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From the bride… I think the inspiration for our wedding actually stemmed from our photographers, The Nichols. Photography was one of the most important things to me, so after Darrell and I got engaged, I immediately started asking around. Someone sent me a link to The Nichols blog, and I instantly fell in love. THAT was what I wanted our wedding to be like — homey, authentic and happy. From there, we set out to find a venue, and stumbled upon the Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas. It’s an adorable B&B — so sweet and comfortable. It felt like home, and I knew we had found the perfect place! One of the best things about the Hoffman Haus is that you take the entire property for the whole weekend, so we had the run of the place from Thursday night through Sunday morning. Our immediate family and the majority of our bridal party all got to stay on the property with us. It was exactly what we wanted — our families and all our friends coming together to celebrate with us all weekend. It was like a big house party! Before the rehearsal, everyone was hanging out in the garden, and Darrell looked at me and said, “This is perfect.”

After we found our venue, everything else kind of fell into place. With Style Me Pretty and Pinterest as my guide, we ended up buying or making most of the decor for our wedding (with lots of help from our families!). The ribbon backdrop in our ceremony space was one of my favorite things. It looked beautiful and vibrant blowing in the breeze, and it added wonderful movement and color to our ceremony space. Michelle Hodges at Sprout did an incredible job of tying everything together with gorgeous flowers. (She even managed to find me peonies in November!) Darrell and I got engaged in London last September, so we wanted to incorporate at least a bit of British flair. Working with Jason at Royal Fig Catering, we settled on a British-inspired cocktail hour and served Pimm’s cocktails and mini bangers-and-mash. Also on the topic of food, we decided to have an ice cream sundae bar in lieu of a groom’s cake. My mom made all the cookies and brownies and shopped for the toppings, and Royal Fig provided homemade ice cream — salted caramel and vanilla bean. Darrell and I often make brownies and ice cream for dessert on the weekend now because so it was special to us!

I loved the sense of calm and excitement that came over me when I finally reached Darrell at the end of the aisle (I barely kept it together walking down the aisle, but was totally fine when I got to the end!). Our ceremony was magical — very personal but also Christ-centered. I loved seeing everyone sitting down to dinner together talking and laughing and having fun. Our maid of honor and best man gave the sweetest speeches that were both heartfelt and funny. In lieu of a more traditional dance (which would have left me in tears), my dad and I busted out a choreographed dance to N*Sync. The whole weekend was absolutely perfect — the best day of our lives.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas / Flowers: Sprout / Catering + Rentals: Royal Fig Catering / Wedding Day-of Coordinator: Aimee Villa of Lizze Belle Event Planning / Hair: Corinne Kimbro of Jackson Ruiz / Makeup: Deanna of Rae Cosmetics / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra via the Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus / Groom’s Suit: Theory / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Wedding Invitations: Night Owl Paper Goods / DJ: Chris Hanson (DJ Rhythmic) / Wedding Cakes: The Peach Tree / Caramel Apples: Lone Star Candy Bar (830-990-9100) / Cake Stands: Sister’s Vintage Party / Ribbon Ceremony Backdrop: DIY

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Post tags: Aimee Villa, Amsale, Chris Hanson, Corinne Kimbro, DJ Rhythmic, Fredricksburg, Gray, Green, Hoffman Haus, Jackson Ruiz, Lizze Belle Event Planning, Lone Star Candy Bar, Neiman Marcus, Night Owl Paper Goods, Pink, Rae Cosmetics, Reem Acra, Royal Fig Catering, Sister's Vintage Party, Sprout, Texas, The Nichols, The Peach Tree, Theory, Vera Wang Lavender
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

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From Anna of Anna Routh Photography… Carla and Sean’s French and Marie Antoinette-themed affair was ALL about the details. Every inch of this beautiful event was draped in pale pink and light blue with gold and pearl accents. Every centerpiece was unique and chock-full of items that had been collected throughout the couple’s engagement. Sean, an Army Captain, beamed when he saw his bride coming down the aisle in her stunning gown that was covered from top to bottom with tiny floral appliques. After a heartfelt ceremony rich with tradition and love from their friends and family, Carla and Sean’s guests enjoyed the most amazing dessert and hot chocolate bar I’ve ever seen — macaroons, cake, chocolate, custard and cookies galore! Yum! After plenty of dancing and even an impromptu hip-hop performance by the groom, the lovebirds were swept away in a beautiful vintage auto. Carla’s keen sense of style and both of their kind hearts showed through in all aspects of this intimate and personal evening.

