Texas Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Dallas, Texas Wedding Film from PenWeddings

Things I love about this bride? She’s adorable (but, of course), her smile is seriously contagious and she ordered a plate of bacon the morning of her wedding… the perfect getting ready food. Things I love about this groom? He’s one dapper gentlemen (but, of course), his love for his bride is more than evident and he rocked a bow-tie like no one’s business. But, you know what I love even more? The two of them together. Because even though I only spent five minutes with them courtesy of this beautiful film captured by PenWeddings, it’s obvious that they are amazing. And two people who were truly meant to be. Sit back, grab some tissues and get to know them. You’ll love them just as much as me.

Want more of this darling duo and their beautiful day? Yep. Us, too. Check out the entire gallery of pretty from Aaron Snow Photography. It’s a must-see.

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From PenWeddings… Where do I begin with these two? Really, I should say “these 50” because everyone made us feel like family the entire weekend. We ate together, went bowling together, and of course, laughed and cried together. James’ mom Connie had us come for the rehearsal dinner at Seasons 52 so we could capture the toasts, and I was blown away. Two words sum up the resounding theme; faith and friends. Speech after speech confirmed that Laura and James are basically so perfect, it’s hard to believe they’re real people. Although there was a mention of braces, bangs and glasses in Laura’s past. Seriously though, we didn’t have to be around them for very long to realize they are fun, genuine, loving people, who will make an amazing couple.

From the Groom… Our wedding was all about the people. Both Laura and I wanted for people to know that we appreciated their friendship, mentorship, and presence in our lives. It was no wonder that starting with the rehearsal dinner all the way up to our parting ride – we surrounded ourselves with people. I think that perhaps our favorite part of the wedding was the rehearsal dinner the night before. A time for laughter and heartfelt memories, it gave us the confidence to boldly declare our love for not only each other, but for Christ. Each story, every piece of advice, and any kind word that was poured over us that night had to do with Jesus and the impact he has made through us. There is nothing that will get you through what can be a bumpy ride like an encouraging word from a friend.

For any and all couples going through an engagement – watching these videos and dreaming of your perfect wedding, my advice to you is to focus on the people. Forget the details, and the frivolous things that will pass, and focus on who truly makes the day special.

Oh, and if you haven’t been through any sort of pre-marital counseling (or if you didn’t take it seriously) – my advice for you is to know that you are made to be known fully, and your spouse wants to be known as well. And for all the guys out there – learn to lead, because you were made to be a leader. Step up and have the hard conversations before you say “I do”.

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Thistle Hill Mansion Wedding from Ivy Weddings

I’m bad at surprises. Love them! But I can’t keep a secret for the life of me, out of pure excitement. So, I love seeing others pull it off, like this sweet Groom did for his proposal to his Bride, immediately followed by a pre-planned engagement party with family and friends (bonus points!). Melts your heart, right? And it all led to the prettiest wedding day captured by Ivy Weddings, so well, that you wouldn’t even know a drop of rain fell from the sky. Visit the gallery for even more.

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From the Bride… Jordan and I met through his sister, who I had recently met and become friends with at church. Jordan lived out of town and had flown in to spend the holidays with his family. Our paths crossed when he tagged along with Katie to church one night. We spent that evening talking and getting to know each other. The next week we had our first date at the shooting range, and I knew this guy would be different!

After a year and a half of dating long distance, I flew to visit Jordan in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He had planned a beautiful, and totally unexpected, proposal on a cliff overlooking the Tennessee River. I was even more surprised when he took me back into town and there waiting for us was an engagement party filled with our family and friends. All of them were in on the surprise and had flown in from all over the world just to celebrate with us! It was a perfect day I will never forget.

We planned an outdoor wedding and after a week of perfect weather, a torrential downpour started just a few minutes before our ceremony. Jordan and I were both set on keeping our ceremony outdoors, so we waited until the rain slowed down a little and had the ceremony in the rain. By the end of the ceremony, the sun came back out and the rest of the day was perfect. I think the rainy ceremony made our wedding all the more beautiful and memorable. It was the perfect start to the rest of our lives.

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Ann Taylor

Fall 2014 Weddings Collection

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Seabrook Yacht Club Wedding from Mustard Seed Photography

Both modern and nautical-inspired pretty make an appearance in this sweet Lakewood Yacht Club affair and let me be the first to tell you, it’s downright lovely. From the DIY details so expertly crafted by the bride and groom (seriously… they are DIY pros) to the pops of vibrant yellow to the amazing florals from Special Arrangements, there’s not a moment that won’t leave you completely speechless. Not to mention the fab chevron pattern adding just the right touch of whimsy to everything from the linens to the sweet paper goods. Don’t miss a minute captured by the ever-amazing Mustard Seed Photography in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Our enjoyment of sailing made a nautical inspired wedding a natural choice. We wanted to capitalize on the water views we enjoy by living in the Clearlake area just south of Houston, and that led us to select Lakewood Yacht Club for our wedding day. Navy and white were obvious choices in nautical colors, and the addition of lemon yellow freshened up the pallet. I chose to incorporate both nautical elements as well as modern elements to keep the wedding whimsical and fun. John and I spent hours in the garage and in my craft room fabricating most of the décor. My mother and mother-in-law sewed all the yellow chevron table runners for our guest tables. John and his dad handcrafted all of the wood items. I scored nine foam core chandeliers from The Limited after they were used to decorate the Christmas store front displays and my lovely bridesmaids spent hours painting the chandeliers with Mod Podge and glitter. We installed the chandeliers as an installation above the dance floor, which really helped to define the space. The theme of nautical and whimsical continued to the flower arrangements, which contained the soft and luscious Ranunculus along with modern addition of the Thistle and the Succulent and the bright pop of the yellow Billy Balls.

My dress was one of my most favorite aspects of the day. I felt like a princess in the Maggie Sottero, and I adored the way the billowy skirt swirled around and really picked up the nautical ocean theme of the wedding. It was important for us that the bridal party wasn’t over burdened by having to purchase a bunch of new items for the day. The guys all wore gray suits they already owned. I told the girls they could get whatever navy chiffon bridesmaid dress they wanted and gave relaxed guidelines on the jewelry and shoes. I’m relieved the girls got to wear things they already owned, and I loved how each of their dresses and accessories were unique to their personal style.

One of John and my favorite treats is frozen yogurt from our local yogurt bar, Berrylicious. We invited Berrylicious to cater a make-your-own yogurt bar, which was a huge hit. Our cake was made by a very talented and generous friend who captured the detail of my dress in the icing. One of my favorite elements was the cake stand I found on sale. I borrowed a mix of modern and vintage cake stands for the cupcake display to serve our two favorite Rise Bakery cupcakes. John and I handmade the glitter heart strands that adorned the front of the cake table.

We were absolutely thrilled with every aspect of the day. The photos really capture the essence of the day, and looking at them allows us to relive the emotions we felt during our wedding. I’m so glad we chose Mustard Seed Photography. They captured every detail, and their natural style conveyed the true emotions in our wedding images.

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Lakeside Dallas Engagement Session from Loft Photographie

I grew up on a lake, well two actually. One near my Dad’s house and one near my Mom’s. Now I live on the coast, and as much as I love the tides and crashing waves, I miss being near a fresh water lake like the one in this breezy e-sesh from Loft Photographie. Cozied up on a sweet little dock, these two couldn’t be any cuter. Head on over to the gallery for more.

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From Loft Photographie… Spent a breezy afternoon at lovely White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. Lakeside isn’t necessarily the calmest place to be on a windy day, but these two made for a swell session. We LOVE how they love each other. Their chemistry is captivating, their fashion sense is undeniable and oh how the camera adores them!

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Photography: Loft Photographie LLC | Location: White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas

5 Simple Modeling Tips for Brides from Studio Uma

One thing most brides don’t prepare for until the wedding day has arrived is how to feel natural in front of the camera. When you get to work with a talent like Uma Sanghvi of Studio Uma, there’s no doubt you’ll end up with stunning photos either way! But it can be challenging to let loose, ignore the lens and feel truly comfortable. So, Uma herself is sharing with us some of her tried and true modeling tips that will result in the best outcome possible—laid back, happy, gorgeous photos that are all YOU.

From Studio Uma… Taking posed portraits is one of my favorite parts of a wedding. One of my deepest motivations for being a photographer is being able to capture a person’s natural beauty in an image, and do it in a creative, artful way. Being able to give that gift to a bride and a groom (and their families) is so rewarding for me.

While it’s great if you know what a smize is, I don’t expect my clients to know anything at all about posing or modeling. After all it is the photographers job to direct the photo shoot and make beautiful photographs. But sometimes brides ask me for advice before a shoot. So I’d love to share a few modeling tips for brides and grooms-to-be. Whether you’re getting ready for an engagement session or your wedding portraits, I hope these pointers give you an extra edge, and put you at ease!

1. Be natural.

So simple, and this is truly the most important tip. Leave the difficult stuff to your photographer (figuring out how and where to pose you). But you will be such a help to them by looking and feeling as natural as you can. Natural, relaxed, comfortable. It’s the feeling part that counts. It’s kind of amazing how what you feel inside is literally broadcast on your face and in your body language.

One way to achieve this is to pretend the camera is catching you in a real moment. For example, maybe your photographer has directed you to embrace one another. Then focus on the affection you feel for your partner. Breathe it in. Whatever you need to do to achieve that state of mind – do it. Close your eyes, sneak a kiss, revisit a memory of that person that makes you feel good.

Or maybe your photographer has you walking hand-in-hand down a scenic road. Then focus on what it feels like to hold the hand of the person you love. Enjoy the scenery around you. The best pictures start from the inside out, so if you can be more engaged (literally!) with your partner than you are with the camera, that’s a powerful thing. Your pictures will have a natural beauty to them.

2. Stand up straight.

This is another powerhouse tip. When you straighten your spine, it automatically makes you look thinner and more graceful. An elongated spine does wonders for photos. So shoulders back and no hunching (your mother was right!) By the way, having good posture is something that makes all your wedding photos better – not just the portraits. It makes ceremony pictures better. And first dance pictures better. And putting-on-your-dress pictures better. It’s just that good.

3. Play with something.

Your posture is important, and so are your hands. The camera loves interaction. I always make sure that the hands in a photograph are doing something – not just hanging. Your dress, veil, bouquet, your hair, his tie – there’s ways to play with all of these things – and that can create a more dynamic picture. It can be as simple as reaching up to fiddle with one of your earrings, or reaching down to smooth out your dress. The subtlest movement or moment might take a “good” photograph to “amazing”.

This is why when my clients bring props of any kind to a photo shoot, I’m overjoyed. Anything you can move and interact with – from sparklers to rose petals to a Vespa to your adorable dogs – qualify as props. And they can transform a typical photo shoot into something magical.

4. Make each other laugh.

Laughter is a beautiful thing! The camera LOVES it. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a comedian, you do know your fiance pretty well. I bet you could think of one or two things to whisper to him/her to make them react, right? (And if you know where they’re ticklish, then hey…) And making another person laugh is a chain reaction. Soon you’re laughing at their surprise, and voila – a real moment for the camera to capture.

Sometimes it’s as simple as acknowledging that its kind of awkward taking pictures in our wedding clothes while a bunch of people are staring at us. Just laugh at the moment and enjoy it.

5. Find the right photographer for you.

One thing that no one tells you is that you spend more time on your wedding day with your photographer than any other vendor (and most likely, any other person). They are present for the kisses, and the tears. So when they’re around, you should feel relaxed and free to be yourself. That sense of trust and comfort especially shines through in your portrait session, when it’s just you, your beloved and your photographer.

Have coffee with this person if you can, and just see if you like spending time with them. He or she will, after all, be with you at some of the most intimate moments of your wedding.

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Photography and Modeling Tips: Studio Uma

Dallas Wedding at Delaney Vineyard from DTX Weddings

One thing I love more than anything? Karaoke. Oh my goodness, do I like to get up and sing. So, when I read that this darling duo actually met on karaoke night AND that the dashing groom chose to rock Beastie Boys, I knew I was going to seriously adore them and their wedding. And you know what? I was right. A sweet soiree held at the breathtaking Delaney Vineyard, it’s a romantic affair with a candlelit aisle, dark red hues and two stunning sweeties. Click play to see every last moment captured beautifully by DTX Weddings.

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From DTX Weddings… Cody and Katie met on April 28th 2009. She was working the door at a bar in Denton, Texas while she was in college. A good friend of hers was dating Cody’s roommate and she brought them up to the bar for Karaoke night. Cody got on stage and sang a Beastie Boys song and Katie couldn’t help but love how goofy he was. They started dating that same week and have been together ever since. They tied the knot in September of 2012 at the lovely Delaney Vineyards in Grapvine, Texas.

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Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Jonny Carroll from DTX Weddings | Wedding Venue: Delaney Vineyard in Grapevine, Texas | Officiant: Dr. Dale Patterson from Hackberry Creek Church | Floral Design: The Elegant Petal | Catering: Creative Cuisine | Wedding Cake: Elegant Cakery | DJ: The Violin Guy | Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Dallas | Transportation: Eagle Crest Limo Service | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander “8612” via Lasting Bridal Couture | Bridesmaids’ Attire: David’s Bridal | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse | Hair + Makeup: William Edge Salon

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Justin Alexander

Spring 2016

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Austin Palm Door Wedding from Eclectic Images Photography

There are a lot (A LOT) of reasons I adore Texas weddings, but ranking high atop the list? All of the creative details you lovelies manage to infuse into your big days. Take for example this sweet Austin duo, who took their love of design and architecture and created one crazy gorgeous memory after another with custom designed invites, DIY favors and a whole lot of woodworking. A day that will most definitely go down in SMP history? Yes, indeed. See every last moment captured by the amazing Eclectic Images Photography in the full gallery.

And a little extra sweetness with a beautiful film from Photography by Vanessa…

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From Eclectic Images Photography… Kelsey and Alex are both architects and their wedding really reflected their passion for design and architecture. They custom designed their own laser cut wedding invites (using the laser wood cutting machine at their school to make the invites). Their design for the invites was based on the architecture of the chapel they chose to have their ceremony, which was designed by a University of Texas architect in the 1960’s (I believe). Alex is a master woodworker so they made their own modern wooden candle holders and containers. They made their own favors of jam and posted photos of them making the jam at their wedding check in table. They used vintage furniture to accent the architecture of the reception venue.

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Hill Country Wedding from Loft Photographie + Country Sugar Events

This wedding just feels cozy. Cozy in that way that instantly warms your heart and fills your entire being with happy… the kind of happiness that can only come from the sweet simplicity of a Hill Country affair paired with elegant details planned to perfection by Country Sugar Events. From the beautiful DIY florals to the stunning Amsale gown to the gallery of pretty snapped up perfectly by Loft Photographie, this is a day that deserves your full and undivided attention. See it all here.

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From Loft Photographie… Lela and Charlie created a relaxed Texas wedding with understated elegance & romantic details. From a beautiful venue offering the perfect backdrop for friends & family to gather to the best band we’ve heard in a long time, every aspect reflected their kind and intentional personalities. This pair cares for people, and warmly welcomed all of their guests to an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing.

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

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Austin Mercury Hall Wedding from Katherine O’Brien Photography

You know what is seriously fantastic? A bride who says she “absolutely loves to throw a party” and dives into crafting the day of her dreams like it’s no ones business. I love brides like that. So, this stunning Austin Mrs.? I happen to adore her. Because, together with a talented team of vendors and her handsome Mr., she put together a day that was all kinds of crazy gorgeous with a stunning Mercury Hall setting, to-die-for blooms from Central Market and a gallery of non-stop pretty captured by Katherine O’Brien Photography. Join me there for sooo much more.

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From the Bride… As soon as we saw Mercury Hall, it solidified our vision because it was a little bit of charm tucked right smack dab in the middle of central Austin with a beautifully simple interior and gorgeous live oak grove outside. We selected a color palette of plum, eggplant, green, ivory, and gold that picked up on the natural landscape surrounding the venue, the stained glass windows of the hall itself, and the cozy feel we wanted to capture.

Once we settled on a location, the rest quickly fell into place. As someone who absolutely loves to throw a party, I stepped into high gear with all sorts of DIY projects. Several friends pitched in too by lending their beautiful handwriting to our menus and origami talent to whip up scads of paper roses to mark each place setting. We tried to be mindful about overspending by getting married on a Friday night, having a very small bridal party, choosing two signature cocktails over a full bar, buying our own beer, wine and liquor, having our favorite neighborhood bakery provide cupcakes and working with our florist to use seasonal flowers.

We spent a great deal of time thinking through our ceremony because we knew that it was truly what the day was about. As a weepy gal and a more introverted guy, the idea of reciting personal vows felt like too much. Instead, we chose to exchange letters with our private vows while we were getting ready. Amazingly, we gave each other the exact same card! We also made the non-traditional choice of walking into the ceremony arm-in-arm as a symbol of entering into our marriage together. We asked my brother and two of our friends to read poems that resonated with us. And, we wanted to involve all of our guests by passing out blessing stones as they arrived and asking them to imbue them with their well wishes, prayers, and hopes for us.

Our goal was to wrap-up all wedding-related details ahead of time, so that we could enjoy our wedding week – and we did! The days leading up to our nuptials could not have been more relaxed. We felt totally present in the moment and supremely grateful for the love we have for each other and for our community of family and friends. It was so cool to see people from different points in our life connect with one another, explore Austin en masse, and develop friendships over multiple days of festivities. We were fortunate to have vendors who came through for us in every way to hold a meaningful ceremony, throw a heck of a dinner and dance party, and capture all of it for posterity via film and video. My husband and I could not stop grinning. Every time we reflect back on our wedding, Michael and I can’t help but smile.

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Austin Wedding from Carlea J Photography

These two sweeties really know how to craft a wedding. I’m talking mason jar candles, fab paper goods, burlap, lace and all kinds of crazy awesome DIYing, people. They (+ their amazing friends and family) are as talented as they come. And not only do they know how to create a fabulous wedding, they also happen to know how to throw a fantastic party. One with yummy BBQ, Elvis (!) and dancing ’till dawn. See every last fun-filled moment captured by Carlea J Photography right here… and prepare to get your pretty on.

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From Carlea J Photography… Kristi and Aaron’s wedding was, without a doubt, one of the most creative/fun/beautiful weddings I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of. To say it was a production would be quite the understatement, as it took a crew of family/friends/wedding party members several months of prep and hours of setup the day of the event to pull it off. But the end result was sooo worth it! Every detail was handmade- from the wood burned signs to the hand-melted and scented mason jar candles, wrapped in lace and burlap, right down to the branches of seat assignment cards, and hand-painted mason jar drinking glasses at the head table, it was truly a labor of love.

The Tejas Hall at Texas Ole Town might as well have been made for Kristi and Aaron. It was the perfect backdrop for their rustic country wedding. The ceremony took place outdoors and was a showcase for Kristi’s five flower girls as well as one handsome ring bearer. Kristi made their headbands, and their rustic baskets were collected from different thrift shops throughout Texas. Kristi decorated them herself, and they were filled with peach and pink rose petals. Kristi and Aaron’s all-time favorite movie is the western, Lonesome Dove, so naturally the Lonesome Dove main theme song played first. Guests also enjoyed the instrumental versions of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”

The officiant was Kristi’s childhood pastor, John Lockhart, from First Baptist Richmond. His message held several personal references to Kristi and Aaron’s relationship, including their love of nature and Kristi’s dad’s love of fishing. Kristi and Aaron sealed their love with a vow, a ring, and a kiss, and as they turned to walk down the aisle, The Monkees “I’m a Believer” blared out across the congregation!

After the ceremony, Kristi and her bridesmaids switched into cowboy boots for a true Texas reception, full of homemade barbecue, and all the Texas traditions, including the Aggie War Hymn. The Grand March, a traditional European wedding dance, enjoyed at weddings by past generations from both Kristi and Aaron’s sides of the family, was also a highlight of the reception. All guests paired up and followed in line to the beat of “under the double eagle” ultimately making their way through the long tunnel of people. They even had a surprise visit from Elvis! The bride’s cake was covered in a cascade of real pink and peach colored flowers and the grooms cake was a giant Lone Star beer cap, complete with a riddle on the underside. Personalized camouflage koozies and gold flip flops which acted as “dancin’ shoes” were also on hand. Close to 500 guests two stepped the night away before sending the happy couple off to Mexico!

