Texas Weddings

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]A timeless fall color palette of ivory, champagne, beige, and black, and with floral accents in blush, mauve, and plum.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]This wedding design was refined & elegant in nature, highlighting rich fall tones against a neutral backdrop. Black and white accents added a formal, slightly glam feel to the day.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the bride: “Between my husband and I – I am the planner, I’m always making the reservations and thinking ahead. So Preston really wanted to be the one to surprise me for our proposal. At the time, my sister was pregnant and told us she was booking a maternity session with a photographer and wanted us to join them for the last bit for some family photos. I didn’t think much of it. On the same weekend as the photos, Preston claimed he had to go on a work hunting trip with his customers and was going to try to make it back Sunday evening for pictures, but couldn’t promise he would make it. I kept thinking this guy could be my fiancé soon and he couldn’t even make our family photos a priority? When the photos rolled around he ‘conveniently’ wouldn’t be making it back. I arrived at the photography location, McGovern Centennial Gardens, to meet my sister and her husband with my parents, only to find Preston waiting on me. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He had a photographer to capture the whole moment and then we celebrated with our closest friends and family with a surprise party.”[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]From the bride: “Before even getting engaged I had been following Anne Barge and fell in love with her wedding gowns! I couldn’t wait for my time to be a bride and to try them on, and even had a wedding board with print outs of her specific designs. My exact dress, “The Dream Weaver”, was one of the ones I printed and was actually the first dress I tried on. I think my my mom, my MIL and my maid of honors, all knew it would be the one but I didn’t want too many opinions so quickly, and to commit after only trying on one dress. But after trying on some other dresses, I quickly came back to the first as being ‘the one!’

The a-line dress is simple but the beaded floral embossed jacquard fabric adds so much, and it was the silhouette to be timeless with flare and glam. Twirling in a gown like this gives you the bridal feeling like no other, and even sparkled a bit when light hit the beading. I ended up adding five feet of train for a dramatic aisle moment, as well as an asymmetrical bow that I was obsessed with. The bow was a fun touch that made the dress my own.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]From the bride: “I am one of those girls who had been dreaming about my wedding for a long time. My mom had black bridesmaids dresses when she got married, and the one thing that never changed about my wedding vision growing up was having black bridesmaids dresses. I have always loved wearing the color black and find it to be sleek and flattering on everybody, and knew it would be the perfect fancy, formal touch. My maid of honors and I tried on multiple Amsale dresses but landed on their crepe material with the strapless neck, knowing it would be similar but not identical to my strapless neck wedding gown.”[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]The food and beverage experience started outside under the sailcloth tent, where a 360 bar was adorned with florals and fabric bar signs, and surrounded by hanging flowers and greenery from the tent poles. This was a favorite detail for the planning team, as it created a gorgeous, central focal point, but was equally functional for guests to grab one of the signature drinks — a French 75 and margarita on the rocks. Guests were also greeted with a glass of champagne as they entered the tent, and many mix and mingled with a glass of wine or beer in hand.
The catering experience from Behind the Bash was top-notch, treating guests to passed hors d’oeuvres at cocktail hour, and a decadent buffet experience in the reception space. This caterer is known for their crafted flavors and perfectly cooked meats, which Erica & Preston’s guests got to experience and enjoy.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]From the planner: Everything about Erica & Preston’s florals and decor embodied an elegant and refined design, while embracing a fresh take on a fall color palette. The lush florals by Petal & Stem by Jen adorned just about every inch of the venue. The bride especially loved her bridal bouquet (we did too!) which was petite in size but bursting with texture and tones. These same ivory, mauve, blush pink, sand, and plum tones were incorporated into other floral moments, big and small — like the statement floral swag that climbed up the cross and the petite flower frog arrangements that had the most beautiful tulips on display. A favorite focal point was easily the hanging chandelier over the dance floor. From first dances, to toasts, to dancing the night away, these statement florals perfectly centered the room. We also loved the mix of neutral yet textural linens that adorned tables. Everything from velvet to shantung to lace was incorporated, and each of these different textures provided richness and depth that complimented the fall season.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The statement, six-tier, white wedding cake featured a number of special details. While some tiers were smooth, most incorporated subtle texture and interest like the couple’s wedding crest on one tier, and the jacquard detailing from the bride’s wedding dress on other tiers. The classic white cake was further accentuated by dainty floral arrangements surrounding the cake stand, and placed on neutral lace linen from Nuage Designs.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]From the bride: “Planning a wedding is realizing this might be your one and only time to have all your favorite people in one place. We wanted our ceremony to be meaningful and intimate, prioritizing it as a time to worship together as a couple becoming one. We wanted our guest to know Jesus was the center of our relationship and having a room full of people signing Kari Jobe’s “The Blessing” over us was a moment I will never forget. It felt like a glimpse of heaven.”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]For both the bride and groom, the Louisiana State University stadium cake was a favorite detail from their wedding day. While the cake was a nod to the groom’s alma mater, the choice had additional significance to the couple as their teams, LSU and Alabama, were playing each other on their wedding day. They will always cherish having all of their college friends in one place singing their school songs while the game was playing![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The invitation suite and paper goods were an all-time favorite detail for the bride. Erica loved developing this suite with Jo’s Paper Kitchen, which was very traditional and formal in feel, but added visual interest through gold foil accents and custom details like the venue illustration. This design was further built upon in all of the day of goods, which including everything from ceremony programs and menus, to large items like the seating chart and welcome signage. As a bride who keeps every invitation and place card she has ever received, she wanted her own paper goods to be keepsake-worthy. It was also important to Erica that her family and friends felt the intentionality in all of the paper good choices, and that she and Preston honored their guests with personal touches. This was achieved by listing out the names of those involved in the ceremony in the program, and having assigned seats with gorgeous place cards for each guest. As Erica says, “It’s expensive to host a wedding and be in a wedding, so each name was important to me. I wanted our guests to know they were invited with a purpose.”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Get the confetti! As the bride says, “life is truly a party and it is what you make it. Confetti makes everything more fun. I highly recommend singing and dancing to your favorite songs with confetti poppers to end your wedding night!”[/field]
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Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Cinematography: 31FILMS | Event Planning: LNC Weddings + Events | Floral Design: Petal & Stem By Jen | Wedding Dress: Ivory Bridal Atelier | Cake: Cakes by Gina | Invitations: Jo's Paper Kitchen | Catering: Behind The Bash | Makeup Artist: Sunkissed And Made Up | DJ: Smither Productions | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Wedding Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Bar Rental: Provision Events Texas | Chargers: Eb Inc Events | Cold Sparks: Roar Over Texas | Dance Floor: Mikes Dance Floors | Flat Lay Styling: Jade Magnolia | Getaway Car: Monarch British Limousines | Hair Artist: The Lovely Hair Class | Runners: BBJ La Tavola | Table Linens: Nuage Designs | Table Linens: House Of Hough

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

The wedding colors were pale blush, ivory, and taupe with natural greenery accents.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Romantic, elegant, and timeless — with all of the custom details![/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]

From the bride… My sweet girlfriends texted me to plan for a girl’s brunch date for an upcoming Saturday. What I didn’t know was that “brunch” would actually be the first day of forever with my husband. Saturday morning came along, and one of my friends came to pick me up at my house. She made sure I was dressed perfectly by telling me we were “dressing up for brunch.” Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to a beautiful garden where I saw my husband standing and waiting for me with roses in hand. At that moment I knew that it was happening!! Blake helped me out of the car and led me to a spot that he had picked out by a fountain. There, he pulled out seven letters he had written each day leading up to the proposal followed by a handwritten letter he wrote me which ended with him down on one knee. Of course, I was beaming with joy and quickly answered yes! Blake and I’s families came running out of some nearby bushes to congratulate us on our new engagement! After a little photo shoot with the photographer that Blake hired, we headed to my parents’ house on Lake Conroe where all of our friends and family were waiting to celebrate the future Browns! The rest of the weekend was full of so much joy and laughter with the people we love the most!

