Texas Weddings

We’ve said it time and time again – your wedding should be a reflection of you and your beloved as a couple, not checking off any boxes or fitting someone else’s mold. This couple figured that out, too. After completely planning a traditional wedding in their town, they felt like it just wasn’t right for them, and they started over…FROM SCRATCH! Their new Marfa location meant a change in style, a new date, and different but amazing vendors like Bubbles Event Planning + Rentals, Gage Weddings, and Melanie Julian Photography. And you can see it from the smiles on their faces and those around them – THIS turned out to be the perfect wedding for them.

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With a traditional wedding at First Presbyterian Church and Petroleum Club in Midland, Texas all planned to the nines, Abby and Paul just felt something wasn’t right for their special day. They’ve always loved visiting Marfa on the weekends, and after having their engagement pictures taken there, they decided it was the place they should tie the knot, too! They moved their wedding up a whole month and had to start over from scratch, finding all new vendors (that were local and available for the new date).

Their day was a full mix of traditional and modern. Her classic high neckline dress by Sareh Nouri (that had a detachable train!) paired with her simple sapphire earrings (a gift from Paul) was completed with her Manolo Blahnik shoes. Paul and his groomsmen were wearing timeless black tuxes with the traditional bowtie mixed with black boots to bring in the Texas flair. Abby’s modern bouquet had the cutest cactus in it with long silk ribbon, and their rose gold invitations matched the bridesmaids’ dresses and her rose gold wedding band (their rings are all three of the metals – yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold).

It was a large family affair, with all of their siblings and step siblings included in the wedding (her brothers = ushers in white jackets; her four step sisters = house party; his sister = bridesmaid; his brother = best man). Abby rented the coolest Airbnb for her and her 15 girls (9 bridesmaids and 6 house party goers) to get ready in. Every room had its own story to tell, which paired perfectly with the color palette of Abby’s day, also bringing in more of the modern touch.

Paul met Abby at the Airbnb for the sweetest first look. He was so excited to see her! Once he saw here, he couldn’t stop telling her how beautiful she was. The day continued as we traveled around Marfa in the beautiful sunshine taking photos of the couple. Abby was truly the easiest bride, up for whatever. She and Paul were just so happy to be together and to finally be getting married!

Their wedding party of 34 met us at the beautiful Marfa National Bank where we were magically able to fit everyone into one frame! There was lots of laughter all day, as everyone was just so excited to be a part of their day! Once we finished with wedding party pictures, we walked two blocks to First Christian Church where we completed all family photos prior to the ceremony. Their ceremony was lead by Pastor Steve Schorr, whom is the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Midland, where Abby grew up attending church. Abby’s grandfather also sang a beautiful hymn during the service.

Since all photos were completed prior to the ceremony, Abby and Paul headed straight for cocktail hour upon sealing the deal with a kiss with a mariachi band leading their guests. The remainder of the night was filled with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live music, and lots of dancing! They had rented out the entire hotel (Hotel Paisano), so guests were able to just walk right upstairs to end the night.

Photography: Melanie Julian Photography | Event Planning: Bubbles Event Planning and Rentals | Floral Design: Gage Weddings | Cake: Sylvia Norman | Invitations: Prickly Pear Paper | Church: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Makeup: Andrea Prejean | Hair: MINT Salon + Spa | Band: Current Nine | Bridal Boutique: Arte Latica | Bridal Boutique: Sareh Nouri | Getting Ready House: Marfa Boarding House | Hanger + Vow Books: BHLDN | Mariachi Band: Mariachi Armonia | Programs: Etsy | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

There’s no denying that this whole wedding is absolutely gorgeous. One look through Stephanie Brazzle’s photos and we’re swooning. But look a little closer… and read this beautiful Bride’s story below – it’s the little details sprinkled about that make this wedding shine even brighter. The whole celebration takes places where this Bride and Groom got engaged (how sweet!), Rose, the Bride’s middle name, lends a lovely touch throughout, we spy some adorable doggie pins and so much more. We guarantee time spent in this gallery is time very, very well spent… see it all right this way! And don’t miss Lynn Films’ work below!

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From the Bride… Two worlds collided when our mutual friends held a wedding on a balmy day in New York City: on one side, the groom’s nerdy friends from engineering school (Mitchell); the other, the bride’s designer friends from Manhattan (myself). We hit it off during the reception sitting at the single’s table. By the end of the night, I remember thinking, “Wow, this is the kind of guy I want to marry”.

After the wedding, we parted ways – Mitchell lived in Seattle and I lived in New York . We stayed in contact until Mitchell was able to visit NY again because of several business trips. The chemistry was undeniable, and a long distance relationship was born. After a year of back and forth between Seattle and New York, I took the brave step to move to Seattle! Finally being in the same city, we developed our relationship over food, traveling, hiking, and dogs! Later, on a trip home to visit my family, we picked a romantic dinner spot in Uptown Dallas at the Crescent Court Hotel. As we walked across the lush and intimate hotel courtyard to dinner, I thought “How spectacular would it be to get engaged or married out here.” After dinner, somehow having read my mind, Mitchell walked me outside to the courtyard and got down on one knee to pop the big question, “Will you marry me?”.

As we started our wedding planning, looking at venues both in Seattle and Dallas, we concluded that it only felt right to return to Hotel Crescent Court – in the very courtyard we got engaged in! The hotel’s Parisian ambiance made it easy for us to set our theme: black-tie attire, neutral palette, replete with classic romance. My middle name is Rose, and when Mitchell decided to pick out a rose-gold wedding ring to remind him of me, we quickly started gravitating to this color when it came to our wedding details. Thankfully, we found a planning team, Sweet Pea Events, that was based in both Seattle and Dallas and they were perfect for executing our vision for the day (Hooray for making long distance planning easier!).

