Every wedding vendor team is created a little differently. In this series we explore how and why each couple selected the right wedding vendor team for their wedding day.
When it came time for Daniel to propose to Brittany, he called in some reinforcement: their miniature poodle, Stella. It was the fall of 2019, and when Brittany got home from work she was greeted by Stella and something sparkly attached to her collar. After an official proposal and slipping the engagement ring on Brittany’s finger, the surprises continued as Daniel had gathered their closest friends at one of their favorite restaurants in New York City to celebrate.
The pair didn’t waste much time, initially planning for a yearlong engagement and a destination wedding the following fall in Brittany’s home state of Texas. But while Covid-19 caused the bride and groom to postpone six months to a Friday in May, they still very much had their dream wedding day, with the help of their vendors and family—or both, in the case of their wedding planner, as Daniel’s sister took the lead in navigating pandemic curveballs to bring the couple’s vision to life.
When Daniel proposed to Brittany, they ultimately decided on a time of year (initially, October, ultimately, May), a wedding location (Austin, Texas, which is about an hour north of the bride’s hometown), and the basics (guest size, budget, etc.). Then they turned to Daniel’s sister, Alex Austin of Alex Austin Events & Design to handle the rest. Lucky to have an event specialist in the family, they quickly began conversations to start planning and designing their wedding day.
“I knew immediately that I could trust Alex with the creative direction, and I gave her full control. I mean, how lucky am I, it’s not everyday that your sister-in-law is a wedding planner! Alex and I both share a love for fashion and design, as well as having similar taste, so I knew she would come up with a concept and select vendors that were nothing short of amazing. Pops of fuchsia and bougainvillea… does it get any better?” —Brittany, bride
The first move they made was to secure the wedding venue. Although Brittany and Daniel met in and live in New York City, Brittany is from an hour south of Austin, and a wedding near her hometown was on the top of her wish list. They found and booked Mae’s Ridge—a newly opened modern venue in the middle of Texas Hill Country—as soon as possible. One reason the venue felt like the perfect fit was its layout and how that made for optimal flow. The couple decided to host the ceremony out under the oak trees, then move to the barn patio for cocktail hour, progress to a mountaintop pavilion for dinner, and then head back to the barn for dancing and dessert. The movement felt natural and meant guests never felt stagnant.
Selecting a photographer was the next step in the bride and groom’s wedding planning process. The couple chose Texas-based Tailor James Photography, and began developing a personal connection with their photographer Kelly from the start.
“Kelly from Tailor James Photography was so good, she made Dan and I feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera (as two people who don’t totally love attention, this was important!) Your wedding photos are something you’ll have forever, and they are a reminder of how special our day was—Kelly was really able to capture that and I’m so grateful we were able to work with her.” —Brittany, bride
Around the same time, Brittany chose hair and makeup artist Makenzi Laine to give her bob soft waves and apply a fresh face of makeup. A trial run was scheduled, and Kelly was hooked, booking Makenzi for the engagement session and rehearsal dinner as well.
Music was very important, with a live band being an absolute must. In the beginning, there was a lot of research and scrutiny over who would be the best fit—they wanted a group who could play just about everything, and whose upbeat energy really made it feel like a party. When Brittany and Daniel came across IDT Band from EastCoast Entertainment, and they were available for the wedding date, they were immediately added to the vendor team and a lively reception was in the works.
“We both love a live band, and wanted our guests to be on the dance floor all night! IDT did exactly that—they were beyond talented and put on a great show.” —Brittany, bride
A positive outcome of the pandemic creating the postponement was the newfound time to reevaluate the wedding design. The new spring date brought on pops of fuchsia and an incorporation of more color. Due to these shifts, all of the decor vendors were heavily involved in the aesthetic plan. Rental orders from Loot Rentals, Nüage Designs, Inc., and Whim Hospitality, as well as design details with Ilios Production, Good Seed Floral (who added pops of pink and green to nearly every element of the celebration), and Delighted Calligraphy (which first appeared in the invitation suite and continued through to the reception menus) were adjusted as needed, with the inventory and availability being reviewed to maximize the look and feel of it all.
“Our number one goal was to marry Brittany’s love of the sophistication of the city with her Hill Country roots. I loved pulling textural elements that nod to both of those atmospheres. Velvet linens with gold accents were great accents to capture all the NYC glam. The addition of leather details and southwestern floral influence served as a perfect complement, and created that southwest/Texas flair. Add to that a killer modern dress and tea length bridesmaid dresses, with black accessories, to complete the perfect look!” —Alex, planner
For this foodie couple, choosing a top caterer was integral. With Royal Fig Catering being one of the best in the entire state, it was an easy pairing. The concept for dinner was Tex-Mex and began with tortilla chips in a custom bag at each place setting with salsa and guac for dipping, and continued with Texas ribeye, ranch-spiced chicken, and sides of charro beans, elote-style corn, and soft tortillas. The skilled caterer also handled the three-tier wedding cake, which was decorated with bougainvillea sprigs and petite cacti.
While challenging, Alex was able to keep two surprises from the couple for the nearly two years they spent planning the wedding: sparkler cannons from Big Dog Pyro for the grand exit, and wedding videographer Meant to Be Films to capture it all, including the illuminated sendoff. While the bride and groom had always wanted a fun exit and videographer, their budget didn’t allow for either. Alex and her mother teamed up to make it happen for the couple, who shed happy tears as a result.
Having a unique and interactive element of the reception was appealing to both Brittany and Daniel. Once they landed on a cigar roller (from Live Cigar Bar), they held tight to that idea (and vendor) even with the date change. Luckily they were still available, and made for a memorable experience for the guests.
