Texas Weddings

This Austin bridal session by Urban Grey Photography is such a sweet way to honor both the past and the future.  The absolutely breathtaking bride brought in a collection of antiques and sentimental props that had belonged to her grandparents.   The vintage elements paired with one of my favorite Nicole Miller gowns and wild florals by STEMS Floral gives it a fresh, whimsical vibe.  Bridal sessions are such a fun way to get some more quality time with your wedding dress and really let your personality shine.  This one is the perfect reflection of that. See all the details in the full gallery!

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From Urban Grey Photography…Jessica, the bride, loves vintage details. She wanted to incorporate a few into her bridal session. I had been eyeing a few fields in Austin, and thought the combination of the vintage details would be gorgeous. I wanted to take these artifacts and set up a scene with the props. This would be a big contradiction of two things that didn’t really belong together.

We began in a hay field, where a series of hay bales were haphazardly placed. We simply incorporated the first of the props (her grandfather’s luggage) into this part of the session. I simply wanted Jessica and the location to pop out. Her gorgeous deep red lipstick really popped out.  The next location was an abandoned field that we set up right at sunset.  This is where we went wild setting up the remaining props. The props Jessica brought along were not just ordinary props that she collected at antique stores. The luggage was her great-grandfathers. The hats were her grandmother and mom’s, as well as the original hat boxes. She took pieces of jewelry from her grandmother and added them to her shoes. The wooden chair was her great-aunt’s chair that she and her husband, Will, would be using in their first home together. All the tiny jars, vases, and coffee mugs were collected for table decorations at their wedding. The lanterns were going to hang overhead at their wedding ceremony.  Every single detail had a special meaning.

Abby of STEMS Floral created the perfect finishing touch for the bridal session. I wrote her an email detailing our session and she completely went beyond my expectations. My jaw dropped when I saw the gorgeous vintage-inspired bouquet she had hand crafted for Jessica. She gave us all the remaining flowers to fill the cups, jars, and vases with to complete the look.

From the Bride…The inspiration for this shoot came from some old suitcases and a hat. Because my grandparents passed away when I was young, I knew I wanted to incorporate some of their old things in this session. I used my grandfather’s vintage suitcases and my grandmother’s stunning hats (the black hat is my favorite!).  The vintage, warm, romantic feel is exactly what I dreamed of for my wedding, so I was ecstatic about this bridal session with Magan.  When I look at these photos I can’t help but smile. I couldn’t have dreamed of photos better than these. They bring out my personality, expressions, style, and of course the beauty of everything bridal. I like to imagine what my grandparents would think if they could see them, and I know they would be grinning from ear to ear.

Photography: Urban Grey Photography / Floral Designer: Abby of STEMS Floral

Oh how I love me a Mercury Hall wedding in Austin! It’s just the cutest little place to have a wedding and these pretty, pretty images from Q Weddings are the proof in the pudding. And can I just say that I’m totally loving the bride’s eclectic design eye and how she infused all sorts of goodies into her day. For instance, have you ever seen origami place cards, driftwood, wildflowers and lace go together so beautifully before? I didn’t think so! And can we also pause for a moment to talk about those fluffy florals by Unexpected Elements? Hello gorgeous! Click here for even more of this eclectic fête.

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From Q Weddings…Kimberly designed the event to have an Anthropologie, vintage garden feel. Decor included an old farm table for the cake and cupcakes, blue glass vases, mix of wildflowers, lacy table runners, linen tablecloths, driftwood, origami place cards, vintage tea cups and plates, customized yalmulkes and a huppa made with tree branches.The color palette was a range of blues.

A special part of the evening included a visit from Cool Haus, an ice cream truck.  It was a huge hit, everyone lined up to create their very own custom ice cream sandwiches.

Venue: Mercury Hall / Wedding Coordinator: BZ events / Caterer: Pink Avocado / Florist: Unexpected Elements / Wedding Cake: Cupprimo Cupcakes / Wedding Videography: Crescent Video / Wedding Gown: Nicole Miller / Rentals: Loot Vintage Rentals
+ Marquee Event Group / Lighting: FILO / DJ: Groove Labs / Hair + Make-up: Lucie Marie / Ceremony Music: Hill Country Strings / Dessert: Cool Haus Ice Cream Truck / Wedding Photography: Q Weddings

When you think of Austin, you might think of cowboy hats and country music – but I have a feeling you might be singing a different tune after fawning over this photo shoot designed by CLINK. It’s Austin couture, high fashion at its finest, and the folks at Four-Studios made sure each gorgeous image reflected the mood of this saucy shoot. Elegant, regal, 100% Austin with a little boudoir thrown in for the fun of it, how can you go wrong? Click here for even more!

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From CLINK… The couple featured (Ross and Erin) are actually a real married couple – they never did any official wedding photos when they got married less than a year ago so this was their “day after” styled shoot.

When you think of Texas, high fashion may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Austin, however, is a unique little oasis in the middle of Texas, and is known for live music, an ever-growing creative class and fashion! When searching for a venue that represented the eclectic spirit of Austin, Palazzo Lavaca stopped us in our tracks. Originally, the second oldest firehouse in Austin, the transformation was inspired by Venice, Italy’s Palazzo Fortuny. Everything in this place was one-of-a-kind from the artwork to the dishware, from the lighting fixtures to the furniture and the antique rugs. Even the walls were restored to the original look and then sealed for preservation.

Ross Bennett is a custom evening wear designer in Austin, and his wife Erin is his muse. We asked him to custom create a gown that went with the feel of Palazzo Lavaca. “Black Swan” provided great inspiration as well – integrating black in an artful way that was neither overpowering nor gothic, but simply gorgeous . . . in an edgy kind of way. The accessories (hairpieces, jewelry and underpinnings) were all designed by Austin artists – exemplifying the motivation for Austin being billed as the “third coast.”

Our tabletop and floral décor, is also 100% Austin – right down to the candles! Since the setting was lush with color, we opted to use creamy white textural florals. Accents of painted black succulents and seeded eucalyptus provided for a high-fashion look. A local stationer created our stationery suite by layering lots of textural papers in gold and cerulean tones that tied everything together. This is Austin at it’s finest!

Design, Planning + Styling: CLINK / Photography: Four-Studios (Eclectic Images Photography, SMS Photography, Diana M Lott Photography + Photography by Vanessa) / Venue: Palazzo Lavaca / Gown: Ross Bennett / Lingerie: Sew Sister / Jewelry: Tracy Tenpenny Design / Cufflinks: Foxy Fusion / Hair Pieces: Milli Starr / Hair + Make-up: FaceKandy / Floral Design: Merveille Events / Stationery: Paper Place

This lovely Chicago couple chose Austin as the perfect location for their crazy gorgeous nuptials and I am beyond happy they did.  Held at the oh-so-charming Allan House and photographed by the amazing Ivy Weddings, this is definitely a destination wedding done right.  Every last detail coordinated by BZ Events, from the mason jars to the bright paper lanterns, is fab-u-lous.  And I think I am in desperate need of some cake by Michelle’s Patisserie.  Gorgeous and yummy.  Yes, I do believe it’s going to be a very good day here on Style Me Pretty Texas.  A very good day.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

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From the Bride… For our wedding, we decided to come down from Chicago and give Austin a “test drive,” as we are looking to make the move down there in a year or so. London, San Diego, Virginia, St. Louis, Chicago – we had friends and family from all over…except Austin! Needless to say, everyone was very excited to have an excuse to visit the Texas Capital. We had over 95 guests join us, all from out of town.

We tried to add a personal touch to everything that went into the wedding. Johnny’s cousin Daphne performed the ceremony, and we designed and printed our own save the dates, invites and programs. We chose green, coral and yellow as our colors, to play off all the natural greenery at the Allan House and create a “backyard wedding” feel. We had Chinese lanterns hanging in the trees, candles and flowers in mason jars, and customized “koozies” for each of our guests. At around 10:00 we had a root beer float bar, and then after a few hours of dancing, Chicago hot dogs on the bus ride back to the hotel.

It was truly a special night, and gave us nothing but good more good vibes about our probable future home!

Wedding Photography: Ivy Weddings / Wedding Coordinator: Gray Allen of BZ Events / Reception Venue: The Allan House / Wedding Dress: Marisa / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Celeste Biller of Austin Hair and Make-up / Makeup: Susan Hood Evans of Makeup by S.H.E. / Jewelry: The Bride’s / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger / DJ: Penguin Entertainment / Floral Design: Wild Poppy / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Caterer: Crave Catering / Officiant: Daphne DeMaris / Rentals: Marquee / Customized Cake Toppers: Tipsy Topsy / Customized Stickers for Gift Bags: 76th Street Ink / Customized Hand Rolled Sendoff Streamers: Extravagant Exits

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Oh, DIY brides.  You never cease to amaze me with your creativeness, originality and talent.  Yes, it’s true.  I am consistently blown away by your fab selves and today’s stunner is no exception.  Every last detail of these Austin nuptials was designed and crafted by the oh-so-talented bride and the end result is a modern and sleek soiree that is as beautiful as it is awe-inspiring.  From the stunning floral design to the amazing dessert table, it’s one crazy gorgeous moment after another.  And I, for one, can’t seem to get enough.  Lucky for us, Sunny 16 Photography was there to capture all of the pretty.  So, join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Sunny 16 Photography… I remember the day Marilyn and Tony contacted me. Marilyn was telling me how they just decided to get married, and were wanting to do it within three weeks. The very posh W Hotel was just about to open and they were able to secure a room to hold their ceremony. Only the closest family and friends were going to attend.

Marilyn spent hours handcrafting and designing her wedding table. From the colors of black, white and green, to the flowers, logo, invitations, signs, name tags. She works in advertising, so she was delighted in designing her own wedding. She loves the modern feel of the wedding. The dessert table was filled with cupcakes, breads, cookies, chocolates that she made and guest would enjoy. She didn’t find designing this wedding a chore, she really enjoyed the process and would do it all again in a heart beat.

Also at this wedding was the announcement of the gender of their child. The candy cigars, in the color of blue or pink, were wrapped in little baby booties. The guests would unwrap the socks to find out if the child was a boy or a girl. There was just so much love and joy celebrating the wedding. I really felt part of Marilyn and Tony’s lives.

Wedding: Photography: Sunny 16 Photography / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: W Hotel / Decor, Invitations, Logo, Floral Design & Desserts: DIY, The Bride

If I were sporting a mood ring right now, it would be a sea of deep blue because I have nothing but love for this wedding shot to sheer perfection by SMS Photography. Unfortunately I don’t have a mood ring, but the obsession over every lovely detail is in full effect. The bride crafted all of the paper goods and vintage decor while the gorgeous blooms where masterminded by Stem Floral Design. Honestly I could probably stare at a fluffy coral peony all live long day and I just might in the full wedding gallery.  Care to join me?

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From the Bride…I did all the planning myself. I have a background in event planning but I did find it hard to actually make the decisions. It is so much easier to make decisions for someone else. I did hire a day of planner, which was wonderful because I didn’t have to worry about all the details the day of!

We really wanted to have our wedding in downtown Austin and didn’t want guests to have to drive from ceremony to reception, hence the pedicabs! We had our hearts set on our church St. Mary’s and we are huge foodies and wanted a restaurant experience verses a banquet or buffet feel. After lots of searching we almost booked the rehearsal dinner at Parkside, but just before signing the papers we realized this was going to be the location of the reception. We also stayed at the Driskill Hotel, an old, TEXAS style hotel, which was only a block away. We got history, modern cuisine, and a vintage feel… everything we love!

The theme was vintage with a touch of modern. Everything has a LOT of detail. The colors were orange, teal, fuchsia/raspberry, green, all based off an ivory background. We chose this color scheme because it was a bright spring wedding with a lively feel to all aspects. Everything from the wording on the invitation to the bridal bouquet had a whimsical, organic (not streamlined) feel to it. You saw the colors and vintage/modern feel everywhere: invitations, vintage map cufflinks, custom handmade bridesmaid dresses, trios of vintage centerpieces, tea-length full lace bridal gown, handmade hairpieces, ring bearer book, birdcage card holder, and much more.

Reception + Catering: Parkside / Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Cathedral / Prep + After Hours Party Location: Driskill Hotel / Floral Design: Stem Floral Design / Invitations + Decor: The Bride / Wedding Dress: Stephanie James Couture / Veil: Sara Gabriel / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaid Dresses: Miss Brache / Cufflinks: Sherry Truitt / Day of Coordinator: Jessica Brightwell, Pearl Events / Make-up: Keep Austin Gorgeous / DJ: DJ Vegg / Wedding Photography: SMS Photography

I love a good “how we met” story – don’t you? Well this couple’s chance encounter was fate, shall we say, and ended up in the most lovely way – right back in Austin where the two cuties crossed paths for the first time. This time Ku Photography was there to capture all the gorgeous in this adorable Austin affair. All of the sweet details are almost as cute as the couple, and you can see even more in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…Hard to believe that a chance meeting on a park bench while en route to Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2003 would one day lead us down the aisle. We were both in Austin (I lived in Kansas City; Jason was from Baltimore) with friends for the music festival, and struck up a casual conversation. We thought nothing of the encounter, but all agreed to meet up later that evening on Austin’s famed Sixth Street entertainment district. At the end of a fun weekend, we all exchanged e-mail addresses and promised to stay in touch. When a temporary job assignment landed me in Washington, D.C., I reconnected with Jason and his friends from Baltimore, since I knew they were into live music. A friendship bloomed between Jason and I, and our first “date” was a concert at DC’s 930 Club. Needless to say, love did not bloom immediately. But, once we were both settled into our lives in separate places (1,500 miles away from one another), a whirlwind long-distance romance ensued. Nearly seven years and a couple cross-country moves later, we were finally tying the knot.

Since our friends and family were spread all across the country, we decided to hold our wedding in the place where it all began—in Austin, Texas. Our vision for the day was to have something warm, comfortable and friendly, surrounded by those we loved so much. We were wed on the perfect sunny day, and danced the night away under the starry Texas sky.

Early in the planning process I fell in love with Amy Butler’s amazing fabric and paper designs, which helped set the tone and color palette for the event. I used an amazing letterpress printer I found on Etsy who used a variety of Amy Butler papers as invitation backing, resulting in each invite being a bit different and unique. Amy Butler fabrics were also used on handmade touches throughout the reception including pillows, covered canvases, program fans and the seating cardboard.

As it turned out, the wedding was exactly as we’d hoped. The food was delicious. The drink swere cold and flowing. And the photo booth was jam-packed with guests all night. And, very appropriately, after the official festivities ended, we spent the last moments of the night in downtown Austin, the place where it had all begun for Jason and I so many years before.

Wedding Photography: Tony Ku and Ashley Eddleman for Ku Photography / Florals + Event Coordination: Wild Poppy / Hair + Make-up: Keep Austin Gorgeous / Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Company / Ceremony + Reception Location: Hamilton Twelve / Guitarist: Brady Davis / Wedding Invitations: Elf Design & Letterpress / Wedding Dress: Matthew Christopher / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bride’s Jewelry: Adorn / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Jos A. Bank / Dessert Buffet: Whole Foods Bakery, Austin Cake Ball + Mandola’s Italian Market

We think Monday mornings should start off with a squeal – the good kind. And this darling ditty by Sweet Caroline Photo is the perfectly pretty, squeal-worthy wedding to kick start your week. Feel free to gawk the fabulous florals from Posey Floral and the pretty as can be bride, you won’t be alone. You also won’t be alone in the fabulous full gallery of squeal-worthy images – which, if you ask little ol me, is not a bad way to spend a Monday.

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From the Bride…The “theme” was natural and romantic. Our colors were chocolate brown and different shades of green which went nicely with the reception venue and decor. We wanted to play off the incredible views that the reception site offered and keep everything “Austin Hill Country-esque!”

There are so many “best moments” but the most obvious was when we walked out of the church as husband and wife! Dancing the night away with our friends and family was also pretty special too. We absolutely loved our band, Matchmaker, dancing under the Texas stars with a surprise cool summer breeze was magical!

My biggest piece of advice for brides would be “Trust your gut!” If you find there is something with a vendor or detail that you don’t like then speak up! It’s your day and you don’t want to look back and think I could have avoided this had I said something. Lastly, make the reception your own. Include your special touches where you can, it will make your wedding different from any other!

Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Dolce & Gabbana / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Earrings + Bracelet: Kendra Scott / Brooch: Uncommon Objects / Hair: Shannon Carr / Make-up: Rochelle Rae Cosmetics / Groom’s Tux: Jos A. Bank / Bridesmaid Dresses: LOVE by Enzoani / Event Planning + Coordination: Darla Novak, Impressions / Wedding Invitations: Inviting Affairs / Catering: Kurant Events / Wedding Cake + Dessert: Bountiful Bakery / Linens: Marquee Event Group / Groom’s Rings: Fabuluster / Bridesmaid Necklaces + Bracelets: Flamingo Feathers and Strim / Personalized Hanger: DIY / Wire Heart Wedding Cake Topper: Deliziare / Wooden People Cake Toppers: IttyBittyWoodShoppe / Moss Letters: DIY / Wooden Guest Book: Mother, Aunt, and Grandmother of the Bride / Wedding Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo

Holy cuteness! Get ready for a parade of be-yond cute little ones lined up in a row. I want to pinch each of their cute little yellow-wearing cheeks. Even with the cuteness overload from the very proud flower girls and “bubble boys” (ok, that’s adorable), they still don’t steal the show from this stylish bride and groom. Because this duo naturally has that sort of style and spunk that sets them apart from the rest. Francis Joseph Photography made sure all the spunkiness, adorableness and cuteness was captured in a perfect way, and you can see it all in the full gallery of images!

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From the Bride…The words I would use to describe how I wanted the wedding to be are summery, natural, beautiful, casual but still classy, vintage touches, family-oriented, personal, and fun. We used Abby Diagle as the florist/decorator and the main flowers were purple basil, soft colored succulents, yellow orchids and spray roses, and light green hydrangeas. I wanted the colors to be in the flowers and not forced on the clothing, so the girls wore champagne colored dresses and the boys wore wheat colored suits with eggplant ties (bubble boys wore yellow bow ties); the flower girls wore light yellow.

The venue was The Barr Mansion (ceremony on the grounds and reception in their barn turned ballroom), and they provided the all of the food and the cake- all organic as the venue is actually certified organic, and all of the wait staff, bartenders, and all other accommodations. The cake was lemon with raspberry cream filling. The beer varieties were home-brewed by my brother-in-law Brenden Stubblefield, owner of Texas Brewing Inc. The most popular beer variety was a hefeweizen that he infused with raspberries. The liquor was bought at Specs.

Hyde Park Strings provided a string quartet for the ceremony and Penguin DJ’s provided music for the reception. I bought my dress at Unbridaled, the girls got theirs at David’s Bridal, and the boys got their suits at J.Crew. Since the ceremony was outside during the summer, my mom provided fans for the guests. The guestbook was found by one of my bridesmaids at an antique store, and she “reinvented” it by adding pictures and fixing it up. Also, she found the brooch turned hair piece for my hair at an antique store. I wanted to honor my passed grandparents by having their wedding photos out by the guestbook as well. Our reverend was Sara DeShong Baker, a very close friend of ours that got ordained just for our wedding. She did such an amazing job, that she is being asked to do more! We wrote our own vows and Sara kept the ceremony very personal to me and Derek.

The ring pillow was made by Derek’s mom. For gifts, we potted succulents into mini pots, ribboned them, and drew our “symbol” – an S and D in the shape of a heart that we both got tattooed on our arms during our first year together on the pots. Our “symbol” was also on the groom’s cake and on the invitations. Our photographer was our friend Francis Joseph Cruzada of Francis Joseph Photography who I have known since I was little. Our hair was done at Frenchy’s salon by our friend Kallie Simms.

Venue: Barr Mansion / Floral: Stems Floral Design / Scrumptious Home-Brewed Beer: Texas Brewing Inc. / String Quartet: Hyde Park Strings / DJ: Penguin Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Unbridaled / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: Frenchy’s Beauty Parlor / Wedding Photographer: Francis Joseph Photography

Get ready for a wedding that is just DIY gone darling. Captured by the talents of Studio 563, this affair is full of all that fabulous down home rustic Texas style we can’t get enough of, and mixed with some fashion forward shoes. It’s a fabulous juxtaposition if you ask little ol’ me. The couple collected antique wooden chairs to add to the down home flair of their reception decor and home made apple pie pops for their guests. Y’all if that’s not darling I just don’t know what is! Click here for even more!

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From the Bride…As wedding planning goes, ours came together quite easily as we wanted our guests to experience much of what defines us as a couple. A large part of the wedding was DIY — from the invitations to designing and making the wedding dress, baking desserts, canning homemade favors and much more. It was definitely time consuming, but these items were the first and last impressions people had of our wedding. We were aiming for a very specific look (we wanted a casual, rustic/vintage-style affair) and guest experience. We never really chose “wedding colors,” but rather a palette of vintage and nature inspired hues. We planned and put together our wedding in four months!

We started early collecting wooden chairs for the head table and old bottles for our centerpiece flowers, not to mention searching in many antique stores for the right decor for our wedding. We also had the good fortune to find a venue perfectly suited to our event, complete with all the “down home” charm we were hoping for.  The greatest aspect  of the wedding was the fact that our friends and family worked so hard to help put everything together. All in all, the planning and wedding was an amazing experience. We wanted to spend one of the biggest days of our lives with friends and family, just hanging out and having great food! So we played games outside, drank out of mason jars and ate southern comfort food. Perfect. Our guests still rave about what a great time they had and that’s just the response we wanted.

Wedding Photography: Studio 563 / Flowers: Austin Flower Company + Bridesmaids / Event Design + Planning: DIY / Location:  Antebellum Oaks Venue / Wedding Invitations: DIY / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Wedding Dress:  Mother of the Bride

A great Texas shindig really gets the heart a pumping. They have mastered the formula of lovely design + Southern charm + rockin good party and the result is nothing short of fabulous each and every time. No wonder you all have a blog dedicated solely to the fabulousness of the Texas Wedding. Katherine O’Brien Photography shot this newest addition to the block and it’s pink, fifties inspired perfection held at The Old School. Fitting name, no? Coordinated by Sweet Sunday Events with a whole line up of  pretty cakes by Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop and lots and lots of peonies crafted by Rosehip Flora, this is definitely worth a whole afternoon of perusing in the full wedding gallery. See it all here!

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From the Bride…Brian and I met in 2005 while we were both living in Athens, GA. We briefly dated but then realized that the time wasn’t right as we both had big moves on the horizon.  We kept in touch and formed a very strong friendship over the years and then in 2009 decided to try to make a long distance relationship work. He moved to Austin from Brooklyn in September of 2009 to be with me and the rest is history.

We wanted our wedding to have that classic beauty of a wedding from the 1950’s. We both enjoy spending free time digging through vintage stores and antique malls so we had a great time putting everything together for our big day. We chose to use the different shades of pink and cream for the wedding based on the different shades of peonies and we thought that grey was the perfect compliment to these colors. To make our vision into a reality we had tons of peonies in all shades of pink, bleached peacock and ostrich feathers, milk glass vases and cake stands, tons of tulle, paper lanterns, and charcoal grey linens. The Old School was the perfect venue for our theme. The house was built in the late 1800’s and still has the original wood floors and antiques throughout. We got the inspiration for the cake table from a photograph we saw of a window of a cake shop in the 50’s. Luckily, we live in a town that has amazing vendors that totally understood our vision and brought it to life!

The day of the wedding was a very unseasonal day in Texas. It was about 50 degrees with 30 mph wind gusts and a likely threat of thunderstorms and hail! Unfortunately, this caused us to have to scratch a lot of the exterior decorating plans, but thanks to our amazing vendors and day of coordinators it all went off without a hitch. In the end, it truly was a perfect day. One piece of advance for future brides, make sure you get a day of coordinator!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Venue: The Old School / Coordinator + Rentals: Sweet Sunday Events / Catering: Cote Catering / Wedding Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Florist: Rosehip Flora / DJ: Look No Further Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Jason Alexander Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Hey Lady / Rings: Deanna Jewelers + Silver Beyond Ordinary / Photobooth: Max Photo Studio / Hair: Linda Matthews-Cooey of Frenchy’s Beauty Parlor / Make-up: Makeup Art by Jacqueline

Just for a minute, let’s imagine we’re spending today working from this wedding, at The Mansion at Judge’s Hill in Texas. I think we’d all have the most beautiful day ever. Christina Carroll Photography captured all the amazing details from BZ Events – the gorgeous chandeliers, the pretty in pink and purple florals, the beyond in love couple – and we’re swooning over here at the LBB offices. Starting with the amazing stationery from The Inviting Pear, the guests knew to expect something fabulous, and that was just what was waiting for them. And waiting for us – I’ll meet you under the killer chandelier with the full image gallery!

We met three and a half years ago. Alex had just moved from San Francisco, where he was working, to San Marcos to attend grad school. I was studying for my nutrition degree. We met online, but didn’t actually meet in person for several months, despite almost crossing paths several times at school. When we finally did meet up, it turned out we practically lived on the same street! Our first date was at a coffee shop, even though Alex doesn’t like coffee – he played along and got a smoothie. We hit it off right away and didn’t want the night to end, so from there we went to get pancakes, even though I should’ve been studying for a big test the next day. Since then we’ve been inseparable, sharing a passion for food, music, and video games.

On a Friday afternoon while looking at wedding venues he suggested that we head to a nearby look-out point called Mt. Bonnell. I found it rather suspicious but didn’t think too much into it because we had ring shopped together and I knew when my engagement ring would be shipped in. Sitting over the cliff we talked about our future, details for the wedding, growing old together and while I wasn’t paying attention, he bent down on one knee while trying his hardest to not fall over the ledge. I said “yes” and the rest is history!

My Latin heritage and our love for food had a lot to do with the inspiration of our wedding. Spending a lot of time in Mexico you are surrounded by colors, culture, food, and most of all family, and I really wanted that feel to represent our wedding. I would describe to our vendors that our inspiration was a Spanish garden party with a modern chic vibe. I finally decided on eggplant and fuchsia with pops of marigold. I wanted it to be formal but not stuffy.

With Alex’s family from central Texas and mine from Mexico we wanted to go with a venue where there would be as little driving as possible, that also offered an outdoor space for the ceremony and a gorgeous indoor ballroom for the reception. Once we toured the Mansion at Judges’ Hill, I immediately pictured us tying the knot under the pergola in the garden courtyard and celebrating a lavish affair upstairs in the elegant ballroom; it was perfect!

We continued our Spanish/southwest theme with a special menu. During cocktail hour a lively 9-piece mariachi band started the fiesta while guests sipped colorful watermelon and pineapple agua frescas and snacked on miniature quesadillas and empanadas. Celebrating his birthday two days prior I really wanted to go all out on a special groom’s cake for my tech-savy hubby. I surprised him with a six foot iPhone cake constructed of his favorite cake balls with special apps that had meaning to him such Star Wars, Yelp and even the game he designed himself in his favorite flavors.

Custom Invitations & Reception Stationery: Shannon Ferguson, The Inviting Pear / Event Planning & Design: BZ Events and Kerry Duggan/ Venue: Mansion at Judges’ Hill / Photography: Christina Carroll Photography / Videographer: PopBoom / Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Rentals: Marquee Rents / Officiant: Mike Rinehart / Ceremony Music: The Arundel Ensemble / DJ: Groove Labs / Jazz Band: Trio David Sierra / Florist: Merveille Event Design / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Childcare: Grandparents Unlimited / Groom’s Cake Ball Cake: Objects of Confection / Hair & Make-up: Gerardo Esperquieta & Rae Cosmetics / Aqua Frescas: Zocalo / Mariachis: Mariachi Tamazula

Each and every wedding I see at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is so beyond gorgeous that it makes me yearn for late night dancing on that incredible stone patio with cafe lights and paper lanterns. So totally romantic. And when the wedding just so happens to be planned by the talents over at 36th Street Events with flowers from Posey Floral and Event Design? Well that just makes me one giddy blogger! Lucky for us Shannon Cunningham Photography was there to capture all the stunning details and there’s so much more in the gallery!

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From Shannon Cunningham Photography…This is an elegant spring wedding at The Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. The couple, Chris and Erica are getting their PhDs at Texas A&M University and had guests coming in from all over the country. They wanted to show southern hospitality at their wedding in a relaxed and effortless way. They decorated the Wildflower Center with succulents and soft flowers, including anemones (with a matching flower in Erica’s Hair) and had a pop of color with lovely purple/raspberry linens and their signature drink. Lighting and paper lanterns completed the sophisticated garden party look.

From the Bride…Austin is our home away from home in Texas. It was the first city in Texas we really explored together and we’ve been going there every few weekends for several years now. Most of our guests were from out of town and we figured it would be a fun destination for everyone. Our wedding theme was simple and classic garden dinner party. We really wanted a wedding with the intimate feel of a dinner party that was elegant without feeling remotely stuffy.

Wedding Photography: Shannon Cunningham Photography / Catering: Primizie Catering / Event Planner: 36th Street Events / Favors + Gifts: Delish / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Reception Venue: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Invitations: The Inviting Pear

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I think I found my favorite wedding venue of all time in the white-washed, stained glass window filled Mercury Hall in Austin. Oh-my-goodness it is the sweetest little building I’ve ever seen and reminds me of a place I almost booked for my own wedding last year, but because we couldn’t have amplified music, we had to switch venues and I’ll admit, my heart was a tad bit broken. But in steps this gorgeous, flower filled fete by Sledd Weddings with the most delicious cake by Blue Note Bakery and my heart (and sweet tooth!) are now mended. See even more of this adorable DIY wedding here!

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From the Bride…My (now) husband and I moved to Austin two years ago from Kentucky. We wanted our wedding to showcase what we love about the city: its hip, yet casual and rustic elegance, laid-back vibe, great live music, creative culture, and delicious food. We got engaged while backpacking in Big Bend National Park.

Our venue, Mercury Hall, set the tone for the simple elegance of the wedding. Mercury Hall was built in 1904 as a church in Mercury, Texas. In the late 90s it was moved to Austin and turned into an events space. It’s clean white washed walls, smooth, worn hard wood floors and multi colored stained glass windows set the tone for a clean, colorful rustic elegance. Inspired by the succulent plants of the West Texas desert, I decided to make century plants and succulents a motif throughout the wedding.  Century plants were originally thought to bloom only once every 100 years (hence the name), and I thought they made a nice metaphor to the preciousness of love, not to mention a striking, unique silhouette.

I designed and printed the entire wedding invitation suite by hand at Baltimore Print Studios, a shop run by an old friend of mine from college, Kyle Van Horn.  I had painted a watercolor of a century plant stalk which we made into a polymer plate, and I letter pressed it both on the invitations and the reply card. I set the text for the invitation, invitation’s return address, reply card, and reply card address all by hand and then printed them on one of the shop’s Vandercook presses. We also made a polymer plate for the event map and I letter-pressed it as well.   I loved the font of the invitation suite, Apricot, so much that I ended up later buying a digital version online, and I used it for all the text on the escort cards, table numbers, programs and even wedding favors.

The color scheme for the wedding, blues, green, yellow and pink were taken from the colors in the stained glass of Mercury Hall.  These colors were picked up in the bouquets and centerpieces. I wanted them to look organic, as if you can just walked through a backyard garden and filled your arms with all the flowers in bloom. In keeping with the rustic vibe, we collected old mason jars to use as vases, and also used a few copper pots my husband bought in the Middle East as vases and the container for the programs.

Event Planning: Three Apples Events / Wedding Photography: Sledd Weddings / Floral Design: The Nouveau Romantics / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Catering: 2 Dine 4 / Printmaking: Carolyn Kimball / Venue: Mercury Hall

I’m such a sucker for a wedding with yellow touches. It surprises me that more brides don’t choose this happy, sweet color more often. It’s bright, beautiful and oh-so-perfect for your big day. And this bride did it just right. Filled with simple but effective DIY projects, this wedding captured by Rebel with a Camera with petals by Verbena Floral Design is sure to put a big ol’ Texas smile on your face! See even more here.

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From the Bride…Brian and I are high school sweethearts who have been together for over eight years. It would be an understatement to say that our families and friends have been supportive throughout our long distance, moves across Texas and growth into the couple we are today. We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of this love that we have been shown by our parents and our fondness for the city we call home, Austin.

Brian relocated his job to Austin to be near me after over 4 years of living in separate cities for college. It is here that we fell in love again with each other and with Texas. After getting engaged at Mount Bonnell, we decided that the only place we wanted to be married was in the Texas Hill Country. My vision for our wedding included Southern elements  (Brian’s family being from Alabama and mine from Texas), easy, flowing styles and flowers to represent the laid back feel of Austin, and a touch of handmade love. My mom and I found La Paloma and knew right away that it’s outdoor gardens and southern-style home were perfect for what we were looking for!

We wanted our day to be focused around the people we love and the things that make us, “Us”. Kristen at Royal Fig did an amazing job running our day and infusing our style into the reception with “family-style” servings at the table so guests could chat, and serving our favorite foods, including fancy guacamole! My dad spent many hours in his workshop crafting our table numbers and signs from wood used to build our home. My paternal grandmother sewed my garter with materials picked out from my mom and aunts closets, and I tied the engagement ring of my maternal grandmother on my bouquet as a way to remember her that day. I designed and made all of our programs, stationery and menu cards with the help of my mother. A lot of hours and love went into making all of these elements come together, and the finished product was more than I could have dreamed. Brian and I are so lucky to have not only found each other, but also so many wonderful people who bring joy to our lives every single day. Our wedding was definitely the best day of our life!

Wedding Photography: Rebel with a Camera / Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design / Event Planning + Catering: Royal Fig / Location: La Paloma / Bride’s Shoes: Nina + Etsy / Wedding Dress: Simone Carvalli / Belt: Custom Made / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay / Hair + Make-up: Erica Gray / Wedding Cake: Michelle’s Patisserie / Guitarist: Ryan Waguespack / DJ: Greenbelt DJ

I love when a bride is truly herself on a wedding day especially when this means wearing her glasses. It is just the cutest and makes for an undeniably gorgeous Bride. Now enter Star Hill Ranch in Austin with photography by The Nichols and an adorable Super 8 film to follow by Nostalgia Film and we have the makings of a grand celebration. Click here for the FULL day of pretty!

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And the perfect accompaniment to this Austin wedding is the fabulous film of the day shot by Nostalgia Film…

From Nostalgia Film…We were so thrilled that we got to capture Super 8 film and HD video of Liisa and Matt’s wedding.  Such a sweet and fun couple, they hail from Chicago, Illinois, and had their wedding at the gorgeous Star Hill Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. This wedding was full of love and happiness and had such a comfortable and creative vibe. Liisa even letterpressed her own stunning invitations!

As if I didn’t like this couple enough already, during the toasts, I found out Liisa and I share a favorite holiday–Halloween. The couple met at a Halloween party. In the same spirit of fun, the groom and his groomsmen enacted a classic movie scene with me, that you’ll see for yourself above. And this is the only wedding I’ve been to where someone broke out the worm the dance floor!

Liisa and Matt, we feel so lucky to have been a part of your wedding, and we wish you a lifetime of fun and happiness together!

Venue: Star Hill Ranch / Wedding Film + Videography: Nostalgia Film / DJ: Byrne Rock / Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Floral Design: Fabian Salcedo / Wedding Coordinator: Suzanne Court Events / Wedding Cake: Jennifer Suarez / Wedding Dress: Alice Padrul / Hair: Carlye Jayne / Make-Up: Mandy Morrison

I have a bit of a crush on these Austin nuptials by Jessica Monnich Photography.  A doodle “Austin Wedding” in my notebook all day long kind of crush.  Oh yes, I most definitely heart this wedding.  But, who could blame me?  The purple color palette is all sorts of awesome, the florals created by Posey Floral and Event Design are beyond dreamy and all of the details so expertly crafted by 36th Street Events are absolute perfection.  Plus, late night pizza!  It’s a crush-worthy soiree and then some.  So, get out your notebook and join me in the gallery for all of the beautiful details!

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From the Bride…From the moment Clay proposed to me at my parents’ house in front of both our families we knew that we wanted our wedding to really reflect who we were as a couple and we wanted it to be fun. Choosing our wedding party was one of the first things we decided on. All of our siblings, their spouses and children were included in our bridal party along with a few cousins and very close childhood friends from all over Texas and New Mexico.

We chose our venue, The Texas Federation of Women’s Club Mansion, because we knew we had to find an indoor venue to combat this Texas heat and a large enough space to host our family and friends. Our ceremony was held in the same ballroom our reception was in so we wanted to keep our ceremony fairly simple and sweet. We chose cylinder vases in various heights with floating candles to line the aisle. Our guests were seated to traditional violin music played by my cousin. We kept the lighting to a minimum and used the natural light from the large windows in the ballroom to complete our simple look.

When guests were invited back into the ballroom for dinner, they saw a very different ballroom then what was there for the ceremony. We added dark purple lights, long tables with purple taffeta linens and all white flowers with candles mixed in for our centerpieces. After dinner, a speech from my parents, and the traditional first dances, we danced the night away with our family and friends. Our guest enjoyed Roppolo’s Pizza from 6th Street for our late night snack including a heart shaped pizza for Clay and I. We truly had the best day of our lives and feel incredibly blessed to have been able to share it with so many people.

Wedding Photography: Jessica Monnich Photography / Wedding Videography: El Castillo Media / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Event Design & Planning: 36th Street Events / Location: Texas Federation of Women Club’s Mansion / Lighting: ILIOS Lighting / Wedding Dress: Serendipity Bridal / Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Late Night Snack: Roppolo’s Pizzeria / Linens + Rentals: Marquee Event Group / DJ: Byrne Rock / Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Curttright

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I have a little confession to make.  There is a serious crush brewing for this fun-loving couple ’round these parts.  Their adorable Austin wedding is full of personality, love and lots of laughter.  Plus a bunch of darling details that will be sure to send you into severe puppy love mode for these two cuties too.  I mean who wouldn’t swoon over a bride pulling up to the ceremony on a sweet motorcycle and a groom who can rock the seersucker suit like no other!?  Just try to keep from grinning ear to ear after seeing these sweet photos from Diana M. Lott Photography.  Check them all out in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…We have known each other for over 10 years. We met in Dallas, Texas and hung with the same group of friends. We kept in loose touch when I moved to Durango, CO and then Austin, TX..then in December 2009 we were at the same baby shower. The timing was right 10 years later , we both looked at each other differently. I immediately invited him down to Austin for a weekend birthday celebration in a cabin with friends. Our official first date was Valentine’s Day 2010 and we dated exclusively right after that. I moved up to Dallas for a job, but mostly to be near Aaron.

Aaron’s parents moved to Wimberley 3 years ago, and Aaron and I both loved the area. It seemed like the perfect, quaint town to host my “rustic meets vintage wedding”. The venue, Cypress Falls Event Center, is a magical, scenic, special 22 acre piece of heaven.

I hired Design by Sage for the month-of-coordination and I could never have done it with out them. I basically just needed help with executing my vision. I had a lot of moving parts of my wedding…and it was amazing, they helped me make it so special.

Wedding Photography: Diana M. Lott Photography / Venue: Cypress Falls Event Center / Wedding Coordination: Design by Sage / Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Wedding Cake: A Bride’s Table

Yellow and Turquoise. If I could marry that combo I would. It’s just so fresh and joyful and quite possibly the best medley of wedding colors on the planet. And the proof is in the Texas pudding with this Austin Ranch wedding captured by La Dolce Vita Photography. The photographs alone are completely stunning but add to that succulent and feather infused florals by Posey Events and it’s enough to knock this wedding blogger out cold from sheer visual delight. Care to join me? You can find the full fête in the gallery.

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From the Bride…Most of the significant events involving Henson and me as a couple revolve around a lake! We met on Lake LBJ Memorial Day Weekend of 2008, and Henson proposed about three years later minutes before leaving to spend a weekend with friends at my family’s lake-house on Lake Travis. We knew instantly that we wanted to get married on or near the lake, so we chose Spicewood Vineyards, a gorgeous and laid back winery that my family has been visiting for years.

Many of our vendors are our friends, and we feel so blessed to know such creative and talented people! We wanted an intimate yet festive celebration that incorporated family heirlooms into the rustic central Texas setting. Bonni Taylor of Posey Events is one of my best friends and was a bridesmaid as well as our floral designer. Together she and I came up with the look and feel for the reception, but she left some elements to surprise. When I walked into the reception for the first time, I was blown away at how my Mom’s love bird painting was so perfectly displayed on the mantle behind a group of glimmering candles, and how well the burlap runners contrasted with the bright yellows and turquoises of the flowers and vases (thanks Madeleine!).

During the ceremony, we stood on top of a bright yellow quilt that belonged to my Great Great Grandmother on my Dad’s side. The chandelier belonged to Henson’s Mom’s parents, and after some scrubbing and re-wiring, it sparkled like new against the shade trees. Thanks to our wonderful family and friends, our wedding weekend was such a blast. The band kept us wanting more all night as most guests rarely left the dance floor, and the wine was flowing! It was quite the celebration, and I now get to spend the rest of my life with my wonderful husband, celebrating our love.

Floral Design: Posey Events / Wedding Photographer: La Dolce Vita Photography / Caterer: Pink Avocado / Cupcakes: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau at Unbridaled / Wedding Invitations: Katie Maennle / Venue: Spicewood Vineyards / Linens: Outback Party Rentals / Band: Alterego / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ciarla Bride / Chandelier: Groom’s Grandparents / Boots: A&C

Texas Hill Country is fast becoming one of my favorite places ever, even though I’ve never actually visited.  But, with weddings like this one, how can it not be everything I’ve dreamt it to be?  Captured by the ah-mazing CMI Photography, these gorgeous nuptials are rustic chic perfection.  Not a one single detail was overlooked… And I guarantee that you’ll be as smitten as me once you see what’s in store. A vintage typewriter, burlap-wrapped bouquets, lawn games and oak trees… Yes, I could literally spend all day explaining my love for this wedding.  It sounds like a good plan to me!  So, join me in the gallery for even more Hill Country goodness!

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From the Bride…Weddings were not a new concept to me. I spent five years overseas in Prague, Czech Republic as a wedding planner and was fortunate enough to help the dreams come true of countless brides.  I was always the planner, never the bride, until one day after moving back to Austin, Texas I completely unexpectedly met my Mason on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Austin.  One year later he asked me to marry him, and on April 29, 2011 we celebrated our very own “un”royal wedding!  I must admit it was fun getting the countdown on TV everyday to our wedding, and very special the morning of to watch the royal wedding as we prepared for our own special day!

We knew right away we wanted a very sweet, romantic, and casual wedding – just like the two of us and our courtship and relationship.  We tokened our theme as a ‘casual, cute, country wedding’ and knew immediately we wanted to host it Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country.  We love their wines, the atmosphere of the winery and had spent our first vacation there together in 2009.

We had a defined budget so many of the items that we could do ourselves, we did.  The biggest DIY project was the flowers. My maid of honor’s mother ordered all the flowers wholesale and somehow loaded them in her car and created the most gorgeous centerpieces and bouquets!  We were able to save loads of money here, but it was quite time consuming and not an easy task for her and all of my girlfriends who helped, but I sure did appreciate it.  My aunt even brought down a very special flower to my family – the lily of the valley – from my grandfather’s garden in Delaware who passed away in 2009 to incorporate into my bouquet. It was very sentimental and I believe a little gift from my Pop Pop to me!  We also wrapped the base of my bridal bouquet with lace from my mother’s wedding veil which was just another extra special touch.

My mom is an artist and her and my father together did all the signs – they turned out adorable.  I loved the idea of all the distance locations and it was a big hit with the guests.  My mom also shabby chic’ed all the chalkboards that I had bought from Hobby Lobby.  She simply painted and distressed them to give them that country feel, which was a small task that made a big difference I think.

For the centerpieces I knew I simply wanted ‘messy spring flowers’ in different bottles. I spent the months prior to the wedding picking up old vintage looking bottles and cases at discount stores and garage sales.  I also bought some hard back vintage style books at Goodwill for some extra depth to add to the centerpieces.   My maid of honor is as crafty as they get and created all the hanging signs with fabrics and hemp as well as hand wrote all the pie labels. (Which were a delicious touch to our country wedding!)

Wedding Photography: CMI Photography / Florals: DIY by Friend of the Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Becker Vineyards / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Dress: Moonlight via Blush Bridal / Bride’s Hair + Make-Up: Kelli Toal of Keeping Austin Gorgeous / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Groomsmen Attires: JoS A Bank / Photobooth: Booth66 / Catering: Cartewheels / DJ: Complete Music / Band: Trio Old Country Band (Jerry Hagin, Howard Raines, Ethan Azarian) / Pies: Fredericksburg Pie Company / Wood Initials: The Back Porch Shoppe