Texas Weddings

Somewhere in between the first and last image of this unbelievably stunning gallery from Mint Photography lives a soiree that I can only describe as my dream wedding. A blush, pale peach and ivory palette—check. Full length bridesmaids dresses—check. A pristine and perfectly lit venue, the gorgeous Ma Maison—check. Lush blooms in every corner from Last Petal—check. And beyond all those pretty details? Moment upon sweet moment. Click here for the full gallery.

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From Mint Photography… Lauri and Chad had their wedding at the most gorgeous new venue in Dripping Springs, Ma Maison! We loved the simple elegance of the day. The soft pastels of the florals and the color of the bridesmaids dresses were the perfect fit for this warm summer wedding. We loved the playfulness of the whole bridal party and we had so much fun with this group! We are honored we got to photograph this special day for Lauri and Chad!

Photography: Mint Photography | Coordination: Something To Celebrate | Florist: Last Petal | Ceremony Venue: Ma Maison Wedding + Event Venue | Hair: Method Salon | Music: Greenbelt DJ | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals

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Ma Maison Wedding + Event Venue

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This is one of those crazy amazing weddings that takes the term “heartwarming” and totally kicks it up a notch, from the bride and groom’s adorable story (high school sweethearts reconnected after college) to the carefully thought out details ripe with meaning.  It’s a day that is as amazing as it is pretty, and thanks to a talented team of vendors (think Austin Catering, Petals, Ink. and Francis Joseph Photography), we can share in all of the beauty.  See it here.

From the Bride… When Doug proposed with a rose gold engagement ring underneath the 100-year-old oak tree in our backyard, it was sort of implied that we would have an outdoor wedding and I couldn’t wait to start planning! As high school sweethearts who reconnected after college, we had known each other since we were kids; we met when I was 15 and he was 17. His brother and best man joked at the wedding that we were lucky to have each other, and luckier still that our crazy parents let us go our on our first date so many years ago! We really wanted our wedding to be uniquely us, and to be a celebration of all the hard times that we have overcome, the joys we have shared and the beautiful unknown that is the future. We made sure to use as many important family members and friends as possible when planning our wedding. My aunt sang and loaned me some jewelry to wear and our close family friend officiated the wedding. We also wanted to make sure we tried to keep all of our vendors local and support small business owners.

Sadly, my dad passed away a few years ago, so we tried to incorporate memories of him into our day as well. I was so lucky to be walked down the aisle by my brother and then to get to dance my father/daughter dance with my adorable grandfather. My dad used to love my mother-in-law’s homemade grape jelly, so as a favor my mother-in-law made awesome grape jelly for all the guests to take home.

For our guestbook we had all the guests sign a thick piece of wood. Once we returned home from the honeymoon Doug sealed the board, drilled holes into it, and it is now hanging as a swing beneath the tree where he proposed. We loved this idea and every time we go out in our backyard it is happy reminder of our proposal and our wedding!

After much searching we fell in love with Stonehouse Villa for our ceremony and reception. A design house turned venue, this historic building and grounds had the rustic feel outdoors, complimented by modern decor and touches inside. The event manager, Christina, made our life incredibly easy by allowing us to book quickly and visit a few times to get those details in our heads just right. We even went to far as to use a ceremony site that they had never done before, but it turned out just great!

After picking our venue we set out to find a photographer who shared out vision. We found that in Francis Joseph Photography. His attention to detail and journalistic style was perfect for what we wanted. We also knew he was the one because he braved our request to do our engagements out at the family ranch and he did it with style, grace and a fedora. We were so lucky to have him capture all the candid and emotional photos. We chose to do a first look, because we knew that stress would be high and we both wanted to be as ready as possible to say our vows without totally losing it (we wrote our own vows). I can say that our first look photos might be my favorite of the day, because they are so real. I can just hear the words we were saying even as I flip through the photos many months later.

As for food, there was no question but to go with Austin Catering. The capable and amazing owner is a friend of the family and her attention to detail is impeccable. Kristin brought our tastes together and created a truly amazing menu based on fresh local foods that both Doug and I loved. The guests raved about the quality and taste of the food all night long. But Kristin’s expertise doesn’t stop there, she was also there to coordinate and tie up all the loose ends. Having Austin Catering there for our food and coordination took away any stress I might have had about our big day. Our cake was very simple and instead of a groom’s cake we choose to do cookies instead since Doug isn’t a big cake fanatic.

I cannot forget to talk about the amazingly talented Gretchen from Petals, Ink. Based out of her funky South Austin studio I knew instantly that Gretchen was going to be incredible. When she didn’t flinch as I rattled off my top requests for flowers (Purple kale, artichokes and succulents) I knew I had found a creative, brave and talented florist. She captured the unique idea we had for non-tradtional flowers while still making sure everything looked elegant and cohesive. Best of all, most of the succulents from the arrangements are growing on the patios of our guests’ and our South Austin home.

Keeping with the style of using people near and dear to our hearts, we used Gertie Glam for hair and make up. When she isn’t out primping music artists and models, Gertie lives next door to Doug and me! She is a wildly talented makeup artist and hair stylist. Gertie glammed up much of the wedding party, the MOB and myself. She kept us all calm and smiling while making sure we looked beautiful. I still swoon over how perfectly she captured my vision of looking like myself, but just prettied up a notch or two.

