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From Keely Thorne Events… The inspiration for the wedding started with a tree. The meaning behind the tree started on July 7, 2010 when J.J. proposed to Kate under a very meaningful tree at the Fenway Golf Club in Scardsale, New York.  As a child, J.J., had spent many days playing golf with his dad at Fenway. When his father passed away unexpectedly when J.J was 8 years old, in memory of his father, the Fenway Golf Club planted a tree on their 8th hole, his father’s favorite hole. Kate and J.J. decided to have their ceremony outside at the Bayou Club in Houston, Texas, where trees could provide the perfect backdrop for their wedding.

Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Bayou Club. The couple worked with Kate’s minister and J.J.’s rabbi to blend a traditional Christian ceremony with a traditional Jewish ceremony. They wed under a chuppa and beneath a canopy of trees as the sun was setting. As guests arrived at the Bayou Club, they received their own individual ceremony programs with their names done in hand calligraphy from custom-made lattice screens that also served as their escort cards.

Following the ceremony, guests entered the backyard of the Bayou Club where a tent had been constructed over the club’s pool. Wooden tables, upholstered dining chairs, sofas, settees, coffee tables and side tables were all brought in to make the space comfortable for guests and to also create an “at home” but elegant feel. Large scale mirrors placed around the tent not only helped disguise the tent legs, but made the space feel grand and the candlelight that reflected made the entire reception glow!

For the groom’s cake, with J.J. growing up in New York, it was natural to have Yankee Stadium as his groom’s cake! To add a personal touch, an iPad was incorporated as the scoreboard and a slide show played throughout the evening with pictures of the couple. After a seated dinner, guests danced the entire night, but the unexpected addition of the groom on the drums and his brother on the guitar for a few songs really got the crowd going! At the end of the night, the bride and groom exited to her grandfather’s Model T Ford. Her grandfather loved cranking the car to get it going and then sped away with the couple! Prior to leaving, the bride’s cousins definitely had a hand in adding a few “decorations” to the car!

Event Planning: Kristin McShane of Keely Thorne Events / Wedding Photography: Chris Bailey Photography / Wedding Cinematography: 3 1 F I L M S / Floral Design, Linens + Tent Draping: Events in Bloom / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Bayou Club / Invitations: Sicily Eason / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Band: Sauce / Ceremony Musicians: Divisi Strings / Tent Rentals: SPF Event Resources / Lighting: Pro/Sound / Wedding Cake: Susie’s Cakes + Confections / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaids / Rentals: A Finer Event + Swift and Co.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 31 Films, A Finer Event, Amsale, Bella Bridesmaids, Blue, Chris Bailey Photography, Divisi Strings, Events In Bloom, Houston, Jimmy Choo, Keely Thorne Events, Monique Lhuillier, Outdoor Ceremony, Pink, Pro/Sound, Sauce, Sicily Eason, SPF Event Resources, Susie's Cakes & Confections, Swift and Co., Tented Reception, Texas Weddings, The Bayou Club, Traditional Wedding
Post categories: Houston Weddings, Texas Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…I would say that I decided and then changed my mind on wedding inspiration and color at least 10 times in the first few months.  My problem was not finding a style I liked, as much as choosing JUST one style.  I felt like a different bride everyday, wanting Hollywood Regency one day, preppy/traditional the next, and rustic/shabby chic after that!  How could I possibly settle on just one when all three make up my style and personality?  I found my solution in the Ralph Lauren Home collections.  It was here that I saw how beautiful satin, crystal, and chandeliers could sit perfectly next to rustic plaids and leather, while being accented with just the right amount of leopard print.

I knew that I wanted to incorporate a great deal of lounge seating and furniture rentals, so choosing Darryl & Co. to handle my decor was an easy choice.  Not only did they have an outstanding selection of furniture, (including those amazing dome chairs, rugs, and fireplace) their company also handles linen rentals and floral design as well.  (It’s basically wedding decor one-stop shopping.)  I met with Scott from Darryl & Co. and knew instantly that I was in good hands.  I explained my inspiration and told him I wanted the reception to look more like a furniture showroom or comfortable living room than a typical reception and Scott not only understood what I was going for, he also got excited about doing something a little different.  I told Scott I didn’t want assigned seating, or a room full of identical round tables because I wanted our guests to be relaxed and comfortable,  but I did not specify colors, or flowers, but instead decided to give Scott creative freedom and see what he could come up with.  This ended up being the best wedding decision I made!  (Besides the groom that is…) The Courtyard on St. James was the perfect venue for the “living room feel”  and I really loved that they offered both indoor and outdoor space.

Picking just one theme was hard enough, but trying to settle on just one dress was impossible.  I have experience buying and selling gowns at both the retail and wholesale level and felt like I had seen just about everything which was making it hard to find something that stood out.  Rather than going with the latest trend, I decided to look to the past for classic and timeless inspiration and Grace Kelly seemed the obvious choice.  (I just have to add that this was before a certain princess chose a similar inspiration.)  My Novia d’Art gown was everything I wanted in a ceremony gown, but I was having a hard time picturing myself boogieing on the dance floor in my classy, Grace Kelly dress so I ended up purchasing a Sottero and Midgley at the last minute to serve as my reception dress.

Wedding Photography: Brittany Dawson Photography / Floral Design, Event Design + Planning: Darryl & Co. / Ceremony Location: Memorial Drive Methodist Church / Reception Location: The Courtyard on St. James Place / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino + Christian Louboutin / Wedding Dresses: Novia d’Art + Sottero and Midgley / Wedding Cake: Susie’s Cakes and Confections / Bride’s Make-up: The Perfect Face / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bagpiper: Lars Sloan of American Bagpipes

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alfred Sung, American Bagpipes, Brittany Dawson Photography, Christian Louboutin, Darryl & Co, Houston, Memorial Drive Methodist Church, Novia d'Art, Sottero & Midgley, Susie's Cakes & Confections, Texas Wedding, The Courtyard on St. James Place, The Perfect Face, Traditional Elegance, Valentino
Post categories: Houston Weddings, Texas Weddings, Traditional Elegance

From Cynthia …  

Ashley and her husband, Christian, had such a gorgeous wedding in Houston this past November and put so much love and thought into every last detail that I just had to share. The bride worked with Monogram Inc. in NYC to design a gorgeous monogram that they used throughout their wedding including on the letterpress invitations we designed and printed. Their ceremony was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Houston with the reception following at The Junior League of Houston.

Ashley wore a beautiful French lace dress by Amsale, purchased at Louise Blum Bridal Salon, a gorgeous little bolero and the prettiest Kate Spade shoes, while Christian wore his own classic black tuxedo. {ps…Abby got her gown at Louise Blum’s as well … Melody became our new best friend!}

After watching an Oscar de la Renta fashion show last fall, Ashley designed her bridesmaids’ dresses based on a dress she fell in love with, working with Arlene Gamble in Houston to make her vision a reality. The beautiful rich deep purple of the bridesmaid dresses was carried throughout the event, paired with gorgeous reds and greens to create a really festive feel as a way to kick off the holiday season. 

All of the lovely photos are credited to their photographer, Tanja Lippert Photography {Little Black Book Photographer} out of San Jose, CA and I just love how blissfully happy they both look in all of their photos. It has been such a pleasure for me to flip through all of their images!

Ashley and Christian wanted to create a really warm and inviting atmosphere, combining old world elegance with modern sophistication. No stone went unturned, from coordinated paper products with a custom wedding monogram to unique wedding favors, the bride and groom paid special attention to every small detail.

Rich colored flowers and seasonal red berries filled the room, guests sipped champagne and lined up at the potato martini bar.

Guests danced the night away to the tunes from the Grady Gaines Band. Favors were fabulous chili mix packets.

Everyone enjoyed both a delicious chocolate peanut butter groom’s cake and a white almond wedding cake.

The cakes were made by Little Black Book Vendor Susie’s Cakes & Confections … both of Abby’s sisters’ wedding cakes were created by Susie! You should SEE the incredibly beautiful cake gallery on her website. And to say her flavors are fantastic is a massive understatement!

Ashley and Christian departed under a spray of sparklers!

Congratulations Ashley & Christian! And thank-you Cyd for sending us these beautiful examples of the stunning invitations your so, so, so talented team creates at Bella Figura!

Additional Vendor Credits: Save-the-Date Cards, Programs, Welcome Packets, Thank You Cards by PH Designs (Printing) ~  Calligraphy by Blooming Quill ~ Flowers by Gaye Jackson Price,  Houston & Dallas, Texas 

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amsale, Arlene Gamble, Bella Figura, Grady Gaines Band, Groom's Cake, Houston, Kate Spade, Letterpress Invitations, Louise Blum, Monogram Inc, Sephora, Susie's Cakes & Confections, Tanja Lippert Photography, Texas Weddings
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cakes, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Photography