Texas Weddings

Ryan Ray and I are about to have our one year anniversary. We met at Jose’s photography workshop nearly a year ago and since then, we’ve had the sheer pleasure of falling head over heels for his work here on SMP. He’s also a pretty cool guy which makes the relationship that much sweeter. So when he sent us this Texas beauty, we did the usual swoon, smile, happy dance routine and then we realized that this wasn’t just a pretty wedding…it was a raw and emotional and real wedding where love took center stage. Just as they all should be. Oh and there’s an amazingly beautiful film by Candlelight Films to bring the feature full circle. Click here to see the full gallery of gorgeous images (including some ceremony shots that just might make you reach for the nearest tissue).

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From the Bride… Our wedding was the most peaceful, joy-filled day; I could not have imagined it to be any better. We really wanted the day to represent the glory of God that is in our lives. Everything we did was centered around wanting the presence of Jesus to come. The worship was powerful, and all the details were just perfect. Outdoors on a baseball outfield, the flowers, the simplicity of it all, the old barn — it all was so special. But the main thing I remember (besides the bomb dance party!) was the presence of God. We took communion and washed each others feet, and they were holy moments for us I will never forget. The whole day was full of friends, laughter and tons of tears, and I am able to say we really soaked up all of the moments and treasured them. Getting married was a blast! And just a side note for all the low-key brides — I highly recommend a coordinator: they rock.

Wedding Photography: Ryan Ray Photography / Wedding Venue: Howell Family Farms in Arlington, Texas / Event Design + Coordination: Stefanie Miles of Lavender Joy Weddings / Floral Design: Bows and Arrows / Wedding Cinematography: Candlelight Films / Wedding Cake: JD’s Catering and Coffee / Calligraphy: Swoon Fine Lettering (crfreije@gmail.com) / Ceremony Sound, Cafe Lighting + DJ: Colby Logan of Astounding Sounds / Artist: Carolynn Seibert / Wedding Dress: Wtoo / Hair: Katie Crumley / Makeup: Courtney McCormick (Ctmccormick@hotmail.com) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Kingdom Come / Groom’s Attire: Wilke Rodriguez

There are some weddings that just feel so, so right. Where every piece of the puzzle fits just right into a wonderful masterpiece that is a treasure all its own. Chelsea Davis Photography has given us the sweetest of eye candy with every gorgeous image of this little doozy and I would like a full helping, please. The Grand Hotel is THE absolute perfect setting for this DIY-infused, vintage wedding that wouldn’t be complete without the Allure Bridals lace-to-the-max kind of beautiful gown. See every bit of wonderful right here in our gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband is in the Air Force, and we are currently living in Germany. We had a small ceremony before moving overseas, so this wedding was the second for us, but we wanted it to be a big shebang Texas wedding where we could really celebrate with family and friends. My husband and I are old souls, and I love all things vintage and glamorous: black and white photographs, lace, antiques with a French market feel, old books and unusual calligraphy. Chestnut Square Historic Village provided the perfect vintage backdrop for the ceremony, complete with a fully-decorated bridal house and quaint gardens. For the reception venue, I chose The Grand Hotel in McKinney for its class, elegance and stature. The tin ceilings, crystal chandeliers and rustic brick of the ballroom set the scene for an alluring and dazzling reception.

Since we currently live in Landstuhl, Germany, a great deal of the wedding was planned across an ocean. The wedding colors, a warm charcoal and dove gray, were chosen to give the wedding party a neutral palette while allowing the blush peachy pink to be the pop of color in the floral arrangements. Even though I was on a budget, with the help of family, friends, and especially my father, I was able to make all of these dreams a reality. I am a detail-obsessed perfectionist, and I had a vision of an array of glamorous details for both the ceremony and reception, so in order to stay within budget and still achieve all of the details, I created as much of the wedding items as I could. I even made the flower girl’s dress with help from my fairy god-mother, a fellow expatriate, using fabric from Germany for the bodice and twenty-three yards of tulle from the states. I also hand-calligraphed our invitations and place cards, while my father fashioned a frame out of an old tin ceiling tile. I deconstructed old books to create old-world chair and pew decorations and custom-designed all of our printed invitations, thank you cards, programs and signage. Old spools of thread magically became place card holders, and tree branches plucked from our backyard adorned with Swarovski crystals and hand-strung flowers were placed in tall glass vases for our centerpieces. We used everything we could find, down to my mothers fabrics, cigar boxes, and family heirloom photographs. My brother kindly donated his old typewriter and book collection for reception decor.

Each and every detail that could be dressed up, I tried to make it so. If you have a vision but not the budget, think outside the box because you can almost always DIY anything. My best advice: have fun with it. Make it YOU.

Wedding Photography: Chelsea Davis Photography / Ceremony: Chestnut Square Historic Village Chapel in McKinney, Texas / Reception: The Grand Hotel in McKinney, Texas / Event Planning + Design: Shawna Darsden of Rick’s Chophouse at The Grand Hotel / Floral Design: Market Street Florist in Allen / Catering: Melanie of Rick’s Chophouse (melanie@rickschophouse.com) / Wedding Cake: The Cake Guys Dallas / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride with Wedding Paper Divas / Programs, Escort Cards, Table Numbers + Menus: DIY by the Bride / DJ + Photo Booth: Mark Brown of Complete, Music Video Photo / Centerpieces: DIY by the Bride with Materials from Hobby Lobby, Garden Ridge + Antique Stores / Bride and Groom Chair Signs: DIY by the Bride / Chapel Pew Decor: DIY by the Bride / Chapel Sign: DIY by the Bride + Her Father / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Hope’s Bridal Shop / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Accessories: Cinderella’s Pumpkin, DIY + Family Heirlooms / Hair + Makeup: April Ruiz of Pure Colour / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Da Vinci / Men’s Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear

We love the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center around these parts and it’s so much fun to see it transformed from season to season. This autumn wedding is no exception and has the most beautiful fall flowers and succulents ever. We love their let love grow theme and flower seed favors. Adorable! Lissa Anglin Photography captured each and every gorgeous detail and you can see it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lissa Anglin Photography… Travis and Lindsay’s autumn wedding at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center was perfectly designed with an elegant primary color scheme. The bright florals were anything but ordinary, featuring succulents, artichokes and kale. The bridesmaids wore rich navy dresses and the groomsmen wore navy polka dot ties. String lights and a wildflower backdrop made their ceremony intimate. Instead of a unity candle or sand, the bride and groom actually tied a knot from two pieces of rope given to them by their parents. Taking inspiration from their venue, they offered their guests wildflower seeds and served up Texas-made pies in lieu of a traditional cake.

