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Weddings Themes: Western Weddings with a Kick

With the recent wedding of Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton in Texas, we wanted to show off some of the wonderful western weddings that we’ve showcased here on our blog. (Lord knows we tried to find decent wedding photos of their wedding…the one below is the best we could find and it’s a scan from Us Weekly – sorry!).

What were some of the touches that Miranda Lambert brought to her wedding?

• The bridesmaids were wearing cowboy boots. Specifically, Old Gringo boots.
• Miranda let her bridesmaids have a little individuality. Each wore their own custom-made gown by Priscilla of Boston’s Mark Brower.
• Miranda wore the same ivory wedding gown her mother wore over 30 years ago.  Miranda said, quote, “My parents have been married for 33 years, so this dress is already a good-luck charm.”
• And Miranda wore custom-made Casadei cowboy boots

StrictlyWeddings.com Dallas partners photographer Thisbe Grace and events planner Jordan Payne provided us with some of the boot-scootin’ wedding photos below:

Featured Wedding in Santa Barbara: A Chance Meeting of Old Friends

Chance meetings can change your life. It did with this couple who knew each other throughout high school, yet it wasn’t until years later that a chance meeting at a hang out in Austin, Texas, where they both attended the University of Texas, reconnected them; this time forever.

Torri and Andy’s first date, a week later, was at Cedar Street, where they listened to the Spazmatics, the same band who, four years later, would be hired to play at their wedding! The proposal came on a Memorial Day weekend at the Chateau du Sureau outside Yosemite National Park with a beautiful, bended-knee proposal amid tea lights in the forest.

Torri’s wedding dress was a Lazaro, Spanish-inspired gown, with a Monique Lhuillier veil. She found the dress in Scottsdale, Arizona where her father lives, on a special trip with her mother. Final approval came after her Dad visited many bridal boutiques with Torri and helped her make the final decision – now that’s a special dad!

Torri and Andy chose Santa Barbara as their wedding location due to Andy’s father who was in Seminary at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The full choir performed throughout the ceremony.

Montecito Confections created two beautiful cakes for the event. The bridal cake was a 4-tier cake with Tiramisu, coconut and the traditional Southern Red Velvet Cake flavors. Persimmon colored Plumerias trailed down the edge of the white fondant cake. The groom’s cake was in the shape of a panda (the bride’s nickname for the groom) and was a bittersweet chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse filling.

The reception was an alfresco, family-style celebration held in traditional Italian style to honor the bride’s family, at a private estate, Terra Bella, in Hope Ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Guests dined on antipasto with bowls of risotto and penne a la puttanesca passed around family style. For the main course, guests enjoyed filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Along with the cake, guests were treated to a gelato bar.

The reception began with Music from the local band, Luna Gitana. The reception continued well into the night with music by the Spazmatics.

Trolleys were on-hand to transport guests from the Mission to the estate and to take guests back to their respective hotels at the end of the evening with gifts of pashminas, Torrone Italian candy and jordan almonds wishing everyone, Buona Sera.

Our thanks to StrictlyWeddings.com Dallas photographer, Thisbe Grace, who as always, brought her own grace and style to these wonderful wedding photos.

Bride and Groom: Torri Hansen and Andy Ainsa
Date: September 25, 2010
Photographer: Thisbe Grace Photography
Bridal Gown: Lazaro
Cake: Montecito Confections
Wedding Ceremony: Old Mission Santa Barbara

Happy Easter!

This beautiful bride, smiling amidst a background of flowers, is a perfect one for Easter – reminding us of the beauty of life and the joie de vie found in love. Wishing all our StrictlyWeddings.com a blessed holiday weekend. Be safe and we look forward to bringing you more wedding ideas and features next week.

Photo courtesy of Thisbe Grace

Featured Wedding – A Chance Meet at the Beach

Web & I met on a half-blind date, half-wing person type of situation. I was vacationing on Kauai with my family. My parents rented a house in Haena and we were constantly either at the beach or doing the usual tourist activities, such as hiking, scuba, snorkling, etc. My older sister, Ali, and I had meet a couple of “local” boys at the beach and one, really liking my sister, invited her to see the sunset that evening. Ali wanted me to come along, so he said he’d bring a friend. Thus, we met at sunset on Ke’e Beach, which is at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore. (I should mention that I did catch the bouquet at my friend’s wedding not even a month before…). Now we live in Hawaii.

I choose a peacock theme because the colors in the peacock’s feather are constantly changing; however; they remain a gorgeous palette of harmonious hues.

As far as vendors, everything fell perfectly into place. Our wedding planner, Allison of DFW Events, was recommended by a friend. She in turn pointed us towards Thisbe Grace, our photographer. We choose Mimi’s Garden and the Camp House (Dallas Arboretum) because of both there proximities and/or use of water. The Garden with its man-made waterfalls and the Camp House due to the beautiful view overlooking White Rock Lake. Gill’s was one of the pre-selected choices for the Dallas Arboretum and after meeting Steve, the owner, and tasting the food, I was sold. Ryan with Lights Dallas was another Allison choice and we could not have been happier with the sound and music. I always wanted a string quartet to play during the ceremony, specifically ” All You Need Is Love” as we walked out Man & Wife, and Dallas String Quartet played perfectly!

The Couple:  Lauren Pingree & Web Godinez
Wedding Gown – Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon
Photography – Thisbe Grace Photography
Designers & Coordinators – DFW Events
Flowers – The Wildflower
Location – The Dallas Arboretum
Hair/Makeup – Mo Bowers
Lighting – Beyond

Shoes Glorious Wedding Shoes

[Pump]
Always elegant, even the simplest pump can be adorned with jewels, buckles, bows, or beading to represent your style.

[ Sling-back]
For warm weather locations, the closed-toe sling-back pump is a stylish alternative.

[ Sandal]
Another warm weather choice, a sandal in any heel height can work well with either full or column gowns.

[Mule]
More suited to an informal ceremony or to a bride who wants to embrace a more unconventional choice, be sure the shoe is secure enough for comfort.

Wedding Shoe Tip … Purchase your shoes after choosing your gown and before the first dress fitting.

Photograph courtesy of Thisbe Grace Photography

Source: Vera Wang

Featured Weddings – Marci & Tommy – Boot Scootin’ Together

He carved a heart with their initials into a tree when he proposed. How could you say no? StrictlyWeddings.com Dallas partner, Thisbe Grace Photography, put together this inspiration board from the wedding of Marci Brice and Tommy Dodier.

Location: Rough Creek Lodge, Glen Rose
Photographer: Thisbe Grace Photography
Bridal Gown: Oscar de la Renta
Hair: Sonia Trevino
Makeup: Marygene Walker
Flowers: Bella Flora
Cake: Frosted Art
Entertainment: The Roof Raisers
Wedding Planner: Bella Flora, Saci Brice-Owens, Ginger Brice

Royal Wedding – Part 2 from StrictlyWeddings.com

We continue our Royal Wedding fantasy with Part 2 from our fabulous Dallas partners. Can’t wait to hear what you all have to say about this inspiration board!

Photography - Thisbe Grace Photography
Flowers & Planning - Jordan Payne
Location - Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Jewelry - deBoulle
Bridal Gowns - Warren Barron Bridal
Hair – Sonia Trevino
Make up - Myra Rams-Sanabria/My Fabulous Faces
Model – Megahn Moll

Royal Wedding – StrictlyWeddings.com Style

As Americans, we are as enthralled with the romance of a Royal Wedding as those in England. So, we reached out to our very talented group of Dallas partners to create their vision of a Royal Wedding. Orchestrated by wedding planner, Jordan Payne, with the magic of Thisbe Grace’s photography, the inspiration board below showcases their idea of a royal wedding set amidst the elegance of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Wedding gown and accessories are from Warren Barron Bridal. Jewelry from deBoulle. Makeup by Mayra Rams-Sanabria of My Fabulous Faces and hair by Sonia Trevino. Such beauty and grace. Thank you to all who donated their time and talents for this incredible shoot.

Come back on Wednesday for Part 2 of our Royal Wedding shoot!

Photography – Thisbe Grace Photography
Flowers & Planning – Jordan Payne
Location – Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Jewelry – deBoulle
Bridal Gowns – Warren Barron Bridal
Hair – Sonia Trevino
Make up – Myra Rams-Sanabria/My Fabulous Faces
Model – Megahn Moll

Weddings Texas style – Boots & Couture

In October, we showcased one of our photographers, Thisbe Grace, who shared her beautiful images of an engagement shoot in a field of Texas wildflowers and the bride wore boots. Well, the bride and groom, Lindsey and Rusty, are now married. Wedding planner, Jordan Payne, shared these additional photos by Thisbe of this sweet (and we bet a little bit sassy) wedding.

Church: Christ the King
Gown: Oscar de la Renta
Shoes: Vince  Camuto
Reception: The Belo Mansion
Event Rental: Celebration

Engaging in Style with her Louis Vuitton

Their story comes right out of a fairy book!  Michelle met Jim, they fell in love, were separated by the Sea and Skyped for 3 years! He vowed to marry her and proposed with royal company! Not only are they gorgeous inside and out but they have style too! She loves LV and why shouldn’t she!?  We Do Too!!!!!

Photography by Thisbe Grace