Texas Weddings

A Life Size Crest Is the New Wedding Arch

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From the Bride… When Andrew and I started to dream about our wedding, we didn’t know the specifics, we just knew that we wanted something that reflected us well. One of our favorite things is to gather with our friends and family, preferably somewhere outside, and just hangout and share good food together. We like to host people. So for our wedding, an outdoor celebration with all of our friends and family gathered together was the true foundation of what we wanted. Throw in some of our favorite foods, great music, and string lights, and you’ve got our perfect party.

Once we found the River Oaks Garden Club, everything else fell into place nicely. The garden club is a gem in the middle of the city and made the perfect backdrop. It was filled with green and trees, so we didn’t need many decorations, which was great because we wanted to keep our wedding simple and filled with natural beauty. Our colors were classic, natural, and again simple. We both love the color gray, and gray Bridesmaids’ dresses and table cloths seemed like a nice complement to the gardens as well as to the guy’s black tuxedos.

The flowers were inspired by a photo I had seen of a brightly colored bouquet of loose flowers. I fell in love with it and went from wanting neutral colored flowers to bright pinks, oranges, and yellows with ivory and greenery accents. Our florist, Fawn of F. Dellit Designs, did an amazing job of bringing that inspiration to life. We loved our flowers and loved the pop of color around the gardens – they were perfect for spring time.

With an April wedding in Houston, there was a good chance it could rain, but that Saturday we got so lucky with amazing weather. Not only did it not rain, but it was a perfectly blue skied evening with cooler temperatures and even a breeze! That is a big deal in Houston!

The most meaningful moments of that day are the many times I would look around and see all of the people we love most gathered together to celebrate with us. I loved exchanging our vows beneath the trees with them, sitting at long tables with them, and dancing to a killer band beneath string lights with them. I would look at all of this happening and then look back at Andrew and know that everything was just right. And now I’m carrying those sweet wedding day memories with me and looking at him still thinking the same thing.

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Dionne of Nib and Pixel dreamed up this “Love Is Alive” themed wedding inspiration based off of her most popular request for wedding invitation suites – floral laden crests. To pull it off, she brought in a rock star team of vendors – including Dana Fernandez Photography, Kelly Doonan Events, and Hey Lovely Makeup – who helped her create a life size crest, the perfect ceremony arch alternative or way to frame the Bride and Groom in photos. The gorgeous ideas didn’t stop there; she also created and invitation suite using actual flowers. Run, don’t walk, to this incredible gallery.

From Dionne of Nib and Pixel… As a wedding invitation designer, I have been seeing that crests and monograms are really popular with today’s couples, and I had an idea to bring those wedding crests to life – literally. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, so the first person I turned to was my friend Dana of Dana Fernandez Photography, who is not only a talented photographer, but also always has creative ideas, so I knew she’d be able to help bring my ideas to fruition.

There were three main ideas that I had for this “Love Is Alive” themed shoot, and it all began with a large, life-sized wooden crest laced with flowers (just like the wedding crests I’ve been designing for my invitation clients). I wanted something that would make a statement backdrop to frame the wedding couple.

The next component was having live-flower invitation suite. Normally I paint flowers around crests on invitations, but for this one, I wanted real flowers to play on that “alive” concept. So together with the amazing Maggie of Bramble and Bee, Dana and I assembled live flowers over a crest outline I created and then Dana shot it so that I could then incorporate that into the invitation design.

The third concept came during watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (not your usual wedding inspiration source, ha!). During the dinner scene of the movie, I was completely focused on the flower pattern flat lay, lining the center of the table. I knew I wanted a romantic, modern update of that, and that Bramble and Bee alongside Kelly from Sparkle & Shine Events would make it even better.

The rest of our amazing team fell into place with cake artist Lisa from Maple and Love, who totally ran with the “Love Is Alive” theme. She incorporated fresh fruit and even used real leaves from a lime tree to bring it all together! Post Studio Houston, who manufactured our amazing wooden crest, did an amazing job, and I loved the fact that only a minimal amount of florals were needed since the crest was so ornate on its own! To tie everything together, Hey Lovely Makeup did a fresh bridal look that perfectly completed the Noel and Jean two-piece gown from Unbridaled alongside the unique emerald engagement ring by Trumpet & Horn.

I couldn’t have asked for a better team and I think everything came together perfectly! I hope some of these elements will start to show up in the spring 2018 wedding season!

Bringing Show-Stopping Fashion to an Elegant Texas Garden

To celebrate their anniversary, this couple decided to return to their old stomping grounds of Houston for a glamorous garden shoot infused with fashion. From a dapper suit to a show-stopping black and white gown, see how they bring major style to an elegant Texas garden with keepsake photos by Marsais Photographie.

From the Photographer… Lanvin and Jason wanted to celebrate their anniversary with a well styled photoshoot together at an adorable venue in Houston where they used to live. Having a beautiful and unique eye for fashion, Lanvin handpicked special items for them each to wear and planned details that meant something to them and that overall pulled at her heart strings. This session was not only filled with beautiful things but more importantly a beautiful love story of a young couple who fell in love and chose to celebrate their union with a well throughout and perfectly styled anniversary celebration.

A Timeless Engagement Session Fit for Royalty

This engagement session is 100% princess status. The couple looked classic in a stunning, black gown and dapper suit at Chateau Cocomar, a stately mansion and gardens that make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe. But what I love most about the timeless images by Marsais Photography is that they capture the joy of this glowing couple. See some of our favorites below, and then head to the gallery for the rest!

From Marsais Photography… An enchanting engagement session took place at the beautiful Chateau Cocomar in Houston. Samantha desired a fairytale dream for her engagement session, complete with formal attire, and her groom-to-be obliged. They both donned elegant black, and their beautiful love story unfolded in front of the camera. Playful, elegant, classic – three of my favorite things!

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Mother of Bride

Tadashi Shoji

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Long Sleeves and Berry Hues Aren’t Just for Fall

Dana Fernandez Photography says she’s obsessed with the bride’s long sleeved dress and the berry tones in this spring Houston wedding, and we have to agree. Between the intricate laced top on the Hayley Paige gown and the deep reds, blues, and purples of the stationery, bridesmaids’ dresses, and florals, this wedding is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Get lost in all the gorgeous photos, right here.

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The Most Glamorous Wedding Overlooking the Houston Skyline

From Dana Fernandez Photography… Elizabeth and Kyle’s wedding day was absolutely breathtaking from start to finish. From the beautiful touches of berry tones to Elizabeth’s dreamy Hayley Paige gown, their wedding and details were amazing to capture! Hands down our favorite detail of the day was Elizabeth’s gorgeous Hayley Paige gown because of the intricate, lace sleeves and the trademark tulle layers that allowed for amazing movement in photographs.

The couple started their wedding day at the gorgeous Spanish-style, St. Anne’s Catholic church, which was beautifully incorporated into their wedding invitations via a hand painted illustration by the talented Sable and Gray. Following their ceremony, they went to The Woodlands Country Club, which was full of neutral and berry toned florals by Blush and Vine as well – the gorgeous limestone fireplace was adorned with smilax greenery! We also loved the couple’s custom B&G cake topper!

Overall Elizabeth and Kyle’s wedding was one of our favorites – the two and their family and friends were amazing, and we couldn’t have been more blessed to have captured their wedding day!

PS. We hope to see sleeved gowns and rich tones become even more popular! They are our favorite trends right now because of how beautifully they photograph!

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Imagine the most glamorous affair on the planet and then kick it up a few hundred notches and you get this Texas-sized celebration. Crafted by A Fare Extraordinaire along with Harper Events, Events in Bloom and imagery by Aisha Khan, it’s a day that blends modern with luxurious and all while looking out over a breathtaking Houston skyline.

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From A Fare Extraordinaire… I loved working with Brett and Meagan Burgin to create the perfect menu and dinner layout for their big day! By working hand-in-hand with wedding planner Hedi Shankleton, of Harper Events, and Rob Smith, of Events in Bloom, we were able to turn their dream wedding into reality so they could embrace this very special life moment. Their vision was an industrial-chic themed wedding, with acrylic furniture and pops of light pink, hot pink and metallic colors. The gorgeous wedding overlooked the Houston city skyline through the windows of The Astorian. This 14,000-square foot, bi-level, private space is located within a landmark Houston building with 14-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing downtown Houston. It served as the idyllic space to set the tone for an industrial-chic scene, especially with its beautiful overhead lights for both the ceremony and reception. It was very important to the bride and groom that their guests enjoyed every minute of the wedding and decided to deviate from some of the more traditional details to focus on celebrating this momentous occasion. Here at A Fare Extraordinaire, our typical wedding involves a seated meal or buffet dinner. It was so fun to get creative with the couple and plan a unique menu. The food was served on small composed plates in the lounge area. In lieu of a wedding cake and ceremonial cake-cutting, A Fare Extraordinaire passed dessert bites around the dancefloor so guests could continue dancing the night away with little interruption. To add the final touches to the event design, each table was topped with gorgeous floral arrangements, created by Events in Bloom, incorporating the pops of light and hot pink colors. Front and center on this magical night was the gorgeous bride in her Loretta Gown, by Galia Lahav, and the sharp-dressed groom dancing the night away and enjoying newlywed bliss!

If a Texas wedding is in your future but you want to steer away from those rustic cliches, this is your blueprint my friends. It’s old world charm meets layers of elegance executed so beautifully by Chancey Charm, with blooms from Bows and Arrows to boot. Can you even handle this sun-graced dinner setup? Head to The Vault for more gorgeous captured by Davy Whitener.

