I kind of want to give Sarah Kate a huge hug. Like the biggest hug she’s ever received. Because this gorgeous Sunnyvale wedding is pretty much my rustic meets elegant dream come true… and I definitely think that deserves some hugging. Also on my hug list? Ashley Brinkley Events (seriously fab stylings), Branching Out (beautiful blooms) and every last vendor who made this day complete. Oh, and the beautiful bride and groom, who pieced together a wedding that reflects not only their relationship, but their love of family. How awesome are they?!? See every last moment in the full gallery.
From the Bride… Soon after Taylor proposed in the Texas Hill Country, we started thinking all things wedding. We knew we wanted to get married outdoors, and we quickly realized that the perfect venue was Taylor’s family ranch, T Bar J Ranch, a stone’s throw outside of Dallas, in a town called Sunnyvale.
With arching oak trees that line the driveway, the grazing horses, the pristine lake, and the white picket fences, it is picturesque, a reminder of a different time. The T Bar J Ranch was where Taylor’s parents wed in 1979, and with so much history, beauty, and sentiment, it was an overwhelmingly obvious location for our story to begin, as well.
The natural beauty of the ranch really dictated the theme of the wedding. The wedding was planned with a theme of “rustic formality,” a juxtaposition of nature and romance, a theme of soft, romantic neutrals combined with organic elements of wood and succulents. We brought the indoors out by creating vignettes of the family’s collections of antiques and creating an outdoor photo gallery by hanging family wedding photographs from tree branches. I really wanted to throw a sentimental, yet beautiful affair, honoring family, history, and of course, our relationship!
Our ceremony was just perfect. We had a gorgeous lakeside ceremony lit by an Autumn sunset. We stood beneath the branch of an Oak tree, from it hung a wrought iron chandelier that glistened in the setting sun. Horses grazed in the background as we exchanged our vows. It was unforgettable.
For our final farewell, and our last nod to family and history, we left on the back of a vintage 1970’s fire truck. The fire truck was a retirement gift to Taylor’s grandfather when he retired as Sheriff from the Sunnyvale Fire Department. The perfect farewell from our perfect day!
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Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate | Venue: Family Ranch in Sunnyvale, Texas | Wedding Coordination + Design: Ashley Brinkley Events | Floral Design: Branching Out | Catering: Food Glorious Food | Wedding Cake: Panini Cakes | Lighting: Beyond | Tent: Ducky Bob’s | Band: Cuvee | Wedding Stationery: Southern Fried Paper | Hair: Sonia Trevino | Makeup: Mayra Rams-Sanabria from My Fabulous Faces