Southern Weddings

This Texas Hill Country wedding took place at {Balcones Springs}, a gorgeous venue for a spectacular “lone star” fete.  This fun celebration wasn’t just a ceremony and reception… it was a three day wedding extravaganza! Guests arrived early and stayed in cabins complete with access to all the amenities of the Balcones Springs with access to the lake, zip line, horse back ridding and more. The event was coordinated by Courtney Rhode of Balcones Springs.  The beautiful bride, Mattie, was treated to pre-wedding pampering with make-up and hair by {Hues By Heather}.  Floral design by {Allie Flowers}.  The wedding cake was made by a family friend and the scrumptious pies came from Mattie’s hometown favorite, {Koffee Kup}. Photography by {Heather Thorne Photography}. Thanks so much for sending this inspiring wedding our way!  To see more, check out Heather’s {Blog} post on Mattie + David’s big day and visit Heather’s new {Blog}.

How did the two of you meet? David and I met at a work related happy hour in downtown Austin.  We both worked in the political arena and had several mutual friends.  As soon as we started talking there was an instant connection and the conversation came easily.  We can thank the Koffee Kup in Hico, Texas (my home town) for a common connection. 
Describe the proposal:  When I proposed to Mattie I wanted it to be a special moment in a place that meant the most to her.  She grew up on a small ranch in central Texas so with the help of family and friends, I organized a gathering the day after Thanksgiving.  Thinking it would be romantic, I lured her out into the middle of the property where we could be alone.  The proposal was fantastic and we were both incredibly excited, until nearby hunters fired a shot from their deer blind.  We weren’t sure if they were shooting at us or to congratulate us, so we decided it was time to get back in our car!  Our families orchestrated arriving when we got back, which was another great surprise for Mattie.  
What attracted me to my husband was: His beautiful smile and his sense of humor.
Why do you love your husband? It didn’t take long to realize what a giving and compassionate person that David is.  No matter what life has thrown our way, David is my number one supporter and companion.  My life’s aspirations have become David’s dreams as well.  We are best friends and we have so much fun together. 
What attracted me to my wife was:  Eye contact, genuine conversation and small town values with big city smarts.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: A wonderful night we went to dinner at a restaurant in Santorini, Greece.  It such a remarkable place with an incredible view! 
The weather on our wedding day was: Absolutely perfect!  Texas is infamous for the heat, but we were blessed to have a cold front come through the week of our wedding, making the wedding day amazing!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? The Hill Country.  Balcones Springs was a perfect fit for our wedding location because it gave us a laid back atmosphere with a beautiful setting all at the same time.  It was important for our guests to have a wonderful weekend, and travel home feeling relaxed. 
Favorite design element of your big day:  The rustic centerpieces and the finishing touches that my florist provided
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was actually a very easy process.  I went to one store in Austin and had an idea of what style I was going for.  My maid of honor and mom were there to help me find the perfect dress.  Once I found my dress, I knew it fit my style perfectly. 
Describe your wedding flowers: Amazing!  I wanted to incorporate fall colors in the green landscape at Balcones Springs and Allie did a fantastic job.  The white hydrangeas were a wonderful addition because they added elegance to the evening. 
Describe your wedding cake:   A long-time family friend from my hometown made the 5-tier wedding cake, designed after my engagement ring.  Each layer was placed in different directions, and it alternated between a round and a square shape.  We decided to place flowers at the top of the cake and cascading down the side.  It was an Italian crème cake with crème cheese icing.  Delicious! 
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The Koffee Kup pie!  Everyone was thrilled! 
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?   Balancing work and wedding planning.  It can be a bit overwhelming. 
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? David’s mother, Quixie loaned me a beautiful family heirloom that belonged to her mother, a vintage cameo ring.  We pinned it to the sash of my dress and it was the perfect touch. 
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The moment just before my bridesmaids walked down the aisle.  I remember looking at each one of them and feeling so blessed to have every one of my very best friends there with me to share in our celebration. 
Scariest moment? Putting on fake eyelashes! 
Funniest moment? Watching our flower girls getting prepped for the big day.  They were much prissier and high maintenance than me or my bridesmaids. 
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: Seeing David’s tears as I walked down the aisle.  Normally, I am the emotional one.  It was an incredibly special and touching moment.   
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase/verse/or line?  We did not. My grandfather (Mattie) delivered the ceremony and he had a wonderful service that delivered a message and spoke to our relationship perfectly. 
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding?   Just relax and remember that it all goes by very quickly. 
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration.  “This moment is for you and David, focus on him and the wonderful lives you have to look forward to.” 
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?  We both feel so blessed to have a wonderful partner to share our lives with.   We are looking forward to spending the holiday season with friends and family and eventually buying a house.
Other details you want us to know about your wedding:  Balcones Springs gave up the perfect “weekend wedding”.  Our guests stayed in cabins onsite and we had two days of fun and laughter.  Swimming at Lake Ted was a great way to spend part of the afternoon on our wedding day.  Guests enjoyed swimming, paddle boats, a wonderful lunch and of course the most popular attraction, the “Blob” water toy.

Congratulations to Mattie + David.  We wish you a lifetime of happiness and joy!

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