Google+ The Nichols Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: The Nichols

We’re back with part two of Samantha and Samuel’s beautiful Austin wedding (see part one here)! After the sweet ceremony, guests headed to cocktail hour to check out the margarita bar, and then joined the newly married Sam and Sam for an al fresco dinner under the chandeliers. The perfect end to the night? A killer dance party on the monogrammed dance floor!

Thanks so much to The Nichols and Lovely Little Details for sharing Samantha and Samuel’s special day with us in V7!

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? Why was this design special to you as a couple? Since I study and work in interior design, the aesthetics of our wedding were really important to me. I grew up following my mother to antique stores and estate sales, so I have had a love of found objects for most of my life. I knew that I wanted a touch of antique design to weave throughout the wedding; however, I wanted to keep the feel romantic and fresh, rather than overly whimsical or rustic. Vintage brass candlesticks, French settees, and whitewash Chiavari chairs helped to bring in this classic feel. We also added a few custom touches that Sam and I brainstormed with the help of our planner, Jacin, like the gray and white painted bars and the gold calligraphy “Cheers” sign behind the main bar. We kept our color palette soft so that it wouldn’t distract from the beauty of the large oak trees covered in string lights and lush green surroundings: blush, gold, champagne, ivory, and soft blue, with pops of coral. The evening was all about taking the beauty of the outdoor landscape and enhancing it, rather than distracting from it.

We were taking photos during the cocktail hour, but we wanted to keep our guests entertained and enjoying the night. We had an open bar as well as a margarita bar, to incorporate one of our favorite drinks! Guests could choose from a variety of margarita combinations, from a blueberry jalapeno margarita to a classic lime margarita garnished with cotton candy! Sam and I also both chose to have a signature cocktail. The Mrs. Sam was a champagne cocktail with St-Germain elderflower liquor. The Mr. Sam was a classic Manhattan.

Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: I loved our setting for dinner. We did a family-style table set up for our guests with long tables, rather than round ones. The florals, place settings, and candlesticks were some of my favorite items to pick out with Jacin, and I was so thrilled with the look we created! I wanted to have the dinner underneath the stars to enjoy the beautiful evening, but at the same time, I thought it would be so romantic to dine under chandeliers. To incorporate both of these elements, we used a tent frame to enclose the dinner tables and to hang the chandeliers from. Leaving the tent frame open allowed guests to look up and see the beautiful night sky. While Sam and I were having our first dance before dinner, I remember glancing up and seeing the gorgeous sky and just soaking in the beauty of the night and that moment.

What was Southern about your wedding? I did a cake pull during my bridesmaids’ brunch! It was so fun to read the girls their fortunes and incorporate this tradition. We also incorporated many Southern touches throughout the wedding, as my family has roots in Texas and Oklahoma. We served mint juleps and a margarita bar, in true Tex-Mex style. We also utilized family heirlooms in the décor–pottery that has been passed down through my mom’s side of the family held florals and decorated the guest book table. We also had a cigar roller during the reception that created cigars for our guests to enjoy.

We wanted to carry the soft, romantic feel of the ceremony and dinner into the reception aesthetic, while also adding a bit more drama. We had our monogram (created by Moya Minns) projected onto the dance floor, and set up three outdoor lounges next to the dance floor that incorporated French settees, tufted ottomans, and throw pillows with our monogram on them.

As we made our way out to our awaiting getaway car, our amazing band, Matchmaker Band, performed a New Orleans-style procession out through the main grand entrance to Green Pastures. The best man and maid of honor led the procession out down the hedge-lined path as our guests waved both Australian and American flags to send us off. As we rode off in our vintage Bentley, we couldn’t believe how amazing a night it was–we felt like the luckiest couple alive.

Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: You mean beside my wife’s dress and all the fun we had?! We were able to incorporate so many Australian hints throughout the wedding, some subtle, some not as much, which made for such an amazing experience. Aside from Samantha and I uniting, bringing together all of our favorite people from all our different walks of life and seeing everyone enjoy themselves was amazing.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? We both agree the BEST decision we made was hiring a wedding planner! Jacin of Lovely Little Details was an absolute delight to work with, and made the entire wedding planning process so fun and stress-free. Knowing that she was on top of all the tiny details made it possible for us to enjoy the fun that comes with being engaged and putting together a day to celebrate the merging of two families!
What are you most looking forward to about marriage? I am just looking forward to doing life with Sam. He’s such an incredible person: hilarious, kind, sensitive, supportive, and strong. I know that no matter what we might face, having him by my side will be a comfort.

Photographer: The Nichols / Videographer: Elysium Productions / Planner, Designer, and Florist: Jacin Fitzgerald of Lovely Little Details / Venue, Caterer, and Cake: Green Pastures Restaurant / Bride’s Gown: “5844” by Liancarlo / Bridal Salon: Ivory Bridal Atelier / Bride’s Shoes: “Hangisi Satin Pumps” in Light Pink by Manolo Blahnik / Bride’s Veil: “9849” by Liancarlo / Bridesmaid Dresses: “G560C,” “G629C,” and G425C in Blush by Amsale / Hair Stylist: Katie Sullivan of Azur West Salon and Jeni Hoover / Makeup Artist: Kristin Daniell Makeup Artistry / Groom’s Tuxedo: Burberry / Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Invitations: Southern Fried Paper / Calligraphy: Moya Minns of MM Ink / Watercolors and Bridesmaids’ Brunch Invitations: Momental Designs / Rentals: Marquee Event Group, Loot Vintage Rentals, and Townsley Designs / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Guest Shuttles: R&R Limo Bus / Getaway Car: Antique Limousines of Austin / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Cigar Roller: Bobalu

lisa Written with love by Lisa
1 Comment

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

What do you get when an interior designer and blogger bride teams up with the talented Jacin of Lovely Little Details in one of the most unique and creative cities in the South? You get Samantha and Samuel’s Austin wedding, and while I may be a little biased about the location, I guarantee there is plenty to love about this beautiful day–so much so that we split it into two posts! After drawing inspiration from their hometowns in Oklahoma and Australia, Sam and Sam brought their loved ones together at a meaningful celebration that represented of each of them individually, as well as the home that they had found in each other. We’re tickled pink that The Nichols and Lovely Little Details shared this gorgeous day with us for V7!

Labor Day 2011 is where it all began. I was enjoying a “staycation” with girlfriends at a local boutique hotel in Houston, Hotel Zaza. On Labor Day Monday, around 3 P.M., we thought we would catch the last few hours of sun before ending our weekend. Meanwhile, Sam had just landed in Houston from Australia to begin a new job at Macquarie Energy the following day. His apartment wasn’t quite ready, so at the recommendation of a fellow Aussie friend already in Houston, he checked into Hotel Zaza for a few days. Jet-lagged, all he wanted to do was go to sleep, but he wanted to get his body clock on track for his new job, so he decided to go lounge by the hotel pool instead. When Sam walked out to the pool to look for a lounge chair, I spotted him from afar and immediately thought he was attractive. Fatefully, the only available lounge chair poolside with any sun exposure was right next to me! He hesitantly sat down, and we slowly began a conversation. Being new to town, Sam didn’t even have a cell phone at this point. After an hour or so of casually chatting, he asked me to write down my phone number on a cocktail napkin. I have horrible handwriting, so Sam misread the number when trying to get in contact with me and contacted the wrong person. Thinking he had been blown off, he was embarrassed, but he managed to track me down via Facebook, thanks to the fact that I wrote my first AND last name down when sharing my phone number. I knew he was interested when he added me on Facebook only seven hours after meeting (isn’t modern technology great?!). We had our first date at a sushi restaurant two weeks later, and I was sold when Sam let it slip over edamame and sake that he was an “old-fashioned romantic.”

What is one thing that made your wedding different from anyone else’s wedding? I felt like we worked so closely with our planner to really get creative input from both Sam and me. Having someone who had experience with the Australian culture and all the idiosyncrasies that come with being an Aussie really allowed us to bring in some amazing touches all throughout the event, whether it be in the floral arrangements (including king proteas) or in the welcome bags /favors (Australian and Texan sweets), everything felt like it had a personal touch and significance to both of us.

I found my Liancarlo wedding dress at Ivory Bridal Atelier in Houston. It was such a special moment to share with my mom! I had secretly dreamed about trying on wedding dresses for years. We went to Ivory Bridal for our very first appointment of the morning, and I tried on a few all-lace gowns first, because I always thought that’s what I would want to wear on my wedding day! However, at the prompting of the girls at Ivory, I tried on some different styles too, just to see what I liked. When I spotted the detailed French lace on the Liancarlo, combined with the romantic tulle, I had to try it on. I had never seen the type of lace that was on the dress—it was so special and different! When I put the dress on and walked out to the mirrors, my mom started to tear up. I loved the fit and knew this was “the dress.” The dress was strapless, and I had always wanted to do a gown with straps and a keyhole back, so thankfully, Carlos Ramirez, the designer behind Liancarlo, worked to create a gorgeous build-up that made my gown feel so special!

Briefly describe your wedding flowers: Soft and feminine with an ethereal feel. We wanted to create a romantic, lush backdrop with the flowers, consisting of Japanese ranunculus, garden roses of all kinds, peonies, sweet peas, and hints of dusty miller to bring the sage gray color into the mix. The flowers were all shades of pink mixed with creams and whites.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? From Samuel: Definitely the task of coordinating a group of groomsmen that spanned five countries across three continents!

What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day? From Samuel: The first look will always be a moment I will never forget. Laying my eyes on my bride for the first time, hearing her shoes on the sandstone as she approached, and the overwhelming happiness that overcame me at that point will never be replicated throughout my life.

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Romantic, personal, joyful–the day really was a real-life “fairy tale” for us both. Having our closest friends and family from all over the world in one place was unforgettable. The day was romantic and intimate for us both, while also being a joyful, lively celebration. Bringing together a mix of Australians, Oklahomans, Texans, Scots, and Germans made for an incredible party.

We chose to write our own vows, which made reading them to one another in front of our loved ones so special. I loved walking towards Sam down the aisle. That is a moment you dream about your whole life, and it was so special to walk towards him and see so many of our friends and family surrounding us with their support and love. One funny moment was that I could feel my veil slipping out of my hair as I got further and further down the aisle, because it was so long. It finally fell out completely, and I kind of just stood there and smiled, not knowing what to do! Luckily, my mom and a few family friends sitting on the ends of the pews stepped out and helped me get my veil situated back into my updo. It was a funny moment that helped lighten the mood!

Describe the proposal: On Sunday, May 16, 2013, Sam and I met for a casual dinner at one of our favorite local Tex-Mex restaurants, Torchy’s Tacos. Once we were finished, we decided to meet back at my house to watch a movie. Before I could even process what was happening, Sam jumped up and practically raced to his car as he said goodbye to me. Realizing he hadn’t said he loved me, he raced back to where I sat, kissed me quickly, and said, “I love you.” I was a little confused as to why he was in such a rush, but I didn’t think too much about it and took my time getting home. When I walked inside my house, I found a pathway of tea candles and rose petals lining our winding staircase. I followed the path all the way up to our rooftop deck, which overlooked the beautiful Houston skyline, lit up in the night. Sam was there waiting for me, surrounded by more candles and rose petals. He took my hands and told me all the reasons he loved me, and how blessed he felt to have found a home with me in a city once so foreign to him. Although he grew up in Australia and I grew up in Oklahoma, together, we had made Texas our home–the place where we met and eventually fell in love. Having the Texas skyline as a backdrop for Sam’s proposal was perfect and so romantic!
When did y’all get married? March 21, 2014
How many guests attended your wedding? 125
Did you try anything new or nontraditional? At the end of our ceremony, just after our officiant announced us as husband and wife and before our processional, we had an a capella group that were sitting as “guests” in the congregation stand up and sing the Beatles’ song, “Love.” It was a surprise for all of our guests, and seeing their reaction as we stood looking out from the altar was so fun!
What are you most looking forward to about marriage? I am just looking forward to doing life with Sam. He’s such an incredible person: hilarious, kind, sensitive, supportive, and strong. I know that no matter what we might face, having him by my side will be a comfort.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? We both agree the BEST decision we made was hiring a wedding planner! Jacin of Lovely Little Details was an absolute delight to work with, and made the entire wedding planning process so fun and stress-free. Knowing that she was on top of all the tiny details made it possible for us to enjoy the fun that comes with being engaged and putting together a day to celebrate the merging of two families!

Photographer: The Nichols / Videographer: Elysium Productions / Planner, Designer, and Florist: Jacin Fitzgerald of Lovely Little Details / Venue, Caterer, and Cake: Green Pastures Restaurant / Bride’s Gown: “5844” by Liancarlo / Bridal Salon: Ivory Bridal Atelier / Bride’s Shoes: “Hangisi Satin Pumps” in Light Pink by Manolo Blahnik / Bride’s Veil: “9849” by Liancarlo / Bridesmaid Dresses: “G560C,” “G629C,” and G425C in Blush by Amsale / Hair Stylist: Katie Sullivan of Azur West Salon and Jeni Hoover / Makeup Artist: Kristin Daniell Makeup Artistry / Groom’s Tuxedo: Burberry / Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Invitations: Southern Fried Paper / Calligraphy: Moya Minns of MM Ink / Watercolors and Bridesmaids’ Brunch Invitations: Momental Designs / Rentals: Marquee Event Group, Loot Vintage Rentals, and Townsley Designs / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Guest Shuttles: R&R Limo Bus / Getaway Car: Antique Limousines of Austin / Lighting: Ilios Lighting / Cigar Roller: Bobalu

lisa Written with love by Lisa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Dana reply

    love the venue and the flowers!!! also, the fact he proposed after buying her torchys was genius!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close

I love how Britney + Chris’ wedding color palette of peach, blush and grey mixed with with soft greens and metallics makes for romantic and preppy style all at the same time! The lush blooms make me feel like I’ve just stepped into a loveliest garden, and boy does it look like it would smell divine! Oh, and that ceremony installation from The Nouveau Romantics? Holy smokes, that is gorgeous! But one of my favorite parts of B + C’s feature has to be Britney’s advise on planning. She says ” it’s so easy to get lost in the details when planning your dream wedding. Don’t forget to remind yourself of what it’s really all about: you and your husband becoming one.” Yes, ma’am!

Special thanks to The Nichols for sharing this gorgeous wedding with us!

I need these shoes! Like NEED them!

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: After we got engaged, I started looking at wedding dresses online and in magazines for ideas and inspiration. I fell in love with a gown from Priscilla of Boston and had planned on setting up an appointment at their salon a year out from the wedding date. To my surprise, I received an email one morning saying that Priscilla of Boston was going out of business and that they were selling their entire inventory starting that day. I jumped in my car and drove straight to Houston in hopes of buying the dream dress I had been admiring for months. When I arrived at the salon, the gown I had had my heart set on was still there, and it was a BRAND NEW sample at that! It had only been tried on a few times and was in perfect condition when I bought it. The Mischa gown and I were destined to be together! Not only did I get my dream dress but at a fraction of the price! Score!

Describe your wedding flowers: The theme for our wedding was a preppy garden party with a dash of whimsy. I wanted the flowers to have a romantic feel and to have a “freshly picked from the garden” look. The main request I had was to include lots of garden roses! Elizabeth Lewis of The Nouveau Romantics has her own style and flavor, and her bouquets and arrangements are truly works of art! She did an incredible job designing and arranging the flowers for our wedding. They were gorgeous and very unique!

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. I did A LOT of research when it came to picking songs and musicians and a DJ for our wedding. We wanted the music to reflect on who we were and our style as a couple. We hired a local string trio for our ceremony and cocktail hour and Michael Antonia of The Flashdance for our reception. I worked with our string trio to have custom sheet music created for the songs we used during our ceremony. While our bridal party walked down the aisle and lined up, our string trio played “Here Comes My Baby” by Cat Stevens. When I walked down the aisle, they played “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. (It is absolutely gorgeous when played in strings!) For our recessional, they played “All You Need is Love” by The Beatles. For our first dance, we chose “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. We had seen the Beach Boys in concert a few months prior to our wedding and thought that song would be perfect for us!

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes, we definitely wanted to do a first look. We wanted to see each other for the first time in privacy versus in front of an entire crowd of people. We knew that it would be emotional and wanted that moment just to ourselves. Plus, it made for the sweetest pictures! His face was priceless when he saw me for the first time. It will be a moment that I treasure forever.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? My most memorable moment was walking down the aisle. I kept my eyes on Chris the entire time. I wanted to soak in every moment. Christopher’s most memorable moment was the first look.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We had two favorite details! The first and most favorite would have to be, hands down, our alter installation. Elizabeth Lewis of The Nouveau Romantics really created something magical when she transformed that gazebo into an alter for us. Our ceremony space was so romantic and dreamy. The linens, the garlands, the flowers…perfection in every way! Our second favorite detail was the balloon installation floating over the DJ’s table. Geronimo Balloons created those beauties using my color palette: peach, blush and grey with greens and metallics. Event design genius, Elizabeth Lewis, also assembled the floating cluster of balloons.

Our wedding cake was the brainchild of a Pinterest inspiration. I saw a cake with stripes made out of sprinkles and knew it had to be mine! I mean, how cute! I’m obsessed with stripes and all things preppy, so I was thrilled when I found a baker that said they could recreate the sprinkle stripes. My favorite part of our cake table was the linen we used! The white sequin linen added so much panache! Sequin linens = totes amaze.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Christopher and I met in 2008 in Lubbock, Texas while we were both attending Texas Tech University! Christopher was in graduate school studying history, while I was an undergraduate studying psychology and biology. I met Christopher through mutual friends at a college hangout across from campus. We ran around in the same social circle for about seven months before we discovered that our feelings surpassed friendship. We started dating, and the rest is history!!
Describe the proposal. In the summer of 2011, we took a road trip to a music festival in Tennessee: Bonnaroo. On the last day of the festival, our favorite band, Railroad Earth, was playing at noon, so we went early to get a good spot. Luckily, we went early enough to get directly in front of the stage! During the last song, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Christopher hand over our camera to the girl standing next to him. I looked over, thinking he wanted to take a picture but he was down on one knee! He was so nervous that he grabbed my right hand. Ha! However, he quickly recovered and grabbed my left hand and said, “Baby, will you please marry me?!” as he put one of the zipper pulls from my backpack onto my finger. I was in shock and so excited! Of course I said YES! The crowd all around us was cheering and congratulating us. I was so thankful that he thought to have someone snap a few pictures of the proposal. So romantic! After we returned home from the festival, Christopher had a real engagement ring made with the beautiful heart-shaped diamond that was originally used in my mother’s engagement ring from my father.
In what month did you get married? October
How many guests attended your wedding? 80
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We are a Southern detail lovin’ couple y’all! We had LOTS of Southern goodness in our wedding! First, I had seven bridesmaids. The girls wore preppy, lady-like dresses and pearls, which also screams Southern. We got married at a historic venue that was built in the 1850s. Instead of a guest book, we had guests sign a giant wood cutout of our wedding monogram. Our custom Save the Dates made with a peach gingham design. Lastly, one of our signature cocktails was a barrel-aged Vieux Carré. A Vieux Carré is a cocktail that was created in 1938 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. Chris prepared a giant batch and barrel-aged it for three months prior to the wedding. He also hand-carved large format ice in the shape of a ball to fit each glass perfectly. This took days to hand carve enough ice for each Vieux Carré. Talk about a true labor of love!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Constantly trying not to become a Bridezilla. Chris will tell you I failed.
What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? We were so happy that we splurged and booked The Flashdance. He turned our reception into an epic dance party! Everyone, including myself, danced nonstop for hours! We are also happy that we splurged on our invitations. Momental Designs created such lovely invitations for us. I cried when I received them in the mail! Hand painted flowers on each invitation…swoon.
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? It’s so easy to get lost in the details when planning your dream wedding. Don’t forget to remind yourself of what it’s really all about: you and your husband becoming one.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are looking forward to house hunting and seeing where married life takes us!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
14 Comments
  1. avatar Jessica Thornton reply

    YES to all of this! Fabulous. Gorgeous. Classy. Love.

  2. avatar Nicole reply

    Those flowers are amazing and the bride is stunning! So gorgeous!

  3. avatar Victoria reply

    LOVE the pops of color in the floral arrangements and bride’s bouquet! Just the perfect touch! Also, all the details of this wedding would work in any season!

  4. avatar Diana Thobe reply

    Absolutely beautiful!!! Do you know what the name of the large pink flower in the brides bouquet is? I found a bouquet that I love very similar to her’s and it has that type of flower in it, but I do not know what kind of flower it is. Thanks!

  5. avatar Jennifer Nichols reply

    Thanks for the feature, SW! We adore Britney and Chris and were so fortunate to be able to document this gorgeous affair!

  6. avatar Britney reply

    Thank you so much for featuring our wedding! :)

  7. avatar A Few Things | Could Be Interesting | Could Be Interesting reply

    […] 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 […]

  8. avatar Luscious Texas Garden Wedding | Wedding Resource reply

    […] came across this incredibly luscious Texas garden wedding on Southern Weddings and just had to share it with you! The flowers in this wedding are […]

  9. avatar Chalkboard Magic | Whoa Nellie Press reply

    […] Great option for a program.  {Source} […]

  10. avatar Delicate Italian wedding inspiration board [Guest post] | Wedding Party reply

    […] Ceremony, Balloons, Invites, Table, Floral, Save The Date, Favors, Cake, Ceremony Floral, Napkin, […]

  11. avatar Floral garlands x 18 | 18 x kukkaköynnökset :: Best Day Ever reply

    […] curtain decor: Southern Weddings | A botanical backdrop: via 100 Layer Cake  Stailaa tilan verhot: via Southern […]

  12. avatar Wedding : Mood Board – ljw83vvk reply

    […] Sources: 1 – Nette Shaffe / 2 – source unknown (Pinterest) / 3 – Wedding Chicks / 4 – Magnolia Rouge / 5 – Jolie Jolie Design /  6 – Ruffled / 7 – Southern Weddings […]

  13. avatar 27 Gorgeous Greenery Garland Wedding Ideas For 2017 – Elegantweddinginvites.com Blog reply

    […] via 100 Layer Cake/via Southern Weddings […]

  14. avatar JoAnn Hodge reply

    Where (!) did you get that beautiful thick greenery swag ?

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

Reply to:
close
Top