in the world. Sarah, will you marry me?” Tears in our eyes, he slid the perfectly round 6-prong solitaire diamond ring on my finger–sparkling and sparkling in the soft street lamp light. Romantic is an understatement. But, just wait. We cried, we laughed, I was in absolute shock, we walk to the restaurant. The maitre’d took us to our table and my entire family was excitedly waiting, with menus covering their faces. As we approached everyone took the menus away and the celebration continued. It was such a magical night.

The Rosewood Crescent Hotel houses Capital Grille and Palominos, two of our favorite restaurants in Dallas. Did I mention it’s the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever seen? I also used to live across the street, so most of our dates and celebrations took place at the Crescent. We spent birthdays and graduations at Capital Grille while Palominos was a place we took our parents when they would visit or for a holiday brunch. So, when we begin our venue search, it was always close to our hearts. After we took the tour and met with the catering manager, it could not be more perfect. It felt like us, bright, airy, romantic, peaceful and familiar. We booked June 2 the very next day.

I love love love soft, romantic color palettes. I’m a lover of french country/cottage design/decor. I knew from the get go my colors would be champagne, blush pink with some peach. We decided to have a formal wedding based on our venue and my vision of my dream wedding. A long train, tuxedos, updos, round bouquets, enormous flowing centerpieces, glowing light illuminating a beautiful ballroom. I sent Bella Flora my pinterest boards ALL the time and they made my vision come to life. One of my favorite parts besides the gorgeous floral arrangements was the linens we had hanging from the ceiling surrounding the chandelier.

I’m a sentimental mess! I wore my mom’s petticoat. She wore it the day she married my dad and it was so special having it on as I walked down the aisle. It fit perfectly. I also wore my grandmother’s jewelry; her beautiful diamond earrings and her sapphire bracelet acted as my something blue. Another, maybe my favorite touch was my bouquet. My great grandmother (my grandfather’s mom), who is no longer with us, but whom I was very close to gave my grandmother (her daughter in law) a rosary before they were married. My grandmother lent me the rosary and it was wrapped around my bouquet stem, in my hands as I walked down the aisle. It was very special to have a part of her there with us.

I loved getting ready with my closest friends and family. A lot of my best friends live out of state so to be in one room all day getting ready and laughing was so so perfect. I vividly remember my mom, MOH and wedding planner getting me into my dress, while my beautiful bridesmaids watched! It was so special. I remember my dad and I in the back of the church. Before the doors opened, he said “Are you ready?” It was so calming and so emotional at the same time. He’s the best. I remember leaving the church for the reception my hand in Kyle’s just in awe of being married. I remember our first dance and the dip, which we practiced and worked on for so long. I remember the first time I saw the ballroom, right as we were announced. It was the most beautiful, spectacular sight. It was my dream wedding manifested into reality. I just remember being so unbelievably happy and dancing with Kyle all night. 

Photography: Sarah Kate Photography / Cinematography: Candlelight Films / Flowers: Bella Flora of Dallas / Event Design: Bella Flora of Dallas, Lucy Diaz-Flores / Event Planning: Bella Flora of Dallas, Jaime Jones / Ceremony Location: Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Dallas / Reception Location: Rosewood Crescent Hotel / Invitations: Checkerboard from Stardust Celebrations / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress # 1: Maggie Sottero from Lulu’s Bridal Boutique / Wedding Dress #2: Victoria Nicole Dress from Stardust Celebrations / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff from Stardust Celebrations / Ascot Retailer: Stardust Celebrations / Bride and Groom’s Cake: Rosewood Crescent Hotel / Hair: Evelyn Kershaw / Make-up: Kelly Schira / Rolls Royce: Blue Diamond Limo

We’re loving this wedding for so many reasons but maybe our favorite is how the bride mixed both vintage and casual styles so beautifully…and in her parent’s backyard! This is not your typical, casual backyard shindig. It’s elegant, yet sweet. A little bit country and a whole lotta gorgeous! Matthew Moore Photography captured all the pretty details and we can’t get over that golden, sunny glow on the bride. See even more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Matthew Moore Photography… Jillian wanted a very soft and feminine feel to her wedding. She brought in lots of pinks and floral fabrics, including the groom’s and groomsmen’s bow ties that she made, along with candelabras, crystals and pearls. The wedding was held on the back part of her parents’ property. I think she did a great job of combining very country touches, s’mores, barrels of hay covered in floral fabrics, a Texas backyard and making it feel elegant enough to house her beautiful, sorbet-colored Lazaro gown. :)

