[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]pink, blue, yellow[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Barclay and I are beach people. We wanted bright, summer colors everywhere and for our guests to feel like they were on the coast somewhere without having to actually travel. Essentially, we wanted to bring the beach to Dallas! Our planner Haylie Jackson helped us execute the perfect coastal vibe.
Beyond that, we wanted our guests to have a blast. We prioritized having an incredible band that played for three hours solid. We also wanted to make sure that everyone was equipped to keep up with the band all night, so good food and great service were must-haves.
It was important to me that our wedding be captured by the best photographer. Liz Banfield had been number one on my list since before I was even engaged. I adore how she captures light and movement in every photo. She makes her photos look effortless and literally every single photo makes me smile because they capture the energy and joy of that day. Hiring her was the best decision we made throughout the entire planning process.
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[field title=”Proposal Story”]We met on his fraternity’s bus to Dallas for the Texas OU game our freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin. I was actually his best friend’s date to the game but wound up sitting with Barclay for most of that bus ride. I got to my parents’ house that night and couldn’t stop talking about him. We continued to run into each other after that but didn’t start dating until May before our senior year. He found out I was leaving for Austria for two months that summer and quickly made a move.
Five years later we were at his family’s coast house down in Port O’Connor, Texas, for the 4th of July. That Saturday, his parents took us and Barclay’s brothers out on the boat to an island called Saturday Beach for (what I was assuming was) a regular beach day. When we got to Saturday Beach, Barclay’s parents pretended to argue over a “missing” tackle box, and Barclay suggested we take a walk to “give them space.” A few minutes into the walk (and after denying my multiple requests to get in the water), he got on one knee and pulled my dream ring out of his koozie. When I turned around, I saw Barclay’s family friends’ boat shore up with my entire family on board. I was under the impression that my brothers were in Austin and that my dad was on-call all weekend. Seeing them there was a huge surprise! Later when we returned to Barclay’s parents’ house, we were greeted by my best friend, a mariachi band, and bottomless margaritas. The night ended with us jumping into the pool fully dressed. It was the best, most fun day.
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]I tend to gravitate towards things that are fun, feminine, and bright, and also a bit classic. I had always pictured myself in something off-the-shoulder and loved the idea of lace, but had never seen a dress that checked all of my boxes or that I was sure would make me feel like myself. But then I put on Monique Lhuillier’s “Viviana” gown and pulled her “Lovely” on over it for a more A-line skirt, and I knew I had found the perfect combo. The team at Neiman Marcus executed that vision perfectly and helped me select the perfect Monique veil to complement the gown. My second dress was another Monique Lhuillier stunner—it was fun, flirty, and let me dance like a crazy person for hours.
I wore white patent Prada platforms all night and didn’t have to take them off once. My bridesmaids were thoroughly impressed.
I made an effort not to distract from either dress and went with minimal jewelry. I wore the rings I wear daily (one of which is a script ring of my maiden name) and diamond studs that my aunt had made from my grandmother’s engagement ring. They were perfect.
Our rehearsal dinner and welcome party attire was “South Texas Chic” as a nod to Barclay’s south Texas roots. I worked with Mary Glenn McElveen to create the perfect plunge neck line, ruffled linen dress. We paired it with blue Miron Crosby boots. Barclay wore a custom guayabera from Dos Carolinas and Tecovas boots.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Each of my bridesmaids wore blue dresses of their own choosing. I wanted them to feel as comfortable as I did that day and let them go somewhat rogue—it paid off big time. The pink flowers were beautiful against all the different shades of blue and blue floral. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The wedding was black tie so all the men wore tuxedos. Barclay wore a custom tux by his family’s suit tailor in Victoria, Texas. He looked very James Bond-esque.
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Upon arrival, guests were greeted with passed appetizers (everything from watermelon feta skewers to mini tuna wontons) and trays of Aperol spritzes, cucumber martinis, and champagne (the ultimate summer trio). Barclay and I entered the tent to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole. My dad and Father Bierschenk both gave toasts after Barclay and I had our first dance to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Vallie. It was the most fun first dance song! Then we sat for dinner. We had short rib and sea bass with an artichoke sauce, a Mediterranean-inspired Caesar salad, and wedding cake. I loved that our table was set with blue Ginori plates from Italy. Not only were they so chic but fit our Italian Mediterranean vibe. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The reception was a dream. Three Branches made the most incredible floral scheme involving lots of bougainvillea, lemons, and lanterns. We also converted the porch at Arlington Hall into a lounge area complete with two bars, lots of lemon trees, and two back-to-back seating arrangements. I hand-picked the coffee table books for that area with an eye towards our individual upbringings.
My bouquet was inspired by Naomi Biden’s. I loved the texture and movement hers had, but wanted a bit more floral than green. Three Branches nailed it.
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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The bride’s cake was a white cake with champagne and fresh strawberry filling, and the groom’s cake was a chocolate on chocolate cake designed like the UT Tower, an iconic building on the campus where we met.
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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Our first dance was to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Vallie. Barclay couldn’t get it out of his head for about a year after we started dating, and it turned out to be the most fun, upbeat first dance song—largely thanks to our band, Empire Six. Barclay wrote their name down after we saw them play at a family friend’s wedding in Houston a few years prior. Seeing their name on Haylie’s list of preferred bands made the decision an easy one.
My dad and I danced to “At the Beach” by the Avett Brothers. It reminds us both of our family’s summers in Seaside, FL, and our Sunday mornings at home, when my dad would make waffles for my brothers and I while the Avett Brothers blared in the background.
The last song of the night was “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Barclay and I got on stage with the band, people were on each other’s shoulders, the song ended as a confetti canon went off. It was epic.
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]My mom gave me my grandmother’s locket to attach to my bouquet, and we had my parents’, my grandparents’, and our anniversaries sewn into a patch from my Grandmother Starr’s wedding dress, which was then sewn into my skirt. I loved having those little pieces of them with me.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]We were married by Father Stephen Bierschenk, the same priest who married my parents and baptized me, at the Cathedral Guadalupe in downtown, Dallas. It’s the oldest Catholic church in Dallas and is absolutely stunning (the stained glass is to die for), so we didn’t need to add much to it. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]My dad’s friend is a vintage car collector and graciously lent us a 1968 teal Bronco for the night. It was the perfect beachy exit car. [/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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| Share this gorgeous gallery on | |
Photography: Liz Banfield | Event Planning & Design: Haylie Paige Events | Floral Design: Three Branches Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Dallas Affaires Cakes | Invitations: Carly Creative Co | Ceremony Venue: Cathedral To The Shine Of The Virgin Of Guadalupe | Reception Venue: Arlington Hall at Oak Lawn Park | Catering: Food Glorious Food | Hair & Makeup: Maitee Miles | Lighting: stage 2 lighting | Band: Empire 6 Band | Dance Floor: Imperial Floors | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Posh Couture Rentals | Rentals: Perch Event Decor Rental | Second Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Wedding Dress Shop: Neiman Marcus Bridal
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