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A Romantic Garden Party Dripping With Details

This Texas wedding turns on the charm! Brimming with warm hues, romantic blooms, and a luxe lounge setup- you can’t help but fall for this perfect fall day planned by Bird Dog Wedding.  Clementine Botanical Art created relaxed elegance with stylish floral installations at every turn, and every dreamy detail was artfully captured in the imagery by Courtney Leigh Photography.  See all the beauty unfold in the full gallery.




From Courtney Leigh Photography… This stunning wedding was dripping in details and warm inviting hues on the most beautiful day of the year in Texas. Knowing they would have a larger guest count, the couple still wanted their day to feel like a romantic garden party while maintaining a relaxed, elegant feel. 



The color palette and textures included ivory, butter, dried grass, goldenrod, pale peach, blush, rose, and leafy greens; perfect for an outdoor, fall wedding.



Lounge furniture sprinkled throughout the reception created an inviting setting for the guests to mingle and sip signature cocktails on the lawn and dine under the stars.



Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Event Planning: Bird Dog Wedding | Florist: Clementine Botanical Art | Dress: Whittington Bridal | Cake: Morgan Peral Cakes | Invitations: Percolator Letterpress | Reception Venue: Witte Museum | Catering: Rosemary's Catering | Hair and Makeup: Etoilly Artistry | Band: Royal Dukes Band | Rentals: Loot Rentals

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Stylish San Antonio Wedding Filled With Bright Bursts Of Color

Looking to make your big day pop? This San Antonio wedding has all the bright and beautiful inspiration you need.  Filled with blooming bougainvillea and the prettiest patterns throughout the day, Sweet August Events brought our bride’s vision to life in the most stylish of ways.  Freesia Designs and Events filled the event with chic and colorful flowers to energize the space, and Caroline Lima Photography perfectly captured the love and joy of the day in her elegant imagery.  You’ll love every daring detail featured in the full gallery.




From the bride… I met my husband in Virginia and most of his family and friends are from the Mid-Atlantic area. I knew I wanted to show off San Antonio and embrace the culture I had grown up around. I am so inspired by San Miguel and seeing other weddings in that area, and knew there were so many parallels to San Antonio it would be a great combination! The riverwalk is a huge draw for San Antonio, and I was familiar with the venue of Southwest School of Art. The old mission look with all the stone and dark woods really embraced the San Miguel feeling and reaffirmed my vision.



With the darker/neutral setting, I knew I wanted bright colors. I LOVE color. The main focal points revolve around the bougainvillea arch, and the blue and white Taleveras seen throughout Mexico. I talked about my vision with Katherine, and she immediately embraced it and hit the nail on the head when creating my vision boards. She had a picture of a bougainvillea type arch and I immediately fell in love and knew I wanted that to be a focal point.



All of our vendors were amazing at bringing their own touches and tying in my personal style and the feel I wanted to create. I was pretty hands-off with the bridesmaids’ dresses and it worked out perfectly! I told them a warm, floral print dress they were comfortable in and it was perfect. I already knew the “theme” and vision I was going for when I went dress shopping. I loved the combination of the classic silhouette, with a fun, textured, movement-like pattern. The laser cute lace reminded me of papel picado and that sold the dress for me.  As much as I loved my wedding dress, I knew I would want to be more comfortable to dance around to Taylor Swift. I stumbled upon the two-piece Alexis set and fell in love with the blue embroidery. I actually think I bought the set before my wedding dress- it was too perfect with the Mexican theme and Talavera tile to pass up. 



Photography: Caroline Lima Photography | Floral Design: Freesia | Stationery: The Girl General | Catering: Absolutely Delicious Catering | Band: Danny Ray and The Acoustic Production | Transportation: Elegant | Beauty: Veil Artistry | Ceremony and Reception: Southwest School Of Art And Craft | Dress store: Julian Gold Bridal | Planning and Design: Sweet August Events | Rentals: DPC Media | Video: Squinted Cinema

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
You Just HAVE To See The Unique Details Of This Wedding….Especially How The Bride Walked Down The Aisle!

It’s all in the details….and the bride’s vision! This bride knew exactly what she wanted from floral accessories to a ‘no color’ color palette to a mirrored aisle, and May Carlson Fine Art Photography captured every bit of it perfectly! A Simple Taste of Elegance pieced together exactly what the bride envisioned for her magical wedding day, and Vintage Bouquet helped those dreams come true with a floral crown and cuffs – accessories that made this 18th century inspired garden party come to life! Check it out below, and take note of the brides TWO stunning gowns!

From the Bride…We met in late 2014, we both worked in the Cardiothoracic ICU. He is a critical care nurse and me, a Respiratory Therapist. I noticed him first, a nurse that took his job so very seriously and cares for his patients like he would his own mother. Our first date was at the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio, Texas. After two years of dating, we flew to Portland Maine to chase waterfalls and catch lobsters. On July 24th, 2017 we took a day-long waterfall tour. It was our last stop, Angel Falls. We hiked up the beautifully scenic Mountain Brook, crossed multiple mountain streams. When we made it to the top, we faced the set of plunging waterfalls and he proposed. It was intimate and very well planned.  We enjoyed our 2 and half year engagement with lots of traveling and lots of food. We married on March 7th, 2020. 

My Vision:
A Catherine the Great 18th Century Garden Party. An outdoor wedding with a String Quartet playing Classical Music was a must.

Color Palette:
I preferred to not have a “color palette” per se, I requested neutrals, I only wanted colors that naturally occur in nature. I had complete trust in my florist, she had the freedom to create as she pleased.

