Austin Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Every Modern Bride Is About to Fall in Love with This Gallery-Like Space in Austin

In case you weren’t already convinced – there is sooo much beauty in simplicity, and this wedding at our new fave Austin venue proves just that. With the help of Wild Sky Events, the bride and groom’s vision of a minimalistic wedding with a garden-like feel came to life – complete with romantic and warm touches at every turn. Color Theory Collective created the most beautiful arrangements in neutral hues that perfectly complimented the white walls and natural wooden elements. Head on over to the full gallery captured by Feather & Twine to see all the pretty!

The Design:

From Wild Sky Events… Our design goal was to create a minimalist garden vibe that still felt warm and romantic. We focused on a gorgeous floral color palette, natural textures for linens and fabrics, wood and leather accents and bringing those key elements into all aspects of the design. From the fabric ceiling installation to the fabric on the sofa and chairs, to the wood backing on the invitations or the leather accents on the seating chart. It was all about subtle details with this wedding.

Where did you get married and why did you choose that location?

From the bride and groom, Amanda and Chuck… Chuck actually picked it out. We both really liked it for its interesting architecture. It is so simple and beautiful. My best friend and bridesmaid was still living in Austin. I actually had her go and look at it before we put a deposit down. I saw it in person a few months later and was blown away.

What was your design inspiration?

I wanted natural, clean colors. I wanted something that was organic and light. I really just wanted to highlight how beautiful Prospect House is on it’s own. I think we made good decisions on a few things and that made all the difference.

What did you learn throughout the wedding process?

I learned how important it was to have a great vendor team. Hiring a wedding planner was the best decision I made. Wild Sky Events (Kate) helped me find all my other vendors. I didn’t have to spend hours searching for a florist or DJ because she already had people she recommended. They were people she’s worked with before and I trusted her opinion. Before planning my wedding I did not think lighting or rentals were important or something to spend money on. Kate taught me how important lighting is! Every decision you make for your wedding can seem like the most important decision, but at the end of the day, you just want your wedding to reflect who you are as a couple.

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Wild Sky Events

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Celebrating Indian Heritage with a Stunning Traditional American Wedding

Can we take a moment to appreciate the beauty that comes from two heritages combining in a day of celebration and love? Shivani & Jeffrey’s union was exactly that, and SO incredibly stunning—from the Hindu-Indian ceremony to the traditional American reception, in large part thanks to 36th Street Events. You’ll want to read their sweet story below and make sure to peruse the full gallery of images, all captured by Julie Wilhite Photography.

From Julie Wilhite Photography… Shivani and Jeffrey had an incredible multi-cultural wedding on April 20th, 2019. The two combined her Indian heritage with a traditional American wedding seamlessly, and I was so honored to photograph it. Their ceremony was a traditional Hindu Indian ceremony, with the reception a traditional American one.

The couple met on Hinge, a dating app, in 2015, after they both recently moved to Dallas. Shivani completely forgot about the first date while Jeff left another dinner early to meet her for drinks. After a sweet reminder text, Shivani got ready in 15 minutes, completely playing it cool. A couple drinks later and the rest is history! Fast forward through 3 years worth of memories including a few mountains climbed, passports stamped, and the addition of their furry friend, Henry, to the family, Jeff finally popped the big question at sunrise on a hike in Sedona, AZ. Needless to say, Shivani said yes!

The bride, groom and wedding party wore two different outfits. For the Hindu ceremony, Shivani wore a stunning handmade custom lehenga, a long skirt paired with a crop top and embroidered scarf, that was a soft blue and covered in gold beading. It was so intricate, and a work of art. They hired a personal stylist and shopper to create the outfits for the Indian ceremony. All the outfits for the bride, groom and wedding party were handmade in Indian and dip-dyed to the perfect shade of blue. Shivani wanted her outfit to be a non-traditional color and Jeff’s favorite color is blue, so it was easy to pick the soft blue color as the tying theme in the wedding party outfits.

Shivani’s bridal jewelry was a mix of family heirlooms and custom made pieces from Houston, Texas. The bridal jewelry set was gold plated with Kundan stones, pomegranate colored beads with a hint of blue. The gold bangles were a gift from her maternal grandparents and she wore a gold ring studded with diamonds on my right hand which was an heirloom from my grandmother.

For her American reception, Shivani wore a beaded fit and flare gown by Maggie Sottero. It was from Mockingbird Bridal in Dallas, a store which has been a Dallas staple for wedding gowns. The bride’s reception jewelry was gifted by her parents, and she wore emerald cut drop diamond earrings paired with a rose-cut diamond necklace all set in platinum gold. She also wore her mom’s Rado watch as her something borrowed.

Shivani’s childhood best friend and bridesmaid, Anjali Chatwani, the owner of Glam Angelique, did the hair and makeup for all of the events, which was a special touch for the bride!

First, there was the Baraat. As the bride explains… “There is a pre-wedding ceremony called the Baraat. The Baraat is a procession of the groom’s family and friends singing and dancing around him to music. The Baraat is very much the jumpstart for the wedding day – it kicks-off the celebration with excitement, singing, dancing, and laughter and carries the groom right up to the ceremony. It typically begins somewhere down the street from the wedding venue. Then, over the course of 20-30 minutes, the groom and his family, accompanied by music, make their way up the street singing and dancing. The Baraat is met by the bride’s family at the entrance to the wedding venue. It symbolizes the pleasure and happiness of the groom’s family in accepting the bride as a part of their family; as their very own. The Milni (the meeting of families) symbolizes the merging of the two clans. The bride’s family, usually the bride’s mother, performs an Aarti (welcome prayer) for the groom’s family.”

The groom and guests had so much fun, and even had color bombs during the Baraat! They danced to the venue, which was the Four Season Austin. Their traditional Hindu Indian ceremony took place under gorgeous trees and included many new and old traditions, including the Jai Mala Garland Exchange, Ganesh Pooja, Kanyadan and Gath Bandhan. Then they took their seven steps together, called the Saptapadi. Each step signifies a vow that they promise to uphold together. They took time after to tell each other their personal vows to one another, then sealed it with a kiss!

There was a break before the cocktail hour so guests could change into black tie outfits for the cocktail hour and ceremony, which took place inside the Four Seasons ballroom. The tables were covered in metallic tablecloths, with gold accents throughout. The bride wanted to bring the outdoors in with blush flowers, creams and lots of greenery, which was perfect for this spring day. It was such an honor to be able to photograph this beautiful wedding!

Some tips on planning your multi-cultural wedding, from the bride… Pick the best of both worlds. We focused on picking elements for our wedding events which were important to us and our families. Everything we did was guest-centric. We wanted to ensure all of our friends and families who had traveled from near and far had a good time with no logistical stress. We decided less was more in terms of the guest list. Coming from an Indian family, it was hard to keep the guestlist small but we made a conscious effort to stay around 250 guests so we could truly focus and spend quality time with our guests.

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36th Street Events

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This Chic Austin Wedding Took Place in a Glass Barn! The Ultimate Statement Venue.

If you’re looking to take your dream barn wedding next level, you must see this GLASS barn at Barr Mansion in Austin! This is rustic elegance at it’s finest, my friends. With guidance and planning by 36th Street Events, Aly & David celebrated in the chicest way possible for their summer fete—complete with a to-die-for blush Monique Lhuillier dress. I’m crushing hard on this one and I have a feeling you will too, once you peek at these captures by The Edges. What are you waiting for?!

From The Edges… Aly & David met at a dive bar in NYC several years ago and the rest is history! They had destination wedding in Aly’s hometown of Austin, TX. The wedding venue is an estate that includes a home built in 1898, a working farm, and a restored 18th century barn transported from New York. The design was a perfect blend of NYC chic and fun, quirky Austin with a moody and romantic aesthetic.

There were so many unique and personal design elements included throughout the day. The invitation and paper goods were created by one of their closest friends, Robert Alvarez. Guests were welcomed to the weekend with a box of treats like Tito’s Vodka (from Austin) and the couple’s favorites snacks of Goldfish crackers and champagne gummy bears. The ceremony backdrop was a custom pampas grass installation that perfectly complimented Aly’s dress.

Cocktail hour included live music and the cutest “beer burros” for entertainment. Instead of signature cocktails, they offered whiskey and bubbles stations so guests could sample different varieties of each. Dinner was served in a glass barn with rustic wood tables and lots of gold and black accents. The rest of the evening was spent dancing (to a live band, it’s Austin of course) and lounging in the warm Texas night.

