Yesterday’s bride was a Texas Aggie. Today’s bride is a Longhorn. Kind of funny, hmmm? Although UT is immediately recognized by it’s orange and white color “palette” … that had nothing to do with Kim’s dream wedding!
Here’s a bit of Kim & Charlie’s story from Kristin at Keely Thorne Events …
Kim and Charlie were married on May 30, 2009 in Austin, Texas. When searching for a wedding venue, they fell in love with The University of Texas Golf Club for its scenic rolling hills backdrop and its true Texas hill country feel. Their beautiful day was photographed by LBB member, Ashley Garmon.
Read about the “cannon” below ~
From the lovely ladies at Keely Thorne Events …
Upon arrival, guests were greeted with cocktails to quench their thirst under the Texas sun along with ‘fun-fact’ cocktail napkins (about the couple of course) to provide a good laugh. The ceremony began as the sun was setting behind the hills; the bride and groom incorporated trumpeters, a gospel choir and a pianist to make their ceremony unique. The couple’s wedding program could double as a fan to help guests beat the heat. As the ceremony ended, guests moved onto the back patio of the clubhouse to enjoy dinner while the ceremony area was transformed to a beautiful lounge area. The groom loves a good cigar and glass of wine just as his cake shows; His cake wasn’t the only box of cigars at the wedding, there was a live cigar roller on site to provide entertainment as well as stogies.
As the night went on, the party got underway with music from Compozitionz. Guests also enjoyed a late night sweet treat of s’mores and girls were given flip-flops to help them dance the night away. Whataburger is something all Texan’s hold near and dear to their heart, so Kim and Charlie had breakfast tacos as a late night treat for the guests. At the end of the night the ‘longhorn’ couple rolled away in a pedicab, just as they would after a late night out in college.
Congratulations!!
See Kim and Charlie’s SMP Gallery here!
Charlie and I began dating when we were in high school in Houston, Texas. I left for The University of Texas at Austin in August of 2004, and Charlie joined me there a year later. We were married six years later! Most everyone expected our wedding to be in Houston, but we decided on Austin because we wanted a mini-destination wedding. We wanted the weekend to be unique – a relaxing getaway in the Texas hill country. Austin held the atmosphere we wanted to create at our wedding – a kick back and throw your heels (or boots) off kind of feel. I had imagined getting married outside and walking straight to the reception where family and friends could immediately begin to comfortably lounge and celebrate. When we saw the UT Golf Club, we knew we had found our place.
Many thought that we chose it based on the fact that we were former Longhorns – which of course didn’t hurt – but ultimately it was the vast amount of space and the creative ways to use that space that drew us there. We were married underneath a pavilion that sits on the golf course. After the ceremony, the guests moved underneath tents, to the fire pit to add to the well-wishing tree, and into the clubhouse to enjoy cocktails and passed food as the pavilion, including the ceremony altar, was flipped with a variety of lounge furniture for the reception. One of my favorite memories is taking pictures after the ceremony and being able to look over and watch the ones we love laughing, eating, drinking and simply enjoying themselves together. I remember thinking, “This is exactly as it was supposed to be.” We chose a palette of oranges long before we chose the venue (in all honesty, I chose the colors long before we were engaged), so when we decided to get married at the UT Golf Club, I naturally reconsidered the color choice. A wedding of Longhorn alumni at UT Golf Club with the dominant color being orange? But it had all fallen into place flawlessly, and I didn’t want to change a thing (not to mention, I had a vision of the bridesmaid’s dress color with the tan groomsmen suits and couldn’t be swayed).
The orange sat perfectly against the backdrop of the green golf course and the stunningly beautiful green and white floral cross that David Kurio created for the ceremony altar. Speaking of the cross, I had two surprises on the wedding day – one from the florist, David Kurio, and another from my husband. To put it bluntly, David floored us with the florals. I was always confident that he would create the vision we had discussed, but I never imagined it would be so elegant and homey and romantic and classic and Texas all at the same time. He saw more in our vision than I could ever put into words! From the cross to the large standing piece at the center of the reception to the smaller details, such as the lanterns in the trees, he wowed us over and over. I was especially thankful for the small, yet meaningful, touch we were able to add to the bouquet – a locket with a picture on either side of my grandfathers who had previously passed.
The second surprise, from Charlie, was none other than a giant cannon. Charlie was a member of an organization called Texas Cowboys at UT, and the Cowboys shoot off the cannon for every touchdown at the Longhorn football games. Unbeknownst to me, the cannon sat far away from the pavilion, on the golf course. It was rolled out in to view by some younger Cowboy members during the ceremony and when our officiant announced, “You may kiss the bride,” the cannon was set off. It was explosive, catching me and everyone else perfectly off guard and starting the night off with a bang – no pun intended. We were announced Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Nettles, walked down the aisle and the party truly began.
Photography: Ashley Garmon Photographers
Cinematographer: Crescent Video
Flowers: David Kurio Floral Designs
Event Planning: Kristin McShane of Keely Thorne Events
Venue: University of Texas Golf Club
Invitations: Ann Werme Stationers
Cakes: Cake Plate
Dress: Palazzo
Pedicab: Transportation Consultants
Lounge Furniture: Townsley Designs