Enchanting Austin Engagement and Wedding by High Dot Studios, Part I

There’s so much to love about Houstonians Shatara and Bilal, we can’t contain the amazing in one single blog post. That’s why we’re spreading it out over TWO. In today’s post, we swoon and sigh over this beautiful couple’s breathtaking engagement photos, shot by Austin-based High Dot Studios at historic Laguna Gloria in Austin, and picturesque Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs. Oh, how we adore the magnificent natural settings, the superbly stylish attire and the subtle vintage touch of this dreamy photographic idyll. If you love this couple and these pix as much as we do, get ready to go gaga over this Thursday’s HWB post, which will showcase Shatara and Bilal’s beautiful Laguna Gloria wedding!

Photos: High Dot Studios

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This Week: Houston Bridal Open Houses Galore

If ever there was a week to clear your calendar for some serious venue visitin’…this is it! The open houses start today, with waterfront eatery and event space Brady’s Landing, which welcomes brides from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for tours, tastings and more.

Then, on Sunday, it’s a bridal-open-house quadruple-header: From 1 to 4 p.m. The Wynden serves light hors d’oeuvre and cocktails courtesy Masraffs, while treating brides to a showcase of fine vendors including Elegant Custom Invitations, Edible Designs by Jessie and Plants ’n Petals. Also from 1 to 4, Pine Forest Country Club shows off its elegant event space and verdant grounds, while tempting guests’ taste buds with light bites and bubbly.

In the early evening hours, it’s Chateau Cocomar’s turn: Turn up at Houston’s fairytale French venue between 4 and 7 p.m. for the chateau’s annual bridal open house, featuring tours, tastes and much winsome wedding fantasizing…

RSVPs are requested for all open houses; make yours, and find out about all the coming weeks’ wedding events and bridal trunk shows, here.

The Wynden

Photo: The Wynden, MD Turner Photography

Chateau Cocomar

Photo: Chateau Cocomar

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Post Hurricane New York Wedding by Steve Lee Weddings

“Our wedding day can be compared to a clear sky, a rainbow and a bright sun that can be seen after a perfect storm,” says bride Akina. And that’s not just a metaphor. A week before her New York wedding to John (he’s from Houston but was living in Yokohama, Japan, at the time; she’s Japanese and was living in NYC), Hurricane Sandy devastated the city, putting the couple’s wedding, along with countless people’s lives, livelihoods and well-being, in very serious jeopardy. Yet somehow the couple’s determined out-of-town guests managed to get to the city safely and on time to enjoy the magnificently chic and warmly multicultural celebration of Akina and John’s true love. To document their perfect day, the pair brought top Houston photographer Steve Lee of Steve Lee Weddings/Khloe Madison to New York, where he captured this beautiful wedding in all its splendor—the pops of pink, the whimsical butterflies, the myriad Yoruban (the groom is a first-generation Nigerian-American) and Japanese elements that went into the couple’s festivities. We get tingles of joy—and, truth be told, a couple of tears in our eyes—looking at Lee’s photos of this magical day. No storm could keep these two apart, and, we are certain, no storm ever shall. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

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Photos: Steve Lee Weddings ~ Bride’s Dress: Miguel Rodriguez ~ Cake & Catering: Relish Caterer, New York ~ Decor: Christine Do ~ Flowers: Tuyet Tina Scarlatella, Christine Do ~ Venue: 360 Studios, New York

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Chateau Cocomar Fashion Shoot by Civic Photos PLUS Bridal Shoot GIVEAWAY

The gleaming marble expanses, the dramatic arches and twinkling crystal chandeliers, the stately columns and soaring steps—there’s nothing about French-style venue Chateau Cocomar that doesn’t lend itself to fabulous photos.

Just take this knockout fashion shoot by HWB fave Civic Photos, for instance. We love how fashion and wedding photographer Barett Henry juxtaposes sultry, sophisticated models Brittnie, Ciara, Jasmine and Karolina with the chateau’s traditional storybook setting.

If you think you too would look lovely set against Chateau Cocomar’s fairytale backdrop, here’s your opportunity: Enter TODAY to win a $600 Vintage French Bridal Photo Shoot from Civic Photos!

TO ENTER:
Email us your name, fiancé’s name, wedding date and reception venue NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEB. 22. Please, only ONE entry per bride (duplicate entries are annoying and will be deleted, darlings). Our winner will be notified by email and announced on Facebook the week of Feb. 25.

Good luck, lovelies!!

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Photos: Civic Photos ~ Makeup: SassyByYorlin ~ Venue: Chateau Cocomar

To check out event more of Civic Photos’ recent work, click here and here!

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Goof-Proof Dramatic Eye Makeup with NO Brushes

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It takes a pretty dang awesome makeup item to make us here at HWB go, “Whoa.” After all, as bridal editors we see a LOT of impressive cosmetics, from airbrush foundation to stay-put lipstick to perfect false lashes. But dramatic eye shadow sans brushes is something we hadn’t encountered…until now. Behold Eye Majic: pre-set, pre-contoured eye shadow sponge strips you simply press against your eyelid, slide across and voila—flawless eye makeup! Or…mostly. If you like liner or shadow along your lower lash line, you’ll need to apply that separately. And for a more diffuse look, you can use your fingertip or a medium shadow brush to blend the stripes of color—an especially important step for the darker Eye Majic shades, which can be rather intense. Other add-ons might include black liner along the waterline for a true smoky look, mascara and/or false lashes. But, we gotta say, Eye Majic has really, um, opened our eyes to the possibility of foolproof, no-brush eye shadow. And with all those pre-wedding parties you are certain to attend, doesn’t easy-peasy evening eye shadow sound like something to celebrate?

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Photos: Eye Majic

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