Texas Weddings

Rise and shine, Texas!  I hope y’all are recovering from your 4th of July festivities.  We’ll make the adjustment into the work week a little easier with this sweet little ditty.  A gorgeous dress, a pair of fantastic Badgley Mischkas and precious French-inspired details that will surely make you swoon.  After gushing over the collection of dreamy images by Kristi Wright Photography I don’t mind ending the holiday weekend one bit.  Hurry into the full gallery to see the rest!

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From Kristi Wright Photography…Jamie and I hit it off instantly! She was inspired by french gardens and used beautiful roses in her decor along with touches of gold and pink. Jamie and Patrick married at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, followed by a reception at The Allan House.

Wedding Photography: Kristi Wright Photography / Floral Design: Wild Bunches Floral / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Wedding Caterer: Royal Fig Catering / Wedding Invitations: Catbird Paper / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: La Sposa / Ceremony Location: Hyde Park Baptist Church / Reception Location: The Allan House

These Austin nuptials are overflowing with gorgeousness and I, for one, can barely wrap my head around all of the pretty.  Just take one look at these dazzling images captured by Forever Photography Studio and you’ll understand why.  The bride is beyond stunning (that gown has left me speechless) and the purple color palette is all kinds of beautiful.  Not to mention the getaway car of my dreams, vintage suitcase included.  It’s Texas garden party meets vintage chic, with just a touch of modern.  And all together it equals one amazing day.  See even more in the gallery!

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From Forever Photography Studio… It all started one day at work. Every Month at their workplace they celebrated everyone’s birthday with cake, that is where Jason ended up seeing beautiful Megan for the first time, and that is all it took! After getting up the courage, he walked over to Megan’s office and introduced himself and asked her out. I mean seriously who can say “no” to Wicked tickets!

Things obviously went well because here we are today posting their beautiful wedding which was at Hamilton Twelve. Every detail was unique and one of a kind. I really loved the colors Megan chose for the bridesmaids dresses and all the little details that she brought that were sentimental. They made all the signs and table numbers themselves, they had hot spiced wine that was a special recipe from Jason and then used a family bible and love seat for photos afterwards that has been in their family since the 1800s! How awesome is that! We really had an awesome time photographing this wedding, Megan and Jason we wish you both the best and all the happiness in the world! Congrats.

Wedding Photography: Forever Photography Studio / Floral Design: Park Crest Floral Design / Wedding Cake: Amazing Kakes / Bride’s Makeup: Maris Malone Calderon / Bride’s Hair: Two Wild Sisters’ Hair Salon / Photo Booth: Say Cheese Photo Booths / Transportation: Antique Limousines of Austin / Groom’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse / Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal / Venue & Catering: Hamilton Twelve / Wine: Grapecreek Vineyards / Mugs: Discount Mugs / Stationary: Hello!Lucky / Officiant: Father of the Bride

This charming little ditty is sure to make your inner cowgirl holler an enthusiastic yeehaw!  Full of darling DIY details with that unique, whimsical edge that makes us fall in love with Austin every single time.  Each and every tea-dyed tag, mismatched vase and hay bale seating was created, crafted and styled by the adorable Southern bride and event planner.  The down-home dreaminess captured by Tyler Metcalfe Photography and Greenleaf Images fits the style and tone and captures that sweet Texas light so perfectly.  Gallop on over to the full gallery to spend some more time in this woodsy DIY wonderland.

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From the Bride…Our wedding was a DIY, very budgeted, full-of-love event.  There were so many personal and intimate details, made even more personal and intimate by the fact that my husband Tim & I, along with our families, created everything ourselves.  We were really so thankful for the support of our families and friends who contributed to our wedding day.  It took a community to make it happen!  I fell in love with weddings on our journey, decided I wanted to make every bride as happy as I was, and started my own event design/planning business.  Haven’t regretted it yet.

I always wanted a fall or winter wedding.  I barely managed a winter one, choosing March 20, the Spring Equinox and last day of winter.  I knew I didn’t want a strict theme or color coordination, but I did want the wedding to seem cohesive.  I had a lot of trouble getting people on board with my “vision” since I also had trouble putting it in to words.  But Tim was always right there supporting me and he was so game for all the unusual things I wanted to do.  Guests arrived to a woodsy wonderland and a little “outdoor chapel” that we created using antique furniture and windows.  That need to draw people in and engage them probably comes from my theatre background and work as an actor, but Tim agreed wholeheartedly regardless of the reasoning and was very involved in all of the planning.  We wanted every individual to feel like a key player and actively participate in our ceremony and our day.  It helped that our “community” of guests was very small, with about 55 guests attending including bridal party and family.  It was the perfect size for the atmosphere we were creating, which was – of course – intimate and personal.  Our guest book was a mock marriage certificate which everyone signed as a “witness” and we also had the guests take a congregational vow to support and love us, at the end of our ceremony.  Because our guest list was so small we had time to visit with each one of them, which was a high priority for us in our planning.

The wedding was held at my parent’s home in the Texas Hill Country, near Austin, TX.  We planned the whole wedding start to finish in less than 3 months and for about $4,500.  Much of that time was spent landscaping and readying the property.  Tim put in many hours clearing & graveling paths, trimming trees, laying rock.  However, while it was a lot of effort on everyone’s part, it was so much more meaningful to invest that time and money into a property we both had so many happy memories about.  I grew up playing in those woods, and they have also become very special to Tim.  We knew that it was worth the investment, and one that would keep on giving, rather than renting a venue with little or no sentimental value to us.

Event Design + Planning: Laurel White Design / Wedding Photography: Tyler Metcalfe Photography + Greenleaf Images / Videographer: Your Wedding Video Sucks / Florals: Sister of the Bride / Wood Cake Plates: Sunday Hatch / Location: Private Property / Wedding Dress: Family Heirloom / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Bride’s Belt + Groom’s Attire: J.Crew

As soon as these gorgeous photos from Jenny DeMarco came in I couldn’t wait to get my little blogger hands on them! This wedding is the ultimate epitome of Texas casual elegance. I’m head over heels for the succulent seat assignments, the groomsmen’s green plaid bow ties and of course, the amazing floral displays filled with white dahlias and burgundy ranunculus. Hello gorgeous! For even more, head on over to the gallery!

See entire image gallery here!

From Jenny Demarco Photography: Amanda and John wanted a funky, vintage wedding that was inspired by the Wildflower Center’s beautiful setting. Relaxed, simple yet incredibly beautiful. All of her details seems to follow this formula, from her beautiful raw silk dress to the quirky groomsmen bowties. Their wedding day was easy going but still stylish and elegant just like the two of them. Amanda wasn’t the typical rose bouquet bride. She yearned to show off the natural beauty of the Wildflower Center with the use of succulents and mixed fresh greenery. The flowers used in her bouquet were white dahlias, burgundy ranunculus, safari sunset, and large succulent blooms prominently placed in front surrounded by seeded eucalyptus, bear grass and many other lush greens. These were bound together with brown twine and ivory satin ribbon to infuse the elegant and rustic feel of their wedding. The bridesmaids bountiful bouquets were a similar version of the bride’s. These bouquets continued the use of large succulents blooms, seeded eucalyptus, and bear grass loops.  To help accent their dress color, their bouquets were highlighted by gorgeous burgundy dahlias. These were wrapped with a sheer champagne ribbon to keep it neutral to it’s surroundings. To continue the beauty of the Wildflower Center, these were again utilized as accent pieces throughout the reception. The groom’s boutonniere mirrored the theme with burgundy safari sunset, seeded eucalyptus, and a mini succulent plant with a twine twist.  Incorporating a vintage funky style, the guys were green bow-ties and matching socks. Their boutonnieres were created with bright green mums and seeded eucalyptus leaves. The couple chose centerpieces which were created in a silver tin pail filled to the brim with large succulent plants, bear grass loops, white dahlias, cushion mums, twine twists and plenty of fresh greenery.  In addition, the bride and groom created the guest take home gifts and place card holder by replanting succulents in small jars. Each jar was accented with a wax seal and ribbon. Even the catering continued along with their theme. The Whole Foods flag ship store is in Austin and the couple used incredibly locally sourced and organic foods for their menu.

Photography: Jenny DeMarco Photography / Flowers: Cedar Park Florist / Event Design: Bride and Groom / Ceremony and Reception Location: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center / Shoes: Miss Mooz / Dress: Adele Wechsler / Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes / Caterer: Whole Foods / Hair and Makeup: Boardwalk Spa / Bowties: Pierrepont Hicks /Groomsmen Socks: Richer-Poorer

After an embarrassing amount of time spent fawning over the images from Jennifer Lindberg Weddings of this fab fête, I have come to terms with the fact that I am completely in love with this couple. Yes they both look like they stepped right out of a magazine, and yes she may actually be snow white, but the real reason I now have a serious crush on this duo is they just look SO in love with each other. True partners in crime. Their story is worth the read and will make you love them even more. So settle in, and move gazing at the gallery of images from this gorgeous affair to the top of your to-do list today. You’ll thank me.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Paul and I met, fell in love and were engaged in a little over six months.  Our whirlwind romance was eventually slowed down by life; four months after our engagement, my mom had a near-fatal operation that left her in a coma for two months.  She survived, thankfully, and was able to make a full recovery over the next year.  Around the time we were thinking of revisiting our wedding plans, life gave us a happy surprise: I was pregnant.  We put our wedding on the back burner {again} and later that year I had our son, Dylan.

About a year and a half later, our dormant wedding plans finally found new life.  A spring wedding at my Aunt & Uncle’s home in Lago Vista, Texas, just outside of Austin, was set and, lucky for us; the third time truly was a charm! With its lush gardens, impressive cypress trees and intricate stonework, my Aunt & Uncle’s home, named Mariposa, is almost reminiscent of an Italian villa.  We wanted our wedding to be an intimate celebration of love and family and Mariposa was a perfect fit to the relaxed and sophisticated wedding we had always dreamed of. Looking back, we couldn’t be happier that it took five years (!) for our wedding to finally happen.  Because, when it did, it was amazingly wonderful and everything we could have asked for.  Thanks to husband and wife team Jenn and Jim for capturing the sweetest, funniest, dearest and loveliest moments of the day for us to remember.

My Advice: We planned our wedding ourselves and relied on help from our amazing friends and family.  But, if I could go back, I would hire a wedding coordinator for our wedding day.  I think I would have saved myself some moments of stress and the basket of 115 hand-stamped muslin bags with chocolate covered almond favors that my mother-in-law assembled may have actually been put out for our guests!

Caterer: Hill Country Pasta House / Gelato: The Chocolate Cup / Cakes, Pies + Flower Cupcakes: Russell’s Bakery / Reception Music: Airoldi South Austin Gypsy Jazz / Linen Overlays + Chair Rentals: Elegant Beginnings / Make-up: Jeni Hoover / Wedding Gown + Sash: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon / Veil: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon / Earrings: Anthropologie / Groom’s Suit: J. Crew / Ring Bearer’s Suit: Crewcuts / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Crewcuts / Invitation + Program: Stephanie Meyer / Stationery: Paper Source / Calligraphy: love*jenna / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings

I have nothing but love for Q Weddings Photography. Suzi Q photographed the first wedding I ever gushed about on SMP and it has been a love affair with her pretty images ever since. Now enter the likes of this eclectic ranch soiree. Is that a category? It is now! This shindig was crafted by The Wedding Warriors with a fantabulous cake to boot courtesy of Simon Lee Bakery. Wrap all of it up in a festive Texas bow and what do you have? A delicious way to start your Friday. See more of the day here!

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From the Bride…We has an eclectically chic wedding. Definitely dressy, but with a ranch vibe because of the surroundings. Fun and festive were the key words. My parents are more old school deep South and Patrick’s parents are more progressive. Our friends are just fun. Our style as a couple is both formal because of our jobs and fun and festive because we love live music (as evidenced by having Bob play our wedding). We were super excited about the wedding and think the whole atmosphere was elegant and comfortable at the same time.

Wedding Photography: Q Weddings / Wedding Coordinator:  The Wedding Warriors / Catering: Suzanne Court Catering and Events / Floral Design: Fabian / Wedding Cake:  Simon Lee Bakery / Reception Music: Bob Schneider / Wedding Gown: Marisa Bridals / Venue: Three Points Ranch / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate purchased at Bella Bridesmaids

We love a good ballroom wedding over here at SMP, and this wedding by Ashley Garmon Photographers provides the perfect dose of indoor goodness for your Friday morning. Dripping with orchids and oozing elegance, Caplan Miller Events made sure everything was decked to the nines for this sophisticated family affair. It doesn’t hurt that the couple happens to be as gorgeous as the event itself, and it all makes for a very lovely full gallery of images.

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From Ashley Garmon Photographers…This caberet-style wedding was all about family.  The mother of the bride had her vision of the chuppah from the start.  She designed a family tree with photos of all of the bride and groom’s family members. She had this screen printed onto fabric and used as the chuppah.  It was outlined with florals and then suspended over the dance floor.  Guests entered our ballroom and were ushered to their dinner tables. The tables were set for dinner and a program/menu card combination was displayed at each place setting.  Guests sipped champagne and nibbled on candied nuts during the ceremony.

Once the wedding ended… the ballroom went dark…. and a spotlight hit the service doors as the servers paraded in with the first course. The dance floor was cleared of the ceremony stage and screens were removed to reveal the band for dinner and dancing.  The suspended chuppah was now the dance floor decor and hung overhead all night.  After the served first course, guests were invited to the themed food stations that were each paired with a cocktail from that region — tex-mex cuisine and margaritas, greek food and ouzo, sushi and sake, italian and chianti, texas cuisine and Shiner Bock and more.

Photography: Ashley Garmon Photographers / Cinematography: Crescent Video / Floral Design: David Kurio Designs / Event Design & Production: Caplan Miller Events / Event Planning: Caplan Miller Events / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Four Seasons Hotel / Lighting: Filo Production Services / Rentals: Premiere Party Central + Marquee Rents / Linens: La Tavola / Hair & Makeup: Brooke Michie / Wedding Cake: Simon Lee Bakery / Wedding Ceremony Music: Barton Strings / Band: TOP / DJ: DJ Rich / Chuppah: Legacy Chuppah

When the bride walks down the aisle to Pretty Woman, you know you are in for a festive little fête! If you are anything like little ol’ me, that song will now be on repeat in your pretty little head for the rest of the day – thankfully it provides great back ground music for this colorful and deliciously fun party by Caplan Miller Events, complete with a darling donut bar! In my book, donuts are completely calorie-free at weddings so that makes them that much more darling, don’t you say? There is oh so much more to be seen, so saunter your Pretty Woman singing self on over to the full gallery of images for even more!

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From Caplan Miller Events… Martha Lynn and Trevor wanted a wedding that felt as if it was held in their backyard.  They love lots of “southern” touches — mason jars, sweet tea, lace, milk glass.  We combined it all for an incredible Texas evening under the stars.

Guests were greeted with Texas beer and sweet tea as they made their way to the ceremony site. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s uncle. Our guitarist learned Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive” for the groom’s processional.  The girls came down to “Pretty Woman.” Afterwards, the guests enjoyed a poolside cocktail hour and a Texas-style buffet dinner. The bride created a donut table in honor of her grandmother who she loved having Krispy Kreme donuts with as a young girl. Guests enjoyed mini cupcakes, wedding cake, donuts and a custom groom’s cake – a 2-side beer can.  One side Lone Star and the other side Rainer.  Both represented his Seattle roots and his current home in Texas.  They were sent off with sparklers and departed in an antique limo.

Event Design & Production: Caplan Miller Events / Wedding Photography: Cory Ryan Photography / Wedding Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch / DJ: DJ Rich / Wedding Ceremony Music: Andrew Nafziger / Event Styling: The Inglenook Decor / Wedding Cake & Cupcakes: Nom Nom Global / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Lanterns: FILO Production Services / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Antique Limo: Antique Limousines of Austin

I am a BIG fan of the color orange, it is just an all around happy color. I mean really, when was the last time you looked at an orange-filled affair and didn’t feel giddy? Well get ready for the giddiness because this lovely wedding by Sweet Caroline Photo at the Allan House is just full of images to fill your day full of happy. Lovely florals, gorgeous stationery, a to die for cake – Monday isn’t looking so bad after all, wouldn’t you say? Click here for even more!

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From the Bride… We wanted our wedding to feel like a party we would throw – not a production…and it was so great to hear that our friends did pick up on the details! From the brand of gin to the pork tacos at the end of the evening, we kept it personal. Laid-back, but classy.

My dress was a combo of two Alvina Valenta Dresses. I was going for romantic/preppy — the pleated hem was an addition. My shoes were orange ballet flats with satin bows from Sundance Catalog.  My earrings were costume jewelry I bought to wear on our first date and the bracelet my sister wore for her wedding.

A special addition to our ceremony that made it unique was the minister, who was Jacob’s teacher in Jr. High and has remained a mentor over the years.  For a DIY project, we collected family wedding photos to place on the fireplace mantle in coordinating silver frames.

The best moment of our wedding day was dancing towards the end of the night under the twinkle lights…we were having an incredible time and it was clear that our friends and family were, too. “We totally nailed this wedding,” as Jacob put it.

My biggest piece of advice for brides and grooms planning their wedding today is don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the decision-making process. Go with your gut and move on…enjoy your engagment, don’t stress or second guess yourself!

Wedding Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo / Wedding Venue: Allan House / Event Coordination: Kerry Duggan of BZ events / Floral Design: Posey Floral and Event Design / Hair: Kristen of Lather Salon / Makeup: Christy Edlin Makeup / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Ties: LulaKate / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Hair Piece: Lo Boheme / Bride’s Shoes: Sundance / Wedding Invitations: Rhonda Warren of Color Box Design & Letterpress / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Linens: Marquee / Lighting: Ilios Lighting

Where to begin, where to begin. Let me start off by saying that the florals in this fabulously festive affair by Bouquets of Austin are just be-yond. It’s bouquet perfection for this Austin soiree if you ask me, and even if you don’t ask me – I think/know you’ll agree. Ku Photography snapped all of the fabulous shots, and each and every one made me completely fall in love with this pretty, pretty party. I am just completely smitten, and you can see all the reasons why in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… The official story is that Stan and I met through friends while he was in med school and I was in business school.  The more interesting story is that we met during one fateful, crazy night on 6th Street in Austin.  Our romance was long-distance for the first couple of years, but we both came to the quick realization that it was truly something special, and Stan proposed almost 3.5 years after that first night on the town.

We planned our wedding over the course of 12 months.  It was important to us that the day be incredibly personal, colorful and natural while drawing upon key elements of our shared Chinese backgrounds.  Most of all, we wanted everyone to have fun!  We have both always been drawn to blue hues, and red is very symbolic in the Chinese culture, so royal blue, turquoise and red became an obvious palette for us.

When we visited the Wild Onion Ranch, we immediately knew that the property, with its sprawling grounds, huge oak trees, outdoor dance floor and eclectic yard art, was perfectly suited to what we hoped would be a largely outdoor celebration.  To seal the deal, they even had longhorn cattle roaming the front pasture!

As guests arrived prior to the ceremony, they were greeted with St. Germain champagne cocktails to help set the mood and kick off the festivities.  The brief ceremony was held at sunset atop a picturesque hill under a semi-circle of giant oak trees.  We walked down the aisle to contemporary string music selections and read our own vows to each other.  Homemade ceremony programs were also provided in the form of scalloped fans, which we hoped would help cool our guests in the unseasonably warm April heat.

It was important to us that the members of our wedding party be able to reflect their own personalities.  The bridesmaids created their own style using royal blue convertible dresses and each held different bouquets of red flowers and succulents, while the groomsmen each wore a turquoise tie with a unique royal blue screen print specially chosen by the groom.

We incorporated a variety of personal touches throughout the evening.  Chinese elements included lanterns adorning both the ceremony and reception areas, illuminated water lilies in the pool and custom-made mandarin duck cake toppers (a symbol of wedded bliss and relationship longevity).  Our florist delivered on our request for bright and natural centerpieces by using different combinations of wheatgrass, wildflowers and citrus fruits.  Stan brewed two types of craft beers for the occasion and we even made our own hand-picked blueberry “sloe” gin to give out as favors!  Stan was also able to share his love of sweets with a blue-themed candy bar that was placed by the exit toward the end of the night.  Finally, to help keep the party going we had a hilarious flip book booth, glow sticks that were distributed on the dance floor during our requested techno song and post-wedding transportation on buses with dance poles!

Perhaps the most memorable part of the evening was at the very end, when guests were invited to light huge white (100% biodegradable) wish lanterns as a send-off.  Unfortunately, high winds prevented many of the lanterns from being lit, but the effect was just as picturesque and serene with the few that flew up into the night.  It was the perfect way to cap off the most amazing day of our lives.

Photography: Ku Photography / Floral Design: Bouquets of Austin / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Wild Onion Ranch / Wedding Coordination: Barbara Hearne & Kristi Treadwell of Barbara’s Brides / Wedding Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Catering: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Hair & Makeup: method.hair / Wedding Dress: Stardust Celebrations / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Restoration Threads / Cake Topper: County Squirrels-R-Us / Flower Girl Basket: Fleur Detaillee / Flower Girl Sash & Hair Accessories: Project U / Bride’s Hair Piece: ivoryONwhite / Custom Groom & Groomsmen Ties: Cyberoptix Tie Lab / Flip Books: On The Flipside / Officiant: Michael Boles / Save the Dates: Paperless Post / Wedding Invitations: The Paper Kutt / DJ: Mr. Thrill DJ & Bands / Ceremony Music: String Music / Shuttle Bus: Bongo Bus

This Austin wedding fiesta, brought to us so nicely by Ashley Garmon Photographers, has serious attitude. And of course I mean attitude in the best possible way – the strut your stuff and make everyone have a good time type of attitude. Add a little down home Texas hospitality mix in a little Mexican-inspired flair, and folks, we have a seriously good wedding on our hands. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… There were three things I knew for sure when I got engaged: I wanted a quick and sweet engagement, an AMAZING band at the reception, and BRIGHT RED chiviari chairs.  Those were the initial thoughts that came to mind when we started planning in the Summer of 2010. Mexico was where we ultimately wanted to be wed but Austin is where we live and keep it weird. Since we weren’t able to tie the knot abroad, I decided I would use the bright textiles and the festive attitude of the Mexican culture as part of our wedding design inspiration.

So the work began. As I dusted off and referenced various old wedding magazine copies and scoured numerous blogs, and design sites, that’s when I realized I was going to need to dig deep on this one. Like all brides I wanted the day to be different, eclectic but unique to anything else our guests had ever experienced. We wanted the day to reflect our personalities, vision, creativity, and above of all have our friends and family enjoy every detail of our BIG day. Travis handled ordering the appropriate Scotch and securing the band and I took the reigns in the decor department. I drew on whatever inspiration I could find to make this a true FIESTA within a budget.  Travis is from the Texas Hill Country and I hail from the desert of West Texas so having that down home flare was also imperative.

Unique elements of the event included bright Mexican themed textiles paired with clean and crisp succulents and spring florals, Mariachis who serenaded everyone while enjoying Frito pie hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, tie-dyed wedding cake at the reception, flower children with monogrammed guayberas (Mexican Wedding Shirts) and along hundreds of prayer candles created a festive informal lighting scheme on a perfectly moon-lit March evening in Austin, Texas.

Our vendors executed the event seamlessly and did I mention it helps to have a dear talented friends as your photographers? Our guests are still talking about the details and we are still suffering from postpartum wedding blues.

Wedding Photography: Ashley Garmon & Emily Joyce of Ashley Garmon Photographers / Concept & Event Design: Cara Carney / Floral Design: Cherry Lane Floral / Event Planning: Lizzie Belle Event Planning / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Mercury Hall / Catering: Pink Avocado / Wedding Invitations & Custom Signage: Paper Place / Custom Papel Picados: Cut-It-Out / Ceremony Music: Barton Strings / Reception Band: The Gourds / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Hair & Makeup: Mariana Meredith of Mirror Mirror Hair Salon

Although we’ve recently been on the hunt for perfect indoor wedding, exquisite ballroom affairs and super chic modern soiree’s…we simply couldn’t resist posting this straight-from-the-heavens vintage style celebration. It was, after all, photographed by The Nichols, who we seriously love here at SMP and it did happen to have a bride that DIY-ed the wedding from the save the dates up. So all in all, we thought it fit right in on the pages of SMP. Plus it’s crazy gorgeous so we knew you’d love it too. Click here to see even more.

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Throughout our wedding planning process, we chose to think of our wedding as a reflection of ourselves and a gift to our loved ones.  We wanted it to be comfortable, relaxed, elegant and, most of all, personal.

The DIY-ing started with our save the dates (we made a wall-sized painting, cut it into pieces, and sent them out with a web address so guests could see their piece as part of the whole–they also found a silly video of us running towards each other in a field).  Next, we designed our invitations with a painting of our hands amongst the wildflowers and addressed the envelopes by hand.  We also made the place cards, seating chart, and favors.  Since we collect minerals, we decided to give our guests two stones, a citrine and a quartz crystal, symbolic of the two of us.

Phil and I wrote our vows separately and our ceremony together with my oldest brother Casey, our officiant. My other brother was my “man of honor” and dutifully held my bouquet during the ceremony.  Phil’s best man was also our ceremony musician and our bridal party was all sisters.  Our five sweet flower girls played musical instruments instead of throwing petals.  They totally stole the show!

Phil wore his everyday scuffed up boots, his Grandfather’s blue socks, and a custom-made tooled leather belt complete with his last name and our two pets (a gift from me).  I wore my Grandmother’s 70+ year old diamond re-set engagement ring and her gorgeous blue topaz and diamond ring (something old, borrowed and blue!).

I am fortunate to work at a florist here in Austin where we planned the flowers together and collected lots of vintage bottles and jars.  We mixed Texas wildflowers with some of my favorites like poppies, ranunculus, daisies and garden roses.  Our décor organically came together as a sort of Texas-Latin fiesta with papel picado flags, burlap table runners, lots of candlelight, and an outstanding Southwestern inspired menu from Kurant Events. They are truly first class caterers and everyone raved about the menu.  All of our wedding vendors were amazing.  Thank you, thank you!!  We also had the best time at our rehearsal dinner eating BBQ and singing karaoke on a boat.  Big thanks to Lonestar and our dear friend Keith at Kreuz Market.

My favorite part of our wedding day was seeing Phil before the ceremony while taking some photos out in the fields. In no way did it take away from that special moment of seeing each other down the aisle.  We were so grateful to have that hour of peace and reflection before the celebrating began.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center / Wedding Coordinator: The Simplifiers / Floral Design: La Fleur Vintage / DJ: Ryan Williams / Catering: Kurant Events / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Wedding Bands: Bario-Neal & Tiffany & Co. / Hair & Makeup: Rae Cosmetics / Rentals: Premiere Party Central / Favors: The Bride & Groom + Nature’s Treasures / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: The Bride & Groom

I know we showcase tons of real weddings and inspiration shoots filled with steal-worthy details for your upcoming nuptials. But, so few and far between do we feature a bachelorette inspired shoot. And not every hen party is created equal. This particular fête has left me wishing all get-togethers could be this pretty. Crafted by Camille Styles with seriously gorgeous florals by Kristen Caissie, this just might be the loveliest pairing of all – your best girlfriends, loads of scrumptious cheese and really great wine. Does it get any better? We think not! Catch more of this bachelorette bash in the full gallery as well as some great pairing tips from Camille below.

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From Camille Styles… The concept is a summertime get-together with great rose wine and cheese pairings, girly flowers and a simple, organic vibe for the table.  From the floral designer Kristen Caissie: “Summer holds in its warmth some of the simplest delights, and there’s no better way to celebrate the bride-to-be than with an al fresco get-together…with loads of pink wine, of course!”

A beautiful wood farm table was the canvas for the crisp white linens and a cheesecloth runner. Vases were filled with coral peonies, David Austin garden roses, viburnum, and astilbe. The summer blooms in shades of blush paired perfectly with the pinks of the wines.  Each bottle of Rose was also paired with a summer inspired appetizer.  The lovely ladies enjoyed the afternoon around the table tasting wines, sampling the summer bounties, and chatting about all the details for the upcoming wedding!

We thought it would be fun to ditch traditional bachelorette “games” in favor of a slightly more sophisticated rosé wine tasting. Why rosé, you ask? Because it’s the prettiest and girliest of libations, of course! Don’t be intimidated if you’re not a wine expert; we headed to the wine department at Whole Foods for a mini lesson in what wines to serve, and were able to pick up all the cheese and accompaniments in one place, too!

To set up the tasting, create cute labels that identify each wine and offer some suggestions on what flavors might make delicious pairings. Don’t forget to provide plenty of glassware for each guest to try multiple wines! Of course, the cheeses and other nibbles play starring roles as well, so provide a delicious variety of sweets and savories. When putting together a cheese tray, I try to follow these rules of thumb: Serve one to two ounces of cheese per person, include a mix of fresh, aged, soft and hard cheeses. and arrange – and sample – the cheeses starting with the freshest and lightest, ending with the ripest and most intense.

The biggest rule of all? Have fun! It is a bachelorette party after all, and the giggles, gossip and sharing of memories will be the special moments that the bride-to-be will carry with her long after the big day!

You can also view an adorable behind-the-scenes video of the shoot here!

Photography: Michael Bullock / Coordination & Styling: Camille Styles / Floral & Event Design: Kristen Caissie / Furniture: Liv By Design + Austin’s World of Rentals / Calligraphy: Pretty Pen Jen

I hope y’all are having a fabulous long weekend! Hopefully its been full of sunshine, BBQs and friends and family. Even if you do have to work on this day of Memorial – this fabulously electric, Austin wedding by Katherine O’Brien Photography will make it that much easier to get through the day. I could easily list all the things I love, like how much I am obsessed with bride’s gorgeous accessories or how seriously cool this couple’s details are, but I think you want to get to scrolling and see for yourself. Am I right, or am I right?

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From the Bride… We envisioned a wedding that was uniquely us.  We didn’t want a theme.  We are eclectic people who like to mix and match and wanted our wedding to reflect that.  Color was really important to us.  Originally, we really wanted to do an Indian tent but found that was going to be way out of our budget.  We started searching the internet for Indian table cloths, to achieve a similar look and feel, and ended up finding very affordable Indian bedspreads that could act as table cloths. This was the beginning and centerpiece of our wedding aesthetic.

A few other touches, instead of having the regular table numbers, we hand painted animal silhouettes.  We collect a lot of animal art at home, so we wanted to reflect that in our wedding.  For gifts, we made everyone pickles months in advance because we love pickles and had a fun time with friends helping us get those done.

Additionally, David, my husband, made two specialty cocktails that reflected our personalities. The Groom’s Cocktail included smoked bourbon (made at home using an aquarium pump to bubble smoke into the bourbon), home-made grenadine, and black pepper. The Bride’s cocktail included Prosecco, blood orange juice, and basil-infused vodka.

As for my wedding attire, I knew that I wanted a very simple dress and for the accessories to stand out.  This is generally the way I like to dress.  My mom has an antique jewelry business, so I knew I had many beautiful pieces to pick from – I knew I wanted color in my jewelry.  I felt stuck about what kind of shoes I wanted for a long time, but found these beautiful Anya Hindmarch gold shoes at a discount stores and I just knew.

An old friend of mine from around town was in this awesome Brazilian band we had heard a few times before, and we just knew that their sound was right for our wedding.  Celebratory, colorful, and vibrant.

In terms of flowers, I collaborated with the florist wanting a lot of greens of various shades and textures with pops of different color – no pastels and mix and match.  The insides of the glass rounds were lined with moss – I loved them.

One of the most important features of our wedding was our photographer.  Katherine’s style really fit with what we were going for – she does beautiful work.  She really understands color and captures the intimacy and celebratory nature of the wedding.

Our wedding was awesome.  The style of our wedding and the warmth of having all of our family and friends there made it a success.  It was intimate, stylish, and vibrant.

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Venue: French Legation Museum / Wedding Coordination: Jessica Caplan of Novel Concepts Events / Floral Design: Janine’s Florals / Catering: Pink Avocado / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Music: James Filon + Seu Jacinto / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Anya Hindmarch / Jewelry: Lynne Brody Antiques / Hair: Rachel at Frenchy’s Beauty Parlor / Groom’s Cufflinks: Vintage, Oleg Cassini / Bride’s Wedding Ring: St. Kilda Jewelry / Bride’s Engagement Ring & Groom’s Wedding Ring: Custom by Steve Kriechbaum

I have a confession. After four years and over 5,000 real weddings, I am officially a color convert. Don’t get me wrong…I’d still saturate my world in white if I didn’t have two very messy little kids. But when it comes to weddings, especially those that glisten in the gorgeous Texas sun, I kind of love me some color. Bright pops of gorgeous color. Especially when it’s photographed by the crazy talented duo The Nichols. And this wedding just happens to be the perfect, color-rific, drop dead gorgeous, Nichol’s masterpiece. Perfect for seeing us into a holiday weekend. Click here to see even more.

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Our story began with a blind date.  Although they typically never work out… Benton and I soon discovered that we were the exception.  A mutual friend set us up and in no time we were talking about spending the rest of our lives together. Everything seemed so natural and easy from day one, and then the fun began.  He proposed on beautiful summer day out at my family ranch and the planning started immediately.

Already familiar with the event industry in Austin, I had already narrowed it down to three venues before I ever had a ring on my finger. When Benton and I toured Camp Lucy, we immediately fell in love with the chapel, which dates back to the mid 1800’s and was recently shipped to Dripping Springs from Vietnam.   A well known Austin antique dealer, Whit Hanks, was traveling through Vietnam when he learned someone was auctioning off old French Colonial Catholic Chapels, so of course he bought two, had them taken apart, shipped back to Texas and put up on his family ranch.  We loved the old wooden carved ceiling in the chapel, the large wooden doors and tall dark beams.

The other chapel was turned into an open air pavilion overlooking the Texas Hill Country with a large patio and a gorgeous manicured lawn adjacent.  Due to its size we ended up needing to have the ceremony on the Chapel steps, which ended up being perfect.  We loved the venue and wanted a spring wedding that was classic, relaxed, colorful and just plain fun. What a heavenly day it was; we had the most beautiful weather anyone could dream of.

I walked down the aisle holding my bouquet with my grandmother’s broach attached.  I have had it for quite a few years and have always known that it would inspire my wedding colors; coral, aqua, and orange.  Our florist really pulled together my vision;  incorporating my colors while using vintage cheese boxes filled with kumquats, moss, succulents and tons of bright flowers down the center of the long banquet tables.  My loving mother agreed to find all of the vintage cheese boxes and aqua mason jars and had antique dealers scouring the state of Texas for more.  It was a little tricky making sure we had enough, but thanks to Rosehip Flora everything came together perfectly.  I loved everything about the day – the parasols, the umbrella shaded tables, the lawn games, the DIY menu chalkboards, the wonderful food, and the list goes on.  Every single one of our vendors was amazing.  I can’t thank them enough!

It was a magical night, full of laughing, dancing, eating, and most importantly celebrating my new marriage with my best friend. We wouldn’t change a thing….except maybe freeze the day so that time would stand still and we could relive it again today.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy / Floral Design: Rosehip Flora / Wedding Coordination: Lizze Belle Event Planning / Catering: Word of Mouth Catering / Cakes: Michelle’s Patisserie / Band: Duck Soup / Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers / Wedding Gown & Belt: Tara Keely + Enzoani / Bride’s Earrings: Kendra Scott / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew

We’ve seen all sorts of wedding themes here at SMP, but I think this couple hit the nail on the head when they honed in on what they wanted their day and theme to scream – “Us.”  Zeroing in on meaningful details, their laid back style and love of their families made for a completely gush-able affair. Add the gorgeous images of Jennefer Wilson Photography, and y’all, I think we have a SMP Texas worthy wedding (and you all know that’s saying something with all the pretty Texas weddings out there)! Click here for even more!

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From Jennefer Wilson Photography… Going into planning, Krissy and Kyle sat down and decided on very few things from the start. One, they knew that the wedding needed to be a laid back, relaxed Austin wedding that focused on details with meaning. They both consider their family to be the most important thing in life and they wanted to find a way to honor their past, enjoy the present, and celebrate the future.

To accomplish doing all 3 of those things, they started with their past – their families. First the date (April 1) was picked, because that was Krissy’s late grandmother’s birthday. Then they brought in elements from both families into their centerpieces which consisted of books, handmade croqueted doilies & handkerchiefs, gloves, jewelry boxes, etc. They also surrounded the reception site with photos honoring their family members that had passed away. They wanted to make sure they enjoyed the entire day so they made sure to include all of their favorite Texas “eats” – BBQ, cupcakes, cookies, and S’MORES! The S’Mores also were a flashback to their days of being campers/counselors at camp together!

Overall, the “theme” of the wedding was just “US,” Krissy and Kyle. Being able to bring in the little details like Kyle’s handmade pottery for communion glasses, their love of the outdoors, and just having FUN was extremely important to them and this idea and theme was certainly accomplished!

Wedding Photography: Jennefer Wilson Photography / Wedding Venue: Texas Old Town / Tandem Bike: Austin Bike Tours & Rentals / Catering: Pok-e-Jo’s Smokehouse / Floral Design: WOW Factor Design / Invitations: Cari Ritchie Sury / Cupcakes: Bride’s Aunt / Wedding Dress: Mori Lee Design from Ventura’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: TOM’s / Groomsmen Suits: Al’s Formal Wear / Groomsmen Shoes: Converse All-Stars

Here at the Little Black Book Blog, it’s no secret that we love our LBB Vendors. They’re handpicked for their talent and attention to detail, so we love featuring weddings like this Austin Wedding at The Allan House. The list of LBB Vendors is never ending. The whole affair was planned and designed wonderfully by BZ Events. The florals, from Verbena Floral Design, were perfect. The guest’s rumbling stomachs were taken care of by Word of Mouth. And all the wedding stationery was designed by the best, The Inviting Pear. ALL the magnificent vendors worked hard to create this drop dead gorgeous wedding. And aren’t you happy they did? Click here for more!

Photography courtesy of Wendi Poole of Thompson Poole Photography.

I started out as a bride who thought she could plan it all on her own. I went on a whirlwind tour of every website, blog, and magazine devoted to weddings. Not so great when you are a full-time grad student, working 30 hours a week and trying to stay sane.

I did have some ideas about what I wanted for a wedding and the top criteria was to have an elegant, but fun party. The first two details were pretty easy to put in place – the venue and the photographer. The Allan House, a historic home in downtown Austin, was perfect. The beautiful outdoor space was a combination of all the things I wanted – a romantic, soft feel that would work with a fall color palette and still have plenty of room for all our guests. A photographer friend had recommended Wendi Poole of Thompson Poole Photography, to me. After meeting with her and seeing her portfolio I was excited to work with her.

At this point, I realized I needed an expert. That’s where Cortney of BZ events stepped in and I could not have been happier. She had an attention to detail that I could only dream of having. Her recommendations for catering, music and décor were top notch – it was like she was reading my mind.

Another one of my favorite things about the planning was the invitation from The Inviting Pear. First some background — I am working on a second graduate degree, I’m never without a book and it’s been rumored that my Kindle is permanently attached to my hand. So we went with a book theme for the invites and other aspects of the reception. Some of my vintage books became centerpieces for the cocktail tables, our signature beverage was called “The Bookworm” (a mojito in disguise), and instead of table numbers we used book titles.

The day of the wedding was perfect. The ceremony went beautifully and when we got to The Allan House, we were absolutely amazed at how it was transformed into something so incredibly stunning. The lighting from Ilios, flowers from Verbena and all the small touches that were added to make it ours were just right.

Event Design & Planning: BZ events / Photographer: Thompson Poole / Florist: Verbena Floral Design / Catering & Cakes: Word of Mouth / Rentals: Marquee Rents / Venue: The Allan House / Invitations & Stationery: The Inviting Pear / Entertainment: The Matt Wilson Band / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Hair & Makeup: Rae Cosmetics / Transportation: Transportation Consultants / Ceremony: Covenant Presbyterian Church / Ceremony Music: Austin Handbell Choir

This laid back bride hit the wedding planning jack pot with her sweet as can be sister (who submitted the wedding) and darling mom. They helped to bring her vision of a DIY family affair to full on gorgeous reality. Each detail was carefully planned and executed by family and friends, and the result was downright darling. I’ve said it once, I’ll definitely say it again – there is just something special about a Texas wedding, and thanks to Nicole Chatham Photography there is a full gallery of images proving that fact for you to gawk over.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Sister of the Bride… Spicewood Vineyards has a wonderful mix of rustic charm.  The limestone exterior, wrap around porch, wood beam ceiling, and hand carved exterior barall create a welcoming feeling true to Texas.  Plus the Live Oak trees and background of grape vines isn’t too bad either!

We decided to play up the rustic feel of the venue by incorporating elements like old repurposed barn wood and burlap table overlays.  We also wanted a few polished elements (to soften the rustic), like potted boxwoods to line the aisle in the ceremony area and mercury glass votives.  The flowers were a perfect mixture of rustic and polished, as they incorporated feathers and vines, but also had heirloom and spray roses, hydrangea, peonies, and tulips.

As the decor began to come together, we decided to work in some vintage elements.  We scoured ebay, looking for anything from old Ball mason jars, used horseshoes, old wooden crates and boxes, old books, and old tobacco cans. These became unique alternatives to floral arrangements!

We wanted the event’s charm to come through in the details.  When guests first checked in at their hotels for the weekend, they were greeted with a welcome bag – a burlap wine bag hand painted with a blue bonnet containing a welcome letter from Jaye and Charles, an itinerary/timeline for the weekend, a wine trail for local wineries, and a corkscrew from Spicewood Vineyards. At the venue, we created a wish tree where people could leave their wishes for the newlyweds.  Tags had an imprint of a horseshoe, which had become a theme of the event.  We also had flatware packets that said things like “Chow Down,” “Dee-lish,” and “Good Grub” – perfect for BBQ!  There was a photo screen containing images of Jaye and Charles growing up – and of them together.  And even their monogram D was spotlighted on a main wall for all to see.  For late night live music, we put up twinkle lights across the ceiling of the patio, creating charming lighting any dance hall would be proud of.

Throughout everything, we wanted the couple’s fun spirit to come through, so we chose s’mores packets, pinwheels, custom M&Ms, and twined blue bonnet seed packets for their favors.  We had late night ice cream sandwiches wheeled around the event in a vintage Radio Flyer wagon.  For the ceremony, the couple selected non-traditional music – oldies, country, and classic favorites everyone could recognize. And guests were provided with transportation on a trolley to and from the venue!

Finally, staying local was extremely important to us.  We chose to have Cuvee french press coffee from a roaster located right there in Spicewood. We also had live music from a favorite Austin band – Christy Hays and Her Sunday Best.  The venue’s close proximity to Austin, Spicewood, and Marble Falls allowed us to use the perfect combination of vendors from all places, creating a true hill country wedding!

This was truly a DIY wedding from start to finish.  We had around six months to plan this wedding. My mom, Shella, and I would come up with fun ideas, run them by our laid back bride, and then work hard to make them a reality. Weddings often bring families together, but we were unique in that planning this wedding really brought the Bycura family together long before the wedding day itself.

Wedding Photography: Nicole Chatham Photography / Wedding Venue: Spicewood Vineyards / Rentals & Spotlight: Out Back Party Rentals / Catering: Opie’s BBQ / Cupcakes: Hill Country Cupcake / Coffee Service: Hallowed Grounds / Floral Design: Audrey of The Flower House / DJ: Keith Harris of A-Town DJ / Band: Christy Hays and Her Sunday Best / Trolley & Antique Limo Service: Antique Limousines of Austin / Event Coordination: Annie Berg and Megan Kenney / Makeup: Rae Cosmetics / Hair: Virginia Bell / Bride’s Attire: J.Crew + Alterations & Veils by Beatrice / Bridesmaid Attire: J.Crew + Emici Bridal / Groomsmen Attire: Al’s Formal Wear / Event Decor: Mike, Shella & Katie Bycura

I can almost smell the sweet lilacs of this equally sweet Austin wedding by Sweet Caroline Photo. That’s a lot of sweetness, and there is so much more to devour in this soirée because all the understated touches make for a practically perfect party. There is so much more to fawn over in the full gallery of images, so be sure to set aside some time today to cozy up with all the sweetness.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Our overall goal was to make the wedding personal by sharing things we love with our guests and ensure they were well fed and had a good time.  Special touches we added to our day included Clara, Ben’s cousin, reading a piece that summarized marriage to Ben and I.  It meant a lot to us to hear the reading from her. Also, we designed a chuppah, which my brother-in-law built for us. The chuppah was designed so that, though there were “four-posts,” they did not obstruct the view of anyone, and the lace used was the same piece my sister had used in her wedding. We really enjoyed working together to design and create the chuppah, and my brother-in-law made our vision come true by assembling and hanging it for us.

I gave each of my bridesmaids and the reader pressed flower stained-glass pendants from Glass Works Waters Edge.  Each was unique, so I was able to choose a specific pendant for each. At Madre de Olivia I found a beautiful jade necklace for my mom to match the jade ring my father gave her when I was born.  The earrings I wore were my Grams’ pearls.  She passed away about 10 years ago- she was a very strong women and had a beautiful marriage. I wore a necklace which I found when browsing with my sister (matron of honor) on South Congress at the Turquoise Door, and Ben wore the watch his Uncle, a very important figure in his life, left Ben when he passed away.

For flowers, Lilacs are my favorite since my parents house growing up had lilac bushes, and they always remind me of home. We also chose peonies (an omen of a happy marriage), delphiniums for some blue for Ben, and wax flowers, hardy yet dainty little flowers.

The photo of our first dance is one of our favorites.  It was a special moment for us, to feel united and be surrounded by those who love us and support us. We are not usually affectionate in public, and the photo really captures the intimacy and true joy of that moment.  My biggest piece of advice to brides would be to try to make room in your budget to hire a great photographer and wedding day-of coordinator, they are both worth it!

The best moment of our day was being pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Choi.  We walked out seeing people so important to us smile and cheer, then once we got outside, we turned to each other and said “you’re my husband/wife” and smiled and kissed.

Wedding Photography: Sweet Caroline Photo / Wedding Venue: House on the Hill / Event Coordination: Beth Walker of 36th Street Events / Floral Design: Abby Daigle of STEMS Floral Design / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca via Brickhouse Bridal / Dress Alterations: Linda’s Couture / Bride’s Shoes: BP. / Bride’s Earrings: Vintage / Bride’s Necklace: The Turquoise Door / Groom’s Watch: Vintage / Hair: Shannon Briggs-Hack of Path Salon / Makeup: Sister of the Groom / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Catering: Salt Lick Bar-B-Que / Wedding Cake Balls: Austin Cake Balls / Rentals: Austin’s World of Rentals

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Purple tulle…How can you not love a wedding when a bride wears purple tulle under her gorgeous gown?! I do not think it’s possible. The pretty purple hue is ever prevalent in this party captured by She-N-He Photography and Design, and the pretty just gets prettier with the seriously gorgeous flowers from Petal Pushers. It’s Hill Country chic at its finest and there is even more in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… When Jim and I first met, we knew that we would one day marry each other. Once we were engaged, we couldn’t wait to get the planning started! We knew we didn’t want a super long engagement, so we couldn’t waste any time, and we jumped right in. Shortly thereafter, we found ourselves overwhelmed with options, and thinking, “How is this ever going to happen in just 9 short months?” That’s when I came across a quote that I will never forget: “You only need 5 things to get married: A bride, a groom, a marriage license, an officiant and a witness. The rest is just fluff!” After seeing this, we decided to stay true to ourselves and try to stay focused on the real reason for our marriage. We wanted to be united together before God and our family and friends, and everything else was just fluff! Our first priority was to sign up for marriage preparation classes at our church, and ask our Pastor if he would lead our wedding. Once we were able to plan the most important part of our wedding day, we began adding the fluff!

Though we live in Houston, we wanted to have a wedding in the Hill Country and decided on The Duchman Family Winery for our venue. We wanted something very romantic and whimsical, rustic and natural, but sophisticated at the same time. I called it, “Hill Country Chic!”  The entire staff at the winery was especially helpful for helping us carefully carry out every detail, and we are so grateful to have worked with them.

My favorite color is purple, and I am blessed that Jim was completely on board! Our colors were black and white to be accented with wisteria, eggplant and sangria. We met with Stacey, the owner of Petal Pushers, and she was wonderful! She took a lot of time to sit down with me and take bits and pieces of the things I loved in so many arrangements, and put them all into one for me. My bridesmaids wore simple black dresses from White House Black Market that I purchased on sale for $31, and we brought all the color in through their flowers and it was better than I hoped for. The flowers couldn’t have been more perfect, and it really set the tone for the entire evening!

I collect apothecary type jars, and we set up a full candy station, with velum bags that we embossed by hand as an additional favor of the night. The jars sat on old wine crates leveled at different heights, and made the table look magical! I bought a simple bird cage and added ribbon, flowers and paper butterflies for our cards, and had a friend design and print our place settings and table numbers. My mom and a few friends helped me create, print, cut, and assemble our wedding programs and I loved them- though they were a lot of work!

Our sign in table was very special to us. We had pictures of our parents’, grandparents’, and great grandparents’ weddings set out for everyone to see. Though I requested for our parents to provide the pictures, it brought me to tears when I saw it for the first time set up all together next to our engagement photo. What a blessing to have such beautiful examples of true love surrounding us! To make everything even more special, my “something old” was my great grandmother’s engagement ring what I wore on my right hand.

Last, but certainly not least, we needed a photographer! If we were going to have all of this “fluff”, we needed someone who would capture every detail of our day. We had spoken with a few photographers, by phone, but no one really gave us the warm and fuzzy feelings inside! Just as I was beginning to think that I would have to get over it, I found Melanie. I was searching online, sent an information request in (secretly thinking I might hear back within a day or two), and not three minutes later, my phone rang! Within a few minutes of speaking with Melanie, I fell in love! She was exactly what we were looking for, cared about our vision, and took her time getting to know us! We booked her for our engagement photos, rehearsal dinner and wedding day! Every detail was captured beautifully, and I WILL be using her again in the future for our family photos as well! We have had people who were unable to make it to the wedding comment on our photography, and say how they feel like they were there because every detail was captured! At the end of the day, the pictures are what we have to relive our wedding day.

After our rehearsal dinner, Jim and I exchanged love letters to each other and promised one another that we wouldn’t read them until the next morning. When I read Jim’s letter to me, I cried and cried. I knew then, more than I had ever known, that I was marrying my soul mate. Any nerves that I had when I woke up were immediately gone once I read his letter, and so began our perfect day. Our wedding flew by, and we were on our honeymoon before we knew it! Our wedding day wouldn’t have been the same without our family and friends. We are so blessed to have so many great people in our lives to have traveled from near and far to celebrate with us on our very special day.

Wedding Photography: She-N-He Photography and Design / Wedding Venue: Duchman Family Winery / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / DJ: Altared Wedding Productions / Ceremony Music: Serenade String Quartet / Photo Booth: Max Photography / Wedding Cakes: Stardust Pastry / Catering: Trattoria Lisina / Candy Bar: Nuts in Bulk / Guest Transportation: R&R Transportation / Bridal Party Transportation: Hill Country Excursions / Getaway Car: Antique Limousines of Austin / Rehearsal Dinner: The Salt Lick / Wedding Rings: Shafftel Diamonds / Wedding Dress & Hair Piece: David’s Bridal / Flower Girl Dresses: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: White House | Black Market / Bride & Bridal Party Shoes: Nina / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse