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Elegant Winter Wedding in Hill Country

Texas Hill Country weddings are some of the prettiest you will ever see; that’s a fact.  But take a gorgeous peach and mint hued beauty and set it against the stunning Ma Maison and it’s an entirely new level of awesome.  Think lush blooms from Bella By Sara, stunning mismatched maids and an entire gallery of lovely captured by Mint Photography.  Join me there for more 

From Mint PhotographyBrooke and Daniel’s winter wedding took place at one of the most beautiful venues in the Texas Hill Country, Ma Maison. It seamlessly blends elegance with nature and we couldn’t adore it more.

Brooke and Daniel’s wedding style was chic with soft tones, and with the beautiful light we had on this winter day, it couldn’t have photographed more beautifully! Their wedding also took place on 12-13-14 which is pretty cool if we do say so ourselves!

Photography: Mint Photography | Coordination: Oh Henry Events | Floral Design: Bella By Sara | Reception Venue: Ma Maison Wedding + Event Venue

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Romantic Texas Winter Wedding

Let me just start by saying the florals in this wedding blew me away. RLove Floral, you knocked the ball out of the park with those beautiful bouquets. But, ladies and gents, that’s only the tip of the beauty iceberg that is this stunning Texas wedding. Thankfully, Tucker Images was behind the lens so we didn’t miss a minute of the pretty, and you can see it all here. 

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From photographer Tucker Images … Josiah and Alex’s wedding day could not have been more beautiful! Winter in Texas you just never know but it was a perfect 75 degree day with warm sun and perfect conditions. Alex GLOWED in her gown by Bliss Bridal and all day long Josiah just kept asking when he would finally get to see his bride. Their first look was a dream. He cried. She giggled. And they shared a dance and a sweet kiss or two. Raquel at RLove Floral made the most gorgeous floral design that made the soft gray bridesmaids dresses really pop. It was all pulled together by the most talented Jen Rios. Her vision was perfectly executed and everything from the hand written scroll for the seating chart to the glorious centerpieces flecked with gold and sparkle was a dream to shoot!

Photography: Tucker Images | Videography: Mnemonic Films | Coordination: Jen Rios Weddings | Floral Design: R Love Floral | Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets | Hair And Makeup: Beauty And The Blush | Calligraphy: Ginny Ryan | Ceremony & Reception: The Orchard | Paper Suite: Val Marie Paper

SMP Southwest Welcomes Our Advertisers

To usher in the weekend, we’ve got a whole lot of pretty up our sleeves thanks to Stevee Danielle Hair and Makeup. For the past five years, these hair + make up gurus have been bringing the salon directly to brides and their ladies. With an incredible staff that trains weekly on bridal specific styles + makeup looks, you can rest assured that you’ll be looking your best on your big day!

Available 24/7,  Stevee Danielle Hair and Makeup with do their magic in their studio or on location (with no traveling fees!). They use the best brands (MAC + Dinair for airbrush) and make sure you and your ladies are looking gorgeous! Head over here for more info and to book your big day.

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Welcome to the family, Stevee!  We are so excited to have you! xo

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Whimsical Spring Wedding Inspiration

Nothing says spring quite like lush florals and pretty pastels, and this slice of stunning is filled with plenty of both. Jessica Gold Photography captured beautiful bouquets, fancy floral crowns, and gorgeous BHLDN gowns, all in a gallery I’m sure to revisit time and time again, here!

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From Jessica Gold Photography… As winter comes to an end, this shoot had us dreaming of spring! First, we love the neutral tones displayed through the details. Between the blush, golds, greys, and other colors, we adore the palette that brings the feeling of a spring wedding. This is seen through the bridal party fashion, invitation suite, shoes, accessories, and more! As for the tablescape, we love the wood and mismatching chairs accented with simple greenery for chair backs. As for the display of the table, we have a simple beige table runner, candle holders, and a lush centerpiece. The centerpiece is the eye-catcher of the table, complimented by other details. For each table setting, we love a personalized menu for each guest, tied with a ribbon and some greenery! And as for the china and wineglasses, gold is never out of style! To continue with gold, we love the gold wedding cake! What better way to celebrate a spring wedding than with a gorgeous floral-accented gold wedding cake?! The florals absolutely take our breath away; nothing says spring like lush and gorgeous florals! We love the use of peonies, tulips, and greenery to fill the floral arrangements. As for the bridal style, we love the blush wedding dress and grey bridesmaids dresses to finish the look! To finish the bride’s look, her gold hair pins accent her elegant bun and bring together her ethereal look. As for the bridesmaids, what else says spring other than beautiful floral crowns?!

Photography: Jessica Gold Photography | Florals: Bristol Lane Florals | Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Hair Stylist: Propaganda Hair group | Venue: Le San Michele | Bride's Dress: BHLDN | Floral Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Hair Accessories: BHLDN | Paper: Magnolia Tree Paperie | Rentals: Birch And Brass Rentals | Table Ribbon: FrouFrou Chic

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Classic Hill Country Wedding

This beautiful day?  It’s gorgeous.  The kind of gorgeous that can only be planned by the talented In Style Weddings & Destinations and features one of the sweetest love stories you’ll ever read.  Think two young loves going their separate ways, only to be reunited years later over a song and a memory.  It’s a fairytale beginning to what is sure to be an epic love story. See it all captured by Amanda Hartfield right here and the sweet film from Jacob Bondesen below.

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From the Bride… Bradley and I both were born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. We met when I was seventeen, a senior in high school, and he was one year into college. His little brother and I were friends, which brought me to his parents’ house one Super Bowl Sunday. We dated a couple years and into my sophomore year of college, and then went our separate ways. Our paths took us in different directions as I eventually moved to Denver, Colorado and he stayed in our home town and worked on starting his own business. He was at a Texas country concert and heard a song that reminded him of me. The next day, he called me. It was like we were never apart. Soon after, we made plans to meet in Austin for dinner. Our relationship was rekindled and less than nine months later he proposed while visiting me over Valentine’s Day weekend in Denver.

This ultimately brought me back to Texas where we spent several months planning our long-awaited wedding (I had wanted to marry him since we first met). We wanted our wedding to reflect our journey and crooked path toward our special love story. We decided that it was only appropriate that we get married standing underneath Texas Oak Trees in the Hill Country right outside of San Antonio. We got married on the seventeenth, the age I fell in love with Bradley. Lost Mission was the timeless venue we had been looking for. We also had Texas Country singer Jeffrey Charles play an acoustic set at our cocktail hour. Music had been such a large part of our relationship and we knew it helped tell our story.

Since Colorado was the backdrop of much of our “falling back in love” moments, we knew we had to incorporate it in our wedding. We picked (biodegradable) fake snow as our send off, which was one of my favorite moments of the night. Seeing all of our family and friends waving goodbye and sending farewells, was such a huge moment for us. We walked with gratitude as each guest played such an important role in our love story.

Photography: Amanda Hartfield | Videographer: Jacob Bondesen | Wedding Coordinator: In Style Weddings and Destinations | Florist: Amanda Masson | Wedding Cake: Cakes And More | Catering: Absolutely Delicious | Wedding Venue: Lost Mission | Cocktail Hour Music: Jeffrey Charles

Terradorna Bridal Session Drenched in Natural Light

Of all the moments woven into a wedding day, it’s the quiet getting ready captures that make me weak in the knees. A beautiful woman being transformed into a Bride just hits my heart the right way. And in between all those layers of flirty fabric and soft curls lives an undeniable anticipation, which Mint Photography completely encompassed in this Terradorna session. It’s dreamy and downright gorgeous, to say the least.

From Mint PhotographyThis styled bridal session was inspired by the beautiful Lazaro gown we got our hands on from Serendipity Bridal. We wanted to keep the look of the session clean and light filled, just highlighting the intricacy of the dress and the beautiful accessories by Olivia Nelson. We’re obsessed with neutral walls and window light so we loved that Terradorna had the perfect spot to capture images like this. We love the idea that a bridal session can be kept minimal but still insanely beautiful.

Photography: Mint Photography | Wedding Gown: Serendipity Bridal | Venue: TerrAdorna | Accessories: Olivia Nelson | Design/Coordinating: Pink Parasol Designs And Coordinating | Film Scans: Richard Photo Lab | Hair/Makeup: Adore Makeup Salon | Model: Anna Terry

Classic Stonehouse Villa Wedding

This wedding is gorgeous; drop-dead gorgeous, actually.  But behind all of the breathtaking details is an amazing story that will make your heart happy.  It’s two sweeties saying “I do” in classic Texas style with a sweet surprise from the groom’s family, all overseen by the lovely Sarah Reed from Let’s Do It Vows.  Soak in all of the pretty captured by Al Gawlik here, and the sweet film from Photohouse Films below. 

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From Let’s Do It Vows… Rosalyn, an American, and Christian, a Swede, were originally married in his home country. However, they wanted to also have a wedding in Texas, so they could celebrate with their US friends. Due to various factors, Christian’s family couldn’t attend the Texan ceremony (or so he thought!). The couple thoughtfully planned all the details, and Rosalyn planned one more … to surprise Christian by flying his family over to join in the celebration. The ceremony was going as planned, when mid-way through, Christian’s two brothers and their families entered, surprising everyone (except the bride and a select few who were “in the know”) and bringing the bride and groom, and many other guests, to tears! This wedding was a perfect illustration of a beautiful bride’s generosity and a couple’s love for each other and their family. Watch the amazing video for the full story!

Photography: Al Gawlik Photography | Videographer: Photohouse Films | Coordination: In Her Shoes Coordination | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: Bride's Table | Catering: Dessert Divas | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | DJ: Look No Further Entertainment | Officiant: LET’S DO IT VOWS | SARAH REED, OFFICIANT | Venue: Stonehouse Villa | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Kay Unger | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Paper Crown | Groom’s And Groomsmen Suits: Bonobos | Musicians: Musical Discovery Chamber Players

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Neutral La Rio Mansion Wedding Inspiration

If today’s styled engagement shoot from Mint Photography had you blushing, then you’re going to be head over heels for this neutral wedding goodness set at La Rio Mansion. I mean, these shoes?? Gahhh. And Blush Bridal Lounge provided the prettiest gowns to pair perfectly with them. Take a peek before you head off into the weekend, loves!

