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Austin Wedding from J. Cogliandro Photography

I love a long, gorgeously styled reception table. It sends this blogger’s heart into insta-flutter. And one populated with peonies and strung cafe lights? Even better! This work horse of reception dining is perfectly fit for open air affairs. You know the ones where the sun is shining, the birds are singing and everything is feted under a bright blue sky? That is exactly the style of wedding we get to dive into right now. Crafted by Keely Thorne Events along with miles of pretty blooms by Merveille Flowers and image after image of alfresco goodness captured by J. Cogliandro Photography, you can see it all unfold right here.

From the Bride…Brian and I knew about each other before we ever even met!  Our childhood best friends lived down the street from each other, and we still think there is a distinct possibility that we may have been rivals in an epic boys versus girls water balloon fight when we were eight…but we are not quite sure!  We did not “officially” meet until we were freshmen in high school, and when we did, we became good friends and remained that way throughout college -even though he was attending school in Boston and I was in Louisiana.  In a futile attempt to avoid the dreaded long distance relationship, we decided to not “officially” start dating until we graduated and were both back home in Texas, but that plan was derailed when I decided to attend law school in Seattle.  Although long distance was not always the easiest, it definitely made our relationship stronger, and after 6 years of dating, Brian decided it was time to make our relationship truly “official” when he proposed in January of 2011 at a beautiful bed and breakfast on Lake Travis in Austin.   

Having been a part of each other’s lives for the better part of 15 years, we wanted a wedding that truly reflected our journey and more importantly, the emphasis that we place on family.  Although we are Houstonians at heart, we decided that Austin would provide the perfect backdrop for an amazing outdoor wedding, in addition to being a fun city for our out of state guests to visit and get the true taste of the Texas hospitality that we know and love!  With our time consuming work schedules and the difficult task of planning an Austin wedding from Houston, we knew that the most important decision that we would make would be choosing a wedding planner that could execute our vision!  From the wearing of my grandmother’s wedding dress at the rehearsal dinner, to the use of a 1937 Plymouth that was hand-built by Brian’s grandfather to drive me to (and the both of us from) the venue, each detail of the wedding was meticulously thought out and executed with our families and their influence in our lives in mind.  Keely Thorne Events came highly recommended as a wedding planner in Houston, but it was when we met Emily Moise specifically that we knew we had found the right person to bring our ideas to life.  

Our wedding weekend began with an amazing welcome party hosted by the parents of Brian’s childhood best friend (now best man) where our guests were treated to beautiful views of Lake Travis and delicious Tex-Mex!  The celebration continued the following night with a barbecue rehearsal dinner at The Salt Lick, where we displayed our favorite wedding pictures of each of our family members as our friends and siblings presented us with the most memorable speeches!  The weekend ended with the most amazing wedding we could ever imagined!  The ceremony and reception were held at Villa del Lago on Lake Travis, where our 170 closest friends and family members watched us make our lifelong commitment to each other!  To make the moment even more personal, we had my brother-in-law sing as I walked down the aisle, had one of our best friends officiate the ceremony, and each of us picked a surprise reading that we dedicated to each other that reflected our views and hopes for our marriage.  The ceremony was followed up with an amazing dinner where my husband and I enjoyed our favorite foods as we looked down the most stunningly beautiful table and enjoyed the beginning of the rest of our lives with all of our favorite people!!! 

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Photography: J. Cogliandro Photography | Wedding Planner: Emily Moise with Keely Thorne Events | Stationery+ Signage: Atheneum Creative | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Villa Del Lago | Floral Design+ Décor: Merveille Flowers | Cinematography: 31 Films | Lounge Rentals: Suite206 | Strings: Amp’d by Divisi Strings | DJ: Josh with Penguin Entertainment | Catering: Pink Avocado | Photo booth: SocoPhoto Airstream | Lighting/Sound/Visual: ILIOS Productions | Vintage Car: Family owned | Hair: Erin Janzten with Mint Salon | Makeup: Donna Bruns with Bobby Brown | Guest Transportation: Transportation Consultants | Resort: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa | Bride’s Attire: Ivory Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid

East Texas Wedding from Jess Barfield Photography

Do me a favor on this beautiful Monday morning, lovelies.  Take a moment from all of the chaos that Monday mornings typically bring and really dive into this East Texas wedding.  I mean, really dive in. Read the beautiful description (it’s amazing), soak in all of the meaningful moments (there are plenty) and learn all about these two cuties (they’re adorable).  And when you’re done doing that, head on over to the full gallery captured by Jess Barfield Photography, because it’s one moment after another of beyond breathtaking images and, believe me when I tell you, you don’t want to miss a minute.

And an amazing film from WhenItClicks Photography & Video for even more inspiration.  Enjoy.

From the Bride… My name is Rachel and my husband, Luke, and I got married in the Fall in my hometown of Nacogdoches, TX. Everything about our wedding was extremely personal to us. As soon as we got engaged, we sat down and prayed about what we wanted our wedding to be about. We settled on three “theme words”: restoration, worship, and inclusion. We had a pretty messy dating past with a couple of break-ups, so we wanted our wedding to be about how God had redeemed our lives and restored our relationship. We also wanted our wedding to be worshipful, and we wanted to have a time of worship during our ceremony. Finally, we wanted to be inclusive rather than excessive; we decided we wanted to be able to include everyone who was special to us, rather than be excessive in spending money on the reception. We also wanted to be inclusive in choosing our wedding party, which is why it ended up being rather large!

Since I was a little girl, I knew that I wanted to get married at my parent’s home. I love my family and my hometown is very close to my heart. I also knew that I wanted to plan the wedding myself. The location set the tone of our wedding’s style. East Texas is known for its towering pine trees, so we knew we wanted it to be outdoors, and October is a perfect month for that. Like any modern bride, I did my fair share of Pinterest pinning to get inspiration. While I wanted to do everything myself, I knew that practically it was impossible to put together a 350-400 guest wedding without help. So I hired four local women who decorate weddings as a hobby to help me. Besides a few items that I rented from them, I found virtually everything else online (primarily from Etsy) and at local antique stores. From old brown snuff bottles, mason jars, and eclectic green vases, to laterns, candle votives and bow ties, I was constantly looking for and accumulating stuff!

We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and fairly casual. We picked gray suits and brown accents for the guys, including brown boots. I chose a simple cotton dress for my bridesmaids. My husband and I wore matching Lucchese cowboy boots.

Since it was really important to us to be inclusive during our wedding planning process, we decided to include all of our siblings in the wedding party. Between the two of us, we have 6 brothers and 3 sisters, so this was quite a crew to include! One of the most special things to me was having two of my little brothers open the doors before my dad and I walked down the aisle. My parents found these doors at a local antique shop that were originally from an 18th century English church. My dad had one of his friends, Brian Best, build the structure that the doors hung on, and we hung burlap in the openings. Brian also built the arbor that we stood under during the ceremony. My dad supplied the antlers used on the tables, in the barn and chandelier from actual hunts. He also had the tree stumps (that were in the aisle during the ceremony) cut from trees on our property. My mom did an enormous amount of work preparing the grounds for the wedding. For our wedding favors, we wanted to find something that accurately represented us as a couple. Because I am a photographer and Luke is a “Colorado mountain man,” we decided to give our guests a simple wooden frame. I ordered them in bulk at a craft store and my bridal party helped me stain each and every one of them. We utilized all 4 horse stalls in the barn for different things. We had a gift stall, photo booth stall, drink stall, and favor/sparkler stall.

Our original plan was to have dinner and dancing outside of the barn. But that is not what ended up happening! Gotta love the unpredictable nature of weddings. It was incredibly windy on our wedding day, so we were not able to set the tables or light candles like we had originally planned. Instead, we used whatever battery-operated candles we had and many of the vases of flowers were placed inside the barn. The 350 picture frame favors that we so carefully stained were supposed to be put at each place setting, but because the tables couldn’t be set, they were left in storage and never passed out!! Oy vey. Also, it started sprinkling during dinner, so our guests took cover under the barn and the band had to break down the stage. The rain only lasted a few minutes, but since the band took down their sound equipment, they didn’t have enough time to set it back up. Instead, all of our guests relocated to the barn and the band quickly put together an acoustic set. While none of these things were ideal or planned it actually ended up working out. We believe our reception was as fun as it was because so many people were crammed into a small space. And even if the tables had been set, because of the rain, no one would have been outside to enjoy them. All of these mishaps taught me so much about how to just let things go when everything goes wrong. Our wedding was amazing and I have nothing to complain about!!

Finally, I chose our photographer (Jess Barfield) and videographer (Daniel Estrada from WhenItClicks) because I had closely followed and respected their work for a while. Jess obviously did an incredible job on our pictures, but I want to especially honor Daniel for our wedding video. We have gotten SO many raves about it, and we couldn’t be more pleased with what he produced. He is an incredible story-teller and did an beautiful job telling our story. We had him come to our rehearsal dinner, and the way he tied the speeches from that into our wedding was just perfect.

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Photography: Jess Barfield Photography | Cinematography: WhenItClicks Photography & Video | Flowers: Steph Ybarra | Venue: Bride’s Family’s Home, Nacogdoches, Texas | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Shoes: Lucchese Boots | Dress: Alvina Valenta from Stardust Celebrations in Plano, TX | Bridesmaids: The Dessy Group | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Express Suits | Band: Prophets & Outlaws | Cake: Andrea Howard Cakes | Catering: JD’s Catering | Ceremony Painter: Carolynn Seibert

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Austin Wedding at Vista West Ranch by Mike Reed Photo

Looking to create a “rustic cabin in the wintery woods” feel for their big day, this stunning bride and groom turned to Vista West Ranch, the breathtaking Hill Country locale where hosting drop-dead gorgeous weddings is like second nature.  The result?  A seriously stunning affair filled with uber-amazing florals from Petal Pushers, sweet vintage details and personalized touches aplenty, including a dessert buffet.  Yummy.  See every love-filled moment captured by Mike Reed Photo in the full gallery.

From the Bride… My husband Darron and I have definitely been coined old souls from our taste in music to design and style preferences.  We channeled that while planning our wedding exactly the way we wanted it; set against the Texas Hill Country backdrop. I had always envisioned an outdoor ceremony, so that, paired with an indoor ranch style reception, gave us a lot of space to add our personal touches.  Meaningful song quotes were sprinkled throughout our wedding from the invitations to the welcome baskets to even being displayed on wooden signs and chalkboards on the wedding day.  I had a bartender tell me “I knew this wedding was going to be fun when I saw the Led Zeppelin quote displayed during the cocktail hour.”  We also handpicked practically every song played that night from the ceremony to dinner music and, of course, for dancing. It was a lot of work but it accented the night perfectly and represented Darron and I in such a fun way.

When I tried to describe my vision to my floral and design planner I remember using the phrase “rustic cabin in the wintery woods minus any animal decor.”  The output was lots of muted flowers, branches, pine cones, antique books, vintage door hardware for table numbers, and tons of candlelight.   The warm candlelight ambiance at Vista West Ranch at night is to die for.  It felt almost magical. It was important that our wedding would not be confused as a Christmas party despite the December date; hence no poinsettias, mistletoe, or garland were present.

We enjoyed personalizing the timeline by skipping a lot of the reception cliches: instead of a cake we had a dessert station; I presented my bouquet to my mom instead of tossing it; and a family style dinner comprised of mostly locally grown and organic food was served instead of a buffet. When I first proposed the idea of doing a choreographed dance to Darron he gave me that “you’re crazy” stare, but now we look back at those late night dance sessions fondly and they actually helped me to de-stress quite a bit leading up to the wedding. I choreographed the dance to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s song “Home” and had both sets of parents and all of our wedding party incorporated.  It was a huge success and one of my favorite memories of the night. In our eyes, the wedding was absolutely perfect which is in large part is due to all of our amazing vendors who made our vision a reality.

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Photogrpaher: Mike Reed Photo | Coordination: Coordinate This | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Venue: Vista West Ranch | Dress: Essense of Australia

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Seabrook Engagement Session from Mustard Seed Photography

Nautical anything pretty much rocks my socks off, but when it’s a nautical engagement session or wedding?  That’s amazing and then some.  Take for example this pretty little Seabrook shoot from the always divine Mustard Seed Photography which is ranking high atop my list of favorites with a beyond adorable duo and some serious seafaring fun.  I’m talking champagne, cupcakes and sweet navy blue hues, all set against those sunny, open skies Texas is known for.  Stare at these images all day long?  Yes, yes, I could.  Join me in the gallery for more.

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From the Bride… John’s love of sailing and the location of the proposal were the inspiration for our nautical themed wedding. John had proposed to me during a walk on the docks after dinner at local restaurant overlooking the water. To tie in with the theme of our wedding, we chose to shoot the engagement photos on a sailboat. A dear friend put us in touch with Sail Ventures, who set us up with an absolutely gorgeous sailboat for us to use for the shoot. The feeling of the session was all built around the fresh, preppy, romantic vibe we feel when we’re on the water sailing.

The previous Valentine’s Day, John had planned a romantic day sail for us, including my two favorite things, champagne and cupcakes. I absolutely had to incorporate those two things into the shoot, so we picked up some cupcakes from our favorite local bakery, Rise. The champagne was an engagement gift from a colleague, and the bottle happened to be the most perfect shade of navy blue to compliment the color pallet of the day. I looked at our engagement shoot as a romantic date that John was taking me on (with a couple of photographers there snapping pics). I really wanted the photos to tell the story of John taking me out for an afternoon sail.

Mustard Seed Photography made us feel like supermodels as they snapped their shots, and they were so easy to work with. We literally enjoyed every minute of the session. John and I had the best time during our engagement shoot, and it was the perfect special event to kick off this unique season of our lives as we plan for our wedding day and the rest of our lives together as a couple.

