Texas Weddings

So, I kind of have a thing for grooms sporting big bow ties and I most definitely have a thing for brides rockin’ the stunning Christos Desiree gown, so this wedding?  It’s like a seriously chic dream come true. One that happened to take place at the breathtaking Rice University Cohen House and featured beautiful blooms from Last Petal and the fab stylings of Something to Celebrate.  I mean, does this day sound incredible or what?!?  Julie Wilhite was on hand to capture all of the pretty and it’s a traditional meets romantic love-fest you just can’t miss.  See it all right here.

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From the Bride… Even though I had always wanted an outdoor garden wedding, Houston doesn’t exactly lend itself to outdoor weddings so I looked for a unique space that could still have an outdoor feel.  The Rice University Cohen House was perfect because of its beautiful garden and big windows that let in lots of light.  I had put a lot of thought into the details with the hopes of having a mostly indoor wedding with outdoor elements… until the sky opened up and it poured from morning until night.  However our photographer Julie Wilhite was amazing – she knew how important outdoor pictures were to me and got creative to give me even better outdoor pictures than I could have imagined.  We had to stay under cover the whole time, but the pictures turned out beautifully and Julie really went above and beyond for us, even standing out in the rain to get the shots!

After spending months on fun DIY projects like the papel picado-themed save the dates and collecting dozens of blue and white vases to use as centerpieces, it was amazing to see everything in my imagination come to life at the reception.  We also tried to bring in a lot of personal items – from pictures of our families to personalized dance floor props like plastic sunglasses and fireman hats (my husband is a firefighter).  The rain stopped just in time for us to make our exit on a 1948 fire truck – complete with lights and sirens – which is a moment I’ll never forget.  Getting married was an indescribably emotional and spiritual experience for me and we were so blessed to be surrounded by our wonderful family and friends.  It was truly the best day of our lives and our vendors really made it happen.  I got many compliments on how well the wedding flowed, which I owe completely to our amazing coordinator, Resha from Something to Celebrate.  Joe from Impressive Event’s lighting stole the show.  And the food and service at Cohen House were second to none.  Everything exceeded our expectations and we were on top of the world.

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Wedding Photography: Julie Wilhite Photography | Ceremony Venue: Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas | Reception Venue: Rice University Cohen House in Houston, Texas | Event Planning + Design: Resha Zazueta from Something to Celebrate | Floral Design: Melanie Tipton from Last Petal | Cake: Erin Garza from Little Green Box Shoppe | Linens: Elegant Beginnings | Lighting: Joe Zuniga from Impressive Events | Lounge Furniture: Daryl & Co. | Cocktail Hour Music: Avalon Music | Band: Route 66 Band | Wedding Invitations: William Arthur via Paper Source | Calligraphy: Angelique, Ink | Getaway fire truck: Clint Johnson | Photobooth: Say Cheese Photo Booth | Wedding Dress: Christos Desiree via Mia Bridal Couture | Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale via Brickhouse Bridal | Hair + Makeup: Roxanne from Your Beautiful Face

Nautical anything pretty much rocks my socks off, but when it’s a nautical engagement session or wedding?  That’s amazing and then some.  Take for example this pretty little Seabrook shoot from the always divine Mustard Seed Photography which is ranking high atop my list of favorites with a beyond adorable duo and some serious seafaring fun.  I’m talking champagne, cupcakes and sweet navy blue hues, all set against those sunny, open skies Texas is known for.  Stare at these images all day long?  Yes, yes, I could.  Join me in the gallery for more.

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From the Bride… John’s love of sailing and the location of the proposal were the inspiration for our nautical themed wedding. John had proposed to me during a walk on the docks after dinner at local restaurant overlooking the water. To tie in with the theme of our wedding, we chose to shoot the engagement photos on a sailboat. A dear friend put us in touch with Sail Ventures, who set us up with an absolutely gorgeous sailboat for us to use for the shoot. The feeling of the session was all built around the fresh, preppy, romantic vibe we feel when we’re on the water sailing.

The previous Valentine’s Day, John had planned a romantic day sail for us, including my two favorite things, champagne and cupcakes. I absolutely had to incorporate those two things into the shoot, so we picked up some cupcakes from our favorite local bakery, Rise. The champagne was an engagement gift from a colleague, and the bottle happened to be the most perfect shade of navy blue to compliment the color pallet of the day. I looked at our engagement shoot as a romantic date that John was taking me on (with a couple of photographers there snapping pics). I really wanted the photos to tell the story of John taking me out for an afternoon sail.

Mustard Seed Photography made us feel like supermodels as they snapped their shots, and they were so easy to work with. We literally enjoyed every minute of the session. John and I had the best time during our engagement shoot, and it was the perfect special event to kick off this unique season of our lives as we plan for our wedding day and the rest of our lives together as a couple.

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Photography: Mustard Seed Photography | Champagne: Mumm Napa | Cupcakes: Rise Cupcakes | Hair: Chanda at Colorlocks (832-414-1881) | Sailboat Rental: Sail Ventures | Location: Seabrook, TX | Bride’s First Look: Duo (Dress) + ALDO (Shoes) + Banana Republic (Accessories) | Bride’s Second Look: Tommy Hilfiger (Dress) + Wanted (Shoes) + Banana Republic (Belt) + Betsy Johnson (Necklace) | Groom’s First Look: Banana Republic (Pants + Shirt) + Tommy Hilfiger (Tie) + Urban Outfitters (Socks) + Sperry (Shoes) | Groom’s Second Look: 7ForAllMankind (Jeans) + Banana Republic (T-Shirt) + Sperry (Shoes) + J.Crew (Belt)

Style literally drips from every gorgeous image captured by Archetype Studio Inc. of this New Year’s Eve wedding at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. It’s true. Every detail crafted and curated by Romp Events is pin-worthy to say the very least, giving us a gallery filled to the brim with details worth tucking away for next year’s New Year’s soiree. See every stylish detail right here.

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From the Bride… Greg and I first met on New Year’s Eve 2007 and were engaged on New Year’s Eve 2011.  It is our favorite day of the year and was an easy decision to ring in this New Year with a wedding.  Working with our coordinator, Shy Masters, of Romp! Event Architects, we decided to create a very glamorous affair with black, white, and gold accents and the perfect amount of sparkle.  She took my love for all things glam and Hollywood Regency décor and incorporated it into every last detail including center pieces of ginger jars, gold pheasants, and tall lamps.  We also used vintage inspired gold alarm clocks on each table to still tie in the New Years Eve vibe.   After considering a number of different venues, we chose the historic 1940 Air Terminal Museum as the location for both our ceremony and reception.  The modern and art deco venue helped to tie in the glamorous ambiance of the evening.  Our photographers, Terilyn and Koby Brown, were absolutely fantastic to work with and did an amazing job of capturing every last detail of our special day, including our midnight kiss.  We couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end a beautiful year with our closest family and friends while celebrating our love.

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Wedding Photography: Koby & Terilyn Brown from Archetype Studio Inc. | Wedding Venue: 1940 Air Terminal Museum in Houston, Texas | Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Shy Masters from Romp Events | Wedding Cake: Satin Slices | Wedding Dress: Stephen Yearick | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Bagley Mischka via Rent The Runway | Veil: Lisa Tice of Lisa’s Mini Mad Hattery

Infusing rustic, natural details into a modern meets glamorous affair can prove difficult for some, but not for these two lovelies.  Nope, with the help of Monarch Planning and Weddings in Bloom, they turned The Grove Houston into a succulent-filled glam fest, complete with pink and gray accents, contemporary (DIY) stylings and some VERY yummy looking cakes from Dessert Gallery.  Basically, it’s like the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.  Don’t miss a moment captured by Mustard Seed Photography in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… We met at a party in college when we both attended Tulane. New Orleans, a city that we both adore, provided an amazing backdrop for falling in love. One rainy February morning, Cat called me to come outside, alleging that he had hurt his knee. True to form, I said “I don’t think I’ll be able to pick you up… should I call someone else?” Once he finally convinced me to make the long journey downstairs, our dog (Steve) came running up to me and led me around the corner, where Cat was waiting, ring in hand.

Our advice would be to let your personal preferences guide you, rather than what you see on blogs. Don’t lose sight of what the day is really about – celebrating your commitment to each other!

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Wedding Photography: Mustard Seed Photography | Ceremony  Venue: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas | Reception Venue: The Grove Houston in Houston, Texas | Wedding Coordinator: Sally Monsivaiz from Monarch Planning | Floral Design: Weddings in Bloom | Wedding Cakes: Dessert Gallery | Linen: Swift & Co | Decor: Bride’s Mother + Friends | DJ: Look No Further Entertainment | Jazz Band: Luxury Trio | Wedding Invitations: Bridget Williams from BDUB NY | Wedding Dress: Catherine Deane | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom’s Attire: Zenga | Hair + Makeup: The Upper Hand

When modern meets traditional, pretty things tend to happen, pretty things like this Veranda 17 at the Sam Houston Hotel wedding. Known to friends and family as “Geoff and Jess,” an ampersand became their theme, which they infused into stationery by 23and10 and throughout the event’s decor! Thanks to My Happy Lens Photography, we get to pour over every last detail in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Geoff and I are known as “Geoff and Jess.” So my graphic designer (Geoff’s talented cousin Lauren of 23and10) and I naturally agreed on the ampersand as the theme of the wedding, and thus the theme of our lives together. You’ll see a nod to it in many of the elements: decor, buttons, stationery, etc.

When it got down to the nitty-gritty, Geoff and I could agree on two things: 1) Good food and 2) Good fun. Which is why we chose The Alden. Their 17 Restaurant catered the reception, and the food was de-licious. (Especially the truffle mac-and-cheese.) Then we needed someone who could really make it a party. That’s where Jonny Black Productions came in. No one EVER left the dance floor.

Our wedding was a mix of modern and traditional elements. I chose very royal colors (eggplant and gold), but used them in a way that felt clean and luxurious. My dress (a Pronovias) was lace with cap-sleeves, but fit like a glove. Our ceremony music was a mix of traditional hymns and new ones, and our dinner music ranged from Ella and Louie to Weezer and John Mayer. Our cakes (provided by a friend, Yay Yay’s Cakes) were a traditional wedding cake (no filling), carrot cake with cream cheese icing and the most amazing yellow cake you’d ever eat with Nutella buttercream frosting. And don’t forget about our midnight-snack favors — native-to-Houston Shipley’s donuts.

In the end, the most important thing to Geoff and I was that our family and friends (some who had traveled from states away) were there to celebrate with us. My college friend played our ceremony music, my cousin sang my entrance song, Geoff’s uncle married us and his other uncle gave the blessings. And we were so happy. The whole event was perfect (except for when my sleeve broke…), and it’s all thanks to Teri of Pearl & Peony Event Design. She not only made sure everything went smoothly, she made sure Geoff and I were always having fun and free of anxiety.

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Wedding Photography: My Happy Lens Photography | Wedding Venue: Veranda 17 at the Sam Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas | Wedding Coordinating: Pearl & Peony Event Design | Floral Design: SCF Events | Wedding Cakes: Yay Yay’s Cakes | DJ: Jonny Black Productions | Uplighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | Wedding Invitations: Lauren Manning from 23and10 |  Wedding Dress: Pronovias “Adela” | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Jasmine  “Belsoie L4070” | Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein

I truly don’t believe I’ll ever tire of simple, rustic-meets-traditional style weddings. From the natural florals and the use of mason jars to the hand-written chalkboard signs, it all makes me weak in the knees! And this Olde Dobbin Station wedding from Kimberly Chau Photography just happens to be the perfect combination of understated + sweet, and let me tell you, it’s a total swoon-fest!  See it all right here!