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36th Street Events

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Muted Color Schemes Are About to Be Summer 2019’s Hottest Wedding Trend

What happens when you take an epic list of vendors and put them together for a day, styled and planned by Westcott Weddings? You get this elegant and romantic workshop held by The Editorial Series and Jenna McElroy! Focusing on the space, The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria, Westcott Weddings produced the ultimate photography workshop with every detail imagined from floral installations by Clementine Botanical Art to flawless attire by Serendipity Bridal and The Black Tux. Take a peek below and see how a great team can create a day of old-world elegance mixed with modern design for the picture perfect workshop!

From Westcott Weddings…The Editorial Series is a one-day photography workshop for film and digital photographers. For the first in the series, Jenna McElroy chose the always-beautiful grounds at Laguna Gloria as the backdrop. Photographers gathered in the late afternoon, and Jenna walked them through each of the styled vignettes before giving each the opportunity to capture the spaces through their own lenses. The museum grounds at Laguna Gloria are immaculately curated and lend themselves well to the romantic, European-inspired editorial that Jenna envisioned.

We decided on a color palette of warm, muted summer tones and worked to balance the old world elegance of the grounds with more modern touches. Christin with Clementine Botanical Art designed a wispy, romantic floral installation on the stone steps (often overlooked at real weddings and such a gorgeous spot!), and I love the way our bride and groom were able to nestle right into it for photographs.

Nicolette with Isidore & Augustine designed all of the paper products, and upon seeing them, we were instantly in love with the way the soft floral drawings played against the layers of color and more modern typeface she selected. She was able to beautifully capture the whole essence of the shoot in that gorgeous invitation suite.

Michelle Boyd painted a custom canvas for the workshop, which was used as a backdrop for styling the suite and added romantic texture (which no one does better than her!) to the shot. We kept the table design fairly simple, using Loot’s pieces and La Tavola linens to create a luxe, refined table that felt right at home on the museum grounds. Florals, paper goods, and (delicious!) appetizers and desserts (thanks to Jessica Scott and Candace from Simply Delicious Custom Cakes, respectively) added touches of color and life to the vignette. Candace also created a stunning three-tier cake. Christin complemented the pink architectural details Candace designed with fluffy blooms to achieve that same modern, romantic aesthetic.

We worked with Brigitte at Serendipity Bridal to select an intricate lace dress for our bride from Chic Nostalgia and The Black Tux to outfit our groom. Makenzi Laine styled each of them to perfection, and accessories from L. Priori Jewelry and Bella Belle Shoes completed the look. We’re so thankful for the team that came together to bring this vision to life, and we’re looking forward to the next in the series.

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How To Achieve The Perfect Bright and Coastal Design

It’s no secret that we love a bright and airy home! As the weather warms (finally!) and summer nears, we are even more drawn to the sunny, coastal decor trends that are starting to fill our feeds. But don’t worry, this style isn’t just for those lucky folks with homes on the beach! So how do you approach that laid-back, beachy feel no matter where you live? Interior stylist and designer, Maureen Stevens is here with a few tips on “How To Achieve The Perfect Bright and Coastal Design” and she is sharing a few of her favorite pieces to help get you started. Her design approach centers on “making subtle changes to your surroundings to give you a totally different experience” and that is right up our alley!

1. Add art reminiscent of the beach…

Artwork is a fun way to bring coastal beach vibes in your home. There are so many different prints with beach umbrellas, people sunbathing, aerial views of the ocean, etc., that will instantly brighten up your home and make it feel like a chic, summer escape.

2. Think organic materials…

Natural materials that remind us of the outdoors are a great way to bring coastal design into your home. From raffia to rattan, jute, acacia and the like, there are so many materials to choose from. Rather than over-doing it and replacing big furniture items with those which are made of these materials, you can incorporate smaller pieces like accent chairs, nightstands, side tables, etc.

3. Choose a color palette that mimics the nature of the coast…

Changing the color of your walls can make a huge impact on your home. By toning down any loud and vibrant colors by replacing them with calming hues, such as taupe or white sand, the colors of the ocean, driftwood, etc., your home will feel lighter and brighter instantly.

4. Go for billowy on your windows…

By implementing light and airy curtains into your home, you’re one step closer to achieving an effortless, coastal design. The light-weight fabric will ebb and flow when a breeze hits them, creating an ocean-breeze effect you’ll love.

5. Focus on negative space…

One of the things that makes the coast so beautiful is its vastness. It’s important to bring this sense of space into your home, as well. Sometimes, less truly is more when it comes to design. Cluttering can create a stressful environment, whereas minimalistic design can contribute to a more relaxed, enjoyable space.

6. Whites, whites, whites…

Have I stated white, and lots of it, yet? Whether it’s wall color, bedding, furniture, or textiles– you name it– white is always a good option. Incorporating different shades of white will open up your home and make your space feel clean and refined, epitomizing California-cool living.

GET THE LOOK

Ready to brighten up? Maureen Stevens is sharing a few of her favorite pieces to help get you started!

1. Large Coastal Art Print / 2. Belgian Linen Sheer Curtain / 3. Montecito Pillow Cover / 4. Large White Planter / 5. Shroom Coffee Table / 6. Reclaimed Wood Console / 7. Brighton Table Lamp / 8. Reclaimed Wood Storage Bench / 9. Medan Chair / 10. Chunky Hand-braided Rug

Interior Design: Maureen Stevens

5 Ways To Use Pantone’s Color of the Year ‘Living Coral’ in Your Modern Wedding

As much of a neutral lover as I am, my color kryptonite is coral. So, you can imagine my elation when Pantone announced Living Coral as their color of the year. I knew we’d be in for a dose of vibrancy in weddings and today’s slice of inspo from Lauren Field Design and Kristin La Voie Photography nails it. Read on below for five innovative ideas on how to infuse this vibrant, happy hue into a modern wedding with a wow-worthy palette.

1. Wear it!

Make a statement by starting with the decision to wear a colored gown. This unique Elizabeth Dye wildfire gown was the perfect way to incorporate such a bold statement piece. Be sure to select simple accessories to allow the gown to take the full spotlight.

2. Choose a neutral colored venue

Select a venue that will allow the color to shine without being too busy. The Prospect House gave us such an opportunity with it’s simple yet elegant spaces that have a grand light filled quality to them. By creating focus around the features we admired most, we were able to seamlessly blend our colorful vision for this modern fete.

3. Pair with analogous (adjacent) colors on the color wheel

Infusing the palette with colors that have a similar underlying tone with varied hues (like magenta, rose quartz, etc) help to draw attention in a visually pleasing and exciting way. There is nothing boring about this color combo!

4. Set a baseline of decor with dark, light, and translucent elements

Combining architectural elements of various luster and matte finishes, the color can feel bold yet well curated. We incorporated high gloss tableware with a smooth matte velvet; translucent ghost chairs atop a matte concrete floor to create visual interest.

5. Choose florals that include preserved elements with minimal greenery

Balanced textures and unique pairings (like the dyed fan palms, bleached Italian ruscus, and bright anthuriums) help a composition remain innovative and unique, while totally logical. Hints of unexpectedness help bring your overall concept up a few notches!

From Lauren Field Design… Inspired by the intersection of modern architecture/abstract art and the evocative use of shapes, forms, and color (or lack thereof) inherent in both mediums, we wanted to reflect the simplicity and visual order of layering texture in a refined yet dramatic fashion.

At The Prospect House, the captivating display of simple materials, lofty exposed structure, and abundant natural light provide a stunning backdrop reminiscent of an art gallery. These experiential characteristics of proportion, scale, and light/reflection became driving factors for all aspects of the design.

We selected a palette of tone-on-tone hues of jet black and charcoal infused with varying shades of living coral. The high contrast decor was paired with architectural accents of concrete, mixed metals, and translucent elements as a nod to the thoughtful architecture of the venue. The ceremony installation was meant to channel the poetic brushstrokes of an abstract expressionist painting. For the table, we chose a charcoal velvet tablecloth layered with luster glassware, matte black flatware, and colorful asymmetrical arrangements influenced by the art of Ikebana flower arranging. The cake was a dark silhouette of impressive texture atop lucite on a dramatically high table with an avant-garde vibe.

The bride and groom were both dressed in elegant silhouettes with a bit of modern flair; the groom in a velvet jacket, the bride in a runaway train of tiered tulle. The bridal look was feminine yet edgy with a classic chignon to showcase the statement of the gown.

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Bella Belle

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Austin Garden Wedding at The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge

Want to know exactly how you get this wedding look without breaking the bank? The gorgeous Bride is breaking it ALL down for us below, including 14 ways they saved money. But first, can we all just take a moment to soak in this tree? With the help of Blue Sparrow Events and Sweetwater Stems, this celebration was the perfect balance of splurges and saves—resulting in this pin-worthy gallery captured by Honey Gem Creative.

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From the Floral Designer, Sweetwater Stems… We wanted to create floral designs that were truly unique for Ally and Eric – romantic, natural, and timeless. To achieve a garden inspired look, we used a variety of blooms and foliage – including astrantia, ranunculus, roses, scabiosa, blushing bride protea, butterfly ranunculus, pieris japonica, silver dollar eucalyptus, and bouvardia are just a few of the items we selected. We wrapped the bouquets in a wide, dusty blue velvet ribbon – it was perfect! The ceremony space included hand-tied garlands on the chairs along the aisle, and a stunning floral design on the focal tree. We wanted the design to appear as if it were growing in that space, creating that really natural and whimsical look. The reception took place under a beautiful tent adorned with string lighting. To soften the ceiling and create a more warm and inviting vibe, we added loose and natural greenery to the lights – perfect touch! The guest tables included a variety of designs elements including ceramic compotes, candles, geometric terrariums, and gold metal vases. We could not be happier with the overall design for Ally and Eric. It was truly a magical day, and we are so proud to have been a part of making their wedding day so special!

How the couple met… Eric and I met a little over 3 years ago. I was at Punch Bowl Social at the Domain with one of my friends and we were just about to leave when Eric walked in with a couple of his friends. I immediately saw him walk in and couldn’t take my eyes off of him! He was exactly my type and I knew I wanted to talk to him, so I watched him walk around the bar to get a drink and waited to make eye contact. When we did he immediately came over and started talking to us. I felt an instant connection to him and honestly knew I wanted to marry him right then and there. I also found out that Eric and his friends almost didn’t even go to Punch Bowl that night and it was Eric’s last minute decision to stop by before heading home! I truly believe our paths crossed by a chance of fate.

As he was getting my phone number at the end of the night his phone died and he ended up not saving my info! To my surprise I got an instagram message from Eric the next day saying he remembered where I worked and typed in “Blonde Faith Salon Avery Ranch” on google which took him to the website and our employee staff page. During his wedding toast he thanked my boss for including this page because he was able to find my last name and searched for my instagram to get the rest of my number! When we started talking we quickly found out that we were practically neighbors living at The Domain! We had our first date 3 days later and quickly fell in love. We were brought into each others life at the perfect time and fate truly brought us together.

How he proposed… We were in San Diego visiting for a trip and went to Point Loma to the Sunset Cliffs, which is where Eric Proposed. It was so special, romantic and beautiful, the best day of my life.

From the Bride… Getting ready with everyone was such a fun part of the wedding day! I got ready at the venue with my bridesmaids, my mom and mother in law. It was so nice to be able to get ready at the venue and not worry about driving to the ceremony after getting hair and makeup done. If you can get ready at your venue or nearby I for sure recommend it! Make sure to buy waters, snacks like finger sandwhiches, fruit and veggies! And don’t forget the champagne! I gifted my bridesmaids with a cute box they could put all their items in with their initial on them. In each box I had: Kendra Scott Earrings that matched their dress (if you mention you’re getting the earnings for your wedding party you can get a discount on your purchase depending on how many pairs your buying!), a champagne flute that said bridesmaid, maid of honor, or mother of the bride/groom and a pair of silver flip flops to change into later. I also got them silk robes with their names on them. I wanted to get them robes they could wear again, so I choose to put their first names instead of “bridesmaid”. I choose to get robes that matched the color of the dresses and I got my mom and mother in law dark navy colored robes to match the color scheme! I also had the hangers made with their names on them as well!

Choosing the attire for the bridal party was one of the most difficult wedding planning decisions for me. I knew I wanted neutral colors but that was about it. It was hard to make a decision between mis-matched bridesmaid dresses, the suit colors, and the bridesmaid dress colors! Ultimately after reaching out to my photographer and wedding planner (who are both super detail oriented, and a little OCD like me) they helped me make a decision that would look best and flow nicely in photos. Our photographer explained that darker suits always make the dresses pop! So true! Especially against the white dress. And dark colors for groomsmen tend to photograph better and look more “fancy and elegent” She explained her opinion on keeping the groomsmen and groom in the same colors tends to look more cohesive, rather than having the groom in a separate color than the groomsmen. This made me realize I wanted everyone in the same color palettes, because I am lover of all things cohesive! For someone who has her entire closet color coordinated, I don’t know why I was thinking mismatched dresses would work for me… haha. We ended up choosing black suits for the guys and light grey dresses for the bridesmaids! Each bridesmaid got to choose her own neckline, which I loved. They were able to pick a dress that worked best with their body type, and it still looked “mismatched” but with the same colors!

And now….the DRESS! AHH, I miss my dress. I wish it was acceptable to wear it for date night on the weekend. So, I was never one of those people who thought about their wedding dress before getting engaged! So I had no idea what to get, or what style I wanted. But when I tried this one on…I knew! I would recommend trying on all the different styles of dresses until you find one that you like! One of my favorite moments of the day was my bridesmaids “first look” It was so fun to put my dress on and see their reaction! Eric and I didn’t do a first look, so it was really sweet and fun to do something like this with my girls! I loved the lace detail, of my dress and the long train. I added the lace sleeves to match the lace on the dress, and opted for a long veil with lace to match my dress as well!

We got our invitation suite from Minted.com. It was SO easy to use, affordable, and ships fast! They give you 10 free samples, (we ordered like 30 haha) We wanted everything to be cohesive and simple. We used our wedding website for guests to RSVP, and it was a great way to save money on stamps and envelopes! Since we had a smaller guest count I think it worked great. I think guests found it more convenient to RSVP online rather than sending back a response in the mail. One of my favorite decor elements from the day were these marble escort place cards I had made for our head table and the custom seating chart mirror design. I didn’t do assigned seating for each table, instead I did assigned seating for our head table with the escort cards, and then the seating chart mirror to help direct each guest to their assigned table. It saved the headache of assigning each guest to a specific seat, and they got to choose where they sat within their assigned table.

@haleywynndesigns KILLED it on the escort cards and mirror designs. Another awesome thing is being able to use the beautiful mirrors after the wedding! They were super easy to wipe off after the wedding, and look beautiful in our apartment. I got the mirrors from Home Goods! Our florist created the most beautiful floral arrangements and boutonnieres. I wanted simple bridesmaid bouquets, that incorporated the natural elements of our outdoor venue. We had an elegant, tuscan theme for our floral decorations. Since our ceremony site was beautiful, we didn’t have to spend too much to decorate it. Our florist decorated our ceremony tree with a beautiful floral design, and added beautiful greenery to the top of our tent! We created cohesion by adding that greenery to the seating chart, welcome table, and welcome sign. We incorporated a lot of loose greenery, with simple designs for our head tables. We also had little bud vases with simple roses, and candles throughout the reception tables and head table!

I made all of the signage for our wedding from a template on etsy for $10! Click here for the link. I bought the table number frames from amazon, and bought the other frames and easels from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. Instead of a guestbook that we would never look at again, we had custom wine bottles made for guests to sign! Our photo booth was a huge hit! We had a custom marble backdrop (cue the marble escort cards) and I ordered the cutest photo booth props from Amazon from here and here! Such a small investment, that made the night SO fun!

Our wedding planner was a godsend. Having a wedding coordinator for our wedding was the BEST decision. She took so much stress off of us the days leading up to the wedding and the day of. Our wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as beautiful without her.

Our wedding day was without a doubt the best day of my life. During the wedding planning process I worried so much– about all the little details and in the end, it all turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I was so nervous, up until the minute I was standing in front of Eric at the ceremony site. As soon as I was standing in front of him, all of my nerves went away, and I said our vows with confidence and excitement. I have never felt so happy, and joyous in my entire life.

Here are a few ways we saved money on our wedding:

Veil: Purchase your veil from Etsy or from your seamstress. My veil was about $100 vs $400+ at the bridal shop.

Shoes: Again, my shoes were about $60 from Nordstroms. I wore them for 15 minutes and then changed into flip flops. Theres no need to spend $200+ on shoes that you wear for 15 minutes.

Suits: Eric’s suit and the groomsmen suits were all under $250, and they got to keep them. We got them from a local suit shop in Austin! The Black Tux is also a good option!

Pretty Ceremony Site: We saved a lot of money not having to decorate our ceremony site because it was so beautiful even without any added decorations!

Small Bridal Party: Depending on what you are gifting your bridesmaids, and if you’re paying for part of their hair or makeup, I would estimate spending at least $100 per bridesmaid (and thats low). Having only 5 bridesmaids helped us out with our budget as well!

DIY Table numbers, menus, and other signage: Instead of buying table numbers or menus, I downloaded an etsy template and printed them myself using cardstock, and a paper cutter! It cost me about $20.

Inexpensive Invitations: Minted has great options for inexpensive invitations and they usually have discounts during any holiday! Save money on stamps by personally giving the invitation to people you see often.

Linens: My wedding planner from Blue Sparrow Events said that some people spend about $40+ on each table linen! Ours were less than $30 for ALL FIVE of our guest tables combined and they looked beautiful!

Programs: You don’t really need wedding programs. They get thrown away or used as fans

Guest List: We had about 55 people at our wedding. We kept it small by only having very close friends and family at the wedding. We honestly didn’t invite anyone we didn’t have a close relationship with. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Obviously having a small guest count saves money on food. But also allowed us to have fewer guest tables, fewer linens, less floral decor, less alcohol needed, fewer invitations, and more time to spend with each person and the list goes on. Having a smaller wedding was so great if you can swing it!

Catering: We saved money on catering by having a buffet style dinner and having one entree with a pasta as a “side” rather than having 2 entrees!

Cake: We got a very small cake, enough to feed our guest count perfectly, and didn’t save the top tier.

One location: We had our getting ready, ceremony and reception all in one spot. This saved us money on transportation. We didn’t have to hire any transportation other than our getaway limo for our wedding day.

Bachelorette Party: We choose to stay in Austin for my bachelorette party, which saved on travel expenses for sure!

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Honey Gem Creative

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Menswear

The Tie Bar

Spring 2015

Spring/Summer 2015

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A 21st Century Gothic Fairytale at Brazos Hall

This isn’t your typical white-on-white country club summer wedding, ladies and gentlemen… this is oh so much more than that. We are genuinely amazed by the sheer creativity and unique personality that’s pouring out of this stunning wedding. Wild Sky Events and Clementine Botanical Art truly brought every detail of the bride’s vision to life with the 21st century gothic fairytale wedding of her DREAMS! Feather & Twine captured every must-see moment of the day, down to the bride and groom’s adorable pup! Keep on reading to take a peak inside the most jaw-droppingly original wedding ever.

What were your style goals for your day?

From the bride.. We wanted a whimsical, gothic 21st century fairytale vibe. Hence, the black cake, black plates, and fairy garden floral design. I wanted to be that gothic fairy princess, thus I chose minimalish makeup and a braided hairstyle to pair with my Alon Livné White long sleeve dress.

How did you want your wedding to FEEL?

We wanted the wedding to feel super relaxed and fun and non-traditional. We really wanted our guests to not have to worry the entire weekend. Thus, we made sure the hotels, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and wedding venue were all walkable. We wanted our guests to be well fed, so we made sure to pick out a DELICIOUS dinner menu and have ALL the desserts.

What were special details that you infused that may have been fun for guests or for you guys?

The photo booth- getting to look back on all of the goofy pictures was a joy and people were lining up to do it. Also, the neon “The Johnson’s” sign was a real hit: it was a great photo op location and we love our photos with the sign. We now have it hanging in our home! The dessert selection was also a treat: it allowed everyone to sample a plethora of delicious goodies from Feathers and Frosting along with the heavenly carrot cake. I have a HUGE sweet tooth and wanted the guests to enjoy lots of goodies.

Most memorable moment?

The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle and seeing all of our friends and family gathered together with the biggest smiles on their faces. The sun was shining down the aisle, the guitarist was playing my favorite song, and the flowers were perfect, it was pure perfection. Marrying my best friend was the best day of my life.

Any advice to brides?

Start early and front end load. Planning a wedding is stressful enough without procrastinating. The best thing I did for myself was getting the vast majority of things taken care of months in advance- from selecting the vendors (I reserved the venue the day after we got engaged) to buying a dress and getting it altered, do it early so you have less to worry about as the big day gets closer.

Any mistakes you made or things you would have done differently?

I would have spent more time taking care of myself on the actual day. I stayed up to late dancing at my welcome party the night before the wedding, didn’t drink enough water the entire weekend, definitely didn’t get enough sleep, so by Sunday I felt like I had been run over by a truck. It was the best weekend of my life, but I wish I had spent a little more time drinking water. With that said, I’ve never had so much fun and everything was truly perfect.

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La Tavola Fine Linen Rental

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Wild Sky Events

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Rehearsal Dinner with Texas Hospitality at Guero’s in Austin

What do you get when you combine a love for Tex-Mex, good music and all of your favorite people in the world (and a few margaritas)? The best. rehearsal. dinner. ever. That’s exactly what this Bride & Groom did, with the help of 36th Street Events, to welcome guests to their wedding weekend. It has a cozy, at-home vibe and by the looks of every image from Brett Heidebrecht the smiles and laughter were proof of a great kickoff.

From Brett Heidebrecht… To open up events for their May wedding weekend in Austin, TX, the bride and groom welcomed all wedding guests to their rehearsal dinner Friday night. The bride, originally from Texas, and the groom, originally from Connecticut, met in California and had guests from all over the world visiting making a weekend of their wedding celebration. For the rehearsal dinner, they wanted to welcome their guests with good food, music, and warm Texas hospitality.

With the help of 36th Street Events, they transformed Guero’s – a favorite local Mexican restaurant with an outdoor beer garden – into a hacienda-style party with dinner and dancing. Margaritas and sangria were served during cocktail hours as country band Aaron McDonnell and The Neon Eagles played and Texas Two-Step instructors gave out-of-staters a dance lesson.

The evening included a Tex-Mex buffet with tables covered in native florals, adding a colorful fiesta-inspired flair to the festivities. Table decor included terracotta ceramics overflowing with fresh pomegranates, prickly pear and citrus fruits, a mix of cactus, succulents, and rich color palette provided by bougainvillea and dahlias. After dinner, dances, and toasts from the wedding party and parents of the groom, the bride and groom surprised guests with freshly-made churros that took them well into the Friday night downtown.

Photography: Brett Heidebrecht Photography | Floral Design: Rosehip Flora | Entertainment: Aaron McDonnell & The Neon Eagles | Venue: Guero's | Planning & Design: 36th Street Events

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A Timeless Tented Wedding at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

There’s nothing quite like that timeless beauty of a Spring wedding reception underneath a sprawling Sperry tent, am I right?! Add a few arrangements of green and white flowers, white table linens, charming cross-back chairs and there you have it – our recipe for the perfect, classic wedding. With planning from 36th Street Events, floral design by Rosehip Flora and all captured flawlessly (duh!) by Brett Heidebrecht – this perfect day embodies the classic tented wedding of our dreams.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was an easy choice for The bride and groom. They fell in love in California and enjoy the outdoors, so bringing their wedding guests to a venue that celebrates and conserves the central Texas native landscape was a natural pick. Despite their love of the venue, it would be a challenging location for their 180 person wedding, and they set out to find a team that could execute the vision for an immersive, indoor-outdoor experience for their guests. 36th Street Events and Contigo Catering were up to the challenge.

They transformed the already beautiful center into a garden oasis, showcasing the Texas Hill Country. Guests entered the venue through a walk under sandstone aqueducts, reflecting the history of Spanish Colonial times in the region. Upon entering the central courtyard, guests were greeted with champagne and serenaded with music from a Spanish guitar trio before entering the great hall for the wedding ceremony.

With high ceilings, limestone walls, and floor to ceiling windows overlooking a dramatic vista of wildflower fields, the bride and groom added only an arbor over the altar for a simple, structural backdrop to their wedding vows. Guests could gaze over the bucolic meadow, the perfect bridge between the indoors and the natural splendor outside, as they awaited the bride. Suited to the season, the bride chose an organza Reem Acra wedding gown with a corseted bodice hand-stitched in chantilly lace and overlaid with an off-the-shoulder bolero. In true Texas fashion, she wore custom, caramel colored boots by Luchesse. Bridesmaids wore dresses in champagne-colored chiffon and emerald onyx earrings, keeping with the wedding’s color palette. The groom, in Texas summer tradition, wore a white dinner jacket by Zegna with a boutonniere made of a single white gardenia.

As the ceremony ended, floor-to-ceiling doors swung open, surprising the guests with the sound of a full Mariachi band kicking off cocktail hour. The Mariachi band then led all guests through the gardens of the Wildflower Center, replete with passed champagne, as guests strolled through the displays of native plants on the way to the reception lawn. The garden stroll opened up to a beautiful meadow, where guests were greeted with Contigo Catering’s fabulous array of Texas-inspired hors d’oeuvres and an oyster bar. Guests mingled outside of the 80 ft. Sperry tent with signature cocktails – spicy margaritas and Yankee mules, a salute to the bride and grooms’ backgrounds. Inside the grand tent, 36th Street Events and Rosehip Floral created a natural extension of the venue’s native gardens. Fresh branches and greenery were added to the tent poles to create the feeling of an arboretum inside the space. A wall of live plants was added as a backdrop to the main bar, which served as a natural break between the bar and the dance floor.

Tables were covered in cream linens, and decorated with copper vessel; place settings were kept simple with copper flatware, glass chargers, and personalized menus. Table arrangements incorporated native grasses and seasonal blooms, accented by sumptuous bowls of figs, pears, and grapes. Calligraphy for the invitation suite was provided by the bride in her own handwriting. San Francisco-based Dependable Letterpress realized the bride’s vision for an elegant and personal design, including hand-painted watercolor maps of the venue and the entire weekend’s locales. A collection of vintage stamps, showcasing Texas history and natural flora in the bride’s color palette of cream, champagne, and emerald, decorated the front of each envelope. At the reception, each guest received their place cards with a handwritten note from the bride and groom. Guests were given custom majolica tiles designed by the bride.

The dinner menu by Contigo served up elevated southwestern fare. The bride, who loves to host dinner parties, wanted the dining experience to make guests as feel as comfortable as they would be in their own homes. A plated salad of green bean, zucchini, arugula, peaches, house-made ricotta, and roasted onion vinaigrette was followed by pork shoulder with charred eggplant puree and leek salsa verde. Sides were served family style: grilled corn, avocado, and ancho creme fraiche; duck confit, shishito peppers, and pickled watermelon rind; and a seasonal salad of roasted beets, pickled rhubarb, pistachio, and purslane.

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Bringing Garden Vibes to an Austin Ballroom at Hotel Ella

This Austin wedding is proof that you don’t have to stick with just one wedding style. Nope, mixing and matching can be downright gorgeous. Highland Avenue planned a day that blends bright and happy garden vibes with a classic ballroom backdrop, a champagne truck (!!!) and layers upon layers of sherbet colored blooms by Gypsy Floral. Get inspired to think outside of the traditional wedding style box with this collection of stunning images captured by Sophie Epton.

We met in Texas but do not live in the lone star state anymore. When we got engaged, we couldn’t think of a better spot to get married, than the place that brought us together! We chose to host a destination wedding in Austin, one of our favorite cities in the world.

We decided against a fully outdoor setting due to the inevitable Texas heat but really wanted to bring summer garden vibes indoors. Our florist, Gypsy Floral, helped achieve this with bright peonies and english roses and lots of deep greens, including a gorgeous greenery installation above the head table.

We held our ceremony at Central Christian Church, a beautiful downtown sanctuary. Bret’s youth pastor and a longtime family friend married us. Our reception was close by at Hotel Ella, a stunning mansion near the University of Texas campus that now serves a boutique hotel. It was the perfect mix of classic architecture and modern, updated decor. Our guests were able to enjoy the lovely veranda and pool area during cocktail hour! We then transitioned to the ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Our escort card table was particularly special to us. It featured wedding photos of our parents and grandparents. One of our favorite details was the champagne truck that greeted guests as they entered the cocktail hour at our reception! We decided on a table full of sweets for dessert, including two types of cake, mini-pies, chocolate covered strawberries and more. We also tried to incorporate small bits of our hometowns through the favors at the end of the night. We selected sea salt caramels from Alexandra’s hometown and beef jerky from Bret’s. Bret booked the getaway car – he loves Teslas, so we rode off in one at the night’s end after a sparkler send-off!

It sounds like such a cliche, but it really was the best day. We envisioned being surrounded by our closest friends and family, with lots of champagne and dancing, and that’s exactly what we got! We felt so much love and gratitude.

We also hosted several other events throughout the weekend and provided Austin-themed welcome boxes for our guests upon arrival, in hopes people would love the city as much as we do!

Riven Rock Ranch – A New Texas Hill Country Wedding Venue That Wows

Riven Rock Ranch is a terrific new event venue nestled in the serene Texas Hill Country. Our vendor team set out to showcase this rustic spot in all it’s country charm… with a little added feminine flair! Although this is a styled editorial shoot, it was as close to the real deal as you can get. Randa and Grant, have been married a little over a year now and their newlywed love was so apparent all day. By including a few real guests… some really yummy food and specialty cocktails plus a real couple (in real love), we turned this inspiration shoot into a true celebration at an amazing new Texas venue. ~ from T. Walker Photography plus a bunch of incredibly talented wedding pros!

Randa started the day by getting her hair and makeup done by Jax Studio, based out of San Antonio. She then got dressed in the main house at Riven Rock Ranch where she donned a gorgeous, sleeveless, lace Hayley Paige a-line gown with a plunging v-neckline provided by Bella Bride Boutique. She topped off the look with a pair of wedding-worthy Louboutin’s and dazzling diamonds from Nicole Mera Luxury Private Jewelry. In true feminine tradition, she also wore a stunning blush bejeweled garter from La Gartier.

Lively Events coordinated the entire day starting with a hilltop sunset ceremony that overlooked coastal fields. Chairs were provided by Peerless Events. The one-of-a-kind ceremony backdrop was made from copper tubing, hand-died cheese cloth and greenery from floral designer Reiley + Rose.

Our cocktail hour was set up on a grassy lawn directly behind the ceremony where SassTass & The Pour Horse, Mobile Bar Co served his and hers signature cocktails – Figgin Married + Lavender Bees Knees as well as a classic champagne tower. Guests enjoyed the romantic lounge seating area provided by SueBee Rentals.

Moving inside, into the reception space, a classic South Texas meal provided by Black Tie Affairs was served and included a tortilla station with fajita meats and sides. The reception decor was provided by both SueBee and Peerless and included hand-died cheese cloth, vintage glasses, gold flatware and hand-written place cards produced by Lazy Creek Designs. The head table was situated in front of the fireplace which was covered in a beautiful floral installation.

Randa & Grant also cut the 5-tier wedding cake provided by Cakes Rock!!!-SA. The hand-cut feathers covering the cake were said to have taken three days to make from scratch.

Ending the evening, the couple left in a vintage red and white, newly restored convertible Corvette.

What an amazing “almost-real” celebration. See more of this Rustic Wedding Inspiration with a Feminine Flair in the full gallery!

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Nicole Mera

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Hayley Paige

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Fall 2016

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Spring 2018

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Outdoor Austin Wedding Ceremony That Barely Beats the Rain

From Jenna McElroy’s Bride… I knew I wanted my wedding to be in Austin, with beautiful hills and greenery for an outdoor ceremony. Kindred Oaks was ideal for its gorgeous archway and covered dining area – which, it turned out, we needed! Our priest, a dear family friend, had to rush the ceremony to beat the rain, and in a photo finish, the last guest just made it inside before it started pouring buckets. Fifteen minutes later and fifteen degrees colder, we started the reception and the rain disappeared!

Our story started like any other: boy meets girl, boy texts girl, girl has father interpret texts because she didn’t believe boy liked her, girl’s father writes texts back, and before you know it, we had a first date! Just after Eric and I met in Houston, I had a job offer lined up in Austin. I decided to turn them down and stay. A year later, Eric surprised me by proposing in front of the triceratops (my favorite dinosaur) at the Houston Museum of Natural Science!

Eric and I wanted nothing more than to have a great party and memorable wedding. Our guests were in good spirits, our photos were beautiful, and our toasts were hilarious – especially my father’s! We have a ton of great pictures from Jenna McElroy that we’ll cherish forever.

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Jenny Yoo

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Intimate Emerald Green Wedding in Austin

Austinites Kate and Chris were self-proclaimed “not the marrying type.” It took eight years and an unforgettable trip to South Korea and Japan for them to decide that they did indeed want to make it official. When they got home, with the help of Lauren Field Design, they planned an intimate wedding filled with meaning and purpose. Stunning floral design by Clementine Botanical Art added to the modern yet natural vibe of the celebration. Katie Webb captured the excitement and joy of this special day. Don’t forget, there’s always more to see in the full gallery!

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Eatery Park

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From the Bride… We were never the “marrying” types. We were together eight years before we decided to get married and we certainly weren’t going to let our nuptials be traditional, either. We took our first international trip together to South Korea and Japan four months earlier. We weren’t really planning on getting married, but spending two weeks together, bonding over a lot of language barriers, missed trains, and an unforgettable experience staying at a buddhist temple with monks, we fell in love all over again. It felt new and fun and exciting, and we couldn’t wait to get married when we returned home. We wanted our wedding to be as meaningful and purposeful as possible. One of our best friends married us, our friends played the music as we walked down the aisle, our friends arranged the balloon release and our wedding planner and stylist is a close friend. Our moms were our wedding party. We wanted everything to be about us and our life’s journey that landed us in Austin. We got married on Mt. Bonnell, a famous look out point in Austin, among all the hikers, with no permit, guerrilla wedding style. We had a beautiful lunch at Olive and June, where they allowed us to create our own menu, and it was the first time they had made any of the dishes, and they were all incredible. We had chicken and waffles, quiche, and rather than serving cake, we chose our favorite dessert, beignets.

As Austinites, we could finish the day only one way, partying the night away at Austin City Limits with our friends and family and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We wanted our day to be casual, but beautiful and timeless. Our palette was inspired by Austin’s lush foliage, and contemporary architecture. Everything was white, black, gold, and offset with rich greens. Some of my favorite details were the hand-made invitations by a local Austin artist, Chris’ Austin themed socks, and our portrait guest book. We wanted our flowers to feel natural and a little wild to embrace the outdoor venue. Everything was Texas themed down to our gift bags, including mini bottles of Tito’s vodka, cans of High Brew coffee made in Austin, Texas shaped chocolates from a local chocolatier, Texas teas, and a custom nut mix from Austin Nuts. Every detail was considered down to the gold linens, green velvet ribbon coordinating with a green velvet ring box, the gold striped on the gift tags playing off the stripes in the bride’s dress, and the bride’s vintage brass candlesticks and green glass bottles in the tablescapes. I’m a Commercial Interior Designer, and my friend decorated the get-away car, my Fiat, with hand made banners, and poms made out of Interior Design practice tests.

I found my dress with my best friend, my aunt, and my mom two years before the wedding! I never thought I would like a ball gown, but it was perfect. I love the simple but flattering cut, and the stripes were so modern and unique. As established professionals, we also had the opportunity to make our registry meaningful. We got married only six weeks after Hurricane Maria finished its devastation of Puerto Rico. We chose to register with Global Giving’s Puerto Rico Recovery fund to help the hundreds of thousands of people still without power. One of my favorite moments was as I was walking up the stairs to the ceremony with my dad, a little girl said “mommy, look, it’s a princess!” I’m not much of a girly girl, but every woman wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day.

From Katie Webb… Kate and Chris had their hearts set on a fun and relaxing wedding day, which led them to plan an intimate celebration with their dearest friends and family in their home city of Austin, TX. Kate is herself an interior designer, so the visual and emotional aesthetic were highly important as she planned each detail with care and help from Lauren Field Design. Throughout the day, Chris and Kate wanted to curate the best possible experience for their wedding guests – from choosing their ceremony site at one of Austin’s most beautiful vistas, releasing big white balloons after the ceremony, providing guests with an incredible brunch at a local restaurant, and sending them off with individualized gifts, their wedding day was a true celebration inspired by the city of Austin.

From Lauren Field… We chose a chic palette of emerald green and gold metallic paired with classic black and white inspired by vintage botanical prints. We layered natural elements and soft contrasting textures throughout the design to create a rich yet subtle vibe with wood, velvet, satin, and mixed metals.

Kate and Chris’ style was very modern and elegant, with a few fun twists on traditional details. For instance, Kate wore a pair of stunning gold Keds during the ceremony since the park requires a short hike up to the top lookout point. Also, in lieu of a wedding cake, Olive and June served the most delicious beignets to guests to showcase Kate and Chris’ love for New Orleans as the sweet ending to their brunch. Everyone who contributed to this wedding did a phenomenal job, and the combination of Clementine’s centerpieces in Olive and June’s top floor room with floor to ceiling windows was breathtaking. Whites, creams, and beautiful green florals blossomed around the natural wooden chargers, emerald green velvet bows on the menus, and the gold-foiled glasses – each of them a different design. Chris and Kate had actually already taken their “honeymoon” before the wedding. They took a trip to Japan, which is where they found the designer of Kate’s wedding ring. For them, their wedding was about curating as many beautiful elements as they could to give their friends and family an incredible day of celebrating, and every detail came together with grace and beauty.

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Anne Barge

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

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See Why This Alfresco Wedding is Totally On Trend

Shibori is not just for cool interior spaces. This deep blue fabric is woven throughout the most gorgeous Austin affair captured by Sophie Epton. Combined with blush florals by Clementine Botanical Art, the romantic gardens of The Contemporary Austin and pretty alfresco details all crafted by Bird Dog Wedding, this celebration is both on trend and totally timeless.

From the Bride… The second Jared and I got engaged we knew we wanted to have our wedding celebration as soon as we could. After five years together, we didn’t want to wait any longer than we had to. We got engaged in July 2017 and married on December 2, 2017. In roughly four months we threw together the most incredible evening. We had known since even before the engagement what our dream wedding would be: a small, intimate outdoor winter wedding in Austin.

We starting the search for venues immediately and could not believe our luck that Laguna Gloria was available in December. We snatched up the date as soon as we could! After having read several wedding websites, articles, guides- I was nervous four months would not be enough time to plan everything we hoped for. The gals at Lovely Bride Houston helped me find the perfect dress from Sarah Seven and assured me timeline was no problem!

With all that covered, I knew I needed someone to keep us on track and help with all the coordinating. We live in Houston so having someone local in Austin was essential. I searched for planners and stumbled upon Bird Dog Wedding. The name jumped out at me because Jared and I had a Brittany spaniel who was our best friend. I could not believe the kismet. After one initial conversation Emily grasped our vision and moved on full speed ahead. She was so detail-oriented and well-organized, it seemed so easy to plan everything!

I have heard people say that planning a wedding is one of the most stressful times but I can honestly say I never felt that. Of course there were nerves, but never stress over the details. I knew we were in good hands. Emily has such a great relationship with all the vendors we were using and that made it a breeze. When I asked her about certain vendors: food, photography, music, hair and makeup, furniture rentals- she had an immediate answer for someone she thought would be a perfect fit. I trusted her judgment since we were on the same page with wedding aesthetic.

Pearl Hair + Makeup linked me up with two incredible stylists who made a girl who rarely gets all dolled up feel beautiful and flawless, not overdone. Sophie Epton was Emily’s one and only recommendation for me on photography and I am so lucky she was available. She was absolutely perfect and she and her husband were such a fun addition to the entire day; they made taking pictures fun and not daunting as it can sometimes feel. The pictures captured the vibe beautifully.

We could not have done any of it without such an amazing group of people using their talents to create the dream. We were surrounded by our best friends and family; my brother officiated which added such a special and personal touch to the whole ceremony. My wedding day was more than my husband and I imagined and better than we could have asked for. I would relive it every year if I could!

A Sweet Home Texas Wedding with Pure Style

This is my kind of wedding. Mainly because they served biscuits and mimosas. But also because one look through Jenna McElroy’s pretty pics and you can just feel the sense of quiet joy that made this brunch inspired celebration so very special. Color Theory Collective infused just the right amount of floral loveliness so that the beauty of the venue shone through and the focus was on the spectacular bride and her handsome groom. See it all right this way!

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Fall Weddings

From the Bride… Richard and I lived in Austin for several years, and spent a few years prior to that in Houston. It was fitting that our wedding take place where we were currently living, minimizing pragmatic planning details and giving us the chance to share our love for Austin with our out of state family and friends.

I have always envisioned a morning wedding, so a Sunday brunch setting fell quickly into place. A Sunday wedding also gave us the chance to spend the prior few days with loved ones, allowing guests to trickle in and spend the weekend exploring Austin. One of our favorite dates is grabbing brunch. I opt for something sweet and he orders something savory. We wanted our wedding to have the same low key, lazy Sunday morning vibe of those memories. I loved the idea of film photography, especially to capture soft morning light. Jenna McElroy was available and very sweet to work with. Our images truly capture the joy of our special day.

Our venue search was fairly painless – Richard found Canyonwood Ridge online and we visited and booked that same day. The chapel is actually their Plan B, but the minute we stood at the alter, surrounded by the soft fall light, we knew it was where we would say our “I do’s”. Dagar’s Catering did an immaculate job of organizing my thoughts on the menu, building a cohesive proposal that fit our budget and the casual Sunday brunch vibe. Plates were piled high with brioche French toast, Texas field greens salad, quiche Florentine, rosemary roasted potatoes, honey baked ham, fruit and fresh buttermilk biscuits. My Dad is a master at the grill and our day couldn’t be complete without his slow cooked, pulled pork BBQ. We served assorted Shiner beers, Tito’s hard lemonade with crushed strawberries, bottomless mimosas, rose, and champagne. Prior to the reception, my Mom put together a beautiful spread of cheeseboards on the patio. The September weather was a dream – balmy and bright, with thankfully low humidity.

Each of our vendors did a wonderful job. Our wedding colors were cabernet and blush, and the organic beauty in Color Theory Collective’s florals was certainly a highlight. They were consistent to work with and delivered phenomenal florals, aligned with the vision I described and right on target in my budget – even including orchids in my bouquet, just like my Mom and Grandma had carried. Innumerable details were left up to one of my best friends, Megan Alexander, who selflessly gave up her every free minute to help me orchestrate our special Sunday.

We did a few things to maximize our budget: I found my dress through a lady who buys wedding dresses via sample sales and EBay, and I only paid $100 for it upfront. Our paper suite (invites, programs) I found on as an Etsy download, which I then customized, printed and cut myself. Our wedding cake was lovingly made by my Grandma and Aunt. I also ordered a Chantilly Berry cake from Whole Foods the week of – because when is there ever enough cake! My sisters stepped up and helped too: one shrewdly made 150 napkins out of IKEA dish towels, another picked up flowers locally and made the flower crowns. My bridesmaid found our yummy biscotti favors via a fantastic vendor on Etsy (Berkshire Biscotti) and then personalized the packaging by hand (they even offered gluten free and dairy free options too!) A friend from college does fantastic lettering (Rachel Chen) and offered to do all my signage for cost and materials as a gift. The alcohol was bought wholesale through my parent’s friends, and my Mom bought all the champagne glasses on sale, keeping them after the wedding for my other sister’s weddings (four little sisters!)

Planning your wedding can feel overwhelming but driving away with my husband into the dusk, off to Santorini on our honeymoon, the world couldn’t have felt more perfect and I would plan it all over to replicate that feeling of pure joy!

This Laid Back Austin Wedding Is Looking Pretty in Pink

If you’ve been a reader of Style Me Pretty for a little while now, it will come as no surprise to you that we have a love affair with pretty in pink weddings, but it can be a challenge to keep the popular bridal color palette looking new and unique. Enter today’s wedding photographed by Krystle Akin and filmed by Moonlit Weddings. By using every variation of the shade – lightening it up to champagnes and ivories and darkening it to pops of deep and rich burgundy plus every pinkish hue in between – Heavenly Day Events created a whimsical and fresh, almost ombre effect. We’re loving it, and we know you will too, so head right this way…

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Colors

Seasons

Summer Weddings

Settings

Vineyard

Styles

Rustic

From the bride… Nathan and I met while working at our local Freebirds in College Station a few months before he shipped out for the Navy. I wasn’t looking for anything at that point in my life due to school, but he just stepped in at the right moment. We talked as friends before he shipped out, but after a long radio silence due to basic training, it unexpectedly turned into something else. We had our first date in Chicago. We visited the Cloud Gate sculpture, went to the top of the Willis Tower, ate at Navy Pier, took a stroll in Millennium Park, and ended the day watching Limitless. It was magical in every sense and is still one of the most cherished days of our life together today!

In 2015, I had to move to Dallas to start an internship for grad school. Nathan and I have a tradition of taking photos during our anniversary. On our 4th anniversary as a couple, he proposed during that session. I’m so happy to have caught that moment and have it in print and was equally thrilled to start planning the wedding of our dreams!

We had two years to plan our wedding due to majority of our guests flying from the Philippines. We embraced every moment of planning and loved every weekend we spent in Austin doing so. We wanted to showcase what Texas had to offer to our guests as well as share a piece of our new home state, so we chose Austin and Dripping Springs. It represents our personalities – quirky and fun yet laid back! As far as a theme, we did not have one in mind when planning our vision; we just knew that we wanted it to be ethereal. When we toured Ma Maison, we saw our vision come to life, and it just all came together after that!

It’s difficult to find a favorite moment, but I think our best memory of that day was just having everyone there! Their presence, especially my 96 year old grandmother, meant so much to us. To have everyone fly from all over the country and the world to witness our vows and meet Nathan was the most amazing experience we have ever been gifted.

My advice to brides would be to fully trust in the team you’ve chosen to execute your vision and your big day. Things will go wrong during the day of, but embrace this fact early on. The industry professionals you’ve hired have probably encountered this before, and they will work around it flawlessly (as ours did). I look back on our big day and honestly remember the happiest of times and none of the things that went wrong. In the end, we were surrounded by pure love, and that’s all that matters.

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Wedding Dresses

Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

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C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

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C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

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Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

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Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

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Ines Di Santo

Fall/Winter 2015

Spring/Summer 2016

Fall/Winter 2016

Spring/Summer 2017

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Stella York

Fall 2014

Spring 2017

EveryBody/EveryBride Fall 2017

Fall 2017

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The Prettiest Pastels For This Al Fresco Fall Wedding

A no-show sun didn’t stop the fun – or the beauty at this Texas wedding. Far from it to be exact; the Bride is beaming, her maids are magic and the florals are absolutely gorgeous, thanks to Color Theory Collective. Brittany Jean and Little Gray Films captured them in all their pretty pastel hued glory and we’re left wishing that we were actual guests at this al fresco fete. See more in our gallery right this way!

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From Brittany Jean Photography… Lauren and Kurt may have been married on a sun-less fall day, but you would have never known being surrounded by all the bright, beautiful pastel florals beautifully curated by Color Theory Collective all day! As soon as the ceremony ended the guests were ushered to Addison Grove’s newly concreted grove where they shared their first dance amongst their guests holding sparklers around them. It was truly magical. Kali with Kindle + Gather designed this wedding with an intentional approach – she created the layout to encourage guest mingling during the reception, which also provided a large dance floor for the guests to enjoy throughout the evening. It was truly the perfect evening celebrating these two with everyone they love!

See Why Suspended Florals Are Here to Stay

It’s official. Suspended floral installations are here to stay. Check out this masterpiece by Bouquets of Austin at this rustic, elegant fête planned by Pearl Events Austin. Dramatic and utterly gorgeous, it was the perfect complement for this equally memorable wedding, and we’re giving it two thumbs up. Scroll on to see all the floral goodness captured by Jenna McElroy.

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From the bride… Prior to our engagement, our relationship had taken us across the country, but when Alan finally popped the question, the decision to have our wedding in Austin brought everything full circle. Alan and I fell in love with Austin, and though life brought us to a new home in Louisville, Kentucky, the city of Austin still holds both of our hearts. Alan is from Cleveland, Ohio, and as a Captain in the Army Reserves, he had guests coming from all over the country and abroad. I was born and raised in Texas and had lived in Austin for 6 years before moving with Alan to Kentucky. I was just dying to show our friends and family from across the nation, including my family from Arkansas, just how extraordinary a Texas wedding can be!

We began by choosing our wedding planner, Jennifer Seals of Pearl Events. To say that Jen was our rock is an understatement! Working with Jen felt like working with my best friend who just so happened to know everything there ever was to know about weddings. She guided us through every step of the wedding planning process and made my dreams of an elegant and rustic downtown wedding a stunning reality!

When picking our venue, we knew we wanted something a little different than many of the incredible wedding venues Austin has to offer. With so many friends and family coming in from out of town, it was incredibly important to Alan and I that our guests actually got to experience Austin! And for us, there was no place better than right in the heart of downtown! We fell in love with Brazos Hall when we saw it. It was full of this gorgeous, raw beauty with exposed beams and brick with a beautiful open-air second story that really felt like it could be anything we wanted it to be.

We really wanted our wedding to feel intimate and special for our guests. Terra Vista Strings made our outdoor, second story ceremony feel so beautiful with a mixture of classical music and special songs Alan and I handpicked for each other. Bouquets of Austin created a gorgeous, floral and greenery, asymmetrical hanging arch as the backdrop for our ceremony. The beautiful flowers, greenery, and magnolia leaves perfectly framed our ceremony in the city we love without hiding it’s beauty.

We chose to do a family-style dinner because we really wanted to be able to take the time to enjoy a meal with all of our friends and family. The Royal Fig created an incredible menu that felt comforting and indulgent at the same time. The meal we shared with our guests felt so intimate and special, but it wouldn’t have been complete without our beautiful wedding cake and groom’s cake from Simon Lee Bakery! Just in case the guests forgot that they were in Texas, we also had honey butter chicken biscuits (one of my absolute favorite fast-food indulgences) as a late night treat!

Throwing an unforgettable party that our guests would enjoy was one of the most important things to Alan and me in planning our wedding, so finding the perfect band was a daunting task. Blind Date delivered in the most incredible way! They went above and beyond to make sure that the night fit us perfectly while also making sure that all of our guests were having the times of their lives! They learned two incredibly special songs for our reception and played many more of our favorites at our request. I had mentioned to them that we both love 90s music, but I quickly followed up that I wasn’t sure that our guests could really dance to that. They managed to play N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, and a host of others, basically making my 90s fan girl dreams come true! They made the night so incredibly special for us, and we didn’t leave the dance floor until the flower petals started flying!

Our dance floor was highlighted by a beautiful and enormous hanging structure of flowers, candles, and greenery crafted by the floral gurus at Bouquets of Austin. I really wanted something incredible to make the venue feel like ours. Rather than having tall centerpieces, I fell in love with the idea of displaying mountains of our gorgeous wine and blush flowers and greenery hanging across the room over our head table. Bouquets of Austin made all of my flower-loving dreams come true – and then some! – with the beautiful hanging floral structure (which I so lovingly nicknamed “Steve”) that they created for us.

To top off our reception, we were lucky enough to have Hannah Lee live-painting our reception! Our guests loved getting to watch her recreate our wedding reception in a painting from start to finish. She was able to encapsulate so many little details and so much love on one canvas that Alan and I will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Our wedding day was far beyond anything that we could have imagined for ourselves! To say that it was the best day of our lives feels like an understatement. The stunning photos we received from Jenna McElroy serve as a daily reminder of just how blessed and loved we are and just how much we love each other. The memories we made on that day will carry us through a lifetime, and we are so so incredibly lucky to have such beautiful photos to share with our loved ones who helped to make our wedding day so very special.

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Wedding Dresses

Hayley Paige

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Spring 2013

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Spring 2016

Blush by Hayley Paige

Hayley Paige Occasions

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

Blush by Haley Paige

Spring 2018

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Unabashed Love for The Lone Star State Brought Them Together

They may be New Yorkers now but this Bride and Groom are true Texans at heart. Great mexican food and an unbridled love for The Cowboys put them on the path to everlasting love and when it came time for wedding planning, the location was a no brainer. Held at The Contemporary Austin, this outdoor celebration designed by 36th Street Events and floraled by Sweetwater Stems, is a mix of easy breezy neutrals and a nod to Midsummer Night’s Dream. Pore through every last gorgeous image photographed by Brett Heidebrecht right here.

From theBride… Spencer and I are native Texans so it seemed only appropriate to get married back home. We’re both originally from Dallas and we also separately attended The University of Texas at Austin so, needless to say, both cities hold a special place in our hearts. Now, I suppose we are New Yorkers but having that instant connection, those down-home Texas roots, was really instrumental in getting to know each other. You can imagine how nice it was to be with someone who understood things like . . . Texas football, good Mexican food and Bluebell Ice Cream. Plus, we’re both Cowboys fans living in New York City, so that immediately shot-gunned us to the realms of everlasting love.

All that said, it was important to us that we get married where our families raised us – in The Lone Star State. The question became “where”? As any bride, I wanted our wedding to be beautiful and timeless, but we also wanted to make it convenient for our family and friends who would be traveling from all across the country. We chose Austin, which was always high on my list because of it’s laid back feel. The City also catered to the intimacy we were seeking. It didn’t take long for us to settle on Laguna Gloria, an outpost of The Contemporary Austin, just minutes from downtown and serenely situated on Lake Austin. After visiting the site, I knew immediately it was the perfect fit. I love old historical buildings and Spencer really wanted to be outdoors; so it’s lush sculpture gardens and winding secret pathways nestled along the lake made the perfect backdrop for our intimate affair. Choosing The Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria made the rest of the planning process easy. Spencer and I just wanted an evening under the Texas stars, eating good food, drinking good drink and spending quality time family and friends. Of course, great music and a boppin’ dance floor was important, too!

I had the help of a superstar wedding coordinator, Ren Newey from 36th Street Events. I told her my vision which included words like “ethereal” and “whimsical” and “midsummer night’s dream” – and gave her a gentle color palette of whites and off-whites that would enhance and not compete with the venue’s natural setting and flora. We also chose to tip our hat to my Mexican heritage from my father’s side by serving family-style Mexican cuisine. Ren executed all of this to perfection. She worked with my budget (which I loosened in some areas and buttoned up in others) and helped me secure a fantastic caterer and team of wedding vendors.

On our wedding day, I woke up to torrential rain and whipping winds (every bride’s biggest fear, especially for an outdoor wedding). Yet somehow, I knew everything was going to okay. I was getting married! And I was surrounded by my closest friends and bridesmaids who were keeping me cool and making me laugh as we got ready for the big day. And sure enough, by late morning, the clouds parted, the sun was shining and we were off to the races. My bridesmaids wore various styles of blush/nude colored silk chiffon gowns and my flower girl, also my future step-daughter, wore a simple white play dress adorned with rosettes at the waist. The grooms all wore navy suits including Spencer’s best man, his eleven year-old son.

Spencer and I chose not to do a “first look” with photographs before the ceremony, so the first moment we saw each other was when I walked down the aisle making it all the more joyful. We were both completely filled with emotion. Our ceremony was held in the late afternoon and was presided over by a Presbyterian minister, who we chose not only because of his long-standing relationship with my grandparents, but because we trusted him to perform a beautiful interfaith marriage. He incorporated aspects of each of our faiths mixing in traditions from both Catholic and Jewish ceremonies. (I’m Catholic and Spencer is Jewish). This was not only important to us but it was important to both of our families. To end the ceremony and commence the celebration my siblings surprised us with a mariachi band, secretly replacing the originally planned string quartet. This brought the house down, putting huge smiles on our faces and everyone else’s around us. It also set the tone for a great evening, kicking off with a cocktail hour featuring tacos, a queso/guacamole bar and ice-cold margaritas, and followed by chili rellanos, spinach and mushroom enchiladas, chili rubbed beef tenderloin and plenty of traditional sides for dinner. After dinner, we cut the cake and danced for hours on end to Motown music from the Matchmaker Band. It was truly a night to remember.

Brett Heidebrecht did an incredible job photographing our wedding weekend – from the Friday night honkey tonk hoedown to our wedding night beneath the Texas sky. He perfectly captured the essence of those days, the emotions and the joy. We cannot thank him, Ren and the rest of the team enough for making it an extraordinary affair and we are so grateful for our loving family and friends who were there to be a part of it all.

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1. Add art reminiscent of the beach…

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