Overall, our wedding day was magical: from the reunion of long-time friends, the intimate garden courtyard ceremony, the traditional Taiwanese Tea Ceremony to honor parents, the first dance, and our selfie grand send-off with our guests overlooking the terrace. We thank all of our vendors for making this night so special for us, our families, and our friends.

Photography: Stephanie Brazzle Photography | Videography: Lynn Films | Event Planning: Sweet Pea Events | Floral Design: Anna Rayner | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Invitations: Letters by Ellen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Hotel Crescent Court | Hair + Makeup: Q Makeup & Hair Artistry | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Wedding Venue: Crescent Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Circle Park Bridal Boutique | DJ, Lighting + Photobooth : Le Force Entertainment | Linens: BBJ La Tavola

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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This is my kind of wedding. Mainly because they served biscuits and mimosas. But also because one look through Jenna McElroy’s pretty pics and you can just feel the sense of quiet joy that made this brunch inspired celebration so very special. Color Theory Collective infused just the right amount of floral loveliness so that the beauty of the venue shone through and the focus was on the spectacular bride and her handsome groom. See it all right this way!

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From the Bride… Richard and I lived in Austin for several years, and spent a few years prior to that in Houston. It was fitting that our wedding take place where we were currently living, minimizing pragmatic planning details and giving us the chance to share our love for Austin with our out of state family and friends.

I have always envisioned a morning wedding, so a Sunday brunch setting fell quickly into place. A Sunday wedding also gave us the chance to spend the prior few days with loved ones, allowing guests to trickle in and spend the weekend exploring Austin. One of our favorite dates is grabbing brunch. I opt for something sweet and he orders something savory. We wanted our wedding to have the same low key, lazy Sunday morning vibe of those memories. I loved the idea of film photography, especially to capture soft morning light. Jenna McElroy was available and very sweet to work with. Our images truly capture the joy of our special day.

Our venue search was fairly painless – Richard found Canyonwood Ridge online and we visited and booked that same day. The chapel is actually their Plan B, but the minute we stood at the alter, surrounded by the soft fall light, we knew it was where we would say our “I do’s”. Dagar’s Catering did an immaculate job of organizing my thoughts on the menu, building a cohesive proposal that fit our budget and the casual Sunday brunch vibe. Plates were piled high with brioche French toast, Texas field greens salad, quiche Florentine, rosemary roasted potatoes, honey baked ham, fruit and fresh buttermilk biscuits. My Dad is a master at the grill and our day couldn’t be complete without his slow cooked, pulled pork BBQ. We served assorted Shiner beers, Tito’s hard lemonade with crushed strawberries, bottomless mimosas, rose, and champagne. Prior to the reception, my Mom put together a beautiful spread of cheeseboards on the patio. The September weather was a dream – balmy and bright, with thankfully low humidity.

Each of our vendors did a wonderful job. Our wedding colors were cabernet and blush, and the organic beauty in Color Theory Collective’s florals was certainly a highlight. They were consistent to work with and delivered phenomenal florals, aligned with the vision I described and right on target in my budget – even including orchids in my bouquet, just like my Mom and Grandma had carried. Innumerable details were left up to one of my best friends, Megan Alexander, who selflessly gave up her every free minute to help me orchestrate our special Sunday.

We did a few things to maximize our budget: I found my dress through a lady who buys wedding dresses via sample sales and EBay, and I only paid $100 for it upfront. Our paper suite (invites, programs) I found on as an Etsy download, which I then customized, printed and cut myself. Our wedding cake was lovingly made by my Grandma and Aunt. I also ordered a Chantilly Berry cake from Whole Foods the week of – because when is there ever enough cake! My sisters stepped up and helped too: one shrewdly made 150 napkins out of IKEA dish towels, another picked up flowers locally and made the flower crowns. My bridesmaid found our yummy biscotti favors via a fantastic vendor on Etsy (Berkshire Biscotti) and then personalized the packaging by hand (they even offered gluten free and dairy free options too!) A friend from college does fantastic lettering (Rachel Chen) and offered to do all my signage for cost and materials as a gift. The alcohol was bought wholesale through my parent’s friends, and my Mom bought all the champagne glasses on sale, keeping them after the wedding for my other sister’s weddings (four little sisters!)

Planning your wedding can feel overwhelming but driving away with my husband into the dusk, off to Santorini on our honeymoon, the world couldn’t have felt more perfect and I would plan it all over to replicate that feeling of pure joy!

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Floral Design: Color Theory Collective | Wedding Dress: Heidi Elnora Atelier | Shoes: Gianni Bini | Rings: Calvin's Fine Jewelry | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lulu's | Catering: Dagar’s Catering of Austin | Makeup + Hair: Vivavoce | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Canyonwood Ridge | Film Scans: PhotoVision Prints | Paper Design: San Fransisco Crafts

Several beautiful details stand out while watching this Texas wedding film… the giant circle of white florals at the ceremony, the gorgeous gown, the towering white cake… but what we can’t stop thinking about is the emotional element of it all. The Groom’s sweet tears pulled at our heart strings and they’re exactly why we love films from Bear Hands Media Group; they know how to capture the really good stuff. So sit back and enjoy this elegant, intimate and emotional wedding film that leaves us full of all those feel good vibes.

