Texas Weddings

Ok, these two? They are adorable. Downright, all-out cute as they come. So it should be no surprise that their detail-filled love fest at  Star Hill Ranch was equally fabulous. Because, oh, it was. It’s baby’s breath and cardigan-wearing maids, it’s burlap and flower girls in tutus. It’s a Texas beauty through and through captured beautifully by The Bird & The Bear, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

Can’t get enough of these two? We can’t either. Thankfully The Bird & The Bear sent along their film so we can keep the oohhs and ahhs going…

From The Bird & The Bear… Meagan & Will are super cute, and even though it poured all day on their wedding day, they were laughing and giddy the whole day!  Each piece of their decor was lovingly chosen by the bride and her family.  They wanted a light, vintage feel and had an amazing waffle bar at the reception!

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Wedding Photography +  Cinematography: The Bird & The Bear | Wedding Venue: Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas | Floral Design: Steve Britt | Catering: Catering With a Twist | DJ: Tunes Across Texas | Hair + Makeup: Mindy Orsak

I am telling you, I absolutely adore elopements. I’ve probably said it a million times, but, to me, you can’t get more romantic than running off with your nearest and dearest to say I do. This couple did just that, topped it off with a sweet picnic and made sure they had Day 7 Photography following in their footsteps to catch all the timeless memories -and all that adorableness is waiting for you right here.

From Day 7 Photography… I’m thrilled to share this elopement from Austin, Texas that was taken on top of a parking garage. Brooke told me that she trusted me with whatever I threw at her, and so I got together with my stylist friend, Nita Teng, who helped put together a mini-reception for Brooke and Ryan. We asked Brooke and Ryan what their favorite thing to do together was, what some of their favorite music is, their idea of a romantic date, and what type of food they liked. The answers we got helped us to formulate an idea of how to style the reception. They like indie music, eating any food that resembles modern america, and for a romantic date, it could be anything as long as it’s not forced or cheesy.

From the Bride… After two months of stressful wedding planning, Ryan and I knew an elopement was right for us. We felt a small intimate ceremony reflected our personalities perfectly. We really love each other, but we’re also very private!  Austin was the obvious choice, it’s the city where we fell in love and has a rare combination of Texas charm and eclectic personalities. Our ceremony and picnic reflects everything we love about Austin – unique, with a Texas flair. 

I knew I wanted our photographs to look timeless, where you couldn’t really guess which decade they came from. I thought of everything myself, and we scoured Austin that morning for the perfect pink roses! There was no plan, we just did what made us happy.

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Wedding Photography: Day 7 Photography |Location: Park in Austin, Texas | Officiant: Spike Gillespie | Wedding Cinematography: Crooked Tie Studios | Event Styling: Nita Teng | Floral Design: King Florist of Austin | Wedding Cupcakes: Polkadots Cupcake Factory | Furniture Rental: Loot Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: Vintage | Shoes: David’s Bridal | Makeup: Keep Austin Gorgeous

I love a long, gorgeously styled reception table. It sends this blogger’s heart into insta-flutter. And one populated with peonies and strung cafe lights? Even better! This work horse of reception dining is perfectly fit for open air affairs. You know the ones where the sun is shining, the birds are singing and everything is feted under a bright blue sky? That is exactly the style of wedding we get to dive into right now. Crafted by Keely Thorne Events along with miles of pretty blooms by Merveille Flowers and image after image of alfresco goodness captured by J. Cogliandro Photography, you can see it all unfold right here.

From the Bride…Brian and I knew about each other before we ever even met!  Our childhood best friends lived down the street from each other, and we still think there is a distinct possibility that we may have been rivals in an epic boys versus girls water balloon fight when we were eight…but we are not quite sure!  We did not “officially” meet until we were freshmen in high school, and when we did, we became good friends and remained that way throughout college -even though he was attending school in Boston and I was in Louisiana.  In a futile attempt to avoid the dreaded long distance relationship, we decided to not “officially” start dating until we graduated and were both back home in Texas, but that plan was derailed when I decided to attend law school in Seattle.  Although long distance was not always the easiest, it definitely made our relationship stronger, and after 6 years of dating, Brian decided it was time to make our relationship truly “official” when he proposed in January of 2011 at a beautiful bed and breakfast on Lake Travis in Austin.   

Having been a part of each other’s lives for the better part of 15 years, we wanted a wedding that truly reflected our journey and more importantly, the emphasis that we place on family.  Although we are Houstonians at heart, we decided that Austin would provide the perfect backdrop for an amazing outdoor wedding, in addition to being a fun city for our out of state guests to visit and get the true taste of the Texas hospitality that we know and love!  With our time consuming work schedules and the difficult task of planning an Austin wedding from Houston, we knew that the most important decision that we would make would be choosing a wedding planner that could execute our vision!  From the wearing of my grandmother’s wedding dress at the rehearsal dinner, to the use of a 1937 Plymouth that was hand-built by Brian’s grandfather to drive me to (and the both of us from) the venue, each detail of the wedding was meticulously thought out and executed with our families and their influence in our lives in mind.  Keely Thorne Events came highly recommended as a wedding planner in Houston, but it was when we met Emily Moise specifically that we knew we had found the right person to bring our ideas to life.  

Our wedding weekend began with an amazing welcome party hosted by the parents of Brian’s childhood best friend (now best man) where our guests were treated to beautiful views of Lake Travis and delicious Tex-Mex!  The celebration continued the following night with a barbecue rehearsal dinner at The Salt Lick, where we displayed our favorite wedding pictures of each of our family members as our friends and siblings presented us with the most memorable speeches!  The weekend ended with the most amazing wedding we could ever imagined!  The ceremony and reception were held at Villa del Lago on Lake Travis, where our 170 closest friends and family members watched us make our lifelong commitment to each other!  To make the moment even more personal, we had my brother-in-law sing as I walked down the aisle, had one of our best friends officiate the ceremony, and each of us picked a surprise reading that we dedicated to each other that reflected our views and hopes for our marriage.  The ceremony was followed up with an amazing dinner where my husband and I enjoyed our favorite foods as we looked down the most stunningly beautiful table and enjoyed the beginning of the rest of our lives with all of our favorite people!!! 

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Photography: J. Cogliandro Photography | Wedding Planner: Emily Moise with Keely Thorne Events | Stationery+ Signage: Atheneum Creative | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Villa Del Lago | Floral Design+ Décor: Merveille Flowers | Cinematography: 31 Films | Lounge Rentals: Suite206 | Strings: Amp’d by Divisi Strings | DJ: Josh with Penguin Entertainment | Catering: Pink Avocado | Photo booth: SocoPhoto Airstream | Lighting/Sound/Visual: ILIOS Productions | Vintage Car: Family owned | Hair: Erin Janzten with Mint Salon | Makeup: Donna Bruns with Bobby Brown | Guest Transportation: Transportation Consultants | Resort: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa | Bride’s Attire: Ivory Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid

Sometimes it’s crazy to me that a wedding, a gorgeous wedding no less, can be planned in less than six months. I know it can. I planned mine in five. But when one like this Old Glory Ranch soiree comes along and I read that it was planned in four months… I’m floored. Every time. Every detail j. cota photography captured was so stunning that I’m actually amazed that it all came together so quickly. And so fabulously. Click here to see the whole day!

