Texas Weddings

When you see a wedding like this, it sort of makes your Friday.  And when I say “sort of,” I mean that it totally, totally does.  Because weddings this sweet, this rustic and this fabulously fun have a tendency to put a smile on your face a mile wide… one that lasts the entire weekend.  And when it’s planned to perfection by Heavenly Day Events and features beautiful blooms from Last Petal and one gorgeous image after another from Day 7 Photography, well… even better.  Get your pretty on right here.

From the Bride… From the beginning Tyler and I said the most important thing for us is that our guests have fun. We definitely wanted it to be an easy going, casual, yet memorable time and I think we got just that! The ceremony was exactly what we wanted. We loved having our close friends and family by our side and feeling their support. It was so intimate and meaningful.

We went for a rustic theme and wanted to use items that had a vintage or antique feel. I got most of my inspiration from websites like Pinterest and Etsy. All of the chalkboards were handmade and handwritten, I also personalized our ring box.

Photography: Day 7 Photography | Videography: ILC Films | Flowers: Last Petal | Cake: Sweet Treets Bakery | Shoes: Seychelles | Engagement Ring: Bailey Banks & Biddle | Rings: Diamonds Direct | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Dagar’s Catering of Austin | DJ: Greenbelt DJ | Groom's Attire: Express | Wedding Venue: Antebellum Oaks Venue | Bridal shop: Serendipity Bridal | Photo Booth: Flipside Experience | Planners: Heavenly Day Events

For just one day, I want to live inside this photo shoot.  I want to wrap up in this gorgeous gown from Serendipity Bridal, twirl around in the stunning landscape that is the Pecan Grove and gush over my beyond beautiful bouquet from Bristol Lane Florals.  And, of course, I want Jessica Christine Photography on hand to capture all of my glee-filled revelry, because every last image of this breathtaking shoot is just puuuurrreee magic.  See it all here.

And a little slice of heaven from Stringer Productions… enjoy.

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From Jessica Christine Photography… To me, the most inspiring time of year is the season change between summer and fall. With the magic of the leaves changing and the cooler weather, time just seems to slow down a little bit giving us time to take it all in. This year as I was thinking about all these changes, I knew that I wanted to do an inspiration shoot solely based on fall. I wanted to show how brides can take fall and incorporate it into their wedding look. My goal was to portray how brides can literally take the nature around them and use it to create a look that is Fall-inspired. With a huge, rich colored bouquet, a gorgeous floral crown, a whispy dress with gold detailing, I would say the look of this session screams “Fall!” We even put a dab of purple lipstick on the model during the second half of the session to encourage brides to not be afraid to be a little bold on their wedding day or bridal sessions.

Now, in Texas, Fall seems to come sooner than later, so finding a venue that would have the fall look was a little challenging. But when I saw Pecan Grove with it’s beautiful trees, dry creek beds, gold tones shining through the trees, and a beautiful field sprinkled with little white flowers, I was hooked. The venue fit both the “bohemian” aspect and the “fall” aspect of this session.

Fall is such an inspiration, and I hope that this session shows that with the right elements, fall can radiate on a wedding day!

Photography: Jessica Scott Photography | Videographer: Stringer Productions | Florist: Bristol Lane Florals | Dress: Serendipity Bridal | Hair Stylist: Laura Needham | Wedding Venue: Pecan Grove

It seems like the understatement of the year to say that this wedding is gorgeous, but honestly… take one look at the amazing images captured by SMS Photography and you won’t be able to believe the beauty. Because this is a wedding that was planned to absolute perfection by CLINK, and from those stunning blooms by Prive Floral to the yummy treats from Simon Lee Bakery, it’s a speech-loss inducing affair like you’ve never seen.  Get your pretty on in the full gallery.

From SMS Photography… An elegant wedding at the classic Commodore Perry Estate in Austin, TX. Dana wore an elegant Vera Wang gown while Warren wore a classic black tux. Shades of pink, creams and ivory with just a hint of lavender in the bridesmaids dresses. The said their “I do’s” in the chapel on the property and then a seated dinner for all under a tent adorned with chandeliers and strands of light and dreamy fabric draping. Dancing commenced after dinner on the historic back porch of the mansion.

Photography: SMS Photography | Coordination: CLINK | Floral Design: Privé Floral | Bakery: Simon Lee Bakery | Catering: Primizie Special Event Catering | Makeup: Kiss N Make-up | Lighting: Ilios | DJ: Penguin Entertainment | Wedding Venue: Commodore Perry Estate | Music: Barton Strings | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals

When rustic chic meets crazy gorgeous details in a drop-dead gorgeous Ceres Park Ranch wedding, it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.  Especially when that gorgeous wedding happens to be chock-full of lush (+ vibrant) blooms from the always-awesome Verbena and features a duo that is sooo adorable, it puts a smile on your face a mile wide.  It’s what we call the perfect start to the work week and you can see it all captured by Cory Ryan right here in the full gallery.

From Cory Ryan Photography… Liv & Matt have been together for 10 years. 10 years! So you can bet everyone has been waiting in anticipation of this day for a while! This was quite literally one of those perfect wedding days, where the couple is SO in love, and surrounded by the sweetest and kindest friends and family one could ever hope for. And I’ll fess up, seeing how Liv and Matt look at each other made me tear up a time or two while editing these photos…

Liv’s adorable dog escorted her mom down the aisle, and the couple exchanged rings with all their nieces and nephews on stage with them. It was an emotional ceremony, performed by Matt’s brother. Verbena Floral hung gorgeous vases of flowers from the pavilion rafters, which glowed in the diffused back light . The kids (and a few awesome adults) got crazy with the hula hoops while the sun set in the Hill Country woods. Liv’s brother Glen surprised her with custom lighting all around the property and white twinkle lights under the pavilion, creating a major wow factor! The main dinner course was served on site in the farmhouse pizza ovens – and Liv & Matt even got a quick lesson on pizza making as well!

Matt, guitarist for LI’L CAPT’N TRAVIS, got up on stage more than once to play some songs with iterations of that band and many more. He even played a version of “I’m Your Puppet” dedicated especially to Liv, while transferring his guitar to Gary Newcombe with some killer dance moves mid-song and hopping off the stage to finish dancing to the song with his new bride. Sigh! His brother also played guitar on a song with him, and two younger nephews played a sweet version of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” But main band Grand Champeen really brought the rock to the party with some awesome covers and originals! Right in the middle of the rock and dance party, Liv dove off the stage and crowd surfed across the dance floor – PRICELESS!!!

Photography: Cory Ryan Photography | Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Wedding Cake: Hey Cupcake | Ceremony Venue: Ceres Park Ranch | Reception Venue: Ceres Park Ranch | Catering: Pink Avocado | Catering: STANLEY’S FARMHOUSE PIZZA | Lighting: Element Systems | Audio Production: Minor Productions | Mariachi Band: Mariachi Relampago | Reception Band: Grand Champeen

What can I say about The Nichols, other than they seriously rock my world?  It’s like this talented twosome just lives for capturing drop-dead gorgeous weddings, and when they send one of their latest masterpieces our way, it’s akin to Christmas morning.  Need proof?  Check out this darling Fredericksburg gem, an oh-so-fabulous party mixed with some of the loveliest rustic details you will ever see (thank you, Maggie Gillespie Designs).  Get your pretty on right here in the full gallery.

From The Nichols… Kristen’s classic bridal style reminded me of Grace Kelly… such a stunning bride! The neutral palette of greens and whites suited her look so well. And the chevron-patterned table runners brought in just the right touch of modern to the natural decor. We were blown away by this new Texas Hill Country venue! Boot Ranch was a beautiful backdrop for Kristen + Kyle, and although the rain moved the ceremony indoors, nothing could put a damper on this joyful celebration! 

From the bride… Kyle and I had talked about our desire to get married outside, so when we decided on my hometown of Fredericksburg, we knew we wanted to highlight the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Boot Ranch, located atop a hill with views stretching for miles, was the absolute perfect venue to do just that.

We wanted our wedding to feel comfortable and light, with the focus on bringing our family and close friends together in this beautiful place for a once in a lifetime celebration. We chose to let the beauty of the environment speak for itself, so complementary decor was selected that felt green and organic — we used clear vessels with lots of foliage and big white blooms, adding contemporary accents of chevron runners and succulents in glass, while keeping the color palette very clean and natural with greens, gray and touches of blue.

The night was filled with favorite moments: when rain showed up, our incredible design crew moved the wedding indoors so beautifully you couldn’t tell we hadn’t planned it that way. And for the rest of the night we celebrated with our friends and family, all together in one beautiful place, where we enjoyed delicious food and danced to a wonderful band that had everyone out on the dance floor all night. Altogether, the night was such a perfect one made even better with an unexpected surprise at the end. As Kyle and I made our exit under a happy shower of long sparklers, we found my dad unable to start the 1955 Bel Air convertible we were supposed to leave in. Kyle and I got into the car any way, hoping to get one last good photo. My new husband decided to give the car one more try and turned the key in the ignition — and the engine started right up as if it had been waiting for him, making that a perfect ending to a very special day.

Photography: Nichols Photographers | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Catering: Boot Ranch | Band: The Mott's | Wedding Venue: Boot Ranch | Bridal Boutique: Serendipity Bridal | Classic Car: Street Dreams | Floral and Event Designer: Maggie Gillespie Designs

Beautiful teal hues and pops of vibrant florals from Rosehip Flora aren’t the only details you’ll love about this wedding.  No, you’ll also fall head over heels for the stunning locale (Wild Onion Ranch), the adorable bride and groom and the downright amazing stylings of Bird Dog Wedding.  And when you’re done picking your jaw up off the floor, you can join me in the full gallery captured by Kristi Wright, because it’s chock-full of pretty.

From the bride… Josh and I wanted our wedding day to be relaxed and carefree. Our goal was to find a beautiful outdoor setting with a laid back feel, then add some tasty Mexican food and great music. We are both from Texas and couldn’t imagine a more fitting place than a ranch outside Austin to tie the knot! We were so excited to get married but also wanted our wedding day to be a celebration of our friends and family. I just wish we could do it all over again!

My favorite memory of the day is probably my first dance with Josh. We chose a song that meant a lot to both of us and The Nightowls played it ridiculously well. It was the first time my brain stopped for a moment and I could look my husband in the eyes and swoon. We were finally married!

Another favorite memory was the best man and maid of honor speeches. I will never forget either of them; they were amazing and so heartfelt. Still gives me the goose bumps thinking about them!

My advice for brides would be not to get caught up in the little things. Pick a few things to focus on and the rest will work out. Also, don’t be afraid to hire someone to help!

Photography: Kristi Wright Photography | Wedding dress: Lela Rose | Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori | Shoes: Michael Kors | Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering | Hair & Makeup: Erica Gray | Calligraphy: Wayfarer's Creative | Band: The Nightowls | Earrings: Alexis Bittar | Floral: Rosehip Flora | Going away dress: Parker | Locket: Jenny Watts | Photobooth: Booth66 | Printing: Della Carte Studio | Rustic Ranch: The Wild Onion Ranch | Styling + Coordination: Bird Dog Wedding

I am going to file this engagement session under “how I wished my life looked on a daily basis”. It’s absolute perfection from the tip of the bride-to-be’s gorgeous ballerina bun to the fabulous team of vendors that teamed up for the shoot  – including Verbena Floral Design, Jenn Sprinkle, Marquee Rents, and Buttoned Up Events. So I guess it goes without saying I love every image from Kelly Rucker sitting in this gallery. Check them all out here.

From Kelly Rucker…This nautical inspired engagement session celebrates the love of Roxanne and David. The couple are soon to be wed at the the beautiful Laguna Gloria in Austin, Texas. Their nautical themed engagement session was shot on the beautiful Lake Travis in Austin, Texas on a recent summer day morning- complete with a luxury boat, champagne and perfect weather. Roxanne currently lives in Dallas and David currently lives in Austin, but the two plan to unite and reside in Austin after the wedding day- so having their engagement session in the city they will soon call “home” was fitting. 

Photography: Kelly Rucker | Florals: Verbena Floral Design | Hair: Tiffany Williams | Clothes & Jewelry: Y&I | Invitations & Paper: Jenn Sprinkle | Make Up Artist: Nisa Nicole Makeup Artistry | Men's Clothers: J. Hilburn | Planning + Coordination: Buttoned Up Events | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals

You know what makes for an amazing wedding?  One pair of adorable high school sweethearts, the city of Austin and a pretty, pretty love-fest featuring all of the above.  Because when it comes to stop-you-in-your-tracks nuptials, this lovely little gem from Everest Road Photography is the epitome of awesome, complete with some of the happiest faces you will ever lay your eyes upon.  Click here for more.

From start to finish, Tyler and Emilie’s wedding was comfortable, a blast and just… well …right!

They’ve been together for almost half their lives. After ten years of knowing each others quirks, families and life plans, this day was a long time coming. He sent her off after dating through high school for four years in Aggieland while he worked hard at that University in Austin. So watching my new friend – playful, laid-back Emilie – say yes to her handsome, kind-hearted Tyler felt like such an honor to me.

And it made a lot of sense that they celebrated with an everything Austin wedding day! I’m about as crazy about this couple as I am this city… so I approved of a day that began at The Hampton Inn overlooking our state capital. After the ladies were ready, they hopped on a perfectly vintage trolley and headed to Central Christian Church…a gorgeous backdrop for their vows. Finally, they danced the night away at that building right off campus, that every Longhorn recognizes – The Mansion. And this crew can get down. Their reception was one heck of a dance party!

From the Bride… We grew up, met, and fell in love in Austin, Texas so we really wanted all our friends and family to experience our favorite city. We got ready for the wedding at the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel overlooking the capital, it was a beautiful view. Our ceremony was right down the street at Central Christian Church, the sanctuary is ornate and lovely, and it fit our 250 guests perfectly. Some of our wedding party sang during the ceremony which was really a special treat.

We rode with our wedding party on a trolley to and from venues so we could spend some extra time with them. Tyler and the groomsmen made a pit-stop at the UT campus to take some pictures in front of the UT tower, his alma mater. After we said “I do,” we headed to the reception at the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs Mansion, an elegant indoor venue to beat the Texas summer heat. We had cocktail hour in the historic front rooms and dinner and dancing in the grand ballroom. Our caterer provided scrumptious food and our florist decorated with a variety of corals and pinks, perfect for summer in the south. We did a lot of DIY projects including the invitations, signage, and table numbers.

Tyler is a Longhorn and I am an Aggie so we had a house divided groom’s cake and sang our hearts out to the Aggie War Hymn and the Eyes of Texas. We both love dancing, thus keeping the party going was really important to us. Our DJ did a wonderful job and the dance floor was packed all night. We both are Blue Bell Ice Cream fanatics so we had an ice cream bar to go with the cakes, it was a huge hit. We sent everyone off with a warm box of Tiff’s Treats, the best cookies in town. It was truly the best day of our lives and we feel so blessed to have spent it with everyone we love.

Photography: Everest Road Photography | Floral Design: Little Yellow Flower Design | Wedding Dress: Signature Bridal | Cakes: Kayla Knight Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Central Christian Church | Reception Venue: The Tfwc Mansion | Make-Up: Vannatay | DJ: TX Pro DJ | Caterer/Coordinator: Kurant Events | Favor: Tiff's Treats | Getting Ready Venue: Hampton Inn Amelia Island | Trolley: Carey of Austin

DIY Brides these days are my heroes. The pretty they can whip up just blows my wedding-loving mind, and this lovely Bride is a fine example. Her perfectly crafted day filled the gorgeous pictures from The Bird and The Bear with so much love, I simply can’t get over it. Sprinkle in some gorgeous florals from Petals, Ink., and lovelies, we’ve got one gorgeous gallery on our hands. See it all here.

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From Petals Ink… It’s impossible not to adore all of the handmade details of this wedding. Colors and textures collide to create a delight for the senses in a picturesque, Texas Hill Country Venue. Fringe garland, ruffled icing, succulents in tiny clay pots, wooden and lit signage throughout! But beyond all the lovely details, there is this gorgeous couple so obviously, wildly in love with each other. Nothing ever tops that!

From the Bride… My husband and I knew we had to get married in Austin, Texas; it’s a short drive down the road from our alma mater, Baylor, where we met our freshman year. The only problem was, I had moved home to Pennsylvania after I graduated while he finished an extra semester, and he was about to move back to California to start his new job after he graduated! So, in a nutshell, it was complicated from the start. But we were heart set that was the place, so we made it work! I planned the entire wedding while living on the east coast, which was definitely a challenge. I had to give up on a lot of my initial dreams and ideas because it just wasn’t possible with the distance. But in the end, it all turned out perfectly and many of those “crushed” dreams were forgotten. We wanted to get married as soon as we could, and I had to have an outdoor wedding, so that complicated things as well with the summer heat in Texas. We finally chose June 16, a little over 6 months from the day we got engaged. My goals when planning the wedding were: be frugal, make it personal, and make it casual. It was never in the budget for me to hire a full-on wedding planner, but I did take some advice from a few friends and hired a day-of coordinator who was absolutely amazing (I would say that was worth every penny to not have stress for anyone the day of the wedding).

I wanted the day to feel like a backyard party; casual and really fun. I hand made almost everything. I wanted my hands to be in all the details so that they would be super personalized to fit us as a couple. I worked around the color scheme of green and yellow (for Baylor, where we met at our freshman orientation), and worked it into yellow and mint and then with some blues and turquoises thrown in. I played a lot with different design elements, so I didn’t have one specific theme. It was kind of colorful-meets-rustic-meets-DIY. All the wooden signs I made out of old shipping pallets, my mom hand sewed the streamers draped in the barn, and we both scoured vintage and thrift shops for months for antique items to place around for an added rustic look.

I would say I am very laid-back and a nontraditional bride. My main focuses were the personalization of all the details, the photography and the food and desserts! The dress was probably last on my list. I had a really hard time spending so much on a dress that I would only wear once (it looked great though)! My mother actually handmade the one-shoulder lace jacket I wore for the ceremony. She sewed on the buttons from her (and my nana’s) wedding dress for a personal touch. It turned out perfectly, and it was fun to transition to another look after the ceremony! The day of the wedding, it was a perfect sunny day with a bit of a breeze to cut the summer heat. Half of our guests were from California (and struggled a bit in the heat) and the other half were from Texas. We got married in front of an old mantle I found at a thrift store that I had my dad prop upright and add a frame on top. The hole of the frame and the open part of the mantle had a perfect view of the Texas Hill country; it was absolutely beautiful. I struggled a little bit during the ceremony because the sun was shining right in my eyes, but it actually helped me not cry as much as I probably would have! Spencer, on the other hand, was a mess. It was so sweet! One thing I will never forget was being at the reception and seeing so many faces, all of which I knew and had a personal story with. It was the coolest experience ever to have so many people who meant so much to us in the same place, celebrating us. Our photographers, Caryn and Brian from the Bird and the Bear did an absolutely phenomenal job capturing the day. I have never been more proud of something in my life, seeing all my ideas come to life after such hard work!

Photography: The Bird And The Bear | Florals: Petals, ink. | Wedding Dress: Bijou Bridal | Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori | Invitations: Kramer Drive Designs | Shoes: Anthropologie | Catering: The Peached Tortilla | Catering: Whole Foods Market Preston | Band: Royal Dukes Band | Groomsmen Attire: Urban Outfitters | Get Away Car: Austin Classic Limo | Rentals: Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals

Crafty couples like this are sooo impressive.  As are their uber-talented family and friends.  Because together this group of lovelies helped to create a day that is not only drop-dead gorgeous, but chock-full of personality, as well.  And you know how we feel about that.  See every gorgeous moment (and there are a lot of them) captured by Tessa J. Photography right here in the full gallery.

From Tessa J. Photography… The bride, Megan is a very creative young lady. She had a huge vision for her day and I must say she nailed it! A lot of what you see is done by family and friends help. Making her day as magical as she had in her head (and Pinterest boards). The vision came together so wonderfully. She even did the florals and her bouquet herself! Megan is from Los Angeles and Matt is from Texas. She is now a southern belle and loves her some sweet tea. 

Photographer: Tessa J. | Cinematographer: Hunter Lawrence | Floral Design: The Bride | Flowers: Fifty Flowers | Wedding Dress: Kirstie Kelly | Catering: The Salt Lick BBQ | Make-Up: The Beauty Jar | Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall | Brides Robe: Just Cottons | Cake Topper: MorganTheCreator | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals

If I had to pick a favorite element of this wedding, it would be a three way tie between the polka dot dress (hello!), the can’t even talk about how perfect they are blooms from Petals, ink., and the super sweet, absolutely beautiful couple. Okay, maybe the couple would win, but really, I’m kind of obsessed with that dress. And those flowers. Thank you, thank you, thank you Now Fly Away for sharing your images of this stunning day with us!

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From Petals, ink. … Whimsical Spring wedding full of colorful details, vibrant flavors and DIY touches. Valerie was truly her own event designer, meshing natural elements like driftwood and potted succulents with modern, whimsical details like glitter dipped feathers and ribbon chandeliers. Their menu was a feast for the senses incorporating local flavors in a unique Austin-Mexican fusion, and the hand crafted cocktails were the perfect accompaniment to the lawn games Martin constructed for their event. Beneath the layers and layers of thoughtful design details, family and friends were at the heart of this wedding. The wedding was planned around the return of Valerie’s brother who was stationed overseas with the US Army.

From the Bride… I think I designed a hundred different styles of wedding (thanks, SMP) before the details started to feel like “us.” I tried to not over think everything, which was tough to do with two years to plan – my brother was stationed overseas in the US Army and it was important to us that he was in attendance.

The feel of the event was a top priority since 90% of our guests would be coming to Austin from out of town. After seeing literally every single venue in Austin and surrounding areas, we fell in love with Hacienda del Lago and the 1940’s farmhouse and sweeping lake views. It was the perfect blend of rustic and glamorous Austin – and there are peacocks!

I took bits and pieces of things I loved from blogs and magazines and designed the paper goods, table numbers, potted succulents, and ribbon chandeliers. I spent hours and hours painting and wrapping thread for our table numbers, cutting and tying ribbon for the chandeliers and chairs, and my favorite part, dipping white feathers in paint and glitter to add to the whimsy of the design. A friend of ours made gorgeous driftwood candleholders, and Martin even made a corn hole toss game we set up under the gorgeous live oaks on the lawn.

We delighted in creating our menu in order to highlight one of our favorite things – eating in Austin! Margaritas, cantaloupe aqua fresca, chips and salsa bar, chicken chile rellenos, brisket tacos, calabacitas, and to-go bacon breakfast tacos are still being raved about by our guests to this day. And the yummy little cupcakes and our gluten-free cutting cake were a huge hit!

The most important thing was what we achieved – a magical celebration with the people that we love, to start the next chapter of our life together. The incredibly talented and dedicated vendors, and now friends, that we were so fortunate to work with made our dream come true and for that we will always be grateful beyond words.

Photography: Now Fly Away | Cinematography: Memories Films | Flowers: Petals, ink. | Wedding Dress: Carmen Marc Valvo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom | Catering: Crave Catering | Makeup + Hair: Propaganda Hair group | Lighting: Greenbelt DJ | DJ: Greenbelt DJ | Wedding Venue: Hacienda del Lago | Wedding Venue: Hacienda del Lago

I’ve probably already told you just how much I adore Caroline + Ben Photography, but it’s definitely worth repeating, because I sooo do and they are just that amazing.  I mean, these two talented photogs manage to send us some of the sweetest weddings you will lay your eyes upon, weddings like this darling day held at the always wonderful Camp Lucy.  I’m talking beautiful blooms from Bouquets of Austin, the planning expertise of Pearl Events and one moment after another of pure, unadulterated pretty.  See it all in the full gallery.

 

From the Bride… Ty and I met through friends at a Mumford and Son’s concert at Stubbs. I think we both were aware our mutual friends had prepped one another for meeting each other, but once we actually met, the night just flowed so organically. We were separated from our friends due to the crowd during the show and didn’t leave each other’s side even into post show drinks. We sort of just kept the conversation going through texts, emails, phone calls and visits. It’s just never been easier with someone

We really wanted a night of romance, good food, and wonderful company because that’s what our relationship is pretty much based on. We love cooking together almost every night of the week and having people over to share it with. Ty has been a very romantic partner from the beginning so I wanted it to be a night where everyone would fall in love with each other again or for the first time!

Quality food is paramount to our lives due to Ty’s founding of Windy Hill farms, so we were very particular about sourcing from local farms and ranches for our feast. 2Dine4 was able to pull from our family business as well as friends’ businesses and local farms to make an absolutely wonderful multi course meal. We really tried to use local/friend connections where we could to make the celebration more personal. Bouquets of Austin and Pearl Events used romantic and ‘re-purposed’ decorations to create a soft and gorgeous setting for our vows and banquet tables. BOA knew I loved herbs and was using them as favors so they incorporated a lot of herbs in my bouquet and all around. They particularly used Rosemary which has historical uses in marriage ceremonies and whose scent is traditionally associated with love.

We had our good friend Jarod marry us because we felt he has such a special way with words and has always been supportive of us. We also wrote our own vows which we surprised each other with that day. It was important to us to feel like we expressed our love to each other in our own words. Our friend Sara ready from The Prophet ‘On Marriage’ because we both felt early on it was a great description of a good relationship. Also, we picked our own musical selections played by a Musical Discovery of Austin. I walked down the aisle to Frankie Vallie’s ‘Can’t take my eyes off of you’ and we walked out to The Monkees ‘I’m a believer’ because the lyrics were dead on. The wedding party walked in to Neil Young’s ‘Harvest Moon’ because we’re both in love with Neil Young.

I think my favorite ‘moment’ was standing there with Ty in front of our friends and family knowing that I just loved him so much and that this was our official beginning together. It was just sheer bliss and happiness. Also, the fact that I had no idea that my brother wrote a song for my dance with my dad! That was a pretty incredible moment and extremely touching all around. Ty’s favorite was my dad’s speech and the fact that he made every single person cry in the building! People keep telling us how they started tearing up during this speech.

I have two favorite photos from the wedding – I love the one of us ringing the bell because Ty was swept up by the weight of the swinging bell! I think it really captures our excitement. The other is the photo of my dad after he saw me for the first time and he’s hugging me. It’s a pretty tender moment between a daughter and her dad! Ty’s favorite is our epic dip at the end of the night! He was impressed with Ben’s shot and our dipping abilities!

My biggest piece of advice to brides is not to get wrapped up in ALL of the details. Focus on maybe three big things that really mean a lot to you both and feel express you as a couple. We chose food, music, and drinks because they’re a huge part of our lives with how we met, our family business, and Ty’s a brewer. You can fill in some of the small details in custom keepsakes like your cake topper or ring box and create inexpensive favors that represent you. In the end it’s a party to celebrate your love and thank everyone there for being a part of your lives together thus far, so just enjoy it!

Photography: Caroline+Ben Photography | Wedding Planner: Pearl Events Austin | Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Cake and Spoon | Invitations: The Inviting Pear | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering | Hair: Charlotte Belle | Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design | DJ: TX Pro DJ | Groom's Attire: Banana Republic | Transportation: Uptown Valet | Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy | Hair Pins: BHLDN | Photo Booth: Bash Photo Booth | Rentals: Whim Hospitality | Rentals: Marquee Event Rentals | Strings: Musical Discovery Chamber Players

With the pressure of saying I do already off this couples’ respectable shoulders, they were able to create an event that was casual yet elegant and was, without a doubt, all them. With the perfect amount of Texas flair complete with BBQ and boots, and the Pecan Grove venue that just seems perfect for just such an event – it’s safe to say this gallery from Day 7 Photography is one gorgeous way to start your day. See it all here.

From the Bride… We were so excited to celebrate with all of Neils’ family and friends. Since we were already married, it was a bit more chill getting ready. It was no stress, just exciting. We had checked out the venue before but it was even more beautiful than I remembered when we showed up that day. The inspiration behind the day was that we love Texas and barbeque as well as the cool vintage, natural style that the Salt Lick has. As far as special touches go, I don’t even know where to begin. Neils’ mom made us an awesome quilt that everyone signed instead of us having a guest book. Shakey Graves showed up! That was pretty awesome. Neils’ mom also made homemade peach butter to send home with everyone. The cakes were made by Neils’ aunt, who has a bakery in San Antonio. (She did a pretty amazing job right?) it was special to us that Day 7 Photography did the photos for both our engagements and our reception and have had so much fun gawking over the beautiful pictures. Also, I didn’t wear the cowboy boots for the actual wedding but wanted to wear them for this reception since it’s Texas and all! Neils’ mom did most of the decor/coordinating things so she knows better than I do about how all of the awesome ideas came about. The flag banner that said “Kelly and Neils forever and ever” was made by my mom and grandma. All the food was from the Salt Lick.

Photography: Day 7 Photography | Flowers: Michaels | Reception Venue: Pecan Grove | Catering: The Salt Lick BBQ | Suit: Men's Wearhouse | Boots: Cavendar's Boot City | Music: Shakey Graves

When I was planning my wedding, there was a big part of me that wanted a wedding just like this one captured by The Studio B Photography. A beautifully intimate affair followed by a delicious meal where conversation (and champagne) flowed. Which is precisely how this lovely day unfolded, and you can see every moment right here in the full gallery of images.

From Rebecca of The Studio B… Liz knew that she wanted to marry Doug, but she wasn’t entirely sure that she wanted to have a wedding. At first she thought it would be nice if they went to the courthouse to get married and then go out to dinner at their favorite restaurant afterwards. However, as plans often do, things changed and Liz found herself planning a wedding.

She and Doug chose to have an intimate ceremony in Mayfield Park, which is home to several beautiful (and vocal!) peacocks. Following the exchanging of vows, everyone went over to Barley Swine, one of Austin’s most popular restaurants. The couple had rented out the entire restaurant and a spectacular eleven course meal was served! Guests mingled as the different courses were served and a wonderful time was had by all.

Photographer: The Studio B Photography | Ceremony Venue: Mayfield Park | Reception Venue: Barley Swine | Bride's Shoes: B.A.I.T. | Hair and Makeup: Elanni Sherick | Bride's Dress: Mini Boden

Give me a good heaping dose of pretty inspiration, and I’ll give you one happy little blogger. It will only take one peek at all the pretty sent over to us by Day 7 Photography and Heavenly Day Events to know that I’m smiling from ear to ear over here. Add some gorgeous desserts from Polkadots Cupcake Factory, and this shoot is downright delicious in every sense of the word. See it all here.

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From Amber at Heavenly Day Events… When I first made a visit to Giardino Bertucci, I was blown away by even just the drive. Nestled in beautiful farmland on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, Tina and Tony Bertuccis have a slice of Heaven. I immediately wanted to schedule a styled shoot that we could use to dress up their website and truly showcase the venue’s beauty. I envisioned soft, romantic, and effortlessly southern. I was thrilled when Stella, from Sixpence Floral, and Rhoda, from Loot Vintage, offered to assist. We perused the Loot inventory and chose pieces that complimented the natural elements of the country and connected an antique theme to the 100+ year old farm house on site. Stella used her talents to bring soft color and detail to the decor which were mainly blushes and hints of gold. Polka Dots caught our vision flawlessly and provided mini donuts and cake pops dusted in gold glitter and sprinkles. Not only adorable, but incredibly sophisticated. To top off the details, I knew I needed styled stationery and who better to call than Colette Creative. With an on trend set of eyes, she put our romantic vision to paper with little effort. When seeking a photographer, I thought of Sean at Day 7 Photography. He is a delight to work with and he captures lighting so well. I knew this venue would present harsh light at the wrong time of day so we planned accordingly and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome! I’m so glad the Don, from ILC Films, was there to document the day! A huge thank you to our entertaining models, Emily and Joe! What fun we had.

Photography: Day 7 Photography | Planner: Heavenly Day Events | Stationery: Colette Creative | Venue: Giardino Bertucci | Desserts: Polkadots | Floral: Sixpence Floral Design | Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals | Video: ILC Films

You know it’s going to be a good day when Forever Photography Studio is on the agenda. I love everything about their images… they’re so bright and gorgeous, happy and heartwarming, and the weddings they are brought on the capture. Oh my. Just look. Seriously, just look.

From the beautiful bride… We met at a bar in Chicago the night of my 24th birthday where I impressed David with my choice of liquor (whiskey ginger ale) and ability to take down 3 chorizo tacos as a late night snack. I was taken with Davids dance moves and his love of music.If only we would have known that four years later we would be getting married in a place where tacos, whiskey, and music were such a huge part of the city culture.

At the end of my birthday celebration, David gathered up the courage to ask me on a real date, and a few days later we found ourselves eating dumplings and getting to know each other. By the end of dinner, we were so consumed in conversation that we didn’t realize the restaurant had closed and the waiters were giving us dirty looks! He ended the night by handing me a handmade mixed CD with all his favorite songs. The rest is history.

After a few years of dating and exploring every new restaurant and concert venue in Chicago, we decided totake the plunge and move to New York City. Our weekends quickly filled with picnics and bike rides and finding all the hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and it was only a few months before New York City became our true love. It was only natural that David proposed during a bike ride along our favorite spot in Central Park, directly under the weeping willows. He even put champagne in our water bottles so that wecould have a refreshing celebratory drink!

Both of us love to travel, listen to music, and eat good food all qualities that Austin embodies. I wanted an intimate outdoor ceremony surrounded by our favorite people, followed by a huge dance party. And, just like I always dreamed of getting proposed to under a weeping willow, I knew I wanted to get married under a large, enchanting tree. The second I stepped foot on the Winfield Inns property, located right outside Austin, I knew this was the place. We were smitten from the moment we walked up to the classic Hill Country home, which was set back amongst fields of flowers and surrounded by sprawling trees whose branches practically kissed the grass. To top it off, the staff was a delight, and it just felt right. As we walked around the site, I could picture getting ready on the vintage home’s terrace, saying I do under a captivating old tree, and dancing the night away in a magical outdoor space.

We live in the West Village in New York and everyday I walked by the flower shop next door,completely captivated by the beautiful fuchsia orchids in the window display. That window display became the inspiration for our colors, flowers, and centerpieces, and shaped the overall style of our wedding. I loved the soft romantic colors of the orchids’ light pinks, purples, and whites and our florist had the idea to suspend them from tree branches creating a whimsical space underneath where we would recite our vows. The bridesmaids bright purple bouquets accented the suspended orchids perfectly against a background of soft gray chiffon dresses.

Photography: Forever Photography Studio | Videographer: Lizama Videography | Floral Designer: Stems Floral Design + Event Styling | Cake: Coco Paloma Desserts | Rings: Greenwich Jewelers | Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar | Venue: The Winfield Inn | Bridesmaids Dress Designer: Donna Morgan | Candela earrings: BHLDN | Day of Coordination: The Winfield Inn | Groom Suit: Suitsupply | Hair Broach: Family Friend's | Invitation Designer: Bella Figura | Wedding Gown Boutique: Lotus Bridal | Wedding Gown Designer: Blue by Enzoani

You know what I love about this engagement session?  Besides, well… everything?  That these two cuties just look like they belong together; that they are sooo obviously meant-to-be.  From their sweet smiles to their heartwarming glances to the way they casually, yet lovingly hold hands, it’s a beautiful sneak peek into a day literally overflowing with pre-wedding bliss and sunshine-filled beauty captured by Day 7 Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

From Day 7 Photography… April and Alex’s engagement session was simple and beautiful. This session was all outdoors and I focused on them being romantic with each other in a natural, candid, and fresh way. The park we were at had a relaxed southern vibe that really matched their personalities, and there was also a small body of water that helped add another element to their session. I hope you enjoy this engagement session!

Photography: Day 7 Photography

You know what’s amazing?  Two (stunning) architects saying “I do” against the beautiful backdrop that is the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in a day planned to perfection by Joyful Details and boasting more than its fair share of pretty.  I’m talking a day that features gorgeous (+ modern) florals from Articulture, a crazy beautiful Alexia Gavela gown and a whole lot of yummy goodness from Tiny Pies and Austin Catering.  See it all captured by Stella Alesi right here in the full gallery.

Tracie and Justin were married at the incredibly beautiful Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center this past May. The Center is always beautiful but especially in the Springtime when all the wildflowers are blooming. The bride and groom are both architects so they were very detailed when it came to the design of their wedding. I loved all the natural centerpieces that Tracie helped design with Articulture. They were a perfect match for the natural outdoor setting of the venue. Following a gorgeous ceremony guests were treated to an amazing dinner from Austin Catering. Then Robert Ellis helped them get their dancing shoes on and they danced the night away under the stars. It really was a perfect evening!

Photography: stella alesi/photography | Planner: Joyful Details | Floral Design: Articulture | Wedding Dress: Alexia Gavela | Cakes: The Cake Plate | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Catering: Austin Catering | Hair: Salon Intuitions | Lighting: Ilios | Limo: Austin Classic Limo | Venue: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | Ceremony Musicians: Will Taylor & Strings Attached | Linens+ Rentals: James Allen Salon | Pies: Tiny Pies | Reception Music: Robert Ellis

This is a real wedding.  I just wanted to get that out there from the get-go before you start thinking that this is, in fact, a gloriously executed photo shoot from a dream team of Texas vendors (I’m looking at you, Verbena Floral Design).  Because even though this gem of a day may seem just a tad bit unreal (it is perfect, after all), it’s 100%, without a doubt an authentic set of nuptials captured amazingly by Matthew Johnson Studios.  Dive into all of the pretty right here.

From Matthew Johnson… Claire & Ryan’s April wedding in the Texas Hill Country was the perfect, and very hard to achieve, mix of classic elegance and a serious party. Planned and coordinated by Kristen White of Frills Consulting, the wedding took place outside of Austin at Camp Lucy. The outdoor lawn ceremony was the perfect setting for Claire to make the long walk down the aisle with her father in her gorgeous Oscar de la Renta dress.

The beauty of Camp Lucy’s property looking out over the Hill Country was the draw for the couple to have their destination wedding over five hours away from their home in Midland, Texas. After the classically beautiful ceremony, the reception turned into an amazing party complete with sunglasses and decor that sported the couple’s likeness and an 80’s cover band.

Photography: Matthew Johnson Studios | Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori | Shoes: Kate Spade | Jewelry: Sam L. Majors Jewelers | Catering: Verde's Mexican Parilla | Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy | Invitations and Programs: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Monogram Design: Pearly Gates Design | Music: The Spazmatics | Planning + Coordination: Frills Consulting

Yesterday I was having a day Murphy could probably base his entire law on – everything that could possibly go wrong, did. But then this pretty designed by Bird Dog Wedding and captured by Ashley Garmon landed in my lap, and immediately, all was right with the world again. Because, really, how could you not just throw all your cares away when looking at a wedding like this? It’s so gorgeous, so full of life and love, so jammed-packed with stylish details – it’s a wedding that will make you forget Murphy and his silly law ever existed, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

From the Bride… My wedding was special because there were actually two. I’m Vietnamese American and my fiance is…a ginger. Unsurprisingly, my mother had been dreaming of a traditional Vietnamese wedding for me since I was little girl. To accommodate my family, we had two distinct ceremonies: one Vietnamese-style in Houston and one Western/American in Austin.

Since the American wedding was the one for us, I’ll focus on it and what made it so Phantastic. Nearly all the details and designs were hand-crafted by me, or my bridesmaids and close friends. First, I hand-lettered our invitations, and with the help of a graphic designer friend was able to vectorize the writing and fashion our logo. I designed the programs and watercolor-lettered the place cards, dessert table backdrop, and guest book.

We plan on framing this art-piece-as-guest-book poster in our new apartment. While I can admit I’d rarely thumb through an actual book, I love that I’ll be able to read well wishes every day.

An advantage (the only advantage?) of having two weddings is that I actually used the first experience to prepare for the second and learned valuable lessons, both logistical and otherwise, to improve the Austin wedding. Chris’ wedding ring was designed by a good friend of mine, Katy Skelton, who is a furniture designer based in Brooklyn. We worked with two designer friends Samuel Thibault and Corey Marquart on our www.chrisphantastic.com website.

It was very important for me to be able to brand our wedding and document images of the process leading up to and including the big day on social media like Instagram and Twitter (#phantasticwedding). And as a creative person by nature, I wanted everything to match and to be handmade – and with limited financial assistance from our families, this was often a necessity. As you can see, I love colors, especially bright ones. To go with all the personal, DIY touches, we had a friend of ours officiate the wedding (our definitely-Jewish but also-internet-ordained friend Emily did an amazing job!)

We also did a few silly and a few cultural things. I secretly planned for a lion dance for our grand entrance. The Texas Dragon Dance team promised us two dragons with a hope that they MIGHT be able to swing a third. As providence would have it, the third lion was arranged and was bright orange – the color of the hair of the groom.

We had krazy name straws for the bridal party – a huge hit. Chris and his friends are devoted fans of Lone Star beer and it was great seeing people gracefully sipping the cheap Texas brew out of personalized straws. Production was limited to only 5 letters, so abbreviating some of the names required some creativity. If funds had allowed, we’d have given each guest a straw. People are still talking about them 2 months later.

The truth is I had so many ideas that due to time and resource limitations, a lot of them weren’t able to come to fruition. But I love that so many people have come back to me after the wedding excitedly offering their favorite moments and it’s amazing how many different memorable aspects there were.

Photography: Ashley Garmon Photographers | Cinematography: Adam Grumbo | Floral Design: Mibellarosa Designs | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Invitations: Kathy Phantastic | Invitations: Carol Hung | Shoes: Kate Spade | Catering: Word Of Mouth Catering | Hair + Makeup: Studio Tilee | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Emily Goodstein | Venue: Blanton Museum of Art | Ao dai (Vietnamese Gown): Fabric from High Fashion | Bridal Boutique: Blush Bridal Lounge | Bride's Rings: Anna Sheffield Bridal | Desserts: Crema Bakery | Event Design Assistance + Planning: Bird Dog Wedding | Groom's Ring: Katy Skelton | Ice Cream: Amy's Ice Cream | Letterpress Printing: Inviting Letterpress | Photobooth: Annie Ray | Veil: Tessa Kim