Wedding Photography: Anna Routh Photography / Event Design + Coordination: April Orr of Leave the Details To Me / Wedding Venue: Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs Mansion / Flowers: Flowers Flowers / Invitations, Stationery + Signage: Blue Eye Brown Eye / Rentals: Premiere Party Central + Marquee Rents / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Catering: Southern’s Fine Dining / Desserts: Bake Sale Austin / Attendents’ Feather Fans: DIY by the Bride / Makeup: Beauty on the Go / Chairs: Chiavari Chairs of Austin / Bartending: Utopian Bartending / DJ: Kyle Clark / Stickers + Couple Animation: Charlotte Wuthrich / Wedding Gown: Alfred Angelo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay

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Post tags: Alfred Angelo, Anna Routh Photography, April Orr, Austin, Bake Sale Austin, Bari Jay, Beauty on the Go, Blue, Blue Eye Brown eye, Charlotte Wuthrich, Chiavari Chairs of Austin, Flowers Flowers, French-Themed, Gold, Kyle Clark, Leave the Details to Me, Marquee Rents, Michelle's Patisserie, Pale Pink, Premiere Party Rental, Southern's Fine Dining, Texas, Texas Federation of Women's Clubs Mansion, Utopian Bartending
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Texas Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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From the bride… Our wedding took place in November in Marble Falls, Texas. We had the venue booked within 24 hours of our engagement because I’ve known exactly where I wanted to get married since I was a child. I attended Camp Balcones Springs in Marble Falls every summer growing up, and the second I learned that people could get married there, I knew that was my dream. The camp is nestled in the heart of the Hill Country on Lake Travis, and of all the amazing things my parents did for me in childhood, sending me to camp is the one that I treasure the most.

In the off-season, the camp is The Retreat at Balcones Springs, and our guests stayed in the awesome cabins all weekend and enjoyed all the activities I did as a camper. I wanted our wedding to truly reflect the attitude of the Hill Country. Beautiful and cozy. Elegant without being formal. I have a hard time with color, so I always envisioned the wedding being soft and muted while creating a neutral spectrum. To enhance this, I used gold as an accent color. Our wedding bands are both made from yellow gold, and I love the way it glows. My shoes were gold, the crystals on my jewelry and belt were set it gold, the table letters were gold, and the centerpieces used gold urns. My gratitude for our florist is bottomless. Erin at Rosehip Flora completely floored me when I arrived at the reception. I really trusted her expertise and creativity, and with the little direction I gave her, she nailed it. The flower chandeliers made the pavilion feel so decadent, and the grape wood in the centerpieces bridged the gap between a summer camp and a beautiful wedding.

My very favorite details of the big day are walking down the aisle to “This Year’s Love” by David Gray, drinking bottled Coke from Mexico at cocktail hour, the way our cake matched my wedding gown and how overwhelmed I felt from all the love and support my friends gave me that day. I love that everything about our wedding meant something to me. I love that each and every detail came from my heart. And mostly, I love that someday we will be able to take our kids to Camp Balcones Springs and stand in the place that we began the rest of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Fontenot Photographer / Ceremony: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Texas / Reception: The Retreat at Balcones Springs in Marble Falls, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Bess Baskin of The Retreat at Balcones Springs / Florist: Rosehip Flora / Dress: Amsale via Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon / Groom’s Suit: J.Hilburn / Band: The Drywater Band / Mariachi Band: Mariachi Los Gallos / Wedding Cake: Lou Carpenter Sapp / Event Décor + Design: The Bride / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Morgan Stephanian, Best Friend of the Bride / Linens: Marquee Rents / Chiavari Chairs: Chiavari Chairs of Austin / Paper Name Banners: Ay Mujer / Wedding Cake Topper: Vintage Confections / Bride’s Belt + Bouquet Wrap: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Place Cards + Clothespins: Morrell Décor / Table Letters: Hobby Lobby

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Post tags: Amsale, Ay Mujer, Bess Baskin, Blush, Caroline Fontenot Photographer, Chiavari Chairs of Austin, Gold, Hobby Lobby, J.Hillburn, Kirsten Kuehn Designs, Lou Carpenter Sapp, Marble Falls, Mariachi Los Gallos, Marquee Rentals, Morgan Stephanian, Morrell Decor, Rosehip Flora, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon, Texas, The Drywater Band, The Retreat at Balcones Springs, Vintage Confections, Wedding Details, White
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Casual Elegance, Texas Weddings

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To top it all of we have two delightful videos by Lizama Videography!