From the lovely bride … We have all heard the saying, “Timing is everything!” and in our story that was exactly the case. Our best friends married each other twelve years ago where we first met at their wedding, however, our journey together did not start until seven years later. After several years of dating, my husband proposed on New Years Day up on top of the mountains in Colorado at sunset, and yes, he caught me off guard! I had expected it to happen New Years Eve or perhaps earlier in the day when he surprised me for a train ride on Silverton Express. To be honest I was gazing out the window after the train on the car ride back to the cabin where I thought we were now just headed to pack up and fly out in morning and my heart was disappointed. I was trying to figure out a way to stay in Colorado because I knew there were many friends and family waiting back home to hear the “news” and I thought I didn’t have any to give them. In my mind the trip was over and meanwhile Sloan was in the driver seat trying to time the sunset and kill time to wait for the picture perfect moment, and it was.

After I was able to stop staring at the ring on my finger, it was time to plan our wedding. We knew we did not want a long engagement and I had the venue Old Glory Ranch in my mind because of the family river cabin we had during my childhood in Wimberley. To our surprise they had a date still open and I was convinced we could plan this in just four months. We were both drawn to the outdoorsy feel of Old Glory and loved the rustic décor and setting, yet did not have to compromise on an ounce of class. It was important to our faith and values to be married in a Chapel and the beauty of what they had to offer blew us away.

I love neutral colors and I am known to be simple in style, so I wanted to carry this look throughout the wedding. With such a beautiful outdoor setting for the reception looking over the Hill Country, I chose colors that would carry out these earth tones. My dress was ivory and my bridesmaids wore a fresh spring green that truly looked good on all 10 of them! This green complimented the natural wood all throughout the Old Glory Chapel. The groom’s side wore khaki colored suits with Tom’s shoes and both the boutonnieres and bridal bouquets had succulents mixed in (my husband’s favorite!) with the flowers for a Texas flare.

My dad and I rode up on a carriage to the ring of the chapel bells before the anticipated walk down the aisle. I had an antique piece of lace wrapped around my bouquet that was my grandmother’s and also wore my mom’s Belgium lace veil for the ceremony. Once we were announced husband and wife, we joyfully walked out to the tune of “Oh Happy Day” as our guests were ushered out of the chapel to the patio under the oak trees dressed with chandeliers for cocktail hour. There were mini donkeys saddled up with Mexican beers to honor Cinco De Mayo, our wedding date. Salt Lick catered the best BBQ in Texas, and we had Tiny Pies paired with blue bell ice-cream for the groom’s dessert, as well as a five tiered vanilla-almond and raspberry filling bridal cake. I traded my veil for a flower to accessorize my hair and ditched my heels so I could boot scoot boogie and kick up the dance party. We danced until midnight to the tunes of Night Fire Band and exited through an archway of bright sparklers into a 1946 antique truck. We drove away under the stars and there were bright strikes of lighting all across the sky. I believe it was God’s display of fireworks just for us as we rode into this new chapter together as Dr. and Mrs. Hildebrand.

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Photography: j. cota photography | Cinematography: Sondra Hicks and Scott Mayo at Ditore Mayo Entertainment | Floral & Event Design: Old Glory Ranch | Cake: Classic Cake by Lori | Event Planning: Old Glory Ranch & Carey Millington, BASH Events | Venue: Old Glory Ranch | Invitations: Jenny Oroz | Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender | Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaid Dress Designer: J.Crew | Men’s Fashion: John W. Nordstrom + TOMS Shoes | Pies: Tiny Pies | Band: Nightfire | Catering: Salt Lick BBQ | Officiant: West Brazelton

Nothing gets me excited for spring quite like a gorgeous pop of color. And this Austin affair has plenty to go around with the happiest hues of navy, purple and pink infused from start to finish. Add in an al fresco dinner party with the most heartfelt “I dos,” and you’ve got a recipe for the prettiest watercolor-inspired wedding around. Taylor Lord Photography sent us a slew of lovely images, and we even have a film from Bird and the Bear to tie it all together.

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From the Bride…Ryan and I fell in love in the fall and two years later got engaged on a chilly November evening. Because this was a special time of the year for us, we wanted to have a fall wedding (which also gave us a year to plan!) Though we currently live in Dallas, we chose Austin to be nearer families and for the laid-back atmosphere (Ryan is also a UT Austin grad) We knew we wanted a relaxed outdoor ceremony, festoon lightning overhead for dinner, and a serious dance party to follow. Mercury Hall provided the perfect space to make all of these things happen. We chose navy, blush pink, with various tones of whites, browns and greens to convey a nontraditional fall palette with a relaxed, rustic feel. I also wanted to incorporate holiday touches as it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We had a tree with personalized mercury glass ornaments for favors and chose a hearty fall meal. We also had a shrimp and grits station, a personal favorite of Ryan and I’s.

In planning the wedding, the most important aspect for us was to personalize the day. With 175 guests, we still wanted it to have an intimate and genuine feel. To accomplish this, we incorporated family and friends. Ryan wrote the entire wedding ceremony, with readings by his youngest sister and older brother. We involved my brother and his younger sister in the actual exchange of vows. His uncle, a district judge, was the officiant. We wrote our own vows, one of my favorite parts of the day (a must!). It made for an emotional but heartfelt ceremony. We also had a signature blueberry margarita for guests to enjoy as they arrived for the ceremony, another aspect of the relaxed atmosphere! We continued the involvement of family with my brother and his bandmate playing our first dance, father son dance, and mother son dance. They performed the MOST beautiful covers of M. Ward’s “Poison Cup,” Loudon Wainwright III’s “Daughter,” and Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.” My mom and I also took quite a few DIY projects to add our touch to the decor. I made all the signage, she sewed special table cloths and runners with the help of a sweet friend, among many other things.

Dinner was held on the gravel patio under festoon lights at banquet tables. We chose to place our table in the center, perpendicular to the guests tables. It was so perfect to be in the center of the party, where everyone could see us as well. Following dinner, the dance party began, with incredible music by a DJ and long time family friend, Silace Amaro. We ended the night with a sparkler exit and a ride to Hotel St. Cecilia in a pedicab! This was another very memorable moment for us…it was so nice to have an extended trip via pedicab to reflect on the night and enjoy each other’s company. We even drew some honks and congrats from rolled down windows on the way there!

