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You know that naturally glamourous friend who looks like a million bucks in a white t-shirt and boyfriend jeans? That’s how I feel about this wedding! Hailey + Rhet [wait, can we pause for a little giddy-fit that the groom’s name is actually Rhet? I know Mr. Butler had two t’s, but oh my Gone with the Wind-loving heart be still!] had a big day filled with lush flowers that Hailey described as “out of this world,” and romantic details that were just the right balance between glamorous and down-home.

From the the moss-covered monogram at the entry gates to the framed photographs throughout the gardens, each detail was not only lovely, but had meaning to the couple. H + R even hand-crafted thank you notes for each guests’ place setting – that just screams the Sweet Tea Society to me!

Be sure to scroll all the way down, because the very last shot from Lauren Larsen may just be my favorite of the day!

Both our ceremony and reception were outdoors in the gardens. Dancing and dining al fresco immediately followed the ceremony, while the sun was setting.

How cute is that monogrammed clutch?!

The entry gates displayed a moss-covered monogram. Mason jar centerpieces filled with hydrangeas, garden roses and geraniums ran along our burlap runners. We had vintage table card numbers, mattress ticking striped napkins, and hand-crafted thank you notes at each guests’ place setting. Hundreds of votive candles and personal family framed photographs were arranged throughout the space. Margaritas served in burlap-wrapped jars with pink and white striped straws completed the look.

We danced to “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison for our first dance. Rhet is quite the accomplished dancer. He led me across the dance floor with enthusiasm, great style and a few dips and twirls. Everyone danced the entire night, thanks to such an amazing band!

So sweet!

Oh my lanta! I can’t get over which is cuter! The little guy with a bow tie or the monogrammed bib?? (And, I’m sure the girls in the office have a bet on whether I comment on this! How can I not, right?)

Dinner consisted of action stations including a macaroni and cheese bar, sliders with signature sauces, a French fry bar, a sandwich wrap station, and a salad in a glass station. Dessert was a variety of peanut butter and chocolate, red velvet and s’mores cupcakes.

Get ready for an epic exit — don’t y’all just want to experience what Hailey + Rhet were feeling in this moment? Pure joy, from the looks of it!

Did you have a cocktail hour? Yes, during our cocktail hour, we passed hors d’oeuvres and a signature grapefruit margarita in honor of the date, Cinco de Mayo.
Tell us about your grand exit. We left under the Super Moon in a shower of confetti. Rhet picked me up and carried me off to a night of more dancing with our wedding party!
What is the one thing that made your wedding different from anyone else’s wedding? All of the personal touches and the opportunity to take amazing photographs at the new Billy Reid store.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are heading to Destin, Florida where Rhet will be serving as an Air Force physician.
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? Hire vendors you can trust to carry out your vision and give them plenty of detailed information on what you really want.
Who was your favorite vendor and why? We loved Lauren Larsen for her photographic talent and eye and Lori Holley for her out-of-this-world flowers.
What was the most memorable or touching moment about your wedding day? During our first dance, Rhet surprised me by scooping me up and twirling me in the air. I was so thrilled to be his wife.

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
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    Love the cake plate… can you tell me where I can get one

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Oh these two, y’all! There are so many reasons I am delighted to share this V5 wedding from the talented Lauren Larsen! From the minute we saw Lauren’s images, we were all struck by how the emotion of the day sang through her lens. She has a great eye, doesn’t she? On the other end, we were tickled pink that Hailey + Rhet flew all the way to North Carolina for our Release Party – it was so great to hug them in person, and we all swooned over Hailey’s dress! (It was a black + white striped Kate Spade!)

Be sure to check back soon for part two of this gorgeous affair, filled with details that Hailey + our friends at Eventology dreamed up!

Can y’all believe we’ve had two pink wedding gowns in two days on the blog? If it’s a trend, then I’m on board! Hailey herself described her dress as “oatmeal-colored” — doesn’t that sound glamorous and homey feeling all at the same time? Not to mention she looked absolutely stunning!

The fabric heart sewn into Hailey’s dress belonged to her sweet grandfather, who always wanted to dance with her at her wedding but sadly passed away before he had the chance. I love that she found a way to incorporate his presence into her big day anyway.

My mom and I went shopping and I chose several white dresses that I thought were beautiful. My mom pointed out this oatmeal colored dress, and coaxed me into trying it on. I humored her by putting it on first. To my surprise, it was the one! Because I had such a large wedding party, I didn’t want my bridesmaids to have matching dresses. I chose the color ivory and let my very stylish friends each pick their own dress. They did a fabulous job, and they all came together with hand-made belts I gave them as a gift.

My inspiration for our wedding came from my desire to express my personal style and make sure everyone felt welcomed. I threw in a splash of mattress ticking, vintage pocket squares and my mother’s creative eye. My favorite element was the big, fat, white garden flowers!

Our flowers were plump, lush, ivory blooms with touches of blush. My bouquet had all ivory peonies with burlap and pearl wrapping. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were white and dusty pink roses with scabiosa pods and geranium leaves. The boutonnieres were scabiosa pods with willows.

Hailey and Rhet chose to take post-wedding photos at the Billy Reid shop in Houston — an unconventional choice, but one that seems to fit this handsome couple just perfectly! The gents also got dressed at the shop!

Our groomsmen wore tan suits with blue Sperrys. They each chose their own plaid bow-tie to fit their character.

Love these sweet little seating tags to mark reserved spots for loved ones!

I co-wrote the ceremony with our dear friend, Rhet’s colleague and mentor. He became ordained in order to serve as our officiant and shared several personal stories about both of us. His wife read a verse from Ecclesiastes, and one of my college roommates shared a quote from the book we read during our pre-marital counseling to honor our love and faith.

Such gorgeous photos from Lauren!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met at a party when I was dating one of Rhet’s underclassmen from med school. Eventually we broke up, and I kept running into Rhet in random places. It seemed like it was meant to be.
Tell me all the basics of your wedding!  Our wedding was held on May 5, 2012 as summer was just approaching. We chose the Gardens of Bammel Lane in the River Oaks area of Houston, Texas. I instantly fell in love with the charm and uniqueness of the gardens and conservatory and the enchanting details the venue had to offer. The wedding was held at 5pm, so we could enjoy the golden hour before sunset in the gardens. Bammel really touched my heart because it reminded me of my grandmother’s lush California garden, where she taught me an appreciation and love of flowers.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Personal, intimate, enchanting.
What was the weather like on your big day? Sunny and hot
How many guests attended your wedding? 140

marissa Written with love by Marissa
7 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Oh my, I love this wedding! All the photos are just gorgeous, but for some reason I particularly adore the one of Hailey slipping the ring on Rhet’s finger, and of course I love the last one so much!

  2. avatar Kelly Balfour reply

    Hailey & Rhet were an absolutely delightful couple to work with! And mama Karey was a dream!!!

  3. avatar Jordan Thompson reply

    Ohh my goodness…. that dress!!!

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Looking through these photos from Lauren Larsen, you would never guess that the ranch where Lauren + Tommy were married had caught on fire two months before the wedding. Thankfully, this Oklahoma event was the work of a community who cleared out charred trees and made Lauren’s family ranch beautiful. Guests took in the landscape over blackberry cobbler, champagne and other Southern treats. I love how the reception came together with a hay bale lounge area, orange florals and big wooden furniture. What’s even better is the last photo of the bride and groom on the dance floor. Big thanks for Lauren Larsen again, for sharing this beautiful wedding!

Describe your wedding flowers: Bright orange with apple green accents. My bouquet was a combination of softer orange and white hues. There were lots of peonies, hydrangeas, anemones, cabbage roses, and tulips.
Describe your wedding cake: We bucked tradition on this one, serving homemade blackberry cobbler instead of a wedding cake. The blackberries were meticulously picked and preserved throughout the year by my aunt and uncle, and my aunt proceeded, over the course of several weeks, to hand craft each cobbler served.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Roughly two months before the wedding, an arsonist lit a portion of the ranch on fire, resulting in a swath of charred trees and grass that covered much of the actual site of the ceremony (though, thankfully, the local volunteer fire department was able to save the barn and the ranch house). My father, family, and other helpers worked exhaustively to clear the charred areas and re-seed/fertilize the burned areas. By the day of the wedding the ranch was picture-perfect. What is the one thing you are most happy you splurged on? A good photographer whom I had known since junior high. She made everyone feel comfortable, despite the 40 mph wind and 103 degree heat. The photos were spectacular!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Toward the end of the evening, we looked out at a dance floor full of our friends and family, all dancing the night away. Having traveled from all over the country to the depth of a small town Oklahoma, we were thrilled to see how much joy they had brought to the most important day of our lives, and how each one seemed to have also found their own joy in the occasion.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did, though we kept them short, simple, and traditional. We also had a good friend sing “Amazing Grace” a capella, which was incredibly moving.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We just moved into a new apartment in New York and are looking forward to starting our lives together. I have one more year of graduate school, before embarking on a new and exciting career. Though there’s no telling what the next few years will bring, we look forward to facing the unknown together.

Photographer: Lauren Larsen // Planner: Gibson Events // Venue: Bride’s family ranch // Florist: Poppy Lane // Wedding Cake Baker: Bride’s aunt // Caterer: Abbey Road Catering // Paper Products: Dauphine Press // Bride’s Dress: Vera Wang // Bride’s Reception Dress: Alice & Olivia // Bride’s Hair Accessories/Veil: Vera Wang // Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lula Kate

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
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