Houston Wedding Blog

Charming Gallery Wedding by Kelly Hornberger Photography

It was supposed to be a beautiful outdoor sunset ceremony. But, like so many other al fresco Houston events before it, Amanda and Celestino’s nuptials fell victim to an onslaught of wet weather. No matter, though. This couple, caught up in the romance of their special day, would not be daunted. They simply made a last-minute decision to move their ceremony indoors, where, the bride says, she ended up having “absolutely the most amazing, gorgeous wedding I could have ever hoped for—every quirk and mishap that happened that day just made it even more special.” Now we ask you, Houston brides, is that a perfect wedding day outlook, or what? There’s so much we love about this charming wedding, with its DIY touches, its sweet, simple florals and hints of vibrant pink, its string lights and sparklers and sunny joy, no matter what the clouds outside had to say. Cheers to Kelly Hornberger Photography for the pitch-perfect pix, and our warmest wishes to Amanda and Celestino.

Charming Gallery Wedding by Kelly Hornberger Photography ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Kelly Hornberger Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Winnie Couture ~ DJ: JPL Entertainment ~ Flowers: Olive Tree Florist ~ Venue: The Gallery

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The Big To Do: Texas-Style Entertaining with The Dining Diva, Wed. 6-13

Houston Wedding Blog ~ Texas-Style Entertaining with The Dining Diva

Trying to figure out just what you’re going to do with all those newfangled kitchen gadgets and super-chic tabletop goodies you’re sure to get gifted from your wedding registry? Here’s an idea: Learn how to whip up and serve a scrumptious Texas-style gourmet dinner! This Wednesday, famed “Dining Diva” and cookbook author Molly Fowler shows you how, at a sure-to-be-delicious cooking class, 6:30 p.m. at Central Market. Menu items include (cue the drooling) Shrimp Acapulco and Smoked Grilled Ribeye with Sauteed Mushrooms. Tasting is strongly encouraged. Couples are welcome. Space is limited, so reserve yours now. Mmm… date night is served!

Credits (Photos From Top to Bottom, Left to Right): The Dining Diva (2 images) ~ Central Market

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Q&A: Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons on The Big Trip!

Q&A: Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons on The Big Trip! ~ Courtesy Petit St Vincent Resort ~ Weddings In Houston Magazine
Photos (From Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Courtesy Petit St Vincent Resort ~ Courtesy Castiglion Del Bosco in Tuscany ~ Courtesy Katie Frederick via Connie Chung Courtesy Four Seasons Bora Bora ~ Courtesy Portrait Suites Rome ~ Courtesy Katie Frederick via Connie Chung ~ Courtesy Hotel Le Toiny St Barths

Honeymoons are to regular vacations what wedding receptions are to Saturday-night dinner parties. You wouldn’t leave the planning of your lavish 300-guest nuptial bash to your everyday dinner-party coordinator (that’d be you), would you? Likewise, it’s smart to put the planning of your once-in-a-lifetime trip into the hands of a honeymoon expert, rather than a regular ol’ travel agent—or, heaven forbid—booking online, sight unseen. Eek! Katie Frederick eats, breathes and lives honeymoon planning, every single day of her well-traveled life. Her boutique travel planning firm, Ever After Honeymoons , is sought out by well-heeled brides across the nation for its deep knowledge of divine honeymoon destinations and hidden gems, and its ability to deliver luxury and no-detail-too-small service from departure to return, and then some. We tapped into Katie’s killer honeymoon instincts, and got her to share her top picks in honeymoon locales and must-have travel goodies. Here you go, Houston brides…and happy travels!

Houston Wedding Blog: Where in the world should we GO?

Katie Frederick: There really are so many incredible places to visit! I encourage couples to talk about what their perfect day on their honeymoon would be. What would you like to see and do? What are your favorite things to do together? Then I can recommend the best destinations that offer what you are looking for.

Also make sure to check the weather in the destinations you are interested in. Then spend some time really talking about what each of you want for your honeymoon. A lot of brides will say, “I wants a beach honeymoon but he will be bored.” A good compromise is to spend the first half of your honeymoon on the beach and then go to a city.

If you really can’t decide between two destinations, you can visit one for your honeymoon and then save the other destination for an upcoming anniversary trip. Gives you something to look forward to!

HWB: When do we need to book?

KF: I recommend couples book their flights and hotels around six months ahead of time. At this point a lot of hotels have early booking discounts, flights are priced well, and it gives you time to consider your options. If you wait until the last minute, you will most likely have a lot of last-minute wedding things to get done, and the hotels and flights you want could be sold out. I always recommend waiting to book tours, activities and excursions until you are on your honeymoon.

Another tip: Make sure to book all travel with your names exactly as they appear on your passports. Don’t book your travel with your married last name unless you are changing your name prior to traveling.

HWB: What should we pack?

KF: Pack light, and pack things you can mix and match with each other. Think ahead of time about what you plan to do, but don’t pack for every possible situation. Make sure to buy mini bottles of beauty products (www.3floz.com has a great selection!). I love light tunics and swim cover-ups, and they take up very little space. Be sure to leave a little room in your bag in case you want to buy a few things during your honeymoon.

HWB: Any cool or cute-as-heck honeymoon travel goodies we absolutely MUST know about?

Here are some of my favorites!

Q&A: Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons on The Big Trip! ~ Anthropologie ~ Llewellyn Turquoise Jeweled Caftan from Calypso St. Barth ~ Weddings In Houston Magazine
Photos (From Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Tied-Front Dress from Anthropologie ~ Llewellyn Turquoise Jeweled Caftan from Calypso St. Barth ~ Travel Books from Luxe City Guides ~ “Brendle” Sandal from ALDO ~ Python Passport Cover from Mr Hanz

HWB: Fabulous! Now we’re booked, packed and ready for romance. Any parting advice before we take off?

Don’t plan too much ahead of time. Usually the time before a wedding is really hectic and scheduled. Your honeymoon is the time to sleep in, decide what you feel like doing that day, and just enjoy each other’s company.

Follow Katie’s happy travels, and start planning your own, on Twitter @EA_Honeymoons and Facebook.com/everafterhoneymoons!

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HWB Hearts: Intriguing Ideas for Hand-Tied Bouquets

Satin ribbon and pearl pins are a classic choice for a hand-tied wedding bouquet. But there’s no rule that says they’re required wrapping for wedding bouquet stems. We’re huge fans of using interestingly textured, unusually patterned and/or heirloom fabrics and other materials to bind bridal bouquets. Some of our favorite ribbon alternatives include lace (especially black), raffia, twine, silk handkerchiefs, crocheted doilies, bear grass, leather and suede. Also alluring: mixing a simple or rough-hewn wrap material with a contrastingly delicate or ornamental accent, or vice versa. For instance, fine lace accented with wood buttons, or twine encircled with pearl rosary beads. And, of course, there’s nothing more meaningful than a bouquet wrapped with a bit of lace from the hem of your grandmother’s wedding gown, or adorned with your great-aunt’s heirloom locket.

Find more hand-tied bouquet inspiration, and the week’s wedding news, events & tips, in today’s week’s Wednesday Wedding Buzz!

Credits (Photos top to bottom, left to right): Karen Tran Florals, Kellie Kano Photography via Greer Loves, Heather Bliss via Callie Rose, Meredith Perdue (next 2 images), Four Seasons Flowers, Shannon Kelley Photography (last 2 images)

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Purple and Platinum Chinese-Jewish-Longhorn Wedding by Stacy Cross Photography

While embracing your future spouse’s faith is a deeply personal decision, for groom Garrett Hartman, it was an easy one. “Garrett has recently been converted to my Longhorn religion!” effuses bride Leslie Ng. “He is great about going with me to games … and ever so willing to go get snacks and drinks so I don’t ever have to miss a single play. It’s a match made in Heaven!” In Heaven, maybe, but with a little help from Garrett’s aunt, who sat her single nephew next to Leslie at an event, starting the Houston couple on the path to “I do!” In addition to Leslie’s Longhorn devotion, the couple’s cultural and spiritual backgrounds—he’s Jewish, she’s Chinese—infused their joyful Briscoe Manor wedding throughout, from the groom’s traditional glass-stomping (“That poor light bulb didn’t stand a chance,” Leslie laughs), to the bride’s chair-ride during the hora dance (“scary, but fun,” she recounts) to the amuse bouche of potato latke with Peking duck slices topped with hoisin, crème fraiche and apple chutney (“a little Chinese and a little Jewish—we called it ‘Chewish’”). Leslie’s favorite wedding moment? “During our first dance, Garrett (a horrible singer) sang to me in my ear and went over highlights of our ceremony, telling me how he loved my dress, how lucky and blessed he felt at that moment,” she recounts. “It made me cry—it was the best three and a half minutes of my life.” Big thanks to Stacy Cross Photography for images of this uniquely personal and super stylish wedding. And happiest wishes to Leslie and Garrett!

Purple and Platinum Chinese-Jewish-Longhorn Wedding by Stacy Cross Photography ~ Houston Wedding Blog

Photos: Stacy Cross Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Mori Lee ~ Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Blush & Co. ~ Cakes: More Than Cakes ~ Catering: Behind the Bash
Flowers: Fresh Blooms of Houston ~ Ceremony & Reception Venue: Briscoe Manor

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The Big To Do: Designer Discounts Aplenty @ Ivory Bridal Atelier 6-10-12

Rivini, Liancarlo, Anne Barge, Badgley Mischka, Lazaro…Ivory Bridal Atelier’s gown inventory reads like a Who’s Who of the most revered (and, let’s face it, some of the priciest) bridal designers on the planet. If you think this kind of couture is a little, ahem, out of your league—and even if you don’t—you may want to set your alarm on the early side this Sunday. That’s when Houston’s West Ave gem unloads gorgeous, pristine-condition sample dresses at prices 30-70% off retail. Bride-plus-one-guest-only, gowns sizes 6-10, no appointments necessary, first-come, first-served, four hours only, starting 11 a.m. We don’t need to tell you to be nice, now, do we? Happy shopping, Houston brides-to-be!

The Big To Do: Designer Discounts Aplenty @ Ivory Bridal Atelier

Credits (Photos top to bottom, left to right): Morgan Lynn Photography for Ivory Bridal Atelier, Rivini, Liancarlo, Morgan Lynn Photography for Ivory Bridal Atelier, Lazaro

(Gowns shown do not necessarily reflect available sample-sale inventory.)

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Guest Post: Bridal Beauty Secrets from Christen Hobbs of Makeup Texas

Bridal Beauty Secrets from Christen Hobbs of Makeup Texas
Photos (From Top to Bottom, Left to Right) : Courtesy Grant Photography ~ Courtesy Ashley K Photography ~ Courtesy Grant Photography

Texas brides are SERIOUS about looking spotlight ready on their wedding day. Which is why so many of them flock to Houston’s Makeup Texas for their bridal beauty regimen. Remember last week’s featured bride Meredith—the gorgeous blonde with the white horse? Yup, that understated-glam look was a signature of makeup artist Christen Hobbs and her in-demand hair-and-makeup studio, which is known for amazing airbrush makeup artistry and warm, attentive service. Beautiful, right? We’re huge fans of Christen’s work here at HWB, so naturally we were thrilled when we proposed to her (you know, that she drop in and share her bridal beauty secrets), and she accepted.

Bridal beauty begins with good skin. “The key to a flawless wedding-day complexion lies in your diet, exercise and skincare regimen. This is not a well-kept secret, but somehow we always fail to follow through with these four simple rules:

1. Get plenty of rest. A well-rested bride lacks bags under the eyes and has a radiant glow.
2. Drink plenty of water. Rinse out those bad toxins from your body with good H2O.
3. Cleanse and moisturize your face every morning and night.
4. Exfoliate once a week. This helps remove dead skin cells and leave your skin looking fresh.

If your eyes are rolling as you read this, have no fear. For every bride that has seven million things to do the night before her wedding and has to drink Champagne for all those rehearsal toasts instead of water, airbrush is your best friend. Airbrush makeup is applied with a compressor that sprays thousands of tiny makeup pixels onto your skin, to give you a glowing, flawless look without the heavy makeup feel. Unlike traditional makeup it doesn’t sit on top of your skin in a creamy consistency, but appears to come from within.”

Natural doesn’t mean nude. “When your photographer takes your pictures on your wedding day, a good portion of your makeup will disappear with the flash and lighting equipment. A photograph is a two-dimensional art piece and it is our job, as your makeup artist, to create shadows and dimensions with contour, so that you appear as three-dimensional as possible. We always tell our ‘au naturel’ brides to be prepared to wear a little more makeup than usual. Don’t compare your everyday makeup to your wedding-day makeup. You are in the most glamorous dress of your life and your makeup should reflect that beauty. We still want you to feel like yourself, just more glamorous.”

A lush lash is a glamour-girl’s best friend. “For our extra-glamorous ladies, we always recommend false lashes. They are the best invention since the push-up bra! They give your makeup that last touch of drama. For each client, we measure their eye width and match their eye shape with the perfect lash size, for the most comfortable fit and posh look.”

Don’t forget your touch-up kit. “Lip gloss or lipstick is essential to have in your wedding handbag. After a good smooch at the altar, every girl needs a quick retouch on her lips. For our extra-glowing brides, a couple of tissues to blot excess oils from the skin are also a must. There are a lot of blotting pads that are on the market these days for similar purposes, but some can have a negative reaction with your makeup composition. Tissues are always a safer bet, and they’re versatile. They can also be used for catching those happy tears!”

Lastly, Christen reminds brides to preview their bridal makeup in natural light, which makes it much easier to see tiny details, “and harder for shadows to conceal imperfections!” And don’t forget to have your photographer or a friend snap a few pix: “A good makeup artist knows that after a wedding the most important piece of evidence a bride has of her beautiful day are her pictures, so applying makeup that is picture-perfect is the way to go.”

To schedule a Makeup Texas consultation, call Christen at 281.394.2922 or e-mail!

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HWB Hearts: Wedding Styles of All Stripes

There’s a reason why certain styles become classics. Take stripes for example. This simplest of patterns always manages to look sophisticated while somehow simultaneously conjuring preppy tradition, nautical whimsy, steampunk funk and Victorian elegance, all in one fell swoop. There’s no better way to add a dash of geometric edge to your soft-and-sweet wedding palette than with a striped accessory (his or hers), table linen, napkin or favor package. We’ve assembled some of our favorite stripes here. Check them out, then check in on today’s Wedding Buzz, for more stripes, and all the week’s top wedding events, news and featured stories!

Stripes Wedding Inspiration Board ~ Houston Wedding Blog
Credits (photos from left to right, top to bottom): Tyler Branch, Hello Naomi, Ben Q Photography, Simply Bloom, Ryan Ray, Jenna Walker, Jake McBride Photography via Martha Stewart Weddings, Lauren Ross, Ryan Ray, Umama143 Etsy Shop

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