Texas Weddings

If you are a lover of insanely gorgeous e-sessions (and I know you are!), then you are about to go C.R.A.Z.Y. for this stunning shoot captured by June Bug Company Photography.  Trust me – one look at the lovely below and you’ll be smitten to the extreme.  From that gorgeous set-up in Harry Myers Park (A living room? Genius.) to the positively glowing bride and groom to each and every cheery yellow hue, this is a day of non-stop lovely… and the world’s cutest puppy is there, too.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From June Bug Company Photography… When Jana, Ryan and I were thinking of what style and theme to go with for their engagement shoot, we wanted something different. So we thought of having a living room set up in the city and in the woods. With their style and personality, the shoot went beautifully and is stunning!

Photography: June Bug Company Photography / Location: Downtown Dallas, Texas + Harry Myers Park in Rockwall, Texas / Rentals: Vintage Couch: Rent My Dust

Magical things can happen when two people meet, fall in love and get married – like a crazy beautiful al fresco soiree at one of Austin’s hippest locations and enough pretty to last a lifetime.  And when those two people happen to be a Mr. and Mrs. that are the epitome of stunning and the lifetime of pretty happens to include beautiful DIY blooms, twinkle lights and a bundle of beyond gorgeous images by Cory Ryan Photography, well.  Magical things happen right here on SMP.  All planned flawlessly by Something to Celebrate, you can see all of the pretty in the full gallery.

From Cory Ryan Photography… Lane and Greg’s intimate summer wedding took place at one of my favorite boutique hotels in Austin, the incomparably hip Hotel Saint Cecilia.  The ceremony was on the front lawn in front of Suite One, and the reception took place in the courtyard behind Suite Four. As the sun started to set, officiant Spike Gillespie tied the knot for the couple in a ring of flower petals under the giant shady live oak tree. An amazing, gluten-free dinner was served family-style by local farm-to-table caterers Royal Fig, who had everyone cleaning their plates. Favors of Lane and Greg’s favorite orange anise marmalade were placed at each place setting. The long rectangular wooden tables were accented with lacy napkins and an assortment of flowers in all shades of yellow — and the DIY flower arrangements were done by the groom’s sister!  The reception music was provided by a local accordion player as homage to Lane’s late grandfather, who also played the accordion. You could tell how much the couple is loved — multiple friends and family members toasted them and retold old times and funny stories for everyone to enjoy. Once the sun when down, we ventured to the hotel pool to shoot Lane and Greg with the gigantic red neon SOUL sign. Then the couple enjoyed a spontaneous last dance and cheering exit to punctuate the perfect ending to the night! Something to Celebrate planned the whole shindig to perfection, and everyone involved really enjoyed the close-knit feeling of their special day.

Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Something to Celebrate / Floral Design: The Groom’s Sister / Officiant: Spike Gillespie / Catering: Royal Fig Catering /  Wedding Cake: Wild Wood Bake House / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Chie Mihara

This romantic wedding at The Wild Onion Ranch is my idea of outdoor perfection — It is effortless, rustic elegance punctuated by personal touches in the form of signage, notes and namesake desserts that make you feel like you instantly know the bride and groom, even if you weren’t invited to the wedding – like us! The couple and BZ events clearly put so much love, time and thoughtfulness into designing this one-of-a-kind wedding, and we are so grateful for their hard work. Shannon Cunningham Photography captured every stunning moment and style element in the full gallery images here!

From the Bride… Noah and I knew from the beginning we didn’t want just another ballroom wedding. We are both very active and love being outdoors in the sunshine, so we knew we wanted to be married outside.  We wanted lots of natural light, green trees and soft colors. There was really only one choice. The Hill Country was the perfect place for our wedding. We also wanted it to feel like everyone was just hanging out together in someone’s backyard.  The Wild Onion Ranch was the absolute perfect venue to provide this vibe because it is someone’s backyard. And even though it holds over 300 people, it still has an intimate, personal ambiance. As soon as we saw it, we knew no other venue would do. For the wedding decor, I wanted it to be beautiful but not too fancy, and I wanted to incorporate soft fabrics and colors to create a whimsical, romantic, rustic elegance. I also wanted to have lots of little details that were special to us. Purple is my favorite color so I wanted to incorporate several different shades of purple in the flowers, signage and decor. We even carried over the purple to the signature cocktail of lavender lemonade. :) Our wedding menu was amazing — lots of our favorite comfort foods and desserts. Tacos are my favorite meal, so I knew we had to serve them at the wedding. Noah is a self proclaimed cookie connoisseur and loves chocolate, so we knew we needed a dessert bar with cookies and all kinds of treats. Because we met at Crossfit, we wanted to be sure and pay tribute to it at our wedding. We decided to have a margarita bar station that served regular margaritas and a Paleo version. 

Other than Crossfit, one of our other passions that we have in common is music. Music was very important to us (especially Noah) when we were planning our wedding. And not just for the reception — we also wanted the ceremony music to be very personal and have meaning to us. I walked down the aisle to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lauryn Hill and our recessional song was “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. All our ceremony songs were contemporary and fun. For the reception, we wanted our band to be high energy and to keep the guests dancing. Sauce definitely delivered on this the whole night. 

We had the MOST amazing vendor team (thank you, BZ events) — our officiant Carolina did an amazing job coming up with a very personal ceremony, and she was very heartfelt in her delivery. All our guests thought we had known her for years and that she was a family friend. The flowers (Unexpected Elements) were the perfect mix of soft purples, ivories and greens. The arbor where we said our vows looked like something out of a magazine. I also loved my wedding invitations, which were actual pieces of wood that had a heart shape symbol with our initials in the middle so that it looked like it was carved on a tree. We also loved our private dining under the arbor after the wedding. It was nice to have some alone time before the madness happened at the reception. It was also fun to talk about our days and what we did leading up to the ceremony. Our honey butter chicken biscuit late-night snack from Whataburger (definitely not Paleo) was also something our guests will never forget!  

