Morgan Lynn Photography | Houston Wedding Blog

White, Red and Black Wedding at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice

WEDDINGS IN HOUSTON Spring 2015 | Real Wedding Feature

Lisa & Joel ~ September 20, 2014

As Houston Rockets director of broadcasting Joel Blank recounts his initial blind date with KHOU-TV anchor Lisa Hernandez: “We had our first date, and knew we had gone on our last first date.” The couple made it official with a lovely late-summer wedding at the dazzling Crystal Ballroom at The Rice, where guests dug into fajitas, indulged in a decadent “dessert gallery,” and danced the night away. We don’t know who’s luckier—the bride, who, dressed in her stunning Ines Di Santo mermaid gown, tearfully exchanged vows with the man of her dreams, or the groomsmen, who each went home with an NBA game ball signed by Dwight Howard, James Harden, Kevin McHale, Calvin Murphy, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. You be the judge!

White, Red & Black Wedding at Crystal Ballroom at The Rice

Photos: Morgan Lynn Photography ~ Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo from Ivory Bridal Atelier ~ Venue: Crystal Ballroom at The Rice ~ Catering: Sambuca Catering ~ Decor & Rentals: EB Inc Events ~ Cake: Susie’s Cakes & Confections ~ Invitations: Katie & Co. ~ Videography: 31 Films ~ Honeymoon: Turks & Caicos

Pewter and Pink Houston Wedding With International Flair

“On May 13, 2010, my mom said all that she wanted for her birthday was for me to join Jdate.com, a Jewish online dating service. I was very hesitant but how could I turn down her birthday wish? I briefly searched the men available and stumbled upon ‘bluesman84.’ I had just moved back to Houston after going to college in NYC to study music business. With that kind of screen name, I had to talk to him. He was the first and last guy I ever spoke to on the site and we both never logged back on after that.” They never needed to, after all. By that time, Nicole and South African transplant Daniel were well on their way to forever. With her Russian and his South African background, the couple’s wedding was full of cultural touchstones, starting with its theme: “‘L’chaim, Cheers, Na’zdarova’—all three of these words mean ‘to life,’ but are said three different ways,” explains Nicole. Along with homage to their heritages, Nicole and Daniel’s wedding at the Omni Houston Hotel was rich with music. “My husband, who plays guitar, got on stage and sang a song he wrote to me, as well as a one-song reunion with his high-school band.” A treat for the couple, their 230 guests—many having traveled from locales including Israel, South Africa, Germany, London and Australia—the wedding, we can only imagine, was an especially sweet treat for Nicole’s mom, who got her birthday wish, and then some. Congratulations to all, and sincere thanks to Morgan Lynn Photography for the pretty pix.

Pewter and Pink Houston Wedding With International Flair

Photos: Morgan Lynn Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Enzoani from Brickhouse Bridal ~ Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka ~ Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie ~ Flowers & Decor: Plants N’ Petals ~ Invitations: Bering’s ~ Venue: Omni Riverway

White, Silver and Purple Wedding at Hotel ZaZa

“From the beginning, I knew I wanted our wedding to truly reflect Ryan and I as a couple,” says Houston bride Lindsy. “As high-school sweethearts, we had been together for eight years when we began planning our wedding, and we had truly grown up together and with each other’s families. We wanted our wedding to be a night to celebrate our love as well as our family and friends who have supported us for so many years. I envisioned an all-white wedding with a mix of soft textured elements and strong architectural design. The ceremony, like my dress,”—a gorgeous Monique Lhuillier creation from Joan Pillow Bridal Salon, btw— “had an ethereal quality, with floating orchid petals and candles. The reception had a lot of clean lines with structured arrangements of white flowers. Fun-fact napkins, signature drinks and advice cards personalized our event and made our guests a part of our love story. The textured linens, mirrored table tops and white linen menus added texture and interest to a monochrome palette. An all-white stage, dance floor and lounge furniture created the perfect environment to dance the night away for our friends and family. After dinner the chandeliers changed to purple lighting and the music continued until early the next morning. We ended the evening with a salty-and-sweet treat of French fries and milkshake shots for our guests before a confetti exit to our hotel suite. The most special part of our wedding was a painting of our sweet dogs (who could not be at the wedding) by my cousin Jennifer. We made sure to display it under the chuppah so they could watch over our ceremony.” And if that’s not the picture of personal, meaningful wedding perfection, we don’t know what is. Congratulations, Lindsy and Ryan, and great thanks to Morgan Lynn Photography for the lovely photos!

White, Silver and Purple Wedding at Hotel ZaZa

Photos: Morgan Lynn Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Joan Pillow Bridal Salon ~ Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender ~ Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier from Nordstrom Wedding Suite ~ Flowers & Decor: Darryl & Co. ~ Cake: Susie’s Cakes & Confections ~ Coordinator: Belle of the Ball ~ Venue: Hotel ZaZa ~ Rehearsal Dinner: Maggiano’s Little Italy