Texas Weddings

Well it’s Saturday, and you know what that means… time for a little cinema action. This Same Day Edit from 31FILMS is so good. I had goosebumps from the beginning to the end, because it is just one of those weddings that can put a smile on anyones face. I realized half way through the film that not only was I adamantly taking in every stunning detail of this affair, but I was thinking of how much love I have for my own husband. And that is the mark of a fantastic wedding. Van & Henry, I hope you watch this video every day and are filled with the love you’re sharing with us all today!

Photography by Andrew Chan Photography.

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Van + Henry’s Same Day Edit from 31FILMS

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Every girl looks forward to her wedding day, but wedding planning is something entirely separate from the celebration. Without a great network of friends, family and an amazing team to plan the actual events of the day, the stress levels can become pretty nutso. Looking back, Henry and I were so fortunate to have the support of our loved ones from the beginning.

From the time Henry started planning the proposal, the involvement of our loved ones was crucial. He popped the question on the Brooklyn Bridge, after our closest friends (most of whom flew in for the occasion) surprised me with a rendition of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” against the skyline of the city that brought us together. Henry’s sister Kim offered to make our wedding cake and macarons that served as delicious favors. My sisters baked compost cookie favors with the help of the infamous Momofuku Milk Bar recipe. His mom created stunning bouquets and centerpieces for us, each one made with love. Friends also helped produce our Banksy-themed wedding invites and print the seating chart for the reception, which Henry designed to match the NYC Transit system. With these incredible acts of love, the wedding day was not only about us – it was about all of the people who cared about us, too.

Love and laughter filled our day, and with all of the craziness going on we would have been hopelessly lost without an unforgettable contribution from the crew at 31films. The SDE they edited captured not only the moments that we wanted (for me, Henry’s incredible vows); it also caught moments that I didn’t know we would cherish, along with images and expressions of the people dearest to us. Watching the film at our reception felt like receiving a gift from friends we’d known all of our lives, and we were so incredibly lucky to work with such a talented group of people. Andrew Chan Photography also hooked it up with some great shots of the day, allowing us a different and amazing vantage point of the wedding. Having worked with Andrew for our engagement shots, we knew that we were in great hands, and he definitely proved us right about that. We were amazed at the way he was able to step in and capture the joy and intimacy of each shot.

Weeks before the big day, Henry was offered a job opportunity in Houston, where we were having the wedding. This meant we had to pack up and move in the eleventh hour of wedding planning. All of the New York references in our wedding thus became our way of saying goodbye to the city where we met and fell in love, and it was unbelievable to us that we were going to be celebrating the day in the city that held our future. The best part about it was being able to look back, weeks after we were done with the wedding and the chaotic move, and cherish each moment of our big day, thanks to our brilliant photo and video studios.

Cinematography: 31FILMS / Photography: Andrew Chan Photography / Church: Annunciation Catholic Church / Venue: The Plaza Club

Happy Friday SMP Texas! We’re wrapping up the week with this super cute outdoor fete sent into us by the fabulous Kristin Light Photographie. Inspired by their childhood weekend trips to the lake, these college sweethearts created a day that was both meaningful and oh so pretty. We’re loving all the charming, rustic details. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Reese and I met in college at Trinity University. During my first week on campus, my car battery died and he and his good friend Bryan came to my rescue.  I quickly fell hard for Reese’s sweet Kansas charm!

Growing up, both Reese and I enjoyed annual family vacations at the lake. Reese’s family has been going to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and my family has been going to Lake Titus in New York every summer for as far back as we can remember. We both have amazing memories of from these family vacations and we wanted to recreate that feeling with our wedding!  Because our families are not spread out, we initially struggled with our wedding location. Luckily, once we started searching for the right venue, we quickly found The Retreat at Balcones Springs just up 281 North in the Texas Hill Country.  It was absolutely everything we were looking for — it is located on the lake and had enough space for our guests to stay onsite. Once we had our wedding weekend venue, everything else fell into place. I found Kristin Light through my good friend. I checked out her website and knew she was exactly what we were looking for in style. As soon as we spoke on the phone, she quickly sealed the deal with her friendly and fun attitude! We found the perfect church in Horseshoe Bay that has beautiful huge windows that overlook the lake below.

Our main inspiration was our annual lake trips but we tried to incorporate other important parts of our lives as well. We used Reese’s grandpa’s 1968 Ford Galaxie as our “wedding weekend” car. (We couldn’t save it for just the get-away because we were too excited about it!) We also incorporated Reese’s Kansan roots by having the flower girls carry sunflowers (the Kansas state flower). We brought in a touch of the Adirondacks with our Adirondack chair guest book. I wore the pearls my grandmother, mother and aunt wore at their weddings. So many of the other touches at our wedding were made possible by our friends and family – from the apple pies to the cocktail straws. Throughout our wedding process, I was constantly reminded that we are very lucky to have such amazing friends and family – there was an outpouring of love & support. We had a blast and we’ll remember our wedding weekend fondly for years to come!

Wedding Photography: Kristin Light Photographie / Ceremony: St. Paul’s Apostle Church / Reception: The Retreat at Balcones Springs in Marble Falls, Texas / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Serendipity Bridal / Bridesmaid + Flower Girl Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Reiss / Flowers: White Magnolia / Shoes: BHLDN + TOMS / Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Bridal Party Gifts: J.Crew Shirts + Anthropologie Tea Cups / Wedding Invitation Suite, Save the Dates + Paper Goods: The Bride +  Papier Lapin / Wedding Sign: True Connection / Twine M’s: ELDetail / Dog Collars: Silly Buddy / Garter: Lollie Couture / “Love is Sweet” Banner: Mirtillo / Mr. & Mrs. Pillows: Homemade Gems / Straw Tags, Burlap Wine Table Numbers: Kate Skelley Wilson, Friend of the Bride / Apple Pies: Mother of the Bride / “e & r” pillows: Aunt of the Bride / I SPY Game: Martha Stewart Weddings

It’s been awhile since we’ve laid our eyes on a gorgeous wedding photographed by The Nichols, but today is the day loves and this wedding was completely worth the wait. It’s sweet simplicity with a lovely organic feel all crafted by The Nouveau Romantics. The flowers alone are total heart-palpitaters and then there’s the all white backdrop of Mercury Hall to really set the scene. This is a study in understated elegance wrapped up in Southern charm and we’re giving it two thumbs up. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I really had no idea which direction to go when I began planning our wedding. I began pulling images from blogs early and putting together a PowerPoint, which ended up being the best thing I could have done. It was how I found our amazing florist. I showed the PowerPoint to my photographer who suggested that I get in contact with her friend. I am so grateful that Jennifer Nichols put me in touch with Liz Lewis of Nouveau Romantics. The first time I spoke to Liz on the phone, I knew it was going to be a perfect match. She understood exactly the look and feel I was aiming for. Liz has amazing taste, and she did a perfect job achieving what I had in my mind — and beyond.

