Tony's Restaurant - Houston || I Can Show You The World || Erin + Steven, the same-day edit

Erin (one of our most recent brides) is known for her uncanny resemblance to Princess Jasmine when dressed up like the favored Disney Princess.  The running joke of the wedding weekend was that she'd finally found her "Aladdin."  Although they actually went to the same high school while growing up, it wasn't until they were adults that Erin and Steven met in a wine bar while with friends, and so it was only fitting that their wedding happen in a restaurant known for it's wine selection and delicious food: Tony's, in Houston.  The restaurant happens to be owned by a family friend, and so the celebration took up the entire facility for the weekend.

Houston rehearsal dinner - aladdin jasmine disney princess wedding_1
Houston rehearsal dinner - aladdin jasmine disney princess wedding_1

We love capturing the experience of a wedding day on film, and what makes it even more fun is when our couples allow us to be a part of that experience, too.  Erin & Steven chose to have our team film AND edit their video right on-site at their wedding reception, and what followed was a big reveal at the middle of the evening where we screened this "instamatic" video for their guests.  It shows everything that happened over the weekend, from rehearsal dinner all the way to the bride and groom's first dance!

wedding video package instamatic
wedding video package instamatic

This choice of having an "instamatic" film to display during the wedding reception was a wonderful one for Erin and Steven--they were having a very private Jewish ceremony, and sharing the ceremony in the Instamatic video allowed them to show the large group of guests at the reception the beautiful ceremony that had occurred in the wine cellar just hours before.

As you can imagine, it also was really fun for us to watch the guests' and the family's reactions to the video.  It was a total surprise for all of the guests that we were editing the film together right there, and it was even more fun because we normally don't get the opportunity to watch their faces at the moments that make them tear up, cry, and laugh.  So many people were wiping away sweet happy tears, so we know that the experience was fun for Erin and Steven to share with their guests.  Erin's mother found us before we left to let us know how wonderful it was to be able to share the Instamatic film that very day, and she said it was her favorite thing from the wedding.  That is a huge compliment that we don't take lightly--we are so honored to be allowed into each family's life for a day to document their most special occasions.

Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 12
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 12

An heirloom from the families of the bride and groom, this hand representing blessing, strength, power and protection hung in both the reception room at Tony's and another one was placed hanging among the candles under the couple's chuppah.

Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 11
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 11

Chic, modern, and classic, the beautiful celebration weekend began with a rehearsal dinner at Brenner's on the Bayou, and the story-telling carried on into the night -- one of our favorite moments being when Erin's siblings joked that they were so glad to toast the happiest couple in the room ....Erin's mom and dad.  Erin apparently had very high expectations while dating!  And, of course, Steven came along and exceeded those expectations. 

Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 02
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 02
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 03
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 03
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 04
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 04
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 05
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 05
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 06
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 06

Erin began her wedding day at her parent's home.   We love when brides find special ways to honor their families in their wedding traditions.  Erin and her mother had lace taken from her mother's wedding dress and applied to her very long, dramatic veil.  It was absolutely stunning in person.

Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 08
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 08
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 07
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 07

Erin's dress also had intricate detailing, too:  with beautiful folds specifically made in the translucent layers under a top layer of delicate lace, her dress had a modern silhouette, but up close, had the kind of stunning attention to structural detail that made art nouveau popular again.

Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 10
Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 10

We spent the day working with the talented event design crew from Something To Celebrate.  Not only are they immensely talented in designing beautiful spaces and organizing efficient schedules, but Resha Zazueta, the lead coordinator, is an absolute gem of a person and a delight to be around.  We are thankful for her leadership behind the scenes at this wedding helping us to secure information on every last detail so that the screening of the instamatic film was able to happen without a hitch!

Wedding Details:

Ceremony/Reception Venue & Caterer: Tony's Restaurant, 3755 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77046, (713) 622-6778

Florist: Blooming Gallery

Live Band: Matchmaker Band

Event Designer: Something To Celebrate

Wedding Photographer: Akil Bennett

Soundtrack:

"Celeste" by Les Enfants

"Someone" by Future of Forestry

All musical tracks licensed through The Music Bed

Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, TX || Arrows in the Sky || Erin + Andrew, the full film

We are so thrilled to share this wedding film with you.  Their wedding was both a touching experience and imaginatively designed to create a delightful soiree for all of their friends and family.  Not only do Erin and Andrew have a delightful sense of style that is both tailored, preppy, and bohemian all at once, but their joyful spirits are extremely infectious.  In fact, while I was editing their film, my face was sore from smiling so much.  And now that we're sharing the film, your face can be sore because of extended amounts of smiling, too!

wedding video package heirloom
wedding video package heirloom
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 45
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 45

Erin's dress was stunning--mermaid cut with a fluted skirt that extravagantly trained behind her.  Not only did she wear a dress made of the most luxuriously draped gauzy tulle that we've ever seen, but her accessories were stunning-- something bleu shoes accented by white feathers.

Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 40
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 40
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 50
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 50
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 52
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 52
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 53
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 53

The hill-top Christian ceremony was breath-taking, and Erin descended through a stair-case linked arms with her father.  The modern, romantic music selections for the wedding ceremony included songs by The Arcade Fire.  Listening to the songs they chose for their wedding day heavily influenced the music we selected for the film--the opening song is a lilting, hopeful song by  siren singer-songwriter Holly Maher filled with soaring tones of violin and cello with lilting melody created by a light piano.

Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 49
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 49
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 42
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 42

Erin's mother is doting, and her father is hilarious--which created that same combination in her siblings, who totally ham it up with Erin throughout the photography sessions.

Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 44
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 44
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 56
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 56

Matchmaker Band kept the party hopping through the night!  They have several 'front singers' to cover a variety of musical styles, and their growling vocals and energy is always top notch!  Watch it here.

boot ranch matchmaker band wedding reception band
boot ranch matchmaker band wedding reception band

As we mentioned in a previous post, we were thrilled to work alongside noted fashion photographer Christianne Taylor at this wedding.  She's based in California, but she often returns to her native state of Texas to document special projects.  We've worked with her before at Sarah & Colby's ranch estate wedding, and it was delightful to work with her again.

In our first post about Erin & Andrew's wedding,  we told you the story of how they almost didn't have a wedding cake, which is a precious story, but now, I want to tell you about what Andrew's dad said.

Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 32
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 32
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 33
Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 33

As guests sipped from glass soda bottles with these adorable DIY soda straw flags, Andrew's dad gave a heartfelt speech thanking the people who brought Erin and Andrew together, and how he felt that Erin and Andrew were like arrows shooting through the sky.  Psalm 127 speaks of how children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands, and how they will return to bless their parents.

"we also feel excitement at watching these two young people start their flight together," he said.

We could tell that Andrew's dad was already so thankful for the blessing of his son, and of his new daughter-in-law.   Congratulations to you both, Erin and Andrew.  We hope you are always able to reflect back to the joy of this celebration and how it was just the beginning of new laughter and adventures in your life.

Ceremony and Reception Venue:

Boot Ranch

77 Boot Ranch Cir, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 (830) 997-6200

Photographer: Christianne Taylor Videographer: Mason Jar Films Band: Matchmaker Band Music by Holly Maher & Amy Stroup licensed through The Music Bed

Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, TX | "We'll Eat You Up, We Love You So!" - Erin & Andrew, the preview

Erin and Andrew almost didn't have a wedding cake.

Not that they didn't want one--Erin was just interested in other desserts--maybe pie, or an assortment of treats.  As they planned for the wedding, Erin made many selections for the party that were incredibly unique, from an off-shoulder wedding gown to a Kongming Chinese Sky Lantern release at the reception...but her brother jokingly begged for a traditional cake--Erin mentioned to me that he said "it can't be a wedding without a cake"--so she chose a traditional white tiered cake, and included a cake topper with a quote from their favorite childhood book (Where the Wild Things Are) in honor of his request.

web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 43
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 43
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 42
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 42

In this way, Erin and Andrew's hilltop wedding in the Fredericksburg countryside was full of surprises and special touches that were themed around not only their love, but their family as well.  In fact, they had a gorgeous painting that held all the dinner placecards, and one of Erin's brothers painted that, too.  Also, guests sipped from these cute little soda straws during the cocktail hour as they watched the sun set.

web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 33
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 33
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 52
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 52

Erin selected florals for the wedding that were very reflective of the wedding's location in the rustic and wild Texas countryside.  The men's boutonnieres had both succulents and other hardy plants native to the region.

If you haven't visited Fredericksburg before, it is one of those special towns nestled into the hill-country where people love to spend the weekend--You can wander through streets filled with quaint little bakeries, wineries and breweries, toy-shops boasting the skills of the town's german/european heritage, and of course, many restaurants overflowing with German food and good Texas eats.   Just before the ceremony, some of Andrew's friends remarked at the beauty of the short drive from the little town to the hills where Boot Ranch resides. The road, filled with twists and turns, ends at the gorgeous hilltop lodge, a perfect party venue with craftsman architecture and a terrace made of natural stone overlooking the hills.

web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 41
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 41
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 53
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 53

Erin and Andrew had a private moment in a hillside garden just before the ceremony.  Photographers commonly refer to this as a "first look."  We were thrilled to work alongside noted fashion photographer Christianne Taylor at this wedding.  She's based in California, but she often returns to her native state of Texas to document special projects.  We've worked with her before at Sarah & Colby's ranch estate wedding, and it was delightful to work with her again.

web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 49
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 49
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 35
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 35
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 38
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 38
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 46
web_Boot Ranch Fredericksburg Wedding Pic 46

Both Erin and Andrew's fathers gave touching speeches at the wedding, and I look forward to editing their final film.  Congratulations to you all!

-kourtney amelia

Ceremony and Reception Venue:

Boot Ranch

77 Boot Ranch Cir, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

(830) 997-6200

Photographer: Christianne Taylor

Videographer: Mason Jar Films

Band: Matchmaker Band

Music by Holly Maher

Licensed through The Music Bed