Texas Weddings

As cliché as it sounds, I’m a girl in a total love affair with pink. No other hue radiates such femininity and romance while perfectly matching the sweet blush of a Bride on her wedding day. One such lovely hue took center stage at these next southern nuptials where thoughtful, family-driven details were infused from start to finish. Country Sugar Events planned the whole day to perfection, and Half Orange Photography captured the images that will leave you beside yourself in bliss. Don’t miss even a moment of the day in the full gallery right here.

And as if all the photo loveliness wasn’t enough, Photohouse Films crafted the wedding video that requires a tissue handy for your happy tears!

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From the Bride… As soon as Clint and I got engaged, we immediately started looking for the perfect setting for our wedding. We both come from very large families and it was important for us to find a venue that would line up with our vision and accommodate our many guests. When we went to tour Camp Lucy, we were barely on the driveway when we knew this was where we were getting married. My vision for the wedding was a soft, simple, garden party feel with rustic/vintage elements.

Because family is so important to us, I wanted to include a lot of family elements as well. The wine jars used as vases were my Great Grandfathers, which he used to make homemade wine, the doilies on each table were made my Grandmother over the years, and the rosary wrapped around my bouquet was my other Grandmothers. We even used the cake cutting knives from my parents wedding. My Dad also did a few DIY projects for me by making the wood crates and the wedding cake stand from an old tree on our land.

The ceremony, the décor, the food, the drinks, and the dancing were everything I dreamed about and more. I was truly blown away. Clint and I commented the whole night on how beautiful everything looked and how happy we were to be celebrating our love with family and friends. The two pieces of advice I would give any bride are if something is not done by the day of the wedding, don’t stress about it. You will probably the only person who notices if anything is missing. Also, really take time to embrace the day and everything around you. When people say it goes by quickly, they aren’t exaggerating, so take time to take it all in.

Wedding Photography: Half Orange Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Wedding Planning: Country Sugar Events / Floral Design: Flora Fetish / Wedding Cinematography: Photohouse Films / Wedding Cake: Gale Hendricks of Gale’s Cakes / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride + G and C Printing & Forms / Wedding Programs: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan via Nordstrom / Hair: Emily Armand / Makeup: MMC Makeup Artistry

This wedding at the Pioneer Amphitheater at Palo Duro Canyon State Park with its desert landscape and rustic wonderful terrain has just the perfect balance of whimsy and DIY to show you exactly how a wedding party and loved ones can create such a masterpiece. Themed around travel and the bright future of these super creative newlyweds, this stunner has details to the max and you can find them all from Amanda Jameson Photography in the gallery here.

From the Bride… Blake and I wouldn’t be enjoying life together today if it weren’t for the incredible people God has put throughout our lives. We really wanted a wedding that could bring all of those people together by celebrating where we have been thus far and the promise of our future together. Thanks to Grandma Betty of the musical production TEXAS, we landed at the Pioneer Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It was the ideal setting to host every memory we were going to create. Once the venue was set, it was time for décor. Our goals to travel manifested into a theme: travel! Maps, suitcases, patterns and textures set the atmosphere for our vintage, handmade wedding. The wedding party was able to pick out their outfits, keeping in mind how much I love layers. :) As for my dress, it is truly a work of art. The making of my dress was a joint effort, pieced together and hand stitched by my mom, aunts and grandmother. Every stitch was detailed and catered to my shape and style. Perfection!

We wanted everyone to feel welcome and free to enjoy themselves. With comfort in mind, we created an intimate ceremony setting with the wedding party seated in what resembled a living room made up of antique and vintage furniture. The “flower girls” made the way with ribbons and butterflies in lieu of petals. Live, acoustic hymnal music helped set the mood as Blake’s brother-in-law, Brad, led us through personalized, heartfelt vows.

You can say we concluded with a bang. Our wedding party assisted with confetti canons that shot out with the first kiss! It was magical. For the reception, we shared all our favorite sweets, most of which were baked by family and friends. People hugged, mingled and danced to live folksy tunes. The same people who have guided us through life came together to give Blake and me the most memorable evening of our lives. Every detail was thought out with purpose and love. We could not have been more blessed!

Wedding Photography: Amanda Jameson Photography / Wedding Venue: Pioneer Amphitheater at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas / Catering + Desserts: DIY by Family + Friends / Groom’s Cake: Village Bakery / Drinks: Roaster’s Coffee /Ceremony Music: Rachel & Charles Brown + Lincoln Youree / Reception Music: The High Time Coulee / Wedding Dress: Handmade by the Bride’s Mother, Aunts + Grandmother / Wedding Party Attire: Their Choice

This is one of those weddings where the details are absolutely gorgeous (the DIY florals! the dress! the gold mason jars!), but what really stands out is that the bride and groom truly seem to be soulmates. The way they look at each other and smile is magical, and the images by Anna Routh Photography and video by Copper Penny Films perfectly capture their special bond. Be sure to check out all of the special glances and touching moments in the full gallery!

And don’t miss the couple’s beautiful vows in the wonderful highlight film from Copper Penny Films:

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From Anna Routh Photography… JoAnn and Kelly’s Dallas wedding was a perfect evening filled with so much love. This was one of those weddings where if I wasn’t cheesing it a little too hard behind my camera, then I was crying … literally. Especially during the vows, the tears were flowing! It’s such an honor to work in this industry and to work with people like JoAnn and Kelly, whose love and devotion truly inspire me. Also, working with a couple like JoAnn and Kelly make my job so easy. JoAnn’s vision and immaculate organization lent itself to a perfect evening full of DIY details. JoAnn and her mom put together the table arrangements and florals, among other details, and a family member made the amazing arbor. During the ceremony, JoAnn couldn’t have been happier when she saw her groom at the end of the aisle, and the two laughed and cried through their heartfelt vows. The view at The Filter Building, looking out over quiet White Rock Lake, was stunning. The reception that followed was one full of emotional speeches, endless praise for these two, both as individuals and together, and lots of dancing! I’m so happy to be able to share this beautiful evening and a little bit about these two beautiful people! Congratulations, JoAnn and Kelly!

Wedding Photography: Anna Routh Photography / Wedding Venue: The Filter Building in Dallas, Texas / Flowers: Central Market / Wedding Cinematography: Elizabeth Allen of Copper Penny Films / Catering: Jim Lee Events / DJ: Complete Music / Furniture + Vintage Rentals: Rent My Dust Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Mia Solano

Let me start by warning you that you just might fall deeply in love with this engagement session by Matthew Moore Photography at your very first glance. Hillside Farmacy is the setting for some seriously amazing images that embody the beautifully unique spirit of New Orleans within the Austin surroundings. With a little bit of sultry and a whole lot of love, it’s Big Easy style at its finest and you can see it all right here in the gallery.

From Matthew Moore Photography… Emily and Zach are a born and raised New Orleans couple. They came up to Austin for their engagement session, but with NOLA being their home and the location of their wedding, we wanted to keep with the Big Easy feel.

Photography: Matthew Moore Photography / Location: Hillside Farmacy in Austin, Texas / Hair + Makeup: Katie Moore

I used to still do watch cheesy romantic movies on repeat every chance I get. What always gets me hooked is the way the guy looked at the girl with that dreamy, can’t live without you kind of love in his eyes and there’s just no stopping for me. So lovelies, what we have here in every image from Everest Road Photography is a wedding at Flora & Muse so filled with that kind of adoration and devotion that will make you want to click through the gallery again and again and again. And you can get started right here.

From the Bride… A perfect blind date started it all. It was only a few weeks into our relationship that I knew I wanted Brian DeSpain to be my husband. After weeks of planning coffee meetings at Flora & Muse so that I could stalk a potential one-of-a-kind wedding venue without my boyfriend knowing my true intentions (for fear of scaring him off with my premature wedding planning), he brought me there for dinner one Friday night and proposed! He had NO idea I wanted to get married there, and most importantly, he was unaware that I’d been very casually asking the manager over the last six weeks on how many people the venue could hold, what menu options there were, and dates of availability. I was so pleasantly surprised when the waiter did not bring out the dessert I ordered but instead a tray of macaroons and a ring box; if my desire to have our reception there wasn’t already strong, I was unwaveringly fixated now!

Brian had told me he wanted his wedding to be “unique,” “something people will still talk about after its over” and “a whole weekend getaway/party.” No pressure of course — ha! So after days in front of my computer and on the phone with venues, I pitched him my vision and he agreed that Houston’s CityCenter would make a perfect backdrop to our wedding weekend extravaganza! He had the job of finding us a home to live in as newlyweds, and I was assigned the wedding — seems fair, right? I was determined to make our wedding weekend something we were both proud of and could look back on with no regrets. With the help of Pinterest, it was quite easy to get sucked into an endless supply of inspiration. So, I made PDF “wedding inspiration boards” and sent them to all my vendors, fiancé and parents so that they knew exactly what I envisioned, because sometimes it’s hard to get into my brain.

Wedding planning was in full swing when we secured Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, only a few miles away, for the ceremony, signed the contract for Flora & Muse to be our reception venue, and reserved a block of rooms at Hotel Sorella. Almost all of our wedding party, family and out-of-town friends all stayed at the hotel. Friday night, Brian’s family threw our rehearsal dinner steps away at The Tasting Room. Saturday, I had my hair done at Life Spa. I wanted a tousled, sexy, romantic up-do, so I brought some inspiration from Pinterest, and I could not have been more pleased. I did not wear a veil but had a vintage-looking, jeweled headband from Anthropologie pinned in my hair. So many of the little details I very carefully planned out, from the seating chart to the wedding party picture props, and some things, such as our singing DJ, I just really lucked out with. I affectionately describe our wedding as an intimate dinner party with 100 of our closest friends and family enjoying amazing food, the best wine and beer, my favorite desserts in unlimited supply, singing and dancing! Our wedding day was every thing I dreamed it up to be.

Wedding Photography: Everest Road Photography / Ceremony: Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: Flora & Muse in Houston, Texas / Event Planning: Cynthia Wenz / Floral Design: AJ’s Urban Petals / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Originally Reem Acra, Designed + Remade by Marcello of Marcello’s Alterations / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Tuxedo: Black by Vera Wang

The genius who came up with upside down umbrellas suspended over a reception needs an award or at least a big, fat cookie. The result is always pure magic. And those little parasols add just the right touch of whimsy to an already glamorous affair. Now enter Southwest School of Art transformed into a secret garden and strung with a sea of the aforementioned and shazam, you have yourselves a mighty good looking party. The only thing that could possibly add to the day? The yummy images of Perez Photography. I think they deserve a big, fat cookie too. See so much more right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… From the moment I saw Tony, I knew this was the man I was going to marry. We have been head over heels for each other since our first date of seeing Cinderella at the ballet in Palm Beach in March of 2009. For our wedding, we wanted an intimate gathering of our closest friends and family. We dreamt of an ethereal, outdoor wedding in the springtime. I envisioned us having a Secret Garden full of hundreds of flowers, garden roses and succulents to be exact, and parasols hanging from the trees. Our team of experts took this idea and turned it into a reality I will never forget. I bubble up with joy just thinking about how spectacularly we transformed the Southwest School of Art into being our very own Secret Garden space. The whole night was magical, full of our own special details that made it truly our own.

I will never forget the laughter from our guests as our minister told a joke or the love we felt the entire night from our family and friends. Most importantly, I will never forget the look on Tony’s face when I came out from under our arch to walk down the aisle and meet him at the altar. The dinner space, where we dined on grits and quail and the most delicious macarons we have ever tasted, took our breath away. Our florists made us a wall covered in moss that opened its doors into our dining area where we were met with parasols, lit and hanging from the trees, and the most beautiful flower arrangements I have ever seen. I remember how cozy and light the atmosphere was. From there, we were surprised with a slideshow that the best man and our families made for us. We laughed over baby pictures and got teary seeing us grow as a couple over the past three years. Oh, and we danced! We danced until we thought our feet would fall off. 

We commissioned an artist to create our crest and artistry for our save the dates and invitations. The artistry and the crest personalized our wedding: from our cocktail napkins, to the coasters, to the dinner menu and to our playing cards we gave to our guests. Tony and I designed the guys’ wedding shoes that Stubbs & Wootton made for us. We wanted these personal touches to make our day extra special. The whole weekend came off without a flaw and we felt so blessed to be surrounded by our loved ones and the best team of vendors we could have ever asked for on the most beautiful day of our lives!

Wedding Photography: Perez Photography / Event Planning & Design: The French Connection / Floral Design: Mandarin Flower Co. / Wedding Venue: Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas / Wedding Catering: Don Strange / Wedding Stationery: Happy Menocal / Wedding Dress + Shoes: Oscar de la Renta / Bride’s Jewelry: House of Lavande / Bride’s Watch: From Bride’s Grandmother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Kendra Scott / Groomsmen’s Shoes: Stubbs & Wootton / Bride’s Rings: Diamond in the Rough / Groom’s Ring: Tiffany & Co.

Cupid can work in mysterious ways.  Like introducing two meant-to-be sweethearts when the timing isn’t quite right, only to pair them up later as passengers on an airline.  Some may call it coincidence, but I am guessing this adorable duo most definitely calls it fate.  (I agree.)  And their too cute for words engagement session captured by Jessica Garmon?  As charming as their love story.  Click here for all of the pretty.

From Jessica Garmon… Josh and Laura’s story is the stuff of romantic movies. They met at a party. He was alone, and she was with someone else. They hit it off, made impressions on each other, and when the night ended, they went their separate ways. He remembered her, and she remembered him, but they continued living separate lives. Time passed… One day Josh boarded a flight for a work trip, and lo and behold, Laura was the passenger sitting next to him. Sparks flew, glances were exchanged, and Josh learned that she was also single this time around. They’ve been inseparable since. It’s safe to say that it didn’t take long for them to realize they had each met their “penguin.” The chemistry, tenderness and commitment is palpable when you’re around them. One of they’re favorite things to do it act out funny little scenes from movies so you’re always hearing a funny voice and laughter. This love is true and infectious! There was no better way to capture this sweet pair than on film, and after getting the photographs back I couldn’t have been happier. I cannot wait until their vineyard Texas wedding!

Photography: Jessica Garmon / Location: Dallas, Texas

It’s no secret that when you have a fabulous fashion blog like this bride, your wedding is going to be an all out pretty fest. We’re loving each and every inch of this unique, rustic glamour wedding. From the flowers to the sparkly crystals, this wedding is all about the pretty details. Photographers Skeen captured it all and you can see even more right here.

Watch this pretty wedding come to life in this fab film from Luxe Films:

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From Kristina, The Bride + Owner of Pretty Shiny Sparkly… My husband Houston and I wanted to create a wedding that was memorable, totally “us” and traditional but with a twist to every aspect. I love the idea of pairing opposites, so we chose to have a “rustic glamour” wedding. Our reception was held in the beautiful Rainbow Lodge, an exotic, game-hunting lodge/restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor ravine. We lavished it in crystals, candles, peonies and hydrangeas. We hung crystal chandeliers from posts and trees outdoors. In lieu of traditional cheesy wedding favors, we decided to have a cigar-roller make custom cigars with our logo on the band (and only for those of age, of course) and found that smokers and non-smokers alike partook in the fun. Our wedding invitations were actually custom-engraved on wood, and we continued that theme with wooden chargers on each place setting.

Instead of a traditional champagne and wine service, we each designed custom drinks for the cocktail hour. Mine was a strawberry basil mojito, and his was a sake sangria modeled after our favorite drink at our favorite sushi house. To add a twist to even the champagne toast, we garnished each flute with an edible wild hibiscus flower. During the cocktail hour, guests were treated to classic jazz songs by a local legend, crooner Tianna Hall.

Even my dress had a unique twist on the traditional white wedding dress — the bust featured feathers and was banded by a bejweled grosgrain sash tied in a bow, while the skirt was layer upon layer of soft tulle. Groomsmen wore boutonnieres of green succulents and pink ranunculus, and my bouquet was a melody of pink and white peonies, stephanotis, hydrangeas and white poppy anemones. My cake was a layered amaretto with raspberry and cream cheese filling, adorned with pink ombré sugared rose petals. His cake reflected his career (orthopedic surgery) in the shape of a femur bone! The night ended with a toss of pink and white rose petals and a kiss, and we were couldn’t be happier with the way it all turned out!

We want to give special thanks to my mother and father for making it all possible.

Wedding Photography: Photographers Skeen / Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: Rainbow Lodge in Houston, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Occasio Productions / Floral Design: Plants N’ Petals / Wedding Cinematography: Luxe Films / Wedding Invitations: Oslo Press / Ceremony + Reception Cards: Katie & Co. / Bridal Preparations Suite: Hotel ZaZa / Wedding Dress: Pronovias (Spring 2012) / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (Spring 2012) / Bride’s Bracelet: Christina Ferrare / Hair + Makeup: Blush & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bridesmaids’ Accessories: BaubleBar

I tried to pick just one thing I loved about this wedding from Steve Lee Weddings, and I failed in the best and prettiest way possible. Everything is totally gorgeous — a beautiful bouquet from Weddings in Bloom, amazing paper goods from Momental Designs, the cutest flower girl ever, a perfect Vera Wang gown, and the list goes on and on. And best of all, there’s even more in the gallery!

From the Bride… Brandon and I met at a Saint Arnolds Pub Crawl in Houston, wearing the same Converse shoes. The next night we randomly ended up in the same place — destiny.

When we started planning our wedding, we had an objective in mind: we wanted our friends and family to have an amazing time. We picked the most beautiful venue, the Bell Tower on 34th, with amazing food. Then I started off looking for the colors. I decided to go with my childhood favorite color, blue, and what better blue is there than the one from a peacock feather? You can mix so many colors with peacock feathers. To complement, I picked pink, purple, green and gold. I wanted to put my personal touch on everything, so I mapped the whole concept myself and had so much fun planning everything, including finding Kristy Rice from Momental Design. We designed the most beautiful invitations, programs and table cards with the most beautiful flowers I could have imagined. When it all came together, it was the day the I dreamed of, surrounded by the people who love us most.

Without a doubt, the best part of the day was the “first look” we did before the wedding. After all the planning and keeping my dress a secret, it was so exciting to finally be able share this intimate moment before anyone saw us together. Seeing the amazing look on Brandon’s face, I knew it was all worthwhile and could not wait to walk with my dad to give me away to the most beautiful man I have ever met. We exited the wedding the same way as we met: wearing Converse.

Wedding Photography: Steve Lee Weddings / Wedding Venue: The Bell Tower on 34th in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: Weddings in Bloom / Wedding Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie / Wedding Invitations: Momental Designs / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Reception Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Jewelry: BHLDN, Swarovski + Tiffany & Co. / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Getting Ready Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Flower Girl Hat: Lisa’s Mini Mad Hattery

We love a good, old fashioned love story around here. So when we read that this adorable couple met and fell in love even with thousands of miles between them and that they saved the piles of airline tickets they racked up on their frequent visits, we sort of did a collective swoon. Ivy Weddings captured their love perfectly in this pretty, sentimental e-session and yeah, we’re kinda obsessed. See even more right here.

From Matt + Ivy of Ivy Weddings… Brittany and Jonathan are an adorable couple with a great love story. She actually met him while on a trip down to the south, and he quickly realized he couldn’t let her stay away in Chicago. As Christmas approached, Jonathan popped the question while she was in Dallas, and the rest was history! We loved all of the airline tickets they brought to their engagement session — tokens of their story that Brittany had saved in a jar.

Photography: Ivy Weddings / Location: McKinney, Texas / Props: DIY by the Bride

There’s something about the color combo of fresh greens and purple that gets me every time. It says, I’m here to party and have a good time, sort of like this adorable couple and their laid back, yet totally pretty wedding day. With its DIY touches and a fun dinner and drink menu, you know this day totally rocked for everyone in attendance. Bonnie Berry Photography captured all the pretty details and you can see even more right here.

From the Bride… Ivan and I met while studying at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. As native Texans, we loved planning this wedding in Austin and tried to combine all of the fantastic things that we miss in the northeast. We laughed and danced with our friends and family into the evening and felt so lucky to start our marriage like that. We tried to keep the decorations simple and elegant (including the DIY tablecloths) and the music loud and fun. When the peacock showed up, he even matched our theme! All of our vendors made for a stress-free and seamless event. We are so thankful that we were able to spend the day with such fantastic friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Bonnie Berry Photography / Wedding Venue: Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Events by Emily / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Catering: Whole Foods / Ceremony Music: Break of Reality / Reception Music: Duck Soup / Wedding Dress: Wtoo “Daphne” via Serendipity Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Jose Luis Salon

There is just something about pink. Something fresh, something romantic, something fun. Depending on the shade you go with, pink can say so much about your soiree – and almost always, pink says you’re in for a fabulous time. The hot hue in this wedding complimented the Texas Hill Country better than any other color could have done – just check out Forever Photography‘s gorgeous images for proof. There is a whole gallery of pretty pink waiting for you here!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Matt and I met while we were sophomores in college. Despite living in different cities and attending different colleges, our paths crossed one night! Five years later in April of 2011, I came home to our house on Easter Weekend after visiting family in Houston to find a large red bow on the front of our door. As I entered our home, our kitchen and living room were covered with red and white balloons and there was a string of pictures of us leading from my front door to the living room. With our song playing in the background, surrounded by balloons and pictures of just the two of us, Matt got down on one knee… I of course said yes! Let the planning begin!

From the moment we got engaged my mom and I were in full force wedding mode! We traveled to the heart of the Hill Country to check out Lost Mission and absolutely fell in love! The rustic charm and subtle Spanish elegance captured my vision perfectly and I knew it was the perfect place to say “I Do!”

After making it official with Lost Mission, we set off trying to find the perfect vendors to make our dream wedding a reality. Our invitations set the tone for the wedding and vibrant pinks, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens helped create the fun, rustic, summer feel we were looking for. Beth Richards with Exquisite Petals did an amazing job of capturing my floral vision and far surpassing my expectations! From succulent and kumquat filled Kraft cheese boxes to peony filled mason jars our relaxed and romantic vision came together perfectly. My floral arrangements and bouquets were more stunning than I could have ever envisioned and guests raved about the centerpieces all night! To tie in the rustic charm, each table was named after a town in the Hill Country. A close family friend designed and created lots of little touches to make our reception personal and charming including one of my favorite things… the Mr. and Mrs. Burlap pillows placed on the couches by the fireplace.

One of my favorite aspects of planning the wedding was finding the perfect dress. The lace straps that continued onto the back with multiple keyholes sealed the deal! On the big day, I loved the time I got to spend getting ready with my mother and bridesmaids. Putting on the dress for the first time and adding all of the finishing touches definitely brought me to tears! The last final touch was putting my garter on. The garter has been passed down over generations for the past 60 years. It meant so much to me to be able to continue the tradition!

It is so hard to think about one favorite memory, but if I had to choose it would be those final moments before I walked down the aisle. I will really cherish the few minutes I got to spend with my father alone as I waited in anticipation outside the tall double wooden doors of the chapel. We knew after the wedding all we would have would to look back on to relive memories would be our pictures and video so it was imperative that we find the perfect photographer and cinematographer to capture our beautiful day! Forever Photography did such an amazing job of capturing all of the special moments on our wedding day and The Wedding Theater took our breath away with our storybook video! Our wedding day could not have been more perfect!

The number one most important thing I can suggest for a bride-to-be is to hire a wedding coordinator. I enjoyed planning the wedding down to the last detail with my mom, but having Keri Wootton there for the weekend was lifesaving. My wedding weekend was stress free and enjoyable not only for me, but for our entire family!

Photographer: Forever Photography / Wedding Venue: Lost Mission / Cinematographer: The Wedding Theater / Floral Design: Beth Richards with Exquisite Petals / Event Planner: Keri Wootton with Leave the Details to Me / Catering: Debby Stein with CarteWheels Caterers, Inc. / Invitation Designer & Reception Decor: Babette Switzer, Back in the Day Vintage / Makeup: Rhea McCarter / Hair: Lisa Strack and Jaymee Moreno / Transportation: Elegant Limousine / Cake: Seventh Heaven Cakes / Dress Designer: Allure Couture / Dress, Veil, and Jewelry: The Princess Bridal / Bridesmaids Dress: Alfred Angleo / Makeup: Rhea McCarter with Adore Makeup Boutique + Salon

I’m pretty sure that no one loves a good vintage chic wedding as much as we do here at SMP. And this is one for the record books my friend. Each and every detail is crafted to perfection and oh-so-sweet. The flowers, the mercury glass votives, and that adorable couple all make for a fabulously romantic and memorable day at Memory Lane Event Center. Mint Photography snapped up all the goodness and there’s so much more right here.

From Mint Photography… When I try to think of words to describe Hasive and Nathan’s wedding, I feel like I can’t think of one worthy enough to explain how special their day was. Everything about the day was perfect. Hasive and Nathan are one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever met! Seriously, I bet Hasive hugged every single person that was there, probably twice. The love and affection that they feel for each other and their family and friends was so evident. They did a spectacular job with the decorations as well, which only added to the uniqueness and beauty of the day. Everyone was so laid-back and just enjoyed their time with each other that evening. There was great dancing, hilarious photo booth photos and a very tangled send off! I’m beyond happy Hasive and Nathan picked us to capture all the moments of their special day. A big thanks to Jessica with Mair Images for second shooting! We wish Hasive and Nathan so much happiness for the future!

Wedding Photography: Mint Photography / Second Shooter: MairImages / Wedding Venue: Memory Lane Event Center in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Last Petal / Catering: Dagar’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / DJ: Dave Garcia / Rentals: Whim Hospitality

Spending Christmas Eve with an adorable duo in love sounds like a pretty good plan to me, especially when that adorable duo happens to be the cute-as-can-be Lela and Charlie, two sweethearts with a penchant for J.Crew, gorgeous riverside settings and being uber-chic.  Add to that stylish mix a gallery of downright amazing moments captured perfectly by Loft Photographie and it’s enough to make any fan of LOVE happy.  (That’s you and me.)  Click here for all of the pretty.

From Loft Photographie… We’re simply delighted to share this engagement session with you! We spent a lovely fall morning down by the Guadalupe River in quaint Gruene, Texas with Lela & Charlie! Rich fall colors, J.Crew attire, and a dapper couple are just a few of the reasons why we adore this session!   

Photography: Loft Photographie / Clothing: J.Crew / Location: The Guadalupe River in Gruene, Texas

Well LBBers, we’re here with a sweet little present for your stockings in the form of absolutely fab vintage gowns, beautiful as can be brides, a moody interior to put you in cozy mode, and even a perfect pup. All from Amelia Tarbet Photography. This shoot is filled with glamour & glitz to makeup for the toothbrush & socks you usually find in your stocking. Do not miss the gallery, unless you want to end up on the naughty list!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From Amelia Tarbet Photography … An “Old world chateau” inspired shoot. This was to give clients some inspiration to select gowns that are non-traditional and truly one of a kind. The 1940’s dress was purchased on ebay and features all hand made lace, embroidery and is 100% silk. Paired with contemporary shoes, earrings and make-up, this 70+ year old dress is brought back to life. The second peach 1950’s ballgown was purchased from Etsy. Paired with a bolero from BHLDN and it’s a perfect match! Both dresses are made modern again, are truly unique and look gorgeous. Best of all, you’ll be sure none of these looks will be seen on any other brides! 

I received so many people saying these images gave them inspiration to go look for wedding attire beyond the local wedding shops. I hope it can offer SMP readers the same inspiration. This was a fun chance to explore the art of light and portraiture, including dark interiors.

Photography + Styling: Amelia Tarbet Photography / Makeup: Maris Malone-Calderon / Hair: Erica Gray / Venue: Chateau Bellevue

This bride’s vision of a romantic, moss-covered + candle-lit wedding filled with Spanish flair became a beautiful reality with the help of Something to Celebrate and Last Petal who brought her dream day into reality. The emotion and love surrounding the adorable Mr. and Mrs. and their whimsical Camp Lucy soiree was captured perfectly by Caroline + Ben Photography and lucky for us, there’s so much more to see right here!

 

 

 

From the Bride… We wanted a romantic vibe with lots of greenery, moss, candles and lavender with a Spanish flair. The best moment of the day was our ceremony. Saying our vows in front of all of our family and friends by candle light was amazing. The song choices (we walked out to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles played on classical guitar), ringing the bell was special and symbolic, and my cousin Beth’s husband (she was a bridesmaid) was our officiant. My flowers were so beautiful they made me cry — Melanie from Last Petal really understood my vision. Rico and I are total foodies so having delicious food was really important. Primizie and Michelle’s Patisserie did a fabulous job. My biggest piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner, even if it is only for day-of help. And try hard to relax and enjoy! It all goes by so fast!

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Flowers: Last Petal, a floral studio  / Wedding Planning: Katie Netherton of Something to Celebrate / Catering: Primizie / Dessert: Michelle’s Patisserie / Rentals: Whim Event Rentals / Program Fans + Papel Picado: Etsy / Seating + Escort Cards: DIY by Lane, A Bridesmaid / Vintage Postcards: Found by Caroline, A Bridesmaid / “Sara & Rico” Sign: DIY by the Maid of Honor / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Bride’s Necklace: Her Grandmother’s / Bride’s Earrings: Eliza Page / Hair: Nancy Rankin / Makeup: Denise Lindgren / Groom’s Atttire: Ermenegildo Zegna

If you don’t already believe in love at first sight, you are about to.  Because this stunning Dallas wedding?  It’s the kind of wedding that you love the very moment you lay your eyes on the soft blush hues, the beautiful blooms from Bella Flora of Dallas and the traditional details planned to perfection by Caroline Events.  The very moment.  And the gallery overflowing with the prettiest of images captured by Jess Barfield Photography?  You’ll love that, too.  Join me there for so much more and stay tuned for a beautiful film from A Very Special Day below.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… From the moment we got engaged, Sam and I knew we wanted a classic, springtime wedding that captured who we are as a couple as well as highlighting the amazing relationships we have with all of our friends and family. Growing up in Southern California and Connecticut, we both ventured to Texas to attend Southern Methodist University, where we met and started dating more than five years ago. Once engaged, we quickly decided our wedding would be held in Dallas, as it is the “middle mark” between our two hometowns and where we met, fell in love and live today.

As we moved forward with planning, I relied heavily on our wedding planner, Caroline Fair, and her recommended vendors. Not only did we fully trust her judgment, we were confident she shared the same vision we had for our wedding day and felt 100% comfortable with her and her suggestions. Because the majority of our guests would be traveling to Dallas from each coast, it was of utmost importance to us that once our guests arrived in the Dallas, everything would be taken care of for them and they could relax and enjoy the weekend. Although we initially didn’t want to get married in a hotel, we eventually selected the Rosewood Crescent Hotel for our venue because we loved that our entire wedding could happen at one place. The welcome boxes we left in our guests rooms were very important to me, as these would keep our guests informed and comfortable during their stay.  We turned to Nico & Lala to create a custom welcome note and schedule of the weekend’s activities, as well as individual tags for the goodies and water bottles in the box. My favorites were “Sam Popped the Question” on a bag of white chocolate popcorn, and “Sam & Heather Are Nuts For Each Other” around a bag of mixed nuts.  One of my favorite details of our whole wedding was the personalized map of Dallas that one of our bridesmaids drew by hand (on blush paper that matched our envelope liners, no less!).  It was such a personal and unique detail that I know we will keep forever.

If I had to chose a favorite part of the day it would be our ceremony, which we asked Sam’s uncle to officiate. I think we both would agree that was one of the most special and significant decisions we made in our planning, as we couldn’t have imagined how thoughtful, reflective and meaningful having him officiate would be. Sam suggested we write our own wedding vows as well as take traditional vows, and although it was nerve-wracking to share something so intimate in front of our guests, I am so happy we made that decision, as I know those words and memories are something we will both hold onto for our lifetime. One of the easiest decisions when planning our wedding was the bridesmaid dresses and color scheme of our wedding.  I picked the blush, chiffon Amsale dresses before I even saw them in person (from a magazine), and couldn’t have been happier with my decision.  I knew we didn’t want to have lots of bright colors in our wedding, so we steered towards blush, white, ivory and silver. One of my favorite details from the reception was the use of mercury glass, which was a suggestion from our florist, Bella Flora, because it would pick up the elements of the gray stone of the exterior of the hotel.

Wedding Photography: Jess Barfield Photography / Wedding Venue: Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas, Texas / Event Planning: Caroline Fair of Caroline Events / Floral Design: Bella Flora of Dallas / Wedding Cinematography: A Very Special Day / Wedding Invitations: Designers’ Fine Press / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Warren Barron / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Angie Williams / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Flora of Dallas / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Linens: La Tavola Linen

A word of caution before you proceed to this morning’s wedding film…you may want to grab a tissue or two because this sweet film from our faves at 31Films will totally have you tearing up. It’s overwhelmingly sweet and real and oh-so-beautiful. You can’t help but want to cheer for this adorable couple and their new lives as husband and wife.

And it just so happens that today is your lucky day because we also have these gorgeous images from Katie Lamb Photography to share with you as well. See the full gallery right here.

And now, here’s that absolute-must-see film from 31Films!

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From 31Films… John is a genuinely nice, aspiring musician, and Gabi is … well, she’s adorable. When we were filming Gabi and John, about an hour into their wedding day, we just knew this was going to be an amazing wedding film. They both have such contagious personalities, and their love and joy for each other on their wedding day was basically glowing from them. In the morning, they both wrote letters to each other, and John recorded his on his laptop for Gabi to watch. Their letters were so thoughtfully conveyed, so we knew we had to make their words to each other a focal point of their film. The whole day was perfect, and we captured some of our favorite moments ever. You have to see their first kiss at the end of the video, which in itself shows how clearly in love they really are.

Wedding Photography: Katie Lamb Photography / Wedding Venue: Ashton Gardens in Houston, Texas / Wedding Planning: Dani Cordova / Floral Design: Plants N’ Petals / Wedding Cinematography: 31Films / Wedding Cake: Who Made the Cake / Rentals: Aztec Events & Tents / Wedding Dress: Mia Bridal Couture / Hair: Hues by Heather

When the perfect amount of sweet mixes with with the perfect amount of style and it all unfolds at a place like Star Hill Ranch you can pretty much guarantee a winner of a wedding. Pile on the talents of The Simplifiers planning out every perfect little detail handcrafted by the Bride and her family, and fabulous images from The Nichols (who we couldn’t love more) – and consider me wrapped around the little finger of this wedding. It’s a little bit of a sass and a whole lot of sweet – and it’s all hanging out here for you to see.

From the Bride… When Justin and I met, five and half years before our wedding, I never would have thought we would have an all-out Texas-style, handcrafted wedding. Justin (born and raised in Houston) and I met when he moved to Philadelphia (my hometown) from Austin, Texas to be in a punk rock band that was based there. Justin played music and toured with his band for a living, and didn’t strike me as the “Texas” type- until I fell in love with him and the true southern gentleman that he is. After dating for two years in Philadelphia we made one of the best decisions we could have ever made- we decided to move back to Justin’s hometown, Houston Texas.

Justin and I had been living in Houston for two years when he proposed (and it was the perfect, romantic, sunset, surprise, on the beach proposal, by the way!), and even though we had made Houston our home, I was still dead-set on having our wedding at home in Philadelphia. I exhausted myself looking for the perfect venue in the Philly area, but I couldn’t find exactly the right fit. I wanted it to feel homey, creative, playful, and really what I wanted was to get married in a barn or on a farm, but the perfect barn or farm was not to be found! When I thought more and more about what I wanted (cowboy boots, bales of hay, etc.), I realized that I was envisioning a Texas wedding for sure. We love spending time in Austin, Texas, and when we saw pictures from a friend’s wedding at Star Hill Ranch, we immediately visited it and knew it was where our wedding would be.

As soon as we decided on Star Hill Ranch as the place we would get married, everything fell into place. It was the perfect backdrop and inspiration for the party we wanted to throw. We were committed to having every detail of the wedding reflect who we are and feel totally authentic to us. I went Style Me Pretty and Pinterest crazy and started rallying up the troops to help me craft up the wedding of my dreams! We spent so much time sourcing all of the materials for the invitations and the wedding itself, it was one of my favorite parts of the process. We used all vintage Texas postcard for our save the dates and reply cards, collected hundreds of vintage handkerchiefs and had them screen printed for our invitations, found a vintage typewriter to type all of the addresses and wedding signage, collected vintage bottles, stamps, silverware, teacups, and everything in between. As I mentioned, this crafting and collecting was a team effort! I would not have been able to do it with out the help of my amazing mother and mother-in-law (they made about, 10 billion feet of bunting!), and my friends (who helped me hand-make all of my invitations!) and of course my husband (who endured a year of me turning our apartment into an arts and crafts studio and storage facility…). Oh, and by the way, if you need a wedding planner, call Mary from the Simplifiers immediately. There were points throughout this year where I considered that I had actually gone insane, and that I had taken on too much, but in the end, I am SO happy that we created everything we did. Our wedding day was the most beautiful and perfect day of my life. And what made it the most special was the amount of love and FUN we felt from our amazing family and friends. I would re-live this day (and year!) over in a heartbeat.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave, Texas / Wedding Planning + Coordination: The Simplifiers / Floral Design: Rosehip Flora / Catering: Crave Catering / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Music: Byrne Rock / Stationery: DIY by the Bride + friends / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals + Marquee Rents / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Ice Cream Truck: Good Times Austin / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Hair + Makeup: Erica Gray

The moment I read that this darling bride watched “The Little Mermaid” on the morning of her wedding, I knew we were in for something special.  And then I saw the talented group of vendors she and her Mr. enlisted for the Big Day and I was more than certain.  Because when the oh-so-fabulous Bloom Photography joins forces with the equally as amazing 36th Street Events and Posey Floral and Event Design, pretty things happen.  Pretty, gorgeous, wonderful things.  See them all in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And a sweet, sweet film from Altared Weddings to take us into the weekend…

From Bloom Photography… Meghan and Eric are the epitome of modern classic. As soon we we met, I hope hope hoped they would choose me to photograph their wedding based on Meghan’s descriptions of her vision for the day. They planned many vintage touches, unique decor twists on popular ideas, and lots of flowers! When we walked up to the wedding and I took in all the hard work that 36th Street had done putting together every little touch, I was positively giddy.

Meghan and her bridesmaids started the day watching “The Little Mermaid” in honor of her groom, Eric. Too cute, right?! I’m sure you can see the absolute FUN this day was, from start to finish. The pink Kate Spade shoes, custom hangers for every bridesmaid, ceramic ring plate, custom book sign-in — not a detail was left unplanned. After a ceremony on the waters of Lake Austin, the sun set on the gorgeous view as the diners enjoyed dinner and the band struck up for the party! The entire day was such a reflection of their personalities and love for each other, and their guests were able to enjoy every moment.

Wedding Photography: Bloom Photography / Wedding Venue: Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination: 36th Street Events / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Wedding Cinematography: Altared Weddings / Catering: Primizie / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair: Lucy Skyrocket