Southern Weddings

We’re tired of this dark + drab Carolina winter, so we’re ending the week on a softer, sweeter note with Meredith + Blake’s Texas wedding from The Nichols. With the help of month-of coordinator Wendee Sawran, M + B converted the Vista West Ranch into a rustic fairytale where the bride’s St. Pucchi princess gown was leant just the right touch of romance and whimsy. Petal Pushers designed the ladies’ light feminine bouquets, and Bari Jay provided the b’maids’ flowy frocks. Heaven!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. Technically we met about 10 years ago since we both went to high school in Austin, Texas. We were always acquaintances and had many mutual friends. After high school, we went our separate ways and started college. In early 2009, we reconnected through Facebook. At first we were simply catching up, but catching up led to many lengthy phone calls and, eventually, our first date. Before this date I told my close friends and family, “This is the guy I am going to marry.” I genuinely knew it in my heart. Needless to say, we locked eyes that night (in the same exact spot where we would later get engaged) and have never left each other’s side. Unfortunately, when we started dating, Blake was in Houston while I was in Austin, so the first 5 months of our relationship were long distance. In July of 2009, I found a job in Houston and moved down the street from Blake. Finally! We had the chance to be a couple in the same city!
Describe the proposal. (As told by the groom) Meredith and I had talked quite a bit about getting engaged, and we both knew that this was something coming sooner than later. Ever since our first date, I just had this feeling that this girl would be the one. I had two weeks off of work over the winter holidays, which gave me the time I needed to get everything lined up. We had already planned to be in Austin to celebrate the New Year’s Eve with our friends, and this would be the one time our friends and family would be in the same city together.

Fast forward two weeks.

Finally, Mere and I were getting to go on our Austin date. I had told her that I would plan the date since she had to work all week, which made everything a lot easier for me. First, we went downtown to a great restaurant. As we got up to leave dinner, I began telling her about a surprise I had for her. As we were getting to the front door, she could see our carriage ride waiting through the glass. The carriage was lit with greenery and Christmas lights, and made everything that much more magical. After a ride over Lake Austin, up Congress, and down 6th Street, we were dropped off at the place where we first met. After some laughter and a lot of smiles while reenacting the night we met, I proposed. Little did she know, I had one final surprise. A cab dropped us off at The Four Seasons hotel, where our families were waiting for us.