Wedding Photography: Lissa Anglin Photography / Wedding Venue: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Style & Grace Events / Floral Design: Pollen Floral Art / Officiant: Spike Gillespie / Catering: Circle C Cafe & Catering / Bakery: The Texas Pie Company / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Musicians: Austin Piano & Strings Studio / Wedding Dress: Mori Lee via LuLu’s Bridal Boutique / Makeup: LucieMarie

We are totally loving each and every inch of this DIY rustic-meets-rainbow-meets-eco-friendly BBQ inspired day. The signs, the mismatched melmac dinnerware (genius!) and those adorable dinner trays all add up to one heck of a spunky party. Some brides just know how to DIY a wedding like nobody’s business! Click Chick Images captured the day to perfection and you can (and must!) see it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Although we very much admire fancy weddings, we knew that a big, elegant wedding wasn’t for us. Instead, we yearned for an intimate wedding with a backyard BBQ feel to it. And so, we began the search for a venue that would offer just that. Luckily, we didn’t have to search long, for the second we set foot on Ceres Park Ranch, we knew it was the place for us. One of the best things about our venue was the fact that nothing was forced on us. We were given a (supremely awesome!) blank canvas and, while that meant a lot of work and an endless list of DIY projects, it also meant that we got exactly what we wanted. It seemed like no matter what crazy ideas we threw at them, the folks at Ceres Park Ranch were always more than willing to work with us. Some of our more nontraditional ideas included: a “lawn game hour” in lieu of a traditional cocktail hour, Jester King beer tasting offered up at the bar, a mechanical bull rental, a hot dog roast, and the release of colorful sky lanterns into the night sky. Unfortunately, the wet weather ended up interfering with the last two items; but it also gave us a beautiful full-sky double rainbow and the incredible sound effect of rain pounding down on the tin roof of the pavilion. Both were truly magical and more than made up for the absence of the other two activities.

Wilson and I decided pretty early on that we’d be skipping the traditional wedding cake. We decided to collect a bunch of mismatched containers and fill up a sweets bar with some of our favorite goodies — mini cupcakes in various flavors, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, black and white cookies, dessert popcorn and an assortment of candies. We included a basket of to-go containers so that guests could bring treats home with them. But my absolute favorite detail surrounding the dessert bar came from a last minute decision to dedicate it to the memory of my maternal grandfather, who sadly passed away one week before our wedding. Grandpa lived a wonderful 91 years and taught me that, “Life is too short to not eat dessert … for breakfast.” Thus, it was only fitting that the dessert bar be dedicated to him!

I have also long admired the gorgeous photos I see of mismatched wedding china, and I briefly considered doing the same for our wedding. Somehow, though, it didn’t seem right to use precious china at an outdoor BBQ wedding! So I decided to create my own twist on the trend. I have had an obsession with melmac for as long as I can remember — I just love the vibrant colors, the historical significance and the durability factor — so I decided to utilize mismatched melmac at our wedding. Overall, I managed to collect more than 250 pieces through various sources — eBay, Etsy, garage sales, thrift stores, etc. And I finished things off with some light turquoise barbecue trays found at a local camping store. We used birch compostable utensils and wrapped each set up with a handmade napkin (old bed-sheets cut up with pinking shears — super easy!). We then printed out tiny menu cards on Kraft paper and tied one around each utensil set with twine. This was one of my favorite personal touches and it was unbelievably easy to pull off.

While it certainly wasn’t perfect, I really feel that our budget, environmentally-minded, locally-sourced, rainy, outdoor, BBQ, DIY, rainbow-rustic wedding couldn’t have been more “us!” It was a celebration of our love, our friendships, our beloved Austin and our desire to enjoy the heck out of every minute of life! I can’t thank our friends, family and vendors enough for making the weekend so very unforgettable!

Wedding Photography: Kara Trombetta of Click Chick Images / Wedding Venue: Ceres Park Ranch in Austin, Texas / Flowers: Purchased via FiftyFlowers + DIY Arranging / Wedding Cinematography: Lizama Videography / Catering, Sweet Potato Pies + Bread Pudding: Austin Barbecue Company / Sweets, Cupcakes + Mini Cupcakes: Sweet Treets Bakery / Popcorn: Cornucopia / Beer: Jester King Craft Brewery / Wine: Duchman Family Winery / Wedding Paper Goods, Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Ribbon Banners, Card Table Decor + Postcard Guest Book: DIY / Printing of Paper Goods: Zazzle + Vistaprint / DJ: Mr. Thrill DJ Plus / Mechanical Bull Rental: Extreme Events of Texas / Wedding Dress: Calvin Klein via 6pm.com / Bride’s Blusher Veil: Austie / Bride’s Boots: Stetson / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew (Silk Chiffon) / Men’s Suits: J. Ferrar via JCPenney / Men’s Ties: The Belle and The Beau

It can be quite the daunting task in trying to come up with something creative {that’s paper} to give your Mr. or Mrs. when celebrating the one year anniversary. This darling duo chose to have Coati Photography shoot an anniversary session so they will have the paper prints to last a life time. What a great idea! All it took was a cozy quilt, a few perfectly proportioned nik naks and their preserved wedding cake and voila! the perfect paper gift. Check out more from this ultimate picnic here.

Click here for the FULL anniversary photo session!

From Coati Photography… When Will and Jessica approached me about doing a session for their one-year anniversary, I immediately said yes. I will admit, I don’t get very many requests for one-year anniversaries, but they are quickly becoming my new favorite thing. Jessica knew that she wanted a picnic theme from the very beginning, and adding in the tradition of saving and eating their wedding cake on their anniversary was the cherry on top.

