Purple | Houston Wedding Blog

Classic Wedding with a Charitable Heart by Lindsay Elizabeth Photography

“When Michael proposed, we started wondering where to find the right venue for us,” recounts Houston bride Carolyn. “Fortunately we thought about the Brookwood Community, a wonderful residential organization right outside of Katy, where adults with disabilities can thrive and learn to contribute meaningfully. My mother and I had often eaten in the café there and we loved to volunteer with the organization.” Carolyn explains that the Brookwood Community had only recently started hosting weddings—and she was thrilled to be among the first to take advantage of the community’s “beautiful worship center” and lovely, sunlight-filled café space. In her diaphanous Watters gown from Mia Bridal Couture, Carolyn made her wedding dreams come true, with a timeless summer celebration filled with personal photos, handmade signs and touches of blue, purple and green. The best part? “The profits from the wedding went to a scholarship fund to help residents live at the Brookwood Community. We were so grateful to have a wedding that benefitted a cause—and we enjoyed that we didn’t compromise on anything to host it there!” Congratulations, and happiest wishes to Carolyn and Michael. And big thanks to Lindsay Elizabeth Photography for the lovely, lovely photos!

Classic Wedding with a Charitable Heart by Lindsay Elizabeth Photography

Photos: Lindsay Elizabeth Photography

Bride’s Dress: Watters from Mia Bridal Couture ~ Rings: Tiffany & Co. ~ Venue: Brookwood Community

Texas-Chic Crystal Ballroom Wedding by Sharon Nicole Photography

We don’t often associate the ultra-elegant Crystal Ballroom at the Rice with barbecue and boot mugs. Fortunately for the 220 guests who attended Kristen and Bert’s May wedding, the bride did. Following the couple’s emotional church ceremony—conducted by a friend of the groom’s who’d recently been ordained as a priest—the celebrants headed to the historic Rice Hotel for a fabulous party. “Bert’s family is from Florida, so I wanted to share some wonderful Texas BBQ with them,” bride Kristen explained to us. “The theme and decor of the reception just followed from that. I wanted it to be elegant, but still with the feel of a Texas wine country / barbeque celebration.” Well, Kristen, you certainly achieved your aims, and then some. ’Course it helps to have stellar vendors like Darryl & Co. and Who Made the Cake on your team. Big thanks to Sharon Nicole Photography, big hugs to Kristen and Bert—congratulations!

Photos: Sharon Nicole Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero ~ Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden ~ Bride’s Makeup & Hair: Flawless ~ Cakes: Who Made the Cake ~ Catering: Goode Company Barbecue ~ Flowers: Darryl & Co. ~ Coordinator: Save the Date with Valerie ~ Ceremony & Reception Venue: Crystal Ballroom at the Rice

Purple and Platinum Chinese-Jewish-Longhorn Wedding by Stacy Cross Photography

While embracing your future spouse’s faith is a deeply personal decision, for groom Garrett Hartman, it was an easy one. “Garrett has recently been converted to my Longhorn religion!” effuses bride Leslie Ng. “He is great about going with me to games … and ever so willing to go get snacks and drinks so I don’t ever have to miss a single play. It’s a match made in Heaven!” In Heaven, maybe, but with a little help from Garrett’s aunt, who sat her single nephew next to Leslie at an event, starting the Houston couple on the path to “I do!” In addition to Leslie’s Longhorn devotion, the couple’s cultural and spiritual backgrounds—he’s Jewish, she’s Chinese—infused their joyful Briscoe Manor wedding throughout, from the groom’s traditional glass-stomping (“That poor light bulb didn’t stand a chance,” Leslie laughs), to the bride’s chair-ride during the hora dance (“scary, but fun,” she recounts) to the amuse bouche of potato latke with Peking duck slices topped with hoisin, crème fraiche and apple chutney (“a little Chinese and a little Jewish—we called it ‘Chewish’”). Leslie’s favorite wedding moment? “During our first dance, Garrett (a horrible singer) sang to me in my ear and went over highlights of our ceremony, telling me how he loved my dress, how lucky and blessed he felt at that moment,” she recounts. “It made me cry—it was the best three and a half minutes of my life.” Big thanks to Stacy Cross Photography for images of this uniquely personal and super stylish wedding. And happiest wishes to Leslie and Garrett!

Purple and Platinum Chinese-Jewish-Longhorn Wedding by Stacy Cross Photography ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Stacy Cross Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Mori Lee ~ Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Blush & Co. ~ Cakes: More Than Cakes ~ Catering: Behind the Bash
Flowers: Fresh Blooms of Houston ~ Ceremony & Reception Venue: Briscoe Manor

Orchid-Filled Hilton Americas Wedding By Kelly Hornberger Photography

“I chose Hilton Americas-Houston because I loved the elegant setting that the hotel provided,” bride Natalie told us about her magnificent 280-guest wedding celebration. “As soon as you walk into the lobby you immediately notice the beautiful chandeliers and enormous marble columns situated around the lobby. The ambiance of the hotel really set the mood that I had envisioned for my wedding.” Enhancing that mood, and bringing freshness and warmth to the opulence, were simple, monochromatic, bloom-and-branch centerpieces from Darryl & Co. set against earth-toned linens and flickering votives, in a room washed in shades of pink of purple. Orchids abounded, at the request of the bride, who told us, “I knew the night Shane proposed that orchids would be a part of my wedding. During dinner on New Year’s Eve of 2010, the waiter presented me with a covered plate that I assumed would be the entree that I had ordered. When he removed the lid, I was so surprised to find the most gorgeous engagement ring situated in the middle of a beautiful orchid arrangement. I fell in love with the flower not only because of the beautiful colors, but because of the beautiful memory that it reminded me of.” For memories of her perfect day, Natalie will forever have photos from top Houston wedding photographer Kelly Hornberger, who was kind enough to share a selection with us in this here post. Thank you, Kelly—and happiest wishes to the lovely couple!

Orchid-Filled Hilton Americas Wedding By Kelly Hornberger Photography

Photos: Kelly Hornberger Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero ~ Bride’s Shoes & Jewelry: Badgley Mischka (wedding bands) ~ Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear ~ Cake: Who Made The Cake ~ Flowers, Decor & Rentals: Darryl & Co. ~ Venue & Catering: Hilton Americas-Houston

White and Purple Woodlands Winter Wedding

A white winter wedding need not be devoid of color. Quite the contrary. A clean, wintry white background is the perfect foundation for a warming burst of color. Lynsey and Taylor’s December wedding celebration at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center is a spectacular example. Against a backdrop of snow white, including white table linens, chair covers and room draping, Darryl & Co. brought in subtle touches of purple and silver, along with plenty of icy crystal, glass and rhinestone sparkle, creating an effect that was at once coolly chic and warmly inviting. Purple and pink color-wash lighting, snowflake gobos, and, of course, flickering candlelight, completed the picture, providing Lynsey, Taylor and their 225 delighted guests a winter wonderland in which to eat, drink and dance the night away. And boy, did they. Big thanks to Jaylene DeBenedictis of Sacred Image Photography for her beautiful photos of one of the loveliest winter weddings we’ve had the privilege of featuring. Enjoy!

White and Purple Woodlands Winter Wedding ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Sacred Image Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Kitty Chen Couture ~ from The Princess Bridal ~ Flowers, Decor & Rentals: Darryl & Co. ~ Venue, Catering & Cake: The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center