From Mint PhotographyWe styled this “wedding day” at one of the newest venues in Belton – La Rio Mansion. We wanted to highlight everything this venue had to offer – from the beautiful spanish inspired architecture to the abundance of gorgeous nature surrounding the property! I mean how perfect is the sunset behind the “ceremony tree”?! The sun could not set in a better spot at this amazing location! We wanted to keep the color scheme light and minimal, providing just enough color to pop off of the whites and greens in the location itself. We love how the images came out and we can’t wait for brides to start booking their wedding day at La Rio Mansion!

Photography: Mint Photography | Event Coordination: VIVID Events | Floral Design: Lovely Leaves | Wedding Dress: Blush Bridal Lounge | Cakes: Lily's Cakes | Stationery: Studio W Designs | Hair Stylist: Victoria Taylor | Hair And Makeup: Kimberly Cutler | Vintage Car: Antique Limos Of Austin | Venue: La Rio Mansion | Film Scans: Richard Photo Lab | Linens: Marquee Event Rentals | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Vintage Rentals: Furbish Vintage Rentals

La Rio Mansion Styled Engagement Session

We’ve got quite the treat for you on the LBB Blog today, SMPers—not one, but two shoots from Mint Photography set at the gorgeous La Rio Mansion. To say I’ve been excited to share these beauties with you all week is quite the understatement. First up, we’ve got this engagement sesh complete with a Hayley Paige dress from Blush Bridal Lounge. Stay tuned for the wedding shoot this afternoon!

From Mint PhotographyThis engagement session was styled to highlight the property of the new gorgeous Belton venue – La Rio Mansion. We took one of our real couples and dressed them up in a short Hayley Paige dress and vintage YSL jacket. The pale pink and navy blue popped perfectly off of the lush green backdrops that this property offers. Not to mention the navy blue blending perfectly with the spanish tiles the property also boasts. We love the light that came in – just in the perfect hazy amount – to warm up this beautiful winter day.

Photography: Mint Photography | Dress: Blush Bridal Lounge | Venue: La Rio Mansion | Film Scans: Richard Photo Lab | Hair/Makeup: Kimberly Cutler

Garden Inspired Austin Wedding

This, my friends, is the kind of wedding I live for: a laid-back, yet totally sophisticated affair that is equal parts sooo fun and sooo pretty.  From the beautiful blooms from Rosehip Flora to the garden-inspired loveliness crafted by Beau Tied Events (masters, I tell you) to that oh-so-cool Austin charm.  In other words?  It’s pure perfection… and the gallery from Kat Bevel?  As awesome as you think.  

From The Bride… Jeff and I began planning just over four months before our wedding day. When we started planning, all we knew was the location: Austin, Texas, where we met twelve years ago. Beyond that, we knew we wanted to keep things simple and fun, which for us meant focusing on things we love: food, music, and our wonderful family and friends.

Because we were planning a wedding in Austin from our home in San Francisco and we had both a short time frame and a strict budget, we knew we needed help, which is where our wedding planner, Kathlee Akers, came to the rescue. She listened to my stream of ideas and helped us plan a wedding that was beautiful, intimate, elegant, and completely true to our somewhat quirky personalities.

Within a month, we had booked the perfect venue, the Palm Door, in the heart of downtown Austin, and had found Erin at Rosehip Flora, who would transform the Palm Door into the indoor garden of my dreams. Pink Avocado, Palm Door’s in-house catering team, wowed us from our first tasting through the wedding day.

Our ceremony was brief but personal: we asked three of the people most dear to us to perform readings of poems that we love, then exchanged vows we had written ourselves and stored in our pockets as we walked up the aisle. We spent the rest of the evening eating, drinking, dancing, and talking to guests who had traveled to the heat of Texas in August from as far as London and Mozambique. Our close friend Will stepped in as our DJ and played songs that we love from the minute the ceremony started until we left for the night. Jeff and I managed a first dance without falling down and then, in lieu of the traditional father daughter dance, my father played “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead, which we sang together.

When Kat Bevel sent us the pictures of our wedding, I promptly burst into tears because they so perfectly captured our wedding day and the love that we felt for each other and our family and friends.

Unless you have unlimited time and unlimited resources, planning a wedding alone is impossible. My best advice is to find people you trust, whether friends and family or a wedding planner, and let them help you make decisions, especially for things you don’t feel strongly about.

Photography: Kat Bevel Photography | Event Planner: Beau Tied Events | Florist: Rosehip Flora | Wedding Dress: J.Crew | Cake: Sweet Treets Bakery | Catering: Pink Avocado | Calligraphy: Carolyn Jane | Wedding Venue: Palm Door | Rentals: Premiere Events | Stylist: Method Salon | Vintage Rentals: Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals

1920s Inspired Bridal Session

There are bridal sessions, and then there is this stunning masterpiece captured by the ever-talented Jeanann Wilkinson, which takes everything you l.o.v.e about these intimate shoots and kicks it up a notch with a breathtaking bouquet from Statue Of Design, a lovely lace gown from Elie Saab and one of the prettiest brides you will ever see (truly).  Soak in every 1920’s-inspired moment right here.

