The first time I spoke with Hannah about her wedding plans, my face was sore from smiling so much. She was the sweetest, happiest bride-to-be – just so excited to marry her fiance and not too worried about the rest – and, to top it all off, when I asked what her design aesthetic was, she said, “Well, it’s pretty Taylor Swift-inspired.” Immediately, I knew that this was going to be a fun one!

Hannah is a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, and it was so much fun to find little ways to incorporate lyrics and references throughout the wedding design. From the olden days of Speak Now (that amazing marquee sign) to the more recent hits (the lyrics printed on the beautiful, minimalist invitations), music was a huge part of the day – and we love to see it!

There were a lot of other personalized details, too, like the custom made Coke bottles and the cozy coffee bar. And did you see that dress? We’re still dreaming about it!

But I think, overall, the best part of the day was that these two didn’t stop smiling for even one minute. Their joy was so contagious!

Another memorable part of Hannah + Jonathan’s day? It was right in the middle of the craziest winter weather North Texas has ever seen. With nearly every single one of the 120 guests driving in from Odessa, it was down to the wire rearranging floorplans, changing up the timeline, and figuring out how to get everyone here and back safely. Our amazing vendor team pulled it all together, though, and as warm and cozy and full of love as that room was, you would never have known that it was freezing outside.

Like what you see? Check out our amazing vendor team:

Venue: The Emerson

Photography: Kimberly Correa Photography

Florals: Memories Bound Floral

Catering: Taco Heads

Coffee Bar: Nightowl Coffee Cart

Baker: Juju’s Cakes & Sweets

DJ: DJ Connection

MUAH: Megan Fields + Jennifer Peterson

Coordination: Julep Events

I’ll never forget the way it played out. Sunday, March 15th, my husband and I were celebrating his birthday with beers and BBQ at Wild Acre in Fort Worth, talking about the year ahead and this crazy new virus that was starting to spread in cities like Seattle and NYC. I remember telling him that I was worried about all the people flying in from out of state for Lauren + Jack’s wedding at Brik in only six short days, but he reassured me that even if a few people had to drop out, it would still be a great party (and, knowing Lauren + Jack, I knew it was true!). Honestly, I really wasn’t that worried – we were at a bar right then, surrounded by strangers, after all – but then, between that day and the next, absolutely everything changed.

When I turned on the news the next morning, the world as we knew it had turned upside-down. There were press conferences, statements issued, new rules and regulations popping up that differed from city to city and county to county. Everything was shutting down – including wedding venues. Including Brik. On the surface, business ground to a halt… but when you’re a wedding planner, there’s never a stopping point. Suddenly I was scrambling. Just in the next two months, we had six weddings, and I knew that all of them were going to be completely and totally upended in every possible way, but my first thought was of Lauren + Jack – and their wedding that was only five days away.

It was devastating to have to call Lauren and have the discussion about how to choose a new date, what to say to their 150 guests, and what our next steps should be. We spent many teary-eyed hours on the phone that week, figuring out how to proceed. I was heartbroken for her and I felt awful because, for the first time in my professional life, I didn’t have the answers. Every single hour brought a new wave of “unprecedented,” and all I could do was be there for her and try to help her navigate the difficult circumstances of postponing a wedding.

But through it all, Lauren + Jack stayed undeterred. They were still going to get married on March 21st. And they did – in the backyard of their beautiful home, surrounded by only their very closest family and their incredible photography team, Laning Photography, which captured the deep emotions of the day.

Lauren + Jack are a perfect reminder that love overcomes absolutely everything that this world can throw at us. They were devastated by the way it all happened – I remember Lauren saying, “If we had only scheduled our wedding for one week earlier” – but in the end, their joy from becoming husband and wife was able to carry them through.

Like what you see? Check out our amazing vendor team below!

Photo: Laning Photography

Floral: Alba Dahlia Floral

Lauren’s Dress: Lulu’s

J+B’s wedding day felt like something out of a fairytale. From the beautiful, minimalist design to the perfect weather (even on an August day in Texas – what are the odds?!), every detail was a dream come true from start to finish.

Couple Walking Down the Aisle

The day began with mimosas in the Emerson’s chic bridal suite, while the stylists from Cloud 9 Salon handled hair + makeup. The boys enjoyed beers and rounds of cornhole out in the groom’s cabin.

Meanwhile, the Studio Tersilla term worked their magic in the chapel and reception space with some of the dreamiest blooms I’ve ever seen. Just see for yourself:

Coral Lane’s rentals rounded out the design to create a perfectly cohesive look. Their black bentwood chairs added some contrast to the bright whites of the venue and the pale pinks and greens of the florals for a simple yet high-impact look.

Reception Table Decor

Once everyone was primped and polished, J+B had butterflies in their stomachs and were so ready to see each other – but first, they took a quiet moment alone to read their private vows to each other. After that, it was off to the chapel!

Dinner and desserts were provided by Seven Loaves Catering and Desserts Galore, respectively, and as soon as the cake was cut, it was time to dance! LeForce DJ kept the party going all night long, as usual, and Melanie Julian Photography captured every happy moment.

At the end of the night, the newlyweds exited under the glow of sparklers and drove off in the groom’s own truck – with a few stowaways to see them off! Horse-drawn carriages and fancy limos are nice, but when you’re getting married in the Texas countryside, nothing beats a pick-up.

J+B were the sweetest couple to work with, and above all they were just so excited to get married. Surrounded by one of the most enthusiastic wedding parties I’ve ever seen, they exchanged vows and celebrated their marriage, and I’m so excited to see where it takes them.

Summer Wedding

Like what you see? Check out our amazing vendor team below:

Venue: The Emerson

Photography: Melanie Julian Photography

Florals: Studio Tersilla

Music: LeForce Entertainment (reception) and String Duo Dallas (ceremony)

Catering: Seven Loaves Catering

Desserts: Desserts Galore

Rentals: Coral Lane Event Rentals

MUAH: Cloud 9 Salon and Spa

Coordination: Julep Events