Texas Weddings

Well, I love this Bride. And her handsome Groom. And their love-filled day. I think it’s safe to say every image by Krystle Akin Photography of this intimate, yet elegant affair is making me fall head over heels for this purple-infused pretty party. With gorgeous blooms by La Tee Da Flowers and the stunning backdrop of the Elmwood Gardens – I think it’s close to impossible not to, and you can see all the reasons why right here!

From the Bride… Tyler and I were both raised in a small, country town and absolutely love spending time among God’s creations. One could say that is how we set our sights on our venue, Elmwood Gardens. Elmwood Gardens encompassed the natural beauty of nature with hints of vintage charm and the laid-back atmosphere I so desired for our wedding day. We wanted our guests to feel as if they had happened upon an intimate gathering filled with fresh-picked flowers, home-cooked food and an outpouring of God’s love.

Our color palette was fresh and romantic. Various shades of purple filled the ceremony, complementing the guys’ gray suits. The reception was exceptionally vintage. The hardwood floors provided a wonderful base for tables laced with a variety of antique odds and ends acquired by many a trip to thrift stores, estate sales and antique malls. The many books, mason jars, tea cups, birds and doilies were perfect to set the tone for a homespun reception. We dined on barbeque with all the fixins’ from our hometown favorite, as well as a three-tier wedding cake that blew me away with carefully placed string worked icing complementing brooches from times past. Various homemade desserts provided an extra sweet treat option for guests, and sweet tea was served in classic mason jars. The dance floor was never empty, as guests danced long into the night to the tunes of old and new favorites provided by a phenomenal DJ, who sang most of them. My husband and I exited to sparklers that created a romantic ambiance to end the night.

I was also so honored to have had an absolutely incredible photographer who captured every moment flawlessly with professionalism and flair — definitely moments that I will treasure for years to come. Overall, I felt as if I had been blessed with the storybook wedding I had always dreamed of, thanks to my family, friends, vendors, wedding planner and, of course, my handsome husband.

Wedding Photography: Krystle Akin Photography / Wedding Venue: Elmwood Gardens in Palestine, Texas / Wedding Planning: Kelly Clover / Floral Design: La Tee Da Flowers / Catering: Kirby’s Barbeque + Sadler’s Restaurant / Wedding Cake: Designs By D’Anne / Wedding Invitations: Charlotte Taylor Creates / DJ: Klentzman Entertainment / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden

It doesn’t get more darling than this pretty little fête, it just doesn’t. It’s a DIY detail-fest done oh so right, and every image from Nicole Ryan Photography makes me want to squeal with excitement. Excitement for this adorable duo and excitement because I know this pretty party is sure to inspire brides-to-be out there! It doesn’t hurt that it is filled to the brim with love, which makes for one sweet as can be full gallery!

From the Bride… Because our careers took us out of the city we fell in love in and with, we decided to have a “destination” wedding back in Austin where we could give our friends and families the opportunity to see what we love so much about this place. We had decided on a brunch wedding, not only for the cost savings, but because it gave us the opportunity to spend more time with our family and friends. And let’s face it: how much fun is a bloody mary bar?!

From the beginning, we decided on a budget wedding, so we knew to keep our costs low by DIYing most things, which allowed us to have all the details we wanted at a fraction of the cost. Rich and I are both geeks about maps, and they were especially fitting with our love for travel, so they were a key part of our decor: in the bunting, the paper roses, a rolled-up scroll containing a note from my husband … I actually thought a “adventurous vintage travel” theme was an original idea (silly me) until we found so many brilliantly put together weddings on the blogs. From there, we pulled together different ideas (like the burlap and mercury glass tablescape appropriated from an SMP wedding!) that seemed to flow well with the feel of the venue. Our programs were one of my favorite details — they were kraft paper envelopes printed with the ceremony details, and inside held a handful of lavender seeds. Our guests showered us with them as we walked down the aisle together. Design the Details did the design, and I printed them out and sewed them together. Because I am crazy. :)

The venue, Cedar Bend Events, and its proprietors were absolutely incredible to work with!  While all of the inspiration and planning came from us, Jillian (of Cedar Bend) exceeded our expectations as our day-of coordinator and decorator. Nicole Ryan did such an amazing job of capturing the whole day with her images. We felt so incredibly comfortable with her, and our families are still singing her praises. The most important detail of our wedding was that our guests have a fantastic time celebrating with us. We all enjoyed playing washers and bocce ball on the lawn, the fabulous spread of food and drinks, and LOTS of bluegrass and two-stepping (hey, it’s Texas!), courtesy of the Bee Creek Boys. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Wedding Photography: Nicole Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: Cedar Bend Events in Austin, Texas / Event Design + Planning: The Bride & Groom / Flowers: H-E-B / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Cake: Central Market / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride / Programs: Design the Details + The Bride / Furniture Rentals: Vintique Rentals / Band: Bee Creek Boys / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Caparros

Punches of purple, stylish maids lined up in a row, a steal-worthy ceremony backdrop and a million and one personalized details sprinkled every where you look – these high school sweethearts can walk away from their big day knowing it was the prettiest of days. Not to mention the most memorable, and Anne Marie Photography snapped up every last bit of it. From the sweet succulent bouquets to the movies after dinner, you can catch every must see detail here!

From the Bride… Sean and I are high school sweethearts who have had the distinct pleasure of growing together in our lives for the past eight years. We know each other inside and out and knew that we wanted the wedding to reflect who were are as a couple and who we are as individuals. When we started planning, we knew that we wanted the wedding to be relaxed, fun and above all else, very “us.” We tried to take the things that we enjoyed doing and put them into a fun night for everyone we love. The vision started as a comfortable, delicious dinner party with family and friends, something we enjoy immensely. We wanted our guests to be comfortable, and we wanted it to feel easy, not forced. Our guests sat outside under string lights at long, family-style’tables of 15. They enjoyed a delicious, elegant, seated dinner that worked nicely with the “family” feel of the table setting. The centerpieces were made of long wooden boxes planted with herbs, flowers and succulents and surrounded by a moss table runner and plenty of candles. The whole setting created a beautiful, easy meal to share with people you love — exactly what we dreamed.

I am a very hands-on person, and I loved creating many of the pieces at the wedding. After a very good friend took our idea and dreamed up a beautiful, unique invitation for us, I was able to take it and use elements throughout other pieces to create a feeling of unity. The menus and programs, along with the beautiful wall art above the dessert table and the pinwheel frame that hung behind us at the ceremony, all worked together to create a cohesive look. It was also important to bring my love of vintage, culturally dynamic, creative, natural elements together with Sean’s clear aesthetic of modern, clean design paired with an industrial touch. One of my favorite things about the night was definitely the beautiful pinwheel frame that hung behind us during the ceremony. I created the frame after my amazing wedding planner dreamed up the idea. It was different than anything I had ever seen and really created an interesting and wonderful backdrop for us.

During the reception, we really wanted it to be natural and fun. A typical Saturday night for us is sitting together and watching movies — new and old. We thought it would be a nice touch to bring that to our guests. So, during the reception, we played a loop of classic movie clips. We set up “booths” where people could sit and enjoy it and we had a wonderful, classic popcorn machine with salts and mix-ins. As self proclaimed foodies, we knew that all the food served at the wedding had to be delicious, unique and memorable. Our guests enjoyed a delicious seated dinner that featured steak au poivre, roasted fingerling potatoes, champagne-scented shrimp and scrumptious portabella mushrooms and roasted vegetables wrapped in puff pastry. Before dinner, the hors d’oeuvres included lobster mac and cheese, fried artichokes and bacon-wrapped chicken bites. The reception continued the culinary delights with a nitrogen ice cream bar, popcorn machine, candy/dessert bar and a coffee/hot chocolate bar. The food was all anyone talked about the next day! We were thrilled with the way the night turned out. I think we very much succeeded in letting people know our style and personalities. The vendors we chose were key to the success of everything. We could not have done it without the incredible talent of all of the people that made our day perfect.

Wedding Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Wedding Venue: Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas / Wedding Planning: Brandi Dunagan of Country Sugar Events / Bouquets: Flair Floral with The RK Group / Centerpieces: DIY by Family Members / Catering, Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream + Popcorn: Rosemary’s Catering with The RK Group / Wedding Cakes: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Desserts: 2Tarts Bakery & Catering / Wedding Invitations: Margaret Mitchell (A Friend + Graphic Designer) / Menus + Programs: Designed by the Bride / Linens: Cover That Up! / Rentals: Illusions Rentals and Design with The RK Group / String Quartet: Monte Vista Strings / DJ: Cutting Edge Entertainment / Photo Booth: Bluefire Photography / Wedding Dress: The Bride’s Grandmother’s

I’ve been known to go a little crazy for a pretty pink soiree, so when I first spotted this darling Houston affair, well… I was beyond excited.  Yep, it’s filled to the very brim with perfectly girlie hues, plus some downright amazing florals by Darryl & Co., sweet, sweet bridesmaid frocks and one of the prettiest lace gowns I have ever seen.  All planned by Stellar Creative Studio and featuring devastatingly gorgeous images by Nate Henderson Photography, you’ll want to cozy on up for a serious day of pretty.  See it all here.

From the Bride… For our wedding we wanted a grand, romantic look, but most importantly, we wanted our family and friends to be taken care of and to have fun. I was planning our wedding 200 miles away, but we still managed to put a lot of input in what we wanted. With the help of Stellar Creative Studio by Tiffany, we converted our dream wedding into a reality. She helped us plan and coordinate the wedding, and she created many other details, including a customized accordion invite that arrived to our guests in a box! When we walked into the reception at The Bell Tower, our jaws dropped at how amazing and beautiful it turned out. Darryl & Co. filled the tables with candlelight and a gorgeous mixture of peach, ivory, and light pink floral centerpieces that coordinated with our champagne linens. RLF Society provided music, peach and pink up-lighting and the elegant monogram that shined over the bridal table. Stellar Creative Studio added all the beautiful stationery details, including life-size D&J initials that adorned the columns located in the outside corridor of the ballroom, escort cards, menu cards, sign-in 3D heart collage, glittery table numbers and box favors. Our cake by Gina was the most unforgettable (in taste and looks) pink ombre swirl cake. The day went by very smoothly, which was a surprise because everyone warned us how stressed we would be. After eating a delicious meal and enjoying all the speeches, we danced the entire night to an awesome playlist! Our guests loved everything, and their only wish is that they could have stayed longer.

I can’t thank our vendors enough for creating such a perfect wedding tailored for us and being so incredible throughout the process! Our favorite part is that we could enjoy being with each other and our family and friends without having to worry about anything. Many thanks to Tiffany (for everything!!) with Stellar Creative Studio, Nate Henderson Photography, Darryl & Co., Angie at the Bell Tower, Phuong Nguyen at Mi Bella Rosa (for day-of coordination), RLF Society and JHfilms. And lastly, a very special thanks to our parents, friends, family and my husband for playing such a loving, supportive and active role in planning! We love reliving the amazing day through the beautiful photos captured by the talented Nate Henderson.

Wedding Photography: Nate Henderson Photography / Ceremony: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston, Texas / Reception: The Bell Tower in Houston, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Stellar Creative Studio / Floral Design + Linens: Darryl & Co. / Wedding Day Coordination: Mi Bella Rosa / Wedding Cinematography: JH Films / Wedding Invitations: Stellar Creative Studio / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Gina / DJ + Lighting: RLF Society / Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Erin” / Bridesmaid Dresses: ASOS

Well, SMPers, it’s officially the weekend – and since we know you lovelies have grand plans that include two whole days of sun, sand and relaxation, we thought we’d kick it all of with some downright pretty inspiration, all courtesy of this fabulous Texas e-session and the magical lens of Kimberly Chau Photography.  It’s a romantic picnic in the park boasting the world’s most adorable duo and a giant game of chess… and it’s brightening our Friday evening with every love-filled second.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the entire image gallery!

From Kimberly Chau Photography… I’ve known Janee since grade school when she moved to our neighborhood. She was always very smart, athletic, and super motivated to succeed in anything she tried and put her heart into. She was competitive, a fighter, and strong-minded. I very much admire her character and will power. Even to this day.

Janee + Robert first met in nursing school three years ago. They talked and she found that he was very nice, funny, and quite hilarious. They dated and he took her to the nearby parks for walks, frisbee, and picnics. Both love the outdoors and sports. Both were perfectly made for each other.

I always try to meet with my clients before I work with them. It had been a long time since I last talked to Janee, so we had to play catch up during our meeting. And the excitement in her voice never once ceased, especially when she retold the proposal story.

The night that Robert proposed, Janee told me, was just perfect. (By the way, Robert, you’re an awesome man). He drove into Houston from Dallas and made dinner plans at Eddie V’s. Janee laughed when she described the dinner. At the end of the meal, a bottle of champagne showed up at their table. Robert is the silly type, she said, and he told her that the drink was free and seconds later, popped the cork for a toast. He didn’t pop the question then. He waited because he wanted to do it at the perfect moment. After dinner, they went to look at Christmas lights around the neighborhood. It was then, amongst the gorgeous glowing lights that Robert got out of the car and got on one knee and asked Janee to marry him.

Janee, you and Robert are just the sweetest couple! I so enjoyed photographing you two and loved catching up! I wish you both the best in wedding planning and in marriage!

Photography: Kimberly Chau Photography

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

Sabine Scherer Photography
Corrine Smith Design
A Perfect Event
J. Lauren Events
Aressana Spa Hotel and Suites
True Grace Makeup
Marina Luri Events LLC

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

An oh-so friendly reminder…

New York brides mark your calendars for the Amsale Trunk Show at their flagship salon from July 13 – 15. For more information, please check out SMP New York!

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

Congratulations to Elizabeth for winning 100 FREE Invitations and Response Cards (with envelopes) from Dear LC!

The two lucky winners of 4 place settings of Colorwave from Noritake are Amanda H. and Leo! Congratulations!

The winner of the Radio City Clutch from BHLDN is Sonja! Congrats!

Have a fabulous weekend, lovelies!  We’ll see you back here Monday morning! xoxo

We’re wrapping up the week with this beyond gorgeous Dripping Springs wedding. I seriously can not get over how fabulous these florals are, especially how they lined the aisle with pretty little mason jars. I could seriously frame a pretty image or two from Forever Photography Studio and lucky for you and me there’s a whole gallery just waiting to inspire. Click here for more!

From the Bride… Pete and I met right after I had moved home from college. So many of my friends had moved away, and what I used to call home felt like such a different place because of it. One Thursday night I went to go visit my cousin at a restaurant she worked at. I noticed Pete almost immediately when I walked in as we casually made eye contact. About an hour later he came up to talk to me, and we really hit it off. A few phone calls later, he asked me on a date. And I guess the rest is history! We live in Houston, and after touring multiple venues around there, none really gave me the feeling I was looking for. We wanted something elegant but laid-back, sophisticated but not too stuffy. We wanted people to have fun! I’ve always loved the Texas Hill Country, so we decided to take a weekend trip to Austin. We lined up 12 venue appointments (it was a long and busy weekend!). Vista West Ranch was literally appointment #12. The very last one. Up until that appointment there were a few venues that were on the short list, but nothing definite. The minute I walked into Vista West Ranch, I knew it was the place we were going to get married. I immediately fell in love with its rustic vibe. It was absolutely everything we were looking for.

Long before we even had a date picked out, I knew I wanted my colors to be green and gray. Ironically enough, it worked out perfectly when the only weekend in spring Vista West Ranch had left was St. Patrick’s Day. After picking colors, the venue really drove a lot of the inspiration. I was dead set on having tall and short centerpieces, but I didn’t want them to be glass. I found beautiful birch wood vases on the internet and used wooden candlesticks for the tall arrangements. My florist was wonderful in working with me and helping bring my vision to life. We worked through the logistics of getting a huge arrangement to sit securely atop a small wooden base. Everything turned out beautifully. For our wedding favors, my mom and I made 100 jars of strawberry jam. My mom has been making this recipe ever since I was a small child. I remember every Christmas she would make jars of it for me to give to my teachers and bus driver as gifts. For a few months every weekend, we would get together and make a batch. I think it took about nine batches to get all the jars filled! I then searched (and searched … and searched) all over for the right fabric to cover the jars and made cute labels for them. I will say being a graphic designer definitely had it advantages when it came to wedding planning. I put my creative touch on almost every element I could.

I consider myself a very non-traditional bride. From Pete and I seeing each other before the wedding to our “guest book” quilt,  I really wanted this moment to be about us. I can’t wait to see how the fabric squares come together to make a beautiful quilt we car cherish for the rest of our lives together. The wedding took 15 months of long, hard planning, but we can honestly say it was the best day of our lives. We wouldn’t have changed a single thing.

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Lauren Carrillo of Something To Celebrate / Floral Design: La Fleur Vintage / Wedding Cinematography: Waterloo Films / Wedding Invitation Design: The Bride / Wedding Cake: Lori Saldana of Classy Cakes by Lori / DJ: Erik of Greenbelt DJ Productions / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid

A river view is a mighty fine thing to have when saying “I Do” to your one and only. And with this sweet Texas spot for marrying comes an affair with just the right touch of rustic charm, cowboy boots included. Studio 563  snapped away from riverside beginning to an ending at the couple’s favorite restaurant, The Gristmill. It’s country goodness times a mill and there’s a whole gallery full of that goodness to peruse. Hop to it!

From the Bride… Before Dustin and I got engaged, I had this picture in my head of the wedding I wanted. But as soon as he proposed and it became real, that picture wasn’t the same one I had in mind any more. My focus changed from having my dream wedding to getting married to the best man in the world. If you’re marring the best man in the world, ANY wedding is a dream wedding! We wanted a small wedding that was unique to us. He proposed  at our favorite restaurant: The Gristmill in Gruene, Texas. So we decided to have our wedding reception there! We then had to find a place for the ceremony, and all we knew was that we wanted to get married right by the river. I think I googled “weddings in New Braunfels, TX” and started looking at images that caught my eye. That’s how I found that the Courtyard Marriott had a gorgeous courtyard right on the river. Everything else seemed to fall into place after having those places picked out.

When Dustin and I were dating, we would go to the good ole’ Dixie Chicken to eat burgers and drink beer. He carved our names on the table we were sitting at to say “Dustin M. loves Miranda M.” My initial was M before we got married, but he knew we would get married one day so he just put M so it would be correct before or after we got married. He also wrote, “Miranda is the girl who I get to wake up next to for the rest of my life.” So instead of a guest book for people to sign, we had people sign a table that was made for us! The wedding day was amazing and our photographer, Lisa, with Studio 563 captured it all. Looking at some of the pictures from the ceremony, and seeing our faces while we were saying our vows really takes me back to that moment. She truly captured the emotion of our day and that is priceless to me.

To all the brides getting married: I told a friend who got married shortly after we did that getting married is much like a roller coaster. It seems like it takes forever to get there, and when you’re all stressed out it seems like it takes even longer — sometimes you just wish it was over with before it even begins! But once you overcome the most stressful point, it’s like being at the top of the roller coaster and from then on out you get to coast and have the best time in your life. 

Wedding Photography: Lisa of Studio 563 / Ceremony: Courtyard New Braunfels River Village in New Braunfels, Texas / Reception: The Gristmill in New Braunfels, Texas / Floral Design: Jenny Stork, A Friend of the Bride, with Special Thanks to the Last Petal / Officiant: Pastor Karen Horan of Gruene United Methodist Church / Wedding Cake: The Cake Guys / Wedding Typography: Jeanna Goodrich / Ceremony DJ: Music 4 Life / Rentals: Comal Rental / Favors: Sugarville Candles / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Weddings by Debbie / Bride’s Belt: Enzoani / Bride’s Necklace: Custom by Art by Amy with Her Grandmother’s Pearls / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Men’s Suits: Al’s Formal Wear / Groom’s Wedding Ring: Zales / Bride’s Wedding Ring: Simon G

Before you head out to celebrate the good ol’ US of A today, we just had to share a bit of DIY inspiration we couldn’t keep from you any longer. It’s easy peasy but makes a big impression, and I do believe that is our favorite kind of DIY. It’s from the lovely Shawna at Event Styling by Shawna Marie, so you know it’s stylish as all get out, and definitely worthy of filing away for your next shindig!

Supplies:

• A woodburning kit with a variety of tips
• A pencil
• Slices of wood

Step 1: Pencil in the name for the place card so you will know that you have enough room. Space the letters out evenly. Use the woodburning tool to burn in the letters. Be very careful because it is really hot. You may want to try practicing on scrap pieces first.

Step 2: Make sure to apply the pressure evenly to get a consistent line. Depending on the set that you have, there are different tips for straight lines and curved lines, so play around with them and find out which one works best for you.

Step 3: Burn around the edges for a finished look.

Photography: Helmutwalker Photography / Design: Event Styling by Shawna Marie

Texas and rustic elegance go hand in hand. They’re like campfires and s’mores; both equally awesome on their own but so much better together. And while we’re at it, another great combo can be found in the peachy florals of  Unexpected Elements, the vineyard filled backdrop of Driftwood Estate Winery and all the lovely imagery captured by A L Collective. It’s an ode to the perfect Texas wedding and you can see it all unfold right here.

From the Groom… It didn’t take long for me to realize Jennifer was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I began looking at engagement rings after having been together for only four months. I know it sounds crazy (believe me, I still can’t believe it myself sometimes), but I had never felt happiness like this in my entire life and had every intention of keeping it that way. As much as I wanted to propose as quickly as possible I was trying my hardest to wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself. For our six-month anniversary I was able to plan an amazing trip to the Georgia mountains. At first, I was planning to pop the question while we were there, but as chance would have it Jennifer received some very exciting news just three weeks before we were to depart for the mountains: a job offer in Austin, Texas. With only a few weeks to get our lives together and set up living arrangements in Austin, it was stressful enough without a ring burning a hole in my pocket. After we had both informed our current employers of our plans to explore new horizons, we started throwing our lives into boxes and getting travel plans set in stone. Two weeks later we embarked on a 900 mile, 18 hour journey to Austin – our new home.

We spent the next four days unpacking and preparing Jenn for her first day at work. When Jenn left for work bright and early Monday morning, I hit the streets as well, visiting companies whom I had contacted while in Tallahassee. I was contacted only two days into my job search by a company that I had reached out to via Craigslist. After two interviews I was offered a position, which I quickly accepted. Now that we were secure financially and comfortable in this new city, I felt like I could finally begin looking for a place to propose. During my job search, I had covered a lot of ground and conveniently worked a few special locations into my daily job-hunt routes. In particular was a beautiful little park only a few miles from our apartment called Mt. Bonnell. Mt. Bonnell is a picturesque cliff on the banks of the Colorado River (also known as Lake Austin) that offers breath-taking views of the city and surrounding hill country. While there for my first visit, I told two women on a walk that I was a recent addition to the city and looking for a place to propose to my girlfriend. They informed me of a small, community park that was much more private and just up the road. When I finally found it (which was not easy due to winding roads and not having an exact address), I knew it would be the place where I’d propose. The views were amazing and there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Being young and very much in love, Jennifer and I had made a point to celebrate our month-iversary (lame, I know) on the 25th of every month. Our seven-month anniversary was rapidly approaching, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to pop the question (this way she knew I would plan something, but would hopefully have no idea how big that something was). With only a few days to go I had to act quickly to get everything set up. Fortunately, my new boss was really excited for me so he let me leave work early on the big day to gather all of the goodies necessary to execute my plan. The hardest part was waiting for her to get home from work. The suspense was killing me. She arrived at 5:15 and I told her we had dinner plans somewhere and needed to hurry (I was trying to get there before sunset, so the atmosphere would be perfect). We jumped in the car and started the short journey to the park. As we pulled up to it, Jennifer was just as impressed with the views and overall vibe as I first was. Initially, she thought we were going to a restaurant, but when I opened my trunk and pulled out the cooler and blanket she started to realize dinner was here for just the two of us with the beautiful hills of our new city. After a delicious meal, I knew it was go time. The sun had started to set, and painted the sky a beautiful shade of pink. Jenn snapped pictures while I packed all of the plates and trash up in the cooler and told her I was going back to the car to drop it all off so we could enjoy the sunset. This was true, but I also wanted to grab the ring that had been locked in my glove box since we left Tallahassee. I walked back to her slowly, trying to conceal the ring box in my pocket and asked her to please stand up and watch the sunset with me. She had the sweetest smile on her face while I explained to her how much she means to me and how much I love who we are together. Then I dropped to one knee and asked her to make me the happiest man in the world and spend the rest of her life with me. Through teary eyes, she finally said the word I’d been hoping to hear: yes. The rest, as they say, is history…

Wedding Photography: A L Collective / Wedding Venue: Driftwood Estate Winery in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Unexpected Elements / Wedding Consultant: Kristi Treadwell of Joyful Details / Catering: Carino’s Italian / Wedding Cake: Central Market / Wedding Invitations: Twig & Lily / Décor + Rentals: Marquee Rents / Entertainment: Austin Party Machine / Transportation: Star Shuttle / Wedding Dress: Oleg Cassini via RecycledBride.com / Bride’s Earrings: Urban Posh / Bride’s Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden / Hair + Makeup: Stephanie Goldsmith of Haute Facade / Rings: Blue Nile / Bridesmaids’ + Mother of the Bride’s Dresses: Forever 21, J.Crew + Nordstrom / Men’s Suits: Jos A. Bank / Rehearsal Dinner: Casa Chapala

A brunch wedding that starts off with monogrammed, chambray shirt wearing bridesmaids all in a row is bound to be a delightful celebration indeed. One that takes the pretty surroundings of Farmers Branch Historical Park and infuses the intimate backyard-esque details crafted by Picture Perfect Day Wedding Planning & Event Design into one whole-heartedly beautiful affair. And we have Jenny McCann’s photography to bring all that joy to life; one pretty image at a time. See it right here!

From the Bride… Our vision was simple — we wanted our day to be an intimate affair that represented Michael and me, our families, our Texas upbringing, and of course, a few of our favorite things. We wanted our guests to celebrate and have a nostalgic day in the park with us! Michael grew up in Farmers Branch and visited this park a lot as a child. Also, Michael’s good friend, youth minister, and mentor Rick Briscoe officiated, which made our celebration even more intimate. The cotton represented my hometown of Ennis, Texasm and it was all handpicked in the fall. Succulents and herbs for arrangements, boutonnieres, and bouquets were all picked from my garden. All of the silver serving pieces belonged to Michael’s family and were well over 100 years old. We had all of our favorite games at the wedding, including Scrabble, bingo, Monopoly, poker, Clue and more from over the years. Music was played at the reception by our good friend Daron Fuller, and the cakes were made by a friend, Mary Ann Manrodt. The cake serving pieces and picture frames were used at several family weddings in the past and the china and champagne glasses were picked up at countless thrift shops along the way. Brunch and champagne are two of our favorite things, so a biscuit bar and champagne bar were only fitting! Some of the DIY crafts included: letters covered in book pages to hang on the church doors, chalkboard labels, 2,000 paper hearts to scatter down the church aisle, church confetti, crossword puzzles for each place setting, fabric flower garlands, decorated mason jars for flower arrangements, decorated clothing pins to hang pictures on our “Family Tree,” the biscuit bar sign, bride and groom burlap signs, and birdseed pouches. This wedding was a collaborative effort by everyone there; we truly have the most wonderful family and friends!

Photography: Jenny McCann / Wedding Venue: Farmers Branch Historical Park in Dallas, Texas / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Picture Perfect Day Wedding Planning & Event Design / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Studio SloMo / Cakes: Mary Ann Manrodt / Reception Music: Daron Fuller / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin “Cobra” / Hair & Makeup: Micaela Soto of Phillip K Thomas Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various / Groom’s Suit: Thick as Thieves / Groom’s Shirt: Ralph Lauren / Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Natural beauty runs a plenty at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. From sweeping vistas to the flowers and wildlife that populate this little spot; it’s the bees knees of Texas and it makes for quite the lovely wedding backdrop. A backdrop that set the stage for blushing pink details by Bliss by Kira, garden roses and hydrangeas galore by Petal Pushers and all photographed to sheer wedding perfection by The Nichols. They have a whole lot more of those images we so adore in the full gallery. Click right here!

From the Bride… At the start of our wedding planning, Sam and I knew only that we wanted to have a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception. We thought the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin provided an ideal romantic ambiance in a gorgeous natural setting. The weather on our special day was ideal; the daytime was sunny and bright, and our evening reception was comfortably cool. The guests were even treated to dancing in the courtyard under a full moon! Sam and I chose a wedding theme that complemented the natural beauty of the venue rather than trying to compete with it. Our wedding planner Kira Sauer, owner of Bliss by Kira, provided invaluable guidance to transform our dreams into reality. We wanted an elegant yet understated vibe to accompany our special day. Kira skillfully integrated my modern taste with Sam’s rustic aesthetic to create a truly unique formal event with the relaxed feel of a garden party. Most importantly, our wedding was a phenomenal celebration of our love shared with our closest friends and family.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination, Design + Decor: Bliss by Kira / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Wedding Cinematography: Capital Wedding Video / Catering: Rosemary’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Stardust Pastry / Band: Dysfunkshun Junction / Wedding Dress: Ella

This adorable couple was wed on Earth Day and was inspired to keep everything, down to the littlest of details, totally eco-friendly. Everything they used was either recycled, reusable or plantable and the outcome is total vintage gorgeous! Al Gawlik Photography captured all the pretty details created by the bride and there’s so much more here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Not long after we became engaged, I started planning our wedding at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs for the upcoming early spring season. I had a vision to have a vintage-chic meets eco-friendly wedding and wanted to use only recycled, reusable, and plantable products. Even our invitations and RSVP’s were plantable, as well as our favors. We were married on a Sunday, April 22 2012: EARTH DAY! It was a beautiful day for an outdoor reception, and everything turned out perfectly! Having had carefully picked out every detail, from which flowers to use to designing the cake, it all turned out better than I could have imagined — we couldn’t have been happier with all of our vendors that we used. We had all of our family there and a majority of our friends — we even had Buford the bulldog. :) I’m a huge fan of color,  so to be able to incorporate different colors that you don’t always see together (sea foam green, yellow and peach), and having it turn out so pretty all together was beyond amazing! I loved the color blocking bridesmaid’s dresses that I picked out — they all looked so pretty in them!

Wedding Photography: Al Gawlik Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Designs by Sage / Event Design: DIY / Wedding Invitations: Forever Fiances / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Lori / Event Rentals: Whim Event Rentals / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

Glam, glam, GLAM! This Bride is the definition of glam-or-ous, and her super stylish soiree? Well, it’s just beyond. Seriously beyond. From the Bride’s top knot to the shoes on her fancy fete to all the layers of lovely in the gorgeous victorian-inspired reception – every image by Caroline + Ben Photography is as swoon-worthy as the last…making for one glamorous gallery!

From the Bride… We wanted a very Victorian/ornate wedding with lots of romantic details, such as like silver platters, lace, soft colors, crystal jewels and black suits. We love the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This is what we kept in mind when creating the look and feel of our wedding, from every detail, from decor to our clothing. We wanted to incorporate old world techniques like hand-painted sign-in scrolls and seating charts done with feather pens and calligraphy. We wanted people to be swept away into another time when they walked into our wedding. We wanted it to feel very ornate and detailed but not stuffy, just cozy and romantic, and hopefully still encouraged everyone to have a good time!

We ordered a lot of items from Etsy like our sign-in scroll which was hand-painted by Danae Blackburn-Hernandez, who is a very talented calligrapher. Her shop on Etsy is eDanae and her blog is I Dream of Letters. We also used another calligrapher for our seating chart, which she hand painted. We placed it on a gold framed mirror in an easel outside the pavilion for dinner. Her name is Teri Fitch and has a shop on Etsy called Damn Good Calligrpahy. It really is damn good! We actually tried to NOT have any DIY projects and wanted to utilize all the amazing artists out there to help our vision come to life. We purchased/rented a lot of specific decor items and ordered special Victorian postcards we re-printed for table numbers, which we cut and framed, but we didn’t really do anything that absorbed too much of our time. We really concentrated on picking out the right table settings, flowers, clothes, and decor to make sure it all worked together, and we had amazing vendors who understood our vision and killed it on the setup! We did purchase all our mercury vases from West Elm since the florist we used didn’t have any, and we knew we wanted that look to go with our Victorian theme. Our florist did an amazing job with our flowers and nailed the look we wanted to our exact request! Her name is Erin Knipp from Rosehip Flora.

Jeff’s brother Silas was our officiant, which was so special. He even wrote the entire ceremony intro and kept it as a surprise for us which was so meaningful. One of the best moments was when Silas asked us to turn around and take a moment to look at all the friends and family who were with us in the chapel on our wedding day. He did this during the ceremony, and we are so greatful he gave us an opportunity to soak it all in. This will always stick in our mind — I can even remember the faces I saw and where they were sitting, such a special touch. He did such an amazing job.

If everything is happening too fast, don’t be afraid to ask the coordinator to slow things down! Jeff and I wish we would have. It really isn’t a big deal if we linger longer for dinner and the dance starts late — at that point, who cares? It’s all about talking to as many friends and family as you can, and the timeline can go out the window after everyone has a full belly. So take time to soak it all in and slow things down if you feel you need to. Its easy to get swept away in everything and not get in as many hugs as you hoped to, which is so important! And hire great vendors! They make ALL the difference in the world!! You’ll be able to tell pretty quickly once you start planning who the good eggs and bad eggs are!

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Erin Knipp of Rosehip Flora / Event Planning: The Bride & Groom / Wedding Day Coordination: Megan Ledsome Shindler of Circle the Date Events / Wedding Cinematography: Adam Grumbo Films / Catering + Dessert: Leigh Louis of Word of Mouth / Caker Topper: Etsy / Wedding Invitations + Save-the-Dates: Laura Nehls of LetterBoxInk / Invitation + Sign-In Scroll Calligraphy: Danae Blackburn Hernandez of eDanae / Seating Chart Calligraphy: Teri Fitch of Damn Good Calligraphy / Linens + Rentals: Word of Mouth + To Have and Hold / Wedding Dress + Belt: Lazaro (Fall 2011) / Bride’s Shoes: Pour la Victoire / Bride’s Hair Flower: Sara Gabriel / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Grace Filipowicz of Jose Luis Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LOVE by Enzoani / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nine West / Bridesmaids’ Hair: Ashley from Belle Mariee Artistry / Groom’s Tuxedo, Shirt + Bow Tie: Tom Ford / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Groomsmen’s Suits: Their Own / Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: Bead Unique

Escape from your day to the secret garden. Imagine lovely lavender so vibrant that you can smell it, sweet lace draped elegantly over a rustic wooden table and various unique vessels carrying arrangements that you want to reach out and touch. Now, open your eyes and feast your heart on this incredible inspiration shoot by Jen Rios Design. I wish the computer screen was a scratch and sniff because these stunning images by Ann Marie Itschner Photography have left me lusting for more lavender! Luckily, there are plenty more photo’s here to keep your day dream going {and going} until you reach the farmer’s market.

From Jen Rios Design… The inspiration behind this shoot was fields of lavender, rustic but sweet vintage elements, a table set for tea and garden romance. We originally planned on the shoot tailoring to a bridal party tea or shower but once Dawn from Sisters Vintage Party came across this vintage Edwardian style gown, we just had to go for a wedding/bridal shoot. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, The Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast was my first choice for the shoot’s location. The owner, Cecilia has carefully curated her garden to host only the most beautiful herbs and plant life. The romantic overgrown feel you get from her garden provided the perfect setting for the “garden romance” we were looking for. With my vision in mind, Dawn and Vickie from Sisters Vintage Party pulled together elements from their collection that perfectly created that “rustic, sweet, vintage” vibe. They have an amazing selection of vintage goodies, and their creativity is such an inspiration! Once all these things were designed and thought through there was only one person who could make it come to life: Ann Marie. Ann’s photography style is like no one else’s. She’s not afraid to take risks to get an artistic shot. The soft, vintage feel her photos have were the perfect way to portray to look I wanted for this concept.

Photography: Ann Marie Itschner Photography / Photo Shoot Location: The Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast in Kerrville, Texas / Concept, Design + Styling: Jen Rios Design / Vintage Furniture, Props, Rentals + Wardrobe: Sisters Vintage Party / Wedding Dress: Vintage / Wardrobe Assistance + Bride’s Accessories: Annie Cal’s Boutique / Hair + Makeup: Ann Marie Itschner Photography

One glance at the gilded horn decor and you might as well stick a fork in me because I am done. But that’s merely the tip of this glamorous iceberg. From a Bride that so seamlessly blended her mother’s vintage mantilla veil and a fabulous pair of Chanel caged heels to a reception designed by Misty Duncan Events that is the definition of modern classic with a decidedly gilded twist, this is our happy place. It’s a gorgeous display of wedding goodness captured by The Nichols and you can see it all right here!

From the Bride… Michael and I live in New York City, but we travel to Austin, Texas, often to visit my family. We both love it so much that we decided the night we got engaged that a hill country celebration would be perfect for us. My dear friend Misty, from Misty Duncan Events, helped us plan and execute what was truly our dream wedding. The most important part to us was the ceremony itself. We had a traditional Catholic mass/ceremony, and we included some Hispanic traditions like the exchanging of the arras (coins that represent the groom’s promise to provide for his family, and the bride’s promise to properly use and care for their money) and the traditional lasso (a figure-eight loop that is placed over the bride and groom to represent a lifetime of unity). What was also very special was that I wore my mother’s veil that she wore when she married my dad 42 years ago! And for my wedding gown, I was lucky enough to have the privilege of working with Monique Lhuillier! Using mom’s veil as our starting point of inspiration, Monique designed my absolute dream gown. And not only is she extremely talented, but she’s also genuinely kind and beautiful inside and out. I wore Chanel booties for the ceremony, but changed into my sparkly fibi & clo’s (the company I c0-founded with my husband) for the dance party.

After a very emotional and sweet ceremony, it was time to celebrate our Cinco de Mayo wedding! From the moment we saw the gorgeous Lake Travis views at Villa Del Lago, we knew that was it. I told Misty we wanted the vibe to be inspired by our favorite French designer, Philippe Starck. I tried to think about what he would do if he designed a hotel in Austin. So from the gold spray-painted deer antlers to the peacock-colored tufted bench to the cowhide rugs over French furniture, the result was a chic French/Texas vibe. We tried to make it as personal as we could, so we named each section of our long family-style table after our favorite NYC restaurants. Each had an envelope that told personal stories about each restaurant and our favorite things to order. And then inside the envelope were the business cards, so friends and family could share in these memories when they come visit us. We also love sugar, so our sweets table was filled with three different cake flavors and all our personal favorites like Univ. of Texas Longhorns sugar cookies (my fave) and s’mores tarts (Michael’s fave). And each guest left with a bag of traditional Mexican wedding cookies. Looking back, we still can’t believe how lucky we are to have been surrounded by so much love from our friends and family that weekend. Seeing everyone hanging out together having a good time is what we’ll remember more than anything. That kind of support system meant the world to us, and we’ll never forget that.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Ceremony: Saint Mary Cathedral in Austin, Texas / Reception: Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination + Design: Misty Duncan Events / Catering + Floral Design: Whole Foods / Wedding Cake: Stardust Pastry / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals + Marquee Rents / Transportation: Antique Limousines of Austin /Band: Hot Sauce ATX / Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Austin + W Austin Hotel / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Shoes: Chloe and fibi & clo / Makeup: Lindsey Hartley / Groom’s Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren

A fellow Texas gal myself, this Hill Country Wedding by Brad and Jen has completely won my heart. Saddle up for something extra special because we’ve got custom koozies, livestock, perfectly mismatched bridesmaids dresses and flawless table-scapes; all in harmony with one another thanks to Brandi Hines Events + Design. Oh, and I hear the crawfish by Heavenly Gourmet was heavenly indeed! There are so many great details to this day so be sure to boot scoot and boogie over to the full gallery here!

From Brad and Jen… Brooke and Luke were married at The Serengeti Resort, just outside of San Antonio, Texas. The resort is complete with ostriches, gazelles, a camel named Clyde and a giraffe named Buddy. Brooke and Luke have a huge heart for animals, so the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. From the country chic details, such as the carnival props, to the safari landscape, everything seemed to radiate color. We were surrounded by a vibrant array of family, friends and best crawfish an Aggie could ask for. It was truly a night to remember.

Winery weddings seem to make wedding-loving folks like ourselves a bit giddy. The surroundings are guaranteed to be stunning and the couples that choose these pretty venues always seem to be darling. Well this Monday morning, Jess Barfield Photography is bringing us just such a sweet soiree. It’s a beauty for sure, and the full gallery of images is the perfect way to start your day!

From the Bride… When we first got engaged, I had a vision of a small backyard-type wedding with only our closest friends and family, but Marius had a vision of a traditional wedding with a huge party for the reception. After talking over what was most important to us, we realized that we actually wanted the same thing — an event that felt like “us,” was a whole lot of fun and involved everyone who was important to us. We decided to throw out tradition and anything we felt like we “had” to do and just do things our way. We stopped worrying about what anyone else would think, and in the end, our wedding was perfect and exactly what we wanted.

We had both the ceremony and reception at a local winery, and the complimentary glass of wine for guests as they arrived was a big hit! Our outdoor ceremony had very little additional decor because we wanted the natural setting to speak for itself. The only thing we added were jars of hydrangeas hanging from shepherds hooks along the aisle that were thrown together very last minute by my bridesmaids! We were able to incorporate some Filipino traditions into the ceremony, which was important to Marius’ family. We made a chalkboard program instead of having a traditional paper program — I bought a frame from a thrift store and painted over the picture with chalkboard paint. We also decided that instead of a traditional guest book, we would have guests sign corks, and I love having them on display in a hurricane in our living room now.

All of the reception decor was also made by us. Again, we wanted things to feel simple and natural, so we hung our own cafe string lights under the tent, made table numbers out of old wine bottles, cut table runners from burlap and purchased stems of white hydrangeas to put in mason jars on the tables. For the escort cards, I used manila hang tags and pinned them to a homemade fabric cork board that was also made from a thrift store frame. I had originally wanted to hire someone to do all of the decor, but we decided to DIY to save money, and that turned out to be our favorite part of wedding planning! Overall, we were absolutely in love with our wedding day, and I think the biggest reason (besides marrying each other, of course) was because we stayed true to ourselves and created an event that had everything we wanted and nothing we didn’t.

Wedding Photography: Jess Barfield Photography / Wedding Venue: Lone Oak Winery in Burleson, Texas / Floral Design: Bella Flora of Dallas / Catering: Reata Restaurant / Wedding Cakes: Sugar Bee Sweets / DJ: Craig Smith of LeForce Entertainment / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal + Custom Alterations / Bride’s Sash + Hairpiece: Handcrafted Affairs / Hair: Goldwaves Salon / Makeup: Erin Blair Gobin / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew, Nordstrom, Zara + Custom / Kimono Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

This show stopping southern soiree by AJH Photography has won my heart. I just love a wedding with all the fixings, complete with the belly dancer Amara, a Bobalu Cigar Co. bar and all! On top of the all the fun, this wedding has true style and grace from the bold floral arrangements by Bouquets of Austin to the impressive light design by Illios Lighting. Talk about a double threat! You’ll want to head over to the full gallery on this one, trust me.

And Filming Austin did a beautiful job capturing the bride and groom’s happiness:

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From AJH Photography… The Four Seasons is always an amazing place to host a wedding, but this was easily one of the most elegant and elaborate events that I have seen. Rhainna and Karim planned the entire wedding all the way from Nigeria with some expert help from an amazing wedding coordinator in Austin. Over the last year and a half or so, vintage-style weddings have ruled the Austin wedding scene. The class and sophistication of this celebration is not standard for Austin, but formal ballroom style weddings are coming back in a big way.  The mix of Lebanese and Texas charm made this wedding one of a kind.

Wedding Photography: AJH Photography / Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Austin in Austin, Texas / Event Design + Planning: Pearl Events Austin / Event Design + Production: Townsley Designs / Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin / Officiant: Mike Reinhart / Wedding Cinematography: Filming Austin / Wedding Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Details Austin / Pianist: Andrew Grainger / Ceremony Music: Musical Discovery / DJ: Look No Further Entertainment / Lighting: Illios Lighting / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Belly Dancer: Amara / Cigar Rolling: Bobalu Cigar Co. / Carriage: Austin’s Die Gelbe Rose Carriage / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo + Custom Additions by Geri Vela of Alexia Gavela Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Erica Gray

Fresh lemonade anyone? Yes, with a side of popcorn. That’s what these lucky guests were served from a handmade stand while waiting for the fun to begin at The Antique Rose Emporium, and we would like some too. Lauren Cunningham of The Creative Parasol piled on the pretty with pastel pink MooseFeathers Florist flowers and then some at this shabby chic fete. The bride is shabby-free in a lace Pronovias gown that is just-oh-so-right for catching the sunlight through tulle with lace applique. Between the thyme, burlap sack signs and sparklers there are too many lovely little things to tell you about, so we’ll let Katie Lamb Photography show you all of it right here!

Katie Lamb is one talented lady! Check out her film from the day too:

From Katie Lamb Photography… Oliver and Kristin are such a fun couple, and their wedding was such a perfect reflection of them. Kristin and her bridesmaids all got ready in the old vintage house on the property with a wraparound porch that stepped right out to the ceremony aisle. The ceremony took place outside at the gazebo, and Kristin had a homemade lemonade stand with drinks and popcorn for guests to enjoy while waiting for it to start. Afterward, we walked up the old dirt path to the chapel where dinner was held, then everyone put their boots on and headed back down another path to the outdoor area for dancing under the stars and twinkle lights. It was simply amazing.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Katie Lamb Photography / Wedding Venue: The Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas / Floral Design: MooseFeathers Florist / Event Design + Wedding Invitations: Lauren Cunningham of The Creative Parasol / Event Planning: Something Planned / Wedding Cakes: The Muffin Top / Wedding Dress: Pronovias via Brickhouse Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

When you pair She-N-He Photography and Design and Mercury Hall and then top it off with a seriously stylish duo, you just KNOW you are about to see some wedding magic. This pretty party does not disappoint…not in the very least. It’s bright, it’s vibrant, it’s full of fab details and it’s full of love – making for a gallery of wedding magic worthy of some serious quality time today!

From She-N-He Photography and Design… She is a teacher and he is a co-founder of the internet start-up Forecast. They are ridiculously loved by their friends and family and silly adored by each other. Mercury Hall was a beautiful backdrop for their brunch nuptials on what was a perfect March morning to tie the knot. Marlene and her bridesmaids spent the morning at Hotel San Jose feeling “easy breezy” and getting their hair and makeup done by Kathryn Lyons and Houston Puryear, respectively. Their friend and officiant, Jason Callahan, delivered a beautiful service to unite the beloved couple. A reading from The Velveteen Rabbit rounded out the service. They chose Kerbey Lane to cater their delicious brunch. Yum. With a nod to Eric’s childhood home in Pennsylvania, the delicious (and gorgeous) pies and cakes were provided by Quacks and Sao Paulo’s, respectively. POLLEN provided the beautiful succulent, billy ball, and peony-filled bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages. The rest of the floral decor was subtle and elegant from Austin Flower Company. Friend and DJ R.J. Johnson played an awesome, tailored mix of tunes complete with Italian pop hits for Marlene’s “Italian Crew.” This entire divine event was pulled together by their coordinator, Linda Huynh, yet another friend.

Wedding Photography: She-N-He Photography and Design / Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Linda Huynh, Friend of the Couple / Bouquets, Boutonnieres + Corsages: POLLEN / Other Flowers: Austin Flower Company / Officiant: Jason Callahan, Friend of the Couple / Catering: Kerbey Lane Cafe / Pies: Quacks / Wedding Cake: Sao Paulo’s Restaurante / DJ: R.J. Johnson, Friend of the Couple / Wedding Dress: J.Crew “Tatiana” / Hair: Kathryn Lyons / Makeup: Houston Puryear (512-709-8603)