From Jeanann Wilkinson… This Bridal Session was designed by the photographer Jeanann Wilkinson of J Wilkinson Co. It started with the design of the wedding gown selected by a fantastic stylist, Mike Rodriguez.  The dress was designed by Ellie Saab, the 1920’s hair design was created by Erin McReynolds at Twirl Salon and the Make-up was by Jade, also at Twirl.  The shoes were by Reve Caviola and the bouquet was created by David Garcia of Statue of Design.

Our session had to be taken at our 1909 Historic Landmark Luxery Hotel, The St. Anthony, in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Our Bride Kati Trautman is having her wedding in the peacock alley of this lovely hotel on March 21, 2015.

Photography: J Wilkinson Co Fine Art Photography | Florist: Statue of Design | Wedding Dress: Elie Saab | Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Makeup: Erin McReynolds | Hair: Erin McReynolds | Luxery Hotel: The St. Anthony Hotel

Austin Engagement Session at Le San Michele

I’m pretty sure that when Andy Barnhart set out to find the perfect location to shoot these two lovebirds, he nailed it with this gem known as Le San Michele. With a slightly Mediterranean vibe, but rooted to the Southwest, it served as the sweetest backdrop to let Kim and Will’s love shine. Take a peek at the colorful, happy gallery for more.

From Andy Barnhart PhotographyI recently traveled to Austin, TX for Kim and Will’s engagement session. I was scouting possible locations online before the trip. When I came across photos of Le San Michele, my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe this venue was in Texas! The farmhouse and the fountains on the property looked like it could be in Italy, or somewhere along the Mediterranean. Although, the shoot was in January, the warm Texas sun gave us a Spring-like day, and the property shined with beautiful agave and cactus throughout. Then, we went to the park where Will proposed to Kim while on her morning run with their two dogs. We finished the shoot with a beautiful evening stroll along the river, with the Austin skyline as the backdrop. Can’t wait for their wedding in Colorado this August!

Photography: Andy Barnhart Photography | Wedding Venue: Le San Michele

Modern Tribal Nursery Tour

This unique twist on the traditional boy nursery is trading baby blue for black and white with a dash of turquoise and print. Mom and interior designer Elizabeth Mollen crafted a modern tribal nursery like you wouldn’t believe. All at once vibrant and cool, this space is perfect for parents who error on the side of fabulous design. See the full tour captured by Kimberly Brooke Photographic right here.

Location: Austin, Texas

Colors: Black, White, Charcoal Gray, Seafoam Green, Turquoise, Carmel Brown, Gold

Vibe: I wanted to create a cool space for my son’s nursery without using the typical baby boy blue. We will be spending a lot of time in this room so it had to be an inspiring place full of bold choices + colors. It was important to incorporate a mix of modern and vintage furniture. The changing table is a mid-century modern vintage dresser that we converted. When the diaper wearing days are over we can remove the changing pad and he will have a one of a kind piece in his big boy room. The brass table lamp + ceiling pendant were also vintage finds. The wallpaper is a favorite. I decided on a colorful graphic Ikat print by Lindsay Cowles. The colors were then incorporated into the custom pillows used for the daybed + artwork. I fell in love with Brooklyn based artist Jenna Snyder Phillips’ chief prints. We had one custom made for the nursery using the colors of the wallpaper. It is also something that can be used later on.

Photography: Kimberly Brooke Photographic | Brass Table Lamp: Vintage | Crib : DucDuc New York | Custom Chief Print: Jenna Snyder Phillips | Custom Feather Wall Hanging: Kristen Leigh Baker | Day Bed: West Elm | Glider: West Elm | Interior Design: Elizabeth Mollen / Interiors By Stone Textile | Metal Arrow: Nannie Inez | Pillows : Stone Textile Studio | Rug: Loloi Rugs | Texas Wood Art: Hemlock + Heather | Wallpaper: Lindsay Cowles | Window Fabric + Pillows: Eskayel

Elegant Pastel Wedding in Mansfield, Texas

For those fond of fairytales, this next pastel pretty is for you. A garden ceremony bursting with Bella Flora Of Dallas beauties, Aristide Event Center ensured every detail was downright dreamy. From the Bride’s custom gowns to the homegrown rosemary placed on plates (from the couple’s garden), Heather Hawkins captured their whimsical fete and it’s all waiting for you here!

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From Heather HawkinsI am eager to share this adorable Texas wedding with you! 

From the beautiful Bride… My husband and I were together for 8 years before tying the knot. Even now I still can’t believe that I married my first love, and we both are still head over heels in love with each other. He is my best friend, my soul mate, my movie nights buddy, my travel companion, and the love of my life. I transitioned from a teenager to an adult with a real career with him by my side all along, and I owe all my blessings and success to my husband.

