Southern Weddings

I know Fall is almost upon us but for those of you planning your upcoming spring wedding, Vanessa + Brant’s Texas I-do’s from Photography by Niki should really get the creative juices flowing!  While every girl dreams of her fairytale wedding, this bride made hers come true with light, airy colors (don’t you love the fresh aquas of the bridesmaids’ flirty frocks from David’s Bridal?) and whimsical butterfly accents.  The lace detailing on the bride’s ultra-feminine veil is the perfect complement to her vintage empire-waist gown (I adore Pronovias!) and we love how wonderfully sweet she looks against the garden backdrop of the Houston Oaks Country Club.  Perhaps I’ve seen a few too many Disney movies, but after looking at that butterfly-topped cake from the appropriately named Enchanted Cottage Bakery, I’m half expecting a little fairy to fly out of those dainty bouquets and magical arrangements from Pecan Hill Florists. 

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: I grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada and would spend a lot of time at a nearby lake during the summer.  One summer, Brandt came to the lake on vacation before he moved back to Texas. Though I never got a chance to meet Brandt that summer, I heard about him through my friends and we were soon introduced. Once we had gotten to know each other, we stayed in touch and I eventually took a trip to Texas where we met in person for the first time. After I returned, we kept in close contact for the next two years until we decided to start dating!

Describe the proposal: We started off the night at the restaurant where we had our first date. After dinner, Brandt drove me to a spot where we had spent a lot of time in the past: a mill on the banks of a peaceful lake. When we got there, Brandt took me to the banks and read a poem he had written for me. He seemed so nervous, which made me laugh because I couldn’t understand why. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was perfect.

What was the design inspiration for your wedding? My inspiration was the beauty of nature. I included elements such as oak trees, butterflies and bright, vibrant flowers to leave our guests with a feeling of refreshment and rejuvenation, as well as to provide them with a glimpse of our love.

Favorite design element of your big day: I absolutely loved the combination of the bouques and my bridesmaid’s pool blue dresses.. The colors seemed to pop and really lightened the atmosphere and mood inside, which was a pleasant contrast to the dreary weather outside.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I spotted my wedding dress while flipping through a bridal magazine and instantly fell in love with it. I went to a bridal boutique in Cincinnati, Ohio and tried on a similar dress and loved that one, too,, so I ordered the dress from the magazine. I had to wait until after Christmas for my dress to arrive in Houston, but it was so worth it. This dress was everything I wanted and more!

Describe your wedding flowers: I knew I wanted something fun and different for my wedding bouquet, so I chose powder blue hydrangeas with vivid fuchsia orchids. I also wanted a piece of my mother with me for the big day, so I added some embroidered flowers that were from her original veil to the satin wrap around the stem of the bouquet. My bridesmaids’ bouquets consisted of an assortment of white flowers that gave them a soft cluster look. They were also accented with lavender sweet peas and blue butterflies, which gave it a refreshing pop of color and complemented the blue hue of the bridesmaid dresses.

Describe your wedding cake: For our cake, I knew I wanted something simple but with a vivid splash of color that would make it stand out. I chose an aqua blue linen decorated with white, sparkly butterflies. The cake was a beautiful element that coincided with the wedding’s nature theme.

What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Because of the rain, our reception hall hosted our ceremony and reception. As I walked into the building, Lauren, our wedding planner, and two other friends covered me and my father with umbrellas as we walked up to the building. Once we finally made it to the door, I saw Brandt and all I could think about was how long I had waited for this moment to arrive.

Funniest moment? I had asked Niki, our photographer, if the bridesmaids and I could take a jumping picture. She advised me that it was easier said than done and that it is difficult to jump in a wedding dress. We still had fun trying to get the perfect shot!

What’s next for you as a couple? I will be acclimating to living in Dallas and fighting through immigration bureaucracy, but we’re looking forward to traveling together and just being a part of each other’s daily lives.

Congratulations, Vanessa + Brandt!  Enjoy exploring Dallas together!