As for jewelry, it seemed natural to go with Austin native Kendra Scott for bridesmaid jewels. The bridesmaids were able to choose any dress style in a palate of purples from Dessy Group in Lux Chiffon. The matching green Kendra Scott Danielle earrings helped tie everyone together. The house party wore black dresses with purple Danielle earrings. For my jewels I was so blessed to borrow beautiful rose gold pieces from my aunt who owns a jewelry store, Eartworks in Los Altos, California. (She also sang at our wedding! A talented AND successful lady!)  I wanted to wear the understated, but striking pave rose gold hoops with laser cut diamond drops and the antique looking necklace forever! It was a sad day when I had to send those beauties back.

After our heartfelt ceremony it was time to dance and party all night long. We loved working with our DJ Jonathan from Live Oak DJs. He made sure to play a mix of music that made all the generations present feel comfortable dancing. When it was finally time to leave the party we exited to a row of sparklers into the vehicle that Doug took me on our first date in! He had the truck cleaned and made to run again just for our special exit. It was the best surprise and a great ending to our night.

Photography: Francis Joseph Photography | Coordination: Austin Catering | Floral Design: Petals, ink. | Cake: LoveBaked Bakery | Bride's Shoes: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Catering: Austin Catering | DJ: Live Oak DJ | Groomsmen Ties: Nordstrom | Groom's Attire: Nordstrom | Ceremony Music: Remington Griffin | Bride's Dress: Modern Trousseau | Bride's Headband: The White Dress In Corona Del Mar | Bride's Jewelry: Earthworks | Bridesmaid Jewelry: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Stonehouse Villa | Hair And Make-up: Gertie Murray

I always come back to a simple black and white color palette. It’s a go-to that stands the test of time whether we’re talking about home decor, fashion or wedding design. And this inspiration shoot is total proof. It’s classic elegance crafted by Clayton Austin and Taylor Lord along with green filled florals by Without Wax Katy, that prove black and white are here to stay.

That gorgeous engagement session inspiration can only be outdone by the wedding shoot that followed suit. Have a look at the handiwork of all these great talents who brought our favorite black and white color combo to life.

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From Love Is A Bird Photography…When Taylor Lord and I decided to host a small intimate workshop in our hometown of Austin, Texas we knew we would want to style the shoots to perfection. With a modern classic vibe in mind we focused on shades of blacks, whites, and grays while pulling in the greens from the beautiful ivy covered walls and concrete architecture of South Congress Street. The idea was that for the engagement session the groom would wear varying shades of black while she wore white and then switching it up for the wedding day shoot with her in an amazing black gown from Free People and him in a crisp white Vera Wang tuxedo jacket and a black velvet bow tie. Taylor made the concrete candle pillars in different sizes and heights giving the table a sense of dimension while Katy from Without Wax Katy did an incredible job with the green table runner, bouquet, and boutonnieres. I made the cake finishing it with stark black butter cream icing. Finally we tied everything together using black velvet ribbon throughout the shoot.

From Without Wax Katy…It’s in letting the stunning landscape do all the talking, with a few well-edited nods of color and style infused along the way that makes everything come together flawlessly. The 12 foot runner is ripe with layers of eucalyptus foliage, texture and organic goodness. It seamlessly blends in with the beauty of the natural surroundings with the coordination of modern details set in the middle of this Austin oasis. Focusing on a simple and clean color palette of white, green, black and gray, the bouquet of soft peonies, ranunculus and anemones contrasted in all the right ways with the black wedding gown. From the extraordinary play on black and white to the floral details on the cake and in bride’s hair, this styled workshop is a sure fire way to find to find yourself lost in its beauty for hours on end.

Photography: Clayton Austin | Design And Styling: Clayton Austin | Styling And Design: Taylor Lord Photography | Floral Design: Without Wax Katy | Cake: Clayton Austin | Stationary: Olive Juice Stationary | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Hair And Makeup: Mayhem Beauty | Venue: South Congress St | Black Dress: Free People | Concrete Candle Pillars: Taylor Lord Photography | Groom's Tux: Vera Wang

Rustic elegance with a bohemian twist.  It sort of has a ring to it, don’t you think?  Now add in a dream team of vendors that know a thing or two about making the aforementioned come to life and, voila! – a Thursday of pure, unadulterated pretty.  It’s gorgeous stylings + florals from 1956blooms meets a world of lovely from Keepsake Films.  See all of the pretty in the full gallery and the sweet film below.

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From Keepsake Films… When I film weddings in Texas, I tend to see a lot of the same thing over and over as far as rustic barn weddings go. My friend Kaylyn at 1956blooms and I wanted to break out of the norm and create a more bohemian styled shoot that was full of natural, rustic elements, but in a timeless, romantic style. We traveled to an amazing location called The Prairie (a bed and breakfast that renovated a farm with shabby chic furnishings) and created a beautiful shoot.

You’ll see our “rustic elegance” theme displayed in the vintage furnishings at the venue, the untamed bouquet (featuring hints of Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid), and the ethereal Reem Acra wedding dress. Melissa Harris at The Best Little Cake Shop in Texas crafted a beautiful ruffled cake that Kaylyn topped with fresh florals and an olive branch.

I shot both photos and a short film – the film is pretty dreamy with the golden light and dress in the wind! For the bride who is looking for a light-filled, scenic venue with a rustic but elegant vibe, The Prairie is a perfect place for a wedding.

From 1956blooms… Katherine Anne of Keepsake Films and I spent a weekend at The Prairie outside of Austin, TX. We ate Mexican food the entire time, laughed about our time as college roommates, and created something we love. Everything about The Prairie is so inspiring and I’d jump at the chance to go back. Until then, I’ll watch this film a few hundred times. 