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Photography: Mustard Seed Photography | Champagne: Mumm Napa | Cupcakes: Rise Cupcakes | Hair: Chanda at Colorlocks (832-414-1881) | Sailboat Rental: Sail Ventures | Location: Seabrook, TX | Bride’s First Look: Duo (Dress) + ALDO (Shoes) + Banana Republic (Accessories) | Bride’s Second Look: Tommy Hilfiger (Dress) + Wanted (Shoes) + Banana Republic (Belt) + Betsy Johnson (Necklace) | Groom’s First Look: Banana Republic (Pants + Shirt) + Tommy Hilfiger (Tie) + Urban Outfitters (Socks) + Sperry (Shoes) | Groom’s Second Look: 7ForAllMankind (Jeans) + Banana Republic (T-Shirt) + Sperry (Shoes) + J.Crew (Belt)

Forrest Inspired Shoot from Southern Charm Photography + Minerva House Photography

Southern Charm Photography and Minerva House Photography just became my new best friends.  They don’t know it yet, but they totally did.  That’s because they sent along this drop-dead gorgeous photo shoot and it’s the perfect mix of romance and drama, with a breathtaking forrest backdrop that seriously ups the ante on pretty.  With stunning hair and makeup by Elice Regini and crazy-gorgeous purple blooms (seriously), it’s an inspiration-fest to the extreme.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Southern Charm Photography… I wanted something that captured a slightly more moody side of love, not the rainbows and glitter side that we see everywhere, but something more reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. So in the end, these were the set-ups I went with, something with a little glitz, but just enough art deco to take you back a couple of decades.

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Photography: Southern Charm Photography + Minerva House Photography | Event Styling: Southern Charm Photography | Hair + Makeup: Elice Regini | Models: Justin + Audra Kurtz

Old Glory Ranch Wedding from j. cota photography

Sometimes it’s crazy to me that a wedding, a gorgeous wedding no less, can be planned in less than six months. I know it can. I planned mine in five. But when one like this Old Glory Ranch soiree comes along and I read that it was planned in four months… I’m floored. Every time. Every detail j. cota photography captured was so stunning that I’m actually amazed that it all came together so quickly. And so fabulously. Click here to see the whole day!

From the lovely bride … We have all heard the saying, “Timing is everything!” and in our story that was exactly the case. Our best friends married each other twelve years ago where we first met at their wedding, however, our journey together did not start until seven years later. After several years of dating, my husband proposed on New Years Day up on top of the mountains in Colorado at sunset, and yes, he caught me off guard! I had expected it to happen New Years Eve or perhaps earlier in the day when he surprised me for a train ride on Silverton Express. To be honest I was gazing out the window after the train on the car ride back to the cabin where I thought we were now just headed to pack up and fly out in morning and my heart was disappointed. I was trying to figure out a way to stay in Colorado because I knew there were many friends and family waiting back home to hear the “news” and I thought I didn’t have any to give them. In my mind the trip was over and meanwhile Sloan was in the driver seat trying to time the sunset and kill time to wait for the picture perfect moment, and it was.

After I was able to stop staring at the ring on my finger, it was time to plan our wedding. We knew we did not want a long engagement and I had the venue Old Glory Ranch in my mind because of the family river cabin we had during my childhood in Wimberley. To our surprise they had a date still open and I was convinced we could plan this in just four months. We were both drawn to the outdoorsy feel of Old Glory and loved the rustic décor and setting, yet did not have to compromise on an ounce of class. It was important to our faith and values to be married in a Chapel and the beauty of what they had to offer blew us away.

I love neutral colors and I am known to be simple in style, so I wanted to carry this look throughout the wedding. With such a beautiful outdoor setting for the reception looking over the Hill Country, I chose colors that would carry out these earth tones. My dress was ivory and my bridesmaids wore a fresh spring green that truly looked good on all 10 of them! This green complimented the natural wood all throughout the Old Glory Chapel. The groom’s side wore khaki colored suits with Tom’s shoes and both the boutonnieres and bridal bouquets had succulents mixed in (my husband’s favorite!) with the flowers for a Texas flare.

My dad and I rode up on a carriage to the ring of the chapel bells before the anticipated walk down the aisle. I had an antique piece of lace wrapped around my bouquet that was my grandmother’s and also wore my mom’s Belgium lace veil for the ceremony. Once we were announced husband and wife, we joyfully walked out to the tune of “Oh Happy Day” as our guests were ushered out of the chapel to the patio under the oak trees dressed with chandeliers for cocktail hour. There were mini donkeys saddled up with Mexican beers to honor Cinco De Mayo, our wedding date. Salt Lick catered the best BBQ in Texas, and we had Tiny Pies paired with blue bell ice-cream for the groom’s dessert, as well as a five tiered vanilla-almond and raspberry filling bridal cake. I traded my veil for a flower to accessorize my hair and ditched my heels so I could boot scoot boogie and kick up the dance party. We danced until midnight to the tunes of Night Fire Band and exited through an archway of bright sparklers into a 1946 antique truck. We drove away under the stars and there were bright strikes of lighting all across the sky. I believe it was God’s display of fireworks just for us as we rode into this new chapter together as Dr. and Mrs. Hildebrand.

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Photography: j. cota photography | Cinematography: Sondra Hicks and Scott Mayo at Ditore Mayo Entertainment | Floral & Event Design: Old Glory Ranch | Cake: Classic Cake by Lori | Event Planning: Old Glory Ranch & Carey Millington, BASH Events | Venue: Old Glory Ranch | Invitations: Jenny Oroz | Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender | Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaid Dress Designer: J.Crew | Men’s Fashion: John W. Nordstrom + TOMS Shoes | Pies: Tiny Pies | Band: Nightfire | Catering: Salt Lick BBQ | Officiant: West Brazelton

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Dallas Wedding from Lindsey Shea Photography, Branching Out + Sweet Pea Events

I know emerald is the official Color of the Year (and I do love it), but I’m thinking a case needs to be made for mint green.  A campaign of sorts, if you will.  Because every single time I see its pretty little face making an appearance in a Big Day, it sort of steals the show.  Take for example this breathtaking Dallas affair from the ever-talented Sweet Pea Events, which just so happens to feature bridesmaids looking stellar in some minty-hued perfection.  Also looking stellar?  An entire gallery of glorious images from Lindsey Shea and some drop-dead gorgeous florals from Branching Out.  See it all right here.

And not one, but TWO beautiful films from Chris Watson Films.  Enjoy!

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From Sweet Pea Events… Meagan and Garrett tied the knot in Dallas in September and it was the perfect Fall day.  Meagan is a nurse and was working a night-shift at the time so needing a bit of help pulling some of the details together, especially the design.  She knew what she wanted, but was looking for a planner to help create her vision.  We were thrilled to be able to create this romantic, sweet, and intimate ceremony and reception for her.  From the burlap program holders her mom handmade with love for the ceremony, to the wiener dog table numbers she made (they LOVE their wiener dogs), their wedding was all about personal details.  Perhaps our most favorite moment of the evening was when Meagan’s Dad surprised her by serenading her singing, “You Are My Sunshine.”  Not a dry eye in the room, and a moment never to be forgotten.

