Texas Weddings

Vista West Ranch.  A venue synonymous with breathtaking scenery and drop-dead gorgeous weddings… AND the sweeter than sweet locale for today’s darling nuptials captured by the ever-wonderful Christina Carroll Photography.  Nuptials, I might add, that are literally bursting with pretty – from the lovely rustic details to the beautiful blooms from Petal Pushers to the bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning. (Literally.)  Don’t miss a minute in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Nick and I met while attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock. We moved to Houston after graduation and shortly after our engagement we moved back to West Texas. We knew immediately that we wanted to be married in one of our favorite weekend getaway spots, the Texas Hill Country. 

After doing some research we knew that Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs was the perfect venue for us. We loved how open and unique the property was and knew that we would be able to stick to our personal style while ensuring a great time for everyone. We tried to keep the color palette neutral as to not compete with gorgeous natural scenery around us. We had a little over a year to plan our special day and we were able put together a team of venders that we knew would make our day perfect. We loved every minute of our wedding and we truly were able to relax and enjoy the day thanks to the fantastic group of people handling every last detail. A special thanks to Christina Carroll for capturing our day so beautifully. We will cherish these moments forever.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Christina Carroll Photography | Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas | Wedding Planning: Coordinate This | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Catering: Pok-E-Jo’s BBQ | Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery | Music: The Drywater Band | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Lula Kate | Groom’s Attire: JoS.A. Bank | Hair + Makeup: Defining Styles

Hands down, Camp Lucy is one of my favorite Texas venues. From the gorgeous outdoor grounds to the beautiful stone chapel, it’s the perfect locale for a laid-back + personality filled soiree. Incorporating DIY projects and a bit of help from Lizze Belle Events, this pretty little number, starring the cutest couple you ever did see, will put a serious smile on your face! Don’t miss the full gallery filled with images from Shannon Cunningham Photography.

The pretty party isn’t over just yet, dears. Be sure not to miss this beautiful wedding film from Optix Studios!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/51797338 600 338]

From the Bride… Matt and I knew from the very beginning that we wanted our wedding to be a laid-back celebration of our love for each other – we shied away from anything too formal or traditional. We didn’t have a set color scheme, although we did end up incorporating varying shades of coral and dusty rose as well as burlap in the décor. We focused on creating a vintage/rustic feel for our wedding that would fit with the atmosphere of our venue. Camp Lucy is breathtaking already, so we wanted the style of our wedding to complement rather than overshadow its beauty.

Our top priority was making sure our guests had fun. We had lawn games and hula-hoops during our outdoor cocktail hour and an 80s dance party reception complete with slap bracelets, glow necklaces, and inflatable guitars. Matt and I both worked on a few DIY projects for the wedding, including an escort-card board made out of hymnal pages with luggage tags and skeleton keys, and our cornhole games, which Matt built and I painted. Unfortunately, I am not very crafty by nature, so I ended up relying on etsy (every bride’s best friend!), local vendors, and recently married friends for other décor items, such as vintage books, antique lace tablecloths, and an old barn door with chalkboard panels.

The best part of the day was standing at the end of the aisle during our ceremony, holding hands with Matt and only being able to focus on him, but at the same time feeling all the love from our friends and family, many of whom had traveled across the world just to share that moment with us.

I recommend designating a friend or family member to help you out the few days before the wedding. Your emotions will probably be going crazy, and it’s a good idea to share some of the last-minute stress with someone else. After the rehearsal dinner, just let it all go and focus as much as possible on enjoying your time with friends and family. I highly recommend NOT attempting any last-minute DIY projects. Finally, if you have a wedding coordinator, make sure you communicate your décor/projects to them as specifically as possible – they’re not mind readers!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Shannon Cunningham Photography | Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas | Event Planning: Lizze Belle Events | Floral Design: Wild Bunches Floral | Wedding Cinematography: Optix Studios | Catering: Royal Fig | Wedding Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori | Photo Booth: Premier Photo Booth | DJ: ATX DJ | Shoes: TOMS

This wedding is pure fairy tale romance a-la Texas Hill Country. Not only is the couple drop dead gorgeous, but each and every vintage chic detail of their day is total perfection. Benfield Photography captured each beautiful moment and you can see it all right here in the full gallery!

From the Bride…This is the story of a red headed mountain man and a southern fashionista/blogger living in a big city. We (Signe & Chad) met in the smoky mountains of Tennessee. He lived in Los Angeles at the time, and she in Dallas, Texas. They spent a few days together guiding a trip for her company, and instantly clicked. He went back to LA and she to Dallas….but he was insistent in his pursuit. Many love letters with clues to treasure hunts, Shakespeare poems, late night phone calls and trips back and forth to each of their states….and they fell in love. Hard.

He moved back to his roots (Texas) to be with her, and a few months later, on Christmas morning….he proposed to her before dawn in an old cabin on his parent’s property. It glowed with the light of dozens of candles in old glass jars, and all of the love letters he had ever written to her (of course she’d kept them!) tacked up onto the back wall. She said yes, and with that, the wedding planning began…

Fast forward seven months. We were married on July 7th, 2012 in Dripping Springs, Texas at Vista West Ranch. It was a magical setting, and fit both of our personalities perfectly. We wed in front of a rustic barn, with the view of the Texas Hill Country just beyond the altar. He is a mountain man, and she a lover of all things vintage. Together, we created a ceremony that embodied both.

We included a Shakespearean sonnet that he recites to her often, and her brothers played Mumford and Sons Wedding Band “I take your hand” as the newlyweds smiled down the aisle as husband and wife. The music was folksy and eclectic, and the food was from one of their favorite lunch spots. There were yard games, etched “hillbilly wine glasses” for the bridal party, vintage knick knacks, postcard table settings with a note on the back of each state in which the couple had a lasting memory, a candy bar, and monogrammed pie pops. We could go on and on, but we will let the pictures tell the story.

Wedding Photography: Benfield Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Drippings Springs, Texas / Floral Design + Decor: Petal Pushers / Wedding Coordinator: Casey Whitlock from Coordinate This / Wedding Cake + Pie Pops: Austin Cake Studio / Catering: Whole Foods / Bartending: Served Bartending / Decor: DYI by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Watters / Wedding Belt: Lewisville Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Ruche / Bride’s Crown: DIY by the Bride / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Urban Outfitters / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Banana Republic + Calvin Klein / Groomsmen Suspenders: The Vintage Parlor / Hair: Kristin Schutz from Salon Pompeo / Makeup: Adrienne Pitkin

Music and food.  Two ingredients guaranteed to liven up any wedding.  So, when this adorable duo made the decision to build their day around those oh-so-wonderful components, they knew just what they were doing.  Together with the help of Royal Fig Catering and three (yes, THREE!) amazing bands, they crafted a wedding that was chock-full of good eats, yummy cocktails and a whole lot of don’t stop ’til you drop dancing.  What a fabulous way to celebrate.  Check out every gorgeous moment captured by Geoff Duncan in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Grant and I wanted our wedding to be inclusive of our far-flung friends and families but also very personal. We chose the Hill Country outside of Austin, our former home, as the destination for our guests to gather and celebrate our marriage. We were hoping for a sophisticated but subtle Mexican feel as a nod to my roots and a focus on two things: Music and Food.

For the food, our friends at Royal Fig Catering served a fantastic family-style menu with refined but comforting dishes like porchetta-style pork loin with gorgonzola roasted mushrooms. As cocktail enthusiasts, they allowed us to create some original cocktails and contributed a few new recipes of their own (hello Guavaritas!) to the cocktail menu.

The music came in three acts: A string quartet which played contemporary hits during a pre-ceremony champagne hour and during the ceremony, a mariachi band which played during the traditional cocktail hour, and a country/variety band for the reception. We are very grateful that we could include so much music during the event! I especially love the contrast between the traditional instruments of the string band and their playful contemporary arrangements, like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” the unique celebratory charm of mariachi, and the excitement of a live band at a reception.

Our first dance was to “Bless the Broken Road,” and on that theme, we named each table after a street or place that was connected in some way to its occupants or to our eight year history together. All of our place cards and paper goods were done in a talavera (Mexican tile) style. The events hall was styled by our event planner and Ilios lighting to feel like a “romantic candle-lit dinner in a hacienda,” creating such a warm environment in which to be with our loved ones. We could not have been happier with the evening.

Wedding Photography: Geoff Duncan / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Planning: Weddings by Kennedy / Catering: Royal Fig Catering / Pie: Royers Round Top Cafe / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / String Band: Strings Attached / Mariachi Band: Mariachi Tamazula / Reception Band: Texas Unlimited Band / Paper Goods: Lizzy B Loves / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Kendra Scott / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique / Bridesmaids’ Sashes: BHLDN / Men’s Attire: Indochino / Groom’s Tie: Paul Smith / Makeup: Kandy Glass from FaceKandy

This DIY-inspired, budget-friendly + totally sustainable fête is oh so up my alley. The incredibly creative bride scoured SMP for ideas and inspiration that would highlight the gorgeous Vista West Ranch and would work with her quirky, eclectic vibe. Captured perfectly by Heather Curiel and Nostalgia Film, the vintage stunner will have you swooning all afternoon! See the full gallery right here, and don’t miss the beautiful 8mm film!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/55315095 600 338]

from the bride...I decided I was going to do all the decor myself. As I was planning, we thought about all the waste that comes from putting on just a single wedding. We were not going to have a wedding with flowers that get thrown away, decor that get’s thrown away. What was the point? Why not get almost everything from Thrift Stores and antique stores that can be used again in our home. The same with the floral decor. Potted succulents and plants became a huge part of our wedding. Andy, being a lover of plants agreed. I must of spent months in total time looking at the SMP wedding blogs for budget friendly DIY ideas and i sure found a lot of them that would fit in with the style we wanted. I then came to the realization that I could not be the wedding planner, bride and the florist. We decided to find a florist that could help with the decor and provide a sustainable approach that fit with our style. I had so much fun over that year scouring vintage antique stores and thrift stores!

They say that we wouldn’t notice the details the day of the wedding but they are so wrong! When we walked down the aisle and saw the vintage chandelier hanging from the trellis or the DIY reserved signs I made for the chairs, I smiled so big inside and knew that we influenced all of this. The beer garden decor thanks to our amazing florist and stylist was over the top Austin quirky with the moss balls, succulent terrariums and beer bottle lights. We could not have been happier to have our guests hanging in this laid back area! When we walked in our reception and saw the gorgeous details that we worked on so hard over the previous year it just took our breath away! The vintage wood cheese box that the groom’s cake sat on, the lucky horseshoes we gave away as favors. Each element of the wedding we created had its own set of memories that came with it as we made those items as a couple and worked together to do so.
Our favorite moments of the wedding were the times we had alone with each other during our first dance, our first look photos and portrait time and lastly around the campfire at the end of the night reflecting on the most beautiful day we had together.

Our advice to any couple is to simply have fun planning your wedding. Make the day a true reflection of your personalities and beliefs. If sustainability is important to you why not have planted succulents and repurposed decor! How fun will it be a year later to have a garden of plants and succulents that were from your wedding?! Have fun in the planning process and cherish the memories that are made from planning your special day! Make sure to have your day captured on video. We decided to use a videographer that shoots with 8mm film. How cool is that? Don’t worry if something does not go correctly, because every wedding has “thing” that happens at it. Nobody will notice it at all. Work with vendors who are in sync with your vision and will work with you as a part of your team to make your day perfect.

Wedding Photography: Heather Curiel / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: EcoChic Floral / Wedding Cinematography: Nostalgia Film / Wedding Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori / DJ: Complete Music / Rentals: Petal Pushers Rentals / Banners: Amy & Amy from A Butterfly Above / Wedding Guest Book: Shabby Scrap / Wrist Corsages: Frayed & fancy / Wedding Invitations: Days Gone Design / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Bridal Couture / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Makeup + Hair: Danielle Elaine

 

I love this Bride. For so many reasons, but the main one being after reading her description I think she might be the sweetest person on the planet. And her wedding? Beyond gorgeous. Donning her grandmother’s gown and a whole lot of gratitude, her nuptials to her main man in uniform were nothing short of stunning. Add cascading florals and gorgeous images from Forever Photography Studio? And ladies and gentlemen, we end up with one lovely gallery. See so much more pretty right here.

From the Bride… Because Cam is a Marine, and constantly back and forth for training, as you can imagine planning too far ahead is almost an impossible task. The hill country is one of my favorites places to be and also represents Cam’s style. I’m a beach bum, he’s a country boy. I found Camp Lucy on a website and saw that they were having an open house two weeks later. I told my mother and grandmother that we were going. We went, we fell in love, and we booked a date that day! It was the last Saturday open for almost the rest of the year. I was ECSTATIC that we found the place and day…now I just needed to inform my husband to be! I called him and described the place to him, as well as sent pictures from my phone, and told him I had booked June 30th, 2012. Luckily, he thought that date sounded perfect. From then on out, we were in full wedding planning mode. Being that Cam was away for basically our whole engagement, I leaned on my mother and my uncle Rick. I can honestly say that without them, my wedding would not have been what it was. They are INCREDIBLE and Rick’s creativity and design sense created the most beautiful wedding I could ever have dreamt of.

 I wasn’t entirely sure of the colors I wanted or the look I wanted, but as time went on I realized that the environment at Camp Lucy was so gorgeous, I didn’t want anything to take away from that. I steered away from all bright colors and focused on champagne, off whites, natural greens, and burlap. Once I gave the coloring, I pretty much did nothing. My uncle took control and gave me exactly what I wanted. He created my vision, but better than I could ever have imagined. The one thing that I was adamant about was that I was going to wear my grandmother’s wedding dress. I had dreamt of this my whole life. My grandmother married in a Catholic Church to a full blood Italian family. Her dress that she bought, just had little cap sleeves, and upon seeing that, her future mother in law insisted that she add long sleeves. The only thing I changed on her dress, was removing those long sleeves and restoring it back to the dress that she originally purchased. I felt more beautiful in that dress than anything I have ever worn in my life and I love knowing that her and I will always share that special bond. She is my hero, my role model, and one of my best friends. Another thing I wanted at our wedding was the Italian tradition of giving out 5 almonds to the guests. At traditional Italian weddings, five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity.

I wish I could say that I remember every moment, but that wouldn’t be the truth. The whole evening went by so quickly that I felt like I couldn’t soak it all in. There are a few moments however that will always stand out in my mind. One of those is watching Cam as I walked down the aisle and as I stood with him throughout the ceremony. He had this adorable smirk on his face the whole time which he only gets when he is really truly happy. Another memory I have is my dance with my father. I was extremely nervous about dancing with him because we both have two left feet. The moment the song started playing, those worries escaped my mind and all I could think about was how much I loved my father. Of course the tears came instantly for both of us. That is a moment that I will treasure forever. I am such a daddy’s girl! 

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Planning + Design: Texas Hill Country Events / Floral Design: Alamo Plants and Petals + Janal Inc. / Wedding Cinematography: DPC Event Services / Catering: Crave Catering / Cake + Desserts: Classic Cakes by Lori / Invitations: Invitations, Etc / Wedding Dress: Bride’s Grandmother’s (ceremony dress) + Jim Hjelm (reception dress) / Bride’s Ceremony Earrings: Bride’s Great Grandmother’s / Reception Headband: BHLDN / Bridesmaids’ Dress: Amsale

As cliché as it sounds, I’m a girl in a total love affair with pink. No other hue radiates such femininity and romance while perfectly matching the sweet blush of a Bride on her wedding day. One such lovely hue took center stage at these next southern nuptials where thoughtful, family-driven details were infused from start to finish. Country Sugar Events planned the whole day to perfection, and Half Orange Photography captured the images that will leave you beside yourself in bliss. Don’t miss even a moment of the day in the full gallery right here.

And as if all the photo loveliness wasn’t enough, Photohouse Films crafted the wedding video that requires a tissue handy for your happy tears!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/52828475?badge=0 600 338]

From the Bride… As soon as Clint and I got engaged, we immediately started looking for the perfect setting for our wedding. We both come from very large families and it was important for us to find a venue that would line up with our vision and accommodate our many guests. When we went to tour Camp Lucy, we were barely on the driveway when we knew this was where we were getting married. My vision for the wedding was a soft, simple, garden party feel with rustic/vintage elements.

Because family is so important to us, I wanted to include a lot of family elements as well. The wine jars used as vases were my Great Grandfathers, which he used to make homemade wine, the doilies on each table were made my Grandmother over the years, and the rosary wrapped around my bouquet was my other Grandmothers. We even used the cake cutting knives from my parents wedding. My Dad also did a few DIY projects for me by making the wood crates and the wedding cake stand from an old tree on our land.

The ceremony, the décor, the food, the drinks, and the dancing were everything I dreamed about and more. I was truly blown away. Clint and I commented the whole night on how beautiful everything looked and how happy we were to be celebrating our love with family and friends. The two pieces of advice I would give any bride are if something is not done by the day of the wedding, don’t stress about it. You will probably the only person who notices if anything is missing. Also, really take time to embrace the day and everything around you. When people say it goes by quickly, they aren’t exaggerating, so take time to take it all in.

Wedding Photography: Half Orange Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Planning: Country Sugar Events / Floral Design: Flora Fetish / Wedding Cinematography: Photohouse Films / Wedding Cake: Gale Hendricks of Gale’s Cakes / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride + G and C Printing & Forms / Wedding Programs: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan via Nordstrom / Hair: Emily Armand / Makeup: MMC Makeup Artistry

I’m pretty sure that no one loves a good vintage chic wedding as much as we do here at SMP. And this is one for the record books my friend. Each and every detail is crafted to perfection and oh-so-sweet. The flowers, the mercury glass votives, and that adorable couple all make for a fabulously romantic and memorable day at Memory Lane Event Center. Mint Photography snapped up all the goodness and there’s so much more right here.

From Mint Photography… When I try to think of words to describe Hasive and Nathan’s wedding, I feel like I can’t think of one worthy enough to explain how special their day was. Everything about the day was perfect. Hasive and Nathan are one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever met! Seriously, I bet Hasive hugged every single person that was there, probably twice. The love and affection that they feel for each other and their family and friends was so evident. They did a spectacular job with the decorations as well, which only added to the uniqueness and beauty of the day. Everyone was so laid-back and just enjoyed their time with each other that evening. There was great dancing, hilarious photo booth photos and a very tangled send off! I’m beyond happy Hasive and Nathan picked us to capture all the moments of their special day. A big thanks to Jessica with Mair Images for second shooting! We wish Hasive and Nathan so much happiness for the future!

Wedding Photography: Mint Photography / Second Shooter: MairImages / Wedding Venue: Memory Lane Event Center in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Last Petal / Catering: Dagar’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / DJ: Dave Garcia / Rentals: Whim Hospitality

This bride’s vision of a romantic, moss-covered + candle-lit wedding filled with Spanish flair became a beautiful reality with the help of Something to Celebrate and Last Petal who brought her dream day into reality. The emotion and love surrounding the adorable Mr. and Mrs. and their whimsical Camp Lucy soiree was captured perfectly by Caroline + Ben Photography and lucky for us, there’s so much more to see right here!

 

 

 

From the Bride… We wanted a romantic vibe with lots of greenery, moss, candles and lavender with a Spanish flair. The best moment of the day was our ceremony. Saying our vows in front of all of our family and friends by candle light was amazing. The song choices (we walked out to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles played on classical guitar), ringing the bell was special and symbolic, and my cousin Beth’s husband (she was a bridesmaid) was our officiant. My flowers were so beautiful they made me cry — Melanie from Last Petal really understood my vision. Rico and I are total foodies so having delicious food was really important. Primizie and Michelle’s Patisserie did a fabulous job. My biggest piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner, even if it is only for day-of help. And try hard to relax and enjoy! It all goes by so fast!

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Flowers: Last Petal, a floral studio  / Wedding Planning: Katie Netherton of Something to Celebrate / Catering: Primizie / Dessert: Michelle’s Patisserie / Rentals: Whim Event Rentals / Program Fans + Papel Picado: Etsy / Seating + Escort Cards: DIY by Lane, A Bridesmaid / Vintage Postcards: Found by Caroline, A Bridesmaid / “Sara & Rico” Sign: DIY by the Maid of Honor / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Bride’s Necklace: Her Grandmother’s / Bride’s Earrings: Eliza Page / Hair: Nancy Rankin / Makeup: Denise Lindgren / Groom’s Atttire: Ermenegildo Zegna

Just when I thought I couldn’t love purple any more than I already do (read: a lot), along comes this darling Hill Country wedding to prove that it’s totally possible.  Turns out that when my fave color is paired with a stunning Vista West Ranch setting and some of the prettiest bouquets you will ever see from Petal Pushers, I CAN love it more – and I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.  Sharon Nicole Photography captured all of the lovely and you can see so much more in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Sharon Nicole Photography… Leah and Daniel’s wedding had unique details that came together beautifully on their wedding day. I loved that Daniel wore a purple shirt and a purple/green tie with suspenders and a khaki suit. It looked sharp while being different from the normal black and white attire that most grooms wear. Leah looked stunning in her gown from Serendipity Bridal, and her bridesmaids glowed in dresses that they chose in different shades of purple. Wedding guests were able to shake tambourines, which doubled as wedding programs, when Leah and Daniel were announced as husband and wife. At the reception, guests were entertained by a DIY photo booth, s’mores, cake and Blue Bell ice cream cups that were covered in purple gingham cloth. The tambourines were also used when Leah and Daniel exited their reception at the end of the night. This wedding was truly a celebration of Leah and Daniel’s love for each other, and it was such an enjoyable experience by all who were privileged to join them.

Wedding Photography: Sharon Nicole Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Wedding Dress: Wtoo “Marguerite” via Serendipity Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

There is so much to love about this rustic + vintage Camp Lucy wedding, I’m just not sure where to start. Months of thrifting and crafting culminated in a perfectly themed “country fair” celebration where not a single detail was missed. From the personalized mason jar place cards to the mix + match chairs for the head table, this pretty little number proves that country chic is here to stay. See every last image by Luke and Cat Photography in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Luke and Cat Photography… Jana and Clint planned a dream of a Texas rustic vintage wedding. The couple’s engagement happened atop the Ferris wheel at the groom’s small hometown county fair, which sparked the idea for planning their wedding. A stationery ensemble inspired by vintage fair posters, homemade baked goods, DIY elements from many “crafternoons,” farmhouse tables with mismatched chairs and tin goats all played a part in bringing the couple’s old-fashioned county fair vision to life. The fashion was vintage chic, and the color palette was a warm mix of cream, brown and dusty pink. The bride wore her grandmother’s pearls, a borrowed veil from a treasured friend and new blue earrings from her beau. The flower girls were dressed in handmade, one-of-a-kind vintage dresses.

After a heart-felt ceremony performed by the groom’s aunt, friends and family made the short trip over to the open-air stucco pavilion for drinks and appetizers. Sunset rolled in as the cocktail hour began, and guests enjoyed the easy fall breeze along with, at the special request of the groom, a serenade by a traditional South Texas staple … a mariachi band! Instead of a usual seating chart, guests grabbed “place card” mason jars to find their seat and had a designated glass for the night. The reception was the combined vision and work of the bride and groom, and in their own words, “a solid six months of junkin’ which we loved every minute of!” Many trips around Texas flea markets and antique shops brought a bounty of 150+ mason jars, an eclectic mix of vases, wooden milk crates, old frames and doors, suitcases and mail carts. Vintage linens and lace were placed atop long wooden tables, and gorgeous florals completed the tablescape. Different chairs for every seat at the head table made a welcoming focal point for the festivities. Choosing to skip a traditional tiered wedding cake, the couple called on the groom’s mother (a food show baking champion) to create a dessert table adorned with homemade cakes – all baked from scratch! From strawberry bundts to a decadent Italian cream cake, the spread was the talk of the day. A tongue-in-cheek faux bride’s cake was fashioned as the centerpiece of the dessert table using “tiers” scavenged by the bride and groom at local flea markets and antiques stores, just to get the right sizes.

Since no one leaves a county fair empty-handed, at the “spread the love” station, guests were offered homemade favors of pepper jelly and salsa. The groom and his father made the salsa, all with ingredients from the family garden. The mother of the groom made the pepper jelly with her award-winning recipe. The labor of love from the family left guests with the best of both worlds – sweet and spicy! At the end of the night, the sparklers were lit. Friends and family left with memories and homemade goodies, and the couple exited with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts.

Wedding Photography: Luke and Cat Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Event Planning: Lizze Belle Event Management / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Officiant: Dellene Blackmore, Aunt of the Groom / Catering: Verdes Mexican Parrilla / Ice Cream: Amy’s Ice Cream / Wedding Invitations: Designed by the Bride & Groom / Guitarist: Earl Bishop, Cousin of the Groom / Mariachi Band: Mariachi Estrella / Entertainment: Texas Unlimited Band / Head Table + Farmhouse Table Rentals: Premier Party Rentals / Miscellaneous Table Rentals: Whim Event Rentals + Petal Pushers / Mismatched Chair Rentals: Petal Pushers / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Brittney Waltrip of Shelby & Co. / Makeup: Benefit Cosmetics via Ulta / Men’s Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear

As a sucker for detail, I about fell over when I first saw Courtney & Tim’s wedding. 36th Street Events has taken this southern hospitality affair to the next level with mismatched linens & chairs, beautiful lace overlays and formal garden style table arrangements by Petal Pushers. The list goes on… as does my love for this wedding! Not only is the couple beautiful, but they have equally stunning photo’s by Shannon Cunningham to treasure for a lifetime.  Spoil yourself to the full gallery here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Shannon Cunningham Photography… Courtney and Tim have the kind of crazy-head-over-heels love that everyone wants. From the moment I met them, I knew that not only would their wedding be beautiful, but it would also be meaningful and full of love. They picked an eclectic mix of decor, featuring muted tones and quirky, vintage styling. Their ceremony and reception was at the always charming Vista West Ranch. Highlights of the day included their exchanging of meaningful notes and gifts, the lovely ceremony and the point in the reception when Courtney revealed she’d found an old Buck Owens guitar as a present for Tim. Buck Owens’ music played a big part in their relationship and it was a super sweet moment. They are two of the most lovely clients I have ever worked with, and I wish them nothing but the best!

Wedding Photography: Shannon Cunningham Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Event Design + Planning: 36th Street Events / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Wedding Invitations: Anibella Ink + Paper / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

I never tire of a good dose of Vista West Ranch. That happy place in the Texas Hill Country where the coolest of the cool go to get married. It’s the ultimate mash-up of rustic and re-purposed vintage with a layer of yellow-hued details by Yellow Umbrella Events that make even this rainy day affair bright and happy. And happy matches beautifully with the florals of Petal Pushers and the images by Lisa Woods Photography. It’s a trifecta of wedding greatness, I tell you and you can see so much more in that little sweet spot we call the gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When it came time to plan our wedding I knew two things. First, it had to be in the beautiful Texas hill country, and second, it had to have a lot of personal touches to make it truly our own. Vista West Ranch was the first place we visited, and we never looked anywhere else! It added just the right amount of vintage charm and Texas chic we were looking for. After the venue was picked, I was able to start being creative — my favorite part. I could have never done it without the help of my incredibly talented and creative best friend Amber from Heart Made Events (and maybe a little help from Pinterest, too). Since I love pinwheels, we decided to incorporate them into everything. I first started working on the table centerpieces. I attached each pinwheel to a dowel rod and stuck them into old vintage milk jugs that I had wrapped in the gray yarn used on the groom’s boutonniere. For the smaller jars on the tables, I stuffed them with white packing paper and mini pinwheels. Amber designed the adorable flags that identified each table name, and we attached them to grey and white striped paper straws and put them in with the mini pinwheels. It all looked amazing when it came together with Petal Pushers’ collection of vintage jars and bottles.

After the centerpieces were done we moved on to the escort cards. We had to make 175 small pinwheels to ensure we had enough to place on the cards for each guest. Putting the cards in the shutters really made them stand out that much more and once placed at each guests seat it looked great with centerpieces! Since we did flags for the table names we decided that we should make programs into flags as well. We spent the next several hours cutting each one into a triangle, then hole punching, then attaching to dowel rods, then tying ribbon around. They were actually quite fun and a great way to bring paper crafts into something functional for the wedding. My wonderful mother slaved away in the kitchen months before the wedding because she wanted to make our wedding cake special. I saw one similar to it from another wedding and knew it was exactly what I wanted! We stuffed pinwheels in the cake so that it would go along with the rest of the décor. Since Joey and I both grew up in Round Rock, Texas, we decided to incorporate the world famous Round Rock Donuts into his groom’s table. Surrounding the donut tower, we had cake stands holding cookies that we had custom made to match our invitations, along with the hot chocolate bar that had several different “fixins” for people to choose from. There were burlap banners that were placed throughout different areas of the venue (including the groom’s table) and the paper straws with our logo on them. They definitely added some cute personal touches.

Since we had so many pinwheels leftover, we created the paper accordion circles and placed pinwheels on each one. We tied them together, and it made a beautiful display over the top banister. Originally we had bought tissue poms to hang in the outside cocktail area, but since the rain changed our plans a bit, they were also placed near the banister so we could still get some use out of them. They ended up looking absolutely perfect there. Looking back, the best part of all this wasn’t necessarily the personal touches that made it our own but the time we got to spend with everyone who helped us make it our own. Even with the rain, it was perfect for us and we wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Wedding Photography: Lisa Woods Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Event Planning: Cheryl + Shea Bailey of Yellow Umbrella Events / Floral Design Petal Pushers / Wedding Invitations: Details Austin / Catering: Pok-e-Jo’s / Groom’s Table Donuts: Round Rock Donuts / Cookies: Royal Cookies and Design / Wedding Dress: Saison Blanche Couture via Blush Bridal Lounge / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Men’s Attire: Express

I may have squealed like a little girl when I first laid eyes on this ranch wedding by Half Orange Photography.  OK, there may have been a few shrieks of glee.  But can you blame me?  The flowers!  The lace details!  I’m just crazy about the whole soiree! Scrolling through the gallery is like floating on a little cloud of rustic wedding perfection.  You really won’t want to miss a single inspiring detail so head over there right now!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Rene and I got engaged, we soon found that we had two very different opinions of the perfect wedding. I wanted something small, personal, and sweet, while he wanted a huge party. We met somewhere in the middle and our wedding turned out to be a perfect combination of the two. We both love the Texas Hill Country and knew we couldn’t get married anywhere else. Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs was the perfect fit for us: gorgeous views, rustic surroundings and tons of tiny details. They have an outdoor ceremony site overlooking miles of Hill Country, a stunning reception venue, a biergarten with fire pits for socializing and adorable lodges for guests to stay the night. We were sold.

Rene and I agreed that we did not want the day to feel formal or stuffy, so we worked to make it rustic and beautiful with tons of personal touches. To make it comfortable and personable, I wanted to decorate with antiques, family heirlooms and quirky treasures that were all in some way special to us and our families. My mother was the workhorse of our collecting and began to sift through (what felt like) every antique shop in Texas, collecting old lace, tablecloths, doilies, jars, doorknobs, lanterns, books and anything she could get her hands on. I wanted the tables to all look different but be completely covered in old, beautiful things. I probably took on too many projects for the wedding, but I wanted every single detail to be done by hand. I made the table numbers and page parcels out of old discolored book pages, the burlap signs, the place cards, the thank-you notes, menu displays and more. With help from a few friends and family, we were able to set up everything the day before so that it was exactly how we envisioned it. It was so much fun!

The wedding day was December 30, and we were expecting cold drizzly weather for an outdoor ceremony with no contingency plan. Last minute, we arranged for outdoor heaters to be set up and put together a table piled with antique quilts and warm wassail for guests to grab on their way in. We had the fire pits lit, ready to warm our guests with some hot chocolate and s’mores. As luck would have it, December 30 came and we laughed at how blessed we were to have 75 degree weather with the most gorgeous light we had ever seen. It was perfect. The ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt, and the reception was the most fun celebration, thanks to our amazing band who fed off of the party. Everything went seamlessly and we enjoyed every second of day. After we left the reception, we wanted our friends to continue the celebration. We rented out the Vista West Ranch lodging and loaded the refrigerators with food, alcohol and goodies so they could continue the party late into the night (how many venues allow you to do that?). Later we found out that the caterer and bartender even brought over all leftover food and alcohol to the lodges to be finished off by our friends! At the end of the day we were so blessed to have exactly what we both wanted, to make it out of wedding planning alive, and to finally be married! If I could give any advice to future brides, it would be to take a deep breath and roll with the punches. A wedding is not worth bickering with loved ones or losing sleep over. Although it doesn’t feel like it, everything eventually falls into place. You are fortunate enough to have found your better half, and no matter what kind of flowers or silverware you have, at the end of the night you will be married!

Wedding Photography: Half Orange Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Petal Pushers + H-E-B Blooms / Wedding Cake: Sweet Traditions (210-654-6122) / Wedding Invitations: The White Aisle / Lighting: Filo Designs / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters + Wtoo

This ranch wedding by Haydon Photography is meaningful and magical to the max.  The amount of thought and love that this adorable couple put into each and every detail is astounding.  I don’t know if I can pick a favorite, can you?  It has to either be the cotton that they incorporated into all the floral arrangements (since it’s the state crop of Mississippi where they met) or the framed quote by Ray LaMontagne that guests signed.  Add in the fact that these guys obviously know how to get down and you have one fabulous barn bash!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Mike and I met years ago at a college basketball game while attending the University of Mississippi, and sparks flew. This is why our officiant, Carolina Trevino, made our ceremony all about being a team and working together. The overall theme for the wedding was youthful and classic southern charm. We used our first dance song, “You are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne, to turn into our guestbook: a barn wood frame around a quote from the lyrics that people signed. We now have it hanging in our home. Hanging over the loft were our names on old tins that had been collected by my mom. As a fun craft for the guests, I designed a “Wedding Edition” Mad Lib for everyone to fill out, which was sitting at their place setting.

There were two specific details that were the most meaningful to us. First that our base for the floral concept was raw cotton, which is the state crop of Mississippi, where we met. Secondly, part of my mother’s wedding dress was wrapped around my bouquet with a handkerchief that was my father’s mothers, and pinned on them was a diamond pendant that is my mother’s mom’s. My mom and dad found the amazing western cutout that everyone had so much fun with! We did a southern barbecue for dinner, complete with a mashed potato bar! At the desert table, we played off the theme of rustic elegance. All of the silver has been in our family forever, and my dad hand-carved the wood stumps that held the dessert signs that I made. There were peel and stick mustaches for everyone to wear, to complement the “Stache some candy for later” and “Candy Stache” bags and sign.

What I remember most about the wedding was standing at the altar and being lost in time as Mike and I said our vows. It was the absolutely the best feeling in the world. We decided to do our first look before the wedding, and we are so glad we did! We were both so taken aback by everything that there were many happy tears from us both! My amazing bridesmaids surprised Mike and me with a rap to the tune of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that they made up the morning of the wedding about how we met and our story. Their rap had us laughing so hard it brought us to tears! Vista West is one of the most amazing venues we have ever seen, from the view and the ceremony site to the amazing lighting and chandeliers inside the barn. We are so lucky to have been able to share this special day with all of our friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Haydon Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Aimee Villa of Lizze Belle Event Planning / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Officiant: Carolina Trevino of Austin Wedding Unlimited / Catering: Crave Catering / Desserts: Stardust Pastry / Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride / Reception Music: Top Choice Band / Lighting Design: Filo Production Services / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier + Watters via J.J. Kelley Bridal Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Hair + Makeup: Rae Cosmetics / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Anthropologie

I SERIOUSLY need to be friends with this bride and groom.  Not only was their Vista West Ranch wedding one of the sweetest, most amazing weddings of all time, but they also happen to be one of the cutest duos you will EVER virtually meet – and when you take a look at these brilliant images by Forever Photography Studio, you’ll see just what I mean.  It’s vibrant hues meets a really FUN time meets a whole lot of whimsy… and it’s all wrapped up in an entire gallery of pretty, pretty pictures for us to peruse.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Phil and I met our freshman year at Trinity University in San Antonio. I thought it wasn’t likely that I’d find “the one” at a school of only 2,500 students, but fate had other ideas. As luck would have it, we moved in to opposite ends of the same dorm room floor. He said “Hi, I’m Phil Avocato.” We made a lot of guacamole jokes, and somewhere along the way, we fell in love.

It was very important to Phil that we get married in a church. Unfortunately, at least in our part of Texas, a lot of the Catholic church options are beautiful, but HUGE. We looked at each other and thought, “Do we know enough people to fill a space like this? And, maybe more importantly than that, do we WANT to?” We have the most amazing friends and family, and we wanted our day to feel like a celebration of them too. Most of all, we didn’t want to look out at our ceremony and see a bunch of strangers looking back at us. When we found Queen of Angels Chapel, everything just felt perfect. Phil and I have a simple kind of love — we’re about holding hands, singing songs, Shiner beer and good times with friends. I couldn’t imagine incorporating anything into our wedding that felt super-formal. We wanted our wedding to feel relaxed, laid-back, easy and overwhelmingly happy.

Staying true to our lack of formality, we never did establish a legitimate color palette (I often described ours to our vendors as “moss and rocks”). We had a macaroni and cheese bar at the reception. Our cake toppers were a pair of dancing bears. Instead, we focused on adding personal elements that meant a lot to us — the base of the floral arrangements were peppered with loose cotton blooms to honor my grandfather, who farmed cotton in California for 25 years. Phil decorated a paned window with tickets, programs, photos, and post-its from four years of our dates. We ditched “Ave Maria” and “Canon in D” for a four-piece bluegrass band and “I’ll Fly Away.” In the end, we wound up with a perfect day that felt just like us. We had hot chocolate at midnight (and lots of stronger drinks along the way), tables full of family photos, and a cold but sunny February day we won’t soon forget.

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Ceremony: Queen of Angels Chapel in Spicewood, Texas / Reception: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Wedding Warriors / Floral Design: Sarah Francis (A Friend) / Catering: Austin Catering / Wedding Cake: Polka Dots Cupcakes / Ceremony Music: Tennessee Valley Authority / Rentals: Vista West Ranch / DJ: DJ Mark Kibodeaux of Vista West Ranch / Transportation: Star Shuttle / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca / Hair + Makeup: Melissa Campos of Lovely Day Hair & Makeup