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From Bear Hands Media Group… Morgan and Nathan’s love story began when they met in the library during college. They declared their love and commitment to each other in front of their family and friends in an intimate wedding ceremony at The Corinthian. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, as they recited the vows they had personally written for each other. We feel so honored to have been able to capture their stunning wedding and incredible love on film!

Cinematography: Bear Hands Media Group | Event Planning: Keely Thorne Events | Floral Design: Events In Bloom | Wedding Cake: Who Made The Cake! | Stationery: Papellerie | Hair + Makeup: Blushing Beauty by Nikki | Wedding Venue: The Corinthian | Wedding Band: Danny Ray and The Acoustic Production

If you’ve been a reader of Style Me Pretty for a little while now, it will come as no surprise to you that we have a love affair with pretty in pink weddings, but it can be a challenge to keep the popular bridal color palette looking new and unique. Enter today’s wedding photographed by Krystle Akin and filmed by Moonlit Weddings. By using every variation of the shade – lightening it up to champagnes and ivories and darkening it to pops of deep and rich burgundy plus every pinkish hue in between –  Heavenly Day Events created a whimsical and fresh, almost ombre effect. We’re loving it, and we know you will too, so head right this way…

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From the bride… Nathan and I met while working at our local Freebirds in College Station a few months before he shipped out for the Navy. I wasn’t looking for anything at that point in my life due to school, but he just stepped in at the right moment. We talked as friends before he shipped out, but after a long radio silence due to basic training, it unexpectedly turned into something else. We had our first date in Chicago. We visited the Cloud Gate sculpture, went to the top of the Willis Tower, ate at Navy Pier, took a stroll in Millennium Park, and ended the day watching Limitless. It was magical in every sense and is still one of the most cherished days of our life together today!

In 2015, I had to move to Dallas to start an internship for grad school. Nathan and I have a tradition of taking photos during our anniversary. On our 4th anniversary as a couple, he proposed during that session. I’m so happy to have caught that moment and have it in print and was equally thrilled to start planning the wedding of our dreams!

We had two years to plan our wedding due to majority of our guests flying from the Philippines. We embraced every moment of planning and loved every weekend we spent in Austin doing so. We wanted to showcase what Texas had to offer to our guests as well as share a piece of our new home state, so we chose Austin and Dripping Springs. It represents our personalities – quirky and fun yet laid back! As far as a theme, we did not have one in mind when planning our vision; we just knew that we wanted it to be ethereal. When we toured Ma Maison, we saw our vision come to life, and it just all came together after that!

It’s difficult to find a favorite moment, but I think our best memory of that day was just having everyone there! Their presence, especially my 96 year old grandmother, meant so much to us. To have everyone fly from all over the country and the world to witness our vows and meet Nathan was the most amazing experience we have ever been gifted.

My advice to brides would be to fully trust in the team you’ve chosen to execute your vision and your big day. Things will go wrong during the day of, but embrace this fact early on. The industry professionals you’ve hired have probably encountered this before, and they will work around it flawlessly (as ours did). I look back on our big day and honestly remember the happiest of times and none of the things that went wrong. In the end, we were surrounded by pure love, and that’s all that matters.

Photography: Krystle Akin | Cinematography: Moonlit Weddings | Event Planning: Heavenly Day Events | Floral Design: Wild Bunches | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Cake: Iced Cakes & Confections | Invitations: Minted | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Rings: David Gardner's Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Makeup: Lola Beauty | Band: Uptown Drive | Groom's Attire: Modern Man | Venue: Ma Maison Wedding + Event Venue | Bridal Boutique: Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon | Reception Dress: Essense of Australia | Rentals: Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals | Veil + Headpiece: Jannie Baltzer

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Ma Maison Wedding + Event Venue

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A no-show sun didn’t stop the fun – or the beauty at this Texas wedding. Far from it to be exact; the Bride is beaming, her maids are magic and the florals are absolutely gorgeous, thanks to Color Theory Collective. Brittany Jean and Little Gray Films captured them in all their pretty pastel hued glory and we’re left wishing that we were actual guests at this al fresco fete. See more in our gallery right this way!

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From Brittany Jean Photography… Lauren and Kurt may have been married on a sun-less fall day, but you would have never known being surrounded by all the bright, beautiful pastel florals beautifully curated by Color Theory Collective all day! As soon as the ceremony ended the guests were ushered to Addison Grove’s newly concreted grove where they shared their first dance amongst their guests holding sparklers around them. It was truly magical. Kali with Kindle + Gather designed this wedding with an intentional approach – she created the layout to encourage guest mingling during the reception, which also provided a large dance floor for the guests to enjoy throughout the evening. It was truly the perfect evening celebrating these two with everyone they love!

Photography: Brittany Jean Photography | Videography: Graysen Cummings | Event Planning + Design: Kindle & Gather | Floral Design: Color Theory Collective | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Makeup Artist: Avery Allen Makeup | Calligraphy: The Boarding School Collective | DJ: Byrne Rock | Wedding Venue: Addison Grove | Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Ponceano Seoane | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Photo Booth: Oh Happy Day Booth | Rentals: Monarch Event Rentals

It’s official. Suspended floral installations are here to stay. Check out this masterpiece by Bouquets of Austin at this rustic, elegant fête planned by Pearl Events Austin. Dramatic and utterly gorgeous, it was the perfect complement for this equally memorable wedding, and we’re giving it two thumbs up. Scroll on to see all the floral goodness captured by Jenna McElroy.

