Back in 2011, a casual father-daughter lunch—a tradition Emily Catherine has enjoyed with her dad since she was very young—turned out to be a very important occasion, when a “tall handsome guy stopped me out of nowhere and said, ‘Hi, I’m Ben Riggs. Weren’t you in my brother’s grade at Kinkaid?’” recounts the bride. “We chatted for a little bit and then he went back to his friends and I went back to my dad. As I walked away, I had butterflies in my stomach. I had never met a guy who was so outgoing, confident and charismatic. I knew there was just something special about him.” The two became Facebook friends, started messaging each other, eventually shared phone numbers, and, as Emily Catherine says, “The rest is history!” This summer, the pair shared vows in a traditional church ceremony, followed by a Houston Country Club bash attended by 500 of their nearest and dearest. Southern elegance ruled the day, in the form of oodles of white, cream and blush roses, along with Southern specialties including fried oysters and grits, and a six-foot-tall, monogrammed, flower-wrapped cake. “We wanted people from all generations on the dance floor all night long,” says Emily Catherine of the high-energy dancing to the live band. “One of my favorite moments of our wedding was when they opened the doors to the church before my dad and I walked down the aisle. Ben and I had not seen each other before the wedding, and I couldn’t get to the end fast enough to be with him! Plus, I could see he was trying to hold back from getting choked up, it was so sweet! My other favorite moment was during our first dance. I looked around the room and saw all of our friends and family. I mean, when in your life do you have all the people who are important to you all together?” At your once-in-a-lifetime wedding, that’s when. Congratulations, Emily Catherine and Ben, and big thanks to Michael Carr Photography for the beautiful photos of this beautiful Houston wedding.
Photos: Michael Carr Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Ines di Santo from Belle Mariée Bridal ~ Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear ~ Cake: Cakes by Gina ~ Flowers: Houston Country Club ~ Coordinator: Keely Thorne of Keely Thorne Events ~ Venue: Houston Country Club ~ Invitations: Bering’s
