Texas Weddings

Before you head off into your day of turkey, stuffing, football, friends and family, we thought we’d share a little something extra special to put you in the celebration mood.  A pretty little Glen Rose wedding boasting just the right combo of rustic details and downright romantic moments with the oh-so-fabulous stylings of Tara Wilson Events dotting every inch of space.  (To be exact.)  The ever-amazing Ben Q Photography snapped up every last ounce of lovely and it’s what we’re calling the perfect start to your holiday weekend.  Join me in the gallery for more.

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And an uber-sweet film from the day captured by Lynn Films…

From the Bride… Caleb and I actually met when we were just little kids. We grew up knowing of each other, but more than 10 years went by before our paths crossed again. I was attending my second year in college at the University of Central Oklahoma when I ran into Caleb.  Instantly, there was a connection. After that day, the rest is history. After a year in half, Caleb proposed to me in an old barn. He wrote “Will you marry me” in a dusty window. We immediately started searching for a wedding planner. I honestly did not know where to start looking for a planner. I searched the internet for planners in Oklahoma, but just didn’t find what I was looking for. Then one day, I was flipping through a bridal magazine and came across Tara Wilson. There was just something about her that I liked. She was creative, savvy and different. Caleb, my mom, dad and I set out to meet with Tara in Fort Worth. We all hit off immediately. Tara instantly tuned into our personality and style. That same day, we went for a site visit at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Texas. We all fell in love with Rough Creek.

After choosing the venue, my mom and I went to Chicago to find “the dress.” I knew finding my dress was going to be my biggest challenge, but come to find out, it didn’t take long at all. The designer of my dress is Ulla-Maija, and I purchased it at Ultimate Bride. It was a very simple, lace, trumpet style. It was exactly what I was looking for. Now that we had the dress, it was time to start the planning process. The planning process was so much fun. Since we live in Oklahoma, we only met with Tara a few times, but we enjoyed every minute of it. We chose July 14, 2012 as our date because that was when my parents married 33 years ago. Our style for our wedding was inspired by our lifestyle and personalities. Caleb and I grew up in small towns in Oklahoma. Caleb grew up as a simple country boy. He has always had a passion for hunting, so we decided we wanted a simple, country and elegant wedding. So with Tara’s wonderful creative mind, she came up with the theme “The Hunt Is Over.” It was PERFECT! I was very laid-back through out the whole planning process. Tara and I mainly communicated through email or phone. She would email pictures, and everything she chose, I loved. Every detail of the wedding was beyond everything I had ever dreamed of. The ferns in the chapel, the cocktail hour, the burlap linens, floral designs, delicious food and the sparkler exit — every detail was perfect and very well-thought out. Our wedding was so much more than we could have every imagined. We couldn’t have picked a better person than Tara Wilson to plan our wedding. Our day was perfect!

Wedding Photography: Ben Q Photography / Wedding Venue: Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Texas / Wedding Planning: Tara Wilson Events / Floral Design: Branching Out Event Florist / Wedding Cinematography: Lynn Films / Wedding Cake: Frosted Art / Band: Mike Ryan / Wedding Dress: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija via Ultimate Bride / Bride’s Jewelry: BC Clark / Bride’s Shoes: Balliets / Hair: Liz Hernandez / Makeup: Adina Wright / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Mother of Bride’s Attire: Ultimate Bride / Groom’s Suit: Nordstrom / Groomsmen’s + Bride’s Father’s Attire: Edward’s Menswear in Lawton, Oklahoma / Custom Paper: Southern Fried Paper

When a couple has an e-session as creative as this one, it’s no wonder their Agave Road wedding flipped the lid on convention and embraced bold, bright color! Hoping to share some Southwestern beauty + culture with their out of town guests, this Mr. and Mrs. enlisted amazing vendors (and local talents) like Flora Bella Designs and Edible Designs by Jessie for their big day. Click here to see the rest of the images from Carlea J Photography!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our inspiration and theme for the wedding was inspired by our venue, Agave Road. Most of our guests were from out of state, so we really wanted to find a venue that showcased some of the beauty of Texas and the Southwest region and culture. The beautiful agave plants and flowers, the outdoor lighting at night, fireplace, the cute donkeys and emus on the property, stunning wooden doors and architecture all created this romantic “Old Mexico” atmosphere. Our vibrant colors of poppy, fuchsia and violet really shined against the background of Agave Road and could be seen throughout the wedding from the invitations and stamps, to the flowers, cake and bridal attire. 

It was very important to me that we support artists or craftsmen who specialize in hand-made goods and small businesses throughout our wedding planning journey. Many of our special touches were purchased through Etsy or through up-and-coming graphic designers or freelancers. Some of these included our salt covenant egg for the ceremony, my necklace and bridesmaid earrings, the bow ties, custom wine labels, and the hand-painted ornaments. Those touches created special elements in our day, and we felt good supporting all of these talented artists!

The gorgeous poppy, violet and fuschia pom pom photo booth backdrop was created with love by my mom, step-dad and many family members. It was the perfect backdrop for some of our most favorite wedding photos of all time! The beautiful seating cards were assembled by hand by my maid of honor, step-mom and me. My MOH created the template and we spent a few days creating over 200 of these seven-layer flowers! The templates for the stickers on our welcome bags and cookie bags (favor) and cigar belly bands were also created by my MOH. Our family grew succulents to use as decoration throughout the reception. My dad created the reception table numbers, and the bridesmaids’ earrings, bridal keshi pearl necklace and veil were all made by my step-mom, Lena.

It’s hard to just choose one “favorite” memory of the day, but I have to say that I really enjoyed eating dinner with my husband at our sweetheart table and looking out into the reception and seeing our amazing family and treasured friends laughing, smiling and having a good time. We were able to enjoy our meal, relax and just BE HAPPY. The room was full of joy and beauty. It doesn’t really get better than that! My grandparents were also celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary that weekend, and we were honored to have them at the wedding. We played the “Anniversary Song” in their honor. They danced all evening and we had such a blast, especially when they danced to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back.”

Wedding Photography: Carlea J Photography / Wedding Venue: Agave Road in Katy, Texas / Floral Design: Flora Bella Designs / Wedding Cakes: Edible Designs by Jessie / Anniversary Wine Bottle Labels: Sara Michelle Designs / Cookie Table Signs: Amy Phan / Cigar Rolling: Chip Hight / Salt Covenant Egg: Centered Ceramics / Korean Wedding Ducks: Taeyon / Wedding Dress: Kirstie Kelly Couture / Bride’s Red Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s White Shoes: Mia / Bride’s Personalized Wedding Dress Patch: Monde Design / Bride’s Hair Flower: Olini Floral / Bridal Hanger: Einspanner / Bride’s Necklace, Bride’s Veil + Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Yelena’s Bijoux (The Bride’s Step-Mom) / Hair + Makeup: Thalio Beckham Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Suits: Jos A. Bank / Groomsmen Bow Ties: CCADesign / Ushers’ Ties: tuxandtulle

When rustic meets romance at the oh-so-darling Vista West Ranch, it’s like the prettiest thing you’ll ever see.  Especially when there is an adorable duo like this behind the day.  Because these two cuties put together a shindig that would make any wedding lover weak in the knees, complete with vibrant blooms from Petal Pushers and one fab detail after another that just screams personality.  Half Orange Photography captured every last moment perfectly, including the world’s most beautiful ceremony.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… It is all too easy these days for a bride-to-be to get overwhelmed with how fabulous all the wedding ideas on Pinterest and wedding inspiration blogs are. So during our wedding planning, I would have to remind myself that we don’t have to include everything I see into our wedding. Mark and I were planning our wedding during our final semester of grad school at Texas A&M while also studying and sitting for the CPA exam. Because of this, we knew we couldn’t take on too many DIY crafts or decorations for the big day. Instead, we looked for a venue that wouldn’t need very much decorating. We had been to Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs for a few other weddings, and we knew it would be perfect for our special day! Just for fun, we wanted to make things complicated and have our ceremony and reception in the barn, which isn’t necessarily common at VWR – summer in Texas was our main concern! Stacey, owner of VWR and Petal Pushers, exceeded anything I could have imagined for how beautiful the alter decoration turned out – it was so perfect!

We wanted our wedding to be romantic, casual, intimate, and full of love – and it was! We loved how the burlap, lace and gorgeous flowers gave our wedding and reception a rustic yet romantic feel. Our ceremony was so special with lots of tears (of joy of course) and very personal by having my uncle, who both Mark and I are very close to, officiate our wedding. During the planning process, it was so fun for Mark and I to work together on deciding things that would both make us both happy and would be true to who we are. Our wedding included some quirky aspects (first dance as husband and wife to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the Zelda shield groom’s cake that made our wedding more about our personalities and not just something from a website that someone else thought of).

So my advice for brides-to-be is to not get overwhelmed with all of the creativity that’s out there. Instead, focus on what will work for you and your fiancé (as far as budget, style, workload, etc.) so that your day will reflect and celebrate the love that you two share!

Wedding Photography: Half Orange Photography / Wedding Venue: Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas / Floral Design: Petal Pushers / Catering: Beth Watson of Our Lady of the Lunch (ourladyofthelunch@gmail.com) / Wedding Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori / Wedding Invitations + Program Design: The Paper Place / DJ: Mike Jarvis / Wedding Dress: Wtoo via Signature Bridal Salon / Makeup: Adore Makeup Boutique + Salon

I kid you not – the moment I first spotted this gorgeous Dallas affair, I gasped out loud.  Like an audible, put your hand to your heart kind of gasp, “wow” included.  Because this wedding?  This stunning masterpiece of a day?  It’s all kinds of fabulous.  And with beautiful blooms from Blue Lotus, oh-so-perfect planning by Sweet Pea Events and seriously amazing images from Sarah Kate, Photographer, it’s most definitely a take your breath away kind of soiree.  Prepare to get your pretty on and join me in the gallery for soooo much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Mike and I had always been the outdoorsy type. I grew up spending my summers at the lake with my family, and Mike grew up surfing on the beaches back home in his native Australia. So of course I knew when we got engaged that I wanted to have the ceremony outdoors – and what better place to have a wedding in Dallas other than the Filter Building? It’s right next to the lake, has gorgeous natural flora all around it, and the building itself is one of those great venues that oozes a minimalist chic vibe. So the minute I pulled up to the building with my parents, I knew that it was the perfect place.

Once we had picked out the location, all the fun detail planning started! I wanted to have a clean, elegant chic look, but still stay true to our natural and rustic roots. Bri of Blue Lotus helped that vision become a reality. All of the centerpieces had natural, wooden elements to them, and the arch that we got married under was amazing with all of the ferns, moss and wood that she hand-built into the ground! One of my favorite elements to all of our reception tables was that we had decided to get natural moss and surround all the centerpieces with it to make them look like they were growing out of the table. All of our linens from Kennique Linens were simple green silk tablecloths with tan burlap runners down the middle, topped off with gold chargers and rust-colored napkins with our menus perfectly tucked into them. All of the place cards were made by hand by my mom, Kathy, using used wine corks to fit in with the casually elegant theme. Wendy Krispin Caterer topped off the night with the most amazing wait and bar staff ever. They had each dish plated perfectly and made sure every guest was attended to perfectly! I’m so happy we hired Sarah Kate to capture each and every special moment and detail of that day! And Colby Logan from Astounding Sounds helped us dance the night away!

My dress was by Alberto Makali and my bridesmaids dresses were by Monique Lhuillier. I wanted all of my bridesmaids to feel gorgeous and pretty, so we had booked the services of Shipe Ibrahimi for hair and Marilona Makeovers to do all the makeup, and they were amazing! Not only did everyone feel beautiful on the day of, but they were so much fun to get ready with as well. Mike picked out the Calvin Klein attire for the boys and went with simple black ties without any type of vest — a classic Aussie surfer boy look! The entire day went off without a hitch, and I could not have done it without anyone from my fabulous wedding team, especially my amazing wedding planners from Sweet Pea Events, who made my dream day a reality!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate, Photographer / Wedding Venue: The Filter Building in Dallas, Texas / Wedding Planning: Sweet Pea Events / Floral Design: Blue Lotus / Officiant: Love Notes Weddings / Catering: Wendy Krispin Caterer / Wedding Cake: Unrefined Bakery / DJ: Colby Logan of Astounding Sounds / Rentals: Dallas Party Tent & Event, Shag Carpet + Kennique Linens / Transportation: Cloud 9 Vintage Coach Service / Wedding Dress: Alberto Makali / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Hair: Shipe Ibrahimi / Makeup: Marilona Makeovers

This wedding has spunk. It’s vintage, Southern with a smidge of DIY, yes, but the overall feel is a lovely spunk. The way the bright blooms pop against the classic burlap and lace. The sweet “First Look” with a blindfolded groom. The bride and her sweet, sweet words. It’s a wedding with spunk – which is a wedding we can love with ease. Forever Photography was behind the camera for the day which has provided a gorgeous gallery (with all sorts of spunk) to spend hours and hours getting lost in!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Matt and I first met through friends on a blind date on Valentine’s Day! I was immediately captivated by his sweet, southern charm, and his sense of humor! Once I got to know him on a deeper level, his selflessness and tender heart made me fall in love with him. I knew he was a keeper from the very beginning! We dated for about a year and half before he popped the question. During that year and a half, our favorite spot to go take walks was near a pond behind the campus library. That place held some of our most cherished memories. So on October 7th, I got in my best friend’s car to go on a road trip. Needless to say, I was a little confused when she started driving towards the library. Matt had some of his friends meet me at the car, pray over my relationship with Matt and the new steps we were about to take, and walk me to the gazebo where my beloved was waiting for me. He got down on one knee, and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him! Once I said YES, he whisked me away to an engagement party where my family and friends were waiting for us. I was so touched by his thoughtful planning and hard work to make this a special surprise for me.

Matt is a true southern boy. He grew up in the small Texas town of Waco, wears cowboy boots whenever he can, and has a typical easy going, “no fuss” attitude that is typical in the south. I wanted to capture this quality about him in our wedding. So we decided to get married at Vista West Ranch. It is a beautiful little ranch located in the Texas Hill Country right outside my hometown of Austin. It’s rustic and elegant charm drew me in. The ceremony was outside overlooking the rolling hills of Texas, and the reception was inside a charming barn with twinkle lights dotting the ceiling. I knew it was the perfect venue for us.

The inspiration for our wedding was the first thing that attracted me to Matt – his southern charm and outgoing nature. We wanted our wedding to reflect that. So after deciding on a ranch in the hills as our venue, I tried to bring in other artistic touches that reflected the breathtaking Texas hill country. Instead of traditionally picking out one or two main colors for the wedding, we decided on a backdrop of burlap and lace. That gave me freedom to pick many different colors for flowers and decorations, that all “popped” against the simplicity of the burlap and lace. My bridesmaids’ dresses were a deep purple, which made for an excellent backdrop for their bright and colorful wildflower bouquets. My wedding dress was a light gold lace, with a gold ribbon around the waist. I always knew I wanted a lace dress, because I thought it was so elegant and romantic. We added many ‘vintage/rustic’ decorations (in keeping with the look at Vista West) to introduce our wedding party and family to our guests.

Our ceremony was very unique to us. I had my maid of honor, who happens to be my best friend and older sister, sing a worship song with Matt’s best friend, who was the best man. Their voices blended beautifully, and it was a very special to share those moments together. Matt also wanted to take the time during the ceremony to wash my feet, for symbolic reasons. I loved that moment. During our reception, there were many personal touches that we worked hard to incorporate. There was a display honoring the marriages in our family history, and a display explaining each relationship we had with our bridesmaids and groomsmen. I wanted our wedding guests to fully understand the amount of love and prayers from our family and friends that were supporting our new marriage. The guests also had the opportunity to write down some marriage advice on some vintage postcards, and take “extra” pictures with disposable cameras that were placed on all the tables. There were some great shots and we treasure the personal notes! A tradition we continued that began at my sister’s wedding last summer was a lively, choreographed ‘father/daughter’ dance. I think the guests enjoyed it as much as we did. We used my grandma’s old linens on every table, which I absolutely loved.

One of my favorite memories from the wedding was before the ceremony. Matt didn’t want to do a “first look”, because he wanted the first look to be when I was walking down the aisle. So we decided on some blindfold pictures. He was the one blindfolded, and I walked out to him and got to hug him and talk to him. We were both so nervous, and it was great to be able to be together and talk before the big ceremony. The pictures from those few moments are really adorable. Obviously, another favorite moment for me was walking down the aisle and seeing Matt waiting for me under the altar. It was very surreal. I also have very precious memories made with my sweet friends and family. We had so much fun laughing and getting ready, taking goofy pictures after the ceremony, and dancing the night away on the dance floor! I loved every moment of our special day.

Photographer: Forever Photography / Videographer: Capital Wedding Video / Floral Designer: Petal Pushers / Event Design & Planning: Linda Dryden, lkdryden@aol.com / Venue: Vista West Ranch / Invitation Designer: Courtney Bliss / Cake & Desserts: Cupcake Bar & Tiny Pies / Wedding Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero, Karena / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: B2 by Jasmine, B2078 in Bordeaux / Earrings: J.Crew

I so love that this bride was inspired by sunsets and planned her entire wedding around the vibrant colors of the almost-night sky. Not only is it super romantic and creative, it lends itself to one heck of a pretty day. And to complement all those pretty pinks, oranges and yellows she used mismatched vintage china, pretty mason jars wrapped in doillies, and gorgeous hand painted dinner menus. Each and every detail was crafted thoughtfully and we’ve got Sarah Q: Photography for Happy People to thank for all the pretty images. See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Dusty and I met during a summer home from college in our Texas hometown. My brother successfully conspired to set us up on our first date. Four years later, to the day, Dusty asked me to be his wife! We wanted our wedding to reflect the things that mattered most to us as a couple: our faith, our love for one another and our appreciation for our wonderful family and friends.

The inspiration behind our day’s design was one of my favorite scenic images: a Texas hill country sunset. While searching for venues throughout Austin, our favorite Texas locale, we found Barr Mansion and quickly fell in love with the gorgeous property and the historic home. After booking the venue, the rest of the planning flowed very naturally from our original vision. Barr Mansion’s in-house florist, Stems Floral Design, helped me design a perfect mix of sunset-colored flowers to highlight the lush grounds of our venue. Stems also worked with us to create a look of rustic elegance for Barr Mansion’s Artisan Ballroom. We accented the venue with southern-inspired DIY details, including antique barn windows, chalkboard-painted silver trays, and initials wrapped in greenery. All of this would not have been possible without the generous help of my devoted parents and my ultra-talented bridesmaid, Allison Weaver.

July 7, 2012 could not have been more perfect. All of our hard work and planning came together beautifully, but above all, Dusty and I entered into the covenant of marriage before the Lord and all of our closest friends and family. After an intimate ceremony, we donned our cowboy boots and danced the night away under the Texas stars. We are so thankful for the wonderful family, friends and vendors who helped make it an amazing day!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Q: Photography for Happy People / Wedding Venue + Planning: Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas / Venue Contact: Hannah Meyer (hannah@barrmansion.com) / Floral Design: Stems Floral Design / Wedding Invitations: Pressing Events / Dinner Menus + Ceremony Program Fans: Natalie Kilgore of Natty Michelle / Ceremony Music: Jimmy McNeal / Reception Music: Blind Date / Mason Jars + Dessert China Plates: Loot Vintage Rentals / Bride & Groom Transportation: Antique Limousines of Austin / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Makeup: Karen Powanda of Kiss n’ Makeup / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Hair: Sarah Sallis (sarahsallis@me.com) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Men’s Suits: Jos. A. Bank / Groomsmen’s Ties: The Tie Bar

I know I’ve said it before, but I just have to say it again – I absolutely adore engagement sessions. When you love something this much, you have to shout it from the rooftops whenever you can. Especially when you’re smack dab in the middle of basking in what can only be described as an uber-gorgeous e-shoot with two of the cutest lovebirds you’ll ever meet, beyond pretty images by Willow Tree Photographs and one fun-filled moment after another.  (Pillow fights anyone?)  This is what I call e-session perfection and you can see it all right here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride-to-Be… My fiancé, Pete, and I took our engagement pictures a few weeks ago and could not be happier with the images we just received in the mail. Our pictures were photographed by the amazing Nicole of Willow Tree Photographs. She helped us find the perfect place to capture our story, and we love her so much for that! From our homemade sign made from a wooden pallet and chalkboard paint to our love for the outdoors and fishing, here’s some insight from me on what made this day so special.

First of all, this session could not describe Pete and me better. We are two people who are head over heels in love for each other and live to have fun every day  The pillow fight pictures really seem to show the playful side of us, and it was nice to see that even Pete was having fun and not worrying about the camera. One sentimental piece that really stands out in these pictures is my grandmother’s purple lapis necklace that was given to me the day before our engagement shoot. She had actually passed away the week before we were scheduled to take our pictures, and my sweet mom gave me Nanny’s necklace to keep and cherish. Little did my mom know that this necklace matched my dress perfectly, so I decided to wear it for some of our pictures. My mom was so touched when she saw the pictures of the necklace. These pictures will forever hold a special place in both of our hearts.

The funniest moment of the day is when we realized that someone loved our wooden pallet so much that they decided to take it home with them. Pete and I worked on this sign for hours, and we had a great time making it together. At the end of the shoot, we went back to get our prized possession, and it was gone! I hope whoever has our sign now is enjoying it as much as we did! The sign sure made for some great pictures. Pete’s favorite pictures are the fishing pictures as he is a HUGE outdoors man. He actually picked out these outfits for us to wear in the shoot (including mine!), which I think is super sweet! He even accessorized our outfits by bringing our fishing poles from home to use for the day!  He’s such a wonderful man, and I just don’t know how I managed to get so lucky!

Photography: Willow Tree Photographs / Location: Dickinson, Texas

The moments after opening up a new, absolutely stunning wedding almost always go one of two ways in my office. It’s either filled with gleeful squeals and gasps or it is totally silent as I take in the beauty in breathless awe. When I opened SMS Photography‘s images from this Texas wedding, somehow both scenarios were played out. I was speechless. Quiet. Couldn’t even breath. But inside my head there was a cacophony of squeals, gasps, and all sorts of other girly excitement. The wedding at center was so beautiful I couldn’t help myself! Click here to see the rest.

Click here to see the full image gallery!

When we first started looking for venues, we had no clue what we wanted to achieve beyond an elegant yet relaxed Southern-style wedding that incorporated the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. The Wild Onion Ranch was an early favorite and obvious choice that was much more beautiful and eclectic than any venue I could ever imagine.

For the color palette, we started off looking at bridesmaids’ dresses in colors that would stand out against the natural scenery, blooming flowers, and plethora of green at the Wild Onion Ranch. We chose a dress that was a pretty mix of fuschia, magenta and maroon. From that point, our wedding planner sent a few different options of color palettes. I chose the palette that I liked the best and emphasized that I wanted to palette to be bright and vibrant for Spring.

For the theme, this was the most difficult concept to define throughout the planning process! I wanted an eclectic mix of themes: Southern, elegant, relaxed, and intimate with vintage and garden elements. There was no way that I could possibly incorporate this into one theme. I would advise other brides-to-be to just go with what they like and trust that everything will come together at the end.

I did not give our florist a lot of guidance about what specific flowers to choose. Instead, I trusted his professional expertise and provided him with more information about the overall “look” that I wanted to achieve. I was adamant that I did not want boring flowers. I relied on him to create something that was Spring-like and beautiful with unexpected and creative elements. For the table arrangements, our goal was to avoid competing with the colorful and eclectic surroundings at the Ranch, so we opted for lower-sitting, smaller arrangements that worked perfectly with the venue. Candlelight and lanterns hanging off the trees were the most important design facets for me.

I was incredibly grateful to Cristin and the florist for designing the pool house, where the Ceremony took place, with religious elements that worked well with the venue. I loved every part of wedding planning, but the decision about whether to have the ceremony in the Catholic Church or at the Wild Onion Ranch was agonizing. I grew up with strong Polish Catholic roots. I always intended to have the Ceremony officiated by a Catholic Priest. Yet I soon realized that there were multiple constraints associated with wedding times and venues – constraints that I had no right to challenge, as they were in place long before my engagement! We initially intended for the Ceremony to be in a Catholic church an hour away from the Wild Onion Ranch, but this would have been a logistical nightmare for our guests. After a lot of soul searching, I opted to change the Ceremony to the Wild Onion Ranch. Cristin at Weddings-by-Kennedy stepped in to save the day. She put me in touch with a Presbyterian Deacon, Sarah, who was willing to officiate so that we could at least have a Christian wedding outside of a church. Sarah turned out to be AMAZING. She was respectful of the dilemma, having been raised in Catholic school herself, and willing to incorporate some traditional Catholic elements into our Ceremony. Cristin also worked with our florist to secure a large iron cross that was decorated with peonies and white roses. The pool house felt like a church to me. I will always be incredibly grateful to Cristin for being so intuitive about this issue because I never asked her to take these actions. She just knew that this was a really tough decision for me and took small steps to make the Ceremony feel more like “home” to me. In the end, I made the right decision for me, and I could not have asked for a more sacred Ceremony.

I wanted a dress that was chic yet somewhat vintage in style, yet I had no clue how to pick out a dress like this. My sister got married several years ago and had an Ulla Maija (Anna Maier) wedding gown. I called Joan Pillow Bridal Salon in Houston – one of the few salons that carries Ulla Maija. She excitedly told me that the designer for Ulla Maija was coming to her salon the following weekend for a trunk show. The timing could not have been better – I got to meet my favorite designer in person, and he personally helped me try on several gowns and choose “the one.” Oddly, there was one gown that I hated in pictures and on the hanger. He insisted that I at least try it on. Low and behold, that dress was the one that became magical when I tried it on. It was perfectly suited to my body shape. He really knew what he was doing!

I went to the Kendra Scott boutique in Austin, Texas to hand-design earrings for each Bridesmaid in my wedding party. The “color bar” at Kendra Scott allows you to choose an earring design and the specific stones for each design. I brought a piece of the dress fabric with me – this was a great move because unexpected colors of stones looked best with the dress. At the end of the day, each girl got a unique and beautiful set of earrings to wear. I combined that with cream pashmina shawls that had each girl’s initials hand-embroidered. My girls loved the gifts because they were actually useful for after the wedding!?

My favorite moment was the first dance. We danced to “Swept Away” by the Avett Brothers. The timing was perfect – we were relieved that the Ceremony went so perfectly yet still excited for party time at the Reception. Plus, even though everyone was apparently staring at us for the first dance, it felt like we were the only two people in the world at that moment.

I also remember seeing my father across the dance floor when it started to sprinkle rain ever so slightly. Ever since we planned to have an outdoor wedding reception, I was crossing my fingers that it would not rain. It was a HUGE gamble! My Dad teased me relentlessly about rain, even though I know that he was hoping for nice weather as well. (I truthfully would have been thrilled, rain or shine, so long as my groom, family and best friends were there.) The weather miraculously cleared up just in time for my Ceremony to end and for everyone to enjoy the dancing. When sprinkles started, my Dad and I looked at each other across the dance floor, smiled with palms up to feel the rain, shrugged, and kept on dancing without a care in the world. It stopped one minute later.

Photography: SMS Photography / Venue: Wild Onion Ranch / Coordinator: Cristin with Weddings by Kennedy / Floral: Westbank Flower Market / Catering: 2 Dine 4 / Cake: Coco Paloma / Cocktail Music: Lost Pines Bluegrass / Band: Grady Gaines / Makeup: FaceKandy / Hair: Danielle Barr / Programs, Escort Cards, & Table Numbers: Caroline Simpson, Owner of Pumpkinhead Paperie / Rentals: Premier Rentals / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Dress: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon

If pretty and whimsical are your go-to design inspirations for your wedding, you’re in for quite the treat this morning. We’re pretty sure it doesn’t get any more fun than this super cute, travel themed wedding by Tucker Images. The gray and white chevron runners, bold bridesmaid dresses and colorful florals all add up to one fabulous, Dallas affair. See even more right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Tucker Images… Josh is a pilot and Kaylee is a flight attendant. What would be more perfect than a travel-themed wedding?! For their seating arrangement, the bride opted out of numbers and had a ticket to paradise for each guest that coordinated with a table cheerfully decorated around an oversized postcard flanked in perfect hues of pink, teal and yellow. The bright and joyful colors of the centerpieces were grounded by a bold, gray, chevron stripe runner. It was so chic and fabulous. The theme was driven home at the end of the night when instead of bubbles, fireworks or seeds, the guests sent off the happy couple by throwing handmade paper airplanes. It was the most cheerful wedding I’ve ever shot, and from the colors to the cutest bridal party you’ve ever seen, it was truly original and perfectly executed. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed shooting it!

Wedding Photography: Tucker Images / Wedding Venue: The Room on Main in Dallas, Texas / Decor + Floral Design Decor: DIY by the Bride + Bridesmaids / Wedding Cakes: Delicious Cakes Dallas / Wedding Invitations: Diana Weir of Invited Design / Wedding Dress: David Tutera / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Hair: Shayla Walker of Hairbox Studio / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff

When you pair glitter and blush with a side of sense of humor, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll have this wedding blogger jumping for joy. It’s one of my favorite wedding trifectas. Sprinkle in sweet details throughout and have it all captured by Caroline Joy Photography, and that’s when you can pretty much guarantee I am beyond myself on the other side of your screen. And I can pretty much guarantee you’ll feel the same way when you take a little peek at the gallery, so do yourself a favor today and set aside some time to soak it all up. See so much more here.

From the Bride… Lam and I laughed a lot while planning. Here are some of our favorite things: Going off Parks and Recreation, I made a “Treat yo self” banner for the bar. I can already see our future kids rolling their eyes when we explain the reference. Ha! We also personalized napkins, saying, “You got served. Love, Tina & Lam” and giggled over the thought that the staff would hand these to guests in addition to their cocktails and/or hor d’oeuvres. We wanted our guests to feel loved and cared for on the wedding day. So we welcomed our out-of-town guests with a Vietnamese coffee kit, entertained our young guests with activity kits and spared no expense on the food, dessert and drinks because that we knew was key!

On the morning of the wedding, the girls relaxed in the hotel suite while getting their hair and makeup done, and the boys ate barbecue and leisurely got ready. Before the girls and I left the hotel, my matron of honor/sister Gina Tran looked at her phone and saw an email from Lam, asking that she pray for the group. This guy … has my heart. When it came time for the ceremony, the sky changed its mind from sunny to pouring rain. Lam and I planned for a garden ceremony and schemed of ways to keep our guests cool in the melt-your-face-off Houston heat, such as water bottles personalized with “Thank you for coming! Have a drink on us,” programs that could be used as fans, bringing in actual fans, and a bottle of Off and sunblock at the greeting table. My heart sank. But it’s funny how the happiness of the day completely overwhelms those hurdles. The day was just as intimate and sweet as we hoped for.

One of our favorite parts of the day was our first dance. Two of our friends, Daniel Chang and Sarah Chu, sang Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up.” And surrounded by their sweet voices, we held each other and whispered about our love, the ceremony and the day. In that moment, I forgot that there was anyone else in the room. Which is funny because another favorite part of the day was after our minister and long-time friend, Michael Truong, announced us as husband and wife. I looked up and saw so many people I loved all. in. one. place. I should probably stop now, but I also loved Lam’s vows. Right before he read them, he dropped the sheet, and my heart just melted. He then vowed that although we’ve said so many goodbyes while we’ve done long-distance, he would never leave me. Okay ONE more: I loved watching Lam and our guests get down to Gangnam Style. That is etched permanently to my memory.

The wedding would not have been possible without the love and support of our family and friends, as well as our wonderful vendors who envisioned the day with us. It was our perfect day.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Joy Photography / Wedding Venue: The Parador in Houston, Texas / Floral Design: Petals by Design / Wedding Coordination + Catering: Mysti McKinney + Rebekah Patent of Behind the Bash / Wedding Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie / Ice Cream: Marble Slab / Ice Cream Labels’ Designed by the Groom / Wedding Invitations: Designed by Myan Duong, A Bridesmaid, with Paper from Paper Source / Wedding Invitation Monogram Tag + Return Address: Angelique Ink / Place Card Monogram: Angelique Ink / Place Card Calligraphy: The Bride / Ceremony String Trio: Houston Wedding & Reception String Music / Reception DJ: DJ Rob / Cake Topper Figurines: Painted by Myan Duong, A Bridesmaid / Cake Banner: ReadyGo / Mr. & Mrs. Forks + Cake Server: BabyPuppyDesigns / Personalized Napkins: The Knot Wedding Shop / Water Bottle Labels: Designed by the Bride & Groom + Printed via OnlineLabels.com / Wedding Date Chalkboard Sign: CustomChalk / Other Chalkboard Signs: PoshPilfer + Decorated by the Bride / Flags: DIY by the Bride / Cookie Favors: Olympic Bakery / Favor Assembly: Angela Wan, Andrew Do, Chris Camba + Camille Camba / Wedding Dresses: BHLDN / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Bride’s Reception Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Birdcage Veil: Twigs & Honey / Bride’s Earrings + Necklace: J.Crew / Hair: Blush and Company / Bride’s Makeup: Tenya Du, A Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Blush and Company / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Zara, ASOS, H&M + Forever 21 / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Zara Kids / Flower Girls’ Headbands: Target / Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic / Groom’s Shirt + Tie: Brooks Brothers

We love all things vintage-chic here at SMP and when this Camp Lucy wedding came our way? Well, it was just too sweet not to share! With the help of Country Sugar Events, not a detail was not missed, from the chalkboard sweetheart table backdrop to the breakfast taco “to-go” favors in hand-stamped kraft bags! Click here for the full gallery from Photohouse Films.

And it turns out that Photohouse Films not only captured these beautiful images, but also put together a wonderful, happy tears-producing highlight film! Be sure to watch:

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I have always loved weddings (who doesn’t?), so, naturally, when Dave proposed, I didn’t waste any time! The planning was quickly underway — we had set a date, booked our venue, found most of our vendors and picked our “country chic” theme, all within two weeks of becoming engaged. We knew from the start that there were a few non-negotiables: our love of Texas would be known, pink would be one of our colors, we had to have an awesome menu, we needed air conditioning, there would be lemonade (my favorite), we would have delicious cakes, and, of course, we would make sure that everyone had a great time! Some of our other ideas came to us during the later part of the planning process when I started getting creative and taking on more DIY projects. I even talked Dave into helping out with some of the wedding crafts! :)

I loved the “look” of our sweetheart table. I bought some 3-D letters (MR/MRS) and painted them cream to match our colors. Then I found a giant chalkboard and created a sort of backdrop for us. Once we sat down, I placed my bouquet in between the MR and MRS, and it created the perfect little table for us to enjoy our first meal as husband and wife! After looking everywhere (in stores, online, etc.) for flower girl baskets, I still couldn’t find what I was looking for. So I decided to create them myself. I bought a couple of very inexpensive baskets from Hobby Lobby, and then I bought some flower hair clips in our wedding colors. I clipped them on, and voila! Since I’m a teacher, I thought it would be cute to incorporate a few chalkboards. It was such an inexpensive and easy addition. I’m not the best artist in the world, but I had fun just free-handing the writing and designs on the chalkboards. We received so many compliments on our “heritage” table. I bought and painted frames to fit with our colors/style and added pictures of our parents and grandparents from their weddings, mixed in with some of our engagement pictures! We had already purchased pink pom poms for everyone to “wave” as we made our exit, but I just kept thinking about how cute it would be to have hand-made pennants for everyone. I bought some small dowel rods, cute scrapbook paper in our color scheme and scrapbook stickers. We cut all the paper into the pennant shape, spelled out various words using the scrapbook stickers, punched two holes in each pennant, and then stuck a dowel rod through. I was so pleased with how these turned out, and even Dave admitted that they were a nice touch. We also created breakfast taco to-go bags for all of our guests — they were a hit!

As far as advice for future brides, enjoy the process of planning your wedding. It can be a little stressful at times, but focus on the fun part. You’re only going to do this once, so make the best of it (especially the food tastings! haha). On the day of the wedding, make yourself stop every once in awhile so you can just look around and take everything in. If you don’t tell yourself to remember the moments, it’s all going to seem like a blur. Also, choose your vendors wisely. And most importantly, remember that you are marrying the love of your life. Don’t get so caught up in everything else that you forget that! After all, that’s what it’s all about.

Wedding Photography: Photohouse Films / Wedding Venue: Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas / Event Planning: Country Sugar Events / Floral Design: Wild Bunches / Bride’s Bouquet: Cultivar / Wedding Cinematography: Photohouse Films / Catering: Pink Avocado Catering / Wedding Invitations: Girl General (Formerly Anne’s Stationery Studio) / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Mayfair Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Glint / Hair + Makeup: Lucie Marie / DJ: Look No Further Entertainment

I’m pretty much head-over-heels in-love with this Giddings Stone Mansion wedding and all its sweet simplicity. Planned in only five and a half months, and with a close eye on budget, this adorable couple put the highest price tag on the things that meant the most to them;  family, faith and friends. P.S. Photography filled the gallery with timeless, emotion-filled shots that will be treasured for years to come.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband, Collin, and I were married on June 9, 2012 in the small Texas town of Brenham, which is where Blue Bell Ice Cream is made (what initially drew us to this little town for our wedding). We have both lived in Chicago for three years now, but we grew up outside of Houston, Texas, and most of our family and friends are there, so we chose Brenham. It may be of interest to you that we planned the wedding in 5 1/2 months and on a pretty small budget (less than $15,000). We chose a few values around which to craft our day: celebrating our southern roots, honoring our faith as the center of our marriage, and crafting the day with our own gifts and the involvement of our family and friends.

Because we wanted to show off our southern heritage, we hosted our day at historical mansion built in 1869 by the Giddings family. We both wore cowboy boots made by the boot company that Collin’s grandfather, Rios of Mercedes, which is one of the last companies in the states that makes cowboy boots by hand. We had a pie bar instead of cake and served local Blue Bell Ice Cream. Our first dance was to Willie Nelson’s “Waltz Across Texas,” and our “getaway” was in Collin’s old pick-up truck.

To honor our faith as the center of our marriage, we had a long, beautiful, liturgical service because we are Anglican, and we also brought our pastor in from Chicago to conduct the service. The ceremony was held at Brenham’s beautiful St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. We spent a long time crafting the service together — choosing vows, prayers, music and scripture passages that were meaningful to us and represented what we believe marriage is about. Our first act as a married couple was took communion and then served it to our family and guests, symbolizing our commitment to serving the church together.

And lastly, we took on lots of DIY projects to personalize our day. I am a graphic designer and calligrapher, so I did all of the paper goods and calligraphy. I designed us a monogram for the day, which you’ll see embossed on the wedding paper goods and such. My cousins and aunt did all of our flowers, and our family and friends made all of the pies for the pie bar. We also created a family heritage table with photos and mementos from our parents’ weddings. I wore my mother’s bridal headpiece, her pearl bracelet, carried a purse my aunt had made from my late grandmother’s wedding dress, a garter my sister had made for me, and my jewelry for the day was placed in my grandmother’s jewelry box. All of our siblings (some as young as 9) were included in the wedding party. And we had a traditional receiving line after the ceremony, which allowed us to greet all of our guests (and then enjoy the reception without worrying about speaking to every person).

Wedding Photography: P.S. Photography / Ceremony: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Brenham, Texas / Reception: Giddings Stone Mansion in Brenham, Texas / Floral Design: Eddie Boyd, Donna Roeder + Deanna Roeder, Aunts & Coustins of the Bride / Wedding Day Coordination: Jasmin Jackson-Bray of Memoir of Love / Catering: Design II / Wedding Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride / Reception Band: Benito Brackovich and Soul Wagon / Ring Bowl, Bridal Bouquet Tile, Groom’s Boutonniere Tile + Groom’s Monogram Cufflinks: Paloma’s Nest / Custom Guest Book: NatalieAsIs / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Dress Alterations + Bride’s Ceremony Veil: Widad’s Couture Alterations / Bride’s Reception Birdcage Veil: DIY by the Bride / Hair + Makeup: Thyme Day Spa & Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: French Connection / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew + Billy Reid / Maid of Honor’s Dress: BHLDN / Bridesmaids’ Monogrammed Handkerchiefs: Felicia’s Fancies / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Gymboree / Flower Girls’ Tiaras: FromTheAttic1 / Bride’s & Groom’s Custom Boots: Rios of Mercedes (Owned by the Groom’s Grandfather) / Bride’s & Grooms’ Rings + Jewelry: Custom by Marla’s Gem Creations

I love Texas, I love Austin and I love pretty, pretty weddings.  A lot.  So, when I first laid my eyes on this gorgeous affair from Stefano Choi Photography, it was an instant head over heels moment.  The kind of moment that can only be brought on by a stunning Vista on Seward Hill backdrop, a yummy (+ beautiful) cake from Polkadots Cupcake Factory and perfectly imperfect florals from Mallory Kohutek. It’s a moment every wedding lover knows well – and it’s happening right here, right now in the full gallery.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Nick and I saw our venue, The Vista on Seward Hill, we knew that’s where we’d get married. It had everything we hoped to incorporate into our big day: a casual atmosphere, space to spread out but still intimate enough to keep everyone together and a lot of greenery and natural touches that gave us the organic feel we wanted. We’re not formal people and we wanted to make sure that our wedding day spoke to our personalities. Since we had such a large bridal party, I knew immediately that I didn’t want eight girls standing up wearing the same dress. I loved the idea using colors from the same palette rather than the traditional two color-themed wedding. I’m naturally drawn to green and blue hues and thought it would complement the natural beauty of the venue, so that’s how eight girls ended up wearing eight different-colored dresses. I chose the color for each of them and when I saw them all together, I loved the outcome!

It was also really important that the florals didn’t look contrived, in order to stick with the natural/casual feel we were going for. We used about 30 different types of flowers and succulents, as well as seven types of greenery, to bring together an earthy, woodsy feel.  Wooden boxes, glass bowls and hundreds of apothecary bottles were used to display the “picked from the garden” arrangements, which carried over throughout the entire venue. I was even able to replant half of my bouquet after the wedding!

I’m a pretty sentimental person and can cry on demand, so I thought for sure that I’d be an emotional wreck during the entire ceremony. However, it was quite the opposite. I was really relaxed the whole day. All of the hours I spent combing Pinterest looking for inspiration and ideas, and all the tiny details and hundreds of decisions I had mulled over leading up to this day were finally coming to fruition, and I sat back and really enjoyed it. I laughed and smiled the whole day — all the way down the aisle, during the entire ceremony and throughout the whole reception, which is pretty evident from all the pictures! My mouth is wide open throughout most of them!

It went by in a flash as I was warned it would but I have so many memories from that day.  Not to mention the beautiful pictures I’ll have forever, when my memory begins to fail me many years from now.  Stefano captured so many important moments, that’s why we chose him as a photographer.  The photos of us laughing and dancing with our family and friends are priceless; I’ll never grow tired of reliving that night through the photos. So to sum it up, our big day was everything we had hoped, imagined and prayed for. If I could do it all over again … I wouldn’t! Too much work and stress.  But worth every minute and gray hair.

Wedding Photography: Stefano Choi Photography / Wedding Venue: The Vista on Seward Hill / Wedding Planning: Sterling Affairs / Floral Design: Mallory Kohutek / Wedding Cake: Polkadots Cupcake Factory / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals / Bride’s Hair: Her Mother

Some weddings are just so perfectly pretty that we can hardly contain ourselves…weddings so gorgeous that when they pop into our inboxes, we seriously can’t share them fast enough. And this pretty fete just happens to be one of those weddings. Sent into us by Loft Photographie LLC, it has all the magic ingredients: A to-die-for dress, pretty pink maids all in a row, plenty of sparkle and gold, and of course the happiest looking bride and groom ever. See the rest right here. 

Don’t miss this fab film by Bella Vista Productions:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… During sunset on a hillside overlooking lake Austin, my boyfriend of four years proposed to me. This was the start of a perfect journey of marriage. During the wedding process, we found every girl’s dream venue, Chateau Cocomar, which was built in the form of a French-styled castle. Instantly, we fell in love with the venue and took the date of their opening weekend. Ted has always treated me like a princess, so getting married to my Prince Charming in a castle felt just like a fairytale. All this princess needed was a white Cinderella dress to complete her night. The Oscar de la Renta dress I wore on our special day was the dream dress I had been drooling over for years. Everything started to come together perfectly as I started to plan every detail for our wedding.

Two months before the wedding, my father was unexpectedly struck with a heart attack and passed away. Like many girls growing up, I wanted more than anything for my dad to walk me down the aisle. I decided to have a picture of the both of us attached to my bouquet to represent him walking down the aisle with me. Through all the tragedy, I was able to continue onward because of the support and love I was receiving from my husband, family and friends.

When the day arrived, everything went so perfectly. Our day to be united as one was a dream come true. My husband’s father is a pastor at the church where we met and fell in love. It was very special to us to have him be the officiant at our wedding. It was so special to have one of Ted’s best man, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, cleared for the weekend to make it to the wedding and give a toast. We had an awesome DJ who played and sang all of our favorite music as we danced the night away. After cutting the cake and hearing the toasts, it was finally time for us to leave. We walked out to the limo with our family and friends tossing roses in the air. I couldn’t believe such a beautiful day was coming to an end, but I couldn’t wait to start forever with Ted. Ted and I put so much effort into the design and decoration of the wedding, but in the end, we realized that what we loved and wanted most was to be with the friends and family that have been with us through it all.  Nothing meant more to us than to celebrate the day with them.

Wedding Photography: Loft Photographie LLC / Wedding Venue: Chateau Cocomar in Houston, Texas / Event Planning: Event Identity / Floral Design: Lexis Florist / Wedding Cinematography: Bella Vista Productions / Catering: Cafe Natalie / Wedding Cake: Who Made the Cake! / Wedding Invitations, Menus + Programs: Invitation Solutions / Ceremony Musicians: Divisi Strings / DJ + Lighting: Klentzman Entertainment / Photo Booth: Image Cinema Photo Booths / Linens: Over The Top / Crystal-Studded Champagne Flutes: Olivia Riegel / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Hair + Makeup: Fashion Face

You know you’ve got yourself a keeper when he surprises you at your 30th birthday with a poem he’s written and then pops the question at the end in front of all your besties! Yup, that’s exactly how this sweet and devoted couple came to be after the gorgeous bride battled a rare illness that separated them while she recovered at her parent’s house. And just like us, Katherine O’Brien Photography loves happy endings and got to attend this gorgeous Austin wedding and share with all of us it’s pretty, little details. See even more here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our story starts over five years ago with Jeff and I both “trying to make it” in big, bad New York City. Each of us coming from athletic backgrounds, we met at Columbia University, where we both worked in various veins of the athletic department.  I would love to say it was love at first sight, but honestly, when I first met Jeff I wasn’t his biggest fan!  Eventually he won me over — the man was persistent!  After hanging out for months with me enthusing, “We are NOT dating” (when we very clearly were), I broke down and gave in. We OFFICIALLY dated for over two years while working at Columbia and loving every minute of being New Yorkers. 

As with any good plot, it was at the point where everything was going well way that my world was turned upside down. In early July of 2009 I started feeling small but recurring dizziness and slight numbness on the right side of my body.  I thought it was fatigue. I thought it was an inner-ear infection. I thought it was migraines. I saw doctors who confirmed that it was none of the above, but there was no problem they could pinpoint. After going through a barrage of tests and a rolodex of doctors, I was finally diagnosed with a rare and random brain injury that was referred to as a Cavernous Malformation or an AVM. This injury occurs in a tiny percentage of the population, and of that tiny percentage, only an even tinier percentage ever know they have it. Unsure of how to proceed, I was sent home by my doctors, convinced I would be better in a matter of months. I was referred to specialists and alternative practices, and with the help of my family and Jeff, continued the search for the solution to my injury.

As the year progressed, so did my symptoms. Seeing straight became difficult, the numbness got worse, my balance became distorted, and soon, it was hard to walk. Eventually I needed help walking, the right side of my body was completely numb, and the left side of my face was paralyzed. During all of this, Jeff was not only there for me but was also my main support system. Any time (which was a lot of the time) I was scared, he kept me calm and secure. He was always questioning the doctors I went to and looking for other specialists. Through his research, we actually found a wonderful surgeon at a wonderful hospital who probably helped to save my life. On Jeff’s 30th birthday in September, I underwent a nine-hour brain surgery. He was the last person I saw before surgery, one of the first I saw when I woke up, and he was there with me almost every night in the hospital. When I was moved to a therapy hospital 45 minutes out of Manhattan, Jeff was there. He was my friend, my partner, my therapist, my butler — everything short of hair stylist. When I was released from the therapy hospital in November of 2009, I moved to my parents’ house in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He would brave the East Coast winter and visit me at least once a month for a little while until his job relocated him to Memphis, Tennessee in January 2010. Even then, he would visit each chance he got, hopping on a plane even to surprise me for on a random weekend.  We would talk every night and he always stayed positive and practical, remaining my rock from halfway across the country.  

A year and a half later, I was up for the challenge of moving back to NYC, through which (no surprise) Jeff was VERY encouraging, even though he was living and working in Memphis.  I moved back to NYC in April, and Jeff came to visit me that July — it was the first time we had been in New York together since before my surgery. He surprised me by throwing a surprise 30th birthday dinner with friends where he read a sweet, funny, very long and very witty poem. At the end, he caught me completely off guard by proposing!

Wedding Photography: Katherine O’Brien Photography / Wedding Venue: Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Last Petal / Wedding Cake: Barton Creek Resort & Spa / Band: Texas Unlimited Band / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster / Hair: BeautyMark Agency / Makeup: The Bride’s Cousin / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew + Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Suit: His Own / Groom’s Vest + Tie: Men’s Wearhouse

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Forget cuff links or a monogrammed flask, this is the kind of wedding day gift a groom dreams of! Rich, elegant and totally sexy this boudoir shoot held at Austin’s character-filled Palazzo Lavaca from Archetype Studio Inc. was styled to perfection. There is so much more to see in the full gallery, and don’t miss the beautiful behind-the-scenes film by Weiss Eubanks Films.

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Click here for the FULL boudoir session!

From Archetype… We met Katie and James for a dinner consult in San Antonio this past spring and walked away crazy impressed and excited to work with the two of them. We had expected to spend most of the meeting discussing the plans for their October wedding in Ravello, Italy, but after a brief overview of the details, we actually spent much of the evening swapping (real) ghost stories and drinking plenty of wine to chase away the goose bumps!

Seriously, love this bride! It wasn’t until a few months after that first meeting that she emailed to ask about our J’adore sessions. She was convinced that presenting James with a book of “Katie” would be the most delightful wedding gift, both unexpected and impossible to top (slight competitive vibe showing through in the active women’s soccer player’s email). :) Planning and styling her shoot was crazy fun — clearly we needed an amazing venue, something rich and decadent, and it had to have some history and character. After bouncing around location ideas from Galveston, to Dallas and Houston, we discovered Palazzo Lavaca, found through a post right here on SMP! It made such a cool backdrop for Katie’s shoot!

Booking a boudoir session takes trust and quite a bit of bravery on the bride’s part. Most have never put themselves out there like this, and there are lots of questions. (And rightfully so! You should definitely ask lots of questions — and if you are not satisfied with the answers, choose another photographer. This is not a genre to “hope for the best” in.) The very fabulous Austin based film company, Weiss Eubanks Films, came along on Katie’s shoot to give a little behind-the-scenes look at one of our J’adore sessions. 

Photography: Koby + Terilyn Brown of Archetype Studio Inc. / Location: Palazzo Lavaca in Austin, Texas / Cinematography: Weiss Eubanks Films  / Wedding Dress: Rivini “13” via Mia Bridal Couture / Hair + Makeup: Jenni Reed of All Things Jenni

There’s just something so magical about Paris, especially when it comes to pretty wedding inspiration. We seriously can’t get enough around these parts so when we found this pretty little gem in our in-box from Eclectic Images Photography, we totally jumped for joy. It’s vintage with a touch of modern and what the French may call magnifique! See even more right here.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Eclectic Images Photography… Vintage-inspired Paris with a modern twist was the inspiration for this style shoot, which took place at Hillside Farmacy — a vintage cafe in Austin, Texas. Julianna Potter and Avery Holton were our models, and they are a real, recently-married couple. Our inspiration colors were navy and persimmon combined with accent shades of gold. Julianna wore three different dresses for the shoot — the first very flowy and chic, the second very ornate and vintage, and the third was flirty and playful.

Photography: Heather Banks of Eclectic Images Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Hillside Farmacy in Austin, Texas / Event Planning + Styling: Carmela Hartman of In Style Weddings and Destinations / Floral Design + Decor: Melanie Tipton of Last Petal / Wedding Cake + Macarons: La Patisserie / Stationery: Rachel Carter of Sugarpaper Press & Papery / Linens: BBJ Linen / Feathered Bottom Wedding Dress: San Patrick “Calais” via Erika + Amanda of Blush Bridal Lounge / Beaded Wedding Dress: Martina Liana “294” via Erika + Amanda of Blush Bridal Lounge / Pink Wedding Dress: Anaiss “AO08-008S” in Champagne via Erika + Amanda of Blush Bridal Lounge / Dress Fitting: Mariana Switzer of Perfect Fit Alterations (512-444-7348) / Bride’s Accessories: Blush Bridal Lounge / Hair: Brooke + of Rae Cosmetics / Makeup: Lauren Lumsden of Rae Cosmetics / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren via Marivel Uribe of Al’s Formal Wear in Round Rock / Model Bride: Julianna Potter / Model Groom: Avery Holton

“Heart and Soul” is a sweet but simple song that finds itself playing in my head for days and weeks on end. I believe that this beautifully written song mirrors this stunning wedding by AJH Photography, because they are both charismatic, unique and have heart and soul.  I love nothing more than roots that run deep and after reading the story of these two love birds below, it seems written in the stars that they wed at Hotel Saint Cecilia. Something tells me this wedding, like the song, will be replayed in your head for quite some time now too!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From AJH Photography… Although the groom is a direct descendent of Chief Red Cloud, the bride is a seventh, maybe eighth, generation Texan who grew up listening to her great-grandmother’s Texas folklore. Her favorite stories were those about the Texas garden parties hosted by her great-grandmother and her sisters at their east Texas home during the 1920s when friends from all over the state would travel by train to attend. Serving as the theme for an intimate wedding of immediate family and close friends, this couple chose the Hotel Saint Cecilia, a small, quintessentially-Austin boutique hotel as their setting for an outdoor wedding. Not only is the hotel reminiscent of the bride’s ancestral home, her masters thesis in Art History was also written on Saint Cecilia.

Under a majestic oak, the bride and groom exchanged vows an hour before sunset on the front lawn and then hosted a reception in the yard of Suite 4. While the weather had been over 100 degrees the day prior, a cold front blew in on the morning of the wedding and temperatures cooled to a fall day. The bride’s dress made from Alecon lace by Monique Lhuillier, and she wore with gold, sequined Jimmy Choo d’Orsay pumps. Descending the steps of the hotel to “Hey Jude,” the South Austin Gypsy Jazz trio played selections for the remainder of the evening. Melanie Tipton of Last Petal arranged all tablescapes. Antique plates and lace tablecloths were provided by Loot Vintage Rentals while Groove Lighting provided Edison lighting for the outdoor venue. Stephen Shallcross with 2Dine4 developed a menu of passed hors d’oeuvres prior to the ceremony, followed by dinner reflecting the couple’s love for New Orleans style food, complete with Gulf shrimp and oysters as well as praline/bacon deviled eggs. A station devoted to vegetarian fare was prepared, as well as a station focused on lamb and beef tenderloin, completed the dinner. Instead of a wedding cake, the couple selected a variety of tapas-style deserts including banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, fried peach pies, hazelnut tortes with peanut butter meringue, pralines and pecan tortes. The groom’s cake was considered to be the Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches.

Although their friends did not travel by train to this venue, all described it as a magical night before heading to the Galaxy Room of the Continental Club where the groom’s brother’s band, T Bird and the Breaks, offered a few tunes before evening’s end.

Wedding Photography: AJH Photography / Wedding Venue: Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas / Floral Design: Melanie Tipton of Last Petal / Catering: Stephen Shallcross of 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering / Music: South Austin Gypsy Jazz Trio / Vintage Plates + Lace Tablecloths: Loot Vintage Rentals / Lighting: Groove Lighting / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Shoes: Jimmy Choo

What would you do if you were told that you had just won the wedding of your dreams crafted by a hand selected group of vendors in the San Antonio and Austin area? I think I would jump for joy and then shout out quite a few hip hip hoorays for all the world to hear. And when the product of such jubilation is this dear wedding from Anne Marie Photography? Well, it just leaves me speechless. Find the full wedding at The Studio at Fischer and all of the dynamite vendors in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Anne Marie Photography… It all started with a wild idea: let’s give away a wedding, crafted by a hand selected group of vendors from the Austin/San Antonio area! Our little contest became huge, attracting over 10,000 fans on Facebook. We called it Entwined. Voted on by the public, Annie and Tyler from Houston, Texas, won the wedding they never thought they would have. The couple was able to choose from two fully styled weddings that were both documented in the inspiration shoot. Boho or glam? Annie and Tyler chose glam!

What was the inspiration? The glam color palette consisted of black, nude, ivory, cream, white and just a hint of blush pink. Black lace and custom silhouettes of the bride and groom graced the small details of the day. Not only was style an important factor for the vendors planning the wedding, but guest experience was just as well. Annie and Tyler’s guests were all coming from cities hours away, and they wanted them to feel welcome and thoroughly enjoy themselves. Guest activities like a custom photo booth, an interactive piano man for entertainment and desserts to please any sweet tooth out there made the night such an enjoyable one for their guests.

The ceremony was held outdoors in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Greeted by a serenade of strings and entertained by the sounds of a Scottish bagpiper, the guests watched Annie and Tyler begin the first day of the rest of their lives. Post-ceremony, while the wedding party took photos in the Texas wildflowers, guests were treated to the sounds of a contemporary string trio and a lemonade bar, all while enjoying the amazing Texas Hill Country views poolside. After dinner, guests enjoyed the piano man and danced for hours. This was definitely a group that wanted to dance all night long. The sweetest moment of the reception? Annie shared a dance with all of her brothers. Her father passed away when she was little, and it was an amazing way to not only remember him but pay tribute and recognize those important men in her life. The most amazing part of the reception? Annie’s sister joined the piano man to belt out a couple songs for her! Everyone’s jaws dropped (if they weren’t too busy on the dance floor!). The night came to a close with an adorable exit into a vintage Auburn and Annie tossing her bouquet into the crowd as she got into the car. Annie and Tyler enjoyed the wedding they never could have dreamed of.

Wedding Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Wedding Venue: The Studio at Fischer in Canyon Lake, Texas / Design + Planning: Country Sugar Events / Floral Design: Statue of Design / Officiant: Scott Payne of The Knot Tyer / Wedding Cinematography: Elite Cinematic Weddings / Catering: Sullivan Street Catering / Wedding Cake + Desserts: 2Tarts Bakery and Catering / Pie Favors: Tiny Pies / Lemonade: The Lemonade Co. / Bar Service: Texas Hill Country Events / Wedding Stationery: Lilly & Louise / Bagpiper: Hylton Cruickshank / Strings: James Anderson / Piano Man: Russell Boyd / Cocktail Accessories + Dessert Table Design: Oh Goodie Designs + Style.Inspired / Ceremony Chairs: Hill Country Event Rentals / Tables + Chairs: Liv by Design Events / Photo Booth: Booth 66 / Lighting: Event Ignition / Ice Sculpture: Full Spectrum Ice Sculptures / Rentals: Whim Event Rentals / Shuttle: Hill Country Excursions / Accommodations: Blanco Luxury Suites / Wedding Dress: {Beautiful} You (Now Closed) / Bride’s Jewelry: Shetler Wade Jewelers / Hair: Twirl Salon / Makeup: Lizbeth Stephens / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid / Flower Girl Basket + Ring Bearer Pillow: Jesse Ciani / Wedding Planning & Design: Country Sugar

The happiest of Halloweens to you all. While you are hopefully gearing up for costume wearing and scrumptious candy eating, we thought we would fill your computer screens with Halloween SMP style. A.k.a a beautiful engagement with a nod to the star of All Hallow’s Eve… the pumpkin. We have a whole patch of those babies along with a couple captured by Mallory Morgan Photography on their road to I do. See it all right here.

From Mallory Morgan Photography… Located in Floydada, Texas, the pumpkin capitol of the USA, we found a pumpkin patch that served as the perfect backdrop for a fun, southern, DIY shoot to inspire brides to think outside of the box for fall weddings. To attract the conservative budget bride, we incorporated rustic DIY caramel apples; a DIY, fall-inspired boutonniere; kraft paper invites; homemade pies; a DIY wheat bouquet and hand-carved pumpkins into the shoot to create the perfect, affordable fall feel.

Photography + Design: Mallory Morgan Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Assiter Punkin Ranch in Floydada, Texas / Cake: The Cake Company / Invitations: bejoyful paper