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From the bride… Prior to our engagement, our relationship had taken us across the country, but when Alan finally popped the question, the decision to have our wedding in Austin brought everything full circle. Alan and I fell in love with Austin, and though life brought us to a new home in Louisville, Kentucky, the city of Austin still holds both of our hearts. Alan is from Cleveland, Ohio, and as a Captain in the Army Reserves, he had guests coming from all over the country and abroad. I was born and raised in Texas and had lived in Austin for 6 years before moving with Alan to Kentucky. I was just dying to show our friends and family from across the nation, including my family from Arkansas, just how extraordinary a Texas wedding can be!

We began by choosing our wedding planner, Jennifer Seals of Pearl Events. To say that Jen was our rock is an understatement! Working with Jen felt like working with my best friend who just so happened to know everything there ever was to know about weddings. She guided us through every step of the wedding planning process and made my dreams of an elegant and rustic downtown wedding a stunning reality!

When picking our venue, we knew we wanted something a little different than many of the incredible wedding venues Austin has to offer. With so many friends and family coming in from out of town, it was incredibly important to Alan and I that our guests actually got to experience Austin! And for us, there was no place better than right in the heart of downtown! We fell in love with Brazos Hall when we saw it. It was full of this gorgeous, raw beauty with exposed beams and brick with a beautiful open-air second story that really felt like it could be anything we wanted it to be.

We really wanted our wedding to feel intimate and special for our guests. Terra Vista Strings made our outdoor, second story ceremony feel so beautiful with a mixture of classical music and special songs Alan and I handpicked for each other. Bouquets of Austin created a gorgeous, floral and greenery, asymmetrical hanging arch as the backdrop for our ceremony. The beautiful flowers, greenery, and magnolia leaves perfectly framed our ceremony in the city we love without hiding it’s beauty.

We chose to do a family-style dinner because we really wanted to be able to take the time to enjoy a meal with all of our friends and family. The Royal Fig created an incredible menu that felt comforting and indulgent at the same time. The meal we shared with our guests felt so intimate and special, but it wouldn’t have been complete without our beautiful wedding cake and groom’s cake from Simon Lee Bakery! Just in case the guests forgot that they were in Texas, we also had honey butter chicken biscuits (one of my absolute favorite fast-food indulgences) as a late night treat!

Throwing an unforgettable party that our guests would enjoy was one of the most important things to Alan and me in planning our wedding, so finding the perfect band was a daunting task. Blind Date delivered in the most incredible way! They went above and beyond to make sure that the night fit us perfectly while also making sure that all of our guests were having the times of their lives! They learned two incredibly special songs for our reception and played many more of our favorites at our request. I had mentioned to them that we both love 90s music, but I quickly followed up that I wasn’t sure that our guests could really dance to that. They managed to play N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, and a host of others, basically making my 90s fan girl dreams come true! They made the night so incredibly special for us, and we didn’t leave the dance floor until the flower petals started flying!

Our dance floor was highlighted by a beautiful and enormous hanging structure of flowers, candles, and greenery crafted by the floral gurus at Bouquets of Austin. I really wanted something incredible to make the venue feel like ours. Rather than having tall centerpieces, I fell in love with the idea of displaying mountains of our gorgeous wine and blush flowers and greenery hanging across the room over our head table. Bouquets of Austin made all of my flower-loving dreams come true – and then some! – with the beautiful hanging floral structure (which I so lovingly nicknamed “Steve”) that they created for us.

To top off our reception, we were lucky enough to have Hannah Lee live-painting our reception! Our guests loved getting to watch her recreate our wedding reception in a painting from start to finish. She was able to encapsulate so many little details and so much love on one canvas that Alan and I will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Our wedding day was far beyond anything that we could have imagined for ourselves! To say that it was the best day of our lives feels like an understatement. The stunning photos we received from Jenna McElroy serve as a daily reminder of just how blessed and loved we are and just how much we love each other. The memories we made on that day will carry us through a lifetime, and we are so so incredibly lucky to have such beautiful photos to share with our loved ones who helped to make our wedding day so very special.

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Cinematography: Spinning Leaf Films | Event Planning: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin | Wedding Dress: Enaura Bridal | Cake: Simon Lee Bakery | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hayley Paige | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Hair + Makeup: Rae Cosmetics | Lighting: Ilios | Band: Blind Date | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Brazos Hall | Bar Rentals: Birch And Brass Rentals | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Lounge | Bride's Rings: Saxon Jewelers | Bridesmaid Dress Boutique: Bella Bridesmaid | Downstairs Draping: Unique Design & Events | Earrings: Nordstrom | Live Painter: Hannah Lee Art | Paper Design: The Inviting Pear | Rentals: Whim Hospitality | Upstairs Draping: Premiere Party Rents

Lavender and blackberry were the inspiration for this couple’s special day – but not just the color palette (although the hues sure do look pretty in the florals arranged by Lovely Leaves). These were also the tastes and smells prevalent throughout the celebration photographed by Jenna McElroy, and we can’t stop thinking, “How brilliant!” Now whenever the pair smell either lavender or blackberry, it brings them right back to their beautiful wedding day.

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From the bride… When Isaiah and I got engaged, our first task was to pick the date. We didn’t want a long engagement, but finding an available weekend was proving to be a scheduling difficulty. Our solution was to instead get married on a Monday! By doing this, I was able to scale back on the magnitude of the wedding day, while still pouring myself into those memorable details.

Being a wedding photographer myself, I already had a clear vision of what I wanted my day to look like and who I wanted to involve. I had been imagining my wedding day happening at La Rio Mansion ever since they opened. It’s such a romantic place and truly a unique venue in my little town of Belton, Texas.

