Texas Weddings

Black and white and fabulous all over, I can’t think of a better way to start this fresh new week than with this sophisticated stunner by Forever Photography Studio. Perfectly timeless with classic details tucked away in each glamourous corner, it’s a fabulous example of why we just get giddy at the sight of a beautiful ballroom fête. Lucky for all of us, the gallery is full with even more glam so be sure to stop on by!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Forever Photography Studio…This wedding was so classic and chic! I really loved the black and soft cream colors and mixed with an amazing room, it made for beautiful pictures. Lara and Garson were so wonderful to be around. You can really feel the love between them, and we are so happy for the newlyweds! We hope you all enjoy their classy wedding at the Texas Federation of Women’s Club’s Mansion!

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Wedding Cake: Stardust Pastry / Band: Matchmaker Band + TX Pro DJ / Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin / Caterer: Royal Fig Catering / Wedding Dress: The Princess Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Dolce Vita / Jewelry: Tiffany’s & Co. + Kristin Morris / Venue: The Mansion / Hair & Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon

Oh my goodness, SMPers, do we have a fabulous holiday treat for you this wonderful Thanksgiving morning.  Yes, this darling Austin affair by Tamir Kalifa Photography is not only filled to the brim with the loveliest of details (including beautiful florals by Pollen Floral Art, gorgeous invitations designed by the cute as can be bride and one very awesome wedding gown), but it’s the sweetest marriage of two adorable high school sweethearts that actually met in the sixth grade!  Yes, my heart just melted, too.  So, join me in the gallery for all of the pretty and then stay tuned for a seriously charming film by Crooked Tie Studios below!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

One last bundle of gorgeous before you head off into your holiday… This amazing film by Crooked Tie Studios will leave you crying some very happy tears.  Enjoy!

From the Bride... Jacob and I met in sixth grade. We were in some of the same classes, but the only spark between us was the one from a match Jacob tried to light on his friend’s arm cast during science. I rolled my eyes at the disruptive behavior and we went our separate ways. Jacob went on to a different high school and we didn’t meet again until a mutual friend “introduced” us when we were sixteen years old.

Finally, we hit it off! He asked me out, and I drove him around (because he didn’t even have his license yet). He taught me about history and archaeology. And I taught him about old movies and musicals. He taught me to let loose. And I taught him dedication and hard work. We dated through high school, through four years of long-distance college years, through getting first jobs (me), and through the first years of grad school (Jacob). And after eight years of dating, we got married!

We wanted to keep the wedding small and budget friendly. We made our dream day come true for $10,000. There were four words I kept in mind during the whole planning process: fun, sweet, casual, quirky.

So, we had both the ceremony and reception on the second story of a downtown Austin restaurant. I used patterned paper as the backdrop to all printed materials and the colors of the wedding were red-orange and chartreuse. The bouquets and boutonnieres were made from ranunculus and succulents. I picked three patterned fabrics in coordinating colors and my mom made beautiful napkins for the day out of them. I wore a short dress and flats, and my bridesmaids wore different colors. Jacob and his groomsmen didn’t wear ties. We hired a folk band to play and a photojournalism student to capture the day. It couldn’t have been a more perfect summer wedding for us.

Wedding Photography: Tamir Kalifa Photography / Wedding Videography: Crooked Tie Studios / Floral Design: Pollen Floral Art / Ceremony + Reception Location: Parkside Restaurant on 6th Street / Invitations + Planning: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Wedding Dress: After Six / Lace Bolero: Alex Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate

I’m head over heels for every last darling detail of this charming Fort Worth affair by Michelle Edmonds Photography, but it’s the story behind the day that has really touched my heart.  Because not only were these adorable lovebirds married in the backyard of the bride’s own family home, but the bride wore her grandmother’s vintage wedding gown and the groom wore his grandfather’s wedding ring.  And if that weren’t enough to bring the happy tears, they were even married under an arbor built by the father of the bride.  It just doesn’t get any sweeter than that.  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Cameron and I knew we wanted our wedding to reflect our personalities. We wanted it to be “us.” We are goofy nature-enthusiasts with a love of crafts and all things vintage. We are also very family-oriented and wanted our wedding to honor our family members who have always shown us great love and support.

We decided to have our ceremony and reception in the backyard of the house that I grew up in, in Fort Worth, Texas. I have great memories in that house and it made for a very intimate wedding. My parents worked tirelessly throughout the summer tending to their wonderful garden to make it picture perfect for the big day (we had over 70 days that were over 100 degrees this summer in Texas, so keeping the plants alive was a great challenge!). In addition to all of his hard work in the yard and help with crafts, my dad found the time to build a beautiful cedar arbor for us to be married under.

I wore my grandmother’s wedding dress that she wore when she married my grandfather in the 1950s and I carried a handkerchief that both my mother and sister carried on their wedding days. In keeping with our love of family and history, Cameron used his grandfather’s ring as his wedding band and we decorated the dance area with family pictures and old postcards.

Our wedding was in the fall so we used yellows, oranges, and deep purples in our color palette. We put together our own flower arrangements (using red rovers, sunflowers, daisy poms, and stock flowers) for a “just picked” feel and used a variety of glass jars, bottles, and vases that we had collected in the months prior to our wedding. To continue the fall theme, we had pumpkin-spice cupcakes… yum! Cameron and I worked together on most of the wedding crafts which we found by looking through wedding blogs and magazines. We made most of the decorations ourselves which gave the wedding a very personal touch. We created string lanterns to hang above our dance floor, memory vases to honor our family members that were no longer with us, rick rack boutonnieres, and cupcake stands from vintage plates and candleholders that we found at Goodwill. (It cost us only $13 to make three cupcake stands!)

As vegetarians and nature lovers, we wanted to make our wedding as environmentally friendly as possible. We had re-usable glass mason jars for drinks, vegan food, vegan cupcakes, and plantable wildflower seed paper for our favors.

We ended the night with a lavender toss as we made our way to my Dad’s 1957 Chevy (that the groomspeople decorated so well), surrounded by our beloved family and friends. It was a perfect day filled with love and lots of laughter that we will not soon forget.

Wedding Photography: Michelle Edmonds Photography / Event Planning: Chrissie Stuntz Events / Bride’s Dress: Vintage (the Bride’s Grandmother’s) / Bride’s Shoes: Liz Claiborne / Bridesmaid Dresses: Naughty Shorts / Flower Girl Dresses: vintagevalise / Groom + Groomspeople: Vintage Stores / Catering + Cupcakes: Spiral Diner / Cake Topper: ReadyGo / Favors: PulpArt / Ceremony Music: Jan Ryberg / Tables + Dinnerware: Taylor’s Rentals

For an ultra modern fête, one needs look no further than the chic backdrop of the W Hotel Dallas. It just might be the coolest place on the planet for a wedding like this number captured by Forever Photography Studio. Hot pink, loads of glamour and drop dead gorgeous flowers by Bella Flora of Dallas. Yes, we are neck deep in a city-dweller’s dream wedding and the view is mighty pretty. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From Forever Photography Studio…

When we first met Elaine and Chris we just knew we were going to love their wedding and love photographing them! Elaine has such great style, and we couldn’t wait for the big day.

When we arrived at the W hotel in Dallas and saw the room where they would be getting married we literally almost started jumping up and down. Silly I know, but us photographers can get a little excited about things like that sometimes. Their wedding was beautiful and chic, and we loved every moment of photographing their event. We wish them both all the happiness in the world!

Photographers: Jona and Jerry Blackwell with Forever Photography Studio / Flowers: Bella Flora of Dallas / Venue: W Hotel Dallas / Dress: Mori Lee, purchased at LuLu’s Bridal Boutique / Jewelry: Nadri, purchased at Nordstrom / Shoes: sparkly champagne shoes were Jimmy Choo, Hot Pink Shoes Kate Spade / Hair and makeup:  by Tisha Corcoran at TC Makeup Studio and Academy / DJ:  Andy Austin / Cake: Frosted Art / Cake Pops: Cake Pop Shoppe / Photobooth: Photobooth Planet / Invitations and Programs: ULuckyGirl

Oh my, this outdoor country wedding by Mustard Seed Photography has stolen my heart. From the antique church to the fields of gold to the splash of color on the bridesmaids – it could be close to impossible not to have your heart stolen by simple yet stunning wedding. But it doesn’t stop there, because Mustard Seed Photography not only filled the gallery full of pretty, but they also passed along the film for this fabulous fête below! So sit back and get ready to soak it all in!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/29462963 601 338]

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Mustard Seed Photography…Stephanie & Victor were married in the Texas countryside – at the Antique Rose Emporium located in the small town of Brenham, TX. Their ceremony was held in an antique chapel. Their reception was illuminated by a gorgeous sunset – it was heart meltingly gorgeous. The flowers, food, decor was themed along with an outdoor country wedding and helped lend character to the uniqueness of the venue.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Mustard Seed Photography / Location + Flowers: Antique Rose Emporium / Event Design + Planning: Brenda Epstein of Antique Rose Emporium / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal

Good morning LBBers! We’ve got a wonderfully romantic wedding to start your day off right. A soft color palette, be it creams, pastels, or in this case purples, can put a gorgeous, fresh feel on a wedding. It’s subtle, romantic, and lets the couple shine in all their beauty. This Austin couple was beyond beautiful, and their wedding was just an extension of their love. The gorgeous bride married her man in uniform on a beautiful day in Texas, and lucky for us, Q Weddings was on hand to capture the love, the soft, romantic colors, and the style. Make sure to visit the gallery for the rest of this gorgeous affair!

John attended prep school in New England with my best friend and matron of honor, Casey Mayfield.   Casey introduced us five years after graduation in south Texas where John was stationed for flight school as a naval aviator.  After going on only two dates in Texas, John moved to Florida to continue his training while I moved to California to begin veterinary school.

Upon completion of flight school, John’s first duty station was in San Diego where after three years he proposed during halftime of the Super Bowl.  After convincing me to take a walk to the beach, I reluctantly agreed (I was busy eating and consequently spilling my bowl of chili on my cute top).  The beach was seven blocks away but John only made it two before getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him.  Needless to say, it was a great surprise and I instantly regretted spilling chili all over my shirt.

As our family and friends are scattered about the country, we wanted to plan a wedding in a central location.  The fun and energetic city of Austin was the natural choice because my family lives there, I attended the University of Texas,  and it is smack in the middle of the country. We wanted to be married outdoors, near water but also close to the city which made the Four Seasons on Lake Austin the perfect place.  The venue encompassed just the right amount of unique Texas style while maintaining an understated elegance we were seeking.

John and I wanted a formal wedding with timeless style…. elegant, classic with incorporated Art Deco vintage elements, yet with subtle individual touches.  He wore his Navy choker whites while I chose a vintage style gown with delicate beading reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era. Because lavender is my favorite color, we incorporated touches of dusty lavender to jazz up the neutral palette throughout the wedding decor as well as the bridesmaid’s dresses.  My mother even decorated her delicious homemade jam wedding favors with lavender. The groom’s cake was designed as a surprise to John to represent the other loves in his life; his beloved dog, Jobu, surfing, aviation, and Boston sports.  Coco Paloma couldn’t have done a better job on his cake and his reaction upon seeing it was priceless.

There are so many unforgettable moments from our wedding day, but the military arch of swords following the ceremony is among my favorites.  The arch of swords is a beautiful tradition that welcomes spouses into the Navy family and symbolizes the sacred union between a military officer and his wife. John left on a seven month deployment shortly after our wedding day, and like so many other military spouses in our country, I am counting down the days to his return so we can resume our lives as husband and wife.

Event Planner: Cristin Meehan, Weddings By Kennedy / Floral Designer: Jennifer’s Gardens / Cake Designer: Paloma Efron, Coco Paloma / Dress Designer: Kenneth Pool / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Favors:  Homemade Colorado Cherry Choke Jam by the bride’s mother / String Quartet: Divisi Strings / Band: The Pictures Band / Photography: Q Weddings / Letterpress Paper Suite: Paper Chez / Cinematographer: 2nd Generation Videos / Film Work: Richard Photo

If you are in the mood for some romance this lovely Friday morning, then you most certainly came to the right place.  This breathtaking Galveston soiree is delivering a big ol’ bundle of romance and then some with its stunning seaside location, muted tones and beach chic meets elegant style.  Not to mention that the uber-gorgeous bride also happens to be a DIY genius and crafted almost every detail of the day all by herself, including that fabulous bouquet.  Talk about inspiring.  Luckily, Julie Wilhite Photography was on hand to capture each and every breathtaking moment, which means there is an entire gallery of brilliant images just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Julie Wilhite Photography… After 11 years of being together and creating a beautiful family of four, Nicole and Jack were married on the beach in Galveston, TX.  Surrounded by the most important people in their lives, in a sand-shaped heart, they tied the knot.

What I love so much about this wedding is that almost everything was made by the bride herself – her bouquet, her garter, her hair piece, the boutonnieres, her daughter’s dress… all made lovingly with her wedding in mind.  Everything was so unique and personal, it made the day even more special!

Wedding Photography: Julie Wilhite Photography / Bouquet, Boutonnieres, Daughter’s Dress, Garter: The Lovely Bliss (The Bride) / Preparations: Hotel Galvez / Wedding Ceremony Location: Beach in Galveston, TX / Wedding Dress: Kathy Ireland by 2be / Wedding Hanger: Wisconmon / Jewelry: Vintage / Wedding Shoes: Allure / Groom’s Suit & Son’s Suit: Ralph Lauren

We’re keeping this pretty train rolling right through your lunch hour with this gorgeous Hill Country wedding. The pretty, pretty floral displays and overall design by BLUE LOTUS are making it impossible to take my eyes off of these beyond beautiful images by Sarah Kate, Photographer. Everything is simply gorgeous, from the bride’s dress to the 5 star location and lucky for us there is an entire gallery just waiting to inspire. Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From BLUE LOTUS…Amy and Chris were married in a rustic Hill Country wedding at the 5-star resort in Glen Rose Texas, Rough Creek Lodge.  Unique details included succulent wreathes on the church doors, cotton incorporated in the bouquets and boutonnieres, antlers, antique lace doilies.  Being Scottish in heritage, the groom, groomsman, and father of the groom all sported different traditional plaid kilts.  Both the bride and groom are accomplished violinists and treated their guests to a private performance to kick off the reception in the great hall at the lodge.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Floral + Design: BLUE LOTUS / Venue: Rough Creek Lodge / Linens: BBJ Linens / Bridal Gown: Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak

Prepare to kick those mid-week blues to the curb, SMPers, because this lovely Austin fête by Forever Photography Studio is guaranteed to put a spring in your step and a smile on your face this gorgeous Fall day.  Yes, it’s true.  I have been all aglow with happiness since the moment I laid my eyes on this beauty of an affair, complete with one very vibrant color palette, a breathtaking garden setting and some of the most beautiful blooms I have ever seen by Bouquets of Austin.  And don’t even get me started on the sweet as can be bride and groom, whose description of the day made me cry some seriously happy tears.  Now this is how you spend a Wednesday.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here for the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… We couldn’t wait for the day to finally come.  After living in different cities for the past 4 years, we were ready to get married!  When Nick and I got engaged, we knew exactly what we wanted – to get married in Austin near the lake and have an awesome party with our family and friends.  Austin was where we met, and we felt it was only right to start the rest of our lives in the same city we started our relationship.

Nature’s Point was the perfect venue for us – simple, fun, and relaxing with a little Southern charm.  From the moment we started planning, things just seemed to come together and we seemed to always find the perfect vendor that fit our personalities.  From our florist, to our caterer, to our wonderful photographers, we knew that each one of them would help us make our day as special as we had hoped.  They all knew just what we wanted, and we couldn’t have been happier the day of.  Our family and friends got to enjoy some of our favorite foods and drinks – mac ‘n’ cheese with a little Texas Tea – next to a beautiful lake view! The flowers in our bouquets and centerpieces were so beautiful and came out better than we had ever imagined.   And our photographers captured all the perfect moments we wanted to remember for the rest of our lives.

