Texas Weddings

I love when brides let the beauty of their surroundings play a major part in the decor for their big day and this Texas Hill wedding is certainly no exception with its gorgeous trees and open fields. Her bouquet is to-die-for and I’m loving all the brilliant colors and different shapes of the blooms that were whipped up beautifully by the awesome people at Petal Pushers. Austin Imagery Photography was on hand to capture all the quaint, pretty details like the private chapel and of course, the couple’s adorable doggies. And we just can’t seem to get enough! Click here for even more!

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From Austin Imagery Photography…Rex Baker and Maria Vidart met at Rice University and after a long courtship the two were lucky to have two weddings – one in Texas at Rex’s family ranch and wedding venue in Dripping Springs, Texas and one in Columbia where Maria is from.  Cindi Baker, the mother-of-the groom played double duty as both hostess and venue owner!  She did have excellent vendors to assist her in one of the most important weddings ever at the venue; the caterer, Word of Mouth, served home style Texas food on vintage place settings and were also the cake designers and displayed a very simple and elegant butter cream cake with real Texas Pecan pies as the “groom’s cakes.” Cocktails made from local micro-distillery, Dripping Springs Vodka, served as the signature drink.  Heritage House is the quintessential Texas Hill Country venue; the ranch has a quaint and private chapel, a huge party area with a view of the Texas Hill Country and a row of rustic cabins for guests to stay in.

Family and friends from all over the US and Columbia came in for the wedding.  We absolutely loved all the personal and vintage touches to the wedding day – from mismatched heirloom china plates for the table setups to the vintage Underwood typewriter for guests to type personal sentiments to the bride and groom.  There was also a cigar bar for the groomsmen and other weddings guests and, our personal favorite, the couple’s dogs served as ring-bearers!  The bridal bouquet and table florals were designed by Petal Pushers who designed the flowers around a wildflower theme.  The whole wedding day had a lovely feeling of days-gone-by.

Wedding Photography: Austin Imagery Photography / Venue: Heritage House / Caterer + Wedding Cake: Word of Mouth Catering / Floral Design: Petal Pushers

All it took was just one glance at this stunning Austin affair and I was head over heels.  Yes, absolutely and positively in.love.am.I.  And with fabulous stylings from the geniuses at Caplan Miller Events, beyond beautiful blooms by Petal Pushers and breathtaking images from SMS Photography, can you blame me?  There isn’t a moment in this garden party meets rustic chic soiree that doesn’t have me completely enchanted and, trust me, you’re about to see why.  Don’t miss a moment of lovely.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Caplan Miller Events… Megan and Jess chose the perfect venue for their perfect Texas ranch wedding on a perfect Saturday spring evening!  Megan wanted to be sure the wedding wasn’t too girlie for her cowboy husband and wanted everything to be authentically theirs.

Guests were greeted with lavender lemonade as they passed through the gates keeping the longhorn and cows at bay.  The bride walked beneath crystal chandeliers and she met her soon-to-husband in front of a gallery of candles.  After the ceremony, the guests flocked to the outdoor grill where chips, queso, and enchiladas were being served up at the grooms request!  The music turned festive when the fiddle began to play and the guests walked around to see all the beautiful and playful details of the property.

Vineyard tables with lace runners where set with the palest of pink and peach flowers along with succulents arranged in vintage medicine bottle and mason jars.  The guests dined on a menu of barbecue and Mexican bites that included bacon wrapped quail, wild mushroom empanadas, and BBQ brisket on potato rolls.  As night fell, Texas rock country signer Johnny Cooper took the stage and got everyone dancing to some old favorites, as well as his original hits. The bride and groom were sent away as the guests whirled and swirled their noise makers into the night!

Wedding Photography: SMS Photography / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Event Design + Production: Caplan Miller Events / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Wild Onion Ranch

It seems that my love affair with a great wedding always starts with a gorgeous pair of shoes. What can I say? I’m a lover of fine footwear. And in the case of this Texas wedding, it didn’t stop at the Bride’s feet. It moved on to the unique venue, The Landmark, that called this wedding home. Of course, The Nichols always have me at hello with their lovely photography and Petal Pushers can do no wrong in the flower department so all in all this is a big, fat WIN. See the full spread here!

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From The Nichols…This charming wedding was held at two uniquely different venues. Their ceremony was held at a historic venue that brought you back to the turn of the century. Their reception venue was a former 1920’s power plant that has been restored into urban lofts, where the couple once called home,  and an events venue with a modern, industrial feel.

Keith and Sandra brought The Landmark to life by including meaningful items from their own personal collection of vintage finds throughout the venue. Such a beautiful and creative wedding to document!

Ceremony Venue: New Braunfels Conservation Plaza / Reception Venue: The Landmark / Wedding Coordination: Lizze Belle Events / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Catering: Well-Seasoned Catering / Wedding Photography: The Nichols

It just doesn’t get much better than this Brenham soiree by Sunny 16 Photography.  Boasting some seriously amazing (and seriously gorgeous) DIY details (including a yummy dessert bar and ceramic vases sculpted by the bride), vintage china and an entire room filled with the prettiest of blooms by Blush by Debbie, this eclectic charmer has completely stolen my heart in every.which.way.  Plus, my favorite… books as centerpieces!  Trust me, you don’t want to miss a moment of DIY goodness, so join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Sunny 16 Photography… I really adore Kristina and Sean. The love of that day was so apparent among friends, family and the couple. Kristina and Sean are both photographers, and Kristina is also a print maker and sculptor. All of the decor was either made by Kristina, or found within the families’ homes.

From the Bride… I’m an artist so why shouldn’t my wedding be my best show, a perfect reflection of who Sean and I are and where we come from? Every detail from the centerpiece books, chosen from my parent’s library, to the ceramic vases spilling roses was selected with careful thought. The white vases were thrown and fired by me when I was teaching ceramics in Nacogdoches. The poems and bird cards, I letterpress printed while working at LaNana Creek Press. We hired our family friend, Debbie Urquhart to arrange and decorate all the flowers and table pieces, while my mother was the one who baked all the desserts.

I wanted everything to be uniquely ours but also have a touch of history and vintage. All of the china sets at the head table were from my mother and grandmother, Sean and my place setting was my great grandmother’s. The lace doilies on the tables mimicked the daffodil lace of my dress. I love the timeless beauty of lace and felt that it harmonized beautifully with the clean white country church we married in. Music is a huge influence for us, as Sean is from south Louisiana and I have my musical roots in bluegrass, so every song was something to dance to. “To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.” -William Blake. I believe that poem was my muse.

Wedding Photography: Sunny 16 Photography / Flowers: Blush by Debbie / Wedding Cake: Loretta Cavasar of Memory Makers Cakes

It’s definitely official. I have a new favorite wedding and it’s right here in front of you. Held at the bride’s family’s Texas ranch, this sweet fete is filled to the brim with the prettiest details including a beautiful spring inspired color palette, flowers to die for, and the coolest confetti wall I ever did see. The bride and her super talented family, including her style consultant sister Bianca Colgin designed some of the details for the big day while Caplan Miller Events handled the gorgeous design and planning and Karlisch + Wrubel ensured that each moment was captured beautifully. I think it’s safe to say that all these people together crafted an amazingly gorgeous wedding, no? Click here for even more.

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From the Bride…Will and I got engaged in June 2010.  We chose to get married at my parents ranch in Gonzales, TX because it was important to both of us that we get married somewhere that has sentimental value for us: a place we have shared many happy memories and a place where our children will grow up visiting.  Getting married at the ranch had both the charm of getting married at home and the feel of a destination wedding.

I didn’t want to limit myself to choosing just one or two wedding colors, so instead, I chose a color palette of fresh spring colors: greens, light blues, different shades of pink.  Along these same lines, I chose different color bridesmaid dresses in neutral colors like champagne, stone, blush and petal.  I wanted the vibrant flowers to stand out against their dresses.  I was very particular when it came to the flowers in the wedding.  I wanted the flowers to look wild but elegant.  I chose to use a mixture of Garden Roses, Freesia, Tulips, Thistle, Peonies and Sweet Peas for the bridesmaid bouquets.  I used the same mixture of flowers on the dinner tables in alternating birch and glass vases.

We had Perini Ranch Steakhouse cater the seated dinner which was wonderful.  Perini’s brings their chuck wagons and mesquite wood and they grill the tenderloins on-site.  We had a lot of guests fly in from the northeast and California so, it was important to us to stay true to the Texas Ranch Wedding and to give our guests a taste of Texas.  The menu included: green chile hominy, twice baked potatoes, fresh green beans, and mesquite beef tenderloin with dusted shrimp. For dessert we had chocolate and vanilla cupcakes from Delish Cupcakes in Austin.

My favorite part of the wedding was the ceremony on Clinton’s Hill.  Named “Clinton’s Hill” in honor of my brother-in-law who passed away in November. Another favorite was seeing the dancing tent for the first time.  My older sister, Bianca, surprised me and had a “confetti wall”  inspired by an artist in Brooklyn.  So fun and beautiful!  It reminded me of a 1950’s prom. I also loved working so closely with Cheree Berry Paper on designing my Save-the-Dates, invites and day-of-items.  Cheree Berry also designed the paper for my sister, Bianca, and her husband, Clinton’s, wedding.  The people at Cheree Berry are so incredibly talented and working with them was such a joy. It was a wonderful night and I feel so grateful to everyone that contributed to making it so very special for me and my husband.

Wedding Photography: Karlisch + Wrubel / Wedding Cinematography: Crescent Video / Flowers: Westbank Flower Market / Event Design: The Bride + Family + Bianca Colgin / Event Production and Design: Caplan Miller Events / Ceremony Location: “Clinton’s Hill” at Tuna Rosa Ranch (family property) / Reception Location: Tuna Rosa Ranch / Invitations + Paper Goods: Cheree Berry Paper / Catering: Perini Ranch Steakhouse and Kurant Events / Cupcakes: Delish / Band: The Sultans of Swing / Bride’s Shoes: Prada / Wedding Dress: Valentino / Bridesmaid Dresses: Joanna August / Groom’s Attire: Armani / Tent and Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Lounge Furniture and Confetti Wall: Townsley Designs / Lighting: FILO Productions / Glassware: Jill Fortney Productions / Ceremony Musicians: Barton Strings / Hair and Makeup: Rae Cosmetics

This is such a sweet idea for an autumn engagement shoot especially one down in the heart of Texas.  The classic red truck, the vintage dress and the basket of apples are the perfect touches for an all-american sweetheart session.  And these sweethearts are just as adorable as can be, aren’t they?  I can almost feel the crisp, fresh air and smell the sweet scent of apples in these beautiful photographs by Archetype Studio Inc. See the rest of this romantic, orchard rendezvous in the full gallery!

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From Archetype Studio Inc.…From the vintage dress, to the classic truck and pretty orchard setting…not to mention the adorable couple!  How cute are they?!  Alicia loves classic cars and participates in the local Niftee 50ees. Trent is a middle school math teacher.

Photography: Koby + Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc. / Session Location: Matt Family Orchard / Dress: Vintage 1950’s Handmade Blue Crepe

This pretty as can be bride is one lucky lady. She has a beyond talented family who helped bring her big day to life – her sister was there to beautify her hair, and her brother, of The Flower Bucket, is the talent behind all the gorgeous blooms prettying up this post. The entire family affair captured by Ivy Weddings was traditional with a twist of fabulous color, and you can see it all in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the FULL wedding!

From Ivy Weddings…Rosa and Kurney planned a classically elegant wedding, with beautiful details, and a fairy tale finish (horse drawn carriage and magical city lights!). Throughout their wedding, everyone we spoke to reiterated to us how important it was that our couple have a beautiful and magical day… “because they absolutely deserved it.” From the breathtaking flowers by Rosa’s brother, to the bride’s hair by her sister, and her cocktail dress made by her aunt, everyone joined together to make sure that Rosa and Kurney had a perfect day…and it really was!