Photography: Coati Photography / Location: Texas Hill Country

It feels like home looking through these sweet images by Close to Home Photography because that’s exactly what this loving couple has found in each other . . . home. Seeing a pair that’s this blissfully happy makes me happy in recalling my own engagement. If I have any advice about the planning process, it’s to truly cherish every moment {but it sure seems like they won’t have a problem in that area}. Let the countdown begin for their New Year’s Eve celebration! Until then, you can Snuggle up with the full gallery here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Close to Home Photography… It was a warm, crisp evening in central Texas when I photographed  Arlen Brown and Arlen Smiths engagement portraits. The couple met and fell in love just a little over three years ago through mutual friends, and the pair will be merging their family with Arlen Smith’s 12-year-old son, who is already the center of their world. With a wedding date set for New Year’s Eve, Arlen Brown wanted her engagement portraits to capture the timeless love that they share together, so we crafted a vintage set with her mother’s antique furniture that matched their styles and personalities. The sun was golden and the mood was set. Arlen and Arlen were in their own little world, and I had the honor of capturing it. I can only imagine how magical their New Year’s Eve wedding will be, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

Photography: Close to Home Photography / Location: A Field in Killeen, Texas

This wedding reminds me of an outdoor festival….or carnival…or whatever makes it simply impossible not to have fun! Beautiful colors, paper garlands blowing in the breeze, and candy colored candlesticks make the perfect recipe for this crafty, DIY affair. Everyone took part in creating this masterpiece. Bridesmaids climbed trees to hang decorations; the mother of the groom made the table runners and groom ties, and the bride built the ceremony site. This was truly a labor of love! Thank you, Mint Photography, for capturing all the amazingness right here in the full gallery of photos.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Mint Photography… Welcome to Melanie and Jordan’s ridiculously gorgeous/crafty/DIY/outdoor heaven/dancing in the rain wedding! I seriously don’t even know where to begin! Mel and Jordan got married at a great venue in Rosanky, Texas, called The Farm on Peach Creek. The day couldn’t have been more perfect. It had been raining the entire day in cities surrounding Rosanky, but when we arrived at the venue around 4 in the afternoon, the skies were blue and the sun was shining. Mel took this already gorgeous spot and brought in some amazing details. Everything was home-made with love! :) Just to give you an idea — Jordan’s mom sewed all the table runners and ties that the guys wore. Melanie’s mom hand painted all 250 candlesticks. Jordan and Melanie built the ceremony site that was draped with paper garland that Jordan’s sister sewed … all 100 yards of it! I asked Mel if there was anything in particular that she would want me to mention to about her wedding and she simply said, “The biggest part of our wedding was how our families and friends helped so much. My bridesmaids climbed trees to hang stuff.” At the end of the evening, as the sun started to set, Melanie and Jordan shared their first dance under the trees. It was shortly after that the rain rolled in! But did that put a damper on anything? No way! Mel, Jordan and tons of their guests ran out under the trees and danced their hearts out. Since Mel and her dad didn’t get to have their dance before the rain came in, they shared their dance out in the rain while everyone sang “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain because as Mel said, “That’s the only song everyone knew the words to.” Ha ha! And that pretty much wraps up the night! :)

Wedding Photography: Mint Photography / Second Shooter: Brianna Light / Wedding Venue: The Farm on Peach Creek in Rosanky, Texas / Floral Design: The Flower Bucket / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: Friends & Family / Candlestick Painting: The Bride’s Mother / Table Runners + Men’s Ties: The Groom’s Mother / Garland: The Bride’s Sister / Wedding Dress: Olia Zavozina via Unbridaled / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles

Texas Brides have a way of filling their weddings to the brim – with details, with style and with so much love. And this lovely, ok drop-dead gorgeous, Bride is no exception. Her farm fête snapped up by smitten photography is overflowing with DIYs and steal-worthy style, but the thing that jumps through the screen and grabs my heart the most is the love. There is just so much love beaming from everyone’s face (particularly from one adorable ring bearer), and that’s when you know it’s filled to the brim with all the right things. See so much more lovely right here.

From the Bride… When beginning to plan our wedding, we knew there were a few things that we wanted to be the focus: our faith, relationships and incredible amounts of fun! We also knew that while we loved the mountains, we wanted to stay at home in Texas so that all of our family and friends could be there… We just didn’t know that would mean 400 of our family and friends! We needed a large venue that would capture the rustic feel of the mountains we love. My family already had a sweet relationship with the owners of Mainstay Farm just outside Fort Worth. and they were so willing and eager to serve us by having the reception at their family farm. We set the date for September 22. While I did have some visions of what I wanted that day to be, I am not quite creative enough to actually bring all the pieces together. Our dear friend and amazing wedding planner, Jenna Lee of Splurge Event Design, was really the heart and creative drive behind turning my little dreams into big dreams. Along the way, more dear friends would step in and offer their talents and resources to make our day possible. We had tons of DIY nights prior to the wedding to make many of the decor items we used at the wedding. Many hands went into creating burlap banners, paper garland and vintage lace lampshades, which made the reception look creative, personal and intimate. I wanted the flowers to be loose, colorful and natural. My mom’s sweet friends got together to make the bouquets, boutonnieres, and floral arrangements. Our Wedding Planner had the vision to make each table unique and vintage –  mixing flowers in vases, old jars, vintage silver and all sorts of containers to capture rustic details. The tablecloths were layers of burlap, lace and vintage crocheted pieces.

My dear friend, Marissa, worked all weekend to make 400 cupcakes from 3 different recipes she created just for us.  A wonderful bakery in Fort Worth, Stir Crazy Bakery, made the cakes. The dessert display was a mix of vintage cake stands, vintage scales and milk glass layered on top of a vintage dresser and two farmhouse tables. Each and every detail was so creative and so beautiful — I cannot help but smile every time I think about it! All of our printing, from Save the Dates, to our Custom Invitations, Programs and the Signs for the reception were made by our friends from Lola Lorena Social Supply. They worked endlessly to make every piece unique and perfectly fit us. On the day of the wedding, we were amazed to see it all come together. Ryan’s dad officiated our wedding. It was the sweetest, most surreal and amazing time of my life. We exchanged vows all based on scripture, kissed and were pronounced husband and wife! We spent the rest of the night celebrating at the barn with three different food trucks, the best cupcakes and cakes ever, and homemade Nestle ice cream sandwiches, which we did in place of a groom’s cake.

My dream since high school was to have Sharon Clark of Smitten Photography be my wedding photographer! She flew in the day before the wedding. I was blessed to have her joyful spirit with us that day and talented eye behind the camera. She captured everything from the tiniest details of the wedding and reception to the most breathtaking last few moments of a gorgeous Texas sunset with my new husband. It made the day so special and I am so grateful for her! Truly, this day would not have happened without hundreds of sweet people gathering around to serve us and our families. We could not have been more humbled and blessed by the journey of getting to our wedding day. It far surpassed my hopes and dreams. More than any of the things that made up our wedding day, I am so grateful to be married to my best friend and the love of my life.

Wedding Photography: Sharon Clark of smitten photography / Reception: Mainstay Farm in Cleburne, Texas / Venue Contacts: Marianna + Jim Wilson / Wedding Coordination + Design: Jenna Lee of Splurge Event Design / Floral Design: Ruthie McLaurin + Alicia Collins, Friends of the Bride’s Mother (paperwhitesandlinen@yahoo.com) / Officiant: The Groom’s Father / Food Trucks: Eliud Castro of Gepetto Pizzas (gepettopizzas@ymail.com), Russ Davis of The Drifting Bistro + Michael McDermott + Eleanor Burkett of Yes! Taco / Wedding Cakes: Stir Crazy Baked Goods / Cupcakes: Marissa Martinez, A Friend of the Bride / Ice Cream Sandwiches: Tom Potts of Nestle Tollhouse Cafe in Allen (214-383-5006) / Wine: J. Rickards Winery / Wedding Graphic Design + Paper Goods: Lola Lorena Ltd. Co. / Vintage Rentals: Traveling Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Caparros / Bride’s Sash: Lace from Her Mother’s Wedding Dress / Bride’s Sapphire Ring: Borrowed from the Groom’s Grandmother / Bride’s Reception Head Piece + Bouquet Wrap: Made from Her Grandmother’s Veil / Bride’s Keepsake Piece Inside Her Dress: DIY by Her Mother

I love the color orange. You can ask anyone and they’ll tell you but I never once thought of having it as a color in my wedding and after looking at these fun images by Kelly Garvey Photography, I’m totally regretting it. No other color can make you grin from ear to ear just by looking at it. And that’s why it’s so very perfect for the happiest of occasions. Click here for even more!

Don’t miss the adorable film by Blu Couture Wedding Films:

 Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My high school sweetheart and I married where the park meets the skyline on the Treehouse Deck of The Grove Restaurant in Downtown Houston. Located in the center of Discovery Green Park, the modern setting was softened by our vintage flair as I walked down the aisle in feathers and lace, while my groom stood waiting for me at the altar in his custom, three-piece suit. Our wedding was an intimate affair, and we were surrounded by 55 of our closest friends and family as we made our vows. A custom aisle runner parted the fanned guest seating leading to the altar, which was designed and constructed just for us by our florist’s husband. The ceremony concluded with a wine box unity ceremony where we placed inside cards that we had written to one another, promising we will read them over a bottle of wine if challenging times come our way. Two words that describe our day are “custom” and “DIY.” The bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire were custom-made through Knitched (on Etsy) and Indochino. The invitations, kiddo baskets, wedding favors stuffed with chocolate covered-espresso beans, and fan programs were just a few of the DIY touches of our day and made it one we will always remember! 

Wedding Photography: Kelly Garvey Photography / Wedding Venue: The Grove Restaurant in Houston, Texas / Event Planning: Avie Prince Events / Floral Design: The Posh Petal / Wedding Cinematography: Blu Couture / Wedding Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie / Groom’s Cake: Xio’s Cakes / Wedding Invitations: TwoYellowShoes / Band: 1234 Live Music / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Calvin Klein / Hair: Sessions with Doria / Makeup: Devin Harvey / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Custom by Knitched / Men’s Attire: Indochino, Express + The Tie Bar

This Austin wedding held at The Driskill Hotel and captured by Jenny DeMarco Photography is just about as glam + fabulous as they come.  From the super chic florals + branches dripping with crystals by Last Petal to the gorgeous metallic linens from Wildflower Linen, this little number is wedding gold!  There is SO much more elegance to pour over in the full gallery (like the bride’s handmade brooch bouquet!), so be sure to set aside an hour-or two-to see it all for yourself!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Jerry and I started looking at venues, we instantly fell in love with The Driskill. This hotel is a Texas landmark, and we loved the idea of having our wedding in a space with several different rooms instead of just one ballroom. The Driskill is very opulent on its own, and I felt it was crucial to add flowers and décor that would not compete with this gorgeous space. I have always loved the glamour of black and gold together, and since these colors complimented the hotel’s existing décor, they seemed like a perfect fit! I wanted our wedding to feel classic, elegant and totally glamorous. We added accents of crystal and silver in addition to the black and gold for lots of glitz. Our amazing florist, Last Petal, perfectly executed my vision. We used gorgeous 5-foot gold manzanita trees adorned with phalaenopsis orchids and dripping crystals for drama. White hydrangeas, roses, snapdragons, mini calla lilies, phalaenopsis orchids and freesia were featured throughout and kept the arrangements looking classic. Painted black succulents and seeded eucalyptus were added for an unexpected twist. With all of the candles, fabulous lighting and metallic accents, the room absolutely glistened! It was magical! I took charge of planning and organizing all the details and was extremely hands on with the décor. I had several DIY projects, including our table numbers, napkin holders, escort card boxes, photo booth sign, candy buffet and all our custom-designed stationery. I also hand made my brooch bouquet. It consisted of roughly 100 brooches that I collected, and it weighed about 12 pounds. In addition to DIY projects, I also purchased a lot of unique décor items on my own. The crystal curtains around the dance floor and the adorable gold place card holders are two examples of the many items I brought.

The Driskill did all the catering for the event, which was delicious. We started the evening off with several passed hors d’oeuvres. For dinner, Jerry and I decided on food stations instead of a sit-down dinner because we wanted our guests up and mingling. We had an amazing 15-piece big band, as well as a DJ, and the combination had everyone on the dance floor until the very end of the night. For our exit, guests had fun blowing customized black and gold kazoos as we rode off in a fairytale horse and carriage.

Jerry and I both agree that the ceremony was one of our favorite parts of the evening. Reading our hand-written vows to each other, in front of our friends and family, was an incredibly special moment. We are so grateful for the amazing work of all our vendors. Our photographer, Jenny DeMarco, was especially remarkable. She did an impeccable job of capturing all of the details of the day. The #1 most important thing I can suggest for a bride-to-be is to hire a wedding coordinator. I loved the entire planning process, but having Barbara Hearne there on the actual day was invaluable! I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her!

Wedding Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Last Petal / Brooch Bouquet: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Coordination: Barbara Hearne of Barbara’s Brides / Officiant: Scott Payne of The Knot Tyer / Wedding Stationery: Custom by the Bride + Miriam Reta Hall of Pizazz / Ceremony Music: Andrew Grainger of Austin Pianist / Band: The Vintage 15 / DJ: Josh Wilkinson of Penguin Entertainment / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Linens + Rentals: Marquee Rents + Wildflower Linen / Photo Booth: Say Cheese Photo Booths / Candy: Big Top Candy Shop / Custom Kazoos: Kazoobie Kazoos / “Just Married” Sign: Tuck & Bonte / Paper Straws: Isakay Boutique / Wedding Dress: Michelle Roth via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Belt: Custom by Thomas Knoell / Bride’s Necklace: Jenny Packham / Hair + Makeup: Rochelle Rae / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay + For Her and For Him / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Ushers’ + Groomsmen’s Attire: Black by Vera Wang via Men’s Wearhouse / Flower Girl’s Tutu: The Bumble Bee

This tablescape has been running circles in my head since the moment I laid eyes on it. The soft pastel colors mixed with the beauty of vintage decor is so gorgeous, so on par with rustic elegance and part of a much greater whole crafted by a team of talented Texas vendors. Designed by Two Be Wed, floraled by Tamara Menges Designs, papered by PH Design Shop (just to name a few) and all brought together in image after pretty image by Christa Elyce Photography. See so much more in the full gallery and then catch a showing of the behind the scenes film below.

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From Christa Elyce Photography… The theme of this photo shoot, “Treasure Your Love,” pays respect to Round Top, Texas, which is best known for antique festivals and treasure-finding. The backdrop to the shoot is interior designer Rachel Ashwell’s shabby chic ranch and B&B called The Prairie, which located just minutes from the town center. The Prairie barn is nestled among fields, trees and a lake that draws cattle to drink. It’s the perfect scene for a “Texas Elegance” wedding. From the china and glassware to the floral vessels and place cards, all the design elements celebrate life’s little treasures found. The greatest treasure of all being LOVE.

Photography: Christa Elyce Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell in Round Top, Texas / Event Design: Two Be Wed / Floral Design: Tamara Menges Designs / Paper Floral Design: Paper Floral Artistry / Wedding Cake: The Bake Shoppe / Stationery: PH Design Shop / Vintage Rentals: Recollection Vintage Rentals / Getting Ready Location: The Vintage Round Top / Wedding Dress: Watters “Gabrielle” via Mia Bridal Couture / Bridesmaids’ Dresses, Shoes, Jewelry + Accessories: BHLDN / Stylist: Haili Pue of All Ze Details / Hair + Makeup: Thalio Beckham Makeup Artistry + Jessica Garza / Men’s Suits: Bill Reid

The love and emotion pouring out from this Houston wedding is a sight to be seen. Photographed to perfection by Christine Choi, this love-fest will have you hugging your sweetie a little bit tighter tonight! Besides being crazy-in-love, this bride + groom brought a little bit of Texas to their big day with late-night mechanical bull rides for all! See the rest for yourself right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Christine Choi Photography… From the first time I met this couple, laughter was what made them unique. They just got each others’ jokes and laughed and laughed. While we were doing their engagement photos, the laughter didn’t stop until I asked Joe about his dad. And he quietly said that his father passed away two months ago. He started to tear up, and Tami, who was standing a few feet away, walked over to him and gently held his face and kissed him. Their wedding was a fun, relaxed affair in Houston, Texas and was a true reflection of them — simple, elegant and full of heart. And the memory of Joe’s father was never too far away. Tami turned one of Joe’s dad’s favorite shirts into a bear, and Joe’s mom carried the bear as she was escorted into the wedding ceremony. Joe was incredibly touched by the idea, and this was just one more reason why Joe knew Tami was the one. 

Wedding Photography: Christine Choi Photography / Wedding Venue: The Wynden in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: Anne Kim / Catering: The Wynden via Masraff’s / Wedding Cake: The Sweet Boutique Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Angel B. Lee of Alfalfa Studio / Music + MC: Kiotti Brown / Mechanical Bull: Mechanical Bulls and More / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller via Nordstrom / Bride’s Belt: Jenny Kim Couture (713-528-0500) / Bride’s Shoes: Nina Ricci via Macy’s / Hair + Makeup: Lena Dari / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid / Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein via Macy’s

Classic literature and weddings.  Two of my favorite things.  And when those two combine for a drop-dead gorgeous photo shoot captured by Loft Photographie LLC, let’s just say it’s a VERY good day here at SMP.  Because what could be better than a morning, noon and night of some serious romance, plus beautiful blooms from Clementine and sweet treats from Moxie Custom Order Bakery?  Yep – absolutely nothing.  So, cozy on up and prepare for all of the pretty.  This one is sooo good.  Click here for more.

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From Loft Photographie LLC… Inspired by classic literature and antique romance, this pair of writers couldn’t imagine a better evening than cuddling up with a good book and a cup of tea. The European charm of Le San Michele provided the perfect backdrop for an evening steeped in Jane Austen and Voltaire. Any lover of great fiction can appreciate the library card guestbook … so much romance to be found in a library! In fact, that’s where these two met. French macarons and melt-in-your mouth scones transported the sweet couple to a happy ending as enduring as great literature.

Photography: Abbey Henderson + Andrea Martinez of Loft Photographie LLC / Photo Shoot Venue: Le San Michele in Buda, Texas / Event + Floral Design: Clementine / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Moxie Custom Order Bakery / Furniture: Loot Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Hayley Paige via Beatitude Bridal / Bride’s Jewelry + Headpiece: Beatitude Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Belle Mariee / Models: Lisa Marie Ptacek + Her Fiance, Chris

This wedding contains just about every one of my all-time wedding loves: a glittery gown that oozes elegance with every shimmer, an adorably rustic ceremony venue, and delectable sweets as far as the eye can see. And on top of all that loveliness, Mercedes Morgan Photography has perfectly captured the warm Austin sunlight in some of the most gorgeous portraits I’ve ever seen. Find all of the beauty of the Zilker Clubhouse and more in the gallery right here.

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From Mercedes Morgan Photography… Wonderful friends and family gathered together in Austin to watch Rose and Marcin become man and wife. Their touching ceremony incorporated a Polish tradition of sharing bread — a nod to Marcin’s heritage. Two of the loveliest details were the Austin skyline and the gorgeous sunset that gave everything a rosy color. Friends and family had a hand in all of the celebration, from set-up to tear down. The madeleines were courtesy of a good friend, the playlist was compiled by the groom and another friend, and table arrangements were also put together by the couple and their crew.

