Four Seasons Hotel Dallas /// #AintNoMountainHighEnough /// Lexi + Ben, the full film Heirloom

We're excited to share another fabulous wedding coordinated by DFW Events in Dallas.  We've been working with them for almost a decade; so, when they introduced us to Lexi and Ben, we knew we would love working for these clients!  From their mountaintop proposal story to their passion for their (super cute) puppies, Lexi + Ben's wedding was everything a Spring wedding should be:  joyous, relaxed, and filled with laughter.  Lexi and Ben are originally from different cities, and through a series of events, separate hurricanes brought each of them to live in Austin, TX.  On the wedding day, rain clouds gathered overhead late in the evening, but no one was alarmed.... the outpouring of the heavens was like a rainfall of joy celebrating the love of this couple.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/133746894[/vimeo]

When we arrived at the Four Seasons in Las Colinas, it was obvious that everyone in the bridal party felt pretty relaxed--even with all the buzz about the Music awards being held in Dallas.  Jones ran into Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) while he was out filming landscape shots. He's like a magnet for celebrity run-ins!

Keeping the entire wedding day in one location allowed for the day to unfold in a very relaxed way--as they got ready, the girls could look out their windows to the lawn where the ceremony would happen.   The bridal party only had to walk a few hundred feet to the ceremony site that looked out over a beautiful pond on the Four Seasons golf course.  Even better, the bride's parents were able to arrange for a seriously cool surprise for the bride and groom:  a second line brass band met Lexi + Ben as they exited the ceremony, and they danced their way straight up to the reception pavilion.  What fun!

If you want to see more second line goodness, watch this second line tradition from a wedding in New Orleans.  We just love filming those fun traditions!

Lexi and Ben,

We are so honored to have created your wedding film for you--we keep talking about how pleasant your family is, and how refreshing it is to be around so many smiling people.  Ben, the story of Nardos Imam creating an entirely new dress for your mother two days before the wedding (amazing!!!)  is such a great example of how your community knows how to turn lemons into even better lemonade and enjoy every second of life.   We hope you always enjoy even the darkest rainstorm, keep riding that fast train, and zing-zing-boom-boom-bam forever!

xoxo

the Mason Jar Team Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Dallas 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd Irving, TX 75093 Planner & Designer: DFW Events, Hannah Kohler Photographer: Stephen Karlisch Ceremony Music:  Dallas String Quartet Lighting:  Beyond Lighting + Design Makeup:  Lenore Downey Florals: Garden Gate Florals Reception Entertainment + Second Line Band:  The Project Band with Absolute Entertainment Officiant: Judge Michael Chitty Catering: Four Seasons Specialty Food: Ruthie's Food Truck Cakes:  Fancy Cakes Rentals: Posh Couture Rentals, Suite 206, DFW Dance Floors Photo Booth:  Love Runs Deep Transportation: Premier Transportation

Featured by Glamour and Grace || Romantic, Vintage Wedding at Maison Montegut

Designing her wedding reception to "feel like coming home" to her mother's house, Mary made sure to select decor details that spoke to her heart.  All the crystal, lace, silver, mercury glass, and family photos were brought in by her mother for this truly romantic event at Maison Montegut.  We are excited to announce that our film has been featured alongside the  work of their  fantastic New Orleans photographer, Mark Eric, in the blog for brides who love vintage and handmade details, Glamour and Grace.

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Enjoy their full film below.  Mary's personal touches and gifts for her groom and family will have you misty-eyed in minutes, I promise!  Plus, every location seems like a scene out of Downton Abbey, between the historic venue locations and the classic Victorian outfits worn by the bridesmaids and ring bearers. 

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For a full look at the beautiful photography from the event, you must check out Mark Eric's blog.  Here's a little sneak peek at why we think he's one of the best wedding photographers around:

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Bridal Prep & Groom Prep: The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

123 Baronne St  New Orleans, LA 70112

(504) 648-1200

Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral

Reception: Maison Montegut

Event Planner: Elyse Skansi, Tying the Knot Wedding Coordination

Photographer: Mark Eric

Catering: Joel's

Florist: Iris Floral and Event Design Studio

Cocktail Hour Music: John Royen Band

2nd Line Band: The Jaywalkers

Reception Entertainment: Crystal Clear Band

Lubbock Wedding || In Joy and In Sorrow || Kelcee + Andrew, the full film

Kelcee and Andrew are the kind of people who are known for "bringing spice" to everyone's lives.  They are smiling adventurers who delight in their friends; they are never short of being entertaining, and they are reliable allies.  Their West Texas wedding is filled with the kind of fun details that, while not common, are consistent with the cutest of weddings -- they had a University of Texas "track-and-field" themed groom's cake, quirky photo-booth props, a buffet with southern delights like pickled okra, a surprise choreographed mother-son dance, and a whole troupe of adorable flower girls accompanied by one tuxedo-clad, flag-waving ring bearer.   

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What might surprise you about their story is the sheer strength of their love, because while Kelcee and Andrew are both bold, witty people, their boldness is matched by their kindness.  In fact, Andrew's mother Sharon stood in front of the crowd at the rehearsal dinner, and in her speech, she confessed that several years ago when she found out Andrew was dating someone she didn't know, she "researched" Kelcee among her friends and relatives to find out what this young lady was like.  What she learned of Kelcee's compassion and character was so overwhelming that it caused her to say, "we loved you before we even knew you."

Several months ago, Jones was initially contacted by Andrew's mother Sharon to film this event.  We are often contacted by parents, so what made her call unique was that we had already filmed her daughter's wedding a few years ago, and she was now interested in having us film her youngest son Andrew's wedding.  We already consider this job to be an honor and a privilege, but it is truly humbling to be invited into the life of a family repeatedly and see their legacy bloom to the next generation over the years.

The weekend began with a hunting-themed rehearsal dinner at Caprock Winery, just outside of Lubbock, TX.  Andrew and his groomsmen had spent the afternoon getting their final fittings for their tuxes, and joined the whole party for the rehearsal at the church.  As guests rushed inside to escape the (unseasonably) wintery West Texas wind,  they found the comforts of a crackling fire, sweet potato soup appetizers, a live guitarist strumming love songs, and wine stored from ceiling to floor.  Their menu included a top tier signature salad with goat cheese coulis, micro field greens, spiced pecans and mandarin oranges with roasted maple syrup, followed by a grilled beef tenderloin with Texas Tech signature sauce and cedar planked salmon garnished with fresh dill and rosemary, roasted potatoes and winter vegetables.  The dinner was capped off with toasts, a molten lava cake, and gifts of boots for all the groomsmen.

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The surprise wintery weather met the groomsmen on the golf course the next morning, but nothing could squash the men's happy spirits as they played golf and enjoyed one another's company.   Jack-rabbits sprinted in and out of the scramble as the sun melted the frost off of the greens, and the Cash Foundation clubhouse staff was quick to deliver coffee and hot chocolate to keep the group warm.

Kelcee, on the other hand, spent her morning getting ready at the church. Amidst the bridesmaids in gold dresses and flower girls learning how to use their petal wands (see the video, it's pretty cute!), Andrew's mother and father had a special gift they presented to their new daughter-in-law: a bracelet with heirloom gold and jewels from Andrew's family heritage. The jewels were set in a cross charm that was modeled after the cross that stands on the altar at the church where the ceremony was happening.  They had done the same thing for their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and for their second son's wife, too.  

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This bracelet and many other details were specifically chosen to honor their loved ones and friends who had passed away.   The groomsmen each wore a special lapel pin in remembrance of Kelcee's brother who had died when Kelcee was young from a congenital heart defect, and Kelcee also gave Andrew a special pocket-watch and coin to honor one of Andrew's close friends who had passed away.  Andrew and Kelcee shared with us that this was how they chose to represent that even though these special people couldn't be at the wedding, their love for them was very present and very real.   

Kelcee & Andrew's story of how they have cherished & supported each other by giving honor to their loved ones who have passed away is affirmation of the power of love.  In their wedding vows, they promised to support each other in joy and in sorrow, and in many ways, they already have.  Their love is a strong reminder to us all that grief and loss can be comforted with compassion, and that life is fullest when we live purposefully, taking every opportunity to share joy, tenderness, and affection with each other in a close-knit community.  

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Ceremony Venue:  First United Methodist Church Lubbock

1411 Broadway  Lubbock, TX 79401

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: CapRock Winery

408 E Woodrow Rd  Lubbock, TX 79423

Reception Venue: The Historic Baker Building

1211 13th St  Lubbock, TX 79401

Florist: Box of Rain Floral

Reception Entertainment Band: The Atlantics

Photography: Helen Byrd

Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films

p.s. join us on facebook! We'd love to hear from you.

Mason Jar Films fb

Second Line Tradition - Moments from weddings at The Roosevelt + The Ritz-Carlton

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If you've never experienced a NOLA celebration, well, then let me tell you something - they do weddings right in New Orleans.  Weddings are already unique amongst parties in that they are always a cheerful celebration of the joining of two circles of families, friends, and communities, and then adding the tradition of a second line just amps up the celebration level.  What is a second line?  A basic description would say that it is an informal parade of wedding guests lead by a live brass band through the streets of New Orleans.  But those words don't do it justice, because what a second line does is something bigger.

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Imagine, for a minute, that it's the end of a wedding reception.  You've spent the day being pampered with close friends and family, sipping mimosas, getting ready in leisure, taking portraits with everyone from your closest college friends to your great-great aunt, making sincere wedding vows, enjoying cocktails and home-style cajun cooking, and dancing the night away to live jazz, and now it's time to leave.  But just because it's time to leave the wedding doesn't mean it's going to be over so soon.   As you gather your things to leave, the sounds of a trumpet, tuba, and trombone are wafting through the halls to the ballroom.  Suddenly, a whistle guides you to handkerchiefs, and you're dancing down the street following this band, waving your handkerchief to the beat of the music.  As you dance through the french quarter streets with your wedding party, other NOLA residents wave and join in to dance with you for a few minutes.  Some of them will join your parade for the entire time!  Half an hour later, you can't wipe the smile off of your face from the fun that you've had.  Everyone you pass by cheers along with you, because everyone knows: this is special, and worth celebrating.

Here are some scenes from second lines we've filmed in the past:

Bridal Prep & Groom Prep: The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

123 Baronne St  New Orleans, LA 70112

(504) 648-1200

Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral

Reception: Maison Montegut

Event Planner: Elyse Skansi, Tying the Knot Wedding Coordination

Photographer: Mark Eric

Catering: Joel's

Florist: Iris Floral and Event Design Studio

Cocktail Hour Music: John Royen Band

2nd Line Band: The Jaywalkers

Reception Entertainment: Crystal Clear Band

Photographer Paul Morse.   You can view his official images of the wedding here.

Event Design by Linda Matzkin & Alexandra Kappel of Hopple Popple Events. 

Ceremony and Reception at The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans 

Reception Band: Jimmy Church Band

Makeup: Tisa from Tisa’s Beauty Bar 

Florist: Urban Earth

Second Line Band: The Storyville Stompers

We've been featured! Wedding Video Press Coverage

We are excited to announce that we were recently featured on love24FPS, a leading style blog that features the best of wedding filmmaking in the industry.  

The story the editors selected to feature was the sneak peek we put together to introduce Kacy & Jason's film.  Of course, they were as smitten by Kacy & Jason's personalities as we were, and they gushed about it in their coverage of the film, saying,  "it’s hard to take your eyes off the screen because you know this couple is going to be worth watching."

...and we agree!  When we first heard from Jason about filming his wedding to Kacy, we were enamored with their passion for our craft and for one another.  This bold groom held our attention with stories about his proposal in a hot air balloon, how zebras would be wandering the grounds at their wedding reception, how he drives a Tesla, works for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and with stories of how much he loves his bride, Kacy.  

 You can read our full post about their wedding and watch their wedding video in its entirety here.

Wedding Vendor Details:

Ceremony: First United Methodist Missouri City
3900 Lexington Blvd  Missouri City, TX 77459
Reception: Safari Texas Ranch
11627 FM 1464 Rd  Richmond, TX 77407
Photographer: Daniel Colvin
Videographer: Mason Jar Films
Florist: Floriography; Ines Negrin
DJ: Johnny Bravo
Getaway Car: Tesla
Wedding Bands: Tiffany
Wedding Gifts: Converse & Pandora

Soundtrack: “And Then Came A Sudden Validation” by Austin, TX band and national darling, The Quiet Company
Musical track licensed through The Music Bed