The night was made incredibly special by our phenomenal group of vendors we chose. Taylor Lord was the most incredible, fun, and easy photographer to work with. I can’t imagine not having our memories captured through her perspective! Our wedding highlight video by the Bird and the Bear was so well done and is so fun for us to watch. STEMS florals created the exact vision I was looking for and were so great to work with.

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Wedding Photography: Taylor Lord Photography | Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas | Wedding Cinematography: Bird and the Bear | Floral Design: Stems Floral Design | Invitations: Hip Ink Paper Co. | Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery | Catering: Dagar’s Catering | Handfast Ties: Anthropologie | Lighting: Ilios Lighting | Music: Jamestown Revival for First Dances | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra

You may recognize this lovely bride’s smile from American Idol. She was a finalist on Season 8, and her wedding? We’ll let’s just say, it’s weddings like this that will live on the pages of SMP forever, known simply as stunning. Pretty as a picture (and oh Christina Carroll Photography‘s pictures tell quite the beautiful story), I can’t help but file this one away in my wedding-brain-catalog under the heading of Gorgeous. The bride, the groom, the kids, the fashion… the cake. All absolutely gorgeous, stunning, pretty, and perfect. Click here for more!

We met in April 2007 at a mutual friends birthday party. I’m a singer/songwriter and Justin is a personal injury attorney here in Austin. I guess they say opposites attract because that we are. I am pretty much the definition of a right brain person and Justin is completely left!

For years people had tried to get me to audition for American Idol, but I never did. Shortly after we started dating, I came home and Justin had printed out all the paper work and audition facts for American Idol and insisted that I audition. I don’t know what it was but something about him gave me the courage and the faith in myself that I could do it. That year, I successfully became a contestant on American Idol Season 8 making it all the way to the top 36 and onto the live show!

He has so much faith in me and supports and pushes me to do things that I never through I could do. Its all of this that make me love him so much. His drive and Left-brain ways round out my right brain ways and make me a better, more rounded person.

Justin is such a driven person. I have to brag. This year he was nominated as one of the youngest “Rising stars of Texas Attorneys” to ever be recognized by Texas Monthly. We met right after he took the Bar and its just be absolutely amazing to watch him grow and succeed!

Justin proposed on New Years Eve 2011 in front of all of our closest friends and family. I never expected a thing and was completely shocked! We were hosting a NYE party at the W Hotel which is why I thought that all of our friends and family wanted to come into town. We held a pre-party at our condo before we went to the hotel and it was there that Justin said “He had a toast to Make.” Even at that point, I was still clueless. I just thought he was making a New Years toast! It was then that he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!

We knew from the beginning that we would be having a very big wedding. My grandmother was one of 20 so my family alone was probably over 100 guests. But, we have always been “the more, the merrier” type of people. I knew I wanted something grand, and elegant, yet classic. We did creams, whites, blushes with pops of gold and silver.

The one thing that we knew before anything else was that we wanted our wedding to be a PARTY! My family is from Louisiana and the one thing we do best is dance, eat, and drink! So having an amazing band, awesome food, and an endless open bar was a priority!

I have been to a lot of weddings at the Driskill and it was important to me to make ours uniquely different. So, Olivia (owner of Liv by Design) along, with Townsly and David Kurio came up with a vision to turn the ballroom into a completely different space.

We completely covered the carpet of the ballroom with white carpet and brought in lounge furniture. The most amazing part of the room was that there were 13 foot cut out spaces in the walls in which had our engagement photos blown up to 21ft photos and placed in the spots. (We did a Mad Men Theme for our engagement photos because we are both completely obsessed with that show) It was so amazing! Probably the biggest question from the night from our guest was “What are you going to do with them after?”

Another amazing detail was my wedding cake and my cake table. My dress was layered cream, white, blush, and peach tulle. Making my dress light pink. First of all, I never dreamed in a million years that I would wear a pink wedding dress. But when I saw it and knew it was the one! The linens of the cake table looked just like my dress. Probably one of my favorite photos was me in my wedding dress, squatting down next to my cake table!

Another favorite moment which has become a family tradition is a dance my dad does in a moment of celebration. Its called “the gator” in which my dad gets down on the dance floor an basically flops around like a gator. It sounds silly but he is known for doing it!

It was such a beautiful day and there were so many people who helped to make it happen!

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Photography: Christina Carroll Photography | Event Planning & Design: Liv by Design | Floral Design: David Kurio Designs | Furniture: Townsley Designs | Linens & Custom Cake Linen: Peggy Poling Designs | Lighting: Ilios Lighting | Rentals: Marquee Rentals | Stationery: Inviting Pear | Band: Sauce | Cocktail Hour Band: Dave Madden | Shuttle Busses: Uptown Valet | Ceremony Venue: Central Christian Church | Reception Venue: Driskill Hotel | Departure Dress: Linda Asaf | Jewelry: Beard Jewelers | Cinematography: Tim Bougie

Not only is this pretty fête easy on the eyes, it’s the type of wedding that makes your heart do flips of pure joy for the couple in the center of it all. Where you can just feel the love through each beautifully captured image from Feather & Twine Photography. It’s filled to the brim with the prettiest of blue hues, sunshine that seems to show up on cue and drool-worthy DIYs – and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

From the Bride… When we started planning for our wedding we kept one thing in mind: we wanted it to be a night that our friends & family would be telling our children about 20 years from now. Spencer is a brewer at a brewpub in Austin so we knew from that start that beer would be a major element in the night. Our reception was at Ceres Park Ranch which is part of the land at Jester King Craft Brewery and overlooks the Texas Hill Country. We had 8 Austin beers on tap (which were almost gone by the end of the night) and as favors, Spencer brewed an Imperial stout which will double as an anniversary beer for us to open every year. For dinner, we wanted to have something that we love to eat and that represents Texas so we had tacos by Taco Deli!

As a general life rule, I like to steer clear of uniformity so I chose a color pallet of tonal blues & greens with some pops of light grey. My mom and I did a lot of thrifting to find all the pieces for the table center pieces and we loved the way they turned out! We ordered bulk Limonium, Queen Anne’s Lace, & succulents for the guest tables and put them together the Thursday before the wedding. Our advice for engaged couples: find a great photographer, make sure you thank your family, eat some tacos, drink some beer, be married!

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Wedding Photography: Feather & Twine Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin, Texas | Reception Venue: Ceres Park Ranch in Austin, TX | Wedding Coordination: Candace Barnes from DNA Events | Floral Design: Ashley Garrett from Whole Foods | Catering: Taco Deli | Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bake Shop | Beer: (512) Brewing Co. + Austin Beer Works + Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que + Live Oak Brewing Co. + Jester King Craft Brewery | Bride’s Dress: Allure Couture | Bride’s Jewelry: J.Crew | Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles via Anthropologie | Groomsmen Attire: Brooks Brothers

After spending all my time around the sweetest little gentleman for the last two months, I’m back. And coming back would have been a whole lot harder if I didn’t have pretty weddings like this one from SMS Photography to look forward to. Seriously, if I can’t be squeezing little baby cheeks 24/7, spending my time with weddings in which the groom made the bride’s bouquet is a pretty close second. It’s wedding’s like this, handmade with love, that put a smile on my face, every single time. And for your smile, there’s a whole gallery of love.

From the Bride… From the second we got engaged Brett and I both pretty much knew that we wanted our wedding to be a reflection of who we are. We started with each picking our favorite colors (Brett’s is baby blue and mine is gray) as our wedding colors… after all it’s all about compromise, right?! We both have a love of finding mismatched and old things and either refinishing them or making them into something else entirely so it was only natural that our ‘decor’ was a collection of thrift store finds and handmade goods. Once the overall eclectic/vintagey feel was settled, next up was finding the right place to say ‘I do’.

Though we live in Los Angeles we planned to get married in Austin, Texas and we fell in love with Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs. It’s a gorgeous old mansion that required no decorating of the walls or grounds (since we were getting everything together in Los Angeles and hauling it down, this was a huge plus for us). With that portion of decor taken care of, we were able to spend lots of time on the details, and boy did we!

I designed and printed our Save the Dates, Wedding Invitations, and all printed items at the wedding which was quite the fun task (I even brought my laptop and printer to the bridal suite the day of the wedding just in case something was missing or needed to be reprinted). We chose to craft all of the bouquets and boutonnieres out of fabric flowers we made (Brett made all the flowers in my bouquet which was a pretty special touch) and all the table flowers were made out of paper. We’re game people so we designed our wedding program with a word find about us on the back and used Scrabble letters on several of the tables. Our love of music led us to naming our tables after songs and instead of having ‘Table 1’ we had ‘Track 1″ to keep in the music theme. We cut all the lace and burlap for the table runners and wrapped tons of little votives with yarn to achieve just the right gentle glow. We collected many books, silver pieces, and antique odds and ends including vintage plates for the dessert bar. We did our best to tailor most things so that we had a hand in just about everything at the wedding. I even woke up a little before 6:00am the day of the wedding and started baking cookies, brownies, rice krispy treats, etc. for the dessert bar because… well.. because I wanted everything to be fresh (and yes I do love baking, and yes it was relaxing… my version of yoga I guess. And well yes, I am a bit of a control freak).

For months our place in LA was a constant workshop with glue guns, lace, fabric, paint, etc. everywhere… we worked like maniacs, luckily all the crafting was a pretty good time! And, if you live anywhere within a mile radius of us, you may have heard loud banging and clanking… no we weren’t demolishing our house, Brett was just busy hammering 100 spoons flat and then individually indenting letters on each one. Lots of work… but man, oh man did they make incredible place cards!

I had anticipated being incredibly stressed or nervous the day of the wedding, or at least having some sort of meltdown. Much to my surprise and delight I was stress-free and just incredibly excited to marry Brett. We decided to have a first look so that we could share that most intimate of moments with just one another (and a few photographers and videographers of course). I’m so glad we made that decision as seeing Brett for the first time and being able to immediately wrap my arms around him is one of my favorite memories of the day. There’s a laundromat across the street from the mansion and we just had to have some pictures taken there, after all married couples do laundry together… just not typically in their wedding attire.

The day flew by and we had such a fantastic time. The ceremony was beautiful, the cake was delicious, and we danced all night. My five year old nephew even took over the D.J.’s microphone and serenaded us with a few songs. We also had a flipbook booth which was a huge hit. We had two guestbooks, one was a tree that Brett drew for guests to stamp with leaves and the other was an address box where guests were able to fill out their contact information as well as leave a little message. For wedding favors we chose to fill mason jars with a little ‘Thank You’ note and place a packet of our homemade Arnold Palmer mix to allow our guests to enjoy one of our favorite drinks. I did a quick dress change before the last song and Brett and I exited as our guests blew bubbles and shouted farewell.

Our wedding was without a doubt our handmade dream and we couldn’t have done it alone. Nothing beats having the people you love the most create and build things for one of the most important and special days in your life. For me this was icing on the tasty cake we got to enjoy! We had the most wonderful time and enjoyed every second. We’d without a doubt do it all exactly the same again.

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Wedding Photography: SMS Photography | Wedding Coordination: Kevin Molesworth of  Brass Tacks Events | Cinematography: Adam Grumbo | Decor: DIY by bride and groom | Desserts: Prepared by the family | Dress: Maggie Sottero | Shoes: Nine West | Hair: Deklynd Channing Hair Design | Venue: Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs | DJ: Tim Dill with Austin Party Machine | Catering: Courtney’s Catering

Dining under the stars.  It’s one of my favorite ways to celebrate saying “I do”.  And dining under the stars with a decidedly vintage vibe and layers upon layers of gorgeous blooms from Southern Floral?  Even better.  Which is why this sweet Austin affair planned to perfection by Joyful Details (along with the amazing Sister of the Bride, Sophee) literally had me gasping out loud with each and every pretty pink and yellow moment.  It’s what I call pure perfection of the al fresco kind and you can see all of the beauty captured by Phillip Glickman in the full gallery.

From Joyful Details… Meghan and Alex’s Fall wedding at Laguna Gloria in Austin could not have been more gorgeous! I did the majority of the planning with the brides sister, Sophee, who did a truly amazing job at putting together all the details. The bride’s sister helped create all the invitations and programs also the table numbers, photo displays and chalkboards. The weather was lovely leading up to the ceremony and even a quick afternoon rain shower did not dampen the fun! Guests enjoyed an amazing dinner from Word of Mouth Catering and then danced the night away under the stars.

From the Bride’s Sister… Meghan and Alex are two of the most beautiful people I have ever met in my life. I’m using ‘beautiful’ to describe their personalities and their hearts– kind, generous, open minded, and selfless, although they happen to be the most attractive couple I’ve ever known as well! My sister is the most humble person you could meet, almost to a fault. With that said, her idea of a perfect wedding was getting together with all the people she loves to drink and dance. It would be a celebration, but would certainly not include any sort of spotlight on her. And that’s where I stepped in. Weddings happen to be my forte and I was more than thrilled to plan a day to honor such an amazing couple. I knew an outdoor venue would be best since they are true hippies at heart. A soft palette, wooden tables, and a few pieces of vintage furniture created the perfect ambiance for the intimate affair. We certainly did not plan the rain, but if any two people can take a little rain, it’s them. Meghan stayed inside playing games (well, arm wresting, to be exact) with the bridal party while Alex was outside wiping all the chairs dry after the rain (the groom himself!). And luckily, the rain passed and the night went on beautifully. Food, drinks, and lot of dancing; the wedding turned out to the best I’ve been to. But the night didn’t end there. We left Laguna Gloria to continue the celebration downtown at Cedar Street Courtyard. And the night could not have ended any other way than the bride and groom riding off in a petty cab when the bars were closing. 

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Wedding Photography: Phillip Glickman | Wedding Venue: Austin Museum of Art Laguna Gloria in Austin, Texas  | Event Planning: Kristi Treadwell from Joyful Details | Floral Design: Jim Hines from Southern Floral | Catering: Word of Mouth | Pies: The Pie Society | Band: Blind Date | Lighting: Ilios | Rentals: Marquee Rentals + Loot Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: Christos | Head Piece: BHLDN | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Hair: Deborah Lira (lira1314@cs.com) | Makeup: Laura Heyns (laura.heyns@gmail.com)

This next little number from Caroline + Ben Photography is so pretty, so absolutely darling I would pinch its cheeks if I could. And the Bride? Well she is the brains and beauty behind it all, and definitely deserves a round of applause for all the love she put into each gorgeous detail gracing this fête. There isn’t much that beats a backyard beauty, and this party proves just that. See it all here.

From the Bride… Our venue was our inspiration. We chose my family’s lake house in east Texas to be the site of both the ceremony and reception. My husband, Danny, then went in search of the perfect band to really set the tone for the evening. The Texas Gypsies gave us a dynamic mix of jazz, blues, and swing to amp up the atmosphere of the space. From there, it was my task to find that balance between the delicate gardens of the property and that awesome groove that The Texas Gypsies could provide. On the sign in table we included pictures of both parents and grandparent’s candid photos from their own weddings.Danny’s grandfather led the ceremony and was a great addition of personality and warmth. He wrote everything including the vows. I have a passion for cooking and set out to make a menu from scratch. Our caterer, Lisa with Adalante Catering was willing to be flexible with the menu and we ultimately served light salads, vegetable medleys and desserts. Everything was served at room temperature or chilled to help keep people cool.

We had a “blessing of the rings” where each guest was given the opportunity to bless the wedding rings (tied together with a ribbon) before passing to the next guest while a song played after parents and grandparents were seated. A small explanation of the blessing was tied to the bottom of the program which also served as a fan to help guests stay cool.

I spent four days with no human contact and only my dog to talk to as I made a ceiling of ribbon to be placed over the cake table and over the dance floor up on the porch. It totaled 3,000 yards of ribbon. That’s 300 football fields, and I almost pulled my hair out! With the exception of Wedding Day deliveries and vendor set up (rentals,etc) my family and I built and installed everything: outdoor lighting, dance floor railings, the garden arch used in the ceremony, stone paving – everything to prepare the property. My mom in particular is solely responsible for all of the gardens in both design and execution.

I have a background in art and felt fairly confident that I knew what I did and did not want as an overall aesthetic. When it came to executing that vision, I relied on my maid of honor for design input and never hesitated to ask for each and every vendor’s particular opinion. I wanted to keep myself grounded and realistic and I think that is what led to the ultimate success of the wedding.

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography | Wedding Venue: Family Home in East Texas | Floral Design: Barbara from La Te Da Flowers | Wedding Planner: Kay Watson | Caterer: Lisa from Adalante Catering | Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Aubrey Bonneau from The Three Co. | Band: Texas Gypsies | Wedding Dress: Blush Bridal Lounge | Jewelry: Vintage | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Nordstrom | Groom +  Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair: Cheryl from Rhonda Makeup

Austin may be the unofficial style capital of Texas, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when it attracts some of the most style savvy couples on their biggest of big days. Enter these two (adorable) lovebirds and their picture perfect wedding from Cory Ryan Photography. Not a detail was left unturned thanks to Leave The Details To Me nor a bloom forgotten thanks to Flora Fetish, leaving us with a wedding worthy of your top ten list. See it all here.

From Cory Ryan Photography…. Meredith & Reid live in New York City, but have ties to Austin, Texas! So it was a perfect fall escape to have their destination wedding at the Salt Lick’s Pecan Grove in Driftwood, Texas. The tall pecan trees lined the shady grove, and guests were greeted with a giant artistic chalkboard wedding program as they approached the ceremony. The opposite side of the board served as the backdrop for the photo booth with their names scrolled across the top. SO CUTE! Meredith & Reid were so clearly in love, and they both absolutely lit up when they got to see each other for the first time at their first look. The ceremony took place at sunset, with beautiful golden light streaming through the trees. A few surprises were in store for their guests – first, an amazing choreographed first dance (word on the street was that Reid was quite the dancer – TRUE!), followed by fruit cobbler a la modes in lieu of wedding cake. As any Texan knows, the Salt Lick BBQ has the BEST desserts! Then the tables got turned and the wedding band, London Calling, surprised the bride and groom instead. The bride sang Pat Benetar’s “Heart Breaker” with a live band!!! After Meredith was called to the stage, she was surprised when they were all pointing for her to take the microphone! After momentarily being taken off guard, she turned around and nailed it so fearlessly with all of her girlfriends cheering her on. The groom was in the front row looking like his heart might explode. It was a moment no one at that wedding, including the photographers, will ever forget!!! Reid and the boys took the stage next, and an awesome dance party wrapped up the perfect night! And let me not forget the most awesome spin on the traditional wedding koozie – it read “Eat, Drink and Be Merreid”!

Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: Pecan Grove in Driftwood, Texas / Wedding Planners: Leave The Details To Me / Floral Design: Flora Fetish / Catering + Wedding Cake: Salt Lick BBQ / Band: London Calling / Lighting: ILIOS / Chalkboard Art: Alex Austin

Lovelies, gather round, I’ve got the sweetest, vintage-inspired Barr Mansion wedding to share with you all this morning! Filled to the brim with mix-matched details, whimsical DIY touches and just about the sweetest bride and groom you ever did see, this fun-loving Austin fête will have you Pinning inspiration for the rest of your day. See every last image from Mollie Kendall Photography in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Jason and I knew from the second we got engaged that we wanted an intimate wedding celebration with only the closest of friends and family. It was so important to us that everyone had a wonderful, carefree weekend with good music, great food and a beautiful setting. We knew we wanted a rustic, cozy, timeless feel that would reflect our love for the outdoors and our laid back style. Getting there was a beautiful ride. Jason owns a business and works full time at another job, and I am currently in my second year of medical school, so wedding planning with our busy schedules was a challenge, to say the least. I loved every second of it though!

As soon as I saw pictures of our venue online, I knew that Barr Mansion was where we HAD to get married! We loved the stunning wall of windows in the ballroom overlooking the garden, the old house full of wonderful antique pieces and the beautiful pecan tree. When I first saw pictures of it online, I had no idea where the venue was located, and as I clicked on a link to find out where it was, the only thing going through my mind was, “Please be in Texas, please be in Texas!” What a relief to find out it was in Austin! We live in Fort Worth, but knew Barr Mansion was the place for us, and so began the process of planning a destination wedding.

I loved the idea of having a lot of mismatched elements for our wedding. I didn’t want everything to be uniform and cookie cutter, so I took that theme and ran with it. Our bridesmaids were in different grey dresses they chose for themselves, we had a few different types of table numbers, none of the centerpieces were exactly the same, each of the DIY programs were unique, all of the bridesmaids gifts were a little different and I was able to find a company that rented reasonably priced mismatched vintage china for the place settings. All of those details added to the homespun feel to our wedding that we just loved!

The programs were one of my favorite DIY projects. I got a free template online for the cover and splurged a little and bought several different bright, whimsical fabric patterns from a local knitting/fabric shop. I lined the program cover with the fabric and tied the program insert to the inside using scraps of vintage lace and pretty twine I found at a flea market. I used the leftover fabric to line the insides of the picture frame table numbers, to line a large decorative window pane and to decorate the hotel welcome bags for our guests.

Our instant photo guestbook set-up turned out to be more of a focal point during the wedding than we had planned, which was a happy surprise. I found these beautiful old lace tablecloths (for $2 each, can you believe it?) that my mom sewed together to create a photo backdrop. We hung the tablecloths on a 7 foot tall, 5 foot wide wood frame that Jason built and stained. I ordered a beautiful handmade guestbook from Etsy that had places for guests to paste in their photos, bought an instant camera, some empty picture frames and a few nice pens. Our guests had a great time with it!

Jason and I both love live music, especially Texas Country. We had an acoustic guitarist play during the ceremony, which I think really helped to set the sweet, intimate tone for the whole evening. We had both a DJ and an amazing Texas Country musician for the reception, so our guests got a little bit of everything. One of our favorite moments from the whole day was at the very end of the reception. All of our guests left the ballroom to go line up outside and light their sparklers for our big exit. While they were doing that, Jason and I had what is called a reflection dance. The musician serenaded us with one of our favorite soft, slow songs while we shared one last dance by ourselves to soak up the end of what was the most perfect day! 

Wedding Photography: Mollie Kendall Photography / Reception Venue: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Gala Gal / Wedding Cinematography: Adam Grumbo Films / Officiant: Larry Todd / Caterer + Wedding Cake: Barr Mansion / Ceremony Musicians: Charles Anastasiou / Reception Band + DJ: Mike Valliere +  Joel from Greenbelt DJ / Rentals: Sweet Sunday Events / Lighting: ILD Lighting / Transportation: RR Limobus + Austin Classic Limo / Guest Book: ShabbyScrap / Calligrapher: Rachel Carl & CO / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via Lulu’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: RSVP / Garter: Woomi Pyo / Rings: Read’s Jewelers / Groom’s Attire: D Jones / Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Hair + Makeup: Stephanie Goldsmith from Haute Facade

This is hands-down my new favorite DIY wedding ever. It’s full of so much personality and creativity, that it’s totally impossible to pick a favorite detail. It’s simple yet unexpected and oh-so-fun. Francis Joseph Photography captured this couple and their day to absolute perfection and you can see it all right here in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Graham and I met 5 years ago in NY while he was living in Austin and I was living in NY. We spent the next 5 years traveling back and forth and video chatting every minute that we could. I quickly fell in love with Austin and it soon became a second home. When it came time to decide where to have our wedding Austin won hands down. I knew that planning an Austin wedding from NY would be a challenge but as soon as we found our venue, Barr Mansion, most everything fell into place. Barr Mansion had everything, a beautifully detailed Victorian house to get ready in, gorgeous gardens for our outdoor ceremony, and the rustic yet elegant Artisan Ballroom for our reception.

While Barr Mansion didn’t need much decorating as it already had the rustic and natural feel we envisioned we did want to incorporate some DIY elements to make it more “us.” Lucky for me I had the help of my wonderful friends and family with many of the projects. Our neighbor built our wooden signs and Graham’s sister hand painted them, my mother and sister made the sash for my reception dress, Graham constructed our chalkboard menu and my sister did the lettering and artwork for it. Other DIY projects: moss letters for the doors, yarn letters for the reception, ceremony programs, ribbon wands, ribbon backdrop for the dessert table, menus, and escort cards. While these were definitely time consuming projects they were all worth it because it reflected us as a couple and made our wedding more personal. And for those elements that I wanted a personal touch in but knew I didn’t have time for Etsy became my BFF!

By far the most memorable part of the day was the ceremony. It’s not often you have all your loved ones in one spot. Graham and I wrote our own vows and to be able to recite them in front of all our friends and family was incredibly moving. What made it even more special was that Graham’s sister officiated the wedding.

A few tidbits of advice for brides: Do your research to hire the right vendors for your wedding. Being able to trust each vendor with their craft helps to take some stress away from you. We loved each and every vendor we worked with and they all helped to bring our vision to life. For DIY brides, know when to say no to a project! It’s easy to get sucked into all the gorgeous weddings on blogs, Pinterest, Etsy, etc that your DIY list quickly piles up. I had grand ideas to sew my own bunting for the photobooth but with the wedding quickly approaching I found an awesome Marimekko fabric to use instead and called it a day. Also, try not to stress too much! Things will go wrong (I forgot to bring our custom cake topper to the wedding!) but at the end of the day none of that matters. You’re surrounded by the people that love you celebrating the love that the two of you share so enjoy the day!

Wedding Photography: Francis Joseph Photography / Wedding Venue: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Lizama Videography / DJ: ATX DJ / Hair: Andrea Juarez from Pearl Hair & Make-Up Studio / Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon

I’ve never actually been to the lovely city of Austin, but from the looks of every single wedding we feature from this pretty spot in Texas, I need to make plans to visit ASAP.  Plans that include a stop at the Duchman Family Winery, which just so happens to be the pretty host of this breathtaking affair captured by Forever Photography.  A breathtaking affair that features two seriously stunning sweethearts, gorgeous blooms by Petal Pushers and a whole lot of perfect planning by Wedding Warriors.  See it all in the full gallery.

From the Bride… It seems that I had to move across the country to Texas in order to meet the man of my dreams, even though we both were born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Rob and I met 5 days after I moved to Austin, knowing no one in the city! It seems that all the while we were practically spinning circles around each other, our connections running deep. We met in August and got engaged in February. Being a conscientious and calculated person, this sure was out of character for me. But I was sure that I was sure.

Seeing as how our love story began in Austin, I wanted to have our wedding there, so our family and friends would get to know us as a couple. I imagined celebrating outdoors with a laid back, rustic, vintage-y Texas Hill Country affair with soft colors and great food. My planner, Christina Lewis of Wedding Warriors, was an absolute godsend as I planned a wedding with family afar. What helped make our wedding fantastic was hiring a team of phenomenal vendors. Our day went seamlessly with their help.

God could not have created a more beautiful day for us. I will always remember reading our personalized vows during our ceremony. We each wrote vows that were unique and genuine to us. I am so glad that I took a little extra time to make our wedding personal. Being showered with lavender as we walked down the aisle. Reading our “advice” in the form of MadLibs. Dancing with friends family to “We are Young” at the very end of the night. These are the things I will remember.

What blew me away was an overwhelming feeling of being surrounded by love and support. To know that so many people had traveled so far, from all across the country and even internationally, I am forever grateful. As I remember this day, see these beautiful pictures, and watch our film, my heart overflows.

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography / Wedding Cinematographer: Nostalgia Film / Wedding Venue: Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood, Texas / Getting Ready Location: The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Wedding Warriors / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Catering: Crave Catering / Dessert: Polkadots / Table Rentals: Hill Country Event Rentals / DJ: Byrne Rock / Cake Topper + Dessert Table Bunting: Atcompanyb / Custom Madlibs: Myaugustpress / Favors: DIY by the bride / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Dress: La Sposa “Manacor” / Alterations: Carter Creations (512.450.1143) / Shoes: TopShop / Bride’s Earrings: Kendra Scott / Bride’s Bracelet: Handmade by Bride’s Mother / Bride + Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Their Choice / Rings: Calvins Jewelry / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Ties: Men’s Wearhouse / Hair: Anna Alvarez / Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon

I know this pretty much goes without saying, but there’s nothing quite like a bright, yellow hue to add the perfect dose of happy to your Big Day.  Not that this darling Austin duo needed it, mind you.  Their smiling faces are delivering enough happy to last a decade (literally), but prop their downright adorableness up against a sunshiny backdrop like this one planned to perfection by Pearl Events Austin and it’s like the best day ever with amazing blooms from Bouquet of Austin and one lovely image after another captured by Concept Photography.  See every last one in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Initially, I was trying to find the right color for the wedding, and the color I kept coming back to was yellow, and BRIGHT yellow at that. I would describe it as “happy, sunshine yellow.”  Soon, though, I was figuring what color complements yellow, and then I kept thinking grey. Then, that soon molded the bright, sunshine yellow, to more of a deep, mustard yellow and thought it had such a rustic feel to it, so I started going down that route. I didn’t go completely rustic, but I did want some rustic flair to the wedding.  Even though it was a pain, the DIY was probably my favorite, such as the Photo Booth poster, the party favor tags, and escort cards. A lot of the guest said they appreciate all the personal touches we did.

Wedding Photography: Concept Photography / Wedding Venue: Vintage Villas in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordinator: Jessica Brightwell from Pearl Events Austin / Floral Design: Bouquet of Austin / Officiant: Scott Payne from The Knot Tyer / Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bake Shop / DJ: Complete Music / Invitations + Programs: Inviting Affairs / Photo Booth: Central Texas J-Booth / Transportation: Capital Pedicab / Hair + Makeup: Lucie Marie

This Jenny Packham gown has been dancing in my dreams since the moment I set sight on this pretty Austin party from Q Weddings at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. It’s basically my dream dress, and it couldn’t be more fitting for this gorgeous Bride and her envy-worthy big day. It was all perfectly put together thanks to Three Apples Events and Rosehip Flora – leaving us with a stunning gallery to fawn over. See it all here.

From Suzi of Q Weddings… Katie and Andy’s rustic and elegant wedding was held at the architecturally unique Ladybird Johnson Wildflower in Austin. The gardens and surrounding areas contain native plant life, including big oak trees. Katie and Andy love Austin and spend as much time there as possible, including getting engaged under a big oak tree, which they call “our tree.” They currently live in Houston but knew they had to introduce their friends and family to the wonderful city of Austin.

The decor included vintage mismatched plates, pastel damask linens, and floral centerpieces in corrugated tin vases. The flowers were a mix of succulents and pastel/chartreuse florals. Rosehip Flora does stunning florals and their creations, along with the tableware, made this wedding unique and beautiful. The reception was held outdoors under the beautiful May skies of Texas. Austin is known as a live music capital, so it’s no surprise that the band, Memphis Train Revue, carried the reception to another level. 

The bride wore a Jenny Packham gown with art deco detailing, and the groom wore a tux. The guests also wore evening attire, which was a nice contrast to the outdoor relaxed surroundings of the venue. 

Wedding Photography: Q Weddings / Wedding Venue: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas / Event Coordination: Three Apples Events / Floral Design: Rosehip Flora / Catering: Word of Mouth Catering / Cupcakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Band: Memphis Train Revue / Vintage Plates + Linen Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham

We celebrate love every single day here on SMP, but today we raise our glasses just a tad bit higher. Because on Valentine’s Day, a day where warm and fuzzies are the norm and pink reigns supreme, we find ourselves completely swept up in it all.  So we shall celebrate in the way we know how – by cozying up with a seriously gorgeous fête from Jennifer Lindberg Weddings. This wedding is the epitome of style doing the prettiest dances with love, and it’s the perfect way to ring in this holiday. Get swept up in it right here.

For another peek into all the pretty, this film from Re:Life Films is a must see…

Megan + Chris / Trailer Film from Re:Life Films on Vimeo.

From the Bride… Chris and I got married on November 10th 2012 after being together 6 years! I grew up in Austin, Texas, and Chris grew up in Barrington, Rhode Island, but we both live in Washington, DC. We both agreed Austin would be the perfect spot for the wedding. Chris’s entire family had never been to Texas, and several of our DC friends were dying to experience Austin. We also knew we would have a fall wedding since Chris was very vocal about not sweating on his wedding day, and was not keen on the Texas heat. I am not wild about Fall colors, so I immediately chose a very neutral color palette, hoping to bring in some metallic accents. I pictured ivory, white, blush, light grey, champagne, pale gold, and a subtle shade of periwinkle.

I am a buyer at boutique in DC, so I work closely with Shoshanna, and wanted my bridesmaids to wear all her dresses. I picked a few different bodies in those colors for them to choose from. I gave my sister, and maid of honor, a beautiful white dress that had beading on the shoulder that tied in all the colors. I loved how three of my bridesmaids were pregnant, yet were still able to wear their dresses! My mom found a gorgeous long, pewter sequin dress by Jenny Packham that unexpectedly fit into the color scheme. One of my favorite touches from the décor were the chevron sequin table linens I found from LaTavola linens! They lit up the entire ballroom!

It was very important to both Chris and I to get married in a church. We both grew up Catholic, and chose to have the ceremony at St. Austin’s Church downtown. The reception was close by at the Four Seasons. I didn’t want the reception to be a typical ballroom wedding, so I really tried to work with the room, and make it unique. We were able to transform the room with draping on the walls, and hues of soft pink lighting cascading the room. The flowers exceeded my expectations. The arrangements were flush with whites, accented by soft pink Roses and Peonies. Guests left with a custom sketch of their backside by the famous Butt Sketch artist. I framed the one Chris and I got!

We had little touches throughout the wedding weekend to incorporate Rhode Island into Texas. Chris’s mom had koozies made that said “Don’t Mess with Rhode Island Either!”, and it showed the small state of Rhode Island inside the giant state of Texas. We chose our signature drink to be a “Light & Stormy” which was Ginger Beer + Tito’s Vodka + lime. The groom’s cake was a donut cake tower, lined with coffee, glazed, caramel, and chocolate donuts! My favorite memory at the end of the night was Chris and I on stage signing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” on stage. I am still deliriously happy with the entire wedding planning, and can honestly say I could do it all over again!

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Ceremony Venue: St. Austin’s Church in Austin, Texas / Wedding Reception: The Four Seasons in Austin, Texas / Wedding Planning: 36th Street Events / Floral Design: Posey Events / Wedding Cinematography: Re:Life Films / Linen Rental: LaTavola Linens / Chair Rental: Marquee / Draping: Townsley Designs / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Band: SoulSations / Harpist: Amanda Woosley / Cigar Rollers: Bobalu / Wedding Invitations: Smock via Dandelion Patch / Wedding Stationery: The Paper Place / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Sash: Anne Barge / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Earrings: Van Cleef & Arpels / Bridesmaid’s Attire: Shoshanna / Mother of Bride Attire: Jenny Packham / Groom’s Attire: Custom Made / Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang via Men’s Wearhouse / Hair + Makeup: Jackson Ruiz Salon

I’m a die hard Nichols fan. This wedding captured my heart and since then it’s been one pretty gem right after the other from their lens; culminating in a wedding with so much goodness, I kind of don’t know where to look first. Maybe the cute dog? Oh that cute dog. But then there’s all those pretty blooms by The Nouveau Romantics that are pure white perfection and a dessert table so scrumptious, I’m ready to dive in head first. All in all, this has a little something for every one of your loves whether that be fury friends, yummy treats or gorgeous, garden details. See it all right here.

From Liz of The Nouveau Romantics... Sean and Stephanie set out to create a classic yet rustic evening that showcased their new home turf of Texas to their East Coast friends and family. From a mariachi band and cacti during the cocktail hour, to their venue– Barr Mansion’s– certified organic rating, the couple was adamant about incorporating as many local touches to their guest’s experience.

Using the venue’s verdant gardens and rustic ballroom we mixed the bride’s love of classic style in black and white, with groom’s more rustic and colorful sensibilities into all the design elements, from the elegant dahlia and snowberry-filled chuppah that used the bride’s family’s tallit, to the oak leaf “canopies” in the reception, to the hanging garden of escort cards, to a menu that was entirely locally-sourced. The dessert bar was a mix of the couple’s favorite candy and East Coast desserts including “Black & White Yodels” and sea salt caramels from Liddabit Sweets in Brooklyn, New York.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue + Day of Coordination + Cake: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Wedding Planning and Design + Floral Design  + Stationery: The Nouveau Romantics / Dessert Table: Walton’s Fancy and Staple, Sugarfina, Miette (Meringues), Liddabit (Caramels)  / Music: Matchmaker Band , Anthony “Tony” Johnson, Mariachi Jalisco + Barton Strings / Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Design / Jelly Shots: LM Cocktail Catering / Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Shannon Briggs-Hack of Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair + Kimberley Eddleton / Makeup: Nisa Nicole

Any wedding that includes cozy warm blankets and the roasting of s’mores is most definitely a wedding I’m going to love.  That’s just the way it goes.  And when that wedding is held at the amazing Red Corral Ranch and features an entire gallery of lovely, lovely images captured by Bloom Photography?  That’s an instant obsession.  Right from the get-go.  Because when my favorite season (Fall) joins forces with sweet rustic details, it’s a feeling that can barely be put into words.  Join me in the gallery for sooooo much more.

From Bloom Photography… Though early November in Texas doesn’t always scream ‘Fall’ in its temperatures, we were in for a special treat at the old glory ranch this gorgeous day. Leigh and Casey had the most picturesque weather possible and they simply thought of everything! Their fun twist on ball jars and fireflies for the ‘Save the Date’ and the touches of plum color made the whole event feel positively cozy. Leigh’s mom made homemade Chex mix in jars with sweet ‘Thank You’ tags for every guest and it really added a personal feel to the burlap and floral tables. The father of the Bride took his woodworking hobby to a new level with the very sophisticated gorgeous box he created to hold notes from each guest written to the newlyweds. They even had cozy white blankets to keep guests warm while roasting s’mores!

The best part of this day wasn’t even these amazing personal touches. It was seeing the stolen glances and sweet gestures from a head-over-heels groom to his bride.  You know those couples that you meet and immediately know they are meant to be?  Yep.  That is Leigh and Casey. Congratulations, you two!

Photography: Bloom Photography / Wedding Coordination: Wedding Warriors / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Wedding Venue: Red Corral Ranch / Catering: Royal Fig / DJ: Altared Weddings / Hair + Makeup: Belle Mariee

From the stunning outdoor venue, Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art, to the whimsical touches (think mini-gold elephants for a ring shot) to the bride’s out-of-this-world Jenny Packham dress, this little beauty has my heart all aflutter. 36th Street Events coordinated a unique day with florals by Merveille Events and gorgeous photography by Brett Buchanan. See the rest right here!

From Brett Buchanan… Sara and Alex created an amazing wedding celebration at Laguna Gloria, an historic lake-side museum nestled in northwest Austin. They’re an awesome couple who really celebrated every moment of their day, which was filled with beautiful flowers, world travel and safari-themed decorations, and a lively dance floor.

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Wedding Photography: Brett Buchanan | Wedding Venue: Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art in Austin, Texas | Event Coordination: 36th Street Events | Floral Design: Merveille Events | Catering: Primizie Catering | Wedding Baked Goods: Stardust Pastry | Wedding Paper Goods: Meldeen | Band: The Pictures Band | Lighting: ILIOS Lighting | Rentals: Marquee Rents + Loot Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Hair + Makeup: Adore Makeup Boutique & Salon | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale