You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Weddings' category.
If you’ve ever dreamed of a garden wedding, this next post is for you! Stephanie and John David brought the outdoors into their Spring wedding with every detail and the results were simply beautiful. Their wedding ceremony took place Easter weekend under a shady tree on the grounds of the Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas.
The two-story Barr mansion is completely charming with wrap around porches and plenty of room for the bridal party to relax and get ready for the days events. The gardens welcome guests and add so much soft ambiance and beauty to a wedding. The event was full of color, from the soft green lawn and crisp white paint of the historic house, pops of color from the flower garden, bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen ties in various shades of green, shiny satin ribbons tied around Mason Jars glowing with candles, bouquets of hydrandras and roses and a sweet and bright candy buffet at the reception. Just steps away from the lawn where the ceremony took place, the bridal party and their friends and family shared dinner and spent the evening celebrating and dancing in the rustic Artisan ballroom.
My favorite detail from this wedding was the gorgeous bridal gown Stephanie wore. I’ve never seen anything like it and the jewelry and chic headpiece (found on Etsy – love that!) completed the timeless look. Paired with the excitement and love in her heart – she was a stunning bride. John David, the perfect gentleman, was handsome and calm as he walked her down the aisle.
Stephanie and John David’s love for the outdoors is only matched by their love for eachother. Congratulations!
I’m working on a wedding album which will be posted to my library in a couple of weeks!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Rebecca and Rusty’s wedding was a dream. Both the ceremony and reception took place outdoors, on a terrace overlooking a scenic park shaded by oak trees (the venue is Austin Ranch in Grapevine, Texas). Guests included close friends and family which set a relaxed tone for the entire event. Hours before the ceremony was set to begin, the bride, groom and their parents and even the officiant and his wife hung decorations and arranged flowers – making every detail of the wedding personal and perfection. In place of a traditional book, guests signed a Family Tree which is a great keepsake for Rusty and Rebecca. In place of a bouquet, the father-of-the-bride presented Rebecca with a beautiful corsage afixed with a gorgeous antique jeweled broach – something borrowed and something blue. Best wishes to Rebecca and Rusty!
Yesterday, I had a great time photographing Rebecca and Rusty’s wedding in the darling city of Grapevine, Texas. I couldn’t resist posting a preview of this family affair. Rebecca is confident and kind, Rusty is amusing and delightful and together, they are a couple head-over-heels in love and well on their way to living the life of their dreams.
More to come!
Whitney and Jeremy’s wedding took place at Reunion Ranch in Georgetown. The groomsmen were dressed sharply in silver tuxes, it was really fun to see the groom, his twin brother and nephew prepare for the celebration. The ladies gowns were sweet, tea-length in a lovely shade of satin which caught the light and mirrored the natural green of the trees and grounds surrounding the hall.
Austin receives the most annual rainfall in the month of May and this Saturday was no exception. The rainfall was steady and soft when we arrived but grew stronger as the ceremony approached, moving the ceremony indoors under twinkle lights and in front of a two-story limestone fireplace decorated with romantic candles.
The bride was breathtaking, her hair was swept up and a beaded, fingertip veil fell softly down her back. She wore a stunning gown with a silver lace overlay, the gown sparkled and was incredibly elegant. Whitney’s smile was the most beautiful of all.
The ceremony was followed by a reception of dinner, desert, champagne toasts and dancing. The Father-Daughter dance was so sweet and the bride’s brother was an exceptional dancer, evident by the photo of him upside down on the dance floor. The many younger guests at this wedding all enjoyed dancing, cake and saying good-bye to the bride and groom with bright, fun sparklers.
Congratulations to Whitney and Jeremy – enjoy the honeymoon!
Copyright EverAfter Images, all rights reserved. Photographs by Heather Wendling, as an assistant for EverAfter Images.
Oh happy day! My dear sister Tasha was married last Fall in the incredibly romantic setting of the Messina Hof vineyard and winery in Bryan, Texas. As a bridesmaid, I didn’t have a lot of time to take photos but couldn’t help capturing some of the details.
The bridesmaids wore long, red satin gowns which were so elegant for the outdoor setting in the vineyard and an evening reception. Tasha’s bouquet was entirely deep red roses, accented by delicate white roses for the remaining floral arrangements. Tables were decorated with creamy, glowing candles, red rose petals and place-cards made of natural cork from the winery.
The atmosphere of the day was full of joy and the entire event was all about family, friends and celebrating the couple’s bright future.
Xtine and Steven – April 2009 – Austin TX
Xtine and Steven chose the grand, all-inclusive Mansion on Judges Hill in downtown Austin for their Spring wedding. The ceremony was held in the beautiful courtyard lined with trees and a balcony. The Bride and her Father descended the stairway from the balcony for an unforgettable entrance to the ceremony, then walked down the aisle where the groom, bridal party and officiant awaited.
This wedding was infused with the culture of Asia and Latin America to reflect both families. Bright red lanterns decorated the courtyard, light blue hydrangeas and elegant white calla lilies in the floral decorations added softness to the scene. The reception was held in a large ballroom overlooking the courtyard and the bride and groom visited each table to welcome their guests and make everyone part of the celebration. Xtine changed into her mother’s wedding gown for this portion of the reception then changed into a sweet, shimmery gown for dancing. The cutting of a beautiful tiered cake and tearful, joyous champagne toasts followed a sit-down dinner before the bride and groom exited the reception in front of the mansion. Congratulations Xtine and Steven!
Amy and Craig – March 2009 – Austin TX
This wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty. Style Me Pretty is one of the best resources for wedding planning, inspiration, ideas and references for vendors (check out the Little Black Book of wedding vendors, too). Thanks again to Abby, the site creator and a friend of mine from younger years, for introducing me to the readers of Style Me Pretty. I visit the site daily to see what’s new. The Real Weddings posts on the blog are my absolute favorite because they tell a story. To see my work on Style Me Pretty was a thrill.
On to Amy and Craig’s wedding…..
Both the outdoor ceremony and reception took place at Starhill Ranch in South Austin. The ranch consists of several re-stored buildings which have been re-located to the site, including a house for the bride and bridesmaids to relax and get ready, a “saloon” for the groomsmen, a chapel perfect for small weddings, a barber shop which serves as an office for the ranch owners, a large house with a porch overlooking rolling hills where dinner was served and a dance hall with old wooden floors for perfect dancing. Essentially the wedding took place in a charming little town where everyone knew one another. As the night wore on guests were outside under string lights enjoying the beautiful night, chatting on the porches of the buildings, ringing the bell in the chapel (a favorite for younger guests) or inside on the dance floor.
Craig wore a beige linen suit and groomsmen wore brown suspenders and boots. The bride, Amy, is very laid-back – she wore a gorgeous, floor length empire waisted gown with cowboy boots underneath and her hair down and loose with a single flower on one side. Throughout the day she looked relaxed and absolutely stunning. I’ve honestly never seen a dress like hers and the jewelry she chose made it even more unique. The bridesmaids bouquets were bright wildflowers of different shapes and heights and really popped against their blue dresses.
The groom, Craig, is a musician, evident by the amazing Bluegrass band which performed at the reception and had everyone up on their feet, dancing and having a great time. Dinner tables were decorated with wildflowers in glass cola bottles and a packet of seeds guests could take home and plant in the garden. In one of the bridal party photos, everyone is holding a glass bottle full of homebrew made by the groom’s family especially for the wedding. In place of a bride or groom’s cake, guests enjoyed delicate pink and cream cupcakes.
Copyright EverAfter Images, all rights reserved. All photographs by Heather Wendling, as an assistant for EverAfter Images.
Don and Zoraida – September 2008 – Austin TX
Don and Zoraida were married on a sunny summer day, perfect for the setting overlooking the lake and Austin’s rolling hills. A small group of family and friends gathered for an outdoor ceremony, which really took advantage of the beautiful 360 degree views. Two close friends walked the bride down the aisle, at the start Zoraida’s shoe slipped off and the matron of honor knelt down to attend to the issue. I just love candid moments like this – especially the huge smile on Zoraida’s face as all eyes were on her. Her wedding gown was stunning, her hair falling naturally to frame her face.
Don and Zoraida are completely laid back and chose one of their favorite foods for dinner at the reception – fajitas and of course, at the bar, margaritas made especially for the event. Don and Zoraida took photos with each guest at their wedding, it was very important to them that each guest was part of the celebration. After dinner, guests were led from the reception hall to the large deck overlooking the lake for dancing and toasts. This wedding was intimate and fun and a beautiful celebration of a couple head-over-heels in love.
Valerie and Ryan - March 2009 - Georgetown, Texas
The first wedding I shot as an assistant for Ever After Images was held at Angel Springs Ranch in Georgetown. The venue is great with a large outdoor area covered by oak trees and surrounded by rolling hills and a reception hall just steps away. All-in-one venues are completely stress-free for the bride, groom and their families and guests. The weather was chilly and clouds threatened rain but held off for the outdoor ceremony. I love overcast skies because they provide perfect light for photographs and clouds add drama and texture to scenes.
I spent most of time time prior to the ceremony with the groom and groomsmen. This group was very relaxed and ready for the ceremony to begin well in advance, so there was plenty of time for candid photos and group portraits. Ryan gave each his friends a beautiful beer glass engraved with their name, of course the glasses found their way into the photos. The colors for the wedding were bright pink and chocolate brown and the sweet fragrance of lilies from the bouquets and decorations filled the air of the reception hall and seating area for the ceremony. I didn’t catch a glimpse of Valerie until she walked down the aisle with her charming father and couldn’t help but smile – the happiness in her heart shone straight through and she was absolutely beautiful.
One favorite images from this wedding was taken seconds after Valerie and Ryan walked down the aisle to conclude the ceremony. Valerie and Ryan are gazing at one another in that sweet, loving, excited way which is a trademark for newlyweds. Some of my other favorite images are from the dance floor – the bride and groom took many spins and many of the guests were celebrating and dancing the night away. This wedding was a wonderful celebration – the happiness and love shared by friends and family just filled the air.
Copyright EverAfter Images, all rights reserved. All photographs by Heather Wendling, as an assistant for EverAfter Images.
Joy and Eric - April 2004 - Austin, Texas
The bride and groom featured in this post are friends of mine and sweet as pie. The weather on their wedding day was gorgeous with clear blue skies and cool Spring-time temperatures. The floral arrangements of pale pink roses and white lilies added a fresh, soft feel to the event.
Eric’s brother served as Best Man and Joy’s sister was the Matron of Honor, their thoughtful toasts moved the bride and groom and many of the guests to laughter and tears. One of my favorite details from the reception was the mini Jeep Wrangler on top of a decadent chocolate Groom’s cake, a small but personal detail since Eric drives a jeep. I can imagine this couple driving off into the sunset in the jeep, living happily-ever-after!