Style Vision:
ELEGANT TIMELESS GLAMOUR. My hope is when these photos resurface after many years, the style will not be affected by the passage of time.

Unique elements:
Mirror Aisle which was a custom creation. 8ft width x 40ft Length (my Victor Harper Couture Ceremony Gown was quite large).
Flower wall for our Ceremony and Mini Flower wall for our Cake table.
Floral baby’s breath Arm cuffs
Floral baby’s breath Halo inspired by Cicely Tyson
Milk glass centerpieces which I handpicked for each table, no duplicates. These were given away to family as gifts.
My Victor Harper Couture Ceremony Gown had 3 beautiful shades of brown tulle incorporated in the skirt.
String quartet for the Ceremony and Reception.

My favorite moment:
Walking down the mirror aisle to the sound of the String quartet. So many emotions!

Favorite crafted detail:
Mirror aisle/Floral wall/Arm cuffs – I can’t choose just one!

Flowers:
Blush Ranunculus, Soft Blue Tulips, Cherry Blossoms, Sweet Peas, Blush Garden Roses.

Gown:
Ceremony- Victor Harper Couture – satin strapless mermaid gown with draped and jeweled bodice and jaw-dropping layered multi-colored tulle train. Reception- Marchesa Notte with 3D whimsical flowers and tulle overlay, minor alterations were made.

Favors:
My Husband’s Aunt owns a Taiwanese bakery, she made us her famous mini pineapple cakes for our guests to take home!

Cake:
A 3-layer Creme Brulee cake with white chocolate Brush Strokes for aesthetics.

Advice for Brides-to-Be’:
Start planning early! Do not compromise your vision! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have a wedding planner, this is the only way you will be able to enjoy your big day with NO STRESS.

Photographer: May Carlson Fine Art Photography | Wedding Planner: A Simple Taste of Elegance | Florist: Ashley Mauricio-Flores | Wedding Dress: Victor Harper | Make up: Khalil & Co. Bridal Beauty | Hair: The Bella 29 Lounge Hair Salon | Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings | Floral Wall Designs: The Floral Standard | Reception Dress: Marchesa | Reception Music: Exodus Sound Company | Resort and Spa: Holiday Inn Express | Wedding Dress Alterations: Brides By Elizabeth

What’s Your Favorite Detail in this Shoot? (We Love the Black Dress!)

Whether you’re on the hunt for inspiration in any of these styles: glam, elegant, modern, classic—this slice of pretty from Mayhar Design has it ALL. A little something for every lover. It’s moody yet soft, stunning yet sweet and I want to see one of you rock this look for your 2018 fete (and promptly share the imagery for our viewing pleasure!). More right this way captured by Kayla Barker.

From Melanie of Mayhar Design…When Michelle of Sprout Floral and I set out to design a photo shoot at San Antonio’s stunning Hotel Emma, we knew immediately that Emma itself would dictate most of the decisions. To visit Hotel Emma, is to walk into an experience that has been exquisitely and expertly curated to embrace each guest with warmth, beauty, rich San Antonio history and the most unbelievable attention to even the tiniest details. From the peach and ivory toned brick work to the textural walls and ceilings and the bold ironwork, every single accent has been thoughtfully designed, selected and presented. As we began to make selections, we wanted to present details that would honor the strongest industrial and modern elements of Emma, while also showcasing some really feminine and romantic aspects of her design. Each space throughout the hotel is filled with layer upon layer of texture and interest, and we hope that we were able to capture some of her charm and provide a design that truly embraced the spaces we were in!

Photography: Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography | Floral Design: Sprout | Shoes: Vince Camuto | Hair + Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Venue: Hotel Emma | Black Dress: Elias Gurrola | Blush + Ivory Dresses: Tatyana Merenyuk | Creative Direction and Styling: Mayhar Design | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Model: Kim Dawson | Paper Goods: Guten Co

Say Hello To Our New Favorite Garden Wedding!

If insanely gorgeous floral design is your thing – major kudos to Without Wax, Katy – this wedding is for you. The bride, Allison is a part of the Mayhar Design team and when it came to styling a wedding for one of their own? Well, they delivered. Big time. I’m predicting this day as one of our very favorites of the year, and with one look at the images by Michelle Boyd, I guarantee you’ll agree.

From Melanie, of Mayhar DesignsI have had the privilege of knowing Allison for just over three years. Within that time frame, she has loaned her heart, her spirit, her incredibly hard working attitude and energy and her grace to both my life and to the lives of every single Mayhar client and vendor alike. She has stood beside us at every single wedding, helping to ensure that each bride and family member was cared for and that each detail was perfectly placed. She is the type of colleague who gets personally thanked in Father of the Bride Speeches. She is a truly amazing friend and person and I was beyond thrilled when she asked us to help plan her own wedding, which took place this past November in San Antonio. 

When we sat down to discuss her wishes for the day, she kept going back to an organic yet classic design with thoughtful details and an overarching atmosphere that was inviting and welcoming. She wanted a space that was rich in texture and soft color and made each and every guest feel incredibly special. It was such a joy to be a part of this celebration! I hope that we did her greatest wishes justice!


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Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography | Floral Design: Without Wax Katy | Cake: Cathy Young | Shoes: Kate Spade | Hair + Makeup: Makenzi Laine | DJ: Mixer Rogers | Venue: Zaza Garden | Antique Rug: Aziz Rugs of San Antonio | Coordination + Styling: Mayhar Design | Creative Direction: Mayhar Design | Draping: Quest Drape | Invitations & Signage: Whitney Farnsworth | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Rentals: Whim Hospitality | Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Ring Dish: Paloma's Nest

A Moody Blue Wedding Inspired by The Bride’s Love of Fine Art

If the color blue isn’t on your favorites list, this wedding will completely change your mind. It’s infused from beginning to end with a moody, romantic color palette inspired by the Bride’s love of art. And that nod to fine art doesn’t stop there. Crafted by The Wildflowers with lush florals by The Southern Table, a painted card display by Kayla Barker and all that beauty captured by one of our favorites, Ryan Ray Photography, pore through image after insanely gorgeous image right here.

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From the event designer, The WildflowersSamantha and Michael’s winter wedding was like dancing through a work of art right out of the Romantic Era. The initial vision of their celebration called for moody and dramatic color themes, when the discovery a floral watercolor painting hung in Samantha’s home presented us with the perfect palette: dusty blue-gray, deep navy, rich plum and berry, with tiny hints of blush and green. Samantha’s love for art beautifully influenced many of our design decisions, like Southern Fried Paper’s watercolor envelope liners to the custom-painted ombré blue escort card display.

Along with an ode to fine art, another aesthetic ethos was an emphasis of the color palette in subtle yet impactful ways. Gradients of twilight made appearances from the spectrum of bridesmaid gowns to the invitations, including dining cards that used shades of blue to dictate meal choices rather than standard text. The rich shades of plum and amaranthine complemented the blues in the bouquets and the breathtaking floral ceiling installation at the reception. Vibrant freesia that was dip-dyed by The Southern Table to create dramatic depth, as the flowers rained down among string lights over the tablescapes in a truly ethereal dining atmosphere.

From the ceremony to the reception, we strove for this harmony of classic and whimsical. In subtle ways, like the undone romantic florals, carefully arranged staggered silverware, and flowing fabrics with loose ribbons. And more noticeably, in the medley of androgyny and femininity in colors, textures, and shapes throughout. It was a night that was beautiful, sentimental, and iconic; with Samantha and Michael’s getaway in a 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud leaving a last, long lasting impression on all of us.

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Photography: Ryan Ray Photography | Florist: Max Owens Design | Cake: Cathy Young | Ceremony Venue: Southwest School Of Art And Craft | Reception Venue: The Argyle Club San Antonio | Makeup: Suzie Bassett | Hair: Erica Rae | Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher | Lighting: Holtz Entertainment | Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings | Design & Planning: The Wildflowers | Desserts & Croquembouche: Bakery Lorraine | Escort Card Display Paintings: Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography | Invitations & Paper Goods: Southern Fried Paper | Reception Music: The Drywater Band | Rentals: Bella Acento | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Melody's Joy | Shuttles: Star Shuttle

When You Own a Coffee Shop Your E-Sesh is Really, Really Cute.

Georgette and Brian, you two are THE cutest and I’m completely obsessed with your entire engagement session. Really, does it get any cooler than a coffee shop (of which you own) love sesh? I think not. Followed up by snuggling in the prettiest of fields with a fluffy white pup… can’t. even. See the entire gallery of gorgeous crafted by Sophie Epton in The Vault!

From Sophie EptonWhen Georgette and Brian told me the concept for their engagement shoot, I was so ecstatic! These two are the coolest, so I knew their engagement was going to be just as spectacular. Brian owns the most adorable coffee shop in San Antonio (and had been running it for six months!) and so it was truly fitting that we started our session there. It was such a joy-filled, fun shoot; I photographed as Brian whipped up lattes and snuggled with his future bride amongst the roasted beans and copper coffee machines.

A week later, we all traveled over to Driftwood to one of the most fantastic Hill Country venues- the Greenhouse at Driftwood. Georgette and Brian dressed up for the occasion (in suit and the dreamiest of blush BHLDN dresses) and they even brought their sweet pup, Peanut, along for the ride. We hiked amongst rocky terrain over to the most magical river, danced in the glowing grass fields at golden hour and even had a chance to go inside the infamous cacti greenhouse at the venue. It was so amazing to combine these two concepts and looks into one incredible, personal engagement session that truly showcases these two as a couple and their journey together.

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Photography: Sophie Epton Photography | Gown: BHLDN | Engagement Ring: Moses Jewelers | Wedding Venue: The Greenhouse At Driftwood | Bouquet: The Petal Post | Coffee Shop: Estate Coffee | Dog Collar: Found My Animal | Men's Attire, Women's Shoes + Jewelry: J.Crew | Sweater, Jeans, Necklace: Madewell

A Fresh Take on An Industrial Wedding With Serious Pops of Color

I’m never surprised when a graphic designer becomes a bride and her wedding is AMAZING. There’s something about a designer’s knack for aesthetics that always translates to pretty and this day is certainly no exception. It’s a fresh take on the industrial chic style with unexpected moments like ghost chairs for the win. Go see the rehearsal dinner in the gallery, along with every capture by Michelle Boyd.

From Michelle Boyd PhotographyTaylor and Adam were married on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the historic Hotel Emma in San Antonio. (The hotel building was originally The Pearl Brewery’s Brewhouse, which was built in 1894.) Taylor and Adam have special ties to the hotel because both Adam and the bride’s father contributed to its construction.

For the overall design of the space, we drew inspiration directly from the hotel, which combines old world elegance, and a mix of industrial and modern touches. We brought in luxe, patterned linens from La Tavola and ghost chairs for dining. Sprout designed lush florals (seriously, those bouquets!) which added pops of soft, pretty color throughout the space.

The bride is an incredibly talented graphic designer, and she designed all of the paper goods for the day, which included an illustration of the landmark hotel that they love. (Not to mention letterpress for days, gold edge painting, wax seals, and Frou Frou ribbon to bundle each suite together!) Their day-of paper goods also featured modern, acrylic touches.

The hotel itself has a huge culinary emphasis. One of our favorite details from the evening is the gorgeous marble-clad, fully functioning display kitchen, which we flipped three times to use throughout the night: First for sign-in, then for cocktail hour (the chef prepped and served appetizers from this space!), and finally for an incredible dessert display, complete with three cakes and hundreds of assorted pastries.

Following dinner, toasts, and desserts, The Night Owls opened the dance floor and kept everyone dancing (and singing!) until Taylor and Adam’s sparkler departure. After a quick wardrobe change, they joined the after-party where Matthew Rubio with the Flashdance played to a packed room until the early morning.

Working with Taylor and Adam and their families was a dream. They are kind, talented, and so very in love. So thankful for the incredible team behind this day that pulled together to achieve every thoughtful, beautifully executed detail for this sweet couple.

Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography | Cinematography: Brittan Pittman | Event Planning + Design: Westcott Weddings | Floral Design: Sprout | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier | Invitations: The Bride | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Nicole Miller | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Hotel Emma | Makeup: Makenzi Laine | Hair: Mindy Orsak | Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | Band: The Nightowls | Groom's Attire: Armani | Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings | Venue: Hotel Emma | After Party DJ: THE FLASHDANCE | After Party Romper: Diane Von Furstenberg | Bridal Luncheon: Hotel Emma | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Hat Box: Trousseau & Co | Linen Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Lounge Furniture: Loot Vintage Rentals | Photography - Assistance: Jessica Scott Photography | Rehearsal Dinner: Cured | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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A Day With Earthy Floral Greenery Done So Right

It’s hard to believe that Lauren & Jon planned their celebration from afar. Knowing that fact alone we’re in awe, but add in a romantic palette, earthy greenery, and one majorly elegant gown and our jaws drop. Oh and the stationery goods were designed by the Bride – ah-mazing, right?! Loft Photography and Brad & Monica Wedding Films filmed every second to share and we’ve got it in The Vault!

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From Loft Photography… We swoon over weddings with thoughtful details strewn throughout the day, and Lauren & Jon’s day had just that. A romantic color palette, earthy greenery and florals, gorgeous stationery and elegant gowns are just a few of the elements we loved about this wedding. And Hotel Havana was the ideal backdrop for this fun-loving couple as they prepared for their wedding festivities. Lauren, being the talented graphic designer that she is, created all of the stunning paper goods herself. And we love the minimal & ethereal table centerpieces at the reception, which perfectly complimented the delicious family style catering from Royal Fig. We must admit, we’re a little envious of Lauren & Jon’s dance moves, they tore up the dance floor thanks to a little help from London Calling! These two planned their wedding day from afar, and we think they nailed it!

Photography: Loft Photography LLC | Cinematography: Brad & Monica Wedding Films | Coordination: Sweet August Events | Floral Design: Sweet August Events | Wedding Dress: Laure De Sagazan | Catering: Royal Fig Catering | Band: London Calling | Bartending : Royal Fig Catering | Ceremony + Reception Venue: San Antonio Museum Of Art | Host Hotel: Hotel Havana | Rentals : Great Events and Rentals

Sophisticated + Chic Summer Wedding at Eilan Hotel + Spa

Did we just step into the French Riviera? Maybe Cannes? Because that is the sort of movie star glamorous vibe we have radiating from this summer wedding at the super chic Eilan Hotel + Spa in San Antonio. Mint Photography captured every gorgeous detail, from the BHLDN dress to the delicious dessert by Jennicakes; feel like a part of the posh paparazzi with these picture perfect moments right this way!

From Mint Photography… Lauren and Sam’s beautiful event took place at Eilan Resort and Spa. The couple and wedding planner’s inspiration came from the grounds of the property. Eilan is a new luxury destination with a grand and glamorous atmosphere, which Lauren and Sam found very appealing. The bride wanted to play off the colors on the property. Neutral tones and light pink hues were found throughout the wedding decor and details, while using the bold architecture of Eilan as a complement to the upscale vibe the couple wanted to achieve. The ceremony took place on a balcony overlooking the beautiful villas and unique architecture on the property. A custom program sign was designed in calligraphy for guests to view as they entered the event. During cocktail hour guests mingled outdoors while listening to a live saxophonist and enjoying cocktails. Guests were also given organic honey in jars as a keepsake. The day was followed by an evening of dancing in a romantically lit ballroom with friends and family. Their day was romantic, luxurious with a very chic look.

Photography: Mint Photography | Event Planning: Events by Jennifer Craft | Floral Design: Flower Shack Blooms | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Cake: Jennicakes | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Catering: Eilan Resort And Spa | DJ: Northern Lights DJ & Live Music | Wedding Venue: Eilan Resort And Spa

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Classic Hill Country Wedding

This beautiful day?  It’s gorgeous.  The kind of gorgeous that can only be planned by the talented In Style Weddings & Destinations and features one of the sweetest love stories you’ll ever read.  Think two young loves going their separate ways, only to be reunited years later over a song and a memory.  It’s a fairytale beginning to what is sure to be an epic love story. See it all captured by Amanda Hartfield right here and the sweet film from Jacob Bondesen below.

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From the Bride… Bradley and I both were born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. We met when I was seventeen, a senior in high school, and he was one year into college. His little brother and I were friends, which brought me to his parents’ house one Super Bowl Sunday. We dated a couple years and into my sophomore year of college, and then went our separate ways. Our paths took us in different directions as I eventually moved to Denver, Colorado and he stayed in our home town and worked on starting his own business. He was at a Texas country concert and heard a song that reminded him of me. The next day, he called me. It was like we were never apart. Soon after, we made plans to meet in Austin for dinner. Our relationship was rekindled and less than nine months later he proposed while visiting me over Valentine’s Day weekend in Denver.

This ultimately brought me back to Texas where we spent several months planning our long-awaited wedding (I had wanted to marry him since we first met). We wanted our wedding to reflect our journey and crooked path toward our special love story. We decided that it was only appropriate that we get married standing underneath Texas Oak Trees in the Hill Country right outside of San Antonio. We got married on the seventeenth, the age I fell in love with Bradley. Lost Mission was the timeless venue we had been looking for. We also had Texas Country singer Jeffrey Charles play an acoustic set at our cocktail hour. Music had been such a large part of our relationship and we knew it helped tell our story.

Since Colorado was the backdrop of much of our “falling back in love” moments, we knew we had to incorporate it in our wedding. We picked (biodegradable) fake snow as our send off, which was one of my favorite moments of the night. Seeing all of our family and friends waving goodbye and sending farewells, was such a huge moment for us. We walked with gratitude as each guest played such an important role in our love story.

Photography: Amanda Hartfield | Videographer: Jacob Bondesen | Wedding Coordinator: In Style Weddings and Destinations | Florist: Amanda Masson | Wedding Cake: Cakes And More | Catering: Absolutely Delicious | Wedding Venue: Lost Mission | Cocktail Hour Music: Jeffrey Charles

1920s Inspired Bridal Session

There are bridal sessions, and then there is this stunning masterpiece captured by the ever-talented Jeanann Wilkinson, which takes everything you l.o.v.e about these intimate shoots and kicks it up a notch with a breathtaking bouquet from Statue Of Design, a lovely lace gown from Elie Saab and one of the prettiest brides you will ever see (truly).  Soak in every 1920’s-inspired moment right here.

From Jeanann Wilkinson… This Bridal Session was designed by the photographer Jeanann Wilkinson of J Wilkinson Co. It started with the design of the wedding gown selected by a fantastic stylist, Mike Rodriguez.  The dress was designed by Ellie Saab, the 1920’s hair design was created by Erin McReynolds at Twirl Salon and the Make-up was by Jade, also at Twirl.  The shoes were by Reve Caviola and the bouquet was created by David Garcia of Statue of Design.

Our session had to be taken at our 1909 Historic Landmark Luxery Hotel, The St. Anthony, in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Our Bride Kati Trautman is having her wedding in the peacock alley of this lovely hotel on March 21, 2015.

Photography: J Wilkinson Co Fine Art Photography | Florist: Statue of Design | Wedding Dress: Elie Saab | Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Makeup: Erin McReynolds | Hair: Erin McReynolds | Luxery Hotel: The St. Anthony Hotel

Whimsical Zoo Styled Shoot at San Antonio Zoo

I absolutely adore a unique and inspiring venue. They never fail to make my heart pitter patter just a wee bit faster. So this whimsical shoot at San Antonio Zoo captured by Diaz And Diaz Weddings and beautifully designed by Statue Of Design is so up my alley. Trust me, it’s sure to inspire your entire day, and you can see what I mean right here.


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From Statue of DesignInspiration for our photo shoot at the San Antonio Zoo came from a combination of various elements. We had been itching to do a styled shoot at the zoo, but wanted to make sure that our details were cohesive but not overpowering the star attractions at the venue…the animals. With the San Antonio Zoo’s upcoming centennial anniversary, we thought the time was perfect to gather together some of our colleagues and work on a vintage zoo inspired shoot. We worked with Bella Bridesmaids in selecting a muted pastel color palette as a throwback to the vintage “carnival” era. The bridal party featured various floral elements complementing the soft color palettes, from pink to yellow’s and even soft blues. We worked with the team at Spice of Life catering in developing a whimsical themed menu highlighting the catering company’s bold flavors. Our colleagues at Event Ignition highlighted the venue’s unique space with their superior lighting skills, while Luxe Event Décor provided stunning rentals from chameleon chairs to their raj tents. And lastly we worked with Girl General on all of our paper products from invitations to menu, tying in zoo elements as well as paying homage to the vintage theme.

Photography: Diaz And Diaz Weddings | Event Design: Statue of Design | Floral Design: Statue of Design | Wedding Dress: Bella Bridesmaid | Invitations: Girl General | Reception Venue: San Antonio Zoo | Catering: Spice Of Life | Lighting Design: Event Ignition | Rentals: Luxe Event Decor

Colorful Outdoor San Antonio Wedding

Every now and then you come across those couples whose joy jumps right off the page. The bride and groom who couldn’t stop smiling if they tried, and in this case, an amazing photographer named Taylor Lord there to document it all. It’s a day built on laid back charm – with two miniature ponies thrown into for good measure – and the party goes on the gallery right here.

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From Lindsey BrunkWith infectious smiles and a love that touched everyone involved, Heidi & John’s wedding was joyful in every sense of the word. They celebrated with friends and family at The Settlement, a sprawling new venue in San Antonio. Heidi & John wanted glamour and romance, but with laid back charm. Heidi’s three sisters served as her maids of honor while John’s dad was his best man.

After an emotional ceremony, the party kicked off with prickly pear margaritas and two very special guests, white miniature ponies to celebrate the bride’s love of horses.

One of the many personal details of their Big Day was their sweetheart table for the reception. Heidi’s dad Dave tracked down the very table they sat at on their first date in Austin at a little Italian cafe and surprised the couple with it as an engagement present. It now serves as their kitchen table in their new home.

Other details of their big day included gold hand painted succulents as favors, ceremony music by John’s band, and the invitation suite custom made by a family friend to include a watercolor of the ceremony tree by the bride.

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Event Planning: Lindsey Brunk | Floral Design: Botanika | Cakes: Cathy Young | Bride's Shoes: Marc DeFang | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Ann Taylor | Groomsmen's Ties: Suitsupply | Groom's Suit: Jos. A. Bank | Groomsmen's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Ceremony Music: The Friendly Savages (the Groom's Band!) | Wedding Venue: The 1850 Settlement | Bride's Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Bride's Hair: Annette At Pure Posh Salon | Groom's Ties: Suitsupply | Mini Ponies: Sturchio Entertainment | Reception Band: The Drywater Band

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Elegant Wedding at Southwest School of Art

If I could sprinkle bits of gold on everything, I would do just that. It’s my belief that gold accents make everything better. But combined with black, and we’ve reached a whole new level. This elegant affair at the Southwest School Art is pure style, and has me reconsidering my own wedding color palette. Christine Sargologos snapped every chic detail, all available for your Pinterest pleasure right this way.

From Christine Sargologos Photography… Callyn & Eric are so easy going and relaxed, with an obvious and enormous love for each other. It meant the entire day was full of sweet little moments and tons of laughter. Both ceremony and reception were at the Southwest School of Art, a former convent with plenty of San Antonio heritage. With that backdrop they added a classic ivory, gold and black palette, along with playful fiesta-themed touches as homage to the city; the perfect balance of elegance and party. Guests loved the the mariachi band and table numbers, and the sombreros and paper floral crowns that were given as party favors. Dinner was served under the vaulted ceilings of the former chapel. The French Connection beautifully transformed the space so guests dined at vintage church pews in candlelight. Of course, nothing is more memorable than the dance party that followed. I think it’s safe to say everyone made it to the floor for at least a song or two. There’s nothing better than a celebration that blends sweetness, romance and a little silliness!

Photography: Christine Sargologos Photography | Floral Design: Uptown Flowers | Wedding Gown: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Seventh Heaven Cakes | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Caterer: Signature Catering | Tuxedos: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Southwest School Of Art And Craft | Invitations & Table Cards: Tracy French - Destination Wedding Specialist | Linens: Elegant Notions | Mariachi Band & Strings: Monte Vista Strings | Rentals: DPC Media | Wedding Planner & Event Design: Tracy French - Destination Wedding Specialist

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Whimsical Coral + Turquoise Tex-Mex Wedding

When Friday starts off with a little Tex-Mex lovin’, you know it’s going to be a happy morning. Captured by Anne Marie Photography, this backyard fete is filled with fun, and the best part? The entire family rolled up their sleeves to make it happen. From the tree-hung poms to the colorful maracas (shaken for a kiss!) to the giant papel picado backdrops, this day of love turned out to be a sweet homemade party.

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From the beautiful Bride…My wedding was a mesmerizing merger of dreams – mine, my (now) husband Rick’s, and both of our families’ – especially our dear mothers. In the end, though, it could not have been more perfect, and I had very little to do with it. My dream “whimsical Tex-Mex” wedding was a true team effort, and my gratitude to every person who contributed will never fade.

Rick and I had toured all the major wedding venues in San Antonio before choosing to have the wedding at his parent’s beautiful home. It was an easy choice: a sprawling yard, no set vendors, no curfew, and, of course, it fit our budget! Rick’s older sister Thea had been married in the backyard in 2009, and it was so utterly lovely. We felt truly blessed when Rick’s parents agreed to host. Then, we started planning.

When I say “we,” I really mean everyone except for me. I was the anti-Bridezilla: the rarely opinionated, remote bride. I was off at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts while my future husband and our mothers did all the heavy lifting. I really cannot emphasize how much they did for me. I would express a vague idea – “I would like the yard to glow” – and my mom procured hundreds of mason jars, candles, and twinkle lights within days. Rick and his brothers personally strung the trees in the yard with the twinkle lights. It took almost two months of weekends dedicated to this task to complete it. Thea had the brilliant idea to use potted flowers as the base for poles to string up festoon lighting over the dance floor, another key element of the wedding I envisioned.

Rick’s mom, Laura, and her dear friend Keith, an event designer, were the most instrumental in creating my dream of “whimsical Tex-Mex” in the back yard. Laura had the brilliant idea to frame the decorations around papel picado, Mexican paper doilies. She found beautiful pastel papel picado to hang in the tent. Her most genius idea, however, was to create three giant foam-core papel picado pieces, customized for the wedding with our names and wedding date, and set them along the fence. Although this was Mama Menchaca’s brain child, it took literally the entire extended family, including many dear friends, to make the project happen. Setting up the giant papel picado and hanging the decorations in the dinner tent on the day of the wedding took the manual labor of a small army of Rick, his brothers, and some of their closest friends. When I saw the final product as I walked down the aisle, I was overwhelmed with tears of joy and gratitude. It looked perfect!

The wedding was full of heartfelt touches that made the night unforgettable. My mother had the inspired idea to order maracas in my wedding colors, and to add little tags that said “shake at the kiss.” During the ceremony, as Rick and I first kissed as husband and wife, we were surrounded by the cheerful thrum of those colorful, festive maracas, enveloping us in the love of friends and family. Rick’s parents had arranged for a mariachi band to play during dinner, which was gloriously festive (and generated some of my very favorite photos). Rick’s brother Ryan and my sister Taylor gave amazing Best Man’s and Maid of Honor speeches, which had us in happy tears the entire time. For the first dance, my father-in-law came to the rescue. I couldn’t decide between two songs: Ben Fold’s “The Luckiest,” one of my favorite songs of all time, and the Ronette’s “Be My Baby,” the song Rick and I consider to be “our song.” Rick’s father had the perfect solution: do both songs! Our DJ spliced them together, and we cried profusely and laughed hysterically throughout the first dance.

When I say the wedding was a team effort, I really mean it. It would not have happened without the blood, sweat and tears of the Menchaca and Mallory families. Because of all the inspiration, resourcefulness, creativity, and pure manual labor poured into my big day, it was a dream come true. Lucky for us, the dream was captured perfectly by Anne Marie Photography, so we can relive it for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Anne Marie Photography | Coordinator: Your Wedding Your Way | Cake: Cathy Young | Catering: Absolutely Delicious | DJ: Flipside Productions | Venue: Private Residence | Bride's Dress: Blush Bridal Lounge | Floral: Amanda Masson | Music: Terra Vista Strings | Rentals: Aztec Events

Rustic Romance at Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose is dripping in old world elegance; the kind of place that easily lends itself to a romantic affair. And this inspiration crafted by Without Wax, Katy, Mayhar Design and Taylor Lord Photography knows what’s up. With rambling hand-written stationery by The Left Handed Calligrapher and the prettiest pastel color palette, this photo shoot has romance by the bucketful.

From Without Wax, Katy & Mayhar DesignWhen we decided to jointly collaborate on a photo shoot, we were unanimous in our desire to create something that was authentic and timeless and above all, honored and enhanced the original beauty of the environment. Our hearts fell immediately in love with the breathtaking backdrop of San Antonio’s Mission San Jose. After an initial site visit, we quickly set to planning, basing all color and design direction around the color palette and detailing of the mission itself. We quickly brought on a team of local artisans that we dearly admired and are so thrilled with the gifts and talent that each person brought to the table!

It is always our ultimate goal to create a product that is elegant and honest and that portrays a genuine beauty. We cannot thank our amazing team of collaborators enough and hope that you enjoy what we came up with!

Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Design: Without Wax, Katy | Design: Mayhar Design | Floral Design: Without Wax Katy | Cake: 2tarts Bakery | Makeup And Hair: Beauty And The Blush | Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher | Antique Pewter, China And Silverware: La Belle Vie | Custom Dress Cape: Kathleen Lothringer | Dining Chair And Velvet Stool: Furbish Vintage Rentals | Hairpiece: Lacielle Roselle | Lace Table Drapery: Heirloom Bed Company | Location: Mission San Jose | Match Pewter + Monogrammed Linens: Lin Marche

Tented Arabian Wedding in Texas

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you cross backyard elegance with a little cultural flair, this wedding holds the answer. Designed by LUXE Event Decor and covered in blooms by Uptown Flowers, it’s black tie glam with an Arabian fusion, and the result is something truly special. Prepare for jaw-dropping goodness captured by J Wilkinson Co, and you can click here for so much more. 

From the Bride…. Having Arab blood in me I have always been drawn to Arabian style. There is a mystery and a beauty that is deep in the culture. I arrived at my style by looking at a lot of pictures on Pinterest, online and going with what felt good in my spirit. I just had a lot of fun, I added ideas my friends and vendors had. The raj tents took my breath away. When it came to making decisions about the decor I asked myself, does it fit within the context of what I want to experience on my wedding day?

Before I met Chris, I was learning about the power of intention, setting the intention and then believing and trusting God for the mechanisms and the results. I wrote…”I want to be in a healthy, wildly romantic, passionate, and long lasting relationship with a wonderful man on or before 90 days.” Signed up for Match.com. Within a month I was already chatting with Chris. While at first I did not think we were a match – city girl meets real ranching cowboy if you know what I mean – the sparks between us were undeniable. It was my daughter who insisted I give him a chance. I’m really glad I did.

Chris proposed on a night that was storming in San Antonio. We had gone out to dinner with his friend Brian and had planned on going dancing yet because of the weather decided to take his friend who was staying at Chris house home. The storm got worse and lights went out at Chris’s house. Chris and I were embracing and kissing when all of a sudden he tells me he has a ring. It was a romantic night. I felt silly thinking surly he is kidding. Sure enough it was happening. He was proposing.

His home has impressive, top to bottom main room windows and some wall to wall windows in other rooms. I felt shock when he asked and was not expecting it. As soon as he placed the ring on my finger lightning hit the transformer in his back yard. Sparks went everywhere as if you were in a fireworks show. He’s proposal was heart felt and timing could not have been more perfect as scared as i felt and unprepared. It was also his grandmother Mary’s ring, who was very special in his life. That made it super special for me.

I feel there were so many special touches starting with our guest list. We were surrounded by people we had real connection with. To make it super special for the guest, I printed images of all our guests. Images of special times in our lives with them or just great images of them. We ask them to sigh in on the back or front of the image that was mounted on art board. Many left some crazy amazing love notes that had me crying on the couch as I read them after our wedding.

As a photographer in the industry I was blessed to have my best friend who was a wedding planner plan my wedding. I was supported by many great friends in the industry, who with great joy and excitement showed up to play, give and work the event. We released Chinese lanterns as the sun set as a tribute to both our grandmothers and Chris’s mom who had past away before I met him. Our vows were beautiful and vulnerable. For someone who does not cry especially in public I was a mess.

One of the most special moments was when it started raining and sheet lighting covered the sky as we were photographed by Jeanann Wilkinson. In the rain and I felt the presence of God blessing our day.

Photography: J Wilkinson Co Fine Art Photography | Wedding Planning + Design: Tracy Reeder - Ooh La-La Couture Events | Floral Design: Uptown Flowers | Wedding Cake: Cathy Young | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Signature Catering | Food: Taco Truck | Band: China Town Band | Band: Nick Laurence Country Band | Tuxedos: Heights Tuxedo | Venue: Denman Estate | Raj Tents: Luxe Event Decor | Rentals: Luxe Event Decor | Rentals: Touch Of Elegance | Wedding Cards: Sonny Danny Graves | Wedding Dress Designer: The Bridal Salon of San Antonio

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Rustic Texas Wedding At Live Oak Ranch

When life rains on your wedding…you pile into the barn! It might have rained for this Texas Bride’s rustic ranch nuptials, but there’s nothing a pair of Hunter Boots and a good attitude can’t amend. Right? Thankfully, Anne Marie Photography was there to capture the day in all it’s stormy glory. For even more inspiration look here!


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From the Bride… I wanted my day to be about family, to have everyone I loved close around me. This worked out really well, because there was a 60% chance of thunderstorms leading up to my wedding and that made me have to move the wedding into the barn, which I did NOT want to do. It goes to show that planning and planning doesn’t really matter all that much, because life can throw you a curve ball. But isn’t it funny how whenever you least expect it, what you didn’t want to happen ended up being perfect. I definitely got the closeness feel at my ceremony because brining the reception into the barn required us to fit everybody in there. It was a tight fit, but a perfect fit. No one wants it to rain on their wedding day, but I chose not to let it ruin my day, my only day, and it was more beautiful that I could have imagined. We even ended up getting to take pictures outside.

I think the intimate setting, the many, many candles, and family made my day special. Our wedding made everyone feel like family. We had a very big bridal party, the more the merrier, and our pastor was my dad’s best friend. The ceremony had worship songs that were sung by my best friend that lived overseas. There were many laughs, and lots of tears.

The colors at the wedding were what I wanted, very neutral. The barn with the lights, and the field behind it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to mess it up with a bunch of color. I loved the flowers at my wedding. I had seen some pictures on Pinterest that had really neutral colors with lots of succulents. I loved the idea, so that was incorporated in a lot of my flowers. I absolutely love mercury, that was used in a lot of the center pieces and even up at the altar. My sister and I created a lot of homemade signs that went around the barn and even outside. It made it feel really personal and just about us. There was an old truck at the ranch that obviously couldn’t run, but we had some people back it up into the barn and we used it as a cake table. We relocated the tailgate, and it had “Ford” on it, which is my middle name, so it made it really special to me.

My cake was another inspiration I had. I had seen a picture of a “naked” cake idea; my cake lady didn’t want me to do it because she said it would dry out the cake. But I have to say, it tasted like the best cake ever to me. It was something really different, and it was what I wanted because I don’t like icing. My mom was a lifesaver, we didn’t have a wedding planner or anyone and my cousins ran the day of coordinating.

It wasn’t exactly as I planned — it was better. I loved every moment, and would do it over and over exactly the same if I could.

Photography: Anne Marie Photography | Cakes: Cathy Young | Shoes: Hunter Boots | Catering: Sullivan Street Catering | Transportation: Mission Golf Cars | Ranch: Church Of Evangelical Faith | Rentals: Revive Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Aztec Events

Modern Chic Wedding in Texas’s Hill Country

This goes out to all of you die-hard stripe lovers, lemon connoisseurs and modern aficionados. It’s a mod infused garden party ripe with citrus and greenery fashioned by JMG Designs along with coordination by Elegant Events  and maybe the chicest bridesmaid/ flower girl combo we’ve ever seen. Stripes and yellow look good on you, Hill Country. Check out even more of the day captured by Heather Rowland Photography right here.

This charming hill country wedding set at the Westin La Cantera Resort outside San Antonio was true perfection. The bride, Emily, found fresh lemon wreaths mixed with bold black and white canopy stripes as her inspiration. She accented kraft envelopes & touches of burlap throughout the event to give the bold black, white, and yellow a comfortable and relaxed feel for summer. Staying true to her classic charm, Emily wanted a touch of something unique and different yet tasteful and bold. Emily and Russ shared the vows on The El Fortin Lawn within limestone arches laced with breathtaking hill country views. Guests were seated under a historical oak tree that spanned across the entire lawn blanketing the congregation in perfect shade. The Reception took place on at the Club house and overlooked the acclaimed golf course, which was a perfect backdrop for photos of the newlyweds. The reception was appropriately cohesive to the overall feel of the wedding and also showcased bold black and white canopy stripes as table cloths. Each table had floral accents adored with fresh lemon give the entire venue the freshest citrus aroma. The couple had the most quaint seating arrangement, with framed monogrammed chalkboards noting their places. Vintage string lights wrapped around the reception site as guests danced the night away under the Texas stars. The newlyweds made their exit in a vintage Rolls-Royce and enjoyed a honeymoon in the Bahamas.

Photography: Heather Ann Design Photography | Coordination: Elegant Events by Maureen | Event Design: JMG Designs | Flowers: Patti Weaver & Ridgewood Designs | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Ceremony: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Reception: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung | Transportation: Al Briseno Rolls Royce | Catering & Cake: La Cantera Hill Country Resort | Invitation: Sparrow & Nest | Second Shooter: Carmen Rose Evans Of Love Carmen Rose