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

From the bride… The way I found my wedding gown is actually a really funny story! I was scrolling through Tik Tok one day and saw this video of this beautiful A-line lace dress at a wedding boutique up north somewhere. I immediately sent it to my sister who was my Maid of Honor, who also was in complete love with this dress. I began to research the designer and find out who carried that designer here in Houston. With my luck, that designer was only found at Brickhouse Bridal in The Woodlands, Texas which ironically was the first wedding boutique that I would be going to that weekend! Come Saturday, we walked into Brickhouse Bridal and I told them I wanted to try on this dress first and foremost! The moment that I put that dress on I had no doubt it was the one! I felt truly so beautiful in it and never wanted to take it off! I loved the uniqueness of the dress from the lace corset, the hint of sparkle in the tule that glistening in the sunlight, the intricate beading work, and let’s not forget about the ten foot long train! I tried on many dresses after that first one, but no other dress came even close to it! On wedding day, I added on a twelve foot long veil along with dainty pearl earrings and a beautiful diamond bracelet from my husband.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

The bridesmaids were all dressed in Show Me Your Mumu‘s signature taupe shade, ‘Show Me The Ring.’ Each bridesmaid got their choice of silhouette in a chiffon fabric, while the Maid of Honor wore a satin dress in the same hue. We love how this cool-toned neutral paired with the rest of the wedding design (especially the florals!) It reads neutral while providing depth and texture.

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

City View Catering created a masterful guest experience through their delectable stations meal and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour. Guests started by enjoying bruschetta, ceviche shooters, and par and brie bites under the cocktail hour tent. Inside, they started by enjoying a plated winter salad and then were treated to the multiple food stations that included a Chicken Wellington tower and a spiced pork tenderloin carving station, alongside scalloped potatoes and julienne vegetables. The bar experience was no less stellar than the food, featuring the couple’s signature cocktails which were a margarita on the rocks and a jack and coke. The drinks were dressed up with custom drink stirrers & cocktail napkins. Beyond that, guests were treated to a full-service bar.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Madi & Blake’s wedding day was all-things timeless and romantic from a floral & design perspective. Flora + Fauna beautifully brought Madi’s ivory & blush tone dreams to life through the refined floral elements that were present on the wedding day. Some of our favorite components were the lush floral meadows that appeared in the ceremony space, the cocktail hour tent, and the stage facades in the reception. The bridal bouquet was refined in shape and featured the most beautiful mixture of garden roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus, and other floral varieties. In the reception space, a mix of lush floral runners, elevated arrangements, and bud vase clusters created variety and dimension. We love the timelessness of the vessels that were used for both the florals and candles alike! Another design detail we loved was the linen selections — which were all neutral in color but featured a wide array of fabrics and tonal patterns that elevated the tablescape. BBJ La Tavola never disappoints with its curated selection. But of all of the design elements, our very favorite just might have to be the many custom details that were artfully created by Yellow Rose Calligraphy. The invitation suite was a treat to style and was made up of gorgeous calligraphy script, a tonal floral pattern, and a watercolor image of Arrowhead Hill. The balance of blush and grey tones took it from being an all-white suite to one that had more depth and dimension. In the day-of goods, those custom elements were expanded upon and included a gorgeous hand-calligraphy seating chart, stir sticks with watercolor portraits of Madi & Blake’s dogs, a custom dance floor vinyl, and thank you notes at each guest’s seat.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Cakes by Gina created an absolute masterpiece of a bridal cake (and groom’s cake, too for that matter!) The bridal cake was an all-white cake with tonal floral detailing that tied in with not only the pattern on Madi’s dress but also the tonal floral pattern on the envelope liner. The cake was finished off with cascading fresh florals to bring in some blush and green tones. The groom’s cake incorporated all of Blake’s favorite things on an edible Yeti cooler, complete with Lonestar beer poking out the top of it. It was a work of art and almost too cool to eat — but that didn’t stop guests from enjoying the delicious cake inside!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

From the bride… Other than getting to marry the absolute love of my life, my two favorite details from our wedding day were our first dance and our exit! Our first dance was to “Sweet Symphony by Joy Oladokun and Chris Stapleton.” Halfway through our first dance, the DJ invited both of our parents onto the dance floor to join us. This was such a special moment for my husband and I getting to share our first dance as a married couple with the two married couples we look up to most.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

From the Bride… My next favorite memory was our exit! For about two years leading up to our wedding, my husband restored his first car, a CJ-7 Jeep. It was the sweetest time watching my husband put so much of his time and effort into restoring something so precious to him and then being able to drive away in it at the end of our wedding day. From the planner… The Jeep was a perfect photo-op spot for couple portraits, wedding party portraits, and even the photos that guests wanted to snap! It was dressed up with some florals to tie into the day-of design and was such a meaningful detail to honor the groom. Plus, it made for an epic exit with cold sparks at the end of the night!

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

From the planner… the cocktail hour tent design was a favorite detail of ours — and ended up being a favorite detail of Madi’s too! We created a layout that balanced highboy tables with soft seating through both lounge sets and farmhouse tables. The mirror seating chart was the main focal point as guests entered the space and was finished off with a small ottoman and lush florals. Eyes were drawn up with the placement of the greenery chandeliers around the tent poles and the bistro lighting strung under the tent. We love how the intentional placement of the lounge sets allowed guests to gather in a more casual way, and the placement of the bar encouraged guests to move through the space. The sweeping views of the venue were the cherry on top, and the result was a comfortable, memorable gathering space for guests to mingle.

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Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Videography: Levi Hanusch | Floral Design: Flora and Fauna | Cake: Cakes by Gina | Invitations: Yellow Rose Calligraphy | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Catering: City View Catering | DJ: J A Entertainment | Groomsmen's Attire: Generation Tux | Wedding Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Audio Guestbook: At The Beep | Beauty: Kiss And Makeup | Bridal Attire: Brickhouse Bridal | Dance Floor: Laced Vinyl Shoppe | Dinnerware: Premiere Events | Ice Cream: Madison Brown | Ice Cream Cart: Cypress Photo Camper | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Lounge Furniture: Love Birds Vintage Rental | Planning & Design: LNC Weddings + Events

Pastel colors and pretty little details have our hearts going pitter patter for this Texas wedding.  LNC Weddings + Events planned and designed a day that delights, and Flora + Fauna filled it with bright and beautiful blooms.  Every magical moment is artfully captured in photography by Courtney Leigh Photography, visit the full gallery for a closer look.

This November wedding took a pastel color palette and adapted it through rich colors and textures to be the perfect Texas fall wedding. Arrowhead Hill provided the perfect backdrop for the whimsical and romantic design, and LNC Weddings + Events seamlessly lead the design direction and planning for this day. From the lush pastel florals by Flora + Fauna to the stunning custom details by Yellow Rose Calligraphy, and every detail in between, this wedding day was brimming with beauty. All artfully captured by Courtney Leigh Photography, this vendor team got to take this couples’ vision and run with it in the very best way!

From LNC Weddings + Events…. Part of what made the process special in working so closely with the bride, Avery, was that she really allowed her design vision to evolve organically. When we began planning together just over a year before the big day, she was inspired by pastel tones of primarily pinks and blues, knew that floral design was going to be an important visual component, and wanted her day to feel romantic, dreamy, and timeless. As we began to curate her vendor team, and Avery was able to get a feel for all that her incredible vendors were capable of, that design vision began to expand and shift. We introduced lilac tones into the design, as well as more neutral taupe tones through supporting elements. I also got to share my love of linens with her, encouraging her to embrace rich textures and subtle pattern, which provided depth in color and felt true to the time of year. Paper goods and signage became an important visual component to Avery as well, and Yellow Rose Calligraphy created an invitation suite that was beyond our wildest dreams. Working with her was the catalyst for imagining the event branding in new ways, like in developing the wedding crest into a wallpaper for the seating chart, and in creating a colorful floral border for the dance floor. We had so much fun imagining the littlest details too. From the scroll place cards at the head table, to the sign on the back of the getaway car (a vintage Cadillac that was believed to be owned by Elvis!) and even the table numbers that were so good they deserve their own flat lay! It was special to lead this planning process, to help this vision take shape, and then to execute it all on Avery and Nick’s wedding day!

From the bride … my favorite memory from our wedding day was being out on the dance floor with all our friends and family! Nick and I have always enjoyed being on the dance floor at any event we go to — we knew that was the exact way we wanted to spend our wedding night! Having an amazing band was important to us, and The Pictures Band blew all of our expectations out of the water. They brought AMAZING energy! All our guests went crazy over the synchronized dancing horn players, the drummer’s party glasses, and the just phenomenal vocals. They played all the right songs and kept us out on the dance floor (and Nick and I on stage to sing our favorite songs) all night long. I wanted my attire to embody the party atmosphere too, so I changed into a reception dress. I went from my big, lace, ballgown to a sparkly Bronx & Banco mini dress with feathers. It was everything I could have imagined. It was FUN and I felt great in it. I knew I would be able to dance all night long! There were so many design elements and details that were important to me throughout the process as well. One of my favorite design elements were my bridesmaid’s dresses. I knew I wanted to keep it affordable for my girls, so I immediately started looking at Birdy Grey for options. I fell in love with their beautiful floral Style Me Pretty Collection! I put half of my girls in the floral SMP & the other half in Dusty Rose. They complimented each other perfectly and it gave so much texture to the design. When it came to my wedding gown — I knew I wanted to feel bridal. I only tried on about 8 gowns before finding the one. I wanted to stick with the theme I had in mind for our wedding. Romantic. Flirty. Timeless. I picked a full ball gown with a square neck with lace, floral appliqué, and a subtle sparkle to tie it all together. I truly felt like me and it matched my vision that I had for the day. On the topic of day-of design elements, we really wanted to incorporate color through our florals. We were thinking of Bridgerton-esque florals — and Flora + Fauna helped us create that perfectly romantic look, starting with the ceremony arbor. With that being the first thing our guests were going to see as they entered into the chapel, it certainly made a statement. Fall foliage was brought into some of the more organic elements of the florals, like the meadow pieces in the ceremony space as well as the meadows that framed the cake. I loved the romantic table scape design which was a layered mix of lush compote arrangements, etched glass bud vases, and slate blue taper candles. It all felt so intimate and romantic, and really matched the flirty and timeless vibe. Selecting Arrowhead Hill as our venue was also a huge part of the planning process. Nick and I weren’t tied to a specific region in Texas while looking for a wedding venue, so we had a lot of options. We knew that Montgomery, Texas was booming with venues and is conveniently located in between Houston & College Station (which was where we met & went to undergrad at Texas A&M.) When we decided to tour Arrowhead Hill, they had everything we could have imagined. Not only lots of green land, a beautiful chapel, sail-cloth tent, and reception hall… But also on-site accommodations for up to 65 people. That sold us. We could have the entire wedding party & immediate family all in one place for the entire weekend. No having to worry about getting people to and from a hotel, or about when you were going to see family, or hoping that everyone would be on time. And to make it all even easier, we hosted the rehearsal dinner on the property too. It made for a lovely wedding weekend and created a true getaway experience for our guests! Above all, we wanted our wedding day to feel like us. We didn’t want the process of planning one of the best days of our life to be this stressful task. Hiring Lexie and trusting her with so much made all the difference. We were able to enjoy the engagement season of life and really take it in. We wanted to make sure our guests had a seamless experience too, and on our wedding day, we were actually able to breathe and enjoy the happiest day of our lives!

Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Cinematography: Leslie Margarita Films | Event Planning: LNC Weddings + Events | Event Planning & Design: LNC Weddings + Events | Floral Design: Flora and Fauna | Wedding Dress: Bridal Boutique Of Lewisville | Cake: Bavarian Cakery | Invitations: Yellow Rose Calligraphy | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Birdy Grey | Catering: Dine Catering and Events | Band: The Pictures | Wedding Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Beauty: Butter Artistry | Dance Floor: Laced Vinyl Shoppe | Flat Lay Styling: Jade Magnolia | Getaway Car: Royal Coach Classic Limo | Linens: Premiere Events | Live Wedding Painter: A.Curtis Creations | Seating Chart Backdrop: Exquisite Details by Raquel | Seating Chart Vinyl: Elevated AV Productions

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This insanely gorgeous Texas wedding justifies our love for the iconic Arrowhead Hill. Mikaela and Charles celebrated their love just as they should — in a beautifully curated setting, surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Alyssa Meeks Events went above and beyond to produce a timeless design we won’t soon forget. Every moment was filled with exceptional beauty thanks to the flower-forward work of Maxit Flower Design. If you’re a summer bride-to-be, this wedding is for you! There’s so much to love about this fairytale day in the full gallery, artistically captured by Courtney Leigh Photography!

From Courtney Leigh Photography… From custom bars, custom signature cocktails named after the couple’s fur babies, a fully restored (by the bride’s father) Bronco as the get-away car that doubled as a photo-op throughout the wedding day, to timeless florals and details, to fine dining and nods to the family’s business – this wedding was one we will never forget! Mikaela and Charles were beaming with joy all day long and we can’t help but swoon over the linens, blooms and modern yet timeless design of their wedding day.

From the Bride… Charles and I really wanted our wedding weekend to be something our guests would always remember. We wanted each guest to come into the doors feeling welcomed and loved. I also wanted every detail to be well thought out and have a purpose. We never formally decided on colors but overtime realized that it turned out to be neutrals and whites with a pop of a beautiful light blue.

We knew that we wanted our wedding to be a weekend long experience for our wedding party, instead of just a day, which is why we were so excited to have our wedding at Arrowhead Hill (along with a million other reasons, including the family who owns it being the sweetest people, and yes we love family owned businesses); Arrowhead has the cutest cottages on the property for everyone to stay at during the weekend. We greeted each guest with a beautiful, detailed welcome box that incorporated our wedding colors, custom monogram and designs, along with our favorite sweets: chocolate chip cookies, Homemade Texas Trail-Mix, Homemade Popcorn, and a light blue emergency kit packed with all the necessities. Staying on the property allowed Charles, our dads, and his groomsmen to go skeet-shooting the day of the wedding while the girls were getting ready – it was the perfect activity for them!

There were a few special details that we knew we wanted to incorporate into our big day: our precious puppies, Honey & Ivory (White Lab and Golden Retriever), and my family’s business that my parents started from the ground up that has been in our life ever since I can remember: Aquamarine Pools. We created “The Honey & Ivory” cocktail, which was a blend of Honey, Lemonade and Whiskey topped with a Honey Stick Stirrer and the “The Aquapools” cocktail which was a Blue Patron Margarita, with a blue salt rim, topped with a custom Aquapools logo stirrer stick. We also made napkins with custom pictures of Honey & Ivory in watercolors. Charles and I met at Texas A&M so we knew he had to make an Aggie Grooms cake – Cakes by Gina went above and beyond for both of our cakes! My mom played in the worship band at our church growing up; needless to say, she loves music. She was so excited when it came to both of us choosing our band: Drywater Band. They did an amazing job, and even learned our First Dance Song “Touching Heaven” for Charles and I (we heard this song for the first time during a NeedtoBreathe and JohnnySwim concert near the same location he ended up proposing at just a year later). Drywater also learned two songs we wanted sung at our ceremony. One of the songs was “The Blessing” during communion; the words are so powerful and they learned it perfectly. This has been our prayer over the future of our family. It really made the ceremony personal and emotional!

A few things detail wise that I was most excited about was the dance floor, the escort wall, and the food. I had originally wanted a black and white checkered dance floor until our wedding planner, Alyssa, found a BLUE and white checkered dance floor – this was the most beautiful and exciting yes! Our escort wall was made of acrylic and placed in front of Arrowhead’s beautiful property so you could watch the sunset through the acrylic walls under the tent. Wolfgang Puck exceeded all expectations when it came to our catering. They made every detail so perfect and even went above and beyond when it came to customizing our final plates. The Hors d’Oeuvres consisted of Spago’s Signature Spicy Tuna Tartare in a Sesame Miso Cone (my favorite), Wagyu Carpaccio, Mini Beef Wellingtons, their famous Chicken Pot Pies and Vegetable Spring Rolls. The main dish consisted of a Roasted Filet and Main Crab Cake – it was perfect.

Finally, my dad allowed us to use his remodeled Bronco that he had been working on for a few years as our getaway car – this was my favorite car of his. He was so excited and made sure it was spotless and ready for the wedding weekend. It was so fun watching the guests take pictures in front of it upon their arrival as it was parked right in front of the chapel. Alyssa had the wonderful idea of decorating it with all the beautiful florals and a wreath that Maria from Maxit Flower Design hand crafted.

I am so thankful for my parents, Alyssa (our wedding planner), and every single vendor who made sure every detail came to life perfectly!

Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Videography: The Crakes | Event Planning: Alyssa Meeks Events | Floral Design: Maxit Flower Design | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Invitations: Alyssa Meeks Events | Ceremony Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Reception Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering | Hair and Makeup: Etoilly Artistry | Band: The Drywater Band | Film Lab: Goodman Film Lab | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Aztec Events | Rentals: Blooming Gallery Scott Konitzer | Rentals: Mikes Dance Floors

Today, we introduce you to the sweetest couple (we’re serious, read their engagement story!) with a romantic and incredibly meaningful wedding day. The bride who loves to travel and the groom who just so happens to be a pilot incorporated details throughout their day at Arrowhead Hill, like a luggage tag escort card display and engraved compasses for place cards. Timeless and bold florals from Remi and Gold were placed throughout from a ceremony arch to delicate centerpieces and Wed and Prosper planned it all, exactly how the bride envisioned. Take a look below to see Courtney Leigh Photography’s stunning imagery and start dreaming up what personal touches you’re going to add to your day!

From the Bride…How did Alex Propose?
Our engagement day… Alex told me he was heading to fly a trip, he played the part and everything by wearing his uniform and packing his bag and everything. I had no idea what was coming. That afternoon, I had gotten dressed up because my mom and I were heading to a baby shower. On the way home from the baby shower, my mom pulled into Alex and Is favorite park. It is where one of our first dates was, as well as where he asked me to be his girlfriend 3 years prior. I remember my heart dropping and knowing as soon as she turned in. I started crying happy (and probably nervous) tears knowing what was waiting ahead. My mom handed me a piece of paper that said “Ahead is our future…” After getting myself together I got out of the car and walked down a (very long) sidewalk and actually ended up walking past the whole setup. I heard Alex’s voice from behind as he asked where I was going. I turned around and saw a beautiful setup waiting for me. It had two journal entries, one where Alex had expressed how he wanted to marry me after our first date that he had written years prior, and one that he wrote on the day of our engagement. It was the most sentimental and special moment. He then took us to one of our favorite bakeries where all of our family and friends were for a surprise engagement party! A lifetime with Alex was everything I had dreamed of. 

How did you decide on colors for your wedding? And floral inspiration
I knew I wanted three things when deciding on the theme of our wedding: timeless, elegant, and detail-oriented. Down to every detail, everything on our day had a purpose. In everything Alex and I do, we value meaningful detail. I knew I wanted to incorporate dove gray throughout our wedding, as well as soft linen with our calligraphy touches and table runners. I knew that I wanted our florals to be timeless but bold, and I told our florist, Remi and Gold, our color inspiration, but at the end of the day really let her go with it. One of my favorite moments from our whole wedding was the altarpiece. The florals were out of this world dreamy and truly more than I imagined. Our close friends sang “King of My Heart” during our private communion moment, and the words on the linen piece were lyrics to the song.

What made you incorporate certain special touches or traditions into your wedding day?
We wanted everything on our day to be cohesive and meaningful. God is the foundation of our relationship so we wanted everyone to hear the Gospel shared during our ceremony from our officiant and through worship during our private communion moment. Alex and I both have a big passion for travel, and he is a Pilot so it made the most sense to incorporate that part of our life into our day. Halfmoon Lettering really helped us bring this vision to life through every last detail. Our programs were inspired by passports, we had a “travel advice” table with custom postcards that hung on a postcard stand and featured a watercolor drawing of our venue. Throughout all of our paper goods, we had an airplane wax seal. Two of my favorite travel details were the engraved compass nametags and our luggage tag seating chart. All of our guests adored the luggage tags and thought it was incredibly meaningful. We love when our friends send us photos of the luggage tags in action! From the mini pies to the mini cinnamon donuts, our dessert bar was a hit and disappeared quickly!

Do you have a memory from the day that stands out the most?
Getting ready with all of my best girls and having our bridal brunch was definitely super special. The whole morning felt surreal as we watched everything come together throughout the day! One of my favorite memories from the day was our first touch. We did not do a first look, but we both stood on each side of the luggage tag wall and prayed together. In the end I told Alex to close his eyes so I could peek because I was getting so impatient!

Any advice for future brides and grooms that are planning?
Throughout the planning process, one thing I desired was to have timeless designs and photos that we will cherish for a lifetime. I would definitely recommend investing in a good photographer and videographer, the day goes by so quickly and that is what you have to hold onto. My biggest piece of advice, though, would be to incorporate personal touches throughout your day; there is nothing more special than having a unique wedding that is thoughtful and catered toward your passions and unique visions.

What was most important to you and your groom for your wedding?
Our biggest desire for our wedding day was for our guests to feel thought of and loved and hear the Gospel. We wanted to make special memories and party with our closest friends and family, which we were able to do thanks to the Cottages onsite at Arrowhead Hill. It was a blast being able to spend the weekend with all our friends and family! Hot Sauce band out of Austin, TX also threw an incredible party – one we will never forget! We danced and partied the night away with our favorite people!

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Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Videographer: Jake Austin Films | Event Planning: Wed & Prosper | Floral Design: Remi and Gold | Dress: Brickhouse Bridal | Cake: Becca Cakes | Invitations: Sugared Fig Paperie | Ceremony Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Birdy Grey | Catering: City View Catering | Band: Hot Sauce | Tux: The Black Tux | Custom Luggage Tags: Half Moon Lettering | Hair and Makeup Artist: Etoilly Artistry | Luggage Tag Wall: Exquisite Details by Raquel

Muted sunset hues, a gown fit for a princess, and a dreamy gray barn setting – today’s wedding planned by Sweet Tea and Linen is a Pinterest board brought to life. The Farmer and I created heavenly arrangements of brightly colored blooms that made for the perfect color pop against the white interior walls of the venue. To see every last detail of their day captured by Courtney Leigh Photography, don’t forget to head on over to the full gallery of inspiration.

From Courtney Leigh Photo… Anna and Matt rescheduled their wedding from late spring to mid-summer due to Covid and they were finally able to have the wedding of their dreams. They booked a beautiful new venue in Montgomery, TX with a refined, modern and elegant barn design and based their colors and florals on a Texas sunset. Anna had the most meaningful details, from using her parents wedding cake topper to a ring bearer pillow made out of lace from her mom’s wedding dress, to the acrylic etched vows… This wedding was nothing short of a dream.

From the Bride… Matt and I are high school sweethearts turned college sweethearts. I was on our high school’s drill team and Matt was a Trumpet player in the band. In the stands every Friday night, the drill team and band were always right next to each other. It was known among my friends that I definitely had a crush on Matt, and I found out later that Matt also felt the same about me. We ended up hanging out with each other all night at our Senior Homecoming instead of with our dates and I even drove him home in the morning. He finally asked for my number (on Facebook) a few weeks later and then shortly after we began dating and have been together ever since!

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?

The biggest thing I wanted and envisioned was an outdoor fall wedding. My now husband was completely opposed to a fall wedding simply because it would interfere with football season (Geaux Tigers!) while my parents told me I could get married outside, but my dad would drop me off at the alter then proceed to head indoors to sit in the AC with my mom watching from afar (if you know Texas and outdoor weddings, then you’ll understand the humor behind this!) Long story short, Matt said I do while not simultaneously asking for score updates and both of my parents were physically in attendance. : )

 

What was your color palette and your style vision?

My indecisiveness hit hard with determining the color palette, and after months of contemplation, a decision finally came to me. I ended up searching color palettes on pinterest and stumbled across one based off of a sunset and was instantly hooked. Muted sunset colors for my florals with my main color for bridesmaids dresses being a pretty blush pink.

What unique elements or details did you include?

I ended up finding someone who was able to etch our vows on to acrylic sheets. They turned out beautifully in photo and video for our wedding but also doubled as a beautiful keepsake. The cake topper that I placed beside my cake was actually my parents cake topper from their wedding. They have always had it displayed in our childhood home, along with a few other wedding keepsakes, and they decided to pass it on to us. My ring bearer pillow was made by my grandma from my mother’s wedding dress. One of our best decisions was asking our friend to officiate our wedding. He was one of Matt’s fraternity brothers and has been such a close friend of both of ours for years. It felt so personal having someone that is a part of both of our lives that we love dearly to marry us. He absolutely nailed it and Matt and I both agree it was one of our favorite small touches to our wedding day.

 

What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?

I feel like this is the hardest questions to have to come up with an answer for because it was my favorite day filled with so many amazing moments. From my matron of honor gifting me with a book of letters written by all my loved ones, to my first look with my dad where he asked me to carry my late grandad’s pocket knife, to my first look with Matt, to being prayed over by my sweet bridesmaids, to MARRYING my best friend then getting to celebrate the night away with our loved ones, it was our dream day. It’s not a single moment but looking back and being able to be married and celebrate with our loved ones will forever be one of my favorite memories. During this time of so much uncertainty, so many changed plans, and so many loved ones who were not able to attend, love still wins because I was able to say I married the love of my life.

From the Groom… Hands down, my favorite moment of the day would be hearing Anna’s vows for the first time. She is the one person on Earth that truly understands who I am at my core, and she loves me unconditionally. We are both so passionate for each other, and hearing that our loud on such a special day is something I will never forget.

Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.

Flowers = flawless. Carrington, owner and creative behind the Farmer and I, absolutely brought my dream to life. The only detail that stuck from beginning to end during my wedding planning process was that I wanted colorful flowers and Carrington 100% delivered. I stumbled across her on Instagram one day and instantly fell in love with her style and knew that I could trust her to bring my vision to life! Gown: I felt like a princess in my gown! I never thought I would be one to want or wear a ball gown, but I would not have wanted any other dress! I loved every detail from the sparkle to the lace! Cake: I surprised Matt with his groom’s cake, which ended up being a Whataburger cake with a little bit of LSU thrown in there as well! He loved it and it was just another way to say “hey we’re from Texas” and “Geaux Tigers!”

 

What is one piece of advice that you could give bride’s to be?

Remember that at the end of the day you will still be able to say you married the love of your life! My Matron of Honor and I, who were both going through having to plan a wedding in the midst of a pandemic, constantly reminded each other of this. Through all of the stress, upsetting news, and constant changes, it felt like having a wedding during this time wouldn’t be worth it with so many of our loved ones missing. I will say this to any and everyone, it was SO worth it. It was still our day, we were still surrounded by so many loved ones, and we because husband and wife! This is what getting married is about and all the rest is just the icing on the cake!

Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Event Planning: Sweet Tea and Linen | Floral Design: The Farmer and I | Dress: Brickhouse Bridal | Wedding Dress: Brickhouse Bridal | Cake: Three Brothers Bakery | Invitations: Jo's Paper Kitchen | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: David's Bridal | Catering: All Star Catering | Men's Attire: The Black Tux | Vintage Car: Royal Coach Classic Limo | Wedding Venue: Arrowhead Hill | Acrylic Etched Vows: Etch Xpress | Film Lab: Goodman Film Lab | HMU: Hey Lovely Makeup

For today’s Indian American wedding, the couple beautifully fused together their two cultures with a minimal farmhouse style wedding mixing in traditional Indian garb, but not with your typical brightly colored sari’s. Bride and groom tied the knot at The Farmhouse in a small Texas town with their closest friends and family, which led to an emotional day from the first look to their ‘I Do’s!’ Paige Vaughn Photo captured all the magic including the perfectly planned details by Unveiled Bliss and a stunning floral chandelier by Monica’s Brides. Take a peek below to see all of the love and all of the emotions!

From Paige Vaughn Photo…Caroline, originally from India, and Kyle, originally from the northeast, fused together their two cultures to have an epic Indian-American wedding just outside of Houston, Texas- one that combines the best of modern minimalism and farmhouse style with chic Indian traditions. 

For the year leading up to the wedding, Caroline and Kyle fought tirelessly to bring Caroline’s parents and brother to the U.S. but were faced with endless roadblocks because of American immigration policies. A few days before the wedding, the couple was overjoyed to find out they’d gotten a last-minute visa approved for the bride’s family.

With a planning process like that, it was no wonder why the day was so emotionally-charged.  Outside of the aesthetics of the wedding, my favorite moment was the heart-breakingly precious first look where Kyle broke down in tears.

The couple dressed in American wedding attire for their ceremony, while having the bridesmaids dress in traditional saris. During the reception, the vibe transformed as traditional Indian drummers and dancers paved the way for Caroline and Kyle to dance the night away in their Indian clothing (a stunning neural set – a juxtaposition to the typical bright Indian wedding clothing). The day was a perfect balance of elegance and fun – you’d never guess the party went down in a small Southern town.

As for how they met, Caroline and Kyle’s first date was in Houston, at a cozy restaurant and it entailed hours and hours of chatting and hitting it off. They liked each other so much that they decided to go for a run the very next morning – A RUN, I KNOW. If that isn’t a match made in heaven, I don’t know what is. Flash forward and these two decided to make it *official* on the banks of Lake Como in Italy.

Photography: Paige Vaughn Photo | Floral Design: Monica's Brides & Touch Of Glitz Flowers | Cake: SusieCakes | Hair and Makeup: Butter Artistry | Calligraphy: Inscribed By Carley | Entertainment: J A Entertainment | Transportation: Western Motorcoach | Banner: Ettie Kim Calligraphy + Design | Flatware: Swift + Company | Planning: Unveiled Bliss | The Farmhouse: The Farmhouse

I’ve been saving this inspiration shoot for the perfect day. Smack in the middle of Summer where color reigns Queen and sunshine dictates the vibe. This, to me, is the very most perfect July wedding color palette on earth. Pinks and oranges and big old fashioned dollops of yellow that are set in such a shockingly lovely way against the simplicity of The Farmhouse in Texas. With a design by Jennifer Laura, crazy beautiful florals by Petal Society and imagery from Awake Photographers, this is one of those shoots that just might influence every last detail of your big day.

From Jennifer Laura Design… This shoot was inspired by our venue The Farmhouse, it was the perfect simple backdrop to this beautifully detailed shoot full of southern details! We wanted to create something that was fun, fresh, and full of personality. The idea of summer and fruit started the inspiration and drove the color palette- the pink tones with orange, and even verging into some of that bright yellow all came from the grapefruit.

Our florist Kristen (Petal Society) had this beautiful idea to create an arched centerpiece for our reception table and seating chart, which is such a showstopper and truly feels like something any southern bride would dream about.

We kept the details simple, classic, and timeless, while still injecting a shot of personality with the color and fun details like the grapefruit, and pink gingham ribbon. I also asked Heritage Macarons to create some custom hand painted macarons for us because I knew they would be the perfect favors for this “wedding” and she did not disappoint. Those macarons are like miniature works of art, way too pretty to eat. 

Photography: Awake Photography | Event Design: Jennifer Laura Design | Florist: Petal Society | Cake : Dolce Designs | Stationery: A Fine Flourish | Hair and Makeup : Blushworthy | Venue : The Farmhouse | Macaron Favors: Heritage Macarons | Male Stylist: David Rochez | Models: David Rochez and Kirstin Drenon | Rentals : Swift + Company

With pops of hot pink and gold sparkles galore, these two Texans said “I do” and then got ready to party – home state style. From the favors to the cuisine and more, we’ve got shout outs to all of their favorite people, places and things, and Kelly Hornberger and 31 Films captured every detail so we too can be inspired. See all the glitter and glam right this way!

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From the Bride…
Our proposal story… Clay had one of my maids of honor, Barbara, come visit us from California and knew that was the perfect weekend to propose. He worked with my mom to make sure we could get up to my parents’ house on Lake Conroe without me being suspicious. After lunch, he maneuvered me towards the dock where a beautiful gazebo overlooks the lake. The gazebo was unfortunately being used for a wedding rehearsal, but Clay improvised (with some help from my dad and brother) and the proposal went off without a hitch right on the lake’s edge. Afterwards there was a surprise party with some close family and friends, put together by my mom, maids of honor and bridesmaids.

Our overall “inspiration” for our wedding design/decor was to have an elegant, fun wedding with rustic, Texas-inspired details and pops of color throughout.

Some unique, special wedding details included:
– We tried to incorporate both our families and backgrounds throughout the whole wedding. We chose a beautiful rustic barn venue which corresponded to my husband’s upbringing on a ranch outside of Austin, TX. It was the only venue we toured and I knew it was perfect as soon as we saw it. The bright bridesmaids’ dresses and colorful flowers represented my mom’s Bermudian side of the family.

This also carried over into what we served with a seafood bar and dark n’ stormy cocktails (for my Bermuda side) and Shiner beer, mini tacos/margaritas during cocktail hour and Whataburger inspired late night snacks to represent our love for Texas.

We also pulled in our respective colleges (Texas A&M and Ohio State) by having custom cornhole boards made for cocktail hour, college inspired cookie favors, and of course, having the band play our fight songs. We also had a beautiful Texas A&M groom’s cake the night before at our rehearsal dinner.

It was really important that everybody have plenty to eat and drink and have a great time throughout the whole weekend. We had welcome drinks when people arrived off the shuttles to help with the Texas heat, an outdoor photobooth station when guests needed a break, a band and DJ to keep people on the dance floor, and of course plenty to drink and eat all night, with some goody bags so people could take extra dessert favors to go. My parents also hosted a brunch at their house on Lake Conroe the next morning which was a great way to have additional conversations with our family and friends without us feeling as rushed as the night before.

My husband did not want to see me before the ceremony, but I wanted to see him, so we did a first “touch” with me peeking around the corner to see him and exchange some letters. It really helped me with my nerves and we got some great pictures beforehand.

We wrote our own vows and I am so glad we did. It really made it that much more personal and special to us. It was also great to have some laughs when we realized we both referenced our love for college football and animals in our respective speeches

My favorite moments include getting ready with my bridesmaids all morning at the venue; it definitely helped me relax and enjoy the moments leading up to the wedding, getting to see the venue all decorated before the ceremony started, our first dance (a Texas two-step of course!), and just taking it all in during the reception while guests ate. My dad’s speech was also a special moment because he really surprised me with how sweet and funny it was!

Finally, seeing my husband’s face when I changed into my second dress (which was a complete surprise to him) was wonderful, and made it a lot easier to dance the rest of the night away!

My advice for future brides/grooms:
– Start planning as soon as you can, there are always little things you can do throughout the first couple months to help ensure the last two aren’t crazy packed. Stay organized and make/keep a lot of lists, it helps make you feel like you’re on top of it! If your budget allows it, splurge for great quality photography and videography. It was been several months since the wedding and I’m so glad I have these things to help us remember our wonderful day for years to come!

Most of all, try and relax and have fun. There will always be little things that “go wrong”, but in the end, nobody notices and it certainly won’t be what you remember at the end!

Photography: Kelly Hornberger Photography | Videography: 31FILMS | Event Planning: J Low Events | Floral Design: Blooming Gallery Scott Konitzer | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Cake: Cakes by Gina | Wedding Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lula Kate | Catering: Behind The Bash | Hair + Makeup: Sunkissed And Made Up | Band: The Drywater Band | Wedding Venue: Big Sky Barn

As these two cuties exchanged their vows during their sweet, Southern wedding, a rainbow – yes, a RAINBOW! – lit up the sky above them. Clearly this is an exceptional couple, and Heather Benge Events planned an equally special outdoor ceremony bedecked with stunning arrangements by Everly Alaine Florals to celebrate their love and commitment. Candlelight Films and Nicole Berrett Photography were there to capture the magic of the day, rainbow and all – there’s more waiting for you in the Vault.

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From the Bride… Blake and I met in one of the most spectacular ways! I had just graduated college and had moved to the big city of Houston as a marketing manager. I wasn’t sure it was going to work out in Houston, but after making friends and getting more plugged in, I finally started warming up (figuratively and literally!) to the idea of Houston. Then, one night, I accepted an invitation to go to an Astros game with a group of friends from church. Unbeknownst to me, mid-way through the game, Blake somehow managed to maneuver his way into sitting next to me. We talked and talked, and I was immediately interested by how unguarded, funny, and effortless it was to talk to him. Out of the blue, just as we were soaking it all in, fireworks started going off in the stadium above us! It was so magical!

Two years later, he proposed on the beach, and we got to plan the wedding of our dreams together. Picking a favorite moment from the entire day is near impossible. If I had two chose just one, it would be the beautiful rainbow (yes, rainbow!) that appeared in the sky when Blake and I started saying our vows to each other. To us, it was one of the most remarkable signs of Jesus’s love for us and the commitment we were making to each other in marriage. Having both grown up with parents who divorced and then remarried, we were very skeptical and hesitant about having a big wedding. Eight parents can be a lot to handle! We were nervous it would surface some difficult memories, but instead Jesus chose to use it for His glory and showed us a beautiful sign of His love and support for us. The night was filled with laughter, silly dance moves, reconciliation, and love, and we wouldn’t change it for the world!

My biggest advice to any Bride is to be present in every moment! Planning a wedding can be time consuming and stressful, budgets can go off course, and things don’t always go as planned. Just embrace it all and find joy in every step of the process! Your marriage is the most important part at the end of the day, and the memories you make with your vendors, friends, family, and your fiancé will be the ones you remember and laugh about for a lifetime. Stress and worry are just not worth it!

Photography: Nicole Berrett Photography | Cinematography: Candlelight Films | Event Planning: Heather Benge Events | Floral Design: Everly Alaine Florals | Cake: Whisk Bakery | Catering: All Star Catering | Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty | Calligraphy: Lauren Brod | DJ: J&A entertainment | Band: BRW Billy kennedy | Wedding Venue: The Farmhouse | China + Glassware Rentals: Swift + Company | Furniture Rentals: Love Birds Vintage Rental | Linen Rentals: Elegant Beginnings | Photo Booth: Monkey Booth

Some of the most fun parts leading up to your wedding day are the photo shoots! Bridal portrait session are a southern tradition, and many a Bride now also opts for a boudoir shoot as a special gift for her groom. However, two separate photo sessions can not only get pricy, but they also take a lot of time! So why not combine them?  Here Smith House Photography, Mibellarosa Designs, and Hey Lovely Makeup created a ballerina inspired shoot that demonstrates how you can easily transition from bridal to boudoir in the same day, plus they explain the benefits of combining the two below!

Bridal portraits are a southern tradition – especially here in the big State of Texas! You get you hair and makeup done, wear your beautiful dress, and take gorgeous photos prior to the wedding and sans the groom (because hello, that’s bad luck!). Then you’ll have fun making sure the groom doesn’t see how your hair and makeup will look for the big day and that none of the gorgeous photos are leaked!

The effort takes a team – the hair and makeup artist, the florist, the photographer – and basically half a day, from start to finish. Most of the time it’s done at a studio rental or at the reception venue. Truth of the matter is, as wedding photographer Becki of Smith House Photography shares, most Brides rarely print their any more photos beyond one or two beautiful portraits to display at the reception.

But who is only going to shoot for 10-15 minutes after you have your hair and makeup done? You may have also been considering a boudoir shoot to gift to your future husband as a keepsake, but that also requires hair and makeup, a hotel or studio rental, and another photography session. Becki suggests tackling both your bridal and your boudoir sessions in one day to make it sweet, simple, and convenient for you and the entire production team!

Here are three reasons why you should schedule your bridal and boudoir sessions on the same day:

1. Your hair and makeup will already be done. Gals generally use their bridal hair and makeup trial run for their bridal portraits. Once you’re already beautifully dolled up, you should absolutely make the most of it! Makeup and hair trial, bridal session, and boudoir session – now, that’s killing THREE birds with one stone!
2. No lies needed to surprise the groom! Engaged couples are nearly inseparable, so the idea of trying to schedule a boudoir session for images to gift to him without him figuring it out may be stressful! However, “I’m going to get my bridal portraits done,” immediately implies, “You are not invited,” and doesn’t attract any additional questions. Smart thinking, right?
3. This is super budget-friendly and saves time! Who doesn’t like the thought of that, especially during wedding planning? There’s no need to clear two separate days on your calendar (More time to spend cuddling with Mr. Right? Yes, please!), no need to pay twice for a venue/studio, hair and makeup, and separate portrait sessions. Extra money? Heck yea! You could take the savings and spend it on something to make your sessions extra special, memorable, and jaw-dropping. For example, add a bridal bouquet for the bridal portraits, go all out with a floral installation for the boudoir session, add a flower crown, or splurge on some amazing lingerie that may have otherwise been out of budget.

For this shoot, we wanted to showcase the versatility in styling flowers, hair, and makeup for bridal portraits as well as boudoir. For the flowers, floral artist Phuong of Mibellarosa Designs created a bouquet that’s as delicate, graceful, and full of movement as the beautiful ballerina bride. She also created a compote arrangement for stunning still shots of the bride. The bouquet was then transformed into loose florals while the compote arrangement completed the look of the green installation bed used for the boudoir setting afterwards. Hair and makeup expert Erica of Hey Lovely gave the bride a braid that could be worn up for her bridal session and then easily taken down for a sweet yet sultry look for her boudoir shots.

Photography: Smith House Photography | Floral Design: Mibellarosa Designs | Hair and Makeup: Hey Lovely Makeup | Calligraphy: Camel & Birdie | Lingerie, Veil and Robe: GirlandaSeriousDream | Location: Olde Dobbin Station | Model: Katarina Zarutskie

It’s no secret that greenery is making a major comeback, and this Texas wedding captured by Mustard Seed Photography embraces those fresh greens in a beautiful way. From ceremony to reception, you’ll find this organic floral alternative making its way into every detail, and we can’t get enough of the fresh, natural look. Have a look below and don’t miss the clip from Cakewalk Films.

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From the bride… If I’m being honest our entire wedding day is a blur to me now. I don’t remember what I ate, what I talked about with my bridesmaids as we got ready, or how many songs we danced to. What I will never forget is the amount of love that was evident on this day. Our families had been awaiting this day for a very long time since Isaac and I were high school sweethearts. I will always remember the moment I first saw Isaac standing at that alter and I knew that he had been placed in my life for that moment, for the two of us to become one.

Isaac and I met when we were two kids in elementary school we didn’t know it then but we would eventually fall in love. We became high school sweethearts and have been inseparable ever since. After many years of dating Isaac surprised me with a trip to Paris, France! I had no idea that I would be proposed to in front of the Eiffel Tower, but there Isaac was down on one knee asking if I would spend the rest of my life with him. The moment I had prayed for had finally arrived and I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough!

During the planning process we knew we wanted to be as close to Houston as possible since that’s where our love story began. I had always wanted to be married in a white barn so we did some research and found a white barn themed venue that was just being built. We immediately drove out to Montgomery, Texas to view the venue. When we toured the venue they had just began building it so all we saw was literally just a frame of the venue. As we stood inside the center of what was to be the reception space we looked at each other and knew this was it. We took a leap and booked the venue while it was being built. The venue wouldn’t be complete until two months before our wedding day. When we toured the completed Farmhouse a month before our wedding I couldn’t help but tear up. The venue was absolutely stunning on it’s own. We couldn’t get over how bright the venue was and the beautiful marble details. I knew I wanted to incorporate the marble details into the decorations for the wedding and the wedding cake.

We wanted to have mostly greenery throughout the wedding with pops of blush. Our florals from Jenna Lynn Events were absolutely breathtaking and the greenery flower crowns she made for us really gave the wedding an ethereal touch. At the family table, our florist created a stunning greenery garland and we added a special touch with laser cut wood names as the place cards. We added gold touches with the hammered gold silverware and the gold rimmed plates. Our gray table clothes that covered the majority of the tables were an organic material that brought an extra special touch to the reception space.

We incorporated a few DIY projects into our wedding and I’m so happy we did. I love looking back at the pictures of the DIY projects and knowing the love and dedication we put into creating each project. My father and Isaac worked together to build the table in the entrance of the ceremony space and the boxes that held the programs. We created a wood board filled with polaroids from over the years of our relationship. Lastly, we used terrariums on some of the tables and filled them with twinkle lights for stunning budget friendly centerpieces.

Our ceremony was held in the chapel behind the reception space of The Farmhouse. The altar was draped in greenery and had pops of blush florals. The aisle had two huge greenery garlands down each side. We wanted to keep our ceremony as traditional as possible except for our string trio, Third Floor Strings, that played the Game of Thrones theme song as our wedding party walked down the aisle! We decided not to do a first look because I’ve always loved seeing the reaction of the groom when he first sees the bride step into the chapel. Seeing Isaac’s face as he saw me walk down the aisle is a moment I will never forget. I thought he would be the one to cry but it was really me doing all the crying!

The most important thing about our wedding was to involve our daughter, Ava. She was with me the entire time I got ready with my bridesmaids and we danced the night away with her. She wore a dress very similar to my wedding dress with long sleeves and lace detailing.

Charlie Whiskey really created such a stunning calligraphy invitation which included a map of the venue. Paper and Pine Co-created our calligraphy welcome sign and various other signs that were scattered throughout the wedding.

For the bridesmaids’ dresses, we decided to go with a long, off the shoulder, blush gown from Vow To Be Chic. The gowns were paired with greenery floral crowns and custom made Kendra Scott earrings. Our florist created ethereal greenery bouquets for the bridesmaids.

One of my favorite moments was our father and daughter dance. My dad and I had prepared choreography to a music mash-up! We were so excited to surprise our guests and Isaac with our fun dance moves. Needless to say, Isaac loved it and even cried because he was so surprised! My dad and I have always been super goofy so doing this fun mash-up really showed our father and daughter relationship.

Everything was captured by the amazing Mustard Seed Team. They were amazing throughout the entire process. We’re so thankful to everyone for their love and support. Our wedding was a dream come true because of all the amazing vendors involved.

Photography: Mustard Seed Photography | Cinematography: Cakewalk Films | Floral Design: Jenna Lynn Events | Wedding Dress: Essense Of Australia | Cake: Dolce Designs | Invitations: Charley Whiskey Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Vow To Be Chic | Catering: Alma Latina | Hair + Makeup: Butter Artistry | DJ: DJ Enloe | Favors: Couldn't Smell Better Candles | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Day-of Coordination: Sweet Memories Events by Jen | Rentals: Aztec Events | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Signage : Paper & Pine Co. | String Trio: Third Floor Strings

When it came time for this Southern bride to style her 12 bridesmaids, she turned to Joanna August for a mix-and-match look that’s completely on point. A dusty pink and mauve combo made for a unique yet cohesive palette and there’s so much more to see in The Vault from Jessica Gold Photography.

From Jessica Gold Photography…Diane and Chris had a beautiful wedding filled with southern details. Their wedding took place at Odle Dobbin Station, a venue filled with greenery and rustic vibes. They incorporated this theme of greenery into their floral arrangements and reception decor. To continue with their southern vibe, they used antlers on their reception tables intertwined in their flowers.

Diane wore a Maggie Sottero gown with classic lace and glamorous accessories. (Who can go wrong with Kate Spade earrings?) Her gold bracelet had the date of her wedding date engraved in Roman numerals, and is now a piece she wears daily.

Most importantly, they wanted their day to be surrounded by the love of their family and friends, and this is seen prominently in their bridal party. They had an enormous bridal party of 12 bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen styled to perfection. The ladies wore different styles and colors of Joanna August’s dresses, and the gentlemen wore patterned bowties and suspenders. Apart from their aesthetic style, the love from their family and friends was evident in every portion of the day. One of the sweetest moments was during the ceremony when both families joined Diane and Chris at the alter for a prayer, and there wasn’t a dry eye among them.

Photography: Jessica Gold Photography | Event Planning: Heather Benge Events | Floral Design: F. Dellit Designs | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Whisk Bakery | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joanna August | Hair + Makeup: Sunkissed And Made Up | Calligraphy: Allyson Clark | Venue: Olde Dobbin Station | Bride's Earrings: Kate Spade | Paper Goods: Vintage Sweet Design | Rentals: Events To Remember | Rentals: Love Birds Vintage Rental

Texas weddings have kinda captured my heart lately and after seeing this beautiful bash captured by Julie Paisley, the love affair isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. With the talented Something To Celebrate leading the charges and The Flower Girl providing some seriously gorgeous florals, it was a wedding to remember – and to fill your Pinterest boards with. See it all in our VAULT right this way!

From the Bride… We met in midtown Houston, TX at the Dogwood bar, while I was in town visiting friends. I didn’t know it yet, but my father had passed away that same day. January 31, 2014. Looking back I think he pushed me towards Nick that night. Nick later gifted me with a bracelet engraved with the coordinates of where we met. Just shows how sweet of guy he is!
He also surprised me with the engagement. We had planned a trip to Disney World and my friends told me for months that was definitely when he was going to propose, so it wasn’t really on my radar. Then one day about a month before our trip he said he just wanted to go look for fun. While inside Robbins Brothers – The Engagement Ring Store in Houston (Galleria Area) he told me to pick one just like in Sweet Home Alabama!! I was so excited when I found the perfect ring! August 1, 2014.

Being a part of the wedding industry can be both a blessing and a curse when you are planning your wedding. I had help from great friends who really helped me refine my vision; even though it changed multiple times. Overall I knew I wanted it to be a traditional Texas wedding but still feel formal. I love pastel colors, especially purple, and wanted the day to be filled with flowers. So my friends Cari (our designer) and Kari (our florist) helped me come up with a vision that was everything I could imagine and more. Thankfully the venue has a great Texas ease about it; which my very laid back groom appreciated and helped tone down the formality of it all.

It was important to me to personalize our wedding. My father passed away the day Nick and I met, so we created a memory table for him that included a yellow rose boutonniere along with his cowboy hat, a photo of him and a matching photo of me. My mother-in-law also sewed the heart of one of his blue shirts near the heart of my gown. She also gave me a sterling silver pendant that my husband had given her before he was deployed with his monogram on it for “something borrowed” to tie onto my bouquet. I attached a charm with my father’s photo, as well as the lace from my mother’s wedding gown on to my bouquet. The groom’s cake was the University of Iowa stadium, where my husband went to college. The bartenders served personalized beer that was custom made and named for the event.

Our day was perfect and I’m so thankful for the images to relive the day over and over again.

From Julie Paisley… Aaryn and Nick were a breath of fresh air. It is so important for me to connect with my clients and this was so easy with the two of them. Aaryn and I shared many texts during the process and I loved how she shared all her ideas about her big day. Details were so important to her but at the same time she wanted the wedding to be down to earth and FUN and that it was. I loved being their photographer, they have a beautiful love story and clearly adore each other.

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More amazing Texas weddings this way!

Photography: Julie Paisley Photography | Coordination: Something To Celebrate | Event Design: Pink Parasol Designs And Coordinating | Event Planning: Merren Events | Floral Design: The Flower Girl | Wedding Dress: Weddings By Debbie | Cake: Whisk Bakery | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Bride's Shoes: Dillard's | Engagement Ring: Henri Daussi | Rings: Robbins Brothers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: Blush And Glow | Favors: Big Rock Wedding Favors | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Venue: Amber Springs Stonebrook Hall | Bar Sign: Paper Tangent | Custom Beer: Three Empires Brewing | Flower Girl Dress: Etsy Knot Houses | Petal Cones: Yin Vivo Weddings | Rentals: A Finer Event