Robert and Ben's Hughes Manor Wedding | Houston Wedding Coordinator

As we draft this post, it’s Pride month. But we’re also in the middle of a Pandemic, civil unrest (due to the George Floyd case and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement) and an even more recent failed attempt to negatively affect health-care legislation for the LGBTQ community.

To say that 2020 has proven to be one of the most profound and intense of our time & career could be an understatement. Although we don’t usually preface our posts with current events, it feels important to recognize that moments in history like this have a huge impact on weddings. Couples are persevering in tumultuous times. LOVE is powerful and worth fighting for.

It is an honor to have a diverse mix of clients- every walk of life, every race, gender, creed and culture is accepted and welcomed into our family.

It is a privilege to evolve in our business and to find ways to serve our couples and the wedding community. We advocate for equal rights in our community and hope that our couples know that we’ll continue to advocate for them.

Robert and Ben recently celebrated their first anniversary, so we want to first wish them a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and second, they recently celebrated the birth of their son! Congratulations all around, as we’re so excited to share their beautiful celebration with you!

These two were so much fun to work with- and their friends and family were equally awesome. The ceremony was conveniently held outside at Hughes Manor- they exchanged vows outside in perfect weather and then headed inside for the reception.

Hughes Manor has a beautiful design with gorgeous architectural design & details. We were able to play off of the existing decor to create a classic, clean wedding style that was romantic and masculine.

It was truly a PARTY with amazing food, lively entertainment (The Pictures Band came in from Austin) and a packed dance floor. The night wrapped with a festive second line.

Congrats again, you two! Wishing you all the best today and always.

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors

Photography: Nate Messarra Photo

Catering: LaRue Catering

Venue: Hughes Manor

Cake: Kelly Q’s

Florist: Floral Events

Videographer: MIA Videos

Ceremony Entertainment: Divisi Strings

Reception Entertainment: The Pictures

Hair + Makeup: Pink Palette Artists

Kristen + Corey's Hotel ZaZa Wedding

We were so excited to help high school sweethearts, Kristen + Corey, tie the knot! The couple dated all through college, even though they were in different states. They share a beautiful love that has already endured through many years, and you can feel the deep connection between the two of them! Hotel ZaZa in Houston was the setting for the big day.

Kristen and Corey each spent their wedding mornings getting ready separately with their bridesmaids and groomsmen. Kristen and her bridesmaids captured sweet photos together where they all wore matching floral robes before Kristen slipped into her wedding dress. Once they were ready, Kristen and Corey met inside Hotel ZaZa to share their first look together (it was, unfortunately, too windy to move forward with the original plan to meet outside).

Just before the ceremony, when the weather was a bit clearer, the pair ducked outside to capture photos together in the gardens. Although the weather was less than ideal, these are some of our favorite photos from their wedding day because it felt like every flower was in bloom! The colors are beautiful, and they both look so happy and relaxed whether they’re pictured together or with members of their wedding party. 

From the beginning, Kristen and Corey shared they wanted to exchange their vows inside during their ceremony. Blooming Gallery brought plenty of soft blush and ivory colors inside through the flowers that lined either side of the aisle. Plus, the team also added several tall arrangements perched on Lucite boxes to create a beautiful altar and backdrop. 

After they exchanged their vows and celebrated their first moments of being married, Kristen and Corey joined their guests once again for their cocktail hour and reception. The pair decided to serve two signature drinks – a margarita for her and a Manhattan for him – as well as a menu created by the catering team at Hotel ZaZa. 

Inside their reception in the Phantom Ballroom, Blooming Gallery again incorporated elegant, garden-like florals. Tables alternated between boasting tall and low centerpieces of roses, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus, and the look was as beautiful in this space as it was during the ceremony. 

Whether they were sharing their first dance together, joining their parents, or celebrating with their guests, Kristen and Corey loved being on the dance floor. They did take a dancing break, though, to cut their cake by Susie’s Cakes with cascading flowers by Blooming Gallery. He also had a fish themed groom’s cake!

We loved planning Kristen and Corey’s wedding celebration, and we are so thankful to have witnessed their joy from the beginning of their day until they ran through a lineup of their guests tossing rose petals as they left at the end of the night. Thank you to Nancy Aidee Photo for capturing these photos!

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors:

Planner: Something to Celebrate

Venue: Hotel ZaZa

Cake: Susies Cakes

Florist/Rentals: Blooming Gallery

Photographer: Nancy Aidee Photo

Videographer: AGB Videography

Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings

Reception Music: Bradley David Entertainment

Lighting: GTX Productions

Hair/Makeup: Blush & Co

Linda + Anson's Houston Museum of Natural Science Wedding

One of the greatest benefits of planning weddings in Houston and beyond is the wonderful variety of venues available to our couples for their celebrations. And, today’s location could not have been more fun or fitting for our couple.

We’re off to the Houston Museum of Natural Science to share more about Linda and Anson’s wedding day!

When Linda and Anson decided to host their December wedding day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, they knew they wanted to embrace the holiday season and the museum’s exhibits. So, they planned all of their additional décor and styling elements around what was available in their space. That’s one of the best ways to develop your wedding style – allow what is present in your space to inspire the rest!

After getting ready and sharing their first look together, Linda walked down the aisle with her mom. We loved seeing the museum’s Christmas trees tucked along the walls on either side of the ceremony space. They added a wonderful nod to the holiday season without turning their celebration into one with full Christmas styling. Linda and Anson recited their vows in front of their guests before recessing back down the aisle to join the fun that would ensue during their cocktail hour and reception. 