My inspiration for the day was lavender and blackberry. I wanted to not only have those be the colors, but to be the tastes and the smells of the day as well. In keeping with the laid-back romance of the day, we were married a little before sunset and served dessert and espresso at our reception. Isaiah is an avid lover of coffee, so we knew that hiring our favorite local coffee company would be a must-have. One of my favorite details was the delicious lemon cupcakes with lavender icing topped with blackberries made by my dear friend, Dana. Anytime I smell or taste lavender now, it brings me right back to that day.

The jazz band created the perfect classy yet laid-back vibe that I wanted to capture at the reception. I studied music in college, and it was important to me to have real musicians entertain our guests.

One of my favorite moments of the day was our first look. So much tension and anticipation had built up inside of me all day, and I didn’t even realize it! As soon as Isaiah and I saw each other, all of that was released, and I felt like I was ready to get married. By doing a first look, we also lengthened the amount of time we were able to spend together with just our closest family and friends before all the guests arrived.

I’m so thankful to all of my vendors who brought my vision to life and created the most beautiful evening. Being able to celebrate our love with our family and friends was so special.

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Floral Design: Lovely Leaves | Invitations: Pine Nineteen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Azazie | Groomsmen's Attire: Combatant Gentlemen | Venue: La Rio Mansion | Espresso Bar: Amor Ciego | Film Scans: PhotoVision Prints | Rentals: Confetti Rentals

This wedding photographer has seen it all, so when planning her own day she knew exactly what she wanted – bold, bright, beautiful color! Clearly it was a fabulous choice, because we know we’re not the only ones obsessing over the way her red shoes and vibrant bouquet by Everly Alaine Florals pop in Allen Tsai’s photographs. And then there’s that gold foiled and floral printed cake by Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery…See it and more by pressing play on the film by Peyton Anne Frank below!

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From the bride… How does a wedding photographer design her own wedding? Color! I love bright, gorgeous bouquets full of color. Reds and pinks photograph so beautifully, and navy has always been a bold classic. When I thought of my wedding day palette, I imagined it just this way – classy, bright, modern, yet timeless.

Some of my favorite details (besides everything) were my stunning headpiece from Patsy’s Bridal, which added drama and style to my look, as well as anything floral that came from Leslie at Everly Alaine Florals. These flowers literally took my breath away and the bouquets – just wow!

Piece of advice to all brides: Anyone that has gotten married knows how quickly your wedding day flies by. After photographing over 300 myself, I knew that building time into our wedding timeline was going to be the most crucial part of how the story of the day would be told. Everyone wants these beautiful photos on their wedding day, but what brides don’t realize is how much time that takes on a real wedding day. My biggest advice to everyone is to get your makeup done way early. You may think you want those getting ready photos, but the most crucial part of the day where all your friends and family are with you goes quickly – so use your time wisely when it comes to what you actually cherish! Build more than just one hour into formals time with your husband and bridal party if you want stunners.

My favorite part of our day was watching my now-husband take a deep breath before I walked up to him during our first look. Although I didn’t realize it happened at that moment, seeing it in our wedding video and in the photos was really priceless to me. We opted to combine some modern and traditional elements when doing a first look. We decided to say private vows during this time so it still felt very special and intimate. I think this is a great way to go for a bride that’s maybe more traditional however wants to ensure she has enough time for photos on her wedding day, especially during the winter when the sunshine goes down much earlier than desired.

Overall, if you love your vendors’ work – let them do what they do best. When you have a team that rocks, your day will rock as well. This way, you can let go and enjoy! I am so thankful for our team of incredibly talented artists for making our day unforgettably beautiful.

From the Everly Alaine Florals… I wanted the flowers to have a playful vibe with bold and bright colors. Anna’s favorite flowers are coral charms, so I made sure she had plenty. The flowers had pops of bright pinks, coral, and red to match her shoes and the Coca Cola bottles. I wanted the flowers to be as colorful as Anna, although I knew they would pale in comparison to her beauty. She had lots of garden roses, scabiosa in multiple shades, dahlia, and peony. The staircase greenery was 100% foraged greenery with tiny red berries, which were the perfect find for her color palette. Anna picked the most perfect palette with bold shades of pinks and reds to pair with the deep and dusty shades of blue. As a wedding photographer, she has seen it all and knew what colors looked good together but weren’t overdone.

Photography: Allen Tsai Photography | Cinematography: Peyton Anne Frank | Event Styling: Silver Lining Events + Co. | Floral Design: Everly Alaine Florals | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture | Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets | Stationery: Bunny and Bear Paper | Jewelry: Patsy's Bridal | Hair + Makeup: Natalia Issa Hair and Makeup Artistry | DJ: Le Force Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Culwell & Son | Officiant: Love Notes | Venue: The White Sparrow | Bridal Boutique: Patsy's Bridal | Film Lab: Goodman Film Lab | Rentals: Posh Couture Rentals

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Petit Bouquet

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Prospect House is a bright white, modern space with a charming farmhouse feel, making it the perfect spot for this Texas celebration. Shiplap and lush greenery designed by Westcott Weddings and Clementine Botanical Art are paired with a wedding party dressed to the nines and and a simple and modern approach to celebrating all captured by Mint Photography. It’s redefining what we think of rustic.

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Stephanie and Matt got married on a beautiful fall evening in Dripping Springs, Texas. The couple had been together for many years and wanted an intimate elegant, yet modern celebration for their friends and family. There were so many beautiful details that came together to truly make this day a stunner. The modern feel and clean lines of Prospect House created a perfect all white backdrop. We decided to play up the space by adding lush greenery and touchs of delicate white blooms dispersed throughout. My favorite detail from the day had to be the main dining room. We dressed the tables in a simple and classic white linen from La Tavola, but really made the palcesetting stand out by choosing a slate gray diner plate with a beautiful black and white striped napkin. We placed a sprig of resoemary on each seat with a simple, delicate place card. Another favorite detail from this day was the bold, modern, clean invitiaon suite from Boarding School Collective. Black and white with an infusion of green was simple, yet personal details such as the little monogram wax seal and emerald green thread paried with a vellum overlay kept it special. Mint photography did a wonderful job capturing all of the beauty of this day. Many thanks to all of the vendors that made this day happen. Congrats to the newly Mr. And Mrs. McClendon…. Such an honor to work on their special day with them!

Photography: Mint Photography | Event Design + Planning: Westcott Weddings | Florist: Clementine Botanical Art | Invitations: The Boarding School Collective | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Wedding Venue: Prospect House | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: 10th Collections

If you love the water but your big day is happening a bit further inland, you can still bring a little piece of the sea into your celebration. For this couple’s anniversary session at a lovely, Spanish-inspired La Rio Mansion, this beach-loving duo had Taylor Bible Weddings create a seashore vibe using clean white china and pops of gorgeous, pale blue along with incorporating sea glass and oyster shell accents. Lovely Leaves Floral Design tied it all together, and the resulting gallery captured by Hannah Haston Photography is sweeping us off our feet.

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From Lovely Leaves Floral Design… Taylor and Tevin are the absolute sweetest couple! They married last year in a Texas Hill Country vineyard, but they love the beach, and so this was perfect for their one year anniversary. It’s not often that we get to plan a styled shoot with a theme for real couple. The day was so much fun and completely perfect.

La Rio Mansion is located in the small town they now call home. The venue was selected for its stunning stone architecture. Hannah Haston captured the most beautiful emotion on film that they will forever cherish, commemorating their first year.

Colors were a very pale blue with a lovely mix of neutrals. Florals included white dahlias, anemones, cosmos, veronica and delphiniums with the perfect amount of petite spray roses. We love to infuse weddings with greenery – southern smilax, ivy, and maiden hair fern are some of our favorites.

Taylor Bible Weddings used clean white china with silver flatware and layered fabrics on the table — a sheer with unfinished edges over a pale blue linen. For brides who dream of days on the beach, sea glass and oyster shells are ethereal accents, which offer a way to incorporate the place they love into their special days. Gold rimmed sea glass glasses in addition to sea glass bottles and oyster shells galore tied in some of Taylor’s favorite things about the beach.

Taylor’s gown came from Georgio’s Bridal, one of our favorite boutiques nestled in the heart of Waco. The soft tulle and lace appliqués tied in with the romantic feel. Her shoes were to-die-for. I love wedding booties, and these white gems were fabulous. Her hair was wind blown and magical, and her makeup was clean and natural, with the help of Southern Belles Beauty.

No anniversary would be complete without a chilled bottle of champagne, so we picked them up a beautiful bottle from one of their favorite local restaurants.

Photography: Hannah Haston Photography | Event Design: Taylor Bible Weddings | Floral Design: Lovely Leaves | Cake: Lily's Cakes | Reception Venue: La Rio Mansion | Hair + Makeup: Southern Belles Beauty | Calligraphy: test | Bridal Boutique: Georgio's Bridal | Champagne: Pignetti's Italian Restaurant | Rentals: Confetti Rentals

For their wedding, this couple imagined themselves toasting champagne while dancing the night away under the stars, surrounded by beautiful works of art and the ones they loved most. With the expert assistance of Ivory and Vine Event Co., that’s exactly what they did at their Nasher Sculpture Center nuptials photographed by Stephanie Brazzle! No detail was overlooked by their world-class vendor team including Something Pretty Floral, La Tavola, Scribbles and Swirls Calligraphy, and more, and you can see all the lovely details in the film by Jonathan Mayfield.

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From Ivory and Vine Event Co.… Ashley and Jonathan met in class at Texas Christian University, and after a year of flirting and friendship, they grew inseparable and knew that they’d end up together. After a few years of dating, they were engaged, and Ashley began planning their dream wedding day. They pictured themselves toasting champagne and dancing the night away with their families and friends, under the stars, surrounded by beautiful works of art – and that’s exactly what they did!

Ashley and Hono were married at Perkins Chapel with a wedding reception at Nasher Sculpture Center. Ashley envisioned a classic, southern wedding with just a touch of french country and used her color palette of ivory, blush, lavender, and gray to thread a common theme of timeless elegance through every element of her wedding. Ashley juxtaposed the modern, clean lines of the Nasher Sculpture Garden with wild, organic floral arrangements from Something Pretty Floral and accented her decor with silk ribbon, gold metallics, and textured linens from La Tavola. Her photographer, Stephanie Brazzle, captured each vignette through the medium of film and beautifully told the story of a night filled with excellent food, drink, and music. It was an unforgettable night under the stars.

Photography: Stephanie Brazzle Photography | Cinematography: Jonathan Mayfield Media | Event Planning: Ivory & Vine Event Co. | Floral Design: Something Pretty Floral | Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza | Cake: Panini Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Perkins Chapel | Reception Venue: Nasher Sculpture Center | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering | Hair + Makeup: Maitee Miles | Calligraphy: Scribbles And Swirls | DJ: Le Force Entertainment | Transportation: Dallas Limousine | Hotel: The Joule | Bridal Boutique: Arte Latica | Bridesmaids' Dresses Boutique: Brideside | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Fauxcades | Rentals : Marquee Event Rentals

Choose a single metallic and stick with it throughout your wedding. That’s the deal, right? Wrong! Say goodbye to previous held notions and say hello to chic, modern metallics. We’re talking mixing and matching to your heart’s desire. Gold goes with brass, copper is the next up-and-coming color star (we’re calling it now) and to bring it all together, add in fabulous florals from Lovely Leaves. Need some visual reinforcements? Look no further than this gallery from Dani Cowan. Pretty amazing, right?

