Austin Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Austin Garden Wedding Filled With Fabulous Fall Foliage

This Austin wedding day will take your breath away. Two Be Wed helped fill the day with special touches, like a neon escort card display that read, “with my whole heart.” From the garden ceremony to the tented reception,Stems Floral designed romantic arrangements that help bring our couple’s love story to life. If all that’s not enough to get the happy tears going, just wait until you see the beautiful bridal portraits shot against the most incredible foliage by Jeff Brummett, You can see every magical moment in the full gallery.

From Jeff Brummett… Conlee and Forrest’s wedding at Mattie’s At Green Pastures was so full of joy! From the emotional first look to the stunning ceremony, there were lots of happy tears being shed. Their friends and family were an important part of the day as well. The couple wanted to make sure everyone felt appreciated and had a great time. Of course, Mattie’s At Green Pastures is an Austin treasure and made for the perfect backdrop.

From the bride… Our ceremony was full of emotion, including floods of happy tears from Forrest and guests. My cheeks hurt by the end from smiling so big the entire time. It was intimate, 91 of our closest family and friends watched us exchange handwritten vows, commit to each other for life, and share our first kiss as husband and wife. I walked into the ceremony with my dad to “I’ll Stay” by Matt Stinton. Forrest picked the song before we were ever engaged. He said it made him tear up the first time he heard it and knew it was what needed to play as I walked down the aisle to him. We walked out to Hall and Oates “You Make My Dreams Come True.” Forrest was a mess, it was only my second time to ever see him cry. I loved every second of his emotions pouring out. Our backdrop was incredible. We were both obsessed with the monochrome gold tones. The fall foliage fit into our color scheme and let my white dress and his blue tuxedo pop. It was time we needed to soak in what was about to happen, the vows we were about to share, the commitment we were about to make. A chance to embrace each other for the last time before being husband and wife. This was when Forrest also gave me a handmade print he made of our wedding logo that I designed. He is an incredible artist and I had begged him for over a year to make me something, and I finally got it. It was so special and I’ll treasure the piece and memory forever.

The florals were what I was most excited to see come to life on our Austin wedding day. I was dead set on an aisle runner and a large, lush arch. I wanted ivory tones for the ceremony and to have the reception florals carry the colors of cocktail hour. We wanted the reception to feel like a natural progression of the evening. Low centerpieces were intentional to encourage conversation across the table. The florals were meant to enhance the venue, not steal the show. The vibe I was aiming for was an upscale, intimate, garden wedding. I wanted it to feel lush with flowers. Every aspect of the decor would feel intentional and meaningful. We both wanted the guests to be able to feel how special they are to us and how much we love each of them. Our wedding was planned around our loved ones first. Their experience was foremost on our minds. We wanted to show them our gratefulness and make our wedding a happy memory for everyone.

Modern Romance Meets Garden Chic At The Arlo

What happens when you mix a real-life couple, a hot new wedding venue, and a team of talented vendors? Wedding magic, of course! 787 Event Design & Production dreamed up a beyond romantic day mixed with modern design elements that all pairs perfectly with the beautiful backdrop of Texas Hill Country. Floral installations by Gypsy Floral are almost too good to be true, featuring beautiful blooms in shades of mauve, rust, honey, and blush. The incredible inspiration and carefully curated details are all exquisitely captured in the imagery by Julie Wilhite Photography, you can see it all in the full gallery.

From Julie Wilhite Photography… When a new venue opens up in Austin, and it is as incredible as The Arlo, you get so inspired to do a shoot there! The Arlo fills a much-needed space for couples in the Hill Country. Its understated elegance, with modern design, provides a luxury backdrop for events and weddings of all sizes. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, between downtown Austin and Dripping Springs, it was built with every detail in mind and thoughtfully planned out to utilize the incredible landscape. Our real-life couple, Katie and Micah, were such a joy to photograph. They are so in love and were excited to be part of this shoot. To design the event, Lexie with 787 Event Design & Production came in with incredible creativity to create a romantic affair, complete with a perfectly modern color palette. A palette of mauve, rust, honey, and blush contrasted with a dusty pacific blue accent. This shoot was a burst of inspiration and fresh design while still being luxurious and romantic.

Peach Paper Design created custom stationery to match our vision: modern romance. Each product in the suite was printed on different colored paper, so guests got a glimpse into the color story of the wedding day. To style this fashionable couple, we worked with Caleigh from CHILLANN Styling. She is an incredibly talented wardrobe stylist in Austin, who often works with couples to style engagement shoots, weddings, and events! For Katie, she chose a beautifully tailored white tuxedo by The Suit Shop with a blush button-down. Micah stunned in the Elora gown by Madi Lane Bridal. It was such a dream to photograph with a soft off-the-shoulder sleeve and romantic lace motif throughout! The layers of tulle danced around as she walked, and the sunlight glowed around the couple as the sunset. For her shoes, Micah wore The Esther kitten heel from Bella Belle. The soft tulle bow tied into the tulle skirt, while the beaded lace details complimented the lace embroidery on the gown. After an intimate ceremony on the venue’s lawn, which featured a large floral installation by Gypsy Floral, we headed to the styled cocktail hour in The Courtyard. The soft blush couch tied in the pink hues in the flowers and the armless mid-century inspired chairs highlighted the clean lines of the venue floor-to-ceiling windows.

When it came to the reception, we created an intimate al-fresco atmosphere where the Texas Hill Country could take center stage. A velvet tablecloth in dusty pacific blue was styled with modern plates and silverware and tied together with the round menus. Organic floral compotes were placed along the table, while the candles added a soft glimmer throughout the evening. It was the perfect marriage of modern and romance! For dessert, Iced Cakes ATX created an incredible work of art. The five-tier cake tied in the ribbed texture of the candles, while the round sugar detail tied into the unique stationery.

Whimsical Wedding Dressed in a Citrus Palette with Modern Details

It’s elegance all the way at this sophisticated citrus-inspired workshop hosted by Jenna McElroy. Nothing says springtime better than bright shades of yellow, pink, and green and Drops of Honey Designs used this fresh color palette to plan a day that dazzles. Organic free-flowing florals by Truth & Blooms are timelessly modern yet playfully romantic. The beauty of the day is exquisitely captured in the imagery by Sarah Tribett Photography. You can fawn over all the fabulous in the full gallery.

From Sarah Tribett Photography… This shoot was designed to embody the wedding venue’s brand through the colors, patterns, and fonts that were used. Located at the brand new venue, Wish Well House, it featured whimsical elements with modern details, dressed in a citrus color palette of yellow, pink, and green accents.

The entire shoot was inspired by the wallpaper designer Morris & Co. That is seen in the staircase leading up to the bridal room. This designer beautifully combines modern and traditional design to create something timeless.

This shoot was designed with a bride in mind who isn’t afraid of pattern and color and is willing to incorporate untraditional elements into her special day, like an oyster bar for guests to enjoy! The day has classic touches yet is modern to its core.

When A Wedding Planner Gets Married You Know It’s Going To Be Good!

When a wedding planner takes her turn as the bride, you know you’re in for a treat. From clay programs to a fabulous floral fountain, this celebration is full of special touches. Kristin Ashley Events dreamed up the most utterly romantic day with floral moments from Remi and Gold that will make your heart skip a beat. You can feel the love in the imagery by Clary Pfeiffer Photography. All of the not-to-be-missed details are waiting for you in the full gallery.

From Clary Pfeiffer Photography… Our bride is a wedding planner and also a dear friend, and after the couple started looking at dates, travel, amount of people – they ultimately decided on a celebration with their family and a few special guests. One of them was their good friend who introduced the couple at her yoga retreat in Costa Rica. She is also who married the couple!

Filled with special details like gorgeous clay programs and escort cards by Carey Lowe from The Idea Emporium, there is so much to love about this wedding. From the groom’s simple green sport coat to the location for their small wedding by the sparkling water, this was a dream to photograph.

The couple’s good friend who lives in Napa sent wine pairings for the couple’s twilight dinner and gorgeous dessert plate. It was a beautiful celebration, filled with love, for a beautiful couple.

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Clary Pfeiffer Photography

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A ‘Staycation’ Honeymoon That Will Have You Rethinking Your Plane Tickets!

Before you pay for plane tickets for the ultimate destination honeymoon, you need to check out this couple’s ‘staycation’ honeymoon captured by Kristin La Voie Photography! For these two who have experienced their fair share of traveling and a partial long-distance relationship, home sounded like the perfect honeymoon for them. Lauren Field Design helped create a simple, relaxing, and romantic getaway for the couple and let their love steal the show. Check it out below and be sure to read the details of their heartwarming love story!

From Riley and Jack…Jack and I started dating 10 years ago in Charlottesville, Virginia. 6 weeks into our relationship, he’d spend 3 months in South Africa for a humanitarian project. We would speak once over the course of that summer. When he returned, it was as if we had never met. Another year together before Jack would visit South Africa again, me off to Brazil. This time we’d email incessantly, hearts aching. A few more months together before Jack would graduate and move to Nashville where he’d pursue his masters at Vanderbilt while working at their psychiatric hospital. For 2 years, every month and sometimes twice, I’d drive 18 hours to fall into his arms and revel in 48 hours together. I’d watch him grow into a strong, spirited man.

He’d support me as I navigated self-discovery. I would receive my degree and, to save something rare, I’d move to Nashville. 4 years, 3 cities and 2 countries later, on a rock in the middle of the ocean, he’d ask me to marry him. I know that the ring I wear on my finger is not materialistic nor trite. It is symbolic of something intangible, even ethereal. It stands for adventure, devotion, patience; elusive elements of any 2 humans’ bond. I look at my hand, I look at his face, I think of our 9 years together and I am amazed by our love. I think it couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be mine. But no. It is real. It is true. It is ours.

From Lauren Field Design…We were privileged to work with Riley and Jack and to tell their honeymoon story in the Hill Country of Austin. Although both of them are well-traveled, their staycation was relaxing, simple, and fun. We wanted to capture the beauty of their authentic connection in a leisurely way as they spent time together around the property.

How to Add Color to a Blank Canvas Wedding Venue With Confidence!

When it comes to blank canvases – color is your best friend. And this inspiration shoot from Callista & Company with floral design by Remi and Gold proves just that. The full gallery, captured by Allen Tsai, is loaded with pops of bright blooms and hanging installations against the clean white walls of the Prospect House. Not to mention the most gorgeous ruffled gown from Alexandra Grecco. Allow this shoot to give you a major dose of confidence to play with color at your wedding.

From Callista & Company… When Allen Tsai approached me to design a workshop shoot at Prospect House in Austin, I jumped at the opportunity to incorporate color at a venue that provides such an amazing blank palette space on such a scenic piece of land. Our design exhibited central themes of minimalism, intentionality, brights balanced by a base of neutrals, and a sense of contemporary romance.

Bold flowers tied together all aspects of the design from cocktails, to flat lays, dinner tables, stationery, the seating chart, cake, and even attire. Remi and Gold provided the most beautiful blooms, which were a cornerstone of the overall design. Grey and Cake designed contemporary color-blocked stationery paired with floral envelope liners.

Birch was carried throughout, including guest welcome gift trays, the seating chart, wood-backed dinner menus, as well as guest ceremony and dining chairs. We set a square oriented ceremony with a central hanging installation and a wall of bud vases in the background. Allen Tsai captured everything perfectly.

This Whimsical Texas Wedding Gives Us All The Feels

This Texas wedding rivals the beauty of a sunrise. We can’t help but be reminded of the loveliest time of the day as we swoon over the blush, amber, and neutral accented color palette. Lucas and Elizabeth’s wedding was full of whimsy and romance. Guests were delighted at every turn, from an outdoor ceremony featuring trees dripping with ethereal blooms to a dance floor decorated with an equally awe-inspiring balloon installation. Wild Sky Events artfully brought the couple’s fall celebration to life and Chassie of Crown of Glory Beauty matched Elizabeth’s glowing bridal look with the autumnal wedding palette. Enjoy all the fun details in the full gallery.

From Wild Sky Events… The couple wanted a wedding that felt modern, architectural, textured but also romantic. The design for this wedding was all about structure mixed with whimsy and romance. We wanted all the elements to feel purposeful and have a refined shape but not feel too modern and over-styled.

For the ceremony, Clementine Botanical Arts designed a beautiful floral installation with foraged branches, lush large blooms with an elegant line. As for the ceremony aisle, we kept it very simple with two lush arrangements and custom made thirty feet woven rug.

For the reception, we wanted to create the look of a vintage botanical greenhouse. We installed greenery on every possible surface to help create that look! For the tablescape, we focused on texture and color. Oatmeal velvet linens, paired with amber linen napkins and ceramic china complimented the lovely blush, amber, and neutral floral color palette. It came together like a dream!

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Crown of Glory Beauty

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This Couple Turned Their Centerpieces into A Flower Bar At The End of Their Wedding!

An all-white wedding with hints of light gray is what Olive & Belle planned for today’s beautiful feature at the Villa Del Lago in Austin, Texas. A stunning and, classic outdoor ceremony and reception made up for the day and Honey Gem Creative captured it all! The special couple wanted to incorporate special details for their guests including taking the centerpieces by Lovelily Flowers and creating a flower bar for guests to take home with them! Take a peek below and check out the full gallery here!

From Lovelily Flowers…Liz + Alex were absolutely dream clients of mine. They were the perfect cocktail of classic meets creative. We incorporated this feeling within the florals by keeping an all-white palette while mixing in dried, bleached, and painted foliages to add sparks of interest. They cared deeply about their guests and focused on making the night special. With that, we decided to break down centerpieces after dinner, and use these florals to create a flower bar! We handed out individually wrapped posies at the end of the evening for the guests to take home with them! It was an unforgettable night!

From the Bride and Groom…

What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning? We had a very simple vision for our wedding, we wanted three points to be covered. 1. Fun 2. Memorable and 3. Simple, Elegant and Reflective of our Personalities

What was your color palette and your style vision?

We are big fans of muted pastel colors so we tried to keep with that and ended up with blue and grey hues which ended up complimenting the day really well.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We didn’t have too many DIY details, but Elizabeth picked some really unique elements as part of the wedding which included 1 really long table for everyone to sit at, tied instead of folded napkins, a champagne tower, and fireworks!

What was your favorite moment?

Our absolute most favorite moment was seeing all of our family and friends sitting together for dinner at one long table. It’s something we will more than likely never see again so in that moment in time it was extra special.

What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?

Stay true to your self and do exactly what you want. It can be easy to get influenced by others but don’t do it, stay authentic to your desires and the day will be fun, genuine and filled with love.

How did you meet?

A love that sparked on Spring Break AND CONTINUED AROUND THE WORLD From Sweden to London. From Italy to Portugal. From Aruba to the US. Our love story began in Panama City Beach, FL back in 2010. Alex and Liz were enjoying the fruits of life on a college spring break (the kind of spring break you used to see on MTV) and bonded over a rambunctious night out. The two didn’t go to the same school nor lived in the same country but they stayed connected over the years. Their lives would go on separately for quite some time, but there was never much time passing without a gentle reminder of the presence of each other through a comment, like or text message. It wasn’t until Alex resided for a year in the US for an internship that they finally got to meet up. Alex came to Houston for a week, and instantly neither wanted to be without the other. They knew it wasn’t going to be easy as there were life commitments such as college, let alone an ocean (the Atlantic Ocean to be exact) between them. Fast forward 7 years worth of memories, many air miles earned and used and Alex turning into a fully-fledged Texan (or so he claims!) and we’re ready to share the next chapter of committing to forever with our family and friends!

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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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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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.