Mercury Hall was a lovely venue that captures Austin’s easy-going charm. Because I had so many friends recommend it, we booked the venue unseen, and we were so glad we did. The beautiful wood floors and white bead board walls were gorgeous, which made creating a beautiful space so easy. Not to mention I really wanted to get married under a live oak tree, and Mercury had two amazing live oaks — an ideal backdrop for the ceremony. My mom inherited beautiful cake stands from my grandmother and great-grandmother. It was important to me to have something of theirs included, so I did my best to incorporate them. The stands also worked amazingly well with a collection of my mom’s cloches. We had our cakes done by Polkadots Cupcake Factory. They were able to make gorgeous cakes from some images I provided. And they were very yummy! I had seen a photo booth backdrop in a blog that I really liked, which gave me the idea to do a landscape using felt for a backdrop. My fiance proposed while on a trip in Iceland under a waterfall. I thought it would be fun to do a Icelandic landscape — with a geyser, glaciers, Vikings and, of course, a waterfall. The backdrop really turned out to be my favorite project. I got help from a sewing studio in my neighborhood called “Gather Here.” Our guests loved posing in the photo booth, and the playful personal touch made the photos that much more special.

My fiance is from North Carolina, and I am from Texas, so we thought spice rub as a gift would be appropriate. I found a great online fabric manufacturer in Durham, North Carolina, named Spoonflower that produces personalized fabric. I painted the states of North Carolina and Texas and had the fabric made for each. It was so easy, and the fabric with baker’s string was adorable on the little jars. We made a jar of Texas and a jar of North Carolina spice rub for each guest. Luckily, we had eager family to help put these together for us. The entire weekend was amazing. For me, it was great to see all of my favorite people gathered in one of my favorite cities. We were so lucky that people came from all over to celebrate with us, some as far as China! The night really turned out to be beautiful, and all the personal touches made it feel like our very own.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Coordination: Lizze Belle Events / Floral + Event Design: Liz Lewis of The Nouveau Romantics / Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Catering: Kurant Events / Dessert Table: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Photo Booth Backdrop: DIY with Help from Gather Here (Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts) / Spice Rub Favors: DIY with Custom Fabric from Spoonflower / Wedding Gown: Catherine Deane / Hair: Jean Barton / Makeup: Rae Cosmetics

Sometime brides send in descriptions with their weddings that just make me want to squeeze them! They sound so incredibly darling. This gorgeous bride would definitely fit into the squeeze-worthy category. With her timeless style and sweet story of what you can tell was her dream day, she is the definition of darling. And thanks to Stacy Reeves Photography we get to devour all of the darling details dreamt up by this sweetheart of a bride, and give her a virtual squeeze by spending some QT in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When Philip and I got engaged, I had no clue what I wanted our wedding to be like. After doing my due diligence via blogs and magazines, I decided on the theme of “romantic, sweet and classic.” Our most important task was finding the right vendors and after that, it all came together nicely. We chose the soft colors of champagne and blush to set the romantic mood. We then picked out the sweetest flowers we could think of, including hydrangeas, peonies, ranunculus and roses. We also decorated the reception using numerous candles to complement our flowers. We had a great planner at Arlington Hall who assisted us with the details of table linens, rentals, and picking out delicious food. We also landed gorgeous letterpress invitations from SmallPrinter on Etsy. At the beginning of the planning process, I didn’t care much about my invitations, but after designing them with SmallPrinter, they turned out to be one of my favorite details of the wedding! Finding my wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses may have been the most difficult part of planning. I wanted a dress that was unique but still classic and romantic. After looking at every store in Dallas, I finally landed on the Jim Hjelm dress. I knew it was just perfect. Based on my dress, I found beautiful champagne bridesmaids dresses that fit our wedding look perfectly.

Finally, we wanted to send our guests off with sweet treats. Philip and I got engaged in Paris, so we wanted to give a nod to Paris without overdoing it. We ordered wholesale muslin bags online and bought some Paris-themed stamps to decorate with. We filled them with pink and white pretzels to make a pretty favor. We also made the ribbon sticks with blush, champagne and white ribbon for guests to wave as we made our exit. Philip and I literally planned the whole wedding together, beginning to end. All of our hard work made the night so much sweeter to us, and we still get giddy thinking about how perfect the day was with our family, friends, and each other.

Wedding Photography: Stacy Reeves Photography / Flowers: The Garden Gate (214-220-1272) / Ceremony: Royal Lane Baptist Church / Reception: Arlington Hall at Lee Park / Catering: Food Glorious Food / Wedding Cake: Frosted Art Bakery / Wedding Invitations: SmallPrinter / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via Stardust Celebrations / Bride’s Hairpiece: Untamed Petals / Bride’s Earrings: Bachendorf’s / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm Occasions via Stardust Celebrations / Hair + Makeup: Angie Williams of AW Wedding Hair and Makeup / Band: The Special Edition Band

This gorgeous San Antonio wedding by Anne Marie Photography has fully and completely converted me into a purple lover.  The flowing, ruffled bridesmaids dresses are the most delicious lilac hue and perfectly compliment the rustic, barn setting.  If you are a super fan of rustic elegance like I am then you are going to be swooning over all the delightful details.  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… It was difficult for some of our friends and family from across the country and around the world to understand why we — a couple who met in Southern California — decided to marry nine years later on a ranch in San Antonio, Texas. As we explained in our wedding programs, “In every chapter, Texas has held a special place in our hearts. It is where the bride has her roots and where the groom earned his wings.”

The ceremony and reception took place at the Don Strange Ranch, beginning in the rustic Kendall Creek barn past dirt roads, longhorns, and wooden signs with hearts and arrows leading the way. The contrast of delicate ivory rose petals lining cement floors, musicians playing string instruments from wooden folding chairs, and glass votive jars hanging from wooden rafters made for a magical setting. Standing before a wooden cross decorated with flowers and barn door panels with light casting shadows through the cracks, the bridesmaids wore flowing, wisteria-colored, floor-length dresses, and the groomsmen wore traditional tuxes and bow-ties. The candles by the altar were votives placed in an antique sugar mold my mom found at my grandparents’ house. After the ceremony, which had most of the bridesmaids drying their eyes with the handmade handkerchiefs they held behind their bouquets, guests made their way just down the road past the creek and the windmill to the open air pavilion where the reception was held.

With every detail, from the cowboy boots beneath my lace wedding dress to the candles, gold chargers, and mason jars with flowers on every table, to the waffle cones and Blue Bell ice cream enjoyed toward the end of the evening, the wedding was both rustic and elegant with a reception that was both formal and fun. Our cake knife was the same one my parents used when they were married 30+ years ago, at ages 20 and 21. It’s engraved with their names and wedding date on one side and our names and wedding date on the other. We are so grateful to, and would highly recommend, everyone who worked so hard on the event, from our wedding planner who made the vision a reality, to our band that had couples slow dancing beneath the twinkle lights and later got the whole group dancing to “Thriller” in front of the stage, to the photographers who captured every moment beautifully.

Wedding Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Flowers: Tom Cardenas of RTC Floristry / Wedding Venue: Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas / Wedding Band: Blind Date / Wedding Planning + Design: Chris Wells, Wedding Planning Worldwide (Based in Washington, D.C., cwells@weddingplanningworldwide.com) / Wedding Gown: Romona Keveza / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Wooden Sign on Chair at Reception: RumpelstreetBoutique / All Other Wooden Signs: DIY / Bride’s Boots: Frye / Handkerchiefs: Vintage via The Flea Market at Eastern Market

We couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to end this already gorgeous week than with a wedding chock full of gorgeous flowers and gorgeous DIY touches.  It is rustic, romance that you can only find deep in the heart of Texas and we are giddy about each and every sweet detail.  The pretty doesn’t just stop at garden roses and the handmade goodies but extends to the phenomenal images by mike reed photo.  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Kevin and I met and fell in love at Northern Arizona University in 2007. His proposal came nearly three years after we met, while I was visiting him on his birthday in Saint Louis. We began discussing details almost instantly and determined that we would need a long engagement to make all our wedding wishes come true. After much consideration, we knew a fall wedding in Texas would provide us with the most beautiful weather for an outdoor ceremony. Plus, we chose our wedding date, October 1st, 2011, because it fell on the weekend of our 4th Anniversary. It only took a month for us to find the most important piece of our wedding: the venue. We chose Kindred Oaks in Georgetown, Texas, because of its beautiful outdoor ceremony site, and covered pavilion for the reception. The venue was romantic, rustic, and elegant, which was everything we were looking for. The staff at Kindred Oaks was also very accommodating. We valued the importance of lightening and music at our wedding because we wanted to create a relaxed and fun vibe for our guests. We used Complete Music for their D.J. service and they did the lighting and monogram for our dance floor as well. Kevin was most interested in the food for our wedding. Catherine from Eudora’s Cuisine was an incredible caterer. She knew that we wanted a fall-flavored menu and she helped us create just that! We had chicken with a cranberry chutney glaze, steak filets wrapped in bacon, pumpkin manicotti, butternut squash soup, seasoned fall veggies and a cranberry-walnut salad. It was all so fitting for our fall wedding! Another important feature at our wedding was the cupcakes. This was also one of the most fun parts of planning the wedding. We met Katie from Hill Country Cupcake and knew that she would be so great to work with. She encouraged us to do all the flavors we loved, which included pumpkin, red velvet, cobbler, bananas foster, chocolate, and a caramel pecan-flavored cupcake called “The Longhorn.”

The absolute most important vendor for me was the florist. I did lots of research to find a well-respected florist with great reviews. I fell upon Beth Richards with Exquisite Petals and I was in love with her work. She made my vision of big, lush centerpieces and rustic, wrought-iron candelabras and chandeliers into a reality. My favorite flowers, peonies, are not in season in the fall, so she helped me to find flowers that resembled them. We ended up filling the venue with English garden roses, mostly in white. Since our colors were chocolate brown, peach, ivory and champagne gold, I wanted to use mostly ivory and peach flowers. She incorporated the brown by using the wrought-iron candelabras, and each table was covered in a champagne colored silk fabric.

Every detail of the wedding was an important one. I did many DIY projects like the cupcake menu, dinner menu, bar menu, invitations, seating chart and programs, and I also framed several of our engagement photos. I also ordered cupcake toppers, favor tags, and table numbers from Etsy. Since 90% of our guests were from outside of Texas, we thought it would be fun to showcase some rustic Texas charm. We sent our guests away with a glass, barn-shaped jar filled with Texas peach honey. Those individual touches really made our wedding unique to our style. Lastly, we must add that the most important thing we did for our wedding was rent a red, vintage Chevy truck for our wedding photos. The old truck in our wedding photos gave us the rustic, romantic style we were looking at creating on our special day. Now, when we look back at photos, the old truck reminds us of the feelings we felt and the style we were able to capture on our special day. Besides all of the amazing vendors that we listed above we had a wonderful photographer, Mike Reed, to help us remember the day.

Photographer: mike reed photo / Florist: Beth Richard of Exquisite Petals / Venue: Kindred Oaks / Caterer: Eudora’s Cuisine / Cupcakes: Hill Country Cupcake / Vintage Chevy Truck: Transportation Consultants / DJ + Lighting: Complete Music / Rentals: Austin’s World of Rentals / Bar: Hill Country Event Planning / Bride’s Dress: Casablanca Bridal /Cupcake Toppers, Guest Gift Tags + Table Numbers: SeasonalDelights / Bridesmaid Necklaces: Charlotte Russe / Bridesmaid Earrings: Banana Republic

If Forever Photography Studio was planning on sweeping me off my feet with this breathtaking Austin affair, they most definitely succeeded.  Boasting vibrant red and green hues, a charming Barr Mansion setting and lovely bridesmaid frocks in the sweetest of navy blues, I’ve been COMPLETELY blown away by this darling soiree one pretty, pretty moment at a time.  Plus, with a plethora of dazzling florals by Stems Floral Design, an amazing lace gown and one very stunning bride and groom, there’s an entire day of lovely just waiting to be adored.  Join me in the gallery for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jona and Jerry of Forever Photography Studio… Jacob and Caroline’s wedding was at one of our favorite Austin venues: Barr Mansion! There are so many reasons we love this venue — the property is gorgeous in person, but it photographs even better! Take that with a gorgeous wedding party and some amazing vendors and you have a unique, beautiful wedding! When I first met Jacob and Caroline I knew we were going to love photographing them. One major indicator was they LOVE photos, and of course anyone who loves photos is awesome in our eyes. We had such an awesome time with you both at your wedding, and we hope you enjoy your images for years to come!