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From Kimberly Chau Photography… Dana + Peyton tied the knot recently at the amazing Olde Dobbin Station. Their wedding day looked perfect and I loved the unique DIY elements and decor that Dana added to her special day. Thank you so much for having me capture the lovely memories from your wedding day. You both are truly wonderful and I wish you two the best in your new married life together.

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Wedding Photography: Kimberly Chau Photography | Venue: Olde Dobbin Station in Montgomery, Texas | Floral Design: Cornelius Florist | Caterer: E&P Catering | Wedding Cake: Dream Cakes Inc. | Music: Divisi Strings | Wedding Dress: Ventura’s Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW | Bridesmaids’ Attire: The Dessy Group | Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair + Makeup: LaVantage Salon

Growing up in small town Montana, summer nights at the drive-in were one happening place to be.  I mean, is there anything better than piling into a car with your besties, munching on popcorn and watching your twentieth showing of “Grease?”  Nope… nothing.  Which is why I happen to have fallen hard-core for this sweet e-session from Katie Lamb Photography, which is the perfect combo of one very stylish duo (who happen to be tying the knot in a Houston theater) and the fab vintage stylings of Recycled & Loved.  Click here for all of the pretty.

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From Katie Lamb Photography… Annie + Travis are getting married this March at an old theatre in downtown Houston, so we thought it would be fitting to do a Drive-In Movie themed engagement session.

Kristin, from Recycled & Loved, styled the entire shoot, from Annie + Travis’s outfits to the old coke bottles and popcorn.

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Wedding Photography: Katie Lamb Photography | Location: Show Boat Drive-In Movie Theater in Houston, Texas | Event Design: Recycled & Loved | Floral Design: Arteflora | Bride’s Attire: Forever 21 | Groom’s Attire: JoS. A Bank

It should come as no surprise that when planning your DIY wedding, the more help, the merrier! This lucky couple is surrounded by so many who love and support them and they had no shortage of helping hands when it came to crafting all those pretty, little touches they saw on Pinterest. Day 7 Photography captured all the details, including the most gorgeous blooms from SCF Events. Click here for the full gallery!

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From the Bride… We had been planning for the big day for almost a year, so when the day finally arrived we were both so excited! In the beginning, we knew that we wanted to focus the day around our faith and celebrate with our family and church community who have supported and loved us throughout our lives. Blue and green were the main colors of the day with touches of pink in the floral arrangements. Blue is the groom’s favorite color, and green is the Father-of-the-Bride’s favorite color. The common design theme was navy chevron. We worked with the groom’s cousin so custom design all paper products, including invitations, programs, menu cards, table numbers, and escort cards, with the chevron pattern.

We are so blessed to have an amazing family and supportive church community that helped in every aspect of the planning process – helping make fun and festive elements including hand-made ribbon sticks and home-made props all inspired by Pinterest. All the family boutineers were hand-made with bright pink roses and florals.

All in all, all the planning revolved around the goal to celebrate this occasion and have FUN with our family and community from all over the world – and we did! All the coordination and details came off beautifully all thanks to our wedding party, house party, and helpers/coordinators. We couldn’t have asked for more!

Wedding Photography + Photo Booth: Day 7 Photography / Ceremony Location: Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Houston, Texas / Reception Location:  Westin at Memorial City in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: SCF Events / Gelato:  Paciugo / DJ: RJ Beriones / Bridesmaid Monogrammed Chevron Totes: Etsy / Wedding Stationery: Custom design by Groom’s Cousin / Wedding Dress: Winnie Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Sake 5th Avenue / Wedding Rings + Bride’s Jewelry: Blue Nile / Bride’s Hair Piece: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew / Groom’s Attire: Indochino / Groomsmen Suits: Their Choice / Groomsmen Shirts: Brooks Brothers / Groomsmen Ties: Macy’s / Hair + Makeup: Flawless

A breathtaking Houston affair, a drop-dead gorgeous BHLDN gown and a whole host of beautiful blooms from Floral Events (here’s looking at you, sweet, sweet bouquet)… is your heart pounding yet?  If not, then one look at the stunning images captured by Stefano Choi Photography and you won’t be able to escape it.  Because this is the kind of wedding that makes you sit back (in complete and total awe, mind you) and spend hours soaking it all in.  It’s just that good.  Oh, and the 100-year-old Crystal Ballroom? Awesome. Click here for so much more and stay tuned for a beautiful film from Sculpting With Time Productions below.

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From Stefano Choi Photography… A classic elegant wedding and the bride DIY’ed the invitations, programs, guest seats all based off of a travel theme because they love to travel. She also wore a beautiful dress, veil and shoes by BHLDN. She chose the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Crystal Ballroom for the ceremony because they are both nearing their 100 year anniversaries and she thought it would be a great fit for her theme. The old school charm in these locations were a perfect fit for this. the images were captured on digital, 35mm & Medium Format film.

