Texas Weddings

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Rustic Glam Camp Lucy Wedding

From the stunning bride… We met 12 years ago through a mutual friend in college. We dated for a few months before going our separate ways- Kevin moved to Phoenix and I moved to Chicago. Five years later we reconnected back in our hometown in Buffalo, NY on Christmas night. There was an immediate connection and we were inseparable from that point forward. We dated long distance until we couldn’t take living so far apart and Kevin made the big move to Chicago. Kevin proposed on a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon as we were getting ready to go to Navy Pier to ride the famous Ferris wheel, something neither of us had done since we lived in Chicago. Kevin initially planned to pop the question at the top of the Ferris wheel but couldn’t wait, dropped down to one knee before we even left our apartment, and asked me to marry him! I was not expecting it so I was totally surprised. Kevin told me how much he loved me (and our dog Buddy), how he wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together, and many other things that soon became a blur. I actually looked at the ring and said “I get to wear that?!” Then, “Yes”. The proposal was perfect, sweet, and simple. We moved to Texas in 2012 and the wedding planning began!

Since neither of us are from Texas, the majority of our guests traveled here from other places and we wanted them to feel welcome and at home. Having been engaged for two years before our wedding we had lots of time to consider different ideas and ultimately decided we wanted a day that felt romantic and cozy, relaxed but not too casual, dressed up but not stuffy, fun and “us”. Sky Creek Ranch captured that feeling in every way. From the beautiful outdoor setting to the wood details and floor to ceiling windows inside, we knew from the first moment we visited that we would be married there. For our fall affair we chose shades of plum and ivory with touches of gold.

I always thought Kevin and I would elope to Mexico and get married on a beach. Then we realized all the people who wouldn’t be able to be with us one of the most important days of our lives. So we decided having a wedding closer to home was a much better idea. From the day we got engaged we both agreed that the photography was the most important part of the wedding to both of us and we knew without a doubt we wanted Ivy Weddings to capture our special day. We even chose our wedding date based on when our photographers were available! We really couldn’t have done it all without the help of our fabulous wedding planner Meaghan with Sweet Pea Events. It’s so easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with all the options and ideas out there for your wedding so we made sure we stayed true to who we are and focused on the things we really cared about. Meaghan listened to us each step of the way and helped bring our vision to life.

A big part of our budget went to hiring a planner because we really didn’t have time to take on everything ourselves (nor did we want to!). It was one of our best decisions and I would highly recommend it to other brides. Another large part of our budget was dedicated to our photography which was the most important aspect of the wedding to us. Our photographers made us feel like rock stars and we’re so grateful to have found them. Our popcorn bar was a fun splurge and everyone loved it! Finally, hiring a videographer was a very last minute decision and we’re so glad we decided to do it, we cherish our wedding video!

Just like everyone says, the entire day goes by so fast! We both agree hands down that our favorite parts of the day were our first look and exchanging our vows that we wrote for each other. We’re so glad our amazing photographers convinced us to do a first look because it really set the tone for the rest of the day. Being able to spend some time together before the ceremony was very intimate and we had a blast driving around in golf carts with our photographers. We wrote our own vows and kept them secret from each other and really had no idea what the other would write. I think we were both so excited to share our vows with each other that we didn’t feel any nerves at all. They were romantic and heartfelt and really spoke to who we are as individuals and as a couple. We both were pretty excited about eating our cake and cake balls, too! Overall, our wedding was everything we dreamed of and more. We were so blessed and happy to have our closest friends and family with us to share such an important milestone. We wish we could go back and do it all over again!

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Justin Alexander

Spring 2016

Spring 2018

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If there is one thing that sets the tone to a perfectly beautiful, visually pleasing wedding it’s a perfect color palette, which this Camp Lucy wedding from Anna Routh Photography has stunningly achieved. But if there is one thing that brings that visually pleasing soiree to the level of goosebumps, it’s a love at the center that makes even those of us who don’t know the couple, happier and warmer. Again, this wedding completely delivers.

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Spring Wedding in Austin, Texas

From the photographer… Cullen and Natalie got married on a beautiful sunny day just outside of Austin, TX. Camp Lucy was the perfect venue for this beautiful couple who fell in love with the property at first site. Camp Lucy’s wide open spaces, unique architecture and beautiful landscaping was the perfect setting for Natalie and Cullen to exchange vows in front of their friends and family. Natalie was stunning in her Watters gown – that skirt! – and Cullen couldn’t keep his eyes off his beautiful bride all night. The soft florals that adorned the tables were one of my favorite aspects of this wedding. And, the wheat accents and glittered table numbers were put together by the bride with the help of some dear friends and family. All of the details came together for a warm evening of dancing and laughing. And, who doesn’t love a sparkler exit? It was such an honor to capture Natalie and Cullen on their special day. These two share an amazing bond and their wedding day was nothing short of magical. Congratulations, Cullen and Natalie!

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

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Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

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C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

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C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

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Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

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Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

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Willowby Fall 2015

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Spring is in the air today on the East Coast making this Austin wedding all the more sweet. It’s a little taste of what’s in store with pretty floral details by Verbana Floral Design woven throughout and open air cocktailing which happens to be one of our favorite past times. Crafted by Green Pastures with beautiful images by Christina Carroll Photography, have a look here for the full day.

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Spring Weddings

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Vintage Wedding at Vista West Ranch

Adrienne and Andrew were the sweetest couple to work with! They planned a gorgeous spring wedding at Green Pastures located in the heart of Austin. The ceremony took place on the nice green lawn under a huge oak tree. There was a lot of laughter and tears of happiness! The cocktail hour took place on the cobblestone patio. The guests chatted and drank cocktails while we took some pictures in the gardens. Everyone danced the night away during the reception!