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Hair: Miranda McGuire / Makeup: April Monroe / Flowers: Stems Floral Design / Dress: Jim Hjelm via Serendipity Bridal / Wedding Venue: Barr Mansion

Oh, sweet, sweet air plant.  You know we are just wild over air plants (or tillandsia) here so when we laid eyes on this bride’s bouquet our hearts nearly jumped out of our chests!  It is the mother of all tillandsia bouquets and it is just stunning.  Bows and Arrows never disappoints when it comes to wedding florals and they really knocked it out of the park with these eclectic and unique arrangements.  The rest of the Dallas wedding, captured so beautifully by Sarah Kate, Photographer, is just as lovely with whimsically modern details that will take your breath away!  See them all in the full gallery!

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From the bride… A few years ago, I met my husband playing drums in a band somewhere in Texas, and subsequently relocated to NYC to study fashion design. He moved (followed me, if we’re being honest) up to the Northeast to attend graduate school in Boston which shortened the distance between us, and for the next couple years, we boarded acela trains and bolt buses until we could be together in Brooklyn after graduating. A job offer moved us back home to Dallas, where Adam proposed at the end of a long cross country drive. We immediately planned a wedding that would reflect our tastes and heritage, and we had a ton of fun doing so. I had picked out a frothy, ivory Vera Wang gown in New Orleans, and soon after, I visited my grandmother on the way home who showed me her little vintage, tea-length dress she was married in over 50 years ago. She actually had the $18 receipt, which I saw with my own eyes! I knew I had to incorporate it, so I planned to wear it during the reception. Somehow she was convinced I was altering it completely to make it more modern, but I surprised her at the wedding with nothing changed whatsoever — not even the waist was taken in, which was unbelievable.

Another amazing part of the day were the flowers, done by Alicia and Adam Rico of Bows and Arrows. The bridesmaids carried little bundles of succulents and anemones, which balanced out my ridiculously impressive bouquet of tallandsia, zerographica and succulents, which were inspired from a bouquet I saw on the cover of a German bridal magazine called Brud.

We had a friend’s string quartet play during the processional, outside on the most perfect October day ever. We didn’t even need all the handmade program fans (inspired by Rifle Paper Co.) my mother and I glued together the week prior. The lovely ring bearer bowl was made by fellow Texan creative Paloma’s Nest, which caused a funny scene when the best man had to bite the rings off with his teeth…
Immediately after exchanging beautiful vows before our family and friends (and putting God above all else), we headed inside the giant warehouse loft to dance to Van Morrison and eat as much BBQ as we could. Our dear friend made a gorgeous croquembouche cake (which had to be remade hours before due to a not-so-hilarious catastrophe with a lab puppy) which we also paired with homemade pies and cobblers on the dessert table. Finally, our guests saw us off in my Dad’s blue 1950’s pickup truck, which we drove back to the Belmont Hotel and swapped into our VW for our cross country drive to San Francisco for our honeymoon. The end!

Photographer: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Florist: Bows and Arrows / Venue: Hickory Street Annex / Caterer: Gil’s Elegant Catering / Entertainment: Good Question Band / Wedding Dresses: Vera Wang + Vintage / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Garter: Florrie Mitton / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Bride’s Ring: Vintage / Groom: Satomi Kawakita / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Groom’s Tuxedo: J.Crew / Groomsmen Shirts, Ties + Bonobos Pants: J.Crew / Lodging: Belmont Hotel / Hair + Makeup: Lure Salon / Bunting, Table Numbers, Cake Topper + Mr. and Mrs. Forks: BHLDN / Program Fans, Cork Table Number Holders, Burlap and Lace Table Runners, Wedding Aisle Floral Mason Jars + Vintage Framed Photos: DIY

I totally adore dreamy, romantic weddings with soft, subtle color palettes but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room in my wedding-loving heart for a big burst of color.  When you walk into a celebration dripping in a bouquet of vibrant hues you know you are headed for a good time.  This botanical garden wedding by Katherine O’Brien Photography is bursting with the most delicious combination of colors and patterns.  It could have easily turned messy but the combinations of colors work so harmoniously together and the results are out-of-this-world incredible!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Katherine of Katherine O’Brien Photography… This colorful fall wedding at the San Antonio Botanical Garden was styled perfectly with the bride’s family’s dishware and the florist’s colorful flowers. Each table had a mix of succulents and bright-colored flowers, along with chevron-patterned runners on each table. The bride’s dress also had a gorgeous floral design, which she paired with Kendra Scott jewelry. The groom and groomsmen all wore cool seersucker suits. The bride incorporated more color by choosing colorful fabric letters from Anthroplogie for the bride and groom chairs and wearing rainbow-striped wooden heels from Kate Spade. Her friend friend Emily Leach of Bird Dog Weddings helped design the colors and paper floral balls that decorated the ceremony chairs and sign-in table, and her other great friend Lauren Cunningham of The Creative Parasol designed the paper fan programs and framed table numbers.

Since there’s been a drought in Texas, all the outdoor fountains have been turned off to conserve water, so the Botanical Garden filled theirs with gorgeous blue colored glass! Pink and green handmade ribbon streamers made for a colorful exit!

Photographer: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Event Designer: Bird Dog Wedding / Floral Designer: Eden’s Echo Floral Design / Invitation Designer: The Creative Parasol / Venue: San Antonio Botanical Garden / Dress: Modern Trousseau via Unbridaled / Hair: Versi Salon / Makeup: Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry / Floral Containers: From family / Catering: Black Tie Affairs / Officiant: Dean Ruch / Band: Strings Attached / Suit: JoS. A. Bank / Cakes: Ayon’s Bakery / Jewelry: Kendra Scott / Shoes: Kate Spade

We liken this to a garden party kicked up about a billion notches. And the Bride’s love of all thing delicate and vintage blends seamlessly with the backdrop of Barr Mansion; one of our favorite little spots in Austin. The victorian mansion that had us at hello mixed with the sustainable green design that we whole-heartedly adore and an array of scrumptious florals by Last Petal make for one gorgeous affair and Caroline + Ben Photography were there to capture it all. Now add to that a lovely little film by Brett Hardeman Films and you might as well stick a fork in us because we are DONE. DEAD. DONEZO. See it all here.

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From the bride… I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. You can find me wearing pink and pearls a little too frequently. I love all things delicate … flowers and lace for example. Truth be told, I was in love with the victorian look of Barr Mansion and the classic elegance and the warm glow of the ballroom. When Jason and I were out “venue scouting” the GPS had us take a wrong turn just past the house, and Jason said, “What a cool house”. Little did he know that was where we were headed, but since he liked it, it was done deal. The venue really lends itself to a romantic wedding in the garden, and I was so excited to be getting a wedding I had been dreaming about since I started wedding blog stalking! Also, it was the perfect setting to welcome our guests as they joined us to share in our new journey together. Our officiant sent us questions to answer about each other. What attracted you to them, if you had to describe them, etc. He built this into our ceremony and it was such a special thing to hear those words and to have them shared with our closest friends and family.