Photography: Stefano Choi Photography / Floral Design: Floral Events / Ceremony Venue: Church Holy Rosary / Reception Venue: The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Lofts / Cinematography: Sculpting With Time Productions / Music: “Remember When” by Us & Our Daughters via The Music Bed / Cake: Who Made The Cake! / Wedding Dress, Veil & Shoes: BHLDN / Reception Band: Doppelgänger / Cocktail Hour Musicians: Houston String Quartet / Ceremony Musicians: Chamber Music Unlimited / Late Night Snack: Tacos-A-Go-Go / Hair & Makeup: Your Beautiful Face / Linen & Tableware Rental: Party Cloths / Printer: Workhorse Printmakers / Wedding Invitations & Programs: DIY by The Bride

Tinkerbell, a lawn gnome and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.”  When a first meeting includes all three of those stellar components, you know something special is about to happen.  Case in point?  These two Houston sweeties, who met one fateful Halloween evening and fell for each other over their mutual love of cute costumes, catchy tunes and “goofy” attitudes.  Needless to say, when it came time to say I Do, they incorporated their fun-filled personalities into every aspect of their wedding captured by Sharon Nicole Photography with uber-cute details styled by Pebble and Peony and bright pops of orange and blue hues.  See it all right here.

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From the Bride… Jared and I met at a Halloween party three years ago. He was dressed up as a lawn gnome (he is 6’5″) and I was Tinkerbell. We immediately hit it off, and we discovered a mutual love of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA,” which for some reason was played repeatedly that night. We’re both goofy, love to have fun, and don’t take ourselves too seriously. I knew I wanted a super-fun, almost cheeky wedding with great music and a party atmosphere. I got all that and more with the HMNS paleontology hall, which as luck would have it had just been totally remodeled months before the wedding. My friend Alexis of Pebble and Peony helped me bring a ton of playful ideas to life with our cocktail napkins, drink stirrers, coasters and die-cut dinosaur escort cards.

Levity aside, it was also important to us to have a traditional ceremony. I’m Episcopalian and grew up sitting in the pews of the church we were married in. I had always imagined my wedding ceremony in that beautiful space, and it was even more special and wonderful in real life than in daydreams. A good friend of my family officiated our ceremony, and we had a brass quartet with a tympani player for ceremony music. I couldn’t have asked for more! 

Wedding Photography: Sharon Nicole Photography / Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas / Reception: Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, Texas / Event Design: Pebble and Peony / Floral Design: Urban Petals / Dessert Table: Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar / Wedding Invitations: Dauphine Press / Band: The Pictures Band / Wedding Dress: Designed by the Bride + Created by Beautiful U Bridal in Houston (713-963-8213) / Bride’s Shoes: TOMS / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LulaKate via Bella Bridesmaid / Groom’s Bow Tie: NOLA Couture / Groomsmen’s + Usher’s Bow Ties: Wm. Lamb & Son Collection for Southern Proper + Brooks Brothers

One of my best friends got married at the Houston Country Club, so I can totally attest to its beauty. Filled with gorgeous light, it’s the perfect place to host an unforgettable wedding reception. Kelly Hornberger Photography was on hand to capture all the pretty details, from the bride’s gorgeous dress to the amazing linens and centerpieces, this wedding is bringing the inspiration. Click here for even more. 

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From Kelly Hornberger Photography… The Houston Country Club is stunning. A venue with loads of light. Light that trickled in perfectly and showed off the amazing smile of a beautiful redheaded bride named Sarah. It was one long day for this bride, but she glowed the ENTIRE time on late into the night. Sarah was surrounded by some of her amazing sisters and friends while primping and prepping. Both mothers were there to create even more smiles throughout the room. Everything flowed just perfectly. We made it to the church with plenty of time to get into Sarah’s dress, see her dad for the first time and relax a little before taking her big walk.

If Anderson was nervous, he played it off well. His normal jokster self was out and about, creating lots of laughs and setting everyone at ease around him. It was so fun, like always, to get to hang with him and the boys all the way up to the final moments. Dad walked the oldest of his four daughters down the aisle. No way there could be a dry eye. Anderson was so pumped and his bride walked towards him; he could not stop smiling.

Wedding Photography: Kelly Hornberger Photography / Ceremony: Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: Houston Country Club in Houston, Texas / Wedding Planning: Charity Lykins Events / Floral Design: Flora Bella Designs / Wedding Cakes: Susie’s Cakes & Confections / Band: The Pictures Band / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Makeup: Your Beautiful Face / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters / Groom’s Attire: Al’s Formal Wear

Bowties complete with polka dots, pretty ‘maids all lined up in a row, and a bride who is absolutely glowing. All ingredients in this stunning Texas soiree. Mixed in with a couple of kisses and extra scoops of love, the day was beautiful. And with Nancy Aidée Photography behind the lens, the gallery is just as beautiful a spot to spend your morning. Click here for more!

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Bo is from Midland, Texas and after graduating from Texas Tech, he moved back to Midland to start his career as a Petroleum Engineer. I am from Houston, Texas and after graduating from Texas A&M I moved back to Houston to teach 7th grade math. Bo and I met through his sister, Abby, who lives in Houston. Abby and her husband, Tim were in a Bible study with me and introduced us in May 2011 when Bo was in town for the weekend. Our first date was to an Astros game and we were engaged 6 months later in November. We are currently living in Midland, Texas and I am enjoying my new life in West Texas!

We wanted our wedding to be classic and romantic, but reflect our artsy side as well. We used DIY whenever possible and it helped keep the whimsical, garden feel. Greenery, shades of ivory flowers, and hints of blush were displayed at the church and reception. My bridesmaids wore navy dresses with nude pumps that blended with the gold and champagne accents.

Our rehearsal dinner was enjoyed at the beautiful St. James Place in the garden room. The table assignments were displayed in frames where the names corresponded with a color. This color coordinated with the elaborate unique floral centerpieces that were displayed in shades of that color. After memorable toasts by the best man and maid of honor, the rest of the night was unscripted, as we laughed to toasts by others from our wedding party. Guests took home junior mints in personalized white boxes tied with their table’s color ribbon.

