Texas Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Classic & Elegant Texas Wedding at The Grand Ivory

The very first thing on my wedding planning wish list was a gorgeous venue. A gorgeous white venue to be exact. There’s nothing quite as fresh and classic as a clean backdrop and today’s spot, The Grand Ivory, is all that and more and fulfilled the vision of Ann and Quan—with the help of Pop Parties. To document their celebration, they called on Allen Tsai and Brad & Monica Wedding Films and I’m SO glad they did, so we can all be be virtual guests!

From Allen Tsai Photography… Ann and Quan wanted a clean, classic, and elegant wedding and they sure achieved it with the perfect design from Pop Parties! The Grand Ivory was the perfect backdrop for their wedding with the clean walls and beautiful natural lighting. Paired with lush greenery and touches of white and blush floral design by R Love Floral, it truly brought their wedding vision to life!

For the classic and elegant touches, Ann wore a stunning Vera Wang gown and had all of her bridesmaids in gold sequin gowns. Quan went with the classic black tux and bowtie look.

The reception design was the perfect balance of everything. The aisle floral pieces from the ceremony were re-purposed onto the head table creating a lush greenery organic vibe. The tables were a mix of long rectangular wooden tables with low floral arrangements to keep the organic look consistent, but also mixed in with round tables featuring tall centerpieces with blush and ivory linens to create that elegant look. The couple chose to serve Babes Chicken, their favorite restaurant while together and it truly was a wonderful celebration from start to finish!

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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A Colorful Fall Wedding at Hotel Crescent Court Complete with the Cutest Flower Girl

For this beautiful couple – the perfect wedding day meant the presence of their closest family and friends, subtle tributes to their military backgrounds, lots of bright yellow and pink blooms from Anna Rayner… oh, and the cutest four-legged flower girl we ever did see. It was the most special day planned perfectly by Keestone Events! We can’t wait to share these gorgeous photos captured by Allen Tsai Photography of Tian Tian and Chris’s joy-filled day! See it all below and prepare for some majorly aww-worthy moments.

From Keestone Events… I loved planning for Tian Tian and Chris. This is a couple who aren’t afraid to let their personalities shine through and have fun.

From Tian Tian surprising Chris by arriving at the rehearsal in a taco costume (their wedding was a few weeks before Halloween) just for kicks — she did take it off after a few minutes — to Chris surprising her with Torchy’s Tacos as a late night snack at the reception, there were twists and turns throughout their wedding that kept their group of guests guessing and cheering all night long.

Both met in West Point and were in the military for five years. They incorporated aspects from that background such as cutting the cake with the West Point saber and doing a military style grog. For their wedding, the couple was drawn to bright florals which were balanced out with neutral linens and the warm tones of Hotel Crescent Court.

Tian Tian and Chris don’t live in Dallas and they, along with most of their guests flew in from various parts of the States to make it to their big day. Since Tian Tian’s family is from China, red wooden favors that mean “double happiness” were put on each place setting as a nod to her culture. I also cannot forget to mention Sandy, Tian Tian’s Old English Sheepdog who has been the most well-behaved (and supportive) flower girl in all the weddings we have done. Sandy was such a pro and MVP!

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Petit Bouquet

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An Ethereal Garden Wedding at The White Sparrow Barn

The oh-so talented team at Moss Floral Design brought an ethereal garden scene indoors at The White Sparrow Barn – and the result was absolutely magical. Abundant greenery and a feminine color palette of soft pinks, blush and mauve danced across the barn’s blank canvas. The entire day planned by Ivory and Vine Event Co. was nothing short of a dream. Don’t miss a single moment of this enchanting affair at the full gallery of images captured perfectly by the always lovely, Stephanie Brazzle Photography.

From Stephanie Brazzle Photography… Ashley & Chad’s winter wedding was intimate, romantic and full of gorgeous details. Ashley and I began dreaming up her wedding with a palette of soft pinks, blush, muave and overflowing greenery, bringing an ethereal garden aesthetic to their stunning white barn venue, The White Sparrow.

The barn gave us an elegant, clean canvas to paint on, and we filled it with soft candlelight, french-inspired details like hand-monogrammed napkins for each member of the wedding party, and luxurious velvet textures. Moss Floral Design juxtaposed soft, refined garden roses with wild smilax, and added pops of deep pink, mauve and amber to contrast the bright, airy wood of the barn.

Ashley’s custom stationery suite designed by Scribbles and Swirls, incorporated a crest with French detailing, and nods to the anemone that were sprinkled throughout Ashley’s bridal bouquet and the arrangements that adorned the velvet-lined tables. Guests were nestled into the barn during a cozy, candle-filled ceremony, the barn doors open to let in the cool air and the sound of rain falling on the leaves outside.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed jazz music, inspired by the couples love of New Orleans, and sipped champagne as we transformed the barn for moody, romantic dining. We wanted to evoke a feeling of closeness, denoted by the soft, plush linens, tall pillar candles and Southern comfort food; a stunning evening spent with close family and friends.

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Wedding Dresses

Sareh Nouri

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Texas College Sweethearts Wed at The Room On Main in Dallas

As someone who found love in college myself, I’ve got a soft spot for college sweethearts—and today’s lovebirds are simply the cutest pair. Also like my husband and I, Haley and Hunter said I do nine years after meeting and oh, did they do it in serious style. With Engaged Events and Something Pretty Floral to help beautify the day, their Dallas celebration is one I know you’ll go a little pin-happy with. Stephanie Brazzle captured it all, right here.

From Stephanie Brazzle… Haley and Hunter met in September of their freshman year at TCU. They remained mere acquaintances until after a couple chance encounters, Hunter asked Haley on their first date. Hunter picked Haley up from her dorm, Colby Hall, and they walked to nearby Dutch’s Burgers, a local favorite at TCU. Despite the first date nerves, they had a great time and began what would be a long journey together that would culminate with their wedding over nine years later.

During the next four years at TCU, Haley and Hunter formed countless friendships and made memories that they cherish to this day. The summer following their graduation from TCU, Hunter moved to Waco to attend Baylor Law School, and Haley started her first job in Fort Worth. They drove back and forth between Waco and Fort Worth nearly every weekend for the following three years. Hunter’s law school graduation was not only significant for Hunter, but also meaningful for Haley and Hunter as a couple, knowing that their future together could finally begin in the same city! To celebrate this milestone, Haley and Hunter spent two wonderful weeks in Italy. During their last evening in Venice while watching boats sail through the canal, Hunter surprised Haley with a proposal. After Haley said “yes!” and shed a few tears, they returned home to share this exciting news with their family and friends.

Shortly after returning home, Haley and Hunter moved to Dallas together, where they began planning their wedding. It meant so much to Haley and Hunter to host their families from all over the country in Dallas. They were married in the Cox Chapel at Highland Park United Methodist Church and the reception was held at The Room on Main. It perfectly embodied what they had always envisioned for their wedding day, a traditional, intimate, and emotional celebration. As the bride and groom arrived at the reception, the sun was setting beautifully through the 15-foot floor to ceiling windows. And as the sun set, hundreds of candles placed on the tables throughout the room illuminated the venue. As the reception came to an end, Haley and Hunter shared one last romantic dance together followed by a grand exit as friends and family tossed rose petals. It was a beautiful night which brought together Haley’s and Hunter’s families and friends for which they will be forever grateful. It was truly a night they will remember forever!