Photography: Keepsake Films | Cinematography: Keepsake Films | Wedding Gown: Reem Acra From Something New Bridal | Cake: The Best Little Cake Shop In Texas | Hair And Make Up: Andrea Schutter | Wedding Venue: The Prairie By Rachel Ashwell | Floral Design And Styling: True Vine Studio | Model: Keepsake Films

This boho Bride’s approach is spot on: You have to remember that there are NO rules when planning your wedding. Don’t feel forced to plan anything you aren’t into. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your husband. Her wildly pretty fete planned by Beau Tied Events, is exactly that. It’s so them. And without actually knowing them, all it takes is one look at the gallery from Heather Curiel to know that their day? It reflected every bit of their love.

From the beautiful Bride… Getting married out in Marathon was a dream. It felt so good to be in the peaceful atmosphere of west Texas. The Gage Hotel was the perfect backdrop for our intimate wedding of 34 guests. All festivities were held at the Captain Shepherd’s house (owned by The Gage). Joe and I, along with our friends, occupied The Captain Shepherd’s house. I got ready there, we had the ceremony/dinner in the courtyard, and partied late into the night! It was so nice to stay put in one place. I never felt rushed or worried about what everyone was up to.

You have to remember that there are NO rules when planning your wedding. Don’t feel forced to plan anything you aren’t into. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your husband. I loved that we had a small wedding! I felt like I really got to connect with my friends/family that made the journey. From going on a morning walk with my girlfriends to relaxing with champagne on the big porch balcony to laying in the middle of the road star gazing with guests… it was all so magical.

Photography: Heather Curiel | Event Planning: Beau Tied Events | Florist: Bricolage Curated Florals | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Wedding Venue: Gage Hotel

If you’re planning a wedding from a distance — like, say, China — it helps to have Westcott Weddings and an all-star team of vendors (like Verbena Floral Design and Southern Fried Paper) on your side to take care of details and calm your nerves. As you can see in Caroline Joy’s pictures from the day, the event went off without a hitch. Make sure to check out Stringer Productions‘ video at the end for more prettiness.

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From the Bride… Yes, I am one of those women that has dreamt about her wedding ever since she was a little girl. When my husband and I met in Austin in the summer of 2012, it was like a thunderbolt. Already living and working in China, he was only in town for two days before he had to fly to New York. But that was long enough for us to have an amazing first date, followed by a whirlwind courtship with our second date in New York, our third date in Bruges, and our fourth date in Beijing. He met my family for the first time at Thanksgiving and proposed at Christmas, and I packed up my life in Austin to move to China to start our life together.

Then it was onto planning my dream wedding! I was in China (with a 14-hour time difference!), but luckily I had a wonderful, rock star wedding crew in Texas. We spent days and nights planning the wedding, and I attended site visits with my mom and crew whenever I could come back through Austin. I was meticulous and extremely detail-oriented about what I wanted, and they got me and my vision. They were my dream team.

My advice to future brides is this: Choose vendors that are calm, meticulous, and easy going, because you might change your mind – A LOT – especially if you’ve been planning your wedding since you were six (but do yellow satin princess bridesmaid dresses ever really go out of fashion?), and most importantly, choose people who will be overjoyed about your big day and also a comfort to be be around. Everyone I chose fit every one of those conditions, which calmed my nerves and allowed me to focus not on details but on our marriage and the beginning of our new life together.

People had always advised me to remember your vows, and remember your wedding, because it goes by in a flash! I focused on doing just that: Capturing and remembering every moment with my bridesmaids and house party, time spent with my family, and most importantly, the time spent with my new husband. I knew I could rely on my wedding planner and my photographers to focus on everything else and capture the memories for a lifetime, giving me the freedom to focus completely on the moment.

From the chandeliers above to the delicious stations to all the little travel ideas we had to the INCREDIBLE band to the 600 votives we had on long tables, my wedding was the best day of my life surrounded by my favorite people in the world and the man I am going to be with for the rest of my life.

From Westcott Weddings… Amanda and Drew were married on one of the coldest, windiest days Austin has seen in a long time, but you would have never known it. Our incredible vendor team pulled together the week before the wedding to enact the rain plan (hi, gorgeous draping!), and everything turned out beautifully. The tent was warm, cozy and filled with so much love and happiness!

Amanda had envisioned an elegant, fun party, so we worked with Verbena to fill long tables with hundreds of twinkling candles and big puffy white hydrangea, her favorite bloom. As a nod to Amanda + Drew’s love for travel, Word of Mouth created food stations filled with favorites from home + afar: Green chili-cheddar grits, spring rolls, empanadas, pie and Blue Bell ice cream. Southern Fried Paper designed post cards that doubled as table numbers–each one was named after a place Amanda + Drew had lived together or would visit on their honeymoon. Memphis Train Revue kept everyone dancing until the very end of the night, and then Amanda+ Drew departed for Antarctica (!) amid cheers and sparklers. Their joy was infectious!

Photography: Caroline Joy Photography | Videography: Stringer Productions | Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Pronuptia | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Word Of Mouth Catering | Makeup: Avery Allen Makeup | Hair: Danann Patrick | Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | Band: Memphis Train Revue | Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings | Transportation: R&R Transportation | Bride + Groom Transportation: Classic Rides Limo | Bride Getting Ready Hotel: Hotel Saint Cecilia | Ceremony + Reception Venue: One World Theatre | Event Design + Coordination: Westcott Weddings | Groom Getting Ready Hotel: Hotel San Jose | Invitations, Programs, Escort Cards + Menus: Southern Fried Paper | Late Night Food Truck: Mellizoz Tacos | Photo Booth: Silvercloud Trailer Events | Tent Draping + Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Vintage Frames: Loot Vintage Rentals

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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My new favorite merging of styles? Bohemian elegance. And this Houston love fete from Taylor Lord Photography is drenched in it. It’s no surprise that the result is completely spell-bounding with design by Todd Events and Belle Of The Ball behind the planning and coordination. Get lost in all the gorgeous over here!

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Videography: Sculpting With Time Productions | Event Design: Todd Events | Floral Design: Todd Events | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Cake: Susie's Cakes & Confections | Invitations: Papellerie | Ceremony: Hotel ZaZa | Reception Venue: Hotel ZaZa | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Planning And Coordination: Belle Events

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Event Planning

Belle Events

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When I first started peeling back the layers of this Dallas “I do,” one thing became clear: Connie and Tyler aren’t your average bride and groom. Not even close. They’ve got contagious joy and style for days, but they also happen to have the kind of dance moves that would make Justin Timerlake jealous, and we’ve got the video to prove it! Take a peek at their incredible celebration captured by Michelle Boyd and sit tight for their choreographed first dance (and proposal!) coming up next.

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From Michelle Boyd Photography…Connie and Tyler Bates are visionaries. They both live life with a contagious passion that you just can’t help but join in on. I’ve known Connie for a few years, and after seeing their incredible proposal video I knew that their wedding would be EPIC. They didn’t disappoint.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Dallas, TX, the Room on Main was transformed into a space worthy of the production that was to follow. Both Connie and Tyler have invested a large part of their lives into leadership through performance, and their wedding celebration was a perfect reflection of that. Their modern yet bold fashion allowed for their fierceness to shine through, and their hearts for traveling to the nations were manifested in globes and maps all around the room.

In the true Bates way of celebrating, their ceremony and reception was complete with videos and dancing in abundance! Ingredients dance company moved the processional down the aisle and led guests in worship during communion… and fittingly, everything built up to their first dance as husband and wife, complete with amazing choreography and a perfect wardrobe change. With such an incredibly talented group of guests in attendance, it was no wonder that the dance party to follow was a high-energy, amazing experience!

Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography | Videographer: 31FILMS | Floral Design: Central Market | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Catering: Cn Catering | Makeup Artist: Zsanae Panquerne | Band: Chante Cutter | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Bride's Earrings: Anthropologie | Dance Company: Ingredients Dance Company | Location: The Room On Main | Proposal Video: Paul Griffith

My favorite weddings are always the ones that tell a story. The weddings woven with personal moments, which is exactly what you’ll find in this vintage-yet-modern Texas affair snapped by Stephanie Hunter. Look close and you’ll see nods to the bride’s love of animals alongside a colorful blend of autumn-loving blooms. And in case you want more (you know you do!) there’s a whole gallery of pretty waiting to be swooned.

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From Stephanie Hunter Photography… Lindsey & Johnny, had such a sweet, unique wedding – a vintage feel but with a kick! The main colors were black and antique gold. The table runners were black and white striped with colorful centerpieces adorned with different animals as table markers. The bride, Lindsey, has a great appreciation for animals – she worked at Sea World as a dolphin trainer & currently works at the San Diego Zoo with birds of prey and gorillas. She has also worked with horses her entire life and has dreams of opening an Equine Assisted Therapy Center for the elderly (she also has a degree in Psychology)! So she knew she wanted to incorporate her love for animals in a sophisticated way.

In addition to animal marked tables, the couple also chose gold napkin rings in the shape of animals. The ceremony was supposed to be outdoors but, due to weather, had to be moved indoors. The rain plan was beautiful with gorgeous draped fabric, strung cafe lights & chandeliers. An ornate rug framed with two planters filled to the brim with flowers served as the altar. The reception was so very charming – a decorative continuation of the ceremony. Parasols hung over the dance floor & lights were strung throughout for a romantic, cozy feel in the uncharacteristically chilly weather.

Photography: Stephanie Hunter Photography | Coordination: Justin Blair | Floral Design: Central Market | Wedding Dress: L'ezu Beverly Hills | Cake: Central Market | Catering: The Salt Lick BBQ | Hair & Makeup: Justin Blair | Band: London Calling | Officiant: Central Christian Church | Venue: The Salt Lick BBQ | Printing: Papel

When life rains on your wedding…you pile into the barn! It might have rained for this Texas Bride’s rustic ranch nuptials, but there’s nothing a pair of Hunter Boots and a good attitude can’t amend. Right? Thankfully, Anne Marie Photography was there to capture the day in all it’s stormy glory. For even more inspiration look here!

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I think the intimate setting, the many, many candles, and family made my day special. Our wedding made everyone feel like family. We had a very big bridal party, the more the merrier, and our pastor was my dad’s best friend. The ceremony had worship songs that were sung by my best friend that lived overseas. There were many laughs, and lots of tears.

The colors at the wedding were what I wanted, very neutral. The barn with the lights, and the field behind it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to mess it up with a bunch of color. I loved the flowers at my wedding. I had seen some pictures on Pinterest that had really neutral colors with lots of succulents. I loved the idea, so that was incorporated in a lot of my flowers. I absolutely love mercury, that was used in a lot of the center pieces and even up at the altar. My sister and I created a lot of homemade signs that went around the barn and even outside. It made it feel really personal and just about us. There was an old truck at the ranch that obviously couldn’t run, but we had some people back it up into the barn and we used it as a cake table. We relocated the tailgate, and it had “Ford” on it, which is my middle name, so it made it really special to me.

My cake was another inspiration I had. I had seen a picture of a “naked” cake idea; my cake lady didn’t want me to do it because she said it would dry out the cake. But I have to say, it tasted like the best cake ever to me. It was something really different, and it was what I wanted because I don’t like icing. My mom was a lifesaver, we didn’t have a wedding planner or anyone and my cousins ran the day of coordinating.

It wasn’t exactly as I planned — it was better. I loved every moment, and would do it over and over exactly the same if I could.

Photography: Anne Marie Photography | Cakes: Cathy Young | Shoes: Hunter Boots | Catering: Sullivan Street Catering | Transportation: Mission Golf Cars | Ranch: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Rentals: Revive Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Aztec Events

If you’re looking for a wedding that hits deep in the heart of Texas, you’re in the right spot! This Texas Hill Country wedding is seriously stunning. A good chunk of inspiration came from the famed Texas anthem (note: the constellation table runners) making every detail very classy and very Texas. Check out Katherine O’Brien Photography’s photos for more good-looking good times.

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Photography: Katherine Obrien Photography | Coordination: Three Apples Events | Florist: Stems Floral Design + Event Styling | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Shoes: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Alex Marie | Groom's Suit: Faconnable | Venue: Three Points Ranch

The weekend is finally upon us dear readers. But as you prepare for summertime fun times, we wanted to leave this charming Texas engagement session with you. If you’re feeling some extra warmth, it might be because the photos you see were lovingly taken by the bride-to-be’s sister, Christine  Doneé, who flew in from LA to surprise her. You can see it all here. And don’t miss the discounts and giveaway at the bottom!

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From Christine Donee Photography…This engagement session is very near and dear to my heart, as the sweet bride-to-be is none other than my beautiful younger sister!

When Austin, her fiancé, called me early last month to inform me he was proposing to Ashley, I immediately asked to shoot their engagement photos. Logistics were tricky, to say the least. I currently reside in Los Angeles, CA and not only would I need to fly into Dallas, TX, but the plan would need to be carried out in complete secrecy. Austin had planned a gorgeously elaborate proposal for a Friday evening on the lake (with family and friends to celebrate there after she said yes!), so we were quickly putting things into motion for a next-day photo session that Saturday evening. Luckily, I have one amazing and talented family! We had a full wardrobe brought to the house, our aunt on hand for makeup and hair, and plenty of helping hands to arrange an unforgettable evening.

Arbor Hills provided the perfect backdrop for these two. It’s naturally beautiful, simple and completely down to earth – just like Ashley and Austin. The love and excitement radiating from them could be felt by anyone around, and as an older sister there was nothing in the world like seeing her so full of happiness. As if this all wasn’t romantic enough, we ended the evening with them lighting a wish lantern together at White Rock Lake – near the spot of their very first date some time ago. Needless to say, this is one evening none of us are likely to ever forget.

Photography: Christine Donee Photography | Venue: Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS
Dream destination wedding from Escapes.CA
Doie Lounge Robe

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This week’s DISCOUNTS…
Vino Backyard Designs
Squarespace
Zola
Diamond Mansion
durga-kali

For our California brides… Discounts from Paperwhites Photography.

For our Mid Atlantic brides… Discounts from Femina Photo + Design and Uber.

For our Midwest brides… Discounts from Bliss Weddings & Events.

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And WINNERS…
Congratulations to Veronica V! You’ve won $100 gift certificate to durga-kali.

Congrats to Jennifer M. who won the Amanda Archer Navy Pier strapless cocktail dress giveaway!

An al fresco wedding under the stars and twinkling lights is easily one of my favorite types of fêtes. Whenever I see a beyond pretty one like this stunner from Forever Photography Studio I get a little jealous that I wasn’t there to witness this party unfold first hand. From the florals designed by Last Petal to the lovely setting of the Gruene Mansion Inn, peeling back the layers of this pretty party is one fabulous way to spend your day – and you can see just what I mean here. 

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In early July 2011, Mark posted a profile on the popular dating site, Zoosk, under the name of “Young Professor.” Alicia had tried online dating years before but had given up after several weeks of meeting all the wrong guys. It was destiny, then, that Alicia’s friend and work colleague, Carrie, happened to be on the Zoosk site on the day that Mark posted his profile. “Alicia. I just found this guy online who would be perfect for you!” Carrie pulled up “Young Professor” and showed his profile to Alicia. There he was…. The man of her dreams. Alicia spent the evening creating a profile so she could interact with this “Young Professor” and learn more about him online. Late that evening, Mark went onto to the Zoosk site and discovered a new profile of a beautiful woman. She called herself, “Doglover11.” After all, Alicia did have two dogs and 11 was her lucky number. Mark sent her a virtual “wink.” He got nothing back. So he sent her a short message… Still, nothing in reply. One last try, he sent one more message. Third time was the charm. Alicia replied and engaged in several days of online icebreaking. The sparks began build. So they set a date to meet next to the lake in Old City Park.

Following their first meeting, Alicia thought Mark was too good to be true. Mark thought he had blown the date. They were both wrong. Their second date included dinner and a long, late night walk around old town Fort Collins. That led to an invitation for a home cooked meal at Alicia’s house. Then another date…. And another. In early fall, Alicia traveled to Maryland to visit her grandmother for two weeks. How convenient! Mark had academic meetings in Washington, DC at the same time. Their romance traveled to the east coast where they spent their evenings romping around Mark’s graduate alma mater, Georgetown University. Each evening was spent at one of DC’s finest restaurants…. 1787… Old Ebbitt Grill… etc. Then they would spend the later hours at one of Mark’s old college bars. First it was the Tombs in the old Georgetown District…. Then Murphy’s in Alexandria, Virginia. And once the bars closed, they spent the wee hours walking and admiring the beautiful row houses and gardens around Georgetown University. Early fall in Washington, DC is hot and humid. Their romance was heating up too. By the time they boarded their plane to return to Colorado, Alicia and Mark had fallen in love. Mark would travel to DC for business 5 more times that year. Alicia joined him for every trip. And each evening, following Mark’s day of business, they relived their first trip to DC together. Dinner, bars, and long night time walks.

Mark proposed to Alicia in January 2012. They had driven up to spend a winter weekend outside Rocky Mountain National Park. The snow was falling and the temperatures were in the single digits when Mark parked his jeep next to Bear Lake. The lake was frozen under almost two feet of ice. It was after 10PM and the only light for miles around was a small flashlight that Mark carried. Walking out onto the lake, Mark asked Alicia to hold the light for second. As she took the light, he dropped to one knee and held up a ring.

That spring, Mark took Alicia to visit his home state of Texas. While driving the winding Texas hill country roads lined with bluebonnets, paint brush, and Mexican blankets, Alicia decided that the Texas Hill Country would be the perfect location for their wedding. And so it came to be, on October 3, 2013 that Alicia and Mark, joined by their immediate families were married outside Gruene Hall , one of the oldest dance halls in Texas, on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Mark’s oldest brother had just been appointed by the state governor as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. The swearing-in occurred in Austin on the morning of October 3. And his first order of business as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, was the marriage of Alicia and Mark.

Alicia and Mark are living happily ever after in Fort Collins, Colorado with their three dogs, Norman, Rio, and Kya.

Photography: Forever Photography Studio | Flowers: Last Petal | Cake: Serendipity Cakes | Makeup: maris malone calderón | makeup artist | Venue: Gruene Mansion Inn

If this Texas wedding doesn’t hit you deep in the heart, then you either need to check out the full gallery, or we need to rewrite that song. It simply doesn’t get more charming than this. Of course it helps to have Sweet Pea Events on your side, a quintessentially Texas venue like the TPC Craig Ranch, and lush bouquets from Di Fiori. So keep scrolling for more pretty captured thanks to Ben Q. Photography.

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Photography: Ben Q Photography | Event Planning: Sweet Pea Events | Floral Design: Di Fiori | Cake: Legacy Cakes | DJ: Simply Music Events | Venue: TPC Sawgrass

A gorgeous fall, Texas wedding with a color palette so pretty I could cry and beautiful blooms around every corner from Visual Lyrics – does it get any better? Sprinkle in some perfectly planned details from 3 Apples Events and some stunning photography by Forever Photography Studio, and I’m pretty sure we can say this is as good as it gets. See it all here.

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From the Bride…When we started discussing our wedding, we had our hearts set on an intimate outdoor ceremony followed by a celebration underneath the stars. October 19th was the day we chose for our wedding for several reasons: We love the fall weather in Texas (who doesn’t!?), we were both born on the 19th, and it would be a full moon that night…which would be perfect for our outdoor festivities. Our goal was to find an awesome team of vendors who would work well together and make our dream outdoor wedding a reality. We wanted our wedding to be a night of celebration and romance surrounded by our favorite people in the world.

So, our wedding planning with choosing the venue. We wanted a unique venue for our outdoor ceremony, so when we went to look at The Vineyards at Chappel lodge, we knew it was perfect for us. We immediately fell in love with the gorgeous tree canopy over the ceremony site and the rustic elegance of the reception site.

One of the things we were adamant about is making sure we had delicious and memorable food for our guests. Working with the Royal Fig team to create a perfect menu for our wedding day was so much fun…. and delicious. We are still receiving compliments from guests on how wonderful our food was!

As a long time blog-follower of Forever Photography, my decision was easy when it came to choosing a photographer, and it was further solidified as soon as I met adorable Jona and Jerry Blackwell. The dynamic duo that is Forever Photography has been absolutely wonderful to work with, and their attention to detail is incredible. We can’t wait to see all of the photos from our wedding day!

Walking through an antique fair in Round Top, Texas looking for inspiration, we stumbled across amazing rusted tractor parts that knew would make the perfect centerpieces for our wedding. When I took them to our florist, and told her about our concept of industrial romance, she loved our idea. Visual lyrics designed gorgeous floral arrangements to accompany our unique pieces, and created a stunning floral arbor and beautiful bouquets and boutineers for our ceremony, as well. She even included tiny watch gears on the boutineers to coordinate with our theme, which I absolutely loved! We could not have been more pleased with how everything turned out!

I also wanted to make sure to incorporate a few more personal touches to make our wedding a unique celebration. So, I designed the table numbers, menus, ceremony programs, bar & signature drink menu, and any other signage used. Ernie’s very talented niece also made our thumbprint guestbook for us, and it turned out beautiful!

We hand-selected our own musical selections played by a Musical Discovery of Austin. For the wedding party, we chose for them to walk to ‘Happy Together’ by the Turtles because it is such a happy, upbeat song! I walked down the aisle to Bryan Adam’s ‘Everything I Do’, and we processed down the aisle after the ceremony to Luke Bryan’s ‘I Don’t Want This Night To End’.

I wore a strapless lace Pronovias wedding dress, a cathedral length veil, and ivory peep toe flats. For my something old, I had a lapel pin of my grandfathers pinned in my bouquet. For my something new, I wore a diamond tennis bracelet from my parents. For my something borrowed, I wore my great grandmother’s wedding band on my right hand. And for my something blue, I had my grandmother’s sapphire earrings. My bridesmaids wore wine-colored, one shoulder gowns from Bill Levkoff. Ernie and his groomsmen wore navy Signature Collection suits from Jos A Bank with ivory French cuffed shirts. Ernie also wore special Lucchesse Caiman belly boots that he had made specifically for the wedding and Texas State Bobcat cufflinks that I gifted him on our wedding day.

We wanted someone who knew us as a couple to officiate our wedding so we asked Robert Emmitt, Senior Pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio, to marry us. Luckily for us, he also happens to be the father in law of Ernie’s sister and he did an incredible job. We also asked Ernie’s three sisters to each select a scripture to read before our vows, which was a lovely addition to our ceremony. One surprise I had up my sleeve, was that I had Ernie’s wedding band custom-made. So, the first time he saw it was when I placed it on his finger during our vows! The entire ceremony was absolutely perfect…from the gorgeous weather and Robert’s wonderful message to Ernie surprising ME with a dip during our first kiss as man and wife! After our ceremony, our guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the courtyard of our venue where guests could enjoy appetizers and try one of our signature cocktails: The Hilarita or Ernie Palmer. Our guests were seated once we were done taking pictures, and dinner was served family-style. After dinner came the toasts, first dances and cake cutting…and of course, the dessert bar that Ernie chose in lieu of a groom’s cake. Best. Night. Ever. Our wedding went by so fast, but it was everything we had hoped it would be…and SO much more!

Each phase of planning our wedding will be cherished; from getting engaged on the campus of our Alma Mater, to shopping and finding the perfect dress with my mom and sisters, to seeing my handsome hubby-to-be at the end of the aisle on our wedding day while being escorted by my Dad. We look back on our wedding day and feel completely blessed to have been surrounded by such an amazing support group of family and friends. We feel honored to have had the ones we love most around us on our most special day, and are so thankful for an amazing “A-team” of vendors that turned our dreams into a reality. I am so fortunate and so thankful for Ernie’s resourcefulness with power tools and a glue gun. I am also appreciative for my mom and sisters, who came to our rescue to finish several last minute details the week prior to the wedding. We are also thankful for the lovely Margaret Bedikian from 3 Apples Events for being our month-of coordinator. She is an amazing planner and talented organizer. She was our calming voice of reason when things got a little hectic towards the end, and being the planner that I am…that is not an easy task. I am grateful for her team who made sure everything was in place and the night went smoothly. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making our wedding day the most perfect day for us!

Photography: Forever Photography Studio | Coordinator: Three Apples Events | Flowers: Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry | Cake: Sugar Mama's Bakeshop | Makeup: Makeup by Adrienne | Vineyards At Chappel Lodge: Vineyard At Chappel Lodge

This goes out to all of you die-hard stripe lovers, lemon connoisseurs and modern aficionados. It’s a mod infused garden party ripe with citrus and greenery fashioned by JMG Designs along with coordination by Elegant Events  and maybe the chicest bridesmaid/ flower girl combo we’ve ever seen. Stripes and yellow look good on you, Hill Country. Check out even more of the day captured by Heather Rowland Photography right here.

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This charming hill country wedding set at the Westin La Cantera Resort outside San Antonio was true perfection. The bride, Emily, found fresh lemon wreaths mixed with bold black and white canopy stripes as her inspiration. She accented kraft envelopes & touches of burlap throughout the event to give the bold black, white, and yellow a comfortable and relaxed feel for summer. Staying true to her classic charm, Emily wanted a touch of something unique and different yet tasteful and bold. Emily and Russ shared the vows on The El Fortin Lawn within limestone arches laced with breathtaking hill country views. Guests were seated under a historical oak tree that spanned across the entire lawn blanketing the congregation in perfect shade. The Reception took place on at the Club house and overlooked the acclaimed golf course, which was a perfect backdrop for photos of the newlyweds. The reception was appropriately cohesive to the overall feel of the wedding and also showcased bold black and white canopy stripes as table cloths. Each table had floral accents adored with fresh lemon give the entire venue the freshest citrus aroma. The couple had the most quaint seating arrangement, with framed monogrammed chalkboards noting their places. Vintage string lights wrapped around the reception site as guests danced the night away under the Texas stars. The newlyweds made their exit in a vintage Rolls-Royce and enjoyed a honeymoon in the Bahamas.

Photography: Heather Ann Design Photography | Coordination: Elegant Events by Maureen | Event Design: JMG Designs | Flowers: Patti Weaver & Ridgewood Designs | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Ceremony: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Reception: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung | Transportation: Al Briseno Rolls Royce | Catering & Cake: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Invitation: Sparrow & Nest | Second Shooter: Carmen Rose Evans Of Love Carmen Rose

While we’re on the topic of outdoor entertaining, we thought it would be fitting to take a long, meandering look at this incredibly elegant dinner party. As it turns out, when you pair O’Malley Photographers with Mayhar Design magical things ensue. Throw in the most incredible floral centerpiece I’ve ever seen, and a picture perfect cake and you’ve got yourself an evening straight from heaven.

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From Mayhar Design … To say that I am obsessed with color is a slight understatement. Hands down, it is one of my favorite ways to begin any design process. I love the way various tones and shades play off of and compliment each other in some of the most unusual and unexpected ways. As a compliment to the gorgeous estate, we played with tones of blue and coral and what better way to play than introducing them into a dinner party! Summer evenings entertaining friends and family are a fun and creative outlet and the perfect place to try out new designs on a small scale!

When planning small events at home, it’s often overwhelming to think of fresh options, especially when you are working with the same set of decor each time. However, with just a little color, you can easily freshen up your party décor. By bringing in flowers, foods and a few linens geared towards a specific color palette or theme, watch your everyday pieces transform to create new and interesting designs each time! When planning or designing, always experiment and try new things. We hope you enjoy!!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Event & Floral Design: Mayhar Design | Custom Wood Bench: Eugene Bernard

This Brownsville beauty captured by Anahi Weddings gives tradition a pretty little glittery twist thanks to all the sparkly details placed by Ector Casas Events, and we couldn’t be happier for it. It is the perfect way to spend a few (ok, maybe more than a few) hours of your day today, and you can get do so here. 

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Thanks to our wonderful vendors our wedding was all that we had imagined and more! Susana Rosser from All Party Rentals and Brenda Guerra from Special Flowers transformed our outdoor venue into something truly magical. Pichis Sound’s music had everyone on the dance floor the entire night, and it was an amazing party. Cynthia’s Cakes incorporated the elements of my décor into our cake, and designed a cake that was not only breathtaking but delicious. Nena Siller served our guests a delicious Three Musketeers Entrée that included Beef Tenderloin, Crab Stuffed Dover Sole Roll, and a Poblano Chicken Mignon. Anahi and Edgar Navarro captured special moments of our wedding so that we will have beautiful pictures to cherish forever. Jorge and I cannot thank these wonderful people enough for their commitment to making our day exceptionally special, and for all of their planning, attention to detail and their beautiful work.

We are so grateful to have been given a weekend full of memories that we will adore for many years to come, and for all the people from near and far that came to celebrate our love for each other! It was the most amazing love fest and party that we have ever been a part of, and despite the stresses of wedding planning we would do it over a million times if we could!

Photography: Anahi Weddings | Wedding Planner: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Flowers: Special Flowers | Cake: Cynthia's Cakes | Catering: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Venue: UTB | Linens & Decor: Dream Weddings By All Party Rentals | Makeup & Hair Artist: BB By Rosemery

For two architects tying the knot, this geometric themed wedding makes total sense. And it’s done in such a subtle way that allows the true beauty and simplicity to really shine through. From the DIY concrete candles to the plexiglass escort cards hand-made by the couple, this day is as personalized as they come. For even more, hop on over to the full gallery of images captured by Sunny 16 Photography.

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A huge part of the DIY came about because we’ve been playing with lasers for ages now (btw, mad props to Kristen @MakeATX). Although it made for an insane deadline, the wedding was a perfect excuse to do the things we’d never quite found the time for. We had an amazing time designing the candle holders and pouring multiple concrete material tests (which for some reason came out shinier in Copenhagen–we think it’s the hard water). The molds were lasercut out of thin sheets of plexi, hand folded, poured with a concrete mix and cured for a couple days- the entire family helped out. It was pretty funny seeing architects, computer programmers, and nasa scientists sitting around covered in concrete. We also made a bunch of other laser tests, these included the thick plexiglas escort cards, favor tags, table numbers and the fold up polygons scattered around the room. Really we just like playing with laser cutters.

Another source of inspiration was the location itself. The majority of guests had never been to Texas before and a large portion was coming from out of country. We wanted something unique to my hometown but also something that described the modern architecture that we were interested in. Barr Mansion, a literal barn with a modern glass façade, was a lovely blend of these inspirations. This juxtaposition gave us an opportunity to incorporate (without clashing with the modern elements) the more romantic pieces like gold picture frames, antique lawn furniture and the chandeliers hanging in the giant pecan tree.

Photography: Sunny 16 Photography | Videographer: The Wedding Theater | Planner: Barr Mansion | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Cake: Barr Mansion | Ceremony Venue: Barr Mansion | Reception Venue: Barr Mansion | Catering: Barr Mansion | Make Up And Hair: Adore Makeup Salon | DJ: Live Oak DJ

If you’re in the mood for a pretty pop of color, look no further than this gem my dears. Covered from head to toe in vibrant blooms from Posh Floral Designs and surrounded by the gorgeous gardens at The Dallas Arboretum, it’s a color-lover’s dream. Want even more? Get your dose right here in the gallery from Something Gold Photography.

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From Posh Floral Designs… We absolutely love outdoor weddings, especially when they take place in a lush garden! Lauren and Brice exchanged vows in the expansive tulip garden at the Dallas Arboretum, and it was the perfect setting for this soft, colorful spring wedding.

Brice and Lauren chose to wait until the ceremony to see each other that day, and we were so excited about this! We love tradition, and welcomed the opportunity to capture the raw emotion as Brice beheld his beautiful bride for the first time. Lauren’s stunning lace dress paired with her classic up-do made for a breathtaking entrance! As they exchanged vows, the scent of the flowers and the chirping of birds filled the air.

The couple’s reception followed at Rosine Hall at the Arboretum. Classic, elegant and beautiful describes Lauren and Brice’s style, and the reception reflected this perfectly. It was incredibly romantic – full of beautiful candles, laughing, lots of dancing, delicious food – and simply overflowed with flowers.

One of my favorite moments of the night was just before the couple’s departure. While all the guests went outside to line up with sparklers for the newlyweds’ send off, Lauren and Brice shared one last dance, just the two of them, in the empty reception room. They laughed, kissed, and looked around, taking in the fantastic night. They were glowing and I felt honored to capture such an authentic and intimate moment.

Lauren and Brice’s wedding was nothing short of beautiful in every way possible. However, what truly made their night so wonderful were the amazing family, friends and vendors that came together to celebrate this sweet couple. We always love the opportunity to work with inspirational vendors, and we couldn’t believe the extraordinary talent that came out for this gorgeous spring wedding!

Photography: Something Gold Photography, LLC | Videographer: Juliet Films | Event Planning: Events Experience | Cake: Annie's Culinary Creations | Ceremony Venue: Dallas Arboretum | Reception Venue: Dallas Arboretum | Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Gil's Elegant Catering | Bridal Gown: Ines Di Santo | Floral For Ceremony, Personal Flowers, And Head Table Design: Posh Floral Designs | Hair & Make Up: Osgood Oneil Salon | Planning: Events & Experiences