Houston Backyard Wedding || Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After || MaryEllen + Rob, the full film

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houston backyard wedding29

The romance!  The dogs!  The Art!  Get ready for a sweet film. Rob waited a long time to find MaryEllen--in fact, he gave his bride a ring on the wedding day with a diamond for each decade that he waited for her. Between Rob's sweet romantic gestures, MaryEllen's stunning beauty, their flower girls' antics, and the ways they incorporated their love for art and for their dogs into their wedding day, their story is sure to make you smile.

wedding video package memory tin
wedding video package memory tin

When we arrived at MaryEllen's Crown Plaza hotel room, photographer Taylor Lord was also just arriving to document the day.  We've worked with Taylor before, and she's always great to work alongside.  Edric's crew from Vanity Lounge was already in the midst of styling MaryEllen's hair and makeup.  Her flower girls scampered about like little fairies, bringing delight with each sparkle in their eye and each grin.  Meanwhile, at the house, the bartenders, chef, and waitstaff were already prepping a food course that just to describe will make your mouth water--including bite size smoked sausage with spiced poached apple, potato truffle waffle duck confit, tomato water shooters with buffalo mozzarella and basil foam, bacon wrapped jalapeño, and quail with sweet potato hash (and that's not even half of the hors d' oeuvres list).  Mouth watering yet?  

The dessert table towered with a variety of cookies and cakes, including cookies designed to look like Gracie and Barcley, the furry pups that are owned by MaryEllen & Rob.  As the flower girls marveled at the dog-shaped cookies, adult guests were able to enjoy signature cocktail drinks named after Gracie and Barcley. 

Seated on wooden pews in the backyard, friends and family gathered together all dressed in cream and buttery soft hues to celebrate the happiness of the bride and groom.

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houston backyard wedding21
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houston backyard wedding23
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houston backyard wedding36

Gracie and Barcley looking dapper and sitting patiently for portraits after the wedding.

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houston backyard wedding22
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houston backyard wedding17
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houston backyard wedding31
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houston backyard wedding25
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houston backyard wedding32
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houston backyard wedding35
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houston backyard wedding33

This white wedding cake by 'Who Made the Cake' has frills for days, and peonies to match.

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houston backyard wedding27
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houston backyard wedding26

 Custom water-color style script signage by Houston creative studio Papellerie beckoned guests to leave their mark on the large oil painting being created at the wedding reception. The bride commissioned the groom's favorite artist (Taft McWhorter) to create an oil painting on site at the wedding, and it was an awesome surprise gift for the groom.

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houston backyard wedding18
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houston backyard wedding19
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houston backyard wedding16

The bride and groom have already collected several pieces of Taft McWhorter's abstract work, including a large typographical style painting with the lyrics to one of their favorite songs by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.  It seemed to make perfect sense to us that we had to license that particular song for  MaryEllen & Rob's wedding film once we saw what a beautiful vision its lyrics were casting for their home.  (P.S. Fun Fact about our crew: both Jones and Kourtney Amelia got to participate in the filming of Drew Holcomb's music video for "The Wine We Drink" in Jan 2012 through a workshop with The Music Bed.  We love that band!)    The lyrics say:

If I had a great big mansion

I'd rather live in a shot gun shack with you

If I drove a red ferrari

I'd rather ride in an oldsmobile with you

If I won a million dollars

I'd give it away to spend more time with you

If I had a million lovers

I would trade 'em all for just one more night with you

With you I can be myself

With you I don't have to be somebody else

It's like putting on my favorite pair of shoes

I like to be me when I'm with you

Their officiant told the couple during the ceremony:  "The bible says, 'you saw me before I was born, every day of my life was recorded in your book, every moment was laid out before a single day has passed."  The ceremony is over in a few moments, but what really matters is the lifetime that you're going to spend together."  

We couldn't agree more!  Congratulations to MaryEllen & Rob, and thank you for choosing us to create an heirloom artwork to help you remember each moment of your very special day for a lifetime.

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houston backyard wedding34

Venue: Private Houston Home

Coordination:   Paul Pritzen with Keely Thorne Events

Photographer:  Taylor Lord

Caterer:  The Forest Club

Baker:  Who Made The Cake

Florist & Stylist:  Events In Bloom

Stationery & Signage:  Papellerie

Supply:  Aztec Events & Tents

Rentals:  Swift + Company

Valet:  First Impressions Valet

Pianist: Hank Taylor

String Quartet: Chamber Music Unlimited

Oil Artist: Taft McWhorter

Caricature Art:  Satirical Effect Caricature Co. 

Soundtrack:

"Nirvana"  by Chris Zabriskie chriszabriskie.com

Licensed by CC-BY-3.0

"I Like To Be With Me When I'm With You"  by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

Used through licensing by The Music Bed  themusicbed.com

Escondido /// You Have My Heart For The Rest Of Our Lives /// Laura + Marcus, the full Heirloom film

Marcus and Laura travelled from the Dallas area to the hill country of Austin for their wedding celebration. If you haven't seen our first post about their wedding, you're welcome to check out here.  Marcus' older brother performed the ceremony, and he told Laura that she should know how much she was loved by Marcus--as a golf enthusiast, it was a big sacrifice to miss the tournament that was happening that weekend.  We could tell he wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else, though--as soon as Marcus saw Laura, he was enraptured with her from the start.

