Southern Weddings

Bonnie + Armon wanted to create a wedding day that was a reflection of who they are and a celebration of their new life together. To them, that meant an evening of fun, food and fellowship with their favorite people that have walked through life with them. I think their sweet Texas nuptials encompassed all that and more! Big hugs to the equally as sweet Caroline Joy for sharing B + A’s big day!

P.S. Be sure to check out their proposal story from the groom’s perspective – it made my heart melt. Especially since I married my college sweetheart as well!

I love how Bonnie honored her grandmother by attaching a pair of her pearl earrings her bouquet.

Did you decide to do a “first look”? Yes. We wanted to savor every bit of this celebration, and a first look was the perfect way to steal a quiet moment together before the merriment commenced.

When it came to my dress, I knew exactly what I wanted – all lace, sweetheart neckline, strapless and classic. My maid of honor and a friend went with me to try on dresses but after trying on six, I wasn’t wowed. The third dress I had tried on had three out of my four criteria, but it had delicate lace cap sleeves. The consultant put me back in that dress, tucked the sleeves into the bodice and turned me around to see the result. I fell in love! After a few rounds of alterations, I truly felt like my dress was a custom creation.

We did not write our own vows. We loved the idea of saying the same vows our parents and loved ones exchanged at their weddings in years past.

Describe your wedding flowers: Although I didn’t have a clear vision of what our wedding flowers should look like, I knew I wanted something simple and Southern and Lindy absolutely shared my vision. Our centerpieces were a mix of sweet blush blooms in vintage milk glass vases. My bridesmaids carried full bouquets of white hydrangea and garden roses to complement their blush dresses. My bouquet was a dreamy mix of blush peonies and white garden roses – I didn’t want to put it down!

We worked to recreate our most beloved parts of Southern culture – from homemade treats to mason jars to fellowship – in every facet of our celebration! Guests were relieved from the July heat by individual sandalwood fans during the ceremony. We had no shortage of striped straws, mason jars, lemonade or lawn games! My wonderful mother-in-law made all the pies for our pie bar, while my mom and aunt made the cheesecake bites. A family friend baked the raspberry brownies and Armon and his best man constructed the lawn game sign I painted. Sharing every little DIY project with my bridesmaids and mom really helped me savor the journey leading up to our wedding, rather than focusing on a one-day event.

I could eat sweets all day long, so we knew we wanted more than just traditional wedding cake. Armon is decidedly anti-cake so in lieu of a groom’s cake, we added a pie bar, cheesecake bites and raspberry brownies for variety. We did have a beautiful two-tier confection with a bottom layer of vanilla cake and pineapple filling, as well as classic red velvet on top. Our baker whipped up a cream cheese and vanilla buttercream to complement both flavors. We loved it!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. (From the groom) Bonnie and I both went to Baylor University. While we had all the same mutual friends, our paths didn’t cross until we were at a dinner function at a Lebanese restaurant for our honors program. This particular venue had a belly dancer performing and, after the dancer tried unsuccessfully to coerce Bonnie into joining her on the dance floor, she turned to me. As this pretty girl had just refused her, I was happy to oblige and promptly made a fool of myself in front of what would one day be my bride. We wound up having the same course schedule the following semester and became the most intimate of friends. Three years later I’m delighted to call her my wife.
Describe the proposal. (From the groom) I proposed to Bonnie in Waco, where we met and where so much of our relationship blossomed. I got Bonnie’s roommate and best friend Sara in on the surprise. After we arrived, Sara whisked Bonnie off for an afternoon of playing and pampering. I took that time to set out a surprise in her apartment consisting of her favorite dress and a telltale note that this evening would be one to remember. The girls returned to their apartment, and I’m told that Bonnie was overjoyed with my surprise. After getting ready and getting to spend some time with her roommate, Bonnie finally arrived. I then took her on an adventure through our past, taking her to all of the many places on Baylor’s campus and in Waco that were significant to us. After our tour ended back at Baylor, we made our way toward the gardens outside Pat Neff and Old Main, the campus’s two main buildings. As we walked through the gardens in the direction of my old dormitory, I spoke to Bonnie about all of the times we had crossed through this place without ever thinking what may one day happen here. We never made it to my old dormitory because in the middle of the gardens, with our old university’s iconic buildings in the background, I informed my bride that this was the end of the tour — the place where she was asked to be my wife. I got down on one knee at twilight and proposed to her.
In what month did you get married? July
How many guests attended your wedding? 62.
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. A sweet friend of mine from high school played his guitar at our ceremony and did beautiful instrumentals of each song we chose. Our processional was “The Scientist” by Coldplay and I walked down the aisle to “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley. Armon and I walked back down the aisle to “You and I” by Ingrid Michaelson.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Armon and I are no strangers to long distance, as we have primarily been in different locations for most of our relationship. Our engagement was no exception as his enlistment with the Air Force stationed him in California for the year. Thankfully, we were able to tour our venue together following our proposal, but the rest of the details were up to me. Although it was a bit of a challenge, it turned into a hidden blessing as I got to spend our wedding meetings and tastings with my maid of honor!
What range did your wedding budget fall into? $10,000-$25,000
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Although it’s impossible to single out one ultimate moment, I can narrow it down to a few. My big brother officiated our ceremony and walking down the aisle on my daddy’s arm with my brother and groom waiting at the end for me was so overwhelming. Exchanging our vows while surrounded by the people closest to me was such a humbling moment. There was so much love and joy encircling us on that day!
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are soaking in this new season as newlyweds and are having a blast setting up our home together! We’re looking forward to exploring the West Coast together in the months to come.

Written with love by Marissa