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.

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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.

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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. 

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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
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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.

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Houston Wedding Pic Video Event Planner Something To Celebrate 08
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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

Safari Texas Ranch || Pucker Up and Let's Get Married! || Kacy + Jason, the Full Film

safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 12
safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 12

Did you know that you can have converse tennis shoes specially personalized by the company?  Kacy took this awesome idea, and she had their wedding date embroidered on the back of a pair of converse sneakers for Jason, and even cooler, she was able to select the shoes in the colors of the wedding!  It was a great idea for a modern gift from a bride to a groom.  In our introduction to Kacy and Jason's story,  we talked about their proposal, and here, we are sharing their full film.

Enjoy.

wedding video package heirloom
wedding video package heirloom

 

"Most importantly, I want to thank you for marrying me. You make me feel like the luckiest person on this earth, and I thank you for that." 

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first united methodist church wedding video picture 03
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safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 07

Although we only spend a day (or a few days) filming a wedding, these stories of love become deeply etched on our hearts.  The many hours we spend as a team at Mason Jar Flms discussing what we've filmed and the time we spend editing and weaving together the story are almost like a meditation on the core values of marriage.  Kacy and Jason's story is no exception:

Watching their wedding film is a reminder of that when you love someone, the sky's the limit for how far you'll go to let them know it (literally--Jason proposed in a hot air balloon). Their story is a reminder that heritage and tradition are most meaningful when shared by people who treasure their community (Kacy's garter was worn by every woman in her family over the past 50 years on their own wedding days).   Their affection is a reminder that those who share love always delight in seeing each other blossom in their own personal pursuits and hobbies (Kacy is a NICU respiratory therapist, and Jason teaches both music and robotics).  And lastly, no matter how surprisingly your story may begin, it does not compare to the surprises that await you in your future together.  

first united methodist church wedding video picture 02
first united methodist church wedding video picture 02
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first united methodist church wedding video picture 17

The exterior of First United Methodist Church, where the ceremony took place.  The interior is a combination of modern architecture with key classical components, like ornate stained glass windows, and carved wooden pews.

safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 02
safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 02
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safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 04

The reception site at Safari Texas hosts plenty of wild animals for guests to enjoy viewing during cocktail hour, and among its many dance halls and party rooms, Kacy and Jason chose this beautiful rustic lodge for their wedding reception, with string lights, branches, and rustic iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 16 copy
safari texas ranch rustic elegant wedding video picture 16 copy

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

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

Houston Backyard Wedding || Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After || MaryEllen + Rob, the full film

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houston backyard wedding29

The romance!  The dogs!  The Art!  Get ready for a sweet film. Rob waited a long time to find MaryEllen--in fact, he gave his bride a ring on the wedding day with a diamond for each decade that he waited for her. Between Rob's sweet romantic gestures, MaryEllen's stunning beauty, their flower girls' antics, and the ways they incorporated their love for art and for their dogs into their wedding day, their story is sure to make you smile.

wedding video package memory tin
wedding video package memory tin

When we arrived at MaryEllen's Crown Plaza hotel room, photographer Taylor Lord was also just arriving to document the day.  We've worked with Taylor before, and she's always great to work alongside.  Edric's crew from Vanity Lounge was already in the midst of styling MaryEllen's hair and makeup.  Her flower girls scampered about like little fairies, bringing delight with each sparkle in their eye and each grin.  Meanwhile, at the house, the bartenders, chef, and waitstaff were already prepping a food course that just to describe will make your mouth water--including bite size smoked sausage with spiced poached apple, potato truffle waffle duck confit, tomato water shooters with buffalo mozzarella and basil foam, bacon wrapped jalapeño, and quail with sweet potato hash (and that's not even half of the hors d' oeuvres list).  Mouth watering yet?  

The dessert table towered with a variety of cookies and cakes, including cookies designed to look like Gracie and Barcley, the furry pups that are owned by MaryEllen & Rob.  As the flower girls marveled at the dog-shaped cookies, adult guests were able to enjoy signature cocktail drinks named after Gracie and Barcley. 

Seated on wooden pews in the backyard, friends and family gathered together all dressed in cream and buttery soft hues to celebrate the happiness of the bride and groom.

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houston backyard wedding21
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houston backyard wedding23
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houston backyard wedding36

Gracie and Barcley looking dapper and sitting patiently for portraits after the wedding.

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houston backyard wedding22
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houston backyard wedding17
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houston backyard wedding31
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houston backyard wedding25
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houston backyard wedding32
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houston backyard wedding35
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houston backyard wedding33

This white wedding cake by 'Who Made the Cake' has frills for days, and peonies to match.

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houston backyard wedding27
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houston backyard wedding26

 Custom water-color style script signage by Houston creative studio Papellerie beckoned guests to leave their mark on the large oil painting being created at the wedding reception. The bride commissioned the groom's favorite artist (Taft McWhorter) to create an oil painting on site at the wedding, and it was an awesome surprise gift for the groom.

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houston backyard wedding18
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houston backyard wedding19
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houston backyard wedding16

The bride and groom have already collected several pieces of Taft McWhorter's abstract work, including a large typographical style painting with the lyrics to one of their favorite songs by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.  It seemed to make perfect sense to us that we had to license that particular song for  MaryEllen & Rob's wedding film once we saw what a beautiful vision its lyrics were casting for their home.  (P.S. Fun Fact about our crew: both Jones and Kourtney Amelia got to participate in the filming of Drew Holcomb's music video for "The Wine We Drink" in Jan 2012 through a workshop with The Music Bed.  We love that band!)    The lyrics say:

If I had a great big mansion

I'd rather live in a shot gun shack with you

If I drove a red ferrari

I'd rather ride in an oldsmobile with you

If I won a million dollars

I'd give it away to spend more time with you

If I had a million lovers

I would trade 'em all for just one more night with you

With you I can be myself

With you I don't have to be somebody else

It's like putting on my favorite pair of shoes

I like to be me when I'm with you

Their officiant told the couple during the ceremony:  "The bible says, 'you saw me before I was born, every day of my life was recorded in your book, every moment was laid out before a single day has passed."  The ceremony is over in a few moments, but what really matters is the lifetime that you're going to spend together."  

We couldn't agree more!  Congratulations to MaryEllen & Rob, and thank you for choosing us to create an heirloom artwork to help you remember each moment of your very special day for a lifetime.

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houston backyard wedding34

Venue: Private Houston Home

Coordination:   Paul Pritzen with Keely Thorne Events

Photographer:  Taylor Lord

Caterer:  The Forest Club

Baker:  Who Made The Cake

Florist & Stylist:  Events In Bloom

Stationery & Signage:  Papellerie

Supply:  Aztec Events & Tents

Rentals:  Swift + Company

Valet:  First Impressions Valet

Pianist: Hank Taylor

String Quartet: Chamber Music Unlimited

Oil Artist: Taft McWhorter

Caricature Art:  Satirical Effect Caricature Co. 

Soundtrack:

"Nirvana"  by Chris Zabriskie chriszabriskie.com

Licensed by CC-BY-3.0

"I Like To Be With Me When I'm With You"  by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

Used through licensing by The Music Bed  themusicbed.com

Memorial Drive United Methodist Church /// Love at First Sight /// Natalie + Adam, the full film

Some people want to entertain you.  Some will encourage you.  Others want to go on adventures.

Adam will do all of these things, and the person who he loves to do these things for (more than anyone else in the world) is Natalie.

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omni houston wedding video pic 16

One thing we learned about Adam during their rehearsal dinner (gorgeously planned and executed by his parents) was that he is known for many things: goofy feats with his buddies, planning elaborate birthday adventures for others, and using adjectives like they're free.  But one thing that he's most known for is the way he dotes on Natalie.  He tells anyone in earshot how gorgeous she is at every second that he can.  You can read about how the wedding weekend began with a private rehearsal dinner banquet at The Corinthian (one of Houston's finest locations in historic downtown) and how the wedding day began at the Omni Hotel in our first blog post about Natalie and Adam.

On the day of the wedding, the bustle and flurry of the morning's activities was just calming down as Natalie put the final touches on her outfit and Adam handed out gifts to his groomsmen in the Omni Hotel.  Just before they left for the church, Adam received an envelope from Natalie. The letterpress card that he opened read "for my groom" in bold cursive on the front, and as his groomsmen realized what was happening, they gathered around him.  "You're makeup's going to come off!" some teased as they watched Adam, the groom, begin to tear up.  Watch here to see the story unfold:

wedding video package heirloom
wedding video package heirloom
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omni houston wedding video pic 11

 Memorial Drive United Methodist Church is a towering grey brick church in Houston, TX.  Its modern, expressionist stained-glass windows line the sanctuary, and they cast a golden glow over everyone when the sun is just right in the late afternoon and early evening.   Natalie and her mother arrived from the hotel by limousine to this sunny view of the church steeple.

Natalie and Adam broke tradition and kept it at the same time---they chose not to have a first look, but they did want to have a brief second to meet for a quiet moment alone before the ceremony began.  The church has a prayer garden with gorgeous stained-glass sculptures that form a privacy wall.  Natalie waited there for Adam while he was blindfolded for their meeting.

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omni houston wedding video pic 05
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omni houston wedding video pic 10

A wedding day can often be filled with a flurry of activity, and it is important to us to allow our clients to feel they have room to breathe in any moment where they have an opportunity to be quiet.  We love to film these kind of moments from a little ways back to give the couple a sense of privacy while they speak to each other for the first time.  Our microphones and long-range lenses pick up those sweet words that are said and close up images perfectly for the edited film, and this allows us to keep the more quiet and intimate experiences of the day feeling very precious for the couple.

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memorial united church houston wedding video photo03

"Dry all your tears now," Natalie smiled as she said, "I can't wait to see you up at the altar."  "I'm the luckiest man alive," Adam replied to his bride.    Before we arrived for the weekend, Lynn (their wedding coordinator) told us how much we would love Adam, Natalie, and both sides of their families-- and she was right.  We can't get enough of how Natalie's dad kept mentioning how much he not only approved of but also very much loved his son-in-law, and Adam's parents just beamed with smiles all weekend as they looked at their son.  Natalie's mom had the

Omni Hotel

ballroom decked out in truly elegant decor, and when Adam and Natalie walked into the ballroom before the guests were allowed in, they walked around in amazement.  Natalie teared up with gratefulness as she thanked her mom for how beautiful the flowers and candles looked. Landry's florist in Houston designed the stunning floral arrangements:

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omni houston wedding video pic 13
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omni houston wedding video pic 14

Adam's cake featured a rope lasso border and the logo of 

University of Houston

, plus it had a cowboy hat on top!  They also had a photobooth provided by Image Cinema to grab some fun and quirky images of their guests, too.

photobooth
photobooth

 At the wedding reception, Natalie's maid of honor spoke of how she had traveled the world with Natalie on many adventures.  She congratulated her on having a new partner for adventures, and we join her in that sentiment!

-kourtney amelia

Rehearsal Dinner Venue:

The Corinthian

Rehearsal Dinner Catering & Fine Dining Service:

Jackson and Company

202 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas

Wedding Ceremony Venue:

Memorial Drive United Methodist Church

12955 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079

Wedding Reception Venue:

The Omni Hotel

Four Riverway, Houston, Texas 77056

Phone: (713) 871-8181, Fax: (713) 871-0719

Event Planner & Design: Lynn Lary McLean

Florals:

Lary's Florist

Videographers: Mason Jar Films

Photographers:

Archetype Studio

Photobooth:

Image Cinema

Wedding Dress:

JLM Couture

Jewelry:

Judith Ripka

Trinity Baptist Church /// The Day You Found Out Why /// Tara + Alex, the full film

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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 13 the alamo

All Texans grow up learning the significance of the battle for the Alamo. Here at the Mason Jar Films studio, we have a special tie to it that goes beyond being Texans. Jones participated in the filming of Baylor Alum John Lee Hancock's The Alamo for several months, and he co-produced a documentary about how the extras in the film researched so much Alamo history in their spare time on set that they unearthed previously unknown portraits of Alamo defenders.

The battle is so engrained into the public psyche of Texans that an entire series of festivals and parades has grown out of remembrances of the event.  In 1891, a group of citizens decided to honor those who fought and died in the battle for the Alamo and San Jacinto with a battle of flowers, and the tradition of Fiesta in San Antonio was born.   For friends of Tara and Alex, 2010 was the year that the celebration took on a new meaning.  Enjoy their full film below, and find out why.

Tara's the kind of girl that a lot of guys were going after, according to reports from her brother, but when Alex came along, her entire family was thrilled that he was the one she ended up dating.   After getting to know them, it is obvious that they are a generous and extremely thoughtful pair of people who like to go above and beyond normal expectations to truly express their love and friendship.  The entire weekend was filled with very personalized gifts for family and friends, and a panoramic view of the Texas hill country.

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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 16 groom tux bowtie

The Westin La Cantera is perched on top of one of the highest hills in Northern San Antonio, and despite being pretty close to the city, it manages to feel very remote, with its modern, minimalistic take on mission style architecture and very wooded surroundings.  Tara and Alex both began their day with friends in separate casitas on the ranch resort.  Tara gave her sweet bridesmaids monogrammed bags filled with many goodies, including the extra-large silver monogram necklaces that they can be seen wearing with their bridesmaid outfits in the wedding video.

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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 17 bridal gift bags

Alex gave us a little preview of what he had written in his note to Tara about their future, and he had a surprise for her--a Cartier love bracelet that she had wanted for many years.   She also surprised him with a gift--a Montblanc pen.  Its significance is very powerful--Tara wrote to Alex that when she looked at the pen, she could envision the future milestones they would go through together as a married couple--buying their first car or house together, signing children's report cards, and more.

Tara also had very special gifts for her mother and father.  For her mother, she had purchased a diamond cross necklace from Moretti's in San Antonio, and each diamond represented a person in their family.  For her father, Tara knew how much he loved taking the family on trips, so she surprised him with the promise to take him on one last daddy-daughter trip to anywhere in the world that he would want to go.

------Later that night, the band put on the most amazing party--one of our favorite moments was the fun, upbeat & impromptu dance circle that gathered around Alex and his mother.  There was also a fun group that made a "limbo pole" out of napkins tied together, and everyone got in on the act!

limbo
limbo

Editor's notes:

Within their film, I chose to edit these gift-giving moments within flashbacks during the ceremony, because I felt that these gifts are tokens similar to a wedding ring--although they will not be worn on the hand, they are symbols that the bride and groom chose to honor the powerful impact that those relationships have had in their lives.

I think my favorite moment in the entire film is when Tara walks down the aisle, and as she walks toward Alex, the story flashes back to the moment that they first saw each other at their private first look.  Often, during  the ceremony as a bride walks down the aisle, she is at first smiling and nodding to the people around her, but then her eyes are quickly drawn to her groom, and both of them will lock focus onto each other.  All else fades away as they walk towards one another, just as their hearts are united as one during the wedding ceremony.    Because of how precious that moment can be, I wanted Tara and Alex to be able to simultaneously remember the emotions they felt during both the walk of the first look and the walk of the aisle during the ceremony.  For those of you who are Jane Austen fans, I'll confess that the way I chose to edit this part is a little bit of an homage to the dance scene in Pride & Prejudice between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, where at the height of emotion in their conversation, the scene suddenly shifts as all others in the room suddenly disappear.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBMteBVnhZw[/youtube]

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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 12 bride groom portrait
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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 15 bride enzo angiolini sparkle heel peeptoe
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westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 18
westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 19 best
westin la cantera purple flowers wedding video photo 19 best

"The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why."

Alex' father opened the rehearsal dinner with these words, and throughout the weekend, we truly learned what it meant to this family.

Reception Venue: San Antonio Resort Westin La Cantera 16641 La Cantera Pkwy  San Antonio, TX 78256 Ceremony Venue: Trinity Baptist Church 319 E. Mulberry | San Antonio, TX 78212 | 210-733-6201 Officiant: Dr. Leslie Hollon Design: Morris Goen with Goen South Weddings Photography: David Sixt Reception Entertainment: Sauce Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films

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