We’re back with more J. Cogliandro Photography. If you haven’t fallen head over heels for Joe’s work yet, which I find hard to imagine, just you wait. This traditional Houston wedding features a bride so lovely, you can’t help but be over-the-moon happy for her. Joe did a fabulous job capturing the emotion of the day. The nerves, the excitement, and the beautiful love. So spend some time this afternoon falling in love with J. Cogliandro, like we did so long ago. And when you need more, pop over to Joe’s blog for more of his amazing work.
The inspiration for our wedding came from my engagement ring. I love blue and my engagement ring is a three stone ring, a diamond center-stone surrounded by sapphires. We chose to use sapphire blue as the accent color and a softer baby blue and shades of white for our flowers and decor. I’m drawn to the early art deco, jazz band period and wanted to capture those characteristics for the decor at the reception.
There are many special memories from that day. Chris and I didn’t see each other until the ceremony, but we wrote letters for the other to read in the morning. Reading his letter was so special and helped me stay calm and relaxed during the rush and excitement of the busy day.
My last moments alone with my father, before he walked me down the isle, were special. I had dreamed about that moment with him and I will always cherish it.
At the reception, sitting down and enjoying our meal together with the head table was so nice. The menu was well-planned and executed. It was important to me enjoy the dinner, which I had always heard the bride and groom never get to do. Then we danced the night away. And poof, the night was over before I knew it.
Our photographer, Joe Cogliandro, was amazing! He has the unique ability to capture scenes when you don’t know he’s there. The result is magic. We have many “in the moment” shots and I relive the day every time I see our photos. Joe has such a creative eye. Our engagement and wedding pictures are pieces of art to us.
Oh.my.blue.dress. I am just speechless. I need a few minutes to collect myself…OK, I think I am good now. The best part? The rest of this Texas pretty by Keely Thorne Events is just as jaw dropping as the dress of the self-proclaimed fashion addict bride. Texas, you get me every time with your mix of puppies and barns and splashes of fabulous fashion. Y’all just know how to do it. And thanks to AV Photo there is a gallery of goodness for your viewing pleasure.
Lindley and Jason got married on Jason’s family farm in Brenham, Texas. The house literally completed constuction the week before the wedding! So it was so special for the couple to hold the wedding here and kick off one of MANY parties and family gatherings to come out at the ranch.
Due to the distance of the ranch to Houston, the ceremony rehearsal was conducted by Lindley’s event planner, Emily Moise with Keely Thorne Events, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. The rehearsal dinner that followed was a formal affair at Tony’s Restaurant in Houston.
The bride grew up with part-owner of A Fare Extraordinaire catering, Rachel Volz, who was also a bridesmaid. Rachel and her team went above and beyond to make sure Lindley hired the right vendors for her dream wedding. The wedding day had everything. The guys skeet shooted and grilled burgers during the day, while the girls sipped champange and got pampered in the main house. Only Lindley, her mom and her wedding planner Emily had seen her amazing Douglas Hannant dress. When the time came for the bridesmaids to see “ahhh” was heard loud and far in for how amazing she looked. Lindley, owner of jewelry company Korula designs, is pretty much a fashion addict, and her amazing style was showcased throughout the entire wedding.
The ceremony was held at sunset in the property’s orchard garden. The cross was permantly built especially for the wedding and stands as a forever reminder of that day. The bride’s dad did not see her until lining up with her right before the walk down the aisle to music played by a bluegrass band.
Guests continued to enjoy the bluegrass music during the cocktail hour with passed drinks in Mason jars. Guests entered the reception area around the pool with a sushi bar and music from the band, Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal by the caterer, puffed cigars rolled on site by the firepit and had cowboy hats formed to fit each guest on site. Into the night, there was a surprise fireworks show, glowsticks passed to guests on the dance floor, and late night breakfast tacos. The evening was topped off with a DJ and late night party in the 2nd floor of the ranch’s red barn.
Oh and how could we forget…Lindley’s beloved dog Oscar was spotted around the property before and after the ceremony with a fresh floral collar and garland leash made just for her by her florist, Jonathan Andrew Sage. Very adorable.
Fusion weddings often make for the most amazing celebrations. Think about it – two different cultures marrying their traditions into one giant celebration. The result is bound to be something spectacular, culturally rich, and simply put, totally special. Much like this Houston wedding from J. Cogliandro Photography. If you’re not already in love with Joe, you absolutely need to take a look back at his other features on Style Me Pretty this week. From Greece to Texas ~ he’s our go-to guy this week! And to finish up the Joe C. love-fest, we have one more dazzling Houston wedding. Divya and Chris have shared their three day affair that was so full of love, fun, and laughter … three of THE most important aspects of a marriage. To let you feel the energy of this wedding, we even have the Same Day Edit from ~ who else but Aaron at 31FILMS! The SDE was played at Chris and Divya’s reception. After you watch that, we have the wedding story from the groom’s perspective, so make sure to check that out. Joe Cogliandro has more of this amazing couple on his blog, too, so hop on over there!
Seriously, we hope you’re ready for this Same Day Edit. It’s amazing, but we would expect nothing less from the talented 31FILMS. You’ll feel like you were there for all three days of this special celebration. Promise.
From the groom … I was totally blown away by our wedding. It was a traditional Indian wedding and not being Indian, I didn’t really know what to expect. This was truly a dream wedding for both of us; it was three whirlwind days with four different events. Starting with the Mehendi Party where the traditional henna was applied, continuing to the Sangeet, a night of song and dance to celebrate the wedding, and finishing with our wedding ceremony and reception.
The night before the wedding we held a Sangeet/rehearsal dinner at the Museum of Fine Arts. The theme was royal Arabian, with rich hues of blue, purple, and red. We had dances performed by members of the family; Divya’s family performed a skit depicting our courtship. It was a fun evening that ended with dancing to kick-off the next evening festivities.
The ceremony, held at Hotel Zaza, was preceded by a Bharat, or procession, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The energy and cohesion slowly increased to a full crescendo when we arrived at the hotel – the energy was electrifying! All 20 members of the bridal party were in full Indian attire and the entire crowd was dancing to the music as I made my way into the building. We had a traditional Indian wedding ceremony that lasted approximately 1 hour and included several traditional ceremonial acts, such as walking around fire and taking the 7 sacred steps. After the ceremony, we exited the Zaza in a classic white Rolls Royce, which capped the fairy tale ending.
We then took some photos and headed back to change for the big reception. We, along with the wedding party, had all prepared special entrances, along with a surprise Bollywood dance that Divya and I had practiced. The dance went perfectly and then we could enjoy the crowd and see the beautiful decor that Divya had arranged.
Divya did an unbelievable job transforming the contemporary space into our dream reception. She really wanted to mold the contemporary design of the museum into the theme of our décor. Tom Stringer helped her create that with florals that were like pieces of art – gravity defying! It was amazing to watch the sea of people dancing and having a great time – some who we’d never seen dance before! Our primary goal was to have a wedding where everyone would have fun and we were beyond pleased with the results.
We think you’ll be seeing a lot more from Joe C. this year on SMP! Our thanks to him and his staff for providing our daily dose of pretty here on The Little Black Book Blog!
It’s a Joe Cogliandro kind o’ day here on The Little Black Book Blog, and that in and of itself is a reason to celebrate! You all applauded the gorgeous wedding in Greece earlier this week … and to be honest, we just didn’t want to stop there. Back in his Texas, we have three more of Joe’s weddings for you today. That’s right. Three! First up are Xochy & Todd. You might recognize them from their intimate Turks and Caicos wedding Eddye featured last year. We have the highlight film from 31FILMS featuring that celebration (just in case you missed it). And if you think that wedding was oh-so-pretty, just you wait …
Xochy and Todd followed up their Caribbean celebration with a more traditional, albeit knock- your- socks- off wedding and reception back home in Houston. The bride wanted a wedding that would wow their friends and family. From the looks of it, we’d say she totally scored. Visit Joe’s blog for more of this amazing duo!
However … before we devour their Houston wedding, let’s take a little trip back to Turks and Caicos with 31FILMS. Make sure to read our bride’s story to hear all about these breathtaking beach nuptials!
Stunning, right? Now check out the Houston celebration that could possibly top THAT.
They say you only get married once, and that was definitely the motivation behind the planning of what would be a perfect wedding, or should I say weddings. We had the perfect recipe to create two weddings that would not soon be forgotten.
Our first wedding was on Turks and Caicos. We were originally torn between a beach wedding and a church wedding so we decided to do both! The date of our intimate beach wedding would be on 2.10.2010. Two years before we were engaged we were asked almost every day when we would get married. So, I chose a date that had a ring to it… 2.10.2010. Needless to say, when the time came to plan our private nuptials, the date had already been set.
Although the wedding in Turks and Caicos was more than we could have ever dreamed, and left us with memories of a lifetime, planning a Houston wedding, for all our friends and family, was our opportunity to really let our beliefs, passions, and personalities shine.
We’re members of the historical church of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, so the regal church with its stain glassed windows, high stone arches, and magnificent built in organ was the perfect backdrop. The choir set the tone for the ceremony; the songs chosen were chosen with meaning. Several people approached us at the reception to tell us that we could have ended the wedding at the church, which was confirmation that we had accomplished our purpose in sharing our moment.
We knew that the reception had to top everything else. With our outgoing personalities, every detail had to leave our guests speechless. The overall feeling of the reception was to be one big dinner party.
The hallway was lined with iron stands of votive candles. A waterfall with a picture of us from Turks and Caicos was the entry into the reception, TV’s played our highlight video from Turks and our engagement shoot in Las Vegas, a large table of sushi appetizers greeted our hungry guests, and we even had a casino room! Flowers were everywhere, candles were on everything, and black iron was a statement for the room leaving it feeling rich, classic, timeless, and breathtaking.
The most important thing you can possibly do for your wedding is to find the right photographer and cinematographer. I look back at the photos from both weddings and relive every moment all over again. The attention to detail with 31 Films is unsurpassed. They capture your day in a way that will leave you in awe and feeling your emotions flood back again. Everyone tells us that whatever we spent on J. Cogliandro Photography and 31FILMS was worth every penny, and without a doubt we agree!
There’s nothing quite like a good ol’ Texas Ranch wedding, especially one photographed by The Nichols. And they know just how we like it…pretty with a whopping side of gorgeous details to fawn over. Held at the George Ranch Historical Park, this vintage inspired party is as unique as it is fun. The prevailing theme for the day? “Ad Vitam” – don’t worry I googled it for you all. It means “for life” in Latin. Adorbs, right? It made an appearance in everything from the ceremony decor to the wedding cake and we can’t seem to get enough. Join us in the gallery for a whole slue of fab details and a lot more fawning.
From the Bride… My husband and I have been friends since high school when I used to hook him up on dates with all of my best friends. I’m obviously not a trusted matchmaker. We have little in common besides our shared interest of Mid-Century Modern design which quickly helped establish a theme for our wedding–“late 50s/early 60s ranch wedding somehow including Steven’s love of rap”.
As for my dress, some of my favorite pictures of my maternal grandparents are those from their wedding day–my Grandma wore a tea-length dress and my Granddad looked sharp in his bowtie–I’ve just always loved that image of them. That made my dress an obvious choice–I knew it’d be tea-length but I obsessed over a Justin Alexander style (specifically one previously on SMP) which wasn’t at the shop the day we went to try on dresses. I’m pretty easy to sway though, my friends and our moms LOVED the Stephanie James dress once I had it on, and I was acting like a fool in the bridal shop over my excitement.
I think what initially set the stage for the wedding theme were our invitations, designed by Jennifer Blanco at Product Superior. Going with the whole MCM, rap, and cars–she created the most beautiful, unique suite of invites and ceremony program for us that fit our description perfectly. To save time and money, the main invite card was the only thing we chose to have letterpressed; printing was done by Workhorse Prints. I did the calligraphy-style addressing on the outer envelopes myself, which really only took a couple days and I preferred it to a more skilled calligrapher’s perfect hand.
Finding a venue was hard since we wanted something modern and historical here in Houston, but a friend suggested George Ranch Historical Park–a place we used to go on field trips–and once we saw it in person we were hooked. It wasn’t modern but at least it was historical and around in the 50s/60s so that kind of counts, right?
In choosing our photographers–that was easy. I’d pinned an old ad of the Nichols’ to my bulletin board long before we were engaged, and luckily they were available for our date so that was the first thing we booked. It was important to me to have creative, artistic photographs that we’d love and cherish forever. The Nichols gave us that and more and they’ll be our lifetime photographers as long as they’re in business. CJ Nichols also hand made our Ad Vitam neon which we hung on the tree at the ceremony, we wanted something simple and iconic so this was the only ceremony decor besides a rose-petal aisle and wooden hearts we made for those of us wearing heels to keep stable on the grass. We also booked Buzz & the Blue Cats as our reception band, 31FILMS for cinematography, Divisi Strings for the ceremony string quartet and our friend Vanarin Kuch at Tiny Boxwoods made us equal-sized bride and groom cakes. We are big supporters of marriage equality! Our local florist Karen Plumlee was in charge of the flowers and decor.
My advice to brides is to just trust your instincts and do whatever you want no matter how many people you think won’t get it or care or whatever, if it’s special to you, it’ll come through in the details and you’d be surprised how many people’s idea of a wedding will be changed for the better thanks to your unique approach.
Talk about beauty and brains, this Houston bride has it all and we are totally crushing on her ultra glam meets modern style. Hints of gold, monochrome flowers, bold jewelry, Chanel No 5…yep this wedding had us at hello… and then sucked us completely in with all the pretty images from Docuvitae. I swoon, you swoon, we ALL swoon for fabulously chic weddings and there is a whole lot more of this one in the gallery.
From the Bride… The design choices for our wedding celebration were inspired by our venues. For our ceremony, my husband and I chose St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, a historic building with incredible Gothic architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. Our reception was held at the Artista Restaurant, an elegant two-story edifice with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the downtown Houston skyline. While I loved the idea of an outdoor wedding, it was clearly not an option for Houston in August. To incorporate that outdoor feel, I transformed the restaurant balcony into an outdoor lounge space. Our wonderful florist, Melanie Tipton of Last Petal, brought my vision to life by accenting the lounge space and restaurant with simple, chic floral arrangements. Once our venues were selected, everything from our color scheme to our invitation style came into place.
After looking at numerous wedding invitation websites, we decided nothing in our budget really inspired us. My husband, a self-taught graphic designer, decided to take a stab at creating our wedding invitations. As a nod to our hometowns, my husband placed images of the Houston skyline and the Baton Rouge, LA Horace Wilkinson Bridge on the invitation suite. We then had the invitation suite letterpress printed. The end result was AMAZING! My husband went on to design all of the stationary elements of the wedding–programs, menu cards, signage, etc.
In addition to getting the design elements just right, we infused our wedding with elements that would reflect our love (we decided to write our own vows in addition to citing traditional ones), family (my uncle married us) and sentimentality (I surprised my husband with a traditional New Orleans Second-line band for our exit as he always wanted one for his wedding day). And when our wedding day came, we let everything else go and decided to bask in the blessedness of the day–we laughed, cried (okay, I cried) and danced the night away. There were definitely bumps (okay, mountains) along the road in the planning process, but when we sit back and look at the wonderful images captured by Rebecca of Docuvitae (whom I found right here on SMP and cannot say enough positive things about), they bring a smile to our faces every.single.time.
This little Houston wedding has COMFORT written all over it. Photographed by Julie Wilhite with casual meets cozy styling by Details Details, these nuptials started in a garden and ended in a bar. Now is that perfection or what? See all of the pretty details and the winner for best use of a wicker chair in the FULL wedding gallery.
From Julie Wilhite… Beth and Carl’s wedding was an intimate, relaxed day filled with family and friends. Starting with nervous preparations at the Hotel Derek, where the couple chose to see each other prior to the ceremony. Upon seeing each other, their nerves were instantly calmed and the energy between the two of them was excited and so in love. The ceremony took place in the gardens of Ouisie’s Table, followed by a late lunch with their close family. The party then continued at Carl’s bar in the eclectic Montrose area of Houston – Anvil. Beth and Carl were then surrounded by even more friends as they enjoyed yummy special cocktails, Canadian pierogis celebrating Carl’s Canadian background and Texas cupcakes. The truly special part of their celebration was watching how friends and family came together to make their day special and filled with beautiful details.
Beth and Carl were truly a unique couple – very down to earth, humble and incredibly in love. Beth described Carl as a hard-core, burly biker dude and upon meeting him, you realized he was really a big teddy bear. The couple spent most of their engagement separated by continents since Carl has been located in Dubai for work. Beth did most of their planning and ran all of the ideas and plans by Carl at night over skype. She wanted to make sure that this day was about the two of them and that it truly represented who they are. The couple now happily lives in Dubai.
Today’s beautiful bride, Lindsey, has two invaluable pieces of advice that you will read below. Number one~ spring for a stellar photographer and videographer. Their contribution to the day IS invaluable. And second ~ at the very least, hire a day of- or month of- coordinator. You will count your lucky stars that you did!
Lindsey and Cade, along with his daughter Annaliese, became a family in Houston last March. They will forever be grateful to the talents and expertise of the 31 Films team for capturing their moments of utter joy! Watch just a bit ~ their highlight film …
From the Bride, Lindsey… Everyone’s moment of “yes, this is the one… This is the person I am going to marry and spend my life with,” is well, varietal. Some know immediately, some know with time. Some don’t really know for sure until they are asked! What I knew for sure was that in the 9 months of dating Cade, he and the relationship in general were different. It was honest, loving, and felt grown-up. I, being only 5’ tall and continually mistaken for a 16-year-old at the age of 26, feeling grown-up sometimes seems silly. Thus when I met Cade, and began this adult relationship, I proceeded with caution. Perhaps I was waiting for things to fall apart or the games to start; but instead only love and respect grew. I feel a lot if it had to do with Cade’s 2-year-old daughter Annaliese. Children give you no other option but to be an adult really. My relationship with Cade began to run parallel with the relationship I was developing with Annie. I remember thinking that I loved Cade, very much, but I didn’t start to get nervous until it hit me that I loved Annie too. So when Cade asked me to be his wife I knew it was what I wanted more than anything and that it wasn’t necessarily about knowing that HE was the one, but that THEY were.
In preparation for the wedding day, the minister who married us asked that we write her a letter as to why we wanted to marry the other person with the intent that she would take an excerpt from each of our letters to share during the ceremony to make it special and more personal. I wanted to include a snippet that she included in our ceremony from my letter as to why I wanted to marry Cade.
“With Cade it is as if I have finally met someone that I can stand shoulder to shoulder with, though not literally, and look at the same things: goals, beliefs, life, similarly. My mother says Cade is the calm in the hurricane that can be me. Cade is an honorable, hard working, wonderful man. I always felt as though my father set the standard for me as to what a good man was, and Cade was the first to meet that standard. Cade is one of the kindest human beings I know, he loves his daughter and you can see it when he looks at her. I came around when Annie was 2 yrs old, and feel lucky to have come in to her life at the point where she would start to collect memories, and that I would be a part of some of her earliest ones. I knew I was in trouble not when I fell for Cade, but when I fell for Annie. I love them both so much. In short, I can see Cade and I grow old together. I see us laughing together, supporting each other, making plans together, gaining and losing together, and experiencing the span of human emotions, the good and bad; but together always… arm in arm and hand in hand.”
So it was that Cade and I were married March 20, 2010 on an unseasonably chilly day in Houston, TX. It was to date the best day of my life. To be surrounded by close family and friends as you commit yourself and your life to another that you love above all else, and they you, is an honor to experience and cherish. That said, I am indebted to 31films (cinematographers) and Clint Shuttlesworth (photographer), for because of them Cade and I may experience our wedding day again and again at our leisure.
OTHER DETAILS
Now for some other fun stuff!!! I wanted to go through some of my favorite moments from the highlight film and why… 1) The guys getting ready – I love this because, aside from having not been there, it is so much fun to see the boys get dressed! The little things like seeing that one of the groomsmen (Michael) was wearing stripped socks, or seeing the Best Man (Mike who flew in from China) with Cade, and how another groomsman (Whitney) brought wine… likely leading to my dear husband forgetting the rings and making a mad dash before the wedding. Ha! Boys…
2) Little flower girl, Annaliese – My flower girl was my now 5-year-old step-daughter Annaliese. She had so much fun getting ready with the girls, and was so excited the whole day that she could barely stop hopping, skipping, and running in circles. I was so proud of her!!! She did beautifully!!! I really love the shot after we recessed from the ceremony and you see her join Cade and I as we walk out… that’s my family, and I love them so.
3) The Wedding Chapel – Cade and I decided to see each other before the ceremony. After such a long engagement (18 months) “we made it.” I remember being so nervous and concerned that everyone was okay, and had everything they needed; but once I saw Cade I didn’t see anything else. Also, my parents renewed their wedding vows in that chapel 5 years ago, which was performed by the same Minister that married Cade and me. Love that!
4) The Cake!!!! – Cade is a chef and he made our cake. Yes, I know, seemed like a stress death-wish, but he did it and it was delicious!!! After having my first bite I couldn’t help squealing, “it’s SO good!!!”
5) Bride & Groom – I adore the shots of Cade and me together. Dancing, laughing, being silly squashing ourselves against windows… and getting in trouble for it. It so perfectly sums us up as a couple. We are silly and sentimental, love to dance, love Annaliese, love each other, and are best friends. I love how you are able to see that about us in the video.
A LITTLE ADVICE -Shell out for a stellar photographer and videographer. What they produce lasts a lifetime. -Add personal touches to your wedding!!! I work with the youth choir at the church and had them sing for the ceremony. It meant so much to us and to them. -If your budget allows, have wedding favors that relate to you as a couple. Cade is a chef, so we decided to have little peat pots with savory herb seeds in them for people to grow at home. -Don’t be afraid to be demanding about certain things. I knew exactly what I wanted and expected of the DJ i.e.: under no circumstances will the chicken dance be played!!! -A day-of or week-of coordinator is a must for your sanity. I didn’t do this, but really really really wish I had. -Have fun, and remember that the day is about you and the one you love above all else.
And thus we wrap up another fantastic week on The Little Black Book Blog! To send you off into the weekend with an oooohhhh and and ahhhhhh … we have one more wedding sent to us by the terrific team at 31FILMS! Seriously, there is no other word for this wedding except exquisite. From the bride and her amazing gown to the venue and the totally decadent decor … this wedding is e x q u i s i t e ! Janae and Kenny were married last November at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston. 31FILMS and Nhan Nguyen of Nhan Photography were there to capture the sensational brilliance! Our congratulations to the newlyweds and to all the vendors involved in creating this masterpiece!
“From the moment we got engaged, Jarrett and I knew we wanted a different, unique wedding. We both love modern design, but I’ve always had a thing for vintage charm. We found a fantastic wedding planner, Rebecca Hackl, in the Dallas area to work with us. With her guidance and expertise we nailed down a very original location in Houston, the Hotel ZaZa. And then, an 80’s band – Molly and the Ringwalds, set the tone for our posh affair. The planning process was such a joy because I was lucky enough to have an involved groom and a patient, detail-oriented planner! It took us a year to pull the whole thing together, but it was such an incredible ride. I remember telling Jarrett and family throughout the night, “I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am!” It was an absolute blast, by far the best party I’ve ever been to! And now we have the most amazing wedding film from 31 FILMS to watch year after year to relive our magical night!” -the happy bride
There are SO many options today when it comes to wedding cinematography. Aaron at 31 Filmssent us several films to take a look at ~ but we turned it around him. We asked him which one was HIS favorite! Here’s the wedding film that he chose …
Here’s a highlight for Lyndsey and Jarrett. It was such a unique event. The whole wedding party and their guests were a blast, the wedding was beautiful, and the 80’s style party was so fun! They chose the Vintage Film Upgrade option, where we shot in HD as well as 8mm vintage film throughout the day and spliced them together in the edit. The final product is very unique to their individual styles.
Before we start the weddings today, we wanted to give you a quick look at a really fun bridal shoot from Stacy Reeves. She and her bride, Leah, started out the day just driving around Leah’s neighborhood in The Woodlands, Texas, and stopping along the way at any interesting spots that they happened upon …
And then … they decided to add a little bit of a twist to the day. Stacy pulled out some of her favorite headpieces and accessories that she’s collected through the years and Leah was more than up to the challenge!
What is yellow, grey and modern all over? Why Rachel and Eric’s Houston wedding of course and it is about as cute as they come. Shot by Paperdolls Photography, this affair was bright and shiny despite the clouds over head and the Grove at Discovery Green Park proved to be the perfect venue for that modern feel. The bridesmaids donned yellow sweaters and a few of the groomsmen did as well. Fab knitwear + a wedding= a match made in heaven. Want to see more of this happy, happy day? I hear the gallery calling your name.
We are a modern couple so we knew the moment we started planning that we wanted a modern wedding. The only problem was finding a modern venue. Houston has gorgeous country clubs and venues but not quite what we had in mind. Then, we found the Grove at Discovery Green Park and it was perfect! Discovery Green is a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston. The trees, lakes and sculptures throughout are stunning. The Grove is a restaurant located within the park and its modern architecture and style was exactly what we wanted for our wedding. Needless to say, we were thrilled to have a venue and began the planning.
My engagement ring, an asscher cut, was my first inspiration. I fell in love with the shape so I knew I wanted to include octagons in some of the details and I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to use it in so much. My favorite pieces were the cake and my sash, which was a vintage rhinestone appliqué that my mom hand stitched to a satin sash. The sash inspired me to do other diy projects, so I made my bridesmaids’ necklaces. I wanted a chunky, romantic statement necklace and they turned out to be exactly that. The girls looked fabulous in their gray J Crew dresses, yellow Express cardigans and necklaces designed and handmade by me.
Our wedding day came and so did the rain, which made it a hectic day with lots of last minute changes. The ceremony originally was planned for outside underneath a grand oak tree but Mother Nature had other plans. We quickly had to spring plan B into action and with the help of my great vendors and lovely friends, we pulled it off. Our ceremony was on the rooftop of the Grove and was nothing short of absolutely perfect!
After the ceremony, the guests moved to the dining room, which included my favorite details. I loved the lampshades on the tall floral arrangements, especially the gray satin ribbon that my bridal party and I added so they would pop just a little more. And, my absolute favorite detail was the dessert table that included my cake, French macaroons, white chocolate truffles, pretzels, almonds, and candy bars. I love Amy Atlas’ dessert tables so we recreated a table inspired by her. The desserts looked delectable and tasted delicious! Guests filled pastry boxes with all these yummies for the take away. At the end of the night, our guests sent us off with sparklers into a vintage car owned by my fiancé’s step dad. The groomsmen had decorated it with cans and ribbons and a fabulous “just married” signed designed by a good friend. The night was filled with laughter and tears, dancing and good times. Our day was so incredibly special, not only because of all the great details but because of the love from family and friends!
Laura Burlton with D. Jones Photography in Houston sent us two really fabulous weddings that she shot, and it was such a toss-up which one to start with! Their styles are so different. Their locations are so different. But they both stand testament to the fact that with love ~ laughter ~ friends & family ~ and a great photographer, your wedding day will be nothing short of fantastic!
from Laura …
Katie & Blake’s wedding was held at the Safari Texas Ranch in Sugar Land, Texas. The facility has many different venues to choose from and they chose the rustic simplicity of the lodge there. It had a great big veranda out back that they held the ceremony on and then the reception was inside the lodge afterwards. The grounds of the Safari Ranch have some livestock and exotic animals on site. There were goats and deer and I have heard there is a giraffe, although we did not see it. The most visible were the peacocks running free along the grounds. They provided much comic relief during the ceremony with their mating calls!
Katie’s invitations and wedding paper pieces were designed by her very talented sister, Courtney Albright.
I love this shot with the bridal party in the background!
Laura really captured the spirit of this vintage-styled and lively Texas party! Congratulations Katie & Blake!!
We received today’s featured wedding from one of Abby’s favorite letterpress invitation designer’s in our Little Black Book, Bella Figura. Their work is unbelievably beautiful and they pride themselves on their environmentally friendly processes. Cynthia sent us images from Ashley and Christian’s November wedding last fall for which they designed the gorgeous letterpress invitations …
From Cynthia …
Ashley and her husband, Christian, had such a gorgeous wedding in Houston this past November and put so much love and thought into every last detail that I just had to share. The bride worked with Monogram Inc. in NYC to design a gorgeous monogram that they used throughout their wedding including on the letterpress invitations we designed and printed. Their ceremony was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Houston with the reception following at The Junior League of Houston.
Ashley wore a beautiful French lace dress by Amsale, purchased at Louise Blum Bridal Salon, a gorgeous little bolero and the prettiest Kate Spade shoes, while Christian wore his own classic black tuxedo. {ps…Abby got her gown at Louise Blum’s as well … Melody became our new best friend!}
After watching an Oscar de la Renta fashion show last fall, Ashley designed her bridesmaids’ dresses based on a dress she fell in love with, working with Arlene Gamble in Houston to make her vision a reality. The beautiful rich deep purple of the bridesmaid dresses was carried throughout the event, paired with gorgeous reds and greens to create a really festive feel as a way to kick off the holiday season.
All of the lovely photos are credited to their photographer, Tanja Lippert Photography{Little Black Book Photographer} out of San Jose, CA and I just love how blissfully happy they both look in all of their photos. It has been such a pleasure for me to flip through all of their images!
Ashley and Christian wanted to create a really warm and inviting atmosphere, combining old world elegance with modern sophistication. No stone went unturned, from coordinated paper products with a custom wedding monogram to unique wedding favors, the bride and groom paid special attention to every small detail.
Rich colored flowers and seasonal red berries filled the room, guests sipped champagne and lined up at the potato martini bar.
Guests danced the night away to the tunes from the Grady Gaines Band. Favors were fabulous chili mix packets.
Everyone enjoyed both a delicious chocolate peanut butter groom’s cake and a white almond wedding cake.
The cakes were made by Little Black Book Vendor Susie’s Cakes & Confections … both of Abby’s sisters’ wedding cakes were created by Susie! You should SEE the incredibly beautiful cake galleryon her website. And to say her flavors are fantastic is a massive understatement!
Ashley and Christian departed under a spray of sparklers!
Congratulations Ashley & Christian! And thank-you Cyd for sending us these beautiful examples of the stunning invitations your so, so, so talented team creates at Bella Figura!
Additional Vendor Credits: Save-the-Date Cards, Programs, Welcome Packets, Thank You Cards by PH Designs (Printing) ~ Calligraphy by Blooming Quill ~ Flowers by Gaye Jackson Price, Houston & Dallas, Texas
Abby and I are hugeWortham Theatre fans! There was a time in the not so distant past, that Broadway musicals, Houston Ballet and The Grand Opera had an enormous impact on our lives. Houston’s theatre arts district is an inspiration in and of itself! So when we received these photos from Jeanie and Chris’ wedding at the Wortham Theatre … well, we were thrilled!
With some tremendous help from Holly at Stems by Holly, Jeanie and Chris carried out their Cherry Blossom-inspired theme from beginning to end!
Lights … Cameras … Action … !
More lights … more cameras … and so much more action ……. the Wortham Theatre light show embraced the cherry blossom theme.
And after all of the festivities … the final curtain call … for Jeanie and Chris.
A perfectly romantic evening at the Wortham Theatre in downtown Houston! Simply fun!
Thank you, Hollyfor being a part of our Little Black Book team and for sharing your talents with us and our readers. As you move on to new ventures, we at Style Me Pretty wish you all the best!! Don’t be a stranger!
Thank you to Laura Kay Photography for the great shots from Jeanie and Chris’ wedding and celebration! The invites and programs were done by PH Designs. That gorgeous cake was made by Cakes by Macauley, and event coordination was by Two Be Wed.
Joe Simonsent us this Super 8 film of Brianna & Jon’s fun, fun … wedding and celebration. They didn’t have a photographer, so it was up to Joe to preserve all of the great memories of the day!
from Joe …
“Brianna + Jon contacted me after I did Brianna’s sisters wedding. They wanted something fun and different to document their wedding. I suggested that we shoot it with vintage super 8mm film, and they agreed that would be perfect! She said her wedding was going to be different and it was! It took place at her parents house on beautiful Lake Conroe just outside of Houston Texas. They wanted to have a wedding that was simple and beautiful but where they could cut loose and have fun with all their friends. The Ceremony was just for a small group of their family and Jon’s brother was the officiant. After the lake backdrop ceremony the other guests arrived for the reception party. But at this day-time reception, fun was the name of the game! The slip ‘n slide was set up and people started cutting loose. Everyone was hitting the slide, playing football or floating in a tube on the lake, it was a great time. To finish it all off they had a great dinner followed by sunset cocktails. It was one of the most unique and fun weddings I’ve ever shot. Brianna and Jon were so great to work with and gave us total control over the production of the film. Check out the result of their vintage super 8mm wedding trailer!”
Joe Simon Productionsis based in Austin but travels world-wide. We’ll be showing you another style of wedding cinematography from Joe in a couple of days, so be sure and check back!
We … at SMP… are determined to make converts out of ALL of our readers and convince you that a wedding video is no longer optional!
Today’s featured Little Black Book member D. Jones Photography is located in Houston, but accepts commissions throughout Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New York, Mexico and Europe. David and Laura sent us some absolutely beautiful images from a fabulous wedding outside of White Hall, Texas.
Katherine and Ian’s countryside ceremony was in a lovely grove of trees. After the ceremony, family and guests enjoyed lawn games, drinks, dinner and dancing late into the evening …
Ian is in the British Navy. He and Katherine currently reside in France.
The totally beautiful flowers that highlighted the entire day were provided Little Black Book member, Melanie at The Last Petal.
Thanks so much to Laura Burlton and David Jones for sending us today’s great wedding. For all Style Me Pretty fans, I do have to set the record straight, though. Not all Texans can ride a horse. Really. And many of us have never played horseshoes either! But we do all know a lovely wedding when we see it!
I have to tell you … we do feature a lot of outdoor weddings on SMP and the Little Black Book Blog. But if you’re from Texas (as I am …) this may be the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen! Even if you’re not from Texas, but you love the great outdoors, you’re going to seriously love this wedding! The details that went into planning this entire day are extraordinary, and the sheer scope of the venue is unbelievable. It could be that I’m just a bit biased towards Texas weddings and that D.Jones Photography is a fabulous Houston-based studio, but I don’t think so! When Laura Burlton sent us this wedding, I really couldn’t stop smiling!
The ceremony and reception were held at a private farm in White Hall,Texas. The bride, Katherine, rode to the ceremony on horseback to meet her groom, Ian, in a grove of trees covered in beautiful flowers. She was led in by two men playing bagpipes (family friends who owned the farm).
These beautiful, beautiful, beautiful flowers were designed by Little Black Book member, Melanie Tipton of the Last Petal Floral Studio!
We have lots more photos coming from David and Laura, so do check back in a bit …
We stumbled across Sweet Couture in Houston a few months back and jumped at the chance to add this adorable company to our Little Black Book. Holley Brown crafts the most beautiful candy buffets and custom favors a girl could ever want…chic little set-ups that simply make your guests smile. If you are thinking about doing a candy buffet, definitely check out Sweet Couture for some serious inspiration!