The cocktail and reception spaces could not have been more unique for Linda and Anson! Dinosaur fossils overlooked the party and added an undeniable amount of unique fun and energy. Lounge seating was placed throughout the cocktail space to add modern style, and the same aesthetic continued in the reception where tables were topped with low centerpieces and tall candelabras by Secret Floral Garden. 

Outside of embracing their venue’s details, Linda and Anson also wanted to offer their guests plenty of entertainment.

Their band, Sick Duck/Party On, kept guests dancing, and their DJ, Roger, kicked the celebration up a notch. We loved seeing Anson drumming too! L+A also had a popup magician, thanks to Dylan Bryson, and plenty of delicious desserts by Who Made the Cake. 

As you can see from their photos by Laning Photography, Linda and Anson’s wedding day was filled with the best energy, and we’re so thrilled to share some of their best moments with you! 

Cast of Houston wedding vendors

Photography: Laning Photography

Wedding Planner: Something to Celebrate

Venue: Houston Museum of Natural Science

Officiant: Samuel Kwan

Catering/Bar: Cafe Natalie

Cake: Who Made The Cake

Florist: Secret Floral Garden

Video: Reverent Wedding Films

Photo Booth: Flashbar Photobooth

Magician: Dylan Bryson

Ceremony Music: Third Floor Strings

Reception Music: Sick Duck/Party On

Beauty: Souki 

Makeup: Elaine Nguyen + Devyn Lyles

Lindsey + Rickey's Station 3 Houston Wedding

It’s not every day that we get to plan a wedding at a Houston Fire Station! Well, okay, to be fair, Station 3 isn’t an active fire station! This is a bit of a throwback for us, but we realized we hadn’t shared it before! Fortunately, it’s still relatively “on trend” for today’s couples that are still loving greenery and color.

Station 3, otherwise known as "Stonewall", was one of Houston's original fire stations.  Built in 1903, its everlasting motto, "Trust in Us" can still be seen etched into the building’s stone today.  Station 3 is one of the city’s historical landmarks, located directly outside of downtown.  The original brick, wood floors, concrete beams, and intricate hand-carved exterior stonework all add to its timeless beauty and charm.

Station 3 underwent a complete restoration project in 2014, bringing many of its amenities into the 21st century.  

It’s hard to deny the unique character of this charming venue! It was the perfect fit for Lindsey + Rickey’s early November wedding. These two have a great time together and their intimate wedding was a blast from start to finish. They really kept lighthearted all day and it was a beautiful sight to see- we’re always happy when our couples are happy!

Be sure to check out their wedding photo slideshow too!

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors

Coordinator: Something to Celebrate

Venue: Station 3

Catering: Cafe Natalie

Bar: Station 3

Cake: Who Made the Cake

Florist: Floral Events

Photography: Al Torres Photography Inc

Music: DJU Entertainment

Bridesmaids Hair: Pink Palette Artists

Make up: Jentry Kelley

Brittany + Jason's Allan House Wedding | Austin Wedding Designer & Planner

Brittany and Jason came from different worlds but met in the middle for their new beginning together. She’s a biology teacher who grew up on Long Island, and he’s a lawyer from Texas who was pulled to NYC for law school. Together with the help of her sister, Elissa, and Something to Celebrate (we also handled the design portion), they planned a Texas wedding that celebrated their combined cultures and interfaith traditions. 

Jason also serves as commander in the National Guard, and used obtaining that position as part of his proposal plan! He took Brittany to their favorite restaurant in Manhattan, Del Posto, to celebrate his recent promotion but as soon as they approached the restaurant he said “We aren’t here to celebrate me ... we are here to celebrate us! Will you marry me???”

In designing the look and feel of Brittany and Jason’s wedding, the group unanimously agreed that The Allen House, with its canopy of oaks centrally located in Austin, would be the perfect backdrop for the celebration.  

The neutral palette of whites and greens was rich with textures from their custom-ordered linens and mismatched vintage glassware, paired with floral china and wooden chargers banded by satin napkins. The chuppah sat beneath chandeliers trailing strings of Edison bulb lights. 

Their elegant yet laid-back and FUN celebration featured stunning place settings for their robust menu consisting of everything from the bride’s favorite mini hotdogs and southern deviled egg biscuits, to Ribeye steaks and honey fried chicken, after guests were greeted with bubbles from a champagne cart. After the wedding cake and ice cream cookie sandwiches paired with custom cappuccinos, guests parted with late-night snacks of grilled cheese sandwiches and junior Whataburgers. 

The dance floor was never empty, as captured by the graffiti-styled live painter, and the bride herself took to the mic a couple of times- we just can’t resist a good Radio Gaga!

We could go on and on about the flawless celebration these two hosted, but the most memorable aspect of the day was no doubt the love shared between all who were gathered. With warm hugs and sincere smiles, the love that brought these two worlds together was united as one. Congratulations, Brittany and Jason!

Be sure to pick up a copy of the Spring/Summer 2020 issue of Brides of Austin to see the full feature (pages 176-177)!

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors

Planning and Design: Something To Celebrate

Venue: The Allan House

Caterer: Royal Fig

Cake: Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop

Ceremony Music: Will Taylor

DJ: Spacecraft Entertainment

Photographer: Julie Wilhite Photography

Videographer: ILC Films

Event Painter: Gonzo Viz

Photobooth: Pixster

Floral Designer: Last Petal Floral Studio

Coffee Bar: Creature Coffee

Alcohol: Spec’s 61

Bourbon: The Austin Wine Merchant

Champagne Cart: Champagne Supply Co

Event Rentals: Premiere Events

Lighting: Ilios

Wedding Day Stationery and Signs: The Inviting Pear

Hair and Makeup: Adore

Officiants: Rabbi Monty Eliasov and Pastor Jon Perrin

Emilie + Peter's Big Sky Barn Wedding | Houston Wedding Designer & Planner

While they were planning their wedding, Emilie and Peter hoped to find a wedding venue that combined modern style with a rustic aesthetic. They could not have found a more perfect spot to celebrate than Big Sky Barn. The space is located just over an hour outside of Houston, perfectly situated between the city and The Woodlands, and it served as the ultimate destination for E+P to recite their vows and celebrate with their guests during their ceremony and reception. 

One of the greatest perks of Big Sky Barn is couples can spend their mornings onsite getting ready. This helps to create an even more relaxed atmosphere, which we could both see and feel while Emilie and her bridesmaids prepped for the day ahead. Sunkissed & Made Up were on hand for hair and makeup, and the gals looked so happy and content in their robes for the morning! 

Rather than seeing Peter during a first look, Emilie and her dad shared a first look together. The moment was sweet, and we’re certain it helped to calm any nerves Emilie may have been feeling. Plus, knowing Emilie and Peter had yet to see each other until her walk down the aisle added an extra layer of fun and excitement to their ceremony!

Emilie and Peter’s ceremony was hosted inside at Big Sky Barn, which was a wonderful choice because of the weather (they celebrated in August, after all!) and because the architecture inside the barn is stunning. Plenty of natural light filled the space, thanks to the large windows located throughout, and we loved the deep stained wooden beams layered throughout the ceiling. Emilie and Peter chose to accent the space thoughtfully with help from their florist, Last Petal, who added greenery with ribbon along the aisle and an arch filled with roses and eucalyptus to act as an additional backdrop. 

Emilie is a veterinarian so their dog,  Oliver, who is absolutely adorable, had to be included in the festivities. His walk down the aisle elicited plenty of awes. And of course, when Emilie followed, there were plenty of happy tears shed!

Post ceremony, Emilie and Peter stepped outside with their photographer, The Silhouette Studio, to capture couple’s portraits as sunset neared. Golden hour is known as one of the best times to capture photos because the light is even warmer, and we think the results are beautiful! Big Sky Barn’s property is as fabulous as its interior. Post photos, E+P rejoined their guests inside the barn for their reception. Last Petal adorned round and long tables with alternating looks between lanterns encircled with greenery and dahlias that matched the bouquets and long greenery garlands, respectively. The blooms and greens felt rustic, but they also matched the couple’s desired modern style. 

Whether we were witnessing Emilie and Peter share their first dance together or their dances with their parents, celebrate their cake cutting or enjoy the menu prepared by City View Catering, spend plenty of time of the dance floor with family and friends or step outside to enjoy a cigar, E+P’s wedding was a complete delight from beginning to end. We are so grateful The Silhouette Studio captured every moment for us to share with you!

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors

Photographer: The Silhouette Studio

Venue: Big Sky Barn

Officiant: Lifelong Grace Ministries

Caterer: City View Catering

Alcohol: Southern Rum Runners

Cake: Supreme Kakes

Florist: Last Petal

Videographer: Monroe Wedding Video

All Music: Royal Dukes Band 

Transportation: A&H Premium LLC

Rentals: Premiere Events

MakeUp: Sunkissed and Made Up

Ice Cream: Marble Slab Creamery

Important Updates Regarding Covid-19 and your event

Thank you for trusting your event planning and execution with Something To Celebrate. We pride ourselves in preparedness and our abilities to trouble-shoot, so as we continue to face the impact this virus is having on the events industry, we’ve proactively developed a list of recommendations for our clients with events occurring within the next few months. While some of these recommendations do require an additional expense, the increase is nominal and could greatly benefit you and your guests.

• guest book - pump bottle of hand sanitizer on table with sign asking guests to sanitize before (and after?) touching pens/markers, could be with a sign along the lines of “You’re Our Invited Guest! germs are not."

• bus - attendant stationed at door, dispensing hand sanitizer in each person's hands as they board and again as they disembark.

• building entrance - single person (staff, house party) assigned to open and close each door, nobody else touches handles/knobs

• restrooms - entrance/exit door propped open, or paper towels and trash cans placed right next to entrance/exit door with a "Don't Touch" sign on the handle; place fun reminders about proper handwashing next to bathroom sinks - this site will even make a graphic aligned with the lyrics of the song of your choice.

• food service - all items served by staff, no shared serving utensils, no reused dishes, nothing self-serve.

• beverages - all beverages served by bartenders, no beverage stations or shared carafes.

• bussing - staff wears gloves that are removed when handling anything other than trash

• photo booths - attendant is the only one to touch screens, eliminate props, sanitizer for scrap book (similar to guest book above).

• microphones during toasts - DJ/emcee wipes and replaces single-use wind screen before/after each person's use

• miscellaneous spaces - a dedicated staff member walks around with disinfectant wipes, constantly wiping all spots people could/will touch

• hugging - consider adding a sign that says something like "Let's Be Royals - bows and curtsies instead of hugs and handshakes."

*in the event that disinfectant wipes and bottles of hand sanitizer continue to be scarce in stores, the hope is that clients and families will be able to combine their resources to provide an adequate supply. Rubbing alcohol and paper towels could be used in the place of disinfectant wipes.

Additionally, we’ve been in touch with many local vendors and it seems everyone is committed to following-through with their contracts, barring the government forbidding us from doing so. We’ve been discussing contingency plans and rescheduling/cancellation policies (most of which are detailed in the contracts you’ve signed). If you have any particular questions or concerns that we can help with, please let your planner and/or myself know.

We’re all committed to the best possible outcome for all involved, as we meet these challenge with both preparedness and optimism. We continue to be excited for your celebration!

Dixie & Jason's The Allan House Wedding | Austin Wedding Designer & Planner

One of the best seasons of the year in Texas is the fall. Though we typically don’t experience the brilliant foliage colors or more drastic temperature changes as our friends up north, we do witness the beautiful warm glow that the sun casts in the early evening. That glow was on full display for Dixie and Jason’s Austin wedding day, and it made their tent at Allan House even more beautiful. But, before we dive too far into the details, allow us to share more about Dixie and Jason. 

First, we have to say- Dixie and Jason are two of the sweetest people we’ve ever met! They both have hearts of gold and serve our country and community in different ways (Dixie as a nurse and Jason as a Marine). It was a privilege to work with the two of them and their kind personalities lit US up!

On their wedding day, D+J each spent their mornings getting ready with their wedding party. They opted against a first look and instead saw each other for the first time when she walked down the aisle on the arm of her dad at Saint Mary Cathedral. With its towering wooden front doors and beautiful interior, we cannot think of a more fitting location for Dixie and Jason to recite their vows and officially become Mr. and Mrs.! While they were planning, D+J made one of their wishes very clear: They wanted to make sure to do a sword ceremony. It was one of the ways to honor his position in the Marines, and one of our favorite moments of their wedding was witnessing their shared arch moment post-ceremony. 

Once they were at Allan House, Dixie and Jason caught their first glimpse of their wedding reception location. Clear top tents always have their own magic, especially during the fall when the temperatures have dropped slightly, and the space simply glowed later in the evening. Tree trunks were wrapped in string lights, chandeliers hung overhead (another favorite detail), and tables were lined with a stunning mixture of candles and merlot, ivory, and navy centerpieces with touches of gold by Exquisite Petals.   We LOVE the touches of velvet too!

After they enjoyed cocktail hour, Dixie, Jason, and their guests joined together for a night filled with great food, thanks to Salt Lick, and plenty of dancing while Drywater Texas played. Watching guests mingle together in a beautiful setting and then jump onto the dance floor is one of our favorite things about planning – events are meant to be enjoyed by everyone. 

Before the night came to a close, Dixie and Jason walked through an arch one more time. But, this time it was an arch created by sparklers held by all of their close friends and family. It was the perfect way to end their wedding day, and we’re so thrilled to be able to share all of the moments The Bird & The Bear captured with you. 

Cast of Austin wedding vendors

Church: Saint Mary Cathedral

Venue: Allan House

Caterer: Salt Lick

Bartender: Elevate Professional Bartending Service

Alcohol: Specs

Cake: Dream Bakery

Florist: Exquisite Petals

Photo + Video: The Bird & The Bear

Band: Drywater Texas

Rentals: Birch & Brass + Premiere

LIghting: Ilios

Transportation: Circle J Vintage Cars, 4 Leaf Limo, Limos of Austin

Hair + Makeup: Kiss by Katie

Lauren + Duc's St. Regis Houston Wedding | Houston Wedding Designer + Planner

Whether we are hired for design and planning or simply planning, we always want to create a wedding that truly reflects the couple and their story together. And, Lauren and Duc’s story is one that is so sweet and fun! Lauren and Duc are technically high school sweethearts except for one small detail – Lauren was not allowed to date until after graduation. So, together with their friends, we referred to L+D’s pre-graduation relationship as one in which they were “just friends”. We were delighted when L+D’s friends took the stage, so to speak, during the reception to honor the newly married pair. They offered sweet and funny antidotes about Lauren and Duc’s relationship, which they witnessed forming before L+D could officially be “official”. Listening in made us feel as though we knew this wonderful pair even more!

Before they got ready for their ceremony and reception, Lauren and Duc started their wedding day by participating in a traditional Buddhist ceremony with their immediate families. While we were not present during this ceremony, we loved seeing the photos and learning the details from Lauren and Duc throughout the rest of their day. Post ceremony, they each spent the rest of their mornings and early afternoons prepping for their Catholic ceremony at St. Michael Catholic Church later in the evening. 

Once they were officially married, Lauren and Duc kicked off their celebration by taking portraits with their bridesmaids and groomsmen. The gray and deep blue palette of the dresses and suits paired with the soft pinks in the bouquets looked beautiful against the Houston sun in their portraits! Guests mingled together during cocktail hour at The St. Regis Houston before the reception was revealed. Inside, tables featured more beautiful blooms by SCF Events in alternating low and tall centerpieces, and we loved how L+D’s sweetheart table overflowed with blooms placed on top of a deep grey linen. The look was striking! 

Lauren and Duc made their grand entrance into their reception, and Duc rarely left the dance floor for the rest of the night. He frequently borrowed the microphone from DJ S Entertainment to rap and keep the energy levels high for guests to stay on the dance floor with him. It worked! We also think the ways in which the couple honored Houston – a beautiful painting of the Houston skyline served as a guest book and L+D treated guests to late night ice cream and pizza from Milk + Sugar Creamery and Pinks Pizza, respectively – added to the celebratory atmosphere. Duc said he wanted a fun party, and he and Lauren definitely worked together to make that a reality!

As you can tell, we absolutely loved working together with Lauren and Duc, so we are thrilled to be able to relive their wedding day thanks to the gorgeous images Allen Tsai Photography captured. 

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors:

Church: St. Michael Catholic Church

Reception:  The St. Regis Houston

Officiant: Father Tran

Cake: Cakes by Gina

Florist: SCF Events

Video: Reverent Wedding Films

Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings

Reception Music: DJ S Entertainment 

Rentals: House of Hough

Photobooth: Oliveus Co

Ice Cream Bar: Milk + Sugar Creamery

Late Night Snack: Pinks Pizza

Transportation: Sam’s Limousine 

Makeup: Glossip Houston

Dance Floor: Mike’s Dance Floor 

Amanda + Michael's Villa Antonia Wedding | Austin Wedding Planner

It’s safe to say one of the most feminine and romantic wedding color palettes will always be shades of blush paired with ivory and gold. The colors can combine effortlessly for classic soirees in ballrooms just as easily as those celebrated outside, and the pairing was beautiful for Amanda and Michael’s wedding at Villa Antonia. Located in Texas Hill Country outside of Austin, Villa Antonia boasts incredible views and lovely spaces for ceremonies and receptions. With that in mind, we weren’t surprised when Amanda and Michael revealed they wanted to celebrate all of their day’s biggest moments in the same location. 

Before Amanda walked down the aisle toward Michael, the two spent their mornings getting ready with their respective bridesmaids and groomsmen. We particularly love the photos Julie Wilhite captured of Amanda opening her wedding gift from Michael as well as the moment she put on her dress for the first time. Her gown was gorgeous, and Amanda looked stunning in it!

Wedding Ceremony

Guests were welcomed to Amanda and Michael’s ceremony by a custom chalk sign outfitted in florals by Stems. And, the incredible floral display only continued throughout the space! Our favorite detail was the arch where Amanda and Michael recited their vows. It was overflowing in beautiful blooms, including plenty of roses, that made the space feel as though we were witnessing a ceremony in an outdoor garden. 

Wedding Reception

Post ceremony, guests gathered together to sip and mingle during cocktail hour while Amanda and Michael escaped onto the Villa Antonia’s balconies to capture couple’s portraits during sunset. A+M could not have had a more perfect wedding day sunset, and the colors of the sky combined with the beautiful views allowed for a number of fabulous moments to unfold for Julie to capture. 

Inside the reception space, A+M’s sweetheart table overflowed with flowers, tall centerpieces awaited guests on their tables, and an outdoor dance floor was revealed. Together, Amanda, Michael, and their guests dined on a menu created by Rosemary’s, enjoyed cake by Simon Lee Bakery, and spent plenty of time dancing under the string lights thanks to the sounds of IN10CITY. 

Amanda and Michael, working together with you and Stems to design your dream day was an honor, and we were so happy to plan every detail before and while your wedding was unfolding. 

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors:

Planner: Something To Celebrate

Venue: Villa Antonia

Room Block: Westin Austin at The Domain

Officiant: Austin Weddings

Food & Bev: Rosemary’s

Cake & Dessert: Simon Lee

Espresso: RISER

Florist: Stems

Rentals 1: Bee Lavish

Rental 2: Visual Lyrics

Lettering: Adriane Sam

Photographer: Julie Wilhite

Videographer: PhotoHouse Films

Ceremony Music: Angelic Strings

Band: IN10CITY

Lighting: Ilios

Transportation: Transportation Consultants

Hair/MakeUp: Pearl Artists

Alcohol: Specs

Carolyn + Simon's Hotel Ella Wedding | Austin Wedding Coordinator

Carolyn and Simon’s Hotel Ella was hosted on a gorgeous October day. This wedding doesn’t look anything like the fall season and as some might say, we’re here for it. This wedding feels like a refreshing spring day with all the elegant details of a formal winter wedding. Seriously, we love how beautifully the styles from this wedding blended. If Southern Weddings was still around, it could have been plucked right out the pages of any of their issues!

Wedding Dresses

Carolyn and her ladies were absolutely stunning. Carolyn’s fitted, off the shoulder fit and flare was perfection. The classic navy dresses on the bridesmaids were a vision with the pops of pink, yellow, orange and soft blue from the bouquets. Speaking of bouquets, the pink peonies are everything, don’t you think?! Man oh man. It’s hard to beat the beauty of a peony.

Personal Details

We adore how Carolyn and Simon incorporated their sweet pup through their bar signage. The monogram of “The Hieberts” on the greenery outside was fabulous! We also love that they selected a band - they knew their crowd was going to want to party it up. They may have even jumped up on stage a time or two. It was so much fun seeing them really ENJOY the day and stay in the moment!

Wedding Season

Fall! October to be exact

Wedding Hashtag

#hookedonhiebert 

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors:

Coordinator: Something to Celebrate

Venue: Hotel Ella

Cake: Comptoir Bakery

Florist: Stems

Photographer: Julie Wilhite Photography

Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings

Reception Music: Matchmaker band

Rentals: Premiere Events

Hair/Makeup: Adore Makeup Boutique & Salon

Wedding Planning Tips: Advantages of Working with a Multi-City Wedding Planner

We know Texas. We don’t say that to brag, but Instead to let you know that working with a multi-city wedding planner has its perks! We originally started in Austin and over the last 15 years, have expanded to Houston, San Antonio, and beyond. From SoCo to River Oaks, we’ve got you covered.

Each market has a unique set of nuisances that we’ve been able to gather from years in the market. Because of this, we know that not only is each couple unique, but each market is unique. There is no such thing as a typical Texas wedding! Although it may seem that all Austin couples are laid-back and relaxed while all Houston couples are traditional and go for all the frills, we know this isn’t always true! We know which venues and vendors fit the bill for every wedding style, budget and preference.