From the bride… I have loved anything and everything vintage for as long as I can remember, ESPECIALLY vintage pumps! I have a slight obsession for vintage Caressa heels, and I blame Etsy and the countless Austin thrift stores for supporting my habit. I wanted our wedding to have a sweet, vintage vibe and really showcase our love for each other. Instead of a first look, we decided to stand around the door from each other, holding hands. It was so sweet and intimate, and I am so glad our photographer convinced me that we still had enough time to do it. I don’t think we could have asked for a better photographer than Miranda Laine!

I wore an ivory, tea length Justin Alexander dress paired with an amazing pair of vintage Caressa heels, which I had dyed blue and added some fabulous bows to the back (I just ADORE bows…shown through my choice of a vintage bow brooch in my hair). I wore my grandmother’s garter (also worn by my mom) and handmade my pink tossing garter. To top it all off, I wore some vintage-style nylons with a back seam. After the ceremony, I changed from my blue pumps into my mom’s ivory wedding heels to dance the night away in comfort.

 I absolutely love being crafty…so I DIYed most of the décor. My mom and I spent hours and hours on over 150 feet of bunting that hung from the rafters of the pavilion. I also made bunting to label different areas like “CAKE,” “FIND YOUR TABLE,” etc. We made the escort cards from shipping tags with different color ribbons tied on the side and the table numbers were vintage wedding greeting cards I was lucky enough to find on eBay. I just had to have a typewriter as a guestbook and finally came across one while thrifting. My mom’s best friend was sweet enough to let me borrow some vintage suitcases for the card holder and candy buffet, which turned out absolutely fabulous! I DIYed the candy buffet with rock candy, old-fashioned candy sticks, saltwater taffy and anything I could find in pale blue, green or peach. All the “love” books used for centerpieces were found through thrifting (along with all the milk glass vases and teapots), and I bought books with each of our names in the title “Abigail Adams” and “The Jason Voyage” which were placed on the head table (and used in our engagement photos). I also found books with each of my bridesmaids’ names and gave them as bridesmaid gifts, along with homemade teacup candles. I wanted something sweet and different for my invitations, so my mom and I created an “old-fashioned book” invitation. My mom is an artist and hand drew the designs, and I used InDesign to build the wedding invitation suite. I also DIYed the wedding programs. Keeping with the book theme, I used old book pages from The Last Love to create the tossing petal containers. My save-the-dates were made from vintage-style handkerchiefs with ironed-on typography. And I can’t forget the red heart-shaped balloons that my bridesmaids and I filled with helium in the midst of makeup applications and hairdos. After planning my wedding, I realized I had found my true calling! I now work at the event planning and personal concierge firm The Simplifiers in Austin, Texas, as an event planner. We specialize in one-of-a-kind “non-traditional” weddings, making sure each one is unique to our clients’ personalities. No cookie cutter events allowed! I am absolutely head over heels in love with my job and my hubby!

Wedding Photography: Miranda Laine Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Lizama Videography / Wedding Venue: The Winfield Inn in Kyle, Texas / Florist: Last Petal / Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander (Style Number: 8465) / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage Caressa / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Nautica / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Affairs by Mori Lee / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Off Broadway / Bow Tie + Ties: Tux & Tulle / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Classic Cakes by Lori / Cheesecakes: Sweetish Hill Bakery / DJ: GGC Productions / Harpist: Elaine Barber / Hair: Amber Council of Felger & Friends Salon / Makeup: Clarissa Luna / Wedding Invitations: Andrea Barth (Bride’s Mother) + Bride / Heart-Shaped Balloons: Big Cat Party and Cake Supplies

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Post tags: Affairs by Mori Lee, Amber Council, Big Cat Party and Cake Supplies, Caressa, Clarissa Luna, Classic Cakes by Lori, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Elaine Barber, Felger & Friends Salon, GGC Productions, Green, Justin Alexander, Kyle, Last Petal, Lizama Videography, Miranda Laine Photography, Nautica, Off Broadway, Pale Blue, Peach, Sweetish Hill Bakery, Texas, The Winfield Inn, Tux & Tulle
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Texas Weddings, Vintage Chic

Photography by Forever Photography, Floral Design by The Flower Studio.

The week of pretty all wrapped up fancy:

a Texas highlight film to put a smile on anyones face
a gorgeous fall affair in the quaint town of Nantucket
a midday appetite boost in the form of this vendor spotlight
a Philadelphia ballroom soiree, fit for royalty
an eclectically beautiful New York wedding with pops of pink
a perfectly Sonoma féte with the most adorable couple
a Colorado ranch wedding with a to die for floral design
an Army couple tying the knot on this beautiful Delaware day
a Wisconsin soiree with the most perfect inspiration
a capital GORGEOUS southern affair in Charleston

Some of our favorite links from around the web:

an ephemera collage card DIY perfect for Valentines day (it’s coming!) via Design*Sponge
a stunning DIY earring tutorial you really have to see via Ruffles & Stuff
a soft & gorg Florida beach wedding via Grey Likes Weddings

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Post tags: Austin, Bouquets, DIY Projects, Flowers, Forever Photography, Purple, Texas, The Flower Studio, Wedding Inspiration, Weekly Wrap-Up, Wrap it up Pretty
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog

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From the Bride… Everyone kept asking me what my “theme” was going to be for my wedding. Theme? I didn’t think about it that way. We wanted a beautiful and warm evening celebrating our decision to commit to one another for the rest of our lives. We wanted to eat, drink, dance, and toast with the people that we love. I wanted each detail of the ceremony and reception to be memorable, familiar, comforting, and a reflection of how each guest played a part in supporting our growth as a couple.

Our sign in book was a canvas painting of the limbs of a tree. Our guests “signed in” by leaving their thumbprints, which served as the leaves of the tree. It is now framed and hanging in our bedroom. We also had homemade lawn games. My dad constructed a cornhole game and painted it with our initials. Jack and I both love music, so our wedding favor was a CD for our guest to enjoy on their drive home. Instead of a traditional groom’s cake, Jack elected to have a creme brulee and scotch pairing … heavy on the scotch. 

The best moment of the day was seeing Jack before the ceremony. It was overwhelming, calming, exciting, warm, and beautiful, all in one breath. I also loved our sendoff … in true Texas fashion our guests fired toy cap guns as we ran to our getaway car. My biggest piece of advice is to try to take it all in because your wedding is over in the blink of an eye.

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: Austin Museum of Arts: Arthouse Laguna Gloria / Wedding Coordination: BZ Events / Wedding Flowers: Last Petal / Catering: Word of Mouth / Wedding Cake: Stardust Pastry / Rentals: Marquee Rents / DJ: DJ Kit K / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Hair + Makeup: Kacy Franklin + Rhea McCarter / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Ultimate Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston via Bella Bridesmaid / Jewelry: Jewel Mint / Music CD Wedding Favors: DIY by the Bride + Groom / Groom’s Attire:  Klein, Epstein and Parker / Wedding Paper Goods: The Creative Parasol

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Post tags: Arthouse Laguna Gloria, Austin, Austin Museum of Arts, Bella Bridesmaid, BZ Events, Caroline + Ben Photography, DJ Kit K, Green, Ilios LIghting, Jewel Mint, Kacy Franklin, Klein Epstein and Parker, Laguna Gloria, Last Petal, Marquee Rents, Monique Lhuillier, Priscilla of Boston, Purple, Rhea McCarter, Stardust Pastry, Texas, The Creative Parasol, Ultimate Bride, Word of Mouth
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Casual Elegance, Texas Weddings

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From Shari of As You Wish Events… Allison and Wes Swank’s goal was to astound their guests in every aspect of their wedding. They started by creating a special save-the-date that had a personal touch by incorporating a hand-drawn image of their beloved cocker spaniel, who played a part in Wes’ proposal. The two had been together for eight years before deciding to tie the knot so they wanted to celebrate BIG. Where better to do that than the big city of Dallas? The couple married at First United Methodist Church right downtown. Family and friends gathered in the beautiful sanctuary, which was decorated with large blooming dogwood branches. After the ceremony, the guests made their way to the historic Adolphus Hotel. The soft pinks and creamy vanilla floral with gold accents created a romantic entry and area for guests to mingle before dinner. After cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests found their escort cards, which were each calligraphed by hand, and made their way into an inviting room washed in blush lighting with soft, flowy fabric draped throughout. The table tops were drenched in low, creamy floral arrangements that allowed for easy dinner conversation among guests. The menus were carefully tucked into silk napkins that sat on top of gold chargers to add sparkle and depth to the tables.   After a fun night of dinner and dancing, guests grabbed individually wrapped boxes of Tagalong Girl Scout cookies as their favors. They then made their way out the Adolphus lobby doors to send the newlyweds off by waving hand-painted streamer wands. The Swanks spent the first night of their new life just the way they wanted to, in a beautiful place with great food and entertainment, but most importantly, surrounded by their loving friends and family. Wedding Photography: Stacy Reeves / DJ + Lighting: Marcus Rollins / Wedding Reception + Catering: Adolphus Hotel / Florist: Stacey Murdoch of The Wildflower / Wedding Coordination + Event Design:  Shari Johns of As You Wish Events / Wedding Cake: Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier via Neiman Marcus / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bridal Collections by Stella / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher

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Post tags: Adolphus Hotel, Amsale, As You Wish Events, Bridal Collections by Stella, Dallas, Fancy Cakes by Laura, Gold, Lauren Kitchens, Marcus Rollins, Monique Lhuillier, Navy Blue, Neiman Marcus, Pink, Ralph Lauren, Shari Johns, Stacey Murdoch, Stacy Reeves, Texas, The Wildflower, White
Post categories: The Blog

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From the bride… We wanted to have an intimate wedding full of personal touches. My husband and I are both in the field of architecture, so design is very important to us. Although this often means having expensive taste, we both believe in living within our means, and budgeting is also important to us. Our wedding was no exception — we were driven to use everyday materials in thoughtful and clever ways that would not only save us money, but also showcase our personality. We live in New Orleans, and unfortunately there is no glass recycling. I had been collecting a few jars before our engagement because I didn’t want them ending up in a landfill. The wedding was the perfect opportunity to put them to use. I also enlisted a few friends and family to fill out my collection. We grouped the various sizes and shapes and added candles to make simple, and surprisingly beautiful, centerpieces. No two tables were alike! I also hate seeing flowers thrown away after weddings, so rather than use floral arrangements, we opted for individual plants that guests could take home as favors. Getting married at the Wildflower Center meant that we couldn’t compete with the natural beauty of the flowers already there, so we went with succulent plants. They are unusual and relate to the Southwest, so I thought it added nice, rustic charm. We put the succulents in simple silver buckets so that the candle light from the jars would reflect off of them in interesting ways. We designed our own save-the-date cards and printed them from home. My husband has a huge extended family so I figured putting our faces on the cards might help the recipients recognize us! I also made our cake topper out of wooden balls from a craft store and a peanut can.

My husband’s family is from Louisiana, while I was raised in Texas and am also of Taiwanese heritage. We met during college in Austin, so the city has always had a special place in our hearts. We wanted to express this to our guests and had the opportunity to do so with our appetizers. Called “His, Hers, and Ours,” we featured meat-filled pockets (which seems to be a universal food typology) done in three ways. “His” were crawfish beignets (representing Louisiana); “Hers” were asian dumplings (representing my heritage); and “Ours” were pork empanadas (signifying Austin). I found a lady who made handmade lollipops, and she had a Texas-shaped mold — this made the perfect homage to the place we love.

If I could give any advice to brides, it would be to focus on a couple of areas that you really care about, and let everything else go. There isn’t enough time (or money) to worry about every little item, and in the end, people will only remember the things you spent time and energy to make spectacular. Focus on injecting personal touches — it really makes for a memorable experience.

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Wedding Ceremony: St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas / Wedding Reception: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas / Caterer: Austin Catering / DJ: Greenbelt DJ / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Central Market / Lollipop Favors: Ju-C Suckers / Potted Succulent Favors: IKEA / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Target / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston “Vineyard Collection” / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Shoe-Nami in New Orleans, Louisiana (504-895-1717) / Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: Anthropologie / Groom’s Suit: JoS. A. Bank

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Post tags: Anthropologie, Austin, Austin Catering, Black, Central Market, Green, Greenbelt DJ, Ikea, Jasmine Bridal, Jennifer Lindberg Weddings, Jos A Bank, Ju-C Suckers, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Michelle's Patisserie, Orange, Priscilla of Boston, Shoe-Nami, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Target, Texas, Vineyard Collection, Yellow
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Texas Weddings, Whimsical