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From Lovely Leaves… The Phoenix Ballroom is one of our favorite Waco venues located downtown near the Magnolia Silos and minutes from the Brazos River and historic Waco Suspension Bridge. This area of the city offers a rich culture and thriving atmosphere. We never miss the opportunity to style something wonderful in this space.

Taylor Bible Weddings choose the beautiful clean canvas for her indoor ceremony site and we framed our Andrew and Eden with thick, lush greenery. Romantic taper candles in brass candlesticks and copper pedestals were added finishing the look with wooden vineyard chairs. Our reception inspiration was set outdoors for a relaxed feel. Tabletop decor was composed of pale silver dupioni silk linens paired with creamy ivory napkins, gold rimmed chargers and gold flatware. Details included copper mercury glass votives, brass candlesticks and river rocks hand-written in calligraphy by K. Dunks Creative, a Waco native. Ranunculus have a sweet, romantic feel because of their high petal count and perfect round shape. We choose a larger variety for added impact and could not have been more pleased. Greenery included a mix of maiden hair fern, fresh mint and English ivy. Stationery was hand-written in gold accented with pale silver silk tying in with the table decor. Moscow Mules are perfect for any mixed metal affair because of the copper mugs. The cake featured stone marbling with a light cascade of ranunculus.

Eden’s hair was pulled back, and styled with beautiful, romantic curls and the most delicate brass hair pins. The mermaid gown she wore was detailed in a criss-crossed pattern with lace and a sweetheart neckline. Andrew wore a classic, black tuxedo for a timeless, elegant feel. We loved his unshaven face adding a bit of a rustic tone perfect for downtown. Dani Cowan never ceases to amaze with her gorgeous film images capturing the sweet emotions between couples.

Photography: Dani Cowan Photography | Event Design: Taylor Bible Weddings | Floral Design: Lovely Leaves | Wedding Dress: Georgio's Bridal | Cake: Lily's Cakes | Ceremony Venue: The Phoenix Ballroom | Calligraphy: test | Beauty: Be You Tiful Salon | Rentals: Confetti Rentals

They may be New Yorkers now but this Bride and Groom are true Texans at heart. Great mexican food and an unbridled love for The Cowboys put them on the path to everlasting love and when it came time for wedding planning, the location was a no brainer. Held at The Contemporary Austin, this outdoor celebration designed by 36th Street Events and floraled by Sweetwater Stems, is a mix of easy breezy neutrals and a nod to Midsummer Night’s Dream. Pore through every last gorgeous image photographed by Brett Heidebrecht right here.

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From theBride… Spencer and I are native Texans so it seemed only appropriate to get married back home. We’re both originally from Dallas and we also separately attended The University of Texas at Austin so, needless to say, both cities hold a special place in our hearts. Now, I suppose we are New Yorkers but having that instant connection, those down-home Texas roots, was really instrumental in getting to know each other. You can imagine how nice it was to be with someone who understood things like . . . Texas football, good Mexican food and Bluebell Ice Cream. Plus, we’re both Cowboys fans living in New York City, so that immediately shot-gunned us to the realms of everlasting love.

All that said, it was important to us that we get married where our families raised us – in The Lone Star State. The question became “where”? As any bride, I wanted our wedding to be beautiful and timeless, but we also wanted to make it convenient for our family and friends who would be traveling from all across the country. We chose Austin, which was always high on my list because of it’s laid back feel. The City also catered to the intimacy we were seeking. It didn’t take long for us to settle on Laguna Gloria, an outpost of The Contemporary Austin, just minutes from downtown and serenely situated on Lake Austin. After visiting the site, I knew immediately it was the perfect fit. I love old historical buildings and Spencer really wanted to be outdoors; so it’s lush sculpture gardens and winding secret pathways nestled along the lake made the perfect backdrop for our intimate affair. Choosing The Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria made the rest of the planning process easy. Spencer and I just wanted an evening under the Texas stars, eating good food, drinking good drink and spending quality time family and friends. Of course, great music and a boppin’ dance floor was important, too!

I had the help of a superstar wedding coordinator, Ren Newey from 36th Street Events. I told her my vision which included words like “ethereal” and “whimsical” and “midsummer night’s dream” – and gave her a gentle color palette of whites and off-whites that would enhance and not compete with the venue’s natural setting and flora. We also chose to tip our hat to my Mexican heritage from my father’s side by serving family-style Mexican cuisine. Ren executed all of this to perfection. She worked with my budget (which I loosened in some areas and buttoned up in others) and helped me secure a fantastic caterer and team of wedding vendors.

On our wedding day, I woke up to torrential rain and whipping winds (every bride’s biggest fear, especially for an outdoor wedding). Yet somehow, I knew everything was going to okay. I was getting married! And I was surrounded by my closest friends and bridesmaids who were keeping me cool and making me laugh as we got ready for the big day. And sure enough, by late morning, the clouds parted, the sun was shining and we were off to the races. My bridesmaids wore various styles of blush/nude colored silk chiffon gowns and my flower girl, also my future step-daughter, wore a simple white play dress adorned with rosettes at the waist. The grooms all wore navy suits including Spencer’s best man, his eleven year-old son.