Having a team in multiple cities also allows us to ‘have each others backs’ should anything unexpected pop up. It’s our job to remain composed and confident- and our team effort approach allows us to do that!

We also have extensive experience with corporate and social events, which allows us to tap-into another skill set and a pool of resources that many other planners aren’t able to.

When you’re on the search for a wedding & event planner, it’s critical that you feel confident that they can handle your needs with grace and have a deep well of knowledge to pull from! Executing a wedding takes A LOT of work - having a solid foundation ensures that we’re able to keep everything running smoothly, regardless of what you throw at us!

Ready to talk about how our team can help you with your Austin, San Antonio or Houston (and everywhere in between) wedding? Contact us today!

Mina + Khalid's Brenner’s on the Bayou Wedding | Houston Wedding Planner

Intimate weddings are on the rise and we’re here for it! Don’t get us wrong, we love a lavish & large wedding too. But there is something magical about gathering your closest friends and family together to celebrate. It also takes a ton of pressure off of our couples to focus solely on what is absolutely the most important thing to them.

Mina and Khalid are the sweetest people- working with them was so easy! They selected Brenner’s on the Bayou in Houston for their wedding. The patio has quite a “treehouse” feel and the adorable gazebo in the garden is perfect for a small group (although it can accommodate much larger as well).

It was pouring down rain during the entire setup and came to a stop about an hour before the ceremony and it was perfect! The rain held off right until the bride and groom were ready to leave. 

We seriously love how the design came together.

The classic ivory, white, gold and blush color palette looked stunning amid the greenery surround at Brenner’s. The greenery + hanging candle installation in the ceiling was perfection and we LOVE the tablescape’s glamorous pops of gold.

Despite the potential for weather to have derailed their plan A, everything came together beautifully and they were able to celebrate the day in exactly the way they had hoped!

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors

Coordinator: Something to Celebrate

Venue: Brenner’s on the Bayou

Officiant: Access Wedding Pastor

Cake: Cakes by Gina

Florist: Plants N’ Petals

Photographer: Theo-Graphics

Reception Music: Goldline Entertainment

Hair and Makeup: Kiss and Makeup Houston

Allison & Callen's Carriage House Wedding | Houston Wedding Coordinator

Allison & Callen are so stinking cute! They picked The Carriage House in Houston for their big day.  We loved this choice for them because it’s elegant yet perfectly laid-back for their fun-loving personalities.

Houston Venue

The Carriage House is fantastic because it has an amazing history and the ability to host both ceremony & reception on site. The chapel space had the dreamiest windows & the reception venue is cozy & warm.  Convenient to many areas in Houston, it a great choice for couples wanting the quintessential southern elegance & history charm 

Couple’s Wedding Style

We loved the unique personal style choices for both the bride and groom. Callen‘s bolo tie was a great nod to Texas. Not many of our grooms choose this tie alternative, but after their wedding, we were secretly hoping to see it more!

And can we also just throw up the praise hands about Allison’s dress? That thigh-high slit is everything!  It’s a stunner and fit her like a glove.

Personal Moments

In lieu of a first look, they had the sweetest “first touch” ever.   Although our heart melts just seeing the photos, Callen’s expression seeing Allison for the first time was even better (which we really didn’t think was possible). All. The. Feels.

The reception was all about good food and good times - from the laughter-filled toasts to the packed dance floor, it was a true celebration!

Personalized Details

There was a subtle Star Wars theme woven in throughout the night. Their guestbook was shaped like the Millenium Falcon, cake topper said “I love you, I know” (which is a popular phrase from the movie), strings played the theme song during the ceremony and lightsabers were used on the dance floor and for the exit.

We had a great time working with these two and wish them all the best in their marriage.

Cast of Houston wedding vendors

Coordinator: Something to Celebrate

Venue: The Carriage House

Caterer: Mel’s Country Cafe

Cake: Desserts by Holly

Florist: Botanical Flowers

Photographer: BLVD Photography

Videographer: Reverent Wedding Films

Ceremony Music: Third Floor Strings

Reception Music: Password

Rentals: Aztec Events & Tents

Hair and Makeup: Kiss by Katie

Photo booth bus: The Houston Photo Booth

Kailey + Henry’s Starwars Theme, Magnolia Hotel Wedding | Houston Wedding Planner

We had the great pleasure of working with Kailey and Henry to plan their fall wedding day at The Magnolia Hotel in Houston. This was actually our fourth wedding we have helped Kailey’s family plan - what an honor! For this wedding, K+H envisioned their fete as one filled with personal details, like nods to their love for the movie “Up” and Star Wars, Kailey’s love of sunflowers and blue (with warm tones as a nod to fall), a wonderful menu, and plenty of dancing. 

Before their celebration officially commenced, they each spent their mornings getting ready. They opted to enjoy two first looks – one between Kailey and her dad and a second between the bride and her almost husband. We loved how they didn’t choose between the two, but instead honored both relationships beautifully! Then, Kailey and Henry gathered with their close family members and friends for their ketubah signing. This is one of the Jewish wedding traditions we enjoy the most. 

Guests mingled together before the ceremony officially began, and our team couldn’t help but take a few extra peeks at the design. A chuppah draped in white awaited the couple, along with plenty of florals by Last Petal. The sunflowers truly popped against the blue palette! 

Post vows, Kailey and Henry toasted to their new union together and rejoined their guests in the ballroom at The Magnolia Hotel for dinner, dancing, and plenty of cake. Similar to the ceremony space, tables were adorned with sunflower centerpieces, and guests dined on a menu by The Magnolia Hotel. Guests could not get enough of the dance floor, and the fun continued during Henry’s Star Wars groom’s cake presentation by Thirteen Bakery. Just before Kailey and Henry’s reception officially came to a close, their guests lined either side of the ballroom to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs. during their all-too-appropriate light saber exit! 

Kailey and Henry infused so much of their personalities throughout their wedding day, and it was a joy to join together with them and their families. Thank you to Chip Gillespie Photography for capturing all of the fun and details!

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors:

Planner: Something To Celebrate

Photographer: Chip Gillespie Photography

Venue & Caterer: The Magnolia Hotel

Officiant: Congregation Emanu El 

Ceremony Music: Friend of the couple

Cake: Thirteen Bakery

Florist: Last Petal

Rentals: EB Inc. Events

DJ & Lighting: Goldline Entertainment 

Hair & Makeup: Hey Lovely

Ambrea + Rodney's Sandlewood Manor Houston Wedding Featured on Weddings in Houston

Ambrea and Rodney have New Orleans roots and love the city’s food scene and culture. They choose Sandlewood Manor in Tomball because it reflects their love of New Orleans - representing the beauty of Louisiana right here in Texas.

Their large black-tie affair (330+ guests) was hosted in late September. The decor was elegant, bold, and hands down, one of the most stunning of our fall season! The purples, plums, bordeaux, and midnight blue tones were incredibly rich and added so much depth to the design!

These two are chic and fashion-forward, so it was no surprise to hear that they would both be changing up their attire during the day. We’re pretty sure Rodney’s custom velvet tuxedo jackets will make some waves on Pinterest!

Wedding Ceremony

Ambrea’s bouquet tops the list of one of our five favorites of 2019. The cascading design with large orchids was as beautiful as Ambrea (she is gorgeous on the inside and out).

Ambrea’s “must-have” for the ceremony was the mirrored aisle runner. The design revolved around this eye-catching addition. The runner was flanked with low & lush arrangements that lead up to the giant oak tree — a focal point of the Sandlewood Manor’s property. The oak tree was adorned with a cascading floral arrangement and a full swag of sheer plum fabric.

We included a shot of the acrylic unplugged wedding ceremony sign - it’s lovely and functional. We encourage all of our couples to hold an unplugged ceremony. We can’t tell you the number of photos we’ve seen that are ruined by Aunt Kay’s iPad or cousin Larry’s iPhone. Although etiquette should dictate that those know better, a little guidance never hurts.

You’re investing in a professional photographer for a reason, right? Let them do their job so everyone can enjoy this once in a lifetime moment!

Wedding Reception

What. A. Stunner! The reception was all about the guests’ enjoyment — good food, epic entertainment (check out the live event painter - it was a full performance), and lush decor.

One of our favorite moments of the reception was the grand exit. Nothing says New Orleans like a traditional Second Line. It was the perfect ending to an amazing event!

Wedding Colors

Shades of plum, Bordeaux, light grey and midnight blue 

Wedding Hashtag

#thehuntisover

Newsworthy Mentions

Weddings In Houston recently published Ambrea & Rodney’s special day. If you want to learn more about how these two met, be sure to check it out!

THIS Instagram post from the couple’s wedding ceremony has been making waves on the gram.

Cast of Houston Wedding Vendors

Houston Wedding Planner: Something To Celebrate

Houston Wedding Venue + Catering: Sandlewood Manor

Officiant: Groom’s cousin

Floral/Decor: Flora & Eventi

Rentals: Aztec 

Lighting/Rentals: GTX Productions

Houston Photographer: Akil Bennett Photography

Videographer: Brittan Pittman 

Ceremony Music: Show Business Entertainment

Reception Music: DJ Havoc

Photo Booth: Lucky Shots

Cigar Roller: Bubalu Cigar Company

Room Painter: Visual Paint

Hair + Makeup: Alanas Vanity

Transportation: Carbon Auto Group

Seema + Anish's Renaissance Austin Wedding | Indian Wedding Planner

During the New Year, we have a habit of reflecting and remembering the milestone moments. As we enter the new DECADE, we are blown away by the amazing couples we’ve had the privilege to work with. This family is extra special to us because this is our second time working with them- one of our team members planned Seema’s brother’s wedding over a decade (so crazy to write that) ago, so this family is near and dear to their hearts. Being able to celebrate with them during two different decades is the highest honor. So of course we’re kicking off 2020 recapping the day with you!

Some of you may know that Indian weddings are multi-day celebrations filled with a variety of events, and it was our sincere pleasure to help with every moment of this wedding.

This first set of images is thanks to Studio Uma Weddings. This second set of images below is thanks to Jerry Hayes Photo.

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors:

Planner: Something To Celebrate

Officiant: Friend

Venue: Renaissance

Fri/Sat Food: Swad

Sunday Food: Bombay Bistro

Cake Pops: Simon Lee Bakery

Dessert: Tiff’s Treats

Florist: Stems

Photographer: Studio Uma Weddings

Photographer for Detail Shots: Jerry Hayes Photo

Videographer: A&A Video

DJ & Lights: DesiJunction DJs

Décor: Unique Design & Events

Sunday Décor: Townsley Designs

Horse: Fantasia Carriage

Henna: Henna Arts

Bridal HaMU: Becky Kinn

WP HaMU: Zareen Jameel

Photobooth: Altared

Jess + Rorie's The Plant at Kyle Wedding | Austin Wedding Coordinator

The Plant at Kyle is located about 30 minutes from Austin, just outside of Kyle, Texas. It’s set on 30 acres of hill country and one of the most unique venues in Austin and the surrounding areas. Although there are a few more logistics to consider for this venue (especially regarding transportation and rentals), it was so much fun to work here!

Jess and Rorie’s day was hosted on a gorgeous April afternoon that couldn’t have been more perfect!

There were a few things that really stood out about this wedding- the super fun color palette, the amazing food and the music choices. These two really personalized the day and it shows in these pictures!

Wedding Colors

Navy, clementine, green, and ivory Wedding

Wedding Food

The water station included choices of delicious infused waters in strawberry rosemary, orange basil and cucumber mint

Chicken & waffles + Caprese skewers + chicken diablos were passed during the cocktail hour.

Two Signature cocktails were provided as well- blackberry gin smash & vanilla blood orange old fashion

A station of late-night snacks included to-go pulled pork sliders with veggie chips

Wedding Music

Ceremony Choices included:

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by IZ Kamakawiwo'ole for the Maid of Honor and Best Man’s entrance

“When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Krauss for both sets of parents entrance

“On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons for the recessional

Reception Choices Included:

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness

Bride and Groom’s dance to "You and Me" by Dave Matthews Band

Father-Daughter dance to "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison

Last Dance to “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra

Wedding Hashtag

#RorieSaidJess

We leave you with some parting lyrics from one of their ceremony songs, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by IZ Kamakawiwo'ole…

Someday, I wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly

And the dreams that you dare to

Oh why, oh why can't I?

Well, I see trees of green and red roses too

I'll watch them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors

Venue: The Plant Kyle

Wedding Coordinator: Something to Celebrate

Officiant: Dane DeCiero

Caterer: Pearl Snap

Alcohol: Spec’s San marcos

Beer Trailer: Silvercloud Trailer

Dessert: Bananarchy, Taco Sweets

Floral Designer: Wow Factor Florals

Photographer: Alexandra White Photography

DJ/Videographer/Photobooth: Spotlight Entertainment

Transportation: Texas Hill Country Charter

Event Rentals: Premiere Events

Tent: Marquee

Hair and Makeup Stylist: Blush’n Bangs

Lauren and Salen's Villa Del Lago Wedding | Austin Wedding Designer & Planner

You’d never have known that on Lauren + Salen’s wedding day, a huge storm rolled through 10 minutes before the guests started to arrive. It was crazy rain and wind! So crazy, in fact, that we had to enact plan B (and C) in a hurry!

The vendor team was phenomenal, with the photographer, videographer, caterer, and DJ all helping us to get everything moved and re-set undercover, and with an SOS call to the florist, their team turned back to construct a new chuppah from scratch.

But looking at the photos now, you can see that the couple made the best of it and everyone was all smiles in time for the ceremony!

This beautiful venue, Villa Del Lago, is one of our favorites, but has a new owner and isn’t continuing events past the end of this year. We’re so happy Lauren and Salen were able to host their wedding here- as it was a perfect fit for them, despite the initial weather challenges.

Wedding Details

Lauren’s first look with her dad gave us ALL the feels.

This was a full kosher wedding.

The black and white color palette was timeless and stunning!

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors

Austin Wedding Planning + Coordination: Something To Celebrate

Austin Wedding Venue: Villa Del Lago

Officiant: Rabbi Milner & Rabbi Wolkenfeld

Caterer: Gail’s Catering

Florist: Stems

Photographer: Chris Bailey

Videographer: Crescent Video

Music: Spacecraft Entertainment

Rentals: Monarch Event Rentals

Valet: Central Texas Valet

Hair and Makeup: Lola Beauty

Carly + Caleb's Ma Maison Wedding | Dripping Springs Wedding Coordinator

Carly and Colt’s wedding was hosted on a crisp February day at Ma Maison. These two were a breeze to work with- the day was dedicated to their love and focused on a laid-back yet, elegant celebration.

Austin Wedding Venue

The couple held their ceremony outside at The Grove. This is one of the shining stars of the venue- it has a built-in stone around and a gorgeous surrounding landscape of trees. The arch was decorated with a lush floral arrangement and the aisle was lined with burgundy rose petals. Wild Bunches accented the ceremony chairs with clusters of greenery (a variety of eucalyptus and a touch of hearty ruscus).

After a few photos (aren’t their pups adorable?!), it was time for their reception in The Great Hall. Almost 150 friends and family members joined the Newlyweds for a delicious buffet dinner and dancing.

Wedding Colors

The couple selected a beautiful mix of burgundy, ivory and peach, with plenty of greenery accents. Carly’s bouquet was absolutely gorgeous -the cascading burgundy amaranth added so much movement & dimension. It paired beautifully with the soft flowiness (we know this isn’t a real word, but it should be!) of her dress. We also loved the mixed styled bridesmaids’ dresses.

Want to see more Ma Maison weddings? Check out Eric + Liza + Meredith + Stephen!

Cast of Austin Wedding Vendors

Austin Wedding Planner: Something to Celebrate

Austin Wedding Venue: Ma Maison

Officiant: Rev. James Simmons

Catering+Bar Crave Catering

Cake: Classic Cakes by Lori

Florist: Wild Bunches

Photographer: Angela King Photography

DJ: Greenbelt DJ

Transportation: Austin Classic Limo

Hair & Makeup: Nicole Schultz

Dog Sitter: Peanuts Pet