Shabby-Chic Blush, Gold & Cream Wedding by Kelly Hornberger

They say if you have to invite your best friend to your wedding, you’re marrying the wrong person. We know that Houston bride Caroline agrees! “Austin and I were best friends for two years before we started dating in 8th grade. We’ve always loved each other, but were hesitant of it potentially ruining our friendship. We took a leap of faith and decided to follow our hearts.”

When it came time to propose, Austin knew the perfect way to catch her completely off guard. It was his birthday, and Caroline wanted to surprise him with a birthday dinner… little did she know that she was the one in for a treat! As soon as they arrived to the restaurant, Caroline and Austin were led to the back, where she thought all of their family and friends would be—no one was there, and the room was filled with decorations and pictures of them. “I was so shocked, but thought it was all planned for him and I just hadn’t gotten get the memo,” adds Caroline. He showed her a sweet video he made for her, got down on one knee and asked Caroline to spend forever with him.

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Caroline wore a stunning strapless lace bridal gown from Weddings by Debbie paired with blue Badgley Mischka peep-toe pumps.

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Their vision of a rustic Texas wedding came together with shabby-chic decor and romantic accents.

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Her favorite moments? “Reading our personal vows to each other from behind either sides of a door holding hands, and dancing with my dad and my mom,” says Caroline. Thanks, Kelly Hornberger Photography, for the beautiful photos!

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Photos: Kelly Hornberger Photography | Wedding Dress: Weddings by Debbie | Music, Lighting & Photo Booth: DJU Entertainment

Blush, Cream & Marsala Rustic Fall Wedding

Taylor noticed Cody at a get-together in College Station and decided to approach him with a witty one-liner. “I asked him if he lived in Cypress, and he said, ‘Yes,’” says Taylor. Inspired by her favorite actor, Will Ferrell, she replied, “Did we just become best friends?!” Her sense of humor worked on Cody, and they have been inseparable since!

Cody knew the perfect moment to propose to Taylor was on a family vacay for the Fourth of July. They went to the Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio to watch the fireworks show. The scenery was perfect, “We all sat on a big blanket while eating s’mores. After a couple minutes after the show started, Cody asked me to stand up,” says Taylor. Her initial response was, “No! Are you crazy? I’m watching the fireworks!” But his persistence paid off and before Taylor knew it, he was on one knee asking her to spend the rest of their lives together. Aww!

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After a sweet summer proposal came their romantic fall wedding. She wore a full-sleeved Hayley Paige gown from Now & Forever Bridal Boutique, and held a gorgeous marsala, blush and ivory bridal bouquet by Blooms Design Studio while she said her “I do’s.”

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“Everything was magical. The whole place was filled with candlelight and lanterns. I wanted to mix one bold color with a neutral palette, so marsala was the perfect pop of color to complete my fall wedding vision,” says Taylor.

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Her favorite moment was kissing Cody under the fireworks. “It was such a magical night,” says Taylor.

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Best wishes and congrats to the newlyweds!

Photos: Kelley Craig Photography | Hayley Paige Wedding Dress: Now & Forever Bridal Boutique | Catering: Cafe Natalie | Music & Entertainment: DJU Entertainmet | Bouquet: Blooms Design Studio

Modern-Rustic Wedding at Chateau Polonez

Brittni and Cameron’s love story is a true high-school dream. She was a cheerleader, and he was a baseball player. A mutual friend introduced them after a game, and it took only two weeks for them to go on a group movie date. Seven years later, they had gone from high-school sweethearts to lifelong soulmates.

Cameron knew that the perfect way to catch Brittni off guard was with a surprise proposal the weekend of his 23rd birthday. As the bride tells it, “I came back from College Station to attend his birthday dinner in Cypress, and was a little perturbed because he had been very evasive and hadn’t been communicating much the week before. Looking back on it, I should have known what was going to happen, after my mom and cousin took me to get my nails done and helped me pick out an outfit. My mom was so worried that my shirt was wrinkled, which is typical—but she was extra concerned that day.” In true Southern-gentleman fashion, Cameron picked her up in his F250 truck and told Brittni that he wanted to make a pit stop at his uncle’s barn before dinner. Brittni recounts: “We hopped out of his truck and began walking towards the lake, and spotted a little boy laughing while fishing. I was completely oblivious to the situation, and only noticed the roses and mason-jar candles as I ran into Cameron’s back,” she says. “I looked up and saw his face… it immediately brought me to tears. The look in his eyes was nothing I’ve seen before.” Cameron dropped down on one knee, and then came the ugly cries and happy tears.

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She wore a gorgeous lace bridal gown, and the entire bridal party wore the cutest sneakers—including Brittni!

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Brittni and Cameron had a vision of a modern-rustic wedding that came to life at Chateau Polonez with lush greenery, lots of candlelight and a naked cake.

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“Our favorite moment was standing on stage after we said, ‘I do.’ We saw so many supportive faces and felt all of the love in that moment,” Brittni says. Congrats & best wishes to the newlyweds!

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Photos: Leighanne Herr Photography | Venue: Chateau Polonez | Lighting, Music & Photo Booth: DJU Entertainment

White & Green Wedding by Philip Thomas Photography

Anna, who grew up in lush, tree-filled Marietta, Ga., knew she wanted the feel of the outdoors at her Texas wedding to Clark, even if it had to take place indoors. For the couple’s July wedding, a “woodlands” theme presided, with moss and foliage entwined against billowing drapery, and Anna in a flowing dress from Joan Pillow Bridal Salon for the ceremony.

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The couple worked with Houston photographer Philip Thomas of Philip Thomas Photography to document their special day. Thomas captured countless of what he calls “in-between moments” of Anna, Clark and their loved ones like these sweet hugs and kisses!

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Taking note of Anna’s “woodlands” inspiration, we love how Thomas captured plenty of natural light in his photos, and even braved the hot, hot Texas heat to take this oh-so-romantic tree-lined shot. At the reception, Anna and Clark “traded out white for pops of primary colors,” Anna says, which Thomas also captured beautifully, as pictured in the shot below.

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“We really wanted our wedding to be fun and full of energy, and I feel like between the band, photo booth and the aviator sunglasses that everyone loved, we could just focus on having a blast and not worry about any details,” Anna recounts. It looks like everyone (especially Clark!) had the time of their lives. Congrats to the both of you, Anna and Clark, we wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Interested in learning more about award-winning Philip Thomas Photography? Be sure to schedule your consultation ASAP, as this HOT Texas photographer books up well in advance! And make sure to tell him you found him on the Houston Wedding Blog!

Photos: Philip Thomas Photography | Wedding Dress: Joan Pillow Bridal Salon | Photo Booth: DJU Entertainment | Registry: Bering’s

Houston Wedding Entertainers at the I Do! Wedding Soiree

First comes love, then comes marriage…then comes the party of a lifetime to celebrate your blessed union! While every couple, family and culture celebrates differently, one common thread among wedding day festivities is music. Whether it be through an intimate jazz show, a lively Top-40 DJ and MC, or even a classical piano and strings performance, the music on your wedding day is what will keep the celebration going and keep your guests entertained, from ceremony to reception to after-party hijinks!

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Top Left Photo: Reclaimed Moments, Entertainment: Scott Graham Piano | Top Right Photo: Steve Lee Photography, Entertainment: Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production |Bottom Photo: Le Zu Photography, Entertainment: LG Entertainment

We’ve selected five of Houston’s top wedding entertainers — Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production, DJU Entertainment, LG Entertainment, Scott Graham Piano and Signature EvenTx DJ & Event Productions — to showcase their musical and audiovisual expertise at our I Do! Wedding Soiree on Feb. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Corinthian. Longtime Soiree partner LG Entertainment also will demonstrate how to capture the fun when your guests need a break from the dance floor, with one of our favorite wedding trends—photobooths! Be sure to purchase your tickets to Houston’s ONLY luxury wedding event, and learn more about these vendors’ custom playlists, performance styles, lighting techniques, staging setups and more! Bonus: Purchase your tickets by 11:59 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 24, and you could WIN an incredible $1,000 Hotel Galvez & Spa Weekend Romance Escape!! Our winner will be notified next week, and announced live at the I Do! Wedding Soiree. Get your dance on, darlings…it’s Soiree time!

Top Photo: Akil Bennett Photography, Entertainment: DJU Entertainment | Bottom Photo: Ama Photography & Cinema, Entertainment: Signature EvenTx DJ & Event Productions