Our advice for couples planning an Austin wedding? Hire BZ events. :) There are a million wedding vendors in Austin, and I would have gone crazy trying to make all the decisions on my own. They connect you with all the right vendors that can provide the wedding “look/feel” you want that is within your budget. The wedding day went off without a hitch and we didn’t have to worry about any of the small details. And thanks to the amazing Shannon Cunningham for capturing it all for us to remember forever.

Wedding Photography: Shannon Cunningham Photography / Wedding Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Design: BZ events / Floral Design: unexpected elements / Officiant: Carolina of Austin Weddings Unlimited / Wedding Cinematography: Crescent Video Productions / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake + Dessert: Bake Sale / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Anibella Ink + Paper / Props: Loot Vintage Rentals / Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Transportation: Vintage Rides of Austin / Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings / Band: Sauce / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet “Saffron” / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Kate Spade + Enzo Angiolini / Hair: Rachel McDaniel / Makeup: Nisa Nicole / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew

When I read a story of young, sweet love, this is exactly how I picture the beauty and sincerity in their romance. Each gorgeous photograph of this spectacular fete from Ivy Weddings is dripping with the glory of golden hour that has every photographer drooling. Somehow – this adorable couple and their palpable love might have something to do with it – every moment is caught with the softness and glimmer of the setting Texas sun, no matter what surrounding.  From the most classic of bouquets from Crump’s Garden to the high-five at the altar with the pastor, this wedding is undoubtedly personal and exquisitely unique. Click here for the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… John and I met at our best friend’s wedding. John was the best man, and I was the maid of honor. After a fun weekend, we returned to Dallas and started dating. A little more than a year later, John proposed to me in the perfect way, under the “Century Tree” at Texas A&M University where we both attended school. Since then, I’ve been dreaming of a traditional and “shabby chic” themed wedding filled with lace and hydrangeas. We are so thankful for the Lord’s perfect timing and that He has blessed us with this marriage. Our wedding day was an amazing celebration with our closest family and friends. John and I now live in Texas, where I work as a pediatric speech pathologist and John works as an IT auditor. We couldn’t be more happy to start our lives together!

Wedding Photography: Ivy Weddings / Ceremony: Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas / Reception + Catering: Courtyard Dallas Allen in Allen, Texas / Floral Design: Crump’s Garden Inc. / Officiant: Tim Morrison / Wedding Cakes: DiviniDee Cakes / DJ: Michael Hatch / Lighting Assistant: Melissa Shook / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani via Bridal Boutique Lewisville / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Belt: Emici Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Adrienne Schoech / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung via Lasting Bridal Couture / Men’s Suits: Jos. A. Bank

“A” is for this awesome Austin wedding at Mercury Hall by Jessica Monnich Photography. With help from Austin’s Elite Staffing this lovely couple created a beautiful, laid back day with their furry friend in tow. I can’t get enough of all of these sweets snaps in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jessica Monnich Photography… This wedding was so laid-back and fun! All the details were so adorable and well thought-out. The bride and groom were so in love, and I found out during the ceremony that he proposed on the beach with a rainbow to seal the deal. So sweet! They had a CUTE little groomsman, their “fur child” doggy. It was such a beautiful ceremony! I have worked with the officiant at other weddings, and she is just awesome and very “Austin” in the best way. They also had a four-piece band play during dinner that was a lot of fun! The groom works for Whole Foods, so who better to do the catering? It sure looked yummy!

Wedding Photography: Jessica Monnich Photography / Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Austin’s Elite Staffing / Flowers + Catering: Whole Foods / Groom’s Cake: Austin Cake Ball / Officiant: Spike Gillespie / Music: The Vintage 15 / Pedicab: Metrocycle Pedicabs

I don’t know about you lovelies, but I can barely believe we’re wrapping up the first full week of August – it seems like just yesterday we were welcoming Summer with open arms. Well, we’re not quite ready to let go of Summer just yet and to celebrate we’ve even got a full line up of Al Fresco inspiration on Sunday’s SMP Home Edition…

And since we plan on celebrating these last days of warm weather in grand fashion, we thought we’d send you off into the weekend with a sun-filled engagement session from Briana Purser Photography.  It’s everything (and I mean everything) we L.O.V.E. about Summertime (frolicking outdoors with your honey, picnics, blue skies), with the perfect dash of adorable on the side.  Click here for more.

From Briana Purser Photography… When I met with Misty and Marlon, they shared their vision of a romantic and natural engagement shoot — one that would resemble a modern, storybook love. I immediately thought of the perfect venue to capture their vision: a friend’s farm just east of Austin. Props from Recollection Vintage in Houston helped set the theme, and the Texas sunlight captured the whimsical feel. We even had an unexpected guest donkey join in on the shoot!

Photography: Briana Purser Photography / Location: A Farm near Austin, Texas / Props: Recollection Vintage Rentals

In case you missed any, here are all of the pretty posts from the week…

a glorious bridesmaids celebration
a wonderful ladies luncheon
a fabulous Montana soiree
a stunning garden photo shoot
a beautiful San Diego affair
a gorgeous San Francisco soiree 
a lovely encaustic photo workshop 
a day of eight gorgeous weddings
a fabulous San Diego soiree
a gorgeous Ireland photo shoot Part I and Part II

Some fabulous links from around the web…

fun DIY fashion plates via Camille Styles
fabulous DIY magazine rack via A Beautiful Mess
yummy pink lemonade bars via Smitten Kitchen

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Heather Cook Elliott Photography
Devoted to You Inc.
Love and Lord
Candy’s Cake Pops

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here. We’d love to hear from you!

An oh-so-friendly reminder…

There is still a chance to win 100 free custom save the dates from Sandi Spells Design! Find out the details on how to enter in this SMP Georgia post!

And, last, but not least, we have some winners to announce!

Congratulations to Alyssa for winning a bridal robe compliments of Doie Lounge!

Congratulations to SMP New York reader, Jessica, for winning a veil with a value up to $499 from Bridal Reflections!

Janessa is the lucky SMP California reader to win a free Wedding Gown Preservation (a $250 value!) from The Dresser Bridal Couture!

And remember that oh so fabulous Lancome Pinterest Contest? Well we have some lucky ladies to announce! The winner of Classic & Charming is Anne Gaskill, the winner of Dazzling & Glamorous is Jenna Holmes, and the winner of Modern & Trendy is Krystyl Baldwin! Congrats!

And finally, Anne is the winner of the oh so gorgeous copy of Elizabeth Messina’s book!

Have a happy, happy weekend, lovelies!  We’ll see you back here on Sunday morning! xoxo

I can’t imagine a couple who wouldn’t love to have a few photos like these with their sweetheart! Mustard Seed Photography shot an e-session with this (adorable!) couple on the soon-to-be groom’s private ranch and the outcome was just perfect-carefree and sweet with a vintage flare! Be sure to take a peek at the beautiful film and the rest of the images in the gallery!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/45274127?color=ff9933 600 338]

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Mustard Seed Photography… Our couple, Megan and Shea, will be tying the knot next March, and for their engagements, they put together the most beautiful setting! The backdrop for our photos was the groom’s awesome private ranch in Huntsville, Texas, complete with a vineyard, creek and incredible fields! To add an extra little touch, the bride and groom rented some beautiful vintage props from Recollection Vintage in Houston. Between the bike, the couch, the creek and the gorgeous couple, we were swooning from the moment we arrived. :) We not only did photography for these two love birds, we also made an off-the-cuff engagement video. It highlights not only their playful attitudes, but also the gorgeous location! 

From the Bride-to-Be… I wanted our photos to scream vintage and romantic glamour — I love anything vintage! To me, vintage has romance written all over it. :) I knew putting the two together would make for amazing pictures. And although I like the softness of vintage, I still like being a glamour girl and dressing up. And that’s how our wedding will be: romantic and glamourous!

Photography + Cinematography: Mustard Seed Photography / Engagement Session Venue: Smokestone Farms in Huntsville, Texas / Flowers: Trader Joe’s / Props: Recollection Vintage Rentals + Various Antique Stores / Bride’s Attire: PacSun, Urban Outfitters + ALDO / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: DIY

The beautiful beachy setting, the punchy pastels and the decorative table design make a full blown matrimonial masterpiece! I am obsessed with just about everything in this photo shoot. I love how the bride and groom change from wedding wear to a beach casual look that gives the shoot an entirely different dimension. The full gallery of photos is a must, and bundles of thanks goes to Ben Q. Photography for sharing this work of art with us!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From Ben Q. Photography… So there is this lake right by our house that we call our little piece of heaven. At a certain time, the sun hits the water and sand and it kind of looks like California. The gorgeous natural light of that locale inspired this shoot. We wanted to show the world that north Texas could look really cool and beachy too! Our color palette was “punchy pastels,” so we used coral, peach, lime green and tangerine. Even the groom wore a bold-colored suit jacket! We played up the beach scene by adding sea shells dyed to fit the color scheme and a rustic wood table that resembled driftwood. The styled shoot begins with a sweet ceremony beneath an arbor of wood. Then the two sit at their stylish tablescape complete with mini ruffled cakes at each setting. Instead of a traditional reception, they decide to take a dip in the water to celebrate after some yummy grapefruit sorbet.

Photography: Ben Q. Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Grand Prairie, Texas / Event Coordination: After Yes Weddings / Floral Design: Bows + Arrows / Wedding Cakes: Layered Bake Shop / Stationery + Paper Goods: Southern Fried Paper / Table Rental: Magic Moments / Chair Rentals: Ducky-Bob’s / Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara / Groom’s Suit: Zara / Hair + Makeup: Danny Howard / Assistant: Wendy Elizabeth Rodriguez / Model Bride: Sophia Lee / Model Groom: Mihail Dimitrov

Does it get more romantic than marrying your special someone in the exact same spot where you got engaged? In the case of this bride and groom, yes it does! Due to the groom’s military duties, the couple eloped and shared the most beautiful and intimate ceremony at Trois Estate at Enchanted Rock. The bride glowed with flowers in her hair and a loving twinkle in her eye that makes me positively giddy. Check out the full gallery of photos, courtesy of Mercedes Morgan Photography!

And don’t miss this sweet video from Filming Austin:

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/47130711 600 338]

From Mercedes Morgan Photography… Evan and Sarah were supposed to have a June wedding, but unfortunately his military orders were moved up, so they decided to elope in May instead. Trois Estate’s roof-top deck overlooking Enchanted Rock is exactly where Evan proposed to Sarah, so it was chosen as the venue. Officiant Scott Payne wrote and performed a song just for their beautiful ceremony.

Wedding Photography: Mercedes Morgan Photography / Wedding Venue: Trois Estate at Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas / Floral Design: Blumenhandler Florist / Wedding Cinematography: Filming Austin / Officiant + Music: Scott Payne of The Knot Tyer / Bride’s Shoes: Kelly & Katie / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca via Girls in White Dresses / Hair + Makeup: Jay & Co. Hair Studio in Fredericksburg, Texas

This wedding is so chock-full of loveliness, I don’t even know where to start. I could begin with the stunning, stunning, stunning Barr Mansion with its beautiful history and architecture, or I could go on and on about the ah-mazing images from Carlea J Photography that capture every bit of sweetness from this smitten couple. Did I mention how there are not one, but TWO cakes from the venue’s caterer that have knocked me right off my feet? You’ll understand my bewilderment when you see even more incredible photos in the gallery, right here.

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From Carlea J Photography… Shannon and Reggie were married in a sunset garden ceremony at Barr Mansion (the nation’s only certified-organic event facility) in Austin, Texas. Shannon incorporated succulents and black and white anemones for a truly unique aesthetic. Guests found their table assignments on a large vintage window, where table names and guests were painted in each frame. Upon entering the reception, Shannon and Reggie “jumped the broom” before a night of dinner and dancing. Shannon changed into a short white dress with pearl accents for their sparkler exit.

Wedding Photography: Carlea Wilson + Ashley Smith for Carlea J Photography / Reception: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Catering + Wedding Cake: Barr Mansion / DJ: DJ Anthony of Greenbelt DJ Productions / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani “Dillon” via The Princess Bridal / Bride’s Sash: Casablanca Bridal “SA006” / Hair + Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon Makeup Artistry

I cannot peel myself away from this wedding — The setting is stunning; the bride is glowing, and all of the paper goods are to die for! What a gorgeous couple, a gorgeous setting and a simply gorgeous day. The full gallery of photos makes me want to go out and design something with paper — not to mention have a piece of the adorable bow tie groom’s cake! A big thanks to Jenny DeMarco Photography for the amazing images.

From the Bride… I am HUGE into details. My mom and I filled the day with tons of DIY projects — everything from stenciling all of the burlap table runners to drink stir sticks to programs, favors, tags and signage. I love all the paper goods (I have a slight obsession with paper). I made the cards to write our letters to each other that we read during our first look. I wanted something that would be pretty to keep and not just a scribbled on piece of paper. The invitation was from Betsy White , and I bought the digital logo to make the reception cards, favor labels, stickers for the program, etc. I also had a stamp made that I used to make the stir sticks and cocktail napkins. We also incorporated the logo on the first page of our wedding album. I made the signage by printing the words and logo onto iron-on transfer paper from Michael’s and then ironing it onto the muslin. I have it hanging in our house now. The frame was from IKEA and spray-painted white. The lanterns are actually a good story as well — I found them in El Paso, and when I tried to ship back one of the large ones back to Dallas, it broke. Since I couldn’t just go buy more (they were a clearance item that I bought all of), Alexa and I ended up driving them to my parents’ house in Granbury. We bought our dads bow ties to fit each of their personalities (fish on my dad’s and golf flags on his dad’s), and the groomsmen wore bow ties too. The groom’s cake is also in the shape of a bow tie.

Besides marrying David and seeing all of our friends and family, I had so much fun getting ready with my bridesmaids and hanging out on the balcony of the mansion. As far as advice, do a first look! I was against it at first, but it made things so much more personal. We read vows/letters we wrote to each other during our first look so we were much more at ease during the actual ceremony.

Wedding Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography / Ceremony: Central Christian Church in Austin, Texas / Reception + Catering: Mansion at Judges’ Hill in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Lindy Floral / Wedding Decor: DIY by the Bride + Her Mother / Wedding Cakes: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Betsywhite Stationery / Band: RADIOSTAR / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair + Makeup: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy

This wedding at Le San Michele looks like it was plucked from a storybook. First, a Texan met a Briton; then they fell in love and held a fairytale wedding, outfitted with antique clocks, vintage maps, ballons and the most beautiful pastel colors ever! The details at this affair are so fun and whimsical but also elegant and stylish – Truly a feat! Check out the full gallery of images here, courtesy of Katherine O’Brien Photography.

From Katherine O’Brien Photography… This Texan and Briton met in San Francisco, traveled the world together and got married in Texas where she grew up. The groom’s  family is from Jersey, England, so they displayed clocks from all three time zones. They also included a vintage map to show far far all their guests had come. They had their first look  at the Hotel St Cecelia and then everyone bused out to Buda and the San Michele. The bride’s gown was by Amy Kuschel, His suit from Zara, and the bridesmaids wore elegant long dresses in pastel shades. There were yard games, balloons, a popcorn station and Pimm’s Cups during the cocktail hour. And a beautiful evening with a sit-down dinner, toasts, dancing and an exit back to Austin in a double decker bus!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Wedding Venue: Le San Michele in Buda, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Margaret Bedikian of Three Apple Events / Floral Design: Westbank Flower Market / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Cakes + Cupcakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Band: The Vintage 15 / DJ: Texas Professional Disc Jockey / Double Decker Bus: The Lion and Rose / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel / Groom’s Suit: Zara

My husband is studying English Literature, so the moment I read this shoot was inspired entirely by “Literary Romance,” I knew that this was going to be very close to my heart. And the photos from Archetype Studio sure didn’t disappoint! Tamara Menges’s inspiration from Shakespeares’ Sonnet 18 can be seen in every bit of this shoot. It doesn’t get more romantic than a setting like Chateau Cocomar, stunning lace details, a color palette that nods to the Old World, and just the right touch of metallics . Head over to the gallery for even more awe-inspiring images.

From Tamara Menges… I knew I wanted to push the boundaries of the vintage feel that so many brides are incorporating in their wedding. Together with Archetype, we designed the perfect details to convey our story. The overall concept was “Literary Romance.” We incorporated this into the story through the use of romantic lace, roses, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and gold-leafed vintage books.

For the ceremony, we dressed one of Chateau Cocomar’s exquisite fireplaces as the altar. I draped a very full garland of smilex, magnolia leaves and seeded eucalyptus to the floor, then finished off the mantel with roses, mercury glass candle sticks and an antique clock. The aisle was marked with golden lace swags, more roses, candles and gold-leafed books opened to show the aged pages. For seating, we used gold chiavari chairs, and a pop of color was added with an olive green sash.

For the reception area, we created a family style setting. The table was adorned with layered linens, a gold lace overlay and a high-end, textural, couture linen that was bustled up on the corners. For the florals, I used luxurious design with an intimate feel. Most of the vessels were pink milk glass, adding just a hint of our palette in a unique way. I used multiple shades of roses, tulips, seeded eucalyptus and hydrangea. Wrapped around each napkin are lines from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, which made for interesting conversation pieces, as each guest had a different line of the famous sonnet.

Photography: Koby + Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc.  / Photo Shoot Venue: Chateau Cocomar in Houston, Texas / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Tamara Menges / Invitations: Glenda Little of Dressy Designs / Wedding Cake: Jessie Lopez / Sweets: Sandy Le of SWEET / Linens: The Perfect Touch / Chair Rentals: Any Occasion Party Rental / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm Couture JH8210 via Brickhouse Bridal / Shoes: Lulu Townsend / Jewelry: Paul Carter Jewels / Hair + Makeup: Christen Hobbs / Garter + Flower Girl’s Headband: Lauren Gibson of Rosebud Lips / Groom’s Tuxedo: Al’s Formal Wear / Model Bride: Jennifer Brown / Model Groom: Randall Magill / Model Bridesmaid: Ashley Dernick / Model Best Man: Trent Barnes / Model Flower Girl: Keira Brown

The perfect mix of sophistication, spunk and sweetness – this wedding has SMP written all over it. From the classic Manolo’s to the citrusy decor all the way down to the gorgeous white peacock (love!), every detail was perfectly placed and then perfectly captured by Ivy Weddings, so we could spend the day oohing and ahhing over everything in the full gallery of images!

From the Bride… Pete and I met in Austin, but Pete grew up in Connecticut, so we incorporated details representative of his taste and the Northeast — Vineyard Vines ties, navy suits and monogrammed linen napkins. I have lived my entire life in Oklahoma and Texas, so the location for the reception, Green Pastures, paid tribute to my region of the country. Green Pastures has been tucked away in the heart of south Austin for over 64 years. The true Southern hospitality shows through in the towering live oak trees, roaming peacocks and Victorian-style house on the grounds. We decided we wanted to get married at St. Mary Cathedral’s within a couple months of our meeting. The first day we met, Pete mentioned that his brother and sister-in-law were married there, and coincidentally, I was already a member of that church, so it just made sense. My uncle, who is a Catholic priest, married us there in front of 150 of our friends and family.

For the past year, my Natalie Kopp and Ashley Koenings helped tremendously designing the overall look and feel of the reception, and helping out with a various projects: the “M” board that hung behind the bar, the signage in the buckets of lemons, embossing the seating cards and table numbers. Natalie even sewed the monogrammed throw pillows on the adirondack chairs and drove around Austin in search of the perfect lemons for some of the centerpieces! Ashley, who was on bedrest for the four months leading up to the wedding, has darling penmanship that had the perfect vibe for a garden party occasion (she really should design her own font) — she addressed all the invitations and seating cards by hand!

As a surprise for me, Pete arranged for a bagpiper to stand outside of the church and play as everyone exited, and to escort the wedding party to the capitol for our pics. It was a nice tribute to my grandfather — a bagpiper played in the lawn of the church as we left his funeral just six months before. And coincidentally, he and my grandmother share our wedding anniversary date!

Wedding Photography: Ivy Weddings / Ceremony: Saint Mary Cathedral in Austin, Texas / Reception: Green Pastures in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: The Flower Bucket / Officiant: Fr. Martin Laird, OSA (The Bride’s Uncle) / Catering, Wedding Cake, Milk Punch + Cookies: Green Pastures / Bagpipe: Hylton Cruickshank / DJ: Jordann Mitchel of Complete Music / Dance Floor: Premiere Party Central / Shuttle: R&R Limousine & Bus / Getaway Car: Elegant Limousine & Charter / Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia via Signature Bridal Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik + Glint / Bride’s Veil: Alexia Gavela Bridal / Bride’s Earrings: A Friend / Bride’s Bracelet: Pandora / Ring: Kruger’s Diamond Jewelers / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Diana Warner / Hair: Tamara Greer Hair Studio (512-626-8649 ) / Bride’s Makeup: A Family Friend / Bridesmaids’ + Bride’s Mother’s Makeup: CityliFe Studio / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Vineyard Vines / Groomsmen’s Suits: Signature Bridal Salon

We’re no strangers to gorgeous Hill Country weddings around these parts. In fact, we can’t get enough of them! They’re charming and oh-so-pretty without a fussy detail in sight. That’s why we’re going gaga over this next wedding, sent into us by Claire McCormack Photography. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from a country wedding and then some! We’re loving the bright pops of color and how each bridesmaid got to rock the dress of her choice. Click here for even more!

From Leslie Washburne, the Mother of the Bride… What happens when our daughter and her intended live in Cairo, Egypt, the groom’s family lives in Canada, and my husband and I have never formally met the bridegroom or his family? Add to the mix guests coming in from all over the world and a large extended family. You plan a wedding week! Our daughter Sarah was adamant that her wedding needed to be immediate family only (meaning parents and siblings) and very close friends. She wanted everyone to get to know each other in a  relaxed, unhurried setting without all the hubbub generated by that large extended family I just mentioned. But what to do about aunts, uncles, cousins and other friends who want to celebrate with the newly-married couple and join in all the fun. Our solution evolved through many long-distance phone calls and emails. We decided to have a small, intimate garden wedding midweek, just twenty in all, in Fredericksburg Texas, which is where we live. The venue was easy, since I own a small inn, Hoffman Haus. It was a beautiful day, amazingly mild considering it was mid-July in Texas, with blue skies and singing birds. Maggie Gillespie created an incredible bower by the pond in our garden where Sarah and Adam were married, then we moved back inside to the Great Hall, where we enjoyed a delicious four course lunch and toasted the happy couple.

Our next party, for all those who weren’t at the wedding, was a beautiful garden party, held in my mother’s backyard in Dallas the following Saturday. What fun it was planning that! Sarah gave me complete artistic license to do as I pleased, and I was incredibly fortunate to hire Kate and Katey with Stems of Dallas who turned my mother’s home and garden into a riot of flowers. It was stunning! Tim Thobe (of City Café) and I had the best time coming up with a buffet menu that was as old-fashioned as they come. Many of the recipes borrowed from a grandmother or aunt, and they were all southern classics that had guests coming back for second and third helpings. The music was light and jazzy, and the evening was kept cool by huge fans and a small breeze. It was a sweet evening, where all our family and friends could get to know Adam and his charming family. Planning a wedding long-distance and planning two events in two different cities might sound daunting, but with my fabulous assistant (and dear friend) Courtney, it all came together seamlessly. Having Luis of Carmona Weddings help us “day of” was a godsend too, he was amazing. Being the MOB for two parties instead of one was a special treat, and I will always treasure those memories!

Fredericksburg Wedding:
Wedding Photography: Claire McCormack Photography / Wedding Venue: Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas / Floral Design: Maggie Gillespie Designs / Catering: My Own Chef / Wedding Invitations: Fredericksburg Paper Goods / Rentals: Class A Rentals / Wedding Dress: J.Crew

Dallas Garden Party:
Photography: Claire McCormack Photography / Venue: Highland Park, The Home of the Bride’ Grandmother in Dallas, Texas / Floral Design: Stems of Dallas / Day-of Coordination: Carmona Weddings / Catering: City Café / Wedding Cake: Dallas Affaires Cake Company / Music: Stoney / Rentals: Ducky-Bob’s

Cupcakes, puzzles and pink crocheted boutonnieres – These are a few of my favorite things about this adorable Austin wedding at The Allan House. Beyond the fact that I’m totally in love with the heart motifs and pink and navy tones, the radiating smiles of the bride and groom make me entirely unable to wipe the silly grin off my own face. Get your fill with the full gallery of images here, thanks to Kristi Wright Photography.

From the Bride… Stephen and I have been together for almost 10 years, and we were long-distance for half of that! We met at the University of Texas, Austin so for us, Austin is a very special place. That’s why even though we knew it would be more difficult to plan a wedding remotely, we still wanted Austin to be where our next chapter begins!

Thanks to my very helpful bridesmaids, a lot of our first round of vendor hunting was done before we paid a visit to Austin. We were looking for an intimate and fun wedding with fantastic food. I had been to a wedding at The Allan House a few years back and absolutely loved the atmosphere. It’s as if you are having a wedding at your own house! So venue choice was an easy one. Out first vendor pick was Polkadots Cupcake Factory. Their cake has the perfect balance of taste and texture. You know how some cupcakes can be overwhelmingly sweet? Theirs aren’t! We walked away 20 minutes later with a dozen of cupcake and knowing our wedding cake was in good hands. We then decided to have Kristi Wright Photography as our wedding photographer. I saw Kristi’s lovely pictures of another Allan House wedding here on Style Me Pretty and immediately contacted her about shooting our big day. She was very helpful along the way with tips on other vendors, doing an engagement session with us in NYC during her personal vacation and capturing so many wonderful moments during our big day! The quality of food was so important to us, and after we joined 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering at one of their Supper Friends dinners, we knew who could help us with that! They helped us create the perfect menu, and so many of our guests told us after that they loved it and even went for seconds! Their staff was also very helpful during the whole night, making sure everyone had what they needed.

To make the wedding more personal, I made a few of the items for the wedding: the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnières and the ring boy’s ring pillow were these pink crocheted hearts with little initial tags made from shrink plastic. The groom’s had a little key attached, inspired by a pin I found on Pinterest! Each station around the wedding place had little signs that I designed to match our wedding stationery. Everything was done with the thought that people could find a little piece of us throughout the wedding. And thanks to our family, friends and vendors, we totally had a blast that night!

Wedding Photography: Kristi Wright Photography / Wedding Venue: The Allan House / Floral Design: Dana Foster of Central Market / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Signs + Heart Decor: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Custom-made by Avril Bridal in Shanghai / Bride’s Hair: Tiffany Lee of Studio Tilee / Groom’s Suit: Indochino / Getting Ready Location: W Austin Hotel

yes, Yes, YES! And maybe one more Yiggity YES for good measure because this wedding is currently a crowd pleasing favorite at the SMP offices. From bold red lips to a bocce ball wielding reception, we have a free spirited Austin dazzler on our hands, as seen through the lens of The Nichols (one of our favorite lenses to peer through). Take a look for yourself with all the images in one gorgeous spot, right here.

From the Bride… My grandmother’s gloves started it all. When she passed away in 2008 and I inherited her delicate, crocheted gloves from Paris, I knew they would be my “something old” when I got married. Come wedding planning time they inspired my custom, ballet-length gown, the historic chapel venue and really, the overall look and feel of our wedding. I came to define our wedding concept as “vintage-parisian-cafe-meets-retro-americana-lawn-party-meets-rustic-tuscan-dinner-party … with an heirloom sewing theme and a healthy dose of mint green.” I wanted to pull from all things and eras and countries that Tony and I share a love for so that our wedding truly conveyed our personalities and style. The day was all about sharing our love and happiness with our closest friends and family and creating a joyful and memorable evening. Guests arrived to the sounds of Motown radiating from singer/songwriter Suzanna Choffel and her band. We chose a longtime friend to serve as officiant, decorated our altar with vintage doors and sewing-pattern paper flowers and added a touch of playfulness using quotes from the children’s books “The Little Prince,” “I Like You” and “The Velveteen Rabbit” for the invitations, programs and ceremony readings.

Tony and I have never hosted a party sans bocce ball, and this party was no different. During cocktail hour guests played bocce, sipped Pimm’s Cup cocktails out of jelly jars and listened to Suzanna perform her own music in her sultry and soulful style. Dinner was served under the stars and strung lights and was reminiscent of dining in a Tuscan garden. The rustic Italian family-style meal honored Tony’s heritage. The tables were dressed in seafoam linens and dotted with multiple, loosely-arranged and softly-colored florals in blue mason jars, antique milk glass and honey jars. The pistachio and salted carmel buttercream wedding cake was divine and the pie bar, complete with caramel apple streusel and PB&J, was downright sinful. Sugar crash? No problem — the favors were dark-chocolate covered espresso beans. As a visual artist, it was inevitable that I would style and design our wedding, from creating the invitations and programs with the help of my maid of honor to typing the escort cards with my grandfather’s antique typewriter. I could not have done this without the wholehearted support of my maid of honor, Lizzie Choffel, whose typesetting and printing expertise, sharp design eye and willingness to be in a constant state of “brainstorm” helped me plan and create; or without the help of my loving mother who, from afar, painstakingly sewed fabric menu card pockets, burlap table runners and floral cocktail table sashes. Needless to say, there were a lot of fabric care packages flooding the pony express in the months prior to the wedding. The process of working with my longtime friend has inspired the creation of spool + ink {handcrafted}, a design and lifestyle company. We are excited to share our passion with others and to continue to create handcrafted wares.

This was truly a homemade and homegrown wedding — it was our goal to keep things as local as possible, from the locally-sourced food and music to the antiquarian invitation stamps and the mint green Kendra Scott jewelry and cufflinks for the bridal party. We could not have possibly chosen more wonderful vendors — we couldn’t have pulled it off without their help, especially that of our devoted wedding coordinator, Margaret Bedikian, who went above and beyond her duties and who has become a friend and has claimed a place in our lives forever.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Margaret Bedikan of Three Apples Events / Design, Styling and Paper goods: Spool + Ink Handcrafted / Floral Design: Zinnia & Company / Catering: Royal Fig / Wedding Cake: Walton’s Fancy and Staple / Desserts: Bake Sale / Music: Suzanna Choffel / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals / Registry + Custom Stamps: Antiquaria / Wedding Dress: Custom / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Not all rustic weddings are the barn dwelling, mason jar toting type. Some are more of the polished rustic variety in that chiavari chair out in the open air sort of way. This is how Austinites do weddings and we are wholeheartedly on board. Caroline + Ben Photography captured a day full of easy elegance with a line-up of all white florals by Bella Flora of Dallas that paired perfectly with the classic styling of Dayley Design. See the full spread of alfresco nuptials right here!

From the Bride… My fiancé and I lived in NYC for eight years and met the last year I was there. He is from Rhode Island, I’m from a small town in Texas, and we ended up moving to Austin a year ago.We decided that we wanted to get married at a venue that had a ranch-type feel so that our East Coast friends and family could have that experience, but we wanted the décor to be clean and modern with a touch of classic romance, which we captured by bringing in chandeliers, string light globes, and lots of candle light. Our wedding invitation logo design carried over from the bench cushions and wedding party table chairs to one of the bars. I wanted to make sure that Texas, Rhode Island and a touch of NYC were part of the day, so we had bottles of Rhode Island red wine and a Texas chardonnay on the dinner tables, koozies for the reception that said “Don’t Mess with Rhode Island Either,” and we departed the reception through a line of our friends waving small Texas and Rhode Island flags. Our favorite coffee shop in NYC, the Grey Dog Café, sent up coffee cups with their logo that we used for coffee service.

I wanted to include special women in my family in the wedding ceremony so I gave my two cousins, sister-in-law and my brother’s girlfriend bracelets that mimicked the bracelet I wore at my reception. They wore these on the day of the wedding and walked down the aisle as a group before my bridesmaids. We kept the ceremony short and simple! Other highlights of the day were my dad’s toast and just the fact that so many people we love were in the same room at the same time. I know that sounds cliché, but it was amazing to have all of those people celebrating with us. Oh, and the table holding the grooms cake fell and all of the plates shattered, but somehow the grooms cake just slid perfectly onto the ground and wasn’t damaged at all.

As far as advice to other brides, take the opportunity of the wedding and the planning time to connect with your family and friends. The greatest joy I found in the months leading up to the wedding was having so many opportunities to hang out with everyone at showers, engagement celebrations, the bachelorette party, and even simple phone calls to friends to ask opinions on wedding ideas. SMP (of course) and NY Magazine’s wedding section was helpful … and I have to say that one of my best friends, Kristin Shepelwich from AK Event Design in Dallas, was a great shoulder to lean on through this — she has planned many wonderful weddings, so her input was great. It always helps to have someone like that in your corner.

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Coordination: Ashley + Dayme of Dayley Design / Floral Design + Rentals: Bella Flora of Dallas / Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Groom’s Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Invitations: Alyssa Reeves of Paradise Design Co. / Save-the-Dates + Koozies: Tara Hendrick of Tara Hendrick Graphic Design (The Bride’s Cousin) / Linens + Serving Pieces: Marquee Rents / Bar Signs + Cake Knife: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang “Ghillian” / Bride’s Heels: J.Crew / Bride’s Veil: Her Mothers, Made by Her Grandmother / Bride’s Necklace: A Gift from Her Mother / Bride’s Bracelet: Jenny Packham / Hair + Makeup: Erica Gray / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice in Navy

Some people say “Keep Austin Weird,” but in this case I would say “Keep Austin Beautiful” because that’s what this wedding by Thompson Poole Photography is: beautiful. The personal touches to the day are as heartfelt and warm as the couple’s love story and you simply cannot ask for more impeccable floral arrangements by Viridian Design Studio.  Read the full story below and head over to the gallery for more.

From the Bride… Bryan and I had known of each other a long time before we actually met. We went to all the same schools growing up but were separated by a few years. He always had a very striking presence, and I remember being sort of in awe of him from afar — even in elementary school. By high school, he and my brother had become friends, and he began to appear at my parents’ house on occasion. I’ll never forget the first time he ate dinner with us. Mom and I had roasted a chicken with herbs and served it with saffron rice and asparagus. I watched him out of the corner of my eye the whole time and had to laugh to myself as he quietly and deliberately removed every last spec of rosemary from his serving of chicken, creating a very neat little green pile on the side of his plate. He and I didn’t exchange any words that evening, only a few glances. In fact, it was a good five years before he and I had a real conversation. The conversation wasn’t about anything earth-shatteringly deep or impressive, but both of us remember every word of it. We carried it around with us over the next few years, not meeting or talking, but thinking of each other.

In December 2009, Texas was hit by a massive snowstorm, confining me to my house for a week. I had to forfeit a cozy holiday at home for a week spent alone with my dog, eating nothing but string cheese and pecan divinity. Meanwhile my family was having a good old time, catching up with friends by the fireside. When my mom told me over the phone that Bryan was there visiting, I replied in jest, “Well, how am I supposed to marry Bryan Rutherford if I can’t ever see him??” It was kind of an odd comment to make, looking back. We were married precisely one year later. Things happened rather quickly after that evening. Bryan apparently inquired after me with more than just polite interest, and my Dad slipped him my email address. He wrote me the next day. When I received his letter, I was dumbfounded. I knew that something wonderfully important had happened. We wrote or talked every day after that, and within two months we were engaged.

Bryan and I entertained the idea of eloping, but we knew our families would be disappointed, so we decided instead an easy New Years Day wedding with our closest family and friends. We based our color palette on some handmade Japanese origami paper I’d found in Berkeley, where Bryan was living when we first started dating. I would fold little gifts for him and hide them around his house. I used the same paper to make favors for our wedding guests. It took me about four months to hand-fold the favors, but I enjoyed every second, partly because Bryan entertained me by reading aloud to me while I worked. It was a very special time for us.

Wedding Photography: Thompson Poole Photography / Ceremony: St. Austin Catholic Church in Austin, Texas / Reception: Palm Door in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Floral Design: Viridian Design Studio / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Dress: Ellana Couture / Rings: Victoria Moore + Shibumi Studio & Gallery

Backyard wedding-loving SMPers (that just might be all of us) this pretty little fête is going to send your soul into a tizzy of excitement. Because it is just everything a backyard party should be – and so much more. It’s twinkling lights, casual elegance and ruffly cakes all captured like only Mustard Seed Photography can – and it’s all waiting for you right here.

From Mustard Seed Photography… We recently traveled to New Braunfels to photograph this lovely, nature-themed backyard wedding, and we knew from the moment we arrived that we were in love! Not only are the bride and groom super-sweet, but they are also super-creative and put together the best soirée for their guests to enjoy. :)

From the Bride… I absolutely love old vintage knick knacks — bottles, cameras, mason jars, tea cups, books, plates, vases, milk glass, etc. I also adore birds of any kind and color. I knew I didn’t want the traditional symmetrical centerpieces/decor that you typically see  on wedding tables, so gathering things that I love and using them seemed like a nice idea. My mother and I started going to the flea market every weekend! We would haggle with vendors for hours attempting to get everything we needed and not spend a fortune. The main items we used for filler were vintage bottles, milk glass, mason jars and books. We would also buy “centerpiece” items such as vintage cameras, bird cages and even an old microscope. It took us about seven trips to the flea market and a full day of running around town to thrift stores to gather all the beautiful pieces we needed.

The day of the wedding, we filled the bottles and vases with candles, ranunculus, craspedia and assorted wildflowers. They looked like something from Alice in Wonderland’s tea party/magical vintage garden, which I couldn’t have been happier with. I had so much fun with my mother all those weekends we hung out, looking for decor — I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Wedding Photography: Mustard Seed Photography / Ceremony: New Braunfels Conservation Society in New Braunfels, Texas / Reception: The Home of the Bride’s Father in New Braunfels, Texas / Flowers: Travis Wholesale Florist + Arranged by the Bride + Her Mother / Event Design & Planning: The Bride / Wedding Cake: Specialty Cakes by Nisa / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride & Groom / DJ: ZSR Events & Entertainment / Tables + Linens: Aztec Events & Tents / Wedding Dress: Oleg Cassini / Bride’s Shoes: Bandolino / Hair: pH Salon