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Featured Wedding: Heiko & Mary

We usually have more of a story to share with our fans, but alas, this one is short and sweet. But in this case, we think the beautiful photography by StrictlyWeddings.com Dallas‘ partner Thisbe Grace tells us the rest – happily ever after.

Story: Heiko and Mary met while Mary was living in Germany.  He was sent over from London to attend a meeting at Mary’s place of employment. He was nice, so Mary’s colleague and her decided to go to London to celebrate the colleague’s birthday and invited Heiko out to the celebrations. The rest is history! They got engaged in beautiful Champagne, France on their fourth anniversary of dating

(Okay, does anyone else look at this photo of this precious little girl and laugh at her little smirk? Love it!)

Bride’s Full Name:  Mary Catherine Craddock
Groom’s Full Name: Heiko Stefan Weber
Wedding Date: October 15, 2011
Ceremony Site: Royal Lane Baptist Church
Photographer/Studio: Thisbe Grace Photography
Bridal Gown Designer: Vera Wang
Hair & Makeup: Sonia Trevino – hair and Lenore Caulton-Downey – makeup
Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren purple label
Bridesmaids Dresses Designer: Wtoo
Bridesmaids Dresses Retailer: Lulu’s
Flowers: The Wildflower
Reception Site: The Stoneleigh Hotel
Cake: Dallas Affaires
Caterer: The Stoneleigh
Band and/or DJ: Absolute Entertainment  - Justin Cash
Lighting: Absolute Entertainment
Videographer: Hakim Sons
Wedding Rentals: Posh Couture
Wedding Planner: Holly Tripp

Featured Wedding: Melissa & Chris

We are thrilled to share a new wedding from Austin photographer Jennifer Lindberg. The photography is always a joy and she does an amazing job of sharing the various details that we all love to see. The wedding of Melissa and Chris was held at Austin, Texas’ Barton Creek Resort. Definitely UT grads (or fans). Check out the grooms cake – wow! The bride shared a few of her special wedding memories with StrictyWeddings.com:

“Most of all, I remember…”

I remember waking up the morning of our wedding day and immediately thinking “I am getting married today!” I had been looking forward to this day for so long, it was hard to believe it was actually here. It’s hard to describe that feeling of excitement. It felt like every Christmas morning from my childhood all rolled up into one. I remember my brother knocking on my door to deliver a letter from the groom. It was the most beautifully written letter I have ever received and it brought me to the first of many happy tears that would follow that day.

I remember Chris’s face when I was walking down the aisle with my Dad. It was so full of love and emotion that I had to glance away and smile at guests in order to keep my composure. I fought tears through the ceremony and was relieved when it was time to go party.

We had a blast at the reception. The ballroom was gorgeous, the band was amazing, and the dance floor was crowded. It was a genuine celebration with our family and friends. Everyone warned me it would go by quickly, but I had no idea how true that would be! I remember waiting with Chris in a quiet room before making our big exit and having a brief moment to reflect on everything. I had never felt more blessed. I had the time of my life, married the man of my dreams, and became the happiest girl in the world – all in one beautiful, perfect night.

Venue/Catering – Barton Creek Resort
Bakery – Simon Lee Bakery
Rentals – Marquee Events
Linens – BBJ
Lighting – ILIOS
Make Up – Kandy Glass
Hair – Sasha Lemay
Ceremony Music – Barton Strings
Cocktail Music – Emerald Entertainment
Reception Music – Blind Date
Officiant – Dr. J. Kie Bowman
Ceremony Sound – Barton Creek Resort
Florist – Merveille Events
Photographer – Jennifer Lindberg Weddings
Videographer – Crescent Video
Wedding Coordinator – Clink Events

Featured Wedding – Elise and Mewael Ghebremichael

Penguins Mate for Life – How Perfect for Matt & Kerri

StrictlyWeddings.com loves our new featured wedding from Chicago photographer, Phil Farber and wedding planner, Wedding, Inc. The food showcased in this wedding is absolutely amazing! Hmmm….we wonder if the fact that the bride’s father is Edward Chen, Director of Catering at the Hilton Chicago has anything to do with that! The wedding reception took place in the historical “Gold Coast Room” at The Drake because it is a gorgeous room and the couple could perfectly envision having the wedding reception there.

Kerri, the bride, describes how they met. “Matt and I were set up by mutual friends to attend his fraternity formal. At first I was very hesitant about going with him, but once I found out that he originally didn’t want to go with a member of my sorority, I knew that I had to meet him. On the night of the formal, waiting to meet my date, my friend pointed him out by saying, “there he is – he’s the one with the head sticking up a good three inches above everyone else.”

The night went well and he seemed like a really nice guy. We had dinner, danced, and had a great time with our friends.  After the formal, everyone went back to the fraternity house to continue the party. At the end of the night we went our separate ways, but we would see each other again soon. Little did we know, but that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship!”

Matt, the groom, shares his thoughts behind the proposal. “There are a million ways to propose, but like every guy, I had to find the way that was just right. I knew certain options were off the table from the start. She wouldn’t want the proposal to be in a crowded public place, be at a restaurant, or at any common landmark around the city. It most certainly had to be unique.

“With that in mind, I began to think of the things she loved. With Kerri, penguins are near the top of the list. So I knew I had to find a way to incorporate an actual penguin in the proposal. Thanks to the Shedd Aquarium, I was able to make that happen. On a Friday afternoon, I told Kerri that I had a surprise for her and we needed to walk somewhere. We headed to the aquarium and went to a room near the penguin enclosure. Sitting in a small blocked off area, the trainer brought out a penguin and placed him at our feet. We got to pet and play with the penguin while the trainer talked about how a penguin lives. Penguins are rather unique in comparison to other animals because they are one of the few species that pick their mate for life.  To make the situation even more ideal for a proposal, they also give their mate a pebble when choosing them.

As the trainer began to talk about this fact, I knew it was my cue. I dropped to one knee, told Kerri how much I loved her, and asked her to marry me. And with that we were engaged!” (Okay…collective sigh here!).

The wedding was held on Father’s day, which meant a lot to Kerri as she is very close with her family and it was a very emotional moment for her to have her father walk her down the aisle and give her away.

Kerri was surprise to see a giant penguin and turtle ice sculpture during the cocktail hour, since she had been involved with every detail of the wedding and did not know that that was going to be there.  Penguins and turtles are the couple’s favorite animals.

The after party was one of the highlights of the wedding, because it was when Kerri & Matt could really just relax, hang out with friends and family and just dance!

Gown: Vera Wang “The Whitney”, The luxe collection
Bridesmaid Dresses: Belsoie (Peacock blue)
Floral & Décor: Yanni
Ceremony: St James
Reception: Drake Hotel- Chicago
Caterer – Cocktail hour and Dinner: Danzinger Catering; Dessert: Hilton Chicago; After party: Drake Hotel
Planner: Weddings, Inc.
Photographer: Photo Images – Phil Farber
Band/DJ: Michael Lerich

Featured Wedding: Ana & Abe

Couple: Ana Cristina Aguirre & Abraham Joseph

Wedding Date: September 17, 2011
Submitted by StrictlyWeddings.com Chicago Partner: Carasco Photography

Bride Ana Cristina and groom Abraham Joseph met in Miami. “He was friends with my roommate’s boyfriend at the time. My roommate had called me to go out with the three of them on a Wednesday night in February and she had to convince me because it was too cold outside. It was 60F outside! That was cold for me back then! I ended up going out, we had a great time and the rest is history,” noted Ana Cristina. “Abraham proposed over dinner in a very simple but beautiful way. He told me we were meeting a friend when in reality it was just the two of us. I was totally surprised.”

It was easy for Ana Cristina to choose vendors and logistics for her wedding since she is a Chicago event planner and owner of Deseo Events. “I think I went through the same nervousness that any other bride goes through on her wedding day. Kelly Cavanaugh from Clementine Events was my day of coordinator and she helped me so much in dealing with last minute stress!” said Ana Cristina. “I cannot imagine how brides do it without a wedding planner. I know I couldn’t have done it without my experience and confidence in the industry.”

“I didn’t want a ballroom, I wanted something different, but it was important the place was cozy because we wanted our families to get to know each other better. We looked at the available venues and when we went to The Peninsula we thought it was perfect. It is a ballroom, but it is cozy, elegant, it has beautiful windows over-looking Michigan Ave., the size, location and everything was perfect. The terrace for cocktails is to die for. There was a hold on the date and it was the only date available for the year! We had to wait for the hold to be released,” noted Ana Cristina.

“My favorite memory from my wedding day… You’ve heard this before but it is truly to have everyone you love with you. LOVE the DJ and the food. The service at The Peninsula was immaculate too, left a great flavor in my mouth. I stayed the night before the wedding day and the staff would call me Miss. Aguirre the day before the wedding and Mrs. Joseph the day after. Cute, right?” said Ana Cristina.

Gown: Vera Wang
Shoes/purse/veil: The Left Bank
Tux/Suit: Hugo Boss (Bloomingdales)
Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG
Hair: Beauty on Call
Floral & Décor: KEHOE DESIGNS
Venue: The Peninsula
Caterer: The Peninsula
Day of event Planner: Clementine Events
Planning prior to wedding day: Deseo Events Design and Planning
Photographer: CARASCO Photography
Band/DJ: Quartet at cocktail: Artstrings. Rolando Calip with Deftmix
Honeymoon location: The Peninsula at Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand, Marriot JW at Phuket, Thailand
Dance Classes: Arthur Murray Studio
Transportation: VIP Valet Services

Featured Wedding: Abril & Mark – Wild Horses Couldn’t Drag them Away

Why start a featured wedding with the title of a Rolling Stones song? We couldn’t resist when we saw that the Bridal Procession was to the song “Wild Horses.” Intriguing. Even better to end your ceremony with a procession to Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” So we were hooked before we even saw the gorgeous photography provided by Jennifer Lindberg Photography!

The setting for the wedding of Abril and Mark was held at the glorious Laguna Gloria Museum in Austin, Texas (now the Austin Art Museum – Laguna Gloria — a personal favorite and must see when visiting Austin). The couple met while at SMU. She was attending the prestigious law school, while Mark was there getting his MBA.

Her stunning wedding gown is Monique Lhuillier. “This was the gown of my dreams,” explains Abril.  “When I first saw it online, I knew it was THE dress.  I tried it on and I was right. I only tried a handful of other dresses and nothing compared.”

A few special notes the bride wanted to share. “My mom is a china painter and she hand painted every single small porcelain dish (our guest favors). Our (dog) kids, Austin and Ema, were there to celebrate with us and I individually cut by hand every Westie shaped escort card!”

Other wedding vendors include: Hair & Makeup – Tanya Carpenter, owner of TRU Salon in Dallas; Floral Designer – Prive Floral; Wedding Planner – CLINK; Cake – Michelle’s Patisserie

Featured Wedding – Sunshine & Grant

Last summer we posted the precious engagement photos of Sunshine and Grant by Thisbe Grace. Now we complete the circle with beautiful photos of their wedding reception under the stars at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Downtown Dallas.

Sunshine & Grant toasted and danced the night away with guests from all over the world. Under the direction of wedding planner Jordan Payne, it was a garden inspired wedding with autumn florals (her colors were purple, peach and ivory), including an array of foliage, bringing it all together with gold details throughout. It was complete with modern details like a white dance floor at the foot of the 40 foot garden sculpture and white lounge furniture under crystal chandeliers hung in the trees.

The ceremony was at SMU’s Perkins Chapel. Grant went to SMU, which made it more personal. They were married by one of their closest friends. According to Sunshine, her ceremony was the perfect balance between the celebration of the day and the reality of the commitment the couple was making. They almost vetoed the Nasher (even before they saw it!) because Sunshine didn’t want an outdoor reception, yet they fell in love with the modern art, the water, and all the beautiful trees once they saw it in person.

The idea of the three cakes came from a picture of three, single layer wedding cakes on cakes stands that Sunshine found. She and her sister found a store in Venice Beach with stacks of vintage glass cake stands and bought two for the wedding. The third cake stand belonged to Delicious Cakes.

Bridal Gown – Romona Keveza
Wedding Planner – Jordan Payne Events
Photographer – Thisbe Grace
Bridesmaid Dresses – Jim Hjelm
Entertainment – Andy Austin
Cake – 3 cakes by Delicious Cakes.

Rehersal Dinner – Sammy’s BBQ – We wanted to serve authentic Texas cuisine and our friends love to dress up, so the invite said “hats, boot and belts encouraged.”

Hair & Makeup – Mo Bowers of Fairy Godmother Bridal. About my Makeup – “I love purple eye shadow and when I saw a photo of a bride wearing it for her bridal photos, I was inspired to wear my favorite color, Beautiful Iris by MAC. Mo suggested a red gloss for my lips, and I questioned her suggestion, until a fabulous sales associate at Blue Mercury in Philadelphia helped me fine Chanel 106, which is my new favorite lip color.”

New York Weddings – Lindsey & Tyler

Sometimes, the most important decisions are the easiest to make. “I realized very early on that this was the girl I was going to marry, probably a month or two after we started dating,” confides Tyler Rhoten of his bride, Lindsey Magness.

“We wanted to have an iconic New York wedding, which showed our out-of-town friends and family the best of the city we love and call home. Our locations were a big part of achieving that,” says the couple. StrictlyWeddings.com NYC partner, Gruber Photographers, shared this iconic wedding with us and it’s sure to become one of your favorites!

The sizeable bridal party – eight maids in all – wore floor-grazing charcoal gowns and held vibrant bouquets in brilliant hues of purple and blue. A vision in a tumble of ruffled fabric that fell in origami-like layers, Lindsey floated down the candle-lit aisle, her mother and stepfather by her side. One magical moment: Just as Tyler and Lindsey kissed after being pronounced man and wife, a gospel choir burst into song, setting the mood for the remainder of the night with their rendition of “Oh, Happy Day,” which set the mood for the remainder of the night.

For the reception, guests made their way to the New York Public Library for a night to remember. Tyler and Lindsey shared a ride in a classic car, which was fitting for their timeless, New York theme. “My advice to any bride and groom is to set aside some alone time, even just five minutes, between the ceremony and reception,” advises Lindsey. “It was so nice to take a moment to appreciate that we were officially married before starting the celebration.”

The bride’s favorite color palette of black and white, accented with shades of purple, set the backdrop for the elegant affair. Table cards cleverly fashioned to resemble catalog cards guided guests to their sage-toned seats. Long rectangular tables filled the immense room, each topped with gleaming silver candelabras and flowering branches of purple blossoms that reached toward the vaulted ceiling. Contrasting short, clean arrangements of white orchids, tea roses, lavender, purple iris, and calla lilies added texture. Candles of all shapes and sizes played up the romance, illuminating the hallowed halls. No two tables were identical, a visual feast for the eyes. Violet lighting cast a romantic glow during the dinner and dancing.

For guests that were less footloose and fancy-free, small lounge areas were provided to sit and enjoy so they wouldn’t feel left out of the action. Combining influences from the couple’s favorite Mexican and Italian cuisines, guests feasted on a first course of penne with tomato and hot peppers, lasagna Bolognese, and spinach tagliotini with ham and peas. A light salad followed. The main course included a choice of Dover sole or rolled chicken, both accompanied with sides of tomato and roasted-pepper flan, asparagus, and potato duchesses. A towering five-tiered buttercream cake was adorned with beautiful bouquets of sugar flowers, ranging from the palest lavender to the deepest plum. The ice cream-loving couple surprised their loved ones with a gelato cart serving hand-dipped cones. “It was definitely a hit with our guests!” says Lindsey. In lieu of traditional favors, a donation was made in honor of attendees to two local organizations. However, another tantalizing delicacy served as a sweet reminder of the night. Guests were encouraged to fill a to-go bag with fresh bomboloni (Italian filled donuts).

Bride & Groom: Lyndsey Magness & Tyler Rhoten
Photographers: Gruber Photographers
Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Veil: Mark Ingram Bridal
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Reception: New York Public Library
Ceremony: Saint Bartholomew’s Church
Cake: Sylvia Weinstock Cakes

Copy: Inside Weddings

Featured Wedding | Mike & Christen | Wedding Chicago Style

The oh so fab photographer Jai Girard, our Chicago StrictlyWeddings.com partner, sent us this wedding (and others to come soon) that is truly wonderful! We love Jai’s dramatic photos and how she captures her bride and groom is so many fun and creative ways.

Our bride and groom, Christen and Mike, met through a mutual friend and there first official date was the following night … love at first sight? Mike proposed to Christen atop a cliff overlooking the desolate Papkolea Green Sand Beach on the Big Island (Hawaii). A very rare type of beach, its unique olive green sand is made of a smi-precious stone eroded by the ocean and crushed into fine sand. Mike surprised Christen after a 3 mile hike through volcanic rock to get there.

Fun to know…Christen’s something old was a beautiful diamond that she won at the grand opening of a department store. Her parents had placed in on a ring setting that she was allowed to wear to church until she was old enough. By then, it was dated so it was put away in her mom’s jewelry box. Come her wedding day, her parents surprised her with her “old” diamond in a new beautiful necklace.

Ceremony: St. Hyacinth Basilica
Reception: The Blackstone Hotel
Wedding Gown: Lazaro
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Flowers: A Stem Above
Cake: Take the Cake
Entertainment: Bradley Young Orchestra
Rings: Harry Winston

Camp Lucy Wedding – It Took This Couples’ Breath Away

StrictlyWeddings.com partner, Photographer Jennifer Lindberg, is one of our fab wedding resources who recently clued us in on the greatness of Camp Lucy (recently talked about in StrictlyWeddings.com’s blog) as a Texas Wedding Destination. To be able to showcase one of our featured weddings at this Texas Hill Country wedding venue, is even better.

Emily and Matt met at the Monkey Bar at Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village in Dallas. She was there with friends and he was too; fortunately, their friends overlapped. Years later, he rented out the Monkey Bar and proposed to Emily in the exact place they met. Matt told Emily they were meeting his work friends for happy hour, she was late and very surprised! Lots of their friends and family joined later to celebrate their engagement.

The wedding took place at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas. The couple did not want to get married in Dallas and The Texas Hill Country is one of their favorite places. Emily’s 90-year-old grandmother, who lives in a retirement community in Austin, suggested they make a stop at Camp Lucy. “Lucy” (the Lucy) is a good friend of the grandmother’s at the retirement home and she had recently toured it with her. As soon as Matt and Emily drove up, it took their breath away. They had found the spot. It was also pretty special that her “sweet grandmother” played such a role in it, too.

Melissa Sweet was the designer for her gown. For tradition, the bride’s “something old” was a brooch from her grandmother who had passed. For something new, her parents, knowing she cries, gave her a lace handkerchief embroidered with the couple’s wedding date. She wrapped the handkerchief around her bouquet and pinned it with her grandmother’s brooch.

• Verve Austin/ Barbara Shorts - Event planning and coordination
• Photographer – Jennifer Lindberg Weddings
• Marquee Rental – Tents, Chandlier, Stage Furniture & Heaters
• Westbank Flower Market – Florals
• Crescent Video - Film
• Arundel Ensemble – Strings
• Hair and Make up - Mandy Ray Hernandez
• Transportation Consultants – Valet
• R& R Limo – Shuttles
• Sight – Ceremony and Reception – Camp Lucy Dripping Spring Texas:
• RK San Antonio – Catering & Linens, Displays
• Dripping Spring Rental – Table and Chairs
• Strong Production -Tent Draping & cocktail tables
• Lighting – illios Lighting