Laura had a neat little surprise for Marcus, though--Check out this groom's cake!

escondido groom cake golf sport
escondido groom cake golf sport

Can we just say this is the cutest use of cake balls that we've ever seen?  Nice work!

One of their dear friends sang in the ceremony, and it seemed to be a fitting way to begin their film.  Their day began very quiet and reserved as the rain came down outside--and the amazing team at DFW events and Escondido Golf Club were on the spot with a rain plan to sheild the reception under a tent and bring the ceremony indoors.  The indoor location for the ceremony was no let-down, though--it was a cathedral style room with a large fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out across the green landscape--so plenty of outdoor light still fell on the family as they gathered to watch Marcus and Laura say 'I do.'

Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 22a
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 22a
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 04 marriage certificate
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 04 marriage certificate

The party cranked up afterwards with Top, a band from DFW. The family put out a super cute sign encouraging girls to ditch their high heels for flip flops and have a good time.   The glow-sticks came out about 10 o'clock, and some very creative guests created some crazy glow-hats like we've never seen before.

Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 13a DIY dance flip flop sign
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 13a DIY dance flip flop sign
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Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 18
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Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 17
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Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 20

"You have my heart for the rest of our lives"

Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 02
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 02

Editor's note:

One of my favorite moments in this film comes as Laura was getting ready.  Marcus had written her a note, and he agreed to read it out loud for us to add as a voice-over narration for the moments where Laura prepared to walk down the aisle.  I also used the narration to finish the film.  While I love using officiant narration for our films, I think that using the voice of the bride and groom resonates so strongly in the story.  It is my hope that when Laura and Marcus sit together watching this film as they grow older that they would continue to not only reflect on the love they shared that day while hearing each other's voice, but that they would continue to be encouraged and strengthened to love each other with confidence and purpose as they move forward.  I want Laura and Marcus to see the faces of the people who have loved them so well--parents, siblings, friends--and be refreshed as they remember being loved with such kindness by so many people.   I also want their children to grow up watching this film and hearing how fiercely and tenderly their father spoke about his love for their mother, and for that example of love to be passed down for generations as they share this story with their kids and grandkids.   That's one of the reasons I love filmmaking--photographs are meant to be studied in-depth and at length, but films can help you re-live not just the sights, but also the sounds of these important moments.

I can't forget to mention that the slo-mo of Laura and Marcus running through their line of friends during the sparkler exit has me in tears every time I watch it, especially when Laura hugs her bridesmaid & then Marcus hugs his father-in-law and you can see him mouthing the words "thank you."

-Kourtney Amelia

Visit Escondido:

9090 Farm to Market 2147

Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657

(830) 598-6311

Event Planning and Design: DFW Events Ceremony and Reception: Escondido Photography: Taylor Lord Makeup: Rochelle Rae Reception Entertainment: Top Floral: Petal Pushers Lighting: FILO Bride's Cake: Cocoa Paloma Desserts Groom's Cake: Creme de la Cookie Linens: BBJ Rentals: Outback Rentals Ceremony Sound: Groove Labs Cocktail Musician: Danny Shoemaker Transportation: R&R Limousine and Bus

Escondido | "God is bringing the hidden to light" Laura & Marcus, Part 1 of 2

The day began grey, cool, and very, very cheerful.  Laura & Marcus brought a lot of the Baylor community together for their wedding--and everyone was so pleased to be celebrating the bride and groom that no one minded pouring rain on the wedding day.  Although the Christian ceremony had been planned for outdoors, the crowd of family members and friends happily snuggled in tight in a gorgeous naturally-lit hall with a cathedral ceiling for the ceremony.  The rain was soft as the ceremony hymns began, as often do most obstacles seem diminished when you're with dear ones and friends.

Marcus, the groom, is so visibly mesmerized with Laura during their first dance--you can easily see his awe at her beauty as he twirls her around the dance floor,  her lace dress swishing.  We truly enjoy moments like these.

Escondido, the location, means "hidden" in Spanish.  Laura and Marcus both love being outdoors, and their family felt it was fitting that, since guests would have to travel from all over the Texas map, they chose a venue for the wedding that is so beautifully tucked away into the Texas Hill Country. Although traveling isn't always easy for an event, everyone agreed that the treasured celebration was worth it.

Marcus' brother, the officiant, pointed out that life can be like that--although we may have to work harder for something that seems hidden, the gem that you will find is worth it.

Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 01 rustic reception
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 01 rustic reception

Laura's natural sense of style is evident in the watercolor signs, peonies in coral, blush, and citron, and naturally textured succulents, birch, and "lace" icing on the cake.

Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 23
Escondido Horseshoe Bay Wedding Pic 23

Visit Escondido:

9090 Farm to Market 2147

Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657

(830) 598-6311

Event Planning and Design: DFW Events

Ceremony and Reception: Escondido

Photography: Taylor Lord

Makeup: Rochelle Rae

Reception Entertainment: Top

Floral: Petal Pushers

Lighting: FILO

Bride's Cake: Cocoa Paloma Desserts

Groom's Cake: Creme de la Cookie

Linens: BBJ

Rentals: Outback Rentals

Ceremony Sound: Groove Labs

Cocktail Musician: Danny Shoemaker

Transportation: R&R Limousine and Bus