Wedding Photography: Mercedes Morgan Photography / Wedding Venue: Zilker Clubhouse in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Charles & Medora Barkley + Peggy Loughlin / Candles + Vases: Quick Candles / Dessert + Other Decorations: Kara, Rachel + Ann Helmke / Catering: PoK-e-Jo’s / Getting Ready Venue: Loft on Cupid’s Bluff / Wedding Dress: Pisarro Nights via Nordstrom / Bride’s Jewelry: Family Heirlooms / Hair: Blo Austin / Makeup: DIY

We all know the things that make weddings off-the-charts amazing are those little, magnificent details that give the day its own personality and character. Well, SMPers, hold on to your hats because this wedding from Joyful Details is filled to the brim with some of the best DIY details I’ve ever laid eyes on.  The words that keep coming to my mind to describe these nuptials at The Inn at Wild Rose Hall just happen to be scrumptious, yummy, delicious, and so on. Why am I thinking only of words that describe food, you might ask? Because I want to eat up every delightful image from Two Pair Photography in our gallery right here.

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From Joyful Details… The Inn at Wild Rose Hall is such a great hill country venue, and it was a perfect outdoor setting for this crafty, DIY summer wedding. Megan was a bride after my own heart! She was so incredibly talented and did such an amazing job creating all these adorable DIY projects for her wedding. All of the flowers for the wedding were hand made out of paper and coffee filters.  She also made all the chevron table runners and signs.  There were just too many great details at this wedding to name!  The photos from Two Pair Photography are just stunning and do such a wonderful job of describing what a perfect day they had!

Wedding Photography: Two Pair Photography / Wedding Venue: The Inn at Wild Rose Hall in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Kristi of Joyful Details / Floral Design: DIY by Megan Norman, The Bride / Officiant: Keith Simpson (ksimpson@centex.net) / Catering: Jack Allen’s Kitchen / Pies: Tiny Pies / DJ: Kevin Moore (soundmoore@yahoo.com) / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero “Abilene” / Bride’s Shoes: Butter

A wildflower extravaganza.  The perfect way to kick off our Tuesday morning – with a wedding so beautiful, so incredibly breathtaking, so chock-full of wildflowers by La Fleur Vintage, you can barely believe the pretty.  I’m talking vibrant colors, darling DIY details and a bride and groom who are the epitome of sweet.  Intrigued?  Well, JUST WAIT until you jump into the gallery of gorgeous captured by Whitney Runyon Photography, because this is the kind of affair that puts an ear to ear smile on your face and fills your entire day with HAPPY.  Click here for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride… Mark and I met formally in high school in our small west Texas town, but our paths probably crossed several times before that. We attended the same elementary school for a period of time, and our families have known each other for generations. We had been in the same group of friends for over three years when we finally decided to go on a date. Five years later to the day, Mark asked me to marry him! I had always dreamed of having a spring wildflower wedding with a lot of color, so this is where we started our search for the perfect venue and date. I came across The Inn at Wild Rose Hall in Austin online, and it was the only venue that we looked at. We loved the owner immediately and knew that April 28th was our date – making our engagement 5½ months long! I told our florist, La Fleur Vintage, that I wanted the bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces to be very loose, wild and colorful. They were able to turn my vision into reality and created the most gorgeous floral designs for our wedding – using big mason jars wrapped in twine and mismatched glass containers filled with flowers to create an assorted look. On our wedding day, I was in awe of how beautiful the flowers were. In going with the wildflower theme, I told my bridesmaids to wear any floral dress they wanted, as long as it was in the blue family. We told the groomsmen to wear a white shirt and gray pants, and we provided them with suspenders and floral bow ties that I bought on Etsy. Even my dress was embellished with floral detailing!

From there, everything was DIY. I am not crafty by nature, but luckily I had a very talented group of women on my side who enjoy countless hours of crafting! With the help of my three sisters-in-law, mother in-law, maid of honor and many other family members, we were able to create the wedding of my dreams. Our paper projects included the save-the-dates, wildflower seed packets that we gave as favors at the wedding, programs, reserved table cards, place cards for the head table, candy bar labels, and invitations – all designed by my sister-in-law Amanda. We printed and cut every piece of paper, punched all of the floral borders and corners, and sewed the seed packets. Our biggest project was the invitations — they were a labor of love. My mother-in-law scoured fabric stores for the perfect fabrics and hand made over 200 feet of bunting, the cake bunting, the ring bearer pillow (which had lace from her wedding dress sewn in it), and the “bride and groom” chair bunting and matching pillows. She also hand-made the most precious rehearsal dinner invitations ever. My other sister-in-law, Melissa, brewed, bottled and labeled homemade Cabernet Sauvignon wine that we gave as favors at the rehearsal dinner. She also made pillows for the ring bearer’s wagon. Other projects included wrapping the tea light votives in lace, the candy bar, and two wood hand-painted signs.

On April 28th, 2012, our day came together beautifully – including the weather! Our ceremony was a perfect representation of Mark and me. A bridesmaid’s daughter was the flower girl, and Mark’s 6-month-old nephew was the ring bearer. He rode in on a red wagon with floral pillows and totally stole the show! A good friend of ours, who is a pastor at a church in Austin, officiated our wedding and made our ceremony feel so personal. Mark and I wrote our vows together but left the wedding message up to our officiant. We laughed and cried through the whole ceremony, and then we kissed and were married! For the reception, guests made their way over to an open veranda with a covered ceiling. We had Tex-Mex food catered by an Austin favorite, Kerbey Lane, and ice cream catered by Austin’s one and only Amy’s Ice Cream. We served iced tea, lemonade, Texas wines and Shiner beer to honor our Texas roots!  I feel so blessed that our photographer, Whitney Runyon, was about to capture the beauty of the day flawlessly. I would have never been able to get it all done without our amazing families, vendors, and my wonderful wedding party! It was a perfect spring day full of color, life and fun — but in the end, I am so thrilled to be married to my best friend and love of my life!

Wedding Photography: Whitney Runyon Photography / Wedding Venue: The Inn at Wild Rose Hall in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: La Fleur Vintage / Officiant: Mark Charbonneau of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, a Friend of the Bride & Groom / Wedding Cinematography: Danny Garcia / Catering: Kerbey Lane / Ice Cream: Amy’s Ice Creams / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Sibby Barrett of Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm / Beverages: Spec’s Texas Superstore / Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Favors, Programs, Labels + Place Cards: DIY by Amanda Lamb, the Groom’s Sister / Paper + Envelope Supply: Paper Source / Homemade Wine Kit: Austin Homebrew / Wildflower Seeds for Favors: Wildseed Farms / Favor Bags: TwineAndTape / Straws + Straw Flags: isakayboutique / Cupcake Sticks: VintageTwee / Wedding Dress: Watters “Malibu” via Stardust Celebrations / Bride’s Shoes: Chanel / Bride’s Wedding Band: Bailey, Banks & Biddle / Wedding Dress Hanger: BridalWeddingHangers / Hair + Makeup: Andrea Juarez of Peal Hair & Make-up Studio / Bride’s Earrings, Bracelet + Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: DelicacyJ / Groom’s Suit + Tie: J.Crew / Groom’s Wedding Band: Fabuluster / Groomsmen’s Bow Ties: TuxandTulle

We absolutely adore all the ladies over at Blush Bridal Lounge in Austin so when we heard that store manager Amanda was getting married we just knew her wedding would be drop dead gorgeous and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the images. Her day is all that we imagined and then some! We’re talking a stop you dead in your tracks  gorgeous gown (of course!) and that’s just the beginning. Apryl Ann Photography captured all the fabulous details and you can see the whole day right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride, Manager of Blush Bridal Lounge… I am the manager at Blush Bridal Lounge in Austin, Texas. We are avid SMP readers and total wedding enthusiasts, so when I became engaged in 2011 to my long-time boyfriend Lucas, I knew planning my wedding was going to be a little different than the average bride. I was blessed to have many professional friends who I have met over the years to execute my wedding flawlessly, and I couldn’t have done it without them. My husband and I are very laid-back, low key people. So it was important for me to find something beautiful yet unique to wear, book an outdoor venue that was just as stunning and create a loving atmosphere with good food, great music, and an Austin vibe.

I first saw my dress in a monthly newsletter that Enzoani sends their retailers. It was custom-made for an editorial shoot for People magazine and I knew I had to have it. You can imagine how disappointed I was when I called the production manager and she let me know they were not going to be adding it to the Fall line. However, with a little persuasion from both the owner of Blush, Erica, and our sales representative Craig, they made it happen. In July of 2011, I was able to see my dress walk down the runway at the Enzoani fashion event in sunny California. It was spectacular. The dress’ name is Mila, and it has a hand-dyed celadon lace bodice and silk chiffon skirt with blue crystal beaded belt. It was a generous gift from Erica, and I have never felt more beautiful wearing any other dress in my entire life. That’s exactly how it should feel and I will never forget the moment I stepped into it on my wedding day.

The venue was fairly new, and I heard about it from one of my clients. The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge is so beautiful that we really only needed to complement the already-growing wildflowers and lush landscaping. We felt very at ease and peaceful in a space that didn’t require heavy décor. We incorporated metal sculpture my husband hand-made, along with birdcages, vintage books, succulents and orchids. Each table was named after an Austin landmark or venue we personally enjoyed or had history with, one of which was the capitol building, where Lucas proposed to me on the Texas star in the rotunda. The biggest selling points for us was the ceremony space with two amazing oak trees creating an arbor over the altar and the onsite cottage which slept 28 people overnight. My husband and I were thrilled because most of our bridal party and some extra VIP’s got to stay up late and continue the festivities. We played various games including the giant Jenga® Lucas and I had made for our guest book. We read aloud the well wishes as we stacked them up time and time again. I’m proud to say I didn’t end up going to sleep until 8 a.m. that morning. I just didn’t want our magical day to end! 

The Austin vibe was found in delicate touches throughout our wedding. We used the famous Amy’s Ice Cream to provide dessert, we had local food trailer Mmmpananda show up to hand out late night snacks, and our flowers were locally sourced, the majority coming from East Austin Succulents and used by our impeccable florist Carly from Margot Blair Floral. We designed our table cards and programs to incorporate the ever changing Austin skyline. We decided to have both the amazing DJ Chief and The Motts Band, both local acts, play alternating sets. A little bit of dance music and a little bit of live music was the perfect combination. I’ll never forget the last song the band played at my wedding: “I’ll Stop the World and Melt with You” by Modern English. My husband looked at me on the dance floor and thanked me for throwing an amazing wedding. At that very moment, I knew that together, we had.

Wedding Photography: Apryl Ann Photography / Wedding Venue: The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Keri Wootton of Leave the Details to Me / Floral Design: Margot Blair Floral / Flower Source: East Austin Succulents / Catering: Culinary Delights / Favors + Late Night Snacks: Mmmpanadas / Dessert: Amy’s Ice Creams / Wedding Invitations: Sarah Coffman of Minus Five / Programs: Nuptial Necessities / Entertainment: The Motts / DJ: DJ Chief / Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Mila” via Blush Bridal Lounge / Dress Alterations: Deborah Birch / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Brickhouse Bridal

If The Bird & The Bear were planning on seriously brightening our Friday morning with this sweet, sweet engagement session, then they have most definitely succeeded, because this is the kind of e-shoot that will conjure up only the happiest of feelings and leave a smile on your face from here ’till we meet again on Monday.  Yep – it’s just.that.good.  And the uber-chic bride-to-be and her dashing (and SO in love) beau?  Adorbs.  Click here for every last heartwarming moment and then stay tuned for an equally as awesome film from The Bird & The Bear below.

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From the Bride-to-Be… Will and I were tossing around some ideas for a engagement shoot one day, and Will was actually the one that came up with the idea to set up a fake house in the woods. I thought it had a lot of potential, so we started running with it from there. Some of the props were actually decorations from my house at school, so it really represents my taste. We made a day of finding the rest of the items at thrift and antique shops and had a lot of fun together. The whole set is likely what our future home will look like (minus the walls being trees part), since we both love fun, vintage style. Caryn and Bryan are so talented, and we had a blast shooting with them!

Photography + Cinematography: The Bird & The Bear — Photography & Films / Location: Austin, Texas / Set Design: The Bride-to-Be

You know the saying, “Peonies are a girls best friend.” Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly how it goes, but after taking a peak at this beauty by Yellow Skinny Photos, I’m pretty positive you’ll agree with me. Between The Stone Chapel at Lanier Theological Library, the fantastic florals by SCF Events and the beautiful bridal party, I don’t know which will spark your senses the most! Take a peak at the full gallery for more!

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From The Bride… The Stone Chapel was a dream-come-true way to start our forever love story. I love history, and the chapel is a replica of a Turkish chapel built during the Byzantine era — right in the middle of the Texas suburbs near my parents’ home. Every part of our wedding day was like all the bridal dreams of my childhood coming to life. Not only was I marrying the man of my dreams, but every detail came together beautifully. Beautiful venues, perfect weather, antique chic details, lush coral and peach florals and a gray and navy wedding party. My bridesmaids and I spent the morning getting ready in a stone cottage adjacent to the chapel that is like something pulled right out of a Jane Austen novel. Jeremy and I opted not to see each other before the ceremony, but we met on either side of a door to pray and exchange letters. I’m so glad we left the reveal for the walk down the aisle, but the sweet time to talk beforehand was one of my favorite parts of the day.

The ceremony could not have gone more smoothly. It was officiated by our Nashville pastor, Mike Harder. It meant a lot to have someone who knew us both well performing the ceremony. Both of our parents handled the day with grace and love. We felt so blessed to be surrounded by people that truly support us and have walked with us through our relationship. The eight bridesmaids wore four different styles of navy dresses; each dress was worn by two girls. I hand-picked them to fit the girls’ styles and personalities. I loved the way that the coral peonies and white hydrangeas popped against the navy backdrop. The peony was our theme flower; even our stationery featured a hand painted coral peony created by my friend and designer Kate Allen. My mom and I worked hard to create an environment that combined vintage chic, antique charm and classic elegance. Each of the 22 centerpieces at the reception was custom-created with an antique statement piece that my mom and I picked out, a frame holding one of my favorite hymns and the table number, a gorgeous floral display by SCF Events and an antique doily. We served a simple southern meal along with an array of flavored teas and lemonades. My grandmothers each baked cakes and pies to make a delicious dessert display in addition to the traditional bride’s and groom’s cakes. We are blessed to have a history of long marriages in both of our families. We created a legacy table that featured photos of our grandparents and parents and highlighted the legacy of long-lasting love that they have given us.

We are both musicians living in Nashville, so we knew we wanted to incorporate our love of music somehow into the day. We had a jazz band playing during dinner and a DJ for the dancing portion of the night. Our wedding favor was a custom-made CD of love song covers that we recorded, featuring Jeremy and me on all of the instrumentation and vocals. Rather than a traditional guest book, we had each guest leave their best marriage advice on a postcard that matched our theme and stationery, as well as sign their name next to their favorite scripture verse in an antique Bible. Everything was picture perfect, but the love of people around us made all the beautiful details seem insignificant. We are so thankful for amazing friends and family and great vendors who made our wedding the perfect start to a lifetime of memories!

Wedding Photography: Yellow Skinny Photos / Ceremony: The Stone Chapel at Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas / Reception: Crystal Springs in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: SCF Events / Event Design + Planning: The Bride + Her Mother / Wedding Cinematography: Brent Johnson / Catering: All Star Catering / Wedding Cakes: The Bride’s Grandmothers + Victoria Bell, A Family Friend / Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Kate Allen of Uncommon Kate Designs, A Friend of the Bride / DJ: Selby Entertainment / Jazz Band: Jazzdish / Linens: Le Party Rental Zone / Transportation: Emerald Limousine / Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Hair: Chantelle O’Kelley of Shag Spa & Salon / Bridal Portraits: Sydney Rebeckah Roberts Photography / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew, Ann Tayor + ASOS / Groomsmen’s Suits: Calvin Klein

All hail to this dear Texas Aggie couple for they sure know how to uphold tradition, and throw one heck of a shin dig. Every detail from this day has a story behind it and was captured perfectly by John Cain Photography. From the proposal in a teapot {yes, read below!} to the famous pecan pralines, I don’t know which sweet detail I love most! Never been to College Station? Head to the full gallery for a taste of true southern hospitality. 

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From the Bride… Logan and I met as camp counselors during our sophomore year at Texas A&M University. As soon as we met, we became inseparable friends. Not until months later did we start dating; I was apprehensive about starting a relationship with one of my best friends, but Logan always had so much faith in us. He promised me, “No one will ever love you like I’ll love you, and no one will ever treat you like I’ll treat you.” Our university and its traditions mean so much to us, so eight months after we started dating, Logan proposed on campus surrounded by dozens of our family and friends with the same promise he made when we started dating. In addition to the traditions and customs of every Aggie, Logan’s family has some charming and unique wedding traditions of their own that span three generations. Most notably, proposing with a teapot! His grandfather thought of proposing with the ring in the teapot; all of his sons did it, and so far, all of the grandsons have done it. Every man gets their own teapot, but Logan is the first that went out and scrounged a flea market for his own, rather than his mother acquiring one for him.

More than anything, we wanted our wedding to be a fun, family get-together that really embodied who we are. I remembered attending church picnics as a child that were ripe with tradition, history, family, home-cooked food, music and dancing (not to mention Texas heat), and I knew that that is exactly how I wanted my wedding to feel. 7F Lodge was the perfect venue for both the ceremony and reception. We loved the historic chapel, and the pavilion felt just like an old Texas dance hall. Second to our love for each other, we wanted to share our love for Texas A&M with our guests. From the directions sign pointing out significant locations (his home, her home, our new home together, Texas A&M and our honeymoon location) to the groom’s cake, our Aggie rings, bridal party and details, there’s a consistent love for and devotion to our university. One of our favorite moments on our wedding day is when all the Aggies joined in the middle of the dance floor to sing our school’s “War Hymn.”

It was important that Logan’s family, from south Louisiana, and my family, from south Texas, both felt represented at our wedding. Thus, every aspect of our wedding was grounded in meaning and tradition to best represent our Southern heritage and who we are as a couple. The jewelry I wore is worn by every bride in Logan’s family on her wedding day, and Logan’s grandmother made her famous pecan pralines for favors; they were a huge hit with our guests! Our cake topper was used on both my grandparents’ and parents’ wedding cake, and my parents led a traditional grand march to start the dancing. For dinner we had Cajun cuisine and Mexican fajitas (our favorite!). All of the décor was either antiques we had collected from our families or handmade details that our parents, sisters and friends worked tirelessly on; as soon as we got engaged my mom started collecting vintage teapots to sit on each table. Instead of carrying a pillow, my baby brother carried our wedding rings in the teapot Logan proposed with. Ultimately, it was a beautiful melding of two families and two distinct versions of Southern culture.

Wedding Photography: John Cain Photography / Wedding Venue: 7F Lodge in College Station, Texas / Floral Design: The Flower Box / Wedding Cinematography: The Bride’s Uncle / Wedding Invitations: Frontier Paper Co. / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire