Houston Wedding Blog

The Grace of Lace: Lazaro Fall 2013 Bridal

2013-05-10T18:38:32Z

One thing about Lazaro Perez, he knows how to do lace with flawless grace. The designer’s Fall 2013 collection—which will be showcased locally at Ivory Bridal Atelier in September—has so many lace-graced gowns, from an all-lace figure-hugging fit-n-flare style with a dramatic keyhole back to gorgeous tiers of tulle touched by the softest lace accents imaginable. Behold some of our favorite Lazaro Fall 2013 styles, and let us know which make your heart go pitter-pat!

Photos: JLM Couture

Moroccan Theme Sangeet and Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa Wedding with Moroccan, Vintage and Rustic-Chic Themes

2013-05-10T18:35:11Z

On the 5^th anniversary of the beginning of their courtship, Ronak took Zena to Sonoma, Calif., to celebrate—and, unbeknownst to her—to propose. “During our visit to Pride Vineyard, he had a picnic set up with my favorite foods and during the picnic gave me a scrapbook documenting our five years together. The final page said ‘Happily Ever After?’ Once I got to that page, he got down on one knee and proposed. We spent the rest of the weekend at a wonderful resort in Napa Valley celebrating.” The celebrating continued at the couple’s multi-day Indian wedding, which kicked off with a mehndi party, followed by a Moroccan-theme sangeet at the St. Regis Hotel, and, finally a vintage-theme ceremony with a moss-covered, floral-draped altar, and lushly floral rustic-chic reception, both at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. Bride Zena’s favorite moment? “Walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing how nervous he was.” Happiest wishes to the lovely couple, and big thanks to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based J’Adore Love Photography for sharing beautiful images of this spectacular celebration.

Photos: J’Adore Love Photography ~ Cake: Susie’s Cakes & Confections ~ Coordinator: Belle of the Ball ~ Floral: Blooming Gallery ~ Sangeet Venue: St. Regis Hotel ~ Wedding Venue: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa ~ Videography: A&A Video Productions

Green, Yellow and Gray Daytime Wedding by Alicia Pyne Photography

2013-05-06T17:38:25Z

We are privy to a lot of wonderful proposal stories, but this beauty, from Houston bride Emily, has got to be one of our favorites: “Chris proposed to me in our apartment on a Monday night. He used a chalkboard piggy bank that I had bought him a few years before. I was sick and Chris tried to convince me that there was medicine in the bathroom, but I didn’t believe him. We both went to the bathroom to see if there was any medicine in there and he had the piggy bank set up with a single rose in the slot. On the piggy bank it said, ‘turn around.’ I thought he meant turn the piggy bank around so I did and on the other side it said ‘wedding fund.’ That’s when I turned around to see Chris down on his knees asking me to marry him.” The couple’s daytime wedding was full of vintage touches and whimsy, from the guys’ old-school Converse sneaks to the tiered red-velvet cupcakes to the pretty wedding palette of pale green, light yellow, gray and white. Mexican food and a ceremony conducted by the bride’s standup-comic brother added to the fun—which was not dampened one bit when a flower girl accidentally fell into a fountain while one of the bridesmaids was toasting the couple. “She was fine,” Emily smiles. And she grins about this bit, too: “As silly as it sounded to our wedding planner, we really wanted to incorporate piggy banks into our decor. You should have seen people’s faces when we told them we were using piggy banks as wedding decorations! They turned out so cute and once people read our engagement story they understood and thought it was pretty cool.” And so do we. Congratulations, Emily and Chris, and huge thanks to the wonderful Alicia Pyne of Alicia Pyne Photography for beautiful photos of this delightful day.

Photos: Alicia Pyne Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Alfred Angelo ~ Flowers: The Bloom Room ~ Venue: The Gardens of Bammel Lane

Regal, Refined, Reimagined: Carolina Herrera Spring 2014 Bridal

2013-05-13T18:07:14Z

As exquisitely made as ever, Carolina Herrera’s recently runway-revealed Spring 2014 collection introduces a few exciting twists to the renowned designer’s classic silhouettes and sumptuous fabrics. A delicate lace overlay lends sweetness to a sleek mermaid silhouette; long lace sleeves are perfect for a grand cathedral ceremony; perfectly scalloped edges create intrigue in an otherwise traditional ball gown; and metallic-accent appliqués seem to bloom larger as they travel from bodice to hem. There’s plenty more magic in Herrera’s newest gown group—enjoy some of our favorites right here, and, for an in-person experience, schedule your appointment for this week’s Carolina Herrera Spring 2014 trunk show at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon.

Photos: John Aquino

Etsy Envy: Gifts for Grooms and Guys

2013-04-30T17:31:14Z

We’re at it again with another Etsy Envy feature—and this time we’ve set our sights on the guys. Finding a great gift for your groom can be a real challenge, especially for a guy who’s got everything (including his perfect girl). Ditto for to-be-married dudes who are determined to find cool stuff to gift to their groomsmen. Enter Etsy, home of everything handmade, including hand-hammered steel, hand-tooled leather, handcrafted wood goods…sensing a theme here? Check out our top picks for unique gifts for men—your man, his men, dads, brothers and more. See credits below for links!

1. The Copper Poppy ~ 2. Pish Posh Pendants ~ 3. San Filippo Leather ~ 4. Micheles Cottage ~ 5. Iron Art Canada ~ 6. Rntn ~ 7. Felix Street Studio ~ 8. 4 M Leather Design

Romantic Bell Tower Wedding by Weddings by Alefiya

2013-04-30T17:29:40Z

Clint’s surprise proposal to Mariam during a poker game was just the start of the couple’s thrilling “I do” experience. Mariam, who met Clint at a midtown pub just a couple of months after she moved to Houston from Iraq, where she grew up, knew from the moment she saw him that he was the man for her. And when the couple finally tied the knot, four years later, “Everything was special to me,” she says. “The color and decor were so romantic—just how I dreamed they would be,” she says of their Bell Tower on 34^th ceremony and reception. “Everything was so magical.” Big thanks to fabulously talented Houston photographer Alefiya Akbarally of Weddings by Alefiya for the gorgeous photos of this gorgeous wedding (and check out that beaming bride—her smile says it all!).

Photos: Weddings by Alefiya ~ Bride’s Dress: Rivini from Mia Bridal Couture ~ Bridesmaid Attire: Now & Forever Bridal Boutique ~ Invitations: Bering’s ~ Tuxedos: Al’s Formal Wear ~ Floral & Decor: Floral Events ~ Venue: The Bell Tower on 34th

Yellow and Turquoise Outdoor Wedding by Joseph West Photography

2013-04-30T17:25:01Z

How cool would it be to meet your Mr. Right at a Texans tailgate? Pretty darn cool. Just ask bride Debbie, who forced herself to talk to the cute guy across the parking lot that October day in 2008. “We’ve been talking ever since,” she now says with a smile. “Relaxed” and “not too over-thought” is how Debbie describes her wedding to Calan, “just like our relationship.” Of course, that doesn’t mean the celebration wasn’t without its surprises. “My eldest brother hired mariachis to play at the wedding. I would like to say that I remained calm and collected when learning of the surprise, but one of my pictures tells a different story. You can see me on the verge of tears as soon as I hear the instruments striking!” Photos of Debbie’s mariachi moments, and so many more pretty touches and poignant moments from the couple’s wedding, are featured here, courtesy of the wonderful Joseph West of Houston’s Joseph West Photography. Enjoy!

Photos: Joseph West Photography ~ Venue: Gardens of Bammel Lane

St. Germain Wedding Cocktails

2013-04-30T17:28:04Z

Photo: St. Germain

OK, this one goes out to our esteemed publisher Radhika Day, who just happens to be a major St. Germain fan—and with good reason. The classic French elderflower liqueur, made from gently macerating hand-picked blossoms that bloom briefly each spring, is ineffably subtle and delicious. Trying to describe it, according to the famous French artisanal liqueur-maker, is like “asking a hummingbird to describe the flavor of its favorite nectar.” Which we would never do. We’ll simply say that St. Germain is more or less the flavor of romance—which makes it perfect for wedding-day cocktails.

Our favorite is La Rosette, a simple combination of 4 parts Brut Rosé Champagne to ¼ part St. Germain, served in a chilled flute and garnished with a pansy, rose petal or delicate orchid. Parfait! Non?

For more delicious and incredibly pretty St. Germain wedding cocktails, sip—er, click—here!

This Is What An Illustrated Bride Looks Like

2013-05-03T21:18:55Z

Photos: Top, Chris Bailey Photography; bottom, The Illustrated Bride

Y’all may recall last year’s Illustrated Bride giveaway, where we bestowed one lucky bride with a custom bridal gown illustration, courtesy Jennifer Hancock, aka the artist behind The Illustrated Bride. Well we’re delighted to share with you winning bride Kristin’s illustration, which includes Kristin in her stunning Vera Wang gown, AND her adorbs groom all done up in dapper formal wear. Says artist Hancock, “I am VERY happy with the final piece. Kristin is just gorgeous and I hope my work does her some justice!” Interested in having Hancock transform your bridal photo into a gown illustration that’ll become a keepsake for generations to come? Check out her Etsy shop right here!

Opulent Omni Houston Hotel Wedding by J. Cogliandro Photography

2013-04-30T17:26:37Z

Who says magnificence and make-your-own mac ’n cheese don’t mix? Certainly not Jordann nor Micah—the Houston couple’s Omni Houston Hotel wedding is a stellar example of what you get when you blend opulence with comfort—fabulousness with FUN! The pair, who met at UT Austin in 2005, treated their 300 wedding guests to an evening of sublime elegance, marked with plenty of personal, comforting touches, like a gorgeous tiered cinnamon cake with old-fashioned buttercream icing by Who Made The Cake. Now treat yourself to Jordann and Micah’s delightful wedding photos, courtesy J. Cogliandro Photography. Can’t you just feel the happiness radiating from this adorable couple? Congratulations, Jordann and Micah!

Photos: J. Cogliandro Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Joan Pillow Bridal ~ Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo ~ Cake: Who Made The Cake ~ Floral, Decor & Lighting: Flora & Eventi ~ Venue: Omni Houston Hotel