From the Skylar Caitlin with Chancey Charm… When Davy and I (Skylar) first started brainstorming for this editorial, all we had was a basic outline of what we wanted. Davy was traveling from Atlanta and wanted to utilize the beauty of Texas ranches, but we both wanted to stay clear of the rustic barn look that is so common here. As we started brainstorming a few ideas, an inspiration couple started to take shape.

Our couple would want to bring Old World glamour to the natural Texas countryside. By tying in subtle French inspiration and natural styling, our design goal was to meld their love for European travel with an appreciation of their Southern upbringing. For a venue, I knew instantly there was no other choice than The Clubs at Houston Oaks. They have a 15th Century chapel on property that was brought over from France and serves as their main wedding ceremony site. The entire property is full of these meticulous details that I cherish as a designer and played perfectly into the inspiration couple’s profile.

The palette started with a soft primary group of blush, cool grey, and gentle green. We brought it to life by infusing more depth into the secondary palette through vibrant burgundies, antique golds, forest greens, and rich, peachy flesh tones. Hailey and Lindsey of Venus and Co Flowers (who came to us by way of Alicia with Bows and Arrows Flowers) took the palette and absolutely ran with it. The fully developed color spectrums and textures they pulled into their arrangements captured everything we’d dreamed of and more.

The entire creative team for this shoot went above and beyond. The Brian Gavin Diamonds engagement ring seen here is a part of their brand new 810 Collection and we were honored that they released it to us to style just after production. Dionne of Nib and Pixel hand crafted the invitation suite on a luxurious textured paper. Guests of the couple would actually feel the weight and mood of the wedding before they even arrived.

We set up our tablescape beneath the soft overhang of the oaks dripping in Spanish Moss. House of Hough supplied the base – an ivory cord textured linen with flecks of gold and silver throughout that reflected a light blush in the glow of sunset. Swift Events provided the tableware, including the natural wood charger with elegant point details and the white dinner and salad plates with the intriguing cutout details around the rims. With a pop of green from a set of House of Hough moss green napkins and a few springs of green, this organic glam sets the tone for a mouthwatering dinner under the oaks.

When it came to sweets, we wanted to be careful to keep our French inspiration subtle. While Erica of Wink by Erica is known for her killer macarons, I shared a vision for a cake that would fully envelop the gentle melding of inspirations. The simple semi-naked cake with edible gold details absolutely shimmered in the soft evening light. It embodied the Southern delicacy of red velvet while elevating it to a place of elegance. And as we discovered during a post-shoot indulgence, the cake didn’t just look breathtaking, it was rich, moist, and was gone before we could finish packing up our bags.

To put the cherry on top of the team cake, Taylor with She + Him Bartending whipped us up a plethora of custom cocktails all inspired by the Europe meets Texas vibes. The group’s favorites were tied between the savory, sweet Whisky Rose which stood out among the groom’s details and the La Flora which combined brut champagne with violet liquor for a delicious celebratory toast.

One of my absolute favorite details, though, was the 1960s Rolls Royce. Not only did Jordan Limousines custom make a “Oaks” car tag, but just check out that awe inspiring floral garland. The ladies of Venus and Co crafted the perfect getaway setting for the couple.

Our sweet model couple brought the love for the camera. With a dapper groom in Menguin’s ‘Dublin’ tuxedo and the bride slaying in Leanne Marshall’s ‘Gabrielle’ that looked as if it was made for her body, they breathed life into our inspiration couple. Some of my favorite images are just of the two of them, close together, and you can tell that their love is authentic and real. It’s always a blessing to have a totally in-love duo who connect on and off film.

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Gorgeous Wedding Hair From I Do’s to Dancing

While I went with an updo on my own wedding day, I often find myself ogling a gorgeous bride with flowing waves… but then I see an elegant twist and I’m back in the other direction. So when Hey Lovely Makeup shared their take on the best of both worlds, well, I was won over in seconds. Dana Fernandez and Next Trail Photography captured the easy peasy switcheroo making this look ideal for the bride that wants it all!

Ceremony Style: Romantic Side ‘Do

Part and prep the hair with a dry texture spray

Sweep hair to one side twisting from the bottom

Pin the bottom twisted pieces of hair loosely

Twist a few front pieces away from the face meeting the other pinned pieces

Add a vintage hair pin or embellishment – tada!

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To Dance The Night Away: Effortless Side Chignon How-to

Gather hair in a clear elastic slightly off center

Begin twisting hair away from the face

Continue to twist and begin forming a bun around the clear elastic

Secure bun using bobbi pins

Pin loose ends leaving a few pieces out for a more effortless feel

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From Dana Fernandez… One thing that myself and Erica (owner of Hey Lovely Makeup) often see at weddings where we share the same client is that the majority of the time, a bride’s hairstyle rarely stays fresh all the way through the reception. While brainstorming one day with a shared client who couldn’t decide whether to wear her hair down or in an updo, we suggested that she wear her hair down through the end of the ceremony and then have her hair styled into an updo during the cocktail hour. Our sweet bride ended up going with the suggestion and it was perfect! Not only was she able to have two different hair styles, but also her hair was up and away from her face during the dancing as well as her hair being perfect and fresh for the pictures until the getaway!