High School Sweethearts’ Wedding at The Ivory Oak in Texas

Can you imagine having to change your wedding venue just two months before your big day?! That’s exactly what this duo had to do after finding out their original venue was to be sold—even forcing them to re-send their wedding invitations. Thankfully this wedding planning woe was a blessing in disguise, because if Caitlin Rose‘s images have anything to say about it, venue #2 (The Ivory Oak) made for the loveliest setting. Memory Lane Weddings coordinated the entire day, leaving the Bride & Groom completely free to soak in their celebration. Have a look below!

From Caitlin Rose Photography… Chelsey and Gabriel started dating in high school and have been together for 10 years. They had been waiting years for their big day of finally making it official. The couple wanted a classic southern outdoor wedding in the hill country with bright florals and romantic details.

They picked out a venue just outside of Austin, only to find out that their original venue had been sold. The couple had to pick out a new venue just two months before the wedding! Luckily the Ivory Oak, a brand new southern venue in Wimberley, was available on their wedding date. This was actually the venue’s first wedding! The couple had to re-send out all their wedding invitations with the details of the venue change.

On the day of the wedding, everything went smoothly, everyone was relaxed, and the couple could not have been happier with how it all turned out. The bride wore her mother’s jewelry and a stunning classic lace dress. It was supposed to rain all day, but the rain held off for their wedding. Chelsey and Gabriel could not stop smiling as they officially tied the knot. Congrats to the high school sweethearts!

East Coast Style in the Dallas Suburbs

Color, cheer, and function, were the key elements to this interior designer’s new family abode! When Janelle, of Lark Interiors, moved her family from New York City to Dallas for a taste of suburban life, her focus was location, location, location. After finding a mid-90’s home that was less than exciting, Janelle got to work on bringing the home to life – without a total renovation. “I often find that people think the answer to every ailment is to renovate. The power of paint, new light fixtures, and good furniture is totally under-appreciated.” And after touring this house, we agree that the power of paint is real! See for yourself in this home tour photographed by Matti Gresham.

FRONT ROOM

I chose to put our TV in our front room because the New Yorker in me hates to waste space and I knew we’d never use a “formal” living room. I tell people that the gallery wall around the tv is intended to help the TV blend in, but really it’s just an excuse for me to freely hoard art. The pieces are from all over—a couple were my grandmother’s, some are from flea markets, some from artist friends, and some are from Homegoods. I just can’t seem to stop myself from buying a pretty piece of art. The credenza is a vintage piece I bought from my friend Angeline’s shop Purveyor. She always finds the best stuff—and I love to swing by and see what’s new.

FAMILY ROOM

This is my favorite room in the house. It is cozy enough for a Sunday afternoon nap, but has enough seating to host friends. I knew I wanted a Windsor bench behind the sofa from the moment we moved in — but it proved nearly impossible to find one! When I stumbled on this one at Round Top, I had to have it. I’m pretty sure I got it to fit in my car by willpower alone.

The light fixture was another lucky find. The fixture I wanted was out of stock and I needed something immediately for a photo shoot. I found this one at the Arteriors outlet. It was a one-off Arteriors made as a sample, but never ended up manufacturing. When I say good lighting can change a room, this is what I mean. It became the focal point of the space!

DINING ROOM

The one small renovation we’ve made to the home so far is adding the wainscoting in the dining room. It instantly elevated the space. But what really pulled this spot together is that incredible Robert Abbey chandelier. That middle section is solid stone, so more than a few swear words were said when it was being hung, but it was totally worth it!

BREAKFAST NOOK

This is the heart of the home. This is where we eat our meals, do homework, and play play-doh. I love a round table because they are so functional — we can fit up to 8 people around this one by Community Mfg. The chairs are knock-off Marcel Breuer and are so family friendly because you can buy replacement backs or seats for only $30! And that Arteriors chandelier makes me happy on a daily basis!

MASTER BEDROOM

I read somewhere that the more saturated the color, the more joy it will bring you. I believe that. I love color. It makes my heart happy. So I just went for it in here. Because the walls are so saturated, I decided to let them be the star and stick with neutral textile choices. My other favorite thing in my bedroom is the marble topped dresser which I found at Round Top. The lamp used to belong to my husband’s grandfather.

THE GIRLS BEDROOM

My two daughters (8 and 5) share this room. When I talked to them about color, they immediately settled on hot pink. I was initially a little hesitant, but after finding that Kravet wallpaper for the ceiling, I was totally on board. Now we all love it and not even the neighbor boy’s shouts that “it’s burning my eyes!” can dissuade us. Probably my favorite element in this room is the vintage dresser I found at Scout Design Studio. I had it lacquered in Benjamin Moore Simply White, which is the same white that is on the walls. The dresser hardware makes a statement in the best possible way — and it’s Henredon so it’s super high quality. Nothing makes a mom smile like dividers built into the sock drawer!

Bunk beds were a purely practical choice — I wanted the floor space for play. Whenever I need bunk beds for a design, Oeuf is my go-to. Their bunk bed doesn’t feel visually heavy or clunky like a lot of others. And the swing chair is pure fun. It makes a surprisingly comfy bedtime story spot. I will say that the one thing no one tells you when you install one of those is that it is nearly impossible to get it to settle facing the exact direction you want. The OCD part of me has wasted many a moment adjusting it.

THE BOY BEDROOM

The jumping off point for my 12-year-old son’s room was the Kate Roebuck art above his bed. Every teenager needs to be reminded to laugh, right? The desk I found in Canton, a great flea market just outside of Dallas. It was the perfect scale for the spot. My favorite thing we did in this room was carrying the two-toned paint treatment all the way around the room—through the doors, trim, everywhere. It adds great visual interest to our builder basic doors.

THE GUEST ROOM

This is a small room, but we get a lot of visitors, so it has to be practical. I used Rejuvenation sconces instead of lamps to free up space on the nightstands. On one side of the bed I replaced the nightstand with a small desk from West Elm. It provides a perch for your glass of water at night and a place to respond to emails during the day.

THE PLAYROOM

When we moved in, the built-ins in this space were yellowed, scratched, and dated. A fresh coat of paint totally transformed them. I used Benjamin Moore Moonshine, and added Benjamin Moore Gilbralter Cliffs on the back of the built-ins for contrast. The hex knobs from CB2 were a fun addition too. I found the old sign letters at the Round Top Antiques Show. It took me quite a while to put this phrase together—but as soon as I thought of “be nice” I had to have it. Last year we got a piano and I had to move the sign to make room for it. I’m now waiting for the perfect client project to use it in!

Austin Garden Wedding at The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge

Want to know exactly how you get this wedding look without breaking the bank? The gorgeous Bride is breaking it ALL down for us below, including 14 ways they saved money. But first, can we all just take a moment to soak in this tree? With the help of Blue Sparrow Events and Sweetwater Stems, this celebration was the perfect balance of splurges and saves—resulting in this pin-worthy gallery captured by Honey Gem Creative.

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From the Floral Designer, Sweetwater Stems… We wanted to create floral designs that were truly unique for Ally and Eric – romantic, natural, and timeless. To achieve a garden inspired look, we used a variety of blooms and foliage – including astrantia, ranunculus, roses, scabiosa, blushing bride protea, butterfly ranunculus, pieris japonica, silver dollar eucalyptus, and bouvardia are just a few of the items we selected. We wrapped the bouquets in a wide, dusty blue velvet ribbon – it was perfect! The ceremony space included hand-tied garlands on the chairs along the aisle, and a stunning floral design on the focal tree. We wanted the design to appear as if it were growing in that space, creating that really natural and whimsical look. The reception took place under a beautiful tent adorned with string lighting. To soften the ceiling and create a more warm and inviting vibe, we added loose and natural greenery to the lights – perfect touch! The guest tables included a variety of designs elements including ceramic compotes, candles, geometric terrariums, and gold metal vases. We could not be happier with the overall design for Ally and Eric. It was truly a magical day, and we are so proud to have been a part of making their wedding day so special!

How the couple met… Eric and I met a little over 3 years ago. I was at Punch Bowl Social at the Domain with one of my friends and we were just about to leave when Eric walked in with a couple of his friends. I immediately saw him walk in and couldn’t take my eyes off of him! He was exactly my type and I knew I wanted to talk to him, so I watched him walk around the bar to get a drink and waited to make eye contact. When we did he immediately came over and started talking to us. I felt an instant connection to him and honestly knew I wanted to marry him right then and there. I also found out that Eric and his friends almost didn’t even go to Punch Bowl that night and it was Eric’s last minute decision to stop by before heading home! I truly believe our paths crossed by a chance of fate.

As he was getting my phone number at the end of the night his phone died and he ended up not saving my info! To my surprise I got an instagram message from Eric the next day saying he remembered where I worked and typed in “Blonde Faith Salon Avery Ranch” on google which took him to the website and our employee staff page. During his wedding toast he thanked my boss for including this page because he was able to find my last name and searched for my instagram to get the rest of my number! When we started talking we quickly found out that we were practically neighbors living at The Domain! We had our first date 3 days later and quickly fell in love. We were brought into each others life at the perfect time and fate truly brought us together.

How he proposed… We were in San Diego visiting for a trip and went to Point Loma to the Sunset Cliffs, which is where Eric Proposed. It was so special, romantic and beautiful, the best day of my life.

From the Bride… Getting ready with everyone was such a fun part of the wedding day! I got ready at the venue with my bridesmaids, my mom and mother in law. It was so nice to be able to get ready at the venue and not worry about driving to the ceremony after getting hair and makeup done. If you can get ready at your venue or nearby I for sure recommend it! Make sure to buy waters, snacks like finger sandwhiches, fruit and veggies! And don’t forget the champagne! I gifted my bridesmaids with a cute box they could put all their items in with their initial on them. In each box I had: Kendra Scott Earrings that matched their dress (if you mention you’re getting the earnings for your wedding party you can get a discount on your purchase depending on how many pairs your buying!), a champagne flute that said bridesmaid, maid of honor, or mother of the bride/groom and a pair of silver flip flops to change into later. I also got them silk robes with their names on them. I wanted to get them robes they could wear again, so I choose to put their first names instead of “bridesmaid”. I choose to get robes that matched the color of the dresses and I got my mom and mother in law dark navy colored robes to match the color scheme! I also had the hangers made with their names on them as well!

Choosing the attire for the bridal party was one of the most difficult wedding planning decisions for me. I knew I wanted neutral colors but that was about it. It was hard to make a decision between mis-matched bridesmaid dresses, the suit colors, and the bridesmaid dress colors! Ultimately after reaching out to my photographer and wedding planner (who are both super detail oriented, and a little OCD like me) they helped me make a decision that would look best and flow nicely in photos. Our photographer explained that darker suits always make the dresses pop! So true! Especially against the white dress. And dark colors for groomsmen tend to photograph better and look more “fancy and elegent” She explained her opinion on keeping the groomsmen and groom in the same colors tends to look more cohesive, rather than having the groom in a separate color than the groomsmen. This made me realize I wanted everyone in the same color palettes, because I am lover of all things cohesive! For someone who has her entire closet color coordinated, I don’t know why I was thinking mismatched dresses would work for me… haha. We ended up choosing black suits for the guys and light grey dresses for the bridesmaids! Each bridesmaid got to choose her own neckline, which I loved. They were able to pick a dress that worked best with their body type, and it still looked “mismatched” but with the same colors!

And now….the DRESS! AHH, I miss my dress. I wish it was acceptable to wear it for date night on the weekend. So, I was never one of those people who thought about their wedding dress before getting engaged! So I had no idea what to get, or what style I wanted. But when I tried this one on…I knew! I would recommend trying on all the different styles of dresses until you find one that you like! One of my favorite moments of the day was my bridesmaids “first look” It was so fun to put my dress on and see their reaction! Eric and I didn’t do a first look, so it was really sweet and fun to do something like this with my girls! I loved the lace detail, of my dress and the long train. I added the lace sleeves to match the lace on the dress, and opted for a long veil with lace to match my dress as well!

We got our invitation suite from Minted.com. It was SO easy to use, affordable, and ships fast! They give you 10 free samples, (we ordered like 30 haha) We wanted everything to be cohesive and simple. We used our wedding website for guests to RSVP, and it was a great way to save money on stamps and envelopes! Since we had a smaller guest count I think it worked great. I think guests found it more convenient to RSVP online rather than sending back a response in the mail. One of my favorite decor elements from the day were these marble escort place cards I had made for our head table and the custom seating chart mirror design. I didn’t do assigned seating for each table, instead I did assigned seating for our head table with the escort cards, and then the seating chart mirror to help direct each guest to their assigned table. It saved the headache of assigning each guest to a specific seat, and they got to choose where they sat within their assigned table.

@haleywynndesigns KILLED it on the escort cards and mirror designs. Another awesome thing is being able to use the beautiful mirrors after the wedding! They were super easy to wipe off after the wedding, and look beautiful in our apartment. I got the mirrors from Home Goods! Our florist created the most beautiful floral arrangements and boutonnieres. I wanted simple bridesmaid bouquets, that incorporated the natural elements of our outdoor venue. We had an elegant, tuscan theme for our floral decorations. Since our ceremony site was beautiful, we didn’t have to spend too much to decorate it. Our florist decorated our ceremony tree with a beautiful floral design, and added beautiful greenery to the top of our tent! We created cohesion by adding that greenery to the seating chart, welcome table, and welcome sign. We incorporated a lot of loose greenery, with simple designs for our head tables. We also had little bud vases with simple roses, and candles throughout the reception tables and head table!

I made all of the signage for our wedding from a template on etsy for $10! Click here for the link. I bought the table number frames from amazon, and bought the other frames and easels from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. Instead of a guestbook that we would never look at again, we had custom wine bottles made for guests to sign! Our photo booth was a huge hit! We had a custom marble backdrop (cue the marble escort cards) and I ordered the cutest photo booth props from Amazon from here and here! Such a small investment, that made the night SO fun!

Our wedding planner was a godsend. Having a wedding coordinator for our wedding was the BEST decision. She took so much stress off of us the days leading up to the wedding and the day of. Our wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as beautiful without her.

Our wedding day was without a doubt the best day of my life. During the wedding planning process I worried so much– about all the little details and in the end, it all turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I was so nervous, up until the minute I was standing in front of Eric at the ceremony site. As soon as I was standing in front of him, all of my nerves went away, and I said our vows with confidence and excitement. I have never felt so happy, and joyous in my entire life.

Here are a few ways we saved money on our wedding:

Veil: Purchase your veil from Etsy or from your seamstress. My veil was about $100 vs $400+ at the bridal shop.