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Wedding Photography: Carlea Wilson from Carlea J Photography | Reception Venue: Texas Old Town in Austin, Texas | Floral Design: Wimberley Flower Shop + WOW Factor Design | Bar Service: Texas Ritas Bartending Service | Wedding Cake: Irene Soechting (830.625.1351) | Groom’s Cake: Debra Vahalik (361.741.6700) | Wedding Cinematography: James Leist Video (361.293.5686) | DJ: Bryan Binder | Metal Decor Rentals: Mancino Iron | Wedding Dress: Celebrations | Flower Girls’ Attire: Pink Princess | Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: Al’s Formal Wear Retail | Groom’s + Groomsmen Shirts + Ties: JCPenney | Hair: Nuance Salon & Spa | Makeup: Adrienne Pitkin from Makeup By Adrienne

Austin Wedding from Jenny DeMarco Photography + STEMS Floral Design

A traditional Austin wedding chock-full of beautiful blooms from STEMS Floral Design is kind of like a gift from the wedding gods. A drop-dead gorgeous, stop-you-in-your-tracks gift that brightens our entire day here at SMP Texas. So, this uber-stunning Driskill Hotel affair? It has us pretty excited. Because anything dripping with sparkling gold hues and lush white florals is sort of right up our alley. And the breathtaking images captured by Jenny DeMarco Photography? Brilliant. See them all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… “It was love at first conversation,” John likes to say. John and I went to the same college but somehow did not meet each other until law school at the University of Texas. We are both avid readers of history and philosophy, so our conversations were immediately deep and interesting. We quickly realized not only that we were in love, but also that we had a love that could last like our parents’ marriages, which was important to both of us. Both sets of parents have been married for over 30 years and have been a source of inspiration for both of us.

Our wedding was about family. We both have relatively small, intimate families, and so we chose a location that would best allow the largest number to attend – Austin, Texas. We are both descendants of Texans who were here before Texas’s statehood, and given that we also attended law school and met in Austin, it was a particularly relevant location for both of us.

I am originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma and was an active member of my Episcopal church there growing up, just like my mother and her mother. Fortunately, John’s parents were married in an Episcopal church in Austin, which became the venue for our ceremony. The Good Shepherd, therefore, had a special significance for both of our families.

John and I are traditional and romantic and wanted our wedding to evoke those feelings. We chose the Driskill Hotel, a historic hotel in Austin, because it represented our love of history and tradition. STEMS created a setting that perfectly supplemented the dark wood in the room with a light, airy, and romantic tablescape. Hydrangeas, orchids, and roses appeared to float on top of glass candelabras. All of our details, from John’s Texas flag cufflinks and oilrig groom’s cake to my cowboy boots and great-grandmother’s ring demonstrated our attention to detail and sentiment.

The most memorable moment was when I surprised John with a video from his friend who was deployed. After a beautiful slideshow created by my sister, who is a film editor, everyone paused as the sound of a helicopter overcame the speakers. The video depicted Sam, a marine, descending from a helicopter and running up to the camera to congratulate us. John’s eyes instantly filled with tears and everyone cheered. Coincidentally, John had just toasted to Sam even though he could not be there.

John and I are blessed with the most loving and supportive families in the world, and we will never be able to thank them enough for helping us to create and experience such a special day.

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Wedding Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography | Ceremony Venue: The Good Shepherd in Austin, Texas | Reception Venue: The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas | Floral Design: STEMS Floral Design | Catering + Wedding Cakes: The Driskill Hotel | Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Crane & Co. | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Stanley Korshak | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Romona Keveza

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal Fall 2016

Romona Keveza Bridal Fall 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Spring 2017

Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Fall 2019

ROMONA New York

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Austin Wedding at Hummingbird House from Alea Moore Photography

When an Austin wedding pops up in our inbox, I can’t help but drop everything and devour it. Because there is something about that Texas city (and its people) that just seem to produce the most stylish of fêtes. My point is proven in the prettiest of ways with this wedding captured by Alea Moore Photography. It mixes tradition and trends in the most fabulous of ways, and the lovely of this Austin affair all unfolds right here.

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Classic Weddings

From Alea Moore Photography… Having gotten to know them, it comes to no surprise that over 100 people came by air to Austin to celebrate with this adorable couple. It didn’t take long for everyone, us included, to understand why Ximena and Marshal insisted on having their wedding at the beautiful Hummingbird House just outside of the city. Both families have embraced each other and each other’s cultures, and, simply put, it is just a beautiful thing to see. Naturally, their wedding was a sweet celebration of their relationship, with many opportunities for us to brush up on our Spanish, and included lots of dancing! Ximena put so much care into making every detail of their wedding just perfect, incorporating different time periods and travel experiences. We were honestly blown away by every single detail.

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Wedding Photography: Alea Moore Photography | Wedding Venue: Hummingbird House in Austin, Texas | Floral + Event Design: Cheri Grant from The Gala Gal | Wedding Cinematography: Photo House Films | Wedding Coordinators: Danny, Lauren, & Courtney | Caterer: Jesse Martin from Royal Fig Catering | Ceremony Musicians: Anthony Chen from Terra Vista Strings | DJ: Sean Alan

Hill Country Wedding at Trios Estate from Jennifer Crenshaw Photography

There are some couples that grace the pages of SMP I feel like I know after just a peek of their wedding. Because they seem to just ooze style and their wedding is packed to the gills with personality. This is just such a wedding, and the two lovebirds gracing the gorgeous images from Jennifer Crenshaw Photography are just such a couple. It only takes a few clicks through this gallery to realize that their day was so them, and really, isn’t that what every couple hopes for? Get to clicking here.

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Estate Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From Jennifer Crenshaw Photography… This beautiful hill country wedding took place in Fredericksburg, Texas overlooking Enchanted Rock. The Trios Estate is a small village with an old world European style. It created an enchanting and romantic backdrop for such a perfect day. Diane and Kenneth are one of the most loving and truly passionate couples I have ever met. They share a love of adventure and music and had a Texas favorite, Bob Schneider, play at their reception. Guests stayed the weekend in this little slice of heaven and celebrated as their friends and family were married.

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Wedding Photography: Jennifer Crenshaw Photography | Wedding Venue: Trios Estate at Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas | Bouquet Floral Design: Bows + Arrows | Reception Floral Design: Blumenhandler Florist | Music: Angelic Strings + Bob Schneider | DJ: Tunes Across Texas

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Bows and Arrows

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Dallas Styled Shoot from Amy Zumwalt Photographers

When a group of uber-talented Texas vendors join forces to create an edgy meets vintage Dallas photo session, gorgeous things can happen. Gorgeous things like a door turned table lined with stunning red florals from We + You, yummy treats from CakeWalk Bake Shop and dazzling gold accents styled by Off Your Shoulders. It’s the kind of gorgeous that can’t really be put into words and the gallery is filled with moment after moment captured by Amy Zumwalt Photographers. Join me there for more.

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Outdoor Weddings

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Whimsical

From Amy Zumwalt Photographers… We pulled together some fabulous Dallas-Fort Worth area wedding creatives for this slightly edgy, creative and different stylized shoot. The theme title “there were fireworks” refers to the couple’s crazy love for each other, and we played off of fireworks and an old carnival feel. Our colors were tomato red and mint with brass and gold accents. We used a firework stand park for our setting, and mixed vintage, edgy, sexy and glam by using vintage furniture, red lipstick and heels, the awesome and nontraditional setting, and lots of fun accessories. (Including a table setting made on an old door, mismatched dining chairs, fun patterned fabric table runners, carnival themed cakes, bright mixed nontraditional red flowers with lots of fantastic mint and brass accents!) We even had a knife board and old chalk figures from carnival prizes in the early 1900’s. Our model bride was tall, sexy and fun, and despite the 50 degree weather and cold wind, I think she pulled it off beautifully! I hope you enjoy!

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Austin Wildflower Center Wedding from Day 7 Photography

Planning a wedding in just three months may seem like an impossible task, but if I’ve learned anything from these stunning Austin sweeties, it’s that it CAN be done. And not only can it be accomplished, but with the help of devoted family and friends (+ awesome vendors), it can be accomplished with flying colors. I’m talking a rustic meets desert-inspired love-fest planned to perfection by Heavenly Day Events with amazing blooms from Petals Ink and drop-dead gorgeous images from Day 7 Photography. See every last beautiful moment in the full gallery.

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Garden Weddings

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Rustic

From the Bride… When Nathan and I decided to get married, we decided to have a short engagement. We were only engaged for three months! We hit the ground running and immediately started planning our wedding! For three months we made spreadsheets of task lists, vendors, details we wanted to include and timelines. We had prepared so much that once our wedding day rolled around, I felt like I was really able to enjoy the day and felt very calm, excited, and relieved. I spent the day getting ready with my family at a local Austin salon, Paloma, which was really relaxing and fun. It also gave me the opportunity to spend some one on one time with my female family members before the wedding started!

Nate and I did a first look, which was great! I was so excited to see him and we were able to check-in with each other and spend time together before we walked down the aisle.

We were really inspired by the desert, Mexican culture, Texas culture, and family picnics. We wanted our wedding to feel like a family friendly-rustic-Texas picnic. Nate is from Arizona and I am from West Texas, it was really important to me that our wedding incorporated “desert beauty.” Nate, my mom, my sister, and I picked out the flowers and did a trial arrangement with mason jars and Topo Chico bottles. The day of the wedding, Nate’s Aunts arranged all of our floral centerpieces (which included 88 mason jars and 88 Topo Chico bottles)! They did an amazing job. Other wedding details were done by my mom and aunt, we sent each other ideas and inspirations and they executed it beautifully! The details of our wedding were truly a family affair and I feel really lucky to have had so many loving, helping hands at our wedding!

DIY projects included the floral centerpieces, the candy bar, my cousin Max and I stamped each candy bag with a bride and groom and each table number two nights before the wedding. My mom, dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles all worked on the candy bar, choosing the candy, and filling the jars. Throughout our engagement, Nate and I saved all of our Topo Chico bottles to be used for centerpieces. The weekend of the wedding we didn’t have enough and my aunts started a Topo Chico drinking campaign so that we would have enough bottles to fill up the tables!

One of the most special parts of our wedding was the incorporation of our family in the ceremony, we did not have the traditional bridal/groom party. Instead, we only had our siblings, parents, and grandparents walk down the aisle. We chose all of the Baha’i Writings and selected specific family members to read them. Nate’s brother, Jon, was the master of ceremony.

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Dallas Wedding from Helmutwalker Photography + La Tavola

We’re big fans of La Tavola at SMP. BIG fans. The kind of fans who pop a feature onto the calendar the second we hear “completely inspired by the gorgeous linen from La Tavola.” Urban Magnolia Weddings & Events found the prettiest table linens, grabbed Helmutwalker Photography and a bunch of other industry mega-pros and put together a little bit of inspiration for your Tuesday. All the bells and whistles can be found right here in the gallery!

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Spring Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Romantic

From the designer … This photoshoot was completely inspired by the gorgeous linen from La Tavola called “Berry Bouquet.” I went for a visit to their Dallas showroom a few months back and saw this gorgeous floral printed linen hanging waiting for someone to see its potential. I spent the following weeks putting together a whole team to execute this styled shoot. From Kate Foley Designs to Helmutwalker Photography, this styled shoot will definitely show how beautiful florals are in print, in nature and hand appliqued with crystal accents. Special Thanks to all the vendors who gave their time and effort to make this shoot possible!

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Mercury Hall Wedding from Briana Purser Photography

After spending the last hour or so gazing longingly at this beautiful Mercury Hall affair from Briana Purser Photography (my job rocks), one thing has become perfectly clear. I will never ever get enough of this wedding. From the breathtaking ceremony under that amazing oak tree to the stunning florals from Last Petal to a bride and groom who are seriously the epitome of happy (they exude pure joy), it’s like everything I adore about saying “I do” wrapped up in one sun-filled party. And I’m in love. Click here for more.

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Classic Weddings

From the Bride… My husband is a musician in a cajun band and I am a photographer, so needless to say the music and photos were the top priorities. I found our wedding photographer, Briana Purser, through a friend and immediately fell in love with her work. I knew we would be a great fit when I suggested we take our engagement photos in Bastrop State Park (which had recently suffered from a devastating forest fire) and she was as excited as I was.

There really was no other choice for the band other than Dale Watson. He is the quintessential Austin musician and we couldn’t have asked for a better band. Old country mixed with a classic crooner – he created the most wonderful soundtrack to our reception and kept everyone dancing and singing

My Mom and I found my dress on the first shopping trip – we walked into Unbridaled (the most amazing bridal shop in Austin) and I rattled off a list of adjectives – lace, vintage, light-weight, comfortable. Living in Texas, there was a strong possibility that it could be 110 degrees at the end of September and I was under no illusion that layers and layers of tulle or a heavy structured dress would be the practical choice. I wanted it to be lightweight and I wanted to be able to dance in it. We bought the second dress I tried on.

The venue was Mercury Hall, which is an amazing chapel that was built in 1904 in the town Mercury, Texas and was transported to South Austin and restored in 1997. We were married in a private family ceremony under their giant oak trees in the yard and held the reception inside the hall which spilled outside to tables under a tent lit with festoon lights. Essentially, we had a backyard wedding and the party in the church.

The flowers were designed by the WONDERFUL Melanie Tipton of Last Petal. I basically told her I liked bright pinks and oranges and would be on board with anything she wanted to do – I don’t know anything about flowers so why not let the professional do her job? She did a fantastic job. My favorite detail she provided was the giant wreath with flowers that served as the backdrop to our ceremony, that was then moved inside and hung over the cake table.

Rosemary’s Catering made some mouthwatering food. My favorite part was the Groom’s Cake – my husband LOVES chocolate chip cookies, so in lieu of a cake Rosemary’s provided freshly baked cookies and shots of milk kept cold with a custom ice sculpture.

We hired Katie Netherton at Something to Celebrate to coordinate the day-of details and I honestly don’t think we could have pulled it off without her. She kept the show running while also dealing with last-minute disasters (busted water pipe onsite two hours before the ceremony) without us even knowing. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have someone besides yourself or your family in charge the day of the wedding… life savers.

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Austin Vintage Inspiration Shoot from Studio Uma

Oh inspiration, how we love you. We live for you really, and when that inspiration comes in the form of a shoot as lovely as this one captured by Studio Uma? We stop, and get to swooning. With the prettiest of vintage details placed perfectly by Furbish Vintage and Styling, a mint palette that’s beyond pretty topped off with a scrumptious cake from Simon Lee Bakery, and two real life newlyweds playing models for a day – it’s the perfect way to inspire your day, and weekend for that matter. See it all here.

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Outdoor Weddings

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Vintage

From Studio Uma… I’m excited to share this lovely vintage wedding inspiration photo shoot with you! Austin, Texas residents Jeff and Greer got married in Las Vegas in September. I photographed the newlyweds in Austin a few weeks later. You will swoon over the beautiful mint green 1954 Buick Skylark, the too-pretty-for-words bouquet and the to-die-for mini-cakes.

With the groom in his James Bond tux, and the bride in her pretty birdcage veil and bright pink lip (perfection), we made some truly magical portraits. Our team of talented wedding pros worked off of a color we love: mint green. We added touches of white, silver and pink to complement our color palette. A lovely dessert table and cocktails played off of the vintage theme inspired by colors.

The bride has written a few words about their apparel and the search for The One. Perfect dress, that is.

From the Bride… We got married in Vegas and we had decided on an old Hollywood, 1920’s theme. I had this in mind while dress shopping. I found “the dress” in an East Atlanta boutique called Kelly’s closet. Interestingly, my sister had found her wedding dress at the same boutique last year. When I tried on the Natasha dress (designed by Robert Bullock) I immediately knew it was the one…it even fit perfectly!

Kelly’s closet had a great variety of birdcage veil’s available. With my short hairstyle I knew the birdcage veil was perfect for the look I was creating. I decided on a Sara Gabriel veil that looked great with my dress. We had a black and white color scheme going and I decided on a black belt with rhinestones that I found on etsy.com. I thought the rhinestone belt added a little glamour to the dress.

My husband stuck with the old Hollywood theme and went for a tuxedo with a white jacket and black bow tie. Although, I think really liked it because he felt like James Bond in the suit.

The look really came together nicely in an organic way. We certainly felt like movie stars!

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Wedding Photography: Studio Uma | Location: Austin, Texas | Event Styling + Furniture Rental: Leslie Martin from Furbish Vintage and Styling | Floral Design: Lauren Shipp from Cedar Park Florist | Wedding Cakes + Tarts: Judy Lee from Simon Lee Bakery | Wedding Stationery: Rachel Carter from Paper Yum Yum | Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock via Kelly’s Closet | Bride’s Veil: Sara Gabriel via Kelly’s Closet | Hair + Makeup: Dannie Warren from Razmataz Salon

Austin Wedding at Star Hill Ranch from The Bird & The Bear

Ok, these two? They are adorable. Downright, all-out cute as they come. So it should be no surprise that their detail-filled love fest at Star Hill Ranch was equally fabulous. Because, oh, it was. It’s baby’s breath and cardigan-wearing maids, it’s burlap and flower girls in tutus. It’s a Texas beauty through and through captured beautifully by The Bird & The Bear, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

Can’t get enough of these two? We can’t either. Thankfully The Bird & The Bear sent along their film so we can keep the oohhs and ahhs going…

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Rustic Weddings

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Vintage

From The Bird & The Bear… Meagan & Will are super cute, and even though it poured all day on their wedding day, they were laughing and giddy the whole day! Each piece of their decor was lovingly chosen by the bride and her family. They wanted a light, vintage feel and had an amazing waffle bar at the reception!

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Waco Wedding from Nancy Aidee Photography

Texas and rustic go together like peanut-butter and jelly. Honestly, the two were destined to be the bestest of buds and that declaration holds true for this ranch shindig in Waco. With a romantic color palette, and horse guests a plenty, this affair planned by Keely Thorne Events and photographed by Nancy Aidee Photography is one not to be missed. Luckily, we have even more for you to devour right here in the full gallery.

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Summer Weddings

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Rustic Weddings

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Casual

From the Bride…On my senior Fall Break trip at SMU I went to Las Vegas for the first time with a group of 30 sorority sisters to have one last big trip together. We quickly made friends with a group of 20 Australians that were staying at our hotel by the pool one day. It wasn’t until the last day that I met Nick by the pool where we spent the entire day together talking and getting to know each others stories of growing up on opposite sides of the world. We parted ways the next day when we went back to school and we spoke every day for five months until my first visit to Melbourne where we quickly realized this was the real deal. And now here we are three and a half years later married and living together in a country I had never given a seconds thought to and loving every minute of it!

After two and a half year of living in Melbourne, Australia together, Nick and I came home to stay with my family for two months at the end of the year. I had initially hoped Nick would propose while we were back home with my family, but a close friend back in Melbourne told me he was waiting another year. I would later find out this was to throw me off the scent! Our time with my family was coming to an end with Thanksgiving around the corner and by this time I was no longer focused on a proposal, just cherishing the last few weeks with my family. On Thanksgiving day after lunch with 13 family members in the room, Nick stood up to thank my aunt and uncle for their hospitality of having us to their ranch in Llano, Texas. I found this strange since he had been here several times before and not made a fuss about it. Once he said my name and asked me to stand I felt my stomach drop. He went into his speech with everyone on the edge of their seat and tears in their eyes to watch him drop to his knee and ask me to marry him. The screaming and crying didn’t stop for several hours until all the boys went out for celebratory cigars on top of a hill overlooking the ranch. It was the second best day of my life next to our wedding. I’ll never forget that special moment shared with my family.

Where to even begin! Our wedding day was the most special, intimate, blessed day of our lives. We were lucky to have a day full of sunshine surrounded by the people we loved most in a perfect outdoor setting at my parent’s river house in Waco, Texas on the Brazos. What started as imaginative ideas turned into incredible realities that were brought to life by the tireless effort of Keely Throne Event’s Kristin McShane. The overwhelming process of planning a wedding is often the fear of not being able to do things exactly as you imagine. However, we were never told no on any idea we had because Kristin knew she would find a way to make it happen. From vintage chic, to country class we covered several ends of the spectrum in bringing together this outdoor country fairytale.

I have always had simple taste and wanted to make sure that was seen throughout this wedding. Although with an outdoor home wedding of 250 guests, simple is not a common word, the elegance and simplicity of so many decorations was evident. We used old wooden tables complimented with lanterns and mercury vases, along with touches of burlap seen throughout everything. The color scheme was light and fair to keep in conjunction with the colors of the outdoors. Pale pinks, peaches and light greens were common colors of the flowers found spread throughout the ceremony and reception. On the actual wedding day we did not even get a chance to see all the details we had worked so hard for but luckily Nancy Aidee and her phenomenal photography team caught every aspect of our special day. Our main objective was to show the 95 Australians coming over how to have a good time Texas style, and that is exactly what we did. The friendships and love connections made at our wedding will last a lifetime. Southern charm and class was what I kept in my mind every step of the way and that’s what Kristin helped us achieved.

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Photography: Nancy Aidee Photography | Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Family Home | Wedding Coordination: Kristin McShane with Keely Thorne Events | Floral Design: Rosetree Floral Design | Linens, Furniture, Tents + Stage: Marquee Tents | Cinematography: Mason Jar Films | Lighting: Filo Designs | Vintage Rentals + Signage: Bourbon and Bloom | Reception Entertainment: Sauce the Band | Ceremony Entertainment: Brazos Valley Strings | Catering + Wedding Cake: Bestyett Catering | Invitations + Monogrammed Items: Atheneum Creative | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Casa de Novia | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids + Amsale | Bride + Bridesmaids Hangers: Heirloom | Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Claude Maus | Hair: Erin Jantzen, Mint for Beauty | Makeup: Donna Bruns, Chanel at Saks Fifth Avenue Austin | Carriage: Legacy Carriage