Since it was such a success for our client, we decided to put together this tutorial for brides that are looking at doing the same thing in an easy step by step format!

Photography: Josh & Dana Fernandez | Videography: Next Trail Photography | Hair + Makeup: Hey Lovely Makeup | Film Lab: The Find Lab

Looking for the perfect Houston venue? We found it.

Guys, we know finding the right venue for your Big Day isn’t always easy. We’ve been there, done that. So when it comes to choosing the perfect locale that is drop-dead gorgeous AND filled with amenities that will make your life that much easier, trust us, The St. Regis Houston is IT. Think of it as a little slice of wedding heaven with everything you’ll EVER need for your dream day. We promise.

The perfect mix of traditional and modern, The St. Regis Houston is located smack-dab in the heart of the city’s vibrant epicenter, which means a wedding that is convenient AND fun with a never-ending list of awesome perks that will seriously wow you AND your guests. I’m talking over 13,900 square feet of event space, curated signature menus with fresh + local ingredients and a seriously skilled Event Specialist who will walk with you step by step throughout the entire process. Not to mention the crazy cool traditions that each St. Regis address is sooo well-known for, like fresh flowers, afternoon tea and midnight supper events. It’s like a vacation of a lifetime meets a wedding you never dreamed could happen. I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Whether you are hosting an intimate soiree for 10 of your nearest and dearest or 400 of your closest friends and family, contact your very own Event Specialist at the St. Regis for a celebration that is luxurious, sophisticated AND fun.

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PROMOTION

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Don’t forget that when you select The St. Regis Houston as your wedding destination you’ll receive special rewards and bonus Starpoints® which you can apply towards honeymoon nights. Earn up to 100,000 bonus Starpoints® by contacting a Wedding Specialist at (713) 840-7600 or request more information here.

3 Dresses, A Dream Chateau, And Happily Ever After

If you’ve got a weakness for designer fashion, just wait until you lock eyes with this wedding. “In Asian tradition, the bride normally changes dresses a few times during the day…and we decided to split the day into three portions with a dress for each; the ceremony, the reception, and dancing,” said the bride. Hey Lovely Makeup worked their beauty magic, Jenny Yoo dressed the ‘maids, and the incredible Kayla Barker and Brighter Lights Media captured the fairytale day from beginning to end.

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From the Bride…Ever since I was a little girl living in Saigon, I always dreamt about my big day. Back then, when someone got married, the whole village would come out into the street and cheer on the bride on her way to the wedding. I imagined that those girls must have felt like a celebrity with everyone yelling compliments at them and I looked forward to the day it would be me.

When I was 12, my family moved from the bustling city streets to the rolling hills of Texas. The next several years were a struggle for me. I never quite fit in and I longed to leave and move back to a big city but I couldn’t seem to find a way out until 2010 when I tried my chances on Match.com and met Jason who was living in England at the time. We’ve been inseparable ever since. Nobody understands me like he does, and he knew I’d been planning my dream wedding for years. So when we got engaged, he promised me he would make my dreams come true.

In Asian tradition, the bride normally changes dresses a few times during the day. We decided to dispense with the traditional tea ceremony and so we decided to split the day into 3 portions with a dress for each; the ceremony, the reception, and dancing.

It first became real when we took a trip together to Dallas and chanced upon the Carolina Herrera Bridal Boutique in Highland Park Village. I remembered a dress from a previous collection and the moment I tried it on, Jason told me “That’s it, that’s the one, that’s your wedding dress.” Carolina Herrera once said “A wedding dress is both intimate and personal for a woman- it must reflect the personality and style of the bride.” With cherry blossoms embroidered into the front and around the fringes of the veil, paired with the cherry blossom hair-ornament I bought from Japan, my dress makes me feel proud to be Asian and drove our ceremony to be inspired by hanami, the Japanese tradition of dining under the blossoming trees.

For my second dress, we chose a beautiful Dolce and Gabbana dress that Jason had bought me as a gift when he moved to be with me from England in 2012. I love theatre and the arts and the lavish red velvet reminded us of the Royal Opera House. We found a pair of Dolce and Gabbana gold cage heeled shoes to match it and these became our theme for the reception: theatrical reds, golds, and cages filled with roses.

Because Jason is half Spanish, I decided to look for a flamenco inspired dress for the dancing. I searched online and came across a runway piece a couturier in Seville, the home of flamenco, called Jose Cañavate. He had made it as a one off piece, only buying enough material for the one dress, so he spent months trying to get the floral organza remanufactured until one day he happened across a bolt of the original material in a small fabric store in Madrid. In all the dress took a year to make and I completed the look with a Spanish hair comb and Dolce and Gabbana cinderella shoes.

From the start, we planned to have a black-tie wedding so Jason bought a Balenciaga tuxedo, but after seeing my wedding dress for the first time he decided to find something that would represent his English heritage more as well. So he had a morning suit made to measure by Ralph Lauren.

With all the dresses underway and inspirations in our mind, we set about looking for a venue (and a date!) and after searching far and wide we found Chateau Cocomar in Houston to be unique in its old world French exterior and wide open interior spaces gave us the canvas to explore our imaginations.

The event was filled with personal touches and design details. Jason wasn’t just going to make my dreams come true – he went above and beyond. He sketched out many of our ideas for key features in the wedding, including the “bird-cage” we sat under, the centerpieces on the tables, the layout of the venue and he even hand wrote and embellished the place-cards. He also drew and designed my wedding rings himself and had them made by the same jeweler as my engagement ring, Boodles of London. In return I chose his ring, a platinum band from Harry Winston engraved with “Happy wife, Happy life.”

When we moved to California, I understood that none of this would ever have been possible if we hadn’t lived in Texas. We’re proud to call Texas home and decided to show our love and appreciation in the form of a few decorative details for all our guests to see. We have both spend a huge amount of time and effort on this wedding and there has been no shortage of drama; vendors dropping out, moving homes (twice) and even the venue getting flooded a week before the wedding. All of these challenges brought us closer together, made our love stronger and made us all the more proud and happy to see it all come together on the day.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Big News from Lovely! (Hint: You’re going to love it!)

Listen up, all you brides-to-be: we’ve got big news. Your fave bridal shop on the planet, Lovely, recently opened its doors in Dallas… with ones following in Phoenix and Houston in October. So that fab lineup of totally chic + totally unique designers? It’s right at your fingertips, plus even more pretty with the debut of Lovely’s Fall/Winter Bridesmaid + Bridal Party looks. Scroll for the details.

Whether you’re looking to step outside of the box and rock a design that will literally leave all of your guests talking on your Big Day OR simply want to look stunning at a holiday party, Lovely has you totally covered. Their lineup of innovative designers and crazy cool customer service is truly what gown shopping is all about. Think gowns from Anna Campbell, Limor Rosen, Suzanne Harward, Rue De Seine, Odylyne The Ceremony… and so many more. Not to mention Lovely’s very own Fall/Winter Bridesmaid and Bridal Party dresses, available at shoplovely.com AND their FIRST EVER ready to wear boutique in Houston. Say it with me, loves: awesome.

Visit one of Lovely’s amazing locales TODAY to begin your dress journey, and mark your calendars now for upcoming trunk shows in Dallas (Suzanne Harward, 9/30-9/31 + Alexandra Grecco, 10/21-10/23), Phoenix (Anna Campbell, 10/21-10/23) and Houston (Rue De Seine, 11/26-11/28 + Anna Campbell, 12/9-12/11). It’s time to shop your hearts out.

Photography: Chaz Cruz Photographers | HMU: Miss Harlequin

Saturday Morning Movie: A Love Story 20 Years In the Making

Who would have thought, back in the second grade, when these two met, that they were meeting their soul mate right then and there. But that’s exactly what happened and the journey they started on is nothing short of amazing. Some things just make sense, and these two and their friendship which grew to be so much more, is just that, as we learn in this film by Bear Hands Media. They made it official with a celebration planned by Keely Thorne Events and we’re left in awe, with no doubts in the power of fate.

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The Bride Rocked a Dress We’re Totally Obsessed With

From Bear Hands Media… Amanda and Ryan have known each other since the second grade. They were friends forever until one day when they finally realized that they were soul mates all along. You can tell by the way they look at each other that their years of friendship has built an unbreakable devotion for each other. It was a pleasure to witness a union of this magnitude. One that was nothing short of meant to be.

Cinematography: Bear Hands Media Group | Event Planning: Keely Thorne Events | Ceremony Venue: Hotel ZaZa Houston | Ceremony Venue: Cohen House

If you have yet to discover Israeli designer, Alon Livne you better do your homework STAT because his gowns are completely next level. Exhibit A – this Texas bride who stole the show, alongside her gorgeous bridal crew dressed in twobirds Bridesmaid. Keely Thorne Events designed a day worthy of such a glamorous gown and Nancy Aidee Photography  and Sculpting With Time didn’t miss a single moment. See it all here!

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The Southern Hometown Wedding Of Our Dreams!

From The Bride…Brandon and I met while attending University of Houston. Our first date was with a group of friends on a limo ride to the Texans football game, we’ve been inseparable ever since. Brandon was an Art Major and I was attending the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. I grew up in the restaurant business; my family owns Amerigo’s Grille, an Italian inspired restaurant that has been in The Woodlands, TX for 27 years. I have worked in the business since I was 16 and I continue to work as the PR & Events Manager. My family has been members of The Club at Carlton Woods since I was a little girl and I always dreamed of having my wedding there.

The inspiration for the wedding came when Brandon’s business brought him to Santa Barbara. We were inspired by our visits to Santa Barbara’s wineries and the beautiful scenery and romantic vibe. Our amazing photographer, Nancy Aidée, flew there to take our Engagement photos among the cliffs on the beach. Upon returning to The Woodlands, I connected with my wedding planner to begin the creative process. What started as imaginative ideas turned into incredible realities that were brought to life by the tireless effort of Keely Throne Event’s, Ashley Appling.

The day began with severe thunderstorms in the morning and by the ceremony the clouds had cleared to reveal a beautiful blue sky to welcome the 200 guests in attendance. The ceremony was on the outside terrace overlooking the world famous Jack Nicklaus golf course. The guests were seated on the manicured lawn. The wedding party walked down the center brick pathway to the sounds of a live four string quartet, Divisi Strings. Giant stunning floral arrangements in garden urns on wooden pillars surrounded the space where Brandon & I said our vows.

Upon completion of the ceremony the guests walked up the stairs and into the Bears’ Den lounge for the cocktail reception. Events in Bloom provided white Victorian furnishings including a white tufted ottoman and French divans. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne were passed with silver embossed monogrammed napkins.

The spacious elegant reception area was graced with tall ceilings, wooden beams, and French style bronze chandeliers draped in greenery. The floral arch ways and wooden farm tables with cross back chairs added to Romantic winery feel. White wooden box planters framed the front of stage and flowed with flowers. Pale pinks, peach, and organic greenery were common colors of the floral centerpieces and long cascading table runners. The white dance floor was personalized with a large gold embossed custom wedding monogram, designed by Kara Anne Paper, who also designed the exquisite invitations and stationery. In lieu of a guest book we had an impressive three liter 1997 Silver Oak wine bottle for the guests to sign with gold pens.

To kick off the reception, our Jewish family friend Dr. Gottleib gave a toast and had Brandon “Break a Glass” on the dance floor. Dr. G stated, “That will be the last time you ever put your foot down!” The crowd went wild and the party went into full swing. The groom loves bourbon so we created “Brandon’s Bourbon Bar” on the veranda as a specialty bar featuring different types of bourbons for the guest to enjoy. Action stations including a Beef Tenderloin carving station, Scallops station, and Pasta station added to the enjoyment of the evening. A live Sketch Artist created personal sketches of each guest and their date to take home as a wedding souvenir. Live Event Paintings, Susan Moss Cooper, came in from Dallas and set up her canvas next to the dance floor to sketch a portrait of our first dance. We danced to Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones performed by The Argyles, a famous wedding band from Austin, TX. The highlight of the evening was when all the guests gathered on the dance floor with confetti sticks filled with “Flutter Fetti.” Confetti fell from the sky as Brandon & I cheered and danced with our closest family and friends. Mini pepperoni pizzas, the groom’s favorite, were butler passed on silver platters as the midnight snack. We left with a sparklers send off in a 1965 white Rolls Royce. This special weekend of friends and family reflected our personalities perfectly and will forever be engrained in our memories.

A live Sketch Artist created personal sketches of each guest and their date to take home as a wedding souvenir. Live Event Paintings, Susan Moss Cooper, came in from Dallas and set up her canvas next to the dance floor to sketch a portrait of our first dance. We danced to Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones performed by The Argyles, a famous wedding band from Austin, TX. The highlight of the evening was when all the guests gathered on the dance floor with confetti sticks filled with “Flutter Fetti.” Confetti fell from the sky as Brandon & I cheered and danced with our closest family and friends. Mini pepperoni pizzas, the groom’s favorite, were butler passed on silver platters as the midnight snack. We left with a sparklers send off in a 1965 white Rolls Royce. This special weekend of friends and family reflected our personalities perfectly and will forever be engrained in our memories.

The wedding gown was designed by Alon Livne. He is recognized today as one of Israel’s most prestigious designers for his “Alon Livne White” Bridal Couture Collection. The “Coco” dress is feminine and elegant with a gorgeous hand beaded bodice and breathtaking silhouette.

This is not your average hometown wedding. It’s the kind of wedding you’d swear was straight from the pages of a magazine and it has everything to do with Katie Grant, Bows and Arrows, Hey Lovely Makeup and the entire vendor crew. Think lush florals, a dream Mori Lee ballgown, and a sense of Southern charm from start to finish. The Vault is guaranteed to be your new little happy place.

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Bright Pink + Glamorous Gold Will Never Go Out Style

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Garden Weddings

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Romantic Whimsical

From Katie Grant Photography… Katy and David, both residents of LA, decided to head back to Katy’s hometown to celebrate their wedding with family and classic Southern Charm in Houston, Texas.

The couple chose the quaint and charming venue of Tiny Boxwoods for it’s elegant yet rustic vibe. Tiny Boxwoods was transformed into a garden oasis with lush florals and simple tablescapes.

Katy got ready in her childhood home and wore her mother’s actual wedding shoes. She looked stunning in her Mori Lee gown which was perfectly complimented by her bountiful Bows and Arrows bouquet. The two were all smiles all day and their excitement about spending their lives together was all too apparent.

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Bows and Arrows

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This Bride was made for the silver screen and her wedding was perfectly fit for an old Hollywood movie, from the gorgeous rose bouquet in blush and bright pink, to her classic hairstyle. She wed her handsome Groom surrounded by gold glam and Dana Fernandez captured it all. If you need us, we’ll be pinning every pic (this, this and this are must see’s!) from the Vault and loving every single second of it!

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Estate Weddings

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An E-Sesh That’s Cooler Than Cool and Red Hot

From Dana Fernandez Photography… Brett and Kaci’s wedding day was absolutely worthy of a cinematic love story. In true old Hollywood style, Kaci worked with Serendipitous Event Planning to chose neutrals, gold and pinks for her décor. She looked poised, elegant and truly royal in her Essense of Australia dress. Brett looked like a dapper leading man in his finely cut tuxedo by Michael Kors. Together, they are a truly charming couple – as completely likable as they are ready for the silver screen!

To add to the sophisticated theme, the two were married at a romantic French Chateau inspired venue, called Chateau Cocomar which is nestled away within a Houston suburb. The venue was just as elegant as the wedding with marble, white, and gold accents, which also made it a dream to photograph. The ceremony was held in the upstairs in front of an ornate and oversized fireplace alongside beautiful ombre pink florals. After the ceremony, guests were welcomed into a reception dripping in over the top gorgeous florals at each table by Flora & Eventi.

The handsome couple spent the evening dancing the night away to an 80’s rock band. And once the party came to a close, friends and loved ones wished the newlyweds good luck and farewell with a sparkler exit. And so the film came to a close with a little movie magic as Kaci and Brett drove off in a classic 1950’s Rolls Royce. It was such a joy to work with this amazing couple that reminded us that fairytales really do come true!

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Essense of Australia

EveryBody/EveryBride Fall 2017

Spring 2017

Fall 2017

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Know how we told you this engagement session was cooler than cool AND red hot? Well, we weren’t pulling your leg on that one, because this darling duo with Courtney Leigh Photography behind the lens pulled off an e-sesh like no other. It’s downtown cool coupled with uptown glam and it has completely won our hearts over, and we have a feeling this gallery sitting in The Vault will do the same for you.

From Courtney Leigh Photography…Kristen and Eric are such a joyful couple and they’ve got serious style too! They are planning a gorgeous downtown Houston wedding at Hotel ZaZa in March of 2017, so they wanted to incorporate that same city chic vibe into their engagement session! They chose the urban streets of downtown Houston and Rice University campus as their locations for the session and it fit seamlessly with their classy taste! Kristen has a stunning beauty about her and the pop of red on her is just beautiful captured on film! These two have such an infectious joy about them and they were so much fun to photograph!

Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Location: Rice University

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Tips to Look Your Best at Your Engagement Session

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Courtney Leigh Photography

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This Twist on the First Look Will Bring You Happy Tears

How we feel about this pretty Houston wedding wedding can be summed up in this one photo. Before the ceremony, the beautiful Bride and her handsome Groom prayed together without seeing one another, and as ALLEEJ said, “it was one of the most moving, heart-felt, joy-filled moments I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness and capture.” See each and every heartwarming moment (including a video from Wedding Fanatics) in The Vault!

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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A Pink Garden Wedding Straight From the Storybooks

From ALLEE J….I am overjoyed to share Kaitlyn and Josh Pettitte’s Summer wedding with you! Kaitlyn + Josh are some of the most stunning people I know, from the outside & within. These two have hearts of gold, and their love for each other is so obvious and pure. There was so much about this wedding day that made this easily one of the most special and memorable wedding’s I’ve ever had the privilege to photograph.

The couple chose Ashton Gardens West, the newest AG venue in Houston. The charm of a traditional chapel was the landscape of their ceremony, and a beautiful ballroom was decorated and prepared for the couple to celebrate with family and friends. Kaitlyn wanted very simple elements that were classic, timeless, and elegant, mixed with beautiful, romantic florals from Bramble and Bee that added whimsy and youth. She accomplished this by keeping the ceremony very simple, only decorating with lush florals, candle lighting, and a blooming cross as the focal point. The reception was filled with ivory linen tables, lush florals in the center, and a personal “Thank you” card from the couple at every guests seat.

Kaitlyn kept it classic, having her bridesmaids wear beautiful pink chiffon dresses, and the groomsmen wore gray suits & ties. The groom sported his brand new watch that Kaitlyn gave to him as a wedding day gift, and wore a full suit to separate himself from the groomsmen.

Josh & Kaitlyn are very sentimental people, and wanted to stick to the traditions of a wedding day. The couple prayed together before the ceremony without seeing one another, and it was one of the most moving, heart-felt, joy-filled moments I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness and capture. The love that these two share is so deep, and is filled with redemption and gratitude. For them, this day was a picture of the Lord’s faithfulness to them, and the proof that he hear’s our prayers, know’s our hearts, and give’s us good and precious gifts.

For this couple, their family is of the upmost importance to them. Kaitlyn and Josh’s families have become great friends since the moment the couple were engaged to be married. Family played a big role throughout the day, and during the ceremony the Vinson & Pettitte family came together as one unit to pray for Kaitlyn and Josh’s union in marriage. Throughout the day there was a spirit of gratitude and joy that exuded from both families.

The most memorable moment from the wedding day was when the ceremony began. The Chapel was filled with beautiful natural light, the song “Holy Spirit” played as family and friends walked down the isle. The anticipation grew for the groom to lay his eyes on his bride for the first time that day. When the doors opened, and as Kaitlyn walked towards Josh overwhelming joy overtook Josh and it blessed all of our hearts to witness. His genuine reaction to Kaitlyn was so vulnerable and unashamed. It moved all in attendance, and Kaitlyn has shared that the way he looked at her in that moment was something she would cherish forever, and never forget.

The Pettitte + Vinson wedding day was one in a million. A fairytale of sorts, filled with the most beautiful details, lovely souls, and talented vendor’s who brought Kaitlyn’s dream wedding to life.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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The vision behind this wedding? It’s something we can totally get behind. “We wanted an intimate, laid-back and elegant wedding in a romantic garden…most importantly, we wanted our guests to have fun, eat good food and dance the night away,” said the bride. They flawlessly pulled off all the above, and Mint Photography captured every bit you simply must see.

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Al Fresco Classic Weddings

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From Mint Photography…Michelle and Allen hosted the perfect garden themed wedding on a beautiful spring day for their closest friends and family. Michelle was beyond a stunning bride in her Monique Lhuillier ceremony gown. They incorporated soft delicate colors and florals, fun games and traditions to engage their guests, and their sweet pup Cooper who was the picture perfect prop. River Oaks Garden Club was the perfect setting for their day, it is one of the most enjoyable and beautiful locations we’ve photographed at, and we absolutely loved it!

From The Bride… We wanted an intimate, laid-back and elegant wedding in a romantic garden. We chose decor and furniture that were simple, natural and a little rustic to add some soft touches to our wedding. Most importantly, we wanted our guests to have fun, eat good food and dance the night away.

We decided not to exchange wedding gifts and just wrote each other cards on the morning of. When I went shopping the week before our wedding, I couldn’t resist and picked up a few pairs of socks for Allen and his groomsmen. I decided to personalize it by sewing a heart onto Allen’s sock that said “Love you forever” in pink thread. The fabric I used was the extra fabric cut off from my reception dress.

I couldn’t decide on a hair piece and waited until the day before our wedding to experiment making a floral hair comb. I picked up two bouquets of ranunculus and figured if I can fashion a comb out of it then great! If not, no big deal, I would just go without. The morning of my wedding, my MOH and I managed to make three hair combs for each of us in different sizes while giggling and eating breakfast. It was an unplanned DIY project which turned out to be so fun and memorable. Somehow our floral combs matched the boutonnieres my florist made perfectly and turned out to be such an unexpected surprise!

I woke up on our wedding day feeling overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. It feels surreal that after months of planning and anticipation, our day is finally here. I was at home with only my bridesmaids and our dog. I sat in bed and teared up at the thought that the moment I’ve been waiting for for so long is here and it’s real. Another favorite is walking down to see Allen during our first look. My heart was filled with enormous amount of love and bliss. I still remember the rush of emotions that took over when Allen turned around, my eyes were filled with happy tears.

Advice for future brides/grooms
My advice for other couples is to embrace the unexpected. Don’t lose sight of why you are planning this wedding. At the end of the day, you get to marry your best friend. Nothing should take away from that.

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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The Ultimate Classic Wedding Complete with a Timeless Gown

When high school sweethearts get married, you’re guaranteed one romantic celebration. Take Audrey and Kyle’s Big Day as proof. A small and formal affair filled with personalized details, delish food, and great music, this darling pair wed surrounded by the people they love the most – oh and lots of lovely flowers. Kayla Barker captured it all and don’t miss the Seventh Ray Films clip below!

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Ballroom Weddings Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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