Spencer and I chose not to do a “first look” with photographs before the ceremony, so the first moment we saw each other was when I walked down the aisle making it all the more joyful. We were both completely filled with emotion. Our ceremony was held in the late afternoon and was presided over by a Presbyterian minister, who we chose not only because of his long-standing relationship with my grandparents, but because we trusted him to perform a beautiful interfaith marriage. He incorporated aspects of each of our faiths mixing in traditions from both Catholic and Jewish ceremonies. (I’m Catholic and Spencer is Jewish). This was not only important to us but it was important to both of our families. To end the ceremony and commence the celebration my siblings surprised us with a mariachi band, secretly replacing the originally planned string quartet. This brought the house down, putting huge smiles on our faces and everyone else’s around us. It also set the tone for a great evening, kicking off with a cocktail hour featuring tacos, a queso/guacamole bar and ice-cold margaritas, and followed by chili rellanos, spinach and mushroom enchiladas, chili rubbed beef tenderloin and plenty of traditional sides for dinner. After dinner, we cut the cake and danced for hours on end to Motown music from the Matchmaker Band. It was truly a night to remember.

Brett Heidebrecht did an incredible job photographing our wedding weekend – from the Friday night honkey tonk hoedown to our wedding night beneath the Texas sky. He perfectly captured the essence of those days, the emotions and the joy. We cannot thank him, Ren and the rest of the team enough for making it an extraordinary affair and we are so grateful for our loving family and friends who were there to be a part of it all.

Photography: Brett Heidebrecht Photography | Videographer: Gentry Faith | Floral Design: Sweetwater Stems | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Cake: Quacks Bakery | Ceremony Venue: The Contemporary Austin | Catering: Pink Avacado | Hair & Makeup: Gertie Murray | Lighting: Ilios | Band: Matchmaker Band | Officiant: Rev Dr. Bruce Buchanan | Ceremony Music: Live Oak Trio | After Party Dress: Nina Ricci | Alcohol: Spec's | Chairs: Compass | Getting Ready: Four Seasons Austin | Invitations and Day of Paper: Kings Scribe | Planning & Design: 36th Street Events | Rentals & Tenting: Whim Hospitality | Shuttles: Chariot

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With a four month engagement, you might need to lower your expectations in regards to design and decor. There just simply isn’t enough time to go big and bold and beautiful, right? WRONG. Heavenly Day Events took this Bride-to-be’s four month engagement and ran with it… and delivered tenfold. From the florals to the reception details, this al fresco Texas wedding defies those expectations and then some. Sarah Kate captured it all, creating a gallery 100% worth diving into – start right here then check out the video by Ladybird Studios!

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From the Bride… When Erik proposed, we knew we didn’t want to wait long to get married and it was the BEST decision we made. I tend to be very Type A, which I think helped us doing it so quickly. Not only did I want to hurry and get things checked off our wedding planning list, but since it was a four month engagement, I didn’t have time to re-think everything and keep trying to do things differently.

Everything worked out just the way it was supposed to. Our dream team came together beautifully. Hailey, at Heavenly Day Events, recommended Rosemary Catering and I cannot begin to tell you how delicious the food was and how easy it was working with them! Numerous guests told me that it was the best wedding food they have ever had. Hailey and Rosemary’s took over all the details since I was an out of town bride. My whole wedding was planned with one trip to Austin and came together better than I could have imagined. I believe this all was possible because of Heavenly Day Events… they have a great working relationship with the vendors so it made it pretty painless to pull everything together (thanks Hailey!!!).

We wanted our wedding to be a laid back, fun experience for our guests. When we saw Laguna Gloria, we knew this would be the perfect setting as it gives you the ability to take your guests on an adventure. We were able to have our ceremony in an area with the most beautiful backdrop, send our guests on a short walk to a beautiful area under a gazebo for cocktail hour, then on another short walk to the reception – this allowed them to look at everything Laguna Gloria has on their grounds so they can enjoy where they are currently, without the desire to see what else is on the property.

My biggest planning tip to future brides is to pick where you want to spend your money and go with that – for us, we chose to spend it on FUN and to let our guests know how much we appreciated them traveling to celebrate Erik and I. I didn’t spend a fortune on my dress, as I knew that I would only wear that once and I was able to find my dream dress with my dream price tag. We put that money towards Sarah Kate (world’s BEST photographer in my humble opinion), a great venue, great food and drinks, and great music… things we will always remember. Our whole goal was to make the wedding an amazing experience for our guests, which is why it was easy to listen to Hailey. I knew I had the perfect team and they were in my corner.

Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer | Videography: Ladybird Studios | Event Planning: Heavenly Day Events | Floral Design: Wild Bunches | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Reception Venue: Laguna Gloria | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Rings: Bachendorf's | Catering: Rosemary's Catering | Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Lighting: Ilios | Band: Taylor Pace Orchestra | Groom's Attire: Isaia | Officiant: Short and Sweet Weddings | Earrings: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Rentals: Birch And Brass Rentals | Rentals: Mancino Iron Works | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals

Inspired by the blue doors found throughout Tuscany, this Texas editorial created by Southern Affairs Weddings + Events at Le San Michele will transport you directly to the Mediterranean. We’re talking a bride wearing an effortlessly romantic gown from Lovely Bride Dallas and drool-worthy lace shoes from Bella Belle, some of the most gorgeous stationery we’ve ever seen courtesy of Seniman Calligraphy, and a tablescape that captures Tuscany’s quintessential rustic look thanks to La Tavola Fine Linen Rental and Bella Acento. See all of this brought to life through the lens of Allen Tsai Photography in the full gallery, and you’ll be singing, “Vita bella.”