Shoes: Again, my shoes were about $60 from Nordstroms. I wore them for 15 minutes and then changed into flip flops. Theres no need to spend $200+ on shoes that you wear for 15 minutes.

Suits: Eric’s suit and the groomsmen suits were all under $250, and they got to keep them. We got them from a local suit shop in Austin! The Black Tux is also a good option!

Pretty Ceremony Site: We saved a lot of money not having to decorate our ceremony site because it was so beautiful even without any added decorations!

Small Bridal Party: Depending on what you are gifting your bridesmaids, and if you’re paying for part of their hair or makeup, I would estimate spending at least $100 per bridesmaid (and thats low). Having only 5 bridesmaids helped us out with our budget as well!

DIY Table numbers, menus, and other signage: Instead of buying table numbers or menus, I downloaded an etsy template and printed them myself using cardstock, and a paper cutter! It cost me about $20.

Inexpensive Invitations: Minted has great options for inexpensive invitations and they usually have discounts during any holiday! Save money on stamps by personally giving the invitation to people you see often.

Linens: My wedding planner from Blue Sparrow Events said that some people spend about $40+ on each table linen! Ours were less than $30 for ALL FIVE of our guest tables combined and they looked beautiful!

Programs: You don’t really need wedding programs. They get thrown away or used as fans

Guest List: We had about 55 people at our wedding. We kept it small by only having very close friends and family at the wedding. We honestly didn’t invite anyone we didn’t have a close relationship with. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Obviously having a small guest count saves money on food. But also allowed us to have fewer guest tables, fewer linens, less floral decor, less alcohol needed, fewer invitations, and more time to spend with each person and the list goes on. Having a smaller wedding was so great if you can swing it!

Catering: We saved money on catering by having a buffet style dinner and having one entree with a pasta as a “side” rather than having 2 entrees!

Cake: We got a very small cake, enough to feed our guest count perfectly, and didn’t save the top tier.

One location: We had our getting ready, ceremony and reception all in one spot. This saved us money on transportation. We didn’t have to hire any transportation other than our getaway limo for our wedding day.

Bachelorette Party: We choose to stay in Austin for my bachelorette party, which saved on travel expenses for sure!

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Wedding Dresses

Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Menswear

The Tie Bar

Spring 2015

Spring/Summer 2015

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A 21st Century Gothic Fairytale at Brazos Hall

This isn’t your typical white-on-white country club summer wedding, ladies and gentlemen… this is oh so much more than that. We are genuinely amazed by the sheer creativity and unique personality that’s pouring out of this stunning wedding. Wild Sky Events and Clementine Botanical Art truly brought every detail of the bride’s vision to life with the 21st century gothic fairytale wedding of her DREAMS! Feather & Twine captured every must-see moment of the day, down to the bride and groom’s adorable pup! Keep on reading to take a peak inside the most jaw-droppingly original wedding ever.

What were your style goals for your day?

From the bride.. We wanted a whimsical, gothic 21st century fairytale vibe. Hence, the black cake, black plates, and fairy garden floral design. I wanted to be that gothic fairy princess, thus I chose minimalish makeup and a braided hairstyle to pair with my Alon Livné White long sleeve dress.

How did you want your wedding to FEEL?

We wanted the wedding to feel super relaxed and fun and non-traditional. We really wanted our guests to not have to worry the entire weekend. Thus, we made sure the hotels, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and wedding venue were all walkable. We wanted our guests to be well fed, so we made sure to pick out a DELICIOUS dinner menu and have ALL the desserts.

What were special details that you infused that may have been fun for guests or for you guys?

The photo booth- getting to look back on all of the goofy pictures was a joy and people were lining up to do it. Also, the neon “The Johnson’s” sign was a real hit: it was a great photo op location and we love our photos with the sign. We now have it hanging in our home! The dessert selection was also a treat: it allowed everyone to sample a plethora of delicious goodies from Feathers and Frosting along with the heavenly carrot cake. I have a HUGE sweet tooth and wanted the guests to enjoy lots of goodies.

Most memorable moment?

The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle and seeing all of our friends and family gathered together with the biggest smiles on their faces. The sun was shining down the aisle, the guitarist was playing my favorite song, and the flowers were perfect, it was pure perfection. Marrying my best friend was the best day of my life.

Any advice to brides?

Start early and front end load. Planning a wedding is stressful enough without procrastinating. The best thing I did for myself was getting the vast majority of things taken care of months in advance- from selecting the vendors (I reserved the venue the day after we got engaged) to buying a dress and getting it altered, do it early so you have less to worry about as the big day gets closer.

Any mistakes you made or things you would have done differently?

I would have spent more time taking care of myself on the actual day. I stayed up to late dancing at my welcome party the night before the wedding, didn’t drink enough water the entire weekend, definitely didn’t get enough sleep, so by Sunday I felt like I had been run over by a truck. It was the best weekend of my life, but I wish I had spent a little more time drinking water. With that said, I’ve never had so much fun and everything was truly perfect.

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Colorful Fall Celebration at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas

Where do I begin with this sweet, sweet celebration… well, 30 seconds into the film from Purely Ruined Studios is a good start. Or, the colorful details designed by Westcott Weddings. Or, the grand surprise from the Bride’s parents during the reception: a personalized video recording from NEEDTOBREATHE of the song “Clear” that she walked down the aisle to. That should give you a clear view of how incredibly beautiful this day was. See it all captured by Brittany Jean below.

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From the bride, Megan Mancini… Before ever visiting in person, I knew Camp Lucy was one of the most beautiful places to get married just by the pictures. Our families both value the opportunity to all stay together, so the onsite lodging was definitely a main reason for hosting our wedding weekend there. Camp Lucy is not only a wedding venue, but a Hill Country resort with an excellent restaurant and extremely high-end luxury lodging that made it feel like a vacation for our family and wedding parties. Once Jacob and I saw the magnificent stone arch and the view of the Texas Hill Country, we both knew this is where we wanted to tie the knot. There was no other wedding venue that compared. From the architecture to the mature landscape, it had everything we could have wanted and more!! It was truly the most romantic place in the world!

My inspiration for our day mainly revolved around whimsical romance with bright colors mixed with fall tones. The main accent color was dusty blue! My favorite memories mainly come from our ceremony. The sweet, raw emotion from my new husband and the heartfelt vows we spoke to one another is something I will never forget: “all I am I give to you, all I have I share with you” — we still say this to one another almost every week. Another sweet memory was our grand surprise from my parents during the reception: a personalized video recording from NEEDTOBREATHE of the song “Clear” that I walked down the aisle to. This song means so much to me and Jacob and we were dumbfounded when we heard the band personally congratulating “Jacob and Megan” on our wedding day! How special! Lastly, the entire night, we danced our hearts out with all of our close friends and family!

The florals were one of my favorite details of our day! They were carefully designed with each color in mind (and my favorite part of the planning process). Also, the table assignments board by Boarding School Collective was an extremely well-done artistic installation that left guests gawking. BSC also created a large DJ backdrop for the reception using the same floral print from our invitations. The swanky lounge furniture in the reception space was another favorite—I loved having the vintage set to create a homey, warm feel. Lastly, the Sperry tent for dinner was so grand and romantic—we added some bistro lights and it created the most incredible ambiance.

My advice for brides and grooms who are planning right now: Don’t let the details overwhelm you. Take time to remember the excitement of getting engaged and WHY you were so excited when he popped the question. Let that be carried with you throughout the planning process to keep you centered on the main thing. Also, gather a team of vendors you truly trust — you’ll be able to enjoy your day that much more knowing the work is getting done exactly how you envisioned!

Lastly, don’t forget to hug your parents! It’s a big day for them, too!! Also, make sure you are sharing a room with your biggest cheerleaders the night before your wedding. Waking up to your positive, affirming, joyful friends will help the day start off feeling like a party!

Traditional Meets Modern at This Charming Texas Home

Vibrant pops of color, dramatic chandeliers, whimsical wallpaper and the perfect blend of traditional comfort and modern elements – welcome to this charming Texas home! Christian Ladd Interior Design was the mastermind behind every inch of this humble abode. She has a way of effortlessly elevating homes to make them feel contemporary and fresh while somehow remaining timeless in style – and this Texas home proves just that! Open the doors and step inside the full gallery captured beautifully by Joanna Robertson.

THE ENTRANCE

I always thought that the grand, two-story entry to this home was one of its best design features. I installed a black and white marble floor to create a dramatic moment as you entered the home. It was important to incorporate a classic element that would appear as though it had always been there.

This concept enables the home to remain timeless for years to come. One of my favorite elements to add into a design project is grasscloth. The additional texture really elevates the style of a room and I knew instantly that the entry in this home would be the ideal place for the this element.

THE LIVING ROOM

We’re just over here wishing every weekend could be spent lounging in this neutral toned haven. Blue color pops in the pillows and chairs not only complete the overall design aesthetic, but also create a calm, soothing climate – the perfect setting for a peaceful Sunday afternoon!

Coffee table details such as a succulent centerpiece and brightly colored book covers put the finishing touches on the space and truly bring this living room to life.

THE BREAKFAST ROOM

I really wanted to draw attention to the color and pattern with Schumacher’s iconic lettuce green Chinois Palais drapes. To compliment the drapes I installed Dodie Thayer’s iconic Lettuce Ware pottery on the walls.

I love mixing modern and traditional elements in a room, and chose to use a clear Lucite table with more streamlined chairs. It’s the best way to keep your home feeling updated and still classic.

THE DINING ROOM

We highlighted modernist Taos artist Emil Bisttram’s vibrant painting which consisted of pale blush and light lavender hue. The painting was the jumping off point for the color scheme.

I pulled in a traditional round Baker pedestal dining table but elevated the traditional “look” by lacquering the dining chairs and upholstering them in a Jane Churchill lilac fabric.

Lastly, I added the dramatic glass chandelier. The chandelier doesn’t have a story (which is rare in most of my design) but I felt like it was the perfect fit to this room.

THE KITCHEN

I always follow Elsie de Wolfe’s advice when designing a room and ensure each space is filled with light, air, and comfort. I wanted to highlight the natural light in the kitchen and keep the space feeling traditional and classic.

The bone colored walls and open shelving really balanced the dramatic soapstone countertops. Additionally, the open shelving allowed a place to display my favorite antique silver pieces and my “everyday” items.

THE LAUNDRY

The laundry room is always about functionality but one should never compromise on aesthetics. This laundry room was multi-functional. It served as prep area for catering, and also was where the home owner potted herbs and did her flower arranging.

Therefore, we had to make sure all the right elements were incorporated when designing it. I always adore open containers and open shelving, it reminds you of what you have readily available without having to peek in every cabinet.

THE GUEST BEDROOM

Who wouldn’t want to stay in this charming, sun-soaked guest bedroom!? This cozy space features cheerful gingham accents and crisp white linens that brighten up every corner of the room.

Our favorite part has to be the ethereal wallpaper in the guest bath. Let’s face it, Christian Ladd never fails to give us major wallpaper envy with every carefully curated home.

THE BATHROOMS…a space to play

I try to incorporated a lot of personality in bathrooms. It’s a place people typically don’t dwell very long so you have the opportunity create a really bold and vibrant moment in them. Dramatic and whimsical wallpapers are always the cherry on top in the bathrooms I design.

LITTLE GIRL’S BEDROOM

I like to add sophisticated design elements into children’s rooms so that they can really grow into the space. One way to do this is by using drapes that will last from the nursery to adolescence.

It’s a place where you can have a lot of fun but include pieces that will transition them through the years.

THE OFFICE

A light-filled space that manages to marry design and organization in one gorgeous breath…

Photography: Joanna Robertson Photography | Interior Designer: Christian Ladd Interior Design | Styling and Florals: Parie Designs

Southern Spring Wedding at Canyonwood Ridge in Austin, Texas

I can say without hesitation that I am entirely ready to skip winter and move straight on to spring. Who’s with me? I know all of you spring Brides are probably SO ready, but maybe not-so-ready when it comes to the to do list. Thankfully, you have a few more months to plan, prep and soak in inspiration as juicy as this fete planned and designed by Westcott Weddings. With a citrusy palette and blooms by Clementine Botanical Art, the only natural thing to do is smile when you see the images from Jen Dillender. Ready? Let’s go.

From Westcott Weddings… Dana and Sam were married at Canyonwood Ridge in Austin/Dripping Springs on March 28 in a sweet, colorful, southern springtime celebration. Guests gathered in the onsite chapel for their ceremony before heading to the lawn for cocktails, yard games and pre-dinner mingling. Following cocktail hour, guests were invited inside for a family style dinner, dessert, and dancing. We wrapped up the evening with a sparkler send-off. A few of my favorite details…

Dana and her mom collected all of the vintage china (and had enough for 300 full place settings — dinner plates, salad plates, and dessert plates)! Dana’s mom hand-selected the plates for each table to ensure a beautiful, unique collection.

The color palette! Love the way her sweet, springtime palette (brought to life by Clementine Botanical Art) popped in the venue, against their dresses, etc.

Her invitation suite designed by Boarding School Collective, which featured a custom crest, letterpress printing, and swiss dot details to mimic/introduce the table settings.

Those cakes! In addition to being downright gorgeous, they were absolutely delicious — Earl Grey Cake with Honey Lavender Buttercream and Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Buttercream.

And above all, Dana and Sam are some of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with — it was truly an honor to be part of their day!

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Royal Dukes Band

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Chic South Asian Wedding at Hyatt Regency Hotel Dallas

As much as I love a wedding packed with Pinterest-worthy details, without fail, I always come back to the bridal portraits. They’re my favorite images to look at when I first open a gallery—so you can imagine my excitement when I clicked on this one captured by Erin Wilson. They are powerful portraits that tell the story of the blending of two beautiful cultural backgrounds and the love of Alyzae and Viqar. To top it all off, we had a chance to interview the Bride herself, on every facet of their day. Read it all below!

Tell us about your cultural backgrounds?

My cultural background is of British and Pakistani heritage, and Viqar’s heritage is from India and Yemen. Both of us grew up here in the states – he grew up in Western New York and I grew up in Dallas.

What elements of your culture/heritage were important to incorporate into your wedding?

The clothes and jewelry played a big part in our wedding – both of us wore pieces that had meaningful significance within our families which was really special. I also got to wear a beautiful, signature Indian jewelry set from Viqar’s mother. Food is also a highlight in South Asian weddings so having a variety of traditional food was important. Our culture also places an emphasis that a marriage is not just between two individuals, but between two families, so the the involvement of our families was important.

