Jennifer and Andrew met in paradise while on an excursion during a company trip in Mexico. Andrew asked Jennifer to share a locker, and the rest is history. In March 2019, Andrew set up a surprise engagement on the sandy beaches of Kauai, Hawaii. “He made reservations for dinner at the Sheraton, but before dinner, we were walking on the beach. He had hired a photographer who was posing as a random beach go-er. They offered to take our photo, and after a couple of shots, I moved positions, and when I turned around, he was down on one knee,” Jennifer remembers.
When Jessica’s brother-in-law invited her over to teach a yoga class for him and a friend who was training for the Houston Marathon, she had no idea that she’d be meeting her future husband, Alex. “As cliché as it sounds, it was love at first sight,” explained Jessica. The couple began dating shortly after, and on November 6, 2020, Alex popped the big question during a family trip to Telluride, Colorado. Little did Jessica know, his whole family was in on the surprise! He proposed at the top of a mountain with his parents and siblings there to capture the moment on camera and celebrate with a bottle of bubbly.
Upon returning to Houston, the couple began looking for wedding venues, deciding on the elegant Astorian. “The Astorian is so breathtaking in and of itself, so I wanted soft white flowers and a lot of candlelight,” said Jessica. The floral wedding arch and canopies of white flowers and greenery cascading from the columns perfectly balanced Jessica and Alex’s wedding color palate against the Astorian’s rich architecture and 1920’s-esque tones. The tables creatively wrapped around each column, giving guests the feeling of dining in a lush garden with the Houston skyline peeking in through windows. Click here to read the rest of this post »
Photo: Ama By Aisha | Jewelry: Zadok Jewelers | Venue: Iron Manor | Styling: Summar Salah | Makeup + Hair: VCI Artists Victoria Callaway, Amber Livingston & Dennis Clendennen | Pant Suit: Tootsies
Our June cover is out, and these trends are in!
White dresses are often the go-to for bridal showers, engagement shoots and elopements. Why not dare to be different— and make a statement with a bridal pantsuit? Check out the glamorous details that went into this look below— suit up and shop our cover!
A week after moving back from Stuttgart, Germany, Ian, an Opera singer and the venue director of Conroe event venue Madera Estates, met Paul at McGovern Centennial Gardens during a holiday party in 2016. Two years later, Paul proposed to Ian in NYC after a Broadway show, on top of the iconic Empire State building. It was only fitting for the couple to select Madera Estates for their winter nuptials! “As the venue owner of Madera Estates, we knew immediately we wanted to play to the strengths of the venue, while also doing something completely different and unique to us,” says Ian. “Our leap day wedding was a vintage, Spanish-inspired evening filled with an abundance of candlelight. Deep and rich colors of navy, burgundy, and saffron were complimented by talavera and handmade wrought iron pieces.”
Guests were greeted upon arrival with flower-adorned beer burros and the women in the wedding party wore Frida Kahlo inspired headpieces. The couple tied the knot in a romantic twilight ceremony followed by a show-stopping fireworks display. The celebration moved indoors to Madera Estates’ Hacienda and the newlyweds made their grand reception entrance with adorable alpacas. The evening’s entertainment kicked off with Ian and Paul’s first dance where a drag queen interrupted them acting as a jilted bride! A churro bar and boozy hot chocolate fueled guests for a lively “La Hora Loca” featuring characters on stilts and light up foam sticks. The greatest challenge Ian faced while planning their festive wedding was, “Letting go! As an industry professional, it was hard to not micromanage the process or even day-of details. I call it the blessing and the curse!”
We are so excited to feature this handsome Houston couple and their vintage Spanish-inspired wedding, captured in such detail by Ama By Aisha. Congratulations, Ian & Paul!
An open-air rehearsal dinner under the expansive sky is a lovely way to give your guests a relaxing and Texas-style welcome to your wedding festivities. Check out this beautiful courtyard rehearsal dinner decor by Kirksey Gregg Productions for some inspiration for your own celebration!