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Wedding Photography: Lindsey Shea Photography | Ceremony Venue: Royal Lane Baptist in Dallas, Texas | Reception Venue: The Room on Main in Dallas Texas | Event Planning: Sweet Pea Events | Floral Design: Branching Out | Wedding Cinematography: Chris Watson Films | Caterer: CN Catering | Wedding Cake: Fancy Cakes by Lauren | Band: Downtown Fever | Wedding Invitations: Southern Fried Paper | China Rentals: The Vintage Dish | Hair: Tina Teel

Houston Air Terminal Museum Wedding from Archetype Studio + Romp Events

Style literally drips from every gorgeous image captured by Archetype Studio Inc. of this New Year’s Eve wedding at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. It’s true. Every detail crafted and curated by Romp Events is pin-worthy to say the very least, giving us a gallery filled to the brim with details worth tucking away for next year’s New Year’s soiree. See every stylish detail right here.

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From the Bride… Greg and I first met on New Year’s Eve 2007 and were engaged on New Year’s Eve 2011.  It is our favorite day of the year and was an easy decision to ring in this New Year with a wedding.  Working with our coordinator, Shy Masters, of Romp! Event Architects, we decided to create a very glamorous affair with black, white, and gold accents and the perfect amount of sparkle.  She took my love for all things glam and Hollywood Regency décor and incorporated it into every last detail including center pieces of ginger jars, gold pheasants, and tall lamps.  We also used vintage inspired gold alarm clocks on each table to still tie in the New Years Eve vibe.   After considering a number of different venues, we chose the historic 1940 Air Terminal Museum as the location for both our ceremony and reception.  The modern and art deco venue helped to tie in the glamorous ambiance of the evening.  Our photographers, Terilyn and Koby Brown, were absolutely fantastic to work with and did an amazing job of capturing every last detail of our special day, including our midnight kiss.  We couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end a beautiful year with our closest family and friends while celebrating our love.

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Wedding Photography: Koby & Terilyn Brown from Archetype Studio Inc. | Wedding Venue: 1940 Air Terminal Museum in Houston, Texas | Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Shy Masters from Romp Events | Wedding Cake: Satin Slices | Wedding Dress: Stephen Yearick | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Bagley Mischka via Rent The Runway | Veil: Lisa Tice of Lisa’s Mini Mad Hattery

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Sunnyvale Ranch Wedding from Sarah Kate

I kind of want to give Sarah Kate a huge hug.  Like the biggest hug she’s ever received.  Because this gorgeous Sunnyvale wedding is pretty much my rustic meets elegant dream come true… and I definitely think that deserves some hugging.  Also on my hug list?  Ashley Brinkley Events (seriously fab stylings), Branching Out (beautiful blooms) and every last vendor who made this day complete.  Oh, and the beautiful bride and groom, who pieced together a wedding that reflects not only their relationship, but their love of family.  How awesome are they?!?  See every last moment in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Soon after Taylor proposed in the Texas Hill Country, we started thinking all things wedding. We knew we wanted to get married outdoors, and we quickly realized that the perfect venue was Taylor’s family ranch, T Bar J Ranch, a stone’s throw outside of Dallas, in a town called Sunnyvale.

With arching oak trees that line the driveway, the grazing horses, the pristine lake, and the white picket fences, it is picturesque, a reminder of a different time. The T Bar J Ranch was where Taylor’s parents wed in 1979, and with so much history, beauty, and sentiment, it was an overwhelmingly obvious location for our story to begin, as well.  

The natural beauty of the ranch really dictated the theme of the wedding. The wedding was planned with a theme of “rustic formality,” a juxtaposition of nature and romance, a theme of soft, romantic neutrals combined with organic elements of wood and succulents. We brought the indoors out by creating vignettes of the family’s collections of antiques and creating an outdoor photo gallery by hanging family wedding photographs from tree branches. I really wanted to throw a sentimental, yet beautiful affair, honoring family, history, and of course, our relationship!

Our ceremony was just perfect. We had a gorgeous lakeside ceremony lit by an Autumn sunset. We stood beneath the branch of an Oak tree, from it hung a wrought iron chandelier that glistened in the setting sun. Horses grazed in the background as we exchanged our vows. It was unforgettable.

For our final farewell, and our last nod to family and history, we left on the back of a vintage 1970’s fire truck. The fire truck was a retirement gift to Taylor’s grandfather when he retired as Sheriff from the Sunnyvale Fire Department. The perfect farewell from our perfect day!

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Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate | Venue: Family Ranch in Sunnyvale, Texas | Wedding Coordination + Design: Ashley Brinkley Events | Floral Design: Branching Out | Catering: Food Glorious Food |  Wedding Cake: Panini Cakes | Lighting: Beyond | Tent: Ducky Bob’s | Band: Cuvee | Wedding Stationery: Southern Fried Paper | Hair: Sonia Trevino | Makeup: Mayra Rams-Sanabria from My Fabulous Faces

Houston Wedding from Mustard Seed Photography

Infusing rustic, natural details into a modern meets glamorous affair can prove difficult for some, but not for these two lovelies.  Nope, with the help of Monarch Planning and Weddings in Bloom, they turned The Grove Houston into a succulent-filled glam fest, complete with pink and gray accents, contemporary (DIY) stylings and some VERY yummy looking cakes from Dessert Gallery.  Basically, it’s like the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.  Don’t miss a moment captured by Mustard Seed Photography in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… We met at a party in college when we both attended Tulane. New Orleans, a city that we both adore, provided an amazing backdrop for falling in love. One rainy February morning, Cat called me to come outside, alleging that he had hurt his knee. True to form, I said “I don’t think I’ll be able to pick you up… should I call someone else?” Once he finally convinced me to make the long journey downstairs, our dog (Steve) came running up to me and led me around the corner, where Cat was waiting, ring in hand.

Our advice would be to let your personal preferences guide you, rather than what you see on blogs. Don’t lose sight of what the day is really about – celebrating your commitment to each other!

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Wedding Photography: Mustard Seed Photography | Ceremony  Venue: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas | Reception Venue: The Grove Houston in Houston, Texas | Wedding Coordinator: Sally Monsivaiz from Monarch Planning | Floral Design: Weddings in Bloom | Wedding Cakes: Dessert Gallery | Linen: Swift & Co | Decor: Bride’s Mother + Friends | DJ: Look No Further Entertainment | Jazz Band: Luxury Trio | Wedding Invitations: Bridget Williams from BDUB NY | Wedding Dress: Catherine Deane | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom’s Attire: Zenga | Hair + Makeup: The Upper Hand

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Austin Wedding from Taylor Lord Photography

Nothing gets me excited for spring quite like a gorgeous pop of color. And this Austin affair has plenty to go around with the happiest hues of navy, purple and pink infused from start to finish. Add in an al fresco dinner party with the most heartfelt “I dos,” and you’ve got a recipe for the prettiest watercolor-inspired wedding around. Taylor Lord Photography sent us a slew of lovely images, and we even have a film from Bird and the Bear to tie it all together.

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From the Bride…Ryan and I fell in love in the fall and two years later got engaged on a chilly November evening. Because this was a special time of the year for us, we wanted to have a fall wedding (which also gave us a year to plan!) Though we currently live in Dallas, we chose Austin to be nearer families and for the laid-back atmosphere (Ryan is also a UT Austin grad) We knew we wanted a relaxed outdoor ceremony, festoon lightning overhead for dinner, and a serious dance party to follow. Mercury Hall provided the perfect space to make all of these things happen. We chose navy, blush pink, with various tones of whites, browns and greens to convey a nontraditional fall palette with a relaxed, rustic feel. I also wanted to incorporate holiday touches as it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We had a tree with personalized mercury glass ornaments for favors and chose a hearty fall meal. We also had a shrimp and grits station, a personal favorite of Ryan and I’s.

In planning the wedding, the most important aspect for us was to personalize the day. With 175 guests, we still wanted it to have an intimate and genuine feel. To accomplish this, we incorporated family and friends. Ryan wrote the entire wedding ceremony, with readings by his youngest sister and older brother. We involved my brother and his younger sister in the actual exchange of vows. His uncle, a district judge, was the officiant. We wrote our own vows, one of my favorite parts of the day (a must!). It made for an emotional but heartfelt ceremony. We also had a signature blueberry margarita for guests to enjoy as they arrived for the ceremony, another aspect of the relaxed atmosphere! We continued the involvement of family with my brother and his bandmate playing our first dance, father son dance, and mother son dance. They performed the MOST beautiful covers of M. Ward’s “Poison Cup,” Loudon Wainwright III’s “Daughter,” and Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.” My mom and I also took quite a few DIY projects to add our touch to the decor. I made all the signage, she sewed special table cloths and runners with the help of a sweet friend, among many other things.

Dinner was held on the gravel patio under festoon lights at banquet tables. We chose to place our table in the center, perpendicular to the guests tables. It was so perfect to be in the center of the party, where everyone could see us as well. Following dinner, the dance party began, with incredible music by a DJ and long time family friend, Silace Amaro. We ended the night with a sparkler exit and a ride to Hotel St. Cecilia in a pedicab! This was another very memorable moment for us…it was so nice to have an extended trip via pedicab to reflect on the night and enjoy each other’s company. We even drew some honks and congrats from rolled down windows on the way there!

The night was made incredibly special by our phenomenal group of vendors we chose. Taylor Lord was the most incredible, fun, and easy photographer to work with. I can’t imagine not having our memories captured through her perspective! Our wedding highlight video by the Bird and the Bear was so well done and is so fun for us to watch. STEMS florals created the exact vision I was looking for and were so great to work with.

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Wedding Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas | Wedding Cinematography: Bird and the Bear | Floral Design: Stems Floral Design | Invitations: Hip Ink Paper Co. | Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Catering: Dagar’s Catering | Handfast Ties: Anthropologie | Lighting: Ilios Lighting | Music: Jamestown Revival for First Dances | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
South Texas Farm Wedding from Thompson Poole Photography

When magical farm settings and sweet, sweet nuptials combine, it’s a beautiful thing.  And in the case of this gorgeous Marburger Farm affair, it’s not only beautiful, it’s awe-inspiring.  Because when you pair up an adorable bride and groom with the fab stylings of Deborah Bradley Events & Designs, sweet blue hues and a breathtaking ceremony under the world’s most amazing Oak tree (complete with ribbons), that’s what happens.  Pure, unadulterated pretty.  See every last moment captured by Thompson Poole Photography in the full gallery.

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Styles
Rustic

From Deborah Bradley Events & Designs… From the very beginning, Houstonians Rachel and Zach knew they wanted to get married in the country. Rachel, an artist and Zach, a numbers and graphs kind of guy, wanted their wedding day to transport their guests out of their busy lives to a slower-pace — a place where smiles came easy and one could see the stars in the night sky. They were quick to choose Marburger Farm in Round Top, Texas, population 90. Marburger Farm is a 43-acre property with a collection of historic building situation to feel like a small town. This unique combination of yesteryear and rustic elegance set the tone for their Country Soiree.

Rachel’s artistic hand inspired most of the details for the wedding including the couple’s personal monogram and she created an amazing rendering on canvas of her wedding dress. The art was displayed at the reception. Rachel’s ivory crepe and lace dress with a sweeping train was the perfect gown for the petite bride. Her ensemble was accented with an ivory fascinator, an antique pearl bracelet and vintage taupe leather pumps embellished with blue velvet flowers. In a treasured moment, the Mother of the Bride helped with doing Rachel’s hair just one more time before her “little girl” was married. Many laughs and stories were shared as special memories were made.

The Bridesmaids were quick to spot Zach & the Groomsmen coming to “visit.” For a few moments Zach & Rachel had a chance to hold hands in the threshold of the the old house but without actually seeing each other. It was the perfect way to “be together” without breaking tradition.

The Ceremony was set under a grand canopy of trees. A large wooden cross was suspended from the mighty Oak while crystal prisms suspended by long ribbons danced in the breeze. The aisle was punctuated by burlap covered cones bursting with colorful blooms.

After guests enjoyed cocktail hour in and around the rustic, brick floored building known as The Blacksmith Shop they welcomed Rachel and Zach to the Wedding Banquet and Dance. The barn-like hall with white-washed walls and a very seasoned dance floor was the perfect setting for this simple and elegant gathering. Guest tables were installed on the bias and dressed in white, floor-length linens centered with burlap table runners and an abundance of flowers in antique glass containers. A large farm table centered on the far end of the hall served as the Sweetheart Table. It was decorated with a burlap table runner, crystal candelabrum, bird cages and an antique bench.

As the evening progressed the center of “town” was illuminated by hundreds of globe string lights. The celebration and dance went on for hours and was capped with a sparkling send off for Rachel and Zach in a vintage convertible.

It was a beautiful wedding overflowing with love and joy.

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Wedding Photography: Thompson Poole Photography | Wedding Venue: Marburger Farm in Round Top, Texas | Event Planning + Design: Deborah Bradley Events & Designs | Floral Design: Gaby Sardinas & Friends | Catering: Uncommon Affairs | Wedding Cake: The Best Little Cake Shop in Texas | Pies: Royers Round Top Cafe

Bohemian Fort Worth Inspiration Shoot from Charla Storey Photography

A post-wedding Bridal Session.  Now there’s an idea I can get behind.  Especially if it’s one that is as amazingly beautiful as this one captured by Charla Storey Photography.  Because if there is anything in the world as exciting as stepping into your wedding gown on your Big Day, it’s getting to do it all over again.  And with stunning florals from Kate Foley Designs and a crazy cool Brewed Coffee Shop setting? This should most definitely be mandatory.  Click here for all of the pretty.

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Styles
Whimsical

From Charla Storey PhotographyWe shot this bridal session with Bohemian-inspired flowers and hair at a hot new amazing coffee shop in Fort Worth called Brewed (it has an Austin or Anthorpologie feel to it, with amazing coffee to boot!) that opened in October! This bride is already married and decided it’s never to late to get your bridal pictures done! She got all dolled up and we shot her bridal images in time for Valentine’s Day! This shoot was so fun, whimsical and filled with yummy light!

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Wedding Photography: Charla Storey Photography | Location: Brewed Coffee Shop + Trinity Park in Forth Worth, Texas | Floral Design: Kate Foley Designs | Wedding Dress: Casablanca via Classy Concepts Bridal Boutique | Bride’s Shoes: Sam Edleman

Texas Ranch Wedding from Mint Photography + Vintage&Lace

Mint Photography called this wedding “a photographer’s dream” and I’m going to have to agree and call it a blogger’s dream. With Vintage&Lace behind the floral & design, and a bride with such a fabulous vision for the day, how could it not be? The chic soiree put a big, goofy grin on my face, and thanks to the gallery, it’s not leaving anytime soon. Click here to see that!

Colors
Styles
Vintage

I am a true Texas girl, and I have a soft spot in my heart for all things antique and vintage. My groom got the hint, and chose a perfect vintage-inspired setting for my engagement ring. On a sunny and brisk day in December, he proposed during a fun-filled and romantic day at the park–the same way his late father proposed to his mother. It was the perfect surprise.

As we were planning our wedding, we had two goals for our guests: they should have a true Texas experience, and they should have a weekend of activities instead of simply one evening. The Texas Hill Country would provide the perfect setting. We found Red Corral Ranch in Wimberley, Texas, and we immediately fell in love with its unique charm and stunning views. The rustic structures and towering oak trees provided a romantic setting, all under the casual gaze of strutting peacocks. We could not have had a better experience: between the spectacular setting and the friendly staff, we felt special the entire weekend.

Finding a gown was a harrowing experience. I could not find the perfect vintage dress that would fit my vision; many were good, but none were The One. I called on my friend bridal designer Matthew Christopher to design a one-of-a-kind soft and romantic gown. The beaded Chantilly lace bodice and silk organza layered skirt that he designed were exactly what I had been seeking. Along with a Juliet cap that was custom made by a local millinery and my mother-in-law’s pearls, I achieved the vintage look I had dreamed.

The clear blue skies and warm sun made our ceremony a Texas paradise. We incorporated the traditional lasso ceremony as a nod to my Latin and Catholic heritage. My favorite memory was walking down the aisle to Vitamin String Quartet’s arrangement of Coldplay’s Paradise. As I passed through the refinished doors with our personal monogram, I looked up and saw my groom’s face for the first time. As I saw him, I was brought to tears in my perfect moment.

Our lively reception was filled with good times and laughter. The rustic barn gave us a down-home Texas atmosphere. The barn doors opened up and provided a casual yet intimate setting. To achieve an antique feel, I acquired vintage china plates that provided each guest with a unique place setting. I also found cut glass vases of various sizes and old books to use as centerpieces on the tables. Each vase held yellow paper roses that I created in the weeks leading up to the wedding date. A local Houston-based microbrewery No Label Brewery (owned by a friend of mine) provided us with craft beer that got people on the dance floor. Dancing with my groom to our last song Mumford and Sons’ “I Will Wait” completed our memorable evening.

Without the help of Heather from Vintage and Lace, none of my crazy ideas would have been carried out. She took my ideas for our unique wedding and made them come to life. Our photographers Kelly from Mint Photography (and Brianna from Brianna Light Photography) captured every moment with brilliance. Photographs are some of the best memories of a wedding day, and we will cherish ours forever. My husband and I were blown away by the love and support from our family and friends (and vendors!), and we could not have had a day that was more “us.” From putting on my dress to my last dance, every moment was unique and special.

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Photographer: Mint Photography | Second Shooter: Brianna Light Photography | Floral & Event Design: Vintage&Lace | Disc Jockey: Infinity Audio DJs | Ceremony and Reception Location: Red Corral Ranch | Invitations: Bering’s Stationery | Shoes: Steve Madden with added Texas Rangers logo | Dress Designer: Custom from Matthew Christopher Inc. | Bridesmaid Dresses: Damsel Maids | Groom’s Fashion: Canali from Nordstrom | Earrings: Haute Bride | Necklace: Mother of Groom | Juliet Cap: Scott Kilgore Millinery Designs

Vista West Ranch Wedding from Kristi Wright Photography

If there is anyone that can make planning a destination wedding look like a breeze, it would be this beauty of a Bride. Her wedding at the stunning Vista West Ranch was planned from behind her computer screen in New York City, which basically seems impossible when you see how gorgeous the day unfolded via the lens of Kristi Wright. Oh but it was possible, and with the help of her rock star team of vendors including Petal PushersLizze Belle EventsPolka Dots and Tiny Pies – her Austin affair went off without a hitch. See it all here.

The Texas pretty continues in their sweet film from Nostalgia Film, which you simply cannot miss…

From Kristi Wright I loved photographing Josh and Virginia’s wedding. When I first saw the little chapel where the ceremony would take place, it immediately reminded me of JFK, Jr. and Caroline’s wedding. The small space provided an intimate and romantic setting and as a photographer, I was so happy to see the beautiful soft light inside the church, something we rarely see in church ceremonies. Their daytime exit was another favorite part of the day for me, another throwback to a by-gone era. I hope it becomes a growing trend in weddings! Also, the nod to their finance backgrounds on the pie tags was adorable.

From the Bride… Josh and I both decided to have our wedding in Texas as we knew having both of our families travel to New York would be difficult.  We also live in a 500 square foot apartment, so accommodating out of town guests would be a problem during the wedding festivities.  We decided to get married in January in Texas -specifically Austin.  We wanted a fresh start to the year and the weather to be on the cooler side for Texas – 65 degrees.  Austin was also the first city Josh and I traveled to a month after dating.  He had never been before.  Austin’s changed since I went to school there. Definitely a neat city for people to travel to for a destination wedding – the New Yorkers loved it and our Williamsburg Brooklyn hipster friends felt right at home on “SoCo” and Rainey Street.

The wedding was designed entirely online.  Kristi Wright, our photographer, was the first vendor I found and signed, followed by Vista West Ranch, Aimee Villa, Olga at Polkadots, and it just kept falling into place.  The little white Chapel was so perfect.  I lived next to that church in college but never went.  It was quite different before its renovation in 2002 – done for it’s 100th anniversary as a gift from a member.  What a treat that a chapel that special is still in tact.  The inspiration for almost every element of the design came from a photo of a cake which I think came from our photographer’s Pinterest site.  I wanted the wedding to be just like that cake – white, airy, charming, rustic, chic, traditional, yet playful.

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Wedding Photography: Kristi Wright  | Ceremony Venue: Hyde Park Presbyterian | Reception Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas | Wedding Cinematography: Nostalgia Film | Wedding Planning: Lizze Belle Events | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Catering: Verdes | Wedding Cake: Polka Dots | Pies: Tiny Pies | Band: Will Taylor Band | Wedding Dress: Christos “Desiree”  | Bride’s shoes: Milk and Honey  | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Erica Gray

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Dallas Inspiration Session from Stephanie Brazzle

My obsession with floral headbands has officially reached a new high after feasting my eyes on this amazing inspiration shoot from Dallas photographer Stephanie Brazzle. Adding just the perfect touch of whimsy to an otherwise classically elegant feel, these crazy-gorgeous florals by Stanford Designs are pure perfection. See the entire inspiration session in the full gallery! 

From Stephanie Brazzle… Some people are  just stunning in front of the camera. That would be Jordan in this case. We had a bride and groom session left in our wedding agreement and we really wanted to go all out. So we called some of our favorite vendors to be a part of it.  Her wedding was during the summer and we really wanted to go in the opposite direction with something a lot colder and bare but still with the beautiful lush spring flowers.  Arbor Hills in Dallas would be the perfect outdoor location we paired colder flowers like dusty miller, brunia, and seeded eucalyptus with some more lush flowers: Succulents, peach roses and peonies. 

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Wedding Photography: Stephanie Brazzle | Location: Arbor Hills in Dallas, Texas | Floral Design: Joy from Stanford Designs | Caterer: Food Glorious Food | Rentals: Ducky Bobs | Stationery: Papier Sanctum | Makeup: Amy (Amytjp@gmail.com or 214.707.7849)

Hill Country Wedding from Tara Welch Photography + Nostalgia Film

I love Tara Welch.  And not just because she’s one of the sweetest ladies you’ll ever meet (she sooo is), but because she also happens to snap up some crazy gorgeous images.  Crazy gorgeous images that never fail to leave me breathless.  And, in the case of this beautiful Hill Country wedding, a little speechless, too. Because when you combine sweet vintage details, stunning yellow and gray hues and mesmerizing blooms from Bouquets of Austin, sometimes you lose the ability to speak.  (Seriously.)  Oh, and the beautiful favors painted by the bride’s grandfather?  SOOO awesome.  See so much more right here.

And even more pretty from the amazing Nostalgia Film.  Enjoy, lovelies.

From the Bride… The day of our wedding was perfection in every way. From trying to sneak up on Peter during our first look – but my dress was way too loud – to smashing the cake up his nose (whoops). We had the best time and love was all over our faces… or so we were told by our guests! My number one goal for the day was for everyone to have fun and enjoy the evening! With a 90’s cover-band, the hand sketched photo-booth, the wine and a sparkling exit I think everyone had a blast!

When we starting planning we knew the first decision to make was where to have the wedding. Peter comes from a very big Texas family and even though I originally wanted a Napa Vineyard wedding I knew it wasn’t fair to ask so many people to travel.  Everyone had to be there since we are very close to our families! Peter suggested Hill Country for a happy medium! It was perfect… vineyards in Texas, who knew?!

I didn’t really know what “type” of wedding I wanted to have but after we found the Duchman Family Vineyard, it became my inspiration for the big day. It has such a romantic old Tuscan feel, I went with vintage details for almost everything. And I love shopping at flea markets and vintage stores! I did know I wanted yellow and gray, which actually came from my parents’ wedding. I remember looking through their wedding album and seeing her bridesmaids’ dresses that were yellow!  The yellow in the photos made the day seem so happy! So I modernized that with the popular yellow and gray trend!

Some vintage details I knew I had to have when I started to plan were: 1.) A “family tree,” as I called it, which was a tree that had photos hanging of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days by yellow and grey ribbon.  2.) Old handkerchiefs to pass out before the ceremony for tears of joy. (We decided to hold these in an old violin case which went perfect since we had a mandolin & strings playing as people found their seats.)  3.) I have collected milk glass vases over the years and knew they would be perfect for the low centerpieces at the reception! Bouquets of Austin did an amazing job with them! 4.) Lastly I knew I wanted my grandfather to be a part of the day! He is an unbelievable painter. so for wedding favors I wanted him to paint scenes of vineyards & Austin that I could give guests. He agreed to help and painted 125 postcard size paintings for us; he is AMAZING!

Some accidental details happened while the planning was going on… skeleton keys for escort cards was one of them! When shopping in vintage shops I came across SO many skeleton keys and I wanted to use them somehow, so I tied ribbon to each key attaching it to an escort card. The front would have the guest’s name and back of the card would have their assigned table. The table names for the reception were a vintage find that wasn’t supposed to happen! We were originally going to do basic table numbers but came across little cards that had the CUTEST names and sayings on them such as “Summer Time Sweethearts”, “Autumn Colors”, “Honeymooning”, “Flying the Coop”… and so became our table names.

The most fun, and last detail, was my toss bouquet. I personally hate going to weddings and diving for the bouquet when I was single so I wanted to give ALL the girls a chance to catch it! I tied lottery tickets to the bouquet to up the ante… too bad the lotto tickets only came to $10 when the girl cashed them in!!!

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Wedding Photography: Tara Welch Photography | Wedding Cinematography: Nostalgia Film  | Wedding Venue: Duchman Family Vineyards in Driftwood, Texas | Wedding Coordinator: Austin Wedding Planners by Rosa | Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin | Caterer: Pink Avocado Catering | Wedding Cakes: Michelle’s Patisserie | Band: Zoodust | Linen Rental: Sweet Sunday Event | Wedding Invitations: Jessica Suhr | Wedding Dress: Lazaro | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bride’s Earrings: Diana Warner | Groom’s Attire: JoS.A.Bank | Groom’s Shoes: Custom | Hair: Sunny Webb from Orbit Salon

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Houston Wedding at Veranda 17 from My Happy Lens Photography

When modern meets traditional, pretty things tend to happen, pretty things like this Veranda 17 at the Sam Houston Hotel wedding. Known to friends and family as “Geoff and Jess,” an ampersand became their theme, which they infused into stationery by 23and10 and throughout the event’s decor! Thanks to My Happy Lens Photography, we get to pour over every last detail in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Geoff and I are known as “Geoff and Jess.” So my graphic designer (Geoff’s talented cousin Lauren of 23and10) and I naturally agreed on the ampersand as the theme of the wedding, and thus the theme of our lives together. You’ll see a nod to it in many of the elements: decor, buttons, stationery, etc.

When it got down to the nitty-gritty, Geoff and I could agree on two things: 1) Good food and 2) Good fun. Which is why we chose The Alden. Their 17 Restaurant catered the reception, and the food was de-licious. (Especially the truffle mac-and-cheese.) Then we needed someone who could really make it a party. That’s where Jonny Black Productions came in. No one EVER left the dance floor.

Our wedding was a mix of modern and traditional elements. I chose very royal colors (eggplant and gold), but used them in a way that felt clean and luxurious. My dress (a Pronovias) was lace with cap-sleeves, but fit like a glove. Our ceremony music was a mix of traditional hymns and new ones, and our dinner music ranged from Ella and Louie to Weezer and John Mayer. Our cakes (provided by a friend, Yay Yay’s Cakes) were a traditional wedding cake (no filling), carrot cake with cream cheese icing and the most amazing yellow cake you’d ever eat with Nutella buttercream frosting. And don’t forget about our midnight-snack favors — native-to-Houston Shipley’s donuts.

In the end, the most important thing to Geoff and I was that our family and friends (some who had traveled from states away) were there to celebrate with us. My college friend played our ceremony music, my cousin sang my entrance song, Geoff’s uncle married us and his other uncle gave the blessings. And we were so happy. The whole event was perfect (except for when my sleeve broke…), and it’s all thanks to Teri of Pearl & Peony Event Design. She not only made sure everything went smoothly, she made sure Geoff and I were always having fun and free of anxiety.

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Wedding Photography: My Happy Lens Photography | Wedding Venue: Veranda 17 at the Sam Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas | Wedding Coordinating: Pearl & Peony Event Design | Floral Design: SCF Events | Wedding Cakes: Yay Yay’s Cakes | DJ: Jonny Black Productions | Uplighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | Wedding Invitations: Lauren Manning from 23and10 |  Wedding Dress: Pronovias “Adela” | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Jasmine  “Belsoie L4070” | Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Handmade Texas Wedding from McGowan Images

I love a hand-crafted wedding, that’s a given. And when I read that this sweet-as-can-be couple crafted + created every element of their I do’s  in 28 days…well, let’s just say I was smitten. With the help of family and friends, the bride and groom transformed their private creek venue into a hidden oasis and, lucky for us, it was all captured to perfection by McGowan Images. Take a peek at the full gallery right here. 

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Backyard

From the Bride… So, I must first start off by saying that none of what you see here would exist without the help of our amazing friends, family, and photographers! I know everyone says this, but I truly mean it. See, we planned this wedding in a month, four weeks to be exact. Joey and I have always done things a tad bit different, so after changing the date several times, we finally decided to just stick with our 6 month anniversary which also happened to be 28 days away. Yep, that’s right…28 days! I was also in school full time and working a part time job, so it was just absolutely amazing when everything came together perfectly. To those who helped us out, I can never thank you enough! 

The overall theme of our wedding was meant to be an eclectic gathering of all things “Joey and Jordyn”; even our location had significance. The Creek was the land where Joey’s grandparents and mom grew up and coincidently it was also where we had our first date. It was the perfect spot for us and allowed for much creative freedom. Joey and I have always been collectors, pickers, and lovers of all things with history. It really only made sense that we include things that we had found together or items that had been passed down within our families in our wedding ceremony. Everything about our wedding was very personal and each little detail represented a part of who we were as individuals and as a whole.

To add to that concept, Joey and I made the decision to get ready together on our wedding day. We threw tradition out the window and decided to do what sounded best to us. Besides deciding to spend the rest of our lives together, choosing to be together on the morning of our wedding was one of the best decisions we made. It allowed us to focus on what was truly most important that day, each other. And to top if off, our photographers, Chelsea and Mack spent the morning with us capturing every moment we spent together. They also traveled along with us for the rest of the time before the ceremony, making sure to capture memories of us in our favorite places that meant so much to us. I can’t think of any better way we would have wanted to spend the hours before our wedding.

Another aspect, which made our wedding even more significant, is the fact that Joey and I fashioned our ideas and dreams with our own hands. With the help of family and friends, we cleared out the whole creek area, built our own archway, laid out the stones beneath it, covered and set up hay bales, arranged our décor, wrapped numerous flowers with burlap, hung mason jars with twine, and so much more. Our flowers were mums, purchased from Walmart and my bouquet was created by one of my best friends with baby’s breath from Central Market.

It’s amazing to me looking back on our wedding and realizing how “handmade” it was, how every tiny piece and process that took place is streaked with love and devotion from our closest family and friends. I would say that it turned out to be a gorgeous wedding, but what made it most beautiful to me was the significance within every portion of the event. It was the perfect manifestation of everything we were as a couple and everything we wanted in a ceremony, our pasts, histories, and families all colliding together to create a new chapter. 

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Photography : McGowan Images | Wedding Venue: Private Residence in Wise County, Texas | Decor: DIY by the Bride + Groom | Wedding Dress: Free People

Handmade Texas Wedding from McGowan Images

I love a hand-crafted wedding, that’s a given. And when I read that this sweet-as-can-be couple crafted + created every element of their “I do’s”  in 28 days…well, let’s just say I was smitten. With the help of family and friends, the bride and groom transformed their private creek venue into a hidden oasis and, lucky for us, it was all captured to perfection by McGowan Images. Take a peek at the full gallery right here. 

Colors
Settings
Backyard

From the Bride… So, I must first start off by saying that none of what you see here would exist without the help of our amazing friends, family, and photographers! I know everyone says this, but I truly mean it. See, we planned this wedding in a month, four weeks to be exact. Joey and I have always done things a tad bit different, so after changing the date several times, we finally decided to just stick with our 6 month anniversary which also happened to be 28 days away. Yep, that’s right…28 days! I was also in school full time and working a part time job, so it was just absolutely amazing when everything came together perfectly. To those who helped us out, I can never thank you enough! 

The overall theme of our wedding was meant to be an eclectic gathering of all things “Joey and Jordyn”; even our location had significance. The Creek was the land where Joey’s grandparents and mom grew up and coincidently it was also where we had our first date. It was the perfect spot for us and allowed for much creative freedom. Joey and I have always been collectors, pickers, and lovers of all things with history. It really only made sense that we include things that we had found together or items that had been passed down within our families in our wedding ceremony. Everything about our wedding was very personal and each little detail represented a part of who we were as individuals and as a whole.

To add to that concept, Joey and I made the decision to get ready together on our wedding day. We threw tradition out the window and decided to do what sounded best to us. Besides deciding to spend the rest of our lives together, choosing to be together on the morning of our wedding was one of the best decisions we made. It allowed us to focus on what was truly most important that day, each other. And to top if off, our photographers, Chelsea and Mack spent the morning with us capturing every moment we spent together. They also traveled along with us for the rest of the time before the ceremony, making sure to capture memories of us in our favorite places that meant so much to us. I can’t think of any better way we would have wanted to spend the hours before our wedding.

Another aspect, which made our wedding even more significant, is the fact that Joey and I fashioned our ideas and dreams with our own hands. With the help of family and friends, we cleared out the whole creek area, built our own archway, laid out the stones beneath it, covered and set up hay bales, arranged our décor, wrapped numerous flowers with burlap, hung mason jars with twine, and so much more. Our flowers were mums, purchased from Walmart and my bouquet was created by one of my best friends with baby’s breath from Central Market.

It’s amazing to me looking back on our wedding and realizing how “handmade” it was, how every tiny piece and process that took place is streaked with love and devotion from our closest family and friends. I would say that it turned out to be a gorgeous wedding, but what made it most beautiful to me was the significance within every portion of the event. It was the perfect manifestation of everything we were as a couple and everything we wanted in a ceremony, our pasts, histories, and families all colliding together to create a new chapter. 

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Photography : McGowan Images | Wedding Venue: Private Residence in Wise County, Texas | Decor: DIY by the Bride + Groom | Wedding Dress: Free People