Texas Weddings

There’s nothing quite like a good ol’ Texas Ranch wedding, especially one photographed by The Nichols. And they know just how we like it…pretty with a whopping side of gorgeous details to fawn over. Held at the George Ranch Historical Park, this vintage inspired party is as unique as it is fun. The prevailing theme for the day? “Ad Vitam” – don’t worry I googled it for you all. It means “for life” in Latin. Adorbs, right? It made an appearance in everything from the ceremony decor to the wedding cake and we can’t seem to get enough. Join us in the gallery for a whole slue of fab details and a lot more fawning.

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From the Bride… My husband and I have been friends since high school when I used to hook him up on dates with all of my best friends. I’m obviously not a trusted matchmaker. We have little in common besides our shared interest of Mid-Century Modern design which quickly helped establish a theme for our wedding–“late 50s/early 60s ranch wedding somehow including Steven’s love of rap”.

As for my dress, some of my favorite pictures of my maternal grandparents are those from their wedding day–my Grandma wore a tea-length dress and my Granddad looked sharp in his bowtie–I’ve just always loved that image of them. That made my dress an obvious choice–I knew it’d be tea-length but I obsessed over a Justin Alexander style (specifically one previously on SMP) which wasn’t at the shop the day we went to try on dresses. I’m pretty easy to sway though, my friends and our moms LOVED the Stephanie James dress once I had it on, and I was acting like a fool in the bridal shop over my excitement.

I think what initially set the stage for the wedding theme were our invitations, designed by Jennifer Blanco at Product Superior. Going with the whole MCM, rap, and cars–she created the most beautiful, unique suite of invites and ceremony program for us that fit our description perfectly. To save time and money, the main invite card was the only thing we chose to have letterpressed; printing was done by Workhorse Prints. I did the calligraphy-style addressing on the outer envelopes myself, which really only took a couple days and I preferred it to a more skilled calligrapher’s perfect hand.

Finding a venue was hard since we wanted something modern and historical here in Houston, but a friend suggested George Ranch Historical Park–a place we used to go on field trips–and once we saw it in person we were hooked. It wasn’t modern but at least it was historical and around in the 50s/60s so that kind of counts, right?

In choosing our photographers–that was easy. I’d pinned an old ad of the Nichols’ to my bulletin board long before we were engaged, and luckily they were available for our date so that was the first thing we booked. It was important to me to have creative, artistic photographs that we’d love and cherish forever. The Nichols gave us that and more and they’ll be our lifetime photographers as long as they’re in business. CJ Nichols also hand made our Ad Vitam neon which we hung on the tree at the ceremony, we wanted something simple and iconic so this was the only ceremony decor besides a rose-petal aisle and wooden hearts we made for those of us wearing heels to keep stable on the grass. We also booked Buzz & the Blue Cats as our reception band, 31FILMS for cinematography, Divisi Strings for the ceremony string quartet and our friend Vanarin Kuch at Tiny Boxwoods made us equal-sized bride and groom cakes. We are big supporters of marriage equality! Our local florist Karen Plumlee was in charge of the flowers and decor.

My advice to brides is to just trust your instincts and do whatever you want no matter how many people you think won’t get it or care or whatever, if it’s special to you, it’ll come through in the details and you’d be surprised how many people’s idea of a wedding will be changed for the better thanks to your unique approach.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: George Ranch Historical Park / Wedding Cinematography: 31FILMS / Neon Sign: CJ Nichols / Wedding Reception Band: Buzz & the Blue Cats / Wedding Cake: Tiny Boxwoods / Wedding Ceremony Quartet: Divisi Strings / Officiant: Alan Safford / Floral Design & Decor: Karen Plumlee, ksplumlee@comcast.net / Wedding Dress: Stephanie James Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Invitation Design: Jennifer Blanco of Product Superior / Wedding Invitation Printing: Workhorse Printmakers

Would you believe me if I told you this next wedding was in Texas? I’m not even sure if I would believe me. This jaw dropping event comes to us from the amazing team at Anne Marie Photography. Those girls delivered images that literally stopped us in our tracks. A giraffe, a camel, and a bride. Are you kidding me? Who would have thought the Serengeti in Texas would produce such an Out of Africa glam soiree? This is just one of those weddings you’ve got to see to believe, so without further ado, I give you the wildest wedding I’ve ever laid eyes on. Check out Anne Marie Photography’s blog for more of this wildlife wedding!

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Chad and I were looking for a casual atmosphere with a rustic feel for our intimate wedding. We wanted somewhere everyone could stay for the weekend and found the perfect venue in the Serengeti Resort. The Seregeti had the laid back atmosphere and ranch style decor we desired. On top of that, it just felt right. From the golf carts provided to each family for the weekend, to the camel named Clyde, to the world class wine and watching actual fire dancers at the rehearsal dinner, the weekend was more than we had ever imagined. And so much fun! The African animals roaming the property provided many unforgettable moments and pictures  I know everyone had just as much fun as our 6 year old son did! The guests commented that they felt like they were at someones ranch; a very nice ranch!

Brandi with Brandi Hines Events + Design did a wonderful job making an already beautiful property even more so. The entire weekend was more perfect and beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Kelli & Traci from Anne Marie Photography gave us the best present: photographs of our wonderful weekend to make us smile for a lifetime!

Beauty: Vanessa at Ceron Salon / Catering: Hill Country Catering / Decor and Event Styling: Brandi Hines Events + Design / Favors: Brandi Hines Events + Design / Floral: Brandi Hines Events + Design / Bridal Fashion: Gunslinger Dry Goods / Groom Suit: Pinto Ranch / Jewlery: Gunslinger Dry Goods / Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Venue: The Serengeti Resort

Talk about beauty and brains, this Houston bride has it all and we are totally crushing on her ultra glam meets modern style. Hints of gold, monochrome flowers, bold jewelry, Chanel No 5…yep this wedding had us at hello… and then sucked us completely in with all the pretty images from Docuvitae. I swoon, you swoon, we ALL swoon for fabulously chic weddings and there is a whole lot more of this one in the gallery.

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From the Bride… The design choices for our wedding celebration were inspired by our venues. For our ceremony, my husband and I chose St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, a historic building with incredible Gothic architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. Our reception was held at the Artista Restaurant, an elegant two-story edifice with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the downtown Houston skyline. While I loved the idea of an outdoor wedding, it was clearly not an option for Houston in August. To incorporate that outdoor feel, I transformed the restaurant balcony into an outdoor lounge space. Our wonderful florist, Melanie Tipton of Last Petal, brought my vision to life by accenting the lounge space and restaurant with simple, chic floral arrangements. Once our venues were selected, everything from our color scheme to our invitation style came into place.

After looking at numerous wedding invitation websites, we decided nothing in our budget really inspired us. My husband, a self-taught graphic designer, decided to take a stab at creating our wedding invitations. As a nod to our hometowns, my husband placed images of the Houston skyline and the Baton Rouge, LA Horace Wilkinson Bridge on the invitation suite. We then had the invitation suite letterpress printed. The end result was AMAZING!  My husband went on to design all of the stationary elements of the wedding–programs, menu cards, signage, etc.

In addition to getting the design elements just right, we infused our wedding with elements that would reflect our love (we decided to write our own vows in addition to citing traditional ones), family (my uncle married us) and sentimentality (I surprised my husband with a traditional New Orleans Second-line band for our exit as he always wanted one for his wedding day). And when our wedding day came, we let everything else go and decided to bask in the blessedness of the day–we laughed, cried (okay, I cried) and danced the night away. There were definitely bumps (okay, mountains) along the road in the planning process, but when we sit back and look at the wonderful images captured by Rebecca of Docuvitae (whom I found right here on SMP and cannot say enough positive things about), they bring a smile to our faces every.single.time.

Wedding Photography: Rebecca of Docuvitae / Second Shooter: Juli of Docuvitae / Wedding Ceremony: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church / Wedding Reception: Artista Restaurant / Wedding Cinematography: Aaron of 31FILMS / Flowers: Melanie Tipton of Last Petal / Wedding Invitation Design: Timothy Perry (The Groom) / Invitation Printing: Studio on Fire / Event Design & Planning: Kourtney James Perry (The Bride) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Angel Sanchez via Maison de Mode / Hair: Albert Dominguez of Solution for Hair & Makeup / Makeup: Your Beautiful Face / Jewelry: DIY, The Bride (Created from Talbots‘ Necklaces) / Second Line Band: New Orleans Hustlers Brass Band / Vintage Rolls Royce: Jordan Limousines

A pair of Vivienne Westwood heels, a yummy croquembouche, funky terrarium centerpieces and two insanely gorgeous dresses?  We may have just found the perfect blend of ingredients for a totally chic, rock n’ roll wedding!  I love the gothic meets fashionista vibe of this Texas affair from Anna Routh Photography.  A dance party at the House of Blues is the only way to cap off this rock star evening.  Check out the full gallery for even more details from this super cool wedding!

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From Anna Routh Photography… Heather is a fashion guru, so when planning her wedding she wanted to focus on a very fashion forward “gothic”-themed event. She chose a beautiful space at the House of Blues Dallas and filled it with towering baby’s breath arrangements and enormous amounts of melted wax. The event, complete with the most beautiful croc en bouche you’ve ever seen and a total outfit change for the bride, was a beautiful night of dancing and a fantastic celebration of Heather and Sam’s love.

Wedding Photography: Anna Routh Photography / Event Planning & Floral: Vera Green Productions / Wedding Ceremony Venue: Oak Lawn United Methodist Church / Wedding Reception Venue: House of Blues / Paper Products (Menus and Programs): Blue Eye Brown Eye / Bride’s Shoes: Vivienne Westwood / Wedding Reception Dress: BCBG / Croc en Bouche: Tart Bakery / Makeup: Brandi Elliott

This little Houston wedding has COMFORT written all over it. Photographed by Julie Wilhite with casual meets cozy styling by Details Details, these nuptials started in a garden and ended in a bar. Now is that perfection or what? See all of the pretty details and the winner for best use of a wicker chair in the FULL wedding gallery.

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From Julie Wilhite… Beth and Carl’s wedding was an intimate, relaxed day filled with family and friends. Starting with nervous preparations at the Hotel Derek, where the couple chose to see each other prior to the ceremony.  Upon seeing each other, their nerves were instantly calmed and the energy between the two of them was excited and so in love. The ceremony took place in the gardens of Ouisie’s Table, followed by a late lunch with their close family.  The party then continued at Carl’s bar in the eclectic Montrose area of Houston – Anvil.  Beth and Carl were then surrounded by even more friends as they enjoyed yummy special cocktails, Canadian pierogis celebrating Carl’s Canadian background and Texas cupcakes. The truly special part of their celebration was watching how friends and family came together to make their day special and filled with beautiful details.

Beth and Carl were truly a unique couple – very down to earth, humble and incredibly in love.  Beth described Carl as a hard-core, burly biker dude and upon meeting him, you realized he was really a big teddy bear.  The couple spent most of their engagement separated by continents since Carl has been located in Dubai for work.  Beth did most of their planning and ran all of the ideas and plans by Carl at night over skype.  She wanted to make sure that this day was about the two of them and that it truly represented who they are.  The couple now happily lives in Dubai.

Wedding Photography: Julie Wilhite Photography / Wedding Planner: Ashleigh Scanlan of Details Details / Pre-Ceremony Preparations: Hotel Derek / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Ouisie’s Table / Minister: Reverend Richard Gordon / Wedding Flowers: Flowers by Naomi / Wedding Cake: Ouisie’s Table / Linens: The Perfect Touch Linens / Wedding Music: Amy Floyd of Third Floor Strings / After-Party Location: Anvil / Cupcakes: Crave Cupcakes

Spring has sprung, and we have the perfect soiree for the occasion! I’m absolutely swooning over this Austin wedding today, particularly those amazing florals from Verbena Floral Design. Nothing declares spring’s arrival better than the gorgeous, fresh blooms this wedding boasts. How can you not love the crisp green and white palette? Take some time to stop and smell the roses today, and make sure you start with this beautiful wedding. Don’t forget to check out the gallery for more!

If you’re craving more amazing blooms on this spring day, make sure to check out LuAnn’s blog!

From LuAnn … Sharonna and Derek were married on October 16, 2010 on the lawn of the Four Seasons overlooking Ladybird Lake in Austin, TX. The gorgeous day was perfect for an outdoor ceremony. The trees were draped with strands of satin ribbons and white cymbidium orchids, and accented with elegant crystal chandeliers from Z Gallerie.  The bride carried a bouquet of hydrangea, ranunculus, roses and herbal greenery. After the romantic ceremony, the reception was held inside the ballroom. It was filled with crystal details and lush floral arrangements (some re-purposed from the ceremony) to create an elegant and eye-catching ambiance for guests. The bride and groom provided Texas welcome gifts to all their guests and created a luxurious and relaxed weekend for all to enjoy.

From the bride … Derek and I dated for almost 4 years before he popped the question. We went to Lake Tahoe for my birthday weekend and I would be lying if I didn’t say I thought this could be “the weekend.” At this point in our relationship, any time we were going to dinner, for a sunset walk, or did anything romantic, I thought it could be the moment. It became quite comical and of course an inside joke between my girlfriends and I. Derek proposed toward the end of the weekend after I had dismissed the idea of our big moment. Who proposes at the end of a long weekend vacation? Well Derek did. Our last night we had a sunset dinner and then took a walk along shore of Lake Tahoe. We stopped at a pier and that is when he gave me the best surprise of my life. I was stunned and of course said yes!

When we started planning our wedding, we went for an Old Hollywood/Modern feel. Black satin, champagne, diamonds, and a pop of eggplant. I wanted glamorous decor in a garden setting. Our altar was a space between two live oak trees that angled slightly away from each other. We used a neutral color pallet outside and hung mini crystal chandeliers, ivory ribbon, and orchids from the trees. It gave a romantic and whimsical feel to our ceremony. LuAnn at Verbena Floral Design was able to make my dream wedding come true! She was a delight to work with, always listened, always came prepared, gave great ideas that helped us stay within budget, and was accommodating on every level. Her staff did a phenomenal job setting up and every guest commented on how beautiful our floral arrangements were.

Photographer: Shannon Cunningham Photography / Floral and Event Design: Verbena Floral Design / Cake: Four Seasons Hotel Austin / Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Austin / Candelabras and Chandeliers: Z Gallerie / Bride’s Dress: Rosa Clara / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Vera Wang & Jenny Yoo / Invitations: The Bride / Make – Up Artist:  Sara Barney for Little Wex Beauty / Hair Stylist: Emily Kleinsorge for Lucy Skyrocket

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Is it just me or is there always something spectacular about an Austin wedding?  They are the perfect blend of the traditional and the extraordinary.  Take this French-inspired garden fete by Brett Buchanan Wedding Photojournalism, for example.  Would you ever expect this dashing groom to be rocking out on an electric guitar by the end of the night (with his son on the drums)?  Yeah, me neither but that’s just one of the incredible surprises that happened at this elegant meets awesome affair.   You can see more uber-sweet and unexpected details in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Trent and I met three and half years ago.  It was complete fate, if you believe in those things.  It was a Friday night downtown in Austin.  We walked passed Darwin’s Pub and I heard this amazing sound coming from inside.  Much to my surprise, Trent was the one creating that amazing sound!  I stayed the whole night and we walked up to each other after he finished and the rest is history!

The day started early with a low key brunch with my bridesmaids at a Barton Springs residence near Zilker Park.  After spending the afternoon in preparation we headed by bus to the Barr Mansion.  Trent and I  saw each other for the first time that day near the remains of the Artisan Ballroom. A peaceful, calm feeling came over me when I saw him…I had been a nervous wreck all day until I saw his face.  He grounds me.

Cocktails were served under the pecan tree before the ceremony and the guest were escorted to their seats in the garden right before sunset.  The ceremony was short and sweet as we both wanted.  We both wrote our vows to each other and Trent sealed the deal with a coin toss!

Wedding Photography: Brett Buchanan Wedding Photojournalism / Wedding Venue + Catering: Barr Mansion / Flowers: Westbank Florist / Invitations, Programs + Menus: Lucky Luxe / Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Filmore / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Jewelry: Gypsy / Entertainment: Mike Milligan and the Alter Boys

Sometimes it’s not how you want your wedding to look, it’s how you want your wedding to feel. This drop dead gorgeous, design-loving bride wanted an ethereal and intimate feeling affair, and by the looks of the light-infused images from Ben Godkin Photo, I would say she got just what she was looking for. And the guests were no doubt feeling the love with all the personal touches. I personally adore the fact she hid away a pair of white converse shoes after seeing Father of the Bride when she was 8 and was able to put them to good use on this heart felt day. Just precious. There is even more precious to be had in the full gallery, so be sure to stop on by.

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From the Bride… Thankfully, my husband Sam was very simple about the extent of his wedding involvement. No groomzilla here. With a simple, “all I want to do is marry you… that’s it”, I got free reign to do what I wanted. My mom and I were definitely the masterminds behind the design. With a mutual respect for each other’s wishes and a Love of all things design, the process went smoothly. When I first began the wedding planning process and tried to imagine what our wedding day would look like, I couldn’t so much see it as feel it. I knew I wanted our wedding to feel warm, ethereal, and intimate. I have always been completely inspired by nature and wanted to build a ceremony and reception that made us feel enveloped in God’s greatest work. We took inspiration from all types of places; from an intimate little restaurant we spotted in London, to a fabulous magazine spread, to my own unique ideas. As soon as Sam and I got engaged, we ran and booked our venue. I am still not entirely sure how this idea came about, but I somehow got it in my head that we should marry on a ranch. With no ties to this little town of Wimberley in the Texas hill country, we found the perfect venue at the Red Corral Ranch. It was filled with all the charm and warmth we were looking for.

Finding my wedding gown helped the design process as well. After trying on about 100 different gowns, I found the most beautifully eclectic, inspired, Vera Wang dress that just screamed, “Where have you been, I have been waiting for you!!” The rest seemed to flow from there. I wanted people to feel that our wedding was truly “us” and so we infused all sorts of traditions and customs from our heritage. We were married outside on a perfectly crisp fall afternoon beneath a tallis from Israel that my Jewish grandmother had used at her own wedding. Sam snacked on spanakopita at cocktail hour to satisfy his biased Greek taste buds that settle for nothing less than feta cheese. Our reception dinner was filled with South American flavor as a warm reminder of my Peruvian and Colombian roots.

We had so many tiny details throughout our wedding that truly brought us joy. My Peruvian grandmother had brought her deliciously vintage cake topper from her wedding day to share with us. I closed my eyes in the make-up chair while wearing a very special pair of glimmering converse with the white flowy laces that I had stowed away in a box when I was 8 after watching Father of the Bride and swearing on my life I would marry in them one day. Although I had not married in the church, I wanted to keep it close to my heart, so my bouquet held a vintage charm of a church that would pop open and expose the tiniest bride and groom. My engagement ring was a family heirloom from Sam’s yiayia. It is a custom piece that his papou had designed so many years ago for the Love of his life and now their Love had been passed on to us. Our wedding bands were engraved in Coldplay lyrics that we had walked down the aisle to; music that served as a sweet reminder of our young Love when we met as teenagers. I swear, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. We were surrounded in details that were incredibly heart felt and special to us in a way that only we could truly appreciate. A feeling of genuineness was so very important. I wanted all of my bridesmaids and flower girls to feel happy and comfortable in their skin so I was more than pleased to pick a color and let them choose the dress of their heart’s desire. I was so happy I did because not only were they happy, they got to show off their beautiful personalities and still coordinate perfectly for the pictures. At the end of the day, the feeling of Love, genuineness and celebration were truly felt by all. Our family and friends were thrilled with great food and great company. Every last person was dancing like their life depended on it.

In a big red barn out in the middle of Texas hill country, we danced, we Loved, we ate, and we danced some more. It was perfect.  We could not have done any of this without the unwavering support from my parents (we Love you!!!). We were truly blessed with such an amazing gift that we find we are still pinching ourselves as we look back fondly at our photographs. Our wedding completely exceeded our expectations in every way and we are so very thankful for that.

Photography: Ben Godkin Photo / Flowers: Last Petal / Event Design: Beatriz Craven (The Bride) and The Girl in Pearl / Event Planning: Jessica from Something To Celebrate / Ceremony Location: Red Corral Ranch / Reception Location: Red Corral Ranch / Invitations: The Inviting Pear / Shoes: Badgely Mischka / Lighting: ILIOS Lighting Design / Cake: Michelles Patisserie / Catering and bar: Primizie / DJ: look no further / Rentals: Marquee / Officiant: Rev John Connor / Dress: Vera Wang

Alright summer brides, get ready to soak in some serious, sunny inspiration for your upcoming affair. This Texas soiree by Jenny DeMarco Photography is complete with parasols for guests to shade the hot summer sun, bridesmaids holding fans in lieu of flowers, and a bridal bouquet complete with raw cotton. Y’all, it’s just precious all around, and you’ll want to mosey on over to the full gallery to soak it all up.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From Jenny of Jenny DeMarco Photography…I met this wonderful couple in June and am absolutely astonished at what an amazingly beautiful wedding they pulled together in just a few short months with so many challenges (like it being outside in August!) Even with the crazy Texas heat, Robin couldn’t have looked more radiant and their wedding couldn’t have been a classier affair. They really looked after their guests and put some truly original personal touches to their wedding. Their wedding ceremony was held at 10am with a brunch reception that immediately followed in Dripping Springs, just southwest of Austin, Texas. To combat the heat, the bride used beautiful paper fans instead of bridesmaids bouquets. When the guests arrived, they were also given paper parasols with a note that said ‘please shade your self’.

Robin’s family formerly owned a seed company and she used their family heirloom burlap seed bags as table centerpieces, which was also the inspiration for the decor. The colors and burlap theme ran through out their wedding details. Robin even carried raw cotton in her bouquet. To tie in the yellow from the ‘corn’ seed bags and also tie in the summer season, Robin used lots of yellow lemons and citrus in her details. These included lemon drops on the tables and lemon bunt cakes as desert. Robin and Andrew served brunch to their guests which was provided by one of Austin’s best caterer’s, Royal Fig. The day’s menu consisted of crème brûlée french toast, eggs benedict, handpicked cheeses from Antonelli’s cheese shop, a bloody marry and mimosa bar, and of course, the cinnamon roll tower (above). Dear lord, hope you weren’t dieting that day, the food was beyond amazing.

Robin also had TWO engagement rings..lucky gal! Andrew worked with a jeweler to custom design the ring on the right, incorporating stones and metal from both Robin and Andrew’s families. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite ready when they left for their African safari trip. Andrew proposed on top of a mountain in Africa with a ring he purchased a ring from a local craftsmen in a village while they were traveling, made from silver and giraffe tail. When they came home from their travels, and the ring was finished, he gave her the ‘real’ engagement ring. Finally, Andrew gave Robin a rock with their names engraved on it for their first valentines together. He picked it up on the corner of South Lamar and 6th, where they bumped into each other and ended up on an in-promptu first date. They have been collecting rocks from their travels and special places ever since. So, naturally, they incorporated rocks with their initials r+a stamped on them.

Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography / Event Design: Robin and her mother Connie Bagley / Invitations: Minted / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: Casablanca / Venue: Camp Lucy, Dripping Springs / Catering: Royal Fig / Cake: Nothing Bundt Cake / Day of Coordinator and Rentals: Alisha Anderson of DS Part Rental / Music: Continental Graffiti / Florist: Love Punk Events / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids Shoes: Madden Girl

One detail that we are seeing more and more of these days is COLOR…a bountiful abundance of gorgeous color. And that makes our blogger hearts ever so happy. So you can imagine our excitement when we spied this Dallas wedding photographed by the lovely Kate Osborne. It is packing a mega punch of bright hues all wrapped up in a really beautiful backyard wedding. Plus, this fete scored bonus points on our adorable scale with the bride’s uber stylish bangs and the cutest ballet flats. Yep, this is one heck of a pretty wedding and you can see the whole shebang in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

When Mike asked me to marry him on June 25th, it was no surprise I said yes. Little did mike know, I had already ordered my dress back in April. We were married in the Dallas LDS temple and were lucky to be married by my granddad’s best friend/partner in crime. Our reception was held at the Surrey House, a home in the historic district of downtown McKinney, TX, the town where I was born and raised. It was a very simple celebration- no veil, no wedding cake, no wedding party, no dancing and no bouquet toss. We really wanted our personal touch to be seen in all the details. We decided to do a taco bar and a desert table (inspired by Amy Atlas), which included our favorite salted pear and caramel macaroons from The Little Oven Bakery. We did several diy projects to give the reception a “homegrown” feel. I made and sewed the fabric flower garland while on a road trip. I also made the fabric pom poms, with the help of my lovely sisters. The wood slices on the tables were cut from a tree on our farm. I started collecting vintage milk glass and old glass bottles for the flowers. Mike and I planted all the succulents, and the rest of the flowers were done by a close family friend, Sami Hansen. She did a fabulous job! My jaw dropped when I saw my bouquet. When I ask Mike what his favorite part of our wedding was he can never give me just one answer, he starts rambling about practically every detail. It was truly the happiest day of our lives!

Photography: Kate Osborne / Flowers: Sami Hansen /  Ceremony Location: Dallas LDS temple  / Reception Location: The Surrey House / Invitations: Dapper Paper / Dress: Elizabeth Dye / Hair piece: Lo Boheme

We love, love, love when brides tell us they used Style Me Pretty to inspire their wedding day. It’s just what our helpful hearts long to hear. So when the bride of this lovely Christmas affair by Chip Gillespie said she stopped by SMP daily to help create her modern winter wedding, we may have blushed. OK, we definitely did. And to top it off, the talented ladies of Petal Pushers dominated the floral design – which of course had us oohing and ahhing. So we are blushing, oohing and ahhing – and you can see why by checking out the full gallery of darling images.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From the Bride…Sal proposed by the Christmas tree in our living room on December 6th, 2009, so a December wedding just made sense as Christmas will forever be a special time for us. We had so much fun planning our wedding. I must admit, I stalked Style Me Pretty every.single.day. In the beginning, it was great for inspiration and ideas, and by the end of the planning stages, I found myself still going to this site every day just to see beautiful images and keep my excitement going. I knew I didn’t want a red or green wedding, so keeping a simple color palette of white, silver and black suited us well. With that in mind, we began making plans for our modern winter wedding. We sent out fun, homemade Save the Date’s that said, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”

The girls at Paper Place helped me design an invitation that used bold, blocky font.  I loved how they turned out and they really helped set the tone for the rest of the details. We kept the modern vibe going with all-white flowers. Petal Pushers gave us beautiful, simple white arrangements with wintry touches like snow-flocked branches, dusty miller and mercury glass. My only request to them: anemones with black centers, my obsession. I added 2 of my grandmother’s sparkly brooches to the wrap on my bouquet to have a little piece of her with me. My bridesmaids looked amazing in sleek black dresses from White House Black Market. They all wore black tights in different patterns and textures and accessorized with fun black and silver jewelry. We danced all night long, only taking breaks to hop in the photobooth, which was a huge hit.  I was so lucky to have the most amazing friends and talented vendors helping me. I couldn’t have done it without them! It really was the most wonderful night of our lives!

Photography: Chip Gillespie / Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films / Flowers: Petal Pushers / DJ: Byrne Rock / Ceremony Musicians: Divisi Strings / Cakes: Michelle’s Patisserie / Photobooth: Max Photography / Ceremony and Reception Location: The Mansion at Judges Hill / Invitations: Paper Place / Dress: La Sposa Fanal bought at Alexia Gavela / Bridesmaid dresses: White House Black Market / Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon / Hair: Corrine Kimbro at Jackson Ruiz

Kids, I think I need to make a trip to Austin, Texas ASAP. We see some of the most darling weddings from that fabulous city in the Lone Star State, and this Austin wedding by She-N-He Photography keeps that trend going strong. Complete with a lovely lawn wedding and a reception held in an old whitewashed church, this wedding has sweet written all over it. And speaking of sweet, the bride’s talented sister, Leah Proctor of Zinnia and Co., did all the gorgeous florals for the affair. What a lucky (and lovely) bride! For more of this darling Austin wedding, be sure to check out the full gallery.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From the Bride…Dylan and I met and fell in love in Austin, my hometown, while I was in school at St.Edwards, and he was preparing to go to school in North Carolina. Spending the first two years of our relationship so far apart was difficult, but it was also rewarding because it allowed us to get to know each other in such a deep way. When we got engaged, we knew the wedding had to be in Austin because it’s such a special place for us as a couple. We fell in love with the first venue we looked at. Mercury Hall is a little whitewashed chapel built in the early 1900s. We used the lawn for our ceremony—a secular service we wrote ourselves that was officiated by a family friend. Afterwards, we had an intimate reception inside the hall. We just did a buffet-style dinner followed by lots of dancing.

We were fortunate to find amazing vendors who we could trust to interpret our vision for the day. Every single vendor we worked with blew us away and made our wedding day so beautiful. My incredibly talented sister, Leah, did all our flowers. They were so colorful and beautiful, we were able to forgo other decorations and keep the space really simple. Our wedding coordinator, Tessa, kept everything running smoothly so that Dylan and I (and our families) were able to stay present and enjoy every moment. More than anything, we were so touched by the outpouring of love from our family and friends as they gathered to celebrate the start or our new life together.

Photography: She-N-He / Flowers: Leah Proctor of Zinnia and Co. (bride’s sister) / Planner: Tessa Dorrell / Catering: Pascal’s Catering Company / Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Music: Warren Hood / Venue: Mercury Hall / Stationery: Birdy Blue Design / Hair: George Oberg / Jewelry: Claude Morady / Officiant: Mark Cohen

It’s time for today’s pretty parade to make a little pit stop in Texas for a rainy day, vintage celebration by Significant Events of Texas and Capture Studios. A marvelous mix of bold colors and a rustic vibe, this fabulous fete is like sunshine on a cloudy day. You can’t go wrong with a little sunshine of that sort, so be sure to soak up the full gallery of lovely images. It’s the SMP version of vitamin D.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From Meredith of Significant Events of Texas…Amanda and Matt’s wedding was the perfect example of the importance of enlisting the expertise of a professional wedding planner. They had chosen their venue first, and it was a new venue which was still developing its property. They quickly became overwhelmed and realized there were many unique challenges with the venue that they didn’t know how to address. Significant Events was hired and immediately went to work. We worked in close conjunction with the venue, the partnering vendors, and the bride and groom to address venue issues pertaining to power, landscaping, maneuverability, loading and unloading, parking, landscaping, and beyond. And, of course, we developed a Rain Plan since both the ceremony and reception were intended to be outside. Indeed, the Rain Plan was activated on the wedding day when cold rain required a last minute change of plans. However, Significant Events ensured that guests never knew that the Rain Plan wasn’t the plan all along!

Amanda was a modern bride with a vintage sensibility. Her vision for her perfect wedding included bright, bold colors juxtaposed next to a wooded ranch setting. We carried this theme throughout every aspect of the wedding and reception, from the caterer’s serving pieces to the cake stand to the centerpieces and beyond. The end result was both beautiful and inspiring. Guests were moved by the touching ceremony, conducted by Matt’s father who is a minister. Afterwards, we moved inside the ranch house for a delicious dinner and dancing that lasted for hours. Matt’s groomsmen, bandmates of his in a Christian rock band aptly named The Wedding, were the life of the party and kept the guests laughing. In the end, we didn’t let a little rain put a damper on the evening. We created an event that was interesting, beautiful,and, above all, personal and significant.

Wedding Design & Coordination: Significant Events of Texas / Venue: Watersedge Ranch /Catering: Two Sisters Catering / Photo: Colleen Allison for Capture Studios / Floral: The Urban Blossom /Cake: Sweet Art Bakery / DJ: Glenn Roush Productions / Linens: BBJ Linen / Rentals: Grapevine Golf Carts
& The Rental Stop

Rooftop parties are an east coast delight that I’ve missed terribly since becoming a California transplant.  So when this pretty party from Abby Jiu Photography and Fleurish Events was sent my way I felt a sharp pang of jealousy.  But it was quickly replaced with joy brought on by this carnival-inspired, rooftop engagement party.  How could anyone walk away glum from a party full of cotton candy, bright blues and vivid reds, quirky paper goods and a cozy dinner overlooking Georgetown, DC?  Check out the full gallery for more al fresco inspiration!

Click here for more inspiration in the full gallery!

A coordinated assortment of milk glass and fresh, white florals elevated the whimsical table settings to elegance.  The table, made from two rescued doors, provided a pop of color, neutralizing the need for a oh-no-i-spilled mood-killing tablecloth.  Guests sampled gourmet amore’s fresh corn and red pepper salad. Candy-striped straws (personalized with Kate and David’s initials) adorned milk glass tumblers; ice-breaker playing cards were tucked into napkins; menus at each place help determine the source of taste-bud bliss. Uncoordinating chairs lent an easy, friends-pull-up-to-the-table flair.

The message on the menus read “eat, drink, and the merriment will take care of itself,” which soon accurately described the evening’s unfolding.  As the sun went down, the d.c. lights glowed and the guests conversed and over a sampling of fare shaming even the crispiest funnel cake.  Gourmet amore’s frangelic chocolate mousse cups, topped with a pair of gold and red raspberries and a sprinkling of roasted hazelnuts, took center stage.

Befitting a night of activities enjoyed by even the most juvenile, the guests surrounded Kate and David for a sparkler-salute goodbye.

Photography: Abby Jiu Photography / Event Design + Florals: Fleurish Events / Catering: Gourmet Amore / Venue: On the rooftop of a Georgetown, DC condo. / Invitations + Paper Goods: Deleted Space Creative / Dress: Anthropologie / Makeup and Hair: Trish Deel

I have so much admiration for brides and their families these days. Not only do they seem to have impeccable taste, but they also seem to be masters of DIY projects and design. Not 100% sure how that happened, but I am forever grateful for the crafty brides and weddings like this darling Mercury Hall Austin affair by Nessa K Photography. They make my days ever so lovely, and the full gallery of this wedding is sure to make your day lovely as well.

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I am a wedding photographer (visit me here), so I am lucky to have seen plenty of weddings and have had plenty of time to become addicted to way too many wedding blogs (I’m becoming better at my job by reading all of those…right?). Initially, it was pretty overwhelming. There were so many things that I wanted to do. But, I’d just like to say that with the help of some amazing people (MOM!), my wedding turned out way better than I had imagined. Dru proposed to me July of 2009, so I had over a year to figure out what DIY details I wanted to accomplish. Armed with many great ideas and inspirations, my mom and I set out on a grand wedding-planning mission. My two main things were that I wanted to get married outside and in the  fall. Austin has so many great outdoor wedding venues, it was hard to choose. But, Mercury Hall won my heart with its beautiful, outdoors-y charm right within a mile or two of downtown Austin.

I also, obviously, needed an awesome photographer- and I am so lucky that I found Nessa K. Let’s just say that she is amazingly talented and so great to work with. My wedding day-of coordinator (though she did so much more work than just day-of), Lindsey Watts of Lilleypad Events, made the day run SO smoothly. There are no words to describe how awesome she and her team were and I definitely couldn’t have pulled it all off without her. A few DIY details include: flower arrangements by my mom, ring embroidery hoop by the Groom’s grandmother, napkins and muslin table cloths sewed by my mom, guest favors (flower bombs) made by my parents and I- muslin bags included (the Gocco printer was my friend), paper goods (table assignments, save the dates, invites, programs, signs) by me, wooden bean bag toss by my grandfather, bean bags sewn by my mom, “celebrate” and bunting by me and my mom.

There were a few minor issues, but they really did not matter to me in the grand scheme of things. The weather was ALMOST a problem- it started pouring down rain the morning before, on our rehearsal. I also had a bit of a panic attack when my mom and I brought all of our flowers back to the hotel room to arrange them the day before. You should have seen our room- it was like a greenhouse. Not sure if I would recommend arranging your own flowers in a hotel room…especially in a hotel room (though awesome it was) with very limited floor space. But, let’s forget about that stuff, shall we? Because it turned out amazingly and I had such a good time, and so did our guests. My main tip would be to make your ceremony personal- pick out your own music (it doesn’t have to be the traditional “Here Comes the Bride”- I had a bluegrass band play), have people who are important to you participate in the ceremony (my brother and aunt did readings, and my cousins sang a song by Cat Power, my uncle was the minister), and don’t worry about the traditional details- do what you want! Everyone kept telling Dru and I how our ceremony was so “us.” Also, have a photo booth with props. People love that- and the photos are hilarious.

Photography: Nessa K Photography / Ceremony and Reception Venue: Mercury Hall / Day-of Coordinator: Lindsey Watts of Lilleypad Events plan@lilleypadevents.com / Band (ceremony and cocktail hour): Shotgun Party / DJ (dinner and reception: Byrne Rock / Food: Hoover’s Cooking / Pies & cocktail food: Feast Gourmand / Flowers: Austin Flower Company (arranged by my supermom) / Dress: custom made by Shirin Askari / Groom’s clothes: J.Crew / Boutenniere + Hair pin: Emersonmade / Paper Poms: Pom Love / Hair & Makeup: Consuelo at Salon by Milk + Honey / Hotel: Hotel San Jose (getting ready) / Hotel: Saint Cecilia (first look)

For all those newly engaged folks planning a fun-in-the-sun summertime wedding this photo shoot from She-n-He Photography and Design and Three Apples Events has sunny inspiration with your names written all over it!  We all love a vintage-inspired wedding ’round these parts but vintage with a twist gets us every time!  This super design team took good ol’ 1950s style and paired it with clean lines and pops of yellow for a modern take on a classic theme.  There are plenty of beautiful details to get your wedding gears turning and the full gallery is packed with even more inspiration!

Click here for more inspiration in the full gallery!

Three Apples Events and She-n-He Photography and Design collaborated on this shoot in Austin, TX.  The inspiration behind the shoot was Palm Springs in the 1950s but brought to today. We wanted to have a background of clean lines in whites but then incorporate dramatic pops of various shades of yellow throughout to tie everything together to give a beautiful fresh feel with elements of the romantic and lush.

Finding the perfect venue was easy – nestled up above Lake Travis, Hacienda del Lago is an entirely outdoor venue with a rentable house on the property. Beautiful in its simplicity, it was the exact setting we needed. Since we were bringing such bright colors and fiercely stylized pieces together, we needed a venue understated in its beauty to not compete with the shots.

Nailing the style for the bride and groom was of utmost importance to give the shoot the right feel.  Each of the bride’s three dresses was specifically chosen to match the ambience and décor.  A mid-calf A-line with a feathered headband and lace bolero for portrait-style pictures of the couple. A shorter cocktail-style strapless dress with a custom yellow-ribboned birdcage veil for the photos with the tablescape.  And finally a dramatic billowing floor length gown for the ceremony site.  As for the groom, no detail was overlooked.  He was decked out from his custom fedora to the brocade-backed vest down to the cuffs of his pants.

Our tablescape was the opportunity to really showcase our modern-meets-vintage yellow and white theme.  Using all milk-white glassware for the flowers, we wanted to play with depth and height down the center of the table so the bursts of yellow all hit your eye in a different place from the tallest tulips down to the pin-cushion protea as the name-card holders. With so much yellow popping down the table, we kept the chairs and linens white to provide a crisp, clean background.  The china was all white too, except for a lemon tinted glass salad plate peeking out between two white plates to add one more dimension of yellow.

Aiming for an overall summery, light feel, we also wanted to add some fun and unique outdoor elements.  A cluster of clothes-pinned hanging yellow and white fabric and a striped beach umbrella gave us inspiration for some unique light-hearted pictures of the couple.  Even the cake and candy display combined modern with vintage.  We had the modern looking petit fours in yellow and deep chocolate browns contrasting with a very vintage three tiered cake sitting on a lace runner.  Yellow candy in white glass pieces interspersed with clusters of yellow flowers again brought the two feels together.

Photographer: She-n-He Photography and Design / Coordinator: Three Apples Events / Florals: Wow Factor Floral / Hair + Make-up: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Styling: Shannon Yarbrough / Catering: Austin Catering / Rentals: Premier Party Central / Petit Fours: Paige’s Bake House / Wedding Cake: Wicked Cakes / Venue: Hacienda del Lago / Groom’s outfit: Nordstrom / Bride’s outfits: Dresses by Linda Asaf, Blush Bridal, Bella Saison / Accessories: Tracy Tenpenny / Headpieces: Millistar, Blush Bridal

I’m convinced that folks in Texas know how to have a way better time than anyone else.  If you need proof look no further than these photographs by Jenna Cole Photography.  Not only is this wedding full of sweet, down-home details, pretty shades of pink and, of course, my favorite rustic accessory – cowboy boots – but it may have the most hilarious photo booth I’ve ever seen.  There is more country goodness in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Have no fear, if you were craving some more photo booth action, we have a fun slide show from Jenna Cole.  The hilarity only grows as the hours, and, I assume, the beer consumption, increase!

Lauren and Richard planned a rustic country wedding deep in the heart of Texas, at Moon River Ranch just outside of Waco. I know Lauren relied heavily on blogs like Style Me Pretty to inspire her own soiree, and I think she achieved the perfect balance of inspiration and originality.

My favorite details include the invitations (they mailed one to me and it was so fun to open!), her boots, a blue heart pinned to the inner layer of crinoline which was a gift form the mother-of-the-bride, the mix of flowers and vases on each table, and the cake buffet. Cake buffets are a fabulous wedding trend, and their interpretation was the best I’ve seen!

Several items were used multiple times throughout the day. The flower covered initials hung at the entry to the church as well as the reception. Ruffled pomanders graced the aisles of the ceremony and then were moved to a display tree next to the cake table. The bridesmaid bouquets were cleverly used as decor at the reception by placing them in blue mason jars tied with pink and white bows.

After the first dance they had an anniversary dance and Lauren’s grandmother was thrilled to be presented the bouquet when they were the last couple on the dance floor. I found myself laughing hysterically when I saw how the guests were using the photo booth. Grabbing the plastic cows and displaying feet dirty from dancing was the perfect way to illustrate what a fabulous time was had by all!

Wedding Photography: Jenna Cole Photography / Second Photographer: Lynn in Love Photo / Flowers: Bloomingals / Ceremony Venue: St. Mary’s Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Moon River Ranch / Invitations: Parrot Design Studio / Boots: Old Gringo “Lucky” / Wedding Dress : Enzoani “Diana” purchased at Mockingbird Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Cakes: Custom Cakes by Laura / Caterer: Blanek’s / Wedding Coordinator: Caroline Fair / Cinematography: Take 4 Studio / Hair and Makeup: Salon at Ridgewood Village / Programs: Hellotenfold on Etsy / Shoes: Nina “Papina” / Shoe Clips: Oodles of Bling on Etsy / Mens Suits: JC Penny

This morning, San Antonio was our focus. But just a hop, skip and a jump to the north(west) is the charming old-world town of Fredericksburg. An art and antique lovers dream come true! Maggie Gillespie sent us these beautiful shots by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings from one of their recent weddings at the Trois Estate …

from Maggie Gillespie … I loved doing this vibrant June wedding in the Texas Hill Country overlooking Enchanted Rock for this beautiful young couple. He was signed as a ballplayer for the University of Texas, so we had the bride’s favorite flower blooming in a riot of burnt orange and red red rose…. and the groom’s cake made in the shape of a catcher’s mitt. Trois Estate supplied their delicious food and eclectic taste, expansive views and attentive service. I had the gorgeous antique goddess doorway came abloom for the ceremony with hundreds of American Beauty roses…even more lovely as the evening deepened and the lights came up, fragrancing the courtyard… a wonderful setting for the wedding service at dusk! The staff changed out the church pews for dance floor and additional dining space while the guests had cocktails on the upper deck with breathtaking views of Enchanted Rock at sunset painting the sky. The bride loved peonies, reds (and of course burnt orange!) so I had big red Chilean peonies and orange makara orchids flown in for the bouquets. Iron lanterns hung in the courtyard’s oak tree and also were filled with flowers on guest tables. A great band played upstairs over the open courtyard to the dancers below with long tables set for dinner upstairs, lit with more large lanterns, aglow in candlelight and flowers, toasts and laughter. We had a cigar roller (with personalized cigar bands,) wonderful walks and carriage rides through the artisan village of Trois Estate and incredibly long sparklers from Nuevo Laredo to light up the night at their exit. We had shuttle busses take the wedding guests back to their hotels and b & b’s in nearby Fredericksburg while the clear night’s stars and full moon continued the enchanted evening’s glow.

Maggie Gillespie Designs, Fredericksburg, Texas / Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Venue ~Trois Estates at Enchanted Rock, Texas / Cake ~ Sophie’s Choice Bakery, Fredericksburg, Texas

See more of Maggie’s weddings on her blog: Becker Vineyard Fall Wedding, Hindu Wedding ~ Texas Style, Kerrville ~ Eastern Influence

Jennifer Lindberg Weddings was recently featured in Style Me Pretty’s Best of 2010 Weddings: “Where Chic Style and Laid Back Elegance Become A Match Made In Heaven!”.  Also see it in SMP’s E-GLOSSY, page 52.

If you grew up anywhere near San Antonio, you’ll know that it is full of charm ~ full of history and activity and most of all, full of romance! Package it all together ~ it’s THE perfect place for a wedding celebration!

11/30/2010

from Eclectic Images … Sarah and Gary were married at the Southwest School of Art and Craft in San Antonio.  Sarah got ready at the Hotel Havana just down the street. Sarah is a fine art photographer and Gary is a metal artist, so both incorporated their passions into their wedding. Sarah displayed vintage cameras and had polaroids available for guests to take photos and hang them on a string display. Gary made the table centerpieces and a cute wooden mechanical version of a bride and groom who kissed each other when the handle was turned. An artist friend made the unique boutonnieres, and Sarah carried a few flowers in a vase that was handmade by another artist friend. Sarah wore a vintage yellow dress. Instead of cutting a cake they cut flan (made from Sarah’s mothers Cuban family recipe). The band playing played vintage music that totally went with the vibe of their wedding.

For more of Sarah and Gary’s wedding ~ head on over to the Eclectic Images blog!  Part One and Part Two

Photography: Eclectic Images / Location: Southwest School of Art and Craft, / Dress: vintage / Florist: Janal Florist / Caterer: Leave It To Us / Musicians: Johnny P and The Wiseguys

To see more from Eclectic Images, take a peek at some of her favorite wedding shots from 2010 on her blog!

For anyone that has ever visited Austin, you know that it can provide one of THE most gorgeous backdrops for a wedding. So much so, that I’d venture to say we’ve saved the very best wedding for last today. Designed by Sarah Miller of Caplan Miller Events, with flowers by Petal Pushers and photography by Kate Mefford, this little number is luxe done so so right. With a sense of intimacy and style tucked into each and every corner. So if you’re anything like us, you’ll definitely want to click on the gallery to see a bit more.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

Melissa Waldrop wanted her wedding to be an unforgettable party and wanted to forget all the traditions.  There was no cake cutting, father-daughter dance or big send-off for this bride.  Instead, we held a very intimate ceremony at a historic home on Barton Creek, where guests all gathered around the couple in a circle.  Guests enjoyed fine cigars and scotch during the cocktail hour, where the topic of discussion was “what is up with those swans?”  Afterwards guests dined on the lawn under vintage chandeliers hanging from the oak trees.  DJ Chicken George got everyone shaking on the dance floor and once all had worked up their appetites again we served Chick-fil-A, the bride’s favorite!

Wedding Coordinator:  Sarah Miller, Caplan Miller Events / Photo: Kate Mefford / Flowers: Petal Pushers / Decor: Townsley Designs / Catering: Word of Mouth / Lighting: First In Last Out / Rentals: Marquee Rents / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Reception dress: J. Mendel / Matron of Honor Dress: Rachel Pally / Menswear: their own suits with Hermes ties