Wedding Photography: Matthew Moore Photography / Wedding Venue: The Bride’s Parents’ Home in Waxahachie, Texas / Wedding Planning: Sweet Pea Events / Floral Design: DiFiori / Catering: Gil’s Elegant Catering / Wedding Cakes: Tara’s Handcrafted Cakes / Wedding Invitations, Programs + Signage: Chips and Salsa Design Studio / DJ: LeForce Entertainment / Tent: Big D Party Rentals / Photo Booth: Smilebooth / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Stardust Bridal Salon / Hair + Makeup: Katie Moore of Matthew Moore Photography / Men’s Bow Ties: DIY by Bride

I love it when couples re-create their engagement for their e-session and this one just so happens to be one of the cutest ever. When on one of their many bike rides in the woods he popped the big question in the form of an overturned sign that she just so happened to pick up and read. And when she turned around, he was on one knee. See? I told you, the cutest. Feather & Twine Photography captured all the pretty and you can see more right here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride… One of our favorite things to do together is bike ride to “our special spot” in Richardson. It’s a beautiful bike trail with lots of trees and a creek. We’ve walked around “our creek” many times to take a break from our bike ride. On a Sunday morning, we were bike riding and stopped at the creek. There, I saw a green sign on its back; I picked it up and when I turned it over it said, “KRISTI WINANS WILL YOU MARRY ME”. I dropped the sign immediately and turned around to see Dave on his knee. He asked me to marry him. I of course said YES, and before even putting the ring on, I jumped into his arms, beyond excited. The moment felt surreal. For our engagement session, we chose to incorporate some of the things that make us, us. We included bikes, the creek, trees and the great outdoors because those are things we love. Dave is very much the outdoorsy “mountain man” type, and although I’m a bit of a girly-girl, I am very adventurous and love to be outside. We also included Dave’s Jeep because it’s his second love (after me, of course). The Jeep was a father-son project that they have made into a great car for adventures! Kelsey and Talon were great at capturing “us” in our photo shoot by getting to know us beforehand. They definitely made the session special.

Photography: Feather & Twine Photography / Location: Richardson, Texas

There seems to be this crazy misconception in the world of weddings that pink, peach + purple hues are reserved for the warm summer months. But this amazingly beautiful shoot from Blue Lotus + Matt & Julie Weddings throws that idea right out the window. The rustic, earth-toned farm table from Shag Carpet Prop Rentals brings in a bit of fall and the amber + navy glassware help to anchor the set in autumn. Be sure to check out the rest in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Blue Lotus… We wanted to create fall a wedding look that was unique and unexpected. Blue Lotus chose floral with warm and cool tones to represent the marriage of the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Soft hues such as pink, peach and even purple don’t have to be reserved for spring or summer weddings; they can also be incorporated into fall décor. To offset the soft pink and peach hues, we brought in earthly elements such as plant décor, a honeycomb table number and cholla sticks among the floral. We used rich jewel tones for floral containers and goblets, which is a fun change of pace for fall and winter weddings. The octopus plate serves as a statement piece to breakup the table setting. For the location, we choose a clearing in the woods of a park, where fresh fall leaves covered the ground. Our bride wore a simple, flowing bohemian dress that complemented the earthy, bohemian feel of the shoot.

Photography: Matt & Julie Weddings / Floral Design: Blue Lotus / Paper Goods: Palm Papers / Calligraphy: Chips and Salsa / Table: Shag Carpet Prop Rentals / Octopus Plates: Anthropologie / White Plates: Pottery Barn “Gabriella” / Bride’s Earrings: Kendra Scott / Hair + Makeup: Maggie Remer of Salon Twenty Two

When a bridal session is as stunning as this one is, you can’t help but smile.  Maybe it’s because the bride is drop-dead gorgeous and rockin’ one seriously amazing Monique Lhuillier gown – or maybe it’s the way she frolics through that breathtaking Dallas field with a beautiful bouquet from Bows and Arrows and a joy that can only be found in true love.  My guess?  It’s a sweet, sweet combo of all of the above.  And the gallery captured by Heather Hawkins Photography?  Amazing with a capital A.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL portrait session!

From Heather Hawkins Photography… This gorgeous bride, Korena, grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma and is now a Dallas-based art director with impeccable taste. After getting engaged in the mountains of Santa Fe, she and her fiance decided to elope to the gorgeous Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California. She found the beautiful Monique Lhuillier legend gown at the Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas and teamed up with the florists Bows and Arrows for one stunning, light-filled shoot. It was the perfect Fall day for her vision to come to life before she married the man she fell in love with!

Photography: Heather Hawkins Photography / Floral Design: Bows and Arrows / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier “Legend” via Neiman Marcus / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Jewelry: Her Grandmother’s Earrings + A Custom Ring

I kid you not – the moment I first spotted this gorgeous Dallas affair, I gasped out loud.  Like an audible, put your hand to your heart kind of gasp, “wow” included.  Because this wedding?  This stunning masterpiece of a day?  It’s all kinds of fabulous.  And with beautiful blooms from Blue Lotus, oh-so-perfect planning by Sweet Pea Events and seriously amazing images from Sarah Kate, Photographer, it’s most definitely a take your breath away kind of soiree.  Prepare to get your pretty on and join me in the gallery for soooo much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Mike and I had always been the outdoorsy type. I grew up spending my summers at the lake with my family, and Mike grew up surfing on the beaches back home in his native Australia. So of course I knew when we got engaged that I wanted to have the ceremony outdoors – and what better place to have a wedding in Dallas other than the Filter Building? It’s right next to the lake, has gorgeous natural flora all around it, and the building itself is one of those great venues that oozes a minimalist chic vibe. So the minute I pulled up to the building with my parents, I knew that it was the perfect place.

Once we had picked out the location, all the fun detail planning started! I wanted to have a clean, elegant chic look, but still stay true to our natural and rustic roots. Bri of Blue Lotus helped that vision become a reality. All of the centerpieces had natural, wooden elements to them, and the arch that we got married under was amazing with all of the ferns, moss and wood that she hand-built into the ground! One of my favorite elements to all of our reception tables was that we had decided to get natural moss and surround all the centerpieces with it to make them look like they were growing out of the table. All of our linens from Kennique Linens were simple green silk tablecloths with tan burlap runners down the middle, topped off with gold chargers and rust-colored napkins with our menus perfectly tucked into them. All of the place cards were made by hand by my mom, Kathy, using used wine corks to fit in with the casually elegant theme. Wendy Krispin Caterer topped off the night with the most amazing wait and bar staff ever. They had each dish plated perfectly and made sure every guest was attended to perfectly! I’m so happy we hired Sarah Kate to capture each and every special moment and detail of that day! And Colby Logan from Astounding Sounds helped us dance the night away!

My dress was by Alberto Makali and my bridesmaids dresses were by Monique Lhuillier. I wanted all of my bridesmaids to feel gorgeous and pretty, so we had booked the services of Shipe Ibrahimi for hair and Marilona Makeovers to do all the makeup, and they were amazing! Not only did everyone feel beautiful on the day of, but they were so much fun to get ready with as well. Mike picked out the Calvin Klein attire for the boys and went with simple black ties without any type of vest — a classic Aussie surfer boy look! The entire day went off without a hitch, and I could not have done it without anyone from my fabulous wedding team, especially my amazing wedding planners from Sweet Pea Events, who made my dream day a reality!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Wedding Venue: The Filter Building in Dallas, Texas / Wedding Planning: Sweet Pea Events / Floral Design: Blue Lotus / Officiant: Love Notes Weddings / Catering: Wendy Krispin Caterer / Wedding Cake: Unrefined Bakery / DJ: Colby Logan of Astounding Sounds / Rentals: Dallas Party Tent & Event, Shag Carpet + Kennique Linens / Transportation: Cloud 9 Vintage Coach Service / Wedding Dress: Alberto Makali / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Hair: Shipe Ibrahimi / Makeup: Marilona Makeovers