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

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 "Are you nervous?" they asked each other as they exchanged wedding gifts around a corner just before the wedding ceremony. Their hands were a little shaky, but Kacy and Jason were all grins.  As the sound of the boys' choir practicing their performance echoed through the halls of the church, Kacy and Jason began their journey through a day that they had been looking forward to for many months.  Jason opened his gift--a pair of custom converse shoes--and Kacy opened hers--a pandora bracelet, with a hot air balloon charm that symbolizes an earlier part of their story--the proposal.  Here's the sneak peek of their wedding video that we're currently crafting:

Jason is a musician who also happens to drive a Tesla and teach robotics at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Kacy is a Texas A&M graduate (whoop!) with an independent, committed, and kind personality.  We had been looking forward to filming this wedding since we first heard from Jason, the groom.  Not only is he a model of a thoughtful groom who has diverse hobbies and a hilarious personality (love the comic timing on that speech!), but he's also got a keen understanding of filmmaking aesthetics.  From the moment he started talking to us about the artistic qualities he envisioned for his wedding film, we knew we'd have a blast putting one together for this precious couple.

During Kacy's preparation for the wedding day, her ring bearer and flower girl wandered about the bridal room at the church while the adults cheerily sang them songs.  Her bridesmaids joked and exchanged stories.  The atmosphere wasrelaxed and intimate as her aunts gathered around to admire the dress as the last few buttons were being fastened.  Here are some screen-shots from the video:

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"Get that dress on, pucker up, and let's get married!" -from Jason's note to Kacy

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    The reception was held in the rustic Safari Lodge, whose patio and gazebo rest on the edge of a pond that overlooks fields filled with wild animals, including zebras and peacocks.  Guests were able to stroll past this field as they entered the lodge for cocktail hour, where Kacy and Jason had an assorted Tex-Mex buffet and DJ Johnny Bravo from Houston to keep the music pumping.

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I love the little dots of icing scattered across the lines on the cake tiers of this groom's cake.  They remind me a little of sheet music--like small notes & a melody, even without staff marks.

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The getaway car--a TESLA.  

Did you know that you can have Chuck Taylor shoes customized?  If you're a huge fan of the classic converse shoe, you'll love what Kacy put together for her wedding day present for Jason, her groom.  She had a special pair of the spunky sneakers embroidered with their wedding date, and Jason was so pumped to wear them for the wedding reception that he busted out some amazing dance moves:

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And--you guys---the dancing just didn't stop.  This crowd was so fun, we were sorry to see the night end.  All generations crowded the dance floor with their smiles and fearless dance moves.

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We loved so many things about this wedding, but as we were driving home to Austin on Sunday, the thing that kept coming back to our minds were the beautiful and hilarious toasts from the Father of the Bride, the Matron of Honor, the Best Man, and the groom himself.  Each speech was filled to the brim with hilarity and respect.

Humor, honor, love.  This is what makes a wedding special, and it is what makes a life together wonderful.

Wedding 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

The Wild Onion Ranch | The Big Time Band Performs Live

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Austin, TX - The Wild Onion Ranch - One of Texas' finest locations for a wedding ceremony or reception is The Wild Onion Ranch located on the south side of Austin. This particular clip features a performance from The Big Time Band and the event was designed by Swoop Events, a subsidiary of 2 Dine 4 Catering.

If you're a Texan with a destination wedding in Maui, obviously, you have to celebrate your wedding twice so all your local friends can join in the fun! Texans love to have a good time with their friends, y'all! Anna Kate & Charles did exactly that, and they included all kinds of cute touches in their Texas reception. Flower necklaces, tropical flowers, orchids, hydrangeas, lilies, birds of paradise--it was a gorgeous event.

Anna Kate had us filming in 8mm during their hawaiian adventure wedding, so of course, we filmed some of their Texas party on vintage film, and we also edited it into the digital footage; it has a neat effect on the imagery in the story.  Some people have referred to this combination of super 8mm film and digital HD footage as mixed media format style.  We call it fun. :)   We are always happy to film at The Wild Onion Ranch for parties or events.

- kourtney amelia

The Wild Onion is located just off IH-35 in south Austin, about a fifteen-minute drive from downtown.  

12112 Old San Antonio Rd

Manchaca, TX 78652

Directions (from Austin):

- Take IH-35 South to Onion Creek

- Take Exit 225 toward FM 1626 / Onion Creek Parkway

- Turn Right on FM 1626 (heading west)

- Turn Left on Old San Antonio Road

- Continue on Old San Antonio Road approximately one mile

- Turn Right into the Wild Onion 

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Photography: Heather Mabry, Eclectic Images

Austin Reception: The Wild Onion Ranch

Austin Reception Band: The Big Time Band

Event Planning: Swoop Events

Catering: 2Dine4

Floral Design: Westbank Flower Market

Bride and Groom's Cakes: Coco Paloma

Photobooth: Booth 66

Watch more films or join us on facebook: 

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The Wild Onion Ranch | Exotic & Intimate Texas wedding venue

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For those of you who aren't familiar with Austin, the personality of our city is often defined by an artistic expression that is simultaneously extravagant and humbly charming.  The Wild Onion Ranch is a treasure among the gems that define the look and feel of the hill country region. It is a gorgeous ranch-style location for weddings with exotic, carefully crafted landscaping, stately rustic architecture, gardens, and that true Austin casual feel.

 Take a look around:

 It's no secret that we're huge fans of the Edgerton family (we've filmed both of their daughter's weddings there).  We've filmed several other special occasions & charity event videos there over the years, and it is consistently beautiful.  Under the artistic vision of the Edgerton family, the landscape is always evolving and becoming even more detailed.  It will certainly fill your guests with a sense of wonder as they walk around the intimate gardens.

Some of the features include:  two covered patios with a grill/outdoor kitchen/bar, a stone table where desserts are often displayed, many pathways winding through the garden, small putting greens where tables can be easily placed, a pool, outdoor pergola grandstand and dance-floor, several well-shaded porches, benches, and resting areas, and a sunlit Tuscan Hall where ceremonies can be held, or other indoor activities can be staged. It is fantastic to see.

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There are many details that still astound us--like the benches constructed entirely from driftwood, and the details in the stone pathways (there's colored glass, fossils, and marbles cemented together--so beautiful!).  You'll enjoy any event (whether it be wedding or corporate) that you choose to celebrate there.

- kourtney amelia

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Watch more films or join us on facebook: 

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Rough Creek Lodge | "Florida visits Texas" Allison & Ryan, the full film

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 Look at those smiles.  Just look at them.  This image is a still shot from the moment when Allison and Ryan stepped out of the rustic hall where they were married. They were met by the pealing of bells, the sweet scent of lavender as it was being tossed, and the cheers of their family members.  To me, this says "sheer bliss."

See it for yourself.  In our previous post, we featured their wedding video preview, so here is their wedding film, from the sweet beginning to the rock'n'roll end. 

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Allison and Ryan were married in early June 2012 at the gorgeous and sprawling Ranch resort called Rough Creek Lodge, just outside of Glenrose, Texas.  

Allison and Ryan are Florida Natives, but they chose this rustic setting for their wedding partially because of all the fun recreational and relaxing activity options it provides for families, couples, and children.   Allison also mentioned to me that day that she had attended a friend's wedding there previously, and from that point on she and Ryan had been charmed by the complete sense of peace surrounding the setting.  We could tell that their family had an amazing time, and the way they sweetly doted on Allison and Ryan.  One of the most heartfelt moments of the evening culminated in Allison's parents' presentation and speech during the reception where they shared the importance of the history of their family and how proud they are of their children who are all very intelligent, successful, and kind individuals. 

We can't get enough of this moment from Allison's wedding where her mother and sister helped her finalize her bridal detals.  Their love and outward displays of affection for Allison were simply precious. 

Allison and Ryan, Thank you for letting us be a part of capturing these kind and tender moments in your family's life.  We wish you all the best that life can offer, and we already know you have the drive and passion to find it.

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We paused to briefly capture some sunset shots before entering the reception. The light was gorgeous.  Kym Skiles from F8 studios in DFW/Addison, TX was there to photograph the day.  We can't say enough great things about Kym's work or her amazing sense of humor.  We love working alongside her.

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The lodge has a great hall with a grand fireplace just off-center.  This shot shows only 2/3 of the room.  This scene would later hold the moment where Allison's grandmother catches the bouquet and gets a kiss on the cheek from her own grandson, who caught the garter. It was pretty hilarious.  

The talented people at Blue Lotus Floral did a stunning job with the table centerpieces.  As you can see, they put together a mixture of high and low arrangements that complemented Allison's color choices very well, incorporating the lavender of the bridesmaid's dresses with pink accents.

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This candy table was taken up a notch from normal candy tables, filled with a mixture of homemade versions of store-famous brands and delicate artisan-created dessert snacks.  The groom's cake was a sports themed cake with a baseball cap on top.  While the cap design and construction is expertly put together by the decorators at Frosted Art, my favorite detail is the baseline with bases running around the top part of the first tier of this square, or, rather diamond-shaped cake.

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Allison & Ryan also had a cute idea for how to make their photobooth photos a part of their party favors. At each table was an envelope that read "Thank you for making our day picture perfect."  The good folks at Snapzsnapz made sure that Allison & Ryan got a keepsake copy of each print out, but they sent the guests home with their own copies in these cute envelopes.

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Don't miss out on any other scrumptious details from their day:

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The Enchanting wedding ring set.

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Amazing floral bouquets from Blue Lotus Floral.

And if that wasn't enough for you, make sure you sneak a peek at their letterpress invitations.  If you're having invitations made, and you're not sure about whether you'd like letterpress, you  should know that the texture is both very visible and very physically beautiful:

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 Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of what we've been doing, please join us on facebook-- we would love to hear from you.   As Jones always says, "don't be a stranger."

-kourtney amelia

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

Private Ranch | "Montesito Ranch: The Virginia Invasion" - Liz & Mark, the full film

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Liz & Mark

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     Liz & Mark have the kind of love that seems like something from a fairy tale or a movie--but it is even more encouraging because it exists in real life!  It is probably every girl's dream to hear a man promise her father that he will do his best to take care of her, and Mark did exactly that. 

     At their rehearsal dinner, Mark, the groom, took the stage at the end of the night andgave the most heartfelt speech to thank his parents, to make vows to his community of friends and family that he would love Liz forever, and to especially thank his in-laws for their blessing.   "I'm going to be making vows to Liz tomorrow, but tonight I'm making a vow to you all," he told them.   

     Because we had filmed Liz's sisters wedding just 6 months earlier--we had already known to expect speeches that would inspire both laughter and tears from Liz's dad (the father of the bride) and from Liz' brother (an extremely skilled wordsmith), but we were floored by Mark's honesty and vulnerability toward his family, friends, and to Liz.   Liz is a gorgeous bride (as you can see!), and her parent's homestead, Montesito Ranch, is breathtaking to look at in a wildflower-filled spring, but to work with such a kind and loving family was truly an honor.  We were thankful to be given the task of creating an artistic wedding film for this couple.

You can watch their full film here (be prepared to laugh and cry!)

On top of all of the romance at this wedding, there were some hilarious moments (& amazing decor details): 

The BBQ rehearsal dinner (a texas wedding tradition) was held at a historic auction house in New Ulm, Texas, complete with pies for dessert.  This was where family members told wild and crazy stories of Liz and Mark's hilarious antics from growing up and from college.   Liz' Dad had us rolling with his Steve Martin-themed Father-of-the-Bride toast. 

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RECEPTION

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While the guests enjoyed cocktail hour under a linen-wrapped white tent, the wedding party took pictures in the field where horses stood grazing nearby.

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The bride and groom danced their first dance during what filmmakers refer to as "golden hour"  (sunset).   This can create lovely golden colors in the images on your video and in your photos!  If you decided to do this at your wedding, make sure to check the exact times that golden hour happens, because right after the sun dips below the horizon, even though it is still light, the colors of light turn an ashy blue.  If that kind of hazy grey light is exactly what you'd like for your dance, have at it!  Just make sure that you understand what your light will look like at different times of day, and you'll be able to set your schedule to fit the kind of imagery you want.  (Your wedding coordinator will know just what to do!)

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 DANCIN' Y'ALL

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Again, if you haven't watched the dance sequence in Liz & Mark's wedding video,

you're 100% missing out on amazing dancers and old school hip hop.  Get to it!

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CONGRATULATIONS, LIZ & MARK

You can watch more of our films on vimeo or catch up with us on facebook.   We'd love to hear from you!

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