We loved absolutely everything about our wedding, and looking back, we wouldn’t have changed a single thing.  From the beginning, I had told Nick that our wedding pictures were the most important thing to me.  I knew that the day would fly by, and the pictures would help me remember the little things that I might have missed or the moments that I wish had lasted longer – to seeing our parents and my Grandma give their blessings to us, to my sisters so freely accepting Nick into the family, to our friends dancing the night away.  The pictures truly captured the joy in everyone’s face, and we were so happy to be surrounded by those we loved.

Our wedding day not only represented the beginning of our lives together, but also the day we would finally be in the same city and would be able to go to work each day knowing that we had each other to come home to.  We chose to say our own vows at the wedding because we not only wanted to show our commitment to always be there for each other, but to always be there to support each other and to continue to be best friends.  For me, that day showed me how truly blessed we were – we share a love that grows each day, we have a family that supports and loves us no matter what, and we have amazing friends that keep us laughing through all the hard times.  We are truly blessed indeed.

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Dress: Brickhouse Bridal / Flowers: Bouquets of Austin / DJ: Greenbelt DJ Productions / Caterer: Austin Catering / Hair and Make-Up: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Wedding Venue: Nature’s Point

Good Morning and welcome back to another pretty, pretty week here at SMP Texas! We are loving this fun and colorful ranch wedding captured to perfection by Stacy Reeves – The Wedding Photographer and we also think it’s super cool that the bride told her floral designer Branching Out, to use every color in the rainbow…And that’s exactly what she got. This just goes to show you that you don’t necessarily need to pick out specific colors and instead can incorporate all of them for a fun and bright display. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Stacy Reeves – The Wedding Photographer…One thing I love about this wedding is that the bride, Lauren, was very proud about the fact that her wedding had no “wedding colors.”  She told her florist to incorporate every color of the rainbow into the decor, and even though she got a lot of strange looks and doubters, the result was beautiful!  This wedding took place on a ranch and has a very rustic, Texas feel to it while still being extremely elegant and romantic.  The tables were named after different ranches and rivers in both Colorado and Texas, and the centerpieces incorporated a wide mix of flowers, ferns, woodcuts, quartz crystals, flowerpots, vintage tins, lanterns, votives, moss, and acorns.  The groom’s cake even had frosted barbed wire piped onto it.

Wedding Photography: Stacy Reeves – The Wedding Photographer / Venue: OW Ranch / Entertainment: Maximum Acoustic / Catering: Wind Hill Catering / Floral Design: Debby Jewesson of Branching Out / Wedding Cake: Granbury Cakes / Wedding Gown: Marisa / Bridesmaid Attire: Christi Wren (family friend) / Groom’s Attire: His Own

Hold on to your hats, SMPers, because there is a whole lot of adorable inspiration coming your way this lovely Friday morning, all courtesy of this very charming photo shoot designed and captured by Katie Cassidy Photography.  With a bundle of cute as can be details, a fabulous theme (Game of Love!), oh-so-creative paper goods by Southern Fried Paper, popcorn programs and some yummy treats by Layered Bake Shop, this darling day is overflowing with wonderful ideas that you can tackle all on your very own.  And how uber-fabulous is that?!?  All planned to perfection by Wendy Kidd of Each & Every Detail, there is an entire gallery of whimsy just waiting to be adored.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Each & Every Detail, LLC… Katie and I had never worked together, but it was kismet when she reached out to me to help with this photo shoot. She had a million ideas swirling about and brought me in to help organize and streamline, as well as brainstorm on ideas that would focus the theme. I was immediately impressed and couldn’t wait to dive in. We came together and started shaping our ideas into what we termed our “Game of Love” inspiration shoot. With Katie’s beer & pretzel bar idea and my scoreboard for the ceremony, we just fell in love with the theme and couldn’t stop!

We started with choosing bright colors- red, turquoise, orange and yellow to incorporate into as many of the elements as possible. To set the tone, we created the save the date with a game inside, with cookies for the game pieces and working spinner. Chelsea from Southern Fried Paper created a game box for it all to fit in and send to the guests. This truly lets the guests know what they can expect at this unique backyard wedding! The invitations carried out the turquoise and red and included the heart, diamond, spade and club from the deck of cards to keep with the game theme.

Creativity was the name of the game for the ceremony. We used a large chalkboard as our scoreboard for the ceremony area, showing you can be very creative in what you stand in front of for saying “I Do.”  It doesn’t have to be the typical gazebo or large tree! We replaced the usual floral with pinwheels and banners. Pinwheels are a super easy DIY project, we thought showing them for the bouquets and table décor would inspire brides who might feel floral is too costly or maybe just too typical. With a bit of carnival flair, we had popcorn for ceremony guests with the program on the side of their popcorn box. We envision at the end of the ceremony, the guests can sprinkle the newlyweds walking out on their hopscotch aisle with popcorn instead of traditional bubbles or rose petals.

For the reception, who wouldn’t want an ice cold beer outside in the afternoon? Katie’s genius idea of a beer and pretzel bar was complimented by the chocolate stout cupcakes with salted butterscotch buttercream icing created by the team at Layered Bake Shop. Katie gathered large pickle jars to set out different flavors of pretzels and of course it was all styled on items from Rent My Dust. Wine barrels from the Big D Party Rentals helped complete the look of the bar.

Seating was created using wine barrels as tables, a great checkerboard game table and a little patio set from Rent My Dust. We created a game center from pieces out of the Rent My Dust inventory as well. We had checkers, chess, dominos, jacks, card games and even crossword puzzles! Layered Bake Shop got crazy and made lots of sugar cookies that looked like the real game pieces! I swear you could barely tell the domino cookies apart from the real pieces on the table!

We think this theme is super easy for any bride to reproduce in a cute outdoor space. You can tell from the smiles on our happy couples face, it’s a “winning” theme!

Photography, Design + Concept: Katie Cassidy Photography / Planner: Wendy Kidd of Each & Every Detail, LLC / Vintage Décor: Rent My Dust / Cake, Cupcakes + Cake Pops: Layered Bake Shop / Paper Goods: Southern Fried Paper / Venue: Heard-Craig Center for the Arts / Hair + Make-up: Ashley Stiff / Wine Barrels: Big D Party Rental / Dresses: Circle Park Bridal / Models: Gabe & Laci Wilkins

I am quite smitten with this backyard wedding by Katherine O’Brien Photography.  Everything about it is full of so much joy and whimsy.  I love the cheerful color palette and all the sweet DIY details.  Hello! They even made their own bridge for crossing over to the reception!  How amazing is that?  Click here to see all the details!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Katherine O’Brien Photography…This sweet bride grew up in Texas, went off to London to study, found her true love and came back home to be married!   Their backyard wedding was filled with tons of DIY projects her mom put together! She made all the wooden signs, a custom bridge for crossing over to the reception. A white tent filled with floral fabrics flags, recovered chairs, old books, milk glass vases filled with  beautiful coral and yellow flowers. Her mom even made the sweet peach polka dot tie for the groom!

Haley found her dress via J.Crew but accessorized it with a velvet ribbon tied in back with a cameo pin. Their presents for each other were equally cute- for Haley a lace Anthroplogie fan and turquoise bracelets- and for him a Kenneth Cole watch!

The ceremony was super touching when her little brother sang a song just for her. The reception was filled with dancing, our photobooth, an outdoor lounging area and late night root beer floats and amazing homemade desserts by family and friends!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Venue: Private Home / Floral Design: Katie of The Charming Bouquet / Wedding Coordinator: Haley Hughes of Envogue Events / Officiant: The Honarable Judge Ben Childers / DJ: Rusty of Partyman / Caterer: Cafe Natalie / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Men’s Suits: Marks and Spencer / Groomsmen Shirts: Ralph Lauren / Groom’s Tie: Homemade / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Gina / Cupcakes: Sweet Cupcakes / Other Sweets: Family

These charming Hill Country nuptials have grabbed a hold of my heart strings in a big way and I don’t see them ever letting go.  That’s more than alright with me, though, because I can’t even begin to describe my love for this darling affair, complete with a rustic venue (mind-blowing views included), a beyond gorgeous bouquet and a plethora of uber-sweet, organic touches.  Plus, the stunning bride and groom are both rockin’ cowboy boots and, oh, how I adore that.  I predict a day spent wrapped up in each and every brilliant image captured by MPrint Photography, but before I send you off to the gallery to gaze away, I couldn’t help but end this little intro with a quote from the beautiful bride… “I just can’t imagine a better way to spend your wedding than dancing under the stars after a perfect sunset with a groom in seersucker.”  How very awesome is that?!?  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I spent one weekend in and around Austin looking for a venue, knowing it would have to be a hill country setting. On our last day, I squeezed in one final visit at a new property venture at the suggestion of a friend of my mother’s (you never know who you’ll meet in line at Antone’s when you talk as much as my mother). The long dirt road leading to the property did not exactly scream “this is it!” but as soon as I got out of the car and saw the view, I knew we had found something special.

The uncompromising beauty of this place was enough. Carol at Tres Lunas did an amazing job letting me have the reigns and customizing everything to my style. She even found the beautiful 1915 Model T we drove away in. Meredith at MPrint did an unbelievable job of capturing the sunset behind the huge oak tree, lovingly referred to as Dorothy by those in the know, and the simplicity of the event. The groom’s brother played Moon River on the ukulele as I walked down the aisle. He was so good, we even attracted a few ranch cats- a lovely ceremony surprise. The whole thing was unbelievably perfect and I just can’t imagine a better way to spend your wedding than dancing under the stars after a perfect sunset with a groom in seersucker.

Wedding Photography: MPrint Photography / Wedding Location: Tres Lunas Resort / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller

Timeless. Perfectly timeless. This wedding by Nancy Aidee Photography is understated elegance at its finest, and a wedding that will stand the test of time. I am absolutely in love with every little detail, and that mile-long veil just grabbed a hold on my heart and won’t let go. It’s a wedding I’ll look back on when I am old and grey and still think is devine, and well lovelies – you can’t beat that. Click here for even more timeless beauty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Like most girls, I had been dreaming of my wedding day and wondering who my groom would be since I was a little girl. When I went on a blind date with Kyle in 2007 I had no idea he would indeed be the man at the end of the aisle. Kyle asked me to marry him after 4 years of dating and I was overwhelmed with joy at the thought of our future lives together. I was so thrilled to put the planning into motion and buy out the shelves of bridal magazines! I dreamed of having a wedding that felt like Annie’s from the movie Father of the Bride. I wanted something romantic, timeless, and mostly traditional.

We decided to go with champagne, cream, and blush pink colors to help keep the wedding soft and elegant. The wedding programs, menus, and place cards were all DIY projects inspired by weddings featured on Style Me Pretty. Luckily, I had a patient mom and some very helpful bridesmaids who were very giving of their time to help with the assembling. My favorite detail was the personalized matchbooks that accompanied the cigars available for guests to enjoy on the back patio.

My favorite moment was during our exit when Kyle made us stop to hug our parents goodbye as guests threw dried lavender. It was a beautiful day we will never forget and cannot wait to tell our children about. An evening surrounded by all the people who love and support our marriage, I can’t imagine anything better.

Wedding Photography: Nancy Aidee Photography / Floral Design: Wedding Flowers by Lisa / Ceremony Location: The Woodlands United Methodist Church / Reception Location: The Club at Carlton Woods / Event Coordinator: Karen Henson of The Club at Carlton Woods / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Amsale via Ivory Bridal Atelier / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Entertainment: Doppleganger / Wedding Cake + Cake Pops: Kiss the Cook Cakes / Wedding Cinematography: Neil Sandoz Videography / Catering: The Club at Carlton Woods / Pizza Rolls: Double Daves / L & K Door Signs: DIY / Ice sculptures: Ice Designs of Houston / Lavendar: Save on Crafts / Place Cards: DIY

Take a seat, get cozy and get ready to be blown away by some oh so pretty vineyard inspiration captured by Carlea J Photography at Westcave Cellars Winery. I don’t even know where to begin with this beyond stunning shoot – shall I start with the amazing design by Petal Pushers? I think I shall, because every little detail they brought to the oh so pretty table is perfection. Or how about that drop dead gorgeous ombre cake by Amazing Kakes? That’s a pin-worthy cake if I ever did see one. And the custom jewelry by Merrick Jewels? I die. It’s all so lovely, and there is more inspiration to soak up in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Carlea J Photography…The idea for this shoot came from several evenings spent drinking wine under the trees with our good friends Margaret and Allan Fetty who own Westcave Cellars Winery.  My husband Dustin helped plant the original vines in the vineyard when he was in high school and ever since I started coming around,  I always thought it would make an excellent wedding venue. What really drew me to it was the idea of creating an event without a defined space or the use of a lot of extra elements and structures. There doesn’t need to be a tent or a stage or one set area when there is so much natural beauty to incorporate instead. So many options for each bride to use the space differently! From there, the idea for a styled shoot with a ceremony in the actual vines was born. I went for a more formal look with the tux and high end jewelry to show that just because you are having an outdoor wedding, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be elegant and push the envelope of what people are expecting when they hear “outdoors.”

Margaret loaned us her antique table and the hutch for the dessert display. She hand wove all of the wooden vine elements, including the fixture above the table, the wreath in the ceremony setting, and the L and D letters. Margaret acted as a liaison for all of the vendors, facilitating visits and meetings to conceptualize for the shoot. Her husband Allan did lots of heavy lifting, including constructing a last minute apparatus to hoist the ceremony wreath overhead.

Stacey and the team from Petal Pushers completely and totally blew me away with what they created. I told her that I wanted something enchanted, romantic, and vineyard-feeling, with lots of deep wine colors and greenery. Something loose and unkempt and earthy, that would blend with the natural setting. I especially love the artichokes and lettuce she incorporated into the bouquets as well as the dark black fuzzy flowers. The flowers she hand wove into the overheard fixtures are to die for! The centerpieces were amazing. I loved the way they seemed to be growing out of the urns rather than stiff or arranged just right. Down to the smallest details, like the boutonniere, everything was just spot on. Stacey also loaned us the chairs and china for the shoot. Petal Pushers has recently expanded into event design and rents several items including chairs and decorative china.

Amazing Kakes created a three layer purple cake that fades to white at the top. She also supplied fruit tarts, cookies, and an original dessert that she calls Kake Krystals, which are layers of Westcave Cellars wine infused red velvet and vanilla cake and icing alternated in etched Westcave Cellars wine glasses.  (We got to taste them after the shoot and they were divine!). We wanted the hutch to look like it was being taken over by nature, thus the vines growing out of the drawers and shelves.
Merrick Bean, owner of Merrick Jewels, designed an array of bridal statement pieces for the bridal model to wear, as well as several colored pieces for the bridesmaid model. In addition to her ongoing line, Merrick has recently begun to work with brides create custom pieces for their big day.

Adrienne of Makeup by Adrienne created a bold yet romantic makeup look with purple eyeshadow for the bride and stained lips for the bridesmaid to compliment both the whimsical feel of the shoot and the modern jewelry. Drew and Jordan of Doopla Salon twisted and braided the girls’ hair into a loose, enchanted look. The bridal gown was loaned by Signature Bridal Salon in Austin Texas and the tux was loaned by Capra and Cavelli.

A big thanks to the models, Lauren, Dave, and Avery, for enduring the 100+ degree August heat with a smile on their faces!! I could not have done this shoot without my amazing second shooter, Ashley Font, who is the yin to my yang, and captured half of the wonderful photos from this day.

Concept + Styling: Carlea Wilson of Carlea J Photography / Wedding Photography: Carlea Wilson + Ashley Font of Carlea J Photography / Location: Westcave Cellars Winery / Floral Design, Set Design + China and Chair Rentals: Petal Pushers / Table + Hutch: Antique, borrowed from Westcave Cellars Winery / Bridal Gown: Signature Bridal Salon / Tuxedo: Capra and Cavelli / Make-up: Adrienne Pitkin of Makeup by Adrienne / Hair: Drew Beech + Jordan Reusche of Doopla Salon / Jewelry: Custom Merrick Jewels / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Amazing Kakes / Models: Lauren Burns, David Kanne + Avery Lewis

This Austin wedding is the ultimate in autumnal affairs.  A rich, fun color palette of aqua and orange, gorgeously wild  floral arrangements by Last Petal and a ton of elegantly rustic details put together by Brock + Co. Events shows off Texas fall at its very best.  Every detail is perfectly planned and stunningly executed.  Plus with photos by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings there is no way you can go wrong. Click here to see it all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Brock + Co. Events…When we first started designing Rachel + Dale’s Austin wedding weekend, they gave us two photos for inspiration, and the task of making it “shabby chic, but not Austin Hippie.” I think she may have said she liked orange. Other than that, they were a total open book — we love that! With her wedding day vision in mind, there was no better place for a Fall wedding than the gorgeous Laguna Gloria, overlooking Lake Austin. Beautiful trees, crisp Fall weather, lots of Austin history and to-die-for scenery welcomed wedding guests, who had traveled from Seattle, the East Coast and beyond. To celebrate Fall, we used a rich palette of persimmon, tangerine and chocolate. Natural woods, burlap and loads of textural flowers provided visual interest. And a fun pop of bright teal and hints of gold and copper created an unexpected twist to a traditional Fall color palette.

Rachel, her close friends and mom started their wedding day with lots of pampering at Austin’s chic Hotel St Cecelia. Rachel’s Enzoani gown was perfectly paired with Vera Wang pumps and a sparkly hair fascinator. Rachel’s Maid of Honor wore a teal silk dress, which allowed her vibrant orchid-filled bouquet to pop.

The couples ceremony was a blend of Jewish traditions, with one of Rachel’s chaplain colleagues performing their interfaith ceremony. Overlooking Lake Austin, and under a traditional chuppah, the two said “I do” with their closest friends and family in attendance. Their chuppah was constructed with natural curly willow and adorned with the hues of a sunset — orange mokara orchids, bittersweet and berries. A natural wood aisle runner graced the aisle.

Cocktail hour featured a Prosecco bar with blood orange, raspberry and peach purees, as well as delicious seasonal nibbles and steaming cups of butternut squash bisque. Guests enjoyed the sounds of a jazz trio and the beauty of the Austin as the sun set over Lake Austin.

Guests were then moved to the dinner tent, overlooking the historic Driscoll Villa, to enjoy “Comfort Chic” cuisine in true Texas style. Tables were adorned with boxes of rich florals, textural accents and named after all the locations that family had traveled to Austin from. Teal table runners, chocolate hemstitch napkins and gold rim chargers set the table in style. In a nod to the Groom’s Washington family and Brides’ Austin roots, a duo of apple and pecan mini pies were served for dessert. Topped with a scoop of Amy’s Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream, the non-traditional dessert was a huge hit. The father of the bride was surprised with his own wedding cake (he was shocked that the couple said “no cake”) during the champagne toast.

Guests danced the night away under floral chandeliers to the sounds of Austin’s popular Blind Date band. Mexican hot chocolate, pashmina blankets, a comfy lounge area and a French macaron sweets bar warmed up guests during the first cold spell of the year.

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Venue: AMOA Laguna Gloria / Event Planning + Design: Brock + Co. Events / Floral Design: Last Petal / Caterer: 2Dine4 / Officiant: Nancy McCranie / Lighting + AV: FILO / Linens, Tents + Rentals: Marquee Rents / Ceremony Music: Viva Trio / Band: Blind Date / Wedding Videography: Crescent Video / Cakes + Sweets Table: Stardust Pastry / Guest Buses + Getaway Car: Transportation Consultants / Hair+ Make-up: Rae Cosmetics / Stationery: Anibella Rachel

Romance is in the air today and it is taking the shape of an all out gorgeous Plano wedding. Get ready for layers upon layers of blushing pinks and pale peaches mixed with a beautiful lace dress and one of the cutest couples on the planet. Seriously, one glance and it’s completely apparent these two are head over heels for each other. Then there’s the genius photography of  Ivy Weddings who managed to capture the soft palette perfectly as well as each and every pretty moment between the married newbies. This is a Southern fête FULL of lovely and we have all the extra goodies sitting pretty in the gallery for you to dive into. Have a looky loo.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ivy Weddings…Stacy and John had an intimate southern wedding at the bride’s childhood church. Stacy’s vintage taste was reflected in her choice of dress, shoes, hairpiece, and bouquet. The bride sprinkled details throughout her wedding and reception that reminded everyone of the couple’s elegant, classic sense of romance. Stacy and John’s wedding day turned out beautifully, and the Texas weather played along perfectly with a warm, sunny afternoon for the wedding, and a cool, breezy evening for the reception and the fun goodbye for the bride and groom!

Wedding Photography: Ivy Weddings / Ceremony Venue: Custer Road United Methodist Church / Reception Venue + Catering: Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen at the John Q. Hammons Center / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via LuLu’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Shoe Clips: Etsy / Hair + Make-up: Adrienne Schoech, Legacy Salon / Earrings + Hairpiece: Etsy / Bracelet: Stella & Dot / Engagement Ring + Wedding Band: Olschwanger Designs / Aggie Ring: Provided by Texas A&M University / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank / DJ:  Michael Hatch / Florist: Kate Hooper, Stems of Dallas / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: DiviniDee Cakes / Officiant: Reverend Timothy Morrison

A Bride that dons a one shouldered ruffle dress on her wedding day is sure to be on my list of all time favorites. It takes confidence to rock that gorgeous frock and ROCK it she does. Plus, the details behind this Allan House wedding read like  a study in laid back perfection. Beautiful flowers by Verbena Floral Design? check. Loads of friends and family ready to celebrate your love and dance the night away? check. First kisses, first dances and all around fun moments as husband and wife all snapped by the fabulous Carlea J Photography? check, check and more checks. This is definitely an affair not to be missed. See it all here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Carlea J Photography…Everything about Audrey and Nick’s wedding day was laid back and fun. I adored Audrey’s choice of gown- a one shoulder fitted top with a giant ruffled skirt, accessorized perfectly by her silver glitter heels. Audrey and Nick chose to do a first look which could not have gone more perfectly. It was super sweet seeing Nick’s face as he spun Audrey around to get a look at her.

The ceremony took place at Central Christian Church in Austin Texas, which has views of both the Texas state Capitol and The University of Texas tower, where Audrey and Nick recently graduated from. After the ceremony, guests walked across the street to The Allan House for an outdoor reception featuring delicious bites from Whole Foods and dancing (fist pumping) under the stars. The groom’s cake had the entire lyrics to “The Eyes of Texas” (The UT fight song) spelled out in icing encircling the cake. Guests were treated to a late night snack of passed chocolate chip cookies and milk on the dance floor. Audrey and Nick were showered with lavender seeds as they exited. Audrey hand made the “thank you” burlap bunting that the wedding party is holding in the group photos. Super cute!

Wedding Photography: Carlea J Photography / Flowers: Verbena Floral Design / Ceremony Location: Central Christian Church / Reception Location: Allan House / Wedding Dress: The Princess Bridal / Hair: Urban Betty Salon / Make-up: Faces By Lisa / Cake + Catering: Whole Foods

As we wind down another week packed with incredible inspiration we thought we’d step it up a notch with this cool, modern take on the bohemian wedding theme.  BLUE LOTUS put together an eclectic-meets-chic design full of unique, stylish details, bright pops of color, vintage decor and, of course, gorgeous florals.  The tillandsia rope and lantern installations are two of the coolest design elements I’ve seen in awhile and would be oh-so much fun to recreate at a real wedding.  Every last beautiful, boho detail was captured perfectly by Perez Photography.  Click here to see them all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From BLUE LOTUS…This shoot, created by Blue Lotus and captured by Perez Photography, is about bohemian elegance and bringing color to the usually soft and subtle style. Metal caged lanterns were hung with rope above a modern table. The table exhibited sparkling minerals and floating candles to present an exquisite yet simplistic setting. The table was accented with gold chivari chairs and a gold banquet for the bride and groom’s seat. Above another tablescape was an old rope with air plants. This table displayed floral in glass goblets and urns that sat on a burlap coffee bag which was used as a runner.

The use of these rustic elements enhanced the bohemian look and created a unique tablescape. Other small details such as the geode necklace, worn by the bride, and visual graphics, by Ink Love Paper, were used to tie the elements together. A vintage hutch was used in the shoot to display beautiful desserts by Mixing Bowl cupcakes. It was a nice alternative to the cake table and added a touch more of color. Being able to reuse and refurbish different elements and objects is important to us. The old rope used in the shoot is one we have saved knowing that one day we would design something different and unexpected with it. Reusing objects, such as the minerals, lanterns, vintage vases and rope, allows us to reduce waste. Floral is an important touch for almost every wedding and by using plants, such as succulents and cacti, that can be reused or given to guests is another great way to go green and cut down on waste.

Floral + Design: BLUE LOTUS / Wedding Photography: Perez Photography / Paper Goods: Ink, Love, Paper / Cupcakes, Cake + Goodies: Mixing Bowl / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Hickory Street Annex / Minerals: Earth’s Fine Art / Wedding Gown: Wtoo by Watters / Gold Banquet + Table Rentals: Push Booths and Suite 206. luxury event rentals / Make-up: Nicole White of Osgood/O’Neil Salon

Oh I so wish I were as cute and clever as this adorable couple and had an anniversary photo shoot at a carnival, or one at all for that matter! I totally love their forties inspired outfits and and the fun and whimsical vibe. I’m not sure who had more fun at this photo shoot…the lovebirds or Gema Blanton Photography? I don’t know about you, but I’m totally inspired to snag the hubby next summer and drag him to a carnival for our own anniversary session, even if we did miss the first one. Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Gema Blanton Photography…Who doesn’t love fun at the carnival with an outgoing, charming and cute couple dressed in 1940’s era style clothing! I love the bright colors at the fair, so it was perfect for their 1st year anniversary session. The session took place at the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Texas, which will soon celebrate their 100 year anniversary. The concept came from watching old romantic love movies. Couples were sweet and love was innocent in those days. We literally stopped traffic at the carnival while we were shooting the session. Some of my favorite shots are of them being silly and forgetting that someone was there with a camera. The session was magical filled with bubble gum kisses and puppy love moments.

Photography: Gema Blanton Photography / Make-up: The Bride / Hair: Salon Verve