I DIY’d the “Mr. & Mrs.” signs for our chairs and the laced votive holders. I also selected the antique glass ware that our centerpieces would be contained in. I put pearls on invitations, floral details on placecards and the welcome table. I’d venture to say it was all “do it yourself” because it was such a personal event, and I tried to put my heart into everything that was selected. I also had some friends with amazing talents (like Lari who created rosettes for my hanger and my rosette garter) that helped along the way.

To the grooms, have an opinion on at least one aspect of the wedding, it’ll show her you’re invested in the event, just as she is. Or you could just say what Jason said to me… “Sweetie, I did pick something for our wedding day, I picked you… and of all the things on our wedding day, you will be the one that will be with me the longest”. I guess I gave him a get-out-of-jail-free card after that. Seriously though, having an opinion will make her feel like you care about the things she cares about. Brides, just know that it’s going to be an amazing day, and no, things won’t go perfectly. When rain threatened, my wonderful photographer told me what great lighting cloudy days were and that it’d make for great pictures (she was right). Surround yourself with people who support you, and that will help you see the bright spots when something minor happens. You’re going to get married that day to your best friend. People will come, share in your joy, laugh, dance, toast the two of you and make it a day to remember. That’s what I remember the most, and the candid pictures show it — we all laughed and had a great time!

Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Cinematography: Brett Hardeman Films / Flowers: Melanie Tipton at Last Petal / Event Planning: Rick Rabon at Barr Mansion / Venue: Barr Mansion / Groom’s Attire: Hickey Freeman / Shoes: ZiGi Soho / Dress: Maggie Sottero / Makeup: Kelli Toal of Keep Austin Gorgeous / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters / Table Numbers: Mason Rabbit’s Paperie / Personalized Hanger: wisconmon

It would be so easy to go on and on about how gorgeous this wedding by Sara Donaldson is. I could literally go on for days about the pretty navy bridesmaids dresses and how the flower displays and bouquets by Bella Flora of Dallas are insanely beautiful…but I think I’d be missing the underlying message in this wedding and that is one of love and commitment even in the toughest of times, like when this beautiful bride battled (and beat!) breast cancer with the love of her life by her side. Love really is a powerful thing of beauty. Click here for even more.

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From Sara of Sara Donaldson Photography… The latest entry on Magan’s blog post is titled, “If you love the life you live, you will live a life of love.” Maegan lives a life of love: Her wide-open heart and strong yet soft demeanor draw you in. Maegan was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before her 24th birthday. With the help of her beloved, Ryan, she decided to do everything in her power to beat cancer. She endured chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, infections and hospital stays, with Ryan at her side. Today, she is in remission, married to the love of her life, with a set of beautiful images that captured her truly enchanting November wedding day.

As I prepped my gear for their outdoor wedding, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to rain. I packed umbrellas and a rain cover for my camera as a precaution, considering the forecast looked lackluster at best…and thought to myself, it’s ok. If the heavens open up today with rain, it will be heaven’s happy tears. A bright-eyed beauty is marrying the love of her life today, supported and loved by him in a way not often seen. When I arrived at the venue, the amazing team from Bella Flora of Dallas was buzzing about, making the final touches to their exquisite set. Among the box of details I was to shoot, I found, to my tearful surprise, dozens and dozens of vintage hankies, wrapped with a sweet bow and tied with a tag that said, “Happy Tears.” The day swiftly went from gloomy and cloudy to perfectly sunny; the heavens opening up to showcase a perfect sunset and a beautifully mild evening as the backdrop for Maegan and Ryan’s proclamation of love. It was one of the sweetest moments thus far in my career to watch them through the lens that day. I am grateful to have opportunities in my life to provide such lovely people with lasting memories. What a joy. If you would like to learn more about Maegan’s battle with cancer, please visit Maegan’s blog.

From Jaime of Bella Flora of Dallas… When I first met with Maegan and Ryan, they had just decided to scratch their idea of a destination wedding on the beach and keep the nuptials in Ryan’s home state of Texas. Neither wanted a stuffy, super formal affair, but wanted to incorporate the bride’s love of Anthropologie and the groom’s love for cars into their special day. Maegan and Ryan exchanged “I Dos” at Vaquero Golf Club — the same place where they fell in love under a sky of bright fireworks on July 4th. To everyone’s surprise, a fireworks show erupted as soon as the bride and groom made their way back down the aisle. The entertaining show was the perfect precursor to the enchanting reception that was to follow. The porch at Vaquero where Maegan and Ryan had shared many meals had been transformed with a grand tent, glowing candlelight, and fluttery blooms in romantic tones. Guests sat at wooden tables complete with Jan Barboglio chargers, vintage china and paisley printed chairs. Lush garden roses, peonies, hydrangea, queen ann’s lace, and lisianthus spilled out of tall mercury vessels. The eclectic but sophisticated look was the perfect blend of Maegan’s dream and Ryan’s mother’s exquisite taste. Touches of Maegan and Ryan’s personalities were seen throughout the night. Guests snacked on a late night buffet of carnival foods complete with mini caramel apples, donuts, and caramel popcorn. Guests were given vintage hankies for their “happy tears” during the ceremony, and festive pashminas were displayed in a delicate chest that had been passed down through Ryan’s family. In true Isip style, the couple departed in Ryan’s dad’s roaring Ferrari. There was not a dry eye as the couple’s friends shared their love and appreciation for Maegan and Ryan. Less than a year before the wedding, Maegan conquered her battle with breast cancer, and Ryan was there with her every step of the way. Through the chemo, surgeries, and hospital stays, the couple grew even more in their relationship, and it was evident of their love on their wedding day.

Photography: Sara Donaldson / Venue: Vaquero Club / Event Coordination, Design + Flowers: Bella Flora of Dallas / Hankies: Vintage / Wooden Chest for Scarves: Family / Getaway Car: Ferrari / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Pashminas: A California flea market / Cocktail napkins + Rentals: Bella Flora of Dallas / Wedding Cake + Mini Vanilla Cakes: Panini Bakery / Food + Chocolate Lava Cakes: Vaquero Club

A fabulous Hill Country soiree never fails to brighten my day… and this lovely Woodrose Winery wedding by April Skinner Photography is most certainly delivering the sunshine with its gorgeous vineyard setting and dazzling jewel-toned hues.  (Love.)  And when you add a dash of romance, a room filled with colorful blooms by Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry and one uber-stunning bride and groom to all of that lovely, well… you’ll be s.m.i.t.t.e.n for days.  Yes, prepare yourselves for a pretty, pretty Wednesday and join me in the gallery for more!

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From Naomi of April Skinner Photography… After Mark proposed to Ann and she blissfully accepted, the two decided this small vineyard just outside of the charming German town of Fredericksburg, Texas, was the perfect place to showcase their love in a beautiful October wedding. The rustic nature of the on-site Texas style dance hall and the ambiance of the country vineyard setting were key reasons why the couple chose to have their special day at the Woodrose Winery. It was then that Mark knew that he wanted April Skinner, his hair stylist for more than 14 years and upcoming photographer for more than six years to handle all of the most intimate details of his big day. The couple froze their engagement moment in time with a stylized photo shoot at the winery. To enhance the shoot, Vintique Rentals provided various antique items to bring a certain “je ne sais quoi” to the engagement photos. Items included antique couches and chairs as well as tables and lamp shades.

The wedding would serendipitously take place during Fredericksburg’s annual Food and Wine Festival, a detail that only served to enhance the appeal of the timing and location of the big event. It began with a rehearsal dinner at the Lady Bird Johnson Muncipal Park, where a local Fredericksburg family catered a traditional German-style bar-b-que. From there, the wedding party stayed the night at a quaint bed and breakfast. The bridal party awoke to a team of stylists and make-up artists from April Skinner’s Almost Impatient Productions team. Head make-up artist Jordan Webb selected a combination of natural bronze and brown colors for a “smokey” eye while April Skinner opted for loose beach waves for both the bride’s and bridesmaids’ hair. The bride adorned her do with a vintage broach. The traditional ceremony took place the following morning at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, a historical landmark in downtown Fredericksburg built in 1906. The church was adorned with a combination of circus roses, orchids, succulents and submersibles provided by Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry of Cedar Park, Texas. The circus roses were chosen since they were the flower of choice given by the groom to the bride on their anniversaries as a couple.

Guests were invited to attend the reception at the Woodrose Winery’s rustic, Texas-style dance hall at the vineyard just outside of Fredericksburg. The winery and dancehall are owned and operated by Mike Guilette, who treats all of his guests like family. To bring the flavor of the annual Food and Wine Festival to the reception, Catering with a Twist, offered “wine tasting plates” on each table complete with a variety of wine flavors and cheeses. Other hors d’oevres included “cupcakes” made of meatloaf with mashed potatoes as the “icing.”  Guests enjoyed a plated meal with a choice of salmon or beef steaks and served just as they would have in an upscale restaurant. Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry mimicked the floral arrangements seen in the ceremony – a combination of circus roses, orchids, succulents and submersibles – at the reception.

Photography: April Skinner Photography (512-517-6180) / Hair: April Skinner of Salon Keriz’ma / Makeup: Jordan Webb, Head Make-Up Artist of Almost Impatient Productions / Catering: Catering with a Twist / Flowers: Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry / Rentals: Vintique Rentals / Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / DJ: DJs Unlimited / Venue: Woodrose Winery

This Austin wedding is to die for. It’s clean and modern, but romantic and chic. It’s filled with fantastic fashion and gorgeous people. The floral design from Last Petal is beyond amazing. It took place at the fab Barr Mansion, with it’s vintage curb appeal, and modern ballroom. And the couple’s big day – who, by the way, are SO stinking cute – was captured by none other than the talented Forever Photography Studio. And speaking of forever, I’ll be spending quite a bit of time in this perfect wedding’s image gallery. See you there!







Mike and I met when he was relocated from Galveston to Austin after Hurricane Ike. We met while working at the same hospital and we had our first date at Stubb’s music venue and saw a Ben Folds concert. Mike proposed to me in June 2010 on the beach at my family’s summer home on Cape Cod. The proposal was romantic, thoughtful and a complete surprise! We knew almost immediately that we wanted a small and intimate wedding to share with our close friends and family. We are both very close with our families and given they are on different coasts, mine on the East Coast, his on the West Coast, we decided our home city of Austin, Texas made for the perfect place in the middle to have our wedding. Mike and I both have a very traditional and classic style and found that Barr Mansion’s organic and vintage feel made for a perfect venue! We were very fortunate to have family support in planning our wedding and especially my mother and brother who helped in making our vision come to life. We had envisioned the beautiful glass artisan ballroom to be transformed into an environment that felt enchanted and whimsical. We chose to have both our ceremony and reception in the artisan ballroom as we feared our guests, especially those from the Northeast, would melt in the Texas heat! The details were our favorite part as we incorporated personal photos from our travels and engagement session. The table assignment cards were displayed in a box containing the same sand from the beach where Mike proposed. My bridesmaids wore vintage pins on their dresses and I had used family heirlooms as part of my something old, new, borrowed and blue. Mike and I had our first dance to the Ben Folds song, “The Luckiest”, and we did a break out dance to Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” to display our crazy dance moves and set the tone for a night of dancing! We felt that our wedding was a true reflection of who we are even down to our wedding attire. Overall, we loved every minute of our wedding and will forever cherish the many moments that were captured by our wedding photographers, Jona and Jerry Blackwell!

Photographer: Forever Photography Studio / Floral Designer: Last Petal / Lighting: ILD Lighting / Make-Up: Maris Malone Calderon / Hair: Jen Hoover / Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas / Cake: Barr Mansion / Wedding favors: Cake balls from The Mixing Bowl / Wedding Gown Designer: Siri from Unbridaled / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Burberry / Special Jewelry: Austin Diamond District / DJ: Texas Pro DJ

This charming Allan House wedding by Francis Joseph Photography is filled to the brim with crush-worthy moments, sweeter than sweet details and fabulous blush hues (SWOON), but what I am loving most about this DIY affair is that every.single.moment was completely designed and crafted by the gorgeous bride and groom… and all with the help of their devoted family and friends.  Yep, many a Sunday was spent crafting away… and the result is nothing short of fabulous with their paper goods, lovely florals, darling linens (and more!) combing for one BEYOND gorgeous day.  Click here for even more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When I first started down the path of planning our wedding and someone would ask the question “what are your colors?” I would get really nervous, and awkwardly shift from side to side and say “maybe green and blue and red, or yellow, and also purple, or whatever.  I am not really good at this kind of thing.”  Which is not entirely untrue.  But then I just started looking at pictures of weddings and crafts on Etsy and finding little things here and there that caught my eye, and committed them to memory.  For example, I found a wedding that used the multiple floral print napkins that I loved, and Travis and I found our awesome cake topper on Etsy.  Like I said, I am not great at this sort of thing, but I am good at knowing what I do and don’t like.  AND I have the incredible fortune of knowing some really beautiful and talented people who really ARE good at this sort of thing. 

With the help of one of my best friends, my sister-in-law, and my maid of honor’s mother I pieced together all of the little details I liked into kind of a vintage/country chic look with wildflowers and blush, vintage tones.  We started to iron out the details of the tables first.  We borrowed and purchased old and new tea cups, saved bottles and jars, and collected little ceramic birds from craft stores.  I knew I wanted a more wildflower look, meets vintage roses to go inside the assortment of cups and vases for the centerpieces.  We shopped for a variety of floral fabrics and my sister in law and friend’s mom sewed every napkin by hand.  We used that same fabric to make flag garland to hang around the wedding site, and again to make the sewn ceremony programs.  The cake topper also managed to pop up in several other places.  A drawing of it by one of our friends was used on our save the dates that another friend designed and printed for us.  My husband and I took pictures of the cake toppers in various places throughout my parents’ home, and a friend of ours printed the pictures to make into handmade stone coasters as guest gifts.  My maid of honor’s mom helped us choose the flowers, and she designed all of the floral arrangements!  One of my best friends helped design the escort cards, tags for the gifts, thumbprint sign, and table numbers.  We had “Sunday Craft Day” meetings where our friends and family would get together and work on the napkins, burlap table runners, programs, coasters, centerpieces, etc.  It was certainly a “Do It Yourself” venture, however it took a village of people we love to pull it off.  Their fingerprints were all over our wedding, which made it just about the sweetest thing.

Wedding Photography: Francis Joseph Photography / Catering: Whole Foods / Flowers: DIY by Bride’s Friends & Family / Wedding Venue: Allan House / Wedding Dress + Veil: Modern Trousseau via Unbridaled / Bride’s Boots: Old Gringo from Allen’s Boots / Boys’ Suits:  Nordstroms The Rail / String Quartet: Arundel Ensemble / Cake Topper: Buildersstudio

There is something about the highlight film sent our way by Hello Tomorrow Wedding Films from this Texas wedding that is calm. It’s emotionally charged, yes. It’s beautifully styled, yes. But it is so calm. Just two people, making the most important vows they will ever make. And that is why we have been dying to share this wedding, photographed by Tara Swain Photography, with you this lovely first Saturday of 2012.

I can already feel my smile widening…

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/27559548 601 338]

Make sure to click here to see the full gallery!

Denman and I met through mutual friends.  A little after a year of dating, I came home to a cardboard maze in my apartment.  I had to find my way through, feed a “caged beast” (aka my dog), and even move walls before I finally made it to the end.  As Denman is in the middle of asking those important four little words, my dog broke free of her cage and made her way through the maze to find us!  She wanted to join in on the celebration.  

We decided to have our wedding at a lake where Denman spent his summers growing up.  They had just finished building a new clubhouse and it was the perfect place to hold our wedding.  The groom’s cake was designed to look like Denman’s vintage boat.  As we were cutting the bow of the boat, we broke the knife in half.  We didn’t know it was made of rice krispies!

We chose to do a “first look” with our photographer and videographer, and I am so glad we did.  It was an emotional experience, and I am so glad we have it captured on both film and in pictures.  It really gave us time to be with each other and relax before the wedding.

Photographer: Tara Swain Photography / Videographer: Hello Tomorrow Wedding Films / Floral Designer: Hilliard’s Florist / Event Design & Planning: Bride and Groom / Invitation Designer: Groom’s Mother / Cake & Desserts: Dairy Manor / Wedding Gown Designer: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: David’s Bridal

If there was a bride to give the Duchess of Cambridge a run for her money as the most breathtaking, elegant, timeless bride it would be this gorgeous beauty. With her Grace Kelly looks and sophisticated style, her bridal session by Archetype Studio Inc. is just beyond perfection. Be warned, the last photo is stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous, so make sure you are sitting down. Click here for even more!

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From the Bride.. I loved the shape and train on this dress, and the lace looks like all over lace but is actually lace appliqué, which was much more interesting. The under layer was a peachy-pink satin that was stunning, and I loved how it gave the dress a warm kind of glow, and was definitely out of the ordinary. So when I ordered the dress, I ordered two yards of extra lace (just to be sure!) so I could do alterations…

If my mother wasn’t an amazing seamstress, this dress probably wouldn’t have happened or would have been eye-wateringly expensive to do the alterations on, because they were extensive. I also found some matching soft peachy-pink silk to make a belt/sash out of at a fabric/sewing shop. My mom spend many hours hand beading and embroidering the belt that I wore! 100% bespoke and hand made.

From Archetype Studio Inc…..As you can see for yourself – her dress turned out amazing! We really enjoyed meeting and working with Adrienne and her mother. And I have to say… how cool is the internet?! Adrienne lives just north of Manchester, England. She found us online and booked her bridal session for the time when she would be in Houston visiting relatives for the holidays.

Photography: Koby & Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc. / Flowers: Tamara Menges Designs / Session Location: Chateau Cocomar / Shoes: Tessa in soft pink / Dress: Allure Bridal Couture with alterations / Veil: Hand made by the Bride and MOB / Earrings: Bride’s Grandmother’s Vintage Pearls / Hair: Jenni Reed

Ryan Ray has a way with the camera. He honestly takes the kind of pictures that melt a viewers heart and pull them head over heels into each and every photograph and for reasons like that I am deeming myself President of the Ryan Ray Fan Club. One glance at this Texas beauty that’s equal parts classic and ga ga gorgeous and you’ll want to hop on his bandwagon too. Lucky you, I think we still need a Vice President. Now skeddadle on over to the gallery for so much more!

click here for the FULL gallery of images!

From the Bride… Caleb and Ashley’s big day was June 25, 2011 in Dallas, TX. We had our ceremony and reception at Marie Gabrielle because we loved the simple elegance of the gardens and restaurant. Ashley loves flowers and bright colors, so the wedding colors we chose were honeysuckle, lemonade, and tangerine. Ashley’s sister Sara was the maid of honor and she helped with the special touches that made the ceremony unique. She made a banner out of roses with Caleb and Ashley’s intitials, which the ring bearers were supposed to walk down the isle during the ceremony. At the last minute that did not work out, but we were still able to use it at the reception. The florist had the idea to hang wicker balls with flowers cascading out to frame the “altar.” His floral pieces were fluffy, danty, and full of color – nothing short of excellent.

The day of the wedding seemed to fly by, but we tried to take it all in, not wanting to forget the special moments from the day we committed ourselves to each other until death do us part! The vows, worship, and communion gave the ceremony the sacred touch we wanted. We realized pretty quickly that we would not be the people we are today without the friendships of our bridesmaids and groomsmen. By the end of the day, we were able to look at one another and smile with contentment as we both noted, ‘It was all worth it’.

Photography: Ryan Ray / Flowers: Peregrins Florist / Ceremony Location: Marie Gabrielle / Reception Location: Marie Gabrielle / Dress: Pronovias / Cake: Panini Bakery

To say that I am smitten with this stunning Dallas soiree by Andrea Polito Photography would be an understatement.  Nope, I am definitely more than smitten with this breathtaking affair… I am S.M.I.T.T.E.N in an all caps kind of way.  And can you blame me?  From the fabulous outdoor reception space to the beautiful florals by Urban Flower Grange Hall to those gorgeous crystal chandeliers hanging from the trees, every last moment of goodness planned by Mathes and Co. Events is sending me into a wedding loving tizzy.  I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be spending my ENTIRE day soaking in all of this pretty.  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Andrea Polito Photography… Andrea and Colin wanted an elegant and intimate wedding in the Big D and could not have picked better venues for their dream wedding.  The ceremony at the Rotunda at Chase Tower provided a light and airy ceremony for this sweet couple’s vows.  The newlyweds and their well-wishers then traveled down to street to the Nasher Sculpture Center for their garden party reception.  Decor by the truly talented teams of Urban Flower Grange Hall and Mathes & Co Events made the night.  Chandeliers hung in the trees and love was in the air as the couple and their friends and family danced the night away!  It was such a joy to capture this special night for such a gorgeous and happy couple!

Wedding Photography: Andrea Polito Photography / Wedding Planning: Mathes and Co. Events / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Rotunda at Chase Tower / Wedding Reception Location: The Nasher Sculpture Center / Catering: Wolfgang Puck / Cinematographer: Greg Fiske / Rentals: Posh Couture Rentals + Ducky Bob’s + Suite 206 / Lighting: Beyond / Gospel Choir: Encore Productions / Band: Time Machine / Florist: Urban Flower Grange Hall / Wedding Dress: Stanley Korshak / Hair: Trisha Mayrack of Salon Three Thirty / Makeup: Tina Adams of Mason / Getaway Car: Romantic Remembrances / Transportation: Wynne Transportation / Valet: Gold Crown Valet

With a bridesmaid lineup that looks as lovely as this, and the gorgeous images of Kristi Wright Photography – you know this next little ditty is going to knock your wedding-loving socks off! Oh! And of course there are the stunning bouquets by La Fleur Vintage, a flower girl who is just a doll and a darling bride and groom that couldn’t look more dashing – phew! So much pretty in one little place! There is more pretty to be had, of course, in the full gallery of images so be sure to stop on by!

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From Kristi Wright Photography…Gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremony with vintage inspired elements! Shannon + Wes married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Vista on Seward Hill located in Austin, Texas. La Fleur Vintage did the flowers – some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Simple, classic and elegant!

Photographer: Kristi Wright Photography / Flowers: La Fleur Vintage / Catering: Catering By Rosemary / Hair & make up: Vixie by Ellie Vixie / Venue: Vista on Seward Hill

Wow, I can’t believe that 2011 is almost over…In fact, this gorgeous fete by Sweet August Events is the last post of the year and boy, is it a good one! Captured perfectly by Photography by Vanessa, this traditional stunner is filled to the brim with pretty pretty flowers, sparkly heels, and one of the cutest flower girls you ever did see. We’re loving the mini Polaroid wall of love photo booth as well. What a great way to display all the fun your guests are having while celebrating your special day. Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to be a fun, romantic, hill country wedding with a touch of glam. The first detail to set the tone for our wedding was my dress, trimmed with pearls, crystals and lace. The bodice was unique and glamorous while the lace train was very romantic and classic; perfect for our traditional Methodist church ceremony. Local San Antonio stationery shop owned by Anne Gibson had her team create hand renderings of the lace on my dress to use on all of our custom designed wedding stationary. The continuing theme of lace and pearls was paired with candles and glassware to give the church and reception a sense of twinkle and warmth. I’m all about textures in lieu of a mix of colors, so the combination of smooth glass, frilled table clothes, vintage lace, and velvety flowers was just perfect. I chose low center pieces at the guest tables so that my guests could mingle across the tables without barriers. We embraced our outdoor hill country venue with pink uplighting in the trees, Mexican Papel Picado banner patterned (a San Antonio tradition) lighting on the Palmer Clubhouse tower and Grotto, and festival string lights across the reception patio. The lighting really softened the hill country terrain and gave a super romantic glow to the evening.

Our guests were greeted at the reception with Pomegranate Martinis (hers) and Prickly Pear Margaritas (his) – a fun spin-off of the favorite San Antonio beverage! Our wedding planner surprised us with a hand-made “Mr. & Mrs. Pettit” introductory banner, which our ushers carried (beer in hand) to welcome Chris and I to our reception. The entrance of our reception patio was set with eclectic side tables, lanterns, mason jars hanging from the ceiling, colorfully decorated “L-O-V-E” letters, and a framed faux chalkboard table assignment lists. In honor of the “King of Country” residing just minutes away from our venue, we named all of the reception tables after a few of our favorite George Strait songs – with one of Chris’ favorites “River of Love” as the head table. Chris and I attended 3 of George’s concerts in the 3 years that we dated, so his music has played a big part in our relationship! As two graduated Longhorns that met at The University of Texas, we couldn’t celebrate our big day without paying homage by singing the “Eyes of Texas” over a huge, delicious longhorn cake. I was so thankful Chris didn’t try a second round of cake in my face with that orange icing!

The favorite area for our guests was the red velvet couch photo booth, draped with a colorful pom-pom ball background and hand-crafted props like ribbon streamers, a pillow heart, mustaches on a stick, empty picture frames, and a chalkboard for best wishes. It was a fun way to capture pictures of all our guests, who came from Colorado, Oklahoma, and all across Texas. They were able to hang their mini-Polaroid pictures on our “Wall of Love” for other guests to admire and for us to enjoy after the wedding. We ended the evening through a tunnel of classic white sparklers, and escaping in a vintage 1954 R Type Bentley. It could not have been more dream-like!

Our wedding supported two charities that are important to us. The vintage Bentley was provided with a donation to Guy Clumpner’s charity of choice, the Bike MS Valero 150 benefiting more than 20,000 Texans living with Multiple Sclerosis. Instead of party favors, we chose to support our University with H2Orange water bottles for our guests, in which proceeds support scholarships at The University of Texas at Austin.

Wedding Photography: Photography by Vanessa / Wedding Cinematography: Weiss Eubanks Films / Floral Design: Fresh Urban Flowers / Event Design + Planning: Sweet August Events / Ceremony Location: University United Methodist Church / Reception Location: La Cantera Hill Country Resort Palmer Clubhouse / Invitations: Anne Gibson Stationery / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy Collection / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani