Rough Creek Lodge | "Florida visits Texas" Allison & Ryan, Part 1 of 2

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The bridal bouquet rests in the bride's cowboy boot shortly before the ceremony.  We loved the peonies used in this floral design.  Please enjoy this preview for Allison & Ryan's divine destination wedding at the rustic Rough Creek Lodge in Glenrose, TX.

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Allison and Ryan are smart, talented, gorgeous--and they have seriously cool taste in music.  Before their wedding, Allison had let us know how much Ryan loves classic rock n roll.  Most people think of Texas as a country western kind of place, but after you visit here, you know differently--Texans love all kinds of music, because mostly, Texans just love to have a good time! We were as excited about hearing the entertainment band as we were about the wilderness setting that Rough Creek Lodge provides.

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When you pull into the lodge, the thing that strikes you is the wildness of the grassy fields.  Allison and Ryan chose to have a spring wedding, which, in our opinion, if we have had a good solid rain in late winter, Texas Spring weddings cannot be beaten.  The wildflowers were out in epic proportions that day (and we do not use the word epic lightly).  We were thankful for color on our normally tan landscape. 

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Allison & Ryan had their Chuppah (huppa, chuppa, you might spell it differently) set up in a homespun wooden chapel that sits on the land at the lodge, with wooden pews, hardwood floors, and floor to ceiling cathedral style windows.  Their rose-covered chuppah was the most ornate thing in the room, and it was beautiful. 

In Jewish tradition, the chuppah represents the home that the couple will build together.  It is open on all four sides in remembrance of the hospitality of Abraham.   Before they were married, Allison and Ryan had visited Rough Creek Lodge and found it to be a place that truly energized them--it is peaceful,  with open horizons, and enjoyable activities.  Allison told us that they had invited all of their Floridian family and friends to Texas because they wanted to share the special experience of Rough Creek Lodge with them.  In that way, even their wedding location is a reflection of the hospitality that the chuppah represents.

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Ceremony and Reception: Rough Creek Lodge

Photographer: Kym Skyles, f8Studio

Reception Band: The Annagrey Band

Hair and Makeup: Joanna Hathcock

Cakes: Frosted Art

Floral: Blue Lotus Floral

Chairs and Glassware: Ducky Bob's

Linens: BBJ

Photo Booth: SnapzSnapz

Ceremony Acoustic Guitar: Bruce Canafax

Favors: Totally Sugar

Ceremony Rabbi: Rabbi Barry Diamond

Ceremony Protestant Minister: Rev. Arianna Gray, Alternative Wedding Services

Transportation: Limo Valet

Dallas Union Station || The Gift of Another Sister || Ann + Andrew

Ann & Andrew are friends with some of our previous couples (notably John & Laura, who are both pastors at Watermark Church in Dallas).  In college, Ann became best friends with Andrew's sister, and everytime Andrew's sister would return home from the dorms she told her brother, "you have to meet my new friend, she is just like you."  Andrew did end up meeting Ann, and as they say, the rest is history.  What a fairy-tale, to have a best friend become your family member. 

At the reception, the Wolfgang Puck catering was superb, and as you can see, the dotted swiss wedding cake was regal and modern with each layer decorated in a different pattern or texture of buttercream icing.

Professor D, as usual, rocked out the reception with their amazing brass section and variety of vocal talent.

Adding some Texas flair to their wedding, Ann chose a ring-bearer pillow with her new monogram in blue with blue rosettes and a golden-threaded silhouette of the state of Texas, where the wedding was held.  Simple and gorgeous.

The engagement ring.  Photographer Lauren Larsen was a treat to work alongside.

Ann & Andrew, it was truly a treat to watch your family enjoy themselves on such an important day.  Thanks for choosing us as your dallas wedding videographer!

-kourtney amelia

Ceremony: First United Methodist Church, Dallas
Reception: Union Station
Event Planner: Caroline Fair, Caroline Events
Photographer: Lauren Larsen
Reception Entertainment: Professor D
Floral: Garden Gate
Cake: Jackie Spratt
Dress: Stanley Korshak
Lighting: Beyond 

Four Seasons Hotel Austin | Wedding Video Highlights for Sara & Ben

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Austin, TX - When we arrived to film the wedding video for Sara & Ben, we already knew that Sara, a Baylor University graduate, was spunky and had lots of personality--but we weren't prepared for what gracious and eloquent hosts they proved to be. Sara's dad had wonderful thingsto say in his father-of-the-bride toast about the success his daughter has had in her career, beauty, and character, and he also had admiration for her choice in a husband.  Sara obviously takes after her dad in some respects, because she also gave a speech with a lot of heart--but I'll get to that in a minute.

Sara created an indoor fairytale wedding, with whimsical butterflies, curly willow, floral and crystal rhinestones everywhere.  Even sweeter was the moment when Sara and Ben took the mic at their reception and shared how they met (Gold's Gym, through some friends), and thanked their families and guests for taking the time to join them for the wedding ceremony and reception celebration.

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They had a fantastic set up at their reception at the Four Seasons Austin, with live music provided by the crooning big jazz band 'Blind Date.'  We love Blind Date's ability to play big brass numbers like New York, New York, and other classic standards.  

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When guests entered the reception, they were greeted by a wide variety of hors d Oeuvres, a drink bar that was made entirely of a huge monogrammed ice sculpture, and a live pianist.  Tulips gracefully dipped out of tall candlestick centerpieces,  and the table assignments were printed onto cards in the shape of butterflies and hung from an enormous curly willow table centerpiece in the center of the foyer.

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During the Reception, guests were able to have a freshly rolled cigar on the patio, sign the photobooth guestbook, have a flipbook made, or sit for a portrait with a caricature artist. It was truly fantastical, and delightful to wander and see what they had set up for their guests.

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Lastly, We truly enjoyed working alongside the Houston event planners from Belle of the Ball and with Austin wedding photographer Dustin Meyer (who also does fantastic commercial work).  Alia (the lead event planner from Belle of the Ball) was informative, professional, personable, and obviously has a very creative touch.  Dustin, the photographer, was friendly and easy to communicate with--one of the key factors to getting great photos and videos when you hire two separate imagery teams.  We don't like to be in a photographer's way, and we also appreciate photographers who recognize that we're all just there to bring you the best collection of memories as possible.

Stay tuned for Sara & Ben's full wedding film, which will be under the section for "full films" on our website.

Event Planner: Alia Rdissi, Belle of the Ball

Photography: Dustin Meyer

Ceremony: St. Mary's

Reception: The Four Seasons, Austin  (98 San Jacinto Austin, TX)

Reception Band: Blind Date

Floral: Verbena

Cake: Michelle's Patisserie

Lighting: Filo Designs

Makeup: Lisa Jauregui, Austin Wedding Makeup

Choir: Austin Girl's Choir

Classic String Quartet: Divisi

Linens and Chargers: BBJ

Cigar Roller: Hight Cigar

Flip Books: On the Flipside

Caricature Artist: Victoria Barclay, Best Entertainers

Ice Sculpture: Full Spectrum

Transportation: Uptown Valet

Rehearsal Dinner: Steiner Ranch Steakhouse

Victorian Outdoor Wedding | "She's the Best That You Can Find" - Morgan & Ben

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What a wonderful family.  We were pleased to pack up and head to Texarkana for Morgan & Ben's celebration at the Ledwell family home.  It is a stately Victorian home on their ranch land, with stained glass windows and wallpaper so lovely it would have Anthropologie designers drooling.

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screen grab of Morgan's dress from Morgan and Ben's wedding video

Morgan sent us a few descriptions of what her wedding day would be like, and her descriptions filled us with anticipation about how beautiful the day would be:

"This is a Victorian home with a cupola that you can climb up into if you want a high shot of the surroundings.  We have a cigar roller who will be working throughout the reception.  My bouquet will have my maternal grandmother's handkerchief that she held at her wedding as my something borrowed. As well as my late paternal grandmother's pin. My something blue is the garter. I'd love a lot of shots of the gardens around the home and the house itself."

We were excited to see even more when we arrived--they had a photobooth for reception entertainment, a s'mores bar, a cigar/dessert lounge, live music from dallas, and plenty of late night snacks to go around.  Morgan had also told us about her grandfather's famous rose garden, which certainly lived up to its reputation!

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Morgan & Ben hired us to film both their wedding and their rehearsal dinner, and the speech you see in the preview was given by the Best Man, Reid, who is the groom's life-long best friend.  Reid has us crying with laughter, and you'll have to tune in later to see his wonderful toasts in the full film.

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Morgan chose to have all of her bridesmaids wear white & cream cocktail dresses in whatever cut and design they chose.  They looked lovely!

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The groomsmen looked dapper in their classy black satin bow ties and vividly colored floral boutonnieres.

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The bride's bouquet was made up of a variety of roses & peonies in subtle shades of pink and yellow.

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We also had the pleasure of working with these fabulous vendors:

Photography: La Dolce Vita

Floral: Scooter Raney

Reception Entertainment: All Funk Radio Show

Rentals: Ducky Bob's

Event Branding: Gatsby Event Branding

Escondido Golf & Lake Club | The Dog Stays In the Picture - Sidni & Jay Preview

Sidni's engagment ring

Sidni's engagement ring.  Yowza!  It is a gorgeous square cut diamond flanked by smaller round diamonds with smooth edging.  Lovely!

Bridesmaids boots

The bridesmaids looked lovely in golden cowboy boots.

Sidni's entrance

Jay's preppy tie, navy striped and a little nautical in color, looked sharp next to the soft blues and golden tones from the rest of the florals.

Sun flare at Escondido

While the guests milled around during cocktail hour, the kids entertained themselves with a very competitive round of "duck, duck, goose."  The sunlight in their hair is magical.

Centerpieces

I was so excited to see tulips paired with hydrangeas at the reception.  Tulips are classy.  Paired with the white linens and simple wooden chairs, the reception had the ambiance of the most elegant sunset picnic you'd ever attend.

Sunset at Escondido

Drake, Boom, and Miller

Jay is a fan of hunting, fly-fishing, and their three dogs--so Sidni had the cake decorated with a very special cake topper with each of their three dogs.  The chalk board around the first dog's neck with their wedding date is an inspired detail.

See more groom's cakes that we find amazing.

Fireworks

Sidni's dad gave a really sweet toast, and afterward, he surprised Sidni with a firework show.  As you can see from her facial reaction, she was genuinely surprised, and even shed a few tears. It was really beautiful.

Sidni and Jay, thanks so much for having us to your wedding.  We loved being a witness to your devotion to each other and to your creativity during the reception.

-kourtney amelia

Photography: Cory Ryan Photography

Venue: Escondido Golf And Lake Club

Floral: Freytag's Florist

Reception Entertainment: Pardi Gras