Texas Weddings

Everything’s bigger, brighter and more beautiful in Texas with this colorful wedding by Cory Ryan Photography. I am all about a couple who throws the rule book out the window and says the “rainbow of colors” are their colors. These Texans know how to throw a great party complete with koozies, a cigar bar and so much more which can be found in the full gallery here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Sarah & Zach’s Wedding | Wedding Videography at One World Theatre, Austin, Texas from Nostalgia Film on Vimeo.

From Cory Ryan Photography… Sarah and Zach had a stunning wedding with a rainbow of unique details (Sarah even jokes that “the rainbow of colors” were their wedding colors — ha!). There was quite literally ombre all over every detail — from their heart-shaped chevron print programs and the ruffled ombre wedding cake, to the bouquets of bridesmaids’ flowers that ran from white to shades of pink and red. The tabletop flowers by Cherry Lane Floral were incredibly unique, presented in the shape of hearts in white, square boxes. Sarah was not scared of the “wow factor” and chose to walk down the aisle in a blush pink dress with a pink stone cocktail-inspired necklace that literally stopped you in your tracks. Oh how I love her style! Sarah and Zach really had a vision, and it came together perfectly. They also treated their guests to yummy “Orange Blossom” signature cocktails and koozies inspired by some of our engagement photos. Their mouth-watering dessert table by Word of Mouth featured cute little penguin cupcakes, homemade almond joys and praline panna cotta, all whipped up into one beautiful display table — YUMMY! The Grooves got everyone tearing up the dance floor, and the couple was even surprised with a visit from ELVIS later in the evening (as an homage to the Vegas elopement that never happened!) Bobalu rolled cigars for the guests and then presented the couple with a sealed box of custom-labeled wedding day cigars. After the late night dance party in the upstairs space wound down, the couple left in a gorgeous, red Rolls Royce through a line of loved ones with sparklers to wish them well!

Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: One World Theatre in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Cherry Lane Floral / Catering: Word of Mouth Catering / Band: The Grooves / Cigar Rolling: Bobalu Cigar Co./ Wedding Dress: Palazzo via Melange Bridal / Bride’s Necklace: Doloris Petunia / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Videographer: Nostalgia Film

Magical things can happen when two people meet, fall in love and get married – like a crazy beautiful al fresco soiree at one of Austin’s hippest locations and enough pretty to last a lifetime.  And when those two people happen to be a Mr. and Mrs. that are the epitome of stunning and the lifetime of pretty happens to include beautiful DIY blooms, twinkle lights and a bundle of beyond gorgeous images by Cory Ryan Photography, well.  Magical things happen right here on SMP.  All planned flawlessly by Something to Celebrate, you can see all of the pretty in the full gallery.

From Cory Ryan Photography… Lane and Greg’s intimate summer wedding took place at one of my favorite boutique hotels in Austin, the incomparably hip Hotel Saint Cecilia.  The ceremony was on the front lawn in front of Suite One, and the reception took place in the courtyard behind Suite Four. As the sun started to set, officiant Spike Gillespie tied the knot for the couple in a ring of flower petals under the giant shady live oak tree. An amazing, gluten-free dinner was served family-style by local farm-to-table caterers Royal Fig, who had everyone cleaning their plates. Favors of Lane and Greg’s favorite orange anise marmalade were placed at each place setting. The long rectangular wooden tables were accented with lacy napkins and an assortment of flowers in all shades of yellow — and the DIY flower arrangements were done by the groom’s sister!  The reception music was provided by a local accordion player as homage to Lane’s late grandfather, who also played the accordion. You could tell how much the couple is loved — multiple friends and family members toasted them and retold old times and funny stories for everyone to enjoy. Once the sun when down, we ventured to the hotel pool to shoot Lane and Greg with the gigantic red neon SOUL sign. Then the couple enjoyed a spontaneous last dance and cheering exit to punctuate the perfect ending to the night! Something to Celebrate planned the whole shindig to perfection, and everyone involved really enjoyed the close-knit feeling of their special day.

Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Something to Celebrate / Floral Design: The Groom’s Sister / Officiant: Spike Gillespie / Catering: Royal Fig Catering /  Wedding Cake: Wild Wood Bake House / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Chie Mihara

This romantic wedding at The Wild Onion Ranch is my idea of outdoor perfection — It is effortless, rustic elegance punctuated by personal touches in the form of signage, notes and namesake desserts that make you feel like you instantly know the bride and groom, even if you weren’t invited to the wedding – like us! The couple and BZ events clearly put so much love, time and thoughtfulness into designing this one-of-a-kind wedding, and we are so grateful for their hard work. Shannon Cunningham Photography captured every stunning moment and style element in the full gallery images here!

From the Bride… Noah and I knew from the beginning we didn’t want just another ballroom wedding. We are both very active and love being outdoors in the sunshine, so we knew we wanted to be married outside.  We wanted lots of natural light, green trees and soft colors. There was really only one choice. The Hill Country was the perfect place for our wedding. We also wanted it to feel like everyone was just hanging out together in someone’s backyard.  The Wild Onion Ranch was the absolute perfect venue to provide this vibe because it is someone’s backyard. And even though it holds over 300 people, it still has an intimate, personal ambiance. As soon as we saw it, we knew no other venue would do. For the wedding decor, I wanted it to be beautiful but not too fancy, and I wanted to incorporate soft fabrics and colors to create a whimsical, romantic, rustic elegance. I also wanted to have lots of little details that were special to us. Purple is my favorite color so I wanted to incorporate several different shades of purple in the flowers, signage and decor. We even carried over the purple to the signature cocktail of lavender lemonade. :) Our wedding menu was amazing — lots of our favorite comfort foods and desserts. Tacos are my favorite meal, so I knew we had to serve them at the wedding. Noah is a self proclaimed cookie connoisseur and loves chocolate, so we knew we needed a dessert bar with cookies and all kinds of treats. Because we met at Crossfit, we wanted to be sure and pay tribute to it at our wedding. We decided to have a margarita bar station that served regular margaritas and a Paleo version. 

Other than Crossfit, one of our other passions that we have in common is music. Music was very important to us (especially Noah) when we were planning our wedding. And not just for the reception — we also wanted the ceremony music to be very personal and have meaning to us. I walked down the aisle to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lauryn Hill and our recessional song was “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. All our ceremony songs were contemporary and fun. For the reception, we wanted our band to be high energy and to keep the guests dancing. Sauce definitely delivered on this the whole night. 

We had the MOST amazing vendor team (thank you, BZ events) — our officiant Carolina did an amazing job coming up with a very personal ceremony, and she was very heartfelt in her delivery. All our guests thought we had known her for years and that she was a family friend. The flowers (Unexpected Elements) were the perfect mix of soft purples, ivories and greens. The arbor where we said our vows looked like something out of a magazine. I also loved my wedding invitations, which were actual pieces of wood that had a heart shape symbol with our initials in the middle so that it looked like it was carved on a tree. We also loved our private dining under the arbor after the wedding. It was nice to have some alone time before the madness happened at the reception. It was also fun to talk about our days and what we did leading up to the ceremony. Our honey butter chicken biscuit late-night snack from Whataburger (definitely not Paleo) was also something our guests will never forget!  

Our advice for couples planning an Austin wedding? Hire BZ events. :) There are a million wedding vendors in Austin, and I would have gone crazy trying to make all the decisions on my own. They connect you with all the right vendors that can provide the wedding “look/feel” you want that is within your budget. The wedding day went off without a hitch and we didn’t have to worry about any of the small details. And thanks to the amazing Shannon Cunningham for capturing it all for us to remember forever.

Wedding Photography: Shannon Cunningham Photography / Wedding Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Design: BZ events / Floral Design: unexpected elements / Officiant: Carolina of Austin Weddings Unlimited / Wedding Cinematography: Crescent Video Productions / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake + Dessert: Bake Sale / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Anibella Ink + Paper / Props: Loot Vintage Rentals / Rentals: Marquee Event Group / Transportation: Vintage Rides of Austin / Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings / Band: Sauce / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet “Saffron” / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Kate Spade + Enzo Angiolini / Hair: Rachel McDaniel / Makeup: Nisa Nicole / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew

“A” is for this awesome Austin wedding at Mercury Hall by Jessica Monnich Photography. With help from Austin’s Elite Staffing this lovely couple created a beautiful, laid back day with their furry friend in tow. I can’t get enough of all of these sweets snaps in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jessica Monnich Photography… This wedding was so laid-back and fun! All the details were so adorable and well thought-out. The bride and groom were so in love, and I found out during the ceremony that he proposed on the beach with a rainbow to seal the deal. So sweet! They had a CUTE little groomsman, their “fur child” doggy. It was such a beautiful ceremony! I have worked with the officiant at other weddings, and she is just awesome and very “Austin” in the best way. They also had a four-piece band play during dinner that was a lot of fun! The groom works for Whole Foods, so who better to do the catering? It sure looked yummy!

Wedding Photography: Jessica Monnich Photography / Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Austin’s Elite Staffing / Flowers + Catering: Whole Foods / Groom’s Cake: Austin Cake Ball / Officiant: Spike Gillespie / Music: The Vintage 15 / Pedicab: Metrocycle Pedicabs

I don’t know about you lovelies, but I can barely believe we’re wrapping up the first full week of August – it seems like just yesterday we were welcoming Summer with open arms. Well, we’re not quite ready to let go of Summer just yet and to celebrate we’ve even got a full line up of Al Fresco inspiration on Sunday’s SMP Home Edition…

And since we plan on celebrating these last days of warm weather in grand fashion, we thought we’d send you off into the weekend with a sun-filled engagement session from Briana Purser Photography.  It’s everything (and I mean everything) we L.O.V.E. about Summertime (frolicking outdoors with your honey, picnics, blue skies), with the perfect dash of adorable on the side.  Click here for more.

From Briana Purser Photography… When I met with Misty and Marlon, they shared their vision of a romantic and natural engagement shoot — one that would resemble a modern, storybook love. I immediately thought of the perfect venue to capture their vision: a friend’s farm just east of Austin. Props from Recollection Vintage in Houston helped set the theme, and the Texas sunlight captured the whimsical feel. We even had an unexpected guest donkey join in on the shoot!

Photography: Briana Purser Photography / Location: A Farm near Austin, Texas / Props: Recollection Vintage Rentals

In case you missed any, here are all of the pretty posts from the week…

a glorious bridesmaids celebration
a wonderful ladies luncheon
a fabulous Montana soiree
a stunning garden photo shoot
a beautiful San Diego affair
a gorgeous San Francisco soiree 
a lovely encaustic photo workshop 
a day of eight gorgeous weddings
a fabulous San Diego soiree
a gorgeous Ireland photo shoot Part I and Part II

Some fabulous links from around the web…

fun DIY fashion plates via Camille Styles
fabulous DIY magazine rack via A Beautiful Mess
yummy pink lemonade bars via Smitten Kitchen

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book members…

Heather Cook Elliott Photography
Devoted to You Inc.
Love and Lord
Candy’s Cake Pops

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here. We’d love to hear from you!

An oh-so-friendly reminder…

There is still a chance to win 100 free custom save the dates from Sandi Spells Design! Find out the details on how to enter in this SMP Georgia post!

And, last, but not least, we have some winners to announce!

Congratulations to Alyssa for winning a bridal robe compliments of Doie Lounge!

Congratulations to SMP New York reader, Jessica, for winning a veil with a value up to $499 from Bridal Reflections!

Janessa is the lucky SMP California reader to win a free Wedding Gown Preservation (a $250 value!) from The Dresser Bridal Couture!

And remember that oh so fabulous Lancome Pinterest Contest? Well we have some lucky ladies to announce! The winner of Classic & Charming is Anne Gaskill, the winner of Dazzling & Glamorous is Jenna Holmes, and the winner of Modern & Trendy is Krystyl Baldwin! Congrats!

And finally, Anne is the winner of the oh so gorgeous copy of Elizabeth Messina’s book!

Have a happy, happy weekend, lovelies!  We’ll see you back here on Sunday morning! xoxo

This wedding is so chock-full of loveliness, I don’t even know where to start. I could begin with the stunning, stunning, stunning Barr Mansion with its beautiful history and architecture, or I could go on and on about the ah-mazing images from Carlea J Photography that capture every bit of sweetness from this smitten couple. Did I mention how there are not one, but TWO cakes from the venue’s caterer that have knocked me right off my feet? You’ll understand my bewilderment when you see even more incredible photos in the gallery, right here.

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From Carlea J Photography… Shannon and Reggie were married in a sunset garden ceremony at Barr Mansion (the nation’s only certified-organic event facility) in Austin, Texas. Shannon incorporated succulents and black and white anemones for a truly unique aesthetic. Guests found their table assignments on a large vintage window, where table names and guests were painted in each frame. Upon entering the reception, Shannon and Reggie “jumped the broom” before a night of dinner and dancing. Shannon changed into a short white dress with pearl accents for their sparkler exit.

Wedding Photography: Carlea Wilson + Ashley Smith for Carlea J Photography / Reception: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Catering + Wedding Cake: Barr Mansion / DJ: DJ Anthony of Greenbelt DJ Productions / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani “Dillon” via The Princess Bridal / Bride’s Sash: Casablanca Bridal “SA006” / Hair + Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon Makeup Artistry

I cannot peel myself away from this wedding — The setting is stunning; the bride is glowing, and all of the paper goods are to die for! What a gorgeous couple, a gorgeous setting and a simply gorgeous day. The full gallery of photos makes me want to go out and design something with paper — not to mention have a piece of the adorable bow tie groom’s cake! A big thanks to Jenny DeMarco Photography for the amazing images.

From the Bride… I am HUGE into details. My mom and I filled the day with tons of DIY projects — everything from stenciling all of the burlap table runners to drink stir sticks to programs, favors, tags and signage. I love all the paper goods (I have a slight obsession with paper). I made the cards to write our letters to each other that we read during our first look. I wanted something that would be pretty to keep and not just a scribbled on piece of paper. The invitation was from Betsy White , and I bought the digital logo to make the reception cards, favor labels, stickers for the program, etc. I also had a stamp made that I used to make the stir sticks and cocktail napkins. We also incorporated the logo on the first page of our wedding album. I made the signage by printing the words and logo onto iron-on transfer paper from Michael’s and then ironing it onto the muslin. I have it hanging in our house now. The frame was from IKEA and spray-painted white. The lanterns are actually a good story as well — I found them in El Paso, and when I tried to ship back one of the large ones back to Dallas, it broke. Since I couldn’t just go buy more (they were a clearance item that I bought all of), Alexa and I ended up driving them to my parents’ house in Granbury. We bought our dads bow ties to fit each of their personalities (fish on my dad’s and golf flags on his dad’s), and the groomsmen wore bow ties too. The groom’s cake is also in the shape of a bow tie.

Besides marrying David and seeing all of our friends and family, I had so much fun getting ready with my bridesmaids and hanging out on the balcony of the mansion. As far as advice, do a first look! I was against it at first, but it made things so much more personal. We read vows/letters we wrote to each other during our first look so we were much more at ease during the actual ceremony.

Wedding Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography / Ceremony: Central Christian Church in Austin, Texas / Reception + Catering: Mansion at Judges’ Hill in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Lindy Floral / Wedding Decor: DIY by the Bride + Her Mother / Wedding Cakes: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Betsywhite Stationery / Band: RADIOSTAR / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair + Makeup: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy

This wedding at Le San Michele looks like it was plucked from a storybook. First, a Texan met a Briton; then they fell in love and held a fairytale wedding, outfitted with antique clocks, vintage maps, ballons and the most beautiful pastel colors ever! The details at this affair are so fun and whimsical but also elegant and stylish – Truly a feat! Check out the full gallery of images here, courtesy of Katherine O’Brien Photography.

From Katherine O’Brien Photography… This Texan and Briton met in San Francisco, traveled the world together and got married in Texas where she grew up. The groom’s  family is from Jersey, England, so they displayed clocks from all three time zones. They also included a vintage map to show far far all their guests had come. They had their first look  at the Hotel St Cecelia and then everyone bused out to Buda and the San Michele. The bride’s gown was by Amy Kuschel, His suit from Zara, and the bridesmaids wore elegant long dresses in pastel shades. There were yard games, balloons, a popcorn station and Pimm’s Cups during the cocktail hour. And a beautiful evening with a sit-down dinner, toasts, dancing and an exit back to Austin in a double decker bus!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Wedding Venue: Le San Michele in Buda, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Margaret Bedikian of Three Apple Events / Floral Design: Westbank Flower Market / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Cakes + Cupcakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Band: The Vintage 15 / DJ: Texas Professional Disc Jockey / Double Decker Bus: The Lion and Rose / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel / Groom’s Suit: Zara

The perfect mix of sophistication, spunk and sweetness – this wedding has SMP written all over it. From the classic Manolo’s to the citrusy decor all the way down to the gorgeous white peacock (love!), every detail was perfectly placed and then perfectly captured by Ivy Weddings, so we could spend the day oohing and ahhing over everything in the full gallery of images!

From the Bride… Pete and I met in Austin, but Pete grew up in Connecticut, so we incorporated details representative of his taste and the Northeast — Vineyard Vines ties, navy suits and monogrammed linen napkins. I have lived my entire life in Oklahoma and Texas, so the location for the reception, Green Pastures, paid tribute to my region of the country. Green Pastures has been tucked away in the heart of south Austin for over 64 years. The true Southern hospitality shows through in the towering live oak trees, roaming peacocks and Victorian-style house on the grounds. We decided we wanted to get married at St. Mary Cathedral’s within a couple months of our meeting. The first day we met, Pete mentioned that his brother and sister-in-law were married there, and coincidentally, I was already a member of that church, so it just made sense. My uncle, who is a Catholic priest, married us there in front of 150 of our friends and family.

For the past year, my Natalie Kopp and Ashley Koenings helped tremendously designing the overall look and feel of the reception, and helping out with a various projects: the “M” board that hung behind the bar, the signage in the buckets of lemons, embossing the seating cards and table numbers. Natalie even sewed the monogrammed throw pillows on the adirondack chairs and drove around Austin in search of the perfect lemons for some of the centerpieces! Ashley, who was on bedrest for the four months leading up to the wedding, has darling penmanship that had the perfect vibe for a garden party occasion (she really should design her own font) — she addressed all the invitations and seating cards by hand!

As a surprise for me, Pete arranged for a bagpiper to stand outside of the church and play as everyone exited, and to escort the wedding party to the capitol for our pics. It was a nice tribute to my grandfather — a bagpiper played in the lawn of the church as we left his funeral just six months before. And coincidentally, he and my grandmother share our wedding anniversary date!

Wedding Photography: Ivy Weddings / Ceremony: Saint Mary Cathedral in Austin, Texas / Reception: Green Pastures in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: The Flower Bucket / Officiant: Fr. Martin Laird, OSA (The Bride’s Uncle) / Catering, Wedding Cake, Milk Punch + Cookies: Green Pastures / Bagpipe: Hylton Cruickshank / DJ: Jordann Mitchel of Complete Music / Dance Floor: Premiere Party Central / Shuttle: R&R Limousine & Bus / Getaway Car: Elegant Limousine & Charter / Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia via Signature Bridal Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik + Glint / Bride’s Veil: Alexia Gavela Bridal / Bride’s Earrings: A Friend / Bride’s Bracelet: Pandora / Ring: Kruger’s Diamond Jewelers / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Diana Warner / Hair: Tamara Greer Hair Studio (512-626-8649 ) / Bride’s Makeup: A Family Friend / Bridesmaids’ + Bride’s Mother’s Makeup: CityliFe Studio / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Vineyard Vines / Groomsmen’s Suits: Signature Bridal Salon

Cupcakes, puzzles and pink crocheted boutonnieres – These are a few of my favorite things about this adorable Austin wedding at The Allan House. Beyond the fact that I’m totally in love with the heart motifs and pink and navy tones, the radiating smiles of the bride and groom make me entirely unable to wipe the silly grin off my own face. Get your fill with the full gallery of images here, thanks to Kristi Wright Photography.

From the Bride… Stephen and I have been together for almost 10 years, and we were long-distance for half of that! We met at the University of Texas, Austin so for us, Austin is a very special place. That’s why even though we knew it would be more difficult to plan a wedding remotely, we still wanted Austin to be where our next chapter begins!

Thanks to my very helpful bridesmaids, a lot of our first round of vendor hunting was done before we paid a visit to Austin. We were looking for an intimate and fun wedding with fantastic food. I had been to a wedding at The Allan House a few years back and absolutely loved the atmosphere. It’s as if you are having a wedding at your own house! So venue choice was an easy one. Out first vendor pick was Polkadots Cupcake Factory. Their cake has the perfect balance of taste and texture. You know how some cupcakes can be overwhelmingly sweet? Theirs aren’t! We walked away 20 minutes later with a dozen of cupcake and knowing our wedding cake was in good hands. We then decided to have Kristi Wright Photography as our wedding photographer. I saw Kristi’s lovely pictures of another Allan House wedding here on Style Me Pretty and immediately contacted her about shooting our big day. She was very helpful along the way with tips on other vendors, doing an engagement session with us in NYC during her personal vacation and capturing so many wonderful moments during our big day! The quality of food was so important to us, and after we joined 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering at one of their Supper Friends dinners, we knew who could help us with that! They helped us create the perfect menu, and so many of our guests told us after that they loved it and even went for seconds! Their staff was also very helpful during the whole night, making sure everyone had what they needed.

To make the wedding more personal, I made a few of the items for the wedding: the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnières and the ring boy’s ring pillow were these pink crocheted hearts with little initial tags made from shrink plastic. The groom’s had a little key attached, inspired by a pin I found on Pinterest! Each station around the wedding place had little signs that I designed to match our wedding stationery. Everything was done with the thought that people could find a little piece of us throughout the wedding. And thanks to our family, friends and vendors, we totally had a blast that night!

Wedding Photography: Kristi Wright Photography / Wedding Venue: The Allan House / Floral Design: Dana Foster of Central Market / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Signs + Heart Decor: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Custom-made by Avril Bridal in Shanghai / Bride’s Hair: Tiffany Lee of Studio Tilee / Groom’s Suit: Indochino / Getting Ready Location: W Austin Hotel

yes, Yes, YES! And maybe one more Yiggity YES for good measure because this wedding is currently a crowd pleasing favorite at the SMP offices. From bold red lips to a bocce ball wielding reception, we have a free spirited Austin dazzler on our hands, as seen through the lens of The Nichols (one of our favorite lenses to peer through). Take a look for yourself with all the images in one gorgeous spot, right here.

From the Bride… My grandmother’s gloves started it all. When she passed away in 2008 and I inherited her delicate, crocheted gloves from Paris, I knew they would be my “something old” when I got married. Come wedding planning time they inspired my custom, ballet-length gown, the historic chapel venue and really, the overall look and feel of our wedding. I came to define our wedding concept as “vintage-parisian-cafe-meets-retro-americana-lawn-party-meets-rustic-tuscan-dinner-party … with an heirloom sewing theme and a healthy dose of mint green.” I wanted to pull from all things and eras and countries that Tony and I share a love for so that our wedding truly conveyed our personalities and style. The day was all about sharing our love and happiness with our closest friends and family and creating a joyful and memorable evening. Guests arrived to the sounds of Motown radiating from singer/songwriter Suzanna Choffel and her band. We chose a longtime friend to serve as officiant, decorated our altar with vintage doors and sewing-pattern paper flowers and added a touch of playfulness using quotes from the children’s books “The Little Prince,” “I Like You” and “The Velveteen Rabbit” for the invitations, programs and ceremony readings.

Tony and I have never hosted a party sans bocce ball, and this party was no different. During cocktail hour guests played bocce, sipped Pimm’s Cup cocktails out of jelly jars and listened to Suzanna perform her own music in her sultry and soulful style. Dinner was served under the stars and strung lights and was reminiscent of dining in a Tuscan garden. The rustic Italian family-style meal honored Tony’s heritage. The tables were dressed in seafoam linens and dotted with multiple, loosely-arranged and softly-colored florals in blue mason jars, antique milk glass and honey jars. The pistachio and salted carmel buttercream wedding cake was divine and the pie bar, complete with caramel apple streusel and PB&J, was downright sinful. Sugar crash? No problem — the favors were dark-chocolate covered espresso beans. As a visual artist, it was inevitable that I would style and design our wedding, from creating the invitations and programs with the help of my maid of honor to typing the escort cards with my grandfather’s antique typewriter. I could not have done this without the wholehearted support of my maid of honor, Lizzie Choffel, whose typesetting and printing expertise, sharp design eye and willingness to be in a constant state of “brainstorm” helped me plan and create; or without the help of my loving mother who, from afar, painstakingly sewed fabric menu card pockets, burlap table runners and floral cocktail table sashes. Needless to say, there were a lot of fabric care packages flooding the pony express in the months prior to the wedding. The process of working with my longtime friend has inspired the creation of spool + ink {handcrafted}, a design and lifestyle company. We are excited to share our passion with others and to continue to create handcrafted wares.

This was truly a homemade and homegrown wedding — it was our goal to keep things as local as possible, from the locally-sourced food and music to the antiquarian invitation stamps and the mint green Kendra Scott jewelry and cufflinks for the bridal party. We could not have possibly chosen more wonderful vendors — we couldn’t have pulled it off without their help, especially that of our devoted wedding coordinator, Margaret Bedikian, who went above and beyond her duties and who has become a friend and has claimed a place in our lives forever.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Margaret Bedikan of Three Apples Events / Design, Styling and Paper goods: Spool + Ink Handcrafted / Floral Design: Zinnia & Company / Catering: Royal Fig / Wedding Cake: Walton’s Fancy and Staple / Desserts: Bake Sale / Music: Suzanna Choffel / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals / Registry + Custom Stamps: Antiquaria / Wedding Dress: Custom / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Not all rustic weddings are the barn dwelling, mason jar toting type. Some are more of the polished rustic variety in that chiavari chair out in the open air sort of way. This is how Austinites do weddings and we are wholeheartedly on board. Caroline + Ben Photography captured a day full of easy elegance with a line-up of all white florals by Bella Flora of Dallas that paired perfectly with the classic styling of Dayley Design. See the full spread of alfresco nuptials right here!

From the Bride… My fiancé and I lived in NYC for eight years and met the last year I was there. He is from Rhode Island, I’m from a small town in Texas, and we ended up moving to Austin a year ago.We decided that we wanted to get married at a venue that had a ranch-type feel so that our East Coast friends and family could have that experience, but we wanted the décor to be clean and modern with a touch of classic romance, which we captured by bringing in chandeliers, string light globes, and lots of candle light. Our wedding invitation logo design carried over from the bench cushions and wedding party table chairs to one of the bars. I wanted to make sure that Texas, Rhode Island and a touch of NYC were part of the day, so we had bottles of Rhode Island red wine and a Texas chardonnay on the dinner tables, koozies for the reception that said “Don’t Mess with Rhode Island Either,” and we departed the reception through a line of our friends waving small Texas and Rhode Island flags. Our favorite coffee shop in NYC, the Grey Dog Café, sent up coffee cups with their logo that we used for coffee service.

I wanted to include special women in my family in the wedding ceremony so I gave my two cousins, sister-in-law and my brother’s girlfriend bracelets that mimicked the bracelet I wore at my reception. They wore these on the day of the wedding and walked down the aisle as a group before my bridesmaids. We kept the ceremony short and simple! Other highlights of the day were my dad’s toast and just the fact that so many people we love were in the same room at the same time. I know that sounds cliché, but it was amazing to have all of those people celebrating with us. Oh, and the table holding the grooms cake fell and all of the plates shattered, but somehow the grooms cake just slid perfectly onto the ground and wasn’t damaged at all.

As far as advice to other brides, take the opportunity of the wedding and the planning time to connect with your family and friends. The greatest joy I found in the months leading up to the wedding was having so many opportunities to hang out with everyone at showers, engagement celebrations, the bachelorette party, and even simple phone calls to friends to ask opinions on wedding ideas. SMP (of course) and NY Magazine’s wedding section was helpful … and I have to say that one of my best friends, Kristin Shepelwich from AK Event Design in Dallas, was a great shoulder to lean on through this — she has planned many wonderful weddings, so her input was great. It always helps to have someone like that in your corner.

Wedding Photography: Caroline + Ben Photography / Wedding Venue: The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Coordination: Ashley + Dayme of Dayley Design / Floral Design + Rentals: Bella Flora of Dallas / Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Groom’s Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Invitations: Alyssa Reeves of Paradise Design Co. / Save-the-Dates + Koozies: Tara Hendrick of Tara Hendrick Graphic Design (The Bride’s Cousin) / Linens + Serving Pieces: Marquee Rents / Bar Signs + Cake Knife: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang “Ghillian” / Bride’s Heels: J.Crew / Bride’s Veil: Her Mothers, Made by Her Grandmother / Bride’s Necklace: A Gift from Her Mother / Bride’s Bracelet: Jenny Packham / Hair + Makeup: Erica Gray / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice in Navy

Some people say “Keep Austin Weird,” but in this case I would say “Keep Austin Beautiful” because that’s what this wedding by Thompson Poole Photography is: beautiful. The personal touches to the day are as heartfelt and warm as the couple’s love story and you simply cannot ask for more impeccable floral arrangements by Viridian Design Studio.  Read the full story below and head over to the gallery for more.

From the Bride… Bryan and I had known of each other a long time before we actually met. We went to all the same schools growing up but were separated by a few years. He always had a very striking presence, and I remember being sort of in awe of him from afar — even in elementary school. By high school, he and my brother had become friends, and he began to appear at my parents’ house on occasion. I’ll never forget the first time he ate dinner with us. Mom and I had roasted a chicken with herbs and served it with saffron rice and asparagus. I watched him out of the corner of my eye the whole time and had to laugh to myself as he quietly and deliberately removed every last spec of rosemary from his serving of chicken, creating a very neat little green pile on the side of his plate. He and I didn’t exchange any words that evening, only a few glances. In fact, it was a good five years before he and I had a real conversation. The conversation wasn’t about anything earth-shatteringly deep or impressive, but both of us remember every word of it. We carried it around with us over the next few years, not meeting or talking, but thinking of each other.

In December 2009, Texas was hit by a massive snowstorm, confining me to my house for a week. I had to forfeit a cozy holiday at home for a week spent alone with my dog, eating nothing but string cheese and pecan divinity. Meanwhile my family was having a good old time, catching up with friends by the fireside. When my mom told me over the phone that Bryan was there visiting, I replied in jest, “Well, how am I supposed to marry Bryan Rutherford if I can’t ever see him??” It was kind of an odd comment to make, looking back. We were married precisely one year later. Things happened rather quickly after that evening. Bryan apparently inquired after me with more than just polite interest, and my Dad slipped him my email address. He wrote me the next day. When I received his letter, I was dumbfounded. I knew that something wonderfully important had happened. We wrote or talked every day after that, and within two months we were engaged.

Bryan and I entertained the idea of eloping, but we knew our families would be disappointed, so we decided instead an easy New Years Day wedding with our closest family and friends. We based our color palette on some handmade Japanese origami paper I’d found in Berkeley, where Bryan was living when we first started dating. I would fold little gifts for him and hide them around his house. I used the same paper to make favors for our wedding guests. It took me about four months to hand-fold the favors, but I enjoyed every second, partly because Bryan entertained me by reading aloud to me while I worked. It was a very special time for us.

Wedding Photography: Thompson Poole Photography / Ceremony: St. Austin Catholic Church in Austin, Texas / Reception: Palm Door in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Floral Design: Viridian Design Studio / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Dress: Ellana Couture / Rings: Victoria Moore + Shibumi Studio & Gallery

Simply put, this wedding is fabulous. With a little more detail, it’s classically beautiful, with a stunning bride and oh-so-handsome groom, sweet as can be moments (like said handsome groom holding an umbrella for his beloved), and the most spectacular sparkler send off I’ve seen. All wrapped up in a gallery filled with ah-mazing images from BOTH Anahi Navarro Photography + AGAiMAGES NY. Now THAT is a Tuesday treat.

Meeting Paul was as close to a modern day fairy tale as you can get. My former boss at JHL Company and Paul’s dad set us up in the fall of 2009.  His dad was the chairman of an organization that JHL consulted for and I delivered lunch to them at a work meeting one day.  We found out later that after I left, Paul’s dad asked Jennifer, “who was that?”  She said, “Lauren Smith, my new assistant. Why?”  He responded, “Because Paul needs to meet her.”

Just a few weeks later, my colleagues and I were finishing up a walk through meeting at the Four Seasons.  Jennifer and the former VP, Melanie, said, “We’re having drinks with one of the Serafy boys in a few minutes.  Lauren, you should stay.”  I was having dinner with a girlfriend later, but decided to push it back so I could.  Man, am I glad that I did!  I found out later that the entire “walk through meeting” was choreographed just so Paul and I could meet.  Paul had moved to Austin from Washington, D.C. a few months before.  While he knew Jennifer and Melanie well, he was clueless about the set up too. 

Paul found me on Facebook pretty soon after that, but otherwise, I didn’t hear from him.  After a few weeks, Paul asked me for my phone number through a Facebook message.  When he called, he invited me out for a drink.  My brother, Barrett, who is in the Navy, was in town for a short visit and so I left our first date after forty-five minutes so I could see him.  Paul took that as a bad sign, but he wasn’t dissuaded. The next morning I received a text at 7:42 a.m. saying, “I can’t wait to see you again. Are you available for dinner Sunday?”

A year and one month later, Paul proposed to me at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden in Austin, Texas on the afternoon of December 18, 2010.  Paul told me that he had a day planned for us to go to some places in Austin where we had not been.  Umlauf was our first stop.  After walking through the garden, I discovered that a plaque in front of one of the sculptures read, “Lauren, will you marry me? Love, Paul.”  As soon as I turned around to look at Paul, he was down on one knee with the ring in his hand.  I was completely caught off guard.  My first response to Paul was, “Is this real life?”  He said, “yes” and asked impatiently “well, will you?”  I said, “yes!” Always mindful of ways to make me happy, Paul arranged for Anahi and Edgar Navarro to document the whole thing.

Our wedding was spectacular for many reasons, but if I had to pinpoint one reason it would be the people involved. My groom, my sweet husband Paul, was not only my fairy tale prince, but was so hands on throughout the planning process. I was busier than ever with work, and Paul literally came in to save the day.  Because of his huge role in making our big day a success, sharing those moments with him meant that much more to me. Our moms supported us from day one and were the primary reason that every detail was perfect.

Photography: Anahi Navarro Photography and AGAiMAGES NY / Wedding Planner: Becky Navarro, Pearl Events Austin / Linens: Susana, All Party Rentals / Lighting: Intelligent Light Design / Flowers: Coby Neal, The Flower Studio + Keith Burnham, Westbank Flower Market / Cake: Judy, Simon Lee Bakery / Venue: Austin Country CLub / Videographer: Joe Simon Wedding Films / Ceremony Location: Saint John Neumann Catholic Church / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Shoes: Lucchese / Dress Designer:  Pnina Tornai, Kleinfeld Bridal / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Jasmine / Makeup: Adrienne Pitkin / Bride’s Wedding Day Hair: Tammie Garza / Photobooth: Edgar Navarro / Invitations: William Arthur, purchased from Northwest Hills Pharmacy / Printing: Nuptial Necessities / Officiants: Monsignor Gustavo Barrera and Pastor Randy Phillips / Ceremony Music: Lake Austin Strings / Cocktail Music: Andrew Grainer / Reception Music: Matchmaker Band / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Transportation: Carey Limo

Some say being struck by lightning is lucky, and after seeing the Barr Mansion after meeting that fate, we’d have to agree. This couple picked it as their venue, site unseen, and what a pretty gamble it was. Kim Maguire Photography shot all the lucky loveliness, including the Stems Floral Design flowers accented by tiny white buds to match the bride’s heavenly Lazaro dress. See the stunning site and more in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Now living in Berkeley, California, we knew that we wanted to have our wedding at an outdoor venue in my hometown of Austin. Having met in DC, lived in New York, Austin and now in the Bay Area, it was almost like having a destination wedding, where our friends and family could visit the town we love so dearly. We chose the Barr Mansion actually having never seen it in person! Our wonderful wedding photographer, Kim Maguire, and her mom captured the beauty of the venue and the spirit of the day. It was pure joy and bliss. The organic gourmet food was delicious, and our guests enjoyed Amy’s Ice Cream while dancing the night away to the great live band, Special Edition, or sneaking off to take photos in the photo booth. 

Wedding Photography: Kim Maguire Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Venue Contact: Rick Rabon / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Dessert: Amy’s Ice Creams / Wedding Programs: DIY / Band: Special Edition / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Serendipity Bridal

The combination of perfectly worn in cowboy boots and pretty dresses is one I can’t seem to get enough of. It’s sassy and I am definitely one for a little sass. I’m also one for an outdoor bash dripping in yellow accents and bright, billy ball clad florals with 12, yes TWELVE insanely cute flower girls and ring bearers walking down the aisle to “All You Need is Love”. That’s a lot of adorableness for one wedding but Peacock Photography didn’t miss any of the awesome photo ops. She killed it in the image capturing department and you can see every last one right here.

From the Bride… It all started with friends, family, fun and … kickball. Five years later, we kicked off a new game of marriage, surrounded by all the same friends and family in my parents’ front yard on one of the most special and HAPPY days of our lives. Our vision for the wedding was a day of simplicity and fun, involving our huge group of incredible friends, our wonderful families and, obviously, our dog, Daisey, the most wonderful English Bulldog on the planet! We chose the location, my parent’s house in Austin that overlooks the hill country, because we knew that it would give us the laid-back atmosphere that we craved, and that it also give us the opportunity to be with our family and friends throughout the wedding week and day of the wedding. Thank goodness my parents thought it was a good idea too! One of the most important details to me was flowers! I’m a flowerholic, and my favorite time of year in Texas is when the wildflowers come out in the spring, coinciding closely with the date of the wedding. Besides wildflowers, the only other flower I knew we had to have were pinchushions because Ryder gives them to me all the time and they are our “special” flowers — unique, beautiful, and they last forever! After we knew what flowers we wanted for the wedding, everything else came together very organically and very DIY with the help of family, friends, my amazing planner and Ranch Water!

Most people don’t know this, but one of the best drinks in the world (and my “signature drink”) is called Ranch Water. Ranch Water is made with tequila, lime juice and Topo Chico, which happens to come in a very unique bottle. With my love of Ranch Water and the large number of Topo Chico bottles that I had piling up in the kitchen, we decided to use the bottles and colors as the main centerpiece of the wedding. After hours of fun in the kitchen with glass-cutters and boiling water, we had our wedding vases and were off to a very good start and a memorable family affair! In addition to the DIY Topo Chico glasses, the wildflower arrangements also became a group project. The morning of the wedding, my mom and all of the grandkids got up early to cut flowers on the side of the highway. All the while, the grandkids were asking, “Nana, is this illegal?”  (My mother’s wildflower “habits” are well known to the rest of us and now to all the grandkids. For the record it is legal in Texas — most people just don’t do it on the side of a busy highway. I’m sure thankful that my mother did!) The rest of the morning, all of the bridesmaids and our family sat on the patio, drank mimosas and made beautiful Texas wildflower arrangements.

The moment the wedding started, everything was just pure bliss. The bridal party, Daisey and our twelve adorable flower girls and ring bearers walked down the aisle to The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love,” and Ryder and I were married by one of our best friends in the world. We both wrote our own vows that reflected our genuine love and friendship that we have for each other, and we joyfully walked down the aisle together to start a life of laughter and love that I know will always be an adventure! Looking at the pictures now, I’m so thankful that Kate at Peacock Photography and Beth at Loxodonta Events gave us a day that celebrates the things that are so special to us: friends, family, laughter and joy!

Wedding Photography: Peacock Photography / Wedding Venue: The Bride’s Family Home in Austin, Texas / Event Planning: Bethany Ferguson of Loxodonta Weddings and Events / Centerpieces: DIY / Bouquets + Bird Cages: Jennifer’s Gardens / Boutonnieres + Wedding Invitations: Jacquelyn Jeanes of Creative Jeanes / Catering: 34th Street Catering / DJ: Northern Lights DJ Entertainment / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Wedding Dress: Unknown Designer via Alexia Gavella Bridal / Shoes: Allens Boots

Meeting your love in Morocco sounds like the plot from a summer romance flick but no, just normal day to day stuff for this Mr. and Mrs. And if their meeting was that magical, it’s a given that their Austin wedding was ten times so. Awash in the palest of pinks and the prettiest of white florals by Petal Pushers and images by Sarah Kate that are as timeless and elegant as you can get, this is an ode to romance; meeting the love of your life over seas and saying “I Do” on your grandparents 68th wedding anniversary. Told you these two were straight out of a movie. See it all unfold right here!

From the Bride… Justin and I met in 2006 while studying abroad in Morocco. We became good friends overseas and kept in touch afterwards, finally starting to date long-distance in 2009. At the time, I was living in Austin, and he was living in Seattle. Within six months, we both knew we had something special. I was moving to Dallas for work, and Justin decided to move there as well so we could give our new relationship a chance to grow. In December of 2011, Justin proposed, and the wedding planning began. When looking at wedding venues, we knew we wanted something different. We considered getting married in Dallas but decided on Austin because of its laid-back atmosphere. We fell in love with Laguna Gloria, a private residence built in the 1916 that was converted into a public art space by the city of Austin in the 1960s. The design of the villa and surrounding grounds was inspired by the original owners’ trip to Lake Como, Italy. We knew it was just the place to achieve the upscale, outdoor, dinner party feel we wanted for our wedding reception.

We held our ceremony in the Central Christian Church near the state capitol building. Another example of Italian style architecture, the church was built in 1929 and houses one of the oldest congregations in the city. We were married on March 24, 2012, a date we chose because of its special meaning — it’s my grandparents’ 68th wedding anniversary. They were married in 1944, just before my grandfather entered the second World War. My grandfather passed away in August 2011, leaving my grandmother as the last surviving grandparent between Justin and me. We feel very lucky to share such a special day with her.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Ceremony: Central Christian Church in Austin, Texas / Reception: Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art in Austin, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Aimee Villa of Lizze Belle Event Management / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Wedding Cinematography: Joe Simon Wedding Films / Catering: Myra Adkins of Word of Mouth Catering / Wedding Cakes: Coco Paloma Desserts / Wedding Paper Goods: Southern Fried Paper / Ceremony Strings: Barton Strings / DJ: Chris Bar of Altared Wedding Productions / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

Love tents and flower crowns are about as bohemian as you can get and a look that Gypsy Floral and Events pulls off impeccably. They teamed up with InkedFingers Photography for a picnic shoot full of love and barefoot dancing with a ton of cute details to inspire your next boho fête. Whether that be an engagement shoot or a full blown wedding love fest, you can find so much inspiration in the folds of this shoot. See it all right here.

From Gypsy Floral and Events… The designers at Gypsy appreciate the nomadic, bohemian lifestyle and reflect this through design and innovative events such as The Gypsy Picnic.  Conceived out of a need to help their clients stay connected during the wedding planning process, Gypsy creates memories combining nostalgia and vintage items from the past and curates them in a romantic picnic for two. Crocheted linens, hand-stitched fabrics collected by grandmothers, vintage vases and antique china compose the mise-en-scène for this delightful photo shoot. For this experience, ambiance was key, so we started with a feeling and worked to create an intimate and fun outing for a local couple. Loot Vintage Rentals provided vintage monogrammed sheets, quilts, button cushions, doily globes and an Aztec blanket. We served a quintessential southern meal from Lucy’s Fried Chicken, with collard greens and roasted corn all placed on bone china and sterling silver. Adding to the mystique, the couple playfully read each others’ fortunes with tarot cards, hoping to catch a glimpse of their adventure-filled future. One thing is certain — the cards foretold a story of long life, love and happiness.

Nestled beneath the undulating branches of an live oak tree, the pup tent made the perfect place to sneak away for a kiss. Photographer Carli Keine created a set of ethereal sunset photographs tinged with romance and saturated with color. It was a perfect picnic to spark a little romance before the couple’s wedding. Gypsy Floral offers a variety of services from picnic themes to comprehensive floral and event design. Gypsy picnics include flowers, meal delivery, music and all decorative elements. Each picnic is personalized to meet a couple’s style and meal preference. Including them in the creative picnic process is one of the most romantic parts for the fiancés!

Photography: InkedFingers Photography / Photo Shoot Location: A Public Park in Austin, Texas / Styling + Floral Design: Gypsy Floral and Events / Catering: Lucy’s Fried Chicken / Vintage Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals + Gypsy Floral and Events / Bride’s Attire: Anthropologie / Couple: Ali + Aric

Pop out your party hats for this next celebration by Urban Grey Photography. This wedding doesn’t just take my breath away with its charming blooms and rustic decor by Central Texas Design House, but the couple kicked things up a notch with an ’80s style reception that proves they know how to party hardy. Be sure to head over to the full gallery for a little after party action.

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From the Bride… Michael and I met one cold and icy day in Dallas the weekend before Valentine ’s Day. We began dating shortly after that fateful weekend, and we quickly began to share our lives and our mutual love for music, sports and friends. Planning for our wedding was a group effort, and both of our personalities were reflected throughout the entire day. I know I received more help than usual when it comes to the groom’s input, but Michael and his family know how to throw a good party. The Hyatt offered something different than most venues with the option to get married outside and then to throw two receptions — one outside, and then a second inside a ballroom. This idea had both Michael and I hooked. I knew I wanted something outside, under the stars and intimate, and I also knew he wanted something inside, with a loud band and glow sticks! 

The inspiration for the theme of our outside wedding was more organic. I hadn’t really picked the colors for the day until bridesmaid shopping, when I fell in love with Swann’s slate dresses. I’ve always loved neutral and natural tones and once I found these dresses, I instantly knew which direction I wanted to go. I wanted the day to be beautiful and elegant, but also rustic and outdoorsy. The Hyatt Lost Pines offered both a beautiful and breathtaking venue, while also allowing it to feel rustic and not too feminine. We paired the slate bridesmaids’ dresses with whites, greens and pale yellows. From the rustic burlap table runners to the white milk glass vases, we were able to pair both rustic and feminine touches to create a rustic chic setting.

The inspiration for the theme for our inside reception was simple: PARTY. Michael quickly knew exactly which band  he wanted and exactly what they would play: ’80s music. The outside was mine, and the inside was all his. We ordered anything and everything ’80s party related that you could think of: glow sticks, sunglasses, gloves, glow rings, etc. We crossed our fingers that the guests would enjoy it — and they definitely did! The day was absolutely perfect — memorable, beautiful, and most of all, fun. We were so blessed to enjoy such a wonderful day with our closest friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Urban Grey Photography / Wedding Venue: Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Lost Pines, Texas / Bouquet: Casa Linda Florals / Reception Flowers + Event Design: Central Texas Design House / Officiant: Sam Riccobene of Austin Weddings Unlimited /  Wedding Cinematography: Vanessa McKellar Productions / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Kathy / Groom’s Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Ceremony Guitar: Stacy Arnold Classical Guitar / Country Band: The Rusty Brothers / ’80s Band: Time Machine Band / Lighting: Visual Aids Electronics / Wedding Dress: Wtoo “Ariane” / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Makeup: TwentyCoats

This bride and groom are brimming with personality and love for their cultures (and one another) and it shines at their Barr Mansion & Artisan Ballroom nuptials. We’re talking chuppah, breaking of the glass, and a mariachi band. Stems Floral Design blended soft spring colors with rich jewel hues just as well as this couple blended traditional touches, and it all came together for one stunning sunny afternoon ceremony and more. How much more? Check out the rest of Hyde Park Photography‘s flawless photo coverage in the full gallery to see for yourself!

From the Bride… Doug and I took three years to decide and create every detail of our wedding day. As recent transplants to Austin from the west coast, we knew our friends and family would be traveling to the wedding from all over the country. We wanted our wedding to be a portrait of us — full of our culture, music and our new home in Texas. We designed and assembled all of our wedding stationery, from save-the-dates to thanks you cards — it was a lot! Our honeymoon was in Ecuador and provided the theme for our cake topper. I used vintage frames to display table numbers and guest seating. Goodwill made that a very green and affordable alternative to having individual place cards. Doug and I would correspond through letters when we lived apart. It gave me the idea to turn our guest book into a collection of love letters to us from our guests. Each guest wrote a note and tucked it in petite envelopes fastened to the pages of an album. My sweet friends from out of town helped make the fanciful “hooray” flags just days before the wedding.

My mother is Mexican, and both our fathers are Jewish. We included a little from each culture: married beneath a chuppa and smashing a glass, immediately followed by bright and festive and jovial mariachi during the cocktail hour. I grew up dancing folklorico, and I love bold, rich colors. I wanted a natural crown for my hair and big gold jewelry. Stems Floral created my gorgeous rose clusters — those ladies are masters at their craft. We wanted a lot of herbs and soft, subtle floral decor to offset the deep reds donned by the girls and me. Lavender, rosemary and basil were dropped by our flower girl, and all the boutonnieres and corsages contained them as well. I loved the idea of the scent as a part of the memory of the day.

The wonderful Rick Rabon and Barr Mansion took care of the rest. They have have a lovely staff, are completely organic and provided all dining accommodations as well. The food and desserts were phenomenal, and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. They even made our wedding favors. Once the music started, the party was on. Guests threw off their shoes and got down on some live soul music. Everyone was on the floor getting sweaty to the sweet sounds of Lost Soul Revue until the very end. To end the night we scurried through a tunnel of glittering sparklers to a longhorn-nosed limo. The whole day was an absolute dream, and guests agree it was well worth the three years’ wait.

Wedding Photography: Hyde Park Photography / Wedding Venue: Barr Mansion & Artisan Ballroom in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Joe Simon Wedding Films / Music: Mariachi Jalisco + The Lost Soul Revue / Transportation: LowBrow Limo