What was the overall theme for the ceremony and reception?
“We laughed that it was a rustic/French-country/safari. The ranch and pavilion venue had rustic charm and it is tucked in the middle of an exotic game ranch. The outdoor setting was a perfect representation of Joe, who is an outdoor adventure guide, and the French-country touches are a nod to Rebekah’s love of simple elegance. The exotic animals and Swahili signage tied in to the way they met while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.”
Describe the bridesmaids’ attire
My bridesmaid wore a navy Free People gown and brown ostrich cowboy boots. The flower girls wore dresses by D.Liles Collection and brown and turquoise cowboy boots
What wedding favors did you give your guests?
“Out of town guests received burlap bags with a pre-wedding logo by Pearly Gates Designs. Each bag contained local goodies such as Tito’s Vodka, local tortilla chips and salsa, Austin themed cookies and bottled water. Guests at the ceremony received local honey packaged in vintage inspired honey jars, and succulents potted in mini mason jars. As we left the reception, our guests threw dried lavender from small muslin bags that had been hand stamped in copper ink with our JR logo.”
Which pieces of music did you use during the ceremony?
- Pre-Ceremony: Classic western love songs
- Processional: Basil Poledouris-Lonesome Dove Score
- Vows/Interlude: George Straight-Cross My Heart
- Recessional: Story Book Love Song from The Princess Bride
What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?
“Get help, you don’t have to do it all yourself! The very best thing that we did was to find someone who could take our ideas and personalities and build on them. Trust them to make decisions for you so that you can focus on getting married!
“Make your wedding personal with little details along the way and it will be more memorable for both you and your guests. A special personalized touch that we incorporated from the beginning was a wedding logo by Pearly Gates Designs that we were able to use throughout all of our print, favors and decorations. The logo became one of our inspiration items that we were able to build the wedding around. We had a local artisan re-create the logo in large scale for our reception wall and entry gate. Find inspiration items and build around them! The effect is worth the effort.”
What types of flowers did you have?
“My beautiful bouquet consisted of peonies, roses, dahlias, succulents, hydrangea, thistle, garlands and branches.”
Describe the Bride’s Attire
“I wore a Kenneth Winston dress and Lucchese ostrich cowboy boots.”
Where did you buy your wedding invitations?
“Pearly Gates Designs custom designed the logos, invites, gift tags, and all stationary and signage.”
What were the highlights from the ceremony and reception?
“We loved the string instrumental before the ceremony. It helped to set the tone of the evening and our love story. One of the most touching moments of our ceremony was when my sister sang a scripture over us. It was such a special thing to have family involved in our vows.
“The fireworks! They were a surprise from my parents for everyone as we drove off through the ranch. It was a fantastic finale for both us and our guests.
“We did private vows with each other that were not heard by our guests. It was a very special time for both Joe and I, and my son Caden. The private vows were the most complemented part of our whole wedding!
“The band – we had the Texas Jamm Band featuring members of George Straight’s Ace in the Hole. They were amazing! It is absolutely worth investing in a non-traditional wedding band. It made all of the difference in our guests participating in our reception.”
What did you give your bridesmaid as a bridesmaids gift?
“A handmade labradorite tribal headpiece from Israel.”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“The Four Seasons Seychelles”
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