Photographer: Ivy Weddings / Venue: City Club of Fort Worth / Bride’s Dress: Angelina Faccenda / Bride’s Cocktail Gown: Carmen P. Rios (Bride’s Aunt) / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s Hair: Xsalonce by Patricia Rios (Bride’s Sister) (254-247-2200) / Bride’s Makeup: JTorry Makeup Artistry / Bridesmaids Dresses: The Dessy Group / Groom and Groomsmen Suits: Calvin Klein / Band: The Project / Flowers: Rafael Rios (Bride’s Brother) of The Flower Bucket / Cake: Sublime Bakery / Officiant: Reverend Chris Marx

Welcome back to another fabulous week here at SMP Texas! We are kicking off your week with this beautiful, English countryside inspired Houston wedding by Keely Thorne Events. We’re talking pretty, delicate florals, gorgeous linens, an even more gorgeous bride, and a picture perfect poolside venue all wrapped into one beautiful day. Nancy Aidee Photography was on hand to capture all the feminine details and lucky for us, there’s so much more in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Keely Thorne Events…Callie’s family has a long standing history with the super private Houston club, The Bayou Club. Therefore, it was a no-brainer when it came to selecting the venue to hold her outdoor English garden themed reception. The ceremony took place in St. John Chapel where the bride was baptized years before she knew she would marry Pat in that very same spot. Callie was a calm, laid back bride which was showcased perfectly with her southern backyard feel wedding. She even opted to wear bejeweled sandals down the aisle instead of towering heels. It was very true to Callie’s style. Founding members of the club’s portraits are prestigiously hanging around the club for decades, so in a joking nod to her grandparents relationship with the club and its members, we decided to  temporarily replace the portrait hanging above the fireplace mantle with Callie’s bridal portrait. It got a good laugh from the family! Guests enjoyed cocktail hour upstairs with Frank Sinatra style music playing by a DJ. After bride and groom had some alone time to eat dinner, guests were moved outside by the pool for a formal dinner and dancing. Once the cake was cut, the bride changed into her second dress to help cool off from the Texas heat. When it was time to say goodbye, Emily moved all the guests to the valet to prepare for the formal exit with Eco-fetti in hand to toss. Once the couple was alone, they had their private last dance of the night to “Try a little tenderness.” The proclaimed thank you to Emily as it was their favorite part of the entire day. Chills. Happiness.

Event Coordinator: Emily Moise of Keely Thorne Events / Floral + Linens + Decor: Wedding Flowers by Lisa / Photography: Nancy Aidee Photography / Ceremony: St. John Chapel at St. John the Divine / Reception: The Bayou Club (713-686-4000) / Dress: Christos from Mia Bridal Couture / Shoes: Havaianas / Cake: Frosted Bakery / Cupcakes: Crave / Hair + Makeup: Hues by Heather / Videography: A&A Productions / Lighting: Brightstar Productions / Exit materials: Ecofetti

Right now, we are reveling in detail heaven courtesy of Beth at 36th Street Events and it comes complete with a layer of INSANE flowers by Verbena Floral Design. They’re big, fluffy and gorgeous – just how we like ’em. And you know it’s an amazing party when it  starts with a boatload of sparkling chalkboards and ends with Pomegranate Margaritas. Sarah Q Photography lent her eye for amazing picture capturing and you can catch it all right here in that lovely little pocket of goodness we call the gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… From the start we knew we wanted a wedding that was intimate an unique, but still classic and comfortable that reflected us as a couple.  We wanted every part of the wedding and reception to feel personal.  We requested all of our guests arrive for celebratory cocktails prior to the ceremony to start the party.  It was important to us that the evening felt like a celebration of our love and marriage rather then walking through the steps of must-do traditions.

The University of Texas Golf Club was the perfect fit; it was laid back, but with a classic, warm southern feel. And their upscale comfort food and drinks, including our signature pomegranate margaritas were incredible! For colors, we ended up with creams, grey, and a peachy coral. Stephanie with Salt+Pepper Press did the most amazing job incorporating our personalities and colors when she created our letter pressed invitations, vintage postcard reply cards and all other paper details that made the wedding.  She took the time to understand what we were wanting and then created everything to match us.  Everything surpassed our expectations.

Blake and I found ourselves surrounded by an amazing support team in our families.  I had a long list of DIY projects and a very loving family to help.  My mother graciously made two hundred jars of pear jam and twenty throw pillows.  She smiled and nodded at all of my last minute add-on ideas, and I couldn’t love her more for going along with everything.  We had so many projects with our yard games, chalkboards, cigars, vintage handkerchiefs, and everything else, but when it all came together it was… just right.  And we had an incredible team of vendors who really brought it all together. From the beginning, our planner, Beth Walker, was more than amazing and made everything stress free.  She really took all of my ideas and homemade details and made it all fit together.  Beth along with LuAnn from Verbena Floral Design created the most beautiful décor on all of the tables and fireplace. It was cool enough that evening to have the fireplace and two fire pits with our ‘snug as a bug in a rug’ blankets and s’mores ready for roasting. I was thrilled to see the flowers the day-of the wedding. LuAnn and her team out did themselves.  I was obsessed with the centerpieces and bouquets.  Each bridesmaid bouquet was all white, but of a different flower fitting the girls’ personality.  And thanks to our incredible photographer, Sarah Q, we are lucky enough to have photos that feel exactly as genuinely, overwhelmingly happy as we did.

Flowers: Verbena Floral Design / Photography: Sarah Q Photography / Venue: University of Texas Golf Club / Event Planning: Beth at 36th Street Events / Invitations + Paper Design: Salt + Pepper Press / Music: Josh of Penguin Entertainment / Wedding Cake: Stardust Pastry / Wedding Dress: Enzoani from Blush Bridal Lounge / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alice + Olivia / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Photo booth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co.

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This McKinney wedding by Sweet Pea Events sure is just as sweet as can be.  The oohs and ahhs kept coming has I devoured all the pretty, pretty details from the fun gray and yellow palette to the modern meets country chic DIY decor.  Even the love story these two cuties share is certainly going to melt your heart!  You’ll definitely want to spend some time in the full gallery to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Stick around to see the entire sweet day unfold with this amazing video by Lynn Films…

From Kelly at Sweet Pea Events…

This wedding took place on August 13, 2011 in McKinney, TX. Jenny and Jeremiah were childhood friends until  Jenny’s family moved to Canada before she started the 4th grade. On one of Jenny’s trips back to Texas to visit family and friends when she was a senior in High School, she and Jeremiah reconnected not realizing who each other were. It didn’t take long for them to put two and two together and realize that their families had been lifelong friends.

Jenny had created a belt for her dress as well as hairpieces for herself and the flower girl out of her mom’s wedding dress. Jenny’s total wedding inspiration was based on a super sweet fabric that she found by Amy Butler. She took that fabric and made an aisle runner, table runners for all tables at the reception, as well as flowers for the ring bearers pillow. During the ceremony an acoustic song was played by the best man from her parents wedding, he wrote a song for Jenny’s parents and sang it at their wedding, and chose to sing it again at Jenny and Jeremiah’s. The lyrics to Jenny and Jeremiah’s first dance song were written on two of the tiers of their wedding cake. As guests departed for the evening they each left with a fried pie from the home of the original fried pies, a favorite spot of Jenny and Jeremiah’s.

Photography: Elle Parks Photography / Cinematography: Lynn Films / Flowers: Branching Out Events Floral / Event Planning: Sweet Pea Events / Ceremony Location: Chestnut Square / Reception Location: McKinney Flour Mill / Shoes: Anthropologie / Dress: Circle Park Bridal / Accessories: Bridal Couture Girls / DJ: Glenn Roush Productions / Cake: Sweet Art Bakery / Photobooth: Cowtown Photobooths / Caterer: McKinney Catering Company /Fried Pies: Baker’s Ribs / Hair pieces and belt: Bridal Couture Girls / Hair and Make up: Haute Façade

This gorgeous, traditional wedding proves that you can still have a unique and personal wedding inside a large ballroom. It seems like the number one thing brides everywhere struggle with is how to infuse their taste and personality into their indoor wedding. Well, pay attention my friends, because this bride, along with the talented Marli Maloney Couch Events has done just that. There are so many unique and beautiful details, all captured to perfection by Lindsay Elizabeth Photography so join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Marli Maloney Couch Events: Like many SMP readers, my Houston brides often struggle with how to make a large ballroom wedding look and feel like one of the weddings featured on SMP.  Kayla was no exception. The Junior League  is a beautiful, traditional building with a large ballroom.   Like many ballrooms, however, the Junior League has some distinctive décor that Kayla didn’t want to emphasize.  She also wanted to add a touch of modern elements as the building is very traditional. Don’t try to compete with the existing decoration in an ornate ballroom.  Our ballroom, like many, had very distinctive blue and gold wallpaper and other ornate décor.   Instead of trying to match or compete, the bride selected muted champagne and taupe tones, that felt like neutrals, for the linens.  We added ivory, cream, and blush flowers.    To make the decoration feel a bit more modern, we used all clear glass vases and streamlined glass candlesticks.  We used as many candles as we could find and Blooming Gallery provided many floating candles in large glass containers.  The candlelight reflecting in the water and glass was stunning and still worked in the very traditional space.

You can still get gorgeous outdoor photos when you have an indoor ceremony and reception.  Be creative with where you take your photos.  The church had very strict rules about taking most of the pre- ceremony photos inside.   To capture some natural light, we had the photographer come to the hotel where Kayla was getting ready.  We scouted out a little courtyard at the hotel restaurant and an unused driveway to get shots of the bride and bridemaids.  If we had only taken those photos at the church, the indoor space would have been a completely different look.  Also Lindsay (the photographer) took great advantage of the soft light against the stucco walls of the church right after the reception.  Some of my favorite shots are the bride and groom outside right after the ceremony and the golden light against the blush stucco looks very much like the colors Kayla selected for décor at the reception.

Just because the wedding has a larger guest count, don’t forgo the small personal details.  Everything we selected tied back to Kayla and Josh or something they love.   Kayla and her mom are big champagne fans, so guests were greeted at the reception with trays of champagne, each garnished with a fresh raspberry.  Hors d’oeuvres included mini grilled cheese sandwiches and shots of tomato soup because that was one of the first meals the couple cooked together.  Kayla’s Louisiana heritage inspired the Cajun dishes on the buffet. For the photobooth we added mardi gras beads and the couple’s college pennant to the normal array of props.   At the end of the night guests were treated to homemade chocolate chip cookies, one of Kayla and Josh’s favorites, and photos of them as kids.

Photography: Lindsay Elizabeth Photography / Flowers: Blooming Gallery / Event Planning: Marli Maloney Couch Events / Ceremony Location: St. Anne’s / Reception Location: The Junior League of Houston / Bridesmaids Dresses:  J.Crew / Cakes: Cake Affairs and Culinary Creations / Photobooth:  Houston Party Booths / DJ: Rock N Robin / Linens + Chair Covers: Distinctive Details

I love the idea of old pieces, like antique furniture and decor, finding new life at a wedding which is, in itself, an ultimate celebration of new life and new beginnings.  This photo shoot by Christina Carroll Photography and the talented folks of Vintique Rentals perfectly illustrates how to make the timeless and classic look and feel new again.  Each piece is lovingly selected and styled to create an uber-romantic, Austin affair.  The florals by Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry, that incorporate local and seasonal blooms, are seriously works of art.  The result of this fantastic team collaboration is nothing less than spectacular and lovely.  See all the details in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From the photographer:

The “Past to Present Stylized Shoot” is a re-creation of a regal time where things long forgotten have been brought back as a new beginning. Vintique Rentals created timeless scenes with antique furniture, old clocks, whiskey jugs with prairie grasses, wrought iron candelabras, chandeliers, and stained glass. Many items in the Vintique Rentals collection have been pulled from barns and attics to find new life as vintage and antique props and scene setters. The historical western town of Star Hill Ranch created by Adam Whooley has a perfectly vintage ambiance. Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry added native grown cotton bloom wreaths, black rose succulents, and flowers in muted colors of antique mauve, mustard yellow and burgundy tones with a touch of champagne. The look and timeless feel was completed with hair, make up and vintage jewelry by April Skinner and Jordan Webb of Almost Impatient Productions, and the gown and belt by Blush Bridal Salon. Christina Carroll captured the ‘past to present’ vision fabulously.

Photographer: Christina Carroll Photography / Flowers: Visual Lyrics Floral Artistry / Scene Display: Vintique Rentals / Hair: April Skinner / Make up: Jordan Webb / Venue: Star Hill Ranch / Models: Jessica Johnson & Eric Buchanan / Dress: Martina Liana from Blush Bridal Lounge / Jewelry: Almost Impatient Productions

Oh Austin, Texas, home to the coolest of cool weddings, you never ever disappoint us here in SMP land and we just can’t seem to get enough of you and your fabulously chic weddings. Take this pretty, nature inspired wedding for example. We’re loving all the earth tone details from the pretty linen napkins topped with herbs to the gorgeous, swirly tablecloths to the simple and pared down aisle. Lucky for us Stacey E. Photography was there to capture all these pretty details designed and planned to perfection by BZ Events and the beyond gorgeous florals by Petal Pushers. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride: Sharing our cool little pocket of Texas with friends and family was what we loved most about our wedding day. Our wedding day vision … Looking back, my favorite comment from guests who attended our wedding was that it wasn’t necessarily a “hill country” wedding, or a “rustic/vintage/modern/etc” wedding – but it was just a “Chris and Katherine” wedding — which is exactly what we were going for. We tried to add a personal touch to every single element. In terms of the overall design scheme , we knew the second we walked into Vista West Ranch that it was perfect for the  relaxed, rustic charm we were going for. Chris actually suggested our signature drink early in the planning process (Roseberry Fizz from Austin’s fun Highball bar) and it ended up being the inspiration for much of the wedding – our colors were mossy/herb greens, ivories, and touches of navy, with fresh herbs everywhere – on the tables, in the flowers, and a lavender toss to end the night!

Our vendor team rocked + without a doubt, Becky at BZ events steals the show – she was amazing every step of the way. She helped us design our big day + helped us put together a team of rock star Austin wedding vendors, including Primizie + Petal Pushers who were both incredible.

Our favorite details of the day — I was 100% happy and in love with every single detail. Fresh herb sprigs, topo chico glasses with candles, twinkling chandeliers hanging from the trees, the mason jars filled with flowers at the end of the ceremony aisles, wooden signs to direct the guests, agua fresca served in mason jars, striped straws, bunting hanging from the balcony, the handmade green desk that served as a welcome table, the Rifle Paper Co. recipe box as a guest book, programs hanging from the trees on clothesline, C+K mugs with herbs spilling out, canvas stamped bags with peanuts, edible ice cream sandwich wrappers, surprise cocktail napkins for Chris, a ceremony that made us laugh out loud multiple times, watching our friends and family enjoy the photo booth and mingle around an adorable ice cream truck, the sun setting as we said our vows, a constant hill country breeze, and everyone who’s important to us dancing the night away!

Photography: Stacey E. Photography / Event Planning + Design: BZ Events / Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Venue: Vista West Ranch / Caterer: Primizie Catering / Flowers: Petal Pushers / Lighting: FILO / Hair + Makeup: LucieMarie / DJ: Groove Labs / Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings / Dessert: Cool Haus Ice Cream Truck / Invitations: 45 Wall Design / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: Impression Bridal

Good Morning, SMPers!  It’s the beginning of a brand new month of fabulous inspiration here on Style Me Pretty Texas and we can’t think of a better way to jump start the October festivities than with an entire day spent wrapped up in some pretty, pretty paper, courtesy of one of our brand new (and oh-so-amazing) advertisers, Pressing Events!  We know how much you lovelies adore your paper products and Pressing Events has you TOTALLY covered… PLUS they are offering a wonderful discount for SMP readers to boot.  Sounds like a pretty great way to spend a Saturday, no?  So, join me in giving Pressing Events a huge SMP welcome and then head on over to their website for even more lovely inspiration!

From Pressing Events… Pressing Events offers its brides a relaxed and inviting boutique in which to review wedding albums from Crane, William Arthur, Wiley-Valentine, The Lettered Olive or Pressing Event’s own assortment of wedding selections. But the majority of our brides elect to place their dreams on paper by collaborating with a graphic artist in an original one-of-kind custom designed wedding invitation.

Pressing Events owner Nancy Billingsley Calvert has always enjoyed the creative process – first as an interior designer, six years ago partnering in the development of a wholesale line of stationery, two years ago opening a retail store in the Memorial section of Houston, and most recently with the introduction of MacKenzie-Childs Ltd. to our luxurious collection of gifts and antiques.

Pressing Events welcomes Style Me Pretty readers with a 15% discount on custom designed wedding invitations using letterpress, thermography, or engraving.  Just mention Style Me Pretty when meeting with one of our designers.

A very big welcome to you, Pressing Events!  We are so happy to have you as part of our SMP family!

We are down right smitten with today’s Texas wedding and we have a feeling you’re about to join us. The first thing that caught our adoring eyes was those big, beautiful blooms by Maggie Gillespie Designs as well as all the gorgeous styling perfect for an al fresco affair. And the detail that made us fall head over heels for this Texas soirée? That would be every single stunning image photographed by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings. Pure perfection. Total works of art. And all resting in a little happy place called the gallery. See it all here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I wanted to mix styles to give my wedding a unique feel, something the guests would not have seen a hundred times before.  I wanted to mix contemporary with classic.  I wanted to bring in elements of nature because of the setting.  I feel in love with a few key pieces of the decor and then tied it all together.  I did not want to have a color scheme exactly and pick 2 colors or a color.  The bridesmaids wore a beautiful grass-green color, and the flowers had shades of green, coral, orange, and pink.  I felt that not having a color scheme you could lay your hands on was a good thing.  I thought it was too limiting to pick two colors and say, this is my color scheme and stick with it.  I fell in love with this beautiful ikat fabric that I ordered from Usbekistan, the symbolism of the fabric in the culture it originates from is the melding of two into one which made me love this fabric even more.  The colors were great on top of the grass-green fabric we chose for the tablecloth, so we used it as a table runner.  We also used it as an accent on the bar that was created, but put a coral fabric behind it for that for something different for the bar area.

I loved the idea of lounge furniture for my wedding, but I found most of the options open to me to rent to be not in keeping with the look we were going for.  I wanted something not Las Vegas, but something that would feel like home, like you were in a huge living room.  I found the white slip-covered sofas and chaises at IKEA and purchased them and then resold them after the wedding.  We placed them all around the dance floor.  People loved it, and all the seats were enjoyed.  I found the coral fabrics for the pillows at a local fabric store and had them made.  This pop of color on the stark white sofas was hip and modern for the dance floor tent area.  I wanted the party to flow from the look of the church being unique and taking advantage of its charm to the look of the cocktail area being outdoors under the trees by the pond, to the look of the dining tent, and then to the look of the dance tent.  I wanted the looks to come together but to be distinctive because each part of this night was distinctive. I wanted the look for the reception to take advantage of the beautiful environment that my dad created at the ranch.  I wanted it to feel like Father of the Bride meets 2010, outdoors at a country estate.

The first dance was very special, I have been a dancer all my life and Steven and I have taken ballroom lessons on and off over the years for fun date night activity.  We found our favorite dance teacher of all time to help us prepare for the most special dance of our lives, and it was amazing.  Steven did such a wonderful job learning the dance.  We danced to That’s How Strong my Love Is by Ottis Redding. My dad and I danced to What a Wonderful World, and he took a couple of lessons with me as well to practice.  Another highlight of the night was the fireworks, my mom and dad worked with the person to perfect the fireworks and had him shooting off fireworks five times in the two weeks before the wedding to get it just right and I put together a collection of special songs for the fireworks show, the songs were When you Wish Upon a Star, Main Title from Father of the Bride Soundtrack, A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes, and Brown Eyed Girl.

Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s (Grandfather was very involved in building the chapel) / Reception Location: Yensid Ranch / Florist + Event Design: Maggie Gillespie Designs / Caterer: Pappasito’s / Wedding Cakes: Sophie’s Choice / DJ: Josh Wilkerson of Penguin Entertainment / Tent + Rentals: Premiere and Events / Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings / Make-up: Kiss ‘n Make-up / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings

I’m a lover of sparkly Jimmy Choos (seriously, those heels get me every.single.time), so when I saw this gorgeous Fort Worth bride was rockin’ a pair of silver stunners, I was a goner.  And when I noticed that all of that shoe fabulous was wrapped up in a traditional ballroom affair brimming with the prettiest of pink color palettes, insanely gorgeous florals by Jim Irwin Floral and some uber-chic bridesmaid dresses, well, let’s just say you’ve got yourself one seriously smitten (and seriously obsessed) blogger on your hands.  Thankfully, the gallery is chock-full of breathtaking images by Daisy Photography Studio, because I’ve got a lot of swooning to do.  Join me there for every last moment of pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Chris and I knew we wanted to get married in Texas, where my family lives and where we met and fell in love (7 years after we met as teenagers). However, we both lived in Atlanta during our engagement, so planning the wedding at times seemed like planning a destination wedding for a traditional setting. My grandparents and parents also married at Saint Patrick Cathedral, so it was extra special to be married there. We wanted the wedding to be classic, traditional and fun. After securing our date with Saint Patrick Cathedral, we searched for the perfect venue. My initial choices were already booked for our big day, but luckily the brand new hotel just across the street was open! We had a traditional, full wedding mass and followed with the reception across the street. With so many out-of-town guests, it was a huge convenience being able to walk between the ceremony and reception.

Our invitation designer made our design patterns after the wedding china we registered for. Aside from the navy bridesmaid dresses, the color scheme for everything was filled with romantic blush pinks, white and silver. I wanted to do a few DIY projects and designed the wedding programs and table numbers myself. For months I searched for silver frames at Hobby Lobby, Home Goods and other smaller home stores to display the table numbers. For putting together the wedding programs, my mother-in-law and I searched all over Atlanta for the white ribbons to tie them together. I think we cleared out all of the Hobby Lobby’s in the metro Atlanta area! Our florist used rose petals throughout the reception – the cake tables, candy buffet and part of the centerpieces. One of my bridesmaids has Celiac disease, so I contacted her sister and we surprised her with a mini gluten-free cake at the wedding. We alternated cylinder vases filled with candles and roses and larger centerpieces throughout the ballroom.

Our wedding day was perfect for us – filled with close family and friends, dancing and laughter. My favorite moment was after taking our formal pictures and being alone with Chris before walking down the stairs to go to the ballroom.

One interesting note about my wedding dress – I purchased my first wedding dress at Kleinfeld in NYC, then did all my alterations in Atlanta and shipped the dress out to my parents house in Fort Worth. My mother took the dress to be lightly pressed before taking my bridals. Sadly, the cleaners damaged my dress so badly it could not be worn or fixed in time for my wedding. With 11 days to go before my wedding, I was without a dress. Luckily, a family friend works at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and I was able to purchase a dress, and get it fitted in time before the wedding. On my wedding day, it was the third time I had put on the dress (including trying it on!). After that debacle, nothing really phased me with the details of the upcoming wedding. It ended with a happy ending – I had a beautiful dress, a beautiful wedding and am married to the man of my dreams. No complaints here!

Wedding Photography: Daisy Photography Studio / Flowers + Candy Bar: Jim Irwin Floral / Wedding Planning: The Bride / Wedding Ceremony Location: Saint Patrick Cathedral / Wedding Reception Location: Omni Fort Worth Hotel / Wedding Invitations: Design Voice Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via The Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown / Bridesmaid Dresses: Coren Moore Inc. via Bella Bridesmaid / Bride’s Hair Accessories: Sara Gabriel via Kelly’s Closet / Veil: The Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown / Wedding Cake: Opulent Cakes of Colleyville / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank / Rings: Brown & Company Jewelers / Wedding Programs: The Bride / Seating Chart: Design Voice Studio / Band: Center Stage Band / Hair: Morgan Callaway of Duvall’s Hair Design / Make-up: Friends of the Bride / Bride’s Earings: Majorica via Neiman Marcus / Bride’s Sash: Enzoani / Photobooth: BoothBooth / Table Numbers: The Bride (DIY frames from Hobby Lobby, Home Goods and Marshalls)

I just added a romantic picnic with my honey to my weekend itinerary, all thanks to this lovely engagement session by Gema Blanton Photography and all of the pretty, pretty inspiration it’s providing.  Plus, I think I’ll take a cue from the gorgeous bride-to-be and buy myself a pair of cowboy boots, because, seriously, how fabulous is she?  In fact, this entire session is filled to the brim with fabulous and from the picnic in the grass to the trees filled with twinkle lights, it’s just one gorgeous moment after another.  You don’t want to miss a moment of pretty, so join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Jeremy told me that I have an amazing ability to ruin proposals. He tried proposing to me three different times. ( I guess the third time’s a charm!)  For a while I had been teasing him about how un-romantic he is, so one night he told me to get dressed up and that we were going to a really nice restaurant. We went out to Kiepersol Estates Winery; it was delicious!  After dinner I remember thinking to myself, wow I guess he really is trying to be romantic! And I thought that was so sweet!! When we left the winery, we drove to go look at the lot he has purchased for us to build our house on, which was normal, he always wants to look at it even though all it has on it is dirt and a little bit of grass. He had claimed he could see something out in the middle of the lot, so he got out of the car to look at it. When he came back, he came to my side of the car, got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him! I thought it was the perfect place! It’s where we will be starting our lives together and start a family. Plus, in years to come when our children ask me how and where their daddy proposed, I can just walk to the front door and show them!

Our photographer was Gema Blanton out of Tyler. Everything turned out exactly the way I had imagined it would and thanks to Gema, it was even better! My fiance and I both love being outside and we both grew up out in the country. So there was only one place to do our engagement portraits… outside! My parents have some land down a county road in East Texas that I knew would be the perfect place for our pictures. So we went to a few of my favorite places. I also wanted to keep everything sentimental. I wore necklaces that Jeremy has given me, bracelets my parents had given me, a bracelet my grandfather made for me, and of course since we were out in a hay field and back in the woods I had to wear my favorite cowgirl boots!

I knew I wanted Gema to take a few pictures of Jeremy and I having a picnic. I love picnics, I think they are so cute and romantic! So I got my favorite quilt, my great-grandmother hand stitched it, and grabbed two beautiful crystal wine glasses my great-aunt had given to Jeremy and I, and what’s a picnic without cake?? I had some delicious red velvet cake from my favorite bakery, Chez Bazan in Tyler.

When the sun was starting to set and we were done with our picnic, we went to the backside of my parents’ property. My favorite place is back in the woods, I am in love with a tree back there. It’s a huge pine tree that has grown almost in the shape of a chair It amazes me how nature can form trees that are so interesting. I had an idea to take pictures at dusk/dark around that tree with lights strung around all the surrounding trees. The pictures Gema took were even better than what I had imagined. All in all, I had so much fun with our photographer and I know my fiance did too. I am so thankful that she got him to do a “real smile!”

Photography: Gema Blanton Photography / Cake: Chez Bazan

I l.o.v.e a romantic rainy day wedding and this gorgeous Austin affair by Austin Imagery is no exception.  It’s all the romance that a drizzly day brings paired with an ultra-chic green, black and pink color scheme, beautiful florals by Bouquets of Austin, an uber-stunning Monique Lhuillier gown and some very fabulous hot pink heels.  36th Street Events planned each and every amazing moment and created a warm and glamorous affair with those unexpected overcast skies.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss a moment of pretty.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… We got married on at the beautiful Austin Museum of Art Laguna Gloria in Austin, Texas on what was supposed to be a warm and sunny day.  I am a reporter at a local news station and all week (actually all month) long I was nagging our meteorologists to find out the exact forecast for that day.  Sunny and temperatures in the 70’s.  That’s what they all said.  When I woke up on that morning and heard rain, my heart sank.  I quickly checked the forecast: rain and a high of 56 degrees.  I had planned a mostly outdoor wedding on a lawn that overlooks Lake Austin.  My husband and I spend a lot of time on the lake so we wanted to incorporate that into our wedding.  The Italian-style villa on the property was supposed to be the backdrop.  When we realized it would be raining, my amazing wedding planner, Bethany Childress from 36th Street Events, acted quickly and put our “Plan B” into action.  Tents were put up over the back patios where the ceremony and dancing would now take place; cocktails and dinner were moved inside the villa.

I have to say that all day long, the weather really put a damper on my mood.  I had spent nearly a year and a half planning a wedding that was now going to be very different.  But once I arrived at Laguna Gloria and was surrounded by my mom and bridesmaids, I knew that it was still going to be a great wedding.  The minute I saw Justin I started crying out of complete happiness and realized I was not going to let the weather ruin this day.  We saw each other and took our pictures before the ceremony which really helped cheer me up and put me at ease before everything got started.  I didn’t shed more than two tears the rest of the night and I don’t think the smile left my face.  It was a beautiful, fun, and a bit soggy wedding.

My photographers, Austin Imagery, did an amazing job of capturing the details. I would say our wedding was mostly sweet & charming, with a little DIY and budget friendly mixed in. Our colors were green, pink and white.  One of my favorite things that day were my shoes–hot pink!  The groomsmen all had great shoes too–black Converse Chuck Taylors.  These are the shoes Justin wears almost on a daily basis.  On my bouquet we had the florist tie in a handkerchief that belonged to my grandmother as my “something old.” I bought a bunch of little emerald-green bud vases of different sizes and designs on eBay for the cocktail tables.  My sister-in-law, who used to be a florist, filled them with different white blooms.  For my bridesmaids, I ordered earrings from Etsy in different shades of green.  Another one of my favorite things were the white and green round lanterns hanging from the tents (these were supposed to hang from the trees in the non-rain plan).  On our sign-in table, my mom got this giant birdcage for guests to put cards and small gifts in.  We used sign-in cards in a little wooden box that looked like a recipe box in lieu of a sign-in book.

During cocktail hour we served a signature drink: Sweet-o-Titos made with Sweet Leaf Tea and Titos Vodka, both made in Austin.  We served cupcakes from my favorite Austin bakery in three flavors: Key Lime, Guinness and Vanilla.

Wedding Photography: Austin Imagery / Wedding Venue: Austin Museum of Art Laguna Gloria / Wedding Planning: 36th Street Events / Caterer: Crave / Florist: Bouquets of Austin (Groom’s Sister) / Band: The Argyles / Cupcakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Lighting: Ilios / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Guest Book Box: Cut the Cake Designs

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I think it’s safe to say that I am absolutely obsessed with the variety of weddings we see here on SMP Texas.  Traditional ballroom affairs, vintage soirees, garden parties…  You name it and it’s happening in Texas, complete with uber-chic style, amazing details and more than a few brides in cowboy boots.  And today there’s a glamorous lakeside fête to add to my ever-growing list of Lone Star State loves.  One filled to the brim with gorgeous blooms by Verbena Floral Design, a lovely blue, purple and pink color palette, an adorable bride and groom and an entire gallery of stunning images by She-n-He Photography and Design.  Oh, Texas.  I couldn’t love you more if I tried.  Join me in the gallery for all of the pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… When Nick proposed, I was currently living in New York City, so I had less than a year to plan a large wedding in my home state of Texas.  New York is a beautiful place, so we decided to take our engagement pictures in Brooklyn, but I knew that if I was going to get married in Texas, I wanted to be outdoors to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Texas Hill country. I chose to have the ceremony at Vintage Villas – the altar overlooked Lake Travis as the sun began to set, and we said our vows below a large, vine-covered gazebo.

From the beginning, I knew that I wanted an abundance of fresh flowers at my wedding.  I worked at a plant nursery during college, so I already had a long list of specific varieties and colors that I wanted to use. Verbena Floral Design brought my ideas together and made arrangements that were more beautiful than I could have imagined! We used old cheese boxes and tree stumps to hold the centerpieces, and set a large tree stump below our wedding cake, designed by Hill Country Cakes. We didn’t just want the plain old white-on-white, so Hill Country Cakes prepared a lemon cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting…delicious AND beautiful.

Finally, everything that I treasured about my wedding was captured perfectly by She-N-He Photography.  “She” (Melanie Grizzel) was absolutely amazing, and my friends and family can’t stop talking about how fun she was at the wedding! Melanie traveled all the way to New York to take our engagements and had so many great ideas. The wedding, and my memories of it, wouldn’t have been the same without her!

Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design / Wedding Photography: She-n-He Photography and Design / Wedding Venue: Vintage Villas / Wedding Cake: Hill Country Cakes / Wedding Dress: Michelle Bridal in Brooklyn, NY

One look at this GOREGOUS, bright, floral-filled affair by Krystle Akin Photography, and I have a feeling you will be grinning from ear to ear all day. And after soaking in the entire soiree, I do believe your weekend is guaranteed to be a happy one. How can it not be when it’s started with a wedding this cheery? A stunning couple, bright details, precious flower girls – it all makes for a gallery full of gorgeous!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…With family and friends traveling in from literally all over the world the wedding came together flawlessly. Guest came for Zambia, London, Australia, Haiti, New York and all over North and South Texas. The colors that Holly and Brian chose played a key role in the outcome of the final vision, which in turn made my day full-filled with details. The ceremony took place at The Villa Di Felicita located in Tyler Texas which is a premier East Texas Venue designed with a Tuscan flair. Since it was a hot Texas August weekend when the couple wed they planned to celebrate the nuptials inside in the indoor chapel with the same Tuscan atmosphere. Mixed with a gorgeous color palette of orange, yellow, and purples the ceremony was gorgeous.

Throughout the venue, picture frames with the couples engagement images were placed in common areas and reception tables. Not to forget to mention the brightly decorated tables with crystals hanging from each arrangement. Every table had a different feel, but all within the same bright color palette. Holly and Brian were announced by the amazingly talented George Faber and Friends band from Texas who knew how to have the wedding party dance the afternoon away. A live band that played anything from modern pop hits to classic r&b they made guests of all ages get on the dance floor. The cake was a spin on a classic with the flowers of the day on the top-tier and of course crystals placed perfectly on each layer. The bride and groom left to their honeymoon in Hawaii with one of the bride’s main request for me to capture her excitement of the send-off, of course with orange rose petals. The day was perfect to see all of the differently nationalities come together to mingle perfectly.

Wedding Photography: Krystle Akin Photography / Location + Catering: The Villa Di Felicita / Floral Design: The Flower Girl / Make-up + Hair: Salon Kalea / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: Amazing Grace Cakes / Band: George Faber and Friends / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Poetic License of London / Groom’s Suit : Custom Tailored Calvin Klein / Bridesmaid Dress: The Dessy Group