June 27, 2013

Omni Hotel & The Corinthian |"Love at First Sight" Natalie + Adam, the highlights

June 27, 2013/ Kourtney Amelia

The wedding weekend began with a private rehearsal dinner banquet at one of Houston's finest locations in historic downtown--The Corinthian. Within its roman colonnade, the tables were laid in gold and crystal with orchid centerpieces of varying height. Each place setting was set with a petite bomboniere bag of chocolate covered almonds (five for luck!). At traditional Italian weddings, five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. As the guests dined on a fantastic feast, they were treated to a surprise serenade of roaming violinists.

The toasts were perfectly timed, witty, and doting, as friends and family gathered around Natalie and Adam to recognize and honor the love that the two of them shared. A recurring theme through the weekend began to emerge as we watched this couple celebrate, and it has made me re-think the truest meaning of the term "love at first sight."

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Often, "love at first sight" means that a person knows he/she is in love as soon as they see the other person for the first time. But what we began to notice was that Adam's love for Natalie grows stronger and stronger every time he lays eyes on her--their friends often referred to his continual, daily, moment-by-moment praise of her beauty, her kindness, and her character. For Adam, it is love at first sight and every sight of Natalie.

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Natalie's something blue: a Judith Ripka bracelet with beautiful pale aqua blue jewels.

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Natalie's wedding gown (JLM Couture) had sheer back panels blocked out in sparkles. She hand selected the stunning belt with its gauzy bow to be added to the dress.

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We can't wait to share more details from their story and their wedding with you-- One of my favorite moments that already sticks out in my mind happened just after Natalie and Adam exited the wedding ceremony. As Natalie happily exclaimed that she was now Adam's wife, he couldn't contain his joy either--and they shared high-fives and hugs with everyone. And, as you can see from this highlight clip of their wedding video, Adam's got some stellar dance moves, and Natalie's mom had the

Omni Hotel

ballroom decked out in truly elegant decor. You'll love Adam's

University of Houston

groom's cake (complete with a cowboy hat on top!) and their amazing reception band.

Natalie and Adam, thank you for trusting us with your precious memories and allowing us to share in your day. Here's to love at first sight, forever and ever more!

-kourtney amelia

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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:

Photobooth:

Wedding Dress:

Jewelry:

June 26, 2013

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

June 26, 2013/ Kourtney Amelia

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

April 17, 2013

Escondido Golf & Lake Club | "My Loving Arms Are For You" - Lindsay & Steven, the preview

April 17, 2013/ Kourtney Amelia

Lindsay is an avid athlete and award-winning UT Longhorn swimmer--and Steven, her aggie husband, brought many Canadians from his side of the wedding party down to Texas. The bride told us that they love to spend time on the lake, go bowling, and running together.

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Lindsay also described herself as traditional and told us that Steven is laid back. After attending their wedding, we can tell this is totally true about them. Everything from the location, decor, and the activities at their wedding reflected this dichotomy between them--including their sweet passion. You can see from the footage of their first dance that although Steven claims to be shy, he doesn't hold back the smiles when it comes to looking into the eyes of his bride.

Jones and I happily packed up our gear to head out to Lindsay & Steven's wedding at the gorgeous Escondido Golf and Lake Club. It's been almost a year since we filmed Sidni & Jay's wedding there, and just over six months since filming Laura and Marcus. (Both of those weddings still make me cry when I watch them!)

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We were so excited to be teaming up with the folks at DFW Events and Petal Pushers for this event--The ladies at DFW Events know how to keep a party alive and they're so organized and friendly. Also, Petal pushers always stuns us with their heady, romantic displays that should be considered more art than arrangement.

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The day started out bright and full of sunshine with 0% chance of rain. Zero. Although that changed as soon as the ceremony began, the ceremony continued under a light shower. As Lindsay's dad gave her away to her groom, Steven, he whispered, "she's spent all this time in the water, so why not now?" They laughed, and although the clouds hovered nearby, the rain couldn't keep the happy spirit of this family down. After the ceremony, cocktail hour was held on the back balcony of the Club house, and the Dallas String Quartet continued performing while the food was being laid out onto the buffet. A cute little guest entertained everyone around him while pretending to be the conductor of the quartet--even the violinists were cracking grins.

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Quail was a meat option....Quail! Yum!

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Steven and Lindsay danced their first dance to a song by a Texas band--Green River Ordinance--called "Dancing Shoes." There's a lyric in the song that says:

Forget about all the things that

We can't make right

Put on a little Emmyloo

And we'll dance into the night

Singing, hold my loving arms

My loving arms are for you

All we need is time, honey

all we need is time

And they did dance into the night. The band Suede from Austin entertained the crowd of Canadians and Americans late into the night, ending with a powerful rendition of "God Bless Texas" and "Don't Stop Believin"

The officiant (Father Ruben Patino) began the ceremony with a description of why marriage is sacred, and how Lindsay and Steven's marriage is supposed to be a reflection of love that guides those who witness it toward having more love in their own lives. Lindsay and Steven, thank you for the reminder that no matter how plans go "all you need is time." Time with friends, with family, and forever with each other.

-kourtney amelia

Reception:

Escondido Golf And Lake Club

Chargers:

POSH Couture Rentals

Officiant: Father Ruben Patino

Musicians:

Dallas String Quartet

Soloist: Addison Myrick (who also happens to be a local ATX photographer)

Photographer:

Jennifer Lindberg Weddings

Videographer: Mason Jar Films

Band:

Florist:

Lighting:

Cakes:

Hair and Make-up:

Cigar Roller:

Whiskey Tasting:

Rebecca Creek Whiskey

Music by Humming House

Licensed through The Music Bed

April 15, 2013

Country Club of Jackson | Nascar & Casablanca - Callie & Reid, Part 1 of 3

April 15, 2013/ Kourtney Amelia

This past weekend, we packed up our team and headed out to Jones' hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. We were filming the wedding of Callie and Reid, who met in college (hotty toddy!) on the same fraternity house steps where Callie's parents had first laid eyes on each other. Pretty sweet, huh? Their rehearsal dinner was impeccably designed by Wendy Putt, and Callie was radiant in a grecian-style dress that was an homage to the art deco period (Or we could say very Great Gatsby, for the Baz Luhrmann fans out there).

While Texas is filled with southern politeness, while in Mississippi, we really got to experience true southern hospitality in the capable hands of Callie and Reid's mothers. They welcomed our small team into their homes and shared their stories with us--I can't wait to finish this edit so that you can hear a refreshingly historical and interesting story behind wallpaper (you'll really be surprised), see Callie's grandfather's elephant collection, hear the stories from the amazing rehearsal dinner, and see the gorgeous dog that never left Callie's side during preps. There was also some seriously kind sibling affection--Reid's sister was sweetly tearful throughout both the rehearsal and the wedding as was Reid when he returned words about her. Callie was also kindly affectionate towards her siblings, and boy, is their extended family fun! When I say fun, I mean, the kind of family that puts on skits and musicals for each other at Christmas kind of fun.

See, I told you--there's going to be a lot of story to tell in this film.

Did I also mention that alligators inhabit the pond behind Callie's house? Yikes! The lake-top was serene on the wedding day, though, and although the Father of the Bride (who is often mistaken for Dennis Quaid) pointed out some alligators in the far off grasses, I was unable to find them with my long range lens.

The reception was held at the Country Club of Jackson, and Callie had two whole rooms devoted to their hobbies--classic films and Nascar/Memphis food. Reid's "tire stack" cake sat atop an actual tire signed by Jeff Gordon, and the movie room screened great films like Casablanca, Sound of Music, and more. Guests were greeted at the door with a Parisian buffet of artisan candies, and candles hung overhead from invisible wire, giving the feeling of floating firelight everywhere.

Did I mention the bacon bar at the reception?

The Atlanta based band "Party on the Moon" put on a rockin show --and they were hilarious, too. When Reid's groomsmen just let the garter fall to the ground at garter toss, they had him re-toss it--claiming a rule that "it has to be caught." I've never heard that rule before, but it had everyone laughing.

This is one of Callie's favorite rings perched atop a Tiffany's box for her earrings. She said that even though it's a casual ring, it meant a lot to her, so it was a "must have" for her wedding day ensemble. Her belt, if you've been wondering, was designed by the team at Vera Wang.

Thanks to Callie and Reid for spoiling us with delicious food to eat, smiling people to film, and great story-telling material to work with. I'm excited to head into the editing bay!

-kourtney amelia

P.S. Although we did not see alligators (whew!), we still got an interesting shot of some wildlife-- Elizabeth managed to snag some footage of a hopping squirrel. Yes, hopping. You'll have to tune back later when we post the full film to check it out.

Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church Jackson

Reception: Country Club of Jackson

Rehearsal Dinner: The South

Event Design: Wendy Putt of Fresh Cut Catering and Floral

Event Coordinator: Crisler Boone

Event Styling: Shanna Lumpkin Events

Photographer Bryan Johnson

Reception Band: Party On The Moon

April 11, 2013

St. Mark's Episcopal Church | "Luckiest Man Alive" - Annlyn & D.A.

April 11, 2013/ Kourtney Amelia

Annlyn & D.A. had a beautiful spring outdoor reception at The Argyle club--at the ocean-inspired reception party, guests were treated to a diverse buffet that include a shrimp bar, sushi bar, and taco bar. The flower girls and ring bearer ran from place to place enjoying the discovery of the different ice sculptures scattered throughout the party--including a mermaid and a dolphin. As if that weren't enough, Cheesy Janes (http://cheesyjanes.com) food truck showed up to feed the party crowd some late night sliders. Yum, oh! We left the party so energized, because the band plowed through hit after hit, switching members in and out so that they played continuously without a break, keeping the party going all night long.

Earlier in the day, we met up with Annylyn as she arrived at the ceremony site, St. Mark's Episcopal Church. St. Mark's is a beautiful building, filled with history. Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson were married there!

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Outside the gorgeous stone cathedral, family calmly gathered to begin taking photographs before the wedding ceremony. The bridesmaids floated in Grecian blue gowns and the ring bearers had their checkered bow-ties straightened. The stone and stained-glass building towered over the group, but the day seemed to have no shadows as Annlyn and D.A. prepared for their first look before the ceremony.

(Tradition tip: a "first look" is a modern tradition that allows the bride and groom to see each other about an hour before the wedding ceremony in a private setting. This allows them to see each other without distraction, to exchange private words, to get out any jitters, and to take their portraits before the ceremony so that they can head straight to their party afterwards.)

D.A. was completely smitten when he saw Annlyn for the first time in her wedding dress. Every few seconds he stopped to tell her how beautiful she looked, and before their portraits were done, he had declared himself to be "the luckiest man alive."

Here are a few still-frames from the wedding video we are putting together for this amazing bride and groom: