You know those mornings you wake up and know it’s going to be a really good day? That’s kind of how I feel about this one. Mostly because this whimsical Louisiana wedding is first up on today’s agenda, and filled with about a million special touches that’ll Rock. Your. World. Knowing there wouldn’t be a dress on the market to perfectly suit her style, this bride and her mama set out to make their own. And boy, did it deliver! But that’s only the beginning. Read on for even more and don’t dare to miss the full gallery from Two Pair Photography right here.
From the Bride… My husband swears he knew he was going to marry me the day we met. I, however was clueless. Thankfully, he persisted to ask for three months before I went out with him, and exactly one year later we were engaged. Four months later, boom, married. He was right (for once!) Surrounded by the most creative people, with my work and my family, Ive always known my wedding would have very special and unique touches. The last thing I wanted was for it to be the same ole southern wedding. One of the most important things to both my husband and I was quality photography. We opted with Two Pair Photography, out of Abilene, TX and it was the best decision. Chad and Tressie Zellner made our day so easy and captured the essence of our relationship so beautifully. They have such a great quality of making you feel special and of knowing how to get the best shot in any situation. We are forever thankful to them. After we had that, we moved on to the actual day.
Thankfully, my parents have the most beautiful setting for outdoor weddings at their home, so we started there with aesthetic planning, using the outdoor space as our backdrop. Scouring books and blogs for months with my co-worker and wedding stylist, Kayla of We Are Gathered, we hand created almost every detail, from lace wraps for the trees, hand painted food labels on reclaimed wood, and gathering and detailing wine bottles for months from everyone we knew. I also knew I wouldnt be able to find a dress on the market that was just right, so my mother and I set out designing our own, and it could not have been more perfect. She and my mother-in-law embroidered messages inside the lining that I read on my wedding day. TEARS! For my veil, I had my good friend and fashion designer, Amanda de Leon, create me a custom piece with a leather fox face and feather, with birdcage. And in lieu of a bridal portrait, I sought out my fashion illustrator friend MAR of Markette, and had her illustrate me in my gown. I felt just like vintage Barbie!
I never really had a color or theme in mind, but I found my bridesmaid dresses when I wasnt looking, at Anthropologie, and the beautiful red orange color set the tone. I found coordinating fabrics, and made my husbands, my nephews and the groomsmens bow ties myself. We filled every vessel we could get our hands on, including vintage desks and dressers, with orange ranunculus, peonies, and garden roses. For the ceremony, my sister-in-law read I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E. Cummings, right before I walked down the isle to my brother-in-law playing the violin. And in lieu of programs, we gave our guests cards with the lyrics to The Flaming Lips Do You Realize.
The cake and grooms cake were beyond. I chose a local baker I grew up with, who had just moved back to my hometown. She went over and above what I ever expected, and even dipped chocolate in bacon for my husband’s cake! For entertainment, we waned to give our out of state guests a real feeling for Louisiana, and why we love living in New Orleans so much. Our menu included fried alligator tacos, fried green tomato salad, crawfish etoufee tarts, and fried catfish. The day of my dad decided to throw in some extra flair and boiled crawfish and shrimp, with a little jambalaya on the side. It was divine. Musically we had to opt for a brass band, and went with Lagniappe Brass Band out of New Orleans, followed by a dj for the wee hours.
Photography: Two Pair Photography | Wedding Dress: Original Design by Bride + Mother | Cakes: Sweet Stirrings | Shoes: Dee Keller | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Anthropologie | Catering: The Edible Event | Makeup: Eric Vosburg | Hair: Avery Lane Salon | DJ: Huzefa Dossaji | Band: Lagniappe Brass Band | Venue: Private Home | Bridal Illustrator: Markette | Earrings: Anthropologie | Event Rentals: Event Rental | Floral Design + Decor: Sharime Jobe of We Are Gathered | Veil: Amanda de Leon | Violinist: Paul Johnson
