Texas Weddings

This wedding is beyond beautiful; an amazing example of rustic meets elegance with more than its fair share of romance.  But when you peel back the layers upon layers of pretty, at its core is a story of love and family.  A love between a darling bride and her mother, a groom and his Mrs. and a whole host of amazing friends and family.  Planned (+ styled) to perfection by Maggie Gillespie Designs and captured in amazing imagery by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings this, my friends, is the epitome of lovely.  See it all in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Maggie Gillespie… When I got the call from Gina, I knew this would be something very special indeed. Her mother had recently been diagnosed with cancer and the bride wanted to make sure she would be able to be at her wedding, yet not incur any of the inevitable stress of putting on a big wedding. Time was of the essence… with little time to plan before the best date, a couple of weeks before Christmas. Gina wanted a warm country setting with an elegant dinner, world class photography, beautiful food and flowers, for a intimate wedding with family. Since it was to be a couple of weeks before Christmas, we carried the rustic yet elegant look to August E’s, with the wedding ceremony under Luckenbach’s 300-year-old live oak tree, dressed in crystal chandeliers and flowers.

Some things are simply beautiful in themselves as was this bride and her family, the groom and his, and it was an honor to do it for them. As an amazing grace to the story, the mother of the bride was in remission shortly before the wedding. And, as if on cue, the blue skies peeked out from the cloud cover for a picture perfect Texas wedding under a sheltering sky. An amazing ensemble cast of vendors and answers to prayers were evident that day.

[dotted]

Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings | Ceremony Venue: Luckenbach, Texas | Reception Venue: August E’s, Fredericksburg, Texas | Event Planning + Floral Design + Lighting: Maggie Gillespie Designs | Cake: Sophie’s Bakery, Fredericksburg

I love, love, love a good Hill Country shindig. Not just because the surroundings are gorgeous but more so because it has this amazing rustic meets serene vibe to it. And that vibe shines through in each wedding we come across from this little pocket of Texas. Sometimes those affairs are a little more heavy on the rustic and this time it’s falling on the side of crazy romantic. And the flowers by Petal Pushers and event planning by Ashlee Voda have a whole lot to do with that. Have a look at the full gallery of images by Caroline Joy Photography for even more. It’s Texas romance done so, so right.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…I had always heard that the day that is suppose to be every girl’s dream often turns into the most stressful, anxiety-filled event of their life. Our wedding planning process could not have been a more enjoyable, exciting, and stress-free time in our lives. The way God orchestrated everything, down to the last detail, was so awesome to experience. A big thanks to Ashlee Voda (of Rachel Events) for planning one of the best weddings I have ever seen (I do realize that I’m partial). Having the opportunity to select Ashlee as our wedding planner was by far one of the best decisions we made during our planning process. Our wedding day at Camp Lucy was perfect in every way; Reflecting on the day, I would say we felt overwhelmingly blessed, calm, peaceful, ready, joyful, and full of love. We wanted our wedding to be intentional in every way, and it was just that. If I could share any advice, coming from a conservative, traditional person like myself, I would say SEE EACH OTHER BEFORE THE CEREMONY! We did a first look to have some alone time, take the edge off, and read our personal vows to each other. We also had the entire moment captured by our amazing videographer, Richard Lizama, and our oh-so-talented photographers, Caroline Joy and her husband Aaron. By seeing each other prior to the ceremony, it allowed a lot more time to take tons of pictures that every bride wishes she had more of after the day; we were able to get a lot of our wedding party photos done, as well. This was one of the sweetest moments of our day.

I LOVED having someone special to us, that knew us well and helped us prepare for marriage, preside over our ceremony. Scott Kedersha (from Watermark Community Church) more than delivered by glorifying Christ and making our ceremony not only special for us, but encouraged other married couples as well. Our exceptionally unique and artsy stationary was designed and printed by Lauren Essl, owner of Blue Eye Brown Eye. Leah Noble performed our ceremony music and was a fan favorite for the day. Highly recommend her if you want a sweet, Norah Jones/Sara Bareillis acoustic-type vibe for your ceremony or reception. Everyone loved our signature drinks: Mint Juleps and Strawberry-Champagne spritzers. Our good friend, Cameron Pharmakis, entertained by acoustic guitar during our cocktail hour while guests enjoyed some Southern comfort appetizers. Our florals were OUT OF THIS WORLD amazing. Stacy, and her team at Petal Pushers, absolutely nailed our vision – Think soft, earthy, whimsical, hill-country flowers: succulents, cotton, garden roses, berries, thistles, logs, wood, air plants etc. Guests raved over their work. Primizie Catering provided the delectable food, and had outstanding bar service. Our band, Suede, rocked out and kept all the guests dancing down to the very last minute. They even did a “last song tribute” to us and had us dance on stage to close out the night. Everybody loves them some Journey! Go check them out if you’re in the Austin area! They travel too!

Other details included Cakes by Lori – the best tasting cakes we tried in the Austin area, with the best prices! Linens and rentals came from Whim. We added a candy bar that everyone loved, and had a late night pass of chicken n’ waffles and grilled cheese! I think that was the guests favorite part!!! One additional “touch” that the guests really appreciated was having buses transport them to and from Austin (R&R Limousine). Highly recommend if you are having a Hill Country/destination wedding. More fun for everyone. We couldn’t have had such a perfect day without the above mentioned vendors (and of course, our parents). We know that is all a tribute to God’s provision, and we couldn’t be more thankful to all of you!

[dotted]

Photography: Caroline Joy Photography | Event Planner: Ashlee Voda | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Camp Lucy | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Catering: Primizie | Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori | Reception Band: Suede | Linen Rentals: Whim Event Rentals |  Vintage Rentals: Sweet Sunday Events | Invitations: Blue Eye Brown Eye | Makeup: Houston Puryear Makeup Artistry | Hair: Tamara Greer | Cinematography: Richard Lizama | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

I’ve always wanted to attend a Texas wedding. After years of swooning over the beautiful Texas fêtes that have graced the pages of SMP, seeing the magic unfold in person is definitely on my bucket list. Particularly after drooling over this beauty captured by Photography by Vanessa. It’s Texas perfection complete with gorgeous florals from Petal Pushers, one cute-as-can-be, tutu-wearing flower girl, and a new Mr. & Mrs. so in love I just want to hug them. They keep my theory alive that Texas weddings are just darling, and you can see all the reasons why right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…We had about a year to plan our wedding, so we were able to take everything one step at a time. I am a full time graduate student, so we had to be creative as we planned a wedding on a budget. We initially wanted a small, intimate celebration, but we realized we had too big of a family to leave out of the fun. Choosing the Umlaf for our location set the entire event in motion….we wanted to keep the feeling relaxed, outdoors, romantic, and still have that Austin feeling. We even had wedding crashers from Barton Springs!  We fell in love with the venue the first time we visited, the sculptures added so much beauty. The ceremony felt magical…the breeze and swaying trees created a sense of peace as we stood up there and read our vows we had written for each other.

The colors for the wedding were shades of peaches, corals and light purples….I have always loved these colors and knew from the start I wanted a colorful, spring wedding! All of the vendors were so helpful, providing ideas and advice as I explained we were on a budget and wanted to utilize as much of the natural setting as we could. Petal Pushers did an amazing job of pulling my ‘romantic woodsy’ idea together, they brought all of our ideas into a unified feeling. Throughout the planning, we tried to have a consistent style and color choice….this can be hard when there are so many fun ideas out there! We had fun looking at Etsy for unique wedding party gifts, as well as our guest sign in ‘tree’…..which we thought would be a nod to the natural setting of our celebration. Our cake was so beautiful, and the coconut lime flavor with vanilla buttercream was one of the easiest decisions we made. Our DJ was a friend of the grooms, he had so much energy and turned the night into a dance party, blending Tejano, Country and funk to get everyone dancing.  The best part of the night was dancing with the most important people in my life, all together in what felt like a fairy tale.

Our invitations- we used weddingpaperdivas. I wanted to bring out the colors with a lavender ribbon, so I went to Michaels and bought an inexpensive purple ribbon to tie around the gold/champagne folding envelope. It really made the color pop! We bought frames and twine from craft stores to incorporate family photos into the ceremony. We had fun choosing baby pictures and wanted to be a little silly. We used these for the rehearsal dinner as well. Wedding party attire- Groomsmen wore black leather Vans to compliment the tuxedos and to give the wedding a more relaxed feeling. I loved the way the look turned out! Bridesmaids wore their own dresses- I let them have fun by choosing any tone of peach, coral or blush.

[dotted]

Photography: Photography by Vanessa | Event Planning: Becky with Pearl Events | Floral Design + Decor: Petal Pushers | Venue: Umlauf Sculpture Garden | Linens + Rentals: Premiere Party Central | Lighting: Illios | Catering: Pascal’s Catering Company | Cake: Coco Paloma Desserts | Sweets: Central Market | Officiant: Rev. Ed Carter | DJ: Mark Denim | Ceremony Music: Musical Discovery Chamber Players of Austin | Program: Works on Paper | Transportation: Uptown Valet & Transportation | Hair: Rosalba Rodriguez with Garbo Salon Salon & Spa | Makeup: Vanessa Busbee with Garbo Salon & Spa |Wedding Dress: Anjolique | Flower Girl Dresses: Etsy | Groomsmen Suits: Mens Wearhouse

Confession time.  I’ve never really considered myself a girly girl.  (I know, I know… a non-girly girl obsessed with weddings.  Such a juxtaposition.)  I prefer flip flops to heels, football games to The Real Housewives and I can’t bake one.single.thing.  But, when it comes to the color pink, well… my tomboyish tendencies take a serious back seat.  Because pretty pink hues playing nice with a drop-dead gorgeous (Houston) wedding?  That’s an entirely different kind of lovely.  See it all captured by Still-Life Media Photography in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…We both travelled from different states to Detroit, Michigan to attend the end of year watch night service (Dec 31st, 2013) and also to see my Spiritual Father and Pastor. There, he arranged with my sister and some friends – and took us all to a nice restaurant for dinner. When it was time for dessert, the waitress came out with some cheesecake with strawberries and the wordings in strawberry syrup “Will you marry me?” Then he got on his one knee and popped the most beautiful ring. After I said, “Yes,” he cried.

[dotted]

Photography: Still-Life Media Photography | Floral Design: Keisha’s Kreations | Event Design + Planning: A Conceal Affair | Ceremony Location: RCCG Dominion Chapel | Reception Location: Signature Manor | Invitations: Vivian Jade  | Cinematography: Maverick Productions | Shoes: Bagdley Mischka | Dress: Da Vinci

I am kind of obsessed with this engagement session.  And by “kind of” I mean I completely and totally am. Because not only does it feature one seriously sweet duo picnicking and bike riding the day away, it’s infused with vibrant Mexican culture every which way you turn.  And if that isn’t enough to make your Tuesday morning (+ afternoon + evening), then the cute pup ought to do the trick.  See every last glorious moment captured by Ashley D Photography right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Ashley D Photography… This adorable session was held in Austin, Texas and is full of love and vibrant colors (and an adorable Chihuahua!). Kathryn and Jacob wanted their engagement session to represent their Mexican heritage with vibrant colors and simple, but chic details.

They started off their engagement session riding their vintage cruiser bikes to an open, overgrown field with their little Chihuahua, Peter. They had fun hanging a vibrantly colored pinata and playfully swinging at it together, then enjoyed a chic Mexican-inspired picnic in the field at sunset. This session is full of color, laughter and a some beautiful lighting.

All the details were brought by the couple — including including a tree stump side table, Topo Chicos drinks, Pan Dulce, Vibrant/Primary Color Flowers in a Mason Jar & a traditional colorful Mexican Blanket.

[dotted]

Photography: Ashley D Photography | Flowers: Whole Foods | Event Design: Jessica Bohne, Independent Stylist | Location: Shoal Creek Greenbelt, Austin | Food & Drinks: Fiesta Market

There is something so incredibly romantic about a pastel color palette. It’s soft and ethereal and pretty much perfect for a summer wedding. Which makes this inspiration designed by Mayhar Design along with florals by Sprout and photography by Caroline Joy, all the more relevant on this warm June day. P.S. if you’re having a Fall, Winter or Spring wedding, this inspiration works for those too! Around here, we believe pretty transcends all seasons. Have a look at the full gallery for even more.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Mayhar Design…We are in love with this industry. It offers us the gift of working alongside brides and grooms as they plan one of the most magical and important days of their lives! Additionally, it provides us the great joy of collaborating with an amazingly talented group of artists and professionals. We truly admire and respect the work of so many artists in the wedding industry, and were thrilled to design and plan this photo shoot.
 
From the start, we knew that we wanted to create an event that was romantic and timeless. We also wanted to express our vision through a soft and dreamy “watercolor garden” palette. Our goal was to couple the softest shades of watery peach and pink with calming and tranquil bursts of mint, aqua and green – all against a lush and romantic hill country garden backdrop.

Our first step was to find a photographer. We adore the work of Caroline (Caroline Joy Photography), and were thrilled when she was among the first to join our team. We cannot speak highly enough of her exquisite attention to detail and her ability to lovingly capture images with the most intimate and beautiful softness. Florals (one of our all-time favorite elements) were so important for the look and feel of the shoot – and we were ecstatic to enlist the talent of our dear friend and gifted designer, Michelle Hodges (Sprout). The beautiful Hoffman Haus, in Fredericksburg, was our top pick to achieve the natural and elegant garden setting that we had been looking for.

As soon as these decisions were made, it was time to focus on the colorful details and finishing touches – we were beyond blessed to have such gifted artists bring to life the remaining elements. Stunning calligraphy was provided by the talented Nicole Black (The Left Handed Calligrapher) and our friend and artist, Noelle Palm, hand-painted love rocks for us. Jessica from Bird Bakery designed decadent, custom pear tarts, while Angi of Blue Note Bakery painted a three-tired water-colored cake to compliment our stationary and add a perfect touch of sweetness to the shoot.

Our models were dressed in breathtaking attire, thanks to the generosity of Kelly Skahan with Nordstrom Bridal Suite (in Jenny Yoo), Kim Spradlin of Bella Bridesmaid (San Antonio) and Corie Barlow (our gifted grandmother whom we convinced to make a custom flower girl skirt and petticoat). The lovely ladies of Kendra Scott graciously shared their jewels with us for the day, while Vanessa Rios (hair) and Mandy Morrison (make-up) worked their gifted hands and magic on our sweet models. Last but not least, we were so thrilled to work with Whitley Rubinson and Micah Leiss, and our precious niece Lexie Freiermuth, who all brought such an amazing life and energy to the styling and the day as our models! We cannot thank our vendors enough for making the shoot such a joy to design and style – we truly are blessed to have worked with such a generous dream team!

[dotted]

Photographer: Caroline Joy Photography | Design + Styling: Mayhar Design | Floral Design: Sprout | Venue: Hoffman Haus | Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher | Hair: Vanessa Rios | Make-Up: Mandy Morrison | Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo via Nordstrom Bridal Suite | Maid of Honor’s Dress: Bella Bridesmaid | Jewelry (necklaces and earrings): Kendra Scott | Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Tarts: BIRD Bakery | Painted Rocks: Noelle Palm | Ring Pillow, Hair Petals, Ribbon Wands, Pillows, Flower Wand: Mayhar Design | Flower Girl’s Skirt: Corie Barlow | Bride: Whitley Rubinson | Maid of Honor: Micah Leiss | Flower Girl: Lexie Freiermuth

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

View Portfolio

Sometimes a wedding is so awesome, it’s almost impossible to put into words; it’s sooo gorgeous, sooo amazingly beautiful, there’s not enough adjectives in the English language to really do it justice.  This, my friends, is one of those weddings.  A cultural fusion of Eastern and Western traditions mixed with the ultra-coolness of Austin and a sustainable celebration that is all kinds of crazy amazing.  It’s a day that was expertly captured by Nadia Hung Photography and planned (+ styled) to perfection by Darrelle Foore of Springdale Farm, all making for one uber-gorgeous gallery.  Join me there for sooo much more.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the bride… Coming from two different cultural backgrounds, incorporating both Eastern and Western traditions into our wedding was important. A tea ceremony took place in the early afternoon, where tea was prepared and offered to our elders as a sign of respect. It was a heartwarming gathering where a smaller group of family and friends spent time together before the evening celebration began.

For the evening, we wanted to pick a venue that could continue to be a part of our lives. Springdale Farm is a family-operated urban farm just 3 miles east from downtown Austin, Texas. With their commitment to local sustainable agriculture and their active involvement in the community, it made the perfect venue for our wedding. Food trucks are a big part of our lives in Austin. With half of guests from out of town, we wanted them to have a taste of that Austinite experience. We asked The Seedling Truck to prepare appetizers using fresh ingredients from Springdale Farm of that week. Chi’Lantro, who was part of our first-kiss story, was there to serve their famous Mexican-Korean tacos and burgers. For desserts, we had a handful of friends bringing homemade desserts, a warm gesture to our out of town guests saying “Welcome to Austin!”  We are also happy that with 140 guests, most of the waste generated was recyclable or compostable, leaving only one bag of trash at the end.

We are fortunate to be friends with many extremely talented folks. Most of the people we hired for the wedding were friends of ours – photographer, videographer, MCs, the band. Our officiant was a close friend of ours. All the signs were hand-written and our cake-topper was handmade. With so many of our friends contributing to the wedding, it made the day feel so inclusive and reminded us that we are part of an awesome community.

The night ended with a downpour of rain. Not only did it not ruin our night, we turned it into an epic dance party in the rain. When was the last time you danced in the rain?

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Nadia Hung Photography | Wedding Venue: Springdale Farm | Floral Design + Event Styling + Planning + Day of Coordination: Darrelle Foore of Springdale Farm | Catering: The Seedling Truck + Chi’Lantro |Invitations + Stationery: Paperless Post | Cinematography: Joshua Izenberg of Big Young Films | Wedding Dress: Balina Bridal | Men’s Attire: Al’s Formal Wear | Hair + Makeup: Lucie Marie

Traditional affairs in Texas have a style all their own.  A sort of “traditional with a kick,” if you will.  And when that amped-up style meets two seriously stunning cuties and the amazing work of Julie Wilhite Photography, it takes it to an entirely new level.  A level planned to absolute perfection by Something to Celebrate and boasting beautiful blooms from Blooming Gallery and a whole lot of sweetness overload from Susie’s Cakes.  See it all right here in the full gallery.  It’s crazy amazing.

And a gorgeous film from Perry Evan Films for even more beautiful inspiration…

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Julie Wilhite… Andrew and Kelly initially met through friends, but the timing was not quite right. They later reconnected on Facebook and have never left each other’s sides. Through a mutual love of adventure and travel, they fell in love. Their wedding was elegant and romantic using the colors silver and royal blue. The flowers were absolutely stunning, bringing the garden inside the chapel just for the two of them.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Julie Wilhite Photography | Wedding Venue: Briscoe Manor | Officiant: Mark Welshimer | Event Planning: Lauren Carrillo of Something to Celebrate | Floral Designer: Blooming Gallery | Cinematography: Perry Evan Films | Cake: Susie’s Cakes | Catering: Behind the Bash | DJ: Jonny Black Productions | Lighting: Bright Star Productions | Makeup: Blush & Co | Transportation: Monarch Limousine

Cinco de Mayo happens to be one of my favorite holidays (who can resist the fun-filled festivities and yummy cuisine?), so when I read that this darling duo decided to throw their Big Day bash amongst those May 5th celebrations, I knew I was going to LOVE their wedding. A wedding that was not only held on one of my fave days, but incorporated Spanish-inspired design from Foster Blue and Southwestern cuisine, too.  That’s what we call a trifecta of wedding goodness and you can see it all captured by Tracy Autem in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Foster Blue… Ashley and Chance Adair wanted a fun and Spanish influenced wedding on Cinco De Mayo.  We set out with lace wrapped glass container with Spanish lace and added pink and pale pink peonies. They were married outside under the beautiful blue sky and then we had a very Southwest influenced dinner.  Then we had the Horn session take them outside down the stairs under the cafe lights and dance the night away.  We add some Spanish elements to the cake and cake table.  These two are a fun fun couple.  We had a lot of fun playing with his name Chance.. we even made chance cards to set out on the cocktail tables, as well as playing with Chance on the engagement shoot. 

[dotted]

Photography: Tracy Autem Photography | Floral Design: Signature Productions | Event Design + Planning: Foster Blue | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Aristide Event Center | Cinematography: Austin Walton Productions | Invitations: The Inviting Ink | Catering: Oliver’s Fine Foods  | Cake: Creme De La Creme | Transportation: My Vintage Limo | Band: LimeLight Band | Cafe Lights: Randy Ro Entertainment | Make up + Hair: Ingenue Hair Artistry | Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via De Ma Fille | Locket: Eastside Antiques

Our hearts are heavy as we keep Eric Langlois and his precious family in mind during this most difficult time. For more information and ways to help, please visit our LBB blog. #findericlanglois

[dotted]

Tucked inside this affair is the flavor of Texas, the camera skills of the wildly talented Nichols and a classic wedding with punches of color and fun little details woven throughout. Now that is a recipe for an Austin wedding done so, so right. And with the crafting of Keely Thorne Events and florals by Merveille Events, that recipe was turned into pink-hued succulent perfection with a side of margaritas. See so much more in the full gallery.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/65930831?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=f77e98 600 338]

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…I grew up in Texas, spent most of my twenties in LA, and currently Andrew and I live NYC.  Andrew’s family is from Ohio and New Jersey, so.. to sum it up… 85% of our guests were out of towners traveling to Austin, and we wanted to show them a good time. When we first began our planning we were really searching for some exotic theme or story and then we realized that Austin and Texas in itself was everything we needed. We were asking a lot of our friends and family to travel to Austin so what better way to make everyone feel at home.  We created a website www.cometotexasyall.com which also became our hashtag, #cometotexasyall for our friends, family and guests to post pics on Instagram throughout and leading up to the weekend.

I’m a lingerie designer for Victoria’s Secret and I have a penchant for all things vintage. Because of this I knew I wanted to wear a lot of lace. My dress was an all lace, body clinging sheath from Amsale and I wore my grandmothers veil.  That was my favorite part. It’s a hundred years old and she brought it back on a European cruise ship. Both of my sisters wore it and we all wore it differently.  I also loved my shoes. I saw them in a magazine, tracked them down and to my chagrin realized they were much too expensive.  A few months later I walked into the Ferragamo store on 5th ave and there they were half the price. I weeped a little. My clutch is their perfect counterpart. It’s also blue velvet and is from a best friend’s handbag line, Patrick Shannon.  To add to our vintage feel, Andrew had a suit custom made by a NYC tailor in navy, one of our colors, and I gifted him my grandfather’s pocket watch which was the ideal compliment to his look.

Our ceremony was perfect in message and sentiment.  A best friend’s serenade of our favorite Patty Griffin song and another best friend’s Dad officiating our ceremony while my twin sis, older sis and cousin stood at our side. Growing up in Texas was a unique experience that’s very close to my heart so we wanted to capture the color and friendliness of the great state.  We hand selected Mexican, Otomi embroidered table runners for the tables and my brother in law had piñatas custom made from a photo.  One of my favorite and most special touches of our wedding were our party favors.  My mom had the idea to give little yellow boxes of worry dolls.  It’s a Guatemalan tradition and you are supposed to give your worry to each little doll and sleep with them under your pillow and legend says they’ll take your worry away.

Our friends from LA gifted us the peached tortilla truck. Lucky for me, Andrew is a talented cook and we are both huge foodies so it was the perfect gift. Andrew worked with our friend, Will Sexton to bring together a group of talented musicians for the after party to play our favorite classic rock and country hits.  Tunes from CCR to Willie Nelson had the dance floor jumping til the early morning light.  My favorite moments were when everyone was on the dance floor, of course!  And when everyone got into the cascarón, mexican confetti eggs as we left the reception to head to the after party. It was really fun to see everyone let loose and really live in the spirit of Texas. That carefree sensibility, southern hospitality and comforting feel of the mansion made us all feel like we were right at home.

[dotted]

Photography: The Nichols | Event Coordination: Keely Thorne Events  | Floral Design: Merveille Events | Ceremony Location: First United Methodist | Reception Venue: Mansion at Judges Hill | Cinematography: The McKellars | Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Taco Truck: The Peached Tortilla | Veil: Vintage (Bride’s Grandmother’s)

Hill Country weddings?  They’re kind of like the greatest thing ever, so traveling across the country to say “I do” in the darling Hoffman Haus makes more than perfect sense to me.  As does hiring a fabulous team of Texas vendors, including the wonderful Sprout, Cartewheels Catering and SMS Photography, a trio that can pretty much guarantee the rustic chic wedding of your dreams.  Add to that powerhouse lineup a plethora of beautiful details and some DIY touches that are crazy amazing and we have what we call the perfect way to start your Tuesday morning.  See all of the pretty in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… My husband and I live outside Portland, OR. However, many of our family and friends reside across the country. So we chose to meet in the middle – deep in the heart of Texas. The Hill Country provided natural beauty, delicious local flavors, and a relaxed atmosphere. Our venue, the Hoffman Haus, incorporated elegance into the rustic beauty and tranquil atmosphere – it was a perfect fit.

I love to exercise my creative brain when I get a chance and our wedding was the perfect occasion. While I fancy myself a junior florist and baker, I knew those details would be best left to professionals. Instead, I designed and letterpressed our invitations after taking a workshop and a whole lot of practice. We also took on other small DIY projects. My mother made lace sleeves for the candle votives. My cousins helped assemble the favors. My sister and friends made the boutonnières.

We tried to create an approachable party featuring the best of our beloved Pacific Northwest and Texas, each element chosen with care. We packed with us from home 15 pounds of Stumptown Coffee, as well as Xocolatl de Davíd Raleigh Bards in bacon and bourbon caramel. We sampled our way through the bakeries of Austin and Fredericksburg over weekend trips. Cake and Spoon provided a buttery Italian cream cake, a favorite of my grandmother who passed shortly before the wedding. Sprout Florist beautifully set the scene for our romantic-meets-woodsy-with-a-little-vintage affair, even incorporating roses from Portland (the City of Roses), as well as ferns and woodcuts. CartWheels Catering worked with us to create a custom menu featuring local ingredients for our family style service, maximizing the intimate feel and even featuring bacon-wrapped quail for my bird hunting husband. All captured in time by the most wonderful SMS Photography.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: SMS Photography | Venue: Hoffman Haus, Fredericksburg, Texas | Wedding Cake: Cake and Spoon | Floral Design: Sprout | Catering: Cartewheels Catering | Invitations & Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride

Inspired by their stunning venue, Vista West Ranch, this Bride and Groom created a day so lovely I am sure their guests are still talking about it today. With it’s rustic charm and darling DIY details waiting around every corner, it’s no surprise that the images in this gallery from Caroline+Ben Photography are lovely and then some. And you can see them all right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…I was inspired to do a rustic theme because of the Vista West. We looked at several different venues, but I liked the more relaxed, informal wedding idea. We are both very laid back people(him more so than me), and it fit our personalities. Our concept was to have a “different” wedding then the ones we have attended in the past. We loved the idea of drinking out of mason jars, having fire pits, and playing bags in the beer garden area. I loved the look of girls wearing cowboy boots with there dress. The best moment of my wedding was the first look. I got to see Randy’s reaction. It made me so happy to know I was spending the rest of my life with him. My whole wedding was basically DIY, I made the pinwheels, the cake stand, the burlap table runners, the mason jar favors, the seating chart chicken wire frame, the programs. I have a whole list of things I made. I would have the say the biggest piece of advice is just to have fun, live in the moments and don’t sweat the small stuff. It goes by in a blink of an eye.

[dotted]

Photography: Caroline+Ben Photography | Flowers: Callas Flowers | Ceremony and Reception Location: Vista West Ranch | Invitations: Cheekytart Design | Shoes: DSW | Dress: David’s Bridal |Caterer : Chisholm Trail BBQ | Hair and Make-up : Mindy Orsak

Umm… this wedding?  It’s awesome.  Awesome in that way that every single Austin wedding we see seems to possess.  You know what I am talking about – that crazy cool meets seriously sophisticated meets downright whimsical Austin charm?  This wedding has it, and it’s bursting from every last second designed by Ana Louisa Perkins, planned by Country Sugar and captured by Matthew Moore Photography.  It’s an Austin charmer from start to finish and it’s what we’re calling a definite must-see. Join me in the gallery for all of the pretty.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Ana Loisa Perkins… Planning this wedding with Dorothy and Mike was so much fun. The couple wanted a festive but elegant evening and, above all, a great party to celebrate with friends and family. The weather was ideal for the outdoor ceremony, held against a backdrop of bunting that Dorothy had made with her sisters and bridesmaids. Mercury Hall has a peaceful lawn that was perfect for the nuptials and since the ceremony was close to sundown, the whole scene was bathed in a rosy glow. As processional music, friends of the couple played a rendition of Santo and Johnny’s Sleep Walk—romantic and cool at the same time! Hard to pull off. Bubbly Palomas, vintage design elements and pink and yellow floral arrangements all gave the reception a celebratory feeling while the white tent kept it elegant. Instead of a guestbook, we used vintage floral tins and note cards in varying colors for guests to leave Dot and Mike a note. I loved the idea of the couple putting the notes up around their house after the ceremony to remember their special night.

Though it might sound corny, there really was a palpable joy in the air from the moment Dorothy walked down the aisle, luminous in her gorgeous dress, to the last sparkler going out when the couple made their exit. It was the perfect evening: a dreamy December night, two people in love surrounded by family and friends, and a little bit of magic.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Matthew Moore Photography | Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall | Wedding Coordination: Country Sugar | Wedding Design: Ana Louisa Perkins | Floral Design: Margot Blair Floral | Catering: Word of Mouth | Hair + Makeup: Katie Moore | Brides Hair Piece: Katie Moore | Jewelery: Charlotte Harrigan | DJ: DJ Look No Further

You know why I am seriously smitten with this breathtaking Houston wedding?  Well, other than the fact that the bride calls it “prairie chic meets urban cityscape” and it’s a chock-full of swoon-worthy details planned to perfection by Keely Thorne Events?  It’s pretty.  The kind of pretty that can only be delivered by the lush florals of Bows and Arrows + Events in Bloom, a breathtaking Monique Lhuillier and a fab Petroleum Club setting.  It’s just that good.  And the gallery captured by Chris Bailey Photography? Amazing.  Join me there for sooo much more.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the bride… After getting engaged, Matthew and I sat down to discuss how we envisioned our wedding day. Both of us loved the idea of a grand, sophisticated, cityscape wedding. To throw in a twist, we also wanted the wedding details to reflect our Texas upbringing, as a way to share where we are from with our family and friends, joining us to celebrate our marriage from all over the world. This juxtaposition between what my florist calls “Prairie Chic” and “Urban Cityscape” was quite a challenge, but it is what gave our wedding such a unique, personal touch.

Our reception was held at the Petroleum Club, which is on the 43rd floor, overlooking all of Downtown Houston. We transformed the space with décor and draping from the elevators foyer into the East and West Lounges and into the main Petroleum Room. Events in Bloom was able to bring the outdoors in, by hanging hundreds of small candles from the ballroom ceiling, which captured the stars and skyline seen through the massive two story windows. Below the candlelight, Bows and Arrows and Events in Bloom each put together grand floral focal points, as well as perfectly detailed flower arraignments filled with native foliage that surrounded our guests with the feeling of springtime in Texas.

Matthew and I found our band while hanging out one night in Austin, Texas. Sauce the Band set the active tone of the night and had all of our guests on their feet. The energy in the room was contagious. It puts a smile on my face thinking about all the fun we had with our loved ones that night.

I cannot thank Emily Moise with Keely Thorne Events, and all of our vendors for helping us put together what I, and all of our guests, call “a night to remember”. It is an amazing feeling to look back on my wedding day and love everything, down to the smallest of details. It is a feeling that I hope every woman can enjoy.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Chris Bailey Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: The Petroleum Club | Event Planning: Emily Moise with Keely Thorne Events | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows + Events in Bloom | Rentals + Linens: Events in Bloom | Sound + Lighting: Pro/Sound | Stationery: Atheneum Creative | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Casa de Novia | Band: Sauce the Band

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Bows and Arrows

View Portfolio

Although I’ve never personally been to Hill Country, after spending some serious quality time with this gorgeous gallery from  Briana Purser Photography I’m pretty sure I need to make a stop soon. Because not only does it look absolutely beautiful, the people also seem to be the nicest, sweetest people in all the land. Take this couple for instance. I’m pretty sure I would want to be their bestie if they would have me just from seeing their wedding. So even though I can literally take a trip to lovely Hill Country this morning, you can bet your bottom dollar I am taking a virtual trip right here in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… Tom and I have been together six years and have lived together almost just as long, so this was a long time coming! For our wedding, we knew we wanted to spend as much time as we could celebrating with our friends and family, as this was the one time we could get them all together in one place. I was really involved with planning all the details, researching and crafting with friends. I collected vintage bottles from flea markets, made gold painted mason jars, chalkboards and chose all the songs for the wedding and reception. Our friends and family were also very much involved. My bridesmaids and I made the bouquets while our other friends put the flower arrangements together for the tables the day-of, my father made the stumps for the centerpieces, Tom’s uncle made the BBQ, and some other friends made our cake. Everyone helped out in one way or another, it was truly special. The best compliment we received afterwards was the “The wedding was just so US!” That’s exactly what we were going for! We rented a house near Jester King Brewery for the wedding weekend to hang out after the reception with friends and family. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Briana and James of Briana Purser Photography | Wedding Venue: Jester King Brewery | Floral Design: Austin Flower Company, assembled by friends and bridesmaids | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal via Classy Concepts, Mansfield, Texas | Groom’s Attire: Bar III via Macy’s | Catering: Groom’s Uncle Ron’s BBQ + Red’s Porch | Invitations: Etsy | Photobooth: Al’s Photobooth | DJ: Sean Costarell

You know what I really love? I love when couples really understand the importance of capturing the time in their life surrounding their big day. I really love when they capture those moments in serious style, like these two. Who, decided why not get Jenny Futography to snap up some sunset shots before their big day? Because the result was pure perfection, and you can see them all right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Jenny Futography… By the time you’re reading this, Tiffany and Dean will have tied the knot! Their bridal session was inspired by everlasting romanticism. The beautiful bride-to-be is a hair stylist with inherent artistic eye. With the help of some of the most talented and creative people in set-design, makeup, and hair, we were able to pull off this timeless fairytale bridal session. Shot in a beautiful field in Georgetown, Texas at sunset, we were truly able to capture their love on camera.

[dotted]

Photography: Jenny Futography | Makeup: Laura Martinez | Hair: Studio Tilee | Set Designer: Maureen Stevens

We have Elissa R Photography to thank this morning for bringing us the pretty in a seriously stylish way. With its modern feel and color palette, and one dashing duo – this wedding has so many things I adore about weddings wrapped up one in pretty little post. It’s image after image of pure pretty, topped off with a great love, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Elissa … I loved this black and white wedding shot at the Studio at Fischer in Canyon Lake, Texas last fall. Though there were some classic touches, like the ruffles on the bride’s gown, it was a wedding with a very modern feel — feathers incorporated into the florals, dinner served family-style on each table, and a bold black and white pattern on the invitations and cakes. There was also a ton of dancing and a mariachi band!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Elissa R Photography | Wedding Venue: Studio at Fischer, Canyon Lake, Texas | Event Planning: Brandi Hines Events + Design | Floral Design: Petals, Ink. | Catering: 2Tarts Bakery  & Catering | Wedding Gown: St. Patrick | Veil: Made by Mother of the Bride | Shoes: Antonio Melani | Makeup: Blush Make Up & Hair | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | DJ: JSP Entertainment

You know what I absolutely adore about Texas weddings?  Lone Star State brides have some serious style. It’s a style that this stunning San Antonio bride most certainly possesses, and it’s shining bright in every moment of her wedding weekend.  From the Day Before session with her handsome beau right down to the uber-gorgeous nuptials, there’s not a single second that won’t leave you completely breathless.  See it all captured by Dana Ann Photography right here.  You’re going to love it.

And a sweet film from Dana Ann for even more lovely…

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Dana Ann… We feel as though we gained a family in San Antonio after Emma and Tinu’s wedding weekend!

Tinu proposed to Emma seven days after they met in Paris when she was on vacation. Three years later, here they are saying “I do” with all of their loved ones as witnesses.

[dotted]

Photography + Cinematography: Dana Ann Photography | Ceremony Venue: Cornerstone Chapel, San Antonio, Texas | Reception Venue: Maggiano’s | Floral Design + Cake: Lidia Portan | Dress: Gigi’s Closet | Shoes: Glint, Nordstrom | Hair: Debbie Matei | Makeup: Lori Sanciuc

Gorgeous days like this one are exactly why I love weddings; the reason I spend my days swooning over heartwarming moments and beyond beautiful details.  It’s the reason my heart filled with joy when I spotted the stunning florals crafted by Stephanie Cooper, the darling DIY details and the bride and groom who could not be cuter… or sweeter.  And it’s the reason I’ll be soaking in minute after minute of pure lovely captured by Ryan Price in the full gallery.  Join me there for sooo much more.

And don’t miss a minute of the breathtaking film from Stringer Productions below…

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… Well, as my wedding photos would tell, I love everything vintage and antique. Ever since I was a little girl I have had this love as well as a love for crafts and all things creative. Creativity makes my heart feel full and alive. A lot of my inspiration for my wedding came from pinterest; but I now realize that it really was an outward expression of all the creativity and style that I’ve loved since I was little; I just didn’t have such a large avenue to show it in one place before!

From old quilts that my great grandma made to little photo booth mustaches on skewers that Sam drew and cut out himself… most of the decor was hand-crafted by friends and family! This is what made every detail so special! Sam and I figured out quick that with the budget we were on we had to be okay with making most of our decor. Sam put together a huge chunk of it himself! Some of my favorite things that we made were the banners that hung in the reception hall, the wooden crates, and the wooden stumps. Another part of my wedding that I loved was that most of the vendors were my friends and if they weren’t to begin with they became friends eventually.

The day was most definitely blessed. When planning an outside January wedding, your faith can be stretched a litttle! There were many doubts along the way, but the Lord provided abundantly and we were able to have our ceremony outside under three huge trees! It was so beautiful! We were told they were somewhere around 300-500 hundred years old. So stinking cool!

Probably one of the sweetest things that I will forever treasure is that I had the privilege of wearing my Mother’s wedding dress. After searching and searching and realizing that to have my ‘dream dress’ made it would cost me over $7,000.00, I gave up on that dream… but then realized that my Mom’s dress fit me, Sam and I as a couple, and our wedding so much more than any other dress I could have found.

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Ryan Price | Wedding Venue: The Moore Ranch | Floral Design: Stephanie Cooper (s.marie2488@yahoo.com) | Wedding Coordination: Erin Joyner of Wonderfully Wed | Cinematography: Stringer Productions | Cake: Eichele Shafer (eicheles@hotmail.com) | Hair + Makeup: Anna Decker with Anna Decker Artistry |

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately completely at a loss for words.  I know, I know… my job is to talk all things pretty, but when something as gorgeous as this Austin engagement shoot comes my way, I really, really can’t help it.  Maybe it’s because two people THIS stunning (they sooo are) and THIS in love tend to make me lose the ability to speak.  And when you throw in an entire gallery of breathtaking images captured by Awake Photography?  Beyond amazing.  See it all in the full gallery.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Awake Photography… Katie, a web developer, and John, an entrepreneur, are getting married this September after being together for eight years. These two are the most fun couple that I’ve ever met – we had such a great time shooting their engagement. They are hilarious, kind, laid-back, sincere, stylish and gorgeous – everything you hope to have in a client! We stumbled upon this amazing antique stained glass dealer in Southwest Austin, and it was a dream location. I think it makes this engagement session uniquely beautiful.

[dotted]

Photography: Awake Photography