I’m not sure about you, but something about Texas goes hand in hand with the chicest vintage affairs, at least based on the weddings I’ve come across in my day. This Vista West Ranch wedding from Christina Carroll Photography is the supreme example of just how pretty the vintage Texas wedding is. Typewriters and collected flowers in found vessels, lace and burlap curtains… the perfect pair.

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2 Year Anniversary Shoot + WIUP

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Vintage

From the photographer… There isn’t a sweeter couple than Kirah and Brian! I loved working with them throughout the wedding planning process! Kirah is a very DIY person and designed so much of the details herself. Everywhere you looked were personal touches. She even had family members bake each one of the different desserts on the desserts table. I tried a few and they were wonderful! The food from Royal Fig was fantastic. There were all different types of stations. Everything was very Southern (think grits and bacon). I’m so happy I was able to photography this lovely wedding for this lovely couple.

We celebrate a lot of love on this little ol’ blog, BUT it’s not every day we get to see a couple two years past “I do.” Lucky for us, Michelle Boyd snapped an at-home anniversary sesh that’s the cherry on top of a pretty-filled week, and you can swoon every shot right over here. Psssst: don’t miss winners, discounts and giveaway reminders below. Happy Friday, SMPers!

From Michelle Boyd… Jessica (of Jessica Christine Photography) and Will Scott have been married for 2 years! This past year they moved into the most adorable house and have made it their own little haven. Sitting with a cup of coffee in their living room is incredibly peaceful, and getting to photograph them in their beautiful home was such a treat! Pair their West Elm, mid-century modern style with the cutest golden retriever puppy ever and your heart melts instantly.

From Jessica… I can’t even believe my husband Will and I have been married for two years already! It seems like just yesterday that we were walking down the aisle as newlyweds. Where does time go? This past year has held so many exciting things for us, including purchasing a house only a few months ago.

Will and I both love being able to entertain friends in our home, and it was one of the main reasons we bought a house. We want our house to be warm, welcoming, and a place where people can come and feel safe and loved. To me, a home is a refuge; a place that should feel like a breath of fresh air when walking through the doors, and I personally think that we have accomplished that goal. I love every second that we spend cuddling on the couch or having friends over for “Sunday Lunch.” It is such a blessing to be able to love on people by inviting them into our space.

Commemorating our two years of marriage in our new home was so special. Knowing that this home has a future filled with laughter, love, kiddos, dinners with friends, and many puppy kisses (from our adorable pup, Rigby!) puts a smile on my face. And having photos from when it all began is just so precious to me. I’m excited to see how our home changes as well as how my husband Will and I grow as the years go by!

Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS

$400 gift certificate towards stationery from Appy Couple
Two Ceremony by Joanna August dresses of your choice!
Honeymoon Funds from Traveler’s Joy
Williams-Sonoma’s Annual Dream Registry Sweepstakes
A set of flashcards from Learn to Speak Wedding
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This week’s DISCOUNTS…

Postable
Squarespace
Abbey Malcolm Letterpress + Design
Zola

For our Australia brides… Don’t forget to enter to win an engagement session at South Curl Curl beach from Poli Weddings

For our California brides… Discounts from Jonathan Young Weddings and Dr. Diaz and don’t forget to check out Houghton Bride’s Trunk Show.

For our Canada Brides…Discounts from Blush & Gray, Renata De Thomasis and Christine Arnold Photography

For our Midwest brides… Enter to win an engagement session in Chicago from Artistrie Co. and discounts from reStyled Vintage Rentals and La Belle Fleur Events

For our New England Brides… A discount from Aster B. Flowers

For our Tri-State brides…Don’t forget to enter to win Photography + Videography Collection from NST Pictures and discounts from New Museum, Femina Photo + Design, NY Smile Specialists and HowAboutWe for Couples PLUS don’t miss Gabriella New York’s Winter Sample Sale!

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And WINNERS…

Congratulations Rebecca Nash whose six bridesmaids won a bridesmaid dress from Aria and Jess who won a one night stay and two tickets to the Sanderling Resort Wedding Showcase!

And a big congrats Dayna and Emily who won loungewear from Duffield Lane; Elisabeth who won Two whimsical Treehouse Ceramics Animal Cups from Laura Cooke Ceramics; and to Matt Keller; you have won $350 credit at Minted!

Final congratulations goes to Judy Chen who won her bridal party dressed by Weddington Way!

Winter Wedding at The Crystal Ballroom

There’s nothing – and I repeat, nothing – more romantic than an elegant winter affair. Between the cold temps, cozy ambiance and candles galore, you find the most perfect setting for saying “I do.” And this Houston wedding? It’s all of the above. Nhan Photography and T-Square Production captured the romance and you get started on the swooning right over here.

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From the Bride… Our wedding was elegant and traditional and was meticulously designed around a champagne, chocolate, ivory and gold theme. Aaron and I wanted a timeless and conservative event that was a reflection of our Christian faith and relationship. We met, began our courtship, got engaged, and would be living as husband and wife in New York City; so it was important that we incorporated the city into our special day. We also wanted to honor my late grandfather and did so by marrying on his birthday. We customized our wedding to reflect the two of us through several DIY projects thanks to Aaron’s artistic genius.

We had a blast developing every single detail of our day and although we were planning from New York, it was not overwhelming. We visited Texas frequently for meetings and that worked very well for us as our vendors were very accommodating. The wedding guild at St. Paul’s was outstanding, and our wedding planner Angela was a dream come true, very experienced and warm, with a tremendous amount of connections. It was a pleasure working with Angela throughout the entire planning process. Our florist Bill was phenomenal, enthusiastic, and always patient during our extensive meetings. It was an honor working with Nhan Nguyen, he is the very best. I literally cried when I viewed my bridal portraits and again when I saw our wedding photos. Our invitation designer Cristy was also an angel. She worked around our tight schedule and her expertise and perfectionism helped bring all of our stationery ideas to fruition. As we planned our wedding, Style Me Pretty, Etsy, Pinterest, and Oh So Beautiful Paper were extremely inspirational.

The wedding process for us was the team project of a lifetime, and we took our time as we carefully planned and worked on our masterpiece. Aaron and I designed personalized wedding party request cards for all members of the wedding party. The bridesmaid cards were dresses, while the groomsmen cards were tuxedos with custom fabric for the ascot and various papers for the collar, vest and jacket. Together with our designer Cristy, we developed our save the dates which foreshadowed the elegance of our invitations. For our invitations we chose to incorporate an embossed monogram tag on a ribbon which doubled as a belly band. We used our custom monogram embosser to personalize our out of town gable boxes, napkins, and thank you cards. Aaron did an outstanding job of sewing the ascots for his attendants. We searched for months for the perfect fabric finally settling on handsome gold and black stripes. The ascots were another custom touch that doubled as a thoughtful gift and keepsake for the groomsmen.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, I was always enamored with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and envisioned my wedding being there. The wooden pews, stained glass windows, arches, pipe organ, architecture, and stone were exactly what I pictured for our special day. We incorporated our color scheme into the aisle decor which consisted of bundled hydrangeas and ivory silk draping. The bridesmaids’ palomino gowns and bouquets of quicksand roses, along with the hostesses’ chocolate dresses coordinated wonderfully.

Selecting my gown was an amazing adventure especially being in New York City with its enormous selection of bridal boutiques. I spent months looking for “the one” and finally found my beautiful silk satin ballgown at the flagship Reem Acra Bridal Salon on Fifth Avenue. I was floored by the beading and Swarovski crystals and just loved the three pickup chapel train, it made the most beautiful bustle!

For the groom and groomsmen attire, Aaron wanted something different while still maintaining traditional elegance. He decided upon the cutaway coat which fit perfectly with the pin dot ascot and was appropriate given our wedding took place in the late afternoon. Our florist’s suggestion of a polar start rose petalette as opposed to a bulky rose for the boutonniere completed the look impeccably.

Getting ready was emotional as time was flying by and the culmination of over a year and a half of planning was approaching. My gift to Aaron was a beautiful carved wood plaque with our family name and wedding date. I knew that this would be a treasured heirloom for us and something that we could incorporate into upcoming milestones in our marriage. I also gave him a personalized photo book of our wedding planning journey which chronicled his involvement. I am blessed to have had a groom who was involved in every step of the planning process. All of our vendors agreed that they had never seen a groom work harder. For something old, the mother of the groom sewed a handkerchief composed of fabric from both my mother’s wedding dress and her own. This was a very special gift and another heirloom. My something new was my wedding gown and the bracelet that Aaron gifted me. For something blue, a bouquet photo charm of my late grandfather was connected by a blue ribbon, allowing me to have him in my hands as I walked down the aisle.

It was such a powerful moment when my dad pulled down my veil and the organist played “The Bridal Chorus” as we approached the doors of the church. I had a rush of joy that dried up all tears, my heartbeat normalized, and my jitters subsided as I walked down the aisle to my groom. I was able to slip back into real time and savor every second of the ceremony. The string musicians were outstanding and “Clair de Lune” was absolutely breathtaking, by far one of my favorite memories of the day. It was very special to incorporate our “True Love Waits” chastity commitment into our wedding ceremony, and we were honored to have the father of the groom as an officiant. The pronouncement was surreal and I felt the enchantment of my fairytale coming true as the organist played “The Wedding March” for our recessional.

The ballroom at the Rice is absolutely spectacular with its vaulted muraled ceilings and gorgeous brown drapes which fit perfectly into our color scheme. Our linen selection of ivory damask and imperial stripes further solidified the theme. To pay homage to the city where our relationship began, each of our dinner tables was named after one of our favorite locations in New York and included a photo and description of the significance.

We compiled photos from our courtship which played as a slideshow during our first dance. As a special treat, during the father-daughter and mother-son dances, we surprised our parents with a slideshow of childhood pictures of us with them. This was very nostalgic and was well received by our guests. As another notable touch, we had our parents dance to their wedding song during the reception, it was such a lovely moment for them. Additionally, the wedding party members danced with their walking partners during the reception, it made for a precious moment and photograph.

At the end of the night we were escorted downstairs for a rose petal send-off in our vintage Rolls-Royce. To sum up the event it was magical, romantic, and exceeded my wildest dreams! I am so grateful and I hope that our wedding serves as inspiration for other brides as they plan.

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Blush Inspiration Shoot

Truth: I’m not a girly-girl. I prefer jeans to dresses and flip flops to high heels. But show me a wedding overflowing with blush hues, and I just can’t get enough. Which is why this inspiration shoot from Pomp & Circumstance has totally made my Thursday. It’s soft blush hues, pops of black and all kinds of awesome details. See it all captured by Joseph West right here.

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Peppermint Bliss Designed Home Tour

From Pomp & Circumstance… I believe every young girl has a fantasy of their perfect wedding day, and I was one of those girls once. As I looked for inspiration for this particular shoot I tapped into that young girl and the fantasy she created. I remember being in love with pink, ruffles and flowers. That transitioned into Blush in Love, a shoot with that small girls fantasy becoming an adult ladies reality. Pink turned into blush, ruffles turned into gorgeous confetti linens and flowers… well that was the easy one. With these ideas in mind we gathered some of the best vendors in Houston and put together a magical shoot that combined gorgeous flowers, detailed planning, hair and make-up artistry and a photographer to pull it all together.

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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I’ve read Peppermint Bliss for as long as I can remember – stalking Bailey’s incredible eye for style, design, color and all out whimsy. So when she launched her bedding collection, Biscuit, and subsequent brick and mortar shop + design studio, well, I was standing first in line as her #1 fan. And this project that is perhaps her best work to date! Captured by Kimberly Chau, head over to the full gallery.

From Bailey of Peppermint Bliss & Biscuit Home…This is my “Project Holly” that I have been working on with the fabulous owner, Natalie, and her family over the past year. They purchased the home last April, and immediately we got to work redesigning the ranch style floor plan. The bedrooms and bathrooms got topical treatments, while the main living space and kitchen were completely gutted and reworked.

Living Room: Even though this is an older house, it had a nice big open living room, that was very strangely arranged with a half wall awkwardly dividing two separate seating areas. We removed the wall, and shifted the support to glass display cabinets flanking a wide entry that opened to the breakfast room and kitchen that we also reworked. This might be my favorite room I have ever designed. It is beautifully layered, bold, but not loud, pretty and yet still comfortable.

Everything started with the tufted sectional that we designed for the family based on a sofa I have in my own home that they loved. The rug is casual grasscloth, simple white curtain panels got blue and red Samuel & Sons tassel trim. The coffee table was a delightful find on 1st dibs, gorgeous burlwood with a giant drawer where their two year old sons impressive dinosaur collection lives. We redid the previously existing built ins, backing them in this famous library wallpaper, and added the brass light fixtures. A vintage chair the family had was reupholstered in light blue chintz, and finished everything off with lacquered red side tables and some sassy pillows.

Entry: In many ways the plan for the whole house started with this incredible wallpaper in the entry hall. Natalie had lost her mom shortly before we started working together, and butterflies were a symbol that was really special to her and her relationship with her mom. We both loved the paper, and that it brought her mom into the home immediately. The color palette for the home overall was influenced by the colors in the paper- blues, greens, and pops of red were carried throughout.

Dining Room: The dining room is immediately off the entry hall, and we wanted it to be a show piece since you see it first, and they had a breakfast room for everyday dining off the kitchen. The walls are a barely there lilac, offset by the bright red chandelier and china cabinets. The colors in the traditional Cole & Sons Hummingbird fabrics on the dining chairs are echoed in the geometric pattern on the rug. Art by Jenny Anderson of My Favorite and My Best pull everything together.

Kitchen: The kitchen before was straight scurry. So dark, and closed off from the rest of the house. I would say we brightened things up a bit. Normally the showpiece would be that amazing range, but there are so many delightful moments to be enjoyed here. I love the dash of Elvis in the mirrored pantry doors, the marble is stunning, and the island was a great find from Williams Sonoma.

Houston’s Room: Natalie brought me an inspiration picture of a kids room with this wallpaper and we had to have it. I LOVE how everything came together. It is theme and cute enough to be a totally magical kids room, but all of the elements will easily transition to a more adult space later in life.

Harper’s Room: Ok, I know I said the living room is my favorite room I have ever done, but I think I lied. I think this is really my favorite. A precious little jewel box for their sweet baby girl. We started with this Paule Marrot for Brunschwig wallpaper that I have used before, but I really dig the beige background of this color way. It cuts the sweetness of everything else a bit.

It’s a tiny room, and a pretty bold paper, so we kept things simple and pink elsewhere. The loveseat pulls out into a guest bed if needed, and the vintage pink rug is a great grounding piece.

The jenny lind crib was painted the same pink as the light fixture, which all matches the sofa and pom trim. The canopy fabric is just so lovely, and I really favor the unexpected dose of cool from the vintage rocking chair.

Hall Bath: I love the changes we made in here. This is the bathroom shared by both children, and we kept the original pink tile that was in really good shape. When we started there was seriously granny floral wallpaper and band of accent tile that made the pink tile look tragically dated. We removed the wallpaper and added the bold green stripes, and had the accent tile painted over with black, and it totally updates the look. I think it is a great compromise for a bathroom shared by a boy and a girl.

Master Bedroom: This space is a calming retreat for the busy parents. The walls are just the purest shade of blue, and the canopy is so stunning in person. We backed this lace chinoiserie fabric that is UNREAL in a soft blue so that you can really appreciate the detail. The rug is a soft taupe Madeline Weinrib that ties in with their existing headboard and monogrammed shams. We had to punch things up just a bit though, and the lamps, bedding, and art add just enough oomph.

Master Bathroom: The bathroom before was a tired beige builder grade bummer. Eventually it will need to be totally redone and expanded, but for now they wanted to live with it and address the problem in a renovation down the road. I have to give the owners so much credit for not telling me I was straight up cray when I suggested we just paint the whole thing FLAMING RED. There were totally up for it, and I even shocked myself with how well it worked. You definitely don’t notice the aging beige tile anymore! We replaced the countertop with leftover marble from the kitchen slab, and switched out the mirrors and lighting with these brass stunners. The christian lacroix moment on window treatment is pretty snazzy too.

SOURCES

HALL BATH
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Bunker Hill | Curtain Fabric: Designer Wallcoverings, The Original Martinique 90210 – Beverly Hills Fabric | Sconces: Circa Lighting (Ginger Single Arm Sconce) | Ceiling fixture: Ballard Designs, Coral 3 Light Chandelier

DINING ROOM
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Nosegay | Light fixture: Contact Biscuit Home | Chair Fabric: Cole & Son, Hummingbirds | Rug: The Rug Company, Zap rug | Painting: Jenny Andrews

ENTRY HALL
Wallpaper: F Schumacher (Birds and Butterflies) | Rug- Vintage via ABC Home

LIVING ROOM
Sectional: Custom Biscuit Home | Sectional Fabric: Lee Jofa (Bragance II) | Floral Pillow- Ralph Lauren (Ladie’s Day Floral, Spectator) | Leopard Pillow: Scalamandre (Leopardo) | Blanket: Hermes Avalon Blanket | Coffee Table: Vintage, 1st Dibs | Side Tables: Oomph, Edgartown Side Table | Lamps: Robert Abbey Double Gourd via Biscuit Home | Wallpaper on Bookshelves: Brunschwig & Fils, Bibliotheque Multicolor | Sconces above bookshelves: Circa Lighting, Dean Picture Light | Wall Color: BM Polar Ice | Curtain Trim: Samuel & Sons (Chambord Tri-tassel fringe) | Blue Floral Chair: Vintage Recovered | Blue Floral Chair Fabric: Lee Jofa, Grenville Glazed Chintz Blue

HOUSTON’S ROOM (BOY)
Wallpaper: Brunschwig & Fils (Battle of Valmy 1792) | Light Fixture: Jonathan Adler via Biscuit Home (Jonathan Adler Sputnik) | Chest: Well Appointed House (Burl Wood Chest) | Trim: Samuel & Sons | Rug: Lulu & Georgia | Headboard: Custom via Biscuit Home | Bedding: Biscuit Home — Jamie Blue duvet, Jamie Blue Sham, Cornflower Blue Sham | Throw Blanket: Biscuit Home | Lamp: Vintage

KITCHEN
Stove: William Sonoma | Island: William Sonoma | Lights: Circa Lighting (Hicks Pendant)

MASTER BATH
Paint Color: BM Ruby Red | Lights: Circa Lighting | Mirrors: Restoration Hardware | Curtain Fabric: Osborne & Little, Designers Guild, FCL004/01

How to Style Your Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Hello, Pretty Brides! It’s Devon Rachel and I’m back to talk about another important step in this wedding planning process: the bridesmaids. This crazy bunch will be your support and you’ll definitely want them looking fabulous by your side. But how do you make these girls stand out in a stylish way? You’re going to have to take a step out of your comfort zone. But it’ll be fun – I promise!

When I started the search for my girls, I knew one thing; I wanted them to be in all different dresses. Let me just tell you, this was a great idea but it was extremely hard for me to find at first. I have seven bridesmaids so I assumed I needed to pick a dress from seven different collections. Wrong. So wrong.

While it would be great to find seven different designed fabulous dresses, it’s not as realistic (at least in my experience). I decided to track down a single designer who carried enough dresses in their collection to dress each of my girls (and keep me happy visually). This is one of the best tips I can give you! While picking different dresses in different designers can happen, it’s just a heck of a lot easier if you can find one designer.

I was so happy to find Amsale Bridesmaids. Out of the many designers, Amsale totally wowed me and creates dresses that feel less ‘Bridsmaid-y”. We headed to Bella Bridesmaids Dallas to get my girls fitted and ready to go. Big step off my extremely long wedding checklist? Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

Today I’m taking you along this process and showing three different ways to be different with your Bridesmaids dresses. Whether it’s different colors, styles, or textures, you’ll find some great examples and tips in this video. It features my actual bridesmaids, and I hope you love it! Make sure to visit my Pinterest and Blog for more inspiration and tips! xoxo

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Cinematography: Candlelight Films | Photography: Splendor Photography | Bridesmaids’ Salon: Bella Bridesmaid (Dallas Location) | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Devon Dyer

Contributing Editor, Blogger Bride

Devon Rachel

Arlington Hall at Lee Park Wedding

Dallas weddings never fail to wow. That’s a given. The folks down there just seem to know how to mix sweet with stylish, and they never miss the change to sprinkle in a bit of glam wherever they can. That’s why this beauty captured by Amy Herfurth Photography is making me smile from ear to ear right now, and you can join me in doing just that right here.

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Cozy Outdoor Wedding Inspiration

From the Bride…My wedding day was absolutely perfect! From the flowers and the linens to the cake and the music, everything was exactly how imagined it. I wanted my wedding day to feel like a dream with soft colors and delicate fabrics to make me feel like I was floating on a cloud. My husband and I wanted a ceremony that would mix both of our religious backgrounds – I am Jewish and he is Christain. Rabbi David Gruber officiated the cermony under a beautiful chuppa draped in delicate chiffon fabric and tied back with large bouquets of flowers on both sides. We had a ketubah which we signed during the ceremony and my husband broke the glass at the end but we also included a unity candle to represent his background. The reception was decorated with gorgeous soft pink and ivory roses and peonies with pops of pale yellow and coral flowers to add extra color. The vases we used were oversized mercury glass for the head tables making the arrangements tower over the table but be tall enough to not block the view of people having conversation. The other guest tables had large, shallow bowls overflowing with flowers. Each table had a mixture of candleabras and glass vases for candles. One of my favorite parts of the whole night was the photo booth provided by 4Flashes. All of our guests, young and old, loved sneaking in the booth for a quick pic with a variety of prop selections. We loved the photo album we got at the end of the night with little notes from our guests next to their photo strip. Our night ended at the gorgeous Hotel St. Germain in uptown Dallas. Our wedding was more amazing than I could have ever imagined!

Spring might be quietly knocking at our doors, but that doesn’t mean my heart beats for pretty, cold weather fêtes any less. In fact, the second I stumbled upon this amazing shoot from Loft Photographie, Southern Social and Petal Pushers, I sort of wished it was the beginning of winter all over again…just don’t tell anyone I said that. Get comfy-cozy and join me in the gallery for soooo much more.

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Winter Weddings

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Rustic Yellow Vista West Ranch

From Loft Photographie… We created warm wedding to encompass our favorite seasonal elements – a welcoming dinner table, cozy lounge and delightful sweets surrounded by the Texas Hill Country.

The key to any event is a superb location. We teamed up with the humble folks at Red Corral Ranch – a place your dearest 33 friends or family members will feel right at home in cozy accommodations and make a yearly tradition. We started with the inviting place settings balancing the edgy rose gold flatware with classic vintage water goblets and wine glasses on a hearty rustic farm table. The dinner table was nestled away amongst the trees only found on the ranch’s 1,100 acres by a secret footbridge.

Petal Pushers transformed the farm table with winter whites and lush greenery perfectly mastering the balance of comfort and luxury – a table encouraging guests to sit for hours sipping wine and sharing stories under the Texas sky. The Stationery Bakery hand painted gorgeous tree slices with seasonal sayings bringing comfort to the bold and modern place settings.

When creating the cozy lounge, we filled the gorgeous over-sized sofa from Bee Lavish with fury pillows and a beautiful throw to embrace the night’s chill. We included a few sweet treats from Simon Lee Bakery and champagne within arms reach to enjoy while chatting with loved ones. Also, we designed a scrumptious dessert cart matched for the season offering cake with hazelnut filling, spiced sugar cookies and decadent cake balls.

For me, there is nothing better than a good love story. Call me sappy, sure, but a sweet beginning, a romantic middle, all leading up to a beautiful wedding day get’s me like nothing else. AJH Photography captured just such a love story at Vista West Ranch and I’m a sappy mess. Typical.

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Rustic Hill Country Wedding

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Rustic

From the stunning bride… Our love story began back in 2008, when the two of us met through mutual friends. During our Senior year, David and I grew closer as friends- even though I knew he was secretly in love with me. I always knew that he was interested in me. Throughout our senior year David and I continued to grow closer as friends and part of me could always picture myself being with him long term, but I didn’t want to ruin our friendship with a failed relationship. David always went out of his way to impress me and show me that he cared for me through being a gentleman, going out together and being my prom date (which he did by painting rocks my favorite color and spelling out “prom? that would rock” in a nice remote spot overlooking a creek in our neighborhood park.)

After high school I went to The University of Texas at Austin to pursue my education, while David joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska. Shortly after, David deployed to Afghanistan. During his deployment, we talked as often as possible. Part of me always knew that David was the one for me and once he came home we finally decided to start dating. Over the next three years we had a long distance relationship from Alaska to Afghanistan again and back. On December 21st 2012, on his vacation after his second deployment, David invited me over to his parents house for dinner while the rest of his family was away. I had no idea what was about to happen. While preparing dinner for the two of us, David told me that he had to step out back to move some wood for his dad and told me he might need my assistance. I was reluctant to do so. David stepped out and came in shortly after to ask for my help. We walked out back together and to my surprise, I see a beautiful purple heart of lights laying in the center of the yard with lights wrapped around the surrounding trees. I knew then that I wasn’t going to be helping him with the yard work, but that the moment I had been patiently waiting for was about to happen. David got down on one knee and asked me to be his prom date for life along with being his wife. Thus began the next chapter of our lives.

Over the next 10 months I planned our wedding while he was back in Alaska finishing out his service. I always knew I wanted a rustic wedding with a touch of vintage flair, and had always dreamed of getting married in an old barn, which all panned out perfectly! Vista West Ranch was always my top choice for my venue- and we were lucky enough to book our wedding at the place I had always hoped for! The planning process of our wedding was such a joy! I am the type of girl who knows what she wants and is extremely detail orientated, so putting together all my thoughts and ideas into action was really fun and easy to do.

My style inspiration was pulled from my love of lace, mason jars, florals and of course Pinterest! Vista West Ranch had all I wanted wrapped up in one! My wedding day was more than I could have ever imagined. David and I shared many moments that I will never forget, but one that will always stick with me is when we had our first look. That moment, where it was just the two of us was perfection. I had thought a lot on what I wanted to give David during our first look, and I figured I should bring it all back to the moment he won my heart- Senior year 2008. When I walked up to my handsome groom awaiting my arrival, I knew exactly what I wanted to say. As David turned around it truly sunk in that today was the day we had been waiting for. We were about to be husband and wife. After saying tons of mushy gushy stuff, I had one last thing to ask David before we said I do. I opened my hand and gave David a purple rock from when he asked me to prom and asked him “Marriage? It would rock” It was the perfect moment, one that was so special to the both of us that signified the beginning of it all.

Photography: Ajh Photogrraphy | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Venue: Vista West Ranch

A bride and groom with this much style deserve a party. The kind of party where you shut the office door, turn those phones to silent and sit back to soak in hours upon hours of rustic pretty. Because when Becker Vineyards, The Lodge Event Center and the fabulous stylings of Jordan Payne Events meet, it’s one seriously epic day here at SMP. See it all captured by Shaun Menary in the full gallery.

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Event Venue Weddings in Wineries

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Rustic

From the Bride… Grayson and I met in high school when we were 15. He sat behind me in English class and probably passed me a note that said “Will you be my girlfriend?” I got to marry my high school sweetheart!

When starting our wedding planning process we knew we wanted our wedding to be outside, laid-back, slightly informal and lots of fun! We also knew we loved the idea of a destination wedding. We wanted it to be close enough so that most of our guests wouldn’t have to fly, but far enough for it to feel like a get-away wedding. Fredericksburg was that perfect distance away from our home in Dallas. We had been to Fredericksburg a few times as a family and the first time I went to Becker Vineyards I remember thinking “what a pretty place for a wedding.”

It was special to me to have pieces of old and new incorporated in our wedding. My engagement ring was Grayson’s great grandmother’s wedding ring that has been passed down through the women in the family. I wore my great grandmother’s and grandfather’s wedding bands on my other hand that have also been passed down. I also wore the same purple suede shoes my grandmother wore when she got married. She gave them to me quite a few years ago. I knew right away that I wanted to try and wear them when I got married so they had been sitting in the top of my closet waiting for the day to come. All made for a special touch to the special day.

If I had any advice for future brides it would be to make planning stress free! Don’t stress about every single tiny little detail. One of my favorite parts of the day was just getting to hang out with all of my best friends and not worrying about a thing. Also, when budgeting for your wedding, regardless of what your budget is, make photography a top priority. When your wedding day finally gets here, it literally flashes right by. I love how Shaun captured every moment of my day. A great photographer enables you to be in that moment again, every time you even just glance at a photo!

Rustic + Ethereal Vista West Ranch Wedding

Y’all are going to love this spunky bride. She’s gorgeous, she’s got fabulous taste, and her smile is infectious. Closer to Love Photography captured her on her happiest day and if this doesn’t get you, nothing will. She married her love at Vista West Ranch, and the rest, as they say, is history. Pretty, pretty history.

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Romantic Outdoor Bridal Session

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Vintage

From the stunning bride… Due to our culture’s surging obsession with all things wedding, there seems to be a lot of unnecessary pressure on the bride and groom to create the most killer, most hipster, most creative, most memorable wedding experience ever. And I will admit, I (the bride) certainly felt and gave into this pressure when Eric, my now husband, and I first started the wedding planning process. I remember feeling at the start that every single detail of the wedding needed to be “cool” and “different” so as to make a noticeable statement. This stressed me out for a while until Eric spoke some sense into me. He said something to the effect of this: “Kallie, if the wedding day is focused on the wedding itself and not on the marriage, then something is wrong.” He was right. I’d been focusing so much on the stuff that was going to be at the wedding that I’d forgotten to prioritize the one thing that should be the focus: the love that holds us together. Once I made that profound shift in my mind, all the wedding planning started to fall in to place. I stopped trying to create the most epic wedding (an effort that is for self glory) and started making a wedding that was true to us, our love and our relationship.

As a couple, Eric and I are all about mixing classic elements with a little bit of vintage funk. We also wanted to create a wedding experience that made our guests feel less like guests and more like family, thus we knew we wanted it to be somewhere where we could create an inviting atmosphere. That’s why when we saw Vista West Ranch, our wedding venue, we instantly fell in love. Tucked back in the Texas Hill Country, the mix of metal and wood on the barn were to die for. Elegant yet rustic. Warm and inviting, yet assertive. Structured and raw, but still incredibly romantic and ethereal. The area and the venue itself were stunning. We also loved all the decor detail that Vista West provided with glass lanterns hanging in the trees and burlap drapes and wooden light structures beautifully filling the indoor space. It was the perfect location for us, so we booked that day!

The decisions we made on food, decorations, flowers and clothing were all inspired by Vista West. We wanted the food and the food service to retain the same elegance as the space while still being inviting and unique. Sullivan Street Catering helped us accomplish this goal flawlessly. I bet it’s not everyday you see BBQ tofu served at a wedding! We wanted the decorations and flowers to stay true to the romance and structure of the venue, which we accomplished by contrasting the softness of big, full flowers against the strong edges of the books and glass vases. And as for our clothing choices, we wanted our wedding party and ourselves to look vintage and ethereal. This was achieved by using grey and charcoal for the groom and groomsmen (rather than black, which is too harsh) and ivory and indigo for the bride and bridesmaids (ivory rather than white since which is also very stark).

Overall, we feel our wedding far exceeded our expectations! We and our guests had an ABSOLUTE blast! The venue looked amazing, the food was so fresh and scrumptious, the flowers were simply elegant, the dance party was a rager, and above all else, the focus was without a doubt, the Love that holds us together. All praise be to Him who is love and is the love in us (1 John 4:8)!

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This is quite possibly the prettiest thing I’ve seen all week. Abbie McFarland Photography and this stunning bride just upped the pretty ante with this romantic bridal session. Fields for days, a gorgeous bouquet, and horses? It doesn’t get any better than this.

From the photographer… I adore the bride that I photographed out on my family’s land….Chesley is the real deal when it comes to ranch life – she grew up on a 20,000 acre ranch in Uvalde, Texas. It wasn’t a practical drive from my area, but as it so happens, my family owns land in Aledo that fit the mood of this session perfectly. It was very important to Chesley to include that part of her life, as well as a few pieces from family members that have shaped her. The blanket is a handmade one from her grandmother, and the suitcases belonged to her great aunt. The rain broke that day to give us a beautiful sunset, and the horses made it magical.

Photography: Abbie Mcfarland Photography | Makeup: Let's Makeup | Hair: Glen Alan Salon

University of Texas Golf Club Wedding

When you bring together a group of A-team vendors like 36th Street Events, Posey Event And Floral Design and Polkadots, you can expect a wedding nothing short of perfection. Take this UT affair, for instance. Planned down to the very last detail and snapped through the lens of Bloom Photography, you’ll want to swoon every sunshiny capture in the gorgeous gallery right here!

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Traditional Ballroom Wedding at The Adolphus

From Bloom Photography… These two are just meant to be. I could feel it in my bones and see it on the face of literally every single guest. The emotions were running high and so was the excitement at this gorgeous wedding at the University of Texas golf club.

When I first met Hallie, she was having coffee with her sister and every word she spoke about her groom and the wedding plans would positively light up the room. I could tell that her excitement about this new chapter of life would translate into a gorgeous day and it certainly did! Aside from the beautiful sunny ceremony there was a gorgeous dinner and amazing party band that kept the guests celebrating all night long!

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36th Street Events

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This, loves, is traditional elegance done oh-so-right. The kind of magical affair where drop-dead gorgeous stylings mix and mingle with stunning florals from The Garden Gate and the breathtaking setting known as The Adolphus. It’s what we here at SMP call “pure, unadulterated perfection” and you can see every last magical moment captured by Ivy Weddings right here in the full gallery.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Getaway Car Wedding Inspiration

From Ivy Weddings… If you asked us to plan a wedding that captured all of the elegance, regal history, and romance of Dallas, we couldn’t have done it better than Elizabeth and Justin did. The century-old romantic baroque Adolphus Hotel, once named “the most beautiful building west of Venice,” served as the perfect backdrop to their gorgeous day. With a stunning pastel floral palette by The Garden Gate and an exquisite cake and matching cupcakes by acclaimed Dallas bakery Frosted Art, all the details fell into place for the perfect expression of refined style. Elizabeth and Justin tied the knot in front of family and friends, and danced the night away to live music.

From the Bride… We rented a 15-passenger van the day before the wedding. Justin drove some of out-of-town family to the Bishop Arts district to have authentic Texas bbq and pie. They enjoyed it so much, some went back again before they flew home. On the morning of the wedding, Justin played golf with a group, including my Dad. My bridesmaids, my mom and I spent the day getting ready and watching Aggie football. After this, we were overjoyed to see that our hopes and planning for an elegant wedding had come off without a hitch. Our favorite splurges included having a live band. Justin’s favorite part of the day was saying “I do.” My favorite part of the day was getting to marry Justin, and sharing that experience with some of our closest friends and family.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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I’ve always believed the most romantic part of a wedding comes down to the getaway. You know – those major moments of bliss as you pull away with the one you love on the best day ever? So when Reagen Taylor and Caroline Joy joined forces to bring that very vision to life, it took all I had not to pin every. last. image. Have a look for yourself in the full gallery right here!

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Outdoor Weddings

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Tuscan Wedding Inspiration at The Vineyard At Florence

From Reagen Taylor… After our first style shoot together, Caroline and I immediately came up with the idea to do a getaway car-inspired style shoot. I spent the next couple weeks in a giddy daze as I sketched out ideas, wandered through flower markets, drove until I got lost in the Hill Country searching for the perfect setting, held creative collaboration sessions, and crafted (which consequently led to the spreading of gold glitter all over my studio…whoops).

On my adventure through the Hill Country, I found a picturesque hunting ranch outside Dripping Springs, TX which served as the perfect backdrop for the style shoot against the meadows, rolling hills, and centuries-old oak trees. To maintain a classically elegant feel, the models, Kristen and Hunter (super sweet real-life husband and wife), wore simple black and white dress. For the flowers, I used rich jewel tones (garnet, amethyst, ruby, sapphire) to stand out dramatically against the simplicity of the classic car and attire.

Then, I had a vision that an old stained-glass window should be used in the middle of a meadow as a ceremony backdrop. I ended up creating a three-panel ‘stained glass’ window out of vintage lace so the sun would glow through the lace in delicate patterns. The invitations were designed and hand-painted by the lovely and talented Wynne and Mozelle from Inviting Affairs. I’m so thankful for all of the wonderful people who helped pull this style shoot together, and to be blessed with the opportunity to work with such amazingly creative and genuine people.

You know what this lovely Monday calls for? A little Tuscan wedding inspiration. The kind of inspiration that is literally overflowing with breathtaking details styled to perfection by Reagen Taylor and captured in amazing images by Caroline Joy Photography. A romantic fuchsia-filled shoot all set against the stunning Vineyard At Florence. See it all here.

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From Reagen Taylor… The inspiration for the style shoot started with the discovery of The Vineyards at Florencea peaceful, elegant vineyard outside Austin, TX. We couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect venue! Everywhere you look is one gorgeous scene after another.

I started with a Tuscan inspired theme. For the color pallete, I wanted to enhance the natural hues of the vineyard, so I selected soft sunset colors, cream, olive green, and fuchsia.

The head table and cake table were custom made by Beth Taylor, owner of Etsy store SummerRoad, and my very talented mother! Our lovely model and newlywed, Anna Matthews, looked stunning in her modern and elegant wedding dress. I was incredibly blessed to have the charming and talented Caroline Joy of Caroline Joy Photography capture all of the details! I had so much fun working with and learning from her! Special thanks to Kambrah from The Vineyard at Florence for warmly welcoming us out to The Vineyard!

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such beautiful, talented ladies at such an amazing venue! Thank you to everyone for all your hard work!

Photography: Caroline Joy Photography | Wedding Venue: The Vineyard At Florence | Floral Design/ Concept And Styling: Reagen Taylor | Model: Anna Matthews | Tables: Summer Road

Elegant Garden Wedding

If there’s one thing we love more than anything else in wedding fashion, it’s a line up of the prettiest ‘maids around, all chicly dressed in a stunning frock that plays with their individual personality. Any bride who has the brilliant mindset to let her girls pick their dress is just plain cool. The bride in this wedding from Q Weddings is cool and then some, and here is your proof!

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Spring Weddings

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Garden Weddings

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