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

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.”

“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