 hour, we had passed appetizers of Texas quail and corn salsa quesadillas, served alongside our signature drink, “Ranch Water,” a delicious twist on a margarita. All of the drinks were served with blush and white bandanas as the cocktail napkins.
What was your reception like? For our reception, we wanted great music and a party under the Texas stars to celebrate the wonderful weekend! We had lights strung above the dance floor, glowing cotton candy served to guests, and I even changed into a pink party dress to dance the night away!
What was the design inspiration for your reception? Our design inspiration came from the West Texas theme of the historic hotel and the native plants in the area. We used succulents and cacti as centerpieces, and had twinkling lights to light up the dance floor. The best décor we could have asked for were the bright Texas stars sparkling above us!
Our cakes were inspired by our favorite desserts. Grant has always loved chocolate chip cookies. For his cake, we surprised him by having dozens of cookies piled up on top of each other. For my birthday, my mom always bakes my favorite strawberry shortcake. The Gage Hotel beautifully recreated it into a wedding cake.
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. During college, Grant and I were set up by our friends to go to a football game together. Whether our team won or lost, we will never remember, but it ended up being a day we will never forget! After that date, I cannot remember a day we have gone without seeing or talking with each other.
Describe the proposal: We both love the outdoors, and many of our favorite times together are hiking, camping, and spending the day in the sunshine. Grant and I were dating long distance at the time and decided to meet for a weekend in the small town of Fredericksburg, Texas. We woke up Saturday morning to hike one of our favorite trails, aptly named “Enchanted Rock,” overlooking the Texas Hill Country. Once we reached the top of the mountain, Grant dropped to one knee and asked the question that forever changed our lives for the better. Grant had snuck some mini champagne bottles in his hiking pack and we toasted to the happiest day of our lives. The whole hike down, I could not stop smiling. We enjoyed the rest of the day visiting vineyards in the area and celebrating. I had no idea the weekend could get any better till I drove home the next day and all of our friends and family were waiting at my house to surprise us and celebrate the good news!
How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? Our wedding was officiated by a wonderful Scottish man, the chaplain at the elementary school I had attended. He took us through a series of questions and topics to initiate conversations. Writing our vows together and planning out our ceremony really encouraged us to discuss what marriage meant to us and how we could better serve each other as husband and wife.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Loving, joyful, and fun
What was the weather like on your big day? Everyone thought we were crazy for planning an outdoor wedding in Texas in the middle of the summer heat, but Mother Nature was on our side! The day was overcast and we enjoyed a light sprinkle during our reception, but the dancing never slowed! One of the sweetest gifts we received was from Grant’s brother and his wife. They caught the rain from our wedding day in a mason jar for us to baptize our future children with!
How many guests attended your wedding? 175
Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: My favorite detail was having our dog, Luna, by Grant and I’s side as we said our vows. She has been with me since we started dating and is truly one of my very best friends!
How did you spend the morning or afternoon before your ceremony? My family is full of girls, and it has been a tradition that every year, my cousins and I all get together, wear pink, and proclaim the day “Pink Day!” In the morning before our ceremony, my aunts put together the biggest pink party we’ve ever had. The party consisted of pink drinks, pink food, and pink boas everywhere! Imagine 50 women decked out in their best pink outfits, from the cutest two-year-old little girls to my 90-year-old grandmother. It was so much fun for everyone! Also, I loved having my mother and sister do my hair before the ceremony. It gave us a chance to enjoy the day together in an intimate setting.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? Grant and I sat down and wrote our vows together. This was such a wonderful process and helped us both to learn what we really found important in our marriage. My favorite line is short, but it sums up so much: “I promise to love you with a faithful, patient, and unselfish love.”
What songs did you use for your ceremony? I walked down the aisle to the music from “La Vie en Rose.” We wanted something unique that would always remind us of this perfect moment of seeing each other for the first time on our wedding day.
Who was one of the most special guests at your wedding? Looking back now, the answer is easy. My dad was definitely one of the most special guests. He unexpectedly passed away two months after our wedding. We are so grateful to have gotten to share those memories with him and will never forget the joy on his face walking down the aisle as a proud father giving his daughter to a man he would consider one of his “best buds.”
Tell us a bit about your first dance. Our first dance was to “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” by Frank Sinatra. It was an apt choice for a song, since we found ourselves slipping every which way from a light rain shower that had sprinkled the dance floor.
What was Southern about your wedding? We centered our wedding around family, so many of the special memories of our wedding were not just from the day-of, but also from the preparation for our big day. I loved getting to go to my dress fittings with my mother and grandmother and to see their faces light up when they saw me. I will never forget when my mom, grandmother, and Grant’s mom took a road trip to do a site visit and taste wedding cake with me. It was such a fun day together! There was also the time my whole family, including all of my cousins and grandparents, got together to make 100 paper flowers to line the aisle Grant and I would walk down. Those are the memories that I will never forget.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We look forward to traveling, late nights of board games, and growing gray-haired together!
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Have fun! Celebrate what makes the two of you…you! Do not worry about wedding trends or what may be hip at the time. The whole day should be about the love you share for each other, the love for people around you, and the love that brought you together.
Photographer: Helen Byrd Photography | Paper Goods: Pearly Gates Designs | Calligraphy: Tara Jones | Venue, Caterer, and Cake Baker: The Gage Historic Hotel | Florals: Eve’s Garden | Bride’s Gown and Party Dress: Angelina Mata | Bridesmaid Dresses: Various Styles in Ginger by Dessy | Bridesmaid Robes: Sunset to Sunrise | Flower Girl Dresses: Yucu Ninu | Groomsmen Suspenders: El Rey Apparel | Band: Memphis Soul Band
Thank you so much for sharing! Such an honor to have our wedding be a part of one of my favorite publications! Love y’all!
LOVE that donkey thing and her boots are way too adorable!!
Who makes these bridesmaid dresses? I love all the different styles available!
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