We wanted our wedding day to be as intimate and personal as possible. Our wedding, to me, is like a fairy tale come true. I am the bride who wants to spell her name on every single aspect of her wedding, and to say that I was stressing out the couple months leading up to the wedding is an understatement! However, everything that I visioned came together perfectly and even beyond what I imagined. I wanted my wedding to be romantic and elegant with a color palette of blush pink, white, ivory, green, and touches of gold. All of my dresses were custom made, and I was so fortunate to be able to assist with the designing and making process. My veil was my “something borrowed” from my older sister, who was also my maid of honor. My sister also hand-sewed all the flower girl dresses, and together we hand picked the fabrics and tulle. The flowers on the cake were phenomenally placed and designed by the groom’s best man. The rosemary on the plate setting was close to my heart because most of them were actually homegrown in my garden, and rosemary stands for remembrance and fidelity. My favorite décor pieces of my wedding are the chair signs – handpainted “Mr” and “Mrs” calligraphy on stained wood, bordered by garland of silver dollar eucalyptus greens, and tied with silk ribbon that is hand dyed in France. My bridesmaids are the epitome of beauty and grace in the their ethereal blush pink tulle gowns and ivory roses flower crown. It was truly a whimsical and enchanting night with all of our family and friends there to witness our fairytale ending.

We danced to “Tethered” by Sleeping At Last – an unforgettable moment that I will treasure forever. I felt like a princess marrying her prince, and we both felt like we were the only ones in the room at that moment. It was a magical night that we both will never forget.

Photography: Heather Hawkins Photography | Florist: Bella Flora of Dallas | Reception Venue: Aristide Event Center | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair And Makeup: Beauty And The Blush | Vintage Car Rental: Vintage Limos | Chair Signs: Sugar & Chic | Chalkboard: Blue Eye Brown Eye | Groom's Shoes: Tribut Ives Saint Laurent | Groom's Tux: Armani Exchange | Honey Jar Favors: Clarke Wood Works | Menu: CHATHAM & CARON | Paper Suite: B Wedding Invitations | Ribbon: FrouFrou Chic | Table Numbers: Sixpence Press

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Vibrant Autumn Austin Wedding at The Mansion

With a courtship that took them from Louisiana to London, this couple was well traveled and ready to celebrate with all their loved ones when it came to their special day. Hosting their celebration in the colorful city of Austin, their wedding took on that energy with bright greens and gold, and a Bride that never stopped smiling. Jenna McElroy captured it all for us to soak up right here.

From The Bride… As all great love stories begin, we first met in a bar in Shreveport during my senior year of college and on Jamie’s last day of a work trip. He’s British and in the Royal Air Force and had been working from an Air Force base in Shreveport-Bossier for the last couple of weeks. We exchanged email addresses and began a long distance friendship over the next year. After many emails, Skype calls and a deployment to Afghanistan, our friendship had become much more and Jamie decided to fly over to Austin for our first official date, on New Year’s Eve of 2009. Over the summer I had received word that I had been accepted into a Master’s programme in London and we were very excited about the prospect of living in the same country. We were long distance for the next nine months, save a two week trip to England in March in which he surprised me with a trip to Paris as a belated Valentine’s Day gift.

I finally moved over to England in August of 2010 and since then we’ve been through three more deployments, finishing my master’s degree and establishing ourselves in Cambridge. Last Christmas, Jamie decided to pop the question at our family Christmas and flew over on Boxing Day (December 26th) to see me and my family. It didn’t go completely as planned and involved a crazy cat and a giant TV hogging the limelight. But of course, I said yes and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It typified our relationship, so much love, lots of laughs and a little bit of crazy. Apparently there was a second proposal planned, but it was ruined as well when I had to work late one night; so when we returned back to England, I opened a picture collage that Jamie had made with ‘Will You Marry Me?’ written across the glass.

We had the most incredible wedding weekend celebration in Austin. Family and friends flew from all across the globe to celebrate; it was the first time our parents had met and it was the most wonderful feeling to have all the people that we love in the same room. Besides saying our vows and dancing with my dad, the most precious memory was walking down the aisle and seeing all of the people that travelled to celebrate with us; I’ve never felt a room bursting with so much love. It was the most perfect day.

Photography: Jenna McElroy | Florist: Kathy Barger | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | DJ: Tunes Across Texas | Baker: Crema Bakery | Bridal Store: Maggie Louise Bridal | Dress Designer: Mikaella Bridal | Film Scans: PhotoVision Prints | Hair Artist: Pearl Austin | Hair + Makeup | Make-up Artist: Danann Patrick Of Mint Salon | The Mansion: The Tfwc Mansion

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DIY Dallas Wedding at Three Three Three First Avenue

I am totally blown away by this Bride. She whipped up a DIY wedding that is equal parts beautiful and thoughtful, and I honestly don’t think it gets better than that. From the invitations to the floral vessels (and every sweet detail in between) she created a wedding that is packed to the gills with personality, and thanks to Shaun Menary Photography there is more to see here.



From The Bride…Our wedding weekend was such a meaningful, beautiful and fun celebration of our relationship and the many people who are a part of our lives. We have been best friends for almost 10 years, so we were fortunate to have a solid group of friends that were excited to celebrate with us. For us, that was what the whole weekend was about, so we really kept that as a focus the whole time. When things didn’t go as planned, we reminded each other of that and were able to stay calm for the most part. We also asked our close friends to hold us accountable during that season.

I had not spent much time thinking or dreaming about our wedding day, so when we got engaged, I had to kick it into gear! The first 2 weeks were the toughest, and I try to tell everyone that. Once you get your major vendors/venues booked and outline your budget, it gets much easier from there (or at least it did for us!) We talked about the top 2-3 budget items that were important to us: for me, it was the design details, the band, and the photography; for him, it was the band, the photography and the food/alcohol. So, it made it easier on us to know where to splurge and where we could shave some costs. It also helped us pick our battles during the planning process.

Since I was probably most excited about the design details, I will tell you more about the ones that I really loved! I designed our save-the-dates and invitations myself, and I hand painted each invitation with a watercolor wash. While I am grateful that I never have to do that again, I loved adding a personal touch on each person’s invitation and the way people appreciated the love and care that went into their invitations. I also did all of the lettering on our envelopes, chalkboards and place cards. It was fun to see all the things I had worked on come to life, and our guests loved how the event felt like “us.”

Another detail I particularly loved was the way we incorporated our family and friends into the day. For our ceremony, we had minister friends officiate, sing and speak. One of our friends Allyson Wermelskirchen is a spoken word artist, so we asked her to perform a piece in the ceremony based off the scripture we used. The lyrics to her poem are now hanging in our house and will be special to us forever.

Perhaps my favorite detail was the floral arrangement vessels. My mom gathered antique silver pieces that have been in her family for nearly 100 years. Many of the pieces were golf trophies that my grandmother and great-grandmothers had won throughout the years. We took the pieces of all shapes and sizes to our florist, and they created the most beautiful, special arrangements using them. We are so grateful that they loved the idea and took on the added challenge with excitement.

DIY is not for everyone! But, I loved how many details at our reception made it feel personal. Find a few ways to insert details that make the day “you” and not just a pinterest board! If you go DIY, include your future spouse, friends and family in the process. It makes for some great memories, and they feel like they were a part of the celebration. My rule of thumb was if it was more stressful than it was exciting, cut it. I applied that to everything! Also, once you get to game time, just let it all go and trust your vendors/participants. What will happen will happen, and it will be lovely.

Photography: Shaun Menary Photography | Floral Design: Dirt Flowers | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Cake: Frosted Art Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Munger Place | Reception: Three Three Three First Avenue | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Caterer: Lombardi Family Concepts | Hair: Glynnis Neal | Lighting: Astounding Sounds | Band: Party Machine | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Transportation: Premier Transportation | Dress Retailer: Stardust Celebrations | Flower Girl Dress: US Angels | Getting Ready Venue: The Adolphus | Late Night Snack: Pokey O's Cookies And Ice Cream | Macaroons: Kelsey Barnard Catering | Paper Goods: Hillary Barnard Owens | Rentals: Shag Carpet Themed Events & Decor

Vintage Chic Wedding at The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge

I just realized that I have a grin spread wide across my face, and the source of this smile is the video by Ian Fleming below. I’m beaming from watching these adorable lovebirds say their “I do’s” and all the perfect little details they scattered throughout their Texas bash. Pearl Events Austin orchestrated the whole affair and Awake Photography didn’t miss a beat. Join the club and smile with me right here.

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From The Bride… One of the most important things to Jeesoung and I when starting our wedding planning was that our day be meaningful, romantic and surrounded by nature. We visited numerous venues until we stumbled upon Vineyard at Chappel Lodge. The day we arrived for our first visit it was cold and raining, but as soon as we drove up I knew it was the one. With the fields of wildflowers lining the long driveway, the flawlessly kept vineyard and the towering oak trees along the ceremony site, it was perfect. The venue felt tucked away almost like a secret garden and reminded me of the spot where Jeesoung asked me to marry him.

We chose shades of off-white, blush, and green as our wedding colors. I always had a vision that one day my wedding would be dripping with chandeliers. The festoon lighting and giant chandeliers framing the head table were one of my favorite details of the reception and gave it the perfect romantic touch. Because our venue was so beautiful we didn’t want the details taking away from the natural feel of the location, and our wedding planner did a great job making sure this didn’t happen.

One of my favorite memories of the day was our first look near the low hanging oak trees of our ceremony site. Jeesoung and I were completely captivated by each other. The sun shone through the clouds almost like a spotlight and we felt like were the only ones on the planet. Our photographer did an amazing job of capturing the genuine love Jeesoung and I have for one another and the excitement we shared in that moment.

There are so many other details that I could go on and on about. From the loose romantic flower arrangements, to the incredibly delicious wedding cake, every aspect was better than I ever imagined. I get butterflies every time I think back on our wedding day. It truly was The Best Day Ever.

From Megan Metzger Of Pearl Events Austin… Stephanie and Jeesoung’s wedding was pure perfection, just like them. From the beginning of the planning process, Stephanie and Jee wanted their wedding to be beautiful, romantic, and personal. We focused the decor around an elegant vintage garden theme which was a perfect match for the Vineyard at Chappel Lodge. Our floral inspiration stemmed from loose and organic arrangements with pops of color. In order to accomplish a vintage element, our caterer, Catering with a Twist, provided mismatched vintage china at each place setting.

The couple provided many DIY elements to make their wedding personal. They had an amazing sign made to welcome guests, and the escort cards were in planters made by Stephanie’s mom to further emphasize the garden theme. For months, Stephanie and I searched for the perfect cake table linen, and we finally found it through La Tavola linens. It was an amazing addition to the already spectacular cake and dessert table provided by Polkadots Cupcake Factory.

Photography: Awake Photography | Videography: Ian Fleming | Planner: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Polkadots | Reception Venue: Vineyard At Chappel Lodge | Jewelry: Mia Bridal Couture | Caterer: Catering with a Twist | Hair & Makeup: Propaganda Hair group | Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | DJ: Hill Country DJ | Groom's Attire: Macy's | Officiant: Todd Rapp | Transportation: Uptown Valet | Bride's Accessories (Belt): Blossom Veils | Flower Girl Basket: BHLDN | Groom's Attire (Cuff Links): Smathers & Branson | Groom's Attire (Tie): The Tie Bar | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Premiere Events | Table Numbers: BHLDN | Veil: Brickhouse Bridal

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Rustic Fall Wedding at Paniolo Ranch

I can admit it, I’m supremely jealous of this Bride and her amazingly chic short hair. As someone who plans to chop off inches post-wedding, I love when I stumble upon a beautiful bride with short locks and this one is not only stylish, but absolutely glowing. And who wouldn’t be, with such a colorful, festive fall celebration, captured by Mint Photography. Kickstart your day the right way, right here.

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From Mint Photography… This stunning wedding took place in the heart of the Hill Country at Paniolo Ranch. The views are like none other and the grounds of the property offer charm and an upscale vibe. I love how the bride went with tons bright pastel color flowers to contrast against the neutral cream colors of the building. One of my favorite aspects of their wedding was the custom ceremony arch. It was covered in flowers with backdrop against the Hill Country views. The light was soft and warm this day and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Definitely one of our favorites wedding!

From the Bride… Almost all of my family is from out of state, and though Lyon and I love our home town of Houston, it is not the most scenic place. We wanted to take the opportunity to show my family how beautiful Texas can be. Lyon’s family has a ranch in the Hill Country, and visiting it over the last six years, I have really fallen in love with the area. We looked at a lot of venues spanning from Austin to San Antonio, but the second we drove up to Paniolo Ranch, we canceled our other appointments. We both knew it was the place we wanted to get married.

The garden and ceremony area were so naturally gorgeous that we hardly had to add anything. The reception hall, however, though it had beautiful views, was pretty bare. To dress it up, we rented 12 ficus trees from a local nursery, wrapped their pots in burlap, and draped their leaves in twinkle lights. Erin from Eden’s Echo created a diverse range of stunning floral arrangements, to bring a little more of the outdoor beauty in. My mom and I created some additional cocktail table centerpieces by collecting old books from stores and relatives, stacking them, and planting succulents in the top. The book decor and guest book (an embossed, leather-bound dictionary) were homages to Lyon’s love of words. To warm up the entrance, we brought lamps from our apartment and an oriental rug from my parents house. We also used command strips to hang pictures of Lyon and me on the walls, and collected and framed pictures of our parents’ and grandparents’ weddings to display on a side table. We even created rustic signage by using a soldering pen to burn the information into tree slices. All of these things really helped to give the space a more warm, organic feeling.

From there we tweaked the standard wedding format a bit: Having five brothers between the two of us and no sisters, we didn’t have a wedding party, so the color scheme came almost entirely from the flowers. Additionally, we opted for a cocktail style dinner with eight rounds of passed appetizers, a cheese table, and a bruschetta table, instead of the standard seated dinner or buffet. We did this so that everyone could start dancing immediately after the cocktail hour and so that, rather than being stuck at a table with the same 6 or 7 people most of the night, all of our out-of-town guests could catch up with or meet as many different people as possible. Instead of one wedding cake, we served 11 different flavors of cheesecake. We also hosted a karaoke after-party at the venue after a “faux exit” signaled the end of the reception. We served Whataburger and kept the bar open and the party going until 1am. It was so much fun to spend the entire night dancing and singing with our closest friends and family.

Photography : Mint Photography | Videography : Infinity Event Productions | Event Design : All In The Details Events | Floral Design: Eden's Echo Floral Design | Cake: The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery | Catering: CarteWheels Caterers, Inc | Officiant : Olive Tree Officiating | Venue: Paniolo Ranch | Guitarists : Hot Sauce | Make Up Artist : Prim & Powder | Photo Booth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Tree Rental: Burns Garden Center

Modern Outdoor Museum Wedding

Modern, sweet, and awe-inducing, this is the kind of wedding that will melt anyone’s heart. From citrus place cards to midnight garden dances, the uber-talented Sarah Kate captured every detail while Meredith Commender coordinated each organic element. Complete with carefully placed pops of color a la Dirt Flowers, you can see every last bit of it, right here!

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From the beautiful Bride… Matt and I met when I returned to Dallas after college through the service organization, Teach For America, and he was attending SMU for business school. We instantly had a strong connection talking about our love of travel and good food. After three years of dating, living in different cities for a year, and buying a house, Matt proposed in Hilton Head, South Carolina during a summer getaway.

As an art history major, I always loved going to the beautiful Nasher Sculpture Center, designed by Renzo Piano. After getting engaged, we knew the sculpture garden at the Nasher would make a wonderful reception venue. The Sculpture Center is only a block away from the church that Taylor grew up in, where the ceremony was held. We used the art museum as the inspiration for choosing many of the wedding details including organic, sculptural vases and using a photograph of one of the museum’s signature pieces in the wedding invitation. We would especially like to thank our wedding coordinator, Meredith Commender, amazing photographer Sarah Kate, and wedding vendors Dirt Flowers, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Southern Fried Paper, Dallas Affaires Cake Company, and BBJ Linen.

The wedding day was truly the happiest day of our lives. We were thrilled to have so many close friends and family come to Dallas to celebrate the beginning of our lives together. My favorite part of the day was when I got to see Matt for the first time at our “First Look”. I was overcome with emotion at the significance of the day and how lucky I was to find such an incredibly kind and supportive partner. Matt’s favorite part of the wedding was when the venue was cleared out at the end of the night and we had one final dance together in the garden, just the two of us.

Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer | Coordination: Significant Events of Texas | Floral Design: Dirt Flowers | Cake: Dallas Affaires Cakes | Invitations: Southern Fried Paper | Reception Venue: Nasher Sculpture Center | Catering: Wolfgang Puck Catering | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola

Rustic Summer Wedding at The Prairie

We have one really cool, creative Bride before us here. Not only does she own a vintage rentals company but she decked out her rustic Texas wedding with antique rugs, candelabras and handmade dreamcatchers for every guest. The venue, The Prairie, fit the vibe to a tee and Feather & Twine Photography captured it all. See every perfectly placed detail right here.

From The Bride… Tiger and I got engaged in December 2013 over a beautiful weekend spent at The Prairie. We both knew that we wanted to get married at The Prairie because we both feel that this place is so special to us. With unspoiled natural beauty and charming vintage touches everywhere, The Prairie was the perfect canvas for us to create a relaxed and simple wedding. Our relationship is like that, simple and relaxed. Tiger and I dated briefly in high school and reconnected close to 30 years later and it’s been magic ever since. We wanted to invite our guests to celebrate this with us and also give them the opportunity to relax in an environment that is void of fuss and stress. We decided to rent The Prairie in its entirety and invited our closest family to spend a few days celebrating our new beginning and each other. Since our closest family members have flexible schedules, we decided to get married on a Tuesday. This became particularly important since we set a date in June of 2014. With summer weddings being a very busy time, opting for a weekday wedding was not only less expensive, but we were able to get the vendors we wanted with shorter than normal notice.

My style is mostly influenced by vintage and found items. As the owner of a vintage rentals company (The Borrowed Flea), most of my time is spent looking for unique items so other brides can add unique touches to their wedding and engagement shoots. As a bride myself, I was determined to enjoy this process and not overthink every little detail (which is also the biggest piece of advice I would offer other brides). For me, it was important to add some personal touches and that meant making dream catchers for every guest and one large one to hang in front of the barn before the ceremony. I put five beads on the large one, each representing one of our kids. The dream catchers for the guests were smaller of course, but came with a handmade card thanking each one for supporting us and sharing this most special day and a reminder that dreams do come true.

The barn itself has a lot of character with soft beautiful colors and gorgeous candelabra chandeliers. I added some crochet banners over the doorways and used several vintage rugs down the aisle to define the space. I placed a larger rug at the end of the aisle which is where Tiger and I exchanged our vows. Vintage candelabras were place on the rug and simple glass candles were accented with a tribal motif ribbon and tied with raffia. Simple, elegant and easy. The brightness of the space and natural patina of the barn created a peaceful vibe all by itself and that’s the feeling we wanted to invoke with our guests so adding too much would’ve taken away from that. Our reception was next door in the lounge, where we all enjoyed excellent locally sourced food, drank wine, listened to great music, laughed and cried. As for the vendors we chose, the flowers were done by myself and were simple and unstructured. Our caterers were from one of our favorite restaurants in Houston, Shade. We employed the exceptional musical talents of Sarah Sharpe and crew from Austin to sing before, during and after the ceremony and our wedding wouldn’t have been complete without Feather and Twine, our photographers. Kelsey and Talon get us and our vibe and captured our wedding day perfectly. Our day was magical and perfect in every way.

From The Groom… Tara and I met and dated briefly in high school almost 30 years ago. I was only 16 when I met her, but I knew the moment I saw her I was in love. We both went our separate ways back then and little did we realize we would reconnect later in life. When we did, we quickly knew that those feelings of love in our hearts for each other had never gone away. Our story is truly a fairy tale come true. One of those magical and fateful life events that we thought only happened in the movies. We made it our reality and it has been one of the most amazing journeys we have both ever experienced.

When we were searching a venue for our wedding, we looked at many different alternatives. It had to be magical and have a certain “fairy tale” quality to it. The Prairie was already a very special place for Tara and I as I proposed to her in a meadow there during one of our previous visits. It always seemed like time stood still and many amazing things happened there that brought our lives together again.

Our wedding day was one of the best days of my life and one I will always cherish. I will never forget seeing Tara walk towards me and seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time. She literally took my breath away… just like she did all those years ago.

Photography: Ruét Photo | Catering: Shade | Wedding Venue: The Prairie By Rachel Ashwell | Music: Sarah Sharpe