Houston Wedding Blog

Juli & Kyle’s Spectacular Sunset Lakeway Resort Wedding

We get lots of inquiries from brides who dream of doing a destination wedding, but really want to limit travel to within driving distance of Houston. One of the spots we love most for a wedding that’s close to home but feels like a million miles away is Lakeway Resort & Spa on the shores of Lake Travis in Texas Hill Country. Minutes from Austin, and an easy drive from Houston, Lakeway Resort offers wedding coordination, catering for up to 350 guests, and a list of top-notch vendors, so you barely have to lift a finger to plan your perfect wedding. There’s world-class golf, sailing and the heavenly San Saba Spa, too, making it ideal for a weekend-wedding retreat. Plus, Lakeway Resort has got one of the most scenic wedding sites we’ve ever seen—the gorgeous Vistas Glass Ballroom, which instantly turns that incredible lake sunset into a wedding backdrop no amount of decor could ever duplicate. See for yourself, in these beautiful photos of Juli and Kyle’s Lakeway Resort wedding, by top Austin photographer Matt Montalvo! Gorgeous couple, beautiful wedding location and sparklers, too! Who could ask for anything more? Congratulations, Juli and Kyle!

Juli & Kyle’s Spectacular Sunset Lakeway Resort Wedding

Photos: Matt Montalvo Photography

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A&A Video Father-Daughter Dance Medley Clip Goes Viral

The traditional father-daughter reception dance got turned on its head when bride Ashley and her super-suave dad David took to the floor at Ashley’s wedding. We won’t give away the delicious deets (just in case you haven’t seen the clip yet—and with 8 million hits and counting, that’s getting less and less likely!). Let’s just say this dad-daughter duo has mad range—and more than a little wedding-day spirit. We’re just glad that Houston videography firm A&A Video was on hand at this fun and fabulous Signature Manor wedding to capture the action. Check it out, and be part of the viral sensation that’s sweeping Yahoo, YouTube, Good Morning America and Fox News…and continues to bring the happy everywhere it airs.

Greatest Father Daughter Dance Medley Ever! (Steadicam Version) from A&A Video Productions on Vimeo.

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Missed Sunday’s Tea with Jackson Hicks? Here’s a Little Sip!

The Corinthian in downtown’s Historic District is one of the most drop-dead gorgeous venues in Houston. So it’s no surprise last weekend’s tour and tea with venue director Jackson Hicks—Founder and CEO of famed catering firm Jackson and Company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year—was one of the city’s most spectacular bridal events on record.

Floating candles welcomed brides and their guests as they ascended the venue’s regal stairs, led by Hicks, who held forth on The Corinthian’s history and wedding offerings. As if The Corinthian isn’t already amazing enough, top Houston designers lent their talents to dressing the space. Rob Smith of Events in Bloom brought in creamy white flowers and country-French furniture, while Darryl & Co. did up a divine chuppah in tons of cascading blooms. More fabulous flowers, courtesy Bergner & Johnson, adorned the tea tables, where guests nibbled the most delicious cakes, scones, pastries and tea sandwiches this side of the pond. Fashion, too, was at the fore, with luxury bridal salon Ivory Bridal Atelier showing off stunning gowns, accessorized with jewelry from—where else?—Tiffany & Co.

Get a feel for last weekend’s event—and for what your own Corinthian/Jackson and Company wedding might look and feel like—with these terrific photos from Larry Fagala and Nhan Nguyen!
The Corinthian Bridal Tea and Open House

Photos: Nhan Nguyen Photography (top 5 images), Larry Fagala (bottom 2 images)

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HWB Hearts: Super Natural Bridal Beauty from Rae Cosmetics and Kiehl’s

Rae Cosmetics ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Rae Cosmetics

‘Tis the season…for dry, tight, chapped skin. Next thing you know, it’ll be the season for swampy heat and endless sweat.

That’s just life in the big city. Of Houston. And we’re OK with that. What we’re not OK with? Looking anything less than picture-perfect on our big, beautiful wedding day. So let’s skip ahead a few months to the coming humidity—a bane for many a Houston bride. If you’re planning to walk down that aisle, or pose for engagement or bridal pics during our steamy season, you have GOT to get your hands on goods from Rae Cosmetics. We love this awesome line based in Austin and created by local makeup pro Rochelle Rae, who formulated her heat- and humidity-resistant products for professional athletes—and ended up making makeup that happens to be perfect for Houston brides.

Our favorite bridal beauty products include Rae’s weightless, antioxidant-packed Surface Primer, which creates a smooth, matte canvas for wedding-day makeup, and Rae’s silky, triple-milled, SPF 15 Mineral Powder, which won’t crease or smear from humidity or sweat. Sweet. Also in our bridal beauty toolbox is Rae’s Lush Silk Mascara, with actual silk powder, which binds to water, making it heat- and sweat-resistant, while creating long, lush, smize-tacular lashes. One note: Mineral face makeup tends to have light-reflecting properties, so be sure to check with your makeup artist before having your face done for photos!

Kiehl's Cosmetics ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Kiehl’s

Of course, we all know that bridal beauty prep starts months in advance of the main event. One of the best products we’ve found for keeping skin soft, supple and dewy looking during winter’s cool, dry months is new Midnight Recovery Concentrate from natural-beauty fave Kiehl’s. More a serum than a moisturizer, this lavender-enriched oil is formulated to repair and regenerate skin while you sleep. And you better believe it does. Smooth on a few drops, and, voila—wake up with fresher, more elastic, more hydrated skin (P.S. contrary to what you may think, it’s excellent for oily skin—many blemish-prone gals report a reduction in breakouts when using it!). And the scent? Soothing and heavenly—perfect for the stressed-out bride-to-be. Pair it with Kiehl’s paraben-free Midnight Recovery Eye treatment as part of your pre-wedding bridal beauty routine, and get ready to glow, for real.

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Vintage Tea Party Engagement Shoot by Rachel Robinson

This retro-adorable engagement shoot from oh-so-talented Rachel Robinson is one of the sweetest we’ve seen. But the love story behind Amanda and Brandon’s engagement? That’s even sweeter.

Little did small-town Canadian girl Amanda know she’d end up with native Houstonian Brandon, all those afternoons she spent daydreaming on the shore of tiny Nipper’s Harbour, Newfoundland. But when Amanda, all grown up, with a degree in mechanical engineering, moved to Houston where several of her friends had put down roots, she couldn’t help but notice that cutie at the bar, the one wearing Chuck Taylors—just like the ones she was wearing! Sure, they got to talking, and even shared a smooch. But it wasn’t until the next night, when she ended up at the same bar to watch college football with friends, and happened to hear a familiar voice call out, “Amanda Newfoundland!” that she knew something special was happening. Over the next few months, through long chats and ping-pong games (she won), and despite her heading offshore for a job, and his shoulder surgery, the two fell in love. Hard.

Then came the day when Amanda walked into the living room to see Brandon down on one knee with a little blue box (“which we all know means Tiffany’s!” she says). For their engagement—for which their parents joined them for a few adorable pics—the couple did a “fun and flirty photo shoot” in different parts of downtown Houston. “Brandon was the best, through all my girly ideas,” which included cotton candy, a tea party and tons of vintage styling, Amanda says. Through all the darling costumes, great settings and cool props, you can see this couple’s deep, sincere adoration for each other in every shot. Beautiful work, Rachel. And happiest wishes, Amanda and Brandon!

Vintage Tea Party Engagement Shoot by Rachel Robinson Photos: Rachel Robinson Photography

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