The church balcony was covered with greenery, accented with candles and lanterns on either side. The organ accompanied the live strings played by Accent Chamber Music while my dad and I walked down the aisle. David Dunn, a groomsman and musician, played the piano and sang 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman while Bo and I took communion.

The reception started with Ice House Band playing acoustically and singing during a cocktail hour downstairs. Lobster corndogs, mini margarita pizzas, and coconut chicken were served on personalized gold embossed napkins before guests walked upstairs. The doors to the ballroom were decorated with large moss letters hung by burlap and ribbon bows. We used amber up lighting and greenery wrapped the dance floor creating a candlelit garden feel. Live dinner music was enjoyed through dinner and it wasn’t long before the dance floor was overtaken by glow sticks and dancing. Four Frames Photobooths set up a photobooth with props and immediate digital prints. Glow stick jump roping, hula hooping, and creative glow stick attire kept the dance floor alive until midnight. Guests took home personalized Fiji water bottles tied with raffia. Bo and I left under the glow of sparklers and rode away in a horse drawn carriage. To us our fairy tale had just begun! The warm July night in Houston was so much more than what we dreamed of. This special weekend of friends and family reflected our personalities perfectly and will forever be engrained in our memories thanks to our wonderful photographer!

Photography: Nancy Aidée Photography / Wedding Dress Designer: Pronovias, Brickhouse Bridal / Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Wedding Veil: Family heirloom / Ceremony Sash & Reception hair piece: BHLDN / Reception Sash: Beautiful U Bridal Veil Alterations / Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN / Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Kristin Daniell / Florist: Flora Bella Designs / Entertainment & Uplighting: Ice House Band / Stationery: Ann Werme Stationers / Wedding Cake & Grooms fishing cake: Bessie’s Cakes, Kathy Warnke / Ceremony Location: Bethel Church / Reception Location: Houston Racquet Club

I used to still do watch cheesy romantic movies on repeat every chance I get. What always gets me hooked is the way the guy looked at the girl with that dreamy, can’t live without you kind of love in his eyes and there’s just no stopping for me. So lovelies, what we have here in every image from Everest Road Photography is a wedding at Flora & Muse so filled with that kind of adoration and devotion that will make you want to click through the gallery again and again and again. And you can get started right here.

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From the Bride… A perfect blind date started it all. It was only a few weeks into our relationship that I knew I wanted Brian DeSpain to be my husband. After weeks of planning coffee meetings at Flora & Muse so that I could stalk a potential one-of-a-kind wedding venue without my boyfriend knowing my true intentions (for fear of scaring him off with my premature wedding planning), he brought me there for dinner one Friday night and proposed! He had NO idea I wanted to get married there, and most importantly, he was unaware that I’d been very casually asking the manager over the last six weeks on how many people the venue could hold, what menu options there were, and dates of availability. I was so pleasantly surprised when the waiter did not bring out the dessert I ordered but instead a tray of macaroons and a ring box; if my desire to have our reception there wasn’t already strong, I was unwaveringly fixated now!

Brian had told me he wanted his wedding to be “unique,” “something people will still talk about after its over” and “a whole weekend getaway/party.” No pressure of course — ha! So after days in front of my computer and on the phone with venues, I pitched him my vision and he agreed that Houston’s CityCenter would make a perfect backdrop to our wedding weekend extravaganza! He had the job of finding us a home to live in as newlyweds, and I was assigned the wedding — seems fair, right? I was determined to make our wedding weekend something we were both proud of and could look back on with no regrets. With the help of Pinterest, it was quite easy to get sucked into an endless supply of inspiration. So, I made PDF “wedding inspiration boards” and sent them to all my vendors, fiancé and parents so that they knew exactly what I envisioned, because sometimes it’s hard to get into my brain.

Wedding planning was in full swing when we secured Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, only a few miles away, for the ceremony, signed the contract for Flora & Muse to be our reception venue, and reserved a block of rooms at Hotel Sorella. Almost all of our wedding party, family and out-of-town friends all stayed at the hotel. Friday night, Brian’s family threw our rehearsal dinner steps away at The Tasting Room. Saturday, I had my hair done at Life Spa. I wanted a tousled, sexy, romantic up-do, so I brought some inspiration from Pinterest, and I could not have been more pleased. I did not wear a veil but had a vintage-looking, jeweled headband from Anthropologie pinned in my hair. So many of the little details I very carefully planned out, from the seating chart to the wedding party picture props, and some things, such as our singing DJ, I just really lucked out with. I affectionately describe our wedding as an intimate dinner party with 100 of our closest friends and family enjoying amazing food, the best wine and beer, my favorite desserts in unlimited supply, singing and dancing! Our wedding day was every thing I dreamed it up to be.

Wedding Photography: Everest Road Photography / Ceremony: Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: Flora & Muse in Houston, Texas / Event Planning: Cynthia Wenz / Floral Design: AJ’s Urban Petals / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Originally Reem Acra, Designed + Remade by Marcello of Marcello’s Alterations / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Tuxedo: Black by Vera Wang

It’s no secret that when you have a fabulous fashion blog like this bride, your wedding is going to be an all out pretty fest. We’re loving each and every inch of this unique, rustic glamour wedding. From the flowers to the sparkly crystals, this wedding is all about the pretty details. Photographers Skeen captured it all and you can see even more right here.

Watch this pretty wedding come to life in this fab film from Luxe Films:

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From Kristina, The Bride + Owner of Pretty Shiny Sparkly… My husband Houston and I wanted to create a wedding that was memorable, totally “us” and traditional but with a twist to every aspect. I love the idea of pairing opposites, so we chose to have a “rustic glamour” wedding. Our reception was held in the beautiful Rainbow Lodge, an exotic, game-hunting lodge/restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor ravine. We lavished it in crystals, candles, peonies and hydrangeas. We hung crystal chandeliers from posts and trees outdoors. In lieu of traditional cheesy wedding favors, we decided to have a cigar-roller make custom cigars with our logo on the band (and only for those of age, of course) and found that smokers and non-smokers alike partook in the fun. Our wedding invitations were actually custom-engraved on wood, and we continued that theme with wooden chargers on each place setting.

Instead of a traditional champagne and wine service, we each designed custom drinks for the cocktail hour. Mine was a strawberry basil mojito, and his was a sake sangria modeled after our favorite drink at our favorite sushi house. To add a twist to even the champagne toast, we garnished each flute with an edible wild hibiscus flower. During the cocktail hour, guests were treated to classic jazz songs by a local legend, crooner Tianna Hall.

Even my dress had a unique twist on the traditional white wedding dress — the bust featured feathers and was banded by a bejweled grosgrain sash tied in a bow, while the skirt was layer upon layer of soft tulle. Groomsmen wore boutonnieres of green succulents and pink ranunculus, and my bouquet was a melody of pink and white peonies, stephanotis, hydrangeas and white poppy anemones. My cake was a layered amaretto with raspberry and cream cheese filling, adorned with pink ombré sugared rose petals. His cake reflected his career (orthopedic surgery) in the shape of a femur bone! The night ended with a toss of pink and white rose petals and a kiss, and we were couldn’t be happier with the way it all turned out!

We want to give special thanks to my mother and father for making it all possible.

Wedding Photography: Photographers Skeen / Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: Rainbow Lodge in Houston, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Occasio Productions / Floral Design: Plants N’ Petals / Wedding Cinematography: Luxe Films / Wedding Invitations: Oslo Press / Ceremony + Reception Cards: Katie & Co. / Bridal Preparations Suite: Hotel ZaZa / Wedding Dress: Pronovias (Spring 2012) / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (Spring 2012) / Bride’s Bracelet: Christina Ferrare / Hair + Makeup: Blush & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bridesmaids’ Accessories: BaubleBar

I tried to pick just one thing I loved about this wedding from Steve Lee Weddings, and I failed in the best and prettiest way possible. Everything is totally gorgeous — a beautiful bouquet from Weddings in Bloom, amazing paper goods from Momental Designs, the cutest flower girl ever, a perfect Vera Wang gown, and the list goes on and on. And best of all, there’s even more in the gallery!

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From the Bride… Brandon and I met at a Saint Arnolds Pub Crawl in Houston, wearing the same Converse shoes. The next night we randomly ended up in the same place — destiny.

When we started planning our wedding, we had an objective in mind: we wanted our friends and family to have an amazing time. We picked the most beautiful venue, the Bell Tower on 34th, with amazing food. Then I started off looking for the colors. I decided to go with my childhood favorite color, blue, and what better blue is there than the one from a peacock feather? You can mix so many colors with peacock feathers. To complement, I picked pink, purple, green and gold. I wanted to put my personal touch on everything, so I mapped the whole concept myself and had so much fun planning everything, including finding Kristy Rice from Momental Design. We designed the most beautiful invitations, programs and table cards with the most beautiful flowers I could have imagined. When it all came together, it was the day the I dreamed of, surrounded by the people who love us most.

Without a doubt, the best part of the day was the “first look” we did before the wedding. After all the planning and keeping my dress a secret, it was so exciting to finally be able share this intimate moment before anyone saw us together. Seeing the amazing look on Brandon’s face, I knew it was all worthwhile and could not wait to walk with my dad to give me away to the most beautiful man I have ever met. We exited the wedding the same way as we met: wearing Converse.

Wedding Photography: Steve Lee Weddings / Wedding Venue: The Bell Tower on 34th in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: Weddings in Bloom / Wedding Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie / Wedding Invitations: Momental Designs / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Reception Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Jewelry: BHLDN, Swarovski + Tiffany & Co. / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Getting Ready Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Flower Girl Hat: Lisa’s Mini Mad Hattery

A word of caution before you proceed to this morning’s wedding film…you may want to grab a tissue or two because this sweet film from our faves at 31Films will totally have you tearing up. It’s overwhelmingly sweet and real and oh-so-beautiful. You can’t help but want to cheer for this adorable couple and their new lives as husband and wife.

And it just so happens that today is your lucky day because we also have these gorgeous images from Katie Lamb Photography to share with you as well. See the full gallery right here.

And now, here’s that absolute-must-see film from 31Films!

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From 31Films… John is a genuinely nice, aspiring musician, and Gabi is … well, she’s adorable. When we were filming Gabi and John, about an hour into their wedding day, we just knew this was going to be an amazing wedding film. They both have such contagious personalities, and their love and joy for each other on their wedding day was basically glowing from them. In the morning, they both wrote letters to each other, and John recorded his on his laptop for Gabi to watch. Their letters were so thoughtfully conveyed, so we knew we had to make their words to each other a focal point of their film. The whole day was perfect, and we captured some of our favorite moments ever. You have to see their first kiss at the end of the video, which in itself shows how clearly in love they really are.

Wedding Photography: Katie Lamb Photography / Wedding Venue: Ashton Gardens in Houston, Texas / Wedding Planning: Dani Cordova / Floral Design: Plants N’ Petals / Wedding Cinematography: 31Films / Wedding Cake: Who Made the Cake / Rentals: Aztec Events & Tents / Wedding Dress: Mia Bridal Couture / Hair: Hues by Heather

We tend to get a little excited when gorgeous weddings come our way.  That goes without saying.  So, when we first spotted this breathtaking number captured by J.W. Baugh Photography, it was crazy excitement from the very first beautiful image.  Because when an uber-stunning duo, Stonebrook Hall at Amber Springs and the fab stylings of A Style Collective team up for a rustic chic soiree, that’s a recipe for some serious pretty – AND the perfect combo for a pretty awesome Monday.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And a breathtaking film from Bella Vista Productions to cap it all off…

From the Bride… When Steven proposed last October at my family’s ranch in Southwest Texas, I could hardly wait to start planning our dream wedding. Steven and I dated for nearly four years before he proposed, but he took me completely off guard when he popped the question in front of my entire family on a bluff overlooking the ranch. As soon as we were engaged, we started looking for the perfect rustic venue to host our “shabby-chic” wedding. After searching the Houston area, we decided to use Stonebrook Hall at Amber Springs as our venue.

After our engagement, we started scouring antique stores around Texas for blue mason jars, lace doilies, crocheted table cloths, brooches and a variety of vintage knick-knacks. We stopped in nearly every antique mall or vintage store that we passed, so to me it felt like a treasure hunt! I knew that I wanted a mixture of lace, rustic wood and sparkle for the décor, so we started putting together our vision to bring all of those elements and textures together. We decided on a palette of Tiffany blue, cream, burlap and natural wood as our inspiration. My wonderful mother, Lynn, was instrumental during this process, as she began crafting up a storm, creating craft paper flowers to display behind our cake table, putting together my brooch bouquet, helping to piece together chandeliers that would be hung in our venue and making every guest’s place card. We purchased 10 old doors to use as backdrops during the reception and had one Tiffany blue door converted to our cake table. My brooch bouquet was a mixture of family heirlooms and antique-store finds, and each of my bridesmaids carried a vintage brooch on their bouquet. I also carried tiny photos of each of our grandparents who had passed away on my bouquet, so they could be with us and watch over us as we were joined in marriage. Our “guest book” was actually a wooden bench that we had made and plan to use in our new home, along with most of the other things that we collected for our special day.

We wanted to have an outdoor ceremony, but also wanted it to feel like we were getting married in an old white-washed church. One of my best friends from childhood is a pastor in the Woodlands, so it was very special to have him be our officiant. One of the things that Steven was most excited about wearing were the custom Meyer boots I had made for him for his wedding present. They were made out of ostrich skin and calf leather from an ostrich that I shot a few years ago in Africa. After the ceremony, I changed out of my heels and into a matching pair of ostrich boots before we danced the night away. Steven’s favorite dessert is banana pudding, so instead of having a groom’s cake, a few of Steven’s aunts made homemade banana pudding for him and served it in small mason jars. Carlos Gomez, an incredible chef and family friend, flew in from Washington, D.C. to cook the venison, elk, and axis deer steaks that Steven and I harvested. The ladies with A Style Collective were so wonderful in helping refine our vision, and they brought a few linen wingback chairs and a gorgeous tufted Tiffany blue couch for our guests to lounge on during our cocktail hour. We chose a margarita with South Texas prickly pear syrup as our cocktail, along with a selection of beer and wine. Instead of using round tables during the reception, we rented 25 wooden farmhouse tables that A Style Collective had constructed. We wanted everything to feel “family style,” so the farmhouse tables and open buffet helped us create a level of comfort for each of our guests. Steven and I love to dance, and our wonderful band, The Drywater Band, kept everyone on the dance floor all night. We were so sad to see such a beautiful day come to an end, but after jumping into our getaway car, a Tiffany blue 1956 Packard, we couldn’t wait for the rest of our lives to begin.

Wedding Photography: J.W. Baugh Photography / Wedding Venue: Stonebrook Hall at Amber Springsin Houston, Texas / Floral Design: Danell Fields (832-776-4407 / dlpudlum@aol.com) / Event Design, Farmhouse Table, Vintage Prop Rentals + Custom Ceremony Backdrop: A Style Collective / Wedding Cinematography: Bella Vista Productions / Catering: Carlos Gomez / Bar Service: Traci Tini Bar Service / Wedding Cake: Finale By Glenna / Wedding Invitations: Invitation Solutions / Wedding Program Fans: Woodlark Designs / Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings / Reception Entertainment: The Drywater Band / Wedding Dress: Allure Couture via The Princess Bridal / Bride’s Heels: Manolo Blahnik “Sedaraby” / Custom Boots: Meyer Custom Boots (713-864-3808) / Hair + Makeup: The Perfect Face / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters via Brickhouse Bridal / Men’s Suits: Jos. A. Bank

With a theme of hot air balloons and a tangerine, lemon + spring grass palette, this cheery Houston wedding at La Colombe d’Or has slapped a huge smile on my face-and doubled the content of my inspiration board!  Not a detail was overlooked from the stunning paper suite by Atheneum Creative to the spot-on decor + florals from Darryl & Co. The whimsical fête continues with even more images from Studio563 by Craig Davis in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Studio563… A beautiful Texas girl met a handsome man from Denmark online in 2006 and discovered their worlds had many things in common. Gert had been transferred to Houston, and they lived in the same apartment complex. After four days of constant communication, they went on their first date to a romantic Italian restaurant named Grotto’s. The rest is history, and their loved continued to blossom.

The themes of their wedding were early 1900’s and hot air balloons. Colors of tangerine, lemon and spring grass tastefully weaved through out the event. Gorgeous and unique!

Wedding Photography: Craig Davis of Studio563 Houston / Wedding Venue: La Colombe d’Or in Houston, Texas / Event Planning: Emily Moise of Keely Thorne Events / Floral Design + Decor: Darryl & Co. / Wedding Cake: World Catering / Wedding Invitations, Paper Goods + Signage: Atheneum Creative / String Quartet: Divisi Strings / Band: The Drywater Band / Photo Booth: Booth66 / Popcorn: Cornucopia Popcorn / Silhouette Artist: Kathryn Flocken / Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka via Ivory Bridal Atelier / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale

When a couple has an e-session as creative as this one, it’s no wonder their Agave Road wedding flipped the lid on convention and embraced bold, bright color! Hoping to share some Southwestern beauty + culture with their out of town guests, this Mr. and Mrs. enlisted amazing vendors (and local talents) like Flora Bella Designs and Edible Designs by Jessie for their big day. Click here to see the rest of the images from Carlea J Photography!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our inspiration and theme for the wedding was inspired by our venue, Agave Road. Most of our guests were from out of state, so we really wanted to find a venue that showcased some of the beauty of Texas and the Southwest region and culture. The beautiful agave plants and flowers, the outdoor lighting at night, fireplace, the cute donkeys and emus on the property, stunning wooden doors and architecture all created this romantic “Old Mexico” atmosphere. Our vibrant colors of poppy, fuchsia and violet really shined against the background of Agave Road and could be seen throughout the wedding from the invitations and stamps, to the flowers, cake and bridal attire. 

It was very important to me that we support artists or craftsmen who specialize in hand-made goods and small businesses throughout our wedding planning journey. Many of our special touches were purchased through Etsy or through up-and-coming graphic designers or freelancers. Some of these included our salt covenant egg for the ceremony, my necklace and bridesmaid earrings, the bow ties, custom wine labels, and the hand-painted ornaments. Those touches created special elements in our day, and we felt good supporting all of these talented artists!

The gorgeous poppy, violet and fuschia pom pom photo booth backdrop was created with love by my mom, step-dad and many family members. It was the perfect backdrop for some of our most favorite wedding photos of all time! The beautiful seating cards were assembled by hand by my maid of honor, step-mom and me. My MOH created the template and we spent a few days creating over 200 of these seven-layer flowers! The templates for the stickers on our welcome bags and cookie bags (favor) and cigar belly bands were also created by my MOH. Our family grew succulents to use as decoration throughout the reception. My dad created the reception table numbers, and the bridesmaids’ earrings, bridal keshi pearl necklace and veil were all made by my step-mom, Lena.

It’s hard to just choose one “favorite” memory of the day, but I have to say that I really enjoyed eating dinner with my husband at our sweetheart table and looking out into the reception and seeing our amazing family and treasured friends laughing, smiling and having a good time. We were able to enjoy our meal, relax and just BE HAPPY. The room was full of joy and beauty. It doesn’t really get better than that! My grandparents were also celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary that weekend, and we were honored to have them at the wedding. We played the “Anniversary Song” in their honor. They danced all evening and we had such a blast, especially when they danced to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back.”

Wedding Photography: Carlea J Photography / Wedding Venue: Agave Road in Katy, Texas / Floral Design: Flora Bella Designs / Wedding Cakes: Edible Designs by Jessie / Anniversary Wine Bottle Labels: Sara Michelle Designs / Cookie Table Signs: Amy Phan / Cigar Rolling: Chip Hight / Salt Covenant Egg: Centered Ceramics / Korean Wedding Ducks: Taeyon / Wedding Dress: Kirstie Kelly Couture / Bride’s Red Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s White Shoes: Mia / Bride’s Personalized Wedding Dress Patch: Monde Design / Bride’s Hair Flower: Olini Floral / Bridal Hanger: Einspanner / Bride’s Necklace, Bride’s Veil + Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Yelena’s Bijoux (The Bride’s Step-Mom) / Hair + Makeup: Thalio Beckham Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Suits: Jos A. Bank / Groomsmen Bow Ties: CCADesign / Ushers’ Ties: tuxandtulle

I know I’ve said it before, but I just have to say it again – I absolutely adore engagement sessions. When you love something this much, you have to shout it from the rooftops whenever you can. Especially when you’re smack dab in the middle of basking in what can only be described as an uber-gorgeous e-shoot with two of the cutest lovebirds you’ll ever meet, beyond pretty images by Willow Tree Photographs and one fun-filled moment after another.  (Pillow fights anyone?)  This is what I call e-session perfection and you can see it all right here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride-to-Be… My fiancé, Pete, and I took our engagement pictures a few weeks ago and could not be happier with the images we just received in the mail. Our pictures were photographed by the amazing Nicole of Willow Tree Photographs. She helped us find the perfect place to capture our story, and we love her so much for that! From our homemade sign made from a wooden pallet and chalkboard paint to our love for the outdoors and fishing, here’s some insight from me on what made this day so special.

First of all, this session could not describe Pete and me better. We are two people who are head over heels in love for each other and live to have fun every day  The pillow fight pictures really seem to show the playful side of us, and it was nice to see that even Pete was having fun and not worrying about the camera. One sentimental piece that really stands out in these pictures is my grandmother’s purple lapis necklace that was given to me the day before our engagement shoot. She had actually passed away the week before we were scheduled to take our pictures, and my sweet mom gave me Nanny’s necklace to keep and cherish. Little did my mom know that this necklace matched my dress perfectly, so I decided to wear it for some of our pictures. My mom was so touched when she saw the pictures of the necklace. These pictures will forever hold a special place in both of our hearts.

The funniest moment of the day is when we realized that someone loved our wooden pallet so much that they decided to take it home with them. Pete and I worked on this sign for hours, and we had a great time making it together. At the end of the shoot, we went back to get our prized possession, and it was gone! I hope whoever has our sign now is enjoying it as much as we did! The sign sure made for some great pictures. Pete’s favorite pictures are the fishing pictures as he is a HUGE outdoors man. He actually picked out these outfits for us to wear in the shoot (including mine!), which I think is super sweet! He even accessorized our outfits by bringing our fishing poles from home to use for the day!  He’s such a wonderful man, and I just don’t know how I managed to get so lucky!

Photography: Willow Tree Photographs / Location: Dickinson, Texas