This Galveston wedding is so gorgeous, you’d never know there were a few hiccups along the way (including a wardrobe malfunction and flower girl breakdown). But from Laura Hooper Calligraphy‘s wooden signage to the Bride’s pretty pink peep toe pumps to the classic reception, this day is all kinds of pretty. Feel all the love, courtesy of Courtney Leigh Photography, in The Vault!
From The Bride…Peter and I were married on Good Friday, in a little beach town perched precariously on the sand barrier island of Galveston Texas. Galveston is decorated with character and charm. We said our “I do’s” in front of the ones we loved the most in a quaint little chapel called the Lyceum that has weathered hundreds of storms. We were told while venue hunting, that the Lyceum had actually floated off its foundation during a hurricane. The Lyceum was restored to its original location and re-anchored. To us, this symbolizes how marriage can drift off its foundation too but both individuals have to work to reroot the marriage foundation through faith. We were sold. My now husband, is also a complete history buff so it was only fitting that the Hotel Galvez known as the “Queen of the Gulf” caught our eye to host the wedding reception. The Hotel Galvez is a symbol of Galveston’s restoration efforts following the Great Storm of 1900. It is uniquely beautiful, historically rooted, majestically resilient and maybe a little bit haunted.
My Galvy girls and I boarded the trolley to the church, a few wardrobe malfunctions and flower girl break downs later, I was ready to roll. I walked down the aisle with my paternal grandfather’s wedding band attached to my bouquet and married the man of my dreams. After the ceremony, my husband and I were dashing to our get away car and I felt a tug on my veil that sent it whirling around into the sky high above our heads, maybe to serve as a little reminder the man upstairs and my grandpa had a perfect view for our wedding day.
The spring vibes played well in to my garden theme. The floral arrangements were full of fresh blooms, my colors blush and gold colors were light and airy, and the cocktail hour was held on the hotels private lawn called the Oleander Garden. We danced and ate goat cheese lollipops and red velvet cake from my hometown bakery. We laughed, had an anniversary dance off to Last Dance by Floyd Cramer, drank shark bites inspired by our pup Clark, and were whisked away to the Tremont House in a white Rolls Royce cloud. What a whirlwind. It was both romantic and a little bit wild, like the best parties are.
Times of great anticipation also come with times of great sadness. Shortly after setting a date and picking the venue, my mother was diagnosed with Stage III Ovarian Cancer. Looking back now, we embraced wedding planning in efforts to bridge the gap between a great celebration and the harsh reality of surgery, treatments and waiting. Of course, the planning piece came with its share of hiccups, headaches, and an excessive amounts of midnight oil; but it was a labor of love. My creative juices were flowing as the count down grew closer. My inner accountant put the kibosh on a few outrageous ideas. I snapped photos of every detail that inspired me. I think my phone hit its max photo capacity the first few months we were engaged. I drew inspiration from all things wedding; blogs, styled shoots, photography sites, Pinterest, Etsy, letterpress, friends weddings, family heirlooms and traditions, and childhood dreams. Almost a year later, my mother has weathered the cancer storm and is in remission! Ah, it’s been a year of tears, fears, smiles laughs and a whole lot of love. How soon is too soon to do a vow renewal, kidding.
Photography: Courtney Leigh Photography | Event Planning: Heather Benge Events | Floral Design: Constance Dryden-Island Flowers | Wedding Dress: Whittington Bridal | Cake: Rise Cupcakes | Invitations: Hayley Hardcastle | Ceremony Venue: The Lyceum | Reception Venue: Hotel Galvez | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: Sunkissed And Made Up | Calligraphy: Nib And Pixel | Groom's Attire: Jos A Bank | Transportation: Vintage Car Services | Hotel: The Tremont House | Photography - Assistance: Awake Photography | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Sound: Divisi Strings | Trolley: Original Trolley Co. | Veil : BHLDN | Wooden Calligraphy Signage: Laura Hooper Calligraphy