How did you blend cultures and still keep your ceremony & reception cohesive?

Fortunately, there are a lot of similarities between our cultures, so it was a matter of merging the two cultures together.

Did you have Western influences at all? If so, what were they?

Yes! Traditionally, the South Asian wedding outfit is red, but I always knew I wanted to wear white. As part of our cultural wedding dress, we wear a veil (“dubata”) on our head, but I loved the idea of a long cathedral-style veil so I combined the two! Traditionally, our weddings are a multiday event, with the ceremony typically held on the day before the reception. The set up of our wedding mimicked a Western wedding in that we had the ceremony and reception in one evening, with a social (“cocktail”) hour in between. We also had my brother’s friend play the piano to “All of Me” by John Legend for our entrance. Lastly, my mother set up a massive dessert bar that included both traditional South Asian dessert as well as Western dessert.

What were any challenges that you faced when planning your wedding?

Because I live in Maryland and Viqar lives in Boston, planning our wedding Dallas and finalizing the venue, photo/video, clothes and makeup from afar was definitely challenging! It was nice to have my parents in-town to help with coordinating all the different pieces.

Biggest piece of advice for those looking to infuse their wedding with more than one culture?

Openly communicating between families with what traditions/aspects of the wedding is important to them was really helpful and kept everyone on the same page. It also gave everyone a piece of mind that they’re values/traditions were being respected. Infusing multiple cultures into a wedding also gives you the opportunity to go outside the box with your planning and provides you and your guests a unique experience!

Photography: Erin Wilson Photography | Videography: Company N Films | Hotel: Hyatt Regency Hotel Dallas

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Rehearsal Dinner with Texas Hospitality at Guero’s in Austin

What do you get when you combine a love for Tex-Mex, good music and all of your favorite people in the world (and a few margaritas)? The best. rehearsal. dinner. ever. That’s exactly what this Bride & Groom did, with the help of 36th Street Events, to welcome guests to their wedding weekend. It has a cozy, at-home vibe and by the looks of every image from Brett Heidebrecht the smiles and laughter were proof of a great kickoff.

From Brett Heidebrecht… To open up events for their May wedding weekend in Austin, TX, the bride and groom welcomed all wedding guests to their rehearsal dinner Friday night. The bride, originally from Texas, and the groom, originally from Connecticut, met in California and had guests from all over the world visiting making a weekend of their wedding celebration. For the rehearsal dinner, they wanted to welcome their guests with good food, music, and warm Texas hospitality.

With the help of 36th Street Events, they transformed Guero’s – a favorite local Mexican restaurant with an outdoor beer garden – into a hacienda-style party with dinner and dancing. Margaritas and sangria were served during cocktail hours as country band Aaron McDonnell and The Neon Eagles played and Texas Two-Step instructors gave out-of-staters a dance lesson.

The evening included a Tex-Mex buffet with tables covered in native florals, adding a colorful fiesta-inspired flair to the festivities. Table decor included terracotta ceramics overflowing with fresh pomegranates, prickly pear and citrus fruits, a mix of cactus, succulents, and rich color palette provided by bougainvillea and dahlias. After dinner, dances, and toasts from the wedding party and parents of the groom, the bride and groom surprised guests with freshly-made churros that took them well into the Friday night downtown.

Photography: Brett Heidebrecht Photography | Floral Design: Rosehip Flora | Entertainment: Aaron McDonnell & The Neon Eagles | Venue: Guero's | Planning & Design: 36th Street Events

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A Timeless Tented Wedding at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

There’s nothing quite like that timeless beauty of a Spring wedding reception underneath a sprawling Sperry tent, am I right?! Add a few arrangements of green and white flowers, white table linens, charming cross-back chairs and there you have it – our recipe for the perfect, classic wedding. With planning from 36th Street Events, floral design by Rosehip Flora and all captured flawlessly (duh!) by Brett Heidebrecht – this perfect day embodies the classic tented wedding of our dreams.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was an easy choice for The bride and groom. They fell in love in California and enjoy the outdoors, so bringing their wedding guests to a venue that celebrates and conserves the central Texas native landscape was a natural pick. Despite their love of the venue, it would be a challenging location for their 180 person wedding, and they set out to find a team that could execute the vision for an immersive, indoor-outdoor experience for their guests. 36th Street Events and Contigo Catering were up to the challenge.

They transformed the already beautiful center into a garden oasis, showcasing the Texas Hill Country. Guests entered the venue through a walk under sandstone aqueducts, reflecting the history of Spanish Colonial times in the region. Upon entering the central courtyard, guests were greeted with champagne and serenaded with music from a Spanish guitar trio before entering the great hall for the wedding ceremony.

With high ceilings, limestone walls, and floor to ceiling windows overlooking a dramatic vista of wildflower fields, the bride and groom added only an arbor over the altar for a simple, structural backdrop to their wedding vows. Guests could gaze over the bucolic meadow, the perfect bridge between the indoors and the natural splendor outside, as they awaited the bride. Suited to the season, the bride chose an organza Reem Acra wedding gown with a corseted bodice hand-stitched in chantilly lace and overlaid with an off-the-shoulder bolero. In true Texas fashion, she wore custom, caramel colored boots by Luchesse. Bridesmaids wore dresses in champagne-colored chiffon and emerald onyx earrings, keeping with the wedding’s color palette. The groom, in Texas summer tradition, wore a white dinner jacket by Zegna with a boutonniere made of a single white gardenia.

As the ceremony ended, floor-to-ceiling doors swung open, surprising the guests with the sound of a full Mariachi band kicking off cocktail hour. The Mariachi band then led all guests through the gardens of the Wildflower Center, replete with passed champagne, as guests strolled through the displays of native plants on the way to the reception lawn. The garden stroll opened up to a beautiful meadow, where guests were greeted with Contigo Catering’s fabulous array of Texas-inspired hors d’oeuvres and an oyster bar. Guests mingled outside of the 80 ft. Sperry tent with signature cocktails – spicy margaritas and Yankee mules, a salute to the bride and grooms’ backgrounds. Inside the grand tent, 36th Street Events and Rosehip Floral created a natural extension of the venue’s native gardens. Fresh branches and greenery were added to the tent poles to create the feeling of an arboretum inside the space. A wall of live plants was added as a backdrop to the main bar, which served as a natural break between the bar and the dance floor.

Tables were covered in cream linens, and decorated with copper vessel; place settings were kept simple with copper flatware, glass chargers, and personalized menus. Table arrangements incorporated native grasses and seasonal blooms, accented by sumptuous bowls of figs, pears, and grapes. Calligraphy for the invitation suite was provided by the bride in her own handwriting. San Francisco-based Dependable Letterpress realized the bride’s vision for an elegant and personal design, including hand-painted watercolor maps of the venue and the entire weekend’s locales. A collection of vintage stamps, showcasing Texas history and natural flora in the bride’s color palette of cream, champagne, and emerald, decorated the front of each envelope. At the reception, each guest received their place cards with a handwritten note from the bride and groom. Guests were given custom majolica tiles designed by the bride.

The dinner menu by Contigo served up elevated southwestern fare. The bride, who loves to host dinner parties, wanted the dining experience to make guests as feel as comfortable as they would be in their own homes. A plated salad of green bean, zucchini, arugula, peaches, house-made ricotta, and roasted onion vinaigrette was followed by pork shoulder with charred eggplant puree and leek salsa verde. Sides were served family style: grilled corn, avocado, and ancho creme fraiche; duck confit, shishito peppers, and pickled watermelon rind; and a seasonal salad of roasted beets, pickled rhubarb, pistachio, and purslane.

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A Garden Wedding at the Dallas Arboretum with a Modern Twist

A few days ago, we shared this Dallas Arboretum wedding from Jeff Brummet Visuals and Bella Flora of Dallas on our LBB Blog — but we had a bit of a scheduling snafu. We knew, we just had to feature it again, because it’s filled with so many lovely moments and has so many beautiful bridal portraits (plus a really great proposal story). The full gallery is loaded with #HangOnTheWall portraits — and then, when you bring in the fluffy white pup (queue the pup pic!), well, you know how we feel about that! Here are our top six #DontMissPics … *DropDeadGorgeous bridal portraits: here + here + here | *The Dress with Off The Shoulder Lace Sleeves and… #ChangeItUp to Strapless! (WinWin – right?) | *Garden Vibes in Texas with an unexpected South African flair (for goodness sakes – the groom had malaria when he proposed!) You have to Watch the film from Brendan Williams. Guaranteed love | *And last, but dare we say not-at-all-least, a modern day #GoingAwayOutfit that tops our list of oh-so-cool surprises (aka, a jumpsuit)! [I think that might have been seven.] Anyway, we’ll start with one of those beautiful a-ha-portraits…

From Lauren, at Style Me Pretty… Who said garden weddings have to mean flower crowns, wooden signs and casual flair – this wedding is the perfect example of how to dress up your garden wedding venue in a sophisticated, modern style. With planning by Laura Mayfield, flowers by Bella Flora of Dallas and photos from Jeff Brummett Visuals – it’s no wonder this wedding is a total winner! Two things I’m obsessed with from this day? 1. The bride’s super fun jumpsuit for the reception 2. One seriously celeb-worthy wedding cake from Elena’s Cakes. See it all in the full gallery!

From the photographer, Jeff Brummet… Callie and Lorne have such an amazing story. Callie, from Southlake, Texas and Lorne, from South Africa, met while attending Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

They both share a love for Africa. When it came time for Lorne to pop the question, he knew it had to be at one of their favorite places. The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. The area is a World Heritage Site and is home to a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes. After a morning safari, Lorne, who was sick with Malaria at the time (!), brought Callie to a spot on the wall of the crater overlooking the entire preserve.

Callie and Lorne exchanged vows in the Lay Family Garden, surrounded by family and friends from around the world. Afterwards, everyone settled in for the most stunning outdoor reception. This gorgeous dinner was set overlooking White Rock Lake.

As with any great Dallas Arboretum wedding, everyone danced away the evening under the stars before a sparkler sendoff. I can’t say enough about how great it was to get to know this wonderful couple and all their loved ones.

And as we mentioned, we know you’ll love watching this highlight film from Brendan Williams… you’re sure to feel the South African vibe!

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To see more of Jeff Brummett’s work, from Texas to New York to Italy– head on over to his blog and Instagram page!

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Bella Flora of Dallas is a full-service floral and event design studio specializing in luxury weddings and social events. Taking great pride in custom details and a unique approach to each and every event is their claim to fame! Looking at the floral design on this wedding is absolute proof! See more of Bella Flora’s floral designs on their Instagram page and their blog!

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Soft Texture Meets Moody Romance at The White Sparrow Barn

Some days we come across photos and designs that are so beautiful – we literally have to pinch ourselves to believe how lucky we are to do what we do everyday… today is one of those days. This inspiration shoot from Charla Storey Photography, with design by Chic & Pretty Events and floral by Wedfully Yours, has completely stolen our hearts. The artistic contrast between the bright, white barn against the romantic floral of warm hues is soooo stunning. The bride’s natural makeup look and blush Carola Hannah dress are a heavenly pair. Keep reading ‘till the end to see the most creative cake design EVER. We just can’t rave about this one enough, guys!

This shoot was a marriage of soft and gritty textures with a bit of moody romantic influence. White Sparrow is a stunning all-white barn with lots of natural light pouring through the windows. It was the perfect canvas for a monochromatic palette with contrast.

Charla Storey always has the most beautiful shoots, so we wanted her and the attendees to have a variety to capture. The tablescape had a variety of surfaces from the velvet covering and vellum menus to the stone treated pillar candles and charcoal flatware.

Many of us in this team have worked weddings at the White Sparrow but one of its new exciting aspects is the charming glass greenhouse surrounded by a field of lavender that recently opened up. We designed a suspension piece inside it that had an overgrown feel to it paired with a floor install having the same effect.

Linda from Wedfully Yours Floral did a stellar job and it turned out perfectly. Nestling a chair in the center for our bride was the most magical setting. She had a Carol Hannah blush colored bodice, skirt and veil that illuminated in that greenhouse.

A fun aspect of event designing is having interchangeable pieces that can double as another function. You’ve seen it before with ceremony backdrops doubling as head table backdrops. We took the centerpieces from the tablescape and created an entirely new portrait setting with a solid backdrop. Everyone loved how it turned out and we couldn’t have been happier with this collaboration.

A Corpus Christi Country Club Wedding of Timeless Elegance

There is so much beauty in simplicity – and this wedding captured by Honey Gem Creative is all the proof we’ll ever need! Every detail of this gorgeous day at Corpus Christi Country Club was planned entirely by the bride herself – how impressive is that!? She drew inspiration from their gold, custom monogram and a classic color scheme of crisp white and emerald green. With a little help from Razzle Dazz, her floral vision was brought to life in timeless arrangements of ivory roses, Italian ruscus and white hydrangea. Be sure to scroll all the way to the end for the bride’s one (very important) piece of advice for all future bride-to-be’s!

From the Bride… August 04, 2018 will be a day both Michael and I will hold close to our hearts for the rest of our lives. Michael and I dated ten years before getting married so for both of us, it is still so surreal that we are married. That ten year journey was so sweet but moving forward as a married couple is far sweeter than we could have ever imagined. One of the first things Michael said to me after getting engaged was ‘I don’t want a long engagement!’. So, fast forward a quick eight months, it was our wedding day.

So, fast forward a quick eight months, it was our wedding day. I went into full wedding planning mode following the day we were engaged up until the day of our wedding. Michael and I both love things simple and classic. We envisioned a lot of greenery with white floral so I based everything else around this. Our centerpieces, bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, sweetheart table and various other elements of the ceremony and reception were adorned with various ivory roses, Italian ruscus, and white hydrangea.

It was simply stunning! It was just what we had envisioned: simple, classic and elegant. What was so special to me about our wedding was that I created and designed nearly every aspect of the decor. In an effort to be wise on budgeting (Who am I kidding? I couldn’t stop finding cute things to do and to get!), I didn’t collaborate with a planner or coordinator. I started with a blank slate and thought out what would best illustrate Michael and I together. I had a custom monogram with our initials created and included this in as many details as possible from the invitations, a large laser-etched Monogram on a boxwood wall in the foyer of the reception, gold foiled cocktail napkins, a sticker to place on top of the packaging of the late night snacks, to the dinner menus placed on each place setting.

Throughout planning, Michael would always comment on how much he loved the monogram. And to me, it made seeing all of that planning with our monogram throughout our wedding day come to life even better. There are so many things about that day that make me emotional still today. The absolute sweetest moment of the night was after everyone had finished giving their toasts, Michael went up to say a brief ‘Thank you’ to our guests. After he was finished, he surprised me and sang ‘Grow Old with You’ by Adam Sandler from The Wedding Singer to me. The most I had ever heard Michael sing is when we are together in the car listening to my Taylor Swift on constant repeat. Never did I suspect he would get up in front of hundreds of guests and sing to me. I will never stop replaying that in my head. I am still in awe of him doing that. Another was our surprise donut bar for our guests with the option to infuse their donut or donut hole with alcohol. It was so fun!

If there was one piece of advice I could give to brides-to-be, it is to remember to glance over at your new spouse and admire them throughout your wedding day when you get a chance. When things are going a mile a minute that day, looking over at them is the sweetest, most special feeling. It was truly such a magical day.

From the Photographer… One tip I wanted to share about this wedding was planning with your brides to ensure that there is time to shoot all her details. Since this was a church wedding followed by a reception a little more planning was involved. Emily had put so much effort into her design and we wanted to ensure that all of those details were captured. Emily and I spoke with the venue and they agreed to move cocktail hour to the lobby and lock the reception space until after cocktail hour so we could capture it. Planning this ahead of time was so important. If this had not been planned guests would have entered the space during cocktail hour and we wouldn’t have been able to shoot the space for Emily. The key here is reviewing the timeline and communication ahead of time.

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Wedding Dresses

Justin Alexander

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A Romantic Camp Lucy Wedding Beneath Enchanting Live Oaks

A place close to home in the heart of Texas with the essence of a far-away destination – AKA, the perfect recipe for Ashley and Clay’s dream venue. Safe to say the bride and groom (who by the way are the absolute CUTEST) got exactly what they wished for at Camp Lucy in Austin’s enchanting hill country. The ceremony was teeming with live oak trees and hanging twinkly lights… Twilight feels, anyone?! No detail was left unturned thanks to planning by Eclipse Event Co and blooms by Whim Hospitality, while Honey Gem Creative captured every awe-worthy moment. Grab the tissues and keep on scrolling ‘cause this one calls for major waterworks.

From the bride… I met Clay in 2015 at a Halloween party, but it wasn’t until the following September that we began to date. One of the sweetest things in time spent from that first meeting to our first date was having time to build a friendship.

Very early on we shared a certain connection that always had me feeling nervous and excited for the next time we would get to hang out, but as time moved on that nervousness slowly progressed to a feeling of calm and comfort when I was with him. He had easily become my best friend.

Clay asked me to marry him at the place we shared our first date, and saying yes was the easiest decision for me. We chose to get married at Camp Lucy because we wanted something that felt like a destination in our home state. The trees and greenery in the hill country made for a beautiful backdrop on their own, and Camp Lucy just further captured that essence.

We loved the big oak tree and hanging lights at Sacred Oaks, and the minimalistic beauty it had to offer. Since I chose to get married outside of a church I wanted something that showed God’s beauty in creation, and I felt this venue captured that for me. I chose the colors for our wedding to reflect a natural and romantic theme.

Our floral pallet included dusty colors of rose and peach coupled with leafy greens, and my personal favorite- dotted eucalyptus. The look was accompanied by gold accents and sparkling candles to add a little shine to the night. Rowen, at Whim, did a great job helping making my vision a reality.

The wedding would not have been a success without the help of our vendors! We worked with Tessa from Eclipse Event Co. Who was amazing! She was so calm and organized. She made sure everything went smoothly and alleviated any stress I could have had. Brooke, our photographer, captured our day perfectly. I loved how thoughtfully she photographed every moment just for us.

Bringing Garden Vibes to an Austin Ballroom at Hotel Ella

This Austin wedding is proof that you don’t have to stick with just one wedding style. Nope, mixing and matching can be downright gorgeous. Highland Avenue planned a day that blends bright and happy garden vibes with a classic ballroom backdrop, a champagne truck (!!!) and layers upon layers of sherbet colored blooms by Gypsy Floral. Get inspired to think outside of the traditional wedding style box with this collection of stunning images captured by Sophie Epton.

We met in Texas but do not live in the lone star state anymore. When we got engaged, we couldn’t think of a better spot to get married, than the place that brought us together! We chose to host a destination wedding in Austin, one of our favorite cities in the world.

We decided against a fully outdoor setting due to the inevitable Texas heat but really wanted to bring summer garden vibes indoors. Our florist, Gypsy Floral, helped achieve this with bright peonies and english roses and lots of deep greens, including a gorgeous greenery installation above the head table.

We held our ceremony at Central Christian Church, a beautiful downtown sanctuary. Bret’s youth pastor and a longtime family friend married us. Our reception was close by at Hotel Ella, a stunning mansion near the University of Texas campus that now serves a boutique hotel. It was the perfect mix of classic architecture and modern, updated decor. Our guests were able to enjoy the lovely veranda and pool area during cocktail hour! We then transitioned to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Our escort card table was particularly special to us. It featured wedding photos of our parents and grandparents. One of our favorite details was the champagne truck that greeted guests as they entered the cocktail hour at our reception! We decided on a table full of sweets for dessert, including two types of cake, mini-pies, chocolate covered strawberries and more. We also tried to incorporate small bits of our hometowns through the favors at the end of the night. We selected sea salt caramels from Alexandra’s hometown and beef jerky from Bret’s. Bret booked the getaway car – he loves Teslas, so we rode off in one at the night’s end after a sparkler send-off!

It sounds like such a cliche, but it really was the best day. We envisioned being surrounded by our closest friends and family, with lots of champagne and dancing, and that’s exactly what we got! We felt so much love and gratitude.

We also hosted several other events throughout the weekend and provided Austin-themed welcome boxes for our guests upon arrival, in hopes people would love the city as much as we do!

The Sweetest Texas Affair at Kendall Plantation

This sweet as can be Texas affair captured by Lucille Photo + a film by The Crakes is the true definition of classic. Elegant, refined details, gorgeous pastel blooms by Evember and a Bride and Groom with a palpable kind of love. From vintage getaway car to portraits in the rolling fields, this is a celebration not to be missed.

When it comes to planning weddings, there are couples that define the details of how their day should look and feel as they progress, making various decisions along the way. And then, there are couples who know from day one, without a shadow of a doubt, exactly what they envision.

For Delaney and David, there was no doubt…. Their wedding day would be one that reflected a classic and refined beauty; it would be elegant and intentional. At the same time, it would be a day filled with laughter and joy and most importantly, celebration! It would be beautiful, and it would most definitely be a fantastic party!

The classically timeless Kendall Plantation set the stage, as details came in piece by piece to pop against it’s clean and elegant, Southern-style backdrop. Delaney selected soft blush gowns for her bridesmaids and Evember created beautifully lush centerpieces, bouquets and accent florals in complimentary shades of blush and ivory.

Crisp and classy accents were incorporated into the day through sleek black and white invitations and paper goods and a vintage black getaway car. And finally, special touches and details were incorporated throughout: Wooden calligraphed signage and accent pieces; a borrowed alter table from their church; and a Groom’s Cupcake Stadium that paid tribute to their alma mater of Texas A&M.

The day was filled with so much charm and joy and an incredible amount of love. It was my true honor to have been a part of their day and to have worked alongside this team of talented artists and vendors.