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

Kevin and Courtney met at Villanova University during their freshman year of college. They were in the same core humanities course and spent time together during a field trip and became fast friends. The summer following freshman year, they began dating, traveling across the country between Dallas and Connecticut to see each other and spent countless hours on the phone.

Her proposal arrived at sunset while the couple were walking on the beach in Bridgehampton. Both sets of parents were waiting at Courtney’s family’s beach house with champagne to celebrate when they returned. They were engaged in August 2009 and had a 22 month engagement (necessary as Courtney and her mom acted as the wedding planners).

The wedding ceremony was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which had always been a special place for Courtney’s family as it’s where they would attend midnight mass on Chrismas Eve. “It always seemed magical,” says Courtney. The President of Villanova, Reverend Father Peter, married the couple and did a very touching homily. At the end of the ceremony, he called the parents up to sing the song ‘May the Road Rise to Meet you.’ “Our parents placed their hands on our backs. This is a Villanova tradition,” explains Courtney.

Floral Designer Dejaun Stroud and Courtney chose bright vibrant centerpieces and bouquets to contrast the navy bridesmaids dresses by Amsale and navy tableclothes. They included opulent displays of lilies, roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and eremurus in varied shades of coral.

The reception was held at the Mandarin. They fell in love the first time they entered the ballroom and knew it was the perfect place for the reception. Courtney and Kevin had their guests tour the city in New York on double decker tour buses before the cocktail hour for a real “classic” feel.

The couple honeymooned at the One & Only Reethi Rah Resort in the Maldives and stopped off at Dubai on the way back to the U.S. Avid travelers, Kevin and Courtney felt the exotic destination was appropriate.

Best wishes,

Jeannine and Kay